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VCU Pauley Heart Center
Beat
The Spring 2007 Vol.
2 No. 1
A Publication of the VCU Pauley Heart Center on Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical College of Virginia Campus
Main 10 CCU: Hot on Cooling
For survivors of cardiac arrest, Pauley Heart
Center’s Main 10 Cardiac Care Unit is the
place to be. It is here that patients receive the most advanced post-resuscitation care, including
therapeutic hypothermia, a cooling technique that is used to improve survival and reduce or eliminate
neurological damage that may occur during and after cardiac arrest.
The cardiac resuscitation team, located in the Main 10 Cardiac Care Unit, is led by (left to right)
Frankye Myers, RN, MSN, Unit Manager, Cha Roberts, RN, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and
Mary Ann Peberdy, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Emergency Medicine.
Dr. Peberdy, internationally renowned for her work in resuscitation, explained the physiology
of cardiac arrest and how therapeutic hypothermia works. “During cardiac arrest, all of the body’s
organs are starved for oxygen because blood flow has stopped. The brain takes the biggest hit
because it is our most time-sensitive organ, that is, its cells die quickly when deprived
continue on page 2

It has been less than two
years since we officially Hot on Cooling continued
became VCU Pauley Heart of oxygen. We used to think that
Center, and already our the resuscitation event started when
expansion as a comprehen- the patient went down and ended
sive heart center is evident. when we got a pulse. But we have
The people and achievements learned that the brain also is
featured in this issue of The extremely vulnerable to reperfusion
Beat illustrate our progress. injury, which occurs when the
New faculty in adult congeni- heart restarts and certain metabolic
tal heart disease, cardiac and factors are released into the blood
aortic surgery, and transla- stream. The damage from these
tional research have added elements can continue for a day
depth and breadth to
or two unless a therapy is employed
our programs. Through our to mitigate it. That is where
faculty’s publications
therapeutic hypothermia comes in.
and presentations, we are
“Induction of mild hypother-
strengthening both our
mia, with target body temperatures
visibility and the impact of 34° to 32°C, lowers oxygen
we are making on our field. demand, reduces the production
We have come a very of damaging elements and attenuates
long way in a very short peri- their effects on the brain. The result
od of time, but this is just is better neurological outcomes
the beginning. By continuing for the majority of our patients.
to support and encourage
“Studies have shown that the
our faculty, trainees and sooner you start the cooling process
staff, and by adding faculty after resuscitation, and the faster you
in targeted areas, we can— get the body to the target tempera-
and will—grow our expertise ture, the better the outcome is likely
and influence.
to be. During the entire process,
One of our critical next the patient must be monitored,
steps is to increase aware- one-on-one, by highly trained staff.
ness of VCU Pauley Heart It is a very resource intensive
Center locally, regionally therapy, requiring special equipment
and nationally. To that
but, more importantly, a major
end, we are escalating our commitment of human resources.
efforts to communicate
The use of therapeutic
our successes and to attract hypothermia after cardiac arrest in
greater involvement by
humans was being examined as
community, academic and early as the1950s, but it wasn’t until
scientific leaders.
2002 that studies detailing the
These are exciting times benefits in the New England Journal
at VCU Pauley Heart Center. of Medicine prompted a resurgence
I hope you will enjoy reading of interest. Today, the American
about our team and their Heart Association’s “Guidelines
accomplishments, and will for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
continue your interest into and Emergency Cardiovascular
our promising future.
Care” includes recommendations
and guidelines for therapeutic
George W. Vetrovec, MD hypothermia. Dr. Peberdy served
“We continually evaluate and adopt new
science as it comes out. Cardiology, the
Emergency Department, Neurology—
we all work together.” Mary Ann Peberdy, MD
on the committee that wrote
the guidelines and will continue
to help update them.
“We added therapeutic
hypothermia to our cardiac arrest
resuscitation treatment protocol
in 2004, which places VCU Medical
Center among the first in the
nation to do so,“ said Dr. Peberdy.
“Thanks to our incredible nursing
team, our protocol is arguably one
of the most advanced and best
executed in the country. We have
learned so much from developing
our program that other hospitals
seek our advice on how to develop
theirs. About a year ago, I started
doing web-based lectures on
therapeutic hypothermia and those
were so well received that now I
have established a web site devoted
to the subject. It includes monthly
guest lecturers and encourages
ongoing dialog between specialists
in resuscitation medicine.”
VCU Medical Center’s cardiac
resuscitation program extends well
beyond post-resuscitation therapies
such as therapeutic hypothermia,
encompassing several departments
and dozens of trained personnel
that work closely to ensure patients
of top level, comprehensive care.
“We have developed and follow
a standardized critical pathway plan
for every resuscitation patient that
comes through our doors, which
are most frequently the doors of the
Emergency Department. What
that means is that we have identified
specific patient goals and the
sequence and timing of actions
necessary to achieve those goals with
optimal efficiency and quality. It
includes each stage of a resuscitation
event, from prevention to resuscitation
to post-resuscitation and followup.
And we continually evaluate
and adopt new science as it comes
out. Cardiology, Nursing, the ED,
Neurology—they are all involved.
“This combined, ongoing
effort has resulted in a program
that is multidisciplinary, consistent,
comprehensive and responsive to
new science. It puts us at the
forefront of resuscitation medicine,
nationally and internationally.
That’s a good place to be.”
