Stony Brook University Department of Anesthesiology
Residency Program
Stony Brook University Department of AnesthesiologyResidency Program |
|
Helene Benveniste, MD,
PhD
Research in Dr. Benveniste’s laboratory focuses on
applying microMRI and other imaging modalities (optics, microCT, PET)
in translational neuroscience studies. • Developing methodologies to capture neuronal and astroglia activity at high spatial and temporal resolution • Understanding how anesthetics and analgesic interfere with brain activity • Understanding mechanisms underlying development of addiction to drugs of abuse • Informatics and high resolution MRI for anatomical and functional phenotyping of transgenic mouse models of human disease (Alzheimer’s disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Stroke). Experimental methodologies and projects associated with our laboratory include microMRI, optical imaging, in vivo and in vitro techniques for imaging and engineering and instrumentation development in collaboration with Division of Instrumentation and Central Shops at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Our long-term goal is to apply our new technologies and knowledge towards understanding the mechanisms underlying the action of anesthetics and mind altering drugs. |
 Surface renderings of the
mouse brain based on MRI. [details]
Ma et al. Neuroscience. 2005;135(4):1203-15. |
Congwu Du, PhD The
broad goal of the research in Dr. Du's laboratory is to develop a
fluorescence technique that permit tracking the intracellular calcium
transients from a beating heart surface in ex-vivo or in vivo, along with the
simultaneous measurement of cardiac contraction. This instrument can be
used to understand the mechanisms of the cellular effects of the
anesthetic drugs on the cardiac function. She are interested in
studying drug-induced abnormalities of the heart function by measuring
the intracellular calcium transient and the development pressure
changes of the heart in response to the administration of cocaine or
lidocine. Cocaine is chosen as one of the preliminary drug for the
application of this project because cocaine has multiple
pharmacological effects on cardiovascular function: One is its local
anesthetic effect, and another is its inhibition of neuronal reuptake
of catecholamines. Many studies have shown that the inhibition by
cocaine of catecholamine reuptake is a key locus for the cardiovascular
effects of this drug. More recently, it has become apparent that the
local anesthetic actions of cocaine may also play an important role in
its effects on the heart. However, the details how the local anesthetic
effect of cocaine on the vasculature and heart function have not fully
explored, and still needed to be further investigated. |
 Changes in cerebral blood
volume, mean arterial blood pressure and cortical ADCs in response to
an acute cocaine injection.
Du et al. J Neurosci. 2006 Nov 8;26(45):11522-31 |
James P. Dilger, PhD The
current research in Dr. Dilger’s laboratory is focused on mechanisms of
action of general anesthetics on synaptic ion channels. General
anesthetics such as propofol and isoflurane potentiate inhibitory
synaptic channels such as the strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor.
Dr. Dilger uses patch clamp electrophysiological techniques to record
the currents that flow through ion channels in the cell membrane. His
lab pioneered the development of methods for rapid (less than 1
millisecond) concentration jumps that mimic conditions at a fast
synapse. Both macroscopic and single channel currents are used in these
investigations. The overall goals are a) to understand how the binding
of glycine to the receptor causes the channel gate to open and b) to
understand how general anesthetics cause this gating to be more
efficient. He also uses computational techniques to simulate the
actions of glycine and anesthetics at a realistic synapse. A recently completed project from the Dilger Lab examined how different muscle relaxants bind to each of the two distinct ligand binding sites on the muscle acetylcholine receptor. Most benzylisoquinolines, such as (+)-tubocurarine have higher affinity for the site at the α-ε subunit interface while most aminosteroids, such as pancuronium, have higher affinity for the site at the α-δ subunit interface. See figure at right. |
 Cartoon illustrating the
binding of curare (left) and pancuronium (right) to different
interfacial binding sites on the adult muscle acetylcholine receptor.
This may be part of the reason why some combinations of muscle
relaxants are synergistic.
