DIVISION OF NEUROLOGY

Faculty Profiles

KOH, SUSAN
Faculty Member Since: 1999
Degrees: MD, University of Southern California
BA, Overlin College, Psychobiology
Rank: Assistant Clinical Professor
Research Interests: Pediatric epilepsy surgery and intraoperative monitoring, neurocutaneous disorders and intractable epilepsy, electrophysiology, epilepsy and genetics.

KORNBLUM, HARVEY I.
Faculty Member Since: 1994
Degrees: MD, PhD, University of California, Irvine
BA, Washington University
Rank: Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Developmental neurobiology, neuroplasticity and epilepsy

MENKES, JOHN
Faculty Member Since: 1971
Degrees: MD, Johns Hopkins University
MS, University of Southern California
Rank: Professor Emeritus

PHILIPPART, MICHEL
Faculty Member Since: 1967
Degrees:

MD, BA, Free University of Brussels, Belgium
Rank: Professor Emeritus in Pediatrics

ANKAR, RAMAN
Faculty Member Since: 1991
Degrees: PhD, University of Washington
MD, Tulane University
BS, University of Bombay (India)
Rank: Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Seizure-induced neuronal injury in the developing brain, epileptogenesis in the developing brain, GABA, neuropeptides in status epilepticus, carnitine and the ketogenic diet, clinical anticonvulsant drug trials, clinical pharmacology
Grant Support: NINDS, NIH; Sigma-Tau
Teaching: Director of Education and Training in Pediatric Neurology
Lectures to medical students (core lecture series in pediatrics for junior clerkships)
Noon lectures to pediatric housestaff
Didactic lectures to neurology housestaff
Organizer, journal club for pediatric neurology fellows
Pediatric Board Review Course, UCLA Department of Pediatrics and Mattel Children's Hospital
Osler Review for Neurology Boards, ABPN Part II
University Service: Member, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, UCLA Medical Center Member, World Wide Web Advisory Committee, Department of Pediatrics
Member, Ad hoc Rehabilitation and Subacute/Long-term Care Advisory Committee For the UCLA Healthcare Network
Member, Department of Pediatrics Grand Rounds Committee
Member, In-patient Charge Document Committee
Professional Committees: Member, Awards Committee, Epilepsy Section, American Academy of Neurology
Member, Committee on Continuing Education, American Epilepsy Society
Member, Research Committee, Child Neurology Society
Member, Research Review Board, Alternating Hemiplegia Foundation
Selected to represent pediatric neurology in the Medical Expert Panel, ABC News
Ad hoc consultant to Ortho-McNeil, Parke-Davis, and Elan Pharmaceuticals.
Honors: Listed in The Best Doctors in America, Woodward/White, Inc.
Board of Directors, Epilepsy Foundation of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties

SHEWMON, D. ALAN
Faculty Member Since: 1981
Degrees: MD, New York University Medical School
BA, Harvard University
Rank: Clinical Professor
Research Interests: EEG/epilepsy, brain death, vegetative state
Grant Support: 7/1/97-6/30/99 International Academy for Philosophy in the Principality of Liechtenstein: Guest Research Professorship
7/1/99-6/30/00 Kennedy Smith Foundation: for Mind-Brain Initiative
7/1/99-6/30/02 Higher Education Initiatives Foundation: for Mind-Brain Initiative
Teaching: Pediatric Core Lectures (PE011) for third and fourth year medical students
Teaching rounds for pediatric neurology residents
EEG training of neurology residents and EEG fellows
Guest Professor, Internationale Akademie für Philosophie im Fürstentum Liechtenstein:
Spring, 1999 The working of the brain and its relationship to mind
Spring, 1999 Contemporary issues in bioethics
University Service: Appointed to Crump Institute Site Visit Committee, 1999
Professional Committees: 1997-2000 Organizing & Scientific Committees, 3rd International
Symposium on Coma and Death, Havana, Feb. 22-25, 2000 
Invited reviewer: Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology
Lancet
Neurology

SHIELDS, WILLIAM DONALD
Faculty Member Since: 1976
Degrees: MD, BA, University of Utah
Rank: Professor
Research Interests:  Research Interests: Catastrophic Childhood Epilepsies

