Daniel Abbott
Mazen Albaghdadi               
Hannah Alphs
Edward Auyang
Karl Bilimoria
Michael Burke
Sami Chaoki
Sunit Das
Gal Finer
Maxfield Flynn
Rajeev Garg

Daniel Abbott, MD (PGY7), Department of Surgery

Education:

B.S., Washington State University, 1999
M.D., University of Washington School of Medicine, 2003

Research Interests:

Our laboratory investigates the interaction of tumor cells with their micro-environment.  Specifically, we are interested in alterations in tumor cell phenotype when the extra-cellular matrix composition is manipulated.  Additionally, we examine preferentially secreted proteins from both benign and malignant cells, identifying the role of secreted proteins in invasion, migration, proliferation and angiogenesis.

Publications:

Lynne-Marie Postovit, Daniel E. Abbott, Stacey L. Payne, William W. Wheaton, Naira V. Margaryan, Richard Sullivan, Matthias K. Jansen, Katalin Csiszar, Mary J.C. Hendrix, and Dawn A. Kirschmann. Hypoxia/reoxygenation: A dynamic regulator of lysyl oxidase-facilitated breast cancer migration,submitted to Cancer Research (Priority Report) February 2007.  (* denotes shared first-authorship)

Khalkhali-Ellis, Z., Margarian, NV, Bailey, C.M., Wheaton, W.W., Abbott, D.E. and Hendrix. M J.C. (2006). Mammary Epithelial Cell Specific Regulation of Lysosomal Targeting and Secretion of Cathepsin D by  Maspin. Mol. Biol. Cell. (submitted).

Daniel E. Abbott, Michael J. Liptay, Mediastinoscopy (book chapter), Adult Chest Surgery: Concepts and Procedures, McGraw-Hill Professional publishers, David J Sugarbaker editor, (in press).

Daniel Abbott, Amy L. Halverson, Jeffrey Wayne, John Kim, Mark Talamonti, and Gregory A. Dumanin, The ORAM Flap for Complex Pelvic Wound Reconstruction, submitted to Disease of the Colon and Rectum 1/07.

Daniel Abbott, Gregory A. Dumanian, Amy L. Halverson, Management of Laparotomy Wound Dehiscence, submitted to American Journal of Surgery, 2/07.

Bilimoria, KB, Abbott, DE, Wayne, J, DeRosa, D, How to Design a Pilot System for Tracking Adverse and Near-Miss Events in Surgical Patients, American College of Surgeons Web Site, (Residency Assist Page), 2004.

Manuscripts in Preparation

Lynne-Marie Postovit, Naira V. Margaryan, Elisabeth A. Seftor, Richard E.B. Seftor, William W. Wheaton, Daniel E. Abbott, Mary J.C. Hendrix, Human Embryonic Stem Cell Microenvironment Reverses the Plastic Phenotype of Tumor Cells, for submission to Cancer Research.

Mazen Albaghdadi, MD (PGY2) Department of Medicine Education: BS: University of Illinois at Chicago, Bioengineering (2002) MD: University of Iowa (2008) Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellow Subspecialty interest: cardiology

Research Interests: I conducted my undergraduate research in tissue and bone regeneration in the lab of Dr. Jeremy Mao. In medical school, as a Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellow, I worked in the labs of Drs. Francois Abboud, William Haynes, and Allyn Mark. I utilized the technique of microneurography to study efferent sympathetic nerve activity in obese and hypertensive patients. During my time as a Fellow, I obtained an Investigational New Drug approval from the FDA to study the effect of ghrelin on sympathetic nerve activity in humans. I also studied neurohumoral effectors of blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity in rats using intracerebroventricular cannulation and renal and brown sympathetic nerve recordings. I plan to incorporate my experience bioengineering, tissue regeneration and cardiovascular research in order to pursue a career in regenerative medicine. My ultimate goal is to be an interventional cardiologist specializing in the delivery of regenerative cellular matrices via catheter-based delivery systems.

	Hannah Alphs, MD (PGY2) Department of Urology Education: B.S., New York University M.D., The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Edward D. Auyang, MD (PGY6) Department of Surgery

Education:

B.S., The Johns Hopkins University, Biomedical Engineering, Minor in Computer Science, 1997
M.S., University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Environmental/Occupational Health, 2000
M.D., The Ohio Sate University College of Medicine and Public Health, 2004

Research Interests:

Publications:

Auyang ED, Murayama K, Nagle A. Five-Year follow-up after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric and partial ileal bypass for treatment of morbid obesity and uncontrolled hyperlipidemia. Obesity Surgery (2008) (In Press).

Auyang ED, Vaziri K, Volckmann E, Martin JA, Soper NJ, Hungness ES. NOTES: Cadaveric Rendezvous Hybrid Small Bowel Resection (with video). Surg Endosc (2008) (In press).

Bhattacharya A, Shukla R, Auyang ED, Dietrich KN, Bornschein R. “Effect of succimer chelation therapy on postural balance and gait outcomes in children with early exposure to environmental lead.”  Neurotoxicology (2007) 28:686-695.

BOOK CHAPTERS:

Auyang ED and Soper NJ. “Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy” in International Principles of Laparoscopic Surgery, Frezza EE ed., Cine-Med, (In Press).

ABSTRACTS and PRESENTATIONS:

Auyang ED, Koons A, Soper NJ, Kramer S, Hungness ES. “Early Systemic Cytokine Response of NOTES Compared to Traditional Surgery”. 3rd International Conference on Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery, San Francisco, CA, July 10-12, 2008.

Auyang ED, Vaziri K, Martin JA, Hungness ES, Soper NJ. “Human NOTES Hybrid Transgastric Cholecystectomy.” Digestive Disease Week / SSAT Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, May 20, 2008.

Auyang ED, Vaziri K, Martin JA, Hungness ES, Soper NJ. “NOTES: Dissection of the Critical View of Safety During Transcolonic Cholecystectomy.” Digestive Disease Week / SSAT Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, May 21, 2008.

Vaziri K, Auyang ED, Soper NJ, Hungness ES. “Laparoscopic Celiac Artery Decompression.” Digestive Disease Week / SSAT Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, May 20, 2008.

Auyang ED, Vaziri K, Volckmann E, Martin JA, Soper NJ, Hungness ES. “NOTES: Cadaveric Rendezvous Hybrid Small Bowel Resection”, SAGES Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, April 11, 2008.

Auyang ED, Vaziri K, Martin JA, Hungness, ES, Soper NJ.  “Human NOTES Hybrid Transgastric Cholecystectomy” Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine 4th Annual Lewis Landsberg Research Day, Chicago, IL, March 19, 2008.

Auyang ED, Hungness, ES, Soper NJ.  “Human NOTES Hybrid Transgastric Cholecystectomy” Chicago Surgical Society: Scientific Presentations Chicago, IL, February 7, 2008.

Hobgood T, Kosicki G, Nockowitz R, Auyang E, Sullivan M, Powell D. “Optimizing Workplace Safety in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Identification and Management of the Unstable Patient.” American Academy of Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery Annual
Conference. New York, NY, May 1-5, 2002.

NO PICTURE AVAILABLE

Karl Y. Bilimoria, MD (PGY7), Department of Surgery

Education:

B.S., Northwestern University, Molecular and Cell Biology, 1998
M.D., Indiana University School of Medicine, 2003

Research Interests:

Dr. Bilimoria is a general surgery resident who is currently a Clinical Scholar at the American College of Surgeons and obtaining a Masters in Clinical Investigation at Northwestern.  Dr. Bilimoria’s work focuses on improving the delivery of oncologic surgery in the United States, particularly at Community hospitals.  His research primarily concerns pancreatic cancer outcomes but also includes other gastrointestinal and endocrine malignancies.

Publications:

Heppner C, Bilimoria KY, Agarwal SK, et al. The tumor suppressor protein menin interacts with NF-kappaB proteins and inhibits NF-kappaB-mediated transactivation. Oncogene 2001; 20(36):4917-25.

Bilimoria KY, Eagan RK, Rex DK. Colonoscopic identification of a foreign body causing an hepatic abscess. J Clin Gastroenterol 2003; 37(1):82-5.

Bilimoria KY, Pescovitz OH, DiMeglio LA. Autoimmune thyroid dysfunction in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus: screening guidelines based on a retrospective analysis. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2003; 16(8):1111-7.

Bilimoria KY, Rothenberg JM. Prenatal diagnosis of a trisomy 7/maternal uniparental heterodisomy 7 mosaic fetus. Am J Med Genet A 2003; 118(1):60-3.

Bilimoria K, Sturgis C, Liptay M. Metastatic breast cancer and lung cancer within the same lymph node. Int J Surg Pathol 2007;15(2):169.

Bilimoria KY, Bentrem DJ, Ko CY, et al. Validation of the 6th edition AJCC Pancreatic Cancer Staging System: report from the National Cancer Database. Cancer 2007; 110(4):738-44.

Bilimoria KY, Bentrem DJ, Ko CY, et al. National failure to operate on early stage pancreatic cancer. Ann Surg 2007; 246(2):173-80.

Bilimoria KY, Bentrem DJ, Ko CY, et al. Extent of surgery affects survival for papillary thyroid cancer. Ann Surg 2007; 246(3):375-81; discussion 381-4.

Bilimoria KY, Bentrem DJ, Ko CY, et al. Multimodality therapy for pancreatic cancer in the U.S. : utilization, outcomes, and the effect of hospital volume. Cancer 2007; 110(6):1227-34.

Bilimoria KY, Bentrem DJ, Linn JG, et al. Utilization of total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer in the United States. Surgery 2007; 142(6):906-13.

Bilimoria KY, Bentrem DJ, Merkow RP, et al. Application of the Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Staging System to Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. J Am Coll Surg 2007; 205(4):558-563.

Bilimoria KY, Bentrem DJ, Tomlinson JS, et al. Quality of pancreatic cancer care at Veterans Administration compared with non-Veterans Administration hospitals. Am J Surg 2007; 194(5):588-93.

Bilimoria KY, Cambic A, Hansen NM, Bethke KP. Evaluating the impact of preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging on the surgical management of newly diagnosed breast cancers. Arch Surg 2007; 142(5):441-5; discussion 445-7.

Bilimoria KY, Stewart AK, Tomlinson JS, et al. Impact of Adjuvant Radiation on Survival: A Note of Caution When Using Cancer Registry Data to Evaluate Adjuvant Treatments. Ann Surg Oncol 2007.

Bilimoria KY, Tomlinson JS, Merkow RP, et al. Clinicopathologic features and treatment trends of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: analysis of 9,821 patients. J Gastrointest Surg 2007; 11(11):1460-9.

Blum MG, Bilimoria KY, Wayne JD, et al. Surgical considerations for the management and resection of esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Ann Thorac Surg 2007; 84(5):1717-23.