Liu & Dilger, Anesth Analg. 2008 Aug;107(2):525 |
Lixin Liu, MD, PhD The
current research interest is to study mechanisms of age-associated
change in cardioprotection following anesthetic preconditioning.
Preconditioning confers a remarkable cardioprotection in a variety of
species, including humans. The majority of research into
cardioprotective measurements involves models using young or early
adult animals. However, cardioprotective strategies would most benefit
the elderly patients. Indeed, recent studies in the isolated perfused
rat heart model have shown that ischemia preconditioning (IPC) and
anesthetic preconditioning (APC) failed to induce cardioprotection in
the senescent myocardium. Clinically, it has been suggested that the
benefit of “preinfarction angina” in elderly patients is substantially
less than in younger patients. We have recently established an
ischemia/reperfusion intact rat model that permits us to study
anesthetic preconditioning. Our results have demonstrated a reduction
in the cardioprotective effects of isoflurane and an attenuation of ROS
in the aged myocardium. Our work should provide an avenue for new
approaches to myocardial protection in the elderly population. |
 Long Nguyen, MD (Stony
Brook Resident 2004-2006) receives second place award in the 2006
American Society of Anesthesiologists Resident Research Essay
Competition from Dr. James Eisenach, Editor-in-Chief of Anesthesiology. Chicago,
Oct 2006
Dr. Nguyen's essay "Attenuation of Anesthetic Preconditioning and Reactive Oxygen Species Production in the Aged Heart" was based on research done in Dr. Liu's lab. |
Srinivas Pentyala,
PhD Research
interests are to bridge the gap between basic and
clinical research. Projects to develop diagnostic tests for detecting
cerebrospinal fluid leaks and prostate cancer are in progress. A
bioinformatics project on lead drug discovery using specific algorithms
to identify bioactive peptides is also in progress. Basic research
projects involve molecular actions of intravenous and inhalational
anesthetics with regard to their effect on signal transduction
pathways. Particularly, the effect of intravenous drugs on calcium flux
and the effect of inhalational drugs on G-protein signaling mechanisms
are being studied. Signaling mechanisms involving calcium-mobilizing
enzymes in relation to cancer and cell death are also being studied. |
  Diagnostic test for detecting cerebrospinal fluid leaks. [US Patent App. No: 10/409,758] |
Ira S. Rampil, MSEE, MD Dr.
Rampil, MD Professor of Anesthesiology and Neurological Surgery has
been active in anesthesia research for more than twenty years and is
the department’s Director of Clinical Research, Course Director for the
Resident Research Course and the Director of the Department of
Anesthesia’s Journal Club. He has been a pioneer in developing
clinically relevant neurophysiologic monitoring systems and in
computer-based data acquisition and signal processing systems. Dr. Rampil has conducted a number of highly cited clinical trials involving inhaled anesthetic agents and was the principal investigator for the FDA phase one trial of desflurane. Dr. Rampil’s current interest involves the mechanisms and sites of general anesthetic action. He made the seminal observation that surgical immobility (lack of movement response to surgical incision) was mediated by spinal sites, not in the cerebrum. He was a member of a multicenter NIH program project investigating the molecular mechanisms of anesthesia which has discovered specific sites in ligand-gated ionophores which selectively block anesthetic effect. His most recent work involves the molecular mechanisms by which volatile anesthetics create surgical amnesia. This project uses proteomic and DNA microarray technology to examine how anesthetics act within the amygdala and other limbic areas to block the protein synthesis required for long term memory. Dr. Rampil is a Principal Investigator of a $5 million federal grant to design, build and test new imaging technologies which will work on awake, unrestrained animals. He has leadership roles in several national and international anesthesia societies and has served on the editorial boards of several major journals. |
 Cartoon illustration of the hypothesized functional/anatomic distribution of isoflurane-effected genes within a neural synapse. Rampil IJ, Moller DH, Bell AH. Isoflurane modulates genomic expression in rat amygdala. Anesth Analg. 2006 May;102(5):1431-8. |
