Electronic cigarettes — myocardial infarction, hemodynamic compromise during pregnancy, and systolic and diastolic dysfunction: Minireview

Clinical impact of vaping on cardiopulmonary function and lung cancer development: an update

The word 'vaping' is used to define the usage of electronic cigarettes or other instruments to inhale a wide variety of heated and aerosolized substances. Although proposed as a less dangerous and oncogenic alternative than standard nicotine products, e-cigarettes and vaping devices are quite far from being considered benign. In fact, although vaping devices do not generate carcinogenic agents as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced by the combustion of standard cigarettes and their liquids do not present tobacco-related carcinogens like nitrosamines, there is nowadays clear evidence that they produce dangerous products during their use. Several different molecular mechanisms have been proposed for the oncogenic impact of vaping fluids - by means of their direct chemical action or derivative products generated by pyrolysis and combustion ranging from epithelial-mesenchymal transition, redox stress and mitochondrial toxicity to DNA breaks and fragmentation. In this review we focus on vaping devices, their potential impact on lung carcinogenesis, vaping-associated lung injury and other clinical implications on cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as on the psychological implication of e-cigarettes both on heavy smokers trying to quit smoking and on younger non-smokers approaching vaping devices because they are considered as a less dangerous alternative to tobacco cigarettes.

VAPIng into ARDS: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Cardiopulmonary Failure

"Modern" vaping involving battery-operated electronic devices began approximately one dozen years and has quickly evolved into a multibillion dollar industry providing products to an estimated 50 million users worldwide. Originally developed as an alternative to traditional cigarette smoking, vaping now appeals to a diverse demographic including substantial involvement of young people who often have never used cigarettes. The rapid rise of vaping fueled by multiple factors has understandably outpaced understanding of biological effects, made even more challenging due to wide ranging individual user habits and preferences. Consequently while vaping-related research gathers momentum, vaping-associated pathological injury (VAPI) has been established by clinical case reports with severe cases manifesting as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with examples of right ventricular cardiac failure. Therefore, basic scientific studies are desperately needed to understand the impact of vaping upon the lungs as well as cardiopulmonary structure and function. Experimental models that capture fundamental characteristics of vaping-induced ARDS are essential to study pathogenesis and formulate recommendations to mitigate harmful effects attributable to ingredients or equipment. So too, treatment strategies to promote recovery from vaping-associated damage require development and testing at the preclinical level. This review summarizes the back story of vaping leading to present day conundrums with particular emphasis upon VAPI-associated ARDS and prioritization of research goals.