Diseases Commons^™

Emergent Aorto-Bi-Iliac Bypass For Collapsed Gore Excluder Endograft, Ryan Mancoll, Khushie Martharoo, Emidio Germano Md, David Dexter Md, Animesh Rathore Md

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Peri-Graft Sheath Anchor Technique For Target Vessel Cannulation In Fenestrated Aortic Repair, Ryan Mancoll, Khushie Martharoo, Emidio Germano Md, David Dexter Md, Animesh Rathore Md

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Deep Learning-Driven Proteomics Analysis For Gene Annotation In The Renin-Angiotensin System, Mortaza Eivazi, Kamran Hosseini, Shahin Alipanahi, Huijing Xia, Luke Restivo, Ayushi Patel, Mahdieh Gozali, Tahereh Ebrahimi, Amy Scarborough, Vahideh Tarhriz, Eric Lazartigues

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is central to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and cardiomyopathy, yet the functions of many RAS genes remain unclear. This study developed a multi-label deep learning model to systematically annotate RAS gene functions and elucidate their roles in biological pathways. A total of 39,463 RAS-related publications from PubMed and PMC were processed into text format. Feature matrices were generated using TF-IDF and token processing, followed by dimensionality reduction via Principal Component Analysis (PCA). A Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) was applied for multi-label classification, with performance evaluated using Precision, F1-Score, Ranking Loss, and ROC-AUC metrics. The model outperformed …

Periprocedural Results And Right Ventricular Outcomes Of Computer Assisted Vacuum Thrombectomy Treatment Of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Interim Analysis Of 300 Patients From The Strike-Pe Study, John M. Moriarty, Brian J. Schiro, Suhail Y. Dohad, Houman Tamaddon, Hugh C. Davis, David M. Shavelle, George S. Chrysant, Elias A. Iliadis, David J. Dexter, Juan J. Ciampi Dopazo, Andrew Holden, Frances M. West, Brent Keeling, Andrew S. P. Sharp, Ido Weinberg

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) can be a life-threatening condition. Endovascular treatment is emerging as a promising treatment to restore hemodynamic stability and reverse right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in PE; however, more studies are needed to elucidate the effects on the right ventricle after endovascular treatment. This analysis reports the effects of computer assisted vacuum thrombectomy on RV function.

METHODS: Eligible patients for the single-arm, prospective, international, multicenter STRIKE-PE (A Prospective, Multicenter Study of the Indigo Aspiration System Seeking to Evaluate the Long-Term Safety and Outcomes of Treating Pulmonary Embolism) cohort study are adults with acute PE with symptoms for ≤14 …

What Next? A Challenging Case Of Refractory Hypertension With End-Organ Dysfunction In A 33-Year-Old Male, Rezane Miftari Md, Shaun Abid, Anton Stolear, Irma Fotjhadi

Posters

We present a challenging case of a 33-year-old male with history of longstanding hypertension since high school, which progressed to RH complicated by severe left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertensive nephrosclerosis.

Integrated Systems Biology Identifies Disruptions In Mitochondrial Function And Metabolism As Key Contributors To Hfpef, Andrew A. Gibb, Kyle Lapenna, Ryan B. Gaspar, Nadina R. Latchman, Yinfei Tan, Carmen Choya-Foces, Jake E. Doiron, Zhen Li, Huijing Xia, Michael P. Lazaropoulos, Mariell Conwell, Thomas E. Sharp, Traci T. Goodchild, David J. Lefer, John W. Elrod

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) accounts for ∼50% of HF cases. The ZSF1-obese rat model recapitulates clinical features of HFpEF including hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome, exercise intolerance, and diastolic dysfunction. We utilized a systems-biology approach to define the metabolic and transcriptional signatures to gain mechanistic insight into pathways contributing to HFpEF development. Male ZSF1-obese, ZSF1-lean hypertensive controls, and WKY (wild-type) controls were compared at 14 weeks of age for extensive physiological phenotyping and left ventricle (LV) tissue harvesting for unbiased-metabolomics, RNA-sequencing, and mitochondrial morphology and function. Utilizing ZSF1-lean and WKY controls enabled a distinction between hypertension-driven molecular changes …

Parent Needs, Recommendations, And Systemic Challenges Affecting Pediatric Hypertension Detection, Abbas H. Zaidi, Erica D. Sood, Sarah De Ferranti, Samuel Gidding, Varsha Zadokar, Jonathan M. Miller, Anne E Kazak

