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Clinical Investigation

Anthony Aizer, M.D.
Larry Chinitz, M.D.
Stuart Dickerman, M.D.
Judith Hochman, M.D.
Ulrich Jorde, M.D.
Edward Katz, M.D.
Itzhak Kronzon, M.D.
Martha J. Radford, M.D.
Harmony Reynolds, M.D.
Barry Rosenzweig, M.D.
Arthur Schwartzbard, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Steven P. Sedlis M.D.
James Slater, M.D.
Paul Tunick, M.D.
Timothy Vittorio, M.D.
Howard S. Weintraub, M.D.


Anthony Aizer, M.D.
Dr. Aizer focuses his research interests primarily on the identification of modifiable risk factors for the development of atrial fibrillation through the use of large population databases. Additional research focuses on the identification of patients with sarcoidosis at high-risk of cardiac involvement.

Selected Publications:

  1. Aizer A , Stern EH, Gomes JA, Teirstein AS, Eckart RE, Mehta D. Usefulness of programmed ventricular stimulation in predicting future arrhythmic events in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis. American Journal of Cardiology, 96: 276-282, 2005.

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Larry Chinitz, M.D.
Faculty in the Heart Rhythm Center at New York University Medical Center participates in many clinical trials to assess new treatments that possess the potential to improve each patient's outcome. We are currently accruing patients for a broad range of clinical trials. For more information or to see if you or your patient is eligible for one of these trials, please contact NYU's Heart Rhythm Center's Clinical Research Coordinator, Aileen Ferrick, RN, ACNP-C, at 212-263-3556. In addition to clinical trials, investigators at NYU's Heart Rhythm Center also conduct laboratory research to decipher the cellular mechanisms that initiate and sustain cardiac arrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation (AF).

Selected Publications:

  1. Schwartzman, D., L. Demopoulos, S. Schrem, E. Caracciolo, J. Perez, L. Chinitz and W. Slater. 1992. Autonomic manipulation influences both temporal and frequency analyses of late potentials. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 15:2200-2205.
  2. Glotzer, T., S. Evans, N. Bernstein and L. Chinitz. 1994. Specificity of retrograde conduction in screening for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 17:2134-2136.
  3. Evans, S.J., S. Blumberg and L. Chinitz. 1996. The Utility of Unipolar Electrogram Recording for Catheter Ablation of Accessory Pathways During Atrial Fibrillation. J Invasive Cardiol 8:153-156.
  4. Chinitz, L.A., N.E. Bernstein, B. O'Connor, T.V. Glotzer and N.T. Skipitaris. 1996. Mapping reentry around atriotomy scars using double potentials. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 19:1978-1983.
  5. Bernstein, N.E., N.T. Skipitaris, T.V. Glotzer, J. Delianides, L.A. Chinitz and S. Colvin. 1996. Atrial arrhythmia following a biatrial approach to mitral valve surgery. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 19:1944-1946.
  6. Katz, E.S., R.M. Applebaum, C. Pierson, L. Chinitz, S.B. Colvin and I. Kronzon. 1996. Incomplete occlusion of left ventricular aneurysms after endoventricular aneurysmorrhaphy: diagnosis by echocardiography and ventriculography. Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn 38:96-99.
  7. Holmes, D.S., Z.Q. Sun, L.M. Porter, N.E. Bernstein, L.A. Chinitz, M. Artman and W.A. Coetzee. 2000. Amiodarone inhibits cardiac ATP-sensitive potassium channels. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 11:1152-1158.
  8. Sandler, D.A., D.Y. Feigenblum, N.E. Bernstein, D.S. Holmes and L.A. Chinitz. 2002. Cardiac vein angioplasty for biventricular pacing. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 25:1788-1789.
  9. Jauhar, S., L. Chinitz and U. Jorde. 2003. Drug therapy and microvolt T-wave alternans testing. Lancet 362:1417-1418; author reply 1418.
  10. Bernstein, N.E., D.A. Sandler, M. Goh, D.Y. Feigenblum, D.S. Holmes and L.A. Chinitz. 2004. Why a sawtooth? Inferences on the generation of the flutter wave during typical atrial flutter drawn from radiofrequency ablation. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 9:358-361.
  11. Calkins, H., R. Canby, R. Weiss, G. Taylor, P. Wells, L. Chinitz, S. Milstein, S. Compton, et al. 2004. Results of catheter ablation of typical atrial flutter. Am J Cardiol 94:437-442.
  12. Daubert, J.P., R.H. Hoyt, R. John, L. Chinitz, D.T. Martin, C. Fellows, G. Feld, W. Pelkey, et al. 2005. Performance of a new cardiac cryoablation system in the treatment of cavotricuspid valve isthmus-dependent atrial flutter. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 28 Suppl 1:S142-145.

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Stuart Dickerman, M.D.
Dr. Dickerman is the site prinicipal investigator for the ICE (International Collaboration on Endocarditis) Prospective Cohort Study, an international, multisite registry for research on infective endocarditis. He is particularly interested in embolization associated with infective endocarditis.

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Dr. Judith Hochman
Dr. Hochman directs the Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center at the New York University School of Medicine. Her particular areas of interest include the pathophysiology and management of cardiogenic shock complicating MI. She was the Study Chair of the NHLBI funded SHOCK Trial which demonstrated a one year survival benefit for emergency PCI or CABG. She is investigating the role of systemic inflammation and excess nitric oxide in the genesis and persistence of cardiogenic shock and is Study Chair for phase 2 and phase 3 studies of nitric oxide synthase inhibition in refractory cardiogenic shock- SHOCK 2 and TRIUMPH. Dr. Hochman has also had a long standing interest in late reperfusion post MI and demonstrated a beneficial effect on LV remodeling independent of myocardial salvage in an experimental model. She is Study Chair of an NHLBI funded 2200 patient randomized trial (Occluded Artery Trial) which is testing the hypothesis that late opening of the infarct related artery (PCI\stent) will reduce the 3 year risk of death, MI and Class IV CHF. She is also leading NHLBI funded OAT ancillary studies (OAT-EP, OAT-NUC, TOSCA-2) that are assessing the effect of late PCI on electrical stability, LV remodeling and interaction with viability. Dr. Hochman also investigates sex differences in presentation, pathophysiology and outcome for patients with ischemic disease.

