Diseases Commons^™

Assessment Of Achieved Systolic Blood Pressure In Newly Treated Hypertensive Patients Aged 60-79 Years Before And After Eighth Joint National Committee Recommendations, Michael S. Kelly, Joseph J. Saseen, Joel C. Marrs

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Objective:

To determine whether patients who were newly prescribed antihypertensive therapy after the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) update were treated to a relaxed systolic blood pressure (SBP) goal compared with patients treated before the update.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study approved by the Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board. Patients aged 60–79 years, without diabetes or chronic kidney disease (CKD), newly treated for hypertension at a University of Colorado primary care clinics were included. The mean first-achieved and last-stable SBPs of patients newly prescribed antihypertensive medications from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 31 2013 (before cohort) were compared …

Myofilament Calcium Sensitivity: Consequences Of The Effective Concentration Of Troponin I, Jalal K. Siddiqui, Svetlana B. Tikunova, Shane D. Walton, Bin Liu, Meredith Meyer, Pieter P. De Tombe, Nathan Neilson, Peter M. Kekenes-Huskey, Hussam E. Salhi, Paul M.L. Janssen, Brandon J. Biesiadecki, Jonathan P. Davis

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Control of calcium binding to and dissociation from cardiac troponin C (TnC) is essential to healthy cardiac muscle contraction/relaxation. There are numerous aberrant post-translational modifications and mutations within a plethora of contractile, and even non-contractile, proteins that appear to imbalance this delicate relationship. The direction and extent of the resulting change in calcium sensitivity is thought to drive the heart toward one type of disease or another. There are a number of molecular mechanisms that may be responsible for the altered calcium binding properties of TnC, potentially the most significant being the ability of the regulatory domain of TnC to …

Predicting Outcomes In Patients With Atrial Fibrillation And Acute Mesenteric Ischemia, Sanjay Bhandari, Geetanjali Dang, Muhammad Shahreyar, Ahmad Hanif, Vijayadershan Muppidi, Atul Bhatia, Jasbir Sra, A. Jamil Tajik, Arshad Jahangir

Atul Bhatia, MD, FACC

Purpose Outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation who develop acute mesenteric ischemia, and the impact of anticoagulation on complications, are not defined. Methods Patients admitted with acute mesenteric ischemia in the National Inpatient Sample from 2007, with and without atrial fibrillation, were compared for in-hospital outcomes using multivariate regression, and the impact of prior anticoagulation determined. Results Of 48,872 patients with acute mesenteric ischemia, 8,306 had atrial fibrillation, with 680 patients also on anticoagulation. Atrial fibrillation patients were more likely to be older and have hypertension, heart failure, or chronic lung or renal disease. After adjusting for potential confounders, atrial …

Predictors Of Mortality In Patients With Transient Severe Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction, Kanwar Y. Singh, Firas Zahwe, Bilal Omery, Crystal Platz, Wassim Ballany, Robyn Shearer, Tadele Mengesha, M. Eyman Mortada, Jasbir Sra, Indrajit Choudhuri

Aurora Electrophysiology Fellows

Background: About 20% of patients who develop left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction will have improvement in ejection fraction (LVEF) over time. This patient cohort is generally excluded from large sudden death trials and, hence, understudied. Purpose: To evaluate the predictors of mortality in patients with severe LV systolic dysfunction who have improvement in LVEF during follow-up. Methods: Patients who had transient LV systolic dysfunction from 2010 to 2014 within the Aurora Health Care system and who had LVEF improve to ≥ 40%, irrespective of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implant, were studied. Predictors of mortality were identified using Cox proportional hazards model. …

Decade-Long Trends In The Timeliness Of Receipt Of A Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Han-Yang Chen, Joel M. Gore, Kate L. Lapane, Jorge L. Yarzebski, Sharina D. Person, Catarina I. Kiefe, Robert J. Goldberg

Catarina I. Kiefe

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine decade-long trends (2001-2011) in, and factors associated with, door-to-balloon time within 90 minutes of hospital presentation among patients hospitalized with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who received a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS: Residents of central Massachusetts hospitalized with STEMI who received a primary PCI at two major PCI-capable medical centers in central Massachusetts on a biennial basis between 2001 and 2011 comprised the study population (n=629). Multivariable regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with failing to receive a primary PCI within 90 minutes after emergency department (ED) …

