Since the onset of the global pandemic in early 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a multitude of challenges to health care systems worldwide. In order to combat these challenges and devise appropriate therapeutic strategies, it becomes of paramount importance to elucidate the pathophysiology of this illness. Coronavirus disease 2019, caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), is characterized by a dysregulated immune system and hypercoagulability. COVID-associated coagulopathy (CAC) was recognized based on profound d-dimer elevations and evidence of microthrombi and macrothrombi, both in venous and arterial systems. The underlying mechanisms associated with CAC have been suggested, but not clearly defined. The model of immunothrombosis illustrates the elaborate crosstalk between the innate immune system and coagulation. The rendering of a procoagulant state in COVID-19 involves the interplay of many innate immune pathways. The SARS-CoV2 virus can directly infect immune and endothelial cells, leading to endothelial injury and dysregulation of the immune system. Activated leukocytes potentiate a procoagulant state via release of intravascular tissue factor, platelet activation, NETosis, and inhibition of anticoagulant mechanisms. Additional pathways of specific relevance in CAC include cytokine release and complement activation. All these mechanisms have recently been reported in COVID-19. Immunothrombosis provides a comprehensive perspective of the several synergistic pathways pertinent to the pathogenesis of CAC.

With increasing legalization, marijuana has become the most commonly abused substance in the United States. Together with the introduction of more potent marijuana products over the years, more adverse events are being reported and clinically characterized. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active psychotropic component of marijuana, which acts mainly on G-protein cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Multiple isolated cases of arrhythmias associated with marijuana use have been published. In this manuscript we conduct a scoping study of a total of 27 cases of arrhythmia associated with marijuana. Most cases were reported in young males (81%) with a mean age of 28 ± 10.6 years. Atrial fibrillation (26%) and ventricular fibrillation (22%) were the most common arrhythmias reported. Brugada pattern was reported in 19% of the patients. Marijuana associated arrhythmia resulted in a high mortality rate of 11 %. While the exact mechanisms of arrhythmias associated with marijuana are not clear, several hypothesis have been introduced including the effect of marijuana on cardiac ion channels as well as its effects on the central nervous system. In this paper we discuss the possible mechanisms of marijuana induced arrhythmia citing the evidence available to-date.

Background. The COVID-19 infection which emerged in December 2019, is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. Infection with this virus can lead to severe respiratory illness, however, myocarditis has also been reported. The purpose of this study is to identify the clinical features of myocarditis in COVID-19 patients. Methods. A systematic review was conducted to investigate characteristics of myocarditis in patients infected with COVID-19 using the search term "Coronavirus" or "COVID" and "myocarditis," "heart," or "retrospective." Case reports and retrospective studies were gathered by searching Medline/Pubmed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science databases. 11 articles were selected for review. Results. COVID-19 myocarditis affected patients over the age of 50 and incidences among both genders were equally reported. Patients presented with dyspnea, cough, fever with hypotension and chest pain. Laboratory tests revealed leukocytosis with increased C-reactive protein, while arterial blood gas analysis demonstrated respiratory acidosis. All cardiac markers were elevated. Radiographic imaging of the chest showed bilateral ground glass opacities or bilateral infiltrates, while cardiac magnetic resonance imaging produced late gadolinium enhancements. Electrocardiography demonstrated ST-segment elevation or inverted T waves, while echocardiography revealed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction with cardiomegaly or increased wall thickness. Management with corticosteroids was favored in most cases, followed by antiviral medication. The majority of studies reported either recovery or no further clinical deterioration. Conclusion. Current available data on COVID-19 myocarditis is limited. Further research is needed to advance our understanding of COVID-19 myocarditis.

Background: Obesity is a growing pandemic that is associated with multiple cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and obstructive sleep apnea. With the increase in obesity rates where nearly two thirds of Americans are either obese or overweight, there has been an increase in the use of pharmacological therapy weight loss. While these therapies have shown benefit in weight reduction, the clinical impact these pharmacological agents on overall CVD outcomes has yet to be determined. Aim: We aimed to assess the effect of pharmacological agents used for weight reduction on CVD risk and all-cause mortality. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of peer-reviewed literature that evaluated the impact of anti-obesity drugs on cardiovascular outcomes. Key words used included: “orlistat”, “lorcaserin”, “phentermine/topiramate” or “naltrexone/bupropion” and “cardiovascular outcomes” among others. We reviewed 791 articles, only 47 studies were randomized controlled trials and only 7 studies fulfilled all the inclusion criteria including, quantitative data on cardiovascular risk factors such as, Hemoglobin A1C (A1C), changes in body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and CVD morbidity and mortality. Data was retrieved from these studies and evaluated with comprehensive meta-analysis software® to assess pooled effects for medical management versus placebo. Results: There were 7 studies included in the final analysis, with a total of 18,598 subjects, of which 8,685 were in the intervention (INT) group and 9,913 in the control (CTRL) group. For all cause mortality, there were 45 events in the INT and 55 in the CTRL groups, suggesting no significant difference between the two groups (OR: 0.843, 95%CI: 0.571–1.244, Z: −0.860, P: 0.390). For CVD mortality, there were 17 events in the INT and 36 events in the CTRL groups suggesting a significant mortality benefit in the INT group (OR:0.496, 95% CI: 0.282–0.873, Z: −2.433, P: 0.015). There was a significant absolute reduction in A1C in the INT group (Hg: −0.238, 95%CI: −0.291 to −0.186, Z: −8.937, P< 0.001). The percentage weight reduction was significantly higher for the INT group compared to the CTRL group (Hg: −0.431, 95%CI: −0.477 to −0.385, Z: −18.472, P< 0.001) and the blood pressure reduction was higher for the INT group compared to the CTRL group. (Hg: −0.052, 95%CI: −0.101- −0.003, Z: −2.086, P: 0.037). The heterogeneity observed for our meta analysis is Q: 1.884, df: 6, P: 0.930. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated the favorable and significant effect of pharmacological weight reduction strategies on weight loss, blood pressure reduction, glycemic control (A1C reduction), and CVD mortality. While weight loss without pharmacological means has been shown to reduce CVD risk, the mechanism by which weight loss medications impact CVD risk reduction could be a direct effect of these agents or merely an effect of weight reduction itself. Weight loss has been noted to modify risk factors via improving insulin sensitivity, reduci...

