Results of DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) trial reported at TCT 2013

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31-Oct-2013

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Contact: Judy Romero
jromero@crf.org
Cardiovascular Research Foundation

Comparison of 2 third-generation drug-eluting stents establishes comparable safety and efficacy; demonstrates non-inferiorityof newest zotarolimus-eluting stent

SAN FRANCISCO, CA October 31, 2013 Results of the DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) clinical trial demonstrate comparable safety and efficacy of two third-generation permanent polymer-based drug-eluting stents with low rates of adverse clinical events and establish the non-inferiority of the newest zotarolimus-eluting stent. The findings were presented today at the 25th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.

Third-generation permanent polymer-based drug-eluting stents (DES) with novel flexible designs were developed to improve stent deliverability in challenging anatomical lesions and to improve stent alignment within the vessel wall, while maintaining the anti-restenotic potential of newer generation DES systems. DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) follows the TWENTE trial, which was presented at TCT 2011 and examined second-generation drug-eluting stents with the same drugs and coatings but different stent platforms.

DUTCH PEERS was a multicenter, prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled study in patients requiring percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) with DES implantation. The study was performed in four PCI centers in the Netherlands (Thoraxcentrum Twente, Enschede; Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem; Scheper Hospital, Emmen; Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar). The primary endpoint was the composite target vessel failure (TVF) at one-year, defined as cardiac death, target vessel revascularization, or myocardial infarction (MI) attributable to the target vessel or not attributable to another vessel.

A total of 1,811 patients were randomly assigned to treatment with third-generation cobalt-chromium zotarolimus-eluting stents (906 patients; 1,205 lesions) or platinum-chromium everolimus-eluting stents (905 patients; 1,166 lesions). The study population (age 63.910.8 years, range 21󈟇 years; 73.0 percent male) was an "all-comers" population comprising 58.6 percent of patients with acute coronary syndromes (20.4 percent of all patients presented with an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction). Of all 2,371 lesions, 65.7 percent were ACC/AHA lesion type B2/C. Follow-up data for 99.9 percent of the randomized patients were obtained.

TVF occurred in 6.1 percent (55/905) patients assigned to zotarolimus-eluting stents and 5.2 percent (47/905) assigned to everolimus-eluting stents. Non-inferiority of the zotarolimus-eluting stent was confirmed with an absolute risk difference of 0.88 percent (non-inferiority p-value = 0.006). There was also no significant between-group difference in individual components of the primary endpoint and other secondary clinical endpoints.

In both stent groups, definite-or-probable stent thrombosis rates were low. Definite-or-probable stent thrombosis rates were 0.6 percent (5/905) in the zotarolimus stent and 0.9 percent (8/905) in the everolimus stent (p value=0.40). Notably, there was no definite stent thrombosis beyond three months from stenting, reaffirming the safety of newer generation DES platforms.

"The clinical outcome of this trial was excellent particularly when considering its high proportion of complex patients with acute myocardial infarction at presentation and may represent a challenging touchstone of novel stents and scaffolds," said Clemens von Birgelen, MD PhD, the principal investigator of the trial. Dr. von Birgelen is Co-Director of the Department of Cardiology at Thoraxcentrum Twente and Professor of Cardiology at University of Twente in the Netherlands.

"Both permanent polymer-based stents were similarly efficacious and safe in treating all-comers with an excellent clinical outcome."

###

The DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) trial was equally funded by Boston Scientific and Medtronic. Dr. von Birgelen reported being a consultant to Abbott Vascular, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic. He has also received a travel grant from Biotronik and lecture fees from Biotronik and MSD.

About CRF and TCT

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) is an independent, academically focused nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the survival and quality of life for people with cardiovascular disease through research and education. Since its inception in 1991, CRF has played a major role in realizing dramatic improvements in the lives of countless numbers of patients by establishing the safe use of new technologies and therapies in interventional cardiovascular medicine. CRF is the sponsor of the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. For more information, visit http://www.crf.org and http://www.tctconference.com.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

31-Oct-2013

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Contact: Judy Romero
jromero@crf.org
Cardiovascular Research Foundation

Comparison of 2 third-generation drug-eluting stents establishes comparable safety and efficacy; demonstrates non-inferiorityof newest zotarolimus-eluting stent

SAN FRANCISCO, CA October 31, 2013 Results of the DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) clinical trial demonstrate comparable safety and efficacy of two third-generation permanent polymer-based drug-eluting stents with low rates of adverse clinical events and establish the non-inferiority of the newest zotarolimus-eluting stent. The findings were presented today at the 25th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.

