Characteristics of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in Riyadh province, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Little work has been done on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Saudi Arabia. Our goal is to report the characteristics of OHCA patients and predictors of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA), a governmental emergency medical service (EMS).

Characteristics and predictors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in young adults hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome: A retrospective cohort study of 30,000 patients in the Gulf region.

Introduction: The characteristics of young adults with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has not been well described. The mean age of gulf citizens in ACS registries is 10-15 years younger than their western counterparts, which provided us with a unique opportunity to investigate the characteristics and predictors of OHCA in young adults presenting with ACS.

Methodology: This was a retrospective cohort study using data from 7 prospective ACS registries in the Gulf region.

Prevalence and characteristics of family history of sudden unexplained death and predictors of negative attitude of family members toward medical autopsy and family screening in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Little is known about sudden unexplained death (SUD) in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, family screening and medical autopsy are not routinely performed due to perceived religious and cultural resistance. However, this has never been systematically examined.

Medical Autopsy for Sudden Unexplained Death in Saudi Arabia: A Call to Action.

Sudden unexplained death (SUD) is a sudden, unexpected, and unexplained death in an individual older than 1 year. It is one of the most devastating and tragic events to families and the community at large, particularly when it happens at a young age. Finding the cause of SUD is extremely important in order to prevent its recurrence in the family, and to help understand the epidemiology of SUD in the community.

Genomic, Proteomic, and Phenotypic Spectrum of Novel O-Sialoglycoprotein Endopeptidase Variant in Four Affected Individuals With Galloway-Mowat Syndrome.

Galloway-Mowat syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by a unique combination of renal and neurological manifestations, including early-onset steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome, microcephaly, psychomotor delay, and gyral abnormalities of the brain. Most patients die during early childhood. Here, we identified a novel homozygous O-sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase (OSGEP) variant, NM_017807.

Persistent COVID-19 symptoms at least one month after diagnosis: A national survey.

Background: Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) is an important healthcare burden. We examined persistent symptoms in COVID-19 patients at least four weeks after the onset of infection, participants' return to pre-COVID-19 health status and associated risk factors.

Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted (December 2020 to January 2021).

COVID-19-Associated cardiac pathology at the postmortem evaluation: a collaborative systematic review.

Background: Many postmortem studies address the cardiovascular effects of COVID-19 and provide valuable information, but are limited by their small sample size.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review is to better understand the various aspects of the cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 by pooling data from a large number of autopsy studies.

Data Sources: We searched the online databases Ovid EBM Reviews, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science for concepts of autopsy or histopathology combined with COVID-19, published between database inception and February 2021.

Interrupted versus uninterrupted anticoagulation therapy for catheter ablation in adults with arrhythmias.

Background: The management of anticoagulation therapy around the time of catheter ablation (CA) procedure for adults with arrhythmia is critical and yet is variable in clinical practice. The ideal approach for safe and effective perioperative management should balance the risk of bleeding during uninterrupted anticoagulation while minimising the risk of thromboembolic events with interrupted therapy.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and harms of interrupted versus uninterrupted anticoagulation therapy for catheter ablation (CA) in adults with arrhythmias.

Therapeutic effect of statins on airway remodeling during asthma.

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, which is usually characterized by remodeling, hyperresponsiveness and episodic obstruction of the airways. The underlying chronic airway inflammation leads to pathological restructuring of both the large and small airways. Since the effects of current asthma medications on airway remodeling have been met with contradictions, many therapeutic agents have been redirected from their primary use for the treatment of asthma.

Overlooked Shortcomings of Observational Studies of Interventions in Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Illustrated Review for the Clinician.

The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection across the globe triggered an unprecedented increase in research activities that resulted in an astronomical publication output of observational studies. However, most studies failed to apply fully the necessary methodological techniques that systematically deal with different biases and confounding, which not only limits their scientific merit but may result in harm through misleading information. In this article, we address a few important biases that can seriously threaten the validity of observational studies of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Anti-Diabetic Drugs GLP-1 Agonists and DPP-4 Inhibitors may Represent Potential Therapeutic Approaches for COVID-19.

The fast spread of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) calls for immediate action to counter the associated significant loss of human life and deep economic impact. Certain patient populations like those with obesity and diabetes are at higher risk for acquiring severe COVID-19 disease and have a higher risk of COVID-19 associated mortality. In the absence of an effective and safe vaccine, the only immediate promising approach is to repurpose an existing approved drug.

