Congress Reports

Fondaparinux frequently used ‘off-label’
The anticoagulant fondaparinux appears to be more often used for off-label than US Food and Drug Administration-approved indications, a US study has revealed.

UK stroke strategy questioned
The current emphasis on hyperacute stroke care to improve access to thrombolysis may distract attention and resources from a truly comprehensive stroke service, UK experts warn.

Atherogenic LDL phenotype can be reversed through weight loss
Significant weight loss leads to reversion from an atherogenic to a non-atherogenic low-density lipoprotein phenotype in moderately overweight men, report researchers.

VAT more predictive of cardio-ankle vascular index than adiponectin
Increased cardio-ankle vascular index, a marker of arterial stiffness, is associated with an increased area of visceral adipose tissue and reduced high-molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin levels, report investigators.

Revascularization no better than medical therapy for stable IHD in Type 2 diabetics
Rate of overall survival and freedom from cardiovascular events of Type 2 diabetes patients with ischemic heart disease does not differ significantly between patients treated with revascularization versus intensive medical therapy, show results from the BARI 2D trial.

Exenatide once weekly offers greatest treatment satisfaction
Both twice-daily and once-weekly formulations of exenatide provided improvements in treatment satisfaction and quality of life when added to diet and exercise and/or other oral antidiabetes agents, report researchers in the journal Diabetic Medicine.

Miniature CPB linked with improved outcomes
Miniaturised cardiopulmonary bypass may be associated with a lower risk of postoperative stroke than the conventional approach, a meta-analysis of trials suggests.

RECORD final analysis finds no increased CV risk with rosiglitazone
Final results from the RECORD trial found no increase in the risk for cardiovascular hospitalization or death with rosiglitazone treatment, when added to standard metformin or sulfonylurea, in patients with Type 2 diabetes.