Selected Publications:

  1. Hochman, J.S. and Choo, H: Limitation of Myocardial Infarct Expansion by Reperfusion Independent of Myocardial Salvage. Circulation 1987; 75:299-306.
  2. Hochman JS, Tamis JE, Thompson TD, Weaver WD, White HD, Van de Werf F, Aylward P, Topol EJ, Califf RM. Sex, Clinical Presentation, and Outcome in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes. New Engl. J. Med. 1999 341 4: 226-232
  3. Hochman J, Sleeper L, Webb J, Sanborn T, White H, Talley J, Buller C, Jacobs A, Slater J, Col J, McKinlay S, LeJemtel, T. Early Revascularization in Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock. New Engl. J. Med 1999; 341: 625-34.
  4. Hochman JS, Buller CE, Sleeper LA, Boland J, Dzavik V, Sanborn TA, Godfrey E, White H, Lim J, LeJemtel T, for the SHOCK Study Group. Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction-Etiologies, Management and Outcome; Overall Findings of the SHOCK Trial Registry. J Am Coll Cardiol 2000; 36:1063-1070.
  5. Sadanandan S, Buller C, Menon V, Dzavik V. Terrin M, Knatterud G, Lamas G, Hochman JS. The Late Open Artery Hypothesis – a decade later. Am Heart J 2001;142(3):411-21
  6. Hochman JS, Sleeper LA, White HD, Dzavik V, Wong SC, Menon V, Webb JG, Steingart R, Picard MH, Menegus MA, Boland J, Sanborn T, Buller CE, Modur S, Forman R, Desvigne-Nickens P, Jacobs AK, Slater JN, LeJemtel TH, for the SHOCK Investigators. One Year Survival Following Early Revascularization for Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock. J Am Med Assoc 2001; 285: 190-192.
  7. Braunwald E, Antman EM, Beasley JW, Califf RM, Cheitlin MD, Hochman JS, Jones RH, Kereiakes D, Kupersmith J, Levin TN, Pepine CJ, Schaeffer JW, Smith EE 3rd, Steward DE, Theroux P, Gibbons RJ, Alpert JS, Faxon DP, Fuster V, Gregoratos G, Hiratzka LF, Jacobs AK, Smith SC Jr; American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee on the Management of Patients With Unstable Angina). ACC/AHA guideline update for the management of patients with unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction--2002: summary article: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee on the Management of Patients With Unstable Angina). Circulation. 2002 Oct 1;106(14):1893-900
  8. Hochman JS. Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction: Expanding the Paradigm. Circulation . 2003;107(24):2998-3002
  9. Picard MH, Davidoff R, Sleeper L, Mendes L, Thompson C, Dzavik V, Steingart R, Gin K, White Harvey, Hochman JS for the SHOCK Trial. Echocardiographic Predictors of Survival and Response to Early Revascularization in Cardiogenic Shock. Circulation 2003; 107:279-284
  10. Sanborn TA, Sleeper LA, Webb JG, French JK, Bergman G, Parikh M, Wong SC, Boland J, Pfisterer M, Slater JN, Sharma S, and Hochman JS, for the SHOCK Investigators. Correlates of One-Year Survival in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction: Angiographic Findings from the SHOCK Trial. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003; 42; 1373-9.
  11. Webb JG, Lowe AM, Sanborn TA, White HD, Sleeper LA, Carere RG, Buller CE, Wong SC, Boland J, Dzavik V, Porway M, Pate G, Bergman G, Hochman JS, for the SHOCK Investigators. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention For Cardiogenic Shock In The SHOCK Trial. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003; 42:1380-6
  12. Hochman JS and Ingbar D. Chapter: Pulmonary Edema and Cardiogenic Shock in Harrison’s Textbook of Internal Medicine (2004) 16 th edition
  13. Antman EM, Anbe DT, Armstrong PW, Bates ER, Green LA, Hand M, Hochman JS, Krumholz HM, Kushner FG, Lamas GA, Mullany CJ, Ornato JP, Pearle DL, Sloan MA, Smith SC Jr, Alpert JS, Anderson JL, Faxon DP, Fuster V, Gibbons RJ, Gregoratos G, Halperin JL, Hiratzka LF, Hunt SA, Jacobs AK; American College of Cardiology; American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines; Canadian Cardiovascular Society. ACC/AHA guidelines for the management of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee to Revise the 1999 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction). Circulation. 2004 Aug 31;110(9):e82-292
  14. D z avik V, Sleeper L, Pickard M, Sanborn T, Lowe A, Webb JG, Jacobs A, Saucedo J, Slater J, Hochman JS, for the SHOCK Investigators. Outcome of patients aged ≥75 years in the SHOCK Trial: Do elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock respond differently to emergent revascularization? Am Heart J 2005;149(6):1128-34
  15. Kohsaka S, Menon V, Lowe AM, Lange M, DzavikV, Sleeper LA, Hochman JS. Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome After Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:1643-1650
  16. Babae v A, Frederick PD, Pasta DJ, Every N, Sichrovsky T, Hochman JS for the NRMI Investigators. National Guidelines and Trends in Management of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock: Observations from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction. J Am Med Assoc 2005;294:448-454
  17. Sleeper LA, Ramanathan K, Picard MH, LeJemtel TH, White HD, Dzavik V, Tormey D, Avis NE, Hochman JS. Functional Status and Quality of Life After Emergency Revascularization for Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005;46:266-73
  18. Hochman JS. Chapter 20: “Acute Myocardial Infarction/Complications” in Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine 3 rd Edition. Editor Eric Topol. (Publisher: Lippincott - Williams & Wilkens), 2006.

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Ulrich Jorde, M.D.
Dr. Jorde’s principal research interest lies in the pathophysiology of congestive heart failure as it relates to the application of novel pharmacological and surgical therapies. Recent mechanistic studies have examined the role of anemia and oxidative stress in CHF as well as cardiac MRI strain patterns before and after ventricular restoration therapy (DOR procedure). Dr. Jorde is currently on the steering committee of two multicenter international trials examining the role of the DOR procedure in endstage CHF and the utility of BNP testing for the outpatient management of CHF, respectively.

Selected Publications:

