Nitin A. Das, MD
Instructor/Research
Personal Statement:
Nitin received his medical degree from Christian Medical College, Ludhiana in India following which he completed two years of rural service at Jalna Mission Hospital in Maharashtra, India. Thereafter, he joined St. Stephen’s Hospital, Delhi, India as a General surgery resident for two years prior to emigrating to the United States. He completed two years at the General Residency program at St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri followed by Post-doctoral research fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. During his post-doctoral fellowship, Nitin learned the technique of performing orthotopic lung transplants in rats and became well proficient to be able to teach that technique.
Since joining the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in June of 2010, Nitin has continued to work on the rat lung transplant under guidance from Dr. Johnson and Dr. DeArmond. He has obtained some grants over the years which have resulted in publications that promote his overall goal to find a non-invasive means to differentiate infection and rejection in lung transplant recipients. Alongside this pursuit, he also teamed up with Dr. DeArmond to expand on feasibility of using bioimpedance in early and real-time detection of lung pathologies and is part owner of a patent. Nitin also collaborates with other researchers and has been coordinating the departmental research activity over the years. He hosts the weekly departmental research meeting that helps forge new collaborations, advance on-going research and integrate medical student activities.
Nitin played an integral in re-initiating the Department’s participation in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) database and was instrumental in establishing a new vendor software and getting the process going. Since then, we have used our STS data to identify areas to improve the operative outcomes for our patients. He continues to manage the General Thoracic Surgery database. Because of his self-taught knowledge about computers, Nitin also helps the department with technical problems in his role as the department’s Technical Support Representative.
Research
Grants:
2017-3: Das (PI); 10/2017-09/2019; Biochemical changes in lung after reperfusion injury and its attenuation with tacrolimus
44080: Das (PI); 10/2012-09/2014; Brain Dead Donor Model Development
Das (PI); 10/2011-09/2013; Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Translational Technologies and Resources Supplemental Awards for 2012 – 2013
Expertise:
IRB (Human studies) and IACUC (Animal Studies) – I am adept in formulating and modifying protocols for approval by the regulatory and compliance offices. I am able to provide guidance regarding requirements, potential pitfalls and safeguarding patient rights.
Laparoscopic Surgery – Performed several partial nephrectomies with selective arterial clamping in a porcine model during one year of research fellowship
Large animal Research (Pigs and Dogs) – Have experience working with large animals like pig and dogs, including administering medications, intubations and anesthesia
Micro Surgery – Competent in performing orthotopic left lung transplants in rats since 2005
Small Animal Research (Rodents) – Experienced with oro-tracheal intubation of rats and mice. Experienced in penile vein injections for administering drugs intravenously in rats and mice.
Publications
Empagliflozin reduces high glucose-induced oxidative stress and miR-21-dependent TRAF3IP2 induction and RECK suppression, and inhibits human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Das NA, Carpenter AJ, Belenchia A, Aroor AR, Noda M, Siebenlist U, Chandrasekar B, DeMarco VG.Cell Signal. 2020 Apr;68:109506. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2019.109506. Epub 2019 Dec 17.PMID: 31862399
Glycemic control by the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin decreases aortic stiffness, renal resistivity index and kidney injury. Aroor AR, Das NA, Carpenter AJ, Habibi J, Jia G, Ramirez-Perez FI, Martinez-Lemus L, Manrique-Acevedo CM, Hayden MR, Duta C, Nistala R, Mayoux E, Padilla J, Chandrasekar B, DeMarco VG.Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2018 Jul 30;17(1):108. doi: 10.1186/s12933-018-0750-8.PMID: 30060748 Free PMC article.
The combination of a neprilysin inhibitor (sacubitril) and angiotensin-II receptor blocker (valsartan) attenuates glomerular and tubular injury in the Zucker Obese rat. Habibi J, Aroor AR, Das NA, Manrique-Acevedo CM, Johnson MS, Hayden MR, Nistala R, Wiedmeyer C, Chandrasekar B, DeMarco VG.Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2019 Mar 25;18(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s12933-019-0847-8.PMID: 30909895 Free PMC article.
