CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE
FACULTY/STAFF ACTIVITIES
2004
Awards and Appointments
Baker KM
The Chairman-elect of the Board, Robert L. Carson, Esq., and the President-elect, Robert H. Eckel, M.D. of the American Heart Association, have appointed Dr. Kenneth M. Baker, M.D., Professor and Director of the Division of Molecular Cardiology and the Mayborn Chair in Cardiovascular Research, The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, College of Medicine, as the new Chair of the American Heart Association’s National Research Committee, effective July 2005. Dr. Baker is presently a member of the Research Committee and is Chair of the Sub-Committee on Research Peer Review. As incoming Chairman of the Research Committee, Dr. Baker will be responsible for research oversight of the American Heart Association nationwide and will report to the President and Chairman of the Board of the American Heart Association. Dr. Baker has also been appointed to the National Board of Directors and to the Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee of the American Heart Association.
Bridenbaugh E
Received the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Scholarship. Award covers costs of attending the Gordon Research Conference: Molecular Mechanisms in Lymphatic Function and Disease, Ventura, California, March 2004.
Gashev AA
Received the Award for Excellence in Lymphatic Research from The Microcirculatory Society, Washington DC, April 16, 2004.
Kumar R (Division of Molecular Cardiology)
Was chosen as a Young Investigator Award Finalist, 2004 Gordon Research Conference on Angiotensin, Ventura, California, March 2004.
Martinez-Lemus LA
Received a trainee travel award from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NHLBI, NIH) for travel to the XIIIth International Vascular Biology Meeting, Toronto, Canada, June 2004.
Salamat N
Received an award for Best Cancer Poster at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians in Seattle. The poster presented research that was performed by Dr. George Booz's laboratory. Other authors on the poster were Steve Maxwell, Ph.D., Ryan Brewer, and Rick Winn, M.D.
Sun Z
Received The Cardiovascular Section Research Recognition Award ($500) for a first-authored abstract submitted to the Cardiovascular Section category of Experimental Biology, Washington, DC, April 2004. This award assists junior investigators with their travel expenses.
Trache A
Received an $800 Scholarship Recognition Award from Hamamatsu Photonics KK for attending the Optical Microscopy in the Biological Sciences Workshop organized by the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, June 2-9, 2004.
Weylie B
Received First Place ($200 award) in the Undergraduate Life Sciences category of the Student Research Week poster competition for a poster entitled “Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT signaling pathway mediates FGF-1 induced angiogenesis in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane”.
Grants
Dostal DE (Division of Molecular Cardiology)
Received a $1,455,000 National Institutes of Health grant entitled “Mechanical signaling in cardiac tissue” for the period 03/01/04-02/28/09.
Received a $16,913 Scott & White Memorial Hospital grant entitled “Pulmonary gene expression in pressure-overloaded rats” for the period 04/01/04-05/30/05.
Received a $1.1 million NIH grant entitled “Mechanical Signaling Mechanisms in Cardiac Tissue” for the period 04/01/04-03/31/05
Forough MR and Parker JL
Received a $124,000 American Heart Association, Texas Affiliate grant entitled “Fibroblast growth factor-1 signaling in angiogenesis” for the period 07/01/04-06/30/06.
Humphrey JD and Meininger GA
Received a $340,936 National Institutes of Health grant entitled “Novel organ culture & theory for arteriolar remodeling” for the period 04/01/04-03/31/06.
Kumar R (Division of Molecular Cardiology)
Received a $39,991 Scott & White Memorial Hospital grant entitled “Role of angiotensin Type-1 receptor in intracellular angiotensin II-mediated cell growth” for the period 02/27/04-02/26/05.
Meininger CJ and Wu G
Received a $363,750 National Institutes of Health R21 grant entitled “Oxidative stress and pteridine metabolism in diabetes” for the period 07/01/04-06/30/06.
Received a $55,000 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation grant entitled “Development of an endothelium-targeting DNA-nanoparticle to reverse diabetic vascular complications” for the period 07/01/04-06/30/05.