Decade-Long Trends In The Timeliness Of Receipt Of A Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Han-Yang Chen, Joel M. Gore, Kate L. Lapane, Jorge L. Yarzebski, Sharina D. Person, Catarina I. Kiefe, Robert J. Goldberg

Jorge L. Yarzebski

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine decade-long trends (2001-2011) in, and factors associated with, door-to-balloon time within 90 minutes of hospital presentation among patients hospitalized with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who received a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Residents of central Massachusetts hospitalized with STEMI who received a primary PCI at two major PCI-capable medical centers in central Massachusetts on a biennial basis between 2001 and 2011 comprised the study population (n=629). Multivariable regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with failing to receive a primary PCI within 90 minutes after emergency department (ED) …

Dna Methylation Signatures Of Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation Are Associated With Complex Diseases, Symen Ligthart, Carola Marzi, Stella Aslibekyan, Michael M. Mendelson, Karen N. Conneely, Toshiko Tanaka, Elena Colicino, Lindsay L. Waite, Roby Joehanes, Weihua Guan, Jennifer A. Brody, Cathy Elks, Riccardo Marioni, Min A. Jhun, Golareh Agha, Jan Bressler, Cavin K. Ward-Caviness, Brian H. Chen, Tianxiao Huan, Kelly Bakulski, Elias L. Salfati, Whi-Empc Investigators, Giovanni Fiorito, Charge Epigenetics Of Coronary Heart Disease, Simone Wahl, Katharina Schramm, Jin Sha, Dena G. Hernandez, Allan C. Just, Jennifer A. Smith, Donna K. Arnett

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Chronic low-grade inflammation reflects a subclinical immune response implicated in the pathogenesis of complex diseases. Identifying genetic loci where DNA methylation is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation may reveal novel pathways or therapeutic targets for inflammation.

Results: We performed a meta-analysis of epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), which is a sensitive marker of low-grade inflammation, in a large European population (n = 8863) and trans-ethnic replication in African Americans (n = 4111). We found differential methylation at 218 CpG sites to be associated with CRP (P < 1.15 × 10^–7) in the discovery panel …

Seeing The Invisible: Revealing Atrial Ablation Lesions Using Hyperspectral Imaging Approach, Narine Muselimyan, Luther Swift, Huda Asfour, Tigran Chahbazian, Ramesh Mazhari, Marco Mercader, Narine Sarvazyan

Pharmacology and Physiology Faculty Publications

Background

Currently, there are limited means for high-resolution monitoring of tissue injury during radiofrequency ablation procedures.

Objective

To develop the next generation of visualization catheters that can reveal irreversible atrial muscle damage caused by ablation and identify viability gaps between the lesions.

Methods

Radiofrequency lesions were placed on the endocardial surfaces of excised human and bovine atria and left ventricles of blood perfused rat hearts. Tissue was illuminated with 365nm light and a series of images were acquired from individual spectral bands within 420-720nm range. By extracting spectral profiles of individual pixels and spectral unmixing, the relative contribution of ablated …

Signal Transduction Mechanisms Mediating The Regulation Of Vascular G Protein-Coupled Receptors, Elena Tutunea-Fatan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Blood pressure homeostasis is controlled via a complex network of cell signaling mechanisms. Among the broad network of receptors and signaling molecules regulating blood vessel reactivity, members of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family are known to play a central role. GPCR activity represents a delicate, but coordinated balance between molecular mechanisms governing receptor signaling, desensitization, and re-sensitization. GPCR kinase 2 (GRK2) modulates multiple cellular responses through GPCR desensitization and alterations in GRK2 activity are considered to play an important role in the development of hypertension. The main premise of our study was to test whether the inhibition of GRK2 …

