Circ - VTE in HF

"Predicting the Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure"
"Conclusions—Patients with more severe HF, as defined by high NT-proBNP plasma concentration, were at increased risk of VTE. NT-proBNP may be useful to identify high short-term risk, whereas elevated D-dimer may be suggestive of high midterm risk."
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/130/5/410.full

BMJ - Investigative Report: "Dabigatran: how the drug company withheld important analyses"

This is an investigative article rather than research:

"Dabigatran: how the drug company withheld important analyses"
http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4670

NEJM - Bionic Pancreas

"Outpatient Glycemic Control with a Bionic Pancreas in Type 1 Diabetes"
"CONCLUSIONS

As compared with an insulin pump, a wearable, automated, bihormonal, bionic pancreas improved mean glycemic levels, with less frequent hypoglycemic episodes, among both adults and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. (Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and others; ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT01762059 and NCT01833988.)"

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1314474

JAMA - Sofosbuvir and Ribavirin for Hep C & HIV

"Sofosbuvir and Ribavirin for Hepatitis C in Patients With HIV Coinfection"
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1889138
"Conclusions and Relevance  In this open-label, nonrandomized, uncontrolled study, patients with HIV who were coinfected with HCV genotype 1, 2, or 3 who received the oral, interferon-free combination of sofosbuvir and ribavirin for 12 or 24 weeks had high rates of SVR12. Further studies of this oral regimen in diverse populations of coinfected patients are warranted."

2014 USPSTF
"Screening for Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement"
http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1886690
"Population: This recommendation applies to adults without a history of transient ischemic attack, stroke, or other neurologic signs or symptoms.

Recommendation: The USPSTF recommends against screening for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis in the general adult population. (D recommendation)"

Circ - Smokeless Tobacco & Myocardial Infarction

"Discontinuation of Smokeless Tobacco and Mortality Risk After Myocardial Infarction"
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/130/4/325.abstract 
"Conclusions—In this study, discontinuation of snus use after an MI was associated with a nearly halved mortality risk, similar to the benefit associated with smoking cessation. These observations suggest that the use of snus after MI should be discouraged."

Lancet - Association of Vitamin D & HTN

 "Association of vitamin D status with arterial blood pressure and hypertension risk: a mendelian randomisation study"
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(14)70113-5/fulltext
"Interpretation

Increased plasma concentrations of 25(OH)D might reduce the risk of hypertension. This finding warrants further investigation in an independent, similarly powered study."

NEJM - Niacin with Laropiprant

"Effects of Extended-Release Niacin with Laropiprant in High-Risk Patients"  
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1300955?query=featured_home
"CONCLUSIONS

Among participants with atherosclerotic vascular disease, the addition of extended-release niacin–laropiprant to statin-based LDL cholesterol–lowering therapy did not significantly reduce the risk of major vascular events but did increase the risk of serious adverse events. (Funded by Merck and others; HPS2-THRIVE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00461630.)"

JAMA - Pregnancy Prophylaxis for HIV

"Pregnancy Incidence and Outcomes Among Women Receiving Preexposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention"
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1889140
"Conclusions and Relevance  Among HIV-serodiscordant heterosexual African couples, differences in pregnancy incidence, birth outcomes, and infant growth were not statistically different for women receiving PrEP with TDF alone or combination FTC+TDF compared with placebo at conception. Given that PrEP was discontinued when pregnancy was detected and that CIs for the birth outcomes were wide, definitive statements about the safety of PrEP in the periconception period cannot be made. These results should be discussed with HIV-uninfected women receiving PrEP who are considering becoming pregnant."

Weekly Guideline - Physical Activity for Stroke Survivors

2014 "AHA/ASA Scientific Statement"
"Physical Activity and Exercise Recommendations for Stroke Survivors"
http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/early/2014/05/20/STR.0000000000000022

Circ - Antipsychotic Use & MI

"Association Between Antipsychotic Use and Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction"
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/130/3/235.abstract   
"Conclusions—Antipsychotic use may be associated with a transient increase in risk for AMI, possibly mediated by dopamine type 3 receptor blockades. Further education on drug safety and research into the underlying biological mechanisms are needed."   

BMJ - Alcohol & Heart Disease

"Association between alcohol and cardiovascular disease: Mendelian randomisation analysis based on individual participant data"  
http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4164 
"Conclusions Individuals with a genetic variant associated with non-drinking and lower alcohol consumption had a more favourable cardiovascular profile and a reduced risk of coronary heart disease than those without the genetic variant. This suggests that reduction of alcohol consumption, even for light to moderate drinkers, is beneficial for cardiovascular health."   

