2018-present

Research Topics: Using next generation sequencing to examine rare DNA mutations in the TP53 gene of colorectal cancer cell lines and human tissue.

2018-present

Research Topics:
Objective: To establish a proof of concept in-vitro model of colitis-associated inflammation using human colonic epithelial cells and study the dysregulation of cystathionine-gamma lyase (CSE)-mediated inflammation mechanisms and epithelial cell barrier function
Hypothesis: Cystathioionine-gamma lyase is involved in the regulation of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition and required for mucosal repair of intestinal epithelial cells

2016-2018

Research Topics: The role of hydrogen-sulfide-producing enzymes, namely cystathionine-beta-synthase and cystathionine-gamma-lyase in colitis-associated carcinogenesis. Characterization of murine models in which to study this relationship.

Publications:
1. Thanki K, Nicholls ME, Gomez G, Gajjar A, Senagore AJ, Rashidi L, Qiu S, Szabo C, Hellmich MR, Chao C. Consensus Molecular Subtypes of Colorectal Cancer and their Clinical Implications. IBBJ Summer 2017;3:3.
2. Zatarain JR, Thanki K, Nicholls ME, Maskey M, Jawad MU, Phillips C, Modis K, Szabo C, Chao C, Hellmich R. Cystathionin-beta-synthase (CBS) and the progression of colorectal carcinogenesis. Poster presentation. AACR Annual Meeting. April 1-5, 2017. Washington, DC.
3. Phillips C, Zatarain JR, Nicholls ME, Porter C, Widen S, Thanki K, Randall JW, Hellmich JL, Maskey M, Qiu S, Wood TG, Druzhyna M, Szczesny B, Modis K, Scabo C, Chao C, Hellmich MR. Hypoxia-induced cystathionin-beta-synthase (CBS) expression: Impact on colonic epithelial cells metabolism, proliferation and migration. Poster presentation. AACR Annual Meeting. April 1-5, 2017. Washington, DC.
4. Haydel J, Thanki K, Garrett J, Guthikonda B, Nanda A. Lumboperitoneal shunts versus ventriculoperitoneal shunts for the treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Electronic abstract. AANS Annual Conference, April 27-May1, 2013, New Orleans, LA.

2014-2017

Research Topic: The role of Cystathionine-Beta-Synthase (CBS) produced Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) in colorectal cancer growth and proliferation, and finding a prodrug that inhibits colon cancer H2S production and xenograft growth rates in vivo

Publications:
1. Patel MS, Zatarain J, De La Cruz S, Sally MB, Ewing T, Crutchfield M, Enestvedt CK, Malinoski DJ. The impact of meeting donor management goals on the number of organs transplanted per expanded criteria donor: a prospective study from the UNOS Region 5 Donor Management Goals Workgroup. JAMA Surg. 2014 Sep;149(9):969-75.
2. De La Cruz S, Sally M, Zatarain J, Crutchfield M, Ramsey K, Nielsen J, Patel M, Lapidus J, Oloff S, Malinoski D. The Impact of Blood Transfusions in Deceased Organ Donors on the Outcomes of 1884 Renal Grafts from UNOD Region 5. 2014 J Trauma Acute Care Surgery (In Press).
3. Sally MB, Ewing T, Crutchfield M, Patel MS, Raza S, De La Cruz S, Zatarain J, Malinoski DJ; United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Region 5 Donor Management Goals (DMG) Workgroup. Determining optimal threshold for glucose control in organ donors after neurologic determination of death: a United Network for Organ Sharing Region 5 Donor Management Goals Workgroup prospective analysis. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2014 Jan;76(1):62-8.

2014-2016

Research Topic: Population-based studies including analysis of multimodality therapy in patients with early stage pancreatic cancer and identifying treatment gaps in patients with gallbladder disease.