Received a $15,000 Texas A&M University System Health Science Center Research Development Grant entitled “Development of an endothelium-targeting DNA-nanoparticle to reverse diabetic vascular complications” for the period 2004-2005.
Received a $124,000 American Heart Association grant entitled “Oxidative stress, pteridine metabolism, and vascular complications in diabetes” for the period 07/01/04-06/30/06.
Meininger GA, Davis MJ, Zawieja DC, Davis GE, Earnest D, Humphrey JD
Received a $350,000 National Institutes of Health Shared Instrumentation grant entitled “A confocal multiphoton/atomic force microscopy system” for the period 05/01/04-04/30/05.
Rana B (Division of Molecular Cardiology)
Received a $100,000 Veterans Administration grant entitled “Regulation of hepatocytes growth by PPARgamma” for the period 10/01/04-09/30/06.
Received a $40,000 Scott & White Hospital grant entitled “Molecular mechanisms regulating the cross-talk between PPAR and B-catenin” for the period 12/01/04-11/30/05.
Sanghi S (Division of Molecular Cardiology)
Received a $25,484 Scott & White Memorial Hospital grant entitled “Role of beta-integrin in alpha-1-adrenergic mediated angiotensinogen gene expression in cardiac myocytes” for the period 02/03/04-02/28/05.
Wilson E
Received a $279,087 Muscular Dystrophy Association grant entitled “Arterial remodeling in mouse models of muscular dystrophy” for the period of 01/01/04-12/31/06.
Wilson E and Humphrey JD
Received a $388,750 National Institutes of Health R21 grant entitled “Fibrillin-1 and pressure-induced arterial remodeling” for the period 07/01/04-06/30/06.
Winn R and Booz GW (Division of Molecular Cardiology)
Received a $39,100 Scott & White Memorial Hospital grant entitled “Antioncogenic potential of GRIM-19 in human non-small-cell lung cancer cells” for the period 04/05/04-04/04/05.
Wu MH and Meininger GA
Received a $1,636,875 National Institutes of Health grant entitled “VEGF regulation of microvascular permeability” for the period 07/01/04-06/30/09.
Publications
Amerini S, Ziche M, Greiner ST, Zawieja DC. Effects of substance P on mesenteric lymphatic contractility in the rat. Lymph Res and Biol 2(1): 2-10, 2004.
Booz GW. Putting the brakes on cardiac hypertrophy: exploiting the intrinsic NO-cGMP counter-regulatory system. Hypertension (In Press).
Breslin JW, Yuan SY. Involvement of RhoA and Rho in kinase in neutrophil-stimulated endothelial hyperpermeability. Am J Physiol: Heart and Circ Physiol 287: H381-H389, 2004.
Chao J-T, Meininger GA, Patterson JL, Jones SAL, Partridge CR, Neiger JD, Williams ES, Kaufman SJ, Ramos KS and Wilson E. Regulation of 7-integrin expression in vascular smooth muscle by injury-induced atherosclerosis. Am J Physiol (Heart and Circ Physiol) 287: H381-H389, 2004.
Gaffin R, Gokulan K, Sacchettini J, Hewett T, Klevitsky R, Robbins J and Muthuchamy M. Charged residue changes in the carboxy-terminus of -tropomyosin alter mouse cardiac muscle contractility. J Physiol 556.2: 531-543, 2004.
Gaffin RD, Tong CW, Zawieja DC, Hewett TE, Klevitsky R, Robbins J, and Muthuchamy M. Charged residue alterations in the inner-core domain and carboxy-terminus of alpha-tropomyosin differentially affect mouse cardiac muscle contractility. J Physiol 561: 777-791, 2004.
Gashev AA, Davis MJ, Delp MD and Zawieja DC. Regional variations of contractile activity in isolated rat lymphatics. Microcirculation. 2004. 11 (6) 477-492.
Jones SA, Patterson JL, Chao J-T, Ramos KS and Wilson E. Modulation of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor proteins and ERK 1/2 activity in allylamine-injured vascular smooth muscle cells. J Cell Biochem 91(6): 1248-1259, 2004.
