The HCPLive conference coverage page features articles, videos, and expert-led live coverage from major medical meetings throughout the year.
Potential Breakthrough Treatment for CML Patients Who Harbor Imatinib-Resistant T315I Mutation
December 5th 2009Omacetaxine (Omapro) achieved durable hematologic and cytogenetic responses in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who failed treatment with imatinib (Gleevec). All patients in this phase II/III study had developed the T3151 mutation, which confers resistance to imatinib and to the second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) nilotinib (Tasigna) and dasatinib (Sprycel).
Revised AHA/ACC PCI and STEMI Guidelines Released
November 18th 2009Wednesday at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2009, the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines announced the release of the long-awaited update to the guidelines for management of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and the management of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
Atrial Fibrillation - Abstract Poster Session
November 18th 2009Nearly a dozen posters were presented during this final-day poster session, featuring results of studies looking at such topics as postmenopausal hormone therapy, pericardial fat, birth weight in women, chronic kidney disease, metabolic syndrome, pulmonary toxicity associated with amiodarone, and risk stratification schemes. The results of these studies are highlighted.
Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Emerging Technologies
This abstract poster session featured the topics of left atrial scar remodeling, closure of gap lesions, incidence of complete circumferential scar of the pulmonary vein antra, contact force mapping and ultrasound, antral isolation of pulmonary veins, radiofrequency ablation versus visutally guided laser balloon ablation, regional differences in left atrial wall thickness, and more. Highlights of these research posters are offered below.
What Can Ischemia and Ventricular Tachycardia Tell Us about Cardiovascular Risk?
November 17th 2009Study results from the MERLIN-TIMI 36 Trial looking at the risk of ischemia and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) alone or combined in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) were presented during an abstract oral session at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2009.
Coronary Micro-vessel Spasm and Angina-like Chest Pain
November 17th 2009A study presented Tuesday at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2009 looked at the relationship between coronary micro-vessel spasm, epicardial coronary artery spastic angina, and non-obstructive coronary artery disease.
Atrial Fibrillation: Bench to Bedside
This session focused on the current state of practice for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation; the pathophysiology of AF, including genetics, atrial structure, and neurologic input; and clinical and epidemiological insights into imaging AF substrate.
Echocardiography in Clinical Syndromes: Atrial Fibrillation
This abstract oral session, featuring presenters who were given 15 minutes to review their research, provided attendees with information on the E/e’ ratio as a prognostic predictor in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the association between atrial and ventricular ECG findings and cardiac circulating biomarkers, stiffness of the left atrium, left atrial function as a predictor of first AF in older adults, and the mechanism of improvement of cardiac function in patients with AF. The studies are reviewed here.
Atrial Fibrillation: Mechanisms and Implications for Ablation
This abstract session featured presenters for studies that focused on the importance of atrial surface area and refractory period in sustaining atrial fibrillation (AF), mechanisms of CFAE formation in the posterior left atrium during induced AF, the left atrial ganlionated plexus, and complex fractionated atrial electrogramm versus liner ablation for persistent AF.
The results of a study that looked at the competing effects on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) of hypokalemia and treatment with hydrochlorothiazides (HCTZ) in hypertensive patients were presented Monday, November 15 at the American Heart Association Scientitifc Sessions 2009.
Treatment of Arrhythmias: Pharmacologic
This all-day abstract poster session featured researchers presenting results of studies focused on such topics as atrial fibrillation following pulmonary transplantation, use of Digoxin in atrial fibrillation, supplementation of Omega 3 PUFA plus antioxidante vitamins to prevent postoperative atrial fibrillation, and the impact of hypothyroidism on atrial fibrillation treatment strategy outcomes. The results are highlighted here.
Although treatment with low-dose aspirin is standard care for secondary prevention of cardiovascular (CV) events, some studies have shown that up to half of all patients stop taking aspirin. Other studies have shown that discontinuation of aspirin in these patients is linked to an increased risk of MI and other ischemic events.
Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Outcomes, Complications and Strategies
This abstract oral session featured top cardiology researchers who were given a mere 15 minutes to review the highlights of their most recent work. The reasons for their studies and what they found are covered below.
The R231C KCNQI Mutation Causes Familial Atrial Fibrillation and Long QT Syndrome
This poster presentation, part of the “Ion Channels and Cardiac Rhythm” abstract poster session, reviewed the results of study that Daniel Bartos and colleagues conducted in order to determine the mutation behind the development of familial atrial fibrillation (FAF2 and long QT syndromes (LQT1).
This heavily trafficked poster session featured posters focused on left atrial pressure waveform analysis, intracardiac echocardiography, pressure-guided cryoballon isolation of the pulmonary veins, radiofrequency ablation, atrial fibrillation due to mitral valve disease, a non-contact mapping system, and the mechanism of chronic atrial fibrillation. MDNG had the pleasure of meeting with some of the presenters, and summaries of their posters are provided below.
Effect of Dronedarone on Cardiovascular Events in Atrial Fibrillation
This brief presentation (roughly 25 minutes)—part of the “Groundbreaking Studies in the Practice of Cardiovascular Medicine: Circulation Editors’ Choices” session—featured Stefan H. Hohnloser, MD, who presented the results of a study that were published in the February 12, 2009 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Fibromyalgia and Soft Tissue Disorders II-Central Nervous System
A handful of abstracts were presented during this session, focusing on the link between fibromyalgia fatigue and kynurenine pathway activity, glutamate in the anterior insula, the effects of fatigue on response to pain, and neurocortical representation of locus of control in patients with fibromyalgia.
Community Resources and Participation
During this hour-and-one-half concurrent abstract session, moderated by Jennifer M. Hootman, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atalanta, GA, a half-dozen abstracts were presented, focusing on health-related quality of life among adults with arthritis, the impact of arthritis and other chronic conditions on community participation, quality of non-pharmacologic care for patients with osteoarthritis, social network support, and restrictions in participating in life situations among patients with RA.