Worldwide Trends In Blood Pressure From 1975 To 2015: A Pooled Analysis Of 1479 Population-Based Measurement Studies With 19·1 Million Participants, Bin Zhou, James Bentham, Mariachiara Di Cesare, Honor Bixby, Goodarz Danaei, Melanie J. Cowan, Christopher J. Paciorek, Gitanjali Singh, Kaveh Hajifathalian, James E. Bennett, Cristina Taddei, Con Burns, Tara Coppinger, Ver Bilano, Rodrigo M. Carrillo-Larco, Shirin Djalalinia, Shahab Khatibzadeh, Charles Lugero, Niloofar Peykari, Wan Zhu Zhang, Yuan Lu, Gretchen A. Stevens, Leanne M. Riley, Pascal Bovet, Paul Elliott, Dongfeng Gu, Nayu Ikeda, Rod T. Jackson, Michel Joffres, Andre Pascal Kengne, Tiina Laatikainen, Tai Hing Lam, Avula Laxmaiah, Jing Liu

Publications

Background Raised blood pressure is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease. We estimated worldwide trends in mean systolic and mean diastolic blood pressure, and the prevalence of, and number of people with, raised blood pressure, defined as systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher. Methods For this analysis, we pooled national, subnational, or community population-based studies that had measured blood pressure in adults aged 18 years and older. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends from 1975 to 2015 in mean …

Current And Emerging Uses Of Statins In Clinical Therapeutics: A Review, Jonathan T. Davies, Spencer F. Delfino, Chad E. Feinberg, Meghan F. Johnson, Veronica L. Nappi, Joshua T. Olinger, Anthony P. Schwab, Hollie I. Swanson

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Statins, a class of cholesterol-lowering medications that inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, are commonly administered to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Statin use may expand considerably given its potential for treating an array of cholesterol-independent diseases. However, the lack of conclusive evidence supporting these emerging therapeutic uses of statins brings to the fore a number of unanswered questions including uncertainties regarding patient-to-patient variability in response to statins, the most appropriate statin to be used for the desired effect, and the efficacy of statins in treating cholesterol-independent diseases. In this review, the adverse effects, costs, and drug–drug and drug–food interactions associated with statin …

Seniors Welcome! Avoiding The Trap Of Age Limits In Health Research, Arshad Jahangir

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The guest editor introduces this specialty issue of the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, which focuses on cardiovascular diseases in the elderly. The reality of an aging population has increased the need for better evidence-based medicine in older patients. However, randomized controlled trials frequently exclude such patients, especially those with comorbidities, from study. This practice ignores the fact that physiologic changes to the cardiovascular system caused by the aging process and aging-associated diseases create clinical dilemmas distinct from those in younger patients. Considering the rising costs of health care and growing incidence of cardiovascular disease, research efforts and …

Predictors Of Mortality In Patients With Transient Severe Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction, Kanwar Y. Singh, Firas Zahwe, Bilal Omery, Crystal Platz, Wassim Ballany, Robyn Shearer, Tadele Mengesha, M. Eyman Mortada, Jasbir Sra, Indrajit Choudhuri

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: About 20% of patients who develop left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction will have improvement in ejection fraction (LVEF) over time. This patient cohort is generally excluded from large sudden death trials and, hence, understudied.

Purpose: To evaluate the predictors of mortality in patients with severe LV systolic dysfunction who have improvement in LVEF during follow-up.

Methods: Patients who had transient LV systolic dysfunction from 2010 to 2014 within the Aurora Health Care system and who had LVEF improve to ≥ 40%, irrespective of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implant, were studied. Predictors of mortality were identified using Cox proportional hazards model. …

Predicting Outcomes In Patients With Atrial Fibrillation And Acute Mesenteric Ischemia, Sanjay Bhandari, Geetanjali Dang, Muhammad Shahreyar, Ahmad Hanif, Vijayadershan Muppidi, Atul Bhatia, Jasbir Sra, A. Jamil Tajik, Arshad Jahangir

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose

Outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation who develop acute mesenteric ischemia, and the impact of anticoagulation on complications, are not defined.

Methods

Patients admitted with acute mesenteric ischemia in the National Inpatient Sample from 2007, with and without atrial fibrillation, were compared for in-hospital outcomes using multivariate regression, and the impact of prior anticoagulation determined.

