Topic Review
Acute Myocardial Infarction during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was a global pandemic with high mortality and morbidity that led to an increased health burden all over the world. Although the virus mostly affects the pulmonary tract, cardiovascular implications are often observed among COVID-19 patients and are predictive of poor outcomes. Increased values of myocardial biomarkers such as troponin I or NT-proBNP were proven to be risk factors for respiratory failure. Although the risk of acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) was greater in the acute phase of COVID-19, there were lower rates of hospitalization for ACSs, due to patients’ hesitation in presenting at the hospital. Hospitalized ACSs patients with COVID-19 infection had a prolonged symptom-to-first-medical-contact time, and longer door-to-balloon time. The mechanisms of myocardial injury in COVID-19 patients are still not entirely clear; however, the most frequently implicated factors include the downregulation of ACE2 receptors, endothelial dysfunction, pro-coagulant status, and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. 
  • 105
  • 05 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) causes superficial and invasive infections and immune mediated post-infectious sequalae (including acute rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease). Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are important determinants of global cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. ARF is a multiorgan inflammatory disease that is triggered by GAS infection that activates the innate immune system. In susceptible hosts the response against GAS elicits autoimmune reactions targeting the heart, joints, brain, skin, and subcutaneous tissue. Repeated episodes of ARF—undetected, subclinical, or diagnosed—may progressively lead to RHD, unless prevented by periodic administration of penicillin. The modified Duckett Jones criteria with stratification by population risk remains relevant for the diagnosis of ARF and includes subclinical carditis detected by echocardiography as a major criterion. Chronic RHD is defined by valve regurgitation and/or stenosis that presents with complications such as arrhythmias, systemic embolism, infective endocarditis, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, and death.
  • 290
  • 07 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Advanced and Invasive Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Techniques
Despite numerous promising innovations, the chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest has remained virtually unchanged. Technological advances have been made, user-friendly portable devices have been developed, and advanced invasive procedures have been described that could improve this unsatisfactory situation. Technical aids, such as feedback systems or automated mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) devices, can improve chest compression quality. The latter, as well as extracorporeal CPR, might serve as a bridge to treatment (with extracorporeal CPR even as a bridge to recovery). Sonography may be used to improve thoracic compressions on the one hand and to rule out potentially reversible causes of cardiac arrest on the other. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta might enhance myocardial and cerebral perfusion. Minithoracostomy, pericardiocentesis, or clamshell thoracotomy might resolve reversible causes of cardiac arrest. 
  • 381
  • 20 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Advanced Glycation End Products and Cardiovascular Disease
Epidemiological studies demonstrate the role of early and intensive glycemic control in the prevention of micro and macrovascular disease in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Hyperglycemia elicits several pathways related to the etiopathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including the generation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). 
  • 1.0K
  • 11 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Advanced Monitoring Technologies
Heart failure (HF) is characterized by a progressive course of disease accompanied by recurrent exacerbations leading to high hospitalization and rehospitalization rates, which account for a substantial part of the disease load. Among the elderly, acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is the leading cause of hospitalization. The 30-day rehospitalization rate following the first admission to the hospital for HF exacerbation is 22–29.4%, which is the most common amongst all other etiologies.
  • 443
  • 29 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Adverse Cardiovascular Effects of Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a key part of treatment for many cancers. Vast advancements in the field of radiation oncology have led to a decrease in malignancy-related mortality, which has uncovered some of the long-term side effects of radiation therapy. Specifically, there has been an increase in research looking into the cardiovascular side effects of chest radiation therapy for cancers of the esophagus, breast, and lung tissue as well as lymphomas.
  • 112
  • 09 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Aetiology of Bicuspid Aortic Valve
BAV (Bicuspid Aortic Valve) stands as the most prevalent congenital heart condition closely linked to critical and potentially life-threatening cardiac and aortic ailments, including aortic stenosis, aortic insufficiency, aortic aneurysms, and aortic dissection. It is believed that both genetic and epigenetic factors influence the etiology of BAV. Gaining insight into this underlying causative framework is paramount in guiding treatment strategies for BAV and its associated pathologies.
  • 372
  • 12 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Aftermath of the COVID-19 Crisis in Saudi Arabia
Since late 2019, the number of COVID-19 patients has gradually increased in certain regions as consecutive waves of infections hit countries. Whenever this wave hits the corresponding areas, the entire healthcare system must respond quickly to curb the diseases, morbidities, and mortalities in intensive care settings. The healthcare team involved in COVID-19 patients’ care must work tirelessly without having breaks. Our understanding of COVID-19 is limited as new challenges emerge with new COVID-19 variants appearing in different world regions. Though medical therapies are finding solutions to deal with the disease, there are few recommendations for respiratory rehabilitation therapies. A group of respiratory rehabilitation care professionals in Saudi Arabia and international experts have agreed with the World Health bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) on the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with COVID-19. Professionals participating in COVID-19 patient treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery formulated respiratory rehabilitation guidelines based on the DELPHI Method, combining scientific research and personal practical experience. As a result, it is envisaged that the number of individuals in the region suffering from respiratory ailments due to post-COVID-19 will decrease. 
  • 352
  • 02 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Age-Related Diseases
Aging is a multifactorial dynamic process that is influenced by a variety of external and internal variables, including environmental, demographic, and biopsychosocial factors, to determine the development and progression of age-related diseases, rather than being a solely static intrinsic process of cellular alterations.
  • 848
  • 15 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Aging and Arterial Stiffness in End-Stage Renal Disease
Arterial dysfunction is major risk factor for cardiovascular complications, and arterial stiffness is an independent risk factor in end-stage renal disease patients. As the distance from the heart increases, arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity) becomes progressively more marked. This generates a centrifugal stiffness gradient, which leads to partial, continuous local wave reflections, which in turn attenuate the transmission of pulsatile pressure into the microcirculation, thus limiting the potentially deleterious outcomes both upstream (on the heart: left-ventricular hypertrophy and coronary perfusion) and downstream (on the renal and cerebral microcirculation: reduced glomerular filtration and impaired cognitive functions). The impact of arterial aging is greater on the aorta and central capacitive arteries, and it is characterized by a loss or reversal of the physiological stiffness gradient between central and peripheral arteries.
  • 230
  • 31 Jan 2023
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