Arrhythmia/EP
ATHENA secondary results: Dronedarone for AF may cut hospital admissions regardless of cause
1 COMMENT - Nov 19, 2008 10:45 EST
In the large randomized trial that compared the drug with placebo, even patients who never achieved sinus rhythm on the drug had a reduced risk of hospitalization. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Clinical cardiology
ECGs add little when it comes to prognosis in those with chest pain
1 COMMENT - Nov 18, 2008 12:45 EST
ECGs or exercise ECGs have little incremental value over and above clinical assessment for prognosis in patients with suspected angina, a new study has found. Hence, such tests should not be used to rule out future events in these patients, researchers say. (Sekhri N et al. BMJ; published online before print November 13, 2008.)
Dr Richard W Nesto
Lipid/Metabolic
APPROACH: Rosiglitazone doesn't affect atherosclerosis progression in diabetics with CV disease
19 COMMENTS - Nov 13, 2008 15:00 EST
The thiazolidinedione, given for 18 months, didn't appear to reverse or slow disease progression compared with the same duration of treatment with a sulfonylurea, according to the IVUS-based study. Investigators point to hints that that rosiglitazone may have slowed atherosclerosis in such patients with longer-established diabetes. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Interventional/Surgery
New meta-analysis of beta blockers in noncardiac surgery: Time to abandon their use, or not?
2 COMMENTS - Nov 12, 2008 14:00 EST
The use of beta blockers perioperatively to prevent cardiovascular events in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery is not justified by current evidence, according to the authors of a new meta-analysis. An update to the guidelines on this issue is under way, says one member of the writing committee, who incidentally does not agree with this overall conclusion. (Bangalore S et al. Lancet; published online before print November 12, 2008. American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
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Editorial series
A series of discussions among editorial leaders, developed by theheart.org

The Cardiology Show
AHA 2008: The AHA Flies to JUPITER
Nov 14, 2008 12:00 EST
Join Drs Harlan Krumholz, Roger Blumenthal, Robert Harrington, Mariell Jessup, Paul Ridker, Sidney Smith, Gregg Stone, William Weintraub, and Clyde Yancy as they dissect the results of the JUPITER trial and debate the far-reaching clinical implications of this landmark study in Part 1 of the program.

In Part 2 of the program, the panelists look at the positive sides of HF-Action and TIMACS and deliberate the real lessons learned from these negative trials.
Cardiology panels
Dual RAS inhibition: Weighing the evidence
Nov 4, 2008 14:31 EST
Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley asks Drs Franz Messerli and Raymond Gibbons for their thoughts on dual RAAS inhibition and on what the future holds for ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers following ONTARGET and TRANSCEND.
Cardiology panels
COURAGE: 18 months later
Oct 28, 2008 12:00 EDT
Join Drs Raymond Gibbons, Antonio Colombo, William Boden, Ph Gabriel Steg, and Valentin Fuster for another look at the COURAGE trial, as they discuss the latest data and talk about where things stand now on the larger controversy.
Cardiology panels
A look at STEMI care on both sides of the Atlantic
Oct 22, 2008 09:20 EDT
Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley talks to Drs Ph Gabriel Steg and Raymond Gibbons about the differences in STEMI care on both sides of the Atlantic and what US cardiologists can learn from their colleagues in Europe.
Discussion and opinions
Lively, interactive exchanges moderated by thought leaders, staff or contributors to theheart.org

