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A higher intensity of comprehensive disease management for smoking cessation, similar to other chronic diseases, may yield superior results.
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A review of large randomized clinical trials for type 2 diabetes controlling HbA1c as low as 6.5-7.0% showed many consequences, but uncertain benefits. A new approach to type 2 diabetes should include individualized HbA1c targets along with cardiovascular risk reduction reflecting patients' values and preferences, and caution is urged in using these HbA1c values as performance measures to indicate inadequate care.
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A polypill consisting of low doses of thiazide, atenolol, ramipril, simvastatin, and aspirin administered to 2053 subjects in 50 centers in India was effective in reducing multiple risk factors and cardiovascular risk.
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The FDA has approved the first oral, selective vasopressin V2-receptor antagonist for the treatment of hypervolemic and euvolemic hyponatremia.
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The ACTIVE Investigators. Effect of clopidogrel added to aspirin in patients with atrial fibrillation.
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This large multicenter, randomized, controlled parallel-group trial found that intensive glucose management, compared to conventional (target glucose 81-108 mg/dL vs. ≤ 180 mg/dL), increases 90-day mortality in both medical and surgical ICU patients.
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Patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute chest pain are a significant portion of our health care budget.
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Observational studies have suggested statins may not only reduce arterial cardiovascular events but also venous thromboembolism.
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In a randomized, multicenter trial, chlorhexidine-impregnated sponges used in the dressing of intravascular catheters reduced catheter-related infections by 60%. Increasing the interval of catheter-related dressing changes from 3 to 7 days did not increase the rate of infection.
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Syncope is commonly accepted to be a danger sign in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In this paper, Spirito et al report data from a registry of 1,511 patients with HCM who have been followed longitudinally at four institutions.