This week in cardiology from heartwire

For the week ending September 7, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: • Chocolate reduces stroke risk in men • RE-LY Registry: Wide global variation in AF management, mortality • Apixaban: A good choice for AF patients with renal dysfunction? • Nation losing war against hypertension, CDC says • ATLAS ACS 2 TIMI 51: 2.5-mg rivaroxaban cuts cardiac events in STEMI And also, in brief: • Surprise as DSMB says TASTE study of thrombus aspiration should continue • New clot retrievers outperform old • Don't give up yet! Longer in-hospital resuscitation effort may improve survival Join us for a comprehensive review of the conference's news.

For the week ending August 24, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: • What's going to be hot at the ESC 2012 Congress • MIST investigator charges Circulation, AHA, with "breaking their own rules" on disclosure • FDA: Get X-rays of Riata defibrillator lead • Meta-analysis challenges drug use in mild hypertension • PINNACLE-AF registry suggests slow uptake of new anticoagulants And also, in brief: • Coronary artery calcium bests other risk markers for CVD risk assessment • St Jude's ICD lead insulation questioned in new analysis • Cocoa may boost cognitive function Join us for a comprehensive review of this week's most important cardiology news.

For the week ending August 17, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: • JUPITER analysis helps assuage fears about diabetes risk with statins • Statins linked with development of cataracts • Chocolate nudges down BP in new meta-analysis • Bleeding risk tools compared in atrial-fibrillation patients • Troponin algorithm rules MI in or out in 77% of chest-pain patients And also, in brief: • TAVI expansion controversy continues • ABO blood type is a risk factor for coronary heart disease • Major vascular complications occur in more than one in seven TAVR patients: PARTNER Join us for a comprehensive review of this week's most important cardiology news.

For the week ending August 10, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: • AHA/ASA advisory on stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation • Possible dabigatran, rivaroxaban antidotes work in vitro in human blood • Photosensitizing antihypertensives raise lip-cancer risk • New paper disputes MI count in TRITON, RECORD, and PLATO • US government investigates necessity of PCIs at HCA hospitals And also, in brief: • Consider dual-chamber pacemaker for sinus-node dysfunction or AV block, experts say • Scarring seen on MRI may predict ICD benefit better than LVEF • Improvements in lipids observed in US adolescents Join us for a comprehensive review of this week's most important cardiology news.

For the week ending August 3, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: • CONFIRM: Even nonobstructive CAD at CT predicts risk in symptomatic patients • FDA approves EPA-only omega-3 PUFA capsule for high TG • Aggressive heart-rate control reduces radiation from CCTA • Rivaroxaban gets NICE thumbs-up for DVT • BMJ analysis: TAVI is vastly overused And also, in brief: • Exercise training improves depressive symptoms in heart failure: HF-ACTION • Endoscopic bypass vein-graft harvesting no worse than open method • Screening ECG unnecessary for asymptomatic adults: USPSTF Join us for a comprehensive review of this week's most important cardiology news.

For the week ending July 27, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: • London 2012: Preventing sudden cardiac death on the world's biggest athletic stage • CT-based FFR saves money by reducing unnecessary PCIs • Polypill for primary prevention: Largest-yet reductions in BP, cholesterol in small UK trial • Job stress strains a woman's heart, but no one knows why • Workplace solvents linked to heart defects And also, in brief: • Don't penalize efficiency, reward it: Zoghbi on proposed 2013 Medicare fee schedule • MI risk shoots up temporarily after hip- or knee-replacement surgery Join us for a comprehensive review of this week's most important cardiology news.

For the week ending July 20, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: • Higher HDL-particle concentrations associated with reduced CHD risk • HRT ups BP; risk of hypertension higher with longer duration of use • Interventional journal publishes letter spoofing appropriate-use criteria • "Weekend effect" seen in large stroke study • FDA approves new diet drug: phentermine-topiramate combo And also, in brief: • Statin use low in the elderly • AHA maps out the best heart hospitals • Cleveland Clinic nabs 2012 top spot for heart hospitals Join us for a comprehensive review of this week's most important cardiology news.

