Culture | Page 1757 | Science Codex

Efmoroctocog alfa for hemophilia A: Added benefit not proven

Efmoroctocog alfa (trade name: Elocta) has been approved since November 2015 for people with type A haemophilia. This is an inherited disorder that impairs blood clotting. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether this new drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy both in prevention and in on-demand treatment. Such an added benefit cannot be derived from the dossier, however, because it contained no study data adequate for the research question.

Tool to engage patients with chest pain in care decisions shows benefits

CHICAGO (April 3, 2016) -- Patients visiting a hospital emergency department with chest pain who engaged with their physician in shared decision-making using a tool called Chest Pain Choice showed improved knowledge of their health status and follow-up care options compared with patients who received standard counseling from a physician without the use of this decision aid, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 65th Annual Scientific Session.

No improvement in clinical outcomes with ischemic postconditioning

A large randomized controlled trial of ischemic postconditioning in patients who had experienced the deadliest form of heart attack--ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)--failed to show that this procedure significantly reduces death from any cause or hospitalization for heart failure, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 65th Annual Scientific Session.

Deferred stenting shows no clinical benefit

Delayed or deferred stent implantation in patients experiencing the deadliest form of heart attack--ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)--failed to reduce death from any cause, hospitalization for heart failure, subsequent heart attacks or the need for a repeat procedure to restore blood flow to the heart, researchers reported at the American College of Cardiology's 65th Annual Scientific Session.

IV beta blockers before angioplasty are safe, but offer no clinical benefit

Giving intravenous beta blockers before performing a coronary angioplasty in patients who had experienced the deadliest form of heart attack--ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)--was safe but did not reduce heart attack severity or improve blood flow from the heart's main pumping chamber, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 65th Annual Scientific Session.

SAPIEN 3 improves outcomes for major endpoints at 1 year

Intermediate-risk patients who received transcatheter aortic valve replacement, known as TAVR, with the latest-generation valve fared better than patients receiving traditional surgical aortic valve replacement after one year, in a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 65th Annual Scientific Session.

Asthma is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome and excess weight

Boston, MA--Among reproductive-age women, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as well as overweight and obesity are independently linked with asthma, new preliminary research from Australia suggests. The results will be presented in a poster Saturday, April 2, at ENDO 2016, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, in Boston.

Few patients use weight-loss medications despite FDA approval

Boston, MA-- Despite guidelines that advocate the use of weight loss medications to treat obesity, and the availability of FDA approved medications, very few patients use this treatment option, a new study suggests. The results will be presented Sunday, April 3, at ENDO 2016, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, in Boston.

Penn researchers report successful cardiac transplant outcomes in adult patients with congenital heart disease

CHICAGO - Congenital heart disease, which includes various conditions involving defects in the structure of the heart or blood vessels that develop before birth, affects nearly 1 percent of children - about 40,000 babies each year. Though many of these conditions were once fatal in infancy and childhood, surgeries and other treatments have evolved during the past few decades, and some 800,000 adults have now grown into adulthood with these conditions.

Trial offers objective evidence of muscle-related side effects with statins

The first major clinical trial to include a blinded, placebo-controlled "statin re-challenge" in patients with a history of muscle-related side effects sheds new light on statin-associated muscle symptoms, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 65th Annual Scientific Session. The trial also demonstrates that monthly self-injection of the relatively new non-statin cholesterol-lowering drug evolocumab reduces levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol to a greater extent than ezetimibe, a traditional drug used in statin-intolerant patients.

Higher volume of TAVR boosts key in-hospital outcomes

The more frequently a hospital performs a minimally invasive technique called transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, to replace a damaged aortic heart valve, the better patients fare, on average, immediately after the procedure, researchers reported at the American College of Cardiology's 65th Annual Scientific Session.

Anti-inflammatory drug does not reduce risk of major CV events following heart attack

Michelle L. O'Donoghue, M.D., M.P.H., of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, and colleagues evaluated the efficacy and safety of the anti-inflammatory drug losmapimod on cardiovascular outcomes in patients hospitalized after a heart attack. The study was published online by JAMA, and is being released to coincide with its presentation at the American College of Cardiology's 65th Annual Scientific Session & Expo.

For post-operative atrial fibrillation, 2 common treatments show equal outcomes

Monday, April 4, 2016, Chicago: Cleveland Clinic researchers, as part of the Cardiothoracic Surgical Trials Network (CTSN), have found that two common approaches to post-operative atrial fibrillation - rhythm control and rate control - are equally safe and effective.

Post-operative atrial fibrillation is the most common complication after cardiac surgery, occurring in 20 percent to 50 percent of patients and leading to major adverse effects such as increased morbidity, long-term mortality, reoccurring hospitalizations and increased cost.

Treatment eases enlarged prostate symptom of nighttime waking

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (April 4, 2016) -- An innovative interventional radiology treatment for men with enlarged prostates decreases the number of times they wake to urinate in the night, according to research presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 2016 Annual Scientific Meeting. Researchers said the majority of men with enlarged prostates and lower urinary tract symptoms reported better sleep that resulted in an improved quality of life after they underwent a treatment called prostatic artery embolization (PAE).

CU Denver study shows disaster plans often neglect historic preservation

DENVER (April 1, 2016) - New research from the University of Colorado Denver shows many communities fail to take historic preservation into account when planning for natural disasters, risking a loss of heritage and critical engines of the local economy in the event of catastrophe.