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Pediatric hypertension (HTN) affects 3%-5% of children in the United States, yet only 25% are diagnosed and 60% lack recommended follow-up care. Skepticism about elevated blood pressure (BP) readings and reluctance to use antihypertensive medications by parents and clinicians highlight the need for stakeholder-informed strategies to address these challenges. This study examined parents' perceived needs, their recommended strategies to improve HTN detection, and contextual health system challenges. Parents and clinicians from 10 pediatric primary care clinics participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews. Only parents of children with documented stage 2 BP readings and a HTN diagnosis, but with gaps in care …

"Lost To Follow Up:" A Case Of An Adult Congenital Heart Defect Patient Who Faced Morbidity In Adulthood After Lacking Transitional Care Following Medical Intervention In Childhood, Mackenzie Kelley, Ashish Saini

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

CASE PRESENTATION: This patient is a 40 y.o. male with a BMI of 46.2 kg/m2 who presented to the ED with fluid overload, shortness of breath, and orthopnea. The patient was tachycardic and physical exam revealed anasarca and ascites. The patient reported chronic lower extremity and scrotal edema so severe that he had been unable to walk and was mainly homebound for the past two years. The patient’s past medical history was significant for hypertension, alcohol use disorder with history of withdrawal, and a cardiac murmur which the patient attributed to a “hole in the heart” for which he had …

Ice Guided Percutaneous Pseudoaneurysm Coil Embolization, Moudar Jano, Amir M. Hassani, Matthew R. Summers

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Background: Pseudoaneurysm formation following cardiac procedures can be a significant complication due to the high risk of rupture. Traditionally managed through sternotomy and cardiac surgery, innovative percutaneous interventions have shown promise for high-risk patients. This case report highlights the successful application of ICE-guided percutaneous coil embolization for the treatment of aortic pseudoaneurysms, presenting a less invasive alternative for patients for whom traditional surgery poses significant risks.

Case Summary: A patient with a complex cardiovascular history, including aortic root and ascending aorta replacement and CABG x2, developed two pseudoaneurysms below the right coronary button and at the distal aortic graft-native aorta …

Association Of Physical Activity And Neighborhood Deprivation With Extracellular Vesicle Characteristics In African American Women With Obesity, Anca D. Dobrian, Yvonne Baumer, Tiffany Powell-Wiley, Lizzy Aquino-Peterson, Noel Miller

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Association of Physical Activity and Neighborhood Deprivation with Extracellular Vesicle Characteristics in African American Women with Obesity

Predicting Cardiovascular Mortality In Hampton Roads Using Social Determinants Of Health, Mohan D. Pant, Aditya Chakraborty, Prachi P. Chavan, George Mcleod, Brett J. Sierra, Glenn A. Yap, Brian C. Martin, Ebbie Kalan, Gregory T. Scott

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Background: In Virginia’s Hampton Roads (HR) region, minority populations experience notably higher mortality rates than white populations. Despite abundant research on the association between social determinants of health (SDOH) and cardiovascular mortality rates at the state and national levels, there is a lack of research examining this association in the HR region.

Objective: The main objective of this study is to train and validate a geospatial-temporal predictive model to examine the association between SDOH and cardiovascular mortality, in the HR region.

Methods: Utilizing a longitudinal dataset (2010–2021) from the Virginia Department of Health and the U.S. Census Bureau, we trained …

Role Of Cd45 Dependent Signaling In B-Cell Subsets In Atherosclerosis, Shelby Ma, Elena Galkina, Aravindan Balaguru

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Clonal Hematopoiesis And Thromboembolic Diseases: A Review, Jaekeun Jung, Jee Hyuk Byun, Janghee Woo

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) has been identified as a novel risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, primarily mediated by CHIP-induced systemic inflammation. Emerging evidence suggests that CHIP may also contribute to the risk of thromboembolic diseases. This review highlights recent findings on the impact of CHIP on various thromboembolic conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, and ischemic stroke. Studies have demonstrated an association between CHIP and an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and ischemic stroke. CHIP-induced systemic inflammation may amplify vascular endothelial damage and complement cascade …

Student Nurse-Led Hypertension Management In A Rural Free Clinic, Leslie Okhirkhian

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

This pilot project seeks to evaluate the effect of nurse-led assessments and education on blood pressure control among adult patients with prehypertension and hypertension who attend a free health clinic located inside of a rural community in Southeastern Virginia. A leading, modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease is hypertension, yet disparities in consistent healthcare access and education disproportionately affect rural populations. Nurse-led interventions are a promising strategy for improving hypertension control through personalized education, blood pressure monitoring, and follow-up.

