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AF ablation Atrial fibrillation

New post up over at Trials and Fibrillations–Exciting news in AF ablation

For those interested in atrial fibrillation, there was significant news made last week. Dr. Sanjay Narayan and colleagues, including highly respected Indiana University electrophysiologist, Dr. John Miller (also a JMM), finally published their exciting data on FIRM ablation. The CONFIRM trial (Conventional Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation With or Without Focal Impulse and Rotor Modulation) has […]

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AF ablation Atrial fibrillation Cycling Wed

Tour de France cyclist comes back from Atrial Fibrillation

I thought this was interesting: Six-placed Tour finisher Haimar Zubeldia, who rides for the US-based RadioShack/Nissan/Trek team, disclosed that he sat out for three months earlier this season for “persistent atrial fibrillation.” As reported by Cyclingnews.com, Mr Zubeldia said this in his statement: “I had four weeks of complete rest and treatment.” Fortunately, “everything went […]

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Cycling Stuff Healthy Living inflammation

Cycling Wed: Shame at the Tour, Diet Pills and The Greatist

It’s going to have to be brief tonight. The data from today: 7 bottles, 4 water stops, 110 degrees and 2200+ calories. (Strava proof.) Needless to say, as I type, my legs are on the brink of locking up. My brain feels as if it’s shrunk down in my head. Even this Retina screen looks […]

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Healthy Living inflammation

Fat cells as Inflammation Factories

The headline called it “the new” science behind America’s deadliest diseases. WSJ reporter Laura Landro was talking about inflammation and its role in causing human disease. Now, you all know my reaction when a prestigious newspaper features a founding principle of this blog. Well, let’s just say it felt awfully nice. A brief Mandrola review […]

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Atrial fibrillation Dabigatran/Rivaroxaban/Apixaban

Choosing blood thinners for Atrial Fibrillation–a great summary

When you have 15 minutes, I’d recommend heading over to the Private Practice Blog of Dr Seth Bilazarian at theHeart.org. Dr B has beautifully summarized both the clinical and real world factors that go into the difficult decision of which blood thinner to choose for prevention of stroke in patients with AF. Seth has a […]

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Cycling Wed Healthy Living

CW: The AHA and ADA drop the ball on Artificial Sweeteners

To be fair, most of the health messages coming from the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association are spot on. Yet, nobody is perfect. The statement came from a “writing committee” of the AHA and ADA—two of the world’s leading health organizations. The writers hailed from places like Harvard, Stanford, Purdue and Northwestern. These […]

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Doctoring Health Care Reform

Healthcare reform–and the important role of mainstream media

On the surface, both WSJ articles painted a gloomy and depressing picture of US healthcare, now and beyond. That wasn’t my take. I felt a rush of optimism. Let me explain. In, ObamaCare’s Lost Tribe: Doctors, deputy WSJ editor Daniel Henninger wrote about the (forgotten) plight of doctors in the Affordable Care Act. He critiqued […]

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Reflection

Don’t look away…

It’s time to reenter. Vacation is over and normal life looms large. Before diving back into matters medical, I need to reflect on a day trip my family made in Washington, DC. It wasn’t an easy place to visit. But it was important. Education always is. I’ll tell you about it in a few paragraphs. […]

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Uncategorized

Cycling Wednesday…

…is on vacation. See you in a few days. JMM

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Cycling Stuff

Three Words: Tour de France

I try to avoid posting personal stuff here. My life is not that interesting. A very funny and gregarious friend helped teach me this lesson very early in my blogging career. JT once mistakenly referred to my blog as: “My-Life-Is-So-Boring-I-Have-to-Read-About-Yours.com.” Though that made me laugh, especially with the expletives added, the concept sticks in my […]

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Health Care Health Care Reform

Supreme ambivalence…with a sliver of optimism

With the permission of the editors at theHeart.org, a version of this post also appears on Trials and Fibrillations. I wasn’t going to write on this matter, but I changed my mind. You know the news: the US Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act. As a doctor in the mix, it seems appropriate to […]