Cardiovascular System Commons^™

Differential Localizations Of Protein Phosphatase 1 Isoforms Determine Their Physiological Function In The Heart, Ruijie Liu, Christian Miller, Christiana D'Annibale, Kimberly Vo, Ashley Jacobs

Peer Reviewed Articles

Protein phosphatase 1 isoforms α, β, and γ (PP1α, PP1β, and PP1γ) are highly homologous in the catalytic domains but have distinct subcellular localizations. In this study, we utilized both primary cell culture and knockout mice to investigate the isoform-specific roles of PP1s in the heart. In both neonatal and adult cardiac myocytes, PP1β was mainly localized in the nucleus, compared to the predominant presence of PP1α and PP1γ in the cytoplasm. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of PP1α led to decreased phosphorylation of phospholamban, which was not influenced by overexpression of either PP1β or PP1γ. Interestingly, only cardiac-specific knockout of PP1β resulted …

Oral Saline Consumption And The Exercise Pressor Reflex, John J. Del Vecchio, Evan L. Matthews Dr., Peter A. Hosick Dr.

Research Data

The Volume Pilot Study data represents information from participants' health history questionnaire and measurements of changes in blood pressure, heart rate, hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum sodium, and plasma volume during blood draws taken every 30 minutes for 3 hours.

The HG and CPT information was taken in the second part of the study. This data includes participant demographics and various cardiovascular measurements taken during baseline (5min), handgrip exercise (2min), post-exercise ischemia (2min), and recovery (2min). It also includes cardiovascular measurements taken during the cold pressor test which includes baseline (2min), cold pressor test (2min), and recovery (2min)

Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Analysis Of The Equine Aortic Valve, Amber Mcelhinney

Honors Theses and Capstones

This research focused on 3D echocardiography of the aortic valve (AV) in horses. Aortic regurgitation (AR) can be a common finding in older horses, and in severe cases can result in decreased performance and even sudden cardiac death. Standard AR diagnosis includes 2D echocardiography from the right side of the horse. Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) records a pyramid of tissue, showing structures in the heart difficult to visualize in 2D methods, and can be more accurate as it does not rely as heavily on placement of the transducer. Nine images of normal AV’s were assessed, and still frames of anatomical structures …

Effects Of Acute Hypoxia On Danio Rerio, Karly Crail

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this research experiment was to determine the effects of acute hypoxia on the embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio) cardiovascular system and assess the critical oxygen level at which embryonic function is compromised. This goal was achieved by exposing embryos to decreasing oxygen concentrations, (6.0 mg/L-0 mg/L) and observing the heart under an inverted microscope. Data analysis was conducted to determine end systolic volume, end diastolic volume, stroke volume, heart rate, and cardiac output. It was hypothesized that hypoxia would stimulate cardiac activity, because in early developmental stages, tissues are supplied with oxygen through bulk diffusion, and …

Coarctation Of Aorta In Children., Arpan R. Doshi, Sathish Chikkabyrappa

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Coarctation of aorta (CoA) is a discrete narrowing in aorta causing obstruction to the flow of blood. It accounts for 6-8% of all congenital heart diseases. With advances in fetal echocardiography rate of prenatal diagnosis of coarctation of aorta has improved but it still remains a challenging diagnosis to make prenatally. Transthoracic echocardiography is mainstay of making initial diagnosis and routine follow-up. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are great advanced imaging tools for two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging of aortic arch in complex cases. Based on type of coarctation, size of patient, severity of lesion, and associated …

Innocent Heart Murmur., Arpan R. Doshi

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Heart murmur is the most common reason for a referral to a pediatric cardiologist. Virtually all children have a heart murmur during their childhood. Less than 1% of murmurs are pathological in children. Innocent/functional heart murmur is the most common type of heart murmur. There are multiple theories proposed to identify etiology of innocent heart murmur with varying consensus, but everybody agrees that innocent heart murmur does not carry any morbidity or mortality risk. Even today, heart murmur is associated with high physician uncertainty and parental anxiety. Extensive cardiac evaluation for such a benign finding is also associated with high …

