This page will be arranged in the standard OPUSeJ Digest form:
EDITORIALS
FEATURE ARTICLES
DISCUSSION PAPAERS
FORUM ARTICLES
Appropriateness of patient’s use of ASA in CVD prevention. Kolber, M et al, 2013, “Family practice patients’ use of acetylsalicylic acid for cardiovascular disease prevention”, Canadian Family Physician 59:1, 55-61. http://www.opusej.org/library/family-practice-patients-use-of-acetylsalicylic-acid-for-cardiovascular-disease-prevention-cover/
A review suggests that among widely used NSAIDs, naproxen and low-dose ibuprofen are least likely to increase cardiovascular risk, while Diclofenac in doses available without prescription elevates risk casting doubt on its continued clinical use. McGettigan, Patricia and David Henry, 2011, “Cardiovascular Risk with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Systematic Review of Population-Based Controlled Observational Studies”, PLoS Med 8(9): e1001098. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001098 http://www.opusej.org/library/cardiovascular-risk-with-non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory-drugs-systematic-review-of-population-based-controlled-observational-studies-cover/
A meta-analysis of atrial fibrillation incidence and of intermittent pre-excitation prevalence, in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Obeyesekere MN et al, 2012, “Incidence of atrial fibrillation and prevalence of intermittent pre-excitation in asymptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White patients: a meta-analysis”, Int J Cardiol 160:1, 75-77. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2012.05.078. Epub 2012 Jun 12. http://www.opusej.org/library/incidence-of-atrial-fibrillation-and-prevalence-of-intermittent-pre-excitation-in-asymptomatic-wolff-parkinson-white-patients-a-meta-analysis-cover/
In type B aortic dissections, branch vessel occlusion is more likely in the vessels supplied by the false lumen (FL). Aortic dilatation occurred more frequently when 2 or more vessels were supplied by the FL. Ravichandran, P et al, 2013, “Patterns of Visceral and Renal Artery Involvement in Type B Aortic Dissections”, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery 47:1, 5-8. Published online November 29, 2012, doi: 10.1177/1538574412467863. http://www.opusej.org/library/patterns-of-visceral-and-renal-artery-involvement-in-type-b-aortic-dissections-cover/
A review of studies suggests a promising role for citrus flavonoids in the treatment of dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, obesity and atherosclerosis. Assini, Julia M, Erin Mulvihill & Murray W. Huff, 2013, “Citrus flavonoids and lipid metabolism”, Current Opinion in Lipidology 24:1, 34–40. doi: 10.1097/MOL.0b013e32835c07fd http://www.opusej.org/library/citrus-flavonoids-and-lipid-metabolism-cover/
Significant improvements in outcomes of 25% reduction or more for all 3 lipid outcomes are achieved with higher Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) thresholds than commonly targeted. Watanabe, Jonathan H., Mark Bounthavong, and Timothy Chen. “Revisiting the Medication Possession Ratio Threshold for Adherence in Lipid Management.” Current Medical Research & Opinion (2013): 1-31. Posted online on January 15, 2013. (doi:10.1185/03007995.2013.766164) http://www.opusej.org/library/revisiting-the-medication-possession-ratio-threshold-for-adherence-in-lipid-management-cover/
READING LIST
Treatment with n−3 fatty acids did not reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in primary prevention in high risk patients. The Risk and Prevention Study Collaborative Group, 2013, “n–3 Fatty Acids in Patients with Multiple Cardiovascular Risk Factors”, N Engl J Med 2013:368, 1800-1808. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1205409
Restarting discontinued statins is a validated strategy. Zhang, H et al, 2013, “Discontinuation of Statins in Routine Care Settings: A Cohort Study”, Annals of Internal Medicine 158:7, 526-534. http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1671715&atab=11
Appropriateness of patient’s use of ASA in CVD prevention. Kolber, M et al, 2013, “Family practice patients’ use of acetylsalicylic acid for cardiovascular disease prevention”, Canadian Family Physician 59:1, 55-61. http://www.opusej.org/library/family-practice-patients-use-of-acetylsalicylic-acid-for-cardiovascular-disease-prevention-cover/
In A fibrillation, apixaban (Eliquis) was superior to warfarin in preventing stroke or systemic embolism, caused less bleeding, and resulted in lower mortality. Granger, C B et al, 2011, “Apixaban versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation”, New England Journal of Medicine 365:11, 981-992. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1107039. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1107039
