TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for July 2016

Editor’s Corner

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) news was popular among TCTMD readers this month, in particular our coverage of the agency’s approval of the Absorb bioresorbable scaffold. An embattled anticoagulation monitoring device, generic Crestor, conflicting lipid-lowering guidance, a new TAVR risk score, and the mixed opinions of cardiologists on Pokémon Go helped round out our top 10 list for July 2016.  

Now You See It: FDA Approves Absorb Bioresorbable Scaffold 

Physicians in the United States now have access to the first commercially available “dissolving” stent for the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease following the FDA’s approval of the Absorb GT1 bioresorbable vascular scaffold. 

FDA: Angiographic Catheter Recalled Due to Potential Tip Separation

Stryker Sustainability Solutions (formerly Ascent Healthcare Solutions) recalled multiple lots of the Angiodynamics Soft-Vu Omni Flush angiographic catheter after receiving reports of the tip separating from the main portion of the device.

Pokémon Go Forth: Cardiologists, AHA Support Use of Augmented Reality Games That Encourage Movement

Relying on a video game may not be the ideal way to boost fitness, but Pokémon Go could hold the key to reducing sedentary behavior on a societal level. Since its release, millions of people worldwide have been jogging, walking, and stampeding their way around their neighborhoods hoping to catch mythical creatures.

ROCKET AF Investigators Respond to New Questions About Point-of-Care Warfarin Monitoring Device

Continuing to address concerns about the device used to measure international normalized ratio values in ROCKET AF, trial leaders have released additional analyses of stored blood samples showing that even though there are discrepancies between point-of-care and laboratory measurements in some patients, they do not seem to have had an impact of the overall conclusions of the study.

Simple Risk-Scoring System Predicts Mortality After TAVR

Use of a simple risk-scoring system, one that includes baseline assessments of comorbidity, frailty, and disability, predicts the short- and long-term risks of mortality in extreme- and high-risk patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement, a new study shows.

The EU Versus US Lipid Guideline Debate: It’s the Gap That Matters, Experts Say

Much has been made of the different approaches taken to managing cholesterol in the American and European primary prevention guidelines—now two studies attempting to quantify the impact of those divergent approaches in different populations, in both regions, have come up with some surprising insights.

Large Meta-analysis Supports Radial as Default Approach in All CAD Types

Regardless of the type of CAD being treated, a radial-first approach results in fewer deaths and complications compared with femoral PCI, a large meta-analysis indicates. These findings support the use of the radial access as the default approach for patients undergoing coronary interventions, investigators say.

FDA: No More Chances for Embattled Coagulation Monitoring System

Alere has announced that its point-of-care INRatio and INRatio2 PT/INR Monitoring System, which was used to measure coagulation levels in the ROCKET AF trial, will be withdrawn from the market following discussions with the FDA.

Vast Majority of Strokes Caused by Potentially Modifiable Factors

Combined, 10 modifiable risk factors account for about nine out of every 10 strokes that occur across the globe, according to findings from an expanded phase of the INTERSTROKE study. Hypertension leads the way in terms of attributable risk.

AstraZeneca Strives to Block Generic Crestor as Observers Call Foul

US Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and several members of the House of Representatives asked the FDA to approve all eligible generic versions of Crestor, arguing that the legal wrangling by AstraZeneca, the company that manufactures the cholesterol-lowering medication, was a blatant attempt to block generic competition and maximize profit.

See also: Judge Dismisses AstraZeneca’s Bid to Block Generic Crestor 
 

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• TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for June 2016
• TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for May 2016
• TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for April 2016