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The aging of stroke

Stroke is an especially important disease to study in terms of secular trends because it is so common, deadly, and disabling.

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.

Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence Nears 1 Million US Patients

A new report shows that multiple sclerosis diagnoses have steadily risen in older patients in the past 5 years, bucking previous patient rate estimates.

Can reduction in electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy be helpful in preventing clinical heart failure?

As clinical cardiologists, we face an ever-changing landscape with regard to the management and care of hypertensive patients.

A Closer Look- Athletic screening: A delicate balancing act

When Hank Gathers collapsedon court during a college basketball game against Portland State on March 4, 1990, and later died, the event both jolted the national consciousness and set into motion changes in the athletic preparticipation screening process. Although another collapse had occurred just 4 months before, and an irregular heartbeat was detected at that time, Gathers was not compliant with the prescribed beta blocker and continued to play. An autopsy revealed that the 23-year-old Gathers suffered from cardiomyopathy.

Fundamentals of clinical research: Cohort studies and randomized controlled trials

Survival after heart failure

We conducted a multi-hospital population-based study of 2445 residents of a large New England metropolitan area hospitalized with acute heart failure and found that the long-term prognosis for these patients remains poor. More than one third of patients died in the first year after hospital discharge,and nearly 4 of 5 patients died over the 5-year follow-up period. Several demographic and clinical factors were associated with an adverse prognosis. It is important to know the factors that negatively affect long-term survival after hospital discharge for decompensated heart failure so that treatment can be directed toward specific high-risk groups.

Living with Rosacea: Signs and Symptoms

Early treatment of rosacea is crucial for the prevention of irreversible damage.

Oncologists Divided Over What To Tell Terminal Patients

A study says medical oncologists are divided over whether they should always inform a patient about his or her terminal prognosis or do so only when a patient asks.

Sing a Song of Your Own Wealth Creation

Perspectives from the office & beyond: OUT OF BANGKOK—A JOURNEY TO AND BEYOND CHIANG MAI

Asystole during sleep in a 46-year-old male athlete

A number of electrocardiographic abnormalities have been described in athletes.1 Among these are sinus bradycardia and varying degrees of atrioventricular (AV) block. These findings have been attributed to the "athlete's heart," and are felt to be due to enhanced vagal tone seen with excellent physical conditioning. Secondarily it has also been suggested that there are intrinsic changes within the sinoatrial and AV nodes themselves, including prolonged sinus node recovery time and AV nodal Wenckebach, and these abnormalities persist following autonomic blockade.

Are HDL cholesterol levels clinically significant in patients with low LDL cholesterol levels?

There is some debate about whether the risk of cardiovascular events associated with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels is attenuated by very low low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (< 60 mg/dL), which can be obtained with statins and combination therapy.

Don't Outlive Your Retirement Nest Egg