Third-generation permanent polymer-based drug-eluting stents (DES) with novel flexible designs were developed to improve stent deliverability in challenging anatomical lesions and to improve stent alignment within the vessel wall, while maintaining the anti-restenotic potential of newer generation DES systems. DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) follows the TWENTE trial, which was presented at TCT 2011 and examined second-generation drug-eluting stents with the same drugs and coatings but different stent platforms.

DUTCH PEERS was a multicenter, prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled study in patients requiring percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) with DES implantation. The study was performed in four PCI centers in the Netherlands (Thoraxcentrum Twente, Enschede; Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem; Scheper Hospital, Emmen; Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar). The primary endpoint was the composite target vessel failure (TVF) at one-year, defined as cardiac death, target vessel revascularization, or myocardial infarction (MI) attributable to the target vessel or not attributable to another vessel.

A total of 1,811 patients were randomly assigned to treatment with third-generation cobalt-chromium zotarolimus-eluting stents (906 patients; 1,205 lesions) or platinum-chromium everolimus-eluting stents (905 patients; 1,166 lesions). The study population (age 63.910.8 years, range 21󈟇 years; 73.0 percent male) was an "all-comers" population comprising 58.6 percent of patients with acute coronary syndromes (20.4 percent of all patients presented with an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction). Of all 2,371 lesions, 65.7 percent were ACC/AHA lesion type B2/C. Follow-up data for 99.9 percent of the randomized patients were obtained.

TVF occurred in 6.1 percent (55/905) patients assigned to zotarolimus-eluting stents and 5.2 percent (47/905) assigned to everolimus-eluting stents. Non-inferiority of the zotarolimus-eluting stent was confirmed with an absolute risk difference of 0.88 percent (non-inferiority p-value = 0.006). There was also no significant between-group difference in individual components of the primary endpoint and other secondary clinical endpoints.

In both stent groups, definite-or-probable stent thrombosis rates were low. Definite-or-probable stent thrombosis rates were 0.6 percent (5/905) in the zotarolimus stent and 0.9 percent (8/905) in the everolimus stent (p value=0.40). Notably, there was no definite stent thrombosis beyond three months from stenting, reaffirming the safety of newer generation DES platforms.

"The clinical outcome of this trial was excellent particularly when considering its high proportion of complex patients with acute myocardial infarction at presentation and may represent a challenging touchstone of novel stents and scaffolds," said Clemens von Birgelen, MD PhD, the principal investigator of the trial. Dr. von Birgelen is Co-Director of the Department of Cardiology at Thoraxcentrum Twente and Professor of Cardiology at University of Twente in the Netherlands.

"Both permanent polymer-based stents were similarly efficacious and safe in treating all-comers with an excellent clinical outcome."

###

The DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) trial was equally funded by Boston Scientific and Medtronic. Dr. von Birgelen reported being a consultant to Abbott Vascular, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic. He has also received a travel grant from Biotronik and lecture fees from Biotronik and MSD.

About CRF and TCT

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) is an independent, academically focused nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the survival and quality of life for people with cardiovascular disease through research and education. Since its inception in 1991, CRF has played a major role in realizing dramatic improvements in the lives of countless numbers of patients by establishing the safe use of new technologies and therapies in interventional cardiovascular medicine. CRF is the sponsor of the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. For more information, visit http://www.crf.org and http://www.tctconference.com.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-10/crf-ro103113.php
Related Topics: russell brand   Nevada school shooting   drew brees   Bobby Cannavale   kim zolciak  

Results of DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) trial reported at TCT 2013

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

31-Oct-2013

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Contact: Judy Romero
jromero@crf.org
Cardiovascular Research Foundation

Comparison of 2 third-generation drug-eluting stents establishes comparable safety and efficacy; demonstrates non-inferiorityof newest zotarolimus-eluting stent

SAN FRANCISCO, CA October 31, 2013 Results of the DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) clinical trial demonstrate comparable safety and efficacy of two third-generation permanent polymer-based drug-eluting stents with low rates of adverse clinical events and establish the non-inferiority of the newest zotarolimus-eluting stent. The findings were presented today at the 25th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.

