Laboratory of Vascular Physiology and Medicine

‘Laboratory of Vascular Physiology & Medicine’ (LVPM) is a specialized research laboratory established in the Department of Physiology under the Faculty of Medicine, BLDE University. This laboratory is working extensively on Experimental Physiology and Clinical Physiology/Medicine research. The Laboratory is formally inaugurated on the 15th.December 2015 by Professor Robert G.Carroll (East Carolina University, NC, USA) & Professor Dewan S.A.Majid (Tulane University, New Orleans, USA).

Research Focus:

Department of Physiology has established “Laboratory of Vascular Physiology & Medicine” under the supervision of Professor Kusal Das. This BLDE University Laboratory of Vascular Physiology is working extensively on both human and animal models to explore and understand the physiological basis of clinical acumen to vascular integrity. It has a specialized ‘ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY UNIT”, ‘MOLECULAR BIOLOGY UNIT’ and ‘CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY/MEDICINE UNIT’ The focus of the BLDE University Laboratory of Vascular Physiology is studying vascular function/dysfunction in healthy and diseased states, with particular emphasis on chronic cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus. Additionally, vascular responses to exercise and diet are studied and influences of Yoga and lifestyle intervention on vascular health. A variety of techniques are utilized to examine macro-and microvascular function as well as arterial stiffness in humans and animal models. The BLDE University Laboratory of Vascular Physiology also devout itself to carry out different research projects on environmental health, cardiovascular health, respiratory health to functional modulation in different exercise-induced interventional models with their molecular signaling pathways for both human and animal. The BLDE University Laboratory of Vascular Physiology takes care of critical experimental protocol on rats and mice where cardiovascular, vascular, respiratory and neurological different parameters can be analyzed by both non-invasive and invasive conditions. BLDE University Laboratory of Vascular Physiology is also capable to evaluate various cardiovascular histological analyses with the help of specialized software.

The overall mission of the Laboratory of Vascular Physiology & Medicine Lab is to determine the mechanisms contribute to the development of vascular dysfunction with aging, Metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension etc. Our lab uses integrative experimental approaches to assess vascular function of peripheral arteries, stiffness and hemodynamics of the arteries of human.

Objectives: We have focused interest in translating basic science findings with experimental models to clinically relevant treatments in humans and testing the efficacy of various pharmacological and lifestyle interventions in humans at high risk for developing cardiovascular diseases.

MoU signed by Prof.Luis Gabriel Navar and Prof.M.S.Biradar for 1st official collaboration between the universities. The Project is entitled “Hypoxia, metal exposure and cell signaling pathways: Evaluation of vascular integrity with renal functions in male albino rats supplemented with ascorbate and calcium channel blocker”

Vision & Mission: The Laboratory comprises of the faculty members and research scholars who work together in either experimental rodent models or clinical models which primarily focused on cardiovascular problems including hypertension or hypoxia and respiratory diseases. The Laboratory of Vascular Physiology & Medicine is strategically working with its experimental physiologists and clinicians to discover or identify the causes and therapy of vascular diseases including stroke.

The Laboratory which is primarily engaged to understand vascular diseases through their complex mechanisms is also devoted to improve vascular integrity and find out some innovative approaches which may improve the quality of human life or sufferings! The Laboratory is keen to explore a multidisciplinary approach through basic scientists, clinical scientists, clinicians, molecular biologists, pharmaceutical chemists, physicists, or engineers for understanding & therapeutic aspects of vascular diseases. Laboratory also trains and promotes future researchers in the field of vascular physiology & medicine.

Research Works at LVPM: The LVPM has a ‘Clinical Physiology/Medicine Unit’, ‘Molecular Biology Unit’ and ‘Electrophysiology Unit’. Electrophysiology Unit evaluates rats/mice ECG, blood pressure, baroreflex sensitivities (BRS). besides HRV parameters besides EEG, neurological observations, protein expression through Western blotting and DNA amplification, and gene mutation through PCR.

