Cardiovascular Diseases Commons^™

Quantifying Black Carbon Concentrations In Georgia And Analyzing Associated Public Health Risks, Khloe R. Osborne

Honors Theses

Quantifying Black Carbon Concentrations in Georgia and Analyzing Associated Public Health Risks

One of the most daunting challenges of the industrial world is air pollution. Within this broad spectrum, there is an inhalable particle group named PM2.5, which contains black carbon. Black carbon has evidence that supports the generation and worsening of adverse health impacts, which may include birth complications, cognitive deficits in children, pulmonary aggravation, asthma, cardiovascular issues, neurological degenerative patterns, and cancer risk. This is especially seen in vulnerable populations, like children, elderly, and those who already suffer from weakened health, many of which reside in the southern …

Stroke Mimics And Stroke Chameleons: Leveraging The False Positive/False Negative Diagnostic Schema In Resident Teaching, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

Stroke mimics and stroke chameleons contribute significantly to diagnostic uncertainty in Emergency Medicine. Traditional teaching often relies on enumerating examples, yet residents struggle to internalize these distinctions.

Objective

To present a conceptual teaching framework that maps stroke mimics to false positives and stroke chameleons to false negatives, leveraging pre-existing diagnostic schemas.

Methods

Using representative cases—including hypoglycemic hemiparesis and spinal epidural lipomatosis presenting as stroke mimic—we developed an explanation for residents involving framing mimics as false positives and chameleons as false negatives.

Results

Framing mimics as false positives and chameleons as false negatives activates existing learner schemas related to sensitivity …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Antihypertensive Therapy Chosen Through Maternal Hemodynamic Profile Analysis, Margaret Weimer

Poster Presentations

In treatment of emergent hypertension, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends both oral labetalol and nifedipine, with no preference shown between the two. These medications have different mechanisms of action. Studies have suggested that consideration of hemodynamic profile may be an effective way to determine medication, but have not considered the Rule of 55, a simple calculation to predict hemodynamic profile.

Goals: 1. Determine if tailoring the antihypertensive to patient’s hemodynamic profile is associated with better control of blood pressure. 2. Determine if the Rule of 55 is an accurate method to determine hemodynamic profile.

Association Between Emergency Medicine Residency Program And Diagnostic Efficiency For Pulmonary Embolism, Kerolos Abadeer, Kalyan Mantha, W Angelo Kantrales, Pranav Bommineni, Martin Wegman

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Myocardial Pi3k-Akt Pathway And Cardiovascular Disease Etiology, Bryson Lovorn, Brennan Kaplan

Student Scholar Symposium

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading causes of death in the United States according to recent data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Myocardial infarctions, heart attacks, Coronary Artery Disease, ischemic reperfusion injuries, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies represent common pathologies leading to the hospitalization of Americans. The etiologies of these diseases vary, however there is a common link. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) AKT pathway is a cellular pathway that is commonly overexpressed or repressed in myocytes. The human body is in an active limbo to maintain homeostasis. At a cellular level this can be simplified to a delicate balance between cell …

Development Of A Longitudinal, Small-Group Pocus Curriculum For Internal Medicine Residents, Shah N. Mahmud Do, Ammar W. Bhatti Do, Ariq Rahman Md, Omar Al Qassab Md, Fraser Mackay Md

The Lahey Journal

Development of a Longitudinal, Small-Group POCUS Curriculum for Internal Medicine Residents

Introduction

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is integral for clinicians to enhance their diagnostic and procedural skills. Unlike Emergency Medicine or Anesthesia training programs, Internal Medicine programs often lack a structured and standardized curriculum. We thus developed a longitudinal and multi-pronged POCUS curriculum aimed at building trainee competency when utilizing ultrasound for diagnostic and procedural work-up.