Results

Of 48,872 patients with acute mesenteric ischemia, 8,306 had atrial fibrillation, with 680 patients also on anticoagulation. Atrial fibrillation patients were more likely to be older and have hypertension, heart failure, or chronic lung or renal disease. After adjusting for potential confounders, atrial …

Advanced Heart Failure Treatment Options Among The Elderly, German Guzman-Gutierrez, Yang Shi, Matthew Rappelt, Arshad Jahangir, Vinay Thohan

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The aging human population has emerged as a critically important factor in health care, not only due to the unique physiologic and pathologic processes associated with aging but also because of the evolution of medical and surgical therapies that have increased quality and quantity of life. Heart failure is a disease found most commonly among older populations in whom it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Heart failure disproportionately affects the elderly, and it stands to reason that the most terminal stage, known as advanced heart failure (AHF), is more common among the elderly. Despite limited data, treatment options …

Functional Alterations Of Ion Channels From Cardiac Fibroblasts In Heart Diseases, Gracious R. Ross, Arshad Jahangir

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

In an aged population, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of fatality and morbidity. Age-related fibrotic remodeling of the heart contributes to progressive myocardial dysfunction. Cardiac fibroblasts (CF), responsible for the maintenance of extracellular matrix and fibrosis process, play an important role in cardiac health and disease. CFs influence myocardial function by their chemical, electrical and mechanical interactions with cardiomyocytes through extracellular matrix deposition or secretion of cytokines and growth factors. These, in turn, are modulated by ion channels, macromolecular pores in the plasma membrane that allow selective ionic fluxes of major ions like K⁺, Ca²⁺, …

Cost-Effectiveness Of Genomic-Based Warfarin Therapy, John Weissert, Kourosh Ravvaz

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: With over 40 years of demonstrated clinical efficacy, warfarin remains the world’s most used pharmaceutical to prevent ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, warfarin has many challenges. Thus, despite known effectiveness, warfarin is a leading cause to drug-induced morbidity and mortality. Over 50 different warfarin therapy protocols, including a number of pharmacogenomic-based (PG) protocols, with as many as 14 independent variables, have been developed to improve safety and efficacy, thereby reducing ischemic strokes and intracranial hemorrhages (ICH).

Purpose: To conduct a preliminary cost-effectiveness study to determine the price point at which using warfarin PG dosing to …

Zero-Fluoroscopy Cavotricuspid Isthmus Ablation Using Carto Mapping System As Sole Guiding Method, Wassim Ballany, Indrajit Choudhuri, Mohamed Djelmami-Hani, Ryan L. Cooley

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: Catheter ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) is traditionally performed using fluoroscopy and electroanatomical mapping systems. Zero-fluoroscopy approaches have recently been studied, mostly using the EnSite^® mapping system (St. Jude Medical Inc., St. Paul, MN). We studied the feasibility and efficacy of zero-fluoroscopic mapping and ablation of the CTI using the Carto^® 3 system (Biosense Webster Inc., South Diamond Bar, CA).

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a zero-fluoroscopic approach to CTI ablation.

Methods: We included 9 patients with typical atrial flutter for whom mapping and ablation of the CTI was done using Carto mapping …

The Crux Of The Heart –– The Closest Approach Of The Right Atrium To The Left Ventricle, Lynn Erickson, David Krum, Hannah Samuel, Anwer Dhala, Jasbir Sra

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: Accessory pathways, the source of atrioventricular reentry tachycardia, occasionally connect the left ventricle to the right atrium. This is possible because, in some patients, a portion of the right atrium abuts the left ventricle on the posterior wall of the heart, near the mid-coronary sinus. This anatomic region is known as the “crux” of the heart. These accessory pathways can be difficult to ablate because of the unusual and unexpected substrate. While the presence of these accessory pathways is described in the literature, the prevalence of the underlying anatomic substrate is not currently known.

