Newswise — Experts from the Cardiac and Vascular Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center presented new research and participated in expert panel discussions at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2012 in Los Angeles, CA, November 3-7.

“We’re pleased to have the opportunity for our leading scientists and heart experts to share important research to help in the development of effective treatments and best practices for diseases of the heart,” said Glenn I. Fishman, MD, the William Goldring Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology at NYU Langone. “This international meeting offers our leading heart experts the chance to contribute to the growing body of knowledge regarding cardiovascular health, collaborate with leaders in the field, and ensure information sharing among clinicians which will ultimately help enhance patient care.”

Significant research findings from NYU Langone cardiovascular experts include:

PresentationsCharacteristics of Plaque Disruption by Intervascular Ultrasound (IVUS) in Women Presenting with Myocardial Infaction without Obstructive Coronary Artery DiseaseSohah N. Iqbal, MD, James N. Slater, MD, Frederick Feit, MD, Michael Attubato, MD, Ivan Pena-Sing, MD, Leonid Yatskar, MD, Judith Hochman, MD, Harmony Reynolds, MDAbstract: 14374Wednesday, November 7 - 9:15amThis oral presentation focuses on detailed characteristics of hidden plaque in artery walls of women with heart attack and open arteries on conventional angiography. It has been previously shown that plaque is disrupted (ruptured or ulcerated) in nearly 40 percent of these women. In this analysis, researchers show that plaque ruptures were frequently located in arterial segments that appeared to be normal on angiography.Learn More

Sodium Current Deficit and Arrhythmogenesis in a Murine Model of Plakophilin-2 HaploinsufficiencyMarina Cerrone, MD, Xianming Ling, MD, Feng-Xia Liang, MD, Mario Delmar, MDAbstract: 12587Monday, November 5 - 9:15amThis oral presentation focuses on an inherited cardiac condition called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), which may cause heart dilation and arrhythmias leading to sudden cardiac death in young individuals. Researchers used an engineered mouse model to mimic the human disease and discovered in this model, lethal arrhythmias are caused by a reduction in the sodium current, one of the electric currents governing the heartbeat. They further showed drugs which specifically act on this current (and are often used to treat or prevent arrhythmias) may be harmful for these patients. Learn More

Intensive Lipid Lowering with Atorvastatin in Patients with Treatment Resistant Hypertension: An Analysis from the Treating to New Targets (TNT) TrialSripal Bangalore, MDAbstract: 12580Tuesday, November 6 - 2:45pmThis oral presentation focuses on the role of intensive cholesterol lowering vs. standard cholesterol lowering in patients with treatment resistant hypertension and coronary artery disease. While the traditional focus for patients with treatment resistant hypertension has been on blood pressure, researchers showed intensive cholesterol lowering results in substantial reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events, including a trend towards reduction in death, when compared with standard cholesterol lowering.Learn More

Effect of Periprocedural Glycemic Control on Platelet Activity in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Coronary AngiographyBinita Shah, MD, Jeffrey S. Berger, MD, Nicholas S. Amoroso, MD, Jeffrey D. Lorin, MD, Ann Danoff, MD, Frederick Feit, MD, James N. Slater, MD, Michael J. Attubato, MD, Steven P. Sedlis, MDAbstract: 14554Wednesday, November 7 - 11:30amPrevious study has shown diabetic patients with high blood sugar levels at the time of coronary artery stenting are more likely to die on long-term follow up than patients with controlled blood sugar. This oral presentation focuses on results from a trial in diabetic patients randomly allocated to continuing versus holding all prescribed long-acting glucose-lowering medications before scheduled heart catheterization. Results showed continuing medications is safe and effective in maintaining normal blood glucose levels, which was found by evaluating the effects of blood sugar control on platelet activity.Read More

Contributing Causes to Ischemic Heart Disease Death in Young Women: A Multiple Cause of Death Analysis based on New York City (NYC) Vital StatisticsAdriana Quinones Garcia, MD, Iryna V. Lobach, MD, Harmony R. Reynolds, MDAbstract: 13107; Poster Board: 2066Sunday, November 4 - 3:00pmThis poster presentation highlights the investigation of deaths from ischemic heart disease (IHD) in young women living in New York City. U.S. vital statistics show that the IHD mortality rate actually increased from 1999 to 2006 in young white women. Researchers analyzed contributing causes to IHD death in young women and found that diabetes was a contributing cause in over 15 percent of cases, a higher proportion than in older women and men. Learn More

Modifiable Risk Factor Burden and the Prevalence of Peripheral Artery Disease inDifferent Vascular TerritoriesJeffrey S. Berger, MD, Judith S. Hochman, MD, Iryna V. Lobach, MD, Mark A. Adelman, MD, Thomas S. Riles, MD, Caron B. Rockman, MDAbstract: 14788; Poster Board: 7118Wednesday, November 7 - 9:30amThis poster presentation focuses on the relationship between risk factor burden and prevalence of peripheral artery disease in different vascular territories. Researchers investigated the association of modifiable risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle) with peripheral vascular disease among 3.3 million adults in the U.S. who underwent screening from 2004 to 2008. Results demonstrated that risk factor burden is associated with an increased prevalence of peripheral vascular disease. Learn More

Lectures and SeminarsMolecular Mechanisms of Atrial FibrillationModerator: Mario Delmar, MDTuesday, November 6 - 2:00pmLearn More

Cardiovascular Seminar: Cardiac Fibroblasts and Intercellular CommunicationModerator: Mario Delmar, MDWednesday, November 7 - 7:30amLearn More

MicroRNAs Conducting the Symphony of Health and DiseasePresenter: Carlos Fernandez-Hernando, MDMonday, November 5 - 5:30pmLearn More

For more information on abstracts, presentations and seminars, visit American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2012.

About NYU Langone Medical CenterNYU Langone Medical Center, a world-class, patient-centered, integrated, academic medical center, is one of the nation’s premier centers for excellence in clinical care, biomedical research and medical education. Located in the heart of Manhattan, NYU Langone is composed of four hospitals – Tisch Hospital, its flagship acute care facility; the Hospital for Joint Diseases, one of only five hospitals in the nation dedicated to orthopaedics and rheumatology; Hassenfeld Pediatric Center, a comprehensive pediatric hospital supporting a full array of children’s health services; and the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, the world’s first university-affiliated facility devoted entirely to rehabilitation medicine– plus NYU School of Medicine, which since 1841 has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history. The medical center’s tri-fold mission to serve, teach and discover is achieved 365 days a year through the seamless integration of a culture devoted to excellence in patient care, education and research. For more information, go to www.NYULMC.org.

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American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2012