Methods

The curriculum encompasses the following: basics of ultrasound, ultrasound-guided procedures, thoracic ultrasound/Bed Lung Ultrasound in Emergency (BLUE), and cardiac ultrasound/Focus-Assessed Transthoracic Echocardiography (FATE). These modules were integrated into the residents’ clinic blocks. We utilized …

Ischemic Stroke In A Patient With Atrial Fibrillation Despite Therapeutic Anticoagulation With Rivaroxaban: A Clinical Reminder, Ridwan Ademola Lawal, Angelica Lan Pham

Research Colloquium

Background: Atrial fibrillation is a well-established risk factor for cardioembolic stroke, with anticoagulation significantly reducing this risk. However, breakthrough ischemic strokes can still occur in anti-coagulated patients, with an estimated annual incidence of 1-2% despite appropriate direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy. These rare but consequential events challenge clinicians to maintain high diagnostic vigilance, especially in patients presenting with atypical or subtle neurological symptoms. Here, we present a case of an embolus in a patient on long-term rivaroxaban therapy, underscoring a vital clinical teaching point: therapeutic anticoagulation does not eliminate stroke risk, and homonymous hemianopsia may be the only presenting feature. …

Standardizing Assessment Of Open Vascular Skills: National Roll-Out And Early Impact Of The Fundamentals Of Vascular Surgery Curriculum, Yana Etkin, Kristyn Mannoia, Pail Dimusto, Libby Weaver, Khalil Qato, Gabriela Velazquez, Malachi Sheahan

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Exposure to open vascular case is declining in surgical training, creating a need for standardized, objective assessment of fundamental open skills. The Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery developed the Fundamentals of Vascular Surgery (FVS) curriculum to teach and assess three core skills—end-to-side anastomosis, patch angioplasty, and clockface precision suturing. This study describes FVS development and validation, nationwide rollout, and early implementation experience across U.S. training programs. Methods: A multiphase project was conducted: (1) validation (2012–2019) of the 3 FVS tasks with 313 trainees scored by trained raters using OSATS checklists and global rating scales; reliability and construct …

Utilization Of The Fundamentals Of Vascular Surgery Symposium In Surgical Curricula, Priscilla Tanamal, Amit Chawla, Amanda Tullos, Claudie Sheahan, Malachi Sheahan

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective: Simulation is a helpful adjunct to vascular surgery training, in which high-volume surgical experience portends better patient outcomes. Louisiana State University Health New Orleans hosts a 3-day program, the Fundamentals of Vascular Surgery (FVS) Symposium, during which vascular trainees from across the nation can participate in didactic and hands-on lessons with an emphasis on procedures less frequently performed during residency, taught by attending surgeons from various institutions. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the FVS Symposium on participant confidence in endovascular and open procedures and evaluate any differences between junior and senior level residents. …

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 …

Pcsk-9 Inhibitors Treatment: The Cardiovascular Disparity, Julia Lees, Seana-Pierre Williams, Tahir Razzaq, Michael B. Roberts

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Introduction: According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Heart Association (AHA), cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. This phenomenon disproportionally affects the African American population, who have a 31% higher mortality rate than non-Hispanic Caucasian individuals. A retrospective review of PCSK-9 medication use, specifically in a patient population that had minimal representation in the large, landmark clinical trials, can lead to better understanding about the therapeutic potential in cardiovascular disease reduction and patient outcomes attributed to medication use. Education regarding this novel drug class, medication access and patient support, …

Variables Affecting Neurodevelopmental Outcome In Infants With Critical Congenital Heart Disease, Elizabeth Loughman, Julie Weiner Do, Marcie Files Md

Research Days

Background: The mortality of cardiac conditions in infancy is improving with advances in surgical planning and medical management. Neurologic morbidity remains significant. Clinically correlating an infant with their neurologic exam, MRI/EEG, and subsequent developmental testing remains a challenge. Counseling regarding neurologic outcomes after cardiac intervention is difficult due to the wide range of findings that can sometimes be clinically irrelevant.

Purpose: The goal of this study is to identify factors associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) as assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Edition IV (Bayley).

