Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Empyema Post-COVID Infection Causing Severe Septic Shock and Multiorgan Failure.

Secondary bacterial infections post-COVID infection posed a major challenge to the healthcare settings during the COVID pandemic. We present the case of an 81-year-old patient who was initially admitted for COVID pneumonia in a tertiary care hospital and was managed with a course of dexamethasone and had a good outcome. However, post-discharge, the patient developed symptoms of productive cough, hemoptysis and shortness of breath.

Non Ischemic Cardiomyopathy in a 54-Year-Old Khat Consuming Yemeni Male Presenting with Worsening Exertional Dyspnea, T Wave Inversions in V5-V6 and Normal Coronary Artery Angiography.

BACKGROUND Khat (Catha edulis) is a plant cultivated in Ethiopia, East African, and the Arabian Peninsula. Long-term khat consumption has been associated with increased rates of periodontal diseases, esophagitis, psychosis, and cardiovascular issues such as cerebrovascular accidents, myocardial ischemia, and ischemic cardiomyopathy (CM). We report a case of khat-induced non-ischemic CM in a patient with no other known cardiovascular risk factors and highlight a cardiovascular effect of chronic khat consumption.

Right ventricular systolic pressure - Non-invasive bedside predictor of mortality and readmission in heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction hospitalization.

Objective: To study the prognostic role of right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) in patients with heart failure (HF).

Background: Although RVSP is a readily available echocardiographic parameter, it is often underused. Its prognostic role in patients with heart failure is not well established compared with pulmonary artery pressure measured by right heart catheterization.

Acetylsalicylic Acid Compared with Enoxaparin for the Prevention of Thrombosis and Mechanical Ventilation in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background And Objective: Low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin) is a well-known and frequently studied drug for primary and secondary prevention of disease due to its anti-inflammatory and coagulopathic effects. COVID-19 complications are attributed to the role of thrombo-inflammation. Studies regarding the use of low-dose ASA in COVID-19 are limited.

Rationales and uncertainties for aspirin use in COVID-19: a narrative review.

Objectives: To review the pathophysiology of COVID-19 disease, potential aspirin targets on this pathogenesis and the potential role of aspirin in patients with COVID-19.

Design: Narrative review.

Setting: The online databases PubMed, OVID Medline and Cochrane Library were searched using relevant headlines from 1 January 2016 to 1 January 2021.

Meta-Analysis of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients With Stenotic Bicuspid Versus Tricuspid Aortic Valve.

Most of the trials investigating the role of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) across various strata of risk categories have excluded patients with bicuspid aortic stenosis (BAS) due to its anatomical complexities. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis with meta-regression of studies comparing clinical, procedural, and after-procedural echocardiographic outcomes in BAS versus tricuspid aortic stenosis (TAS) patients who underwent TAVI. We searched the PubMed and Cochrane databases for relevant articles from the inception of the database to October 2019.

Efficacy of corticosteroids in non-intensive care unit patients with COVID-19 pneumonia from the New York Metropolitan region.

Introduction: The role of systemic corticosteroid as a therapeutic agent for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia is controversial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of corticosteroids in non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients with COVID-19 pneumonia complicated by acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF).

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study, from 16th March, 2020 to 30th April, 2020; final follow-up on 10th May, 2020.

Multiple Thrombotic Events in a 67-Year-Old Man 2 Weeks After Testing Positive for SARS-CoV-2: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the viral pathogen responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a pandemic respiratory illness. While many patients experience mild to moderate symptoms, severely affected patients often progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Specific to COVID-19, abnormal coagulability appears to be a principal instigator in the progression of disease severity and mortality.

Vitiligo following stem-cell transplant.

Vitiligo is an acquired skin disorder characterised by depigmentation of skin due to the selective destruction of melanocytes. The pathogenesis of vitiligo is still relatively unknown, but associations between vitiligo and other systemic autoimmune diseases have been made, such as with patients who have undergone haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in the treatment of haematological conditions. This article aims to review published literature that have reported the incidence of vitiligo following HSCT in order to understand their relationship, and any potential connections between vitiligo and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

Advanced Biventricular Heart Failure due to Left Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy Leading to the Formation of a Gastric Bezoar: The Implications of Heart Failure on the Gastrointestinal Tract.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic disease process affecting multiple organ systems and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We report a case of a 43-year-old male with a history of unspecified cardiomyopathy who presented to the hospital with abdominal pain, distention, and nausea for 4 months. He was diagnosed with left ventricular noncompaction and gastroparesis.

Outcomes After Cardioversion in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Treated with Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs): Insights from a Meta-Analysis.

Background: There are limited data on outcomes following cardioversion in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients treated with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NOACs in patients with AF undergoing cardioversion.

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science and CINAHL databases were searched from January 1, 2001 through to October 30, 2014.

Short- and long-term outcomes in diabetes patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with bivalirudin compared with heparin and glycoprotein IIb/IIIA inhibitors: A meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: Diabetes patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have more complications than nondiabetes patients, including increased long-term mortality. Use of bivalirudin versus heparin and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI) in diabetes patients undergoing PCI and its effect on long-term mortality were evaluated in few randomized trials, but with conflicting results.

Methods: We searched the literature for randomized controlled trials that compared heparin and GPI therapy with bivalirudin in diabetes patients undergoing PCI.

Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials comparing bivalirudin versus heparin plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

This study sought to investigate the relative safety and efficacy of bivalirudin versus heparin plus glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and in those with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The safety of bivalirudin in PCI, particularly in patients with STEMI, continues to be debated. We searched the on-line databases for randomized controlled trials of bivalirudin versus heparin plus GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors.

Effect of beta blockers on sepsis outcome.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate weather beta blockers are associated with an increased mortality in sepsis.

Material/methods: Data on 83 patients with sepsis treated in ICU were analyzed from the retrospective chart review. The association between treatment with Beta blockers and mortality was analyzed by logistic regression in univariate model and after adjusting for the APACHE morbidity/ mortality scores.

Calcified small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Calcification within pulmonary lesions usually signifies a benign entity, but depending on the specific pattern of calcification it can also represent malignancy. The authors report a case of calcified small cell lung cancer in a patient with end-stage renal disease. The calcification was unrelated to renal failure and not the result of metastatic calcification, and the pattern of calcification and tissue pathology excluded other causes of calcification within this mediastinal mass.