Third-generation permanent polymer-based drug-eluting stents (DES) with novel flexible designs were developed to improve stent deliverability in challenging anatomical lesions and to improve stent alignment within the vessel wall, while maintaining the anti-restenotic potential of newer generation DES systems. DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) follows the TWENTE trial, which was presented at TCT 2011 and examined second-generation drug-eluting stents with the same drugs and coatings but different stent platforms.

DUTCH PEERS was a multicenter, prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled study in patients requiring percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) with DES implantation. The study was performed in four PCI centers in the Netherlands (Thoraxcentrum Twente, Enschede; Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem; Scheper Hospital, Emmen; Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar). The primary endpoint was the composite target vessel failure (TVF) at one-year, defined as cardiac death, target vessel revascularization, or myocardial infarction (MI) attributable to the target vessel or not attributable to another vessel.

A total of 1,811 patients were randomly assigned to treatment with third-generation cobalt-chromium zotarolimus-eluting stents (906 patients; 1,205 lesions) or platinum-chromium everolimus-eluting stents (905 patients; 1,166 lesions). The study population (age 63.910.8 years, range 21󈟇 years; 73.0 percent male) was an "all-comers" population comprising 58.6 percent of patients with acute coronary syndromes (20.4 percent of all patients presented with an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction). Of all 2,371 lesions, 65.7 percent were ACC/AHA lesion type B2/C. Follow-up data for 99.9 percent of the randomized patients were obtained.

TVF occurred in 6.1 percent (55/905) patients assigned to zotarolimus-eluting stents and 5.2 percent (47/905) assigned to everolimus-eluting stents. Non-inferiority of the zotarolimus-eluting stent was confirmed with an absolute risk difference of 0.88 percent (non-inferiority p-value = 0.006). There was also no significant between-group difference in individual components of the primary endpoint and other secondary clinical endpoints.

In both stent groups, definite-or-probable stent thrombosis rates were low. Definite-or-probable stent thrombosis rates were 0.6 percent (5/905) in the zotarolimus stent and 0.9 percent (8/905) in the everolimus stent (p value=0.40). Notably, there was no definite stent thrombosis beyond three months from stenting, reaffirming the safety of newer generation DES platforms.

"The clinical outcome of this trial was excellent particularly when considering its high proportion of complex patients with acute myocardial infarction at presentation and may represent a challenging touchstone of novel stents and scaffolds," said Clemens von Birgelen, MD PhD, the principal investigator of the trial. Dr. von Birgelen is Co-Director of the Department of Cardiology at Thoraxcentrum Twente and Professor of Cardiology at University of Twente in the Netherlands.

"Both permanent polymer-based stents were similarly efficacious and safe in treating all-comers with an excellent clinical outcome."

###

The DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) trial was equally funded by Boston Scientific and Medtronic. Dr. von Birgelen reported being a consultant to Abbott Vascular, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic. He has also received a travel grant from Biotronik and lecture fees from Biotronik and MSD.

About CRF and TCT

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) is an independent, academically focused nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the survival and quality of life for people with cardiovascular disease through research and education. Since its inception in 1991, CRF has played a major role in realizing dramatic improvements in the lives of countless numbers of patients by establishing the safe use of new technologies and therapies in interventional cardiovascular medicine. CRF is the sponsor of the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. For more information, visit http://www.crf.org and http://www.tctconference.com.

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

31-Oct-2013

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Share

Contact: Judy Romero
jromero@crf.org
Cardiovascular Research Foundation

Comparison of 2 third-generation drug-eluting stents establishes comparable safety and efficacy; demonstrates non-inferiorityof newest zotarolimus-eluting stent

SAN FRANCISCO, CA October 31, 2013 Results of the DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) clinical trial demonstrate comparable safety and efficacy of two third-generation permanent polymer-based drug-eluting stents with low rates of adverse clinical events and establish the non-inferiority of the newest zotarolimus-eluting stent. The findings were presented today at the 25th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.

Third-generation permanent polymer-based drug-eluting stents (DES) with novel flexible designs were developed to improve stent deliverability in challenging anatomical lesions and to improve stent alignment within the vessel wall, while maintaining the anti-restenotic potential of newer generation DES systems. DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) follows the TWENTE trial, which was presented at TCT 2011 and examined second-generation drug-eluting stents with the same drugs and coatings but different stent platforms.

DUTCH PEERS was a multicenter, prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled study in patients requiring percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) with DES implantation. The study was performed in four PCI centers in the Netherlands (Thoraxcentrum Twente, Enschede; Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem; Scheper Hospital, Emmen; Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar). The primary endpoint was the composite target vessel failure (TVF) at one-year, defined as cardiac death, target vessel revascularization, or myocardial infarction (MI) attributable to the target vessel or not attributable to another vessel.

