The primary conclusion of the ARISTOTLE trial, that the direct factor Xa inhibitor apixaban (Eliquis, Pfizer/Bristol-Myers Squibb) is better than warfarin at preventing stroke or systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), applies regardless of whether AF is paroxysmal or either permanent or persistent. That’s from a prospectively planned secondary analysis of the trial that also shows that apixaban lowers the risk of bleeding complications better than the older anticoagulant in both types of AF. It was presented here last week at the Heart Rhythm Society 2012 Scientific Sessions by Dr Sana Al-Khatib (Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC). Entry into ARISTOTLE called for AF plus at least one other stroke/embolism risk factor. (Source: Medscape)
Endocrine group calls for vitamin D trials
Large randomized trials are needed to determine whether vitamin D can prevent or treat cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other nonskeletal disorders, an Endocrine Society task force concluded. The task force, which examined more than 300 studies of vitamin D’s role in tissues other than bone, published their report as an official “scientific statement” in the June issue of Endocrine Reviews. (Source: Medpage Today)
Centre coming up to protect vultures
LUCKNOW: Wildlife experts and foresters are working with the Uttar Pradesh government to set up a conservation centre for vultures, whose population has drastically fallen in India.
The state forest department, the Bombay Natural History Society and the Katerniaghat Foundation are working out details of the project, Vulture Safe Zone. The project in the Terai region will be funded by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, an official said Wednesday. Speaking at a seminar here, foresters said their aim was to restore the vulture population to ensure that ecological balance was maintained. They called vultures a vital part of the animal kingdom. Vultures were once one of the most commonly sighted birds in India and neighbouring countries. Their numbers have been falling dangerously since the 1990s in India. Experts mainly blame pesticide poisoning for this. According to published accounts, the fall in vulture population in 2000-07 was about 44 per cent. (Source: TOI, May 17, 2012)
Lack of nutrition kills women
MYSORE: Around 235 million tonnes of foodgrains are produced every year but due to lack of storage facilities around 10 to 15% of foodgrains are being spoiled, said former President Abdul Kalam at the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL). He was delivering the golden jubilee oration of DFRL on Friday. Appreciating DFRL’s works in the field of food processing and storage, he suggested that DFRL should start post graduation courses in food research. He also advised them to start a food processing park in the city for preservation of local foods and provide a platform for local farmers. Stressing on the problems related to malnutrition, he said, “Agricultural scientist and food processing scientists should work jointly to produce nutrient foods and crops.” Expressing his concern over rural areas he said as a result of lack of nutritious food, pregnant women are dying in rural areas. Mortality rate can be controlled if research works conducted by DFRL reaches rural areas. By 2020, India can become the number one country in all sectors, if it excels in food, education and health industries. (Source: TOI, May 19, 2012)
Valve-in-valve TAVI tricky, but it works
Transcatheter replacement of failing bioprosthetic aortic valves is usually successful but likely should be left to the most expert hands, researchers suggested. (Source: Medpage Today)
Contraceptive rings and patches linked to blood clot risk
Women who use transdermal patches or vaginal rings for contraception may be at significantly increased risk for venous thromboembolism compared with women who do not use hormonal contraception, according to a national registry-based Danish study published online May 10 in the British Medical Journal. (Source: Medscape)
FDA adds bacteria to test indications
FDA adds bacteria to test indications
The FDA has expanded the indication for a respiratory infection test to include bacterial as well as viral causes. The FilmArray Respiratory Panel can now be used to detect the following bacteria from a single sample:
- Bordetella pertussis — the bacteria responsible for whooping cough
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae — which causes respiratory infection and community-acquired pneumonia in younger patients
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae — the bacteria responsible for community-acquired pneumonia in older patients
The panel was first approved in December 2011 to detect 15 viral causes of respiratory infection, and was later expanded to test for two additional viruses. The new indication makes the test the first cleared for single-sample detection of both viral and bacterial respiratory infection, according to an FDA statement. The test involves a swab of the patient’s nasopharynx to sample it for genetic material specific to the indicated bugs as detected through molecular-based testing. (Source: Medpage Today)
Studies explain why that itch needs scratching
The itch-scratch cycle in humans tracked to specific regions of the brain, including areas related to reward, pain sensation, and addiction, functional brain imaging studies showed. The imaging results showed different neural activation patterns associated with itching versus scratching and with active scratching versus passive scratching performed by an observer. (Source: Medpage Today)
Heart revival centre in Chennai
CHENNAI: In the race against the ‘golden hour’, a city hospital has opened a ‘heart revive center’ which aims at resuscitating and treating patients within two minutes after the ambulance reaches the hospital. Records show that ambulance response has slowed down by two to six minutes in the last three months due to infrastructure projects and traffic snarl. The intensive care unit of the centre is on the ground floor and equipped with beds, said Dr Mohandas, managing director, MIOT hospitals. (Source: TOI, May 18, 2012)
