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Giovanni Ferrari, PhD - Ongoing Research

Translational Research In Cardiovascular Diseases

Dr. Ferrari graduated from University of Pavia in Italy (2004).  Following his Ph.D. he was appointed Research Scientist at New York University where he began a series of studies examining the mechanisms of aortic valve remodeling and calcification.He then joined the University of Pennsylvania faculty to develop the program of Cardiovascular Translational Research, with the vision of merging molecular and cellular biology with clinical science applied to cardiovascular diseases. He has been leading this UPENN program for more then 5 years. Dr Ferrari is the author of 50+ scientific publications; he has been awarded several grants from both Federal and Private scientific associations. He serves as a reviewer for some of the most prestigious scientific journals and associations. He is a member of the American Heart Association and of the Society of Heart Valve Disease. He presented his research nationally and internationally and he holds two US patents for the diagnosis and treatments of valvular and vascular diseases. Dr Ferrari is also the PI of the Human Tissue Collection Program for the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery.

Current Research Projects:

  1. Aortic Valve Stenosis: Recent studies demonstrate that the even in the absence of clinical symptoms the thickening of the aortic valve leaflets is a pathological condition predisposing to several cardiovascular disease including chronic heart failure (CHF), myocardial infarction (MI) and, most prevalently, severe calcific aortic valve stenosis. Due to its asymptomatic presentation and to the fact that these valve are not replaced until symptoms occurs, little is known about the mechanisms of pathological remodeling.

    We aim to characterize the molecular mechanism leading to aortic valve remodeling from physiological to pathological condition. Our projects on aortic valve disease integrate a highly complex phenomenon to develop a rational basis for future therapeutic strategies targeting subclinical aortic disease. Secondary to this, we are investigating cellular and molecular targets that can help the risk-stratification of patients to identify “fast” and “slow” progressors, and therefore understand why only a subgroup of patients with develop symptomatic aortic stenosis.
  2. Cellular Physiology of Myxomatous Mitral Valve Prolapse: Heart valve disease at this time can only be treated surgically; no mechanism-based therapeutic strategies exist. The prolapse of the Mitral Valve (MV) leaflet is a hallmark of several disorders affecting this cardiac valve, such as myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) or the pseudo-prolapse in chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR). The overall goal of these studies is to identify therapeutic candidates for treating MMVD. The line of research could have major application in the diagnostic and clinical management of MV patients. First, our genetic data could be applied, in conjunction with imaging analysis, to risk-stratify Mitral Valve patients for the likelihood of developing early valvular disease. Second, our investigations could be applied to type of surgical intervention (repair vs. replacement); Most importantly, the results of this grant may generate important data on the pharmacological treatment of patients developing MMVD.
  3. Molecular Determinants of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm in Bicuspid and Trileaflets Aortic Valve: It is estimated that about one in 50 people are born with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). In the United States, a child is born with BAV every seven minutes, making BAV the most common congenital heart defect in the country. A bicuspid aortic valve is an aortic valve with only two leaflets instead of three. Patients with this congenital heart defect are at higher risk of developing calcification of the aortic valve, a condition requiring surgical intervention. Current clinical and scientific studies are also revealing that bicuspid aortic disease is not a simple valve condition, but it affects the aorta as well. A dissection or rupture of the aorta is a catastrophic event, with extremely high mortality. Our laboratory has recently developed a method to test the progression of BAV-associated aortopathies. In addition, we are characterizing the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for the weakening of the aortic wall in both BAV and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) patients. This research has an important outcome for public health: it will provide physicians and scientists a tool to identify a patient population at high risk of valvular and vascular pathologies. Low risk patients could be spared costly follow-up or surgical intervention, while high-risk patients could be followed intensively both clinically and surgically. In addition, it provides new mechanistic insights into the development of cardiovascular diseases in this prevalent population.

