News and views

A new on-line resource from the National Library for Health – the Vascular Specialist Library – has been launched to provide information for both health care professionals and the general public on the prevention, diagnosis and management of diseases of the arteries, veins and the lymphatic system....

Two government websites – NHS Choices and NHS Direct – have joined forces to provide the public with a one stop health information service: www.nhs.uk. The website will give public advice and information about anything from which hospital to choose (including data on hospital comparisons) to checking what symptoms might mean. NHS guides will cover long-term conditions, a health A-Z will cover more than 700 conditions and treatments, answers to common health questions will be given and there will also be an online enquiry service for non-emergency health questions....

As one person is diagnosed with diabetes every three minutes, faster than ever before, according to the charity Diabetes UK, the pharmaceutical company MSD is trying to build a ‘face of diabetes’ mosaic to highlight the impact of type 2 diabetes on patients....

People who have been diagnosed with panic attacks or panic disorder have a greater risk of subsequently developing heart disease or a myocardial infarction (MI) than the normal population, with higher rates occurring in younger people, according to a recent study (Eur Heart J 2008:29:2981–8) ...

Phase III clinical study results with a nicotinic acid/laropiprant combination (Tredaptive®), show that in the treatment of patients with dyslipidaemia and primary hypercholesterolaemia, this new lipid-modifying therapy produced less flushing compared with those patients who were treated with extended-release nicotinic acid (Int J Clin Pract 2008;62:1959–70)....

A new report Focus on heart failure, by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, aims to provide primary and secondary care services with guidance on how to achieve high quality care for all heart failure patients. The report is one of a series which highlights best practice within key services in the NHS in order to improve delivery....

The Scottish Heart and Arterial Risk Prevention Group (SHARP) was launched in 1988 with the aim of helping to reduce and prevent premature morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Scotland. The programme for the 20th anniversary meeting – held on the 20th–21st November 2008 in the Hilton Hotel Dunkeld – examined the likely future direction for cardiovascular disease prevention and management but also reflected on achievements over the past 20 years. Dr Alan Begg, Chairman of SHARP reports....

A busy and varied programme discussing some of the hottest topics in cardiovascular disease was presented at the 11th Primary Care Cardiovascular Society (PCCS) Annual Scientific meeting, held in Chester on 25th – 27th September 2008. It attracted over 250 people and inspired great interest and debate....

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a safe and accurate imaging modality, with an established role in current cardiology practice. It is becoming essential for cardiologists in other non-imaging sub-specialities to acquire a working knowledge of the potential of CMR in both structural and in ischaemic heart disease. In the current specialist registrar training environment, however, it is difficult to gain that expertise unless wholly committed to an imaging career....

Major new trials reported at the American Heart Association 2008 Scientific Sessions, held in New Orleans on November 8th – 12th, showed encouraging results for rosuvastatin in the primary prevention of cardiovascular events, while exercise in heart failure patients produced modest health benefits....