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy is a syndrome characterized by transient and reversible regional myocardial dysfunction in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease classically resulting in ventricular apical ballooning. It has a strong female predominance with onset generally in seventh decade of life, with hypothesized pathophysiology related to excess of catecholaminergic stimulation, particularly during episodes of physical or emotional stress. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy has been previously reported during myasthenic crisis, the acute deterioration of myasthenia gravis typically involving respiratory failure that is also associated with physical or emotional stress. We present the case of an atypically young male patient with classical takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the setting of myasthenic crisis after thymectomy initially concerning for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, and a review of the literature of takotsubo cardiomyopathy in myasthenic crisis.

Ever since evidence about the increased risk of stent thrombosis with drug eluting stents (DES) surfaced in 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended the use of dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin with P2Y12 inhibitor) following DES placement. The PLATO trial demonstrated lower mortality rates with the use of Ticagrelor when compared to clopidogrel (9.8% vs. 11.7%, p<0.001) when treating patients with acute coronary syndrome. Given their pleiotropic benefits, statins are today the second most prescribed drug in the United States and often co-prescribed with Ticagrelor. FDA's post market surveillance of Ticagrelor use along with statins in post-myocardial infarction care is now revealing novel and serious adverse events. We present two cases of rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure (ARF) which develop while the patients were on statins and Ticagrelor. Case 1: A 66-year-old female presented with bilateral thigh pain for 3 days. One month prior to presentation, she was managed for non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and had been started on aspirin, ticagrelor and simvastatin. Laboratory values revealed creatinine kinase (CK) level at 40,000 U/L and creatinine 3.2 mg/dL suggesting rhabdomyolysis and ARF. Case 2: A 63-year-old male presented with generalized body aches and fatigue for 4 days. He had sustained STEMI two months before and received two drug eluting stents (DES) and aspirin, ticagrelor and rosuvastatin had been initiated. CK was 380,000 U/L and creatinine 7.94 mg/dL suggesting rhabdomyolysis and ARF. Both patients presented with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure within weeks after ticagrelor and statin were commenced. A review of the literature indicated that 11 similar cases of ticagrelor-induced ARF and rhabdomyolysis had been reported. Ticagrelor competes with statins when metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 leading to statin retention, leading to major adverse effects like rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure. Our review is intended to alert clinicians about this important drug interaction.

Marijuana abuse is rapidly growing and currently it is the most coimnon drug of abuse in the United States due to increased legalization for recreational and medicinal use. Delta 9-tetrahydrocannibol, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, acts via the endocannabinoid system to elicit various cardiovascular physiological effects, and has been associated with many adverse cardiovascular effects such as acute coronary syndrome, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death that have previously been reported by our group and others. We present a case of a 30-year-old African-American male with no cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors with recurrent ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMI) whose coronary angiography revealed recurrent 100% occlusion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) in the setting of marijuana smoking. It was the patient’s third STEMI with 100% occlusion of the LAD with each STEMI secondary to thrombosis of a different region of the LAD. Marijuana use was confirmed by urine toxicology screening at each STEMI presentation. Coronary angiography on multiple occasions was negative for stenosis of other epicardial coronary arteries, and coronary calcimn scoring was zero. Evaluation for other cardiovascular risk factors including family history of premature coronary artery disease, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and hypercoagulable disorders was negative. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms of marijuana-associated coronary thrombosis and myocardial infarction.

Marijuana is the most common drug of abuse in the United States. Marijuana acts on cannabinoid receptors CB1, CB2 and another distinct endothelial receptor. Marijuana is known to cause tachycardia, hypotension and hypertension. Various arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, II degree AV block, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, asystole and brugada pattern associated with marijuana use have been reported. We here present an interesting case of Type I Brugada pattern in electrocardiography (ECG) in a 36 year old healthy African American male who presented after smoking four joints. Urine toxicology test proved marijuana use. Acute coronary syndrome was ruled out, coronary angiogram revealed normal coronaries, 2D echocardiogram showed no evidence of structural heart disease. Upon resolution of Brugada pattern in ECG, procainamide challenge performed in electrophysiology laboratory did not induce Brugada pattern. Patient was asked to return to hospital if he developed fever that did not resolve with antipyretics. Further studies are required to to understand the effect of marijuana on cardiac ion channels.