Research

Current research in the area of liver transplantation:

1. Natural agents that may be important in prevention or cures for liver diseases: Emphasis has been on the potential hepatotoxicity or hepatoprotective effects and mechanisms of action of herbal remedies used in the field of integrative medicine. Several herbal remedies (Schizandra chinensis, Silybum marianum/milk thistle, Reishi) have been found to exert protective effects against chloroform hepatotoxicity and/or ischemia/reperfusion. Others (Larrea tridentata/chaparral) have proven to be hepatotoxic. A novel approach has been use of precision-cut liver slice technology to investigate the in vitro effects of these agents. In vivo correlations are being made using a rat model of liver ischemia/reperfusion or LPS-induced injury.
2. Hepatoprotective properties of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO): We have found that treating rats with DMSO prior to liver ischemia/reperfusion injury protects the organs against adverse sequellae. Research into the responsible mechanisms is underway in liver transplantation, including non-heart-beating donors: A collaborative project is underway with Robert McCuskey, PhD, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, using intravital microscopy to examine hepatic sinusoids in a rat model of ischemia/reperfusion.

Recent research in bioengineering of resorbable biomaterials:

The projects are designed to develop bioactive resorbable matrices that we study in vitro for biocompatibility, in vivo in relevant animal models for safety and efficacy and, finally, in clinical trials. The clinical trials are generally multi-center, with physicians sending specimens to our lab for analysis using immunoassays that we develop specifically for individual biomaterials.

Recent research:

1. 3M Biomaterials Technology Center: "Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immune Response in Patients Treated with 3M Surgical Sealant"
2. ReGen Biologics, Inc.: "Humoral Immune Response to Collagen in Patients Implanted with ReGen Collagen Implant (CMI)"
3. Collagen Matrix, Inc.:
   1. "Resorbable Collagen-Based Ligament Template for ACL Reconstruction": NIH Phase II SBIR
   2. "Type I Collagen Matrix Reference Material for Tissue Engineering": NIH Phase II SBIR
      
4. Genetronics, Inc.: “Effect of MedPulser Electroporation with Bleomycin on Wound Healing of Full Thickness Dorsal Skin Incisions in a Porcine Model”

Selected Publications

• Zibadi S, Farid R, Moriguchi S, Lu Y, Foo LY, Tehrani PM, Ulreich JB and Watson RR: Oral Administration of Purple Passion Fruit Peel Extract Attenuates Blood Pressure in Female Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats and Humans, Nutrition Research 27: 408-416, 2007.
• Speer DP, Ulreich JB, Young NJ, Yuen D, and Li S-T:  Directionally Guided Angiogenesis within Extruded Type I Collagen Filaments in Vivo, J Histotechnology 29(4): 267-276, 2006.
• Ramakumar S, Phull H, Purves T, Funk J, Copeland D, Ulreich JB, Lai L-W, Lien Y-H H: Novel Delivery of Oligonucleotides using a Topical Hydrogel Tissue Sealant in a Murine Partial Nephrectomy Model, J Urology 174: 1133-1136, 2005.
• Park EL, Ulreich JB, Scott KM, Ullrich NPF, Linehan JA, French MF, Ho WY, White MJN, Talley, JR, Fellah, AM and Ramakumar S: Evaluation of polyethylene glycol based hydrogel for tissue sealing after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in a porcine model. J Urology 172:2446-55, 2004.

• Fisher RL, Ulreich JB, Nakazato PZ and Brendel K. Histological and Biochemical Evaluation of Precision-Cut Liver Slices, Toxicology Methods 11:59-79, 2001.
• Forkert PG, Boyd SM and Ulreich JB. Pulmonary Bioactivation of 1, 1-Dichloroethylene Is Associated with CYP2E1 Levels in A/J, CD-1, and C57BL/6 Mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 297: 1193-1200, 2001.
• Ulreich JB and Speer DP. Biological Resurfacing of Osteochondral Defects, In: Wise, DL, Trantolo, Altobelli, Yaszemski, Gresser and Schwartz (eds.): Encyclopedic Handbook of Biomaterials Materials and Applications. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, Vol. 1, pp. 735-759, 1995.
• Ito Y, Ulreich JB, McCuskey RS, Leslie MA and Nakazato PZ. Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Reduced by Dimethyl Sulfoxide: Observations Using in vivo Microscopy (submitted).