Kawasaki J, Davis G, Davis MJ. Regulation of endothelial cell BKCa channels by v3 integrin. J Biol Chem 279(13); 12959-12966, 2004.
Kohli R, Meininger CJ, Haynes TE, Yan W, Self JT and Wu G. Dietary L-arginine supplementation enhances endothelial nitric oxide synthesis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J of Nutr 134: 600-608, 2004.
Kwon H, Wu G, Meininger CJ, Bazer FW and Spencer TE. Developmental changes in nitric oxide synthesis in the ovine placenta. Biol of Repro 70: 679-686, 2004.
Martinez-Lemus LA, Hill MA, Bolz SS, Pohl U, Meininger GA. Acute mechanoadaptation of vascular smooth muscle cells in response to continuous arteriolar vasoconstrictions: implications for functional remodeling. FASEB J 10.1096/fj.03-0634fje, 708-710.
Meininger CJ, Cai S, Parker JL, Channon KM, Kelly KA, Becker EJ, Wood MK, Wade LA, Wu G. GTP cyclohydrolase I gene transfer reverses tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency and increases nitric oxide synthesis in endothelial cells and isolated vessels from diabetic rats. FASEB J 18(15): 1990-2, 2004. Epub 2004 Dec.
Meininger CJ, Kelly KA, Hatakeyama K and Wu G. Tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency occurs in both Type I and Type II diabetes mellitus: role of insulin and GTP-CH. In: Pterins, Folates, and Biogenic Amines (Blau N, Thony B, Eds) Heilbronn, Germany: SPS Publications, pp. 83-87, 2004.
Murchison D, Zawieja DC and Griffith WH. Reduced mitochondrial buffering of voltage-gated calcium influx in aged rat basal forebrain neurons. Cell Calcium 35: 61-75, 2004.
Na S, Sun Z, Meininger GA and Humphrey JD. On atomic force microscopy and the constitutive behavior of living cells. Biomech and Modeling Mechanobiol 3:75-84, 2004.
Palm-Leis A, Singh US, Herbelin BS, Olsovsky GO, Baker KM and Pan J. Mitogen-activated protein kinases and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatases mediate the inhibitory effects of all-trans retinoic acid on the hypertrophic growth of cardiomyocytes. J Biol Chem Oct 2004; 10.1074/jbc.M407383200.
Pan J, Yu-Lin K, Joshi S, Jeetendran S, DiPette D and Singh US. Activation of Rac1 by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in vivo: role in activation of MAP kinase pathways and retinoic acid-induced neuronal differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells. J of Neurochem, In Press 2004.
Rojas JD, Sennoune SR, Martinez GM, Bakunts K, Meininger CJ, Wu G, Wesson DE, Seftor EA, Hendrix MJ, Martinez-Zaguilan R. Plasmalemmal vacuolar H+-ATPase is decreased in microvascular endothelial cells from a diabetic model. J Cell Physiol 201(2): 190-200, 2004.
Shi W, Meininger CJ, Haynes TE, Hatakeyama K, Wu G. Regulation of tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis and bioavailability in endothelial cells. Cell Biochem Biophys 41(3): 415-34, 2004.
Singh US and Pan J. Transglutaminase and cell survival signaling. Mehta K and Eckert R (eds): Transglutaminases: Family of enzymes with diverse functions. Prog Exp Tum Res, Basel, Karger 2005, vol 38, pp 75-88.
Spier S, Meininger C, Donato A, Ramsey M and Muller-Delp J. Effects of aging and exercise training on endothelium-dependent vasodilation and structure of skeletal muscle arterioles. J of Physiol 556: 947-958, 2004.
Tinsley JH, Teasdale NR, Yuan SY. Involvement of PKC and PKD in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell hyperpermeability. Am J Physiol: Cell Physiol 286: C105-C111, 2004.
Tinsley JH, Teasdale NR, Yuan SY. Myosin light chain phosphorylation and pulmonary endothelial cell hyperpermeability in burns. Am J Physiol: Lung, Cell and Mol Physiol 286: L841-L847, 2004.