“Critical care nurses like to be part
of science in the making. And they thrive
on providing complex, high-intensity
therapies that require vigilant patient
oversight,” said Wanda Miller, MSN,
RN, Nursing Director of Pauley Heart
Center. “These characteristics, which our
cardiac and emergency medicine nurses
demonstrate every day, are absolutely
vital to development and delivery of
a leading-edge therapy like therapeutic
hypothermia.
“The key component in a
program like this is teamwork—across
departments and disciplines, between
physicians and nurses. It is a concerted,
effort on the part of dedicated,
knowledgeable health care professionals
that propels medicine forward.
The people that comprise our team are
advancing medical practice based on
the best available research evidence, their
clinical expertise, patient preferences
and outcomes.
“Advances in a new modality such
as therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac
arrest survivors only happen in an
academic medical center like ours, where
the administration makes resources available
and there is a shared determination
to move the therapy forward. We are
taking the lead, developing the protocols,
writing the books. The benefits are
accruing to our patients and, ultimately,
to medical science.”
New Faculty Expands Clinical Services, Increases Scope of Research
Six new faculty recently have joined Pauley Heart Center, bringing additional expertise to our comprehensive cardiology
program. Featured here are Dr. Antonio Abbate, Division of Cardiology; Dr. Patricia Nicolato, Division of
Cardiothoracic Surgery; Dr. Mark Townsend, Divisions of Cardiology and Pediatric Cardiology and Dr. Yihua He,
visiting faculty to the Division of Cardiology. Other new faculty includes Dr. Derek Brinster, Thoracic Aortic Surgery
specialist with the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery; and, Dr. Anindita Das, cardiovascular disease researcher in the
Division of Cardiology’s Basic Research Lab.
“VCU really makes
an effort to bring
excellent care
to everyone in
the community,
from the indigent
to the insured.
The mission is not
just words, it is
something that is
acted on everyday
by everybody and
for everybody.”
Antonio Abbate, MD officially joined the cardiology faculty
this Spring, but his relationship with the division spans
almost a decade. In 1998, Abbate was in medical school
at the University Campus Bio-Medico in Rome when he
was introduced to Dr. George Vetrovec, who was in Italy
speaking at a cardiology conference. The introductions were
made by Dr. Germano di Sciascio, professor and chairman
of the cardiovascular sciences division at the University
Campus Bio-Medico of Rome and a former trainee in
interventional cardiology at MCV.
Dr. Abbate went on to complete his cardiology training
at Catholic University in Rome, all the while keeping in touch
and cooperating on research projects with Dr. Vetrovec.
In 2004, Dr. Abbate moved to Richmond permanently and
completed an internal medicine residency in order to
fulfill the requirements for Virginia licensure.
In his position as Assistant Professor of Medicine,
Dr. Abbate is splitting his time about 50/50 between clinical
duties and research. His research is focused on remodeling
of the heart after acute MI, using pharmacological agents
to decrease dying cells and increase regenerating cells.
One of his studies concerns the use of Anakinra, a drug
that is currently used for rheumatoid arthritis, to block the
biologic activity of Interleukin-1, a protein that mediates
both inflammation and cell death in the heart.
“After a heart attack, a part of the muscle is still at risk,”
said Dr. Abbate. “There is
a delicate balance between
survival and death of those
cells, so if we can promote
the survival of the cells,
we likely could prevent
heart failure.”
Dr. Abbate was attracted
to VCU by its top-notch
faculty, fascinating research,
advanced technology and
availability of resources.
However, coming from a
socialized medicine environment,
he had some concerns
about equality of care across
the entire patient population.
“What I found is that VCU
really makes an effort to
bring excellent care to everyone
in the community, from
the indigent to the insured.
The mission is not just words,
it is something that is acted
on every day by everybody
and for everybody.”

Mark Townsend, MD will officially join the Pauley Heart Center
faculty in September, with a joint appointment as assistant
professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and the
Department of Pediatrics. He already is a familiar face on the
MCV Campus, having completed medical school, a residency
in combined internal medicine and pediatrics and a three-year
Pediatric Cardiology fellowship here.
Dr. Townsend is specializing in adult congenital cardiology,
a field he became interested in early in medical school.
He has been mentored extensively by Dr. Louise Robertson,
who has served as a congenital cardiologist at VCUHS
for more than 40 years and who has been honored with
a named professorship in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology.
“Adult cardiology is basically an acquired disease
process, whereas congenital heart disease is present since
birth. Intrinsic with that is a whole different approach to the
disease process. That is what fascinated me and captured
my interest right from the outset,” said Dr. Townsend.
“Another thing that was, and continues to be, appealing
to me is that adult congenital cardiology is a relatively new
field of medicine. It didn’t exist 25 years ago to the extent
that it does today. The field is quickly evolving in that it
is growing up with the adult congenital population. Progress
in surgery and other advances in medicine have brought us
to the point where we now have a significant subset of adult
patients with very complex congenital heart disease,”
continued Dr. Townsend. “These patients have unique and
complicated medical, surgical and psychosocial profiles that
are the driving force behind the field.”
“My role is not just to manage patients’ diseases, but
also to understand their
histories and help them deal
with myriad related issues
such as the progression
of their disease, additional
surgery or interventions,
physical limitations,
occupational and lifestyle
modifications, and reproductive
and genetic concerns.
It requires a global approach.
Adult congenital cardiologists
are part physician,
part detective, part historian
and part educator. It’s a
very cool field to be in.”
