Cardiology

The benefits of statin therapy no longer stand uncontested as they did early in the life cycle of the class. The pro and con camps each can point to science, but in the end it's about personalized medicine.

A wide-ranging meta-alaysis found that brief, intense outbursts of anger triggered onset of acute myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, and dangerous ventricular arrhythmias.

The authors investigated changes in specific proinflammatory genes associated with neutrophil activation in patients with known coronary artery disease or with significant risk factors.

In clinical scenarios where warfarin is still the drug of choice for anticoagulation, it is still a challenge to achieve optimal time in therapeutic range. Is there promise in a new dosing paradigm?

Results of a new study suggest that number of LAA lobes may one day be useful as an element of the CHADS2 scoring system for embolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Comprising 15,400 patients from 46 countries, the RE-LY AF registry offers a notable opportunity to study variations in presentation of atrial fibrillation and its risk factors.

In the news: stroke prevention, heart disease and women, migraine and depression, cholinesterase inhibitors and dementia, multivitamins and cataract risk.

Certain modifiable risk factors-ncluding heart rate, smoking status, and antihypertensive medications-affect blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. And variability in blood pressure has an important role in progression of organ damage.

When a patient complains of feeling dizzy or light-headed, don’t overlook neurological or other causes, but first think about a cardiac cause.

Can you discern the anomaly in this patient's ECG? What clue(s) does it provide to the underlying pathology?

Overnight continuous positive airway pressure is still the gold standard treatment for OSA; but for those who cannot use CPAP, this effective new technology may be an option.

The ECG is frequently the initial diagnostic tool used by clinicians when evaluating patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome.

This study is the first to provide evidence that high levels of sedentary time, even among physically active men, places them at risk for heart failure.

In dialysis patients, anticoagulation for AF may be cause for clinical equipoise, regardless of bleeding risk score. New research, reported here, may begin to shift the balance.

Here, a concise review of the many clinical syndromes that can cause T-wave inversion with accompanying tracings.

Primary care physicians play a central role in preventing and managing cardiovascular disease. Take a look at the variety of presentations in this week's photo quiz to test your knowledge.

A new systematic review and meta-analysis of existing data supports what we've been telling patients for years: an apple (or 2) a day is certainly better than no apple at all.

Poor breakfast habits in adolescence predict the metabolic syndrome in adulthood, according to a recent study.

Men who are heavy drinkers show a faster cognitive decline compared with men who consume light to moderate amounts of alcohol.

Just when the health benefits of green tea seemed entrenched in mainstream thought, a study prompts caution for green-tea drinkers with hypertension. Details, here.

The need to address rising levels of obesity and related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and cancer, continues to grow.

Some interesting take home-points for your practice from recent studies and surveys: learn the details in this 5 question quiz.

A new study reveals the extent to which milk-processing procedures lower the drink's level of naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids. More, here.

An observational study of patients with atrial fibrillation suggests that routine screening for depression at office visits may help augment treatment.

Where are we left after a flurry of hypertension publications as 2013 was ending and 2014 beginning? Let’s summarize our recent encounters with the available facts.

If you combine the simplified targets found in JNC 8 with the practical directions offered by the ASH 2013 update, will you actually reach the elusive destination (hypertension control)? Maybe. More, here.

I can see the target destinations on the JNC map, but I need a car and gas to get there.

Here: 9 recommendations that comprise the latest JNC 8 guidelines. Was it worth the wait?