Mario J. Rebecchi,
PhD Ever
since the
sequencing of the human genome, it has been realized how little we
understand of gene regulation. The three levels of chromatin
organization: the linear sequence, the histone-supported nucleosomal
structures, and the larger chromosomal interaction domains give rise to
highly complex molecular machines, that regulate the onset and
completion of DNA replication, as well as the synthesis, maturation and
export of messenger RNA, yet many of the control elements remain to be
defined. All of human biology and much of human disease may trace their
origins to the temporal and spatial control of this apparatus.Our work revolves around the functions of rare lipids, the phosphoinositides, and a class of enzymes that hydrolyze them, phospholipase C. They and their metabolites are well known second messengers involved in a wide range of biological processes. Using small interfering RNA approaches, our studies reveal an essential role for these lipids in growth control and stress responses. The various techniques employed include of fluorescence microscopy, FACS, RT-PCR, and protein mass spectrometry. Other projects underway: a) a study of the mechanisms that underlie the responses of glia to injury; b) the role of phosphoinositides in anesthetic preconditioning in the heart; and c) mechanisms of opiate tolerance. |
 Detergent-resistant
fraction of nuclear PIP2 and its localization with PLC1H356AEGFP in
NIH-3T3 cells. [details]
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Current clinical studies include: Analgesic efficacy and safety of acetaminophen for pain following vaginal hysterectomy Clevelox vs nitroglycerin for treatment
of hypertension Validation of spectral entropy in predicting awareness Transdermal scopolamine patch plus ondansetron for prevention
of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the outpatient setting Comparison of anesthetic requirement at BIS40 and BIS60 for sevoflurane and propofol Gender differences in resource utilization in patients undergoing aortic valve surgery |
 Relation Between Post
Operative Length of Stay
and Number of Units of RBCs Received Blood Transfusion in Cardiac Surgery: Impact on Hospital Length of Stay and Mortality Bharathi H. Scott, Frank C. Seifert, Roger Grimson ASA 2006 |
 Soto RG, Chu LF, Goldman JM, Rampil IJ,
Ruskin KJ.
Communication in critical care environments: mobile telephones improve patient care. Anesth Analg. 2006 Feb;102(2):535-41. |
Relationship between loss of responsiveness to
an automated responsiveness monitor and other measures of level
of consciousness during forced dose titration of propofol Study to determine if Zofran ODT is as effective as Compazine in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting Study of granisetron + dexamethasone vs ondansetron + dexamethasone in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting Safety and efficacy of intravenous ondansetron with intravenous dexamethasone for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in female subjects |
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Comparison of Clevelox vs sodium nitroprusside for the treatment of hypertension as clinically required perioperatively Phase III trial to assess efficacy
& safety of Org 25969 Angelgesic efficacy & safety of acetaminophen injection for pain following primary total hip arthroplasty Prospective study on the long-term effects of surgery on C-reactive protein level A retrospective study comparing methohexital to pentothal for ECT A survey study of surgeons and anesthesiologists regarding why they order preop lab tests Preemptive use of the nicotine patch for postoperative pain relief after open abdominal wall surgery |
 Relation between intra-operative bispectral index scores (BIS) and end-tidal sevoflurane and halothane concentrations. Edwards et al. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2005 Sep;49(8):1084-7 |
| Treatment of
chronic pelvic pain
The influence of gender on recovery from general anesthesia with isoflurane and fentanyl The impact of prenatal obstetric anesthesia consults on birth outcomes Loss of resistance of air vs saline: Which is the safer technique to identify the epidural space? Assessment of caudal anesthesia onset using temperature and tumescent measurements Use of dexmedetomidine as an anesthetic adjunct in adolescent posterior spinal fusion surgery The efficacy of perioperative intervention in smoking cessation |