Dr. Townsend’s principal
clinical practice location
will be a new adult congenital
cardiology clinic at the
VCU Medical Center at Stony
Point. In addition to patient
care, he will be responsible
for the congenital heart
disease rotation in the
general adult cardiology
fellowship program and plans
to provide educational
symposia for the public and
primary physicians as well.
“Adult congenital
cardiologists
are part physician,
part detective,
part historian
and part educator.
It’s a very cool
field to be in.”
Mark Townsend, MD
Patricia Nicolato, DO was
in her second year of medical school
at Michigan State University
when she set her sights on being
a heart surgeon.
”We were studying the cardiovascular
system, and the faculty
invited us to observe heart surgery,
which I did. I knew right then, that
is what I wanted to do. It seemed
like an overwhelming goal at the
time but I just kept working at it.
If you are persistent, you get what
you want.”
‘Working at it’ included an
extended internship at Metropolitan
Hospital in Michigan, a general
surgery residency at University
of Medicine and Dentistry in New
Jersey, a cardiothoracic fellowship
at Deborah Heart and Lung
Center in New Jersey and advanced
cardiothoracic surgery training
with Dr. Kasirajan here at Pauley
Heart Center. Dr. Nicolato’s
perserverance and talent paid off last
July when she joined the Division
of Cardiothoracic Surgery as
Assistant Professor.
She says that she couldn’t be
more pleased with where her journey
has culminated. “I enjoy Richmond
and this hospital. Of all the
hospitals I’ve worked in, and I’ve
worked in quite a few, this is the
tops. The faculty and nursing staff
are excellent, as is the ICU intensive
care team. I am proud to be part
of them.”
Yihua He, MD, visiting faculty
to our Echocardiography
Laboratories, hopes to accomplish
a great deal during her yearlong stay.
Her goals include gaining experience
with contemporary equipment
and technologies, collaborating on
echo research projects, and learning
new approaches to patient
management logistics. And, along
the way, she intends to become
fluent in English.
As assistant director of
the Echocardiography Department
at Capital University of Medical
Science, Beijing Anzhen Hospital,
Beijing, China, Dr. He brings
extensive expertise and new
knowledge to VCU.
“This is a mutually beneficial
exchange,” said Dr. Ian Nixon,
Pauley Heart Center’s Director
of Echocardiography and the
Noninvasive Cardiology Services.
“Dr. He is an exceptional physician,
researcher and teacher. Her curiosity,
intellect and skills are a wonderful
addition to our echo labs.”
Dr. He said that while many
of the technologies in China
are quite similar to those used here,
the approach to patient care is
markedly different. She explained,
“In my hospital’s echo lab,
generally a patient sees only one
doctor, who evaluates and then
makes recommendations for the
patient’s care. Here, a patient may
see several doctors and other
specialists, and when necessary,
opinions are sought from other
departments. There is much more
collaboration and teamwork.”
One of the areas where she
is seeing teamwork in action is in
the cardiothoracic operating room.
Intra-operative ultrasound, which
is routinely used here in cardiac
surgery patients, is less commonly
used in China. “I am getting
important experience in the use
of ultrasound to monitor patients
during heart surgery,”said Dr. He.
“With this experience I will be able
to introduce and supervise this
technique in my hospital in Beijing.”
Dr. He has been home
only once since she began here in
December. That was to defend
a research project she had entered
into the prestigious Beijing Scientific
and Technical Prize competition.
She won the top prize and her
project will now go on to compete
at the national level.

Cardiac Nursing News
The seventh annual Heart Matters Nursing and Allied Health
Conference was held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on
November 17, 2006. The conference, which serves as a conduit for
information on the current treatment modalities for cardiovascular patients,
drew participants from all regions of the state. Lecture topics ranged from
“Digital Immigrants Teaching Digital Natives,” to “The Total Artificial Heart
Experience,” to “Strategies for Outpatient Management of Heart Failure.”
Conference participants learned about the state of research into human and
animal interaction as they enjoyed ‘therapy’ from the VCU Medical Center
therapy dogs. Scholarships for complimentary attendance at the conference
are awarded to all local schools of nursing through a grant from the Teresa
Thomas Foundation. A sold-out pre-conference entitled “Mastering the
Mystery of the 12 Lead ECG” was held on November 16, 2006.
The following individuals were
recognized at the annual Week
of the Nurse Award Ceremony
held on May 10, 2007.