Publications

Research Publications, Peer Reviewed

  1. Montecucco A, Rossi R, Ferrari G, Scovassi AI, Prosperi E, Biamonti G.  Etoposide induces the dispersal of DNA ligase I from replication factories.  Molecular Biology of the Cell 12(7):2109-2118, July 2001.  PMID: 11452007
  2. Ferrari G, Rossi R, Arosio D, Vindigni A, Biamonti G, Montecucco A.  Cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation of human DNA ligase I at the cyclin-dependent kinase sites.  Journal of Biological Chemistry 278(39):37761-37767, Sept. 26, 2003.  PMID: 12851383
  3. Gulkarov I, Pintucci G, Bohmann K, Saunders PC, Sullivan RF, Ferrari G, Mignatti P, Galloway AC.  Mechanisms of C - reactive protein up-regulation in arterialized vein grafts.  Surgery 139(2):254-262, Feb. 2006.  PMID: 16455335
  4. Ferrari G, Pintucci G, Seghezzi G, Hyman K, Galloway AC, Mignatti P.  VEGF, a prosurvival factor, acts in concert with TGF-beta1 to induce endothelial cell apoptosis.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 103(46):17260-17265, Nov. 14, 2006.  PMID: 17088559
  5. D'Alessio S, Ferrari G, Cinnante K, Scheerer W, Galloway AC, Roses DF, Rozanov DV, Remacle AG, Oh ES, Shiryaev SA, Strongin AY, Pintucci G, Mignatti P.  Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 binding to membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase induces MAPK activation and cell growth by a non-proteolytic mechanism.  Journal of Biological Chemistry 283(1):87-99, Jan. 4, 2008.  PMID: 17991754
  6. Yu PJ, Ferrari G, Pirelli L, Galloway AC, Mignatti P, Pintucci G.  Thrombin cleaves the high molecular weight forms of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2): A novel mechanism for the control of FGF-2 and thrombin activity.  Oncogene 27(18):2594-2601, Apr. 17, 2008.  PMID: 17968311
  7. Cook BD, Ferrari G, Pintucci G, Mignatti P.  TGFb1 induces rearrangement of FLK-1 – VE-Cadherin – B-catenin complex at the adherens junction through VEGF-mediated signaling.  Journal of Biological Chemistry 105(6):1367-1373, Dec. 15, 2008.  PMID: 18980215
  8. Soza S, Leva V, Vago R, Ferrari G, Mazzini G, Biamonti G, Montecucco A.  DNA ligase I deficiency leads to replication-dependent DNA damage and impacts cell morphology without blocking cell cycle progression. Molecular Cellular Biology 29(8):2032-2041, Apr. 2009.  PMID: 19223467
  9. Ferrari G, Cook BD, Terushkin V, Pintucci G, Mignatti P.  Transforming growth factor beta 1 induces angiogenesis through vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated apoptosis.  Journal of Cellular Physiology 219(2):449-558, May 2009.  PMID: 19180561
  10. Yu PJ, Skolnick A, Ferrari G, Heretis K, Mignatti P, Pintucci G, Rosenzweig B, Diaz-Cartelle J, Kronzon I, Perk G, Pass H, Galloway AC., Grossi EA., Grau JB.  Correlation between plasma osteopontin levels and aortic valve calcification: Potential insights into the pathogen-esis of aortic valve calcification and stenosis. Journal of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery 138(1):196-199, July 2009.  PMID: 19577079
  11. Ferrari G, Sainger R, Beckmann E, Keller GA, Yu PJ, Monti MC, Galloway AC, Weiss RL, Vernick W, Grau JB.  Validation of plasma biomarkers in degenerative calcific aortic stenosis. Journal of Surgical Research 163(1):12-17, Sept. 2010.  PMID: 20599226