A total of 1,811 patients were randomly assigned to treatment with third-generation cobalt-chromium zotarolimus-eluting stents (906 patients; 1,205 lesions) or platinum-chromium everolimus-eluting stents (905 patients; 1,166 lesions). The study population (age 63.910.8 years, range 21󈟇 years; 73.0 percent male) was an "all-comers" population comprising 58.6 percent of patients with acute coronary syndromes (20.4 percent of all patients presented with an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction). Of all 2,371 lesions, 65.7 percent were ACC/AHA lesion type B2/C. Follow-up data for 99.9 percent of the randomized patients were obtained.

TVF occurred in 6.1 percent (55/905) patients assigned to zotarolimus-eluting stents and 5.2 percent (47/905) assigned to everolimus-eluting stents. Non-inferiority of the zotarolimus-eluting stent was confirmed with an absolute risk difference of 0.88 percent (non-inferiority p-value = 0.006). There was also no significant between-group difference in individual components of the primary endpoint and other secondary clinical endpoints.

In both stent groups, definite-or-probable stent thrombosis rates were low. Definite-or-probable stent thrombosis rates were 0.6 percent (5/905) in the zotarolimus stent and 0.9 percent (8/905) in the everolimus stent (p value=0.40). Notably, there was no definite stent thrombosis beyond three months from stenting, reaffirming the safety of newer generation DES platforms.

"The clinical outcome of this trial was excellent particularly when considering its high proportion of complex patients with acute myocardial infarction at presentation and may represent a challenging touchstone of novel stents and scaffolds," said Clemens von Birgelen, MD PhD, the principal investigator of the trial. Dr. von Birgelen is Co-Director of the Department of Cardiology at Thoraxcentrum Twente and Professor of Cardiology at University of Twente in the Netherlands.

"Both permanent polymer-based stents were similarly efficacious and safe in treating all-comers with an excellent clinical outcome."

###

The DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) trial was equally funded by Boston Scientific and Medtronic. Dr. von Birgelen reported being a consultant to Abbott Vascular, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic. He has also received a travel grant from Biotronik and lecture fees from Biotronik and MSD.

About CRF and TCT

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) is an independent, academically focused nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the survival and quality of life for people with cardiovascular disease through research and education. Since its inception in 1991, CRF has played a major role in realizing dramatic improvements in the lives of countless numbers of patients by establishing the safe use of new technologies and therapies in interventional cardiovascular medicine. CRF is the sponsor of the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. For more information, visit http://www.crf.org and http://www.tctconference.com.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-10/crf-ro103113.php
Related Topics: russell brand   Nevada school shooting   drew brees   Bobby Cannavale   kim zolciak  

Women under 60 with diabetes at much greater risk for heart disease

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

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Contact: Patrick Smith
psmith88@jhmi.edu
410-955-8242
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Results of a Johns Hopkins study published today in the journal Diabetes Care found that young and middle-aged women with type 2 diabetes are at much greater risk of coronary artery disease than previously believed.

Generally, women under 60 are at far less risk for coronary artery disease than men of the same age. But among women of that age who have diabetes, their risk of heart disease increases by up to four times, making it roughly equal to men's risk of this same form of heart disease.

"Our findings suggest that we need to work harder to prevent heart disease in women under 60 who have diabetes," says Rita Rastogi Kalyani, M.D., M.H.S., endocrinologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and lead study author. "This study tells us that women of any age who have diabetes are at a high risk for coronary artery disease."

While men generally have a higher incidence of heart disease than women, the study found that diabetes had little or no effect on men's heart disease risk.
Kalyani said the new study is believed to be the first to focus specifically on gender differences in coronary artery disease among younger and middle-aged people with diabetes.

For the research, she and her colleagues analyzed data from more than 10,000 participants in three widely regarded studies: the GeneSTAR Research Program, the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III. None of the participants had a history of heart disease. All three studies yielded similar gender differences in rates of diabetes and the risk of developing heart disease.

"Our study adds to growing evidence that gender differences exist in the risk of coronary artery disease brought on by diabetes," Kalyani says.

Interestingly, in both women and men, these findings were unrelated to differences in obesity and other traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking.

