Cardiovascular System Commons^™

Use Of Calcium Modification In Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Comprehensive Review, Noyan Ramazani, Ala W. Abdallah, Michael V. Dicaro, Divyansh Sharma, Aditi Singh, Kachon Lei

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Calcified coronary lesions remain a challenge in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in both situations of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and stable coronary syndrome. It significantly increases the risk of procedural complications due to difficulty in equipment delivery, balloon expansion, and stent delivery. Furthermore, stent thrombosis, dissection, perforation, and future in-stent restenosis occur more frequently in calcified coronary lesions, impacting repeat target vessel revascularization and increasing the risk of future MI. With intracoronary imaging (intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography), peri-procedural success for treating calcified lesions has increased significantly. Different modalities of calcium modification techniques have since been introduced. This review …

A Rare Variation In The Branching Pattern Of The Axillary Artery, Preethi Umanath, Sutha Selvaraj

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND: This study aims to elucidate a previously unreported rare variation in the branching pattern of the third part of the axillary artery.

Results and discussion: During the routine dissection of a male cadaver, it was observed that the third part branches of the left axillary artery, specifically the anterior and posterior circumflex humeral arteries, were completely absent. To compensate for the missing branches, an unusual ascending branch emerged from the arteria profunda brachii (a branch of the brachial artery). This branch later divided into two: the deltoid branch, which accompanied the axillary nerve, entered in to …

The Science Of Sound: Studying The Cognitive, Emotional, And Physiological Effects Of Frequency, Genre, And Music, Jett Yarborough

Senior Honors Theses

Music influences emotion, physiology, and cognition, yet little is known about how the frequency it is tuned to affects these influences. Prior research has shown that music tuned to 432 Hz can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep. My colleagues and I conducted two studies to investigate this. Our research found that music tuned to 432 Hz promotes a significant increase in memory retention and induces a state of focus and relaxation. These results suggest that shifting from the standard tuning frequency of 440 Hz to 432 Hz could have a profoundly positive impact on our daily lives. …

Structural Variation Of The Right Coronary Ostium And Its Implications To Cardiac Medicine, Jessica L. Hensley, Joseph X. Anders, Timothy Robinson, William Srinivasan, Donald G. Matz, Ethan L. Snow

The Journal of Integrative Physiology

Introduction: The high oxygen demand of the heart’s myocardium is met via perfusion through the coronary arterial system. During embryological development, the right (RCA) and left (LMCA) coronary arteries fuse onto the aortic root, creating right (RCO) and left (LCO) ostial openings respectively to join the closed circulatory system. Regardless of their widely variable branching patterns, the ability of the RCA and LMCA to perfuse the myocardium initially relies on the functional patency of the coronary ostia. The objective of this study is to examine a unique extra-ostial tissue structure found overlying an RCO and provide a literature-based discussion of …

Interplay Between Admission And Early Postpartum Blood Pressure And Risk Of Postpartum Readmission For Hypertension, Juan C. Naranjo, J. Hunter Collins, Elizabeth F. Sutton

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

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. …

Challenging Case: Acute Type A Aortic Dissection With Multi-Organ Malperfusion, Rishab Agarwal, Allebelle Bradshaw Md, Jennifer S. Lawton Md

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Description of case: A 57-year-old male with hypertension and obesity presented with acute, severe chest pain. He developed a cold, numb right leg with motor deficits. He was hypotensive with a lactate of 7.4. CT imaging revealed an acute Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) with malperfusion involving the right internal carotid, right subclavian, and right coronary arteries, as well as the superior mesenteric artery, and right iliac artery (Fig 1A/B). He was transferred to our tertiary center for emergent surgery.

Five hours after presentation, he underwent emergent ascending aortic replacement, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, and retrograde cerebral perfusion. The …

Summary Of The 2024 Brano Heart Failure Forum, Igor D. Gregoric, Milovan Bojic, Bojan Vrtovec, Rajko Radovancevic

The VAD Journal

Since 2007, the Branislav “Brano” Radovancevic Heart Failure Forum (BHFF) has been held annually to provide a venue for experts to present and discuss “Innovations and New Treatment Strategies in Heart Failure.” Clinicians and researchers gather yearly in a different Eastern European city to discuss the latest in heart failure diagnostics and therapeutics. The 2024 BHHF was held on the 18^th through the 20^th of September 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia. It was attended by over 100 faculty from 16 countries. In addition, participation through online streaming was available. Throughout the forum, 17 sessions focused on challenges and solutions …

Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis And Systemic Inflammation: A Cadaveric Study For Dental Insights, Nathan Kent Bs, David Patterson Bs, Alyssa Luu Bs, Samantha Pipkin Bs, Jason Ciccotelli Dpt, Phd, Jeremy James Dmd, Ms, Jessica Immonen Phd, Ms