  12. Witschey WRT, Pilla JJ, Ferrari G, Koomalsingh K, Haris M, Hinmon R, Zsido G, Gorman JH III, Gorman RC, Reddy R.  Rotating frame spin lattice relaxation in a swine model of chronic, left ventricular myocardial infarction. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 64(5):1453-1460, Nov. 2010.  PMID: 20677236
  13. Poggio P, Grau JB, Field BC, Sainger R, Seefried WF, Rizzolio F, Ferrari G.  Osteo-pontin controls endothelial cell migration in vitro and in excised human valvular tissue from patients with calcific aortic stenosis and controls. Journal of Cellular Physiology 226(8):2139-2149, Aug. 2011.  PMID: 21520066
  14. Grau JB, Poggio P, Sainger R, Vernick WJ, Seefried WF, Branchetti E, Field BC, Bavaria JE, Acker MA, Ferrari G.  Analysis of osteopontin levels for the identification of asympto-matic patients with calcific aortic valve disease. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 93(1):79-86, Jan. 2012 (Epub Nov. 16, 2011).  PMID: 22093695
  15. Parolari A., Tremoli E, Cavallotti L, Trezzi M, Kessem S, Loardi C, Veglia F, Ferrari G, Pacini D, Alamanni F. Do statins improve outcomes and delay the progression of non-rheumatic calcific aortic stenosis? Heart 97(7):523-529, Apr. 2011 (Epub Jan. 26, 2011).  PMID: 21270077
  16. Sainger R, Grau JB, Poggio P, Branchetti E, Bavaria JE, Gorman JH III, Gorman RC, Ferrari G.  Dephosphorylation of circulating human osteopontin correlates with severe valvular calcification in patients with calcific aortic valve disease. Biomarkers 17(2):111-118, Mar. 2012 (Epub Dec. 23, 2011).  PMID: 22191734
  17. Grau JB, Ferrari G, Mak AWC, Shaw RE, Brizzio ME, Mindich BP, Strobeck J, Zapolanski A.  Propensity matched analysis of bilateral internal mammary artery versus single left internal mammary artery grafting at 17-year follow-up: Validation of a contemporary surgical experience. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 41(4):770-776, Apr. 2012 (Epub Jan. 20, 2012).  PMID: 22290908
  18. Ferrari G, Teruskin V, Wolff MJ, Zhan X, Valacca C, Poggio P, Pintucci G, Mignatti P. TGF-beta1 induces endothelial cell apoptosis by shifting VEGF activation of p38MAPK from the pro-survival p38beta to pro-apoptotic p38alpha. Molecular Cancer Research 10(5):605-614, May 2012 (Epub Apr. 20, 2012).  PMID: 22522454
  19. Sainger R, Grau JB, Branchetti E, Poggio P, Seefried WF, Field BC, Acker MA, Gorman RC, Gorman JH III, Hargrove WC, Bavaria JE, Ferrari G.  Human myxomatous mitral valve prolapse: Role of bone morphogenetic protein 4 in valvular interstitial cell activation. Journal of Cellular Physiology 227(6):2595-2604, June 2012.  PMID: 22105615
  20. Zapolanski A, Mak AC, Ferrari G, Johnson C., Shaw RE, Brizzio ME, Sperling JS, Grau JB.  Impact of New York Heart Association class, advanced age, and patient prosthesis mismatch on outcomes in aortic valve replacement surgery.   Interactive CardioVascular & Thoracic Surgery 15(3):371-376, Sept. 2012 (Epub June 4, 2012).  PMID: 22665381
  21. Rizzolio F, Caligiuri I, Lucchetti C, Fratamico R, Tomei V, Gallo G, Agelan A, Ferrari G, Toffoli G, Klein-Szanto A, Giordano A. Dissecting Pin1 and phospho pRb regulation.  Journal of Cell Physiology 228(1):73-77, Jan. 2013 (Epub Oct. 1, 2012). PMID: 22553088
  22. Sainger R, Grau JB, Branchetti E, Poggio P, Lai E, Vernick, Gorman RC, Bavaria JE, Ferrari G. Comparison of transesophageal echocardiographic analysis and circulating biomarker expression profile in calcific aortic valve disease.  Journal of Heart Valve Disease 22(2):156-165, Mar. 2013 PMID: 23798203.
