Background: Obesity, a chronic neurometabolic disease, is anticipated to impact nearly 25% of the global population by 2035. Recent breakthroughs in pharmacotherapy, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, are revolutionizing obesity treatment by targeting neuroendocrine mechanisms involving G-protein–coupled receptor targets, including GLP-1, GIP, GCG, amylin, oxyntomodulin, and peptide YY receptors. Retatrutide (LY3437943), a novel single peptide…

Background Small-intestinal angiodysplasia (SIA), characterized by ectatic vessels, contributes to recurrent gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and anemia, posing therapeutic challenges. Thalidomide’s potential in treating angiodysplasia-related GI bleeding prompted this study. Summary This multicenter trial (April 2016 – December 2020) enrolled 150 patients (≥50 years) with confirmed SIA and ≥4 bleeding episodes in the past year. They…

Background: Patients with advanced end-stage heart failure often require heart transplantation or left ventricular assist device implantation for favorable outcomes. This study explores the effectiveness of catheter ablation in improving outcomes for heart failure patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation. Summary: The CASTLE-HTx trial investigated the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation in patients with end-stage…

Introduction The Duke Criteria are a set of diagnostic criteria that are widely used to diagnose infective endocarditis (IE). They were first published in 1994 and have been updated several times since then. The most recent update, published in 2023, incorporates new advances in microbiology, imaging, and pathology. This blog post will compare the updated…

Background As the proportion of older patients (≥75 years of age) with myocardial infarction admitted to hospitals increases, the challenge of effective treatment in this demographic becomes apparent. However, older patients are often underrepresented in clinical trials, leading to a lack of robust evidence for their management. One particular challenge is deciding whether to pursue…

Background: Treatment-resistant depression is a severe condition with limited treatment options. Conventional antidepressants often have diminishing efficacy with each successive course of treatment, leading to significant challenges in managing this condition. Psilocybin, a compound found in certain mushrooms, has shown promise as a potential antidepressant in preliminary studies, particularly in patients with life-threatening illnesses. This…

Background Bempedoic acid, an ATP citrate lyase inhibitor, is known to reduce LDL cholesterol levels. It is particularly useful for patients who are unable to tolerate statins due to adverse effects. The drug’s impact on cardiovascular outcomes remains uncertain. Summary The CLEAR Outcomes trial investigated the effects of bempedoic acid in patients unable or unwilling…

Background Atrial fibrillation (A.Fib) can arise from various underlying causes that lead to changes in the structure of the heart. Patients with A.Fib have an increased risk of stroke due to blood clot formation in the left atrium. Clot can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. A.Fib is frequently linked to conditions like…

Deciding who should get thrombophilia tests and how to interpret the results is complex. The clinical benefits of testing and its impact on venous thromboembolism (VTE) management are unknown. Some clinical findings can indicate inherited thrombophilia, such as VTE at a young age, strong family history, recurrent VTE, or VTE in unusual sites. However, age…