Elevated LDL cholesterol – Cardiology MCQ
Which of the following is not a cause for elevated LDL cholesterol ?
a) Pregnancy
b) Hyperthyroidism
c) Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
d) Obesity
Correct answer: b) Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism is associated with elevated LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Cholesterol and triglycerides rise progressively through out pregnancy. It may be noted that treatment with statins, niacin and ezetimibe are contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation. Triglycerides are elevated in poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Both triglycerides and cholesterol are elevated in obesity [1].
Reference
1. Stone NJ et al. 2013 ACC/AHA guidel...
Source: Cardiophile MD - December 1, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Prof. Dr. Johnson Francis, MD, DM, FACC, FRCP Edin, FRCP London Tags: Cardiology Cardiology MCQ DM / DNB Cardiology Entrance Source Type: blogs
Funtabulously Frivolous Friday Five 167
Just when you thought your brain could unwind on a Friday, you realise that it would rather be challenged with some good old fashioned medical trivia FFFF…introducing Funtabulously Frivolous Friday Five 167
Question 1
What is Asturian leprosy?
+ Reveal the Funtabulous Answer
expand(document.getElementById('ddet358938163'));expand(document.getElementById('ddetlink358938163'))
Pellagra or vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiency as a result of a corn based diet (Noted in the Asturias community in Spain).
In 1915, back when such practices were legal and under the Surgeon General’s sanction in the USA, Dr. Goldberger offered ...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - November 24, 2016 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Neil Long Tags: Frivolous Friday Five acromegaly Andre the giant as you wish Asturian leprosy bicyclists vulva brown sequard Jake leg OPIDN organophosphate induced delayed neuropathy Pellagra placebo vitamin B3 Source Type: blogs
Many ways to lower cholesterol will reduce heart disease risk
Several contemporary clinical trials have shown that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs reduce the risk of heart attacks in patients with coronary artery disease. This compelling body of evidence has led to the question of whether other drugs that lower cholesterol also reduce heart attacks. Older studies had certainly shown this, though these studies were from an era prior to widespread statin use. A recent study showed that in patients with a mild heart attack, adding ezetimibe — a drug that interferes with cholesterol absorption from the intestines — to a statin reduced cardiovascular risk compared with a statin alon...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - October 7, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Deepak Bhatt, MD, MPH Tags: Health Heart Health Source Type: blogs
FDA Ends Niacin and Fenofibric Acid Combinations With Statins
–“In the absence of benefits, there remain only harms.” The FDA is putting an end to the combined use of statins with two once-popular lipid drugs, niacin and fenofibric acid. On Monday the FDA will announce in the Federal Register that it is withdrawing its approval for indications for coadministration of these drugs with statins...Click here to continue reading... (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - April 18, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics Prevention, Epidemiology & Outcomes fabric acid FDA fibrates lipid drugs niacin statins Source Type: blogs
Stephen’s return from the medical quagmire
Stephen shared his 60-day Wheat Belly experience:
“Started Wheat Belly 60 days ago after a major health crisis. I found out I had type 2 diabetes 2 and very bad cholesterol. My numbers 60 days ago were: cholesterol 189, triglycerides 475, LDL could not be measured as it was so bad, HDL was 32. Two weeks ago: 20 pound weight loss, wearing a 15.5-inch neck size shirt compared to an 18. Triglycerides 79, LDL 25, HDL 40, cholesterol 81.
“I was first told on January 24, 2016 that my glucose level was 157. Forty five days later, my average glucose was 107 when measured by my diabetes counselor by downloading the data...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - April 7, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Success Stories cholesterol diabetes gluten grains HDL statins triglycerides Weight Loss Source Type: blogs
Lifespan.io Project: Help to Crowdfund the Sinclair Lab NMN Calorie Restriction Mimetic Lifespan Study in Mice
The Lifespan.io crew have launched their latest longevity science crowdfunding project in partnership with the Sinclair lab at Harvard: the goal is to raise funds for a novel calorie restriction mimetic mouse life span study based on research published last year. You might recall that David Sinclair was the researcher behind Sirtris, one of the more hyped initiatives in sirtuin research, though far from the only one. Over the past twenty years a lot of work has gone into trying to understand the activities of proteins and pathways thought to be important in the extended longevity produced by calorie restriction in short-li...
Source: Fight Aging! - February 26, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Activism, Advocacy and Education Source Type: blogs
Pellagra and spinal myoclonus
Park K, Oeda T, Sawada H. A case of alcoholic pellegra encephalopathy presenting with spinal myoclonus. Neurology Clinical Practice 5; 472-3. The authors present a case of alcoholic pellagra with confusion and myoclonus responding dramatically to administration of niacin1500 mg per day starting 16 days after admission. Essential points include: 1. Pellagra is rare in US but not in alcoholics2. Dermatitis may be subtle and not appreciated3. Thiamine and niacin levels may be normal4. Thiamine may cause worsening due to increased demand for niacin5. Myoclonus in context is impo...
Source: neurologyminutiae - January 4, 2016 Category: Neurology Source Type: blogs
Wheat Watch: Greenies
Here’s a post aimed at our canine and feline friends.
“Greenies: The #1 Vet-Recommended Dental Chews and Treats.” That’s what the people who manufacture Greenies dental chews for dogs and cats claim.
