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Vernakalant: Expanding the antiarrhythmic vernacular

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, occurring in over 2% of the general population.

Alcohol consumption in men with hypertension

We assessed the association between the incidence of coronary heart disease and alcohol consumption among hypertensive men enrolled in the Health "Professionals" Follow-Up Study. Moderate alcohol consumption (1 to 2 drinks per day) was associated with a lower risk of myocardial infarction, as in the general population, but was not associated with the risks of stroke, total mortality, or mortality from cardiovascular causes. These results show that men with hypertension who drink moderately may not need to change their drinking habits.

Closing Thoughts on ASCVD Management

Experts reveal how risk assessment, LDL-C targets, and smarter follow-up boost adherence—turning guidelines into real cardiovascular prevention.

Achieving LDL cholesterol goals in elderly patients with ACS

After an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event, elderly patients are at greater risk of death and nonfatal coronary events compared with younger patients. Despite this, elderly patients continue to receive less evidence-based therapy. Lipidlowering therapy with statins is now routine practice for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. Achieving the optional National Cholesterol Expert Panel goal of a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level of < 70 mg/dL for ACS patients over 70 years of age could prevent nearly 80 deaths or nonfatal coronary events for every 1000 patients treated for 2 years with a number needed to treat of approximately 12.

Syncope from ventricular tachycardia secondary to methadone use

Methadone HCI (Diskets, Dolophine, Methadose) is a synthetic opioid that has been used widely in the United States for the management of heroin addiction Treatment of opioid dependence has been shifting gradually from the older US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection program, ...

Customized Order Entry Sets Reduce Errors in Prescribing HIV Medication

Implementation of computerized customized order entry sets in a large urban hospital reduced HIV medication error rates by more than 35%.

Anticholinergics Increase Dementia Risk in Middle-Aged, Older Adults

Taking daily anticholinergic drugs when 55 or older increases the risk of dementia, according to this nested case-control study.

Integrating the existing emergency medical system with automated external defibrillators for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

We investigated whether a program based on diffuse deployment of automated external defibrillators operated by trained volunteers and laypersons across the largest county in Italy would safely and effectively improve the current survival rate among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Compared with historical control subjects, the new strategy resulted in a 3-fold increase in 1-year survival free of neurologic impairment.

The Malpractice Plague Continues to Rage

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Coronary artery disease in asymptomatic diabetic patients

We evaluated the effectiveness of the current American Diabetes Association guidelines for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes and assessed whether a more aggressive diagnostic strategy would permit detection of silent CAD at an earlier stage. The prevalence of myocardial perfusion defects and CAD in asymptomatic diabetic patients was high independent of risk factor profile, and an aggressive diagnostic approach in patients who would normally be excluded from screening permitted identification of CAD at an earlier stage, when coronary anatomy is more likely to respond to treatment.

Sugar and spice is not always nice

Modafinil Shakes Patients from Thalamic Infarction Lethargy

In a striking case report, the stimulant modafinil was able to dramatically improve neurological functioning in an elderly woman suffering from bilateral thalamic infarction, a disorder that often is fatal.

Marijuana and Cardiovascular Disease

What Should Cardiologists Advise Their Patients About Using Cannabis?