  1. Jorde UP, Ennezat PV, Lisker J, Suryadevar V, Infeld J, Cukon S, Hammer A, Sonnenblick EH, Le Jemtel TH. Maximally recommended doses of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors do not completely prevent ACE mediated formation of angiotensin II in chronic heart failure. Circulation 2000;101:844-46.
  2. Malendowicz SL, Jorde UP, Ennezat PV, Chen T, Murray L, Sonnenblick EH,Evans T, Le Jemtel TH. The 1166 A/C Polymorphism of the Angiotensin II type 1 Receptor Gene does not Correlate with the Blood Pressure Response to Angiotensin II in Patients with CHF. J Clin Basic Cardiol 2001;4: 75-77.
  3. Jorde UP, Vittorio TJ, Katz SD, Colombo PC, Latif F, Le Jemtel TH. Elevated Plasma Aldosterone Levels Despite Complete Inhibition of the Vascular Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme in Chronic Heart Failure. Circulation 2002;106: 1055-1057
  4. Vittorio T, Lang CC, Katz SD, Packer M, Mancini D, Jorde UP . Vasopressor Response to Angiotensin II Infusion in Patients with CHF receiving betablockers. Circulation 2003;107: 290-93.
  5. Jorde UP, Fox MT. The CHARM programme. Lancet 2003 Nov 15;362(9396):1677.
  6. Jauhar S, Chinitz L, Jorde UP. Drug therapy and microvolt T-wave alternans testing. Lancet 2003 Oct 25;362(9393):1417-8.
  7. Jorde UP. Valsartan, captopril, or both in myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med 2004 Feb 26;350(9):943.
  8. Jorde UP, Vittorio TJ, Dimayuga, CA, Homma S, Rizkala A, Le Jemtel TH, Katz, SD. High Versus Low Tissue Affinity Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: Results of a randomized, double blind trial. Am J Cardiol 2004 Dec 15;94(12)1501-05.
  9. Jorde UP. ACE inhibitors following AMI: a class effect? Ann Intern Med. 2005 Jan 4;142(1):78.
  10. Smull D, Jorde UP. Concomitant Use of Nesiritide and Milrinone in acutely decompensated Chronic Heart Failure. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2005;62:291-295.
  11. Colombo PC, Banchs JE, Lachmann J, Malla S, Celaj S, Nicholas B. DuBois NB, Talreja A, Ashton AW, Jorde UP, Ware JA, Le Jemtel TH. Vascular Endothelial Cell Activation in Patients With Decompensated Heart Failure. Response to Short-Term Inotropic Therapy. Circulation 2005 Jan 4;111(1):58-62.
  12. Fox MT, Jorde UP. Treatment algorithms for anemia should be gender specific in subjects with chronic heart failure. Congestive Heart Failure 2005 May-Jun;11(3):129-32.
  13. Onat D, Stathopoulos J, Rose A, Newman K, Sciacca RR, Jorde UP, Colombo PC Nesiritide Infusion via Non-Primed Tubing and Heparin-Coated Catheters is Reliable. Ann Pharmacother. 2005 Oct;39(10):1617-9.
  14. Bohman K, Axel L, Manglik T, Pay V, Jorde UP, Grossi EA, Colvin SB, Galloway AC. Left ventricular strain patterns before and after endoventricular circular patchplasty: Early postoperative remodeling as measured by cardiac MRI. EATCS/ESTS 2005 Barcelona, Spain.

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Edward Katz, M.D.
Dr. Katz’s interests include clinical applications of echocardiography. Much of his work has focused on the impact of transesophageal echocardiography in the operating room and the prevention of stroke in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery, a major morbidity of otherwise successful surgery. In 1992 Dr. Katz authored a seminal publication which identified aortic atherosclerotic plaque as the major factor causing stroke during bypass surgery and suggested altering surgical techniques in order to minimize the risk of stroke. In addition to practicing echocardiography in the laboratories at Tisch Hospital and Bellevue Hospital, Dr. Katz has been the Director of the John Wykoff Cardiology Clinic, the oldest cardiology clinic in America, for the past ten years. He has a strong history of teaching at all level of medical training.

Selected Publications:

  1. Katz ES, Angellilli A, Goldenberg R. Cardiac arrest during anesthesia induction in a world class body builder . A review of the possible detrimental cardiac effects of anabolic steroids. Accepted for publication, Acta Cardiologica, 2005.
  2. Tunick P, Nayar AC, Goodkin GM, Mirchandani S, Francescone S, Rosenzweig BP, Freedberg RS, Katz ES, Applebaum RM, Kronzon I. Effect of treatment on the incidence of stroke or other emboli in 519 patients with severe thoracic aortic plaque. Am J Cariol 2002;90:1320-25.
  3. Cosmi JE, Kort S, Tunic PA, Rosenzweig BP, Freedberg RS, Katz ES, Applebaum RM, Kronzon I. The risk of developing aortic stenosis in patients with "benign" aortic valve thickening. Arch Intern Med 2002;162(20):2345-7.
  4. Katz ES, Tsiamtsouris T, Applebaum RM, Schwartzbard A, Kronzon I. Surgical left atrial appendage ligation is frequently incomplete: a transophageal echocardiographic study. J Am Coll Cardiol 2000; 36:468-71.
  5. Konecky N, Malinow MR, Tunick PA, Freedberg RS, Rosenzweig BP, Katz ES, Hess DL, Upson B, Leung B, Perez J, Kronzon I. Correlation between plasma homocyst(e)ine and aortic atherosclerosis. Am Heart J 1997;133:534-540.
  6. Applebaum RM, Wun HH, Katz ES, Tunick PA, Kronzon I. Effects of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation on carotid artery blood flow. Am Heart J 1998;135:850-4.
  7. Katz ES, Konecky N, Tunick PA, Freedberg RS, Rosenzweig BP, Kronzon I. Visualization and identification of the left carotid and left subclavian arteries: a transesophageal echocardiographic approach. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1996; 9:58-61.
  8. Tunick PA, Katz ES, Rosenzweig BP, Freedberg RS, Perez J, Kronzon I. High risks for vascular events in patients with protruding aortic atheromas: a prospective study. J Am Coll Cardiol 1994; 23:1085-90.
  9. Culliford AT, Tunick PA, Katz ES, Kronzon I. Surgical debridement of the aortic arch: a new procedure for the prevention of embolic phenomenon. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surgery 1994.
  10. Katz ES, Colvin S, Kronzon I. Aortic dissection complicating cardiac surgery: diagnosis by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1993; 6:217-22.
  11. Katz ES, Tunick PA, Ribakove GH, Galloway AC, Culliford AT, Esposito RA, Rusinek H, Spencer FC, Kronzon I. Protruding aortic atheromeas predict stroke in elderly patients undergoing bypass: Experience with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. J Am Coll Cardiol 1992; 20:70-7.
  12. Katz ES, Tunick PA, Kronzon I. Observations of coronary flow augmentation and balloon function during intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation using transesophageal echocardiography. Am J of Cardiol 1992; 69:1635-9.
  13. Ribakove GH, Katz ES, Galloway AC, Grossi EA, Esposito RA, Kronzon I, Spencer FC. Surgical implications of transesophageal echocardiography to grade the atheromatous aortic arch. Ann of Thoracic Surg 1992; 53:758-63.

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Itzhak Kronzon, M.D.
Dr. Kronzon currently studying the effect of intracardiac wires on hemodynamics; Aortic imaging from the cavae using intracardiac echo probe; Intraoperative TEE in minimally invasive surgery; Use of handheld echo in the ER and CCU; Clinical implications of strain and strain rate imaging; Comprehensive non invasive hemodynamic evaluation; CHF with normal ejection fraction; LV diastolic abnormalities during cardiac surgery; MRI Vs Echo in the evaluation of MR; Echo evaluation of congenital heart disease in the adult; 3D reconstruction by echo; Transesophageal cardioversion using TEE probe; Cardiogenic and Aortogenic embolism.