But, for those of you trying to keep your dog or cat wheat- and grain-free, Greenies dental chews, purported to clean their teeth, are filled with wheat and rice, among their top ingredients:
Ingredients in Dog chews:
Wheat flour, wheat protein isolate, glycerin, gelatin, oat fiber, water, lecithin, natural poultry flavor, minerals (dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, magnesiu...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - December 2, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Lifestyle dental decay gluten grains rice Source Type: blogs
Blow your HDL through the roof
The HDL cholesterol value is one of the four values on any conventional lipid/cholesterol panel, along with total cholesterol, triglycerides, and calculated LDL cholesterol (what I call “fictitious” LDL because of its incredible inaccuracy when compared to superior measures).
The HDL cholesterol value has some unique characteristics not shared by the others, however, and can serve as an index of overall health. Very high HDL values, for instance, are associated with extreme longevity. Centenarians typically have values of 90 mg/dl or higher. Higher HDLs are also associated with less risk for diabetes, hypertens...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - June 29, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly Lifestyle fish oil HDL longevity omega-3 saturated fat vitamin D Source Type: blogs
The PCSK9 Drugs — Epic success or epic failure?
This week, an FDA advisory committee recommended approval for the potent cholesterol-lowering drugs, evolocumab and alirocumab. The funny-sounding medications are called PCSK-9 inhibitor drugs. (Keep reading; I’ll tell you more.)
Advisory committee members felt the benefits of the drugs outweighed the potential risks, especially in high-risk patients, such as those with Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH).
The FDA usually–but not always–follows the recommendation of the advisory committee. A final decision from FDA will come later this summer.
In reading this piece, keep in mind that the goal of cholestero...
Source: Dr John M - June 12, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr John Source Type: blogs
Amarin v. FDA and Public Meeting On Off-Label Promotion Signal An Important Year For Clarity Around Scientific Exchange and the First Amendment
2015 could prove to be a significant year for how the Food and Drug Administration approaches drug companies’ off-label speech. FDA has stressed that they are in the process of attempting to “harmonize” their promotional guidances with the First Amendment, and recently announced that they will hold a public meeting during the summer to address this issue. Fast-tracking a potential resolution, Amarin Pharmaceuticals just filed suit against the FDA arguing that the agency’s restrictive interpretations would effectively prevent Amarin from sharing “truthful and non-misleading information with healthcare profe...
Source: Policy and Medicine - May 11, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Thomas Sullivan Source Type: blogs
Vitamin Overdose and Pregnancy
During pregnancy, it is important to get the proper nutrients to foster healthy fetal development. You may be tempted to take a multivitamin in addition to other supplements. However, vitamin overdose can occur when an individual takes more than the recommended daily amount of a vitamin. This can result when taking more than one multivitamin, or when taking individual vitamins in addition to a multivitamin.
While any vitamin can be toxic if taken in large amounts, calcium and iron pose the greatest toxic risks when taken in excess. Taking a multivitamin during pregnancy is important, although it is best to talk with your d...
Source: Cord Blood News - April 23, 2015 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: joyce at mazelabs.com Tags: babies brain development Cord Blood medical research parents pregnancy affordable cord blood banking breast feeding C-section caesarian cerebral palsy due dates healthy pregnancy new baby parenting vaginal birth after caesari Source Type: blogs
HDL Raising Drugs Probably Won’t Work But This Might
A new study offers important new insights into the protective role of HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) against cardiovascular disease. Earlier studies with drugs that increase HDL levels, including niacin and CETP inhibitors, have not shown benefit. The new study suggests that simply increasing HDL levels isn’t the way to go. Instead, cholesterol efflux, the ability of HDL to remove cholesterol from cells, part of the process called reverse cholesterol transport, appears to be the key. The results were presented today by Anand Rohatgi at the American Heart Association meeting in Chicago and...
Source: CardioBrief - November 18, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: Prevention, Epidemiology & Outcomes cholesterol efflux HDL reverse cholesterol transport Source Type: blogs
To deprescribe…Adding a new verb to the language of doctoring
What follows is my most recent editorial in the Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association. It is reposted with permission.
****
One day every month, my wife Staci, a hospice and palliative care physician, goes to see an elderly woman in the nursing home. The routine has gone on for years, which is surprising because the woman was admitted to the home with terminal diagnoses. But this patient didn’t die; she keeps living, month after month. “How is she?” I often ask. “She is fine. She eats, drinks, moves around in her chair and doesn’t have the frowny face of pain.”
How did a hospice doctor achieve such longe...
Source: Dr John M - October 14, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr John Source Type: blogs
The Tooth Decay Index
Source: BestMedicalDegrees.comThe Tooth Decay IndexDid you know that starchy, refined carbohydrates–foods like chip, bread, pasta, and crackers — can be as harmful to teeth as candy? What about how important saliva is to tooth health? Find out how with out tooth decay index!You are what you eat, your teeth are too. The pH Scale affects bad breath, tooth decayCommon pH values:pHBattery acid 1.0Gastric acid 2.0Lemon juice 2.4Cola 2.5Vinegar 2.9Orange or apple juice 3.5Beer 4.5Acid rain < 5.6Coffee 5.0Tea 5.5Milk 6.5 Normal pH level of mouth 6.5Pure water 7.0Healthy human saliva 5 – 8Blood 7.35 – 7.45Sea water 8...
Source: Dental Technology Blog - August 18, 2014 Category: Dentists Source Type: blogs