  23. Branchetti E, Sainger R, Poggio P, Grau JB, Patterson-Fortin J, Bavaria JE, Chorny M, Lai E, Gorman RC, Levy RJ, Ferrari G.  Antioxidant enzymes reduce DNA damage and early activation of valvular interstitial cells in aortic valve sclerosis. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis & Vascular Biology 33(2):e66-74, Feb. 2013 (Epub Dec. 13, 2012). PMID: 23241403.
  24. Ikonomidis JS, Ivey CR, Wheeler JB, Akerman AW, Rice A, Patel RK, Stroud RE, Shah AA, Hughes CG, Ferrari G, Mukherjee R, Jones JA.  Plasma biomarkers for distinguishing etiologic subtypes of thoracic aortic aneurysm disease. Journal of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery 145(5):1326-1333, May 2013 (Epub Jan. 11, 2013). PMID: 23312977
  25. Correll M, Johnson CK, Ferrari G, Brizzio M, Mak AW, Quackenbush J, Shaw RE, Zapolanski A, Grau JB. Mutational analysis clopidogrel resistance and platelet function in patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting. Genomics 101(6):313-317, June 2013 (Epub Feb. 24, 2013).  PMID: 23462555
  26. Poggio P, Sainger R, Branchetti E, Grau JB, Lai EK, Gorman RC, Sacks MS, Parolari A, Bavaria JE, Ferrari G.  Noggin attenuates the osteogenic activation of human valve interstitial cells in aortic valve sclerosis. Cardiovascular Research 98(3):402-410, June 1, 2013 (Epub Mar. 12, 2013). PMID: 23483047
  27. Shaw RE, Johnson CK, Ferrari G, Zapolanski A, Brizzio M, Rioux N, Edara S, Sperling J, Grau JB.  Balancing the benefits and risks of blood transfusions in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a propensity-matched analysis. Interactive Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery 17(1):96-102, July 2013 (Epub Mar. 28). PMID: 23537850
  28. Shaw RE, Johnson CK, Ferrari G, Brizzio ME, Sayles K, Rioux N, Zapolanski A, Grau JB.  Blood transfusion in cardiac surgery does increase the risk of 5-year mortality: Results from a contemporary series of 1714 propensity-matched patients. Transfusion 54(4):1106-1113, Apr. 2014 (Epub Aug. 2, 2013).  PMID: 23909477
  29. Branchetti E, Poggio P, Sainger R, Shang E, Grau JB, Jackson BM, Lai EK, Parmacek MS, Gorman RC, Gorman JH, Bavaria JE, Ferrari G. Oxidative stress modulates vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype via CTGF in thoracic aortic aneurysm. Cardiovascular Research 100(2):316-324, Nov. 1, 2013 (Epub Aug. 28, 2013). PMID: 23985903
  30. Jassar AS, Vergnat M, Jackson BM, McGarvey JR, Cheung AT, Ferrari G, Woo YJ, Acker MA, Gorman RC, Gorman JH 3rd.  Regional annular geometry in patients with mitral regurgitation: Implications for annuloplasty ring selection. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 97(1):64-70, Jan. 2014 (Epub Sept. 23, 2013). PMID: 24070698
  31. Zapolanski A, Johnson CK, Dardashti O, O'Keefe RM, Rioux N, Ferrari G, Shaw RE, Brizzio ME, Grau JB.  Epicardial surgical ligation of the left atrial appendage is safe, reproducible, and effective by transesophageal echocardiographic follow-up. Innovations (Phila) 8(5):371-5, Sept./Oct. 2013. PMID: 24346587
