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Opioids have the highest rate of illicit drug consumption after cannabis worldwide. Opium, after tobacco, is still the most commonly abused substance in the Middle East. In addition to the ease of availability, one reason for the high consumption of opium in Asian countries might be a traditional belief among Eastern people and even medical staff that opium may have ameliorating effects on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) as well as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Over the last decade, many studies have been performed on humans and animals to evaluate the interplay between opium consumption and stable coronary artery disease, acute coronary syndromes, and atherosclerosis. In this review, we conclude that opium consumption should be considered a risk factor for CVDs. Healthy individuals, as well as cardiac and diabetic patients, should be informed and educated about the hazardous effects of opium consumption on cardiovascular and other chronic diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors have none to declare., (Copyright © 2020 Cardiological Society of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: This prospective study aimed to evaluate the detailed outcomes of diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia, six months after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and appropriate multidisciplinary wound care. , Methods: Totally, 45 consecutive patients (50 limbs) were enrolled and then divided into two groups according to the healing of ulcers. The endpoints were ulcer healing and major adverse events including amputation, mortality, and cardiac or cerebral morbidities, during a six- month follow-up period. , Results: During six months follow-up, major amputation was performed for four of 50 limbs (8.0%). A total of nine (20%) patients died and the leading cause was cardiac death (13.3 %). Also, stroke and non-fatal myocardial infarction occurred in three (6.7 %) and one (2.2 %) of the patients, respectively. Among the 29 (59.2 %) healed wounds, 22 (44.9 %) were completely closed. The patients with nonhealing wounds had a higher rate of dialysis (40% vs. 0 %, P-value < 0.001) and more ulcers with stage of D3 according to the Texas Wound Classification (60% vs. 31 %, P-value = 0.016). Other demographic, clinical, ulcer characteristics and procedural characteristics such as number and level of the treated lesions did not differ significantly between the two groups. , Conclusion: Based on our findings, it seems that along with current usual therapeutic routines which focus on wound healing and limb salvage, more attention should be paid to simultaneous diagnostic assessments and treatment of cardiovascular disease in this group of patients during short-term follow- up.