Tinsley JH, Yuan SY and Wilson E. Isoform-specific knockout of endothelial myosin light chain kinase: closing the gap on inflammatory lung disease. Trends Pharmacol Sci 25(2): 64-66, 2004.
Tong C, Gaffin R, Zawieja D, Muthuchamy M. Roles of phosphorylation of myosin binding protein-C and troponin I in mouse cardiac muscle twitch dynamics. J Physiol 558.3: 927-941, 2004.
von der Wied PY and Zawieja D. Lymphatic smooth muscle: the motor unit of lymph drainage. Intl J Biochem and Cell Biol 36: 1147-1153, 2004.
Weylie B. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT signaling pathway mediates FGF-1 induced angiogenesis in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane. Texas A&M Undergraduate Journal of Science (in press, 2004).
Wu G, Bazer FW, Cudd TA, Meininger CJ, Spencer TE. Maternal nutrition and fetal development. J Nutr 134: 2169-2172, 2004.
Wu G, Kelly KA, Hatakeyama K and Meininger CJ. Regulation of endothelial tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis by L-arginine. In: Pterins, Folates, and Biogenic Amines (Blau N, Thony B, Eds) Heilbronn, Germany: SPS Publications, pp. 54-59, 2004.
Presentations
Booz GW (Division of Molecular Cardiology)
Molecular mechanisms of IL-6-related-cytokine STAT3 regulation in cardiac myocytes. Poster presented at the Heart Failure Society of America, 8th Annual Scientific Meeting, Toronto, California, September 2004.
The anti-inflammatory agent parthenolide has differential and independent effects on Jak-STAT and ERK signaling in cardiac myocytes. Poster presented at the Annual Fall Conference and Scientific Sessions of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research, Chicago, Illinois, October 2004.
Activation of STAT1 by IFN- inhibits growth of human non-small cell lung cancer cells. Poster presented at CHEST (American College of Chest Physicians), Seattle, Washington, October 2004.
American Society for Cell Biology Interferon- has a Potent Cytostatic Effect via STAT1 Activation on the A549 Human Lung Cancer Cell Line. Washington, D.C.  December 2004.
Bridenbaugh E
Evaluation of rat lymphatic vessel transcriptome by comparative oliganucleotide array analysis. Presented at the Gordon Research Conference “Molecular Mechanisms in Lymphatic Function and Disease”, Ventura, California, March 2004.
Bridenbaugh E and Zawieja DC
Evaluation of rat lymphatic muscle cell transcriptome by comparative oligonucleotide array analysis. FASEB J 2004. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Chao J-T
Roles of integrins in vascular smooth muscle phenotypic changes by oxidative stress. Presented at the Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, February 2004.
Roles of integrins in vascular smooth muscle phenotypic changes by oxidative injury. Presented at the Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, March 2004.
Integrins mediate vascular smooth muscle phenotypic change by oxidative injury. Presented at the Institute for Genetic Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, March 2004.
PDGF enhances alpha7 integrin expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cell Biology, Washington, DC, December 2004.
Chao J-T, Ramos KS and Wilson E
PDGF modulates alpha7 integrin expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Davis MJ
Effect of alpha5beta1 integrin activation on heterologously expressed cardiac L-type calcium channels. Presented at the annual Biophysical Society Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, February 2004.
Regulation of L-type Ca channels by integrins. Presented to the Physiology Department, University of South Carolina Medical School, Columbia, South Carolina, March 2004.
Regulation of smooth muscle calcium channels by integrins and extracellular matrix. Presented to the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, July 2004.
Computer models to illustrate electrochemical equilibrium and action potentials. Presented at the American Physiological Society Education Section Workshop and Refresher Course, Washington DC, April 2004.
Integrin activation triggers phosphorylation of Cav 1.2 channels through PKA and C-Src signaling. Presented at the Smooth Muscle Research Group Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, October 2004.
