Acute Coronary Syndromes
More data support adverse clopidogrel and proton-pump inhibitor interaction
15 COMMENTS - Mar 3, 2009 16:00 EST
Among discharged ACS patients prescribed the two drugs, there was a 25% increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes compared with those taking clopidogrel alone. (Ho PM et al. JAMA 2009; 301:937-944.)
Acute Coronary Syndromes
STEMI patients in TRITON-TIMI 38: Prasugrel bests clopidogrel without bleeding risk
1 COMMENT - Mar 5, 2009 02:30 EST
UPDATED WITH COMMENTARY // In patients with ST-segment-elevation MI undergoing PCI, treatment with the new antiplatelet agent prasugrel significantly reduced ischemic events compared with clopidogrel, without significant differences in bleeding. (Montalescot G et al. Lancet 2009; 373:723-731.)
Acute Coronary Syndromes
Correcting CV risk factors, comorbidities in blacks seen as key to ending racial MI-outcomes disparities
Mar 3, 2009 14:30 EST
If African Americans don't fare as well after an acute MI as whites do, it's probably not because of any difference in how they are treated in the hospital or after discharge, according to researchers. (Spertus JA et al. Ann Intern Med 2009; 150:314-324.)
Murmurs
Journal editors and UK research ethics group raise new questions about MIST migraine/PFO trial
Feb 27, 2009 08:15 EST
Circulation editors have asked the authors of the MIST trial to clarify aspects of the paper and publish a correction. Separately, an advisor to the UK National Research Ethics Service has recommended an investigation of the much-disputed echocardiographic follow-up of patients who underwent PFO closure in MIST.
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Editorial series
A series of discussions among editorial leaders, developed by theheart.org

Cardiology panels
Putting HF-ACTION into practice
Feb 27, 2009 10:00 EST
Join Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley as she talks to Drs Mariell Jessup and Clyde Yancy about the importance of the HF-ACTION study and how the quality-of-life results should affect practice.
Editorial series
Get Moving: The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
Feb 20, 2009 09:00 EST
The US government has issued the first-ever Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Join our expert panel, Steven Blair PED, Drs Timothy Church, and William Kraus, as they discuss the implications and strategies for using these guidelines in clinical practice.
Editorial series
Structured exercise for your heart-failure patients?
Feb 13, 2009 13:53 EST
What is the role of a structured exercise program for your patients with NYHA class 2/3 heart failure? Join Dr Ileana Piņa's presentation of the results of HF-ACTION, presented at AHA, and the implications of the findings for patient care.
Cardiology panels
CRP strategy post-JUPITER
Feb 6, 2009 10:25 EST
Join heartwire's Michael O'Riordan as he talks to Dr Roger Blumenthal about the potential pitfalls of jumping on the CRP bandwagon post-JUPITER and what can be done to reduce risk factors from a preventive point of view.
Discussion and opinions
Lively, interactive exchanges moderated by thought leaders, staff or contributors to theheart.org

Topolog
Low-dose aspirin for primary prevention
June 17, 2009 at 02.03 PM, EDT
A new meta-analysis questions the use of low-dose aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular events. Given its current wide use, these findings are important and have far-reaching consequences. What are your thoughts?
Heartfelt: News and views from Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley
SOS! Does the FAA really know your pilot's risk of sudden cardiac death?
June 22, 2009 22:56 EDT
THE BOB HARRINGTON SHOW
Episode #10: Comparative effectiveness with Dr Harlan Krumholz
May 11, 2009 16:25 EST
Available on iTunes »
TOPOL & TEIRSTEIN: THE CLICK & RUB SHOW
Episode #2: Dissecting "the cost conundrum": McAllen, Gawande, Obama, and healthcare reform in the US
June 29, 2009 10.30 EST
Available on iTunes »
PRIVATE PRACTICE
Board recertification: Do's and don'ts
June 26, 2009 09:48 EST
THE CLOTBLOG
Rosuvastatin in the prevention of venous thromboembolism
May 29, 2009 11:45 EST
Fellows' Corner
Episode #11: Transradial access for PCI with Drs David Kandzari and Sunil Rao
June 26, 2009 13:15 EST
Available on iTunes »
View all discussions »
Discussion Forum