THE BOB HARRINGTON SHOW
Episode #3: the JUPITER trial – a home run for science and public health
Nov 19, 2008 11:21 EST
Topolog
JUPITER: How will it change your practice?
Nov 19, 2008 16:05 EST
Fellows' Corner
Thinking about an academic career? Listen to our audio interview with Dr C William Balke
Nov 4, 2008 17:32 EST
FROM THE CONVENTION FLOOR WITH DR WALTON-SHIRLEY
Complete coverage from the AHA Scientific Sessions in New Orleans
May 14, 2008 15:43 EDT
theHeart.org Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
May 14, 2008 15:52 EDT
theheart.org Forum, where discussions among healthcare providers, clinicians, and researchers reflect our common goal of decreasing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality around the world.
Heart failure
Gender-matched heart transplants lead to better survival
Nov 20, 2008 17:30 EST
Drawing on data from over 18 000 transplant recipients, researchers say their findings support a policy of matching donor hearts to recipients, "if all else is equal." (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Murmurs
Dr Adrian Kantrowitz, inventor, transplant surgeon, dies
3 COMMENTS - Nov 19, 2008 15:30 EST
In more than 60 years of surgical practice, Kantrowitz is credited with performing the first heart transplant in the US, the second worldwide, as well as inventing the LVAD, IABP, and an early version of the implantable defibrillator.
Thrombosis Risk
Bevacizumab significantly increases venous thromboembolism
Nov 18, 2008 16:00 EST
The risk of venous thromboembolism was increased by 33%, compared with controls, concludes a new meta-analysis of 15 cancer trials. (Nalluri SR et al. JAMA 2008; 300:277-2285.)
Acute Coronary Syndrome
ACC/AHA publishes new performance measures for STEMI patients
Nov 18, 2008 13:30 EST
Differing from guidelines, the new performance measures identify aspects of care with evidence so strong, such as prescribing a statin upon discharge or delivering reperfusion in a timely manner, that every patient should be receiving the same treatment. In other words, "If you're not doing things a certain way, then you're not providing the best care," says one expert. (Masoudi FA et al. Krumholz HM et al. J Am Coll Cardiol, Circulation; published online before print November 10, 2008.)
Interventional/Surgery
OCT imaging suggests low rates of uncovered/malapposed struts following DES for AMI
Nov 18, 2008 11:30 EST
An OCT study conducted in a subset of HORIZONS-AMI patients suggests that exposed and malapposed stent struts in the setting of AMI are more common with drug-eluting stents than with bare-metal stents but still relatively rare. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Heart failure
Negative thinking predicts depression in heart-failure patients
Nov 17, 2008 18:00 EST
Negative thinking may play a major role in the development of depression in patients with heart failure, new research suggests. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Heart failure
Depression, not SSRIs, linked to increased mortality in heart-failure patients
Nov 17, 2008 15:00 EST
Contrary to recent research suggesting antidepressant use increases mortality in heart-disease patients, a new study suggests that, at least when it comes to selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, this is not the case. (O'Connor CM et al. Arch Intern Med 2008; 168:2232-2237.)
Prevention
Cardiovascular effects of air pollution, even in the comfort of home
Nov 14, 2008 16:45 EST
Researchers who fitted study subjects with "air-pollution vests" to continuously monitor exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollutants say that people are probably exposed to much higher levels of pollutants than community monitoring stations typically indicate and that this exposure affects both endothelial function and systolic blood pressure. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Clinical cardiology
Music, like laughter, benefits heart health
1 COMMENT - Nov 14, 2008 09:15 EST
Listening to enjoyable music may be good for cardiovascular health in the same way that laughter is beneficial, new research suggests. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
Murmurs
heartwire journalist wins American Heart Association writing award
4 COMMENTS - Nov 13, 2008 14:00 EST
Arrhythmia/EP
THINRS: Home INR monitoring as effective as clinic-based care
4 COMMENTS - Nov 13, 2008 13:30 EST
A randomized comparison shows weekly home monitoring is safe but did not reduce stroke, major bleeds, or death vs monthly clinic INR testing, as had been suggested by previous studies. (American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions.)
quote
We can no longer assume that patients with low cholesterol are at low risk. This does not mean that cholesterol isn't important. We want our high-cholesterol patients to be treated very aggressively. But in this study, we found that patients with low cholesterol but high CRP benefited greatly from statin therapy.
— Dr Paul Ridker
Most popular news
  1. JUPITER casts a large shadow: Moving from efficacy data to the big picture
  2. JUPITER hits New Orleans: Landmark study shows statins benefit healthy individuals with high CRP levels
  3. JUPITER halted: Rosuvastatin significantly reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality
  4. SEARCH me: Null trial "morphed" into positive meta-analysis
  5. I-PRESERVE: Strike three for RAAS inhibition in preserved-LVEF heart failure
  6. Patients believe elective PCI prevents MI and saves lives, but who's to blame?
  7. TIMACS: Early invasive management safe in non-ST-elevation ACS, improves outcomes in high-risk cases
  8. Tailoring clopidogrel loading on the basis of responsiveness testing reduces stent thrombosis
  9. New factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban moves into phase 3 for ACS
  10. JPAD: No effect of aspirin primary-CV-event prevention in diabetics
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JUPITER: Will you prescribe statins to patients with low LDL cholesterol but high CRP levels?

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Features
Features
Live what you advocate: The exercise habits of busy cardiologists
12 COMMENTS - Sep 23, 2008 10:15 EDT
Sure, it's easy to throw the book at a patient, telling them to eat better and to get active, but are cardiologists practicing what they preach? And if they are, just what are they doing to stay in shape? heartwire has a look at the athletic lives of some cardiologists.
Features
ESC 2008: Expert reactions
Sep 12, 2008 09:44 EDT
Still generating debate and controversies. Experts provide their take on the data from the SCAAR Registry, SYNTAX Trial, and TRANSCEND Trial presented at the ESC 2008.