Kalyani and her colleagues offer several possible explanations for the increased risk. There may be distinct genetic and hormonal factors related to the development of heart disease by gender. Differences in adherence to heart-healthy lifestyle behaviors, compliance and treatment of cardiovascular treatments between genders are also possible but need to be further investigated, Kalyani says. Also, the relationship of diabetes duration and glucose control to risk of heart disease remains unclear.

###

In addition to Kalyani, the study's authors are Mario Lazo, M.D.; Pamelo Ouyang, M.B.B.S.; Karinne Chevalier, M.S.; Frederick Brancati, M.D., M.H.S.; Diane Becker, Sc.D., M.P.H.; and Dhananjay Vaidya, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, as well as Evrim Turkbey, M.D., of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.

About Johns Hopkins Medicine

Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a $6.7 billion integrated global health enterprise and one of the leading academic health care systems in the United States. JHM unites physicians and scientists of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with the organizations, health professionals and facilities of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. JHM's vision, "Together, we will deliver the promise of medicine," is supported by its mission to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care. Diverse and inclusive, JHM educates medical students, scientists, health care professionals and the public; conducts biomedical research; and provides patient-centered medicine to prevent, diagnose and treat human illness. JHM operates six academic and community hospitals, four suburban health care and surgery centers, and more than 35 Johns Hopkins Community Physicians sites. The Johns Hopkins Hospital, opened in 1889, was ranked number one in the nation for 21 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report. For more information about Johns Hopkins Medicine, its research, education and clinical programs, and for the latest health, science and research news, visit http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org.

Media Contacts: Patrick Smith

410-955-8242; psmith88@jhmi.edu or

Helen Jones

410-502-9422; hjones49@jhmi.edu

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

31-Oct-2013

[


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]


Share

Contact: Patrick Smith
psmith88@jhmi.edu
410-955-8242
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Results of a Johns Hopkins study published today in the journal Diabetes Care found that young and middle-aged women with type 2 diabetes are at much greater risk of coronary artery disease than previously believed.

Generally, women under 60 are at far less risk for coronary artery disease than men of the same age. But among women of that age who have diabetes, their risk of heart disease increases by up to four times, making it roughly equal to men's risk of this same form of heart disease.

"Our findings suggest that we need to work harder to prevent heart disease in women under 60 who have diabetes," says Rita Rastogi Kalyani, M.D., M.H.S., endocrinologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and lead study author. "This study tells us that women of any age who have diabetes are at a high risk for coronary artery disease."

While men generally have a higher incidence of heart disease than women, the study found that diabetes had little or no effect on men's heart disease risk.
Kalyani said the new study is believed to be the first to focus specifically on gender differences in coronary artery disease among younger and middle-aged people with diabetes.

For the research, she and her colleagues analyzed data from more than 10,000 participants in three widely regarded studies: the GeneSTAR Research Program, the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III. None of the participants had a history of heart disease. All three studies yielded similar gender differences in rates of diabetes and the risk of developing heart disease.

"Our study adds to growing evidence that gender differences exist in the risk of coronary artery disease brought on by diabetes," Kalyani says.

Interestingly, in both women and men, these findings were unrelated to differences in obesity and other traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking.

Kalyani and her colleagues offer several possible explanations for the increased risk. There may be distinct genetic and hormonal factors related to the development of heart disease by gender. Differences in adherence to heart-healthy lifestyle behaviors, compliance and treatment of cardiovascular treatments between genders are also possible but need to be further investigated, Kalyani says. Also, the relationship of diabetes duration and glucose control to risk of heart disease remains unclear.

###

In addition to Kalyani, the study's authors are Mario Lazo, M.D.; Pamelo Ouyang, M.B.B.S.; Karinne Chevalier, M.S.; Frederick Brancati, M.D., M.H.S.; Diane Becker, Sc.D., M.P.H.; and Dhananjay Vaidya, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, as well as Evrim Turkbey, M.D., of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.

About Johns Hopkins Medicine

Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a $6.7 billion integrated global health enterprise and one of the leading academic health care systems in the United States. JHM unites physicians and scientists of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with the organizations, health professionals and facilities of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. JHM's vision, "Together, we will deliver the promise of medicine," is supported by its mission to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care. Diverse and inclusive, JHM educates medical students, scientists, health care professionals and the public; conducts biomedical research; and provides patient-centered medicine to prevent, diagnose and treat human illness. JHM operates six academic and community hospitals, four suburban health care and surgery centers, and more than 35 Johns Hopkins Community Physicians sites. The Johns Hopkins Hospital, opened in 1889, was ranked number one in the nation for 21 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report. For more information about Johns Hopkins Medicine, its research, education and clinical programs, and for the latest health, science and research news, visit http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org.