Publications:
1. Perforations of the Esophagus and Stomach: What Should I Do? Dimou, Francesca; Velanovich. Journal of Gastroingestinal Surgery. December 2014. Vol. 19 issue 2: February 2015. P. 400-406.
2. The Risk Paradox: Use of Cholecystectomy in Older Patients Is Independent of their Risk of Developing Complications. Riall, Taylor S.; Adhikari, Deepak; Parmar, Abhishek; Linder, Suzanne, Dimou, Francesca; Crowell, Winston; Tamirisa, Nina; Townsend, Courtney; Goodwin, James. Journal of American College of Surgeons. Epub December 2014.
3. Defining the Learning Curve for Robotic-assisted Esophagogastrectomy. Hernandez, Jonathan M.; Dimou, Francesca; Weber, Jill; Khaldoun, Almhanna; Hoffe, Sarah; Shridhar, Ravi; Karl, Richard; Meredith, Kenneth. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. vol. 17 issue 8 August 2013. p. 1346-1351.
4. Robotic Lobectomy: Flattening the Learning Curve. Hernandez, Jonathan M.; Humphries, Leigh Ann; Keeling, W. Brent; Golkar, Farhaad; Dimou, Francesca; Garrett, Joseph; Sommers, K. Eric. Journal of Robotic Surgery vol. 6 issue 1 March 2012. p. 41-45.

2014-2016

Research Topic: The role of cystathionine-beta-synthase, cystathionine-gamma-lyase, and its product, hydrogen sulfide in the pathophysiology of cancer and inflammatory bowel disease

Publications:
1. Johnson P, Brookins S, Beech D, Ternovits C, Burnette R. Marjolin's ulcer of a primarily grafted burn. J Natl Med Assoc. 2013;105(2):192-5.
2. Donsante A, Johnson P, Jansen LA, Kaler SG. 2010. Somatic mosaicism in Menkes disease suggests choroid plexus-mediated copper transport to the developing brain. Am J Med Genet Part A 152:2529-2534.
3. Johnson P, Bell MM, Thornhill T, Tran CM. 2011. "The Revolving Door: America's Hidden Danger" HIV Awareness and Prevention Video Documentary. HBCU Wellness Project. Discovery Channel.

2013-2014

Research Topic: Colon cancer metastasis and the role cystathionine-beta-synthase (CBS) plays in the metastatic process, the aim being to determine what role CBS has in the tumor microenvironment and its ability to allow for progression of the tumor

Publications:
1. Porat I, Sieprawska-Lupa M, Teng Q, Bohanon FJ, White RH, Whitman WB. Biochemical and genetic characterization of an early step in a novel pathway for the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids and p-aminobenzoic acid in the archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis. Mol Microbiol 2006 62, 1117-1131.
2. Bohanon FJ, Wang X, Ding C, Ding Y, Radhakrishnan GL, Rastellini C, Zhou J, Radhakrishnan RS. Oridonin Inhibits Hepatic Stellate Cell Proliferation and Fibrogenesis. J Surg Res. 2014 July;190(1);55-63
3. Bohanon FJ, Graham BM, Radhakrishnan RS. Neonatal "Near Misses" Encountered in the Emergency Department. Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine. 2014 September;15(3);231-235
4. Mrazek AA, Carmical JR, Wood TG, Hellmich MR, Eltorky M, Bohanon FJ, Chao C. Colorectal Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts are Genotypically Distinct. Curr Cancer Ther Rev 2014;10(2):97-218.

2012-2015

Research Topic: Apigenin and Analogs Effectively Suppress Pancreatic Stellate Cell (PSC) Proliferation, Induce Apoptosis, and Decrease Fibrosis in Chronic Pancreatitis (CP)

Publications:
1. Djukom C, Porro LJ, Mrazek A, Townsend CM Jr, Hellmich MR, Chao C. Dual inhibition of PI3K and mTOR signaling pathways decreases human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor metastatic progression. Pancreas. 2014 Jan;43(1):88-92. doi: 10.1097/MPA.0b013e3182a44ab4.
2. Djukom C, Porro L, Mrazek A, Hellmich M, Chao C. Dual inhibition of AKT and mTOR signaling pathways decreases human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET) metastatic progression. Pancreas (in press).
3. Djukom C, Porro L, Mrazek A, Hellmich M, Chao C. Dual inhibition of AKT and mTOR signaling pathways decreases human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET) metastatic progression. Abstracts/Pancreatology 13 (2013) e23.