For the week ending July 13, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: • Apixaban delay prompts "not-us!" chorus • Tighter UK food policies could slash CV deaths by 30 000 • Echo vs nuclear for stress imaging after revascularization • Many patients getting DES would do as well with bare-metal stents: NCDR registry • Ticagrelor tops prasugrel in pharmacodynamic study And also, in brief: • Spaced out? Weightless hearts in space change shape, function • Statins may cut cancer risk post-heart transplant • Hypertension prevalence in US stable, at 30% Join us for a comprehensive review of this week's most important cardiology news.

For the week ending July 6, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: • EVINCI: Invasive diagnostic tests can be dramatically reduced • "Thrilled," "stunned," "full of hope": Reactions to Supreme Court decision • Readmission rates after MI not the best quality indicator? • Rosiglitazone features in $3-billion healthcare-fraud case • Ten-minute, abbreviated echo can be added to young athlete screening And also, in brief: • Coffee vs heart failure: A few cups per day protects • Half of ACS, HF patients suffer medication errors despite pharmacist intervention • Tighter UK food policies could slash CV deaths by 30 000 Join us for a comprehensive review of this week's most important cardiology news.

• No US approval yet for apixaban for stroke prevention in AF • FDA approves lorcaserin for the treatment of obesity • FDA refuses ACS indication for rivaroxaban—for now • Are statins less effective in women? Another meta-analysis • Not all calories are the same, new research finds And also, in brief: • US Supreme Court upholds entire Affordable Care Act** • Linagliptin noninferior to glimepiride in diabetics failing metformin • Durata failure case not so "Riata-like"

For the week ending June 22, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: • Stem-cell findings strike at long-held vascular disease dogma • A multibiomarker test for predicting CVD: Has its time arrived? • Measuring apolipoproteins does not help risk prediction • First-in-human transcatheter mitral-valve implant And also, in brief: • EFFORTLESS: Registry shows continued improvement with subcutaneous ICD • Lack of sleep ups stroke risk in low-risk adults • Alarming increase in hypertension in US children Join us for a comprehensive review of this week's most important cardiology news.

For the week ending June 15, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: • The not-so-long run: Mortality benefit of running less than 20 miles per week • Label update for dabigatran • Who gets published? Journals, conferences use different selection criteria • Alcohol may trigger AF episodes • Approve Sapien TAVR for high-risk operable patients, FDA advisors say And also, in brief: • "Safe enough": Arterial-thrombosis risk of hormonal contraceptives acceptable • Personalized website aids CV risk-factor control • Bonus info: CHADS2 helps predict post-CABG AF risk Join us for a comprehensive review of this week's most important cardiology news.

For the week ending June 8, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: Exercise worsens a CV risk factor in 10% of people • Don't give up on HDL, researchers plead • Major bleeding with aspirin in primary prevention underestimated • Dietary calcium better than supplements for CVD safety, latest research suggests • More evidence dark chocolate is cardioprotective And also, in brief: • Rhythm control "worth a try" in AF patients, new study hints • Even low TnT rises predict death after noncardiac surgery • North Carolina pioneers "pit-crew" approach to STEMI response that can work anywhere Join us for a comprehensive review of this week's most important cardiology news.

For the week ending June 1, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: • Dabigatran fatal bleeding less than in clinical trials: New EMA data • Obesity paradox observed with hydrochlorothiazide, not amlodipine: ACCOMPLISH • Dulaglutide passes BP hurdle, but heart-rate increase observed • DIG revisited: Digoxin scrutinized anew for chronic heart failure • More impressive data with LDL-receptor mAb And also, in brief: • FDA panel recommends new studies of ASD occluders • Hope rekindled for ACE inhibitors, ARBs in preserved-EF heart failure • The future is now (sort of): Guidance on genetics and CVD from the AHA Join us for a comprehensive review of this week's most important cardiology news.

For the week ending May 25, 2012 we discuss the following top cardiology news from heartwire: • Statins benefit those at much lower CV risk • So long, Plavix, what a ride! Clopidogrel patent expires • Apixaban cuts stroke risk in all types of AF, says ARISTOTLE • Next-generation transcatheter aortic valve looks good in 30-day registry data • 2012 European HF guidelines cover new ground: TAVI, ivabradine make debuts And also, in brief: • Missing data lead FDA panel to vote against rivaroxaban for ACS • Death and stroke rates in decline in diabetics Join us for a comprehensive review of this week's most important cardiology news.