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Volume 1, Issue 3
Fall 2005
what’s inside . . .
MNI physician speaks at
International Stroke
Conference
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Japanese surgeons learn
spinal techniques from
MNI physician
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Skull Base Course held
in Memphis
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Tatyana Ignatova, Ph.D. and
Valery Kukekov, Ph.D.
Brain Tumor Stem Cell Program
Established at University of Tennessee
Health Science Center
Collaboration with Methodist University Hospital Neuroscience Institute and Semmes-Murphey
Neurologic and Spine Institute is one of a few centers of its type in the U.S.
A brain cancer stem cell program,
funded primarily by the Methodist
Healthcare Foundation, has recently been
established at the University of Tennessee
Health Science Center (UTHSC). Only a few
other centers of this type exist in the U.S.,
including programs at Stanford University
and the University of Michigan.
Valery Kukekov, Ph.D. and Tatyana
Ignatova, Ph.D., were recruited from the
University of Florida to join the
Department of Neurosurgery to lead an
effort to combine the fields of tumor cell
and stem cell biology.
“This is a major achievement for the
UT Health Science Center and Methodist
and will put us at the forefront of brain
cancer research nationally. This research
team will unite physicians and scientists of
diverse backgrounds and will attempt to
answer questions about the role of cancer
stem cells in all biological aspects of brain
tumors for both children and adults,”said
Jon Robertson, M.D., head of the UTHSC
Department of Neurosurgery.
Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a group
leader for brain cancer research and
development in the UTHSC neurosurgery
department, said,“Drs. Kukekov and
Ignatova are considered pioneers in the
field of stem cell and tumor stem cell
research, and we are very fortunate to
recruit them to Memphis to start this
program.”
“We knew that coming here would
give us a unique opportunity to initiate a
multi-disciplinary program that will
integrate two branches of biomedical
science: basic and clinical, to study the
origins of brain tumors and brain
metastases from different primary tumors,”
said Dr. Kukekov.
They were also enticed knowing they
would have a large volume of brain tumors
to use in their studies. Methodist
Healthcare has one of the most active
neurosurgery programs in the country,
performing hundreds of surgeries for brain
tumors annually.
The concept of stem cell biology has
changed the model of how healthy tissues
develop and how injured tissues regenerate. Similarly, the concept that cancer is a
stem cell disease will yield exciting new
potential for understanding how cancers
arise, spread, and resist treatment. The
ultimate goal of the Department of
Neurosurgery tumor stem cell program is
to define the true nature of a cancer stem
cell, and then use this information to
design novel therapies including a cancer
vaccine targeting this unique cell
population.
Drs. Kukekov and Ignatova will join
Dr. Duntsch’s existing tumor research
group, and together they will combine
stem cell and tumor cell biology research
into a new research direction, tumor stem
cell research.They will combine the study
of cancer stem cells derived from human
brain tumors treated here in Memphis with
animal models to further develop their
paradigm for how these stem cells are
related to the biology of brain tumors.The
unified goal of this effort will be to develop
new therapeutic approaches to cure brain
cancer.
Over the next few years, they will work
to establish this research and solicit public
funding from the National Institutes of
Health.
Dr. James Wang Asked to Speak at
International Stroke Conference in Beijing
In the wake of recent reports that
stroke is the number two lethal disease
and number one cause for disability in
their country, the Chinese are seeking
help from experts around the world.
James Wang, M.D., Ph.D., director of
the Methodist University Hospital Stroke
Center, and a neurologist with Wesley
Neurology Clinic, made two
presentations in July at the Tiantan
International Stroke Conference in
Beijing, China. Dr. Wang spoke on
“Neuroprotective Agents in Acute Stroke,
the Past, Present and Future” and “StrokeLike Syndromes From the Central Nervous
System, Vasculitis (inflammation of the
blood vessels in the brain), MERRF, MELAS
to Cerebral Autosomal Dominant
Arteriopathy With suCADASIL.”
China currently has about 7
million people afflicted by stroke, with
around 1.5 million of those killed by the
disease each year.
James Wang, M.D.
“The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the
level of thinking that created them.” - Albert Einstein
Japanese Surgeons Come to Memphis to
Learn Latest Spinal Surgical Techniques
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In August, seven orthopedic surgeons
from Japan flew to Memphis to learn some
of the latest spinal surgical techniques. They
trained at the Medical Education and
Research Institute (MERI) and observed
Kevin Foley, M.D., a neurosurgeon with
Methodist University Hospital and
Semmes-Murphey Neurologic and Spine
Institute, and professor at the University of
Tennessee Health Science Center, perform a
minimally invasive back surgery using the
CD Horizon Sextant.
The CD Horizon Sextant spinal system
allows surgeons to fuse spinal vertebrae
together by inserting screws and rods
through small incisions, which limits trauma
to surrounding muscles and tissues.This
means less blood loss, faster recovery times,
smaller scars, less pain after surgery and
shorter hospital stays for patients.
Potential candidates for this
procedure are patients who have failed to
respond to non-operative care and have a
degenerative or herniated disc, a misaligned
vertebra, or a traumatic fracture.
electronically?