Equalization Of Four Cardiovascular Risk Algorithms After Systematic Recalibration: Individual-Participant Meta-Analysis Of 86 Prospective Studies, Lisa Pennells, Stephen Kaptoge, Angela Wood, Mike Sweeting, Xiaohui Zhao, Ian White, Stephen Burgess, Peter Willeit, Thomas Bolton, Karel G. M. Moons, Yvonne T. Van Der Schouw, Randi Selmer, Kay-Tee Khaw, Vilmundur Gudnason, Gerd Assman, Philippe Amouyel, Veikko Salomaa, Mika Kivimaki, Borge G. Nordestgaard, Michael J. Blaha, Lewis H. Kuller, Hermann Brenner, Richard F. Gillum, Christa Meisinger, Ian Ford, Matthew W. Knuiman, Annika Rosengren, Debbie A. Lawlor, Henry Volzke, Cyrus Cooper, Alejandro Marin Ibañez, Edoardo Casiglia, Jussi Kauhanen, Jackie A. Cooper, Beatriz Rodriguez, Johan Sundstrom, Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, Rachel Dankner, Paul J. Nietert, Karina W. Davidson, Robert B. Wallace, Dan G. Blazer, Cecilia Bjorkelund, Chiara Donfrancesco, Harlan M. Krumholz, Aulikki Nissinen, Barry R. Davis, Sean Coady, Peter H. Whincup, Torben Jorgensen, Pierre Ducimetiere, Maurizo Trevisan, Gunnar Engstrom, Carlos J. Crespo, Tom W. Meade, Marjolein Visser, Daan Kromhout, Stefan Kiechl, Makoto Daimon, Jackie F. Price, Agustin Gomez De La Camara, J. Wouter Jukema, Benoit Lamarche, Altan Onat, Leon A. Simons, Maryam Kavousi, Yoav Ben-Shlomo, John Gallacher, Jacqueline M. Dekker, Hisatomi Arima, Nawar Shara, Robert W. Tipping, Ronan Roussel, Eric J. Brunner, Wolfgang Koenig, Masaru Sakurai, Jelena Pavlovic, Ron T. Gansevoort, Dorothea Nagel, Uri Goldbourt, Elizabeth L. M. Barr, Luigi Palmieri, Inger Njolstad, Shinichi Sato, W. M. Monique Verschuren, Cherian V. Varghese, Ian Graham, Oyere Onuma, Philip Greenland, Mark Woodward, Majid Ezzati, Bruce M. Psaty, Naveed Sattar, Rod Jackson, Paul M. Ridker, Nancy R. Cook, Ralph B. D'Agostino Sr., Simone G. Thompson, John Danesh, Emanuele Di Angelantonio

Publications and Research

Aims: There is debate about the optimum algorithm for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk estimation. We conducted head-to-head comparisons of four algorithms recommended by primary prevention guidelines, before and after ‘recalibration’, a method that adapts risk algorithms to take account of differences in the risk characteristics of the populations being studied.

Methods & Results: Using individual-participant data on 360737 participants without CVD at baseline in 86 prospective studies from 22 countries, we compared the Framingham risk score (FRS), Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE), pooled cohort equations (PCE), and Reynolds risk score (RRS). We calculated measures of risk discrimination and calibration, and …

Waardenburg Syndrome And Left Persistent Superior Vena Cava, Driss Raissi, Alexander Christie, Kimberly Applegate

Radiology Faculty Publications

Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic disorder secondary to neural crest cell developmental abnormalities. It is predominantly described as an auditory-pigmentary syndrome with diverse patient presentation, typically involving congenital sensorineural hearing loss and pigmentation abnormalities of the skin, hair, and iris. Other developmental abnormalities that may be associated with this syndrome are Hirschsprung's disease and a myriad of cardiovascular congenital defects. We present a case of a young girl with WS who found to have a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) draining into the coronary sinus. The prevalence of PLSVC is increased in patients with chromosomal and genetic …

Hyperhomocysteinemia As A Risk Factor For Vascular Contributions To Cognitive Impairment And Dementia, Brittani R. Price, Donna M. Wilcock, Erica M. Weekman