Methods: Participants with a diagnosis of prehypertension or hypertension were recruited from a free rural health clinic (n=20). Over a 7-week …

Socioeconomic, Behavioral, And Health Profiles Of Women With Eclampsia: Findings From The 2020–2022 National Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Data, Jessi Bates, Gurgen Grigoryants, Hongyun Fu

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Background: Eclampsia is a severe obstetric complication with significant maternal health implications, disproportionately affects women with certain sociodemographic and health risk factors. This study investigates the characteristics and outcomes of women who experienced eclampsia using data from the national Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS).

Methods: This analysis included a sample of 729 women with eclampsia from the 2020–2022 PRAMS (N = 238,575). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to examine patterns and factors associated with preterm-birth, low birth weight (LBW), and cesarean delivery.

Results: Over half of the women were aged ≥35 years (50.6%), unmarried …

Effectiveness Of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists In The Treatment Of Heart Failure, Lisa Kristen Schloemann

SIU Journal of Medical Science Scholarly Works

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to review the use of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) in heart failure (HF) treatment considering the HF phenotype and comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity.

Method: A PubMed and Google Scholar literature search was conducted with search terms, HF and GLP-1 RA. Seven pertinent articles were retrieved and served as the basis for this clinical review.

Results: The efficacy of GLP-1 RA therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fractions (HFrEF) is unclear, with one study showing increased adverse cardiac events including tachyarrhythmias, and …

A Brief History Of Circadian Time In The Heart, Martin E Young, Vanya Khanna, Mallory Metcalfe, Niruththaan Rameshkumar, Sarah Harington, Leo H Li, Janan Shoja Doost, Heinrich Taegtmeyer, Tami A Martino

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This review tracks the discovery of circadian biology in cardiovascular science, starting with early clinical observations of daily changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiovascular events. These patterns suggested that time of day matters, but it was not until the past two decades that the mechanisms and knowledge translation of these rhythms were uncovered. We describe the heart's intrinsic circadian properties and importantly how this leads to regulation of cardiac gene and protein expression, neuroendocrine and vascular rhythms, metabolism, cellular electrophysiology, and cell signaling pathways. Next, we explore emerging themes, including the impact of circadian timing on ischemic injury, …

Appropriate Application Of Cardiac Telemetry Monitoring: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Muhammad H. Sharif, Abdullah A. Orakzai, Nauman Naeem, Omofolarin Babayale, Basil George Verghese

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Background: Telemetry is an important clinical tool but it can be overutilized and leads to a higher cost of patient care and negative patient experience. We conducted this study to assess the effectiveness of our educational intervention in reducing inappropriate use of telemetry and to determine if there is any difference between the two types of educational interventions.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective in-patient study that included all non-ICU patients admitted on a randomly selected mid-week day at our hospital. A 2-step educational intervention was used separated by a 5-week period. The first, a PowerPoint presentation regarding the updated 2017 …

Impact Of Urban Fine Particulate Matter Exposure On Cardiovascular Health, Shelby P. Briggs

Honors Theses

Air pollution, particularly exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), poses a growing threat to cardiopulmonary health. PM2.5 consists of microscopic particles smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter and originates from industrial combustion, transportation, and urban dust. These particles are classified as xenobiotics and are capable of bypassing respiratory defenses to enter systemic circulation, where they cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiovascular dysfunction. This study examines the effects of PM2.5 on cardiovascular function using a murine model. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into control (saline), subchronic (10 µg), and chronic (100 µg) groups and were exposed weekly for 11 weeks via …

Hydrogen Sulfide Deficiency And Therapeutic Targeting In Cardiometabolic Hfpef: Evidence For Synergistic Benefit With Glp-1/Glucagon Agonism, Jake E. Doiron, Mahmoud H. Elbatreek, Huijing Xia, Xiaoman Yu, Natalie D. Gehred, Tatiana Gromova, Jingshu Chen, Ian H. Driver, Naoto Muraoka, Martin Jensen, Smitha Shambhu, W. H.Wilson Tang, Kyle B. Lapenna, Thomas E. Sharp, Traci T. Goodchild, Ming Xian, Shi Xu, Heather Quiriarte, Timothy D. Allerton, Alexia Zagouras, Jennifer Wilcox, Sanjiv J. Shah, Josef Pfeilschifter, Karl Friedrich Beck, Thomas M. Vondriska, Zhen Li, David J. Lefer