Unraveling the Mystery Surrounding Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19.

More than one year since its emergence, corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still looming large with a paucity of treatment options. To add to this burden, a sizeable subset of patients who have recovered from acute COVID-19 infection have reported lingering symptoms, leading to significant disability and impairment of their daily life activities. These patients are considered to suffer from what has been termed as "chronic" or "long" COVID-19 or a form of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, and patients experiencing this syndrome have been termed COVID-19 long-haulers.

Prior Statin Use and Risk of Mortality and Severe Disease From Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Statins up-regulate angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the receptor of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), while also exhibiting pleiotropic antiviral, antithrombotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Uncertainties exist about their effect on the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We sought to systematically review the literature and perform a meta-analysis to examine the association between prior statin use and outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in COVID-19 patients: a living systematic review and meta-analysis, first update.

Objectives: Cytokine release syndrome with elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels is associated with multiorgan damage and death in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our objective was to update the data in a living systematic review of the literature concerning the efficacy and toxicity of the IL-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Data sources were Ovid MEDLINE(R) and Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Daily, Ovid Embase, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science, Scopus up, preprint servers and Google from 8th October 2020 till 24th February 2021.

Mortality, viral clearance, and other clinical outcomes of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Many meta-analyses have been published about the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Most of them included observational studies, and few have assessed HCQ as a prophylaxis or evaluated its safety profile. We searched multiple databases and preprint servers for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed HCQ for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19.

A Novel Biallelic Gene Variant Causing SAVI in Two Siblings.

STING-associated vasculopathy of infantile-onset (SAVI) is one of the newly identified types of interferonopathies. SAVI is caused by heterozygous gain-of-function mutations in the . We herein report for the first time a homozygous variant in the in two siblings that resulted in constitutive activation of gene and the SAVI phenotype.

Cardiovascular medications and regulation of COVID-19 receptors expression.

Introduction: Emerging epidemiological studies suggested that Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors may increase infectivity and severity of COVID-19 by modulating the expression of ACE2.

Methods: In silico analysis was conducted to compare the blood expression levels of SARS-CoV-2 entry genes between age and gender matched cohort of hypertensive patients versus control, and to determine the effect of common cardiovascular medications on the expression of COVID-19 receptors in vitro using primary human hepatocytes.

Results: The transcriptomic analysis revealed a significant increase of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in the blood of patients with hypertension.

Statins as an adjunctive therapy for COVID-19: the biological and clinical plausibility.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected millions of individuals and has claimed hundreds of thousands of human lives worldwide. Patients with underlying cardiovascular conditions are at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection, and COVID-19 patients have high incidence of cardiovascular complications such as acute cardiac injury, arrhythmias, heart failure, and thromboembolism. The disease has no approved proven effective therapy and hence repurposing of existing approved drugs has been considered as the fastest treatment approach.

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and the Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Hospitalization With COVID-19 Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infects its target cells via angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor, a membrane-bound protein found on the surface of many human cells. Treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin receptors blockers (ARB) has been shown to increase angiotensin converting enzyme 2 expression by up to 5-fold.

Areas Of Uncertainty: These findings coupled with observations of the high prevalence and mortality among SARS-CoV-2-infected patients with underlying cardiovascular disease have led to a speculation that ACEIs/ARBs may predispose to higher risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2.

It is time to drop hydroxychloroquine from our COVID-19 armamentarium.

Chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) were among the first drugs repurposed for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A few in vitro studies confirmed that both drugs exhibited dose dependent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities. These observations and the encouraging results from early poorly conducted observational studies created a major hype about the therapeutic potential of these drugs in the treatment of COVID-19 disease.

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and Mortality Among COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are known to increase the expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor, which has been shown to be the receptor for the acute severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Areas Of Uncertainty: Based on these observations, speculations raised the concerns that ACEIs/ARBs users would be more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and would be at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease and death. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the literature and performed a meta-analysis of the association between prior use of ACEIs and ARBs and mortality due to COVID-19 disease.

Cardiac Toxicity of Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine in Patients With COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-regression Analysis.

Objective: To systematically review the literature and to estimate the risk of chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) cardiac toxicity in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: We searched multiple data sources including PubMed/MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Ovid EBM Reviews, Scopus, and Web of Science and medrxiv.org from November 2019 through May 27, 2020.