Cardiovascular Diseases Commons^™

Acetaminophen Combinations Protect Against Iron-Induced Cardiac Damage In Gerbils, Ernest M. Walker Jr., Ryan G. Morrison, Lucy Dornon, Joseph P. Laurino, Sandra M. Walker, Mark Studeny, Paulette S. Wehner, Kevin M. Rice, Miaozong Wu, Eric R. Blough

MIIR Faculty Research

This study tested if acetaminophen, N-methyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (NMGDTC), deferoxamine, and combinations of these agents reduce excess iron content, prevent iron-induced pathology, reduce cardiac arrhythmias, and reduce mortality in iron-overloaded gerbils. Eight groups of 16 gerbils received iron dextran injections (ferric hydroxide dextran complex, 120 mg/kg, ip) or saline solution (controls) twice/wk for 8 wk. The 8 groups were treated every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with one of the following: saline control, acetaminophen, 150 mg/kg, ip), acetaminophen (150 mg/kg, po), deferoxamine, 83 mg/kg, ip), NMGDTC (200 mg/kg, ip), or combinations of acetaminophen (75 mg/kg) with deferoxamine (42 mg/kg, each ip, separately) …

Ekg Tracking For Augmented Standardized Patient Virtual Pathology Stethoscope Heart Auscultation, Sujith Surendran

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

In recent years, a lot of research has focused on improving the clinical skills of medical students and medical practitioners using standardized patients. Standardized patients (SP's) are used by the medical students and physicians in place of mannequins for a more realistic experience. SP's are real people trained to simulate specific illnesses and conditions to a high degree of accuracy which makes it difficult for the medical students to distinguish them from real patients. This research will enhance the capabilities of the standardized patients by providing a non-invasive, natural, harmless and realistic appearing tracking method for placing virtual pathologies using …

Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation, Heart Rate Variability, And Fitness In Obese African American Youth, Belinda J. Fleming

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Purpose. The purposes of this dissertation were to (1) explore the relationships among fitness, heart rate variability (HRV), inflammation and components of the Metabolic Syndrome in obese African American youth participating in a supervised weight management program, (2) examine the effect of change in severity of obesity on these variables, and (3) identify predictors of weight loss.

Method. This study consisted of a post-hoc analysis of existing pre and post-intervention data obtained from 50 African-American youth (70% female, aged 7-18 years). Anthropometric assessment of height, weight, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, body mass index percentile …

Effect Of Obesity On The Traditional And Emerging Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors In African American Women, Queen Obiageli Henry-Okafor

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Background: Obesity is a growing health care concern with cardiovascular disease (CVD) implications. African American women (AAW) have the highest prevalence rate of obesity and highest CVD morbidity and mortality rate of all ethnic groups. The traditional CVD risk factors have not been sufficient to explain this disparity in disease prevalence and outcomes. Current knowledge is limited regarding the interaction between various levels of adiposity and both traditional and emerging CVD risk factors, particularly in AAW. This study sought to explore these interactions.

Methods: The study design was a cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational analysis of 48 AAW ages 18 to 45 …

Does Admission Hyperglycemia Predict Intracranial And Extracranial Vasculopathy?, Ather Mohammed Taqui, Ayeesha Kamran Kamal, Saqib Ali Gowani, Bhojo A Khealani, Shafquat Rozi

Community Health Sciences

Objective: To study the association between admission hyperglycaemia and the presence and pattern of intracranial and extracranial vascular disease.
Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a major tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Patients who had presented with acute stroke and had undergone a carotid ultrasound doppler of the carotids and/or Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) of the brain were included in the study. A multiple logistic regression analysis of variables was done for an abnormal finding on each investigation.
Results: Out of the total of 216 patients, the age of majority of the patients (83.3%) was >50 years …

Inflammatory Biomarkers And Subclinical Atherosclerosis In African-American Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Sle), Edith M. Williams, Carlos J. Crespo, Joan Dorn

Community Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Women with lupus are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Previous studies of atherosclerosis in SLE have not been representative of the minority groups most affected by lupus and its complications. Therefore, a study of 41 lupus cases and 83 controls was conducted to investigate the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and inflammation in African-American women. Participation consisted of a questionnaire, physical examination, fasting blood draw, and ultrasound of the carotid arteries. There were observed differences between cases and controls with regard to carotid intima media thickness (IMT) and traditional cardiovascular risk factors, although few reached statistical significance. Tumor …

Associated Symptoms In The Ten Days Before Diagnosis Of Kawasaki Disease., Annette L. Baker, Minmin Lu, L Luann Minich, Andrew M. Atz, Gloria L. Klein, Rosalind Korsin, Linda Lambert, Jennifer S. Li, Wilbert Mason, Elizabeth Radojewski, Victoria L. Vetter, Jane W. Newburger, Pediatric Heart Network Investigators, Girish S. Shirali

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: To describe common associated symptoms within the 10 days before diagnosis in subjects enrolled in the Pediatric Heart Network's trial of steroid therapy in Kawasaki disease (KD).