Kennedy T, Stewart AK, Bilimoria KY, et al. Treatment Trends and Factors Associated with Survival in T1aN0 and T1bN0 Breast Cancer Patients. Ann Surg Oncol 2007; 14(10):2918-27.

Bilimoria KY, Balch CM, Bentrem DJ, et al. Complete Lymph Node Dissection for Sentinel Node-Positive Melanoma: Assessment of Practice Patterns in the United States. Ann Surg Oncol 2008.

Bilimoria KY, Bentrem DJ, Ko CY, et al. Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal: Utilization and Outcomes of Recommended Treatment in the United States. Ann Surg Oncol 2008.

Bilimoria KY, Palis B, Stewart AK, et al. Impact of tumor location on nodal evaluation for colon cancer. Dis Colon Rectum 2008; 51(2):154-61.

Bilimoria KY, Stewart AK, Edge S, Ko CY. Lymph Node Examination Rate, Survival Rate, and Quality of Care in Colon Cancer. JAMA 2008; 299 (8):896-7.

Bilimoria KY, Stewart AK, Palis BE, et al. Adequacy and importance of lymph node evaluation for colon cancer in the elderly. J Am Coll Surg 2008; 206(2):247-54.

Bilimoria KY, Stewart AK, Winchester DP, Ko CY. The National Cancer Data Base: a powerful initiative to improve cancer care in the United States. Ann Surg Oncol 2008; 15(3):683-90.

Bilimoria KY, Talamonti MS, Tomlinson JS, et al. Prognostic score predicting survival after resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: analysis of 3851 patients. Ann Surg 2008; 247(3):490-500.

Bilimoria KY, Winchester DP. The importance of worldwide Cancer Registration. J Surg Oncol 2008.

Lo DJ, Bilimoria KY, Pugh CM. Bowel complications after prolene hernia system (PHS) repair: a case report and review of the literature. Hernia 2008.

In press:

Karl Y. Bilimoria, Cord Sturgeon, David P. Winchester. Concern Regarding the Extent of Surgery for Papillary Thyroid Cancer Annals of Surgery 2008.
   
Karl Y. Bilimoria, Mark S. Talamonti, Jeffrey Wayne, James S. Tomlinson, Andrew K. Stewart, David P. Winchester, Clifford Y Ko, David J. Bentrem. Effect of Hospital Type and Volume on Nodal Evaluation for Gastric and Pancreatic Cancers. Archives of Surgery 2008.
   
Karl Y. Bilimoria, David J. Bentrem Joseph M. Feinglass, Mark S. Talamonti, Andrew K. Stewart, David P. Winchester, Clifford Y. Ko. Directing Surgical Quality Improvement Initiatives in the United States: Comparison of Perioperative Mortality and Long-Term. Survival for Cancer Surgery.  Journal of Clinical Oncology 2008.
   
Karl Y. Bilimoria, Charles M. Balch, David J. Bentrem, Mark Talamonti, Clifford Y. Ko, Julie R. Lange, David P. Winchester, Jeffrey D. Wayne. Complete Lymph Node Dissection for Sentinel Node-Positive Melanoma: Assessment of Practice Patterns in the United States. Annals of Surgical Oncology 2008.

Karl Y. Bilimoria, Thomas Kmiecik, Debra DaRosa, Richard H. Bell, Nathaniel J. Soper, Jeffrey D. Wayne. Development of an Online System to Assess Patterns of Adverse and Near-Miss Events. Archives of Surgery 2008.
   
Karl Y. Bilimoria, David J. Bentrem, Clifford Y. Ko, Mark S. Talamonti, Amy Halverson. Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal: Utilization and Outcomes of Recommended Treatment in the United States. Annals of Surgical Oncology 2008.

Karl Y. Bilimoria, David J. Bentrem, Heidi Nelson, Steven J. Stryker, Nathaniel J. Soper, Andrew K. Stewart, Thomas R. Russell, Clifford Y. Ko. Laparoscopic-Assisted Colectomy for Cancer: Utilization and Outcomes in the United States. Archives of Surgery 2008.

Karl Y. Bilimoria, Mark S. Talamonti, Stephen F. Sener, Malcolm M. Bilimoria, Andrew K. Stewart, David P. Winchester, Clifford Y. Ko, David J. Bentrem. Impact of Hospital Volume on Margin Status after Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Cancer. Journal of the American College of Surgeons 2008.   

Michael Burke, MD, (PGY6), Department of Medicine

Education:

B.S.,Villanova University, Comprehensive, 1999
M.D., Thomas Jefferson University, 2004

Research Interests:

During college and graduate school, I performed research in molecular and cellular biology.  In addition, I gained an appreciation for the intricacies and importance of research to the fields of biology and medicine.  During medical school, I again performed research in molecular biology, this time, molecular cardiology.  This experience though was different.  I was interacting with patients and subsequently performing research in the lab.  This is the essence of the newly evolving field of translational medicine: to be able to move from bench to bedside and back with the goal of more rapidly integrating the rapid advances in the basic sciences with clinical advances for our patients.  I plan on performing research in molecular cardiology with the ultimate goal of establishing a career in translational medicine.

Publications:

Burke MA, Hutter D, Reshamwala RP and Knepper JE. Cathepsin L plays an active role in involution of the mouse mammary gland. Dev Dyn. 2003;227:315-22.

Burke MA and Cotts WG. Interpretation of B-type natriuretic peptide in cardiac disease and other comorbid conditions.  Heart Fail Rev.  2007;
12:23-36.

Burke MA and Ardehali H. Mitochondrial ATP Binding Cassette Proteins. Transl Res. 2007; 150:73-80.

Burke MA, Mutharasan RK and Ardehali H.  The sulfonylurea receptor, an atypical ATP-binding cassette protein, and its regulation of the KATP channel.  Circ Res. 2008; 102:164-176.

Ahmad (Sami) Chaouki,  MD, PhD (PGY2), Department of Pediatrics

Information not yet available

Amanda Hayman, MD,  (PGY1), Department of Medicine

Education:

B.S., Tufts University, Biology/English/Italian
M.P.H., Oregon Health and Science University, Biostatistics and Epidemiology
M.D., Oregon Health and Science University

KY , JD , CE , A , JB , DJ . “Effect of surgeon training, specialization, and experience on outcomes for cancer surgery: a systematic review of the literature.” Ann Surg Oncol. 2009 Jul: 16(7): 1799-808.

SK Thompson, AV Hayman, WH Ludlam, CW Deveney, DL Loriaux, BC Sheppard. “Improved Quality of Life After Bilateral Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for Cushing's Disease: A 10-Year Experience.” Annals of Surgery 2007 May; 245(5): 790-794.

DW Sherbenou, RS Griffiths, CR Olivares, AV Hayman, TM Harris, SK Keith, SE O'Neal, JA Wong-Dominguez. “Cloning and Molecular Physiology of the CFTR mutation S549N”. Journal of Investigative Medicine. Vol 51, Supp1, Abstract 438. February 2003.

Presentations:

“Long-term clinical outcomes after bilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy for Cushing’s disease”. Presented at the 41st annual meeting of the American College of Surgeons, Oregon Chapter, July 2005.

“Importance of Cultural Competency When Consulting Vulnerable Populations”. Abstract presented at the 63rd annual meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology, March 2003.

“Risk Factors Affecting Access to Highly-Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Burkina Faso”. Poster presented at the 12th annual conference of the International Health Medical Education Consortium (IHMEC), March 2003.

Brian Helfand, MD, PhD (PGY5), Department of Urology

Education:

B.S., EmoryUniversity, 1999
M.D., Ph.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 2005

Research Interests:

My current research interests are focused on intermediate filament (IF) proteins and their dynamics and involvement in urothelial cell metastasis and cell motility. For many years textbooks described IFs as very stable and rigid structures, only recognized for their maintenance of the mechanical stability of cells. However, the results of live cell imaging studies demonstrate the opposite. These studies have shown that IF networks are active and dynamic components of the cytoskeleton.  The dynamic properties of IF may lend novel properties to cells which permit motility.  Therefore, my research goals are to determine how IF contribute to metastatic behavior.  In addition, my research is also focused upon the utility of IF as markers for predicting metastatic disease.

The first studies revealing the dynamic properties of IF employed the use of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). These studies revealed that there was constant subunit exchange between subunits and polymerized IF. They also revealed that IF were not polarized with respect to subunit exchange as recovery took place at equal rates all along the length of the photobleached zones. Other studies involving GFP-tagged IF proteins have demonstrated motility of different structural forms of IF within cells.  For example, fast IF movements have been described in spreading fibroblasts which are enriched in non-filamentous precursors to mature IF, known as IF particles. These IF particles move bidirectionally along microtubule tracks at speeds up to ~1-2 um/min through interactions with the molecular motors, kinesin and dynein. Many of these particles assemble into short IF termed “squiggles” which in turn form the longer “filaments” found in established IF networks. Even the extensively polymerized IF networks of spread cells move, albeit more slowly, and many individual filaments appear to be constantly altering their shapes. Unlike faster particle and squiggle movements, these changes in shape, which frequently appear like propagated waves, do not require interactions with microtubules and/or microfilaments, suggesting that there are intrinsic, albeit unknown, regulatory factors responsible for some aspects of IF motility.

At first glance there would appear to be a gap between studying IF motility and urologic disease.  However, IF proteins have historically been used by urologists as markers of metastatic disease.  For example, aggressive urothelial tumors often express vimentin when these cells transform into a metastatic phenotype. 

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy afflicting males in the United States.  While localized tumor growth in the prostate is certainly a disease associated with significant morbidity and large health care costs, cell metastasis from the primary tumor site is responsible for the most insidious complications of prostate cancer and its mortality.  Early identification of metastatsis is important because it changes the clinical management of prostate cancer from surgical to medical and affects the long term prognosis of the patient.  Currently, pathologists use the Gleason scoring system to grade tumors obtained from both transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsies and specimens obtained from radical prostatectomy.  The Gleason score is based exclusively on the architectural pattern of the glands of the prostate tumor. It evaluates the overall appearance of prostate tumor cells and the degree to which they resemble normal prostate cells. Gleason grading extends from very well differentiated (grade 1) to very poorly differentiated (grade 5),  as determined by observing cells microscopically at low magnification and evaluating changes in their overall shape as well as the shape of their nuclei.  In general, the Gleason score can be correlated with survival time (i.e. lower Gleason scores are associated with improved outcomes). However, prostate cancer is a very complicated disease, and patients with low Gleason scores sometimes fare poorly, while men with high Gleason scores have been known to do well. Significant improvements in disease management have occurred when the Gleason score is combined with other indicators of disease (e.g. serum prostate specific antigen level).  However, additional prognostic markers are desperately needed to improve management of prostate cancer of all stages.

