Cardiology
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Hypothyroidism and PCI Outcomes
Hypothyroidism is common in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions in a multivariate adjusted observational study was associated with worse long-term outcomes.
Optimal Blood Pressure in Patients Presenting with Aortic Stenosis
A post-hoc analysis of patients suffering from mild to moderate aortic stenosis in a study of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering showed that the optimal blood pressure for the best survival was 130-139/70-90 mmHg.
An Important Update in the Bare-metal vs. Drug-eluting Stent Debate
This randomized trial showed no difference between contemporary drug-eluting stents and bare-metal stents with regard to death and myocardial infarction, while drug-eluting stents demonstrated an advantage in both repeat revascularization and stent thrombosis at six years of follow-up.
Has the Benefit of Prophylactic ICDs Been Overestimated Among Those Suffering From Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy?
Prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation does not provide mortality benefit for nonischemic heart failure patients.
Triage to a Certified Stroke Center Reduces Early Mortality
In a national attempt to improve stroke care, there has been widespread certification of primary stroke centers (PSCs) by The Joint Commission. It has been assumed that outcomes will be better in the PSCs, but there have always been questions regarding how much additional time is acceptable to travel to a PSC, compared to a local hospital, in terms of successful treatment and outcomes.
Chocolate Counteracts the Effects of Sleep Deprivation
SYNOPSIS: An acute administration of a chocolate rich in flavanols (a subclass of flavonoids) was found to mitigate the cardiovascular and cognitive effects of sleep deprivation in a group of young and healthy individuals.
The Use of Dexmedetomidine for Sedation May Lead to Earlier Extubation and Decreased Ventilator Adverse Events
SYNOPSIS: The choice of dexmedetomidine or propofol over midazolam may improve outcomes in patients mechanically ventilated for three or more days.
Screening for Coronary Artery Disease Is Underused in Heart Failure
Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart failure. Current practice guidelines recommend screening for Coronary artery disease in patients with newly diagnosed heart failure. However, few studies have evaluated how often clinicians perform diagnostic testing for Coronary artery disease on patients hospitalized with newly diagnosed heart failure.
Steroids Increase the Risk for Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia
Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality. Previous studies produced conflicting results about whether steroids increase the risk of SAB and may have been biased by confounding variables. Therefore, Smit and colleagues sought to more clearly define the risk of SAB associated with the use of steroids.
Clinical Briefs
In this section: A game-changing blood pressure trial; new colorectal cancer screening recommendations; and predicting opioid abuse and dependence.