LLU Faculty - Wolff Kirsch Professional Activity

Wolff Kirsch, MD

Professor of Neurological Surgery and
Professor of Biochemistry
Director, Neurosurgery Center for Research, Training, and Education
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA 92350
Phone: (909) 558-7070
Fax: (909) 558-0472
Email: wkirsch@llu.edu

Research Summary

Our laboratory is involved in two major projects. The first project deals with brain iron metabolism as a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. We are studying both humans with mild cognitive disorder who have an appreciable conversion to Alzheimer’s disease within a year as well as a genetically engineered mouse that has a brain iron storage disease and a neurodegenerative disorder. Our focus is the brain iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP-2). We are studying this molecule both by immunohistochemistry and rt PCR. We collaborate with the laboratories of Dr. Rod Levine and Tracey Rouault at the National Institutes of Health. Both the human and mouse study involve new brain imaging technology known as susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) that gives a sensitive reading for brain iron. We are also conducting flow cytometric studies of peripheral blood utilizing a monoclonal antibody directed towards IRP-2. The other major research interest is the development a new procoagulant for the treatment of hemorrhage. This procoagulant is a combination of two polysaccharides--chitosan and microporous starch hemispheres. This study involves the mechanism of blood coagulation and hemostasis that is induced by this product. We are collaborating with the Engineering Department at Nanjing University as well as the Department of Textile Engineering at North Carolina State University. The procoagulant work compliments our previous work in the development of new surgical devices.

Selected Publications

Wheelan P, Kirsch WM, Koch T: Decarboxylation of peptide bound aminomalonic acid (AMA). J Org Chem. 1989;54:1364-1370.

Wheelan P, Kirsch WM, Koch T: Free radical carboxylation of peptide- and protein-bound glycine to form peptide- and protein-bound aminomalonic acid (AMA). J Org Chem. 1989;54:4360-4364.

Waddell WR, Kirsch WM: Testolactone, sulindac, warfarin and vitamin K1 for inoperable desmoid tumors. Am J Surg. 1991;161(4):416-421.

Copley SD, Frank E, Kirsch WM, Koch T: Detection and possible origins of aminomalonic acid in protein hydrolysates. Anal Biochem. 1992 Feb;201(1):152-57.

Chakrabarti M, Cheng Kt, Spicer KM, Kirsch WM, Fowler SD, Kelln W, Griende S, Nehlsen-Cannarella S, Willerson R, Spicer SS, Koch T. Biodistribution and radioimmunopharmacokinetics of I131-Ama monoclonal antibody in atherosclerotic rabbits. Nucl Med Biol 1995 Aug;22(6):693-697.

Johna S, Kirsch W, Robles A. Laparoscopy-Assisted Lumboperitoneal Shunt: A Simplified Technique. J Soc Laparoscopicendoscopic Surg. 2001;5:305-307.

Schild AF, Pruett CS, Newman MI, Raines J, Petersen F, Konkin T, Kim P, Dickson C, Kirsch WM. The utility of the VCS clip for creation of vascular access for hemodialysis: Long-term results and intraoperative benefits. Cardiovasc Surg. 2001;9(6):526-530.

Kirsch WM, Cavallo C, Anton T, Zhu YH, Rouse G, Martin R, Fukushima T, Rose J. An alternative system for cerebrovascular reconstructions: non-penetrating arcuate-legged clips. Cardiovasc Surg. 2001;9(6):531-539.

Kirsch WM, Gupta S, Zhu YH. Sutureless vascular anastomosis: the VCS® clip. Cardiovasc Surg. 2001;9(6):523-525.

Shenoy S, Miller A, Petersen F, Kirsch WM, Konkin T, Kim P, Dickson C, Schild AF, Stewart L, Reyes M, Anton L, and Woodward RS. A multicenter study of permanent hemodialysis access patency: The beneficial effect of clipped vascular anastomotic technique. J Vasc Surg. 2003;38:229-35.

