Harshith Dasara Introduction. Myocardial fibrosis is the abnormal expansion of myocardium due to excessive deposition of extracellular matrix via activation of fibroblasts.1 Despite fibrosis having a critical role of preserving structural integrity following myocardial infarction (MI), increased future susceptibility for heart failure is the result.2,3 Every year, over 700,000 Americans…

Vy Dang Introduction. Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) accounts for 50% of all HF cases, affecting ~2.5 million patients in 2019. Individuals with HFpEF present typical signs and symptoms of HF such as shortness of breath, edema, fatigue, left ventricle (LV) hypertrophy, and diastolic dysfunction.2 LV hypertrophy…

Alwin Mathew Introduction. A stroke is a neurological deficit caused by a lack of blood flow to an area of the brain. It is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability in adults.8 Neuroimaging is key to differentiate between ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes.4 Ischemic…

Matthew Wooten Purpose. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by abnormal hypertrophy of the heart, often with preference of the interventricular septum.1, 2 It’s prevalence is as high as 1 in 500 adults, and is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.1 It is typically caused by…

Jessica Watson Introduction. Hypertension is defined as blood pressure persistently elevated above 130/80 mmHg.1,2 It is the most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and affects 874 million people worldwide.­­1 Thirty to fifty percent of hypertensive patients exhibit salt sensitive hypertension, which is best defined as a direct correlation…