Media Contacts: Patrick Smith

410-955-8242; psmith88@jhmi.edu or

Helen Jones

410-502-9422; hjones49@jhmi.edu

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Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-10/jhm-wu6103113.php
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China Says Goodbye To Its Mysterious, Illegal High-Rise Fortress

The luxurious "mountain villa" built atop a Beijing high-rise is being torn down. The $4 million penthouse was built by a Chinese health care entrepreneur named Zhang Lin on the roof of an existing apartment building earlier this year, much to the chagrin of its party-pooper occupants.

Read more...

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/VwH57g9caOk/@kcampbelldollaghan
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Box Office Preview: 'Ender's Game' Eyeing $25 Million-Plus North American Debut

Sci-fi epic Ender's Game is poised to win the North American box-office race this weekend with a solid $25 million or more opening, hoping to reverse a disturbing downturn in movie adaptations of young-adult books. Overseas, the film has already opened in the U.K., where it is doing softer-than-expected business.

The big headline internationally this weekend will be Disney and Marvel Studios' sequel Thor: The Dark World, which began rolling out Wednesday in the U.K., France and a handful of other markets, grossing north of $8 million and pacing ahead of the first Thor. On Thursday and Friday, Thor 2, with Chris Hemsworth returning in the title role, opens in a number of other major markets before hitting theaters in North America on Nov. 8.

PHOTOS: 'Ender's Game' Premiere Invades Hollywood With Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield

Ender's Game, a co-production between Summit Entertainment, OddLot Entertainment and Digital Domain, will need to do substantial business worldwide in order to make up its $110-million budget. The action-adventure is based on the bestselling YA novel of the same name by Orson Scott Card, whose anti-gay comments have riled many.

Directed by Gavin Hood, Ender's Game stars Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, Hailee Steinfeld and Abigail Breslin.

Outside of the Hunger Games and Twilight film franchises, YA properties have struggled at the box office. This year, The Host, Beautiful Creatures and Mortal Instruments: City of Bones all flopped.

Set in the near future, Ender's Game revolves around a young boy (Butterfield) who is recruited by the military to stop an alien race from destroying the world.

PHOTOS: 25 of Fall's Most Anticipated Movies

Ender's Game is a sizeable gamble for Gigi Pritzker's OddLot, which financed much of the movie and dispatched sister company Sierra/Affinity to sell the movie internationally. Last weekend, Ender's Game debuted at No. 5 in the U.K. with just under $2 million, but the film could make up ground as it continues to roll out in additional foreign markets.

Relativity Media and Reel FX's animated 3D pic Free Birds is getting an early jump on Thanksgiving by rolling out now. The movie -- about a pair of turkeys who travel back in time to prevent their kind from becoming the traditional holiday meal -- should benefit from being the only new family entry in the market and hit $20 million in its debut (Entertainment One is distributing in Canada), athough Relativity insiders are expecting a figure more in the $16 million to $19 million range. The voice cast is led by Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson and Amy Poehler.

Free Birds, costing $55 million to make, marks Relativity's first foray into the animated business. The company could use a box office win after suffering a string of disappointments.

CBS Films' sexagenarian comedy Last Vegas, the weekend's third new nationwide entry, is looking at a more modest opening in the $14 million range. Directed by Jon Turteltaub, the film's high-profile cast -- Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline -- should result in strong legs, however. A geezer version of The Hangover, Last Vegas stars four friends in their 60s who travel to Las Vegas for a bachelor party. Mary Steenburgen also stars.

PHOTOS: 'Last Vegas' Premiere

Older moviegoers rarely rush to see a film on its opening weekend. CBS Films believes Last Vegas will serve as strong counterprogramming throughout the month. In August 2012, Hope Springs, starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones, opened to a modest $14.7 million on its way to earning $63.5 million domestically and a hearty $114.3 million globally.

The specialty box office sees a number of high-profile debuts, including awards contender Dallas Buyers Club, which Focus Features opens in six theaters in New York and Los Angeles, and Diana, the biopic of Princess Diana starring Naomi Watts. Entertainment One is opening Diana in 38 markets.

Dallas Buyers Club has drawn raves for performances by Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto.