Purpose: To measure the closest …

Can Bedside Ultrasound Inferior Vena Cava Measurements Accurately Diagnose Congestive Heart Failure In The Emergency Department? A Clin-Iq, Miranda Gaskamp, Mark Blubaugh, Laine H. Mccarthy, Dewey C. Scheid

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis of CHF in patients presenting to the emergency department with undifferentiated dyspnea would allow clinicians to begin appropriate treatment more promptly. Current guidelines recommend B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels for more accurate diagnosis of CHF in dyspneic patients. Although BNP levels are relatively inexpensive, the test is not usually performed at bedside and results may take up to an hour or more. BNP also may have a “gray zone” in which the values can neither confirm nor rule out CHF. BNP has a reported sensitivity of …

Atrial Fibrillation And Stroke In Elderly Patients, Geetanjali Dang, Imaan Jahangir, Jasbir Sra, A. Jamil Tajik, Arshad Jahangir

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The increasing prevalence of stroke, with an estimated annual cost of $71.5 billion, has made it a major health problem that increases disability and death, particularly in patients with atrial fibrillation. Although advanced age and atrial fibrillation are recognized as strong risk factors for stroke, the basis for this susceptibility are not well defined. Aging or associated diseases are accompanied by changes in rheostatic, humoral, metabolic and hemodynamic factors that may contribute more to stroke predisposition than rhythm abnormality alone. Several thromboembolism-predisposing clinical characteristics and serum biomarkers with prognostic significance have been identified in patients with atrial fibrillation. Although anticoagulation …

The Association Between Doppler Measures Of Cardiac Function And Outcomes In Patients With Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ≤ 40% Undergoing Noncardiovascular Surgeries, Yang Shi, Rachel Pedersen, Matthew Rappelt, Robyn Shearer, Nasir Z. Sulemanjee, Dianne L. Zwicke, T. Edward Hastings, Omar M. Cheema, Vinay Thohan

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: Preoperative risk assessments of individuals who undergo major noncardiac surgery have focused on ischemic heart disease. Information on how to assess the noncardiac surgical risks for patients with depressed cardiac function, as seen in heart failure, is sparse. Echocardiography is routinely performed in patients with depressed cardiac function and is an accepted standard cardiac assessment. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) provides strong independent prognostic implications in a wide range of cardiovascular conditions.

Purpose: To identify the echocardiographic parameters associated with outcomes among patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery.

Methods: A retrospective single-institution investigation identified 1,770 patients who underwent one or more major …

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors And Left Ventricular Hypertrophy In Girls And Boys With Ckd., Rebecca L. Ruebner, Derek Ng, Mark Mitsnefes, Bethany J. Foster, Kevin Meyers, Bradley A. Warady, Susan L. Furth

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background and objectives: Prior studies suggested that women with CKD have higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality than men, although putative mechanisms for this higher risk have not been identified. We assessed sex differences in (1) CVD risk factors and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and (2) the relationship of left ventricular mass (LVM) with different measures of body size in children with CKD.

Design, setting, participants, and measurements: The study population comprised 681 children with CKD from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children cohort, contributing 1330 visits. CVD risk factors were compared cross-sectionally by sex. LVH was defined …

Leukocyte Telomere Length In Relation To 17 Biomarkers Of Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Us Adults, David Rehkopf, Belinda L. Needham, Jue Lin, Elizabeth Blackburn, Ami R. Zota, Janet Wojcicki, Elissa Epel

Environmental and Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Background

Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a putative biological marker of immune system age, and there are demonstrated associations between LTL and cardiovascular disease. This may be due in part to the relationship of LTL with other biomarkers associated with cardiovascular disease risk. However, the strength of associations between LTL and adiposity, metabolic, proinflammatory, and cardiovascular biomarkers has not been systematically evaluated in a United States nationally representative population.

Methods and Findings

We examined associations between LTL and 17 cardiovascular biomarkers, including lipoproteins, blood sugar, circulatory pressure, proinflammatory markers, kidney function, and adiposity measures, in adults ages 20 to 84 …

Lack Of Cross-Reactivity Allergy Following A Switch From Alirocumab To Evolocumab, Matthew D. Stryker, Michael Kane, Robert Busch

