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Resident Research

Research is an integral part of this residency program.

Apart from research that is done by residents, which they present in local and national meetings, our major research activities include:

1. Two or three modules of research under faculty mentors
2. Seminars required by the University of Buffalo for graduation:

• Ethics
• Practice Based Learning and Improvement
• Research and Statistics
• Population Based Medicine

3. Research mandatory for graduation
4. Yearly program-sponsored research symposium
5. Mandatory oral presentations by PGY III
6. Poster presentations (optional for PGY I-II)
7. Performance Improvement Projects required in continuity clinic:

• These projects are based on established clinical guidelines.
• Residents complete one project per year.
• A quarterly progress report is completed by housestaff and uploaded in the resident's electronic portfolio.
• Mentoring and critical appraisal is performed by Ambulatory Clinic Attending and Program Director.

2011 Research

1. Efficacy of Pretreatment with Rhythm Control Drugs to Improve the Acute Success Rate of Electrical Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation

Muhammad S. Ajmal, MBBS
Mentor: Aravind Herle, MD

2. Clostridium Difficile: A Medical Dilemma

Kostas Botsoglou, MD
Mentor: Michael Hocko, MD

3. The Use of Vancomycin as a First Line Treatment of C-Diff

Medhat Barsoom, MBBS
Mentor: Michael Hocko, MD

4. Effect of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (HDACI) On Complement Mediated Cytotoxicity (CMC) of RITUXIMAB and Other Anti-CD20 Antibodies in Various Lymphoma Cell Lines

Sameer Ahmad Batoo, MBBS
Mentor: Francisco Hernandez- Illizaliturri, MD

5. Is Inadequate Follow-Up Responsible for Early Hospital Readmission in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure?

Mudasir Chisti, MBBS
Mentor: Aravind Herle, MD

6. Study of the Incidence Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia Before and After Introduction of Glycemic Control Protocol at Catholic Health System Hospitals

Marat Gitman, DO
Mentor: Howard Lippes, MD

7. Effect of Early Revascularization versus Delayed Revascularization versus Medical Therapy on Inpatient Mortality in Patients with Non ST Elevation MI in a Community Hospital Setting: A Retrospective Analysis

Owais Jeelani, MBBS
Mentor: Aravind Herle, MD

8. Characterization of an Antitumor Compound which Inhibits the Antiapoptotic and Cell Division-Controlling Protein Survivin

James T. Keefe, MD
Mentor: Fengzhi Li, Ph.D.

9. Current and Evolving Therapy of Crohn’s Disease

Orooj Khan, MBBS
Mentor: Maya D. Srivastava, MD

10. Top Down Versus Step Up Therapy in Pediatric Patients with Crohn’s Disease

Ali A. Minhas, MBBS
Mentor: Maya D. Srivastava, MD

11. Co-Existence and Severity of Acid and Alkaline Reflux in Pediatric and Adult Patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Asif R. Shah, MBBS
Mentor: Maya D. Srivastava, MD

2010 Research

1. Higher Testosterone Concentrations in Type 2 Diabetic Men Treated With Metformin

Ajaz Banka, MBBS
Mentor: Sandeep Dhindsa, MD

2. LBH589: Highly Effective in Rituximab-Resistant Lymphomas and Enhancement of Anti-Tumor Activity of Bortezomib, Other Chemotherapy Agents, and Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibodies

Mohammad Muhsin Chisti
Mentor: Francisco Hernandez- Illizaliturri

3. Assessing Treatment of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: How Are We Performing? A Case-Comparison Study to Evaluate the Treatment of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock in Critical Care Patients at Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo, NY

Erik Diringer, DO
Mentor: Thomas Brewer, DO

4. A Retrospective Study of Bariatric Surgery Patients with Sub-optimal Weight Loss

Shah Faisal, MBBS
Mentor: Joseph A. Caruana, MD

5. Does Sleep Apnea Increase the Risk of Cardio-respiratory Complications During Endoscopy Procedures?

Shais S. Jallu
Mentor: M.J. Mador, MD

6. New Strain Acquisition of Klebsiella spp, Enterobacter spp, and Escherichia coli in COPD Is Not Associated with Exacerbations

Jiyeon Jung, MD 
Mentor: Sanjay Sethi, MD

7. Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) with Non-Germinal center B-cell Phenotype is Associated with a Higher Response to Lenalidomide (L) Monotherapy or in Combination with Rituximab (R)

Farhana Malik, MBBS
Mentor: Francisco Hernandez-Ilizaliturri, MD

8. Myeloid Blastic Transformation of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms – A Review of 112 Cases

• Abstract (Word Document)
• Overall Survival (PowerPoint Slide)
• Table 2: Survival Analysis for RPCI and the Other Datasets (Word Document)
• Table 3: Survival Analysis for the RPCI Dataset (Word Document)

Syed Jawad Noor
Mentor: Meir Wetzler, MD

9. Awareness and Compliance with Guidelines for the Management of Stable COPD in Current Outpatient Practices and Patients’ Knowledge of COPD

Mateen Rahman
Mentor: Nashat Rabadi, MD

10. Outcome of Stroke and Healthcare Resource Utilization

Sandhya Samavedam
Mentor: Bruce Naughton, MD

11. AICD Usage for Primary Prevention at Mercy Hospital: Successes, Challenges and Next Steps

Mohammad Tahir
Mentor: Aravind Herle, MD

2009 Research

1. "Effect of Glucagon-Like Peptide-I (GLP-I) Analogue in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease With Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ≤ 40 %"

Wamiq Y. Banday. M.B.B.S
Howard Lippes, MD.
Benjamin G. Rueda, MD.
Aravind Herle, MD.

2. "A Randomized, Cross-over Study to Evaluate the Effect of Proton Pump Inhibitors on the Absorption of Two Different Calcium Formulations in Post Menopausal Women"

Linda M. Burns, DO
Joseph M. Grisanti, MD

3. "Effect of Helicobacter Pylori Infection on Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (including Acetylsalicylic Acid) Induced Gastric Damage: A Protector or Disaster?"

JayaKrishna Chintanaboina, MBBS
Stanley J. Pietrak ,MD

4. "Post CABG Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter; Identification of the High Risk Patients and the Effectiveness of Prophylactic Beta Blocker Therapy in a Community Hospital Setting"

Muhammad Fahad Khan, MBBS
Muhammad Ali Khan, MBBS
Aravind Herle, MD
Khalid J. Qazi, MD

5. "Appropriate Antibiotics Use in CAP and HCAP at Sisters Hospital in 2008"

Syed Faraz Masood, MBBS
Nashat H. Rabadi, MD, FCCP

6. "A Multivariate Analysis of Risk Factors Leading to Acute Kidney Injury After Gastric Bypass Surgery"

Munis A. Mattu, MBBS
Khalid J. Qazi, MD, MACP
Joseph Caruana, MD

7. "Clinical Correlation of Vitamin D Deficiency and Stroke Subtypes: According to TOAST Criteria"

Varuna Nargunan
Peterkin Lee-Kwen, MD
Michael Merrill, MD

8. "Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis and Management in the Medical Patient at Sisters of Charity Hospital"

Jeffrey Parker, DO
Dr. Nashat Rabadi, MD, FCCP

9. "HRP-12: A Novel HSP; Its Distribution and Function"

Syed Muzamil H. Zaidi
S. Jayanth Samuel M.D., Ph.D