As mentioned above, the Gleason score takes advantage of the fact that prostate carcinoma cells have alterations in their cell and nuclear shape.  In general, the typical cuboidal morphology of epithelial cells changes to an elongated shape resembling a mesenchymal cell or fibroblast.  In many other types of epithelial-derived cancers (such as breast and lung cancer), this shape change is referred to as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and it is a prelude to the migration of cells to other tissues.  While the EMT in prostate cancer has been suggested, it has not been documented ⁶.  I have preliminary evidence indicating that the EMT occurs in prostate cancer and that it is associated with the abnormal expression of cytoskeletal and nuclear intermediate filaments (IF).  While recent evidence has shed light on the function of these IF proteins in normal cells, little is known about their role in the EMT and in particular their role in prostate cancer.  Furthermore, their utility as predictors of metastatic disease has never been investigated.      

Silver, R.K., Russell, T.L., Brodin, A.G., Check, I.J., Helfand B.T., Caplan, M.S. (1998) Variability of Murine Pregnancy Outcome Resulting from Passive Immunization with Anticardiolipin Antibody-Positive Immunoglobulin G. J Matern Fetal Investig. Mar;8(1):35-8.

Prahlad, V., Helfand B.T., Langford, G.M., Vale, R.D., Goldman, R.D. (2000) Fast transport of neurofilament protein along microtubules in squid axoplasm.  J Cell Sci. 112(22): 3939-3946.

Chou, Y.H., Helfand B.T., Goldman, R.D. (2001) New horizons in cytoskeletal dynamics: Transport of intermediate filaments along microtubule tracks.  Curr Opinion Cell Biol. 13(1): 1106-1109.

Helfand B.T., Mikami, A., Vallee, R.B., Goldman, R.D.  (2002) A Requirement for cytoplasmic dynein and dynactin in the organization and maintenance of intermediate filament networks.  J Cell Biol. 157(5): 795-806.

Helfand B.T., Mendez, M.G., Pugh, J., Delsert, C., Goldman, R.D.  (2003) A role for intermediate filaments in determining and maintaining the shape of nerve cells. Mol Biol Cell. Dec;14(12):5069-81.

Helfand B.T., Chang, L., Goldman, R.D. (2003) The dynamic and motile properties of intermediate filaments.  Ann Review of Cell and Develop Biol. 19: 445-467.

Helfand B.T., Loomis, P., Yoon, M., Goldman, R.D.  (2003) Rapid transport of the neuronal intermediate filament protein, peripherin, in PC12 cells.  J Cell Sci. 116(11): 2345-2359.

McGovern, S.L., Helfand B.T., Feng, B., Shoichet B.K. (2003) A specific mechanism of non-specific inhibition. J Med Chem. 46(20): 4265-4272.

Helfand B.T., Chang L., Goldman, R.D.  (2004) Intermediate filaments are dynamic and motile elements of cellular architecture.  J Cell Sci. Jan 15:117(Pt 2):133-41.

Helfand B.T., Chou, Y.H., Shumaker, D.K., Goldman, R.D. (2005) Intermediate filament proteins participate in signal transduction.Trends Cell Biol. Nov;15(11): 568-70.

Hillberg, L., Zhao, R, L.S., Nyakern-Meazza, M., Helfand B.T., Goldman, R.D., Schutt, C., Lindberg, U. (2006) Tropomyosins are present in lamellipodia of motile cells.  Euro J Cell Biol. 85 (5): 399-409.

Helfand B.T., Mouli, S., Dedhia, R., McVary, K.T. (2006)  Management of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia with open prostatectomy- results of a contemporary series.  J Urol. (in press).

Helfand,  B.T., Chang, L., Khuon, S., Herrmann, H., Aebi, U., Goldman, R.D.,  (2006)  Vimentin intermediate filaments function stabilize lamellipodial activity and promote cell motility.  J Cell Biol. In Preparation.

Silver, R.K., Helfand B.T., Russell, T.L., Ragin A., Sholl, J.S., MacGregor, S.N.  (1995)  Multifetal reduction     increases the risk of preterm deliver and fetal growth restriction in twins.  Dept. of Ob/Gyn, Evanston Hospital, Evanston, IL.   American Gynecological and Obstetric Society.

Silver R.K., Russell, T.L., Mullen, T..Kambich M., Leeth E., Helfand B.T., MacGregor, S., Sholl, J. (1995)   Prosepective Evaluation of Early Mid-Trimester Amniocentesis.  Dept. of Ob/Gyn, Evanston Hospital, Evanston, IL.  Society for Perinatal Obstestrics.

Silver, R.K., Russell, T.L., Brodin, A.G., Check, I.J., Helfand B.T., Caplan, M.S. (1995)  Murine antiphospholipid syndrome resulting from pooled versus single-donor antibody-positive sera. Depart. of Ob/Gyn, Evanston Hospital, Evanston, IL.  Society for Perinatal Obstestrics.

Helfand B.T. and Edwards D.A. Lateral tegmental control of copulation in the male rat. (1996) Summer Undergraduate Program Howard Hughes at Emory.  Atlanta, Georgia.

Helfand B.T., Greco, B., Edwards, D.A. (1997) Distribution of androgen receptor-immunoreactive and mating-induced Fos-immunoreactive neurons in the hindbrain of male rats.  Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology and Conference on Reproductive Behavior. Baltimore, Maryland

Helfand B.T. and Edwards, D.A. (1998). Distribution of androgen receptor-immunoreactive and mating- induced Fos-immunoreactive neurons in the hindbrain of male rats.  Honors Thesis Presentation.  Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.

Bardenstein, R., Helfand B.T., Buchanan, C., Chez, M.G. (1998) Improvement in EEG and clinical function in pervasive developmental delay (PDD):  Effect of valproic acid.  Epilepsia;  38.

Helfand B.T., Bardenstein, R., Buchanan C., Chez, M.G. (1998) Improvement in EEG and clinical function in pervasive developmental delay (PDD): Pharmacological effects of monotherapy and combination therapy using valproic acid and predinisone.  Epilepsia; 39. 

Helfand B.T., Prahlad, V. and Goldman, R.D. (2000).  Fast transport of neurofilament proteins along microtubules in squid axoplasm.  1st International Symposium, “Cellular and Molecular Aspects of the Birth, Life, and Death of the Nervous System”, Pucon, Chile.

Goldman, R.D., Goldman, A.E., Chou, Y.-H., Spann, T.P., Moir, R.M., Loomis, P., Linz, L., Yoon, K.-H., Khuon, S., Lopez-Soler, R., and Helfand B.T. (2001).  The dynamic properties of intermediate filaments: implications for healthy and diseased cells.  French-American Colloquium on the Cytoskeletal and Human Disease, Marseille, France.

Helfand B.T., Mikami, A., Vallee, R.B. and Goldman, R.D. (2001).  A requirement for cytoplasmic dynein in vimentin organization.  41st ASCB Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.  Molecular Biology of the Cell, 12: 287a.

Goldman, R.D., Khuon, S., Yoon, M., Helfand B.T., Aebi, U. and Herrmann, H. (2001).  The structure and function of intermediate filament proteins in the lamellipodia and ruffled membranes of cultured cells.  41st ASCB Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.  Molecular Biology of the Cell, 12: 293a.

Helfand B.T. and Goldman, R.D. (2002) Peripherin transport and neurodegenerative disease.  MSTP National Conference.  Aspen, CO.

Goldman, R.D., Khuon, S., Chang, L., Helfand B.T., Aebi, U. and Herrmann, H. (2002).  Vimentin particles are located in lamellipodia and ruffled membranes:  Implications for cell locomotion, and signal transduction.  Gordon Research Conference on Intermediate Filaments. Roger Williams University.  Bristol, RI.

Helfand B.T., Loomis, P. and Goldman, R.D. (2002). The peripherin express:  A neural IF protein transport system with few stops. Gordon Research Conference on Intermediate Filaments. Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI.

Helfand B.T., Chang, L., Kreplach, L., Goldman, R.D. (2002).  In vitro systems to determine the mechanisms of intermediate filament motility.  42nd ASCB Annual Meeting, San Francisco.  Molecular Biology of the Cell. 13:290b

Helfand B.T., Mendez, M.G., Pugh, Delsert, C., and Goldman, R.D. (2003). Intermediate filaments are important in determining the shape and function of nerve cells.  43rd ASCB Annual Meeting, San Francisco.  Molecular Biology of the Cell. 14:314.

McVary, K.T., Helfand B.T., Roehrborn, C.G., Donnell, R.F., Bruskewitz, R., Kaplan, S.A., Kusek, J.W., Coombs, L. (2005). Variation in IRB review of a multi-center clinical trial study protocol.  American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting; San Antonio, TX.

Helfand,  B.T., Chang, L., Khuon, S., Herrmann, H., Aebi, U., Goldman, R.D.,  (2006)  Vimentin intermediate filaments function stabilize lamellipodial activity and promote cell motility. 46th ASCB Annual Meeting, San Francisco.  Molecular Biology of the Cell

Loeb, S., Roehl, K.A., Graif, T.M., Viprakasit, D.P., Gashti, S.N., Thaxton, C.S., Helfand B.T., Catalona, W.J. (2007) Percentage and tumor characteristics of patients who develop undetectable PSA levels after salvage radiotherapy. American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting, Annaheim, CA.

Helfand B.T.,  Loeb, S., Anderson, C.B., Cashy, J., Meeks, J.J. Thaxton, C.S., Roehl, K.A., Catalona, W.J. (2007)  PSA velocity in men with prostatitis documented on the biopsy specimen or prostatectomy specimen.  American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting, Annaheim, CA.

Thaxton, S.A., Loeb, S., Roehl, K.A., Helfand B.T., Meeks, J.J., Catalona W.J. (2007) PSA velocity in screened versus referred men with prostate cancer. American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting, Annaheim, CA.

Helfand B.T., Vyas, A., Fine, M., Dedhia R., Anderson, C.B., McVary, K.T. (2007) Post-operative PSA values and PSA velocity predict the presence of prostate cancer following various surgical interventions for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting, Annaheim, CA.

Helfand B.T., Loeb, S., Cashy, J., Roehl, K.A., Graif, T., Han, M., Catalona, W.J. (2007) Tumor characteristics and treatment outcomes of carriers and noncarriers of the DECODE prostate cancer susceptibility genes. American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting, Annaheim, CA.

Pazona, J.F., Thaxton, C.S., Helfand B.T., Zhoa, L.C., Smith, N. (2007) Neuroligand is a novel marker of prostate cancer. American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting, Annaheim, CA.

Helfand B.T., Moon, T.D., McVary, K.T. (2006)  Medical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.  Atlas of the Prostate. 3rd Ed; Current Medicine LLC. Ed Scardino and Slawin.

Helfand B.T. and McVary, K.T. (2006) Complications of minimally invasive surgery. Urologic Surgery. Current Medicine LLC. Ed. Scardino.

Helfand B.T. and McVary, K.T. (2007) Contemporary diagnosis and management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). 1rst Ed; Handbooks in Healthcare Co., Newton, PA.

