-
The rhythm strip shown in the Figure was obtained from a middle-aged man in severe pain from a musculoskeletal disorder. He was not having chest pain, and had no known history of cardiovascular disease. He had an episode of vomiting shortly before this tracing was recorded. Is there evidence of heart block? If so, what type?
-
Previous research failed to show that the angiotensin II antagonist losartan at 50 mg per day was as effective as captopril in reducing mortality in patients with heart failure after myocardial infarction. This raised the question of whether this new class of drugs may be substituted for ACE inhibitors in treating these high-risk patients.
-
Sleep restriction (to 4 hours a night) resulted in increased appetite, increased cortisol levels, lowered TSH levels, worsened glucose tolerance and lower heart rate variability compared with sleep extension (to 12 hours a night) in young healthy volunteers.
-
A new randomized trial using either a calcium channel blocker or an ACE inhibitor to lower systolic blood pressure to the low 120s prevented cardiac events in patients with coronary artery disease compared with systolic blood pressures around 130.
-
Over a 7-year period, there was a dramatic increase in the isolation of community-acquired MRSA in the San Francisco area. Molecular typing showed movement of community-acquired strains into hospitals.
-
A new non-aluminum, non-calcium, phosphate binder has been approved by the FDA.
-
In an attempt to clarify the role of early intensive glycemic control, newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients were treated with insulin by means of an insulin pump on an inpatient basis for two weeks, after which they were discharged.
-
The consecutive rhythm strips seen in the Figure were obtained from a 73-year-old man with a history of ischemic cardiomyopathy. QRS widening is the result of underlying bundle branch block. In view of the atrial activity seen in these rhythm strips, what would you want to ask the patient?
-
The first head-to-head comparison study of an ACE inhibitor and an angiotensin receptor blocker, to assess renoprotective effects in type 2 diabetes, has shown that the drugs are comparable in their benefit.
-
Measures that increase adiponectin levels might be valuable targets for decreasing the risk of atherosclerosis present in patients with diabetes.