Are You Connected to the Best Apps?

While the vast majority of pharmacists use computers to access medical information, many prefer a mobile device to find information quickly. This review discusses pharmacists' use of mobile device applications (apps) and highlights an assortment of apps that are particularly helpful. Epocrates, which provides drug information and clinical content, was the first popular smartphone app developed in this area and was used to introduce the concept.

Systematic review and adjusted indirect comparison meta-analysis of oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation.

Background: Oral anticoagulants such as apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban are alternatives to warfarin for preventing events in patients with atrial fibrillation. Direct comparative studies between agents are unavailable. Our objective was to conduct an adjusted indirect comparison meta-analysis between new oral agents in atrial fibrillation.

Association between statin use and mortality in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Background: A few previous nested cohort trials have evaluated the use of statins on survival and the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (VT/VF). While the studies generally agreed on the survival effects, they disagreed on the magnitude of the mortality benefit and on the effect on VT/VF.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine in a large, long-term follow-up cohort whether statin therapy could reduce mortality and the occurrence of VT/VF in a mixed population receiving an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for primary or secondary prevention and either ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy.

Association between perioperative NSAID use and post-cardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation, blood transfusions, and cardiovascular outcomes: a nested cohort study from the AF Suppression Trials (AFIST) I, II and III.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use may reduce the incidence of post-cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) atrial fibrillation (AF). The cerebrovascular and cardiovascular safety of using NSAIDs for post-CTS AF has not been determined.

Objective: To evaluate whether NSAIDs could reduce the incidence of post-CTS atrial fibrillation without increasing patients' risk of stroke or myocardial infarction (MI).

Impact of statin dosing intensity on transaminase and creatine kinase.

Purpose: Higher intensity statin therapy reduces cardiovascular events more than lower intensity therapy, but the safety impact of higher intensity therapy is unknown. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing higher versus lower intensity therapy on liver and muscle safety.

Methods: A systematic literature search through January 2006 was conducted to identify randomized trials comparing higher versus lower intensity statin therapy meeting our criteria.

Electrocardiographic and hemodynamic effects of a multicomponent dietary supplement containing ephedra and caffeine: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: Metabolife 356, a multicomponent dietary supplement containing ephedra and caffeine (DSEC) in addition to several other components, is the top-selling dietary weight loss supplement. Given its common use, anecdotal reports of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events, and paucity of safety data, further research with this DSEC was warranted.

Objective: To determine the impact of the DSEC on corrected QT (QTc) interval duration and systolic blood pressure (SBP).