The ACUITY (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage strategY) trial has shown that people with acute coronary syndrome receiving bivalirudin (Angiox; Nycomed, Oxford) alone had similar rates of ischaemic clinical outcomes in comparison to more complicated standard therapy, confirming previous findings that bivalirudin shows similar ischaemia at 30 days and nearly 50% fewer bleeding episodes. Compared with controls, bivalirudin decreased the mortality rate (4.4% versus 3.8%).
A separate analysis found that in people with acute coronary syndrome, a major bleeding episode within 30 days following treatment nearly triples the risk of death within up to 1 year, making major bleeding a more powerful predictor of mortality than heart attack.
The Medicines Company, 18 April 2007
Weight loss with orlistat reduces cardiovascular risk factors
The weight loss medication orlistat (Xenical; Roche, Welwyn Garden City) significantly reduces weight, thereby decreasing cardiovascular risk factors.
Data pooled from five randomised, double-blind trials studying people with diabetes and hypertension showed that orlistat more than doubled weight loss when compared with the placebo group.
The analysis also demonstrated that weight loss was associated with significant improvements in systolic blood pressure, HbA1c, insulin dose, fasting glucose and total cholesterol.
Improvements were more pronounced in early responders to treatment, defined as those who lost ≥5% body weight in 3 months.
Media Press Release, 24 April 2007
Elizabeth Arden joins the fight against cardiovascular disease
Elizabeth Arden, Inc., a global company specialising in beauty products, has signed a 3-year agreement with the World Heart Federation to globally support the Go red for women campaign.
Go red for women was created by the American Heart Association in 2004 and raises awareness of the risks of heart disease and stroke in women, spreading the message that cardiovascular disease kills 8.6 million women annually – more than HIV/AIDS, all cancers, malaria and tuberculosis combined – and emphasising the importance of preventative measures such as exercise.
Elizabeth Arden spokesperson and Oscar-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones commented: ‘Go red for women is an ongoing global programme, prompted by the World Heart Federation, to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke in women, helping women to be healthy and beautiful.’
World Heart Federation, 19 February 2007
Attempts to achieve remission, or at least a substantial improvement in glycaemic control, should be the initial focus at type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
9 May 2024