Davis MJ, Granger HJ and Meininger GA
Development and use of systems for the study of isolated pressurized microvessels. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Fogarty JA
Enhanced myocardial vascularity and contractility by novel FGF-1 transgene in a model of chronic coronary occlusion. Presented at the Keystone Symposia, Santa Fe, New Mexico, January 2004.
Forough R
Molecular mechanisms of fibroblast growth factor-1 signaling. Presented at the University of Texas Health Science Center – Tyler, June 21-23, 2004.
Molecular mechanisms of FGF-1 in angiogenesis. Presented to the Department of Pediatric Oncology, Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas, September 1, 2004.
Vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Presented to the Oncology Resident Fellows at Scott and White Hospital, Temple, Texas, October 2004.
Gaffin RD, Tong CWC, Zawieja DC, Hewett T, Robbins J, Muthuchamy M
Charged residue alterations in the inner-core domain and carboxy-terminus of -tropomyosin differentially affect mouse cardiac muscle contractility. Presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2004, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 2004.
Gaffin RD, Zawieja DC, Hewett T, Robbins J, Muthuchamy M
Alterations in a-tropomyosin’s carboxy overlap region affect mouse cardiac function. Presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2004, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 2004. 
Gashev AA
Lymphatic heterogeneity in rats. Presented at the Gordon Research Conference “Molecular Mechanisms in Lymphatic Function and Disease”, Ventura, California, March 2004.
Heterogeneity of intrinsic lymph pumps. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
The regional differences in pressure- and flow-induced reactions of rat isolated lymphatic vessels. Presented to the faculty at ? in Matsumoto, Japan, October 2004.
Gashev AA and Zawieja DC
Simulated microgravity inhibits the rat regional lymph pump. Presented at the 75th Annual Aerospace Medical Association’s Meeting: Frontiers in Aerospace Medicine, Anchorage, Alaska, May 1-9, 2004.
Gui P
Effect of alpha5beta1 integrin activation on heterologously expressed cardiac L-type calcium channel. Presented at the annual Biophysical Society Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, February 2004.
Gui P, Wu X, Ling S, Stotz S, Wilson E, Zamponi GW, Braun AP, Davis GE and Davis MJ
Role of PKA phosphorylation on potentiation of heterologously expressed smooth muscle L-type calcium channels (Cav1.25b) by 51 integrin activation. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Guo M
The signaling role of focal adhesion kinase in neutrophil induced microvascular hyperpermeability. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Role of prostaglandin H2/thromboxane A2 in responses of coronary arterioles in hypertension. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Kuo L
Elevated intraocular pressure inhibits endothelium-dependent nitric-oxide-mediated dilation of retinal arterioles: role of superoxide. Presented at The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, April 24-28, 2004.
Retinal autoregulation: the myogenic response in retinal arterioles. Presented at The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, April 24-28, 2004.
C-reactive protein inhibits endothelium-dependent nitric oxide-mediated dilation in coronary arterioles; roles of superoxide and vascular NADPH oxidase. Presented at the symposium entitled “Endothelial Function in Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes”, a satellite meeting of the International Society for Heart Research, Hong Kong, China, December 2004.
Regulation of coronary microcirculation – from physiology to pathophysiology. Presented for the Distinguished Alumni Lectureship, Series I, Center of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taiwan, December 2004.
Ischemia-reperfusion injury in the coronary microcirculation: who is the culprit? Presented for the Distinguished Alumni Lectureship, Series II, College of Science, Tunghai University, Taiwan, December 2004.
Angiotensin II the terminator of nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation in the coronary microcirculation. Presented for the Distinguished Alumni Lectureship, Series II, Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taiwan, December 2004.
Martinez-Lemus LA, Crow T, Davis MJ and Meininger GA
Alpha (5) beta (1) and alpha (v) beta (3) integrins are required for myogenic constriction of arterioles. Presented at the XIIIth International Vascular Biology Meeting, Toronto, Canada, June 1-5, 2004.
Meininger CJ
National Institutes of Health, Member - Clinical Studies Subcommittee D, Program Project Initial Review Group, National Cancer Institute, Washington, DC, September 2004.
GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH) gene transfer increases nitric oxide synthesis in endothelial cells and isolated vessels from Type I and Type II diabetic rats. Presented at the international symposium entitled “The BB Rat Turns Thirty: Lessons and Future Directions”, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, December 2004.
Meininger CJ, Cai S, Parker JL, Channon KM, Kelly KA, Becker EJ, Wood MK, Wade LA and Wu G
GTP Cyclohydrolase I gene transfer increases nitric oxide synthesis in endothelial cells and isolated vessels from Type I and Type II diabetic rats. Presented at the Keystone Symposium on Diabetes Mellitus: Molecular Signaling, Genes and Therapeutics, Keystone, Colorado, March 2004.
GTP cyclohydrolase I gene transfer increases nitric oxide synthesis in endothelial cells and isolated vessels from Type I and Type II diabetic rats. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Meininger CJ, Parker JL, Kelly KA, Haynes TE and Wu G
Dietary arginine supplementation improves endothelial nitric oxide synthesis and vasorelaxation in the Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rat. Presented at the Keystone Symposium on the Molecular Control of Adipogenesis and Obesity, Keystone, Colorado, March 2004.
Dietary arginine supplementation improves nitric oxide synthesis and vasorelaxation in the Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rat. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Meininger GA
Integrins and vascular mechanobiology: studies using atomic force microscopy. Presented to the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, March 2004.
Integrins as regulators of vascular and mechanotransduction. Presented at the symposium entitled “The Role of Integrins in Vascular Cell Signaling and Regulation of Vascular Function”. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Integrins and regulation of the microcirculation. Presented at the 50th Anniversary Microcirculatory Society Symposium at Experimental Biology 2004, Bethesda, Maryland, April 2004.
Positional plasticity of vascular smooth muscle cells in the vascular wall as a mechanism for acute vascular remodeling. Presented at the XIIIth International Vascular Biology Meeting, Toronto, Canada, June 2004.
Mechanobiology as a contact sport: studies combining atomic force microscopy with fluorescence microscopy. Presented at the Workshop on Biomedical Sensing and Imaging for the Nano-scale session entitled “Nanoscale biosensing and imaging including biomechanics and mechanobiology, Texas-UK Nanoscience Initiative, Texas A&M University, College Station, October 2004.
Integrin regulation of vascular tone studied using a nanoscale approach with Atomic Force Microscopy: Relevance to vascular remodeling and hypertension. Presented to the College of Medicine, West Virginia University Health Science Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, October 2004.
Integrin-matrix interactions studied using atomic force microscopy: mechanotransduction is a contact sport. Presented at the Cardiovascular Institute, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, December 2004.
Are there links between vascular responses to injury and integrin mediated vascular control? Presented at the symposium entitled “Chemically-induced vascular injury in animals and humans – mechanisms, biomarkers and biological significance” of the meeting of the American Registry of Pathology, Washington, DC, December 2004.
Muthuchamy M
Thin filament regulatory mechanisms in cardiac muscle. Presented August 2004 at 
•	Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, and 
•	University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
Regulatory mechanisms in cardiac muscle contractility – roles of tropomyosin. Presented at the JLC-Biomedical and Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, November 2004.
Peterson TV, Baker RA, Hester RK and Green JB III
A comprehensive course evaluation system utilizing combined on-line student and faculty evaluations, student performance measures and course director meetings. International Association of Medical Science Educators Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, July 2004.
Qamirani E, Wang W, Kuo L, Hein TW
C-reactive protein inhibits endothelium-dependent nitric oxide-mediated dilation in coronary arterioles: roles of superoxide and vascular NADPH oxidase. FASEB J 18(4): A622, 2004. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
C-reactive protein inhibits endothelium-dependent nitric oxide-mediated dilation of coronary arterioles via p38 kinase and NADPH oxidase activation. Presented at the annual American Heart Association meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 2004. Circulation 110(17): III-73, 2004.
Quick CM, Zawieja DC, Gashev AA, Stewart RH and Laine GA
Modeling strategies for optimizing lymph flow. FASEB J 18 (4): A658, 2004. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Rosa RH Jr, Hein TW and Kuo L
Retinal autoregulation: the myogenic response in retinal arterioles. Presented at The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, April 2004.