Physiology Faculty Publications

Behind only Alzheimer’s disease, vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) is the second most common cause of dementia, affecting roughly 10–40% of dementia patients. While there is no cure for VCID, several risk factors for VCID, such as diabetes, hypertension, and stroke, have been identified. Elevated plasma levels of homocysteine, termed hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), are a major, yet underrecognized, risk factor for VCID. B vitamin deficiency, which is the most common cause of HHcy, is common in the elderly. With B vitamin supplementation being a relatively safe and inexpensive therapeutic, the treatment of HHcy-induced VCID would seem straightforward; however, …

Editorial: Ion Channel Trafficking And Cardiac Arrhythmias, Marcel A. G. Van Der Heyden, Brian P. Delisle, Hugues Abriel

Physiology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Myocyte [Na+]I Dysregulation In Heart Failure And Diabetic Cardiomyopathy, Sanda Despa

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

By controlling the function of various sarcolemmal and mitochondrial ion transporters, intracellular Na⁺ concentration ([Na⁺]_i) regulates Ca²⁺ cycling, electrical activity, the matching of energy supply and demand, and oxidative stress in cardiac myocytes. Thus, maintenance of myocyte Na⁺ homeostasis is vital for preserving the electrical and contractile activity of the heart. [Na⁺]_i is set by the balance between the passive Na⁺ entry through numerous pathways and the pumping of Na⁺ out of the cell by the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase. This equilibrium is perturbed in heart failure, …

Identifying The 5’End Of The Camta1 Genes In Zebrafish, Morgan Fronk

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are a significant cause of infant death and are frequently caused by mutations in transcription factors. Camta1 (calmodulin binding transcription activator 1) is a transcription factor that has been proposed as a modulator in embryonic heart development and a possible cause of CHDs. The only other known member of its family in vertebrates is involved in activating a hypertrophy gene program in adult heart failure. Unlike camta2, camta1 is expressed in the embryonic heart during heart looping. However, few studies have been done on camta1. In zebrafish, there are two camta1 ohnologs (homologs created through …

Artificial Gravity As A Countermeasure To The Cardiovascular Deconditioning Of Spaceflight: Gender Perspectives, Joyce M. Evans, Charles F. Knapp, Nandu Goswami

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Space flight-induced physiological deconditioning resulting from decreased gravitational input, decreased plasma volume, and disruption of regulatory mechanisms is a significant problem in returning astronauts as well as in normal aging. Here we review effects of a promising countermeasure on cardiovascular systems of healthy men and women undergoing Earth-based models of space-flight. This countermeasure is produced by a centrifuge and called artificial gravity (AG). Numerous studies have determined that AG improves orthostatic tolerance (as assessed by various protocols) of healthy ambulatory men, of men deconditioned by bed rest or by immersion (both wet and dry) and, in one case, following spaceflight. …

Patient-Specific Multiscale Computational Fluid Dynamics Assessment Of Embolization Rates In The Hybrid Norwood: Effects Of Size And Placement Of The Reverse Blalock–Taussig Shunt, Ray Prather, John Seligson, Marcus Ni, Eduardo Divo, Alain J. Kassab, William Decampli

Publications

The hybrid Norwood operation is performed to treat hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Distal arch obstruction may compromise flow to the brain. In a variant of this procedure, a synthetic graft (reverse Blalock–Taussig shunt) is placed between the pulmonary trunk and innominate artery to improve upper torso blood flow. Thrombi originating in the graft may embolize to the brain. In this study, we used computational fluid dynamics and particle tracking to investigate the patterns of particle embolization as a function of the anatomic position of the reverse Blalock–Taussig shunt. The degree of distal arch obstruction and position of particle origin influence …

In-Vitro Simulation Of Acute Ischemic Stroke, Paolo Garcia

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a condition that involves the occlusion of a blood vessel within the brain, effectively preventing the passage of oxygen and nutrients. AIS is highly prevalent in the United States, where nearly 795,000 strokes happen per year and 87% of those are ischemic. From a medical standpoint, the obstructing clot can be removed with the use of a stroke retrieval device. However, a need arises for testing the aforementioned devices on a patient’s specific vascular geometries in order to increase the likelihood of a successful procedure. Outlined is a process for developing a physical simulation of …

