Statin Use Linked to Lower Risks of HCC and Liver Disease Progression

A US cohort study indicated that statin use may reduce the risks of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and progression of chronic liver disease (CLD). The study included 16 501 CLD patients (mean age, 59.7 years, females 40.9%), with 3610 statin users and 12 891 nonusers. Compared with nonusers, statin users exhibited a significantly […]

Clinical Significance of Carotid Artery Plaque with Age and Sex

A US cohort study suggests that carotid artery plaque (CAP) becomes very common with increasing age among individuals without clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and the association of CAP with incident ASCVD events was stronger in younger ages, especially among women. A total of 5689 participants with complete data were […]

Substituting Butter with Plant-Based Oils May Improve Survival

A prospective US population-based cohort study suggested that higher intake of butter was associated with increased mortality, while higher intake of plant-based oils was associated with lower mortality. Substituting butter with plant-based oils may prevent premature deaths. There were 221 054 adults with mean age at baseline of 36.1 ~ 56.3 […]

Salt Substitution May Reduce Recurrent Stroke and Death

A prespecified subgroup analysis of a Chinese randomized clinical trial suggested that salt substitution significantly reduced the risks of stroke recurrence and death. The analysis included 15 249 patients with stroke (mean age, 64.1 years; female 45.9%; male 54.1%) from an open-label, cluster randomized clinical trial. Patients were assigned to […]

CBT-Based Programs for IBS

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective in managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) by addressing the connection between the gut and the brain. Following are some available programs: Mahana IBS (FDA-Approved): A clinically validated, prescription 3-month digital therapy program designed to reduce the severity of IBS symptoms. […]

Online Programs for Anxiety Disorders

MindShift CBT (Free) – A mobile app based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) principles, helping users manage anxiety with guided exercises. https://www.anxietycanada.com/ CBT-i Coach (Free) – Designed for those struggling with anxiety-related insomnia, based on the therapy manual, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Veterans. https://mobile.va.gov/ This Way Up (Low-cost, some […]

Supine High BP Increases CVD Risk and Mortality

A US prospective cohort analysis suggested that supine high blood pressure (BP) regardless of seated high BP was associated with a higher risk of CVD and mortality than seated high BP alone. The analysis used data from 11 369 participants without known CVD (female 55.7%, male 44.3%; Black 25.1%, White 74.9%; […]

Diet-Wide Prospective Study on Diet and Colorectal Cancer

A UK prospective study on diet and colorectal cancer found a marked positive association for alcohol, and a strong inverse association for calcium. The study examined associations of 97 dietary factors with colorectal cancer risk in 542,778 participants with 12,251 incident cases over 16.6 years, and conducted a targeted genetic […]

Mediterranean Diet May Slow Atherosclerosis Progression and Prevent CHD

A Spanish secondary prevention study suggested that Mediterranean diet might reduce neutrophil levels and slow the progression of atherosclerosis and was superior to a low-fat diet in preventing major events of coronary heart disease (CHD). A total of 1002 CHD patients were randomly assigned to follow either a low-fat diet […]

2024 Strategies and Criteria for the Diagnosis and Management of Myocarditis

Top 10 key takeaway points of the report of the American College of Cardiology Solution Set Oversight Committee for the diagnosis and management of myocarditis: 1. Be aware of the 3 classic presentations of myocarditis: chest pain, heart failure/shock, and/or symptoms related to arrhythmia (eg, presyncope or syncope), especially in […]