New Cardiovascular Risk Factor, Again: Gut Bugs, L-Carnitine, and TMAO
Trimethylamine-N-oxide production in the gut is associated with adverse cardiovascular events.
Dual-Chamber ICDs for Primary Prevention: Pain with No Gain?
Compared with single-chamber devices, dual-chamber ICDs are associated with significantly more implant complications and no improvement in outcomes.
A Secondary-Prevention Alarm Bell for Lower-Income Countries
Among survivors of coronary heart disease and stroke, those in lower-income countries were even less likely to observe key elements of a healthy lifestyle than survivors in wealthier countries.
A Danish study shows no excess cardiovascular-related mortality in relatively healthy azithromycin users.
Measuring Coronary Artery Calcium in People with Type 2 Diabetes Identifies a Low-Risk Subset
Coronary calcium scores might help stratify risk for adverse cardiovascular events.
In a large population of veterans, positive HIV status was independently associated with increased risk.
Whether infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) increases risk for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unclear. To investigate this question, researchers studied the frequency of AMI in some 82,000 participants (97% men) in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study Virtual Cohort, which includes HIV-positive individuals and uninfected individuals matched at enrollment for demographic and behavioral characteristics.
A large, carefully designed study provides convincing evidence of correlation between sudden cardiac death and both fine particulate matter and ozone levels.
Relatively compelling data link airborne fine particulate matter to myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke. The association of fine particulate matter with sudden cardiac death (SCD) is less consistent, and that of ozone with SCD is nonexistent. To find out more, investigators conducted a case-crossover analysis of hourly recordings of air pollution levels and SCD events in Houston during an 8-year period.
Can We Skip Aspirin After Coronary Stenting in Patients Taking Anticoagulants?
Although clopidogrel-only antiplatelet therapy resulted in a reduction in bleeding events in a small trial, wholesale practice change is premature.
Meta-analysis shows little association between egg consumption and coronary heart disease or stroke.
