These two trials had disparate findings with respect to interleukin-6 inhibition, with REMAP-CAP showing a benefit and COVACTA showing none.
In this retrospective analysis of COVID-19 patients hospitalized with cytokine storm, the use of corticosteroids combined with tocilizumab was associated with superior survival when compared to no immunomodulatory treatment; a combination of corticosteroids and anakinra; or corticosteroids, tocilizumab, or anakinra alone. Patients who received corticosteroids, either alone or in combination with anakinra, also experienced lower hospital mortality compared to no treatment.
In a randomized trial of patients with atrial fibrillation, left atrial appendage occlusion during elective cardiac surgery was associated with lower rates of ischemic stroke or systemic embolism after 30 days.
Giving intravenous ferric carboxymaltose to stabilized post-acute heart failure patients with iron deficiency improved quality of life vs. placebo-treated patients within four weeks, which persisted during subsequent therapy for up to 24 weeks.
An analysis of the COMPASS trial for the secondary endpoint of mortality showed the combination of low-dose rivaroxaban and aspirin significantly lowered the all-cause mortality rate vs. low-dose aspirin alone.
This analysis of mitral surgery after failed transcatheter edge-to-edge repair demonstrates high rates of valve replacement as opposed to repair. Surgical mortality was higher than predicted but was significantly lower in high-volume centers.
An analysis of the ASPREE database showed that with almost five years of follow-up, statins are not associated with cognitive decline or dementia in a large group of elderly subjects in whom multiple tests of cognition were performed serially.
Semaglutide can be prescribed as an adjunct to a low calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in overweight and obese adults.
In addition to identifying several patient risk factors for contamination of blood culture specimens, the authors also highlighted various adverse clinical and financial adverse effects.
Cholinesterase inhibitors are one of the few drug classes approved by the FDA to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This study shows a long-term benefit in slowing the decline of cognition, but it is unclear if there is any benefit in quality of life.
