A new method allows for the early diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension
Researchers have developed an innovative system which will help doctors make the earliest diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension possible

Focus on atrial fibrillation recognizes growing importance of common arrhythmia
Special issue of JACC features intriguing link between statins and AF prevention, tools to ensure the highest-quality AF care, and more

Blood test can accurately diagnose heart failure in patients with kidney dysfunction
NT-proBNP test results comparable to those of BNP blood test in patients with kidney disease

Survey finds care for Europe's adults with congenital heart disease is inadequate
The provision of care in Europe for adults born with heart disease is inadequate and there are too few specialist centres to support their ever-increasing numbers

Appropriateness criteria issued for cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
ACCF and others aim to assist patients, clinicians, and payers in determining reasonable imaging tests

Young Physician-Scientists: Internal Medicine’s Challenge
In the past decade, many individuals and organizations have expressed concern about the future of clinical research

Evidence-based medicine among internal medicine residents in a community hospital program using smart phones
This study implemented and evaluated a point-of-care, wireless Internet access using smart phones for information retrieval during daily clinical rounds and academic activities of internal medicine residents in a community hospital.

Overcoming obstacles to implementing a primary care research framework
Primary care research has recently garnered greater attention at the national level.

ESC Congress 2003: New oral anticoagulant shows promise to reduce major cardiovascular events following heart attacks
Efficacy and safety of 6 month treatment with the oral direct thrombin inhibitor, ximelagatran, in combination with acetylsalicylic acid, in patients with a recent myocardial infarction

Heart failure patients do better when treated according to guidelines, but too many doctors still fail to prescribe the best treatments
Heart failure patients who are treated in accordance with established European guidelines do better than patients who are not, yet many doctors are still not adhering to the guidelines

ESC Congress 2004: Trial shows benefits of new anti-arrhythmetic agent, dronedarone, in the management of cardiac arrhythmia
the new antiarrhythmic agent, dronedarone, is highly effective in the prevention of both symptomatic and asymptomatic recurrences of atrial fibrillation (AF)/atrial flutter (AFL)

Women's mortality rates for cardiovascular disease differ widely among hospitals
Women treated for cardiovascular disease at the nation's best- performing hospitals have a 39 percent lower risk-adjusted mortality rate when compared with women at the nation's poorest-performing hospitals

Treatment of severe coronary artery disease with drug-eluting stents a viable alternative to CABG
Severe stenosis (blockage) to the left main coronary artery-a condition commonly called a "widow-maker"- can result in sudden death.

Release of new guidelines on the management of arterial hypertension
Arterial hypertension is a causal and modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular and renal diseases and an important and frequently encountered condition in Europe

Many urinary stones can be treated without surgery
For many patients with urinary stone disease, treatment with a calcium-channel blocker or an alpha blocker can greatly improve their likelihood of passing their urinary stones, which may help these patients avoid surgery...