Research Interest

The clinically related basic science research in the Zhang Neuroscience Research Laboratories focuses on cerebral vascular diseases (stroke). There are about 700,000 people suffering from stroke each year in the United States. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the first leading cause of long-term neurological disability in adults in America. Cerebral vascular diseases are divided into two types: hemorrhagic (responsible for <20 percent of cerebral vascular diseases) and ischemic (responsible for >80 percent of cerebral vascular disease). Direct medical expenses, lost income, and decreased productivity after cerebral vascular diseases cost billions of dollars in the United States.

The main research direction in the Zhang Laboratory is focused on the ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, as well as global cerebral ischemia, neonatal hypoxia, and neurological complications of neurosurgery and anesthesia. Animal models of above mentioned neurological disorders are currently employed in the studies of cerebral physiology including blood-brain barrier, brain edema, cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure, cerebral morphology, especially immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, neuro-imaging, neurological and neurobehavioral functional testing. The main focus of research interests is cerebral vascular biology, neuroprotective strategies, gene therapy, signaling pathways, apoptosis, and hyperbaric medicine.

One of the goals of the Neuroscience Research Laboratories involves training in neuroscience research. The Laboratories currently host researchers from America, Canada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Iraq, Japan, China, Poland, Russia, Ireland, Turkey, and India. In addition neurosurgery and anesthesiology residents are encouraged to participate in the basic science research. Graduate students in basic science departments are encouraged to investigate clinical neuroscience problems.

Dr. Zhang's research efforts have been and are supported by grants from American Heart Association, National Institute of Health, and several other foundations.

Selected Publications

Editor for Books

Early Brain Injury or Vasospasm, a Crossroad for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Research and Treatment. Editors: Hua Feng, John H. Zhang. Springer Wien New York. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement xxx, pp1xxxx, 2010

Intracerebral Hemorrhage Research: From Bench to Bedside. Editors: John H. Zhang, Austin Colohan. Springer Wien New York. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement xxx, pp1xxxx, 2010

Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injury II: Injury and Mechanistic Assessments. Editors: Jun Chen, Xiaoming Xu, Zao C. Xu, John H. Zhang. Springer pp xxxx, 2010

Selected Original Articles

1. H. Suzuki, R. Ayer, T. Sugawara, W. Chen, T. Sozen, Y. Hasegawa, K. Kanamaru, J. H. Zhang. Protective effects of recombinant osteopontin on early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats. Critical Care Med 38 (2): 612-8, 2010

2. Y. Hasegawa, H. Suzuki, T. Sozen, W. Rolland, J. H. Zhang. Activation of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor-1 by FTY720 is neuroprotective after ischemic stroke in rats. Stroke 41 (2): 368-74, 2010

3. Y. Wang, X. Wang, Y. Kong, J.H. Zhang, Q. Zeng. The Great Chinese Famine Leads to Shorter and Overweight Females in Chongqing Chinese Population after 50 Years. Obesity (Silver Spring) 18 (3): 588-92, 2010

4. N. Fathali, R. Ostrowski, T. Lekic, V. Jadhav, W. Tong, J. Tang, J. Zhang. Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibition provides Lasting Protection against Hypoxia Ischemia Induced Neonatal Encephalopathy. Critical Care Medicine 38 (2): 572-578, 2010

5. T. Lekic, R. Hartman, H. Rojas, A. Manaenko, W. Chen, R. Ayer, J. Tang, J. H. Zhang. Protective Effect of Melatonin upon Neuropathology, Striatal Function and Memory Ability after Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Rats. J Neurotrauma 27 (3): 627-637, 2010

6. N. Sakata, N. Chan, P. Hayes, R. Ostrowski, J. Mace, R. Peverini, R. Chinnock, A. Obenaus, J. Zhang, E. Hathout. Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Improves Early Post-Transplant Islet Function. Pediatric Diabetes 2010 Feb 7

7. C. Chen, R. P. Ostrowski, C. Zhou, J. H. Zhang. Suppression of HIF-1α and its Downstream Genes Reduces Hyperglycemia-Enhanced Hemorrhagic Transformation in a Rat Model of Cerebral Ischemia. J Neurosci Res 2010 Feb 12

8. C. Yan, J. Eckermann, X. Qin, J. H. Zhang. Ten Years Clinical Epidemiological Trends of Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Chongqing China. Neurological Research 2010

9. R. Ayer, W. Chen, T. Sugawara, H. Suzuki, J. H. Zhang. Role of Gap Junctions in Early Brain Injury following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Brain Research 1315: 150-158, 2010

10. O. Cheng, R. Ostrowski, W. Liu J. H. Zhang. Activation of Liver X Receptor Reduces Global Ishcmia Brain Injury by Reduction of Nuclear Factor-kB. Neuroscience 2010

11. B. Huang, N. Khatibi, L. Tong, P. Yan, P. Xie, J.H. Zhang. Magnesium Sulfate Treatment Improves Outcome in Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Meta-analysis Study. Translational Stroke Research 2010

12. Z. Guo, X. Sun, Z. He, Y. Jiang, X. Zhang, J. H. Zhang. Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Potentiates Early Brain Injury after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Neurological Res 2010

13. J. Li, C. Wang, J.H. Zhang, J. Cai, Y. Cao, X. Sun. Hydrogen-rich Saline Improves Memory Function in a Rat Model of Amyloid-beta-induced Alzheimer’s Disease by Reduction of Oxidative Stress. Brain Research 2010

14. C. Chen, Q. Chen, Y. Mao, S. Xu, C. Xia, X. Shi, J. H. Zhang, H. Yuan, & X. Sun. Hydrogen-rich saline protects against spinal cord injury in rats. Neurochemical Research 2010

15. Y. Zhou, T. Lekic, N. Fathali, R. Ostrowski, R. Martin, J. Tang, J.H. Zhang. Isoflurane Post-treatment Reduces Neonatal Hypoxic-ischemic Brain Injury in Rats by S1P/PI3K/Akt Pathway. Stroke 2010

16. N. Fathali, T. Lekic, W. Tong, J.H. Zhang, J. Tang. Long-term Evaluation of Granulocyte-colony Stimulating Factor on Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury in Infant Rats. Intensive Care Medicine 2010

17, B. Wu, Q. Ma, H. Suzuki, C. Chen, W. Liu, J. Tang, J. Zhang. Recombinant Osteopontin Attenuates Brain Injury after Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Mice. Neurocritical Care 2010

18. C. Chen, A. Manaenko, Y. Zhan, W. Liu, R. Ostrowski, J. Tang, J. H. Zhang. Hydrogen Gas Reduced Acute Hyperglycemia-enhanced Hemorrhagic Transformation in a Focal Ischemia Rat Model. Neuroscience, 2010

19. H. Suzuki, Y. Hasegawa, K. Kanamaru, J.H. Zhang. Mechanisms of Osteopontin-induced Stabilization of Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats. Stroke

Review

1. J. Cahill, J.H. Zhang. New Avenues in the Pathogenesis of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Hirosaki Med J 60: S157-S163, 2010

2. Y. Zhou, J. H. Zhang. Advances in Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Research. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement 2010

3. Y. Hasegawa, H. Suzuki, T. Sozen, O. Altay, J. H. Zhang. Neuronal Apoptosis in Early Brain Injury after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement 2010

4. H. Suzuki, Y. Hasegawa, K. Kanamaru, J. H. Zhang. Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases in Cerebral Vasospasm after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Review. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement 2010

5. Z. Guo, X. Sun, J. H. Zhang. The Role of Apolipoprotein E in Pathophysiology Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Review. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement 2010