Request for Funding

Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2004

Mentor: Robert L. Johnson, Jr., M.D.
Department: Internal Medicine / Pulmonary
Room number: H8.120A
Mail Code: 9034
Phone number: 8-3426
E-mail: Robert.Johnson@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Nitric oxide production by the lung during exercise in normal subjects and patients with lung disease

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 0290 04300

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects): Patient-based

Brief Description of Project:

The production of nitric oxide by alveolar endothelium is believed to increase from rest and exercise; this relationship may be altered by lung diseases. Most of the nitric oxide produced in the lung is carried away by pulmonary blood, while a small fraction is carried away by ventilation. By administering an inhaled bolus of nitric oxide and measuring changes in its concentration at the mouth, one can calculate the alveolar and airways production of nitric oxide in the lung. A summer project is proposed here to: a) determine non-invasively the relationships of alveolar nitric oxide production to oxygen uptake and cardiac output during graded exercise in normal subjects; and b) test the hypothesis that chronic inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma, interstitial fibrosis and sarcoidosis increase nitric oxide production, while pulmonary vascular diseases decrease nitric oxide production. This may provide a measure of disease activity and effectiveness of treatment.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

2000, Chad Hansen. Summer Medical Student project, "Sarcoidosis Reduces Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity by Destroying Capillaries." Selected for presentation at the 39th Annual Medical Student Research Forum.

2001, Ahmed Shakir. Summer Medical Student project, "Lung Nitric Oxide Production is Impaired in Sarcoidosis." Selected for presentation at the 40th Annual Medical Student Research Forum.

Phansalkar AR, Hanson C, Tamhane R, Hsia CCW, Johnson RL Jr. Sources of diffusion impairment in pulmonary sarcoidosis. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., 165(8):A494, 2002.

Phansalkar AR, Hanson C, Hsia CCW, Johnson RL Jr. Pulmonary diffusing capacity for nitric oxide in sarcoidosis. Am. J. Resp. Crit. Care Med., 167(7): A171, 2003.

Return to UT Southwestern Homepage

Return to Student Research Projects Index