Meeks, J.J., Helfand, B.T., Nadler, R.B. (2007) Retrieval of migrated ureteral stent by intussception with flexible ureteroscopic basket. J Endourology (submitted)

Helfand, B.T., Khoun, S., Chang, L., Goldman, R.D. (2007) Vimentin structures are components of lamellipodia and are required for cell migration.  J Cell Biol. (in preparation)

Melissa Hogg, MD (PGY6), Department of Surgery

Education:

B.S., University of Notre Dame, Biochemistry, 2000
B.A., University of Notre Dame, Film and Television, 2000
M.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 2004

Research Interests:

Dr. Hogg’s research is in Dr. Kibbe’s laboratory which is focused on nitric oxide and its ability to decrease the neointimal hyperplasia that ensues following vascular surgery procedures leading to re-stenosis.  Specifically Melissa will be looking at the role of estrogen and alpha and beta estrogen receptors.  She is attempting to prove that estrogen mediates its vasoprotective properties by modulating NO production, either through transcriptional or post-translational modification of NOS enzymes or through modulating signal transduction pathways known to regulate NO production.  This data with eventually be incorporated into translational research from the laboratory which is developing nitric oxide-based therapies for the prevention of neointimal hyperplasia following vascular procedures in hopes of targeting women specifically for improved outcomes. 

Publications:

Hogg, ME, Kibbe, MR. “Percutaneous Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repairs:  Technique and Outcomes.” Vascular 2006:14(5):270-281.

Hogg, ME, Peterson, BG, Pearce, WH, Morasch, MD, Kibbe, MR. “Bare Metal Stent Infection:  Case Report and Review of the Literature.” Journal of Vascular Surgery 2007 (In press).

Book Chapters

Hogg ME, Kibbe MR.  Treatment of Infected Bare Metal Stents: The Naked Truth about Problems Bugging our Patients. In Operative Vascular Surgery in the Endovascular Era.  Pearce WH, Matsumura JS, Yao JST, Eds. Greenwood Academic, Chicago, IL, 2007.(In press).

Janette Holub, MD (PGY5), Department of Surgery

     Education:

      BA, Valparaiso University 2001
         MPH (Health Policy and Administration), University of Illinois College of Medicine 2005
         MD, University of Illinois College of Medicine 2005

Research Interests:

Dr Holub is currently a research fellow under the mentorship of Dr Mary Beth Madonna, whose lab at the Childrens Memorial Research Center focuses on the study of neuroblastoma, the most common extra-cranial solid cancer of childhood and  responsible for 15% of all cancer deaths in children. As neuroblastoma tumors are derived from neural crest cells they respond to neuronal growth factors, including nerve growth factor (NGF). Alterations in the receptors for NGF (Trk A and p75) have been shown to influence the clinical behavior of neuroblastoma tumors. Previous studies have illustrated that neuroblastoma cells transfected with the Trk A receptor and stimulated with NGF undergo differentiation, resulting in a less aggressive behavior. NGF also exerts its efffects via a low affinity p75 receptor. Prior investigations have demonstrated that neuroblastoma cells expressing the p75 receptor show a high degree of apoptosis that is inhibited when these cells are transfected with the Trk A receptor. Recent work in this lab has determined that Trk A receptor expression in a NGF-transfected cell line that demonstrates less aggressive characteristics was equivalent to that in a wild type cell line but that p75 expression was significantly higher in the less aggressive NGF-transfected cell line.

Summary Objective:
After transfecting the SK-N-SH wild type cell with the p75 receptor, these cells will then be stimulated with nerve growth factor to determine the effects on cell growth and apoptosis, as well as delineate the signaling pathway by which NGF exerts its effects and if the p75 receptor plays a role in this process.

Specific Aims:
1. To confirm that activation of the p75 low affinity nerve growth factor receptor induces human nueroblastoma cells to undergo apoptosis.
2. To delineate the pathways that are activated by the interaction of NGF and the p75 receptor with an emphasis on the p38 pathway.
3. To test the hypothesis that drugs targeting this specific receptor will suppress neuroblastoma growth in vivo and improve prognosis.
4. To determine if Trk A receptor inhibition will force cells into apoptosis via the p75 receptor pathway.       

Abstracts/Presentations:   

 J Holub, C Pabin, M N Lutiyya.  “US Adolescent Physical Injury Sustained from Physical Fighting: An Analyisis of 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data.”  University of Illinois College of Medicine, 10th Annual Research Day, Rockford, IL March 2005.

K Ramaswamy, M Gnanasekar, V Vidhya, J Holub, and Y X He.  "Molecular characterization of a novel receptor for IgE-independent histamine releasing factor on the surface of basophils."  12th International Congress of Immunology, Montreal, Quebec, Canada July 2004.

J Holub, C Pabin, M N Lutfiyya.  "Provision of preventive health services: A comparison of 2001 NAMCS and BRFSS data."  University of Illinois College of Medicine 2004 Student Medical Research Forum, Chicago, IL January 2004.

J Holub, V Viswanathan, G Munirathinam, L Frenkel, H Zietz, R Kalyanasundaram.  "Discovery of a novel histamine releasing receptor and its clinical correlation to allergy and asthma in the human."  University of Illinois College of Medicine, 8th Annual Research Day, Rockford, IL April 2003.

Wenyu Huang, MD (PGY3), Department of Medicine Education: PhD: Northwestern University, Neuroscience (2007) MD: Beijing Medical University (1998) Subspecialty Interest(s): Endocrinology

Publications

Huang W. Qiu J. Ronnekliev OK. Levine JE. ATP sensitive potassium channels are expressed in GnRH neurons and regulate GnRH pulse generator activity. (manuscript in preparation)

Shi X. Huang W. Wang Z. Preservation of the hypothalamic structures in the total resection of craniopharyngioma. Chinese Medical Science Journal. 16:218-22; 2001 Dec.

Huang W. Shi X. Treatment of sodium disorders after surgery of cranioopharyngiomas. Chinese Medical Science Journal. 15:246-8; 2000 Dec.

Colleen Jay, MD (PGY5), Department of Surgery

Education:

B.A., Indiana University, Journalism and Political Science, 1998
M.D., Indiana University School of Medicine, 2005

Research Interests:

Dr. Jay is currently pursuing outcomes research supported by a NRSA T32 award with the Division of Organ Transplantation.  Her research focuses on understanding the appropriate use of “marginal” liver grafts through an evaluation of outcomes, risk predictors, and cost-effectiveness.  Additionally, Dr. Jay is examining the role of risk predictors and more detailed donor-recipient matching to inform allocation and maximize post-liver transplant outcomes.  She is obtaining a Masters of Science and Clinical Investigation degree at Northwestern University.

Publications:

ORIGINAL, PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH ARTICLES

Escobar MA, Grosfeld JL, Burdick JJ, Powell RL, Jay CL, Wait AD, West KW, Billmire DF, Scherer IIII LR, Engum SA, Rouse TM, Ladd AP, Rescorla FJ: Surgical Considerations in Cystic Fibrosis: a 32 Year Evaluation of Outcomes. Surgery, 132(4): 560-71, 2005 Oct.

Escobar MA, Jay CL, Brooks RM, West KW, Rescorla FJ, Molleston JP, Grosfeld JL: Effect of Corticosteroid Therapy on Outcomes in Biliary Atresia After Kasia Portoenterostomy. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 41(1): 99-103, 2006 Jan.

Sandoval JA, Hoelz DJ, Woodruff HA, Powell RL, Jay CL, Grosfeld JL, Hickey RJ, Malkas LH: Novel Peptides Secreted from Human Neuroblastoma: Useful Clinical Tools? Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 41(1): 245-51, 2006 Jan.

Skaro AI,* Jay CL,* Baker TB, Pasricha S, Wang E, Preczewski L, Abecassis MM: The Impact of Ischemic Cholangiopathy following Donation after Cardiac Death Liver Transplantation – The Untold Story.  Surgery 2009 (in press).

Baker TB,* Jay CL,* Ladner DP, Preczewski LB, Clark L, Holl J, Abecassis MM: Laparoscopy-assisted and Open Living Donor Right Hepatectomy: A Comparative Study of Outcomes. Surgery 2009 (in press).

* first authorship equally shared

REVIEWS / EDITORIALS / BOOK CHAPTERS

Jay CL, Butt Z, Ladner DP, Skaro AI, Abecassis MM:  A Review of Quality of Life Instruments Used in Liver Transplantation. Journal of Hepatology (under review).

Matsumura JP, Jay CL. Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Comparative Technique and Results of Currently Available Devices. In Moore WS, Ahn SS, eds. Endovascular Surgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier, 2009 (in press).

Matsumura JP, Jay CL. Brachio-Cephalic Graft Occlusion. In Moore WS, Ahn SS, eds. Endovascular Surgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier, 2009 (in press).

Abstracts (Presentations)

Jay CL. Sandoval JA. Hoelz DJ. Woodruff HA. Powell RL. Grosfeld JL. Hickey RJ. Malkas LH.  Novel peptides secreted from human neuroblastoma: useful clinical tools?  Presented at APSA 36th Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, 2005 May.

Jay CL. Skaro AI. Baker TB. Pasricha S. Wang E. Preczewski L. Feinglass JF. Abecassis MA.  Donation after Cardiac Death Liver Presentation: Possible Predictors of Ischemic Cholangiopathy.  Poster at ASTS 9th Annual Winter Symposium, Marco Island, FL, 2009 Jan.

Jay CL. Baker TB. Clark L. Abecassis MA.  Laparascopy-Assisted Live Liver Donation: A Single Center Series.  Presented at Central Surgical Association 2009 Annual Meeting, Sarasota, FL, 2009 Mar.

Jay CL, Baker TB, Pasricha S, Jain N, Welti M, Skaro AI, Abecassis MM. MELD and MELDNa: A Comparison of Potential Predictive Ability for Liver Transplant Outcomes.  Poster at American Transplant Congress, Boston, MA, 2009 June.

Jay CL, Skaro AI, Lyuksemburg V, Caicedo JC, Abecassis MM. Ischemic Cholangiopathy after Donation after Cardiac Death and Donation after Brain Death Liver Transplantation A Meta-Analysis.  Poster at American Transplant Congress (poster of distinction award), Boston, MA, 2009 June.

Jay CL, Skaro AI, Kang R, Preczewski L, Holl JP, Abecassis MM.  The Increased Costs of Donation after Cardiac Death Liver Transplantation: Caveat Emptor.  Presented at Edelstone-Bendix Research Symposium (clinical research award), Chicago, IL, 2009 June.

Jay CL, Skaro AI, Kang R, Preczewski L, Holl JP, Abecassis MM.  The Increased Costs of Donation after Cardiac Death Liver Transplantation: Caveat Emptor.  National Research Service Award Conference, Chicago, IL, 2009 June.