SPENCER, MELISSA
Faculty Member Since: 1978
Rank: Adjunct Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Pathophysiology of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, immunological aspects of muscular dystrophy, role of the calpain proteolytic system in normal muscle and muscle wasting diseases
Grant Support: 2/97 -6/2000 Duchenne Parent Project Co-Principal Investigator. "Mechanisms of T-cell mediated killing of dystrophic muscle."
10/98-10/02 Duchenne Parent Project Principal Investigator. "Analysis of the contribution of tumor necrosis factor and interferon to the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophy"
10/98-10/02 NIH Princi1pal Investigator "Calpain regulation of muscle necrosis and regeneration"
Teaching: Access seminar course M297, Winter 2000.
Physiological Science 155, Fall 199. "Muscle Cell Biology (one lecture only)
Mentor in the SRP program (Spring 99, Fall 99)
Professional Committees: Reviewer for the following journals
Journal of Clinical Investigation
American Journal of Pathology
Journal of Applied Physiology
Reviewer for the National Institutes of Health, NIAMS (ad hoc)
Honors: Elsevier Science Award (for most outstanding poster presentation at the World Muscle Society meeting), October 1999.

TOURNAY, ANNE E.
Faculty Member Since: 1996
Degrees:

MBBS, University College, Hospital Medical School of London, England
Rank: Clinical Assistant Professor
Research Interests:  Leukodystrophies, hospice care of children
Teaching:  Clinical teaching at UCLA and Olive View

Division Publications

  1. Koh S, Nelson D, Kovanlikaya A, and Chen LS. "Anterior Lumbosacral Radiculopathy After Intrathecal Methotrexate." Pediatric Neurology. 21: 576-578, 1999.
  2. Alvarez LA, Dean P, Jayakar P, Duchowny M, Resnick T, Dunoyer C, and Koh S "Tratamiento de la Epilepsia por Medio de la Estimulacion Vagal".. Rev Neurol. 29:385-387, 1999.
  3. Koh S, Jayakar P, Resnick T, Alvarez L, Litt R and Duchowny M. "The Localizing Value of Ictal SPECT in Children with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and Refractory Partial Epilepsy". Epileptic Disorders. 1:1-6, 1999.

  4. Liu H, Mazarati AM, Katsumori H, Sankar R, Wasterlain CG. Substance P is expressed in hippocampal principal neurons during status epilepticus, and plays a critical role in the maintenance of status epilepticus. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96:5286-5291, 1999.