Agitation Techniques to Enhance Drainage of Retained Hemothorax. Makey IA, Das NA, Jacob S, El-Sayed Ahmed MM, Makey CM, Johnson SB, Thomas M.Surg Innov. 2020 Dec 18:1553350620978002. doi: 10.1177/1553350620978002. Online ahead of print.PMID: 33339490
Minocycline reverses IL-17A/TRAF3IP2-mediated p38 MAPK/NF-κB/iNOS/NO-dependent cardiomyocyte contractile depression and death. Yoshida T, Das NA, Carpenter AJ, Izadpanah R, Kumar SA, Gautam S, Bender SB, Siebenlist U, Chandrasekar B.Cell Signal. 2020 Sep;73:109690. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109690. Epub 2020 Jun 15.PMID: 32553549
Intrapleural Impedance Sensor Real-Time Tracking of Pneumothorax in a Porcine Model of Air Leak. DeArmond DT, Das NA, Restrepo CS, Katona MA, Johnson SB, Hernandez BS, Michalek JE.Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Summer;32(2):357-366. doi: 10.1053/j.semtcvs.2019.10.004. Epub 2019 Oct 11.PMID: 31610232
Using a quality improvement initiative to reduce acute kidney injury during on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Katona MA, Walker JL, Das NA, Miller SR, Sako EY.Perfusion. 2021 Jan;36(1):70-77. doi: 10.1177/0267659120918786. Epub 2020 Jun 5.PMID: 32500839
RECK suppresses interleukin-17/TRAF3IP2-mediated MMP-13 activation and human aortic smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation. Mummidi S, Das NA, Carpenter AJ, Yoshida T, Yariswamy M, Mostany R, Izadpanah R, Higashi Y, Sukhanov S, Noda M, Siebenlist U, Rector RS, Chandrasekar B.J Cell Physiol. 2019 Dec;234(12):22242-22259. doi: 10.1002/jcp.28792. Epub 2019 May 9.PMID: 31074012 Free PMC article.
Pleural electrical impedance is a sensitive, real-time indicator of pneumothorax. DeArmond DT, Das NA, Restrepo CS, Johnson SB, Michalek JE, Hernandez BS.J Surg Res. 2018 Nov;231:15-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2018.05.005. Epub 2018 May 30.PMID: 30278922
TRAF3IP2 mediates TWEAK/TWEAKR-induced pro-fibrotic responses in cultured cardiac fibroblasts and the heart. Das NA, Carpenter AJ, Yoshida T, Kumar SA, Gautam S, Mostany R, Izadpanah R, Kumar A, Mummidi S, Siebenlist U, Chandrasekar B.J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2018 Aug;121:107-123. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2018.07.003. Epub 2018 Jul 5.PMID: 29981796 Free PMC article.
Lung transplant patients with coronary artery disease rarely die of cardiac causes. Makey IA, Sui JW, Huynh C, Das NA, Thomas M, Johnson S.Clin Transplant. 2018 Sep;32(9):e13354. doi: 10.1111/ctr.13354. Epub 2018 Aug 30.PMID: 30022532
TRAF3IP2 mediates high glucose-induced endothelin-1 production as well as endothelin-1-induced inflammation in endothelial cells. Padilla J, Carpenter AJ, Das NA, Kandikattu HK, López-Ongil S, Martinez-Lemus LA, Siebenlist U, DeMarco VG, Chandrasekar B.Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2018 Jan 1;314(1):H52-H64. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00478.2017. Epub 2017 Sep 29.PMID: 28971844 Free PMC article.
The efficacy of inhaled nanoparticle tacrolimus in preventing rejection in an orthotopic rat lung transplant model. Das NA, Peters JI, Simmons JD, Wang Y, O’Donnell KP, DeArmond DT, Coalson JJ, Brooks EG, Johnson SB.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2017 Dec;154(6):2144-2151.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2017.07.083. Epub 2017 Sep 1.PMID: 28942970
CIKS (Act1 or TRAF3IP2) mediates high glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction. Venkatesan B, Valente AJ, Das NA, Carpenter AJ, Yoshida T, Delafontaine JL, Siebenlist U, Chandrasekar B.Cell Signal. 2013 Jan;25(1):359-71. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2012.10.009. Epub 2012 Oct 17.PMID: 23085260 Free PMC article.