2012-2014

Research Topic: Population-based studies including an analysis of natural history of symptomatic gallstones in older patients and a review on quality of life in pancreatic cancer

Publications:
1. Brown KM, Parmar AD, Geller DA. Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma. Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2014 Apr;23(2):231-246. doi: 10.1016/j.soc.2013.10.004. Review. PMID: 24560108
2. Vargas GM, Sheffield KM, Parmar AD, Han Y, Gajjar A, Brown KM, Riall TS. Trends in Treatment and Survival in Older Patients Presenting with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer. J Gastrointest Surg. 2013 Nov 15. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24234244
3. Parmar AD, Sheffield KM, Han Y, Vargas GM, Guturu P, Kuo YF, Goodwin JS, Riall TS. Evaluating comparative effectiveness with observational data: endoscopic ultrasound and survival in pancreatic cancer. Cancer. 2013 Nov 1;119(21):3861-9. doi: 10.1002/cncr.28295. Epub 2013 Aug 6. PMID: 23922148
4. Vargas GM, Sheffield KM, Parmar AD, Han Y, Brown KM, Riall TS. Physician follow-up and observation of guidelines in the post treatment surveillance of colorectal cancer. Surgery. 2013 Aug;154(2):244-55. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2013.04.013. PMID: 23889952
5. Parmar AD, Sheffield KM, Vargas GM, Han Y, Chao C, Riall TS. Quality of post-treatment surveillance of early stage breast cancer in Texas. Surgery. 2013 Aug;154(2):214-25. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2013.04.004. PMID: 23889950
6. Jinkins LJ, Parmar AD, Han Y, Duncan CB, Sheffield KM, Brown KM, Riall TS. Current trends in preoperative biliary stenting in patients with pancreatic cancer. Surgery. 2013 Aug;154(2):179-89. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2013.03.016. PMID: 23889947
7. Parmar AD, Sheffield KM, Vargas GM, Pitt HA, Kilbane EM, Hall BL, Riall TS. Factors associated with delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy. HPB (Oxford). 2013 Oct;15(10):763-72. doi: 10.1111/hpb.12129. Epub 2013 Jul 22. PMID: 23869542

2012-2013

Research Topic: Molecular mechanism involved in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, colorectal cancer and chronic pancreatitis; identification of possible therapeutic options targeting additional cascade proteins capable to surpass and/or enhance the therapeutic effect of current treatments in reducing tumor burden, metastasis or progression of the disease, in a preclinical model

Publications:
1. Djukom C, Porro LJ, Mrazek A, Townsend CM Jr, Hellmich MR, Chao C. Dual inhibition of PI3K and mTOR signaling pathways decreases human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor metastatic progression. Pancreas. 2014 Jan;43(1):88-92. doi: 10.1097/MPA.0b013e3182a44ab4. PMID: 24263107
2. Diego AM, Serghiou M, Padmanabha A, Porro LJ, Herndon DN, Suman OE. Exercise training after burn injury: a survey of practice. J Burn Care Res. 2013 Nov-Dec;34(6):e311-7. doi: 10.1097/BCR.0b013e3182839ae9. PMID: 23511288
3. Porro LJ, Al-Mousawi AM, Williams F, Herndon DN, Mlcak RP, Suman OE. Effects of propranolol and exercise training in children with severe burns. J Pediatr. 2013 Apr;162(4):799-803.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.09.015. Epub 2012 Oct 17. PMID: 23084706
4. Porro LJ, Herndon DN, Rodriguez NA, Jennings K, Klein GL, Mlcak RP, Meyer WJ, Lee JO, Suman OE, Finnerty CC. Five-year outcomes after oxandrolone administration in severely burned children: a randomized clinical trial of safety and efficacy. J Am Coll Surg. 2012 Apr;214(4):489-502; discussion 502-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2011.12.038. PMID: 22463890

2010-2012

Research Topic: The development and characterization of a murine model of human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor resistant to Everolimus (RAD001)

Publications:
1. Djukom C, Porro LJ, Mrazek A, Townsend CM Jr, Hellmich MR, Chao C. Dual inhibition of PI3K and mTOR signaling pathways decreases human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor metastatic progression. Pancreas. 2014 Jan;43(1):88-92. doi: 10.1097/MPA.0b013e3182a44ab4.
2. Celia Chao, J. Russ Carmical, Kirk L. Ives, Thomas G. Wood, Judith F. Aronson, Guillermo A. Gomez, Clarisse D. Djukom, Mark R. Hellmich. CD133+ colon cancer cells are more interactive with the tumor microenvironment than CD133− cells. Lab Invest 92:420-36, 2012. PMCID: PMC3289715
3. Kristin M. Sheffield, Kristen T. Crowell,Yu-Li Lin, Clarisse Djukom, James S. Goodwin, Taylor S. Riall. Surveillance of Pancreatic Cancer Patients after Surgical Resection. Annals of Surgical Oncology 19:1670-7, 2012. NIHMS374011
4. K.M. Sheffield, K.M.; Kenia E. Ramos, Clarisse D. Djukom, Carlos J. Jimenez, William J. Mileski, Thomas D. Kimbrough, Courtney M. Townsend, Jr., Taylor S. Riall. Implementation of a Critical Pathway for Complicated Gallstone Disease: Translation of Population-based Data into Clinical Practice. J Am Coll Surg. 212:835-43, 2011. NIHMS374010

