Archive for March, 2006
The TYPHOON Study Results
American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session March 11-14, 2006, Atlanta
The TYPHOON study from Paris – as reported by Christian Spaulding - shows sirolimus eluting stents can halve major adverse cardiac events in patients with myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty. John Phoenix from St Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix gave Sarah Maxwell his thoughts on this study.
Pexelizumab Reduces Mortality in High Risk Coronary Artery By-Pass Patients
Late Breaking Clinical Trials, ACC Atlanta 2006, Sunday 12th March 2006
The drug pexelizumab, targeting inflammation, reduced the risk of death among patients about to have coronary artery by-pass grafting in the PRIMOCABG-II study. Peter Smith of Duke University told the ACC about his group’s findings.
Salt Substitute Substantially Lowers Blood Pressure Among High-Risk Individuals
Late Breaking Clinical Trials, ACC Atlanta 2006, Sunday 12th March 2006
Because high levels of salt consumption in rural areas of northern China are a common cause of cardiovascular morbidity, Bruce Neal and his group introduced potassium and magnesium into local diets in the China Salt Substitute Study or CSSS. This has made a beneficial impact on blood pressure.
CHARISMA Trial: Add Clopidogrel to Aspirin? Not for Lower Risk Patients
American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session March 11-14, 2006, Atlanta
The idea of adding clopidogrel anti-platelet therapy to standard aspirin therapy among patients with multiple risk factors for coronary disease is not supported by the CHARISMA study findings reported at the ACC conference in Atlanta. But Audio Medica heard from Deepak Bhatt of the Cleveland Clinic that the study found patients with established cardiovascular disease can benefit.
Single Agent Bivalirudin Better for Acute Coronary Syndromes
American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session March 11-14, 2006, Atlanta
A superiority for the anti-clotting drug bivalirudin for treating patients with acute coronary syndromes was detected when this was used as monotherapy, but not when this direct thrombin inhibitor was combined with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition. Thus found the ACUITY trial reported to the ACC’s Atlanta meeting by Gregg Stone of Columbia University. He told Audio Medica the bottom line finding from the study.
Bivalirudin in ACS: The Acuity Study Findings
American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session March 11-14, 2006, Atlanta
The full picture of how bivalirudin is emerging as a treatment without also using glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition in cases of acute coronary syndrome was painted at the Atlanta meeting by Michael Lincoff from the Cleveland Clinic.
Audio Journal of Oncology 14.2, March 2006
Reporting from:
American Society of Hematology Meeting, Atlanta, 10-13 December 2005
In this edition:
It is not necessary to use rituximab along with standard CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, predinsone) induction therapy among patients with advanced follicular lymphoma. So said Sandra Horning at a packed lymphoma meeting during the ASH confderence. According to the findings of a new study reported to the ASH conference, however, the use of rituximab mainenance, after the induction therapy, brings strong improvements in clinical outcome.
The original IRIS study showing the runaway superiority of imatinib after one year over standard treatment for cronic myeloid leukemia has now been followed up to maturity. John Goldman told the ASH audience the study results strongly endorses the use of imatinib as the gold standard treatment.
Michael Keating told the Atlanta conference that adding rituximab to standard fluydarabine plus cyclophosphamide therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia has helped patients survive longer.
Pregnancy Risk from Cervical Excision
Maria Kyrgiou, Hammersmith Hospital, London
Abstract: Lancet 2006; 367: 489-98
A meta-analysis published in the Lancet has found that excising pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix can lead to problems with pregnancy such as: pre-term delivery, caesarian section, low-birthweight and premature rupture of the membranes. Lead investigator Maria Kyrgiou spoke with Sarah Maxwell.
Natalizumab Risks and Benefits in Multiple Sclerosis
Chris Polman, Free University of Amsterdam
Abstract N Engl J Med 2006;345:899
Despite fears that natalizumab - which reduces progression in some categories of patients with multiple sclerosis - might increased the risk of a fatal viral infection, two-year randomised study finding have now given some reassurance that patients with relapsing disease can be treated.
AliaIbrahim Zai, Egbert Sondorp, Gill Walt, Lucy Gilson, Ravi Narayan, Richard Horton, Vikram Patel, Willem Van De Put
Astrid Fletcher, Jo Lines, Sari Kovats, Colin Sutherland, Michel Coleman