theheart.org Forum, where discussions among healthcare providers, clinicians, and researchers reflect our common goal of decreasing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality around the world.
Arrhythmia/EP
Depression and antidepressant use linked to sudden cardiac death
Mar 9, 2009 17:00 EDT
A new analysis has found that major depression predicted cardiovascular events in women participating in the Nurses' Health Study and that the relationship was strongest for fatal events, driven by an association of depression—in particular, antidepressant use—with sudden cardiac death. (Whang W et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2009; 53:950-958.)
Thrombosis Risk
More support for clopidogrel platelet response testing
4 COMMENTS - Mar 6, 2009 16:45 EST
More evidence that patients who show a low platelet response to clopidogrel have an increased risk of stent thrombosis has been reported, with the suggestion that antiplatelet therapy should be intensified in this group. (Sibbing D et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2009; 53:849-856.)
Clinical cardiology
CMS approves national coverage of diagnostic testing for sleep apnea
Mar 6, 2009 13:00 EST
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced this week its decision to provide Medicare coverage for a number of sleep tests for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.
Arrhythmia/EP
Racial disparities seen in adding CRT pacing therapy to ICDs in heart failure
Mar 6, 2009 10:00 EST
In a national registry of patients receiving ICDs for primary prevention, among those also qualifying for cardiac resynchronization therapy, blacks and Hispanics were less likely than whites to get a device that would provide it. (Farmer SA et al. Heart Rhythm 2009:325-331.)
Murmurs
Philip Poole-Wilson dies unexpectedly
35 COMMENTS - Mar 5, 2009 12:15 EST
UPDATED WITH COMMENTARY // Dr Philip Poole-Wilson, an expert on heart failure and coronary heart disease prevention across the globe, collapsed and died on his way to work in London on March 4, from a suspected MI.
Imaging
Real-time in vivo images of animal heart with magnetic particle imaging
Mar 5, 2009 09:00 EST
MPI is a novel modality where researchers inject iron-oxide-based nanoparticles into the bloodstream, and this allows them to directly visualize the particles in imaging scans. This early study showed MPI scans could provide structural details of a beating mouse heart. (Weizenecker J et al. Phys Med Biol; published online before print February 10, 2009.)
Clinical cardiology
AHA updates advice on strep throat, preventing rheumatic fever
Mar 4, 2009 14:30 EST
New advice on preventing rheumatic fever by the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of acute streptococcal pharyngitis has been published in a scientific statement from the AHA. (Gerber M et al. Circulation; published online before print February 26, 2009.)
Hypertension
Depression lowers blood pressure, but antidepressants increase it
2 COMMENTS - Mar 3, 2009 16:15 EST
Contrary to prevailing opinion, new research indicates it is not depression that raises blood pressure but the drugs used to treat depression—a finding that suggests that patients on antidepressants might need to be more closely monitored. (Licht CM et al. Hypertension; published online before print February 23, 2009.)
Lipid/Metabolic
Cholesterol-lowering drugs not quite as effective in HIV-infected people
Mar 3, 2009 10:15 EST
Researchers emphasize that the differences in efficacy, particularly for LDL, are minimal and that adjustments of drugs or dosages may be all that's needed to close the gaps. (Silverberg MJ et al. Ann Intern Med 2009; 2009; 150:301-313.)
Interventional/Surgery
Public reporting of quality measures: What does it accomplish?
3 COMMENTS - Mar 2, 2009 18:00 EST
A new review examines once again the issues surrounding public reporting of quality measures for PCI and whether this results in doctors avoiding high-risk patients. (Resnic FS and Welt FGP. J Am Coll Cardiol 2009; 53: 825-830.)
Educational partnerships

What happened at ACC 2009? View the different perspectives:

Most popular news
From 7 June to 13 June 2009
  1. EMEA issues warning on possible clopidogrel-PPI interaction, but is there really a problem?
  2. Heart-attack prevention bill, mandating coverage for CAD screening, passes quietly in Texas
  3. MADIT-CRT results: CRT-D reduces mortality and morbidity in NYHA 1 or 2 HF
  4. CT angiography does not reliably predict functional significance of lesions
  5. Wide variations in EP practice across Europe
  6. Some surprises in update to European hypertension guidelines?
  7. PR-interval prolongation increases risk of atrial fibrillation and pacemaker implantation
  8. HCTZ a "paltry" antihypertensive, with no effect on outcomes, new analysis suggests
  9. Framingham analysis: Look beyond LVEF in heart-failure management
  10. More details on arrhythmias associated with sleep apnea
Conference coverage
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Info from Industry
Features
Editorial series
Get Moving: The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
Feb 20, 2009 09:00 EST
The US government has issued the first-ever Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Join our expert panel, Steven Blair PED, Drs Timothy Church, and William Kraus, as they discuss the implications and strategies for using these guidelines in clinical practice.
Editorial series
Structured exercise for your heart-failure patients?
Feb 13, 2009 13:53 EST
What is the role of a structured exercise program for your patients with NYHA class 2/3 heart failure? Join Dr Ileana Piņa's presentation of the results of HF-ACTION, presented at AHA, and the implications of the findings for patient care.