CRITICAL ILLNESS RESEARCH

Dr. David G. McCormack, MD, FRCPC	Dr. Sanjay Mehta, MD
Clinician/Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute - Critical Illness Research Associate Professor, Respirology Division, Dept. of Medicine, University of Western Ontario Associate Professor, Pharmacology / Toxicology, University of Western Ontario	Clinician/Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute - Critical Illness Research Assistant Professor, Respirology Division, Dept. of Medicine, Univeristy of Western Ontario Assistant Professor, Pharmacology/Toxicology, University of Western Ontario
London Health Sciences Centre - Victoria Hospital 800 Commissioners Road E. London, N6G 3G4 Tel (519) 685-8500, Ext. 76767 Fax (519) 685-8406
LUNG INJURY / PULMONARY VASCULAR BIOLOGY SECTION Research Interest Mechanisms and pathophysiology of pulmonary inflammation and abnormal pulmonary vascular responses in inflammatory pulmonary disease. Background Lung inflammation is an important and common clinical problem.  A greater understanding of the mechanisms and pathophysiology of pulmonary inflammation and abnormal pulmonary vascular responses will improve our ability to treat these conditions.  Our specific focus is the role of mediators such as nitric oxide and arachidonic acid metabolites in the modulation of both physiologic and pathologic inflammatory responses in the lung in the setting of injury.  We make use of animal (rats and mice, including genetic knockout mice) models of (1) extrapulmonary systemic inflammation, such as peritonitis and sepsis, leading to remote lung injury and (2) local pulmonary inflammation due to pneumonia.  In these animals, we assess pulmonary physiology, pulmonary vascular reactivity, pulmonary injury and inflammation, and the spectrum of abnormalities in endogenous mediator systems including NO and prostenoids, at each level from the genetic expression, tissue distribution, enzyme activity and endproduct production and metabolism. Specific Research Projects: · Interaction of endogenous NO and exogenous, inhaled NO and their role in modulation of pulmonary vascular responses and pulmonary inflammation in rat model of Pseudomonas aeruginose pneumonia. · Assessment of the contribution of enhanced type II NO synthase expression and endogenous NO overproduction in pulmonary inflammation in a model of murine sepsis through the use of genetic type II NOS knockout mice. · Interaction of endogenous NO and prostenoids and their role in alterations of contractile and relaxant pulmonary vascular responses in sepsis. · Interaction of endogenous NO and exogenous, inhaled NO and their role in modulation of microvascular responses endothelial-leukocyte adhesion and microvascular leak in the lungs, as assessed by intravitalvideomicroscopy, in a rat model of sepsis. For a complete list of my publications please see PubMed For more articles refer to the following web sites: http://www.nrc.ca/cisti/journals/cjpp/y98-136.html http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/86/5/1739 Sanjay Mehta, M.D., F.R.C.P.C.             Director, Respirology Clinical Teaching Unit                 London Health Sciences Center - Victoria Hospital             Director, Southwest Ontario Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic             Assistant  Professor of Medicine,                 Critical Illness Research -  Lawson Health Research Institute             Honorary Lecturer, Department Pharmacology / Toxicology, Univeristy of Western Ontario           Scholar of the Canadian Lung Association / Medical Research Council of Canada Respirology Division             LHSC - Victoria Hospital 800 Commissioners Rd. E., London, N6A 4G5             Tel (519) 685-8500, Ext. 76723             Fax (519) 685-8406 Link to Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, UWO For a complete list of my publication please see PubMed return to Vascular Biology Research Home Page