The novel coronavirus spread all over the world in 2019 and became a serious international health concern of this century. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had a wide range of clinical manifestations; it can cause mild-to-severe multiorgan diseases, mostly affecting the respiratory system, but cardiovascular symptoms and complications are also frequently presented in COVID-19 patients. Herein, we report a type A aortic dissection in a confirmed case of COVID-19.

BackgroundPrevious studies evaluated the impact of particle matters (PM) on the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) based on local registries.HypothesisThis study aimed to evaluate possible short term effect of air pollutants on occurrence of AMI based on a specific case report sheet that was designed for this purpose.MethodsAMI was documented among 982 patients who referred to the emergency departments in Tehran, Iran, between July 2017 to March 2019. For each patient, case period was defined as 24 hour period preceding the time of emergency admission and referent periods were defined as the corresponding time in 1, 2, and 3 weeks before the admission. The associations of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM10) with AMI were analyzed using conditional logistic regression in a case‐crossover design.ResultIncrease in PM2.5 and PM10 was significantly associated with the occurrence of AMI with and without adjustment for the temperature and humidity. In the adjusted model each 10 μg/m3 increase of PM10 and PM2.5 in case periods was significantly associated with increase myocardial infarction events (95% CI = 1.041−1.099, OR = 1.069 and 95% CI = 1.073−1.196, and OR = 1.133, respectively). Subgroup analysis showed that increase in PM10 did not increase AMI events in diabetic subgroup, but in all other subgroups PM10 and PM2.5 concentration showed positive associations with increased AMI events.ConclusionAcute exposure to ambient air pollution was associated with increased risk of AMI irrespective of temperature and humidity.

Background: Anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) is a fast and safe method for terminating ventricular tachycardia (VT). Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks are unpleasant, stressful experiences that have been associated with higher mortality rates than ATP. Determining the factors enhancing the efficacy of ATP therapies can minimize the appropriate ICD shocks. Objectives: In this study, we investigated the factors anticipating the success rate of ATP. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 60 patients referring to our center for regular ICD device analysis. These patients had at least one episode of appropriate ATP therapy in their analysis. The VT morphologic characteristics were obtained from stored far-field intracardiac electrogram (EGM). The VT episodes and native QRS were classified into non-Q or Q categories based on their EGM morphologies. Results: ATP was successful in 38 (63.3%) cases. Age, sex, history of ischemic heart disease and diabetes, type of device and cardiomyopathy (ischemic or dilated), antiarrhythmic drugs, left ventricular ejection fraction, and EGM characteristics did not predict ATP success. Conclusions: It seems that neither the demographic factors nor the morphologic characteristics of VT EGMs can predict the efficacy of ATP therapy.

: The most common cause of acquired long QT syndrome in patients without physiological and structural cardiovascular disease is the use of medications. Chronic high-dose methadone usage can cause prolongation of QT interval that may provoke the life-threatening arrhythmia Torsades de Pointes. In this study, we present a 41-year-old man with chronic high-dose methadone usage who developed Torsades de Pointes triggered by short-coupled premature ventricular contraction.