December 20th 2024
This marks the second indication for tirzepatide in just more than a year, following its November 2023 approval for adults with obesity or overweight and weight-related medical problems.
December 13th 2024
Heart Failure: Part 2, Update on Therapeutic Options
August 1st 2007ABSTRACT: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and ß-blockers are the cornerstone of heart failure medical therapy; unless contraindicated, start these agents as soon as possible after volume status has been optimized. Aldosterone receptor antagonists, angiotensin-receptor blockers, and a fixed-dose combination of hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate (the last recommended especially for African Americans) can be used as add-on therapy. Prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillators reduce long-term mortality in symptomatic patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 35% or less. Cardiac resynchronization therapy improves symptoms and ventricular remodeling in some patients; indications include wide (more than 20 milliseconds) QRS complex on ECG, impaired LVEF (35% or less), and advanced heart failure symptoms (NYHA classes III and IV) despite optimal drug therapy. Measurement of natriuretic peptides and impedance cardiography both show promise for monitoring patients with heart failure and for guiding therapy, but definitive data to justify their routine use are still lacking.
VAS-COG: Sertraline Shows Promise for Improving Executive Function in Dementia
July 16th 2007SAN ANTONIO -- High-dose therapy with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) sertraline resulted in statistically and clinically significant improvement in isolated impaired executive function in older patients.
What caused recurrent pneumonia and hemoptysis in this woman?
A 53-year-old woman presented to the emergency department complaining of substernal chest pain that awoke her from sleep. The chest pain was associated with left shoulder numbness, radiating to her back, and was partially alleviated with sublingual nitroglycerin. During this episode, the patient had a cough productive of yellow phlegm and one instance of cough productive of 1 tbs of bright red blood.
Heart Failure: Part 1, Diagnosis and Staging
July 1st 2007Heart failure is prevalent in both primary care and cardiology practices. It develops in about 1 in 5 persons during their lifetime and in about 1 in 8 of those who have not sustained a myocardial infarction (MI). Heart failure is also the leading cause of hospitalization in the elderly.