Longitudinal Measures Of Deformation Are Associated With A Composite Measure Of Contractility Derived From Pressure-Volume Loop Analysis In Children., Shahryar M. Chowdhury, Ryan J. Butts, Carolyn L. Taylor, Varsha M. Bandisode, Karen S. Chessa, Anthony M. Hlavacek, Arni Nutting, Girish S. Shirali, G Hamilton Baker

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Aims: The relationship between echocardiographic measures of left ventricular (LV) systolic function and reference-standard measures have not been assessed in children. The objective of this study was to assess the validity of echocardiographic indices of LV systolic function via direct comparison to a novel composite measure of contractility derived from pressure-volume loop (PVL) analysis.

Methods and results: Children with normal loading conditions undergoing routine left heart catheterization were prospectively enrolled. PVLs were obtained via conductance catheters. A composite invasive composite contractility index (ICCI) was developed using data reduction strategies to combine four measures of contractility derived from PVL analysis. Echocardiograms …

Problems Experienced In The First Month After Discharge From A Heart Failure-Related Hospitalization, Joan S. Grant, Lucinda J. Graven, Kelly Fuller

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Heart failure is a global health concern with high morbidity and mortality rates. Individuals with heart failure commonly experience problems that impact daily life. However, little is known regarding which problems are most significant during the immediate posthospitalization period. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify high-priority problems experienced by individuals the first month after discharge from an acute care facility with a diagnosis of heart failure.

Methods: This descriptive, exploratory study was part of a 12-week randomized controlled pilot study that examined the efficacy of a coping partnership intervention (COPE-HF Partnership) between a trained research nurse …

Evaluation Of A Novel Finite Element Model Of Active Contraction In The Heart, Xiaoyan Zhang, Zhan-Qiu Liu, Kenneth S. Campbell, Jonathan F. Wenk

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Finite element (FE) modeling is becoming a widely used approach for the investigation of global heart function. In the present study, a novel model of cellular-level systolic contraction, which includes both length- and velocity-dependence, was implemented into a 3D non-linear FE code. To validate this new FE implementation, an optimization procedure was used to determine the contractile parameters, associated with sarcomeric function, by comparing FE-predicted pressure and strain to experimental measures collected with magnetic resonance imaging and catheterization in the ventricles of five healthy rats. The pressure-volume relationship generated by the FE models matched well with the experimental data. Additionally, …

Comparing Cardiac Dynamics Between Neonatal And Adult Rats, Luther Swift, Rafael Jaimes, Morgan Burke, J Hiebert, Nikki G. Posnack

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background:

Cardiovascular physiology studies have been largely limited to adult models; yet, significant developmental differences exist between the immature and adult heart. The field of pediatric research has largely been limited to immortalized cardiomyocyte cell lines, which lack physiologically relevant action potentials, and primary neonatal myocytes that have a limited life span and lack physiologically relevant automaticity. As a result, our understanding of developmental changes in ion channel expression, t-tubule development, and excitation-contraction coupling have been deduced from 2D simplified cell models. To fully understand cardiac development from neonate to adult, a physiologically-relevant 3D whole heart model is needed to …

Risk Stratification For Bleeding Complications In Patients With Venous Thromboembolism: Application Of The Has-Bled Bleeding Score During The First 6 Months Of Anticoagulant Treatment, Joshua D. Brown, Amie J. Goodin, Gregory Y. H. Lip, Val R. Adams

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

Background—The Hypertension, Abnormal renal/liver function, Stroke, Bleeding, Labile International Normalized Ratio (INR), Elderly, Drugs or alcohol use (HAS-BLED) score has strong predictive validity for major bleeding complications, but limited validation has been conducted in venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study evaluates the HAS-BLED score in a large cohort of VTE patients.

Methods and Results—A retrospective cohort of adults ≥ 18 years with primary diagnosis of VTE between January 1, 2010 and November 31, 2013 were identified in an insurance claims database. Patients were tracked until death, any bleed event, or end of study period. HAS-BLED score and components were …