http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. (HealthDay) -- For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who are treated with aspirin, isoprostanes are overproduced, which is linked with enhanced platelet recruitment, according to a study published online March 16 in Diabetes. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-aspirin-platelet-isoprostanes-diabetes.html Diabetes Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:40:39 EST news251732392 (Medical Xpress) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the smoking cessation medication varenicline (Chantix) as an effective aide in helping people quit smoking, including those with cardiovascular disease, although it cautions that varenicline may also be associated with a small, increased risk of certain cardiovascular adverse events in such patients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-benefits-varenicline-chantix.html Medications Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:57:27 EST news251369834 (HealthDay) -- People with the painful skin condition psoriasis may be at increased risk for health problems that affect the heart, an expert says. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-psoriasis-patients-higher-heart.html Immunology Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:00:01 EST news251126906 Living kidney donors are at no greater risk of heart disease than the healthy general population, finds a study published in the British Medical Journal today. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-kidney-donors-heart-disease.html Cardiology Fri, 02 Mar 2012 04:23:37 EST news249884596 Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects 5-9% of youth and is frequently treated with stimulant medications, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine products. A recent safety communication from the US Food and Drug Administration advised that all patients undergoing ADHD treatment be monitored for changes in heart rate or blood pressure. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-treatment-adhd-cardiac-events-youth.html Attention deficit disorders Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:44:33 EST news247920251 (Boston) -The incidence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension increases with cumulative levels of exposure to nitrogen oxides, according to a new study led by researchers from the Slone Epidemiology Center (SEC) at Boston University. The study, which appears online in the journal Circulation, was led by Patricia Coogan, D.Sc., associate professor of epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health and the SEC. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-air-pollution-linked-diabetes-hypertension.html Cardiology Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:20:01 EST news244994555 Among obese individuals, having bariatric surgery was associated with a reduced long-term incidence of cardiovascular deaths and events such as heart attack and stroke, according to a study in the January 4 issue of JAMA. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-bariatric-surgery-reduction-cardiovascular-events.html Cardiology Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:24:10 EST news244830226 Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that a certain type of genetic testing (for the genotype CYP2C19) be considered before prescribing the drug clopidogrel to identify individuals who may be less responsive to the medication, a review and analysis of previous studies did not find an overall significant association between the CYP2C19 genotype and cardiovascular events, according to a study in the December 28 issue of JAMA. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-analysis-genetic-anti-clotting-drug.html Genetics Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:00:01 EST news244196798 Although there have been cardiovascular safety concerns about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications because of their ability to increase heart rate and blood pressure levels, an analysis that included more than 150,000 ADHD users found no evidence of an increased risk of heart attack, stroke or sudden cardiac death associated with current use compared with nonuse or rare use among young and middle-aged adults, according to a study appearing in JAMA. The study is being released early online because of its public health importance. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-cardiovascular-events-adults-adhd-medications.html Attention deficit disorders Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:00:01 EST news242905723 For years doctors have warned that too much salt is bad for your heart. Now a new McMaster University study suggests that both high and low levels of salt intake may put people with heart disease or diabetes at increased risk of cardiovascular complications. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-sodium-intake-guidelines.html Health Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:05:20 EST news241203899 Among patients with stable cardiovascular disease who have a genetic variation that diminishes the response to the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel, tripling the standard daily dosage of this medication resulted in improved platelet reactivity, according to a study appearing in JAMA. The study is being released early online to coincide with its presentation at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-dosage-clopidogrel-patients-genetic-variation.html Cardiology Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:15:01 EST news240657289 In patients whose bad cholesterol is very well-controlled by statins for a long time period, the addition of high-dose, extended release niacin did not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-niacin-heart-stable-cv-patients.html Cardiology Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:06:17 EST news240576281 The use of specific medications following a heart attack has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, however; while highly effective, the rate of adherence to these medications is poor. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) evaluated whether eliminating co-payments for these medications would increase adherence and improve outcomes in patients who have had a heart attack. The findings will be presented as a Late Breaking Clinical Trial at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions on November 14 and simultaneously published online in the New England Journal of Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-co-payments-heart-medications-adherence.html Health Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:30:39 EST news240492629 Sexually and physically abused girls may have higher risks for heart attacks, heart disease and strokes as adults, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-abused-girls-higher-heart-disease.html Cardiology Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:15:52 EST news240408928 A major study of more than one million children and young adults has shown no higher risk of heart attack among those who take drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a US study said Tuesday. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-heart-attention-deficit-drugs.html Medications Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:18:59 EST news239361530 Women with cancer-causing strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke even when no conventional risk factors for CVD are present. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-hpv-linked-cardiovascular-disease-women.html Cardiology Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:31:35 EST news238692570 An updated study published in this week's PLoS Medicine gives some new information on the cardiovascular risks of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and suggests that among these commonly used drugs, naproxen and low dose ibuprofen are least likely to increase cardiovascular risk whereas diclofenac, even in doses available without prescription, elevates risk. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-analysis-cardiovascular-common-non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory.html Cardiology Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:21:06 EST news236366456 Among patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing a procedure such as angioplasty, those who received platelet function tests before receiving antithrombotic therapy to determine appropriate clopidogrel dosing and who had high residual platelet reactivity (platelets resistant to antithrombotic therapy) were at an increased risk of an ischemic event at short- and long-term follow-up of up to 2 years, according to a study in the September 21 issue of JAMA. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-platelet-function-antithrombotic-treatment-pci.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:00:38 EST news235756819 Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have demonstrated that the circadian system, the body's internal clock, regulates human platelet function and causes a peak in platelet activation corresponding to the known morning peak in adverse cardiovascular events. These findings are published in PLoS ONE on September 8, 2011. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-body-clock-platelet-function.html Cardiology Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:03:23 EST news234781387 Compared to patients who had persistently high platelet reactivity, those who achieved low platelet reactivity, according to the VerifyNow P2Y12 Test, had a reduced incidence of cardiovascular death, heart attack and stent thrombosis, as indicated by a clinical trial presented today at the ESC Congress 2011. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-platelet-reactivity-cardiovascular.html Cardiology Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:34:38 EST news233922850 Thrombotic (clotting) and bleeding events are complications that may occur after surgery. With the aging population in the western world, there are more patients undergoing orthopedic surgery than ever before. This makes understanding the risk of complications from orthopedic surgery exceedingly important. However, there is a lack of data investigating the incidence of thrombotic and bleeding complications in orthopedic surgery. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-patients-coronary-artery-disease.html Cardiology Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:21:59 EST news233922097 The Homburg Cream and Sugar (HCS) study was designed to determine whether the measurement of postprandial triglyceride in addition to the assessment of glucose tolerance and traditional risk factors might improve the prediction of cardiovascular events. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-homburg-cream-sugar.html Cardiology Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:46:26 EST news233837176 Pre-existing heart disease is rarely a contraindication to pregnancy - indeed, many women with heart disorders tolerate pregnancy well - but it remains a "major concern" that complications are frequent and in some cases may be life-threatening for both the mother and her child. In Europe maternal heart disease has now become the major cause of maternal death during pregnancy. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-patients-cardiac-problems-pregnancy.html Cardiology Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:03:05 EST news233830824 High levels of chocolate consumption might be associated with a one third reduction in the risk of developing heart disease, finds a study published in the British Medical Journal today. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-chocolate-linked-heart-health.html Cardiology Mon, 29 Aug 2011 08:48:57 EST news233826522 Although some preliminary reports have indicated an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events with the use of certain biologic therapies to treat chronic plaque psoriasis, an analysis of previous studies finds no significant difference in the rate of these events among patients who received these medications compared to patients who received placebo, according to an article in the August 24/31 issue of JAMA. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-biologic-therapies-psoriasis-cardiovascular-problems.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:50:36 EST news233336950 Drugs used to treat blood pressure could offer significant benefits to patients with one of the most common forms of valvular heart disease, new research at the University of Dundee and NHS Tayside has revealed. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-blood-pressure-drugs-benefits-valvular.html Medical research Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:40:06 EST news231417169 Doctors should be cautious about prescribing intensive glucose lowering treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes as a way of reducing heart complications, concludes a new study published in the British Medical Journal today. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-intensive-treatment-patients-diabetes.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:30:01 EST news230919315 Measuring hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ) levels in patients with diabetes is associated with improvement in models for predicting risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a report published Online First today by Archives of Internal Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-blood-glucose-cvd-events-patients.html Cardiology Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:52:20 EST news230831515 Moderate reductions in the amount of salt people eat doesn't reduce their likelihood of dying or experiencing cardiovascular disease. This is the main conclusion from a systematic review published in the latest edition of The Cochrane Library. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-salt-doesnt-chance-dying.html Health Wed, 06 Jul 2011 03:12:14 EST news229140725 For better or worse, a popular class of anti-diabetic drugs does more than lower blood sugar. One known as rosiglitazone (trade name Avandia) has been in the spotlight for its possible link to increased cardiovascular events, but it also seems to come with unexplained vascular benefits and an unwelcome tendency for weight gain. Now, two separate studies in the July Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, explore those other effects of the drugs known collectively as thiazolidinediones (TZDs), both of which stem from their activity in fat. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-diabetes-drug-side-effects-fat.html Medical research Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:29:26 EST news229087751