A Review of Cardiovascular Effects of Marijuana Use.

Objective: Cannabinoids exert their effects on body tissues via cannabinoid 1 (CB 1 ) and cannabinoid 2 (CB 2 ) receptors. Receptors are present in brain, myocardium, vascular endothelium, platelets, and adipose tissues. Under normal physiologic conditions, endocannabinoid effects are minimal.

Higher sodium in older individuals or after stroke/reperfusion, but not in migraine or Alzheimer's disease - a study in different preclinical models.

Sodium serves as one of the primary cations in the central nervous system, playing a crucial role in maintaining normal brain function. In this study, we investigated alterations in sodium concentrations in the brain and/or cerebrospinal fluid across multiple models, including an aging model, a stroke model, a nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced rat migraine model, a familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 (FHM2) mouse model, and a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our results reveal that older rats exhibited higher sodium concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), plasma, and various brain regions compared to their younger counterparts.

Adverse Cardiovascular Effects of Nicotine Delivered by Chronic Electronic Cigarettes or Standard Cigarettes Captured by Cardiovascular Intrinsic Frequencies.

Background: Electronic cigarettes have gained popularity as a nicotine delivery system, which has been recommended by some as an aid to help people quit traditional smoking. The potential long-term effects of vaping on the cardiovascular system, as well as how their effects compare with those from standard cigarettes, are not well understood. The intrinsic frequency (IF) method is a systems approach for analysis of left ventricle and arterial function.

Disrupted brain functional connectivity as early signature in cognitively healthy individuals with pathological CSF amyloid/tau.

Alterations in functional connectivity (FC) have been observed in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) with elevated amyloid (Aβ) and tau. However, it is not yet known whether directed FC is already influenced by Aβ and tau load in cognitively healthy (CH) individuals. A 21-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) was used from 46 CHs classified based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ tau ratio: pathological (CH-PAT) or normal (CH-NAT).

The Princeton IV Consensus Recommendations for the Management of Erectile Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease.

The Princeton Consensus (Expert Panel) Conference is a multispecialty collaborative symposium dedicated to optimizing sexual function and preserving cardiovascular health. The Fourth Princeton Consensus Conference was convened on March 10-11, 2023, at the Huntington Medical Research Institutes in Pasadena, California. Princeton panels I to III addressed the clinical management of men with erectile dysfunction (ED) who also had cardiovascular disease.

Proceedings of PRINCETON IV: PDE5 inhibitors and cardiac health symposium.

Introduction: Prior consensus meetings have addressed the relationship between phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibition and cardiac health. Given significant accumulation of new data in the past decade, a fourth consensus conference on this topic was convened in Pasadena, California, on March 10 and 11, 2023.

Objectives: Our meeting aimed to update existing knowledge, assess current guidelines, and make recommendations for future research and practice in this area.

An Urgent Call for Studies That Address the Cardiovascular Consequences of Legalization of Marijuana.

In about a decade, half of the United States has legalized marijuana for recreational use. The drug has been associated with acute myocardial infarction, acute stroke, congestive heart failure, and various cardiac arrythmias. Data have shown that legalization of the drug led to an increase of its use as well as an increase in tetra hydro cannabinoid positive tests in patients admitted to emergency departments.

The association of tadalafil exposure with lower rates of major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality in a general population of men with erectile dysfunction.

Background: Tadalafil is a long-acting phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE-5i) indicated for erectile dysfunction (ED).

Hypothesis: Our hypothesis was that tadalafil will reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, unstable angina, heart failure, stroke) and all-cause death in men with ED.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted in a large US commercial insurance claims database in men with a diagnosis of ED without prior MACE within 1 year.

Effects of Electronic Cigarette Vaping on Cardiac and Vascular Function, and Post-myocardial Infarction Remodeling in Rats.

The effect of electronic cigarette (E-cig) vaping on cardiac and vascular function during the healing phase of myocardial infarction (MI), and post-MI remodeling was investigated. Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to left coronary artery ligation to induce MI. One week later, rats were randomized to receive either 12 weeks of exposure to purified air (n = 37) or E-cig vapor (15 mg/ml of nicotine) (n = 32).

Choriocapillaris and Retinal Vascular Alterations in Presymptomatic Alzheimer's Disease.

Purpose: To compare optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) retina metrics between cognitively healthy subjects with pathological versus normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ42/tau ratios.

Methods: Swept-source OCTA scans were collected using the Zeiss PLEX Elite 9000 and analyzed on 23 cognitively healthy (CH) subjects who had previously undergone CSF analysis. Thirteen subjects had a pathological Aβ42/tau (PAT) ratio of <2.

Princeton IV consensus guidelines: PDE5 inhibitors and cardiac health.

