Cardiology News CME/CE

• Migraine With Aura Doubles Stroke Risk CME Ischemic stroke risk doubles in individuals with migraine with aura, especially in those who are women, young, smokers, or those receiving contraceptives containing estrogen.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Lifestyle-Based Diabetes Prevention Seen to Endure for at Least a Decade CME The protective effects of diet modification, exercise, and other lifestyle changes against new-onset diabetes showcased in the three-year Diabetes Prevention Program continued out to 10 years in a follow-up analysis.
  Heartwire CME, November 2009
• Statins May Reduce Cancer Deaths in COPD Patients: Study CME In a Dutch study, treatment with statins in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was associated with a reduced mortality risk from extrapulmonary cancer.
  Reuters Health Information CME, November 2009
• Non-CV Mortality Also Important in Dialysis Patients CME Physicians may tend to overlook risk factors for noncardiovascular mortality in patients starting dialysis, since the emphasis in the past has always been on cardiovascular risk, researchers say.
  Heartwire CME, November 2009
• Distribution of Body Fat Important in VTE CME The distribution of body fat, as well as the amount, is important when it comes to the risk of venous thromboembolism, Danish researchers have discovered.
  Heartwire CME, November 2009
• FDA Safety Changes: DepoDur, Neoral, Lexiva CME/CE The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for morphine sulfate extended-release liposome injection, cyclosporine capsules and oral solution, and fosamprenavir calcium tablets and oral suspension.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Intensified Blood Pressure Control May Improve Renal Function in Children With CKD CME In a randomized trial, intensified blood pressure control targeting 24-hour blood-pressure levels in the low range of normal was associated with a substantial benefit in renal function.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• NT-ProBNP "Remarkable Predictor" of Incident Atrial Fibrillation CME The fact that elevated baseline NT-proBNP levels predict a diagnosis of AF even 16 years later suggests that peptide elevations precede the onset of arrhythmia, according to the researchers.
  Heartwire CME, October 2009
• Bones More Mature Than Chronologic Age May Be a Marker for Hypertension in Children CME A study shows that irrespective of body mass index, advanced skeletal maturation should be considered as an independent marker for the development of hypertension in children.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• No Link Seen Between Heart Failure and Coffee Intake CME A prospective, population-based study in Sweden has found no significant rise or fall in risk for heart failure hospitalization or death at increasing levels of coffee intake.
  Heartwire CME, October 2009
• Omega-3s No Help to SSRI-Treated CHD Patients CME The researchers say more study is still needed, as it is unclear whether higher doses of omega-3 fatty acids or sertraline, longer treatment, or a different ratio of EPA to DHA would be favorable.
  Heartwire CME, October 2009
• ACE Inhibitors of Benefit in Ischemic Heart Disease Patients With Preserved LV Function CME Patients with IHD and preserved LV function on standard therapy will gain more benefit from taking ACE inhibitors; this is not the case for ARBs, for which the evidence is much weaker.
  Heartwire CME, October 2009
• FDA Approvals: Gardasil, Cervarix, Micardis CME/CE The FDA has approved a vaccine for the prevention of genital warts in males, a human papillomavirus vaccine for cervical cancer prevention, and an expanded indication for telmisartan.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Herpes Zoster Attacks Increase Stroke Risk By 30% CME A new epidemiologic study shows that the risk for stroke increases after a zoster attack (shingles) by 30% and by up to 4-fold when the attack involves the eye.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Diuretics Effective as Second-Line Therapy for Hypertension CME Diuretics, especially hydrochlorothiazide, are as effective when given as second-line therapy for high blood pressure as they are when used as initial treatment, according to a new review.
  Heartwire CME, October 2009
• Nontraditional Risk Factors May Not Help Assess Coronary Heart Disease Risk CME/CE The USPSTF found that there was not enough evidence to evaluate the benefits and harms of using any of the 9 risk factors to screen asymptomatic men and women with no history of coronary heart disease.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• New Review Confirms Homocysteine Lowering Does Not Prevent CVD Events CME/CE The latest review to look at the effects of homocysteine lowering with vitamin-B supplementation has come to much the same conclusions as most other studies and analyses in this field.
  Heartwire CME, October 2009
• FDA Approvals: Mirena, Welchol, FetaLink CME/CE The FDA has approved a new indication for a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device, an expanded indication for colesevelam, and clearance granted to maternal-fetal data-keeping software.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Safety Changes: Symbyax, Zoladex, INOmax CME/CE The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for olanzapine/fluoxetine HCl capsules (Symbyax), goserelin acetate implants (Zoladex), and nitric oxide for inhalation (INOmax).
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Certain Prophylactic Medications Reduce Risk for Breast Cancer but May Increase Other Risks CME A systematic review shows a reduced risk for primary breast cancer but an increased risk for thromboembolic events (tamoxifen, raloxifene), endometrial cancer (tamoxifen), or stroke (tibolone).
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009