Audio Medica News - Medical News Interviews

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Bioabsorbable Everolimus-Eluting Stent: 6-Month Angiographic and IVUS Results

REFERENCE: Abstract 2402-3, American College of Cardiology New Orleans

PATRICK SERRUYS, Erasmus University, Rotterdam

COMMENT: SPENCER KING, Piedmont Hospital, Atlanta

Six-months follow-up of patients receiving a new bioabsorbable drug-eluting stent are favourable, according to Patrick Serruys whose group has been investigating the stent which elutes everolimus in a group of 30 patients. During the ACC Annual Meeting in New Orleans he discussed with Peter Goodwin the potential benefits the new device can bring to coronary patients.

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

- COURAGE Trial: Optimal Medical Therapy Alone is Sufficient for Patients with Stable Angina: Adding PCI Does Not Help

- ILLUSTRATE Study Shows Torcetrapib Raises HDL But Fails to Lower Coronary Risk

REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 2007 356 Published: March 26th

Reporting from: American College of Cardiology New Orleans

STEVEN NISSEN, Cleveland Clinic, OH

Two big studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented simultaneously at the American College of Cardiology meeting in New Orleans have shown that two emerging therapies aimed at reducing risks in patients with coronary disease have failed to do so. The president of the ACC, Steven Nissen, talked with Peter Goodwin about the COURAGE (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation) trial, in which patients with stable coronary artery disease were randomized to receive optimal medical therapy with or without PCI. He also discussed findings of the ILLUSTRATE (Investigation of Lipid Level Management Using Coronary Ultrasound to Assess Reduction of Atherosclerosis by CETP Inhibition and HDL Elevation) study in which the cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor, torcetrapib was found to have adverse effects when used for modifying lipid profiles among coronary patients.

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Bioabsorbable Everolimus-Eluting Stent: 6-Month Angiographic and IVUS Results

REFERENCE: Abstract 2402-3, American College of Cardiology New Orleans

PATRICK SERRUYS, Erasmus University, Rotterdam

COMMENT: SPENCER KING, Piedmont Hospital, Atlanta

Six-months follow-up of patients receiving a new bioabsorbable drug-eluting stent are favourable, according to Patrick Serruys whose group has been investigating the stent which elutes everolimus in a group of 30 patients. During the ACC Annual Meeting in New Orleans he discussed with Peter Goodwin the potential benefits the new device can bring to coronary patients.

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Increased Use of Recommended Drugs Explains Improved Trends in Prognosis after Myocardial Infarction

REFERENCE: Abstract 1018-148, American College of Cardiology New Orleans

SOKO SETOGUCHI, Brigham And Women’s Hospital, Boston

COMMENT: DOUGLAS ZIPES, University of Indiana, Indianapolis

The increased adherence to recommendations and guidelines for drug therapy after myocardial infarction during the last ten years has led to hoped-for improvements in outcomes and prognosis among patients treated. This is the finding of a study presented to the ACC meeting in New Orleans by Soko Setoguchi who discussed her group’s findings with Peter Goodwin.

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Rapid Genotype Assay for Individualized Warfarin Dosing

REFERENCE: Abstract 1020-89, American College of Cardiology New Orleans

JEFFREY ANDERSON, University of Utah, Salt Lake City

COMMENT: DOUGLAS ZIPES, University of Indiana, Indianapolis

The hope of refining treatments for cardiovascular disease by genotyping patients to detect individual sensitivities to particular medical therapies was brought a step closer at the ACC meeting in New Orleans by results from a study using a rapid genothype test. Jeffrey Anderson told Peter Goodwin about the assay they've been investigating which indicates required dosing of warfarin.

Audio Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Thrombin Receptor Antagonist: Advantages in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention?

REFERENCE: ACC New Orleans, March 24th Late Breaking Trials

DAVID MOLITERNO, University of Kentucky, Lexington

An oral thrombin receptor antagonist, SCH 530348 has proved safe and effective, and may be better than conventional anti-coagulation treatments for patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention. Results of the TRA-PCI study were presented at the ACC's New Orleans meeting by David Moliterno who discussed the new data with Peter Goodwin.

Audio Journal of Global Health Issues

6 Months Exclusive Breast Feeding for Mothers with HIV Lowers Transmission Rates

REFERENCE: Abstract 13, 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Los Angeles February 25-28, 2007

HOOSEN COOVADIA, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban

In the developing world breastfeeding is the recommended infant feeding method, even for women infected with HIV. While early cessation of breastfeeding reduces HIV transmission to the baby, studies have shown that it increases morbidity and mortality in the infants. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life appears to reduce HIV transmission, as opposed to “mixed” breastfeeding with supplementation with formula or solid foods. Dan Keller spoke with Hoosen Coovadia, who delivered a plenary talk on the subject at the14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Los Angeles.

Audio Journal of Global Health Issues

Maraviroc: New Antiretroviral Drug Shows Efficacy and Safety

REFERENCE: Abstract Number: 104aLB, 104bLB, 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Los Angeles February 25-28, 2007

HOWARD MAYER, Pfizer Global Research, New London CT

MARK WAINBERG, McGill University, Montreal

In a population of treatment-experienced HIV-infected subjects, maraviroc plus optimised background antiretroviral therapy provided significantly superior virologic control and increases in CD4 cell counts compared with placebo plus optimized background therapy. There were no clinically relevant differences in the safety profiles between the maraviroc and the placebo treatment groups. These drugs do not attack the virus itself but rather block host cells’ CCR5 cell surface cytokine receptors that HIV interacts with to gain entry into the cell.

Audio Journal of Global Health Issues

Integrase Inhibitor Raltegravir Doubles Antiviral Response Rate in Treatment Experienced HIV-Infected Patients Compared to Optimised Background Therapy Alone

REFERENCE: Abstract 105aLB, 105bLB, 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Los Angeles February 25-28, 2007

ROY STEIGBIGEL, State University of New York at Stony Brook

JOHN W. MELLORS, University of Pittsburgh

Raltegravir doubled the antiviral response rate and the increase in CD4 cells among treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients who were resistant to at least one drug in each of the nucleoside, non-nucleoside, and protease inhibitor classes. Two placebo controlled trials (BENCHMRK-1 and BENCHMRK-2) randomized a total of almost 700 subjects to either raltegravir 400 mg twice daily or to placebo, each on a background of optimized antiviral background therapy. Raltegravir is an integrase inhibitor and acts to block the enzyme that allows HIV’s nuclei acid to integrate into the DNA of host cells.

Audio Journal of Global Health Issues

Entecavir Shows Activity Against HIV But Also Selects for an Antiretroviral Drug Resistance Mutation

REFERENCE: Abstract: 136LB, 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Los Angeles February 25-29, 2007

CHLOE THIO, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Entecavir, used to treat hepatitis B virus infections, can lower levels of HIV in co-infected patients but also selects for a mutation that makes HIV resistant to entecavir as well as the antiretroviral drugs lamivudine and emtracitabine. These findings, derived from three case reports and associated laboratory studies, have important implications for the treatment of HBV in HIV-infected patients. Current guidelines, issued in October 2006 and which recommend entecavir as a first-line treatment of HBV in co-infected individuals who do not require anti-HIV therapy, need to be reconsidered. Chloe Thio discussed her study results and their implications with Dan Keller at the 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Los Angeles.