Nils Johnson, MD (PGY6), Department of Medicine

Education:

B.S., University of British Columbia, physics and computer science, 2000
M.D., Columbia University, 2004
Subspecialty interest:  Cardiology

Research Interests:

Overall I enjoy applying my background in physics, mathematics, and computer science to medical problems. My major research focus is diseases of the coronary arteries. The most common of these, atherosclerosis, manifests itself most clearly through abnormal myocardial perfusion. I study perfusion using both noninvasive and invasive techniques, from cardiac PET/SPECT/MRI to coronary pressure-flow wires. This year I am an interventional cardiology fellow in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Also, I am near completing my Master of Science in Epidemiology and Biostatistics (MSEB) degree here at Northwestern in the Department of Preventive Medicine.

Keeling AN, Johnson NP, Farrelly C, Mahajan A, Dill KE, Losordo DW, Malaisrie SC, Benson AB 3rd. Right atrial Merkel cell carcinoma metastasis. Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). (In press.)

Johnson NP, Moorman AJ, Pang PS, Collins SP, Eimer MJ, Gheorghiade M. Early Medical Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes (AHFS). In: Management of Heart Failure - Volume 1: Medical. Editors: Baliga R, Pitt B, Givertz M. Springer-Verlag, London, 2008. Pages 129-158.

Johnson NP, Wu E, Bonow RO, Holly TA. Relation of exercise capacity and body mass index to mortality in patients with intermediate-to-high risk for coronary artery disease. American Journal of Cardiology 102(8):1028-1033, 15 October 2008. [PMID: 18929704]

Johnson NP, Denes P. The ladder diagram (a 100+ year history). American Journal of Cardiology 101(12):1801-1804, 15 June 2008. [PMID: 18549863]

Gould KL, Pan T, Loghin C, Johnson NP, Sdringola S. Reducing radiation dose in rest-stress cardiac PET/CT by single poststress cine CT for attenuation correction: quantitative validation. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 49(5):738-745, May 2008. [PMID: 18413384]

Gould KL, Pan T, Loghin C, Johnson NP, Guha A, Sdringola S. Frequent diagnostic errors in cardiac PET/CT due to misregistration of CT attenuation and emission PET images: a definitive analysis of causes, consequences, and corrections. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 48(7):1112-1121, July 2007. [PMID: 17574974]

Johnson NP, Gould KL. Clinical evaluation of a new concept: resting myocardial perfusion heterogeneity quantified by Markovian analysis of PET identifies coronary microvascular dysfunction and early atherosclerosis in 1,034 subjects. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 46(9):1427-1437, September 2005. [PMID: 16157524]

Johnson NP. Advantages to transforming the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve into likelihood ratio coordinates. Statistics in Medicine 23(14):2257-2266, 30 July 2004. [PMID: 15236429]

Johnson NP. The brachistochrone problem. College Mathematics Journal 35(3):192-197, May 2004.

Seth Krantz. MD,  (PGY1), Department of Medicine

Information not yet available.

Tim Lautz, MD (PGY1), Department of Surgery

Education:

B.S., Harvard University, Chemistry
M.D., Vanderbilt University 

Publications:

Lautz T, Abbas F, Novis S, Chow C, Amaranto D, Wang E, Blackburn D, Pearce W, Kibbe M.  Isolated gastrocnemius and soleal vein thrombosis (IGSVT): Should these patients receive therapeutic anticoagulation?  Ann Surg 2009 (ahead of print)
 
Lautz T, Sundaram S, Whitington P, Keys L, Superina R. Growth impairment in children with extra-hepatic portal vein obstruction is improved by mesenterico-left portal vein bypass.  J Pediatr Surg 2009 (ahead of print)
 
Lautz T, Reynolds M. Intraperitoneal bladder rupture as an isolated manifestation of nonaccidental trauma in a child. Pediatr Emerg Care 2009 Apr;25(4):260-2.
 
Lautz TB, Finegold MJ, Chin AC, Superina RA. Giant hepatic adenoma with atypical features in a patient on oxcarbazepine therapy. J Pediatr Surg 2008 Apr;43(4):751-4.

Brian Layden, MD, PhD (PGY5), Department of Medicine

Education:

B.S., Loyola University, Psychology, 1997
Ph.D., Loyola University, Chemistry, 2001
M.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, 2005

Research Interests:

During graduate school, I performed research studying the biochemical mechanism of lithium treatment in bipolar illness under the guidance of Duarte Mota de Freitas, Ph.D.  One proposed mechanism of therapeutic action is that lithium exerts its effects by competing with magnesium for binding sites within the cell.  One of my first studies involved developing techniques to examine this competition.  Next, I demonstrated that this competition was observable within neuronal cells.  Follow-up studies demonstrated that this competition could be observed under therapeutic and chronic lithium treatment conditions in neuronal cells.  In additional studies, I identified the major lithium binding sites within neuronal cells and how chronic treatment with lithium can alter these sites by regulating different phospholipid pathways. 

During medical school, I performed research in the laboratory of Mark M. Rasenick, Ph.D.  My research in this laboratory focused on studying the interaction between guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) and tubulin, two proteins that have been linked to the mechanism in which antidepressant assert their effect.  Further, this novel interaction is important because this protein complex can result in the destabilization of microtubules and receptor-independent activation of G proteins.  My role in this project was to define the three dimensional structure of this protein interaction.  In my first project, I used peptide arrays to show potential binding sites between the proteins and then, using molecular modeling techniques, predicted the first three dimensional model of this interaction.  In an additional project, using fluorescent-labeled G proteins, I examine how this interaction results in structural changes in the G proteins, providing insight into how G proteins may be activated by tubulin.  Currently, at Northwestern University, I will also be working on a joint project with Dr. Rasenick and Dr. Douglas Freymann in which we will attempt to make and analyze crystals of the complex between tubulin and one particular G protein.  By studying this interface between these two molecules, we hope to generate a novel antidepressant compound.  Following residency, my research goals are to focus on studying the interface between the central nervous system and the regulation of endocrine pathways in the body.

Publications:

Primary CNS lymphoma with bilateral symmetric hypothalamic lesions presenting with panhypopituitarism and diabetes insipidus. Layden BT, Dubner S, Toft DJ, Kopp P, Grimm S, Molitch ME. Pituitary. 2009 Jan 3. [Epub ahead of print]

Structural model of a complex between the heterotrimeric G protein, Gsalpha, and tubulin.Layden BT, Saengsawang W, Donati RJ, Yang S, Mulhearn DC, Johnson ME, Rasenick MM.Biochim Biophys Acta. 2008 Jun;1783(6):964-73. Epub 2008 Mar 4.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a patient with chronic cyanoacrylate exposure. Layden BT, Joseph M, Tallman MS, Platanias LC.Acta Haematol. 2007;118(4):242-3. Epub 2007 Dec 18.

Identification of Li(+) binding sites and the effect of Li(+) treatment on phospholipid composition in human neuroblastoma cells: a (7)Li and (31)P NMR study. Layden BT, Abukhdeir AM, Malarkey C, Oriti LA, Salah W, Stigler C, Geraldes CF, Mota de Freitas D. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2005 Sep 25;1741(3):339-49.

Montezinho LP. B Duarte C. Fonseca CP. Glinka Y. Layden B. Mota de Freitas D. Geraldes CF. Castro MM. Intracellular lithium and cyclic AMP levels are mutually regulated in neuronal cells. Journal of Neurochemistry. 90(4):920-30, 2004 Aug.

Layden BT. Minadeo N. Suhy J. Abukhdeir AM. Metreger T. Foley K. Borge G. Crayton JW. Bryant FB. de Freitas DM. Biochemical and psychiatric predictors of Li(+) response and toxicity in Li(+)-treated bipolar patients. Bipolar Disorders. 6(1):53-61, 2004 Feb.

Williams N. Layden BT. Suhy J. Metreger T. Foley K. Abukhdeir AM. Borge G. Crayton J. Bryant FB. Mota de Freitas D. Testing competing path models linking the biochemical variables in red blood cells from Li+-treated bipolar patients. Bipolar Disorders. 5(5):320-9, 2003 Oct.

Diven CF. Wang F. Abukhdeir AM. Salah W. Layden BT. Geraldes CF. Mota de Freitas D. Evaluation of [Co(gly)3]- as a 35Cl- NMR shift reagent for cellular studies. Inorganic Chemistry. 42(8):2774-82, 2003 Apr 21.

Abukhdeir AM. Layden BT. Minadeo N. Bryant FB. Stubbs EB Jr. Mota de Freitas D. Effect of chronic Li+ treatment on free intracellular Mg2+ in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Bipolar Disorders. 5(1):6-13, 2003 Feb.

Minadeo N. Layden B. Amari LV. Thomas V. Radloff K. Srinivasan C. Hamm HE. de Freitas DM. Effect of Li+ upon the Mg2+-dependent activation of recombinant Gialpha1. Archives of Biochemistry & Biophysics. 388(1):7-12, 2001 Apr 1.

Layden B. Diven C. Minadeo N. Bryant FB. Mota de Freitas D. Li+/Mg2+ competition at therapeutic intracellular Li+ levels in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Bipolar Disorders. 2(3 Pt 1):200-4, 2000 Sep.

Amari L. Layden B. Rong Q. Geraldes CF. Mota de Freitas D. Comparison of fluorescence, (31)P NMR, and (7)Li NMR spectroscopic methods for investigating Li(+)/Mg(2+) competition for biomolecules. Analytical Biochemistry. 272(1):1-7, 1999 Jul 15.

Amari L. Layden B. Nikolakopoulos J. Rong Q. Mota de Freitas D. Baltazar G. Castro MM. Geraldes CF. Competition between Li+ and Mg2+ in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells: a fluorescence and 31P NMR study. Biophysical Journal. 76(6):2934-42, 1999 Jun.

Brian Le, MD (PGY3), Department of Urology Information not yet available

John Linn, MD (PGY5), Department of Surgery

Information not yet available

Kristina A. Matkowskyj, MD, PhD (PGY3), Department of Pathology Education: BS: University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, Specialized Chemistry (1997) PhD: University of Illinois at Chicago, Pathology (2002) MD: University of Illinois at Chicago (2007) Subspecialty Interest(s): GI Oncology

Research Interests:

I conducted my graduate research in the laboratory of Dr. Richard V. Benya, MD.  The major research focus of the laboratory concerns the processing and regulation of heptaspanning, G protein-coupled receptors; specifically, the receptors for gastrin-releasing peptide and galanin.
 
Prior to the start of graduate and medical school, my investigations focused on the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R).  My efforts focused on developing a novel algorithm for true quantitative immunohistochemistry (Q-IHC) based on calculating the cumulative signal strength, or energy, of the digital file encoding an image and to determine the absolute amount of chromogen present per pixel.  Our efforts enabled us to use Q-IHC to accurately determine the amount of peptide hormone receptor in archived tissues.  To this end, we set out to determine the expression and role of the GRPR protein in the gastrointestinal tract.  This receptor is known to cause the proliferation of many, but not all cells in which it is expressed.  Our studies identified that this receptor is not normally expressed by epithelial cells lining the GI tract, but is aberrantly expressed by many GI malignancies.  Additional studies support GRPR acting as a mitogen, and recent data supports that in vivo it may behave as a morphogen.
 