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) presents significant treatment challenges. We assessed hydrogen sulfide (H2S) bioavailability in HFpEF patients and 2 animal models: the "2-hit" L-NAME + high-fat diet mouse model and ZSF1 obese rats. H2S levels were significantly reduced in patients and both models, linked to decreased cystathionine-γ-lyase expression and increased sulfide quinone oxidoreductase. Cystathionine-γ-lyase knockout worsened HFpEF, whereas pharmacological supplementation with an H2S donor improved diastolic function and reduced cardiac fibrosis. H2S supplement synergized with GLP-1/glucagon agonist and ameliorated HFpEF. These findings suggest that enhancing H2S bioavailability may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for HFpEF.

Comparative Outcomes Of Coil Embolization And Surgical Clipping In Elderly Patients With Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Yohanna Idsabella Rossi, Gabriel Bolner, Jonathan Costa Dall'acqua, Fabiana Dolovitsch De Oliveira, Lucas V. Zacaria, Taís L. Denicol, Michel Frudit, Natália Vasconcellos De Oliveira Souza

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Elderly patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) face a disproportionately high burden of morbidity and mortality. While endovascular coiling is often favored in this population, direct comparisons with surgical clipping are limited. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare outcomes of clipping versus coiling in SAH patients aged ≥ 60 years.

METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases identified studies comparing the two treatments in this age group. The primary outcome was a composite of unfavorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] > 2 and mortality). Secondary outcomes included mortality, favorable outcome (mRS 0-2), rebleeding, and hospital length …

Egg White Hydrolysate In Hypertension: A Mechanistic Investigation Of Gut Microbiota Dependent And Independent Pathways, Emerson David Nolasco

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide in which hypertension is a risk factor. Present pharmacological interventions require long-term adherence to the therapy and are often associated with undesirable side effects. Moreover, treatments have overlooked the role of the microbiome in the development of hypertension. Egg white hydrolysate (EWH) has exhibited antihypertensive properties with potential to be used as a natural alternative for the prevention and management of hypertension. However, EWH peptide’s effect on the gut microbiome remains yet to be elucidated. Studies have described that a portion of the ingested protein can remain undigested as …

Cholesterol Crystal Embolization Induced Kidney Disease, Shohan Pervaze, Shreya Mohandas, Pushkas Gopalan, Stephen A. Morse, Siddhartha Bajracharya, Landon A. Krone, Farshid Yazdi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Cholesterol crystal embolization (CCE) results from the release of cholesterol crystals from ruptured atherosclerotic plaques into circulation, resulting in the occlusion of small arteries and arterioles in various organs. Ischemia triggers a systemic inflammatory response resulting in vascular obstruction and organ dysfunction. Kidneys are often involved because of the proximity to the aorta and CCE in the kidneys can result in acute, sub-acute, or chronic kidney disease. There are many known risk factors for renal involvement of CCE, including iatrogenic and spontaneous causes. The pathophysiology of CCE includes complex pathways that lead to acute and chronic effects that can have …

Metabolic Regulation Of Cardiac Fibroblast Phenotype And Function., Collin Kleis Wells

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiac fibroblasts are central effectors of cardiac repair after myocardial infarction (MI). In response to signaling cues, they differentiate to a range of phenotypes with robust capacities to synthesize and secrete extracellular matrix (ECM) and signaling molecules. Although activated fibroblast phenotypes are associated with pronounced changes in metabolism, it remains unclear how the metabolic network upholds the effector functions of fibroblasts in the post-infarcted heart. Here, we identified that critical enzymes in the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) cycle, i.e. pyruvate kinase muscle-2 (PKM2) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-2 (PCK2), are elevated in the heart after MI and examined their role in regulating post-MI remodeling …