Universal also releases Richard Curtis' romantic fantasy-comedy About Time, starring Rachel McAdams opposite Tom Hollander, in the U.S. From Working Title Films, About Time is only opening in 175 theaters domestically. Overseas, the film has grossed $32 million from 40 markets, with 17 countries still left to go.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/news/~3/YmrMIEOdDVA/box-office-preview-enders-game-652233
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FAA to allow use of electronics for entire flights

Globe-trotting laptop workaholics and electronic media junkies will soon no longer fidget helplessly during the beginning and ending of their flights: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted the ban on use of personal electronics during the take-off and landing of airplanes, provided that the electronic devices are used in airplane mode.

Over the next few months, each airline will enact their own policies that will permit their passengers to use their own devices through an entire flight.

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Airplane passengers, in most cases, will be able to read electronic books and magazines, watch videos, play video games, listen to music and work on their computers throughout an entire flight.

Their devices must be in airplane mode, however, which will not allow them to be used voice communications or data transmission through mobile networks. The devices can, however, connect with an airplane's Wi-Fi service, if one is offered. Short-range, device-to-device communication, through Bluetooth for instance, is also permissible.

This change in policy has been long called for, at least by voracious users of electronic devices, who saw the ban as unnecessary.

Currently, airline passengers in the U.S. are required power down their smartphones, tablets, laptops and electronic readers when the airplane is taking off or landing.

Since people started bringing personal electronic communication devices on flights, the FAA assumed a cautious stance of limiting their use, fearing the devices would interfere with the airplane's radio frequency communications.

The FAA's Personal Electronic Device Aviation Rulemaking Committee concluded in a report earlier this year that most commercial airplanes can tolerate radio interference signals from portable devices. For the new ruling, the FAA also took feedback from airlines, aviation manufacturers, passengers, pilots, flight attendants and the mobile technology industry.

Mobile phone communications falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, which the FAA has urged to review its rules on in-flight use. Unlike other mobile electronic operations, cell phones send out relatively powerful signals that could interfere with in-flight radio communications.

Even devices that do not transmit signals can hamper a plane's communications, navigation, flight control and electronic equipment because they may emit radio energy at the same frequencies as the plane's equipment.

The airlines should determine how much radio interference their own communications systems can withstand. The airlines must then set their own conditions for usage and get FAA approval for these conditions.

The current FAA policy will remain in effect on an airline-by-airline basis until the FAA gives each airline approval to switch to the new policy.

Even after the new policy is adopted, an airline may also need to have their passengers shut down their devices during periods of low visibility to ensure adequate communications in such adverse conditions. The FAA expects that such conditions would apply to about one percent of all flights.

Joab Jackson covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Joab on Twitter at @Joab_Jackson. Joab's e-mail address is Joab_Jackson@idg.com

Source: http://www.infoworld.com/t/federal-regulations/faa-allow-use-of-electronics-entire-flights-229948
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Digitizer makes 3D scanning accessible, but not yet practical

When Bre Pettis unveiled MakerBot's Digitizer, you couldn't wipe the smile off his face. And, upon opening our own unit, it's easy to understand why. When you lift the plastic unit, swaddled in black foam, out of its cardboard box, you feel like you're stepping into the future. 3D scanning isn't exactly new, but the allure hasn't worn off yet. It's the missing ingredient in the Brooklyn-born company's ecosystem. Its printers have improved in leaps and bounds since it first started shipping the Cupcake CNC as a kit back in 2009, it finally has a user-friendly software suite in MakerWare and Thingiverse provides a vast repository of designs for people to download and print. But until now there has been no easy, affordable way for users to turn the objects they already own into printable 3D models. Of course, "affordable" is a relative term. At $1,400 the Digitizer isn't exactly an impulse purchase, but it's certainly cheaper than comparable systems.

And what qualifies as a "comparable" system? Well, we're talking about desktop scanners that capture a full 360 degrees, are largely hands-off and self-contained (i.e., not a DIY kit built around a Kinect or smartphone). That means the Digitizer is actually entering a rather sparsely populated field. The big questions though, are how does it fits into the MakerBot universe and, more importantly, the life of the DIY enthusiast? Does the Digitizer do as advertised and turn your pile of doodads into easily replicateable digital files? You know where to look for answers, after the break.