A review suggests that among widely used NSAIDs, naproxen and low-dose ibuprofen are least likely to increase cardiovascular risk, while Diclofenac in doses available without prescription elevates risk casting doubt on its continued clinical use. McGettigan, Patricia and David Henry, 2011, “Cardiovascular Risk with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Systematic Review of Population-Based Controlled Observational Studies”, PLoS Med 8(9): e1001098. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001098 http://www.opusej.org/library/cardiovascular-risk-with-non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory-drugs-systematic-review-of-population-based-controlled-observational-studies-cover/
A review of studies suggests a promising role for citrus flavonoids in the treatment of dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, obesity and atherosclerosis. Assini, Julia M, Erin Mulvihill & Murray W. Huff, 2013, “Citrus flavonoids and lipid metabolism”, Current Opinion in Lipidology 24:1, 34–40. doi: 10.1097/MOL.0b013e32835c07fd http://www.opusej.org/library/citrus-flavonoids-and-lipid-metabolism-cover/
Smokers lose at least one decade of life expectancy, as compared with those who have never smoked. Cessation before the age of 40 years reduces the risk of death associated with continued smoking by about 90%. Jha, P et al, 2013, “21st-Century Hazards of Smoking and Benefits of Cessation in the United States”, N Engl J Med 2013; 368:341-350. Online January 24, 2013DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa1211128. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1211128
Hypertension in normal weight and obese patients might be mediated by different mechanisms. Thiazide-based treatment gives less cardiovascular protection in normal weight than obese patients, but amlodipine-based therapy is equally effective across BMI subgroups and thus offers superior cardiovascular protection in non-obese hypertension. Weber, M A, et al, 2012, “Effects of body size and hypertension treatments on cardiovascular event rates: subanalysis of the ACCOMPLISH randomised controlled trial”, The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 6 December 2012. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61343-9. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61343-9/abstract.
The Avoiding Cardiovascular Events through Combination Therapy in Patients Living with Systolic Hypertension (ACCOMPLISH) trial. The benazepril–amlodipine combination was superior to the benazepril–hydrochlorothiazide combination in reducing cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension who were at high risk for such events. Jamerson, K et al, 2008, “Benazepril plus Amlodipine or Hydrochlorothiazide for Hypertension in High-Risk Patients”, N Engl J Med 2008; 359:2417-2428. December 4, 2008DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa0806182. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0806182.
Fructose, a common sugar found in the U.S. diet, may cause changes in the brain that trigger a person to overeat. Consumption of fructose compared with glucose resulted in a distinct pattern of regional hypothalamic regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) and a smaller increase in systemic glucose, insulin, and glucagon-like polypeptide 1 levels. Page, K A et al, 2013, “Effects of Fructose vs Glucose on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Brain Regions Involved With Appetite and Reward Pathways”, JAMA 309:1, 63-70. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.116975. http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1555133
The combination of statin treatment and increased fitness resulted in substantially lower mortality risk than either alone. Kokkinos, P F et al, 2012 “Interactive effects of fitness and statin treatment on mortality risk in veterans with dyslipidaemia: a cohort study”, The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 28 November 2012 doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61426-3. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61426-3/abstract.
Study of a large cohort of older patients with atrial fibrillation, reports rates of hemorrhage are highest within the first 30 days of warfarin therapy and are considerably higher than the rates of 1%–3% reported in randomized controlled trials of warfarin therapy. Gomes, T et al, 2012, “Rates of hemorrhage during warfarin therapy for atrial fibrillation”, CMAJ published online November 26, 2012, doi: 10.1503/cmaj.121218. http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2012/11/26/cmaj.121218.full.pdf+html
A common polymorphism near period homolog 1 (PER1) is associated with the timing of human behavioral rhythms, and shows evidence of association with time of death. Lim ASP et al, 2012 “A common polymorphism near PER1 and the timing of human behavioral rhythms”, Annals of Neurology 72, 324-34. DOI: 10.1002/ana.23636. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.23636/abstract.