RN Excellence in Leadership Award
Quality of Nursing Leadership
Michelle Gossip
M10 – CCU
Monika Mehlbrech
M10E – Cardiology/ICA
Linda Oberlander
M4 – CSICU
Charnetta Robinson
M10W – Cardiothoracic Surgery
Barney Tormey
Gateway 3 – CVPCU
RN Excellence in Practice Award
Quality of Care
Deborah Booker
Gateway 3 – CVPCU
Renee Christensen
M10W – Cardiothoracic
Joelle Lemmons
M10E – Cardiology/ICA
Arnold Sudario
M4 - CSICU
LPN Excellence in Practice Award
Quality of Care
Hazel Cohan
M10E – Cardiology/ICA
Tanna Bowman
Gateway 3 – CVPCU
Carl Hill
M4 – CSICU
Lindsay Keilholtz
M10 – CCU
Chrissy Schaeffer
M10E – Cardiology/ICA
Lisa Smith
M10W – Cardiothoracic
RN Excellence in Evidence-based
Practice Award
Quality of Care Utilizing Evidencebased
Practice
Linda Oberlander
M4 – CSICU
RN Professional Practice Award
Autonomy
Diana Bull
M10 – CCU
Linda Oberlander
M4 – CSICU
Excellence in Teaching Award
Nurses as Teachers
Kathy Harris
Cardiac Cath Lab/EPS/Heart Station
Sherry Lockhart
M4 – CSICU
Ann McRae
M10 – CCU
Collaborative Practice Award
Interdisciplinary Relationships
Michelle Gossip
M10 – CCU
Barbara A. Farley, MN, RN,
Graduate Nursing Scholarship
Tamara Broadnax
American Association of
Critical Care Nurses, Greater
Richmond Area Chapter,
2006 Award Winners were:
Leader of the Year
Marian Altman
Critical Care Novice of the Year
Roman Gunn
Member of the Year
Monika Mehlbrech
Jeanne Salyer and Maureen Flattery were invited panelists in a discussion
titled "From Observation to Research in Nursing and Social Sciences: Acting
on Your Ideas" on April 27, 2007 at the International Society of Heart and Lung
Transplantation 27th Annual Meeting and Scientific Session in San Francisco
Laura Savage made a presentation, “Care of the Patient with Pulmonary
Hypertension” at HEART MATTERS. Savage was honored for Nursing Excellence
by the Zeta chapter of Chi Eta Psi sorority in May 2007.
Linda Ohler presented “Digital Immigrants Teaching Digital Natives: Patient
Education in the 21st Century” at HEART MATTERS.
Maureen Flattery lectured on: “Clinical Application of Genetic Testing in Heart
Transplant Recipients” at six XDx-sponsored teleconferences; Advanced Case Studies
in Heart and Lung Transplantation” for the Advances in Transplantation conference;
and, “Incorporating New Technology into Practice” for Pittsburgh chapter of ITNS.
Sherry Lockhart’s recent poster presentations include “The Total Artificial Hear-
A Bridge of Hope,” “Where do we begin? The Implementation of a TAH
Program within the CSICU” and “TAH The Journey.”
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Andrea K. Hastillo and Dr. Samantha Hastillo Hess Hudson (right)
were inducted into AOA on May 4, 2007. They join Dr. Michael L. Hess
to become a complete family of VCU AOA honorees! Medical Grand
Rounds and an address at the awards banquet were given by MCV Medical
School alumna Dr. Pamela S. Douglas, chief of the division of cardiology
at Duke University Medical Center.
Cardiology Fellow Dr. Sarah Joyner received the Liz Fries Young
Investigator award at the 3rd Annual Women's Health Research Day.
Dr. Joyner and her colleagues presented a poster describing gender differences
in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. The Liz Fries award recognizes
the high quality of the work and the potential for future success in Women's
Health research, and includes support for travel to a national scientific
meeting. Dr. Antonio Abbate won honorable mention in the competition.
The Echocardiography Lab has been reaccredited. This is a very tedious
survey process but once again, thanks to Dr. Ian Nixon, the faculty,
Cathy Guard and her staff, the Lab came through with flying colors.
The accrediting organization is the Intersocietal Commission for the
Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories. This is a 3-year
accreditation.
Melissa Scott was named Employee of the Month for September ‘06
and Maria “Dhol” Tuason took the honors for January ’07.
Dr. Rakesh Kukreja received an award from the Sexual Medicine Society
of North America for his work on the role of PDE-5 Inhibitors in
cardioprotection. Recently published work by Kukreja and his colleagues
on the protective effect of Sildenafil (Viagra) and Vardenfil (Levitra)
has been the subject of considerable media attention including interviews
by WRVA (Richmond) and WTOP FM (Washington DC). In addition,
the Museum of Science, Boston, produced a story for their “Current Science
and Technology” podcast series titled “Viagra for Your Heart,” which
also was broadcast on New England Cable News.
Dr. Anthony Minisi presented a poster at the Experimental Biology meeting
in Washington. The title of the poster was “Aortic Baroreceptor Function
and Depressed Baroreflex Sensitivity Following Myocardial Infarction.”
“Implication of the New Low-Density Lipoprotein Goals in Dyslipidemia
Management of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome,” authored
by Drs. Kontos, Joyner, Anderson, Ornato, Tatum and Jesse and
Charlotte S. Roberts, MSN, was published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Cath Lab Dedicated to Dr. Chartchai Kositprapa
On Thursday, April 12, 2007, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA
Medical Center’s new cardiac catheterization laboratory was
officially dedicated to the memory of Dr. Chartchai Kositprapa.
Dr. Kositprapa completed his Cardiology and Interventional
Fellowship at VCU. He became an assistant professor at
VCU Health Systems and McGuire VA Medical Center in the
Division of Cardiology in 2003. Dr. Kositprapa was 34 years
old when he suffered a fatal heart attack while training
for the 2005 Richmond Marathon.
