The FDA announced on Oct. 22 that it would require Concordia Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate), to conduct studies to investigate the drug’s potential to bind to other oral medications.

Thomas Stavola, MD, a cardiologist from New York, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and admitted he was intoxicated in a hit-and-run car crash that killed a 45 year old woman, Newsday reports. He is expected to serve two years in jail and then spend five years on parole.

Three members of the FDA’s Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee explained their decision to approve two proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors this summer.

The FDA approved patiromer (Veltassa) to treat patients with hyperkalemia, which typically occurs in patients with heart failure or kidney disease.

The American Heart Association (AHA) updated its guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care on Oct. 15 with an emphasis on training bystanders and healthcare providers and using mobile technology to alert dispatchers after noticing someone is suffering from cardiac arrest.

Interventional cardiologists who received certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) did not have better outcomes after PCI with regards to the risks of bleeding and vascular complications compared with those who were not certified.

All adults should be screened for high blood pressure, according to a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation released on Oct. 13. If adults are diagnosed with hypertension, they should confirm the measurement outside of a clinical setting with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring before starting treatment

The FDA approved idarucizumab on Oct. 16 for patients who need to reverse the blood-thinning effects of dabigatran. Boehringer Ingelheim manufactures and markets idarucizumab and dabigatran.