Work at Molecular Biology Unit

The laboratory takes care of critical experimental protocol on rats and mice where cardiovascular, vascular, respiratory, and neurological different parameters can be analyzed by both non-invasive and invasive conditions. LVSM has both invasive and non-invasive rats/mice blood pressure recording transducers and further going to procure radio telemetry devices. A variety of techniques are utilized to examine macro-and microvascular function as well as arterial stiffness in humans and animal models. Both the Clinical Physiology/Medicine & Electrophysiology Unit also devout itself to carry out different research projects on environmental health, cardiovascular health, respiratory health to functional modulation in different exercise-induced interventional models with their molecular signaling pathways for both human and animal. LVPM also supports biochemical and basic molecular biology experiments and vascular histopathology which critically analyzes arterial wall thickness or lumen diameter in experimental animals. The lab has a sophisticated Molecular Biology Unit where extensive studies on protein expression gene mutation routinely done to understand cell signaling pathways. HIF-1α, NOS3, and VEGF expression in blood and tissues are in the area of molecular biology which this vascular lab is expertise.

BLDE University President & Honorable Minister for Water Resources, Government of Karnataka Dr.M.B.Patil inaugurated ‘Molecular Biology Unit’of Laboratory of Vascular Physiology and Medicine,
Department of Physiology on 29th April 2017

The laboratory also devout itself to carry out different research projects on environmental health, cardiovascular health, respiratory health to functional modulation in different exercise-induced interventional models like Yoga and lifestyle modulation along with their molecular signaling pathways.

Stroke Model: Translational stroke research is a challenging task that needs long-term teamwork of the stroke research community Treatment options to date are very limited. To meet the need for novel therapeutic approaches, highly reproducible stroke models with excellent outcomes are essential for obtaining useful data from preclinical stroke trials as well as for improving inter-lab comparability. Experimental stroke research frequently employs rodent models of focal cerebral ischemia. Most researchers use permanent or transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in mice or rats. Proximal occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) via the intraluminal suture technique (so-called filament or suture model) is probably the most frequently used model in experimental stroke research. The intraluminal MCAO model offers the advantage of inducing reproducible transient or permanent ischemia of the MCA territory in a relatively non-invasive manner. Intraluminal approaches interrupt the blood flow of the entire territory of this artery. Laboratory of Vascular Physiology & Medicine has established the MCAO technique to induce cerebral ischemia and stroke in rats. The researchers are trained under the supervision of Dr.Sikha Saha, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds. This will further improve understanding focal ischemia/stroke in humans and definitely helps to fight against stroke.

 ADVISERS        RESEARCH STAFF         FACULTY ADJUNCT

Advisers

Distinguished Chair Professor

Adjunct Faculty

Research Faculty

Postdoctoral Fellow

PhD Research Scholar

The Research Club

(Estb.2017)

Laboratory of Vascular Physiology & Medicine

(UNESCO / UNITWIN PROGRAM ON RESEARCH)

Department of Physiology

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 Convenor                                                                                                                                                                       Co-ordinator

Dr.Sumangala Patil, MD                                                                                                                                               Dr.Jyoti Khodnapur,MD;PhD

         Professor & HOD                                                                                                                                                           Associate Professor

The Research Club was instituted by the Laboratory of Vascular Physiology and Medicine under the auspices of the Department of Physiology in the year 2017(January).

Aim: Aimed to promote research culture and research environment in the BLDE University. 

Objectives:

The Research Club has been formed with the following objectives

1. To discuss any issues pertaining to health science research with interdisciplinary approaches.
2. To discuss and share the recent updates in any discipline under medical and allied health.
3. To discuss various aspects of clinical interpretations and understanding of basic medical sciences.
4. To take guidance, suggestions and help from learned members of research club on any research topic undertaken.
5. To invite distinguished researchers from any branch of science and social sciences, technology, engineering and medical sciences to get appropriate guidance on various aspects of multidisciplinary research.
6. To encourage presentation on any current topic of interest under any discipline of medical sciences by the young researchers who works on physiological sciences.
7. To promote science, humanities and environmental issues.

