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 …

Trends And Demographic Disparities In Septicemia-Associated Cardiac Arrest Mortality In The United States, 1999–2023, Muhammad Owais, Maham Mehfooz, Hamza Nazir, Preeti Advani, Roha Riaz, Khanij Arya, Javeria Nawaz, Syed Hadi Raza Rizvi, Murtaza Aslam, Usman Nazeer, Jairo Melo, Bravein Amalakuhan

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Dry Gangrene Following Av Fistula Ligation For Vascular Access-Induced Steal Syndrome: A Case Report, Marium Batool Abbas, Umema Ifran, Marelle Montanez

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Termination Of A Fatal Malignant Arrhythmia By Treating Respiratory Alkalosis At The Ventilator: A Case Report, Thea Danielle Amadasun, Muhammed Salman Ullah, Vladimir Begilman

MidAmerica Division GME Healthcare Symposium 2026

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Plant-Based Vs. Standard American Diet On Cardiovascular Parameters In College Students, Timothy J. Horanic

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines how adherence to different dietary patterns—specifically a plant-based diet compared to the standard American diet—can influence physiological indicators tied to cardiovascular health, including heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR). Among these markers, HRV is considered especially sensitive to autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation and may offer earlier insight into physiological stress or dysfunction than HR or BP alone. Although nutritional habits are widely believed to impact heart health, few investigations have focused on how specific long-term diets affect autonomic and cardiovascular metrics in healthy, college-aged adults. This study aims to investigate if …

Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Reveals Key Immune Responses In St-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction, Zheng Zhang, Shengfang Wang, Yahui Liu, Gaohan Li, Qianqian Cheng, Wei Yang, Gan-Xin Yan, Chuanyu Gao

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the precise immunological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides a powerful approach to dissect immune cell heterogeneity and dynamic changes at single-cell resolution.

METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 7 STEMI patients (within 6h after primary percutaneous coronary intervention) and 3 healthy controls. Single-cell suspensions were prepared and subjected to scRNA-seq using the 10x Genomics Chromium platform and Illumina NovaSeq 6000. Data were processed using Cell Ranger and analyzed with Seurat for quality control, clustering, and annotation. Differentially …

Hypertensive Remodelling: When Bigger Body Means Bigger Problems, Eric Lazartigues

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Estrogen And Obesity Synergistically Suppress Protein S Via Hif1Α, Enhancing Thrombosis Potential, Mohammad A. Mohammad, Narender Kumar, Sonali Ghosh, Ashley L. Paysse, Claudia Leonardi, Vijaya Pilli, Ma Lorena Duhaylungsod, Eric Lazartigues, Diana Polania-Villanueva, Sadaf Nouman, Logan A. Barrios, Rima Chattopadhyay, Rafika Yasmin, Alaina Guilbeau, Manoj Kumar, Tina H. Nguyen, Jovanny Zabaleta, Li Li, Luis Del Valle M.D., Mallory T. Barbier, Samarpan Majumder, Laurent O. Mosnier, Samarpan Majumder

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with risk heightened in premenopausal women with obesity or use estrogen-based oral contraceptives. When both risk factors are present, the thrombosis risk increases substantially. Protein S (PS), an essential anticoagulant cofactor, is downregulated by both estrogen and obesity, but the molecular basis for this suppression remains poorly defined. We investigated the effect of estrogen and obesity on PS expression using plasma samples from 157 women stratified by BMI and contraceptive use, alongside 40 mice categorized as lean or obese with or without estrogen pellet treatment. The levels of PS …

Severe Myocarditis In The Pediatric Patient: A Simulation For Emergency Department Management, Prayerna Uppal, Anita Thomas, Robyn Wing, Lauren Kinneman, Cassandra Koid Jia Shin, Daisy Ciener, Jean I. Pearce, Claire Smith, Jennifer Reid, Kimberly Stone, Katina Summerford, Katherine Wolpert

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Myocarditis in a pediatric patient can present with a variety of signs and symptoms, leading to a broad differential diagnosis. Delays in the correct identification of myocarditis and the initiation of appropriate interventions can have a detrimental impact on patient outcomes. In this case, a simulated five-year-old patient with myocarditis and secondary cardiogenic shock presents to the emergency department (ED). The goals of this simulation curriculum were to familiarize trainees and ED providers with the often nonspecific presentation of pediatric myocarditis, educate the care team about crucial interventions that positively or negatively impact the patient's stabilization course, and reinforce the …

Discriminative Accuracy Of Cha2ds2-Vasc Score, And Development Of Predictive Accuracy Model Using Machine Learning For Ischemic Stroke Risk In Cardiac Amyloidosis And Atrial Fibrillation, Waqas Ullah, Abhinav Nair, Eric Warner, Salman Zahid, Mansoor Rahman, Palwasha Khan, Indranee Rajapreyar, Sridhara S. Yaddanapudi, M. Chadi Alraies, Said Ashraf, Jeffery Van Hook, Yegeny Brailovsky

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: CHA2DS2-VASc score in cardiac amyloidosis (CA) with atrial fibrillation (AF) is believed to underestimate ischemic stroke risk, necessitating a better predictive model.

METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Readmission Database (NRD). Outcomes between CA-AF and no-CA-AF were compared using multivariate regression analysis to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs). AutoScore, an interpretable machine learning framework, was used to develop a stroke risk prediction model, and its predictive accuracy was evaluated with an area under the curve (AUC) using the receiver operating characteristic analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 11,860,804 (CA-AF 22,687 (0.19%) and no-CA-AF 11,838,117) patients were identified from 2015 …

Methemoglobinemia-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction In A Pediatric Patient, Brian Drury, Chelsea Boyd, Kelsey Van Housen, Siraj Amanullah

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Methemoglobinemia is a rare congenital or acquired cause of functional anemia resulting from oxidation of hemoglobin. Prompt recognition and treatment are critical to prevent tissue hypoxia and end-organ injury. While other complications are well described, cardiac dysfunction is rarely reported—especially in children. We present what, to our knowledge, is the first known case of methemoglobinemia-induced transient cardiac dysfunction—or “myocardial stunning— in a pediatric patient. This case underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion and assessing cardiac involvement in such patients. Early intervention can lead to full recovery and prevent long-term sequelae, even in the presence of multiorgan …

A Case-Based Video Review Of Arteriovenous Fistulae, Jonathan J. Russin, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Mika Niemela, Erez Nossek, Jeffrey Steinberg, Sepideh Amin-Hanjani

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Association Of Estimated Plasma Volume Status With Invasive Hemodynamics And Adverse Clinical Outcomes In Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension And Chronic Kidney Disease, Andrew Geller, Jose Manuel Martinez Manzano, Esteban Kosak Lopez, Phuuwadith Wattanachayakul, John Malin, Raul Leguizamon, Tara John, Rasha Khan, Ian Mclaren, Alexander Prendergast, Simone Jarrett, Kevin Bryan Lo, Christian Witzke

Einstein Health Papers

Identifying noninvasive measures to assess intravascular volume status and risk stratify patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is needed. We assessed the predictive value of estimated plasma volume status (ePVS) using the Strauss-derived Duarte formula in PH-CKD patients. This single-center retrospective cohort analysis included patients with PH and CKD Stage 3b (CKD3b), Stage 4 (CKD4), or Stage 5 (CKD5) who underwent right heart catheterization from 2018 to 2023. Patients were categorized into low ePVS (< 6.2) and high ePVS (≥ 6.2) using Youden's J statistics. We used the Cox-proportional hazards model, adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index, to investigate the association between …

Increased Risk Of Postoperative Complications In Patients With Hypertension Undergoing Mohs Micrographic Surgery, Alexandra Elder, Henry Yang, Megan O'Donnell-Capelli, Jenna Mandel, Molly Wallace, Lauren Banner, Ramsay Hafer, Thomas Rohan, Neda Nikbakht

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Hypertension has been previously associated with higher intraoperative bleeding risk in patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery. However, the risks of common postoperative Mohs micrographic surgery complications have not been substantiated by large studies. Our study aimed to assess the risks of common Mohs micrographic surgery complications for patients with hypertension utilizing the TriNetX database, a global health records database encompassing over 105 million patients' data, from January 2009 to January 2024. After 1:1 propensity score matching for age, sex, race, diabetes, nicotine dependence, obesity, and anticoagulant use, the final analysis included 80,739 patients in each cohort of patients with hypertension …

Comparison Of Graft Patency Between Sta, Ra, And Sv Grafts Of Intracranial Aneurysms Of The Internal Carotid Artery, Nassos Tziviskos, Hallie Tiburzi, Susrut Dube

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Abstract

Background: Patients with intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms that are not amenable to treatments like coiling, stenting, or clipping have limited treatment options. One option is vascular bypass of the aneurysm to introduce a stable route for cerebral perfusion, which can be performed using the superficial temporal artery (STA) or alternatively radial artery (RA) or saphenous vein (SV) grafts, among other vessels.

