CLEAR Trial of Bempedoic Acid
Bempedoic acid is an ATP citrate lyase inhibitor, acting upstream of HMGCoA reductase targeted by statins, and reduces LDL cholesterol levels. It is associated with low incidence of muscle related adverse events compared to statins. US FDA had a prerequisite that patients should be already on maximally tolerated stating therapy before considering bempedoic acid and had noted that their effect on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality were considered as indeterminate. The manufacturers have reported that these clauses have been removed.
The CLEAR (Cholesterol Lowering via Bempedoic Acid [ECT1002], an ACL-Inhibiting Regime...
Source: Cardiophile MD - December 16, 2023 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs
Treating Hypertension with Diuretics
This article will explore the types, uses and side effects of treating hypertension with diuretics as a supplement to other ways to lower blood pressure.
Quick Summary
Diuretics are prescribed to encourage kidney function and vascular health and regulate blood pressure.
There are several forms of diuretics with possible side effects and interactions with other drugs and supplements.
Doctors often prescribe them to complement medication or a combination for effective hypertension treatment.
Treating Hypertension and More with Diuretics
Diuretics are the most common medication to manage high b...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 8, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Kutryk Tags: Guides Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
Understanding The SAMPLE History
The SAMPLE history usually comes up in the first few weeks of EMT class. It’s such a widely accepted standard that it appears in the National Registry medical and trauma skills station as well as the EMT National Standard Curriculum. As far as subjective patient history’s go…SAMPLE is the gold standard.
Like anything else in medicine, widespread utilization also comes with widespread misunderstanding. The SAMPLE history is an educational gold standard for a reason. It’s a very effective tool for remembering the major components of a medical history. It’s also often misused and highly inadequate when taug...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 2, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
The Macro View – Health, Economics, and Politics and the Big Picture. What I Am Watching Here And Abroad.
October 20, 2022 Edition-----In the US we have just had the usual mass-shootings last week! Hard to know why the population put up with it. On a larger scale the war is seemingly just getting worse and more lethal. While there is assassination there must be hope!In the UK all eyes are on just when the Truss implosion will actually happen.In OZ the biggest news has been the really Biblical floods in SE Australia, The Budget is also getting close!-----Major Issues.-----https://www.afr.com/policy/tax-and-super/average-tax-rate-to-hit-record-high-this-decade-with-or-without-stage-three-cuts-20221008-p5bo78Average tax rate to h...
Source: Australian Health Information Technology - October 20, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Dr David G More MB PhD Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, May 2nd 2022
In this study, we tested the therapeutic potential of VHHASC and a newly generated VHH against murine ASC (VHHmASC) to target ASC specks in vitro and in vivo. We show that pre-incubation of extracellular ASC specks with VHHASC abrogated their inflammatory functions in vitro. Recombinant VHHASC rapidly disassembled pre-formed ASC specks and thus inhibited their ability to seed the nucleation of soluble ASC. Notably, VHHASC required prior cytosolic access to prevent inflammasome activation within cells, but it was effective against extracellular ASC specks released following caspase-1-dependent loss of membrane integrity, an...
Source: Fight Aging! - May 1, 2022 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
ASC Specks as a Sizable Contribution to Chronic Inflammation
In this study, we tested the therapeutic potential of VHHASC and a newly generated VHH against murine ASC (VHHmASC) to target ASC specks in vitro and in vivo. We show that pre-incubation of extracellular ASC specks with VHHASC abrogated their inflammatory functions in vitro. Recombinant VHHASC rapidly disassembled pre-formed ASC specks and thus inhibited their ability to seed the nucleation of soluble ASC. Notably, VHHASC required prior cytosolic access to prevent inflammasome activation within cells, but it was effective against extracellular ASC specks released following caspase-1-dependent loss of membrane integrity, an...
Source: Fight Aging! - April 26, 2022 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs
Drop Acid: An Interview with Dr. David Perlmutter
In his newest book, neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter tells us how measuring uric acid—commonly measured in screening bloodwork but previously viewed as nothing more than a risk factor for gout and kidney stones—is actually a powerful index and determinant of metabolic health.