2010-2012

Research Topic: The survivorship experience in patients with pancreatic cancer

Publications:
1. Sheffield KM, Boyd CA, Benarroch-Gampel J, Kuo YF, Cooksley CD, Riall TS. End-of-life care in medicare beneficiaries dying with pancreatic cancer. Cancer 117:5003-5012, 2011. PMCID: PMC3139734
2. Boyd CA, Benarroch-Gampel J, Cooksley CD, Riall TS. 415 Patients with Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Pancreas: A Population-Based Analysis of Prognosis and Survival. J Surg Res, Epub ahead of print 2011. PMCID: PMC3210865
3. Benarroch-Gampel J, Boyd CA, Sheffield KM, Townsend CM Jr, Riall TS. Overuse of CT in patients with complicated gallstone disease. J Amer Coll Surg 213:524-530, 2011. NIHMS374301
4. Trust MD, Sheffield KM, Boyd CA, Benarroch-Gampel J, Zhang D, Townsend CM Jr, Riall TS. Gallstone pancreatitis in older patients: are we operating enough? Surgery 150:515-525, 2011. NIHMS374313
5. Boyd CA, Benarroch-Gampel J, Kilic G, et al. Pancreatic Neoplasms in Pregnancy: Diagnosis, Complications, and Management. J Gastrointest Surg 16:1064-71, 2012. NIHMS374294
6. Boyd CA, Branch DW, Sheffield KM, Han Y, Kuo YF, Goodwin JS, Riall TS. Hospital and Medical Care Days in Pancreatic Cancer. Annals of Surgical Oncology (accepted). NIHMS374310
7. Boyd CA, Riall TS. Unexpected gynecologic findings during abdominal surgery. Current Problems in Surgery 49(4): 195-251, 2012. PMCID: PMC3313456

2007-2008

Research Topic: Epithelial mesenchymal transition and colorectal cancer

2005-2006

Research Topic: The role of the PI3K pathway in colorectal cancer metastasis

2005-2006

Research Topic: Effects of oxidative stress and Insulin-like Growth Factor- 1 (IGF-1) on intestinal epithelial cell survival signaling during necrotizing enterocolitis

2005-2006

Research Topic: Intestinal cell differentiation regulated by signaling mechanisms involving the PI3K/Akt/PTEN and NF-kappaB pathways

2004-2006

Research Topic: PI3K in liver regeneration

2002-2004

Research Topic: Neurotensin-mediated signaling pathways and physiologic role of neurotensin in the gut

Awards:
Jeane B. Kempner Scholars Award (07/012002 - 06/30/2003)

2001-2002

Research Topic: Alterations of gene expression and function in the GI tract with aging

Awards:
Singleton Surgical Society Resident Research Award (2001)

2000-2002

Research Topic: PI3K/PTEN signaling pathway and intestinal cell differentiation

Awards:
The Texas Gulf Coast Digestive Diseases Center Pilot/Feasibility Award (2001-2002)

1999-2000

Research Topic: Examining the role of TRAIL-mediated immune-escape in colorectal carcinoma

1997-1998

Research Topic: Effects of gut hormones on mucosal adaptation and growth

1995-1996

Research Topic: Cellular mechanisms involved in gastrin- and bombesin-mediated growth of human cancer cells

Awards:
Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract Ross Laboratories
Resident Research Award (1996)
Singleton Surgical Society Resident Research Award (1996)

1993-1994

Research Topic: GI hormones, receptors and cancer

1993-1994

Research Topic: Age-related changes and effects of diet restriction on GI tract proliferation

Awards: UTMB Jeane B. Kempner Scholar Award (1994)