The Impact Of Estrogen Loss On Caveolin Expression And Cardiac Myocyte Remodeling In Ovariectomized Mice Following Chronic Sympathetic Stimulation, Juliana Barnie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVDs) remains the top cause of death globally, with postmenopausal women at higher risk due to estrogen decline. Beta-Adrenergic (β-AR) signaling is a major regulator of heart function. Caveolins, structural proteins of caveolae, coordinate cell signaling activities in the heart by co-localizing with estrogen receptors and β-AR and contribute to maintaining healthy cardiac function. The caveolin scaffolding domain (CSD), a binding component of caveolin, has shown therapeutic potential in animal models of heart disease. However, most studies on CSD have been completed in male mice. This thesis evaluates the therapeutic potential of CSD in female mouse models and …

Unmasking The Heart Of Osimertinib: A Closer Look At Drug-Induced Cardiotoxicity, Muhammad Sabri, Aheed Javaid, Hussam Al Hennawi, Hamza Muhammadzai, Vamshi Mallavarapu

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Osimertinib, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is an effective therapy for epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated non-small cell lung cancer, but it has been associated with a higher incidence of cardiotoxicity.

CASE SUMMARY: A 91-year-old woman on osimertinib 80 mg daily presented with acute dyspnea and was found to have a newly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction of 30%. Coronary angiography excluded obstructive coronary disease. Osimertinib was discontinued, and guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) was initiated, resulting in left ventricular ejection fraction recovery to 60%. The patient was successfully rechallenged with osimertinib while continuing GDMT, without recurrence …

Small Current, Big Potential: Bridging Mechanistic Insight Of The Sk Channel With Translational Promise, Yang Zheng, Miao Zhang, Nipavan Chiamvimonvat

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

"Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia, with a lifetime risk of approximately 1 in 4 for adults aged 40 years and above. Despite advances in clinical management, AF remains a major public health concern. Its burden extends beyond symptoms; it quadruples the risk of heart failure and increases the likelihood of stroke fivefold – strokes that are often more severe and fatal than those unrelated to AF. In the United States alone, AF-associated healthcare costs exceed $26 billion annually, and the cost is projected to grow as the population ages (Ko et al., 2025). Regarding current treatments, …

Policy Review Of The Aha Clinical Practice Guideline For Congestive Heart Failure: Evaluating Best Practices, Brenda E. Garcia

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a significant public health challenge that impacts various populations and contributes to rising hospital admission rates.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this scholarly project was: For healthcare policymakers and interprofessional teams (P), how does a policy review of the American Heart Association’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for Heart Failure (I), guided by the CDC’s Polaris Framework (C), conducted over a 12-week period (T), evaluate alignment with evidence-based practices and potential for adoption in the care of patients with congestive heart failure (O)?

Evidence: This scholarly project focused on reviewing the current clinical guidelines …

Hospitalization Trends For Thromboembolic Events In Atrial Fibrillation: A 12-Year National Analysis, Moises Vasquez, Crystal Yan, Natacha Vargas, Samuel Vasquez, Litsa Lambrakos, Alex Velasquez, Jeffrey Goldberger, Raul Mitrani

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Direct oral anticoagulants and percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) devices were approved for use in 2010 and 2015, respectively. It is unknown to what extent, if any, these new stroke preventive therapies have impacted hospitalizations for thromboembolic (TE) events.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate temporal trends in AF-related hospitalizations for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), transient ischemic attack (TIA), and systemic embolism (SEE) in the U.S. from 2010 to 2021.

METHODS: Using the National Inpatient Sample, we identified hospitalizations for TE events with comorbid AF. Data were grouped into two periods (2010-2015 and 2016-2021). Linear regression assessed trends in TE frequency. …

Anesthetic Management For Delivery In Parturients With Heart Disease: A Narrative Review, Shahab Ahmadzadeh, Drake P. Duplechin, Paris D. Bailey, Dillon T. Duplechan, Alexia J. Enache, Peyton Moore, Sahar Shekoohi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Cardiac disease remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly in developed countries where improved survival has increased the number of pregnant patients with congenital heart disease. The physiological changes of pregnancy, such as increased blood volume, cardiac output, and hypercoagulability, can exacerbate preexisting cardiac conditions, posing significant anesthetic challenges during cesarean delivery. This review outlines anesthetic strategies for parturients with structural or functional cardiac disease, emphasizing individualized, multidisciplinary care. We examine general and regional anesthesia approaches, intraoperative monitoring, and hemodynamic goals, including fluid balance, venous return optimization, and myocardial oxygen demand reduction. Preoperative risk stratification and coordination …