Shipley RD, Hein T and Kuo L
Acidosis enhances vasodilation of coronary arterioles to adenosine by increasing activation of KATP channels. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Sun Z, Trzeciakowski JP, Martinez-Lemus LA, Trache A and Meininger GA
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) mechanically respond to application of force to the fibronectin-alpha 5 beta 1 integrin bond. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Tinsley JH and Yuan SY
MLC phosphorylation, adherens junction reorganization and pulmonary endothelial cell hyperpermeability in burns. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Wilson, E
Modulation of vascular smooth muscle phenotype: a role for integrins and extracellular matrix. Presented to the Department of Integrative Physiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, October 2004.
Modulation of vascular smooth muscle integrins: a role in remodeling. Invited seminar at the Medical University of South Carolina, Gaze Cardiovascular Institute, Charleston, South Carolina, November 2004.
The role of ECM and integrins in atherosclerosis. Invited speaker at Ross Medical School Research Day, Dominica, October 2004.
Wu X, Gui P, Meininger GA, Braun AP, Davis MJ
Regulation of BKCa channels by protein kinases and alpha5beta1 in vascular smooth muscle and HEK cells. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Yuan SY
ERK 1/2 phosphorylation and microvascular hyperpermeability in response to advanced glycation end products. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Zawieja DC
Simulated microgravity inhibits the rat regional lymph pumps. Presented at the 2004 National Space Biomedical Research Investigator Retreat, Del Lago Conference Center, Conroe, Texas, January 2004.
Physiological basis of contractility. Presented at the NIH grantee meeting “Functional Heterogeneity of the Peripheral, Pulmonary and Lymphatic Vessels”, Washington, DC, February 2004.
Evaluation of rat lymphatic vessel transcriptome by comparative oligonucleotide array analysis. Presented at the Gordon Research Conference “Molecular Mechanisms in Lymphatic Function and Disease”, Ventura, California, March 2004.
Molecular mechanisms involved in lymphatic muscle contraction. Presented at the Gordon Research Conference “Molecular Mechanisms in Lymphatic Function and Disease”, Ventura, California, March 2004.
Lymphatic biology: past, present and future. Presented at the 50th Anniversary Microcirculatory Society Symposium at Experimental Biology 2004, Bethesda, Maryland, April 2004.
History of lymphatic studies of the microcirculation. Historical presentation for the 50th Anniversary Microcirculatory Society Symposium at Experimental Biology 2004, Bethesda, Maryland, April 2004.
Lymphatic muscle contractile apparatus. Presented at the American Physiological Society Symposium on Physiology of the Intrinsic Lymph Pump, Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Zhang C, Humphrey JD, Fossum TW and Kuo L
Role of prostaglandin H2/thromboxane A2 in responses of coronary arterioles in hypertension. FASEB J 18(4): A649 2004. Experimental Biology, Washington DC, April 2004.
Professional Activities
Baker, KM (Division of Molecular Cardiology)
Chaired the 2004 Gordon Research Conference on Angiotensin, Ventura, California, February 29-March 5, 2004
Booz GW (Division of Molecular Cardiology)
Participated in a National Institutes of Health Program Project Grant review, Bethesda, Maryland, September 2004.
Participated in a Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute (AIBS) grant review, Washington DC, October 2004.
Davis MJ
Attended a National Institutes of Health NHLBI Program Project Review meeting to review a grant, Washington, DC, January 2004.
Participated in a grant review via mail for the Arizona Disease Control Program, February 2004.
Participated in an External Review Panel for a Program Project Grant, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, March 2004.
Davis MJ and Meininger GA
Co-Chaired an Experimental Biology Symposium entitled “The Role of Integrins in Vascular Cell Signaling and Regulation of Vascular Tone and Permeabillity”, Washington DC, April 17-21, 2004.
Kuo L
Participated in a grant reviews for the National Institute of Health’s Cardiovascular Sciences SBIR/STTR Special Emphasis Panel, Bethesda, Maryland, 2004.