Dr. Perlmutter describes how several genetic mutations that we have acquired over many generations have made humans especially efficient at storing fat, a characteristic that increased survival during periods of unreliable food availability. But, in a modern world in which food availability for most of us is no longer threat...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - November 19, 2021 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Open insulin insulin resistance uric acid wheat belly Source Type: blogs
We Use Too Many Medications: Be Very Afraid of Interactions
By HANS DUVEFELT
I happened to read about the pharmacodynamics of parenteral versus oral furosemide when I came across a unique interaction between this commonest of diuretics and risperidone: Elderly dementia patients on risperidone have twice their expected mortality if also given furosemide. I knew that all atypical antipsychotics can double mortality in elderly dementia patients, but was unaware of the additional risperidone-furosemide risk. Epocrates only has a nonspecific warning to monitor blood pressure when prescribing both drugs.
This is only today’s example of an interaction I didn’t have at ...
Source: The Health Care Blog - October 21, 2021 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Bose-Roy Tags: Medical Practice Physicians Primary Care Hans Duvefelt Medical Ethics medication pharmaceuticals Pharmacy Source Type: blogs
Regulatory Capture
As you probably know, the FDA recently approved a monoclonal antibody called aducanumab as a treatment for Alzheimer ' s disease. To make a long story short, there ' s no good evidence that it actually has any effect on dementia; the approval is based on its effectiveness in removing abnormal plaques of a protein called beta-amyloid from the brain. These are associated with Alzheimer ' s disease, but there ' s no evidence that they cause it, or that removing them improves symptoms. Aducanumab can also have some very troubling adverse effects such as brain swelling. Oh yeah -- Biogen plans to charge $56,000/year for the tre...
Source: Stayin' Alive - September 17, 2021 Category: American Health Source Type: blogs
Can gout be prevented?
To many people, gout seems like a disease of the past. Cartoons from 200 years ago depicted it as a condition afflicting the wealthy (“the disease of kings”), whose gluttonous consumption of food and drink was thought to bring on the attacks of debilitating arthritis.
All these years later, much about gout is still misunderstood. Shame, derision, and the belief that the gout sufferer deserves the condition linger. And rather than being a disease of the past, gout is quite common — and rates are rising. Estimates suggest gout affects nearly 4% of the adult population in the US, an increase from prior decades. And it...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - January 8, 2021 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Arthritis Bones and joints Health Men's Health Source Type: blogs
Stopping osteoarthritis: Could recent heart research provide a clue?
Here’s a recent headline that I found confusing: Could the first drug that slows arthritis be here?
It’s confusing because it depends on which of the more than 100 types of arthritis we’re discussing. We’ve had drugs that slow rheumatoid arthritis for decades. In fact, more than a dozen FDA-approved drugs can reduce, or even halt, joint damage in people with rheumatoid arthritis. We also have effective medications to slow or stop gout, another common type of arthritis.
But the headline refers to osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis. And currently, no medications can safely and reliably slow the pace of...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - October 15, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Arthritis Health Inflammation Source Type: blogs
I Have Gout - Now What?
(Source: EverythingHealth)
Source: EverythingHealth - July 15, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: blogs
Where on earth have everyone ’s manners gone?
There comes a day in every woman ’s life when she must wonder: Where on earth have everyone’s manners gone? This phase of life, I once believed, was the same phase when I would shout things like: “You kids get off my lawn!” “Oh, it’s just a touch of gout!” And so on. Is it my […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - July 15, 2020 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/giannina-l-garces-ambrossi-muncey" rel="tag" > Giannina L. Garces-Ambrossi Muncey, MD < /a > < /span > Tags: Physician COVID-19 coronavirus Infectious Disease Source Type: blogs
Part One: Tapping the Wrist
The wrist is not commonly aspirated in the emergency department, but emergent arthrocentesis may be indicated for extreme or concerning cases, and tapping the wrist to determine the underlying pathology or relieve pain may be of great value. The synovial fluid from the joint space can be analyzed for crystals, infection, and blood. This information may help determine the overall plan and aid in decision-making and consultation. The ultimate treatment plan may include admission, intravenous antibiotics, multiple aspirations, and even surgical washout.A swollen, painful wrist that is hot to the touch is concerning for sep...
Source: The Procedural Pause - April 1, 2020 Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
