Nicholas Liaw

Nicholas Liaw.

Nicholas Liaw

Nicholas Liaw

Residency

Neurology, Jackson Memorial Hospital/Jackson Health Systems, Miami, FL

Research Publications Overview

Thesis

Hemodynamics Induced Intracranial Aneurysm Initiation: Mechanism and Model Exploration (Completed 2013)

The role of high wall shear stress/positive wall shear stress gradient on intracranial aneurysm (IA) initiation was investigated.

-Molecular mechanism was explored using a rabbit hemodynamic IA model:

-High wall shear stress/positive wall shear stress gradient leads to increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the intima and increased superoxide in the media at the basilar tip, the zone of IA initiation.

-Nitric oxide from endothelial nitric oxide synthase and smooth muscle derived superoxide independently are important for IA initiation.

-Both nitric oxide and superoxide affect a common pathway involving loss of smooth muscle contractility, leading to MMP production and IA damage.

-To improve study of molecular mechanism in animal models, bilateral common carotid artery ligation was attempted in the rat and compared against the existing rabbit model:

-Hemodynamic analysis via computational fluid dynamics was successfully demonstrated in the rat.

-Rat ligation fails to generate IA damage seen in rabbits, in part due to differences and variability in vascular geometry around the basilar tip.

Thesis Advisor

Department