Selected Publications:

  1. Kronzon I, Tunick PA, Scholten MF, Kerber RE, Roelandt JR. Combined transesophaegal echocardiography and transesophageal cardioversion probe: technical aspects. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2005 8(3):213-5.
  2. Spevack DM,Shoyeb A, Yoon AJ, Gordon GM, Matros T, Reynolds HA, Shah A, Tunick PA, Kronzon I. Usefulness of myocardial perfusion echocardiography to identify obstructive coronary artery disease in patients with abnormal ventricular septal motion. Am J Cardiol 2005 95(7):852-5.
  3. Cosmi JE, Tunick PA, Kronzon I. Mortality in patients with paravalvular abscess diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2004;7(7):766-8.
  4. Maurer MS, Spevack D, Burkhoff D, Kronzon I. Diastolic dysfunction, can it be diagnosed by Doppler echocardiography? J Am Coll Cardiol 2004;44(8):1543-9.
  5. Reynolds HR, Tunick PA, Benenstein RJ, Nakra NC, Shah A, Spevack DM, Kronzon I. Frequency of severe renal artery stenosis in patients wtih severe thoracic aortic plaque. Am J Cardiol 2004;94(6):844-6.
  6. Scholten MR. Thorton AS, Jordaens LR, Roelandt JR, Kerber RE, Kronzon I. Usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography using a combined probe when converting atrail fibrillation to sinus rhythm. Am J Cardiol 2004;94(4):470-3.
  7. Reynolds HR, Spevack DM, Shah A, Applebaum RM, Kanchuger M,Tunick PA, Kronzon I. Comparison of image quality between a narrow caliber transesophageal echocardiographic prob and the standard sixe probe during intraoperative evaluation. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2004 17(10):1050-2.
  8. Kronzon I, MatrosTG. TEE in minimally invasive surgery. Am Heart Hosp J 2004 2(4):198-04.
  9. Reynolds HR, Nayar AC, McAleer EP, Schwartz JD, Tunick PA, Appleaum RM, Colvin SB, Culliford AT, Galloway AC, Grossi EA, Ribakove GH, Kronzon I. Substernal epicardial echocardiography: review of a new technique. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2002;16:1204-10.
  10. Pappone C, Rosanio S, Burkhoff D, Mika Y, Vicedomini G, Augello G, Shemer I, Prutchi D, Haddad W, Aviv R, Snir Y, Kronzon I, Alfieri O, Ben-Haim SA. Cardiac contractility modulation by electrical currents applied during the refractory period in patients with heart failure secondary to iscehmic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol 2002;90(12):1307-13.
  11. Tunick PA, Nayar AC, Goodkin GM, Mirchandani S, Francescone S, Rosenzweig BP, Freedberg RS, Katz ES, Applebaum RM, Kronzon I, for the NYU Atheroma Group. Effect of treament on the incidence of stroke and other emboli in 519 patients with severe thoracic aortic plaque. Am J Cardiol 2002;90(12):1320-1325
  12. Reynolds H, Jagen MA, Tunick P, Kronzon I. Sensitivity of transthoracic echo vs. transesophageal echo for the detection of native valve vegetations in the modern era. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2003, 26(1):67-70.
  13. Aronow WS, Ahn C, Mercando AD, Epstein S, Kronzon I. Prevalence of and association between silent myocardial ishcemia and new coronary events in older men and women with and without cardiovascular disease. J Am Geriatr Soc 2002;50:1075-78.
  14. Seward JB, Douglas PS, Erbel R, Kerber RE, Kronzon I, Rakowski H, Sahn LDJ, Sisk EJ, Tajik AJ, Wann S. Hand-carried cardiac ultrasound (HCU) device: recommendations regarding new technology. A report from the echocardiography task force on new technology of the nomenclature and standards committee of the american society of echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2002;15:369-73.
  15. Kort S, Applebaum RM, Grossi EA, Baumann FG, Colvin SB, Galloway AC, Ribakove GH, Steiberg BM, Piedad B, Tunick PA, Kronzon I. Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement: echocardiographic and clinical results. Am Heart J 2001;142(3):476-81.

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Martha J. Radford, M.D.
Dr. Radford is Chief of Clinical Quality and Chief Quality Officer for NYU Medical Center. She has responsibility for understanding and improving the quality of care for all clinical departments within Tisch Hospital and its affiliated programs. In addition, she is a member of the NYU Echocardiography Group. Her current research interests include patterns of cardiovascular care and outcomes; organizational characteristics associated with improvements in care; and using large clinical and community-based databases to illuminate questions left unanswered by other research methods.

Selected Publications:

  1. Spertus JA, Radford MJ, Every NR, Ellerbeck EF, Peterson ED, Krumholz HM. Challenges and opportunities in quantifying the quality of care for acute myocardial infarction: summary from the Acute Myocardial Infarction Working Group of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology First Scientific Forum on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke. Circulation 2003; 107:1681-91.
  2. Burwen DR, Galusha DH, Lewis JM, Bedinger MR, Radford MJ, Krumholz HM, Foody JM. National and state trends in quality of care for acute myocardial infarction between 1994-1995 and 1998-1999: The Medicare Health Care Quality Improvement Program. Arch Intern Med 2003; 163:1430-9.
  3. Krumholz HM, Chen J, Rathore SS, Wang Y, Radford MJ. Regional variation in the treatment and outcomes of myocardial infarction: investigating New England's advantage. Am Heart J 2003; 146:242-9.
  4. Curtis JP, Sokol SI, Wang Y, Rathore SS, Ko DT, Jadbabaie F, Portnay EL, Marshalko SJ, Radford MJ, Krumholz HM. The association of left ventricular ejection fraction, mortality, and cause of death in stable outpatients with heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003; 42:736-42.
  5. Foody JM, Ferdinand FD, Galusha D, Rathore SS, Masoudi FA, Havranek EP, Nilasena D, Radford MJ, Krumholz HM. Patterns of secondary prevention in older patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting during hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction. Circulation 2003; 108 Suppl 1:II24-8.
  6. Holmboe ES, Bradley EH, Mattera JA, Roumanis SA, Radford MJ, Krumholz HM. Characteristics of physician leaders working to improve the quality of care in acute myocardial infarction. Jt Comm J Qual Saf 2003; 29:289-96.
  7. Krumholz HM, Gross CP, Peterson ED, Barron HV, Radford MJ, Parsons LS, Every NR. Is there evidence of implicit exclusion criteria for elderly subjects in randomized trials? Evidence from the GUSTO-1 study. Am Heart J 2003; 146:839-47.
  8. Rathore SS, Foody JM, Radford MJ, Krumholz HM. Sex differences in use of coronary revascularization in elderly patients after acute myocardial infarction: a tale of two therapies. Chest 2003; 124:2079-86.
  9. Lichtman JH, Amatruda J, Yaari S, Cheng S, Smith GL, Mattera JA, Roumanis SA, Wang Y, Radford MJ, Krumholz HM. Clinical trial of an educational intervention to achieve recommended cholesterol levels in patients with coronary artery disease. Am Heart J 2004; 147:522-8.
  10. McNamara RL, Brass LM, Drozda JP Jr, Go AS, Halperin JL, Kerr CR, Levy S, Malenka DJ, Mittal S, Pelosi F Jr, Rosenberg Y, Stryer D, Wyse DG, Radford MJ, Goff DC Jr, Grover FL, Heidenreich PA, Malenka DJ, Peterson ED, Redberg RF. ACC/AHA key data elements and definitions for measuring the clinical management and outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation; A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on clinical data standards (writing committee to develop data standards on atrial fibrillation). J Am Coll Cardiol 2004; 44:475-95.
  11. Vitagliano G, Curtis JP, Concato J, Feinstein AR, Radford MJ, Krumholz HM. Association between functional status and use and effectiveness of beta-blocker prophylaxis in elderly survivors of acute myocardial infarction. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004; 52:495-501.
  12. Bradley EH, Herrin J, Mattera JA, Holmboe ES, Wang Y, Frederick P, Roumanis SA, Radford MJ. Krumholz HM. Quality improvement efforts and hospital performance: rates of beta-blocker prescription after acute myocardial infarction. Med Care 2005; 43:282-92.
  13. Birman-Deych E, Waterman AD, Yan Y, Nilasena DS, Radford MJ, Gage BF. Accuracy of ICD-9-CM codes for identifying cardiovascular and stroke risk factors. Med Care 2005; 43:480-
  14. Gage BF, Birman-Deych E, Kerzner R, Radford MJ, Nilasena DS, Rich MW. Incidence of intracranial hemorrhage in patients with atrial fibrillation who are prone to fall. Am J Med 2005; 118:612-7.

