Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of mortality worldwide encompassing a spectrum of conditions, such as ischemic heart disease, heart failure, or cardiac arrhythmias. In his doctoral dissertation MD Denis Depes, along with the cardiovascular pathology research team, studied complex structural changes occurring in various regions of the human heart. The study offers a comprehensive analysis of innervation, vasculature, and fibrosis across different regions of the heart in the light of potential mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases.
In a series of publications, the research team employed several methodological approaches to investigate structural changes, including microscopy and staining techniques, as well as machine-learning functions. The investigated heart regions included the cardiac conduction system, myocardial sleeves around caval and pulmonary veins, and the vein of Marshall.
“We discovered that not only the type of changes, but also the site of where the changes occur, may predispose individuals to different cardiac conditions, such as atrial fibrillation”, Depes says.
Studying the mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases is essential for our understanding of these conditions, improving patient care, and ultimately reducing the global burden of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
“We uncovered significant associations between autonomic nerve density, blood and lymphatic vasculature, as well as collagen distribution, and cardiovascular mortality. This knowledge can boost the development of novel therapeutic approaches and interventions aimed at improving patient outcomes in heart disease management,” Depes says.
Denis Depes is originally from Slovakia. He is currently working as a physician at the internal medicine department in Porvoo hospital.
Public defense on Thursday 13 June
The doctoral dissertation of MD Denis Depes in the field of cardiovascular pathology titled Morphological Substrates of Atrial Fibrillation and Cardiovascular Mortality will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology at Tampere University at 12 o’clock on Thursday 13.6.2024 in auditorium F115 at Kauppi campus, Arvo-building (Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere). The Opponent will be Docent Tuomas Rissanen from the University of Eastern Finland. The Custos will be Docent Ivana Kholová from Tampere University.