The Journal of Integrative Physiology

The objective of this study was to determine if gross signs of cadaveric osteoarthritis (OA) have

a tendency to present systemically and if this presentation includes pathology found at the

temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Signs of OA were then correlated to gross alterations of the aorta and common carotid arteries seen with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Ipsilateral synovial joints including the TMJ, knee joint, radiocarpal joint and trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint were all assessed for signs of OA in 4 cadaveric donors (3 males; 72, 82 and 92 years-old / 1 female; 89 years-old) using a validated scale of disease severity. A Grade …

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 …

Concurrent Presentation Of An Anomalous Right Coronary Artery And An Unusual Bovine Arch: Case Report, Vasiliki Tasouli-Drakou, Jasmine Dugal, Divuansh Sharma, Kachon Lei, Chowdhury Ahsan

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Anomalous coronary arteries from the opposite sinus of Valsalva are rare but can increase the risk for life-threatening complications. We present the case of a 59-year-old man who was found to have an anomalous right coronary artery and a rare bovine arch variant with a single common brachiocephalic trunk, along with severe proximal left anterior descending artery stenosis on left heart catheterization. The patient underwent a minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft and unroofing of the anomalous coronary artery. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of these concurrent anomalies in an individual without tetralogy of Fallot.

Advances In Mechanical Circulatory Support (Mcs): Literature Review, Jasmine K. Dugal, Arpinder S. Malhi, Yuvraj Singh, Rooz Razmi, Joshua Vance, Divyansh Sharma

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Heart failure is a heterogeneous disorder that can lead to cardiogenic shock. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices can replace the cardiac function in an attempt to bridge patients to transplant or they can serve as destination therapy to improve overall patient functionality and in turn quality of life. Currently utilized MCS devices include devices such as Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs), Biventricular Assist Devices (BiVADs), Impella, Total Artificial Hearts (TAHs), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This literature review examines a range of studies, case reports, and meta-analyses to present current approaches to mechanical circulatory support (MCS), along with the challenges …

Molecular Mechanisms Of L-Type Calcium Channel Dysregulation In Heart Failure, Arbab Khalid, Abu-Bakr Ahmed, Randeep Gill, Taha Shaikh, Joshua Khorsandi, Ali Kia

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

The L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) function as the main entry points that convert myocyte membrane depolarization into calcium transients, which drive every heartbeat. There is increasing evidence to show that maladaptive remodeling of these channels is the cause of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Recent experimental, translational, and clinical studies have improved our understanding of the roles LTCC expression, micro-domain trafficking, and post-translational control have in disrupting excitation–contraction coupling, provoking arrhythmias, and shaping phenotype specific hemodynamic compromise. We performed a systematic search of the PubMed and Google Scholar databases (2015–2025, …

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 …

A Case Of Heterotaxy And Common Atrioventricular Canal With Bradycardia, Mohamed Aashiq Abdul Ghayum, Jenna Schermerhorn, Hayley S. Hancock, Kelsey Brattrud, Melanie Kathol, Maria Kiaffas

Research Days

Background

Heterotaxy-polysplenia syndrome (otherwise known as left atrial isomerism) should be suspected in the presence of complete atrioventricular canal defect (CAVC) with interruption of the inferior vena cava (IVC), atrioventricular block (AVB), and viscero-cardiac heterotaxy. The prognosis remains dismal for the fetus with such entity, especially in the presence of major structural heart disease and high-grade atrioventricular block. Early diagnosis, close follow up, and appropriate delivery planning, allows for effective stabilization of the baby after birth and might improve survival.

Methods

A 26-year-old mother at 26 weeks gestational age was referred for cardiac evaluation of cardiomegaly, suspected CAVC and bradycardia. …

Cardiovascular Disparities In Mississippi: A Sociological Study Of Heart Health Literacy Among University Students, Laney Etheridge

Honors Theses

Mississippi ranks among the worst states in the United States for cardiovascular health, with high rates of heart disease, obesity, and hypertension. This thesis examines how race and gender influence heart health literacy and behavioral practices among University of Mississippi students. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this study combines quantitative survey data from a stratified random sample of 1,000 students with qualitative interviews from a public health professional specializing in cardiovascular health and a student heavily involved with on-campus heart health programs. The findings suggest that disparities in heart health literacy both align and differ with broader social stratification patterns observed …

Glp1 Ra Reverses The Harmful Association Of Body Weight Variability With Cvd Outcomes Across Different Metabolic Profiles, Sarpong Boateng, Yussif Issaka Md, Basile Njei

Posters

This study aimed to investigate the impact of GLP1 RA on this known negative relationship between BMI variability and cardiovascular (CVD) outcomes across different metabolic profiles.

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 …

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.