Steve Davis, MD, DFAPA, shares his notes from the annual meeting of the American Medical Informatics Association.
Hydatid disease of the liver is endemic in some areas of the world but is rarely encountered in the United States. The disease is usually caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus. Physicians who work within multicultural communities must be aware of this disease and its treatment. We present the case of a 35-year-old Mexican woman who complained of chronic right upper-quadrant pain. Computed tomography scanning revealed a ring-enhancing lesion within the right lobe of the liver, suggesting the diagnosis of a hydatid cyst. Following a course of antiparasitic therapy, the cyst was surgically removed. Six months later, the patient was pain free.
While most patients are concerned about their risk for myocardial infarction, it is important to remember that the risk factors for death from all cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and coronary artery disease, are similar.
In pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, riociguat serves as a reasonable first-line alternative to PDE-5 inhibitors or in combination therapy with an endothelin antagonist or inhaled prostacyclin analogues.
What a longtime family practitioner in a state that authorizes medical aid in dying has learned through his own experience of the controversial practice.
Final thoughts from expert KOLs regarding treatment decisions and how they relate to patient accessibility when manage dyslipidemia.
A recent article outlined the recommendations from the Institute of Medicine that included more training and independence for nurses.
Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) is a cost-effective approach that has modified the treatment of patients with supraventricular tachycardia. In the Loire-Ardèche-Drôme-Isère-Puy-de-Dôme (LADIP) study, we compared RFA treatment with amiodarone therapy after the first episode of symptomatic atrial flutter. Results showed that RFA should be considered a first-line treatment, especially in elderly patients, because it has a better long-term success rate, the same risk of subsequent atrial fibrillation as amiodarone, and fewer secondary effects compared with amiodarone. Radiofrequency catheter ablation first-line therapy should be recommended in routine clinical practice, even when the atrial flutter is isolated without a previously documented atrial fibrillation episode.
To produce the greatest impact from the implementation of the new American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), physicians should counsel patients on the benefits and risks of medication intervention to prevent CVD, but also explain the absolute necessity of regular exercise and abstention from tobacco use.
The next leap forward in cancer treatment will see physicians tailoring treatments based on patients' individualized tumor profiles.
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.
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.
Reporting on new research and emerging trends in breast and liver cancer.
The new generation of AEDs is not perfect. Is anyone surprised by this?
We evaluated trends in the treatment and mortality of patients with and without diabetes mellitus and acute myocardial infarction over the last decade. Despite improvements in the provision of evidence-based care, patients with diabetes did not derive improvements in long-term survival.
Alan S. Brown, MD, FNLA, FACC, FAHA is a Cardiologist at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and the President-Elect of the National Lipid Association (NLA). While at the NLA’s 2018 Scientific Sessions in Las Vegas, Nevada, he explained the connection between hypertriglyceridemia and FCS.
Here's how our understanding of Liver Cancer is changing.
Is orally administered morphine superior to ibuprofen for outpatient pain management for children with uncomplicated fractures?