 Harvard’s Marc A. Pfeffer On Blockbuster Cardio Trials
Clinical
trials in medical research can often follow a familiar pattern. A
potential new treatment is tested against standard therapies in a
randomized controlled trial for one specific indication. If no such
standard therapies exist, it is tested against a placebo. If the
treatment turns out to be beneficial, it will be used as a benchmark
against future therapies. A therapy may also be tested for its potential
benefits for new indications. For example, an antihypertensive may be
tested in patients with heart failure or myocardial infarction. If
effective, treatments might be tested as part of combined therapies, and
so it will go as the trials multiply in size, complexity, and number.
As a result, understanding the prevention and treatment of heart
disease today can be a lesson in acronyms: CARE, for instance, which
stands for Cholesterol and Recurrent Events, not to mention SAVE
(Survival and Ventricular Enlargement), VALIANT (Valsartan in Acute
Myocardial Infarction), CHARM (Candesartan in Heart Failure—Assessment
of Reduction in Mortality and Morbidity), and PEACE...
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 The
Hottest Research of 2004-2005
Science Watch once again presents its annual roundup of the hottest of recent research.
Lists include the scientists who, as of late 2005, had published the greatest number of Hot Papers over the preceding two
years. Also listed are the papers published in 2005 (excluding reviews) that were most cited by year’s end...
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