Measures of exercise performance seem to improve when hawthorn extract is given along with standard therapy, a Cochrane review concludes. Medscape Medical News
This study of 45 patients with metabolic syndrome and 20 healthy subjects, who were evaluated noninvasively with high-resolution ultrasound imaging, shows that high-density lipoprotein accounts for 66.4% predictability in terms of future cardiovascular risk. Medscape Medical News
Two new studies suggest that smoking cessation advice within hospitals needs more structure. A related article finds that smoking in midlife shortens life expectancy and quality of that life. Medscape Medical News
The drug showed a trend toward a slowing of the progression of atherosclerosis and an overall positive effect on metabolic factors in the VICTORY study in post-CABG diabetes patients. Heartwire
The Thoratec Corp announced yesterday that last month it initiated a recall of some of its implantable ventricular assist devices manufactured since 2004. Heartwire
This most recent analysis showed that while elevated plasma triglycerides identified patients at increased risk for recurrence of disease, the association depended on other risk factors, especially HDL cholesterol. Heartwire
