Cardiology Commons^™

We Can Do It Together: Par1/Par2 Heterodimer Signaling In Vsmcs., Rafal Pawlinski, Michael Holinstat

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

In this issue, Sevigny and colleagues demonstrate that a protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1)-PAR2 heterodimer regulates vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hyperplasia following vascular injury ¹. PARs belong to a family of G-protein coupled receptors that are proteolytically activated by a variety of proteases ^{2, 3}. Cleavage of PARs results in intracellular signaling mediated by activation of various G proteins including G_12/13, G_q, and G_i ^{2, 4-6}. The PAR family consists of 4 members, PAR1-PAR4, with PARs 1, 3, and 4 being primarily activated by thrombin, while PAR2 is activated by trypsin and …

Adherence To The European Society Of Cardiology (Esc) Guidelines For Chronic Heart Failure - A National Survey Of The Cardiologists In Pakistan, Sana Shoukat, Saqib A. Gowani, Ather M. Taqui, Rameez Ul Hassan, Zain A. Bhutta, Anum I. Malik, Sajjad A. Sherjeel, Quratulanne Sheheryar, Sajid H. Dhakam

Section of Neurosurgery

Background:The aims of this study were to evaluate the awareness of and attitudes towards the 2005 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for Heart Failure (HF) of the cardiologists in Pakistan and assess barriers to adherence to guidelines.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in person from March to July 2009 to all cardiologists practicing in 4 major cities in Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar). A validated, semi-structured questionnaire assessing ESC 2005 Guidelines for HF was used to obtain information from cardiologists. It included questions about awareness and relevance of HF guidelines (See Additional File 1). Respondents' management …

Percutaneous Implantation Of The Edwards Sapien Transcatheter Heart Valve For Conduit Failure In The Pulmonary Position: Early Phase 1 Results From An International Multicenter Clinical Trial., Damien Kenny, Ziyad M. Hijazi, Saibal Kar, John Rhodes, Michael Mullen, Raj Makkar, Girish S. Shirali, Mark Fogel, John Fahey, Mary G. Heitschmidt, Christopher Cain

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve (Edwards Lifesciences LLC, Irvine, California) in the pulmonary position in patients with moderate to severe pulmonary regurgitation with or without stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement is evolving, but to date, experience has been limited to the Melody valve (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota).

METHODS: Eligible patients with dysfunctional right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduits were screened if body weight was ≥35 kg and the in situ conduit diameter was ≥16 mm and ≤24 mm. Standardized implantation and follow-up protocols were used.

RESULTS: …

Diurnal Variations Of Genes Contributing To Sodium And Potassium Cardiac Currents, Parvathi Nataraj

Kaleidoscope

No abstract provided.

Ghrelin Receptor Deficiency Does Not Affect Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis In Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Null Mice, Kirk M. Habegger, Erin Grant, Paul Thomas Pfluger, Diego Perez-Tilve, Alan Daugherty, Dennis Bruemmer, Matthias H. Tschöp, Susanna M. Hofmann

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: Ghrelin, a stomach-derived, secreted peptide, and its receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHSR) are known to modulate food intake and energy homeostasis. The ghrelin system is also expressed broadly in cardiovascular tissues. Since ghrelin has been associated with anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties, but is also well known to promote obesity and impair glucose metabolism, we investigated whether ghrelin has any impact on the development of atherosclerosis. The hypothesis that endogenous ghrelin signaling may be involved in atherosclerosis has not been tested previously.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We crossed ghrelin receptor knockout mice (GHSr^-/-) into a low-density lipoprotein receptor-null …

Effect Of Percutaneous Mitral Vavuloplasty On Pregnant Mother And Foetus--A Tertiary Care Hospital Experience From A Developing Country, Syed Haider Imam, Abbas Haider Zaidi, Sana Shoukat, Sajid H. Dhakam

Section of Cardiology

This study evaluated the short and long-term consequences of Percutaneous Mitral Valvuloplasty (PMV) in pregnant patients and their offspring, in a tertiary care setting, Karachi, Pakistan. The hospital database was used to retrieve all patients who underwent PMV during pregnancy in the period 1998-2007. The follow up data of the patients and the born children were obtained from the hospital records and also by contacting the patients via phone. Six patients underwent PMV but follow-up was available for 5 patients only. All 5 patients were admitted due to severe mitral stenosis with symptoms of dyspnea and palpitation. Mean age was …