Zeebregts CJ, Kirsch WM, van den Dungen JJ, van Schilfgaarde R. Five years’ world experience with nonpenetrating clips for vascular anastomoses. Am J Surg. 2004 (June);187(6):751-760.

Zeebregts CJ, Kirsch WM, van den Dungen JJ, van Schilfgaarde R., Zhu YN. The evolution of clips for vascular anastomosis. Int Surg. 2004;89:152-60.

Kirsch WM, Dayes L. Complications of Neurosurgery. Surgical Complications: Diagnosis and Treatment. Eds. V. Papalois and N. Hakim. World Scientific Publishing. 2006. Pages 663-687.

Haacke EM, Cheng NYC, House MJ, Liu Q, Neelavalli J, Ogg R, Khan A, Ayaz M, Kirsch WM, Obenaus A. Imaging iron stores in the brain using magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2005(Jan);23(1):1-25.

Miller A, Kirsch WM. The role of vascular clips in vascular access surgery. Endovascular Today, June 2005, pages 2-6.

Zeebregts CJ, Kirsch WM, Reijnen MMPJ, Zhu YH, van den Dungen JJAM. Expanding use of non-penetrating clips in various surgical specialties. Surgical Technology International, 2006; XIV: 85-95.

Whang HS, Zhu YH, Kirsch W, Yang C-Z, Hudson SM. Hemostatic agents derived from chitin and chitosan. Journal of Macromolecular Science – Polymer Reviews. 2005(Dec);45(4):309-322.

Oyoyo U, Yi A, Cruise RJ, Larsen J, Kido DK, Kirsch W. Hippocampal subsegmentation versus traditional total volumetric measurements in detecting early changes in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Prevention of Dementia: Early diagnosis and intervention, 7/18-21/05, Washington, D.C. Alzheimers & Dementia. The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, 2005;1(1):S35-S36. (abstract).

Kirsch W. Book Review of Bioimaging in Neurodegeneration by Patricia A. Broderick, David N. Rahni, and Edwin H. Kolodny. J. Neurosurg. 2006(Mar);104:460-461.

Coon KD, Siegel AM, Yee SJ, Dunckley TL, Mueller C, Nagra RM, Tourtellottee WW, Reiman EM, Papassotiropoulos A, Petersen FF, Stephan DA, Kirsch WM. Preliminary demonstration of an allelic association of the IREB2 gene with Alzheimer’s Disease. J of Alzheimer’s Dis. 2006(Aug);9(3):225-233.

Haacke EM, Ayaz M, Khan A, Manova ES, Krishnamurthy B, Gollapailli L, Ciulla C, Kim I, Petersen F, Kirsch W. Establishing a baseline phase behavior in magnetic resonance imaging for determining normal versus abnormal iron content in the brain. J Magnetic Resonance Imaging, accepted.

Kirsch WM. Book Review. Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurobiology, Pathogenesis, and Therapeutics. Edited by M. Flint Beal, Anthony E. Lang, and Albert Ludolph. J Neurosurg. 2006(June);104:983-985.

Kirsch WM, Patwardhan R, Nanda A, Anton T, Silva F, Zhu YH. Multimodality monitoring of the neurosurgical patient. In: Gilman S, editor. MedLink Neurology. San Diego: MedLink Corporation. Available at www.medlink.com. Accessed August 28, 2006.

Magaki S, Mueller C, Dickson C, Kirsch W. Increased production of inflammatory cytokines in mild cognitive impairment. Experimental Gerontology, 2007(Mar);42(3):233.

Magaki S, Yellon SM, Mueller C, Kirsch WM. Immunophenotypes in the circulation of patients with mild cognitive impairment. J of Psychiatric Research, 2007 accepted.

Magaki S, Raghavan R, Mueller C, Oberg KC, Vinters HV, Kirsch WM. Iron, copper, and iron regulatory protein 2 in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Neuroscience Letters, 2007 submitted.

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