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Recently announced results from a sub-analysis of the MADIT-CRT trial data that show that women receive a greater clinical benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds) than men. The results were presented during the 17th Cardiostim World Congress by Jonathan Steinberg, M.D., Chief of Cardiology and Director of the Al-Sabah Arrythmia Institute, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York.

Results from the largest comparative, randomized clinical trial of patients who are at risk for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) demonstrate that VISIPAQUE™ (iodixanol), an iso-osmolar contrast medium, is associated with a significantly lower incidence of CIN in high-risk elderly patients, compared with low-osmolar iopromide, another commonly used contrast medium.

Enabled by pharmacogenomics, molecular imaging and other molecular biomarkers, personalized medicine promises to optimize modern medicine and minimize the potential side effects of therapeutic agents. A leading pathologist has now indicated that it may also dramatically impact the justice system, and in ways that we are only just beginning to understand.

PCI can be performed safely and with significant improvement at centres without a surgical service, according to a study published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation.
There is now little dispute that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has revolutionised the management of patients with acute coronary events such as heart attack. Moreover, improvements in [...]

The influence and importance of valve disease is increasing and yet the subject remains under-represented.  There is, for example, no group affiliated to the British Cardiovascular Society and no National Services Framework on valve disease.   A number of interested individuals have recently convened to discuss the formation of a specialist group.
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Research carried out by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has identified large variations in the provision of medical cover at night, with some doctors being responsible for up to 400 patients.

A new study published today in Clinical Medicine, the journal of the Royal College of Physicians, shows that the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) may be failing in its primary objective – to improve the welfare of employees. A group of doctors have found a link between the introduction of rotas compliant with a 48-hour working week and increased prevalence and longer periods of sick leave in junior doctors.

Only half of all patients at high risk of heart disease are given correct targets for lowering their cholesterol levels according to a study of 25,250 patients in Germany in the European Heart Journal [1]. 


A new multidisciplinary strategy will be applied to create a drug risk assessment, using anonymised medical data from more than 27 million European patients, to allow more informed treatment and decision making by clinicians in prescribing drugs.

Biosense Webster has announced that it has obtained its first Ethics Committee approval for the CLARITY study, comparing the 1-year efficacy, safety and efficiency of CARTO® 3 System-guided radiofrequency ablation using the NAVISTAR®