Large cross-sectional study suggests that fasting for routine lipid levels is largely unnecessary. Sidhu, D and Naugler, C, 2012, “Fasting Time and Lipid Levels in a Community-Based Population” Arch Intern Med. online pre-print, 1-4. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.3708. http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1391022.
In a population of diabetic patients with coronary artery disease and a high risk of time-dependent aspirin resistance, aspirin divided twice per day can significantly decrease the rate of biological loss of efficacy at trough level. Dillinger, JG et al, 2012, “Biological efficacy of twice daily aspirin in type 2 diabetic patients with coronary artery disease”, American Heart Journal 164:4, 600-606. http://www.ahjonline.com/article/S0002-8703(12)00439-5/abstract.
In a small (POSEIDON Trial) study of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, transendocardial injection of allogeneic or autologous mesenchymal stem cells, both favorably affected patient functional capacity, quality of life, and ventricular remodeling. Hare, JM et al, 2012, “Comparison of Allogeneic vs Autologous Bone Marrow–Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Delivered by Transendocardial Injection in Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy”, JAMA preview online 1-11. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.25321. http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1388970.
A large retrospective look at cancer patients found that statin use, before cancer diagnosis, is associated with reduced cancer-related mortality. Nielsen, S et al, 2012, “Statin Use and Reduced Cancer-Related Mortality” N Engl J Med 367, 1792-1802. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1201735 http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1201735
Colesevelam (Lodalis) may improve both lipid control and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving oral antihyperglycemic medications. Zieve, F et al, 2007, “Results of the glucose-lowering effect of WelChol study (GLOWS): A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study evaluating the effect of colesevelam hydrochloride on glycemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes”, Clinical Therapeutics 29:1, 74-83. http://www.clinicaltherapeutics.com/article/S0149-2918(07)00017-3/abstract.
Study suggests a favorable short-term safety profile and beneficial BP effects of renal nerve ablation in patients with stage 3-4 CKD and resistant hypertension. Hering, D, et al, 2012, “Renal denervation in moderate to severe CKD”, JASN 23:7, 1250-7. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2011111062. http://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/23/7/1250.short.
Cardiovascular and mortality benefits of statin therapy exceed the diabetes hazard, including in participants at high risk of developing diabetes. Ridker, P, et al, 2012, “Cardiovascular benefits and diabetes risks of statin therapy in primary prevention: an analysis from the JUPITER trial”, Lancet380:9841, 565-71. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22883507?dopt=Abstract.
Prothrombin complex concentrate (eg. Octaplex) immediately and completely reverses the anticoagulant effect of rivaroxaban (Xarelto) in healthy subjects but has no influence on the anticoagulant action of dabigatran (Pradax). Eerenberg, E, et al, 2011, “Reversal of Rivaroxaban and Dabigatran by Prothrombin Complex Concentrate”, Circulation 124:14, 1573-9 doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.029017. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21900088.
Lowest mortality was observed in AMI patients with potassium levels between 3.5-4.5 mEq/L of U-shaped distribution. Goyal, A, et al, 2012, “Serum Potassium Levels and Mortality in Acute Myocardial Infarction”, JAMA 307:2, 157-164. doi:10.1001/jama.2011.1967. http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1104847.
Alipogenetiparvovec (Glybera), for lipoprotein lipase deficiency, is first gene therapy drug approval in Europe. Gaude, D, 2010, Atherosclerosis Supplements 11:1, 55-60. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1567568810000085.
Body shape, as measured by ABSI (WC/BMI2/3x height1/2), appears to be a substantial risk factor for premature mortality. Krakauer, NY and Krakauer, JC, 2012, “A New Body Shape Index Predicts Mortality Hazard Independently of Body Mass Index”, PLoS ONE 7:7 e39504 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039504. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0039504?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+plosone%2FPublicHealthandEpidemiology+(PLoS+ONE+Alerts%3A+Public+Health+and+Epidemiology).
Ranks 122 countries by data for physical activity levels and trends. Hallal, P C et al, 2012, “Global physical activity levels: surveillance progress, pitfalls, and prospects”, The Lancet, Early Online Publication, doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60646-1Cite. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960646-1/fulltext#sec1.