Diagnosis of anastomotic leak: electrolyte detection versus barium fluoroscopy. DeArmond DT, Carswell A, Louden CL, Simmons JD, Bayer J, Das NA, Johnson SB.J Surg Res. 2013 Jun 15;182(2):192-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2012.10.025. Epub 2012 Oct 29.PMID: 23122582
Effect of inhaled tacrolimus on ischemia reperfusion injury in rat lung transplant model. Bayer J, Das NA, Baisden CE, Rani M, DeArmond DT, Peters JI, Johnson SB.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013 Nov;146(5):1213-9; discussion 1219. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2013.07.030. Epub 2013 Sep 9.PMID: 24029291
Metformin inhibits aldosterone-induced cardiac fibroblast activation, migration and proliferation in vitro, and reverses aldosterone+salt-induced cardiac fibrosis in vivo. Mummidi S, Das NA, Carpenter AJ, Kandikattu H, Krenz M, Siebenlist U, Valente AJ, Chandrasekar B.J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2016 Sep;98:95-102. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2016.07.006. Epub 2016 Jul 14.PMID: 27423273
A mouse model of orthotopic vascularized aerated lung transplantation. Okazaki M, Krupnick AS, Kornfeld CG, Lai JM, Ritter JH, Richardson SB, Huang HJ, Das NA, Patterson GA, Gelman AE, Kreisel D.Am J Transplant. 2007 Jun;7(6):1672-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2007.01819.x.PMID: 17511692
Apyrase treatment prevents ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat lung isografts. Sugimoto S, Lin X, Lai J, Okazaki M, Das NA, Li W, Krupnick AS, Chen R, Jeong SS, Patterson GA, Kreisel D, Gelman AE.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2009 Sep;138(3):752-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2009.04.049. Epub 2009 Jul 10.PMID: 19698866
Emphysema quantification in inflation-fixed lungs using low-dose computed tomography and 3He magnetic resonance imaging. Gierada DS, Woods JC, Jacob RE, Bierhals AJ, Choong CK, Bartel ST, Chang YV, Das NA, Hong C, Lutey BA, Ritter JH, Pilgram TK, Cooper JD, Patterson GA, Battafarano RJ, Meyers BF, Yablonskiy DA, Conradi MS.J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2010 Sep-Oct;34(5):773-9. doi: 10.1097/RCT.0b013e3181e480f9.PMID: 20861785 Free PMC article.
Effects of CT section thickness and reconstruction kernel on emphysema quantification relationship to the magnitude of the CT emphysema index. Gierada DS, Bierhals AJ, Choong CK, Bartel ST, Ritter JH, Das NA, Hong C, Pilgram TK, Bae KT, Whiting BR, Woods JC, Hogg JC, Lutey BA, Battafarano RJ, Cooper JD, Meyers BF, Patterson GA.Acad Radiol. 2010 Feb;17(2):146-56. doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2009.08.007.PMID: 19931472 Free PMC article.
Selective versus nonselective arterial clamping during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: impact upon renal function in the setting of a solitary kidney in a porcine model. Benway BM, Baca G, Bhayani SB, Das NA, Katz MD, Diaz DL, Maxwell KL, Badwan KH, Talcott MR, Liapis H, Cabello JM, Venkatesh R, Figenshau RS.J Endourol. 2009 Jul;23(7):1127-33. doi: 10.1089/end.2008.0605.PMID: 19514812
Effects of diffusion time on short-range hyperpolarized (3)He diffusivity measurements in emphysema. Gierada DS, Woods JC, Bierhals AJ, Bartel ST, Ritter JH, Choong CK, Das NA, Hong C, Pilgram TK, Chang YV, Jacob RE, Hogg JC, Battafarano RJ, Cooper JD, Meyers BF, Patterson GA, Yablonskiy DA, Conradi MS.J Magn Reson Imaging. 2009 Oct;30(4):801-8. doi: 10.1002/jmri.21912.PMID: 19787725 Free PMC article.