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Harmony Reynolds, M.D.
Dr. Reynolds is a non-invasive cardiologist and clinical investigator. She has a particular interest in the study of heart disease in women. Current projects targeted to women include studies of acute coronary syndromes with non-obstructive coronary artery disease and of apical ballooning cardiomyopathy (tako-tsubo syndrome). Dr. Reynolds is an investigator in the Clinical Coordinating Center of OAT (Occluded Artery Trial), the NHLBI-funded, 2200-patient, multi-center, randomized trial which is testing the hypothesis that late opening of the infarct related artery (PCI/stent) will reduce the 3 year risk of death, MI and Class IV CHF and OAT-NUC, the ancillary study of OAT which focuses on viability and remodeling. She is also an investigator involved in the oversight of TRIUMPH, an international, multi-center, randomized clinical trial of nitric oxide synthase inhibition in cardiogenic shock. Additional research focuses on the use of carotid ultrasound in the diagnosis of atherosclerosis in patients with congestive heart failure and systemic lupus erythematosus and the use of chelation therapy in patients after myocardial infarction.

Selected Publications:

  1. Reynolds HR, Spevack DM, Shah A, Applebaum RM, Kanchuger M, Tunick PA, Kronzon I. Comparison of image quality between a narrow caliber transesophageal echocardiographic probe and the standard size probe during intraoperative evaluation. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2004 Oct;17(10):1050-2.
  2. Reynolds HR, Tunick PA, Benenstein RJ, Nakra NC, Shah A, Spevack DM, Kronzon I. Frequency of severe renal artery stenosis in patients with severe thoracic aortic plaque. Am J Cardiol. 2004 Sep 15;94(6):844-6.
  3. Reynolds HR, Nayar AC, McAleer EP, Schwartz JD, Tunick PA, Applebaum RM, Colvin SB, Culliford AT, Galloway AC, Grossi EA, Ribakove GH, Kronzon I. Substernal epicardial echocardiography: review of a new technique. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2003 Nov;16(11):1204-10.
  4. Reynolds HR, Tunick PA, Kronzon I. Role of transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of patients with stroke. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2003 Sep;18(5):340-5.
  5. Reynolds HR, Jagen MA, Tunick PA, Kronzon I. Sensitivity of transthoracic versus transesophageal echocardiography for the detection of native valve vegetations in the modern era. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2003 Jan;16(1):67-70.
  6. Reynolds HR, Tunick PA, Freedberg RS, Rutkowski M, Kaplan KC, Kronzon I. Paradoxically normal septal motion in Ebstein's anomaly. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2002 Aug;15(8):841-2.
  7. Reynolds HR, Tunick PA, Kort S, Rosenzweig BP, Freedberg RS, Katz ES, Applebaum RM, Portnay EL, Adelman MA, Attubato MJ, Kronzon I. Abdominal aortic aneurysms and thoracic aortic atheromas. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2001 Nov;14(11):1127-31.

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Barry Rosenzweig, M.D.
Dr. Rosenzweig's research interests center upon the clinical applications of echocardiography. He has contributed many original observations concerning the diagnostic capabilities of all forms of cardiac ultrasound imaging. He has been an active principle investigator and contributing author to clinical studies of aortic atherosclerosis, aneurysm and dissection, of the value of echocardiography in the evaluation and treatment of valvular heart disease, and endocarditis and its complications. He is the founder and Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory of the Bellevue Hospital Center, a major educational site for the training programs of the New York University School of Medicine, and attends in the Non-Invasive Laboratory of Tisch Hospital. He is the Director of the Training Program in Cardiovascular Disease and is integrally involved in medical education at all levels. Selected references:

  1. Kronzon I, Rosenzweig B, Dack S. Diagnosis of a Large Left Atrial Myxoma: The Role of Two-Dimensional Echocardiography. J Clin Ultrasound: 10 (January 1982), 39-41.
  2. Rosenzweig B, Kronzon I, Newman P, and Gargiulo A. Echocardiographic Diagnosis of Papillary Muscle Calcification. J Clin Ultrasound: 10 (September 1982), 342-344.
  3. Rosenzweig BP, Kronzon I, Feit F, Stecy PJ, Nachamie MS, Politzer F. Systolic Antegrade Tricuspid Blood Flow ­ A Sign of Severe Prosthetic Valve Stenosis. Am Heart J: 115 (March 1988), 3; 693-696.
  4. Goldfarb A, King CL, Rosenzweig BP, Feit F, Kamat BR, Rumancik WM, Kronzon I. Cardiac Lymphoma in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Am Heart J (December 1989), 6:1340-1344.
  5. Slater J, Gindea AJ, Freedberg RS, Chinitz L, Tunick PA, Rosenzweig BP, Winer HE, Goldfarb A, Perez D, Glassman E and Kronzon I. Comparison of Cardiac Catheterization and Doppler Echocardiography in the Decision to Operate in Aortic and Mitral Valve Disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 1991; 17(5): 1026-36.
  6. Kronzon I, Tunick PA, Freedberg RS, Trehan N, Rosenzweig BP, Schwinger ME. Transesophageal Echocardiography is Superior to Transthoracic Echocardiography in the Diagnosis of Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defects. J Am Coll Cardiol 1991; 17(2): 537-42.
  7. Cziner DG, Rosenzweig BP, Katz EX, Keller AM, Daniel WG, Kronzon I. Transesophageal vs. Transthoracic Echocardiography for Diagnosing Mitral Valve Perforation. Am J Cardiol 1992; 69(7):1495-1497.
  8. Katz ES, Rosenzweig BP. Rohrman D, Kronzon I. Diagnosis of Tumor Pulmonary Embolus by Transesophageal Echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1992; 5(4):439-443.
  9. Tunick PA, Rosenzweig BP, Katz ES, Freedberg RS, Perez JL, Kronzon I. High Risk for Vascular Events in Patients with Protruding Aortic Atheromas: A Prospective Study. J Am Coll Cardiol 1994;23(5):1085-1090.
  10. Bernstein NE, Demopoulos LA, Tunick PA, Rosenzweig BP, Kronzon I. Correlates of Spontaneous Echo Contrast in Patients with Mitral Stenosis and Normal Sinus Rhythm. Am Heart J 1994;128:287-292.
  11. Kronzon I, Cziner DG, Rosenzweig BP, Tunick PA. Diastolic Left to Right Shunting in Uncomplicated Ventricular Septal Defect. Echocardiography 1995;12(5):457-463.
  12. Rosenzweig BP, Goldstein S, Sherrid M, Kronzon I. Aortic Dissection with Flap Prolapse into the Left Ventricle. Am J Cardiol 1996;77(2):214-216.
  13. Konecky N, Malinow MR, Tunick PA, Freedberg RS, Rosenzweig BP, Katz ES, Hess DL, Upson B, Leung B, Perez J, Kronzon I. Correlation Between Plasma Homocyst(e)ine and Aortic Atherosclerosis. Am Heart J 1997;133:534-540.
  14. Schwartzbard AZ, Tunick PA, Rosenzweig BP, Kronzon I. The Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Right Atrial Thrombi. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1999; 12:64-69.
  15. Powell DE, Tunick PA Rosenzweig BP, Freedberg RS, Katz ES, Applebaum RM, Perez JL, Kronzon I. Outcome of Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis and Left Ventricular Dysfunction. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:1337-41.
  16. Reilly JP, Tunick PA, Timmermans RJ, Stein B, Rosenzweig BP, Kronzon I. Contrast Echocardiography Clarifies Uninterpretable Wall Motion in ICU Patients. J Am Coll Cardiol 2000; 35(2):485-90.
  17. Rosenzweig BP, Nayar AC, Varkey MP, Kronzon I. Echo Contrast Enhanced Diagnosis of Atrial Septal Defect. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2001; 14(2):155-7.
  18. Reynolds HR, Tunick PA, Kort S, Rosenzweig BP, Freedberg RS, Katz ES, Applebaum RM, Portnay EL, Adelman MA, Attubato MJ, Kronzon I. The Association Between Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and Thoracic Aortic Atheromas. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2001; 14(11):1127-31.
  19. Kronzon I, Tunick PA, Rosenzweig BP. Quantification of Left-to-Right Shunt in Patent Ductus Arteriosus Using the PISA Method. J Am Soc Echocardiography 2002;15:376-8.
  20. Cosmi JE, Kort S, Tunick PA, Rosenzweig BP, Freedberg RS, Katz ES, Applebaum RM, Kronzon I. The Risk of Developing Aortic Stenosis in Patients with "Benign" Aortic Valve Thickening. Arch Int Med 2002;162(20):2345-7.
  21. Tunick P, Nayar AC, Goodkin GM, Mirchandani S, Francescone S, Rosenzweig BP, Freedberg RS, Katz ES, Applebaum PM, Kronzon I. For the NYU Atheroma Group. Effect of Treatment on the Incidence of Stroke and Other Emboli in 519 Patients with Severe Aortic Plaque. Am J Cardiology 2002;90:1320-1325.
  22. Katz ES, Shah A, Rosenzweig BP, Tunick PA, Kronzon I. Bilateral Pulmonary Artery Compression and Obstruction by a Tumor: Diagnosis by Unusual Doppler Flow Patterns. J Am Soc Echocardiography 2003;16:185-7.
  23. Kronzon I, Tunick P, Rosenzweig BP, Katz E, Colvin SB. Echocardiography in the Identification of Unusual Surgical Errors Resulting from Attempted Closure of Secundum Atrial Septal Defects. J. Am. Soc. Echocardiography 2003;16:774-6.
  24. Mitnick H, Jacobowitz G, Krinsky, Eberle M, Rosenzweig B, Willis D, Rockman C, Riles T. Periaortitis: Gadolinium-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Response to Therapy in Four Patients. Annals of Vasc Surg 2004;18:100-7

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Arthur Schwartzbard, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Dr. Schwartzbard's main areas of focus include atherosclerosis and lipids. He recently received an AHA research grant to study the effects of a TZD in patients with insulin resistance. He is currently also participating in a VA funded study in transthyretin amyloidosis and echocardiography. Together with Dr. Ed Fisher and colleagues at the NYU Lipid center, he is involved in several funded studies on lipids, angiotensin blockade, hypertension and atherosclerosis.

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Steven P. Sedlis M.D.
Dr. Sedlis directs the cardiac referral program at the New York Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which serves as the regional VA referral center for interventional cardiology and heart surgery. His research focuses on clinical and metabolic factors that predispose to high risk and poor outcomes in patients with advanced coronary artery disease and may impact on choice of revascularization (PCI versus CABG). He is involved in both VA and NIH sponsored randomized clinical trials in coronary artery disease (AWESOME, COURAGE, FREEDOM) and collaborates with colleagues in thrombosis research, endocrinology and cardiac surgery at the New York Veterans Affairs in studies evaluating the effect of established and novel risk factors on outcomes after coronary revascularization.

Selected Publications:

  1. Sedlis SP, Sequeira JM, Altszuler HM: Coronary Sinus Lysophosphatidylcholine Accumulation During Rapid Atrial Pacing. Am J. Cardiol. 66:695-698, 1990.
  2. Sedlis SP, Hom M, Sequeira JM, Esposito R. Lysophosphatidylcholine Accumulation in Ischemic Human Myocardium. J. Lab Clin Med. 121:111-117, 1993
  3. Weinshel EH, Altszuler HM, Raicht RF, Sedlis SP. Beta Adrenergic Stimulation and Blockade in Cirrhosis: Effects on Azygous Vein Blood Flow and Portal Hemodynamics. Am. J. Med. Sci. 307:396-400, 1994
  4. Sedlis SP, Hom M, Sequeira JM, Tritel M, Gindea A, Ladenson JH, Jaffe AS, Esposito R. Time Course of Lysophosphatidylcholine Release from Ischemic Human Myocardium Parallels the Time Course of Early Ischemic Ventricular Arrhythmia. Coronary Artery Disease. 8:19-27, 1997
  5. Sedlis SP, Fisher VJ, Tice D, Esposito R, Madmon L, Steinberg EH. Racial Differences in Performance of Invasive Cardiac Procedures in a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 50: 899-901, 1997.
  6. Morrison DA, Sethi G, Sacks J, Henderson W, Grover F, Sedlis SP, Esposito R, Ramanathan KB, Weiman D, Saucedo J, Antakli T, Paramesh V, Pett S, Vernon S, Birjiniuk V, Welt F, Krucoff M, Wolfe W, Lucke JC, Mediratta S, Booth D, Barbiere C, Lewis D. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention versus Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery for Patients with Medically Refractory Myocardial Ischemia and Risk Factors for Adverse Outcomes with Bypass: A Multicenter Randomized Trial. J. Am Coll Cardiol. Jul; 38(1): 143-9. 2001
  7. Morrison DA, Sethi G, Sacks J, Henderson W, Grover F, Sedlis SP, Esposito R, Ramanathan KB, Weiman D, Saucedo J, Antakli T, Paramesh V, Pett S, Vernon S, Birjiniuk V, Welt F, Krucoff M, Wolfe W, Lucke JC, Mediratta S, Booth D, Barbiere C, Lewis D. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention versus Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery for Patients with Medically Refractory Myocardial Ischemia and Risk Factors for Adverse Outcomes with Bypass: The VA AWESOME Multicenter Registry: Comparison with the Randomized Clinical Trial. J. Am Coll Cardiol 39:266-73. 2002
  8. Sedlis SP, Morrison DA, Lorin JD, Esposito RA, Sethi G, Sacks J, Henderson W, Grover F, Ramanathan, KB, Weiman D, Saucedo J, Antakli T, Paramesh V, Pett S, Vernon S, BirjiniukV, MD, Welt F, Krucoff M, Wolfe W, Lucke JC Mediratta S, Booth D, Murphy E, Ward H, Miller L, Kies S, Barbiere C, Lewis D. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery for Diabetic Patients With Unstable Angina and Risk Factors for Adverse Outcomes with Bypass: Outcome of Diabetic Patients in the AWESOME Randomized Trial and Registry. J. Am Coll Cardiol. 40:1555-66. 2002
  9. Lochow P, Schwartzbard A, Guest J, Ripps C, Matalon D, Gambetta R, Tunick PA, Sedlis SP. Elevated prothrombin and activated protein C resistance in patients with thoracic aortic atheroma. Angiology. 53:423-8. 2002
  10. Morrison DA, Sethi G, Sacks J, Henderson W, Grover F, Sedlis SP, Esposito RA Percutaneous Coronary Intervention versus Repeat Bypass Surgery for Patients with Medically Refractory Myocardial Ischemia AWESOME Randomized Trial and Registry Experience with post-CABG Patients. J. Am Coll Cardiol. 40:1951-4. 2002
  11. Sedlis SP, Ramanathan KB, Morrison DA, Sethi G, Sacks J, Henderson W. Outcome of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Coronary Bypass Grafting for Patients with Low Let Ventricular Ejection Fractions, Unstable Angina Pectoris and Risk Factors for Adverse Outcomes with Bypass (The AWESOME Randomized Trial and Registry). Am. J. Cardiol. 94:118-120, 2004
  12. El-Omar M, Islam N, Broekman MJ, Drosopoulos JHF, Roa DC, Lorin JD, Sedlis SP, Olson KE and Marcus AJ. The Ratio of ADP- to ATP-Ectonucleotidase Activity is reduced in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease. Thrombosis Research; 116(3): 199-206. 2005
  13. Shah B, Liou M, Grossi E, Mass H, Lorin JD, Danoff A and Sedlis SP. Relation of Elevated Periprocedural Blood Glucose to Long-Term Survival Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. Am. J. Cardiol 15;96(4):543-6 2005

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James Slater, M.D.
Dr. James Slater’s research interests are directed toward the practice of percutaneous coronary artery intervention and angiography. As a principle investigator in the NHLBI Dynamic Angioplasty Registry he has helped author numerous publications exploring the performance and outcome of percutaneous coronary angioplasty. In addition to research in coronary artery disease he has helped expand the use of non-surgical techniques to repair congential heart defects of the intra-atrial septum (Patent Foramen Ovale and Atrial Septal Defect). He is a principal investigator in the Closure 1 trial studying the best treatment of patients with stroke and patent foramen ovale. He has explored balloon treatment of mitral valve stenosis for many years and was recently selected along with Dr. Paul Tunick to lead NYU’s contribution to the EVEREST trial of non-surgical repair of mitral regurgitation. Other research interests include novel treatments of myocardial infarction (APEX AMI Trial) and in collaboration with Dr. Judith Hochman, optimal treatment strategies of cardiogenic shock. For the past 2 years, Dr. Slater has collaborated with Dr. Jill Jacobs of the Radiology Department to help develop active clinical and research programs in non-invasive coronary imaging using new generation CT scanners, which hold the potential to greatly change the way we image and treat atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.

Selected Publications:

  1. Webb JG, Sanborn TA, Carere RG, Sleeper LA, Porway M, Koller PT, Baran KW, Slater JN, Talley JA, Buller CE, Hochman JS for the SHOCK Investigators. Interventional Management of Cardiogenic Shock after Acute Myocardial Infarction: A report from the SHOCK Registry Am Heart J 2001; 141 (6); 964-70
  2. Babak AV, Kaplan RC, Slater JN, Sherman W, Ravi KL, Green SJ, Sanborn TA, Brown DL: A Propensity Analysis of the Impact of Platelet Glycoprotein llb/llla Inhibitor Therapy on In-Hospital Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. Am J Cardiol 2003; 91:946-950
  3. Keelan PC, Johnston JM, Tulay K, Detre KM, Williams DO, Slater JN, Block PC, Holmes DR: Comparison of In-Hospital and One – Year Outcomes in Patients With Left Ventricular Ejection Fractions < 40%, 41%- 49%, and >50% Having Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization. Am J Cardiol 2003; 91: 1168-1172
  4. Slater J, Selzer F, Dorbala S, Tormey D, Vlachos HA, Wilensky RL, Jacobs AK, Laskey WK, Douglas JS Jr, Williams DO, Kelsey SF: Ethnic Differences in the Presentation, Treatment Strategy, and Outcomes of Percutaneous Intervention (A Report from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Dynamic Registry) Am J Cardiol 2003; 92: 1-6. Glaser R, Selzer F, Faxon DP, Laskey WK, Cohen HA, Slater J, Detre KM, Wilensky RL: Clinical Progression of Incidental, Asymptomatic Lesions Discovered During Culprit Vessel Coronary Intervention. Circulation 2005; 111: 143-149.
  5. Dzavik V, Sleeper LA, Picard MH, Sanborn TA, Lowe AM, Gin Ken, Saucedo J, Webb JG, Menon V, Slater J, Hochman JS: Outcome of patients aged >75 years In the Should we emergently revascularize Occluded Coronaries in cardiogenic shocK (SHOCK) trial: Do elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock respond differently to emergent revascularization? Interventional Cardiology 2005; 149 1128-1134

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Paul Tunick, M.D.
Dr. Tunick's major research interest has been the investigation of causes of stroke and peripheral embolization, particularly those involving atherosclerotic disease of the thoracic aorta. In 1990 he described the first stroke patients with a new finding on transesophageal echocardiography: severe atherosclerotic plaque in the aortic arch. After a case-control study demonstrated a very significant association of severe aortic plaque on TEE and emboli, a prospective study followed which showed that the risk of future stroke or TIA is 12% in a year, and 33% of patients had cerebral or peripheral embolization. The group of patients undergoing surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is at especially high risk, as cannulation of the aorta may result in the dislodging of atherosclerotic material and thrombi from the aortic arch. A prospective study in the operating room showed that these atheromas are an important cause of stroke due to cannulation of the aortic arch during heart surgery. A subsequent study of 268 patients with aortic arch atheromas showed a very high risk of intraoperative stroke (approximately 12%, or 6 times higher than the average intraoperative stroke rate during cardiac surgery). This study also showed that arch endarterctomy, designed to try to prevent stroke, actually increases the risk. Recently Dr. Tunick completed a retrospective study of 519 patients with severe aortic plaque on TEE. The risk of future embolization to the brain or periphery was significantly reduced in those patients who were given statins. However, no effect was seen with the use of warfarin or antiplatelet therapy. Current projects assessment of percutaneous mitral valve repair (EVALVE); Longitudinal study of aortic arch plaque on TEE; Carotid IMT in CHF, DCM; Evaluation of chest pain in the ER with Tissue Doppler; Correlations of echo and MRI in the evaluation of mitral regurgitation using a novel, high-temporal resolution phase contrast MRI technique; Correlations of echo and MRI in the evaluation of mitral regurgitation.