Grant reviewer for the NIH NHLBI Hypertension and Microcirculatory Study Section, Washington, DC, November 2004.
Meininger CJ
Chaired the American Heart Association Review Committee 4A: Lipids and Lipoproteins, Thrombosis and Vascular Wall Biology, Las Vegas, NV, April 22-23, 2004. 
Appointed to the NHLBI Study Section for RFA HL-04-013 “Progression of Cardiovascular Disease in Type I Diabetes.” 
Served as Secretary of the Microcirculatory Society and member of the Microcirculatory Society Executive Council, 50th Annual Microcirculatory Society meeting, Washington DC, April 15, 2004.
Participated in the annual meeting of the American Heart Association Western States Affiliate Steering Committee, June 4, 2004.
Presented a discussion of Gene Therapy Approaches to Vascular Complications of Diabetes to parents of children attending Camp Bluebonnet, a camp for children with diabetes, Youngsport, TX, June 16, 2004.
Served on the NIH Program Project Cluster Review Study Section (Tumor Microenvironment I), National Cancer Institute, Washington, DC, October 2004.
Served on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Cell and Molecular Biology Study Section, Washington, DC, November 2004.
Meininger GA
Served as the American Physiology Society Cardiovascular Section Secretary and served on both the Steering Committee and the Program Committee, Washington DC, April 2004.
Chaired a workshop on “Vascular Tone” at the XIIIth International Vascular Biology Meeting, Toronto, Canada, June 2004.
Participated in the NIH Study Section “Musculoskeletal and Skin Sciences – Reparative Medicine”, Arlington, Virginia, July 2004.
Participated in the NIH Study Section “Shared Instrumentation”, Washington, DC, September 2004.
Grant reviewer for the American Heart Association, National’s session on Vascular Wall Biology 2. Chicago, Illinois, October 2004.
Chaired a Breakout Session at the Workshop on Biomedical Sensing and Imaging for the Nano-scale session entitled “Nanoscale biosensing and imaging including biomechanics and mechanobiology, Texas-UK Nanoscience Initiative, Texas A&M University, College Station, October 2004.
External examiner for Ph.D. candidate Nathalie Gaudreault, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of British Columbia, November 2004.
Attended American Physiological Society meeting as a representative for the Cardiovascular Section in the Section Advisory Committee and the Nominating Committee, Washington DC, December 2004.
Dr. Meininger and his laboratory were recently featured in an Olympus Microscope advertising campaign designed to highlight laboratories utilizing state-of-the-art imaging technologies for the 21st century. Featured in the layout is a fluorescent microscope with TIRF and FRET capabilities hybridized to an Atomic Force Microscope. Also featured in the layout were Dr. Meininger's postdoctoral research fellows including Drs. Andreea Trache, Luis A. Martinez-Lemus and Zhe Sun.  The layout appeared in recent issues of Science, Biophysical Journal and Biotechniques.
Trache A
Attended the FRET, FLIM, and Spectral Imaging International Symposium, a training session for Optical Microscopy in the Biological Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, June 2004.
Wilson E
Attended the annual meeting of the American Heart Association, Texas Affiliate Research Allocation and Advisory Committee, Austin, Texas, May 2004.
Co-Chaired an Experimental Biology session on Vascular Aging, Washington DC, April 17-21, 2004.
Invited Session Moderator for Adhesion Molecules Session, Gordon Conference “Mechanisms of Toxicity”, Waterville, Maine, July 2004.
Moderated session workshop at the 2004 Symposium on Pollutants and Heart Disease, Louisville, Kentucky, October 2004.
Zawieja DC and Gashev AA
Appointed to serve on the Editorial Board of Microcirculation, April 2004.
Appointed to chair the Microcirculation Society Membership Committee, April 2004.
Co-chaired the American Physiological Society Symposium “Physiology of the Intrinsic Lymph Pump”, Experimental Biology, Washington, DC, April 17-21, 2004.
Served on the special study section at NIH NCCAM, ZAT1 DB(10) Special Emphasis Review Panel, June 2004.