The FDA has granted 510(k) clearance for a vascular diagnostic system (Vicorder), a radiological image processing system (WorkstationOne), and a respiratory gas humidifier (PARI Hydrate V). Medscape Medical News
The 2003 definition of fasting glucose is no better at predicting the risk for coronary heart disease than that in 1997, which used a higher lower-limit for fasting plasma glucose. Medscape Medical News
A new study has controversially found an increase in the risk of MI in women taking calcium supplements. Although the results are equivocal, three recent trials have shown similar, if less robust, findings, say the researchers. This raises concerns about the use of calcium, particularly in older women with preexisting heart disease, they say. Heartwire
In the new study, scientists showed that the dream of growing new human hearts to replace damaged ones is not simply in the realm of a too-distant future. The US group reported they were successful in creating a beating rat heart in a laboratory. Heartwire
Authors of a Perspective to be published next month say general cardiologists and their patients heard all the bad news about drug-eluting stents but are ill-informed about newer data pointing to reduced death/MI. Heartwire
Thromboembolic risk seems low when stopping oral anticoagulation for minor outpatient procedures, but giving some form of periprocedural heparin as a backup may increase the risk for serious bleeding. Medscape Medical News
Two reviews have concluded that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers are similarly effective in the treatment of hypertension and proteinuria, respectively. Medscape Medical News
Patients with primary aldosteronism have 4 times the risk for cardiovascular events vs people with essential hypertension, but timely treatment brings the cardiovascular risks back in line. Medscape Medical News
A recent study published in Circulation shows impressive results in support of having catheterization lab activation performed by emergency physicians, without prior evaluation by a cardiologist. Medscape Emergency Medicine
