Audio Medica News - Medical News Interviews

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, November 6th, 2007

Reporting from: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 4-7 November, 2007, Orlando, Florida

Torcetrapib in Patients at High Risk for Coronary Events: ILLUMINATE Trial Latest Results

PHILIP BARTER, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, Australia

COMMENT: GORDON TOMASELLI, Johns Hopkins University, Baltmimore

REFERENCE: Late Breaking Clinical Trials Session 2

A randomized double-blind study involving over 15,000 patients at high cardiovascular risk which looked at the new agent torcetrapib (an inhibitor of cholesteryl ester transfer protein, CETP) resulted in higher mortality in the experimental arm. The study compared torcetrapib plus atorvastatin with atorvatstin alone. Inhibition of CETP increases HDL levels and reduces LDL levels and should combat atherosclerosis. Sarah Maxwell spoke with Philip Barter who presented data on the ILLUMINATE trial at the American Heart Association meeting in Orlando.

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, November 6th, 2007

Reporting from: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 4-7 November, 2007, Orlando, Florida

TAXUS DES Trials Results: How Long Should Thienopyridine Be Used After Drug Eluting Stent?

GREGG STONE, Columbia University, New York

REFERENCE: Abstract 2357

New light has been thrown on the use of thienopyridine therapy after percutaneous intervention using drug-eluting stents. Gregg Stone presented data from the TAXUS DES trials which looked at patients surviving more than a year after receiving either paclitaxel-eluting or bare metal stents. After his talk at the American Heart Association he discussed his findings with Sarah Maxwell.

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, November 6th, 2007

Reporting from: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 4-7 November, 2007, Orlando, Florida

Rosuvastatin: No Significant Benefit for Older Patients with Systolic Heart Failure: CORONA Study Results

AKE HJALMARSON, Sahlgrenska University, Göteborg

COMMENT: GORDON TOMASELLI, Johns Hopkins University, Baltmimore

REFERENCE: Late Breaking Clinical Trials Session 2 & N Engl J Med 2007;357

The lipid lowering agent rosuvastatin did not bring a significant benefit to older patients with systolic heart failure, according to the findings of the CORONA study released at the American Heart Association sessions in Orlando. Ake Hjalmarson talked with Peter Goodwin about the implications this has for using statins in older patients with heart failure.

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, November 6th, 2007

Reporting from: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 4-7 November, 2007, Orlando, Florida

Eptifibatide as Effective as Abciximab in Primary PCI for Acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction: EVA-AMI Study

UWE ZEYMER, Herzzentrum Ludwigshafen, Germany

REFERENCE: Late Breaking Clinical Trials Session 1

The glycoprotein 2B 3A antagonist eptifibatide has performed as well as standard abciximab therapy in patients receiving primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. So according to Uwe Zeymer who presented findings on this it can be used in this setting just as it is already being used in elective PCI. Sarah Maxwell interviewed Dr Zeymer at the Orlando conference.

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, November 5th, 2007

Reporting from: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 4-7 November, 2007, Orlando, Florida

TRITON-TIMI 38 Prasugrel Or Clopidogrel In Percutaneous Intevention?

GORDON TOMASELLI, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore

COMMENT: DANIEL JONES, President, American Heart Association, University of Mississippi, Jackson

REFERENCE: Late Breaking Clinical Trials 1, AHA 2007

A potential new option for patients with acute coronary syndromes receiving coronary intervention has emerged following a report on the comparison of prasugrel, a new anti-platelet agent, with clopidogrel. Elliott Antman from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston gave the American Heart Association his findings and recommendations about when and in which patients prasugrel might be favored. Gordon Tomaselli discussed the findings with Sarah Maxwell.

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, November 5th, 2007

Reporting from: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 4-7 November, 2007, Orlando, Florida

Eptifibatide After PCI: Brief Infusion Is Just As Good

ANTHONY FUNG, University of British Columbia, Vancouver

REFERENCE: Late Breaking Clinical Trials Session I, AHA 2007

Brief courses of antiplatelet therapy with the glycoprotein 2b 3a inhibitor are just as effective as longer infusions for patients receiving non-emergency percutaneous intervention. So said Anthony Fung at the first session of Late breaking Clinical Trials held at the American Heart Association's annual meeting in Orlando. He talked with Peter Goodwin about his findings.

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, November 5th, 2007

Reporting from: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 4-7 November, 2007, Orlando, Florida

Long Term Outcomes of Drug Eluting and Bare Metal Stents in Patients Undergoing PCI

LAURA MAURI, Brigham and Woman’s Hospital, Boston Massachusetts

COMMENT: RAYMOND GIBBONS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

REFERENCE: Late Breaking Special Session, AHA 2007

The largest study to date looking at long-term outcomes of bare metal stents as compared with drug eluting stents in patients who have undergone PCI was presented to the American Heart Association annual meeting. There was no increased mortality for patients who received drug eluting stents in a Massachussets based population. Sarah Maxwell spoke with investigator to Laura Mauri at the Orlando meeting.

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, November 5th, 2007

Reporting from: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 4-7 November, 2007, Orlando, Florida

Stable Angina: Add PCI To Medical Therapy If Guided by SPECT-Detected Ischemia? COURAGE Nuclear Sub-Study Results

LESLEE SHAW, Emory University, Atlanta

COMMENT: DANIEL JONES, AHA President, University of Mississippi, Jackson

REFERENCE: Late Breaking Clinical Trials, Session 1

Some patients with stable angina may be best treated by adding percutaneous intervention to optimal medical therapy. This is the finding of a "nuclear sub-study" of the COURAGE (Clinical Outcomes Using Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation) trial. Although the study found no benefit of adding angioplasty in most patients, the AHA conference heard from Leslee Shaw that if myocardial ischemia is monitored using Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), there could be a role for angioplasty in a subgroup of patients. Peter Goodwin talked with Dr Shaw after her presentation and then asked the American Heart Association President, Daniel Jones, for his assessment.

Audio Journal of Medicine, September 21st, 2007

Reporting from: 47th Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), Chicago, 2007

Colistin Use Linked to Outbreak of Rare Hospital Infection

RAMON GUEVARA, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

REFERENCE: Abstract K-1942/ICAAC Congress 2007 Chicago 16-20 September

A report on a hospital outbreak involving a rare pathogen, which was presented at ICAAC, may have an important message for the whole field of infection control. Elizabethkingia Meningoseptica was found in a Los Angles hospital outbreak in 2006 and its emergence was linked to the use of colistin. So was this antibiotic selecting for the pathogen? Derek Thorne spoke with Ramon Guevara of Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Audio Journal of Medicine, September 21st, 2007

Reporting from: 47th Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), Chicago, 2007

Which HIV Treatment is Best for Patients with HIV and Hepatitis C?

JUAN BERENGUER, Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid

REFERENCE: Abstract V-1385/ICAAC Congress 2007 Chicago 16-20 September

A retrospective study has thrown doubt on the theory that protease inhibitors (PIs) are a preferable antiretroviral treatment for patients co-infected with HIV and Hepatitis C virus. Previous research had suggested that PIs had a more beneficial effect on liver fibrosis than NNRTIs, but a study based at the Hospital Gregorio Marañón in Madrid has found the opposite. Derek Thorne discussed the data with Juan Berenguer.