Author: SupremeCmdr

JAMA Cardiology – Effect of the Presence and Type of Angina on Cardiovascular Events in Patients Without Known Coronary Artery Disease Referred for Elective Coronary Angiography

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This study describes the characteristics of patients referred for typical, atypical, or no angina and examines the associations between angina type, pre–cardiac catheterization stress test results, and burden of coronary atherosclerosis identified on coronary angiography.

Source: JAMA Network | JAMA Cardiology | Effect of the Presence and Type of Angina on Cardiovascular Events in Patients Without Known Coronary Artery Disease Referred for Elective Coronary Angiography

In this short research letter we find further lack of utility for stress tests in the manner for which we are currently using them for risk stratification. The authors categorized patients referred for catheterization without known CAD to groups based on chest pain symptoms of: typical, atypical, or absent. They then looked at their stress test results, categorized as positive or negative, and found that a negative stress test did not help predict those without obstructive CAD on catheterization. Specifically, patients with typical angina symptoms and a negative stress test were the MOST likely to have obstructive CAD (74%). Clearly limited by the nature of the data presented, and the limited information given regarding the methodology in this research letter, it does further raise doubts regarding the utility of stress testing to risk stratify patients for CAD.

HT to Jeremy Fried for the observation quoted above. Source: Research and Reviews R&R in the FastLane | LITFL: Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog

PEZ Easter Egg Hunt in Connecticut Reportedly Descends into a ‘Mess’ – People.com

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“Children were trampled.”

Source: PEZ Easter Egg Hunt in Connecticut Reportedly Descends into a ‘Mess’ : People.com

If initial reports turn out to be true and factual then we can no longer consider our species to be civilized.

Happy Easter.

There is always hope.

Source: Scientists Slowly Reintroducing Small Group Of Normal, Well-Adjusted Humans Into Society – The Onion – America’s Finest News Source

CNS – Pfizer to Face Testosterone Claims

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Source: CNS – Pfizer to Face Testosterone Claims After All

   The multi-district master complaint asserted 10 primary state law claims, including strict liability based on design defect and failure to warn, negligence, breach of implied and express warranty, fraud, consumer protection, and unjust enrichment.
The plaintiffs also allege non-tort claims for wrongful death, survival, loss of consortium, and punitive damages.

One of the books I’m reading is Powerful Medicines – The Benefits, Risks, and Costs of Prescription Drugs written by Jerry Avorn M.D.  Definitely a fun read in  the context of our culture’s addiction to the quick fix.  Whatever ails you there is a pill that promises to fix everything.  Dr. Avorn’s book is packed with information.  Simply stated, there are benefits and risks associated with any medication.  Ultimately it is the consumer’s responsibility to know and understand what those benefits and risks are with anything you put in your body.

It was clear to me from the beginning that the unsuspecting and too trustful public was going to be introduced to a new disease  Low-T.  The pharmaceutical strategy  was just another medicalization of a natural process.

More. Drugs. Please.