COVID-19 and Cardiac Arrhythmias: A Review of the Literature.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. There are many documented COVID-19-related cardiac complications, one of the most feared is arrhythmia. Many ongoing studies are evaluating the pathophysiology of COVID-19-induced arrhythmia. However, our knowledge about the exact mechanism of the latter is still limited. The underlying possible mechanisms could be related to direct or indirect endomyocardial tissue damage. It is also noted in several studies that cardiac arrhythmias are the consequence of systemic illness, proarrhythmic medications, and electrolytes imbalances in hospitalized patients and not solely the direct effects of COVID-19 infection. In this review article, we present the different aspects of arrhythmias in COVID patients, possible associated conditions, and triggers.

Effect of fiber posts on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated anterior teeth with cervical cavities: An in vitro study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: How the placement of fiber posts affects the fracture resistance of endodontically treated maxillary central incisors with cervical cavities is not well documented. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of fiber posts on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated maxillary central incisors with cervical cavities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty extracted human maxillary central incisors were selected and divided into 5 test groups (n=10) according to the restoration strategy: GHT, control group; endodontically treated teeth (ETT) without endodontic posts; GCV, ETT with cervical cavities simulating coronal destruction; GCF, ETT with cervical cavities and carbon fiber posts; GGF, ETT with cervical cavities and glass fiber posts; and GCP, ETT with cervical cavities and composite resin posts. After the fiber posts had been cemented with a resin cement and the foundations had been placed, all specimens were quasi statically loaded at 45 degrees in a universal testing machine until fracture. All specimens were evaluated for fracture modes. The data were then analyzed by 1-way ANOVA, followed by multiple comparisons with the Tukey HSD test (α=.05). The mode of failure was determined by visual inspection. RESULTS: The mean ±SD failure loads for the groups ranged from 718.2 ±89.8 N to 943.8 ±93.1 N. In a 1-way ANOVA followed by post hoc testing, GGFs had a higher fracture strength than all other groups (P≤.05). However, GCPs had a lower fracture strength than all other groups. Statistically significant differences were observed among groups (P≤.05), except between the GHT group and the GCF and GGF groups (P=.075, P=.226). All groups except GHT showed complete favorable fracture mode within the cervical third of the roots. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, placement of glass fiber posts significantly improved the fracture resistance of endodontically treated maxillary central incisors with cervical cavities.

Malignancy and hypercoagulability: a two-way association revisited.

Increasing evidence is highlighting the relationship between malignancy and hypercoagulability as a bidirectional association. We herein share our experience with a patient in whom such an association may be entertained. The patient, who had a history of venous thromboembolism, presented to our care with manifestation of stroke. Extensive workup revealed that the patient carries prothrombotic mutations in the prothrombin and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genes. The patient, a non-smoker, was also diagnosed with non-small cell lung carcinoma. The possible association between the patient's malignancy and prothrombotic state are further discussed.