Date, Time & Venue of The Research Club meet:The last Saturday of every month from 4.00 pm to 5.30 pm in the Laboratory of Vascular Physiology and Medicine, Department of Physiology.

Inception and Inauguration: The 1st meet and formal inauguration of The Research Club was held on 28.01.2017. Prof B. G. Mulimani, Chief Advisor and Former Vice-Chancellor, BLDE (Deemed to be University) inaugurated “The Research Club” and Dr. M. S. Biradar, Former Vice-Chancellor, BLDE (Deemed to be University) presided over the function. Prof Kusal K. Das, Mentor for The Research Club briefed about the objectives of The Research Club and also shared some interesting facts and information about research clubs in other universities of the world. Members of The Research Club shared their views on the club and also their research experience. Since its inception total of 22 Research club meets have been organized (10 in the year 2017 and 12 in the year 2018). Resource Persons specialized in various fields were invited for The Research Club meets. They shared their expertise and views on various topics with the members of the Research Club.

International guests

1. Dr. D. S. A. Majid Professor of Physiology Director Phenotype Core, THRCE, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, USA.
2. Dr. Ramesh Choudhari, Post Doctoral Fellow, USA
3. Dr. P. S. Ganesh, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, Mmabatho, South Africa
4. Jan-Marino (Nino) Ramirez, Ph.D.(Professor and Director, Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195-9924)
5. Dr.Natalia Zubieta- De Urioste,MD (La Paz, Bolivia)
6. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja, M.D, High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute (IPPA)La Paz, Bolivia& Visiting Professor, BLDE (Deemed to be University)

External guests

• Tanveer Majid Surgical Oncologist Asian Cancer Institute Mumbai.
• Dr. Babu R. L. Dept of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology Akkamahadevi Women’s University Vijayapura.
• Dr. Gangadhar Timmapur Assoc Prof BLDEA’s AVS Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Vijayapur.
• Dr. Shweta Pawar Consultant Psychotherapist Vijayapura
• Thuppil Venkatesh, Ph.D. Emeritus Professor, Department of Biochemistry, St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore, India

Staff members from various Departments of BLDE (Deemed to University) with expertise in different fields were also invited for the meet.

• Dr. Dayanand Gannur, Dept of Forensic Medicine
• Dr. S. S. Patil, Dept of Medicine
• Dr. R. M. Potekar, Dept of Pathology
• Dr. Nilima Dongre, Dept of Biochemistry
• Dr. Laxmi Kakhandaki, Dept of Microbiology
• Dr. Ravi S. Bulagouda, Dept of Anatomy
• Dr. Nandish Kadakol, Dept of Anatomy
• Dr. Rekha Udgiri, Dept of Community Medicine
• Dr. B. S. Patil, Dept of Anatomy
• Dr. Surekha Hippargi, Dept of Pathology

The Permanent Invitees

Objectives:

The Research Club has been formed with the following objectives 1.  To discuss any issues pertaining to vascular sciences. 2.  To discuss and share the recent updates in any discipline under medical and allied health sciences. 3.  To discuss various aspects of clinical interpretations and understanding of basic medical sciences especially vascular sciences. 4.  To take guidance, suggestions, and help from learned members of the research club on any research topic undertaken. 5.  To invite distinguished researchers from any branch of science and social sciences to get appropriate guidance on various aspects of multidisciplinary research. 6.  To encourage presentation on any current topic of interest under any discipline of medical sciences by the young researchers who work on physiological sciences especially vascular sciences. The activities of The Research Club of LVPM will exclusively relate to research only. No other discussion apart from the scientific discussion will be encouraged in this club. Date, Time & Venue: The last Saturday of every month from 4.00 pm to 5.30 pm will be fixed for the research club meeting in Laboratory of Vascular Physiology and Medicine, Department of Physiology or it will be informed to the members by the co-coordinator in case of any change.