STUDY DESIGN: Patients with acute KD were enrolled between days 4 and 10 of illness at 8 centers between 2002 and 2004. We defined common associated symptoms as those occurring in >or=10% of patients. Principal clinical criteria for KD were not included in this analysis.

RESULTS: Among 198 patients, irritability was reported in 98 (50%), vomiting in 88 (44%), decreased food/fluid intake in 73 (37%), cough in 55 (28%), diarrhea in 52 …

Preliminary Characterization Of Mitochondrial Atp-Sensitive Potassium Channel (Mitokatp) Activity In Mouse Heart Mitochondria, Venkat Raghav Aachi

Dissertations and Theses

Myocardial ischemia, infarction, heart failure and arrhythmias are the manifestations of coronary artery disease. Reduction of ischemic damage is a major concern of cardiovascular biology research. As per recent studies, the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel (mitoK_ATP) opening is believed to play key role in the physiology of cardioprotection, protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury or apoptosis. However, the structural information of mitoK_ATP is not precisely known. Elucidating the structural integrity and functioning of the mitoK_ATP is therefore a major goal of cardiovascular biology research. The known structure and function of the cell ATP-sensitive potassium channel (cellK_ATP) …

Alcohol And Cardio-Respiratory Deaths In Chinese: A Population-Based Case-Control Study Of 32,462 Older Hong Kong, Mary Schooling, Tai Hing Lam, Sai Yin Ho, Yao He, Kwok Hang Mak, Gabriel M. Leung

Publications and Research

Background
In observational studies moderate alcohol use reduces cardio-respiratory mortality. However observational studies may be biased by many factors including residual confounding by unmeasured differences between moderate alcohol users and other groups or by changes in alcohol use with ill-health and aging. We used two different analytic strategies in an under-studied population, i.e. southern Chinese, to provide an assessment of the specific impact of moderate alcohol use on mortality from ischemic heart disease (IHD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD).

Methods
In a population-based case-control study of all adult deaths in Hong Kong Chinese in 1998, we used adjusted logistic …

Isoniazid Completion Rates For Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among College Students Managed By A Community Pharmacist, Karl M. Hess, Jeffery A. Goad, Joanne Wu, Kathleen Johnson

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Objective: The authors' objective was to document 9-month and previously recommended 6-month treatment completion rates for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in a pharmacist-managed LTBI clinic in a community pharmacy oil a college Campus. and to describe patient characteristics. Participants: Participants were university Students diagnosed with LTBI. Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective review, of pharmacy records from 2000 to 2006. Main outcome measures included 6-month and 9-month LTBI treatment completion rates, total isoniazid (INH) tablets taken. characteristics of completers versus noncompleters. average time to treatment completion, and reported adverse drug events. Results: The 9-month completion rate was 59%, and the …

An Overview Of Cardiovascular Risk Factor Burden In Sub-Saharan African Countries: A Socio-Cultural Perspective, Rhonda Belue, Titilayo A. Okoror, Juliet Iwelunmor, Kelly D. Taylor, Arnold N. Degboe, Charles Agyemang, Gbenga Ogedegbe

Africana Studies Faculty Scholarship

Background: Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries are currently experiencing one of the most rapid epidemiological transitions characterized by increasing urbanization and changing lifestyle factors. This has resulted in an increase in the incidence of non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular disease (CVD). This double burden of communicable and chronic non-communicable diseases has long-term public health impact as it undermines healthcare systems.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the socio-cultural context of CVD risk prevention and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. We discuss risk factors specific to the SSA context, including poverty, urbanization, developing healthcare systems, traditional healing, lifestyle and socio-cultural factors. …

Rhoa/Rho-Kinase Signaling: A Therapeutic Target In Pulmonary Hypertension, Scott A. Barman, Shu Zhu, Richard E. White

PCOM Scholarly Works

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease characterized by progressive elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure and vascular resistance due to pulmonary vasoconstriction and vessel remodeling as well as inflammation. Rho-kinases (ROCKs) are one of the best-described effectors of the small G-protein RhoA, and ROCKs are involved in a variety of cellular functions including muscle cell contraction, proliferation and vascular inflammation through inhibition of myosin light chain phosphatase and activation of downstream mediators. A plethora of evidence in animal models suggests that heightened RhoA/ROCK signaling is important in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension by causing enhanced constriction and remodeling of …

Zinc-Finger Protein Mcpip In Cell Death And Differentiation, Craig Younce

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) plays a critical role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. How MCP-1 contributes to the development of heart disease is not understood. We present evidence that MCP-1 causes death in cardiac myoblasts, H9c2 by inducing oxidative stress, ER stress and autophagy via a novel Znfinger protein, MCP-1 induced protein (MCPIP). MCPIP expression caused cell death and knockdown of MCPIP, attenuated MCP-1 induced cell death. Expression of MCPIP resulted in induction of iNOS and production of reactive oxygen (ROS). It caused induction of NADPH oxidase subunit phox47 and its translocation to the cytoplasmic membrane. Oxidative stress led …