The primary focus of my graduate research work was investigating the role of the galanin-1 receptor (Gal1R) in the context of infectious diarrhea.  It is known that galanin is widely expressed in the central nervous system and in the GI tract by enteric nerves.  In in the GI tract, galanin receptors are expressed by smooth muscle cells which when activated modulate intestinal transit.  We have shown that epithelial cells lining the human GI tract express only GalR1 and when activated results in chloride secretion from these cells.  Gal1R expression is transcriptionally regulated by the inflammation-associated transcription factor NF-kappa B, a factor activated in a number of inflammatory states.  We have shown that an increase in Gal1R expression is observed in various infalmmatory conditions such as Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, and infectious colitis.  It is thus hypothesized that Gal1R expression and activation represents a common, unifying pathway accounting for the diarrhea associated with inflammatory conditions affecting the colon.
 
My future research goals include further study into the biology of gastrointestinal malignancies occuring in patients with various inflammatory conditions

Publications:

Matkowskyj KA, Nathaniel R, Prasad R, Rao MC, Benya RV. Age-dependent differences in response to salmonella infection are due to alterations in galanin-1 receptor (Gal1-R) expression.  [in preparation]

Hempson S, Matkowskyj KA, Bansal A, Tsao E, Habib I, Benya RV, Shaw RD. Rotavirus infection of small intestine causes colonic secretion through regulation of galanin-1 receptor.  [submitted]

Taglia L, Matusiak D, Matkowskyj KA, Benya RV.  Gastrin-releasing peptide mediates its morphogenic properties in human colon cancer by up-regulating intracellular adhesion protein-1 (ICAM-1) via focal adhesion kinase. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2007; 292(1): G182-90.

Savkovic SD, Villanueva J, Turner JR, Matkowskyj KA, Hecht G.  Mouse model of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infection. Infect Immun 2005; 73(2):1161-70.

Matusiak D, Glover S, Nathaniel R, Matkowskyj K, Yang J, Benya RV.  Neuromedin B and its receptor are mitogens in both normal and malignant epithelial cells lining the colon.  AJP Gastro 2005; 288(4): G718-28.

Matkowskyj KA, Glover S, Benya RV. Quantitative immunohistochemistry (Q-IHC): A novel algorithm for measuring cumulative signal strength and predicting receptor number. Microscopy & Analysis 2004; 18: (issue #66) 5-6.

Matkowskyj KA, Nathaniel R, Prasad R, Weihrauch D, Rao M, Benya RV. Galanin contributes to the excess colonic fluid secretion observed in dextran sulfate sodium murine colitis.  Inflammatory Bowel Dis 2004; 10: 408-416.

Matkowskyj KA, Keller K, Glover S, Kornberg L, Tran-Son-Tay R, and Benya RV.  Expression of GRP and its receptor in well differentiated colon cancer cells correlates with the presence of focal adhesion kinase phosphorylated at tyrosines 397 and 407. J Histochem Cytochem  2003; 51, 1041-1048.

Matkowskyj KA, Schonfeld D, Benya RV.  Quantitative immunohistochemistry by measuring cumulative signal strength accurately measures receptor number. J Histochem Cytochem 2003; 51, 205-214.

Carroll RE, Matkowskyj K, Saunthararajah Y, Sekosan M, Battey JF, Benya RV.  Contribution of gastrin-releasing peptide and its receptor to villus development in the murine and human gastrointestinal tract. Mech Dev 2002; 13:121-30.

Matkowskyj KA, Danilkovich A, Marrero JA, Savkovic S, Hecht G, Benya RV. Galanin-1 receptor up-regulation mediates the excess colonic fluid production caused by infection with enteric pathogens.  Nature Med 2000; 6: 1048-1051.

Carroll RE, Matkowskyj KA, Tretiakova MS, Battey, JF, Benya RV.  Gastrin-releasing peptide is a mitogen and morphogen in murine colon cancer.  Cell Growth Diff 2000; 11: 385-393.

Marrero JA, Matkowskyj KA, Yung K, Hecht G, Benya RV. Dextran sulfate sodium-induced murine colitis activates NF-?B and increases galanin-1 receptor expression.  Am J Physiol 2000; 278: G797-G810.

Matkowskyj KA, Schonfeld, D, Benya RV.  Quantitative immunohistochemistry by measuring cumulative signal strength using commercially available software Photoshop and Matlab.  J Histochem Cytochem 2000; 48: 303-311.

Hecht G, Marrero JA, Danilkovich A, Matkowskyj KA, Savkovic SD, Koutsouris A, Benya RV.  Pathogenic Escherichia coli increase Cl- secretion from intestinal epithelial by up-regulating galanin-1 receptor expression.  J Clin Invest 1999; 104: 253-262.

Matkowskyj KA, Marrero JA, Carroll RE, Green R, Benya RV.  Azoxymethane-induced fulminant hepatic failure in mice: characterization of a new animal model.  Am J Physiol 1999; 277: G455-G462.

Matkowskyj KA, Carroll RE, Chakrabarti S, McDonald T, Benya RV.  Aberrant expression of gastrin-releasing peptide and its receptor by well differentiated colon cancers in humans.  Am J Physiol 1999; 276: G655-G665.

Benya RV, Matkowskyj KA, Danilkovich A, Hecht G.  Galanin causes Cl- secretion in the human colon.  Potential significance of inflammation-associated NF-?B activation on galanin-1 receptor expression and function. Ann NY Acad Sci USA 1998; 869: 64-77.

Marrero JA, Ostrovskiy DA, Matkowskyj KA, Koutsouris A, Hecht G, Benya RV.  Electrophysiological characterization of human distal colon.  Description of a novel technique for isolating gastrointestinal epithelium. Dig Dis Sci 1998; 43: 2439-2445.

Lorimer DD, Matkowskyj KA, Benya RV.  Cloning, chromosomal localization, and transcriptional regulation of the human galanin-1 receptor gene (GALN1R). Biochem Biophys Res Comm 1997; 241: 558-564.

CHAPTERS:
Handbook of Immunochemistry and in situ Hybridization of Human Carcinomas.  Volume 4:  Molecular Genetics, Gastrointestinal Carcinomas, and Ovarian Carcinomas.  Quantitative Immunohistochemistry (Q-IHC) Determining the Norm of the Image Data File.  Authors:  Kristina A. Matkowskyj, PhD, Randal Cox, PhD, Richard V. Benya, MD.  Volume 4, p. 279. 

Scott McEwen, MD PhD (PGY1), Department of Pedia Information not yet available

Joshua Meeks, MD, PhD (PGY5), Department of Urology

Information not yet available

David Montgomery, MD, PhD (PGY5),  Department of Medicine Education: B.S., Morehouse College, Biology, 1996 Ph.D., University of Illinois,Physiology & Biophysics, 2001 M.D., Northwestern University, 2005

Research Interests:

My previous work sought to enlarge our understanding of the role of the cardiac troponin regulatory complex in physiologic myocardial function (with Dr. R. John Solaro), in hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies, as well as in the eventual progression to end-stage pump failure (with Dr. Peter M. Buttrick). 

Now, my research interests have been broadened to include investigation of the cardiovascular system as a whole, with particular focus on translational questions.  Under the tutelage of Dr. Douglas Vaughan, I will study the role of the plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), a key regulator of the fibrinolytic system, and its role in ischemic cardiovascular disease.  In particular, I plan to contribute to our understanding of how PAI-1 modulates the vascular and myocardial housekeeping processes (i.e., myocardial scar formation) that occur after ischemic injury.

My overall goal for training in cardiology is to merge my clinical and research interests.  To this end, I will focus my clinical cardiology fellowship on the cardiac patient with atherosclerotic coronary and peripheral artery disease.  As a clinical cardiologist, I will specialize in percutaneous, as well as novel medical approaches to this common disease entity. 

Ultimately, my career goal is to help advance our state of thinking on critical issues in cardiovascular medicine through innovative patient care and translational research.      

Publications:

ARTICLES:

Montgomery DE, Rundell VLM, Goldspink PH, Urboniene D, Geenen DL, de Tombe PP, Buttrick PM.  PKC* induces systolic cardiac failure marked by exhausted inotropic reserve and intact Frank-Starling mechanism.  Am. J. Physiol: Heart and Circ.  289 (5): H1881-8, 2005. 

Goldspink PH., Montgomery DE., Walker LA, McKinney RD, Ping P., Geenen DL., Solaro RJ and Buttrick PM. Protein Kinase C* over-expression alters the cardiac myofilament properties and composition during the progression to heart failure. Circ Res. 95: 424-432, 2004.

Solaro RJ, Montgomery D, Wang L, Burkart EM, Ke Y, Vahebi S, Buttrick PM.  Integration of Pathways that Signal Cardiac Growth with Modulation of Myofilament Activity.  J. Nuclear Cardiol.  9: (5): 523-33, 2002.

Montgomery DE, Wolska BM, Pyle WG, Roman BB, Dowell JC, Buttrick PM, Koretsky AP, del Nido PJ and Solaro RJ. Altered *-Adrenergic Response and Myofilament Activation in Mouse Hearts Lacking Troponin I Phosphorylation Sites.  Am J. Physiol: Heart and Circ., 282 (6):  H2397-2405, 2002.

Montgomery DE, Tardiff JC and Chandra M.  Cardiac Troponin T Mutations: correlation between the type of mutation and the nature of myofilament dysfunction.  Journal of Physiology (London), 536 (2):  583-592, 2001.
 
Montgomery DE, Chandra M, Huang QQ, Jin JP and Solaro RJ. Transgenic Incorporation of Skeletal TnT into Cardiac Myofilaments Blunts PKC-mediated Depression of Force. Am J. Physiol: Heart and Circ., 280 (3): H1011-H1018, 2001.

Huang L, Wolska BM, Montgomery DE, Burkart EM, Buttrick PM, and Solaro RJ. Increased contractility and altered calcium transients of myocytes from transgenic mouse hearts conditionally expressing PKCβ.  Am J. Physiol: Cell, 280 (5): C1114-C1120, 2001.

Chandra M, Montgomery DE, Kim JF, and Solaro RJ.  The N-terminal Region of Troponin T Is Essential for Maximal Activation of Rat Cardiac Myofilaments.  Journal of Mol. Cell. Cardiol. 31 (4): 867-880, 1999.

Donald CD, Montgomery DE, Emmett N, and Cooke DB. Invasive Potential and Substrate Dependence of Attachment in the Dunning R-3327 Rat Prostate Adenocarcinoma Model. Invasion and Metastasis 18 (4): 165-175, 1998/99.

