Chronic Illness News Digest
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CHF

New device developed for Diastolic Chronic Heart Failure patients (Ivanhoe)


MediNewsDigest: This link to an Ivanhoe interview with Dr Matar offers a very clear discussion on diastolic vs. systolic CHF. Dr Matar,director of the Cardiac Care Unit at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Fla, is developing a an implanted device, the Rheo., to help Diastolic Chronic Heart Failure patients. The device is continuous stimulating the baro-receptors – the signal that comes back from the brain stem to the heart to help it relax. Device, the “Rheos”, is at various stages of clinical trial.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by infocus - June 28, 2010 at 8:32 am

Categories: CHF, Heart Failure, Uncategorized, heart disease   Tags: , , , , ,

Anemia in Chronic Heart Failure (sciencedirect)


MediNewsDigest:: From this study, impaired iron metabolism and inflammatory stress appear to be the key mediators [agents] of the anemia of CHF.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by infocus - June 27, 2010 at 9:48 pm

Categories: Anemia, CHF, Heart Failure, Uncategorized, heart disease   Tags:

No heart benefit seen with fibrates [Tricor] in diabetics (reuters)


SJCRG: In a nutshell, study purports that a class of drugs called fenofibrates, who aim to to lower the blood fat triglycerides and raise good HDL cholesterol, are of little benefit. TriCor, from Abbots labs belongs to such.
Study conclusions do not seem iron clad, but raises a flag. click HERE for Reuters article.

SJRG: FDA current position on this:
“…At this time, FDA has made no new conclusions or recommendations regarding the combination use of simvastatin or other statin drugs and fenofibrate. The agency will conduct a thorough review of the primary ACCORD data as soon as they become available….” click HERE for FDA position

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by infocus - March 15, 2010 at 11:30 am

Categories: CHF, Diabetes, Good Cholestreol, HDL, Heart Failure, High Blood Pressure, Triglycerides, heart disease   Tags: , , , , , , ,

Combined exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy improves outcomes in patients with heart failure (sciencedirect)


SJCRG: Not just pills, but mind and will power!
Quoting:
“..combined 12-week home-based exercise (EX)/cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program with CBT alone, EX alone , and with usual care (UC)….”
Note that the patients in the study had depression.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by infocus - March 14, 2010 at 10:38 am

Categories: CHF, Heart Failure, Uncategorized, heart disease, physical therapy, psychology   Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

UCLA Study Shows Metformin Is Safe For Patients With Advanced Heart Failure And Diabetes Mellitus (medicalnewstoday)


SJCRG: good news for two millions in US alone type II diabetes mellitus !

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by infocus - January 10, 2010 at 12:15 am

Categories: CHF, Diabetes, type 2   Tags: , , , , , ,

New Mechanical Pump Offers Heart-Failure Patients an Alternative to a Transplant (WSJ)


SJCRG: Less good than a transplant, but getting a transplant is difficult, looks like a worthwhile alternative or stop gap.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by infocus - December 15, 2009 at 10:33 pm

Categories: CHF, heart disease   Tags: , , , , , , ,

Disabilities and the Flu (Disability.gov)


SJCRG: This is the official US position. Many blogs attest to the safety questions of the vaccine. But for people with respiratory and weak immune system such as describe in the link, it is a matter of odds
1) odd to get the H1N1 flu
2) odds to get really sick if you get it
3) odds to get really sick from a possibly hastily put together vaccine
At SJCRG we are trying to quantify those odds , not trivial….

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by infocus - November 14, 2009 at 9:47 pm

Categories: CHF, Diabetes, Homecare, Uncategorized, flu, heart disease, infection, influenza, swine flu, viral   Tags: , , , , , ,

What A1c Targets Are Best for Patients With Comorbid Diabetes and Heart Failure?


SJCRG: second article on the topic with similar conclusion, see our post on 2009/10/24

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by infocus - October 28, 2009 at 8:16 pm

Categories: CHF, Diabetes, Uncategorized   Tags: , , , , ,

Famotidine for the prevention of peptic ulcers and oesophagitis in patients taking low-dose aspirin (sciencedirect)


SJCRG: given the large number of people taking low dose aspirin for heart condition and others, this is an important reminder that some GI protection might be needed.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by infocus - October 27, 2009 at 2:25 pm

Categories: CHF, heart disease, pain   Tags: , , , , ,

Diabetes and CHF: The Ideal A1C (ADA)


SJCRG: This is very serious business, talk to your doctor.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by infocus - October 24, 2009 at 9:40 pm

Categories: CHF, Diabetes, heart disease   Tags: , , , , ,