National Meetings
Pauley Heart Center was well represented at the American
College of Cardiology i2 Summit and 56th Annual Session,
held in New Orleans on March 24-27, 2007. Our faculty
participation is indicated in red.
i2 Summit 2007 Innovation
in Intervention
Abstract Graders
Michael J. Cowley
Evelyne Goudreau
George W. Vetrovec
Vein Graft and Thrombotic Lesions:
Avoiding the Landmines
Panelist
George W. Vetrovec
Live Case Transmissions Session VII
Panelist
Michael J. Cowley
Cath Lab Nightmares: Managing
Complications of Complex
Intervention
Panelist
Evelyne Goudreau
Statin Pretreatment Prevents
Contrast-Induced Nephropathy
and Improves Long-Term Outcomes
in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous
Coronary Intervention: Results
of the Aaryda-Renal Study
Abstract Presentation
Annunzita Nusca
Giuseppe Patti
George W. Vetrovec
Vincenzo Pasceri
Massimo Chello
Andrea D’Ambrosio
Germano Di Sciscio
Drug-Eluting Stents for Bifurcations
and Left Main
Co-Chair
Michael J. Cowley
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Pharmacology: The Basics
Presenter
Michael J. Cowley
ACC.07 56th Annual Session
Abstract Graders
Michael C. Kontos
Mark A. Wood
S100B Human Heart Expression
and Myocardial Apoptosis in the
Peri-Infarct Viable Myocardium
of Patients Dying after Acute
Myocardial Infarction
Abstract Presenters
Giovanna Di Giannuario
Antonio Abbate
Giovanna Liuzzo
Anna Severino
Liugi M. Biasucci
Rosanna Bussani
Lucia Calcagni
Michela Casella
Pietro Santarelli
Filippo Crea
Alfonso Baldi
Activated Partial Thromboplastin
Time Measurement is Not
Associated with Clinical Outcomes
in Patients with High-Risk Non-
ST-Segment Elevation Acute
Coronary Syndromes Treated with
Unfractionated Heparin
Abstract Presenter
Shaun G. Goodman
Kenneth W. Mahaffey
Karen Chiswell
Marc Cohen
Michael C. Kontos
Elliot M. Antman
James J. Ferguson
Robert M. Califf
Richard Becker.
Improvement in Cardiac Function
with Parecoxib, a Cyclooxygenase-
2 Inhibitor, in a Rat Model of
Ischemic Heart Failure
Abstract Presenters
Antonio Abbate
Fadi N. Salloum
Ramzi Ockaili
Evan Ownby
Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai
Stefania Straino
Michael Lipinski
Rakesh C. Kukreja
George W. Vetrovec
Intracoronary Stem Cell Therapy
Improves Left Ventricular Function
and Decreases Infarct Size Following
Acute Myocardial Infarction:
A Meta-Analysis
Abstract Presenters
Michael Lipinski
Antonio Abbate
Reena Knianey
George W. Vetrovec
Giuseppe G. Biondi-Zoccai
The Minute Ventilation/Carbon
Dioxide Production Slope
Prognostically Outperforms the
Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope
Abstract Presenters
Ross Arena
Jonathan Myers
Marco Guazzi
Mary Ann Peberdy
Sherry Pinkstaff
Joshua Abella
Daniel Bensinhon
Paul Chase
Systolic Dysfunction Is Frequent
and has a Similar Prevalence
in Patients with ST and Non-ST
Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Abstract Presenters
Michael C. Kontos
Thomas T. Noel
Michael Stevens
Joseph P. Ornato
Charlotte S. Roberts
James L. Tatum
Robert l. Jesse
The Triple Rule-Out Is the
Test of Choice for Acute Chest Pain
Opening Arguments/Rebuttal,
Antagonist
Michael C. Kontos
Late Outcomes after Ablation
of Atrial Flutter
Presenter
Mark A. Wood
What is the Best Way to Triage
Patients with Chest Pain in the
Emergency Room?
Panelist
Michael C. Kontos
Widespread Coronary and
Myocardial Activated T
Lymphocytic Infiltrate in
Acute Myocardial Infarction
Abstract Presenters
Antonio Abbate
Rossana Bussani
Giovanni Liuzzo
Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai
Elena Barresi
Pasquale Mellone
Luigi M. Biasucci
Furio Silvestri
Alfonso Baldi
George W. Vetrovec
Filippo Crea
Bedside Prediction of Elevated
Filling Pressures with Acoustic
Cardiography in Dyspneic Patients
Abstract Presenter
Sean P. Collins
Christopher J. Lindsell
Michael C. Kontos
Michel Zuber
Christine H. Attenhofer Jost
Peter Kipfer
Douglas Kosmicki
Andrew D. Michaels
In-Hospital Mortality May
Not Be a Valid Predictor of Overall
Quality of Care in Patients with
Myocardial Infarction
Abstract Presenters
Michael C. Kontos
Robert Jesse
Laura Kreisa
Charlotte S. Roberts
George W. Vetrovec
Protein Disulfide Isomerase Prevents
Apoptosis and Remodeling after
Acute Myocardial Infarction
Abstract Presenters
Anna Severino
Mara Campioni
Stefania Straino
Fadi N. Salloum
Maurizio C. Capogrossi
Filippo Crea
Antonio Abbate
Alfonso Baldi
Rapamycin Sirolimus
Administration in Vivo Limits
Post-Ischemic Myocardial Injury
by MAPK Signaling in the
Mouse Heart
Abstract Presenters
Fadi N. Salloum
Evan D. Ownby
Anindita Das
Yuko Takenoshita
Antonio Abbate
George W. Vetrovec
Rakesh C, Kulreja
Safety of Perioperative Use
of Selective and Nonselective
Cyclo-Oxyenase-2 Inhibitors:
A Systematic Analysis on 6,829
Patients Undergoing Cardiac
and Noncardiac Surgery
Abstract Presenters
Antonio Abatte
Kyong Chong
Even Ownby
George W. Vetrovec
Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai
Improved Ex Vitvo Magnetic
Resonance Imaging of Human
Aortic Atherosclerosis with
Macrophage-Specific
Immunomicelles
Abstract Presenters
Michael J. Lipinski
Juan Carlos Frias
Vardan Amirbekian,
Vanatesh Mani
Juan Gillberto S. Aquinaldo
Karen Briley-Saebo
Dan Sandberg
Davis Massey
Valentin Fuster
George W. Vetrovec
Zahi A. Fayad
Exercise Oscillatory Ventilation
Is a Strong Predictor of Sudden
Death in Heart Failure Patients
Abstract Presenters
Marco Guazzi
Ross Arena
Sherry Pinkstaff
Giusepe Reina
Nello Acione
Maurizio D. Guazzi
Meta-Analysis of 1,193 Patients
Shows that Late Percutaneous
Coronary Intervention for the
Occluded Infarct-Related Artery
Improves Survival
Abstract Presenters
Darryn Appleton
Antonio Abatte
Venkat Ramachandran
Pirefrancesco Agostoni
Michael Lipinski
George W. Vetrovec
Giuseppe Biodi-Zoccai

Publications
Pauley Heart Center physicians, scientists and nurses
authored or co-authored more than fifty articles or abstracts
that were published in national journals from mid-October, 2006
through early May, 2007. (VCU faculty is shown in red.)
