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CardioBreak: Modern Bloodletting, a New Statin Strategy

— Recent developments of interest in cardiovascular medicine.

Ƶ MedicalToday

Too many blood tests after cardiac surgery? Researchers were "" uncovered at one large academic medical center -- the median added up to the equivalent of one or two soda cans per patient, or up to 1 liter per ICU patient. See the sanguinary .

AHA/ACC cardiovascular risk calculator critics have proposed a to use trial enrollment criteria in the decision for a statin in primary prevention.

The British Heart Foundation's call for people to "give chocolate the finger" for a month might have been , a BMJ blogger says.

AstraZeneca, maker of saxagliptin (Onglyza) and an extended release combo with metformin (Kombiglyze XR), announced it will participate in the April 14 FDA advisory committee meeting that will assess the taking those drugs.

Orexigen released from its naltrexone/bupropion (Contrave) weight-loss pill suggesting a halving of the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or heart disease death -- without trial leaders' okay or sufficient events to be meaningful. The Forbes reports. A second cardiovascular outcomes trial is required.

The FDA gave CorMatrix Cardiovascular's an investigational device exemption for a 15-patient, multicenter feasibility study.

In the statins-linked-to-type 2 diabetes department, a new study in turned up the greatest elevated risk of new onset cases yet -- 46% relative risk over 6 years.

Next-gen accelerometers? Biosensor developer Gentag is partnering with the Mayo Clinic on a wireless, disposable, Band-Aid-size in studies of conditions like diabetes and obesity.

The FDA imposed a "temporary pause" on the clinical trial of Sunshine Heart's after four of the roughly 100 patients enrolled so far died during the trial, though the agency said the deaths were not related to the device, notes.

Apixaban (Eliquis) was in a draft recommendation from the British National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which "apparently was impressed with Eliquis' than other novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs)," Trends-in-Medicine added.

Apixaban is safer than warfarin in combination with amiodarone (Cordarone) for high-risk patients with atrial fibrillation, an suggested.

Could a protect the heart? Yes, says a study from the American Heart Association's EPI/Lifestyle meeting.

A little transcutaneous electrical -- at least in dogs.

Medicare payments gave an , and guess what happened ...

Cardiovascular disease in Europe versus 3% by breast cancer.

CardioBreak is a guide to what's new and interesting on the Web for cardiologists and other healthcare professionals with an interest in cardiovascular disease, powered by the Ƶ community. Got a tip? Send it to us: c.phend@medpagetoday.com.