U of L groups show well at ATS

It was a San Francisco treat as the University of Louisville Department of Medicine was well represented at the 2012 American Thoracic Society International Conference.

At the annual meeting of the Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology Assembly (RCMB) of the ATS, Dr. Jesse Roman, Chairman of the U of L Department of Medicine, was named RCMB Assembly Chair. During the meeting, Dr. Roman was introduced as a new member of the Board of Directors of the ATS and was given an honorary citation by the Society president for his role as Chair of the ATS Scientific Advisory Committee and Chair of the President's Task Force for Research Funding.

Dr. Roman co-chaired a session on pulmonary disorders caused by cigarette smoking, alcohol exposure and oxidant stress; co-chaired a session that highlighted research performed by VA-funded investigators; co-chaired the Scientific Advisory Committee Meeting, and spoke to the attendees of the Pulmonary Division Director's Meeting about leadership interactions.

In addition, the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) also held its board meeting in San Francisco coinciding with the ATS International Meeting. As Chair of the Research Advisory Committee of the PFF, Dr. Roman updated the PFF board on the status of its research program.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Ritzenthaler, Glenn Vicary and Edilson Torres from the Roman Laboratory, presented their research on nicotine-related lung tissue remodeling, lung cancer, and lung inflammation during two Discussion Sessions as well as poster presentations:

• Zhang WJ, Ritzenthaler JD, Vicary G, Roman J. Metformin inhibits human lung carcinoma cell growth through reduction of integrin-linked kinase.

• Fan Y, Rizenthaler JD, Zhang W, Vicary G, Roman J. CRKL stimulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non small cell lung carcinoma cells via activation of ERK and induction of α9β1 integrin.

• Ritzenthaler JD, Guidot DM, Roman J. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are sensors for ethanol in lung fibroblasts.

• Torres E, Ritzenthaler JD, Roman J. Modulation Of Inflammation By Mid-Cervical Vagotomy In Murine Lungs.

Dr. Rodney Folz, Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Disorders Medicine, along with Drs. Rodrigo Cavallazi, David Nunley, Mohamed Saad and Igor Zelko also made presentations:

• I.N. Zelko, Ph.D., M.W. Stepp, B.S., R.J. Folz, M.D., Ph.D. Live In-Vivo Imaging Of Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase (EC-SOD) Promoter Activity In Transgenic Mice.

• M.J. Scott, D.O., S.P. Kellie, MD, R.S. Cavallazzi, MD, M. Saad, MD. Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Community-Acquired Pneumonia And Sepsis In A Healthy Adult.

• M.J. Scott, D.O., S.P. Kellie, MD, A.M. Burke, DO, M. Burke, MHA, T.L. Wiemken, PhD, MPH, CIC, R.S. Cavallazzi, MD, M. Saad, MD. Examination Of Care Of Medical ICU Patients Admitted To Medical ICU Unit Versus Medical Patients Admitted To Other ICU Units At The University Of Louisville Hospital.

• D.R. Nunley, MD1, G.S. Bauldoff, PhD, RN2, C. Holloman, PhD2, S. Carter, RN2, A. Pope-Harman, MD2. Severity Of Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome And Functional Performance In Lung Transplant Recipients. 1Louisville, KY/US, 2Columbus, OH/US.

Members of the U of L Internal Medicine Residency program also made their mark at the ATS conference. Four residents served as facilitators for two sessions at the Center for Fellows and Junior Professionals:

• Choosing the right mentor. Discussants: Mark Moss, M.D., Madison Macht, M.D., and Brendon Clark, M.D.
  
• Publishing your manuscripts. Discussant: Michael Matthay, M.D.

Dr. Bashar Chihada Alhariri led a poster discussion session for the presentation "Castleman's Disease And Primary Effusion Lymphoma In A HIV Positive Patient," while Dr. Tanmay Panchabhai headed a poster discussion for the presentation "Bilateral chylothoraces as a sentinel presentation of primary AL amyloidosis."

For the Division of Infectious Diseases, Forest Arnold, D.O., M.Sc., Paula Peyrani, M.D.,  and Julio Ramirez, M.D., FACP, presented preliminary data from the RETOS study funded by the CDC regarding the viral etiology of lower respiratory tract infections.

They also presented preliminary data from the CAPISG study which features translational research in conjunction with basic scientists in the U of L Division of Nephrology and the Department of Pathology evaluating the role of neutrophil function and cytokines in patients with pneumonia.

In addition, Arnold presented data regarding Acinetobacter resistance in patients being discharged from a pulmonary rehabilitation facility.

Arnold also served as one of the mentors of Bashar Alhariri who presented, in an oral poster session, an interesting case report of an HIV patient with primary effusion lymphoma and Castleman's disease both due to human herpes virus VIII.

Division members were also involved in the following presentations:

• P. Peyrani1, MD, A. Nahas1, BS, V. Giovini1, MD, C. Meza Ortiz1, MD, T. Wiemken1, PhD, F.W. Arnold1, DO, MSc, R. Nakamatsu1, MD, S.S. Chavez2, MD MSc, A. Fry2, MD, J.A. Ramirez2, MD. Respiratory Viruses Are Significant Etiologic Agents In Hospitalized Patients With Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: Results From The Rapid Empiric Treatment With Oseltamivir Study (RETOS). 1  Louisville, KY/US,   2  Atlanta, Ga/US

• S.M. Uriarte1, PhD, F.W. Arnold1, DO, MSc, R. Fernandez-Botran2, PhD, M.J. Rane3, PhD, P. Peyrani1, MD, T. Wiemken1, PhD1, J. Bordon4, MD1, J.A. Ramirez1, MD. Translational Study Linking Neutrophil Activation And Cytokine Responses With Clinical Outcome In Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia: CAPISG (Community-Acquired Pneumonia Inflammatory Study Group). 1  Infectious Diseases, Louisville, KY/US,   2  Pathology, Louisville, Ky, KY/US,   3  Nephrology, Louisville, Ky/US   4  Infectious Diseases, Washington, DC/US

• F. Arnold1, DO, MSc, S.K. Kothari2, MBBS, J. Harting1,3, PharmD. Resistance To Acinetobacter Is Not Associated With Disposition Among Patients Leaving A Long-Term Acute-Care Facility. 1  Louisville, KY/US,   2  Ahmedabad/IN,   3  Sullivan University, Louisville, KY/US

• B. Chihada Alhariri1, MD, M.J. Scott1, DO, R. Perez1, MD, H. Farghaly2, MD, F.W. Arnold3, DO, MSc. Castleman's Disease And Primary Effusion Lymphoma In A HIV Positive Patient. 1  Pulmonary, Louisville, KY/US   2  Pathology, Louisville, KY/US   3  Infectious Diseases, Louisville, KY/US