Excerpts in Pharmacy Research Journal

The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) gene and gain-of-function mutations were first described in 2003. The gain-of-function mutations observed were associated with low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the 400’s, in addition to premature cardiovascular disease. Subsequent loss-of-function experiments conducted in mice demonstrated marked reductions in plasma cholesterol levels in the absence of PCSK9. Physiologically, PCSK9 serves as a chaperone protein and functions to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor recycling; consequently, less LDL-C is removed from circulation and serum lipid concentrations become elevated. Inhibition of PCSK9 prevents LDL receptor degradation and preserves receptor recycling to the hepatocyte surface; this in …

Temporal Trends In Care And Outcomes Of Patients Receiving Fibrinolytic Therapy Compared To Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From The Get With The Guidelines Coronary Artery Disease (Gwtg-Cad) Registry, Ravi S. Hira, Deepak L. Bhatt, Gregg C. Fonarow, Paul A. Heidenreich, Christine Ju, Salim S. Virani, Biykem Bozkurt, Laura A. Petersen, Adrian F. Hernandez, Lee H. Schwamm

Office of the Provost

Background: Timely reperfusion after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) improves survival. Guidelines recommend primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) within 90 minutes of arrival at a PCI-capable hospital. The alternative is fibrinolysis within 30 minutes for those in those for whom timely transfer to a PCI-capable hospital is not feasible.
Methods and Results: We identified STEMI patients receiving reperfusion therapy at 229 hospitals participating in the Get With the Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease (GWTG-CAD) database (January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2008). Temporal trends in the use of fibrinolysis and PPCI, its timeliness, and in-hospital mortality outcomes were assessed. We also assessed predictors …

Rationale And Design Of The Children's Oncology Group (Cog) Study Alte1621: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial To Determine If Low-Dose Carvedilol Can Prevent Anthracycline-Related Left Ventricular Remodeling In Childhood Cancer Survivors At High Risk For Developing Heart Failure., Saro H. Armenian, Melissa M. Hudson, Ming Hui Chen, Steven D. Colan, Lanie Lindenfeld, George Mills, Aida Siyahian, Sarah Gelehrter, Ha Dang, Wendy Hein, Daniel M M. Green, Leslie L. Robison, F Lennie Wong, Pamela S. Douglas, Smita Bhatia

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background: Anthracyclines are widely used in the treatment of childhood cancer. One of the well-recognized side-effects of anthracycline therapy is dose-dependent cardiomyopathy that may progress to heart failure (HF) years after completion of cancer-directed therapy. This study will evaluate the efficacy of low-dose beta-blocker (carvedilol) for HF risk reduction in childhood cancer survivors at highest risk for HF. The proposed intervention has the potential to significantly reduce chronic cardiac injury via interruption of neurohormonal systems responsible for left ventricular (LV) remodeling, resulting in improved cardiac function and decreased risk of HF. The intervention is informed by previous studies demonstrating efficacy …

Tgf-Β Signaling: New Insights Into Aortic Aneurysms, Sean E. Thatcher

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Epigenetics Of Lipid Phenotypes, Sergi Sayols-Baixeras, Marguerite R. Irvin, Donna K. Arnett, Roberto Elosua, Stella W. Aslibekyan

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Dyslipidemia is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the main cause of death worldwide. Blood lipid profiles are patterned by both genetic and environmental factors. In recent years, epigenetics has emerged as a paradigm that unifies these influences. In this review, we have summarized the latest evidence implicating epigenetic mechanisms—DNA methylation, histone modification, and regulation by RNAs—in lipid homeostasis. Key findings have emerged in a number of novel epigenetic loci located in biologically plausible genes (eg, CPT1A, ABCG1, SREBF1, and others), as well as microRNA-33a/b. Evidence from animal and cell culture models suggests a complex interplay …

Retrospective Evaluation Of Dosing Body Weight For Unfractionated Heparin In Obese Patients, Jingyang Fan, Billee John, Emily Tesdal

SIUE Faculty Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Purpose: Using adjusted body weight (AdjBW) for heparin dosing in obese patients is a common but not validated clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether using AdjBW in obese patients would lead to quick achievement of therapeutic activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and low bleeding risk with heparin therapy.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients that received heparin before and after implementation of a revised heparin protocol that utilized AdjBW for obese patients. The primary outcome was percentage of first aPTT values within the therapeutic range. Secondary outcomes included time to first therapeutic …