Methods: The major databases were searched to identify studies that explored graft patency and functional outcome for patients who underwent bypass for intracranial ICA aneurysms with STA, RA, or SV grafts and proportion meta-analysis was performed. …

Rare Jugular Bulb Tumor Presenting As Bilateral Papilledema, Yoona Choe, Matthew Boyle, Peter Maduka

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Optic disc edema, which may arise from a range of inflammatory, ischemic, compressive, infiltrative, or hereditary causes, can also indicate elevated intracranial pressure in the form of papilledema. Given its potential association with life-threatening conditions such as mass lesions or venous sinus thrombosis, timely identification and thorough evaluation are critical. In this case, a 61-year-old female presented with a complaint of a new-onset floater in her left eye. Despite minimal symptoms and an unremarkable systemic review, dilated fundus examination revealed bilateral optic disc edema with hyperemia and hemorrhages, prompting urgent neuroimaging. MRI and MRV identified venous thrombi in the right …

Hydralazine-Induced Vasculitis Resulting In Large Pleural Effusion And Progressive Renal Dysfunction, Michael A. Acevedo, Hammad Choudhry

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Hydralazine is a vasodilator commonly used to treat high blood pressure. Even with the safety profile of Hydralazine, it is necessary to know that it may lead to Hydralazine-Induced Vasculitis. Here, we discuss how this rare side effect can present in an 80-year-old female with a past medical history of hypertension who presented to the emergency department with complaints of progressive shortness of breath on exertion and while lying supine. Further evaluation revealed a large right-sided pleural effusion with consolidation at the right lower lobe. The patient’s dyspnea worsened, and the surgical team placed a chest tube. The patient also …

Outcomes Of Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion In Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Comprehensive National Study, Tony Elias, Fady Beshara, Daniel Basta, Mena Elmalh, Matthew Ebrahim, Taha Syed, Olga Sarah, Abdallah Hussein

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

We sought to explore a sample of the inpatient population with OSA with AF who underwent LAAO.

Investigating Sleep Quality In Post-Stroke Delirium: A Scoping Review, Shay Greco, Bethany C. Young

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Delirium affects approximately 59% of hospitalized patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and is associated with poor outcomes. Sleep-wake cycle disturbances are hypothesized to contribute to delirium development, particularly in neurointensive care settings where frequent sleep interruptions occur.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review of literature published between 2014-2024 using PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Studies were included if they observed sleep in adult stroke populations.

Results: Four observational studies (2018-2023) met inclusion criteria, with sample sizes ranging from 20-112 participants. All studies included patients with ICH. All studies reported associations between poor sleep in patients with ICH and delirium …

Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy In Dyspnea: The Role Of Ai-Enhanced Ecg Interpretation, Sami Asif, Ayesha Mushtaq

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Dyspnea is a frequent and diagnostically challenging presentation in emergency departments, requiring rapid distinction between cardiac and non-cardiac causes. Traditional approaches, including NT-proBNP testing and clinical assessment, often lack optimal sensitivity and specificity. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have introduced AI-enhanced electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis as a promising diagnostic tool capable of identifying cardiac dysfunction with high accuracy.

A structured literature review was performed using PubMed to identify randomized controlled trials, prospective validations, and systematic reviews published between 2018 and 2024. Studies evaluating AI-ECG performance, NT-proBNP testing, and clinical assessment in adult patients presenting with dyspnea were included. Data extracted …

Takotsubo Syndrome: A Case Of Acute Altered Mental Status, Aphasia, And Weakness, Yue Chen, Ramza Rukia, Daniel Goldsmith

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SICM), also known as Takotsubo syndrome, can mimic acute coronary syndrome despite the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. This case report explores the diagnostic workup and management of a patient with potential SICM presenting with sudden onset altered mental status, aphasia, and weakness.

Case: A 46-year-old woman with no past medical history presented with acute altered mental status, aphasia, and weakness requiring intubation. Blood glucose level was 123 mg/dL. Initial workup for stroke was negative. Extensive neurological workup, including cranial imaging and electroencephalography, revealed no abnormalities.

Initial ECG was unremarkable, but elevated troponin levels and a …

Traumatic Cavernous Carotid Fistula Following A Motor Vehicle Accident, Alec Mirchandani

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Traumatic cavernous carotid fistulas are a rare but serious complication following blunt trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents, where the internal carotid artery is damaged, creating an abnormal connection with the cavernous sinus. This case report describes a 32-year-old female who presented with pulsatile proptosis, conjunctival chemosis, and visual disturbances following a motor vehicle accident. Imaging confirmed the presence of a traumatic cavernous carotid fistula. The patient underwent successful endovascular embolization, resulting in resolution of her symptoms. This report highlights the importance of early diagnosis and timely intervention, particularly through endovascular techniques, as the treatment of choice is to prevent …