Methods: This is …

Implementation Of A Weaning Protocol For Inhaled Nitric Oxide In A Level Iv Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Elizabeth Loughman, Julie Weiner Do, Maryam El Tawil, Chris Nitkin Md

Research Days

Background: Decrease time to begin iNO weaning from 13 hours to 9.75 hours by 31 December 2024 in patients with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).

Methods: Countermeasures include (1) provider education at each disciplinary level, (2) badge reminder cards and laminated copies of the protocol available at the bedside, (3) order set modifications, (4) abnormality tracking at huddles. Data collection will be automated through weekly Business Objects report. The main outcome measure will be time to first wean of iNO after meeting protocol criteria. Feedback regarding the ease of weaning will be generated via Gemba Rounds.

Results: These …

A Case Of A Massive Right Atrial Thrombus Removal Under Transesophageal Echocardiographic Guidance, Justin Phillips, Max Kabolowsky, Alex M. Hendon, Samantha Arzillo

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

With the advent of catheter guided interventions, practitioners have added another tool alongside chemical lysis and surgical removal to reduce the clot burden of patients with large emboli and thrombi. Due to comorbid conditions, many patients are poor candidates for surgical or chemical clot treatment but may present optimally for catheter-based thromboembolectomy. In this case, we highlight the benefits of mechanical thrombectomy with transesophageal echocardiographic guidance to reduce the clot burden of a patient who would otherwise be considered a poor candidate for surgical or chemical treatment.

Case Presentation

This case follows a 78-year-old man with a past medical …

Indeterminate Benefit Of Long-Term Beta-Blocker Use After Acute Myocardial Infarction For Some Patients, Logan S. Thayer, Khush Hussain, Nicholas Apostolakis, Gretchen Swift, Arifbillah Sarowar, Mohammad Al-Hadidi, Scott Yaekle

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report using:

Yndigegn T, Lindahl B, Mars K, et. al., Beta-blockers after myocardial infarction and preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med. April 7 2024;390:1372-1381. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2401479

for a patient showing 55% left ventricular ejection fraction after myocardial infarction.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A Case Of The Broken Heart, Lilian Huynh, Kaylee Putney

Annual Research Symposium

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC), or "broken heart syndrome," is a rare cardiac condition causing temporary left ventricular dysfunction due to severe stress. Though the exact cause is unclear, it mimics myocardial infarction and can lead to cardiogenic shock. Current treatment lacks specific guidelines and relies on heart failure protocols. We report a case of a patient with TC-induced cardiogenic shock, likely triggered by emotional stress. She required vasopressors, a percutaneous intervention, an Impella device, and guideline-directed medication therapies. This case underscores the significance of establishing guideline optimizations for managing TC and cardiogenic shock.

A Systematic Review Of Dietary Trends, Influencing Factors, And Their Impacts On Cardiovascular Health In Turkish Populations, Pelin L. Özoğlu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, including in Türkiye. One key factor influencing CVD prevention is dietary patterns, which directly impacts cardiovascular health. Türkiye traditionally follows the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), which is acclaimed for its cardiovascular benefits. Despite this, Türkiye continues to experience high rates of CVD, with projections indicating that CVD mortality will double for both men and women by 2030. It is crucial to address diet-related factors, including potential nutritional deficiencies, to reduce cardiovascular health risks.

This research aims to analyze the Turkish community's adherence to the Mediterranean diet to understand why CVD prevalence …

Diagnosis And Management Of Cardiometabolic Disease After Spinal Cord Injury: Identifying Gaps In Physician Training And Practices, Chinenye Christa Nnoromele, Du Pham, Felicia Skelton, Ryan Solinsky

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

CONTEXT: Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) frequently occurs in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), with growing awareness surrounding the expansive scope of this problem. As CMD has significant morbidity and mortality, early guidelines-based screening and management have been established. However, the extent to which these guidelines have been adopted are unclear.

OBJECTIVE: Describe physicians' screening and management pattern for CMD in patients with SCI, as compared to SCI-specific CMD screening guidelines, and elucidate variables linked to screening and management patterns.

