Over 100 million prescriptions were filled for statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) in 2004. Statins were originally developed to lower plasma cholesterol in patients with hypercholesterolemia and are the most effective drugs on the market in doing so. Because of the discovered pleiotropic effects of statins, the use has expanded to the treatment of many other co...

INTRODUCTION Persistent platelet function while on antiplatelet therapy affects outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). AIM To evaluate whether platelet reactivity measured by collagen-epinephrine (CEPI) or collagen-ADP (CADP) closure times (CT) with Platelet Function Analyzer 100 (PFA-100) is related to very early, in-hospital cardiovascular events in patients with ACS. M...

OBJECTIVE The use of local anesthetics associated to vasoconstrictor agents in dentistry is thoroughly justified and is widely extended, but we cannot ignore the fact that anesthetic infiltration poses risk of complications throughout the dental treatment period. The objective of the present review is to document the reported effects the use of the local anesthetics most widely employed in dent...

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the management of multiple tumors, due to improved efficacy, quality life and safety. While most immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are mild easily managed, in rare cases such may be life-threatening, especially those affecting neuromuscular cardiac system. The neuromuscular/cardiac irAEs is not clear lack consistent data. Therefore, we...

In July, the American Stroke Association released 2022 guideline for management of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with recommendations acute ICH.“ICH has one highest case-fatalities among all strokes and often outcomes depend on disease progression in first 24 to 48 hours,” said Daniel Atashsokhan, MD, a PGY-2 department neurology at State University New York (SUNY) Downstate Medica...

Mutations in voltage-gated sodium channel type (SCN5A) may evoke severe, life-threatening disturbances in cardiac rhythm, including long QT syndrome, idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (Brugada Syndrome), and isolated cardiac conduction disease. There is increasing awareness of the role of common polymorphisms in altering gene function and in susceptibility to diseases. The aim of the present ...

We read, with interest, the article by Dr. Zaidi and coworkers published in a recent issue of your journal regarding the use of an implantable ECG monitor and its effectiveness in diagnosing convulsive syncope1. We have recently investigated a very similar patient with recurrent fortnightly episodes of loss of consciousness with cardiac asystole (up to 25 seconds duration) who was diagnosed wit...

Coronary arterial potassium (K) infusion induces RS-T elevation and ventricular arrhythmias. To explore electrical and metabolic events in this model, which simulates ischemia-induced injury currents and rhythm disturbances, isotonic KC1 was infused at 0.5-2.0 ml/min into the left anterior descending or the left circumflex coronary artery of 37 intact anesthetized dogs. Conduction was monitored...

TYPE: Case Report TOPIC: Critical Care INTRODUCTION: Factitious use of insulin, thyroxine, decongestants, laxatives, cocaine, and heroin have been reported to cause hypokalemia. Severe hypokalmeia < 2 mg/L can rhabdomyolysis, arrythmias, seizures warrenting rapid correction. CASE PRESENTATION: A 22-year-old male with recent cocaine presented intractable vomiting, ascending weakness tingling for...