Golspink PH, Montgomery DE, Ruch, Buttrick PM, Garcia J.  The effect of PKCβ  overexpression on calcium transients: an isoform-specific physiologic role. In preparation

Goldspink PH, Montgomery DE, Geenen DL, Buttrick PM.  Aortic banding precipitates end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy in PKC? overexpressing mice.  In preparation

ABSTRACTS:

Posters or Oral Presentations at National Meetings

Montgomery DE, Goldspink PH and Buttrick PM. Diminished Systolic Function and Inotropic Reserve in Mice Hearts Over-expressing PKC*:  a P-V loop analysis. NHLBI Conference (Chicago, IL), November 2002.

Montgomery DE, Tardiff J, Chandra M.  Cardiac Troponin T Mutations:  The Correlation between the Type of Mutation and the Nature of Myofilament Dysfunction. Biophys. J. 79 (1):  A381, 2001.

Goldspink PH, Montgomery DE, Ping P, Geenen DL, Solaro RJ and Buttrick PM. Cardiac Expression of PKC* Alters the Activity of the Myofilaments and Increases Fetal Gene Expression Before the Onset of Cardiac Hypertrophy. Circulation Suppl. 102, (18): Il-159, 2000.

Roman BB, Montgomery DE, Koretsky AP, del Nido PJ, Solaro RJ and Buttrick PM. Targeted Mutation of Protein Kinase C Phosphorylation Sites on Cardiac Troponin I (TnI) Alters Cardiac Function in vivo.  Circulation Suppl. 102 (18):  Il-160, 2000.

Montgomery DE, Koretsky AP, del Nido PJ, Cowan DB, Roman BB, Leiden JM and Solaro RJ.  Hierarchy of Functional Significance for PKC-specific Sites on Cardiac Troponin I. Biophys. J. 78 (1): A365, 2000.

Montgomery DE, Chandra M, Huang QQ, Jin JP, Solaro RJ.  Transgenic incorporation of chicken fast skeletal TnT into cardiac myofilaments blunts the PKC-induced depression of maximal tension. Circulation Suppl.. 100 (18):  I-121, 1999.

Chandra M, Montgomery DE, Solaro RJ.  N-terminal truncation of rat cardiac troponin T decreases maximal ATPase activity of cardiac myofilaments.  Biophys. J. 74: A52, 1998.

R. Kannan Mutharasan, MD (PGY7), Department of Medicine

Education:

B.S., Northwestern University, Biomedical Engineering, 1999
M.D., Northwestern University, 2003

Research Interests:

I am interested most in understanding the mechanisms that lead to heart failure so that we can undo the process. That heart failure is so prevalent makes it an important problem. That it is becoming more prevalent makes it an urgent one. This all appeals to the clinician in me. The scientist in me is fascinated by the complexity of the biology—a failing heart evokes hypertrophy, fibrosis, apoptosis, and myriad other events we have only begun to piece together. How does the heart fail, and how much of that failure can we undo so that our patients may live long, healthy lives? These are the types of questions I want to spend my career investigating.

The nice thing about the PSTP is that it is so flexible. I am finishing my clinical training first because I think such exposure will help me formulate better research questions. But those that want to interpose research training between residency and clinical fellowship are welcome to. However you do things and whatever your interest, I am sure you will find Northwestern to be a great place to learn, train, work, and—most fun of all—discover.

Kobayashi M. Mutharasan RK. Feng J. Roberts MF. Lomasney JW. Identification of hydrophobic interactions between proteins and lipids: free fatty acids activate phospholipase C delta1 via allosterism. Biochemistry. 43(23):7522-33, 2004 Jun 15.

Egon Ozer, MD, PhD (PGY4), Department of Medicine

Education:

B.S., St. Cloud State University, Biotechnology, 2000
M.D./Ph.D., University of Iowa, Molecular Biology, 2006

Research Interests:

I conducted my graduate research in the laboratory of Dr Joseph Zabner, MD.  The primary focus of my research was the prevention of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients.  I directed my efforts at blocking Pseudomonas quorum sensing, a process whereby Pseudomonas and other bacteria regulate their gene expression in response to chemical signaling molecules, acyl-homoserine lactones secreted and detected by the bacteria.  In P. aeruginosa, quorum sensing controls the expression of genes necessary for effective biofilm formation.  Pseudomonas biofilms are colonies of bacteria within a self-secreted polysaccharide matrix that are highly resistant to biocides and antibiotics.  Pseudomonas biofilms are medically relevant as they are shown to form in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients and contribute to significant morbidity and mortality in this population.  My hypothesis was that degradation of P. aeruginosa acyl-homoserine lactones by mammalian tissues would interrupt quorum sensing and prevent biofilm formation.  During my research I discovered that human airway epithelia and other mammalian tissues possess an innate ability to degrade acyl-homoserine lactones.  I further characterized this as an enzymatic activity and traced the activity to a family of proteins, the paraoxonases.  I further found that mammalian paraoxonase activity was both necessary and sufficient to both degrade quorum sensing molecules as well as prevent Pseudomonas biofilm formation and that common polymorphisms within one member of this family, paraoxonase 2, had significant effects on the ability of the enzyme to block quorum sensing.  My future research goals include further study into interactions between hosts and pathogens, as well as molecular mechanisms by which humans are able to protect themselves from infection.

Publications:

Stoltz DA, Ozer EA, Ng CJ, Yu J, Reddy ST, Lusis AJ, Bourquard N, Parsek MR, Zabner J, Shih DM. Paraoxonase-2 Deficiency Enhances Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum Sensing in Murine Tracheal Epithelia,  Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2006 Nov 22. Epub ahead of print

Ozer EA, Pezzulo A, Shih DM, Chun C, Furlong C, Lusis AJ, Greenberg EP, Zabner J. Human and murine paraoxonase 1 are host modulators of Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing.  FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2005 Dec 1;253(1):29-37.

Brown CL, Graham SM, Cable BB, Ozer EA, Taft PJ, Zabner J. Xylitol enhances bacterial killing in the rabbit maxillary sinus.  Laryngoscope. 2004 Nov;114(11):2021-4.

Chun CK, Ozer EA, Welsh MJ, Zabner J, Greenberg EP. Inactivation of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing signal by human airway epithelia.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Mar 9;101(10):3587-90.

Daniel Popowich, MD (PGY7), Department of Surgery

Education:

B.S., Emory University for College, Anthropology and Human Biology
M.D., Jefferson Medical College

Research Interests:

Our lab’s main area of research is in nitric oxide and its ability to decrease the neointimal hyperplasia that ensues following vascular surgical procedures leading to re-stenosis. Specifically I am looking into the mechanism by which nitric oxide causes vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis using a p53 knockout model.  This apoptosis appears to be mediated via NO-induced increase in reactive oxygen species.  Contrary to the currently accepted paradigm of p53 as a pro-apoptotic signal, it appears that in this model the presence of p53 protects VSMC from apoptosis.

I am also working to develop a spontaneous nitric oxide-releasing prosthetic bypass grafts in collaboration with the Biomedical Engineering department that we will evaluate in a porcine model of vascular bypass grafting.  The obvious goal of this project is to attempt to engineer improved vascular conduits that would afford increased patency and longevity over the currently available models.

Publications:

Kapadia MR, Popowich DA, Kibbe MR.  Modified prosthetic vascular conduits.  Circulation. 2008 Apr 8;117(14):1873-82. Review.
 
Kapadia MR, Chow LW, Tsihlis ND, Ahanchi SS, Eng JW, Murar J, Martinez J, Popowich DA, Jiang Q, Hrabie JA, Saavedra JE, Keefer LK, Hulvat JF, Stupp SI, Kibbe MR  Nitric oxide and nanotechnology: a novel approach to inhibit neointimal hyperplasia.  J Vasc Surg. 2008 Jan;47(1):173-82.

Popowich DA, Varu V, Kibbe MR. Nitric oxide: what a vascular surgeon needs to know. Vascular. 2007 Nov-Dec;15(6):324-35.
 
Crandall M, Popowich D, Shapiro M, West M. Posttraumatic hernias: historical overview and review of the literature.  American Surgeon. 2007 Sep;73(9):845-50. 

Kapadia M, Popowich DA, Kibbe M. Modified Prosthetic Vascular Conduits. Trends in Vascular Surgery 2006.  Yao JST, Pearce WH, Matsumura JS, Eds., Greenwood Academic, Chicago, IL 2006.
 
Schaner PJ, Jenoff JS, Popowich DA, Moore JH, Copit SE, Fox JW, Murphy GF, DiMuzio P. Decellularized venous allografts: An immunogenic question. J Surg Res 2002;107:303.
 
Schaner P, Rosato FE Jr, Tarola NA, Eisenberg J, Abdul-Misih S, Tamburrino J, Popowich DA, Torina PJ, DiMuzio P. Acellular scaffolding for vascular tissue engineering in a canine model. J Surg Res 2003:114:297.

Submitted for publication:
 
Popowich, Daniel A, Aalami, Oliver O, Walsh, Christopher P, Rossi, Nicholas B, Bhikhapurwala, Hussein A, Jiang, Qun, and Kibbe, Melina R.  Nitric Oxide-Mediated Apoptosis: Anti-oxidant and Anti-apoptotic functions of p53.  Free Radical Biology and Medicine. June 2008 submitted
   
Daniel A. Popowich, Janet Martinez, Melissa E. Hogg, Vinit N. Varu, Vanessa R. Lee, Christopher P. Walsh, Jozef Murar, and Melina R. Kibbe.  Nitric Oxide Decreases Neointimal Hyperplasia via Differential Regulation of Reactive Oxygen Species Throughout the Arterial Wall.  Free Radical Biology and Medicine. June 2008 submitted

Mehul Raval, MD (PGY2), Department of Surgery Education: B.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Minor in Chemistry and History, 2000 M.D., Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 2005

Research Interests:

Dr. Raval is a general surgery resident at Northwestern University who began as an American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Scholar in July of 2008.  He completed his undergraduate education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and medical education at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.  He became interested in health outcomes research as a medical student during his tenure as a Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellow.  He has a long-term interest in pediatric surgery, and his research interests include outcomes research and establishing practice guidelines in pediatric surgery. Currently Dr. Raval is completing coursework in a Master’s Degree in Clinical Investigation at Northwestern University.  In addition, he is
actively involved in several projects at the ACS including an assessment of multi-specialty representation in the National Surgical Qualilty Improvement Program (NSQIP) as well as participating in alpha testing with the pediatric NSQIP module.  Dr. Raval has also started projects with the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) including an assessment of overall pediatric representation and a study of nodal evaluation in pediatric Wilms’ Tumors.  Other current projects using the NCDB include topics in pediatric thyroid cancer including prognostic factors associated with medullary thyroid cancer and trends in treatment of papillary and follicular thyroid cancers.  Studies accepted for publication have included a national assessment of melanoma care using formally developed quality indicators and a review of NCDB quality assessment tools.

