Cardiology
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Hemoconcentration Associated with Lower Mortality in Acute Heart Failure
Among patients hospitalized for acute heart failure, hemoconcentration was associated with reduced 90-day mortality and may be a useful marker for guiding therapy. -
Do Antipsychotics Help with Delirium?
In palliative care patients suffering from delirium, managing delirium precipitants and individualized supportive strategies alone work better than adding risperidone or haloperidol. -
Vancomycin Combined with Piperacillin-Tazobactam Increases the Risk for Acute Kidney Injury
A retrospective cohort study found an increased risk of acute kidney injury for patients who received vancomycin in combination with piperacillin-tazobactam compared to those who received vancomycin plus cefepime (hazard ratio = 4.27; 95% confidence interval, 2.73-6.68). -
Stroke Risk From Use of Cannabis, Tobacco, and Alcohol
No associations between cannabis use in young adulthood and strokes later in life were found in multivariable models. An almost doubled risk of ischemic stroke was observed in those with cannabis use > 50 times; this risk was attenuated when adjusted for tobacco usage. Smoking ≥ 20 cigarettes per day was clearly associated both with strokes before 45 years of age and with strokes throughout the follow-up.
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Intravenous Nutrient Therapies — Worth the Cost?
Intravenous nutrient therapies are gaining in popularity to help patients maintain overall wellness, enhance weight loss, boost immune function, increase athletic performance, cure hangovers, and treat particular conditions. However, the increase in the use of these therapies in both healthy individuals and those with health conditions has not translated into increased published research studies investigating efficacy and safety.
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High-dose Biotin Shows Promise for Arresting Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Disability
In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients with primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis were randomized to receive 100 mg of pharmaceutical-grade biotin or placebo thrice daily for 12 months. The primary endpoint of an improvement in the Expanded Disability Status Scale or a decrease in timed 25-foot walk time was achieved in 12.6% of the biotin-treated patients compared to no one in the placebo group (P = 0.005).
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Do Facebook Friends Count — for Health and Longevity?
An observational examination of California Facebook users suggested this population has a lower mortality rate than non-Facebook users; the lowest mortality risk is for Facebook users who combine a moderate degree of online social interaction with high offline social activity.
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Another Good Reason to Consider Early Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia
In a retrospective cohort of patients with structural heart disease and ventricular tachycardia, amiodarone often could be safely reduced or discontinued after ablation.
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Uncertainties in Assessing Stroke Risk in Atrial Fibrillation
An analysis of 34 randomized trials in atrial fibrillation patients not on anti-coagulation showed considerable variation in stroke rates corresponding to their predicted risk by the CHA2DS2-VASc scores. When these scores are 2 or less, stroke rates are low enough to question the benefit versus risk of anti-coagulation therapy.
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Study Challenges Orthodoxy of IV Hydration for Prevention of Contrast Nephropathy
This trial randomized 660 patients with chronic kidney disease and a planned procedure requiring intravascular iodinated contrast to prophylactic hydration or to no hydration. No hydration was found to be non-inferior for prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy and saved significant costs.