Details of the meet in the table below

23. Hot Topic: Quality of drinking water in and around Vijayapur Popular Topic: Are Universities becoming emotionless?

Prof. Naveen Desai, Asst. Professor, Dept of Civil engineering,
Dr. P. G. Halakatti college of Engineering and Technology, Vijayapur

24. Hot Topic: Importance of pets in human life and Popular Topic: Cooking is both physical and mental therapy.

Research club members

25. Hot Topic: Human ergonomics in changing scenario for better Indian health care system Popular Topic: Pre INCA civilization in Bolivia.

Dr. Dayanand Banapatti Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedics,
BLDE (DU) Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Vijayapur

26. Hot Topic: How to keep scientific innovation alive Popular Topic: Keto diet

27. Hot Topic: Neonatal care and infant mortality in and around Vijayapur Popular Topic: Stippling art.

28. “Research and development in the perspective of peer assessments”

29. Hot topic: Interdisciplinary research between Pharmacies especially drug development and Clinical trials with Medicine. Popular topic: Water crisis and future of India

30. 1. Interdisciplinary research with Engineering & Medical Sciences under BLDE umbrella 2. Human touch at the face of nature’s fury.

Dr. Pradeep Malaji, Vice Principal Research, Dr.P.G.Halakatti College of Engineering, Vijayapur.

31. Hot topic: Significance of interdisciplinary research between Western and Indian systems of Medicine. Popular topic: North Karnataka delicacies.

32. Hot topic: Importance of school education in the perspective of higher education. Popular topic: Global hunger index and India.

33. Medical Education and Research in Bolivia.

34. Hot topic: Global warming, climate change, and environmental health. Popular topic: Happy New Year 2020

35. Environmental Engineering: Scope & Future Area of Research

36. ‘National Science Day 2020 Celebration’on 28th February 2020

37. Introduction to Bioinformatics

38. Prof. A. S. Paintal, FRS 94th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY’: 24th September 2020

The whole event was conducted through ZOOM CLOUD and YOUTUBE LIVE STREAM. (Link)

39. “Molecular design and synthesis”

Dr. K. G. Akamanchi, PhD Professor, Allied Health Sciences, Dept of Physiology, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Shri. B. M. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research centre, Vijayapur

40. “Journey of Physiology Education: My Perception”

41. “Unlocking Physiology, Crossing Borders”

Prof. Dr. Hwee Ming Cheng, Dept of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.

42. “New perspective of the control of CO2/H+-dependent drive to breathe”

43. “Impact of erythropoietin on neuronal control of respiration”

44. “DNA repair System In Mycobacteria”

Dr. Aravind Gouda Patil , Assistant professor, Allied health Science, BLDE (Deemed to be
University)

45. “Development of Electrochemical Sensing Interfaces by using Advanced Voltammetric Techniques (KOREATECH)”

The members of The Research Club from various departments participated in the meet and shared important information on the topics. The discussions were healthy and all the members contributed to the discussion.

Impact of research club:

1. Influences young faculty members under the faculty of medicine to research in medical health sciences and pursue Ph.D. programmes for their further carrier advancement.
2. The research club promoted multidisciplinary knowledge about basic sciences, engineering, and technology, health sciences, literature, performing arts, photography, multilingual diverse culture beyond science and humanities.
3. As the department of Physiology is UNESCO/UNITWIN network recognized centre the chair of life sciences, and office of the advisor, dean, and co-ordinator environmental dean; and the research club has given opportunity to introduce international UNESCO students and researchers to present their views on culture and research in the global perspectives.
4. The research club introduces the significance of the Indian system of medicine and provides a platform for the Indian system of medical experts to collaborate with modern medicine. 

• Chronic sustained hypoxia model (10% Oxygen; 90% N2)
• Rodent stroke model by mid cerebral carotid artery occlusion(MCAO) technique
• Protein restricted dietary model (5% Casein)
• Hyperlipidemia dietary model in rats (30% fat)
• Salt sensitive hypertensive (SSH) models by inducing L-NAME & NaCl
• Renal arterial occlusion model for developing renal hypertension\
• In Silico Drug development Model

Electrophysiology Unit of Laboratory of Vascular Physiology and Medicine

• NAIRA ELOYAN (UNESCO PhD STIDENT, YEREVAN, ARMENIA)

Dr.Naira Eloyan, UNESCO PhD student under UNESCO Chair Life Sciences from Yerevan, Armenia had undergone 3 week training at Vascular Laboratory. She was mentored by Prof.Kusal Das, UNESCO Adviser for Environmental Health and PhD Co-Adviser of Dr.Naira Eloyan. Dr.Vidya A.Patil, Professor & Head, Department of Anaesthesia acted as a clinical mentor for Dr.Naira for clinical research training (September – October 2020).

