N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for cardiovascular risk.

Purpose Of Review: Use of omega-3 fatty acid (OM3FA) supplements to reduce risk of cardiovascular events has been investigated, largely without evidence of meaningful benefit, over the last 4 decades.

Recent Findings: The first contemporary clinical trial to show benefit of OM3FA use was the REDUCE-IT trial (2018), showing a remarkable 25% relative risk reduction in the intervention group that received icosapent ethyl 4 g daily compared to a mineral oil placebo group. The STRENGTH trial (2020), which was similar in design to the REDUCE-IT trial but compared 4 g daily dose of combined OM3FA with a corn oil placebo, was terminated early due to futility.

Acute Limb Ischemia Secondary to Patent Foramen Ovale-Mediated Paradoxical Embolism: A Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: Paradoxical embolism is the translocation of a thrombus originating in the systemic venous circulation into the arterial circulation through a cardiac defect, most commonly a patent foramen ovale (PFO). PFO exists in 15-35% of the adult population. The most common manifestation is cerebrovascular accident; acute limb ischemia is much rarer.

Drug discount cards in an era of higher prescription drug prices: A retrospective population-based study.

Objectives: Drug discount programs have emerged as a potential option for patients seeking greater accessibility and affordability. However, there is limited knowledge regarding program utilization and cost savings. The objective of this study was to evaluate medication prescriptions with drug discount card usage and estimate cost savings.

Sudden death related cardiomyopathies - Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a form of inherited cardiomyopathy. Most individuals with HCM experience minimal symptoms throughout their lifetime. However, those with HCM are at risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD), the most feared complication of HCM.

Sudden death related cardiomyopathies - Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, and exercise-induced cardiomyopathy.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a devastating possible outcome of all cardiomyopathies. The risk of SCD is increased in patients with structural heart disease and continues to increase as ventricular dysfunction worsens. There is, however, a subset of cardiomyopathy, so-called "arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy" (ACM), that carries an inherent propensity for arrhythmia in all stages of the disease, even preceding ventricular dysfunction.

Vasopressin antagonism for decompensated right-sided heart failure.

Background: Targeted treatment for decompensated right heart failure (RHF) with or without left heart failure is lacking. Vasopressin antagonists (vaptans) may offer an option by increasing urine output and fluid mobilization when used in acute decompensated RHF without impacting blood pressure or renal function, both common complications of loop diuretics.

Methods And Results: We searched electronic medical records from 2 institutions over 4 years for patients with RHF treated with vaptans.

A Survey of Unregulated Direct-to-Consumer Treatment Centers Providing Stem Cells for Patients With Heart Failure.

This study used a telephone survey to assess the type of treatment, cost, and statements made about efficacy at unregulated stem cell centers.