Abbate A, Biondi-Zoccai GG, Agostoni P, Lipinski MJ, Vetrovec GW.
Recurrent angina after coronary revascularization: a clinical challenge.
Eur Heart J. 2007 Mar 23
Nixon JV.
Lower is better--the contemporary concept of low-density lipoprotein
lowering in the preventive management of cardiovascular risk: does
this apply to all patients?
Prev Cardiol. 2006 Fall;9(4):219-25; quiz 226-7.
Lipinski MJ, Abbate A, Fuster V, Vetrovec GW.
Drug insight: statins for nonischemic heart failure--evidence and potential
mechanisms.
Nat Clin Pract Cardiovasc Med. 2007 Apr;4(4):196-205.
Fuster V.Ramachandran V, Stevens MP, Amin M, Appleton D, Abbate A.
Bi-fascicular block on EKG as the initial presenting sign of cardiac sarcoidosis.
Int J Cardiol. 2007 May 16;118(1):e1-2.
Topaz O.
Ischemic coronary syndromes and SVG Interventions-Do 2b/3a inhibitors
miss the target?
Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2007 Apr 1;69(5):630-1.
Wu DM, Jiang M, Zhang M, Liu XS, Korolkova YV, Tseng G-N.
KCNE2 is colocalized with KCNQ1 and KCNE1 in cardiac myocytes
and may function as a negative modulator of I(Ks) current amplitude
in the heart.
Heart Rhythm. 2006.Dec;3(12):1469-80.
Kenigsberg DN, Ellenbogen KA.
ICD arrhythmia detection and discrimination: are we there yet?
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2006 Dec;17(12):1320-2.
Morrow DA, Cannon CP, Jesse RL, Newby LK, Ravkilde J, Storrow AB, Wu AH,
Christenson RH; National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry.
National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory Medicine Practice
Guidelines: Clinical characteristics and utilization of biochemical
markers in acute coronary syndromes.
Circulation. 2007 Apr 3;115(13):e356-75. Clin Chem. 2007 Apr;53(4):552-74.
Testa L, Trotta G, Abbate A, Agostoni P, Biondi-Zoccai GG.
The hurdles of warfarin and the hurdles of clinical practice.
Stroke. 2006 Dec;37(12):2867; author reply 2868.
Tedrow UB, Stevenson WG, Wood MA, Shepard RK, Hall K, Pellegrini CP,
Ellenbogen KA.
Activation sequence modification during cardiac resynchronization
by manipulation of left ventricular epicardial pacing stimulus strength.
Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2007 Jan;30(1):65-9.
Arena R, Fei DY, Arrowood JA, Kraft KA.
Influence on aerobic fitness on aortic stiffness in apparently healthy
Caucasian and African-American subjects.
Int J Cardiol. 2007 Jan 29
Schenkein HA, Best AM, Brooks CN, Burmeister JA, Arrowood JA, Kontos M, Tew JG.
Anti-cardiolipin and increased serum adhesion molecule levels in patients
with aggressive periodontitis.
J Periodontol. 2007 Mar;78(3):459-66.
Bussani R, De-Giorgio F, Abbate A, Silvestri F.
Cardiac metastases.
J Clin Pathol. 2007 Jan;60(1):27-34.
Baumgarten CM.
Cell volume regulation in cardiac myocytes: a leaky boat gets a new
bilge pump.
J Gen Physiol. 2006 Nov;128(5):487-9.
Brinster DR, Wheatley GH 3rd, Williams J, Ramaiah VG, Diethrich EB, Rodriguez-Lopez JA.
Are penetrating aortic ulcers best treated using an endovascular approach?
Ann Thorac rug. 2006 Nov: 82(5):1688-91.
Cowley MJ.
Drug-eluting stent restenosis: incidence, predictors, mechanisms, and
treatment.
J Interv Cardiol. 2006 Oct;19(5 Suppl):S47-53.
Ornato JP, Peberdy MA.
Measuring progress in resuscitation: it's time for a better tool.