Dr.Naira was trained in experimental physiology from the perspective of biophysics and molecular biology. She also received clinical training in the Department of Anaesthesia for the management of pain sensation and electromagnetic field.

• Natalia Zubieta-DeUrioste (La Paz, Bolivia)

Dr.Natalia Zubieta-DeUrioste,MD – A physician at La Paz, Bolivia at High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute visited Laboratory of Vascular Physiology and Medicine, BLDE (Deemed to be University) as a research trainee for 2 weeks during November – December 2020. She had a training basically on experimental physiology and molecular biology specific to hypoxia gene here.

• Satish Dipankar(AIIMS, Patna)

Dr.Satish Dipankar, MD (Physiology), Associate Professor of Physiology, AIIMS, Patna was deputed to the Laboratory of Vascular Physiology and Medicine for research training in experimental physiology under Prof.Kusal Das. He was here for 2 weeks in June 2020. During his training, he learned the rodent stroke model and experimental hypertension.

RESEARCH IMPACT FROM VASCULAR LABORATORY

• Rat cerebral ischemic model: Hypoxia pre-treatment as therapeutic perspective

Collaborative research with University of Leeds(2016) able to successfully established experimental rat cerebral ischemicmodelat Vascular Physiology laboratory of the University. Using this model as preclinical studies vascular science researchers of BLDE (DU) demonstrated clearly that hypoxia pre-treatment (5% O₂)in animals can reduce ischemic brain injury due to stroke ! This unique research indicated as a possible protective strategy against cerebral focal ischemia or stroke (Das et al 2018).

1. Das KK, Yendigeri SM, Patil BS, Bagoji IB, Reddy RC, Bagali S, Biradar MS, Saha S. Subchronic hypoxia pretreatment on brain pathophysiology in unilateral common carotid artery occluded albino rats. Indian J Pharmacol 2018;50(4): 185-191. DOI: 10.4103/ijp.IJP_312_17

• Oxygen transport triad and hypoxia tolerance: HAPE, HACE, COPD perspective

Collaborative research on hypoxia and high-altitude pathophysiology with High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute, Bolivia and Laval University, Canada the researcher of BLDE (DU) demonstrated that the oxygen transport triad (pneumodynamic pump, hemodynamic pump & Epo/Hemoglobin) actually regulates hypoxia tolerance of an individual in relation to physiological acid-base balance. These hypotheses partly explain why COVID-19 incidence is lower in high altitude inhabitants. Further, the work also suggested hypoxia preconditioning as a preventive measure against acute hypoxic complications in high altitude like HAPE or HACE, etc.(Zubieta et al 2020).

1. Zubieta-Calleja, G.R.; Zubieta-DeUrioste, N.; Venkatesh, T.; Das KK.; Soliz, J. COVID-19: Multiple Diseases Simulating Extreme High-Altitude Exposure? Oxygen Transport Physiology and Scarce Need of Ventilators; Andean Condor & rsquo;s-Eye-View. Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials 2020, 15(4).

https://doi.org/10.2174/1574887115666200925141108

• Normalized Wall Index (NWI)as vascular markerin cardiovascular pathophysiology

Normalized wall index,as an indicator of vascular structural integrity might be useful to assess the atherosclerotic disease burden. It is routinely used in Carotid Doppler study as well as in CT and MRI to measure the wall thickness and lumen diameter of blood vessel in humans. Vascular researchers of BLDE (DU) have made successfully thefirst time an attempt to evaluate the normalized wall index (NWI)through histopath