Scientists have found that genetic variation at the hexokinase-1 gene is linked to variation in the blood concentration of glycated hemoglobin, an index of long-term blood glucose concentration widely used in the follow-up of diabetes patients. The study, conducted by researchers from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, USA, is published December 19 in
Full Post: Hexokinase-1 gene variation associated with widely used marker of blood glucose concentration
Cardiac CT can effectively assess coronary artery stenosis, according to a large study performed at Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden, The Netherlands.
The study consisted of 1,331 patients who had suspected coronary artery disease with 50% or more stenosis. 10,561 coronary artery segments were analyzed during the study. “We found a 98% sensitivity rate for detecting significant coronary artery stenosis in our patients; specificity was 91%,” said Lucia J.M. Kroft, MD, and Alexander Meijer, MSc, lead authors of the study.
“The results indicate that in patients with an intermediate clinical probability of coronary artery disease, cardiac CT scans may avoid the use of invasive catheter angiography. Catheter-based angiography is currently the gold standard for coronary artery evaluation, but it is an invasive technique, has a small percentage of “major” complications and it is relatively expensive,” said Drs. Kroft and Meijer.
“Radiologists, cardiologists, their patients, medical policy makers and financial controllers all have a stake in learning about the accuracy and usefulness of computer generated images of the heart. Every year, millions of people worldwide come to the emergency room with acute chest pain,” said Dr. Kroft. “Multi-slice CT is increasingly being used as a daily practice in the evaluation of these patients and yet, up until now, its efficacy has not been proven. Our study has made a contribution to that direction,” said Dr. Meijer.
http://www.arrs.org/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related Posts:
Coronary CTA offers a low cost, non-invasive alternative to conventional angiography for evaluating patients who are suspected of having coronary artery disease; true even if the patients have calcified coronary artery plaques, according to a study performed at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. The study included 31 patients who had one or more
Full Post: Coronary CTA is a low cost, non-invasive alternative for evaluating coronary artery disease
A novel angled gantry approach to coronary CT angiography reduced radiation exposure to the breast by more than 50%, according to Thomas Jefferson University researchers. Ethan Halpern, M.D., associate professor of Radiology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, presented the research at the 94th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the
Full Post: Novel angled gantry approach reduces breast radiation exposure
In a development that researchers say is likely to quell concerns about the value of costly computed tomography (CT) scans to diagnose coronary artery blockages, an international team led by researchers at Johns Hopkins reports solid evidence that the newer, more powerful 64-CT scans can easily and correctly identify people with major blood vessel disease
Full Post: Advanced CT scans 100 percent accurate in checking for clogged arteries
There is strong evidence that getting to the hospital quickly during a heart attack is critical, since early treatment saves both lives and heart muscle. And if the responsible coronary artery is completely blocked, it should be opened as soon as possible. What about patients with incomplete blockages, who have ACS or acute coronary
Full Post: Timing is everything for some heart attack patients
Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited and Eli Lilly and Company has confirmed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee (CRDAC) will review prasugrel during an advisory committee hearing on February 3, 2009. Prasugrel is an investigational antiplatelet agent for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who
Full Post: FDA to review prasugrel for acute coronary syndromes --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
