Balaji Natarajan, MBBS, a physician with the University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – South Campus, won the research poster competition at this weekend’s 2017 Arizona ACC Annual Meeting of the American College of Cardiology – Arizona Chapter hosted at the Mayo Clinic – Scottsdale Campus’ Taylor Auditorium.
Bujji Ainapurapu, MD, and Eugene Trowers, MD, associate director and director of the residency program at Banner – University Medical Center South, complimented Dr. Natarajan on his poster’s selection as well as the win of the accompanying $1,000 prize.
The topic of his ACC Arizona Poster Session entry Saturday, May 20, was “Small Dense Low-Density Lipoprotein Particle Number Relates to Total Coronary Plaque Burden Independent of Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Psoriasis.”
"Winning the best research poster at this event is a very significant and prestigious achievement. This speaks highly of the resident’s training, dedication to academia and quality of the research. It speaks volumes about the caliber of our residents and invested interest in improving medicine. Dr. Natarajan competed against other residents, fellows and other individuals who have higher level of training in this specialized field. We are extremely proud to have Dr. Natarajan as part of the South Campus IM Family," Dr. Ainapurapu said.
“This is the same work I had presented at this year's ACC national conference in DC,” said Dr. Natarajan, who attended the 66th Annual ACC Scientific Session & Expo on March 17-19, 2017, at Washington, DC’s Walter E. Washington convention Center.
The project involved evaluation via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectoscropy of small dense low-density-lipoprotein-particle (sdLDL-p)—associated with lipoprotein-bound cholesterol and contributor to plaque build-up in arteries—now recognized as a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
Coronary CT angiography (CCTA)-derived coronary plaque burden is a reliable marker of subclinical atherosclerosis (or the build-up of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls). Psoriasis, a chronic systemic inflammatory skin disorder, is associated with high CVD risk as well as lipoprotein dysfunction.
In determining whether atherogenic sdLDL-p relates to coronary total plaque burden (CTPB) in a well-phenotyped psoriasis cohort, Dr. Natarajan and his co-authors found an association beyond adjustment for traditional CVD risk factors. They also determined routine lipoprotein profiling by NMR spectroscopy may help in early identification of these high-risk individuals.
“This is awesome news, Balaji, congratulations!” said John Sandoval, MD, South Campus chief resident, in internal medicine at Banner – University Medical Center South.
ALSO SEE:
“Six UA Internal Medicine Residents Honored at GME Scholarly Day South Campus” | Posted May 18, 2017
“Read All About South Campus Residency Program in Fall Newsletter” | Posted Sept. 26, 2016
“S. Campus Resident Pulls Hat Trick of Three Awards, Capped by Win at ACP Nationals” | Posted May 20, 2016
"UA South Campus Resident-Physicians Win Out in Medical Competition to Represent State at National Internal Medicine Meeting” | Posted Nov. 24, 2015