Postoperative Glycemic Variability In Diabetic And Non Diabetic Patients, Boris Mraovic, Md, Brian Hipszer, Md, Zvi Grunwald, Md, David Gratch, Do, Charles J. Yeo, Md, Jennifer Lessin, Rn, Kathleen O'Malley, Rn, Angela Gulino, Md, Peter Simpson, Meng, Jeffrey Joseph

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Objectives: Glycemic variability increases oxidative stress and may trigger the inflammation and coagulation cascades. Variability may be associated with increase morbidity and mortality in ICU patients. We analyzed glycemic variability after major surgery in diabetic (DM) and non-diabetic (NDM) patients using an automated intravenous blood glucose monitor (IVBG).

Non-Geometric Echocardiographic Indices Of Ventricular Function In Patients With A Fontan Circulation., Jonathan Rhodes, Renee Margossian, Lynn A. Sleeper, Piers Barker, Timothy J. Bradley, Minmin Lu, Mark Fogel, Matthew A. Harris, Wyman W. Lai, Andrew J. Powell, Michael D. Puchalski, Girish S. Shirali, Steven D. Colan, Pediatric Heart Network Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Complex anatomy and limited windows complicate echocardiographic assessments of ventricular function in Fontan patients. For the Pediatric Heart Network Fontan Cross-Sectional Study, data were acquired from which mean ventricular pressure change during isovolumetric contraction (dP/dt(ic)), Tei index, and maximal systolic annular velocity (S') could be measured. The purpose of this study was to compare these nongeometric indices of ventricular function to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) measurements of ventricular ejection fraction (EF).

METHODS: Echocardiographic and CMR studies were performed prospectively using standardized protocols; measurements were completed by core laboratories. Data from both modalities were available from 137 patients.

RESULTS: A …

Predictors Of Appropriate Defibrillator Therapies- A Single Center Analysis, Rina R. Shah, Ratika Gupta, Carrie Stackhouse, Robin Ward, Behzad B. Pavri

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Discussion:

• Although differences in HR and the JT interval were statistically significant in patients who received appropriate shock vs. those who did not, these differences are not clinically meaningful
• We did not identify any clinical predictors of early vs. late ICD shocks
• These data suggest that we may not be able to improve on current guidelines for patient selection for ICD implantation.

The Prevalence And Risk Factors Of Acute Myocardial Infarction (Ami) After Acute Ischemic Stroke (Ais) In The United States, Ali Seifi, Md, Fred Rincon, Md, Msc, Michael Moussouttas, Md, Mitchell Maltenfort, Phd, Matthew Vibbert, Md, Rodney Bell, Md, Maria Carissa Pineda, Md, Diana Tzeng, Md, Jacqueline Urtecho, Md, Anish Koka, Md, William Mcbride, Md

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for, and the association with in-hospital mortality of, AMI after AIS, and to study the effect of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA) in this setting. We hypothesized that AMI would be associated with lower survival rate at hospital discharge but that intravenous r-tPA would be associated with lower risk of AMI.

Carotid Intima Media Thickness In The Prediction Of St Elevation Myocardial Infarction, Ashish Kabra Md, Justin D. Roberts Do, Nitin Verma Md, Lori Neri Msn, Martin E. Matsumura Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Mother And Child Technique Combined With Super Selective Pharmacological Intervention For Large Intracoronary Thrombus, Nasir Rahman, Sajid H. Dhakam

Section of Cardiology

Primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) in acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) is a preferred way of treatment nowadays. Sometimes it becomes difficult to get good myocardial blood flow during PCI if clot burden is large. In this case of an elderly lady, the use of "Mother and Child Technique" combined with super selective pharmacological intervention is demonstrated to achieve good blood flow when conventional means are not working.