METHODS: SCI medicine-boarded physicians were surveyed on screening timing for CMD following acute SCI, along with their practice pattern and comfort …

Food Security And Its Impact On Hypertension In Urban Communities, Lauren M. Nobriga

Master's Projects and Capstones

The Quality Improvement Team proposed an intervention to increase enrollment in the Food Security Program, a six-month initiative that provides vouchers redeemable for fruits and vegetables. Long-term impacts of this Program include an improved food economy and enhanced patient disease management autonomy. This project aimed to increase the percentage of eligible adult medicine clinic patients enrolled in the Food Security Program by 25%, or 11 patients per month, based on the mean enrollment for the first four months of the Program (May to August) of nine patients. The intervention was based on bi-monthly performance reports, making the goal include enrolling …

Use Of Empagliflozin As An Adjuvant Treatment For Obstructive Sleep Apnea For A Patient Who Has Not Seen A Physician In Over 40 Years, Andrew Demko

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report using:

Neeland IJ, Eliasson B, Kasai T, et al. The Impact of Empagliflozin on Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes: An Exploratory Analysis of the EMPA-REG OUTCOME Trial. Diabetes Care. 2020;43(12):3007-3015. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc20-1096

for a patient with obstructive sleep apnea who has not seen a physician in over 40 years.

Atrial Fibrillation, Julianna G. Perritt, Jennifer Goldsberry

The Corinthian

Atrial fibrillation, also known as A-Fib or AF, is a cardiovascular abnormality that is characterized by an abnormal heart rhythm or muscle contractions in the atria. These abnormalities are a result of disorganized electrical impulses. AF has various causes including, but not limited to, hypertension (HTN), heart surgery, thyroid disorders, heart defects, and acute alcohol ingestion. Persons with AF are often asymptomatic; however, some patients report heart palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. A review of literature was conducted in order to determine the availability of risk factors, patient education, and treatment of AF.

Education Of The Effects Of Obesity Medications And A Stepwise Approach To Mitigate Prevalence And Encourage Lifestyle Medicine For Primary Care Physicians, Kiely M. Curran

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

My Capstone project is an Educational Manual that emphasizes a healthcare team approach to the treatment and management of obesity. The Educational Manual consists of a standardized protocol in management of obesity in patients and a document with summarized references for primary care providers; and a simplified document for patient education. There is a growing interest in the usage of obesity medications. The purpose of my Capstone project is to provide a simplified manual for the primary care provider to reference to make knowledgeable and patient-centered decisions in the prescription of obesity medications and decisions in weight-management. My methodology included …

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Bundle For Hypertension Outcomes In Adult Patients Receiving Care In Public Health Clinics, Christine Jennifer Victorian

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: Hypertension (HTN) that is not adequately controlled leads to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and heart disease. It affects 116 million adults (47%) in the United States (U.S.). The HTN compliance rate in a South Texas public health clinic was 64%, below the national benchmark of 76%. Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) was recommended in a joint statement by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA). Literature evidence revealed that the HBPM bundle increased BP control (< 140/90 mmHg) compliance.

Methods: A quality improvement (QI) bundle was initiated to address the low HTN compliance rate from a quality management perspective. …

A Comparison Of Concurrent Training And Moderate Intensity Continuous Training In Patients With Coronary Artery Disease, Amanda Alfaro-Chaverri, John Quindry, Charles Dumke, Brian Loyd

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) is the most studied method in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Traditionally, resistance training has been utilized as a secondary role in CR. Recent interest in the topic suggests that MICT and resistance training should be applied collectively, an approach termed concurrent training (CT). The collective understanding of the potential of CT in CR patients is currently lacking.