  5. Sankar R, Shin DH, Mazarati AM, Liu H, Wasterlain CG. Ontogeny of self-sustaining status epilepticus. Dev Neurosci 21:345-351, 1999.
  6. Liu H, Cao Y, Basbaum AI, Mazarati AM, Sankar R, Wasterlain CG. Resistance to excitotoxin-induced seizures and neuronal death in mice lacking the preprotachykinin A gene. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96:12096-12101, 1999.
  7. Licht EA, Sankar R. Status epilepticus during pregnancy: a case report. J Reprod Med 44:370-2, 1999.
  8. Giza GC, Kuratani JD, Cokely H, Sankar R. Periventricular nodular heterotopia and childhood absence epilepsy: a case report. Pediatr Neurol 20:315-318, 1999.
  9. Sankar R, Wasterlain CG. Is the devil we know the lesser of two evils? Vigabatrin and visual fields. [Editorial]. Neurology 52:1537-8, 1999.
  10. Rho JM, Sankar R. The pharmacological basis of antiepileptic drug action. Epilepsia 40:1471-1483, 1999.
  11. Sankar R, Sotero de Menezes M. Metabolic and Endocrine Aspects of the Ketogenic Diet. Epilepsy Research 37:191-201, 1999.
  12. Sankar R. Seizure-Induced Apoptosis and Necrosis in the Developing Rat Brain, in: Childhood Epilepsies and Brain Development, Editors: Nehlig A, Motte J, Moshé SL, Plouin P, John Libbey, London, pp. 199-210, 1999.
  13. Wasterlain CG, Thompson KW, Kornblum HI, Mazarati AM, Shirasaka Y, Katsumori H, Liu H, Sankar R. Long Term Effects of Recurrent Seizures on the Developing Brain, in: Childhood Epilepsies and Brain Development, Editors: Nehlig A, Motte J, Moshé SL, Plouin P, John Libbey, London, pp. 237-254, 1999.
  14. Shewmon DA. Chronic "brain death": meta-analysis and conceptual consequences. Neurology 51(6):1538-1545, 1998. [feature article with accompanying editorial] (letters and reply, Neurology 53(6):1369-1372, 1999.)
  15. Shewmon DA. Spinal shock and `brain death': somatic pathophysiological equivalence and implications for the integrative-unity rationale. Spinal Cord 37(5):313-324, 1999.
  16. Shewmon DA, Holmes GL, Byrne PA: Consciousness in congenitally decorticate children: "developmental vegetative state" as self-fulfilling prophecy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 41(6):364-374, 1999.
  17. Rintahaka PJ, Nakagawa JA, Shewmon DA, Kyyronen P, Shields WD. Incidence of death in patients with intractable epilepsy during nitrazepam treatment. Epilepsia 40(4):492-496, 1999.
  18. Shields WD, Shewmon DA, Peacock WJ, LoPresti CM, Nakagawa JA, Yudovin S. Surgery for the treatment of medically intractable infantile spasms: a cautionary case. Epilepsia 40(9):1305-1308, 1999.
  19. Mathern GW, Giza CC, Yudovin S, Vinters HV, Peacock WJ, Shewmon DA, Shields WD. Postoperative seizure control and antiepileptic drug use in pediatric epilepsy surgery patients: the UCLA experience, 1986-1997. Epilepsia 40(12):1740-1749, 1999.
  20. Shewmon DA. Is it reasonable to use as a basis for diagnosing death the UK protocol for the clinical diagnosis of "brain-stem death"? In: Gormally L (ed): Issues for a Catholic Bioethic. Proceedings of the International Conference to celebrate the Twentieth Anniversary of the foundation of The Linacre Centre. 28-31 July 1997. London, The Linacre Centre, Chapter 19, pp. 315-333, 1999.
  21. Tidball JG, Spencer MJ, Wehling M and Lavergne E. Nitric oxide synthase is a mechanical signal transducer that modulates talin and vinculin expression. J. Biol. Chem 274 (46):33155-33160, 1999.
  22. Tidball JG and Spencer MJ. Molecules in focus: Calpains and the muscular dystrophies. Int. J. Bioch, 1999.

Division Presentations

  1. Koh S, Jayakar P, Resnick T, Alvarez LA, Dunoyer C, Whiting S, Morrison G, Prats A, Ragheb J, Dean P and Duchowny M. "Epilepsy Surgery in Children with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Presurgical Evaluation and Outcome" Poster at American Epilepsy Society meeting- 12/99.
  2. Koh S, Jayakar PS, Resnick T, Alvarez LA, Morrison G, Prats A, Dean P, and Duchowny MS. "The Outcome of Epilepsy Surgery for Tonic Spasms in Children." Poster at American Epilepsy Society meeting- 12/99.
  3. Sankar R. "Acute and Chronic Effects of Status Epilepticus in Developing Brains," at the Van Gogh Symposium on Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (A Merritt-Putnam Symposium), Los Angeles, California, 4/9-4/10/99.
  4. Sankar R. "Epilepsy syndromes, Genetics, and Treatment," for Washington, Oregon Neurology Group, Skamania Lodge, Stephenson, Washington, 4/10/99.
  5. Sankar R. "Advances in the Treatment of Epilepsy," Department of Family Medicine, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, San Bernardino, California, 4/6/99.
  6. Sankar R. "Are Infrequent Seizures Harmful?" Speaker at the participatory roundtable, Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, Orlando, Florida, 12/5/99.
  7. Sankar R. "Do Seizures Cause Brain Damage?" at the Update in Child Neurology & Psychiatry, presented by Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center and the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 5/8/99.
  8. Sankar R. "Genetics of Epilepsy" and "Comprehensive Review of Anticonvulsants" for a Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Company sponsored preceptorship for West Coast sales personnel, held at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, 4/7-4/8/99.
  9. Sankar R. "Metabolic and Neurodegenerative Disorders," Neurology Grand Rounds, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, 5/21/99.
  10. Sankar R. "Neuromuscular Disorders," at the 4th Annual Primary Care Update, presented by the UCLA School of Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada, 4/16-4/18/99.
  11. Sankar R. "Pathology of Childhood Epilepsy: Effects of Maturation on Neuroimaging," at the Pediatric Symposium on Brain Imaging Techniques in Children with Epilepsy, Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, Orlando, Florida, 12/3/99.
  12. Sankar R. "Patterns of immediate early gene expression predict age- and model-dependent plasticity following experimental status epilepticus," at the Workshop on the Neurobiology of Epilepsy, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic, 9/8-9/10/99.
  13. Sankar R. "Pediatric Epilepsy Syndromes and their Treatment," Department of Pediatrics, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, 1/8/99.
  14. Sankar R. "Rational Drug Sequencing in Children to Separate Medically Refractory from Medically Responsive Epilepsy," at the Epilepsy Educator' Conference, Palm Beach, Florida, 10/23/99.