Background: In 1999, 1 year after the approval of the first oral phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), the first Princeton Consensus Conference was held to address the clinical management of men with ED who also had cardiovascular disease. These issues were readdressed in the second and third conferences. In the 13 years since the last Princeton Consensus Conference, the experience with PDE5 inhibitors is more robust, and recent new data have emerged regarding not only safety and drug-drug interactions, but also a potential cardioprotective effect of these drugs.

Flavoring Agents in E-cigarette Liquids: A Comprehensive Analysis of Multiple Health Risks.

The availability of a wide range of flavored e-cigarettes is one of the primary reasons for vaping initiation and persistent use among adolescents and young people. This plethora of flavors available on the market are crafted using different flavoring agents such as cinnamaldehyde, vanillin, benzaldehyde, ethyl maltol, menthol, and dimethylpyrazine. Recent studies have brought to light the potential risks associated with e-cigarette flavoring agents and their effects on various organ systems, both with and without nicotine.

Association of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Treatment Times for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Observations from the Los Angeles County Regional System.

Previous studies have documented longer treatment times and worse outcomes for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment times and outcomes for patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI within a regional system of care. This was a retrospective study using data from the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency.

Instantaneous detection of acute myocardial infarction and ischaemia from a single carotid pressure waveform in rats.

Aims: Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. It is well accepted that early diagnosis followed by early reperfusion therapy significantly increases the MI survival. Diagnosis of acute MI is traditionally based on the presence of chest pain and electrocardiogram (ECG) criteria.

Resting heart rate (variability) and cognition relationships reveal cognitively healthy individuals with pathological amyloid/tau ratio.

Introduction: Resting heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) have been linked with cognition in the general population and in older individuals. The knowledge of this aspect of heart-brain relationship is relatively absent in older individuals with early Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. This study explores relationships of the HR, HRV, and cognition in cognitively healthy individuals with pathological amyloid/tau ratio (CH-PATs) in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) compared to those with normal ratio (CH-NATs).

Invasive versus Conservative Management in Coronary Artery Disease.

In patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, immediate coronary angiography and intervention is the best practice, if an experienced laboratory is available. In non-Q-wave infarction most, but not all, studies suggest that early invasive strategy is superior to conservative management. Complete revascularization is preferred.

The connection between heart rate variability (HRV), neurological health, and cognition: A literature review.

The heart and brain have bi-directional influences on each other, including autonomic regulation and hemodynamic connections. Heart rate variability (HRV) measures variation in beat-to-beat intervals. New findings about disorganized sinus rhythm (erratic rhythm, quantified as heart rate fragmentation, HRF) are discussed and suggest overestimation of autonomic activities in HRV changes, especially during aging or cardiovascular events.

Effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors on major adverse cardiovascular events and overall mortality in a large nationwide cohort of men with erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular risk factors: A retrospective, observational study based on healthcare claims and national death index data.

Background: Treatment with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE-5is) is effective in treating erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aim: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of PDE-5is on the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (MACE; composite outcome of CV death, hospitalization for myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, stroke, heart failure, and unstable angina pectoris) and overall mortality.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted in a large US claims database in men with ≥1 diagnosis of ED without prior MACE within 1 year, from January 1, 2006, to October 31, 2020.

Effects of Electronic Cigarette Exposure on Myocardial Infarction and No-Reflow, and Cardiac Function in a Rat Model.

Purpose: We investigated the effects of exposure to electronic cigarettes (E-cig) vapor on the sizes of the no-reflow and myocardial infarction regions, and cardiovascular function compared to exposure to purified air and standard cigarette smoke.

Methods And Results: Sprague Dawley rats (both male and female, 6 weeks old) were successfully exposed to filtered air (n = 32), E-cig with nicotine (E-cig Nic, n = 26), E-cig without nicotine (E-cig Nic, n = 26), or standard cigarette smoke (1R6F reference, n = 31). All rats were exposed to inhalation exposure for 8 weeks, prior to being subjected to 30 minutes of left coronary artery occlusion followed by 3 hours of reperfusion.

One Acute Exposure to E-Cigarette Smoke Using Various Heating Elements and Power Levels Induces Pulmonary Inflammation.

Background: Electronic cigarettes (eC) may not be entirely benign. There is a lack of data on the effect of a single acute exposure of eC vapor using various heating sources and power settings upon lung injury. The purpose of this study was to determine if an acute exposure with eC vapor heated with different heating elements and power levels induced inflammatory changes in the lungs and heart.

The Correlation between COVID-19 Hospitalizations and Emergency Medical Services Responses for Time-Sensitive Emergencies during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: COVID-19 has had significant secondary effects on health care systems, including effects on emergency medical services (EMS) responses for time-sensitive emergencies. We evaluated the correlation between COVID-19 hospitalizations and EMS responses for time-sensitive emergencies in a large EMS system.

Methods: This was a retrospective study using data from the Los Angeles County EMS Agency.