Synthetic Cannabinoids and Their Effects on the Cardiovascular System.

Background: In the past couple of years, there has been an outbreak of synthetic cannabinoid (SC) use in major cities in the United States. Patients can present with various symptoms affecting the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. The effects of endocannabinoid on contractility and Ca(2+) signaling have been shown through both cannabinoid receptors and a direct effect on ion channels.

Factors affecting the emergence and prevalence of vector borne infections (VBI) and the role of vertical transmission (VT).

Vector-borne infections (VBI) are very common around the globe and they account for many devastating diseases. They are not found exclusively in the third world or tropical regions but spread to every corner of the planet. The factors driving these infections are many and interact in very complex ways.