Characteristics of Methamphetamine-associated Cardiomyopathy and the Impact of Methamphetamine Use on Cardiac Dysfunction.

Methamphetamine-associated cardiomyopathy (MACM) in an increasingly prevalent disease yet presenting clinical characteristics have not been well studied. We studied consecutive patients with MACM presenting between June 2018 and March 2020 who were interviewed for drug use and medical history. We retrospectively identified an age- and gender-matched cohort of Non-MACM (NMACM) patients and compared clinical characteristics.

Impaired norepinephrine regulation of monocyte inflammatory cytokine balance in heart failure.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of norepinephrine on inflammatory cytokine expression in human monocytes and monocytic THP-1 cells.

Methods: For human monocyte studies, cells were isolated from 12 chronic heart failure (HF) (66 ± 12 years, New York Heart Association functional class III-IV, left ventricular ejection fraction 22% ± 9%) and 14 healthy subjects (66 ± 12 years). Monocytes (1 × 10/mL) were incubated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 100 ng/mL, LPS + norepinephrine (NE) 10 mol/L or neither (control) for 4 h.

Pharmacist monitoring of QTc interval-prolonging medications in critically ill medical patients: a pilot study.

Background: No data exist regarding the value of pharmacist monitoring of drugs associated with QTc interval prolongation.

Objective: To assess the capability, clinical impact, and economic impact of pharmacists monitoring for drug-induced QTc interval prolongation in critically ill medical adult patients.

Methods: In a prospective, parallel-group study, 149 consecutive medical intensive care unit (ICU) patients prescribed a QTc interval-prolonging drug at the Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center were assigned on alternating days to an intervention group (clinical pharmacist on physician team monitored drugs using a standardized algorithm) or a standard care group (team without pharmacist using an algorithm).