Digitizer hardware hands-on

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Like we said, even before you power up the Digitizer, it already puts a smile on your face. The simple black plastic body definitely isn't going to win any design awards and it doesn't exactly ooze luxury, but it is playfully futuristic, in a way reminiscent of early '90s children's toys. It's angular, understated and utilitarian, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Oddly there is some assembly required: the four rubber feet used to keep it from slipping about a desktop come packaged in a small zip-top bag. After you pop those little rubber guys in place, you're free to plug the Digitizer into an outlet and your computer's USB port and get going... with the calibration that is.

Just like the replicator before it, the Digitizer needs to be carefully calibrated for effective use. And, while the process is much quicker and less labor intensive (no constant adjusting of knobs here), the scanner actually appears to be much more sensitive and needs more frequent tune ups. MakerBot's instructions call for recalibrating every 20 scans or once a week, but we needed to run the calibration three times in the course of a week and never topped 10 scans before our results started getting funny. But, more on that later.

The calibration process itself involves making sure the filter is placed over the 1.3-megapixel camera at the center of the raised bar on one side, then placing a special calibration tool on the turntable. Over the course of about 10 minutes you'll be asked to place the checkered, three-sided calibration tool in a variety of poses while the MakerWare app takes measurements from the camera and dual lasers that flank it. From there scanning is a relatively straight forward process, so long as you follow MakerBot's words of advice. Those words: avoid anything dark, shiny, transparent, fury or larger than eight inches in any direction. If you do, the results will be decent, if hardly mind blowing. MakerBot's example scan of a gnome figurine is quite a bit clearer than any results we managed to get. Even when we scanned a plain white Munny figure, the model displayed some weird pitting, misshapen ears and webbing between the arms and the body.

Digitizer scans

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The act of scanning an object is about as simple as it gets. Make sure the filter is over the camera (this is /super/ important), place your target in the middle of the turntable and click start scan. The only setting to mess with is adjusting the shade of the object your scanning, between light, medium and dark. Then you've just got to find something to do for about 10-12 minutes and stay out of the way of the scanner. Don't touch it, bump it or even get too close to it. That's not only to avoid screwing up your virtual model, but also to protect your eyes from the laser line generators. Sure, they're listed eye-safe, but they're still pretty unpleasant when they hit your retinas.

Once that's done, you simply crop your model to the proper height and upload your scan to Thingiverse, if you'd like. You can back up your scans privately or share them for others to download, manipulate and print on their own. MakerWare will walk you through sliding the filter off the camera to take a snapshot of your real world target, ask you to log in and upload the scan.

It all seems simple enough, until you hit a snag. Once one thing goes wrong, the whole shebang has a sort of meltdown. When MakerBot says that dark, transparent or shiny objects are not ideally suited to scanning, what they really mean is: don't even bother. (Though, we've been told you can dull the luster on shiny items with cornstarch and achieve better results.) We tried to scan a pair of matte black sunglasses with particularly dark gray lenses, and ended up with something you'd find MoMA. We immediately saw a problem when the scan started updating live on our iMac, so we cancelled it. When we clicked retry the scan simply failed and we had to restart the scanning service to get MakerWare back up and running. This happened almost anytime we had to cancel a scan or put the computer to sleep. Even after we recalibrated the Digitizer the results were still a mess. While we were able to make out the general outline of a pair of glasses, it was buried in a sea of seemingly random shapes. Even some good, usable scans turned up weird anomalies, such as the UFO hovering above Om Nom you see above.

The Digitizer is fun and potentially ground breaking, but it's also occasionally frustrating. The device is as small and unobtrusive as you can reasonably expect and, in the grand scheme of things, not particularly expensive. MakerBot has even succeeded at making the scanner damn-near fool-proof. But, it's hardly perfect. Results are sort of a mixed bag and, if you stray from the suggested ideal conditions, chances are you'll get something completely unusable. It shouldn't come as any surprise that the Digitizer isn't practical for the average user -- it's clearly targeted at tinkerers and DIY enthusiasts. But that doesn't mean things will always be that way. Call us optimistic, but we choose to see the Digitizer as the first tentative step towards something revolutionary.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/31/makerbot-digitizer-hands-on/?ncid=rss_truncated
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How Much Would a Pumpkin the Size Of Your House Weigh?

The wonderful world of genetic engineering has given us gargantuan pumpkins the size of compact cars. But don't think it's going to stop there. In addition to spreading Halloween cheer and giving local evening news something to cover, giant pumpkins could eventually be grown to the size of a house and used as a cheap and temporary place for someone to live.

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Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/TS8GGqSJ03c/how-much-would-a-pumpkin-the-size-of-your-house-weigh-1453364483
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