Circulation. 2006 Dec 19;114(25):2754-6.
Ellenbogen KA.
Pacing therapy for prevention of atrial fibrillation.
Heart Rhythm. 2007 Mar;4(3 Suppl):S84-7.
Biondi-Zoccai GG, Lotrionte M, Agostoni P, Abbate A, Fusaro M, Burzotta F, Testa L,
Sheiban I, Sangiorgi G.
A systematic review and meta-analysis on the hazards of discontinuing or not
adhering to aspirin among 50,279 patients at risk for coronary artery disease.
Eur Heart J. 2006 Nov;27(22):2667-74.
Tseng G-N, Sonawane KD, Korolkova YV, Zhang M, Liu J, Grishin EV, Guy HR.
Probing the outer mouth structure of the HERG channel with Peptide
toxin footprinting and molecular modeling.
Biophys J. 2007 May 15;92(10):3524-40
Kenigsberg DN, Lee BP, Grizzard JD, Ellenbogen KA, Wood MA.
Accuracy of intracardiac echocardiography for assessing the esophageal
course along the posterior left atrium: a comparison to magnetic resonance
imaging.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2007 Feb;18(2):169-73.
Katritsis D, Wood MA, Shepard RK, Giazitzoglou E, Kourlaba G, Ellenbogen KA.
Atrial arrhythmias following ostial or circumferential pulmonary vein
ablation.
J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2006 Aug;16(2):123-30.
Kukreja RC, Xi L.
eNOS phosphorylation: a pivotal molecular switch in vasodilation
and cardioprotection?
J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2007 Feb;42(2):280-2.
Pena RE, Shepard RK. Ellenbogen KA.
How to make a submuscular pocket.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2006 Dec;17(12):1381-3.
De Giorgio F, Abbate A, Vetrugno G, Capelli A, Arena V.
Non-atherosclerotic coronary pathology causing sudden death.
J Clin Pathol. 2007 Jan;60(1):94-7.
CARMEL Excimer Laser Interventional Study Group; Topaz O, Ebersole D, Dahm JB,
Alderman EL, Madyoon H, Vora K, Baker JD, Hilton D, Das T.
Excimer laser in myocardial infarction: a comparison between STEMI
patients with established Q-wave versus patients with non-STEMI (non-Q).
Lasers Med Sci. 2007 Apr 1.
Groh WJ, Birnbaum A, Barry A, Anton A, Mann NC, Peberdy MA, Vijayaraghavan K,
Powell J, Mosesso VN Jr; PAD Trial Investigators.
Characteristics of volunteers responding to emergencies in the Public Access
Defibrillation Trial.
Resuscitation. 2007 Feb;72(2):193-9.
Carlson MD, Wilkoff BL, Maisel WH, Carlson MD, Ellenbogen KA, Saxon LA,
Prystowsky EN, Alpert JS, Cain ME, Ching EA, Curtis AB, Davies DW, Hammill SC,
Hauser RG, Lampert R, Zipes DP; American College of Cardiology Foundation; American
Heart Association; International Coalition of Pacing and Electrophysiology Organizations.
Recommendations from the Heart Rhythm Society Task Force on
Device Performance Policies and Guidelines Endorsed by the American
College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and the American
Heart Association (AHA) and the International Coalition of Pacing
and Electrophysiology Organizations (COPE).
Heart Rhythm. 2006 Oct;3(10):1250-73.
Kimball P, Flattery M, Kasirajan, V.
T-cell response to staphylococcal enterotoxin B is reduced among heart
failure patients on ventricular device support.
Transplant Proc. 2006 Dec:38(10):3695-6.
Harton SC, Grap MJ, Savage L, Elswick RK.
Frequency and predictors of return to incentive spirometry volume baseline
after cardiac surgery.
Prog Cardiovasc Nurs. 2007 Winter; 22(1):7-12.
Hamdan MH, Freedman RA, Gilbert EM, Dimarco JP, Ellenbogen KA, Page RL.
Atrioventricular junction ablation followed by resynchronization therapy
in patients with congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation (AVERT-AF)
study design.
Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2006 Oct;29(10):1081-8.
Apple FS, Jesse RL, Newby LK, Wu AH, Christenson RH; National Academy of
Clinical Biochemistry; IFCC Committee for Standardization of Markers of Cardiac Damage.
National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and IFCC Committee
for Standardization of Markers of Cardiac Damage Laboratory Medicine
Practice Guidelines: Analytical issues for biochemical markers of acute
coronary syndromes.
Circulation. 2007 Apr 3;115(13):e352-5. Clin Chem. 2007 Apr;53(4):547-51.
Abbate A, Morales C, De Falco M, Fedele V, Biondi Zoccai GG, Santini D, Palleiro J,
Vasaturo F, Scarpa S, Liuzzo G, Severino A, Baldi F, Crea F, Biasucci LM, Vetrovec GW,
Gelpi RJ, Baldi A.
Ischemia and apoptosis in an animal model of permanent infarct-related
artery occlusion.
Int J Cardiol. 2006 Nov 14.
Kayser R, Brinster DR, Parker MS, Nixon JV.
Circumferential Involvement of an Acute Type B Aortic Dissection:
A Unique Case.
J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2007 (in press).
Miller CD, Banerjee A, Mahaffey KW, Kontos MC, Fermann G, Pollack CV Jr,
Antman E, Aylward P, Goodman SG, Santos R, Ferguson JJ, Califf RM, Hoekstra JW.
