Clinical Cardiology Alert – August 1, 2003

August 1, 2003

• More Bad News for Folic Acid

  This study, following on the heels of the recent negative trial in postpercutaneous coronary stenting patients, suggests that we have more to learn about the role of folic acid and homocysteine in CAD.

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• Interferon-Beta for Viral Myocarditis

  Current supportive heart failure therapy has reduced morbidity and mortality, but adverse outcomes are still frequent. Clearly, an approach based upon eliminating the cause of myocardial dysfunction would be advantageous. This study is an attempt to pursue this line of therapy for viral myocarditis using the antiviral agent INFB.

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• Natriuretic Peptide Levels in Mitral Regurgitation

  Sutton and colleagues from New Zealand explored the concept that natriuretic peptide levels (ANP, BNP) may aide in the determination of the severity of mitral regurgitation.

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• Adverse Effect of Ventricular Pacing on Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation

  Sweeney and colleagues from the Mode Selection Trial report on the effects of ventricular pacing in patients with sinus node dysfunction.

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• Temporal Trends in Sudden Cardiac Arrest

  Rea and colleagues report a longitudinal survey of cardiac arrests in King County, Wash, (excluding the city of Seattle) from 1977 to 2001. The study, from a region with perhaps the best emergency medical system in the country, adds important data.

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• A Prevention Cocktail for Diabetics: The Emerging Role of Statins

  This report is a detailed analysis of the approximate 6000 diabetics in the Heart Protection Study, which investigated the efficacy of simvastatin (simva) and antioxidant vitamins.

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• Pharmacology Watch: Nasally Administered Flu Vaccine Comes to United States

  Nasally Administered Flu Vaccine Comes to United States; Paxil: Not Recommended for Children; Prilosec Granted OTC Status; Finasteride and Prostate Cancer; Xolair: First Biologic Agent for Asthma; West Nile Virus Update; Study Shows COX-2 Inhibitors Appear Safe with Aspirin in Asthma Patients; Lamictal Approved for Bipolar Disorder

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• Clinical Briefs in Primary Care Supplement

  Increase in Blood Glucose Concentration During Antihypertensive Treatment as a Predictor of Myocardial Infarction; Adverse Drug Events in Ambulatory Care; Prevention of Hip Fracture by External Hip Protectors; Rapid MRI vs Radiographs for Patients with Low Back Pain; Effectiveness of Anticholinergic Drugs Compared with Placebo in the Treatment of Overactive Bladder; A Randomized Trial of a Low Carbohydrate Diet for Obesity

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