Aortic Dissection Triggered By Self Stimulation, Anna M. Delancy, Robin Lahr

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate diagnosis and intervention. Untreated aortic dissection has a mortality rate of 1-2% per hour. Misdiagnosis occurs in approximately 33.8% of cases, with common symptoms including chest pain, back pain, and syncope. It is important to have a high index of suspicion and utilize appropriate diagnostic tools, such as CT angiography, for prompt diagnosis. Here we describe a rare scenario of a patient with Marfan syndrome ultimately found to have a Stanford A/DeBakey I aortic dissection after a masturbation event. Prompt recognition and treatment of this lethal disease are essential to reduce the …

Dural Venous Sinus Thrombosis: Be Careful When You Sneeze, Arsam F. Nadeem

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Dural venous sinus thrombosis (DVST) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that accounts for approximately 0.5–1% of all strokes. It is often associated with hypercoagulable states, infections, malignancies, and systemic inflammatory diseases. Clinical presentations are highly variable and can include headaches, focal neurological deficits, seizures, and altered mental status. Given its nonspecific symptoms, DVST remains a diagnostic challenge. This report presents a case of a young male who developed a persistent headache and had transient speech changes and was ultimately diagnosed with a dural venous sinus thrombosis.

Mitral Kombat: A Case Of Paravalvular Leak And Hemolysis After Tmvr, Isaac Su, Kishan B. Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

A 71-year-old woman with prior TMVR presented with dyspnea, jaundice, and hypoxia. She was found to have severe anemia with lab evidence of mechanical intravascular hemolysis due to a paravalvular leak (PVL), a known TMVR complication. This case highlights the importance of recognizing post-operative complications in valve replacement patients, including PVL-related hemolysis.

The Impact Of Obesity On The Risk Of Venous Thromboembolism In Users Of Combined Oral Contraceptives: A Comprehensive Literature Review, Adeena Javed

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are a widely used method of birth control in the U.S., particularly among women aged 15–44. COCs are known to increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Obesity, which affects over 40% of adult women in the U.S., is also a recognized independent risk factor for VTE. However, the compounded risk posed by the simultaneous presence of obesity and COC use has not been thoroughly explored.

Hypothesis: Obesity significantly elevates the risk of VTE in women using COCs, demonstrating a synergistic interaction between these two factors.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, …

The Importance Of How And When In Measuring Epicardial Adipose Tissue, Brian Fardman, Juan Antonio Requena-Ibáñez, Carlos García Santos-Gallego, Anderly José Rodriguez Cordero, Samantha Sartori, Javier Sanz Sanz, Valentin Fuster, Juan José Badimon

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT) is drawing increasing attention. As a quantifiable, modifiable, and potentially new cardiovascular therapeutic target, its accurate measurement is particularly relevant. In Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) different methods can be used to assess EAT burden. We take advantage of CMR-studies of EMPATROPISM trial to assess EAT through three different methods, evaluate the effect of Empagliflozin and look for significant difference in the ability to detect changes in serial measurements. In some settings such as treatment-induced changes or patient follow-up, multi-slice method of EAT evaluation provides higher accuracy to detect significant differences, otherwise unnoticed by single-slice approaches.

Clinical Outcomes For Patients With Obstructive Shock With Pe In Octogenarians, Nonagenarians, And Centenarians: An Analysis Of The National Inpatient Sample, Tony Elias, Fady Beshara, Daniel Basta, Mena Elmalh, Matthew Ebrahim, Taha Wasim Syed, Olga Sarah, Abdallah Hussein

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

One of the most common causes of obstructive shock is massive pulmonary embolism. I these patients with compounded morbidities and limited filling of the heart we sought to sample databases to analyze the inpatient outcomes of the population.

Clinical Outcomes For Patients Who Have Hyperlipidemia Who Underwent Mechanical Directed Thrombolysis For Pulmonary Embolism: An Analysis Of The National Inpatient Sample, Tony Elias, Fady Beshara, Daniel Basta, Mena Elmalh, Matthew Ebrahim, Taha Syed, Olga Sarah, Abdallah Hussein

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Mechanical-directed thrombolysis for PE is a recently established therapy option for patients with sub-massive PE with hemodynamic instability. With limited availability on the impact of superimposed anemia on patients that undergo MDT treatment we sought to look more closely at the inpatient population.

Clinical Outcomes Of Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion In Patients With Hyperlipidemia: A Nationwide Analysis, Tony Elias, Fady Beshara, Daniel Basta, Mena Elmalh, Matthew Ebrahim, Taha Syed, Olga Sarah, Abdallah Hussein

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

We sought to examine the national inpatient sample database to explore in-hospital outcomes for patients with HDL with AF who underwent LAAO.