NEJM - Dupilumab for Atopic Dermatitis

 "Dupilumab Treatment in Adults with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis"
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1314768?query=featured_home
"CONCLUSIONS

Patients treated with dupilumab had marked and rapid improvement in all the evaluated measures of atopic dermatitis disease activity. Side-effect profiles were not dose-limiting. (Funded by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi; ClinicalTrials.gov numbers,NCT01259323, NCT01385657, NCT01639040, and NCT01548404.)"

JAMA - Varenicline +/- Nicotine for Smoking Cessation

"Efficacy of Varenicline Combined With Nicotine Replacement Therapy vs Varenicline Alone for Smoking Cessation"
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1886188

Weekly Guideline - AAA Screening

"Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement"  
http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1883339 
"Population: These recommendations apply to asymptomatic adults aged 50 years or older.

Recommendation: The USPSTF recommends 1-time screening for AAA with ultrasonography in men aged 65 to 75 years who have ever smoked. (B recommendation)

The USPSTF recommends that clinicians selectively offer screening for AAA in men aged 65 to 75 years who have never smoked. (C recommendation)

The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for AAA in women aged 65 to 75 years who have ever smoked. (I statement)

The USPSTF recommends against routine screening for AAA in women who have never smoked. (D recommendation)"

Circ - Rivaroxaban Compared With Warfarin Among Elderly Patients

"Efficacy and Safety of Rivaroxaban Compared With Warfarin Among Elderly Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation in the Rivaroxaban Once Daily, Oral, Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared With Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation (ROCKET AF)"
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/130/2/138.abstract
"Conclusions—Elderly patients had higher stroke and major bleeding rates than younger patients, but the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban relative to warfarin did not differ with age, supporting rivaroxaban as an alternative for the elderly."

BMJ - Med Tx vs Revascularization for IHD

"Revascularisation versus medical treatment in patients with stable coronary artery disease: network meta-analysis"

"Conclusion Among patients with stable coronary artery disease, coronary artery bypass grafting reduces the risk of death, myocardial infarction, and subsequent revascularisation compared with medical treatment. All stent based coronary revascularisation technologies reduce the need for revascularisation to a variable degree. Our results provide evidence for improved survival with new generation drug eluting stents but no other percutaneous revascularisation technology compared with medical treatment."
http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g3859

NEJM - Glucocorticoid Injections for Spinal Stenosis"

"A Randomized Trial of Epidural Glucocorticoid Injections for Spinal Stenosis"
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1313265
"CONCLUSIONS

In the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis, epidural injection of glucocorticoids plus lidocaine offered minimal or no short-term benefit as compared with epidural injection of lidocaine alone. (Funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01238536.)"

JAMA - Erythropoietin After Traumatic Brain Injury

"Effect of Erythropoietin and Transfusion Threshold on Neurological Recovery After Traumatic Brain Injury"
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1884575
"Conclusions and Relevance  In patients with closed head injury, neither the administration of erythropoietin nor maintaining hemoglobin concentration of greater than 10 g/dL resulted in improved neurological outcome at 6 months. The transfusion threshold of 10 g/dL was associated with a higher incidence of adverse events. These findings do not support either approach in this setting."

Weekly Guideline - Pelvic Exams

"Screening Pelvic Examination in Adult Women: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians"  
http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1884537 
"Recommendation: ACP recommends against performing screening pelvic examination in asymptomatic, nonpregnant, adult women (strong recommendation, moderate-quality evidence)."

Circ -

"Healthy Lifestyle Change and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Young Adults
Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study"
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/130/1/10.abstract
"Conclusions—Healthy lifestyle changes during young adulthood are associated with decreased risk and unhealthy lifestyle changes are associated with increased risk for subclinical atherosclerosis in middle age."

BMJ - Mammography

"Modern mammography screening and breast cancer mortality: population study"  
 BMJ
"Conclusion Invitation to modern mammography screening may reduce deaths from breast cancer by about 28%."
http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g3701

NEJM - Antiretroviral Therapy after Cryptococcal Meningitis

"Timing of Antiretroviral Therapy after Diagnosis of Cryptococcal Meningitis"
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1312884
"CONCLUSIONS

Deferring ART for 5 weeks after the diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis was associated with significantly improved survival, as compared with initiating ART at 1 to 2 weeks, especially among patients with a paucity of white cells in cerebrospinal fluid. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and others; COAT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01075152.)"