Radiation in medicine: A double-edged sword

Health Physics Society. Naturally occurring radiation.

Mettler FA, Jr., Bhargavan M, Thomadsen BR, et al. Nuclear medicine exposure in the United States, 2005-2007: preliminary results. Seminars in Nuclear Medicine 2008; 38:384-91.

Mettler FA, Jr., Thomadsen BR, Bhargavan M, et al. Medical radiation exposure in the U.S. in 2006: preliminary results. Health Physics 2008; 95:502-7.

Hausleiter J, Meyer T, Hermann F, et al. Estimated radiation dose associated with cardiac CT angiography. JAMA 2009; 301:500-7.

Monson RR, Cleaver JE, Abrams HL, et al. National Academies Brief: BEIR VII—Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation. National Academy of Sciences Press.

Brenner DJ, Hall EJ. Computed tomography--an increasing source of radiation exposure. New England Journal of Medicine 2007; 357:2277-84.

Women’s hearts need extra attention

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. HCUP Facts and Figures, 2006: Statistics on hospital-based care in the United States.

Concannon TW, Griffith JL, Kent DM, et al. Elapsed time in emergency medical services for patients with cardiac complaints: Are some patients at greater risk for delay? Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes 2009; 2:9-15.

Akhter N, Milford-Beland S, Roe MT, Piana RN, Kao J, Shroff A. Gender differences among patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in the American College of Cardiology-National Cardiovascular Data Registry (ACC-NCDR). American Heart Journal 2009; 157:141-8.

Jneid H, Fonarow GC, Cannon CP, et al. Sex differences in medical care and early death after acute myocardial infarction. Circulation 2008; 118:2803-10.

Baumhakel M, Muller U, Bohm M. Influence of gender of physicians and patients on guideline-recommended treatment of chronic heart failure in a cross-sectional study. European Journal of Heart Failure Jan 21, 2009 [electronic publication ahead of print].

Potassium and sodium out of balance

Eaton SB, Konner M. Paleolithic nutrition. A consideration of its nature and current implications. New England Journal of Medicine 1985; 312:283-9.

Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for water, potassium, sodium chloride, and sulfate. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2005.

American Heart Association. Shake your salt habit.

Binge drinking and stroke

Sundell L, Salomaa V, Vartiainen E, Poikolainen K, Laatikainen T. Increased stroke risk is related to a binge-drinking habit. Stroke 2008; 39:3179-84.

Mukamal KJ, Conigrave KM, Mittleman MA, et al. Roles of drinking pattern and type of alcohol consumed in coronary heart disease in men. New England Journal of Medicine 2003; 348:109-18.

Osteoporosis drugs not linked to atrial fibrillation

Food and Drug Administration. Update of Safety Review Follow-up to the October 1, 2007 Early Communication about the Ongoing Safety Review of Bisphosphonates.

In brief: A-Maze-ing results

Louagie Y, Buche M, Eucher P, et al. Improved patient survival with concomitant Cox Maze III procedure compared with heart surgery alone. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2009; 87:440-6.

In brief: St. John's wort warning

Gordon RY, Becker DJ, Rader DJ. Reduced efficacy of rosuvastatin by St. John's Wort. American Journal of Medicine 2009; 122:e1-2.

Hansten PD. Possible risks to patients receiving statins combined with other medications. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2003; 41:519-20.

In brief: Radial safety

Jabara R, Gadesam R, Pendyala L, et al. Ambulatory discharge after transradial coronary intervention: Preliminary US single-center experience. American Heart Journal 2008; 156:1141-6.

In brief: Antipsychotic drug alert

Ray WA, Chung CP, Murray KT, Hall K, Stein CM. Atypical antipsychotic drugs and the risk of sudden cardiac death. New England Journal of Medicine 2009; 360:225-35.

Ask the doctor: Arginine and citrulline

Gornik HL, Creager MA. Arginine and endothelial and vascular health. Journal of Nutrition 2004; 134:2880S-2887S.

Schulman SP, Becker LC, Kass DA, et al. L-arginine therapy in acute myocardial infarction: the Vascular Interaction With Age in Myocardial Infarction (VINTAGE MI) randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2006; 295:58-64.

Wilson AM, Harada R, Nair N, Balasubramanian N, Cooke JP. L-arginine supplementation in peripheral arterial disease: no benefit and possible harm. Circulation 2007; 116:188-95.

Vitamins C and E and heart protection

Sesso HD, Buring JE, Christen WG, et al. Vitamins E and C in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in men: The Physicians' Health Study II randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2008; 300:2123-33.

Counterpulsation and heart failure

Manchanda A, Shirani J, Kennard L, Soran O. Enhanced external counterpulsation therapy improves angina and functional status in patients with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Presented at the American Heart Association meeting, New Orleans, Nov. 10, 2008.

Ask the Doctor: ST segment lengthening

Wang K, Asinger RW, Marriott HJ. ST-segment elevation in conditions other than acute myocardial infarction. New England Journal of Medicine 2003; 349:2128-35.