Category Archives: Cardiovascular

Warfarin dosing: the role of genes

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 0 Comments

Warfarin dosing: the genes VKORC1, CYP2C9, CYP4F2 are determinants in the dosing of warfarin. Role in clinical practice of pharmacogenomics: genetic testing to guide warfarin therapy.… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Antithrombotics, Cardiovascular, Genetics, Hematology, cancer chemotherapy and related, PowerPoint presentations

Updated recommendations on aspirin for cardiovascular disease prevention

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 0 Comments

Latest 2009 recommendations for the use of aspirin in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. These recommendations were issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Cardiovascular, Clinical Guidelines, Neurology

NPS recommendations for the use of valsartan (Diovan)

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 0 Comments

The National Prescribing Service Limited (Australia) issues a publication called NPS RADAR. In this issue valsartan (Diovan) is reviewed, this is the summary: Valsartan reduces blood pressure to a similar extent as other angiotensin II-receptor antagonists. If blood pressure is not controlled by valsartan 160 mg, add a second drug rather than increasing the dose… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Antihypertensives, Cardiovascular

Experts comment the JUPITER trial in the latest NEJM issue

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 0 Comments

Experts around the globe comment the JUPITER trial in the correspondence section of the March 5, 2009 issue of the NEJM. I collect here some of the most relevant and interesting correspondence to the editor. “JUPITER is notable for the unacknowledged exclusion of a population that may be at increased risk for dose-related adverse effects… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Cardiovascular, Endocrine, Statins

PowerPoint presentation: drugs for the treatment of angina pectoris (nitrates, beta blockers)

Posted on March 1, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 0 Comments

The following set of pharmacology lectures has been created by Dr. Garret Gross and were published in the Division for Cardiovascular Pharmacology, a branch of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). Antianginal drugs lecture Outline: Myocardial Preconditioning, Nitrates tolerance (how to avoid it),contraindications. ß-adrenergic blockers contraindications. Reasons for Using Nitrates and Beta… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Cardiovascular, PowerPoint presentations

PowerPoint presentation on cardiovascular pharmacology for nurses. Drugs to treat hypertension, heart failure, MI, shock and arrhythmias reviewed

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 0 Comments

The following cardiovascular pharmacology presentation is a practical overview on hypertension, drugs used in heart failure, MI, shock and antiarrhythmics: More on nursing pharmacology… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Antihypertensives, Cardiovascular, Nurses & nursing students

PowerPoint presentation: ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and calcium channel blockers

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 0 Comments

The following pharmacology PowerPoint has been developed by Ed Sheridan, Pharm.D. Outline: ACE inhibitors, Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs), and calcium channel blockers •Review the Mechanism of Action •Review Safety •Review Efficacy •Hypertension Download ppt slides: pharmacology of ACEi, ARBs, and Calcium channel blockers. You may also find interesting related PowerPoint presentation on drug therapy… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Antihypertensives, Cardiovascular, PowerPoint presentations

EMEA recommends new contraindication for aliskiren (Rasilez): angioedema

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 1 Comment

According to the EMEA, aliskiren (Rasilez, Tekturna in the USA) should not be prescribed in patients that experienced angioedema after taking the drug. Some excerpts from the EMEA press release dated 19 February, 2009: The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended adding a contraindication to the Product Information for aliskiren, stating that it must not… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Antihypertensives, Cardiovascular, EMEA media releases

Cardiovascular MCQs for pharmacology review. USMLE style questions on antiarrhythmics

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 0 Comments

Pharmacology questions on antiarrhythmics. USMLE style MCQs for pre- test review. Developed by UMKC School of Medicine.… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Antiarrhythmics, Cardiovascular, MCQs and quizzes for USMLE

USMLE-like questions on antihypertensives

Posted on February 18, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 0 Comments

These questions from the UMKC School of Medicine have a different degree of difficulty, but are useful to review pharmacology of hypertension. Antihypertensives Item Number: 11201 correct answer: 4 category: Antihypertensives 1. Gynecomastia, hyperkalemia, and menstrual abnormalities are potential adverse effects associated with: A. amiloride B. captopril C. triamterene D. spironolactone 1. A,B,C 2. A,C… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Cardiovascular, MCQs and quizzes for USMLE, Pharmacology animations

PowerPoint presentation on cardiovascular pharmacology: calcium channel blockers

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 1 Comment

This presentation on calcium channel blockers was created by Dr. Nancy Rusch, an expert in the field. It was published on the ASPET Cardiovascular Division website. Calcium channel blockers ppt outline: Introduction (Classification: Phenylalkylamines, Benzothiazepines, 1,4-Dihydropyridines) CCB binding sites Heterogeneity of action Cardiac & hemodynamic differentiation Pharmacokinetics Adverse effects Contraindications Summary Download PPT: Calcium Channel… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Cardiovascular, PowerPoint presentations

Anticoagulants MCQs for test review

Posted on January 29, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 0 Comments

Here are a couple of questions related to the pharmacology of coagulation. These questions from the UMKC School of Medicine have a different degree of difficulty, but are useful to review the topic. To get a better understanding on the topic, you can read about antiplatelet agents and thrombolytic drugs. Item Number: 10968 correct answer:… Continue Reading

Filed Under: By specialty, Cardiovascular, Hematology, cancer chemotherapy and related, MCQs and quizzes for USMLE

FDA recommendations on clopidogrel (Plavix) because of decreased response and PPI interactions

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 0 Comments

Pharmamotion has now a new page containing updates on clopidogrel PPI interactions. The FDA issued today an early communication about an ongoing safety review of the antiplatelet agent clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix). The backgroung to this is the recent evidence of: A decreased response to clopidogrel in some patients. Since clopidogrel is a prodrug, genetic polymorphisms… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Cardiovascular, FDA media releases, Hematology, cancer chemotherapy and related

Potential new indication of beta blockers: improve wound healing

Posted on January 19, 2009 by Flavio Guzmán, MD • 0 Comments

A recent article in PLoS Medicine shows that epinephrine impairs wound healing and proposes beta blockers as a potential medication. Stress-Mediated Increases in Systemic and Local Epinephrine Impair Skin Wound Healing: Potential New Indication for Beta Blockers Raja K. Sivamani1, Christine E. Pullar1¤, Catherine G. Manabat-Hidalgo1, David M. Rocke2, Richard C. Carlsen3, David G. Greenhalgh4,5,… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Autonomic Pharmacology, Cardiovascular, Dermatology