Treatment and outcomes of patients with evolving myocardial
infarction: experiences from the SYNERGY trial.
Eur Heart J. 2007 Apr 3.
Kukreja RC.
Cardiovascular protection with sildenafil following chronic inhibition
of nitric oxide synthase.
Br J Pharmacol. 2007 Mar;150(5):538-40.
Sweeney MO, Ellenbogen KA, Miller EH, Sherfesee L, Sheldon T, Whellan D.
The Managed Ventricular pacing versus VVI 40 Pacing (MVP) Trial:
clinical background, rationale, design, and implementation.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2006 Dec;17(12):1295-8.
Salloum FN, Takenoshita Y, Ockaili RA, Daoud VP, Chou E, Yoshida K,
Kukreja RC.
Sildenafil and vardenafil but not nitroglycerin limit myocardial infarction
through opening of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels when administered
at reperfusion following ischemia in rabbits.
J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2007 Feb;42(2):453-8.
Das A, Smolenski A, Lohmann SM, Kukreja RC.
Cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase Ialpha attenuates necrosis
and apoptosis following ischemia/reoxygenation in adult cardiomyocyte.
J Biol Chem. 2006 Dec 15;281(50):38644-52.
Arena R, Myers J, Abella J, Peberdy MA, Bensimhon D, Chase P, Guazzi M.
Development of a Ventilatory Classification System in Patients
with Heart Failure.
Circulation. 2007 Apr 23.
Nixon JV.
Who should receive a statin drug to lower cardiovascular risk? Does the
drug and the dose of the drug matter?
Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2006;2(4):441-6.
Biondi-Zoccai GG, Lotrionte M, Agostoni P, Valgimigli M, Abbate A, Sangiorgi G,
Moretti C, Sheiban I.
Benefits of clopidogrel in patients undergoing coronary stenting significantly
depend on loading dose: evidence from a meta-regression.
Am Heart J. 2007 Apr;153(4):587-93.
Kukreja RC.
Mechanism of reactive oxygen species generation after opening of
mitochondrial KATP channels.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2006 Nov;291(5):H2041-3.
Geocadin RG, Koenig MA, Stevens RD, Peberdy MA.
Intensive care for brain injury after cardiac arrest: therapeutic hypothermia
and related neuroprotective strategies.
Crit Care Clin. 2006 Oct;22(4):619-36; abstract viii.
Lewis NP, Stehlik J, Starling RC, Movsesian MA, Fang JC, Brown RN, Hess ML,
Kirklin JK; Cardiac Transplant Research Database Group.
Utility of long-term surveillance endomyocardial biopsy: a multiinstitutional
analysis.
J Heart Lung Transplant. 2006 Dec;25(12):1402-9.
Merchant RM, Abella BS, Peberdy MA, Soar J, Ong ME, Schmidt GA, Becker LB,
Vanden Hoek TL.
Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest: Unintentional overcooling
is common using ice packs and conventional cooling blankets.
Crit Care Med. 2006 Dec;34(12 Suppl):S490-S494.
Horowitz BN, Vaseghi M, Mahajan A, Cesario DA, Buch E, Valderrabano M, Boyle NG,
Ellenbogen KA, Shivkumar K.
Percutaneous intrapericardial echocardiography during catheter ablation:
a feasibility study.
Heart Rhythm. 2006 Nov;3(11):1275-82.
Biondi-Zoccai GG, Abbate A, Valgimigli M, Agostoni P.
Keeping a high standard in quantitative analyses, meta-analyses, and
systematic reviews.
Eur Heart J. 2007 Feb;28(4):516-7.
Topaz O.
Rotational atherectomy debulking in depressed left ventricular function:
just do it.
J Invasive Cardiol. 2006 Nov;18(11):519-20.
Katritsis DG, Ellenbogen KA, Becker AE.
Topography of the AV node.
Heart Rhythm. 2007 Mar;4(3):384-5.
Wu DM, Lai LP, Zhang M, Wang HL, Jiang M, Liu XS, Tseng G-N.
Characterization of an LQT5-related mutation in KCNE1, Y81C:
implications for a role of KCNE1 cytoplasmic domain in IKs channel
function.
Heart Rhythm. 2006 Sep;3(9):1031-40.
Sinagra G, Bussani R, Abbate A, Piro M, Biondi-Zoccai GG, Kontos MC, Sabbadini G,
Barresi E, Crea F, Biasucci LM, Aleksova A, Pinamonti B, Silvestri F, Vetrovec GW, Baldi A.
Left ventricular diastolic filling pattern at Doppler echocardiography and apoptotic
rate in fatal acute myocardial infarction.
Am J Cardiol. 2007 Feb 1;99(3):307-9.
Shepard RK, Ellenbogen KA.
Challenges and Solutions for Difficult Implantations of CRT Devices:
The Role of New Technology and Techniques.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2007 Jan;18 Suppl 1:S21-5.
Zhang M, Liu X-S, Diochot S, Lazdunski M, Tseng G-N.
APETx1 from sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima is a gating
modifier peptide toxin of the human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG)
potassium channel.
Mol Pharm 2007 (in press).
Wood MA, Parvez B, Ellenbogen AL, Shaffer KM, Goldberg SM, Gaspar MP,
Arief I, Schubert CM.
Determinants of lesion size and tissue temperature during catheter
cryoablation.
Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2007 May;30(5):644-54

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