Ezetimibe leads to paradoxical progression of atherosclerosis in association with both greater LDL-C reduction and cumulative drug exposure. Taylor, AJ, TC Villines and EJ Stanek, 2012, “Paradoxical progression of atherosclerosis related to low-density lipoprotein reduction and exposure to ezetimibe” European Heart Journal doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehs1052012. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22564353.
How hydroxychloroquine lowers cholesterol.Wallace DJ, 1990, “Cholesterol-lowering effect of hydroxychloroquine in patients with rheumatic disease: reversal of deleterious effects of steroids on lipids”, Am J Med 89:3, 322-6. http://www.ntkinstitute.org/news/content.nsf/NTKPaperFrameSet?OpenForm&id=6EA4D3E1725B66BC85257705006354C1&newsid=852571020057CCF685257A0F0020F6C4&u=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=22641182.
Genetic studies challenge the concept that raising of plasma HDL cholesterol will uniformly translate into reductions in risk of myocardial infarction. Voight B F, 2012, “Plasma HDL cholesterol and risk of myocardial infarction: a mendelian randomisation study”, The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 17 May 2012 doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60312-2Cite http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)60312-2/abstract.
Users of calcium supplements alone had twice the risk of MI compared to those on no supplements. Li, K et al (EPIC-Heidelberg group), 2012, “Associations of dietary calcium intake and calcium supplementation with myocardial infarction and stroke risk and overall cardiovascular mortality in the Heidelberg cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study (EPIC-Heidelberg)” Heart 98, 920-925. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2011-301345. http://heart.bmj.com/content/98/12/920.full.
Domperidone, especially in high doses, is associated with an increased risk of Sudden Cardiac Death. van Noord, Charlotte, et al, 2010, “Domperidone and Ventricular Arrhythmia or Sudden Cardiac Death: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in the Netherlands”, Drug Safety 33:11, 1003-1014.doi: 10.2165/11536840-00000000000000 http://adisonline.com/drugsafety/Abstract/2010/33110/Domperidone_and_Ventricular_Arrhythmia_or_Sudden.5.aspx
Statin therapy benefits are now considered to stem from effects other than lipid modulation to pleiotropic effects. A review of the mechanisms and the pathways involved. Palaniswamy, Chandrasekar, et al, 2012, “Mechanisms Underlying Pleiotropic Effects of Statins”, Heart 98:1078-1082 doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2011-301306 http://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2012/03/21/heartjnl-2011-301306.
Colchicine is safe and efficacious for the primary and secondary prevention of pericarditis. Imazio M et al, 2012, “Efficacy and safety of colchicine for pericarditis prevention. Systematic review and meta-analysis”, Heart 98, 1078-1082 doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2011-301306 http://heart.bmj.com/content/98/14/1078.abstract.
Review Article. re: the efficacy and safety of drug therapies for obesity and gives perspective to the lorcaserin BLOSSOM study, 2011, Ioannides-Demos, Lisa L., Loretta Piccenna, and John J. McNeil, “Pharmacotherapies for Obesity: Past, Current, and Future”, Therapies Journal of Obesity doi:10.1155/2011/179674http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jobes/2011/179674/. And see; Meredith C F, et al 2011, “A One-Year Randomized Trial of Lorcaserin for Weight Loss in Obese and Overweight Adults: The BLOSSOM Trial” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 96:10, http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/96/10/3067.short.
PLATO study: Ticagrelor (Brilinta) beats clopidogrel. Wallentin, L, 2009, “Ticagrelor versus Clopidogrel in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes”, N Engl J Med 361, 1045-1057. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0904327.
Dabigatran (Pradax) beats warfarin in A fibrillation. Connolly, S J et al, 2012, “Dabigatran versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation,” The New England Journal of Medicine, 361:12, 1139–1151. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0905561.
Implicates most current published research findings as false and discusses problems for the conduct and interpretation of research. Ioannidis JPA, 2005, “Why Most Published Research Findings Are False” PLoS Med 2:8, e124. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0020124 http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0020124.