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WASHINGTON, DC – An international study of clinical data led by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-Harvard University cardiologist found that patients with deposits of fatty plaque in their arteries are at especially high risk for life-threatening cardiovascular events if they have diabetes, disease in multiple arteries or a history of heart attack or stroke.
"This study was an impressive international collaboration that may hold important clinical benefits for Veterans and others with cardiovascular disease," said VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. "The results, presented both in a prestigious medical journal and at a major international cardiology meeting, are likely to be of great significance to physicians-particularly cardiologists-in VA and worldwide."
The findings, from a study of more than 45,000 patients in nearly 30 countries, was published online Aug. 30 by the Journal of the American Medical Association and will appear in the journal's Sept. 22 print edition. The results are also being presented this week at the annual meeting of the European Cardiology Society in Sweden.
According to lead author Dr. Deepak Bhatt and colleagues, the findings may guide future clinical trials and help doctors decide which patients need more aggressive treatment.
Bhatt is chief of cardiology at the VA Boston Healthcare System and director of the Integrated Interventional Cardiovascular Program at VA and Brigham and Women's Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
The four-year study included patients who had at baseline clinical evidence of atherothrombosis-in which fatty deposits break off from artery walls to form clots-or who had risk factors for the condition.
Ruptured plaque deposits can form clots that block blood flow to the heart or brain, resulting in heart attack or stroke.
Depending on their medical status and history, different groups of patients in the trial were at higher or lower risk for stroke, heart attack, or cardiovascular death.
On the low end of the risk scale-7 percent-were those with no diabetes and only risk factors for
atherothrombosis. The risk rose to as high as 25 percent for those with clinical evidence of atherothrombosis in multiple arteries and a history of heart attack or stroke. The presence of diabetes also raised the risk considerably.
"Even stable patients with a previous heart attack or stroke are at particularly high risk of recurrence if they have plaque build-up in several different arteries or if they have diabetes," said Bhatt. "These types of patients need aggressive preventive efforts to keep history from repeating itself."
Knowing that "not all atherothrombosis is equal," write Bhatt and colleagues, can help doctors target therapies such as plaque-reducing and clot-busting drugs to those patients who will benefit most. VA Chief Research and Development Officer Dr. Joel Kupersmith adds, "this study illustrates the importance of basic clinical information in determining the best care for the individual patient."
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SACRAMENTO – Last week Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 1395 by Sen. Elaine Alquist (D-Santa Clara), making it easier for Californians to affirm their organ donor status and creating the nation's first kidney donor registry.
“Organ donors are true heroes and I’m proud to sign SB 1395,” Schwarzenegger said. “This legislation will help save the lives of those waiting for a transplant by making it easier for Californians to affirm their preferred organ donor status. It will also create the nation’s first donor registry for kidney transplants to help connect those in need of a transplant with those willing to give. I applaud all of those who were involved in passing this life-saving legislation.”
On March 19, Schwarzenegger and Alquist announced the introduction of SB 1395.
The legislation will give Californians a choice between registering to be an organ donor or considering at another time via a mandated question through the Department of Motor Vehicles driver license application/renewal or state ID card application process.
The legislation also creates the nation’s first living donor registry for kidney transplants to better connect those who want to donate with those in need of a transplant.
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SACRAMENTO – Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), has warned consumers not to eat Fruiti Pops or Paletas California brand frozen mamey fruit bars, also known as paletas, because of potential contamination with Salmonella Typhi.
Mamey, which is the main ingredient of these products, is a tropical fruit from Central America.
There have been no illnesses reported from consumption of the frozen mamey fruit bars. But the mamey used to produce the bars was from Goya Inc., a company that initiated a recall of its mamey pulp after sampling detected Salmonella.
The Goya brand mamey pulp was associated with Salmonella Typhi illnesses. At least nine people in California and Nevada have been ill with typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi.
Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi, which lives only in humans.
Infection results from eating foods or drinking water or beverages that have been contaminated by an infected person, or by direct or indirect contact with fecal material from infected persons.
Most cases in the U.S. are acquired from recent travel to developing countries, but a small number of cases may be acquired locally from rare carriers, people who recovered from typhoid fever but continue to carry and shed the bacteria.
Symptoms of typhoid fever include fever, headache, abdominal pain, and constipation or diarrhea. Most ill persons need to be hospitalized for antibiotic treatment. Carriers usually do not have symptoms but, once identified, also need antibiotic treatment.
People who develop symptoms of typhoid fever after consuming Fruiti Pops and Paletas California brand frozen fruit pops should consult their health care provider.
Fruiti Pops frozen fruit bars are 4 ounces and packaged in a clear plastic wrapper. The frozen fruit bars do not contain lot numbers or expiration dates. The Universal Product Code (UPC) of the recalled product is 763734000097. The recalled fruit bars were distributed in California, Arizona, and Texas through distributorships.
Paletas California frozen mamey fruit bars are 4 ounces and packaged in plastic wrappers. The fruit bars are sold in a package of 24 paletas. All production lot codes are being recalled. The UPC of the recalled product is 3641800200. The recalled fruit bars in California were distributed to retailers in Southern California.
Consumers in possession of these products are advised to dispose of them. Consumers with questions may contact Fruiti Pops at 562-404-2568 and Paletas California at Foods Inc. at 562-944-0680.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Office of Education Career Technical Education Department is proud to announce the recent graduates of the certified nurses assistant (CNA) program.
Teacher Karen Koenig celebrated the three and a half month journey of the 14 students as they reached a milestone in their health career path.
The next CNA class will start on Jan. 10, 2011, and end on March 28, 2011.
Applications are available the Lake County Office of Education in Lakeport and online at www.lakecoe.org/cna.
Classes meet on Mondays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The cost of the class is $1,450. It includes the cost of textbooks, workbooks, supplies, fingerprinting, drug testing and the state exam.
Students must be at least 16 years of age, pass a drug test and be fingerprinted. Students will be admitted into the program on a first-come, first-served basis.
Complete applications and deposit of $725 will be accepted starting Oct. 4.
For questions, contact Tammy Serpa at
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