Advanced Glycation End Products Accelerate Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Through Receptor Of Advanced End Product/Nitrative Thioredoxin Inactivation In Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Cells., Yi Liu, Yanzhuo Ma, Rutao Wang, Chenhai Xia, Rongqing Zhang, Kun Lian, Ronghua Luan, Lu Sun, Lu Yang, Wayne B Lau, Haichang Wang, Ling Tao

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

The advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are associated with increased cardiac endothelial injury. However, no causative link has been established between increased AGEs and enhanced endothelial injury after ischemia/reperfusion. More importantly, the molecular mechanisms by which AGEs may increase endothelial injury remain unknown. Adult rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) were isolated and incubated with AGE-modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) or BSA. After AGE-BSA or BSA preculture, CMECs were subjected to simulated ischemia (SI)/reperfusion (R). AGE-BSA increased SI/R injury as evidenced by enhanced lactate dehydrogenase release and caspase-3 activity. Moreover, AGE-BSA significantly increased SI/R-induced oxidative/nitrative stress in CMECs (as measured …

Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy: A Review., Anil George, Vincent M Figueredo

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Alcohol abuse can cause cardiomyopathy indistinguishable from other types of dilated nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Most heavy drinkers remain asymptomatic in the earlier stages of disease progression, and many never develop the familiar clinical manifestations that typify heart failure. We review the current thinking on the pathophysiology, clinical characteristics, and treatments available for alcoholic cardiomyopathy. The relationship of alcohol to heart disease is complicated by the fact that in moderation, alcohol has been shown to afford a certain degree of protection against cardiovascular disease.

Coronary Ct Radiation Reduction - The Lehigh Valley Health Network Experience, Nitin Verma Md, Ashish N. Kabra Md, Justin D. Roberts Do, James A. Newcomb Md, Howard Rosenberg Md, Julie Gubernick, Robert Kricun Md, Matthew W. Martinez Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

White Coat Hypertension Is Not A Benign Entity: A Cross-Sectional Study At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Pakistan, Saniya Siraj Godil, Halima Tabani, Aamir Hameed Khan, Aysha Almas

Section of Cardiology

Objectives: To determine the frequency of White Coat Hypertension in patients undergoing ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at a tertiary care center and to compare ambulatory blood pressure profiles of normotensives, white coat hypertensives and hypertensives.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted which included all adult patients undergoing ambulatory blood pressure monitoring over a 3-year period. Those patients with incomplete data, less than 85% successful BP readings and inadequate number of daytime and nighttime readings were excluded from the study. The data on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring comprised of demographics, blood pressure, pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure readings at …

Elderly Patients And Their Health In Pakistan: Current Status, Issues, Challenges And Opportunities, Waris Qidwai, Tabinda Ashfaq

Department of Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

White Coat Hypertension Is Not A Benign Entity: A Cross-Sectional Study At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Pakistan, Saniya Siraj Godil, Halima Tabani, Aamir Hameed Khan, Aysha Almas

Department of Medicine

Objectives: To determine the frequency of White Coat Hypertension in patients undergoing ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at a tertiary care center and to compare ambulatory blood pressure profiles of normotensives, white coat hypertensives and hypertensives.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted which included all adult patients undergoing ambulatory blood pressure monitoring over a 3-year period. Those patients with incomplete data, less than 85% successful BP readings and inadequate number of daytime and nighttime readings were excluded from the study. The data on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring comprised of demographics, blood pressure, pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure readings at …

Choosing Radial Vs. Femoral Cardiac Catheterization: Does Operator Seniority Matter? A Single Center Experience, Nitin Verma Md, Amit N. Nanavati Md, Justin D. Roberts Do, Nainesh C. Patel Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

16-Year Trends In The Infection Burden For Pacemakers And Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators In The United States 1993 To 2008., Arnold J Greenspon, Jasmine D Patel, Edmund Lau, Jorge A Ochoa, Daniel R Frisch, Reginald T Ho, Behzad B Pavri, Steven M Kurtz

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the infection burden associated with the implantation of cardiac implantable electrophysiological devices (CIEDs) in the United States for the years 1993 to 2008.

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest that the rate of infection following CIED implantation may be increasing.

METHODS: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) discharge records were queried between 1993 and 2008 using the 9th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9-CM). CIED infection was defined as either: 1) ICD-9 code for device-related infection (996.61) and any CIED procedure or removal code; or 2) CIED procedure code along with systemic infection. Patient health profile was evaluated …