May 2nd 2024
The April 2024 cardiology month in review spotlights FDA news and top updates from the American College of Cardiology 2024 Scientific Session.
PCSK9 Inhibitor Dramatically Reduces Cholesterol in Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia
The Sanofi/Regeneron PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab (Praluent)- approved in July in the US - lowered cholesterol in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia to levels "unreachable with statins" researchers said at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in London, UK.
Face-to-Face by Videoconference: Improving Diabetes Care
July 23rd 2015Columbia University's Informatics for Diabetes Education and Telemedicine (IDEATel) project, a 4-year Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-sponsored demonstration project, showed that a telemedicine intervention can improve glycemic, lipid, and blood pressure control.
Dawn of a New Era? A Cardiologist Takes Stock of PCSK9 Inhibitors
Friday could be a big day for cardiologists. The FDA is due to rule July 24 on what could be the first available PCSK9 inhibitor, one of a new class of cholesterol-lowering agents meant to help patients who cannot get their LDL levels low enough with statins. New York City cardiologist David Vorchheimer, MD. talks about his hopes for the new drugs, and a few concerns
Dietary Trans Fatty Acids: Fading in Our Memories
June 23rd 2015Dietary trans fatty acids have had their heyday and are fading from the American food landscape. Once ubiquitous in margarine, snack food, packaged baked goods, and fried fast food, they have been associated with adverse effects on lipid profiles, metabolic function, insulin resistance, inflammation, and cardiac and general health.
Oatmeal, Frosted Cornflakes: Does Breakfast Affect Appetite-Related Hormones?
June 23rd 2015In previous studies, regular breakfast consumption has been correlated with lower BMI and improved cardiometabolic risk profile. Furthermore, evidence suggests that low-energy density, high-fiber, and high-carbohydrate foods may be more satiating when compared to their alternatives.
It's OK to Eat Eggs for Breakfast, Right?
June 17th 2015Epidemiological studies have provided conflicting evidence regarding the impact of dietary cholesterol and egg consumption on heart disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Also controversial is the idea that dietary cholesterol may contribute to the very development of T2DM by altering glucose metabolism. Given the significant influence of diet on diabetes management, the lack of conclusive evidence on this subject emphasizes the need for further study.
Did Cavemen Have Good Lipid Profiles?
June 17th 2015The Paleolithic (grain-free) diet is gathering steam among dieters and health conscious individuals alike. Proponents consume only items that, hypothetically, cavemen would have had access to. They claim that modern man can't metabolize comparatively new types of food, and our reliance on processed foods has increased rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
Yet Another Coffee Study Says It's OK to Drink Up
May 29th 2015Danish researchers conducted a meta-analysis that looked at possible associations between coffee intake and obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. They reported finding only a low risk of these conditions in coffee drinkers, but no genetic variance to explain the relationships.
Understanding the Obese Patient
May 26th 2015Obesity rates have climbed nearly 50 percent since 1997, with as much as 30 percent of the population classified as obese. There is strong belief within the health care industry that obesity should be treated as a primary medical condition, with physicians playing a major role. Evidence suggests that patients are more likely to lose weight when they are advised by their primary care physicians to do so.
Diabetes Diagnosis Opens a Window of Opportunity for Weight Loss
May 5th 2015When patients are initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, clinicians usually recommend several lifestyle changes, including weight loss. Few studies have looked at weight changes in patients with type 2 diabetes around initial diagnosis, although it's clear that it is more difficult for patients with diabetes to lose weight than it is for others.
Insulin Resistance Higher in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
The increased insulin resistance seen in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to non-RA controls did not contribute to additional atherosclerosis risk, according to research published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Fish Consumption and ACS: A Meta-Analysis
March 30th 2015The American Heart Association was one of the first organizations to advocate dietary changes to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The organization's first recommendation appeared in 1957 advising a decrease in the amount of fat intake to decrease atherosclerosis risk. Today, a different approach is recommended, which considers the diet as a whole, with recommendations of what to both include and avoid. Among other nutritional and lifestyle recommendations, the AHA advises the consumption of 2 servings of fish weekly for both men and women.
What's the Story with Statins and Stroke Prevention? - A Q&A with Koto Ishida, MD
There have been some disappointing studies and contradictory recommendations on using statins to treat stroke. HCPLive's Gale Scott interviewed Koto Ishida, MD, medical director of the NYU Langone Comprehensive Stroke Care Center, about the implications for clinicians.