By Nancy Walsh, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: April 08, 2013
Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse Planner
The risk of cancer was increased in men taking the antiarrhythmia drug amiodarone, particularly in those with extensive exposure to the drug, a retrospective study found.
Among men taking amiodarone, the risk for any cancer rose by almost 20% compared with the general population, with a standardized incidence ratio of 1.18 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.36, P=0.022), according to Chia-Jen Liu, MD, of National Yang-Ming University Hospital in Yilan, Taiwan, and colleagues. more »
Posted by
John Rintamaki on Wednesday, April 10, 2013
When Cudahy parent Kevin Fech watches the state meets for various Special Olympics sports, he often thinks that some of the young athletes with disabilities could very well be competing on their school's traditional sports teams.
He even wonders if one day, his son - an eighth-grader at Cudahy Middle School who has Down syndrome and autism - might be able to try out for his high school's track team. If Tyler were on the inside lane and had a helper runner in the grass next to him, he could probably stay focused. more »
Posted by
John Rintamaki on Monday, January 28, 2013
The same material that sparks barbecue lighters to flame may soon be used to power pacemakers with the beat of the human heart instead of batteries, say researchers at the University of Michigan.
A new generation of pacemakers, devices that regulate the human heartbeat via electrodes and current, could eventually rely on piezoelectric materials, which, when they vibrate, generate a small amount of electricity. more »
Posted by
John Rintamaki on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The FDA today approved the HeartWare Ventricular Assist System — a left ventricular assist device — to support heart function and blood flow in patients with end-stage HF who are awaiting a heart transplant, according to a press release.
Results showed comparable survival outcomes in the HeartWare LVAD and INTERMACS groups. The clinical trial also assessed serious adverse events such as infection and stroke and compared these adverse events with those discussed in the scientific literature based on clinical trials or post-market studies of other LVADs. Rates of most key adverse events were comparable, although the risk for stroke associated with the HeartWare LVAD necessitates patients and clinicians to discuss all treatment options before deciding to use the device, the release states. more »
Posted by
John Rintamaki on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Laser-assisted extraction of implanted heart device leads appears to have become safer and more successful in recent years, researchers said.
A retrospective multicenter series suggested a 97.7% clinical success rate and complete lead removal in 96.5% of cases attempted with the newer iteration of transvenous excimer laser extraction tools. more »
Posted by
Jeff Sanders on Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators or pacemakers should avoid placing the headphones from their MP3 players too close to their chests, researchers said.
That's because the magnets in portable headphones may cause the cardiac devices to temporarily malfunction, William Maisel, MD, MPH, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and colleagues reported in the October issue of Heart Rhythm. more »
Posted by
Jeff Sanders on Tuesday, October 6, 2009