Purpose: The aim of this professional paper is to analyze scientific evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of CT versus MICT. The analysis will focus on five primary measurements: exercise capacity, cardiovascular …

Improving Access To Cardiac Catheterization, Sunitha Dharman

Student Scholarly Projects

The American Heart Association lists cardiovascular disease as the underlying cause of death for 874,613 people who lost their lives in 2019 (Tsao et al., 2022). On average, someone in the United States has a myocardial infarction every 40 seconds, and someone dies of a stroke every 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Studies support coronary artery disease as a significant contributor to cardiac arrest in a non-hospital setting (Yannopoulos et al., 2019). The authors provide evidence supporting the importance of early cardiac catheterization. There is a 10-15% survival rate with a higher level of functioning compared to delayed or no …

Trend Of Outcome Metrics In Recent Out-Of-Hospital-Cardiac-Arrest Research: A Narrative Review Of Clinical Trials, Natalie N Htet, Daniel Jafari, Jennifer A Walker, Ali Pourmand, Anna Shaw, Khai Dinh, Quincy K Tran

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) research traditionally focuses on survival. In 2018, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) proposed more patient-centered outcomes. Our narrative review assessed clinical trials after 2018 to identify the trends of outcome metrics in the field OHCA research. We performed a search of the PubMed database from 1 January 2019 to 22 September 2023. Prospective clinical trials involving adult humans were eligible. Studies that did not report any patient-related outcomes or were not available in full-text or English language were excluded. The articles were assessed for demographic information and primary and secondary outcomes. We included 89 studies …

Utilizing Stakeholder Input Within The Tennessee Heart Health Network To Improve Cardiovascular Health Outcomes In Tennessee, Abigail C. Bennett

Longitudinal Scholar's Project

Background: Tennessee ranks sixth nationwide for most deaths related to heart disease. The Tennessee Heart Health Network (TN-HHN), an initiative coordinated by the Tennessee Population Health Consortium (TN-PHC), was created to combat this issue. The TN-HHN is a statewide network of primary care practices, health systems, and academic centers committed to implementing patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) approaches to demonstrably improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) health outcomes and health equity across Tennessee.

Objective: Evaluate stakeholder experiences in participating in the Network in an effort to assess partner satisfaction and improve the TN-HHN as a whole.

Methods: Eligible stakeholders were invited via …

Social Determinants May Limit The Success Of Pcsk9 Inhibitors, An Effective Treatment For Hyperlipidemia In Statin-Intolerant Patients, Abigail C. Kuplicki

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report using:

Moriarty PM, Thompson PD, Cannon CP, et al. Efficacy and safety of alirocumab vs ezetimibe in statin-intolerant patients, with a statin rechallenge arm: The ODYSSEY ALTERNATIVE randomized trial. J. Clin. Lipidol. 2015;9(6):758-769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacl.2015.08.006

for a statin-intolerant patient with hyperlipidemia.

Evaluating The Use Of Cheaper, Less Effective Medications In Patients With Cost-Based Medication Nonadherence, Muneer F. Hasso

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report using:

Sangaralingham LR, Sangaralingham SJ, Shah ND, Yao X, Dunlay SM. Adoption of Sacubitril/Valsartan for the Management of Patients With Heart Failure. Circ Heart Fail. 2018;11(2):e004302. https://doi.org/10.1161/circheartfailure.117.004302

for a patient with low medication adherence rates due to the high out-of-pocket costs of newer medications.

Association Between Remote Monitoring And Interstage Morbidity And Mortality In Single Ventricle Patients Across Socioeconomic Groups, Bianca Cherestal

Research Days

Background: Despite improvements in outcomes over time, morbidity and mortality for infants with single ventricle (SV) heart disease remains high. Among other risk factors for mortality, infants of low socioeconomic status (SES) are known to be particularly vulnerable following stage 1 palliation.

Objectives/Goal: We sought to determine whether use of a novel remote monitoring program, CHAMP (Cardiac High Acuity Monitoring Program), mitigates differences in outcomes by SES for infants with SV during the interstage period.

Methods/Design: Using the CHAMP database, we identified 610 infants across 11 institutions enrolled in the program between 2014–2021. All enrolled patients’ families were provided with …