“Ultra-bad” Cholesterol Discovered

“Ultra-bad” cholesterol is now a new type of cholesterol, according to research published in the May 26 issue of Diabetes.

For quite some time, there were two main types of cholesterol that were considered to be most important. These are HDL and LDL (as depicted cartoonishly below). Now, for those that are elderly or who have diabetes, they have found a “stickier” form of cholesterol, that is more adherent to arterial walls. For now, this has been dubbed “ultra-bad” cholesterol, or to be more scientific, this is LDL that is glycated by a compound named methylglyoxal (MG). MG is a glycating agent that is increased in diabetes.

It is well known that diabetes is a risk factor for development of chronic heart disease, but it was not well known why it is such a big risk factor. This research study definitely sheds some light on the matter, and will be very useful in developing future treatments.

Medicare Predicted to Run Out of Money in 2024

Medicare’s largest trust fund needs some major help. This article discusses what is in the works to prevent Medicare from going bankrupt.

Some text from the article:

“For decades, politicians in Washington, D.C., have looked up at the size and scale of the fiscal challenges facing our country, particularly in Medicare, and chosen to kick the can down the road,” House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a statement. “Today’s trustees’ report is another reminder that we’ve run out of road.”

FreeRice.com – Feed the Hungry with Your Knowledge

I came across this fantastic website last night while working an ER shift. For every question you answer correctly, the United Nations World Food Programme donates 10 grains of rice to help end hunger. It’s fun, too. Try it out! www.FreeRice.com

Stethoscope Replaced With Mobile Ultrasound

Ever want to check out your patient’s heart valves at bedside, in the hallway, or at the nurse’s station? Even check out a friend’s heart valves at a cocktail party? Well, that may be going overboard, but at least you would know you could if you wanted to.

These mobile ultrasound devices, at the size of a cellular phone, can dramatically improve health care delivery, patient education (because you can show them what’s going on in real time), and health care costs.

You can also view heart musculature, rhythm, and blood flow. Hello future, it’s nice to meet you. Bye stethoscopes, it was nice knowing you.

Heart Attacks More Severe in the Morning, Research Finds

The National Center for Cardiovascular Research in Madrid analyzed data from over 800 patients who had been treated for heart attacks between 2003 and 2009. They focused their attention on two important enzymes that are released into the bloodstream when the heart muscle is damaged, creatine kinase and troponin.

What they found was that those who suffered heart attacks between the hours of 6 A.M. and noon had higher levels of the two enzymes, and therefore suffered more extensive damage to the heart muscle.

This is the very first study to ever show that timing during the day is an important factor in the extent of damage to the heart. Information such as this will be useful to ER physicians, amongst other doctors, when evaluating a patient presenting to their emergency room. It always raises urgency issues when contemplating who to send to the catheterization lab no matter the time of day, but knowing those who experience a heart attack in the morning are more prone to extensive damage will rightly escalate the urgency for optimal patient care.