  15. Sankar R. "Seizure-Induced Neuronal Injury in the Maturing Brain," at the symposium Neuroprotection: Implications for the Future Clinical Management of Epilepsy, Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, Orlando, Florida, 12/5/99.

  16. Sankar R. "The Ups and Downs of Epilepsy Treatments for Children," Epilepsy Education Conference sponsored by the Epilepsy Foundation, Anaheim, California, 3/27/99.
  17. Sankar R. "Treatment of Epilepsy: Considerations in the Management of Special Populations," at the First Annual Western CNS Conference of the Institute of Medical Studies, Yosemite National Park, California, 7/18/99.
  18. Shewmon DA. Chronic "brain death." Interdepartmental Conference. Kinderspital. Zürich, Switzerland, 3/19/99.
  19. Shewmon DA. Coma in children. American Clinical Neurophysiology Society annual meeting, Symposium on Coma. St. Louis, MO, 10/31/99.
  20. Shewmon DA. Definition of death: a new perspective. Symposium sobre Aspectos Eticos y Legales de Transplante de Organos. Panamerican University School of Medicine, Mexico City, 10/1-10/2/99.
  21. Shewmon DA. Determining the moment of death: new evidence, new controversies. Jornadas de Bioética, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, 10/21-10/23/99.
  22. Shewmon DA. The concept and diagnosis of death: re-evaluating the empirical bases. Agora. International Academy for Philosophy in the Principality of Liechtenstein, 10/25/99.
  23. Shewmon DA. The neuroscientific contributions of Sir John Eccles. Symposium on Sir John C. Eccles, Internationale Akademie für Philosophie im Fürstentum Liechtenstein. Gaflei, Liechtenstein, 4/16/99.
  24. Shewmon DA. What is death? A critical re-evaluation of the basis for neurological formulation. Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH, 3/2/99.
  25. Spencer M and Winckler WM. World Muscle Society Meeting. "TNF-deficient, mdx mice have increased muscle atrophy" Antalya, Turkey. Neuromus. Dis. 9(6-7):484, 1999.
  26. Spencer M. UCLA, Neuropathology Conference "Immune aspects of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy." 6/99.
  27. Spencer M. UCLA Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Center Seminar " Gamma-delta T cells in the dystrophic muscle." 10/99.
  28. Spencer M. University of California, Los Angeles. Department of Pediatrics, Research Seminar Series "Contribution of immune cells to DMD." 12/99.
  29. Spencer M. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Department of Physiology. "Immune aspects of Duchenne muscular dystrophy." 11/99.
  30. Spencer M. FASEB Summer Conference "The Calpain System in Health and Disease," "Calpain in muscular dystrophy." 6/99.
  31. Spencer M. IXth international conference on Neuromuscular Disorders. Adelaide, Australia. "Role of T cells in mdx dystrophy." 8/98.
  32. Spencer M. Parent Project Annual Meeting "Trial of albuterol in DMD." 6/99.
  33. Spencer M. University of Wyoming, Laramie. Department of Molecular Biology "Immune aspects of mdx dystrophy." 3/99.

 

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