Publications:

Bilimoria KY, Raval MV, et al. National Assessment of Melanoma Care Using Formally Developed Quality Indicators.  Journal of Clinical Onocolgy 2009; accepted for publication.

Raval MV, Browne M, Chin AC, Zimmerman D, Angelos P, Reynolds M. Total thyroidectomy for benign disease in the pediatric patient – feasible and safe.  Journal of Pediatric Surgery 2009; accepted for publication.

Raval MV, Bilimoria KY, Stewart AK, Bentrem DJ, Ko CY.  Using the NCDB for cancer care improvement: an introduction to available quality assessment tools.  J Surg Oncol. 2009 Jun 15;99(8):488-90. Review.

Phillips JD, Raval MV, Redden C, Weiner TM. Gastroschisis, atresia, dysmotility: surgical treatment strategies for a distinct clinical entity.  J Pediatr Surg. 2008 Dec;43(12):2208-12.

Pastor AC, Phillips JD, Fenton SJ, Meyers RL, Lamm AW, Raval MV, Lehman E, Karp TB, Wales PW, Langer JC.  Routine use of a SILASTIC spring-loaded silo for infants with gastroschisis: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.  Journal of Pediatric Surgery 2008;43, 1807-12.

Raval MV, Gaba RC, Brown K, Sata KT, Eskandari MK.  Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the treatment of extensive LSD-induced lower extremity vasopasm refractory to pharmacologic therapy. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2008; 19, Epub 2008 Jun 27.

Raval MV, Laughon MM, Bose CL, Phillips JD.  Patent ductus arteriosus ligation in premature infants: who really benefits, and at what cost? Journal of Pediatric Surgery 2007; 42, 69-75.

Raval MV, Phillips JD. Optimal enteral feeding in children with gastric dysfunction: surgical jejunostomy versus image-guided
gastrojejunal tube Placement.  Journal of Pediatric Surgery 2006; 41: 1679-1682.

Raval MV, Zemon H, Kumar SS, Brody FJ.  Laparoscopic splenectomy for metastatic squamous cell cancer of the neck. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2005 Aug;15(4):383-6.

Raval MV, Weiner TM.  Beware of the flaming hairball – a brief review and warning.  Journal of Pediatric Surgery.  2005 Apr; 40(4):E37-8.

Raval MV, Weiner TM.  Psoas Abscess.  Consultant for Pediatricians. 2005 Feb; 3(2): 90-91.

Raval MV, Campbell BT, Phillips JD.  Case of the missing penny: thoracoscopic removal of a mediastinal coin.  Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2004; 39(12):1758-60.
 

Shawn Rose, MD, PhD (PGY3), Department of Medicine Education: B.S., University of Miami, psychobiology, 2000 Ph.D., University of Miami, Microbiology & Immunology, 2005 M.D.,  University of Miami, 2007

Matthew Strouch, MD (PGY6), Department of Surgery

Education:

B.A., Washington University, 1999
M.D., Tufts University School of Medicine, 2004

Research Interests:

Dr. Strouch is currently a general surgery resident working under the mentorship of Dr. David Bentrem.  His current research focuses on pancreatic cancer therapeutics.  Specifically, he is examining the effect of certain fatty acid diets upon the progression of pancreatic cancer in a mouse model as well as in vitro.  Other projects include research on a new anticancer medication, Apigenin, to help identify the efficacy and mechanism of action in pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Publications:

Strouch, M. Eskandari M.Vertebral Intervention: Clinical Implications and Treatment Techniques. Advanced Therapy in Endovascular Interventions. Chapter pending publication.

Catalano PJ., Strouch M. The minimally invasive sinus technique: theory and practice. Otolaryngology clinics of North America. 2004 Apr. 37(2): 401-9

Tarita Thomas, MD, PhD (PGY3), Department of Radiation-Oncology Education: B.S., University of Texas at Austin, Zoology Dean’s Honored Graduate, 1997 M.B.A., Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, 2004 M.D. /Ph.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 2007

Research Interests: My graduate research was conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Heidi Hamm. The laboratory studies the biology of heterotrimeric G protein mediated signal transduction using various model systems. For my doctoral research I studied the mechanism of how thrombin mediates cell shape change and increases permeability in human microvascular endothelial cells through activation of the protease activated receptor-1, a promiscuous receptor that can couple to multiple G protein family members, using novel small molecule peptide inhibitors of the G protein-receptor interface developed in our laboratory.  We found a specific G protein was responsible for mediating cell shape change and increased permeability through a calcium mediated pathway. These experiments demonstrated that even though a receptor might couple to multiple G proteins the downstream effects mediated by each G protein are specific.  This work contributes to our emerging understanding of how G protein signaling through thrombin affects various physiological states of endothelial cells which seems to be an early and the rate-limiting step for many pathological conditions including arteriosclerosis, thrombosis and inflammation.  Radiation oncology is a dynamic field with immense scope for impacting the types of treatments available for patients suffering from cancer.  The role of small molecules in improving the response to radiation therapy is a fascinating area where understanding signaling pathways can lead to new advances. During the next phase in my training I plan to find a way to translate discovery in the laboratory to clinical advances.  I will be working with Dr. Bharat Mittal in developing this interest.  Publications: Bhate AD, Koneru NS, Thomas TO, Logemann JA, Gopalakrishnan M, Rademaker H, Pelzer M, Agulnik A,  Mellott A, Mittal BB. Sequential Intensity Modulation Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer: The Northwestern University Experience. American Society for Radiation Oncology Meeting. Abstract #1258, 2009. Mangla J, Young JL, Thomas TO, Karaikovic EE. Sacral Stress Fractures in Children. American Journal of Orthopedics. 38(5):232-236, 2009 Lorch JH, Thomas TO, Schmoll H. Bortezomib inhibits cell-cell adhesion and migration and enhances EGF-R inhibitor induced cell death in squamous cell cancer. Cancer Research. 67(2): 727-734, 2007. Gheorghiade M, Shin DD, Thomas TO, Brandimarte F. Fonarow GC, Abraham WT. Congestion is an important diagnostic and therapeutic target in heart failure.  Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine, 7, Supplement 11: S12-24, 2006. Laumann A, Wong JJ, Thomas TO. Scurvy. Emedicine.com, July 27, 2005. Cabrera-Vera TM, Vanhauwe JF, Thomas TO, Medkova M, Preininger A, Hamm HE.  Insights into G protein structure, function and regulation.  Endocrinology Reviews, 24(6): 765-81, 2003. * Vanhauwe JF, *Thomas TO, Minshall RD, Tiruppathi C, Li A, Gilchrist A, Malik AB, and Hamm HE.  Thrombin receptors activate Go proteins in endothelial cells to regulate intracellular calcium and cell shape changes.  Journal of Biological Chemistry, 277(37): 34143-34149, 2002.  *Co-first authors. Cabrera-Vera TM, Thomas TO, Vanhauwe JF, Graber SG, Depree Km, Hamm HE.   Dissecting receptor-G protein specificity using G alpha chimeras.  Methods in Enzymology, G proteins & their regulators, 344:69-81(1) 2002. Thomas TO, Bae H, Medkova M, and Hamm HE.  The molecular basis for different intrinsic GDP release rates in G-alpha subunits.  Molecular Cell Biology Research Communications, 4(5): 282-291, 2001. Gilchrist A, Vanhauwe JF, Li A, Thomas TO, Voyno-Yasenetskaya T, and Hamm HE.  Ga minigenes expressing C-terminal peptides serve as specific inhibitors of thrombin-mediated endothelial activation.  Journal of Biological Chemistry, 276(28): 25672-25679, 2001. Chang W, Bohm RA, Strauss JC, Kwan T, Thomas T, Cowmeadow RB, and Atkinson NS.  Muscle-specific transcriptional regulation of the slowpoke Ca2+-activated K+ channel gene.  Journal of Biological Chemistry, 275(6), 3991-3998, 2000. Thomas TO, Gilchrist A, Li A, Vanhauwe JF, Hamm HE. “Systematic study of dominant negative Ga C-terminal minigenes delineate critical amino acid residues required for specific thrombin-mediated G protein responses in endothelial cells.” Poster Presentation at Young Scientist Symposium 18th International Congress of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Birmingham, UK, 2000. Thomas TO, Gilchrist A, Vanhauwe JF, Li A, Voyno-Yasenetaskaya, Tiruppathi C, Hamm HE.  “Systematic study of Ga C-terminal dominant negative minigenes on thrombin-mediated activation of endothelial cells.” Poster Presentation at Signaling 2000, Keystone Symposia, Keystone, CO, 2000. Skiba NP, Thomas TO and Hamm HE.  Use of Gat/Gai1 chimeras to define the structural basis of specific functions of Gat.  Methods in Enzymology, 315(34), 715-736, 2000. Yang C, Skiba NP, Mazzoni MR, Thomas TO and Hamm HE.  Fluorescent probes as indicators of conformation changes in transducin on activation.  Methods in Enzymology, 315(34), 703-714, 2000. Thomas T, Wang B, Brenner R, and Atkinson NS.  Novel embryonic regulation of Ca2+-activated K+ channel expression in Drosophila.  Invertebrate Neuroscience, 2(4), 283-291, 1997. Brenner R, Thomas TO, Becker M, and Atkinson NS.  Tissue-specific expression of a Ca2+-activated K+ channel is controlled by multiple upstream regulatory elements.  Journal of Neuroscience, 16(5), 1827-1835, 1996.

Ashley Vavra, MD (PGY5), Department of Surgery

Information not yet available

Kristy L. Wolniak, MD (PGY4), Department of Pathology

Education:

B.S., Iowa State University, Biology, 1997
M.D., Ph.D., University of Iowa, 2005

Research Interests:

I am currently a PGY2 in Clinical Pathology.  My research during graduate school focused on the regulation of the germinal center B cell response in an autoimmune setting.  Currently, my clinical interest is in hematopathology and my main research interest is to begin to understand the link between autoimmune disease and the development of hematopoietic malignancies.  I am starting to approach my research questions from both a clinical and basic science perspective.  I am beginning projects which identify the signaling molecules involved in the development and regulation of malignant cells as well as projects focused on the dysregulation of the immune system during the development of autoimmunity.

Publications:

Wolniak KL, Shinall SM, Waldschmidt TJ. The germinal center response Crit Rev Immunol 2004;24(1):39-65.

Cozine CL, Wolniak KL, Waldschmidt TJ.  The primary germinal center response in mice.  Curr Opin Immunol 2005 Jun;17(3):298-302.

Wolniak KL, Noelle RJ, Waldschmidt TJ. Characterization of (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl (NP)-specific germinal center B cells and antigen-binding B220- cells after primary NP challenge in mice.  J Immunol 2006 Aug 15;177(4):2072-9