Drop us a note at
[email protected]
and ask to be added
to our email list.
Pictured above: Kevin Foley, M.D. (right)
demonstrating CD Horizon Sextant Spinal
System to visiting surgeon.
4th Annual Skull Base Course held at
Medical Education Research Institute
The 4th Annual Skull Base Course for
senior neurosurgical residents was held in
Memphis at the Medical Education and
Research Institute (MERI) July 22-25, 2005.
The Skull Base Course included 45 residents
chosen in an equal distribution from the
four geographical quadrants of the U.S. neurosurgical residency training programs.
Residents were selected on a first-come,
first-served basis by the faculty for this
course.
Created and organized by Jon
Robertson, M.D., professor and chairman,
department of Neurosurgery, University of
Tennessee Health Science Center, the annual
Skull Base Course draws top neurosurgical
and ENT faculty and hand-picked, top neurosurgical residents from across the country.
This year's residents came from prestigious neurosurgical residents programs at
universities such as Baylor, Rush, Johns
Hopkins, University of Michigan, Mount
Sinai, and the Barrow Neurological Institute,
to name a few. The faculty included
physician leaders from the Mayo Clinic, St.
Louis University School of Medicine, UT
Health Science Center, University of Toronto,
and Loyola University Medical Center.
Dr. Robertson says there's nothing else
like this in the country. Of the 94 neurosurgery programs throughout the U.S., only
about six focus on skull base courses. That's
why it's important to expose residents to
this type of educational opportunity, he said.
The successful model created by Dr.
Robertson is now beginning to be copied by
other groups across the country.
Future programs call for courses
on interventional procedures for
aneurysms and a minimally invasive
spine course.
The annual Skull Base Course is
sponsored by the North American
Skull Base Society through an unrestricted educational grant provided by Medtronic
Powered Surgical Solutions. Additional
funding has been provided by Carl Zeiss,
Inc., Karl Storz Endoscopy,
and StrykerLeibinger Micro
Implants.
Reflections:
Successful AANN Course held
at the MNI
Mayo Physician Makes the Rounds at
Methodist University Hospital
Phillip Low, M.D., professor of neurology
at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in
Rochester, Minn., joined neurologists at
Methodist University Hospital for the
University of Tennessee Health Science
Center’s Department of Neurology’s Grand
Rounds, Friday, September 16.
Dr. Low addressed physicians and
discussed the evaluation of the autonomic
nervous system. His lecture focused on
obtaining a greater understanding of the
autonomic nervous system. He reviewed
Jeffrey Sorenson, M.D. talks
with Cecelia Sawyer, Senior V.P.
and Administrator, Methodist
University Hospital.
the latest tests that are available and how to
interpret them, as well as increase awareness
of diseases that affect the autonomic
nervous system.
Dr. Low has been on the faculty at Mayo
Clinic College of Medicine since 1978 and is
section head of the peripheral nerve section
there. His work has been in numerous
publications including the Journal of
Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry and
the Movement Disorder Journal.
Methodist University Hospital
– Neuroscience Institute hosted an
American Association of
Neuroscience Nurses course on
August 16 & 17 in Memphis. Over
32 neuro nurses from across the
Mid-South attended the two-day
conference focusing on everything
from peripheral nerve injuries to
tumors and associated treatments.
“The class was outstanding.
All attending were inspired to learn
more and continue their
commitment to improve care for
the neuroscience patient,”said
James Roberts, RN, clinical nurse
coordinator at the MNI.
A major objective of the
course is to prepare nurses for the
CNRN exam. Six MNI nurses took
the exam this October.
Planning for next year’s AANN
course at the MNI is underway.
would like to hear
from you!
Please send us any
of your news, updates,
story suggestions
or comments to
[email protected].
Notable News from around the Methodist Neuroscience Institute
• 90.9 percent of neuro patients surveyed for the month of August at
Methodist University Hospital rated their experience as “excellent”.
• Watch for us on the sidelines at the next big game! MNI physicians Jon
Robertson and Allen K. Sills Jr. provide neuro sports medicine coverage for
the University of Memphis and Mississippi State University football teams.
• Congratulations to Tulio Bertorini, M.D., neurologist with the MNI and
Wesley Neurology, for wrapping up a great year as president of the
Tennessee Academy of Neurology. Dr. Bertorini is also a member of the
publications committee of the World Federation of Neurology and a
member of the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular
Disease. His upcoming speaking engagements include presentations at
the Peruvian Congress of Neurology and the Chilean Congress of
Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
• World-class surgery on the World Wide Web – interested patients and
physicians are invited to watch live surgery at:
http://neuro.methodisthealth.org
Featured surgeries include: Brain Tumor Surgery/GliaSite Radiation
Therapy, METRx Herniated Disc Repair and Pediatric Vagus Nerve
Stimulation.
Methodist University Hospital is the primary teaching hospital for the University of
Tennessee Health Science Center and is proud to bring medicine, research and
education together under one roof. The Neuroscience Institute brings together the best
and brightest in the private and academic world of medicine.
1211 Union Avenue, Suite 900
Memphis, TN 38104
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