Selected Publications:

  1. Tunick PA, Kronzon, I. Protruding Atherosclerotic Plaque in the Aortic Arch of Patients with Systemic Embolization: A New Finding Seen by Transesophageal Echocardiography. American Heart Journal, 120:658-660, 1990.
  2. Tunick PA, Culliford A, Lamparello, P, Kronzon I. Atheromatosis of the Aortic Arch as an Occult Source of Multiple Systemic Emboli. Annals of Internal Medicine, 114:391-392, 1991.
  3. Tunick PA, Perez JL, Kronzon I. Protruding Atheromas in the Thoracic Aorta and Systemic Embolization. Annals of Internal Medicine, 115:423-7, 1991.
  4. Tunick PA, Lackner H, Katz ES, Culliford AT, Kronzon I. Multiple Emboli From A Large Aortic Arch Thrombus In A Patient With Thrombotic Diathesis. American Heart Journal, 124:239-41, 1992.
  5. Tunick PA, Katz ES, Freedberg RS, Rosenzweig BP, Perez JL, Kronzon I. High Risk for Vascular Events in Patients with Protruding Aortic Atheromas: A Prospective Study. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 23:1085-90, 1994.
  6. Paz R, Jortner R, Tunick PA, Sklarovsky S, Eilat B, Perez JL, Kronzon I. The Effect of Ethanol on Obstruction of the Left Ventricular Outflow Tract in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. New England Journal of Medicine, 335:938-41, 1996.
  7. Selker H, Zelinski R (co-chairs), Tunick PA, et al. An Evaluation of Technologies for Identifying Acute Cardiac Ischemia in the Emergency Department: Executive Summary of a National Heart Attack Alert Program Working Group Report Annals of Emergency Medicine, 29:1-12, 1997.
  8. Stern A, Tunick PA, Culliford AT, Lachmann J, Baumann FG, Kanchuger M, Marschall K, Shah A, Grossi E, Kronzon I. Protruding Aortic Arch Atheromas: Risk of Stroke During Heart Surgery with and without Aortic Arch Endarterectomy. American Heart Journal, 138:746-52, 1999.
  9. Tunick PA, Kronzon I. Atheromas of the Thoracic Aorta: Clinical and Therapeutic Update. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 35:545-554, 2000.
  10. Tunick PA, Nayar AC, Goodkin GM, Mirchandani S, Francescone S, Rosenzweig BP, Freedberg RS, Katz ES, Applebaum RM, Kronzon I, for the NYU Atheroma Group. Effect of Treatment on the Incidence of Stroke and other Emboli in 519 Patients with Severe Thoracic Aortic Plaque. American Journal of Cardiology 90:1320-5, 2002.
  11. Tunick PA, Kronzon I. Atheroembolism (Chapter 51) in Vascular Medicine. A Companion to Braunwald’s Heart Disease. Creager M, Loscalzo J, editors, 2005. (Book Chapter)
  12. Tunick PA. Embolism from Aortic Plaque: Atheroembolism and Thromboembolism. Published online (with Figures and Videos): http://www.uptodate.com, 2005.

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Timothy Vittorio, M.D.
Dr. Vittorio’s major research interests include investigating the peripheral vascular actions of beta-adrenoceptor blockers and the differential effects of ACE inhibitors with variable degrees of tissue avidity on endothelial function and exercise capacity in patients with CHF.

Selected Publications:

  1. Jorde UP, Vittorio TJ, Katz SD, Colombo PC, Latif F, Le Jemtel TH. Elevated Plasma Aldosterone Levels Despite Complete Inhibition of the Vascular Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme in Chronic Heart Failure. Circulation 2002;106: 1055-1057.
  2. Vittorio T, Lang CC, Katz SD, Packer M, Mancini D, Jorde UP. Vasopressor Response to Angiotensin II Infusion in Patients with CHF receiving betablockers. Circulation 2003;107: 290-293.
  3. Jorde UP, Vittorio TJ, Dimayuga, CA, Homma S, Rizkala A, Le Jemtel TH, Katz, SD. High Versus Low Tissue Affinity Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: Results of a randomized, double blind trial. Am J Cardiol 2004 Dec 15;94(12)1501-1505.

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Howard S. Weintraub, M.D.
Dr. Weintraub’s primary clinical and research interests are centered around Preventative Cardiology, with a focus on the treatment and evaluation of lipid disorders (reducing elevated LDL-C and Triglycerides and increasing HDL-C), hypertension and global issues in the Metabolic Syndrome and Type II DM. He has worked with colleagues at the Lipid Center (Drs. Fisher, Schloss and Schwartzbard) in studies on the impact of combined statin and CETP antagonist, Endocannabinoid receptor antagonism, use of PPAR gamma agonists and a study soon to be initiated on the impact of fixed combination therapy for hypertension and elevated lipids on clinical outcomes and Carotid IMT.

Selected Publications:

  1. Weintraub, HS. Treatment of Multiple-Risk Patients Using Combination Therapy to Treat Beyond LDL Lowering. Current Reports in Hypertension. 2005,7:265-70.
  2. Cohen, JD; Blumenthal R; Horn HR; Weintraub, H; Weglicki, W. Torsades de Pointes, a Potential Complication of Diuretic-Induced Hypokalemia in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure: Conference Presentation of a Generic Patient. Current Therapeutic Research. 63, 12,p 1-7,12/2002.
  3. Weintraub, Howard S, Beyond Blood Pressure-Effects of Angiotensin II Blockade. American Journal of Hypertension, April 2002, 15, #4, Supplement 1, p A238
  4. Weintraub, H.S.; Commentary; Predictive value of Intimal-Medial Thickness. Cardiol Review. 2001
  5. Weintraub, H.S.; Commentary. The case for ACE Inhibition. Cardiology Review. 2000; 17 (4):p. 37
  6. Weintraub, H.S.; Clinical implications of endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial Function Forum. 1999; 16 (3) Supplement to Cardiology Review): p.1-6.
  7. Weintraub, H.S.; ACE Inhibitors may reduce risk of CVD. Cardiology Review,1999; (8) p.6-8.
  8. Weintraub, H.S., LVH and endothelial function: Impact on cardiovascular states. Endothelial Function Forum. 1999; 16 (9) (Supplement to Cardiology Review) p. 5-7.
  9. Weintraub, H.S.; Commentary; Role of Inflammatory mediators. Cardiology Review. 1999; 16 (10): p. 39.

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