  32. Pouch AM, Vergnat M, McGarvey JR, Ferrari G, Jackson BM, Sehgal CM, Yushkevich PA, Gorman RC, Gorman JH 3rd. Statistical assessment of normal mitral annular geometry using automated three-dimensional echocardiographic analysis. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 97(1):71-77, Jan. 2014 (Epub Oct. 1, 2013). PMID: 24090576
  33. Grau JB, Mak AW, Ferrari G, Johnson CK, Shaw RE, Sperling J, Brizzio ME, Zapolanski A.  Perioperative predictors of midterm survival after aortic valve replacement. Asian Cardiovascular & Thoracic Annual 22(5):566-573, Oct. 29, 2013. PMID: 24867031
  34. Christian AJ, Lin H, Alferiev IS, Connolly JM, Ferrari G, Hazen SL, Ischiropoulos H, Levy RJ.  The susceptibility of bioprosthetic heart valve leaflets to oxidation. Biomaterials 35(7):2097-2102, Feb. 2014 (Epub Dec. 8, 2013).  PMID: 24360721
  35. Shang EK, Lai E, Pouch AM, Hinmon R, Gorman RC, Gorman JH 3rd, Sehgal CM, Ferrari G, Bavaria JE, Jackson BM.  Validation of semiautomated and locally resolved aortic wall thickness measurements from computed tomography.  Journal of Vascular Surgery 61(4):1034-1040, Apr. 2015 (Epub Jan. 2, 2014). PMID: 24388698
  36. Aggarwal A, Ferrari G, Joyce E, Daniels MJ, Sainger R, Gorman JH 3rd, Gorman R, Sacks MS.  Architectural trends in the human normal and bicuspid aortic valve leaflet and its relevance to valve disease. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 42(5):986-998, May 2014 (Epub Feb. 1, 2014).  PMID: 24488233
  37. Jassar AS, Levack MM, Solorzano RD, Pouch AM, Ferrari G, Cheung AT, Ferrari VA, Gorman JH 3rd, Gorman RC, Jackson BM.  Feasibility of in vivo human aortic valve modeling using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.  Annals of Thoracic Surgery 97(4):1255-1258, Apr. 2014 (Epub Feb. 8, 2014).  PMID: 24518577
  38. Ferrari G, Quackenbush J, Strobeck J, Hu L, Johnson CK, Mak A, Shaw RE, Sayles K, Brizzio ME, Zapolanski A, Grau JB.  Comparative genome-wide transcriptional analysis of human left and right internal mammary arteries. Genomics 104(1):36-44, July 2014 (Epub May 20, 2014).  PMID: 24858532
  39. Poggio P, Branchetti E, Grau JB, Lai EK, Gorman RC, Gorman JH III, Sacks MS, Bavaria JE,  Ferrari G. Osteopontin - CD44v6 interaction mediates calcium deposition via phospho-akt in valve interstitial cells from patients with non-calcified aortic valve sclerosis, Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis & Vascular Biology 34(9):2086-2094, Sept. 2014 (Epub July 24, 2014).  PMID: 25060796
  40. Branchetti E, Bavaria JE, Grau JB, Shaw RE, Poggio P, Desai ND, Gorman JH III, Gorman RC, Ferrari G. Circulating sRAGE identifies bicuspid aortic valve patients and associated aortopathies, Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis & Vascular Biology 34(10):2349-2357, Oct. 2014 (Epub Aug. 14, 2014.).  PMID: 25231638
  41. Grau JB, Johnson CK, Kuschner CE, Ferrari G, Shaw RE, Brizzio ME, Zapolanski A.  Impact of pump status and conduit choice in coronary artery bypass: A 15-Year follow-up study in 1412 propensity-matched patients.  Journal of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery 149(4):1027-1033.e2, Apr. 2015 (Epub Dec. 20, 2014).  PMID: 25648476
  42. Grau JB, Kuschner CE, Ferrari G, Wilson SR, Brizzio ME, Zapolanski A, Yallowitz J,  Shaw RE.  Effects of a protocol based management of type A aortic dissections.  Journal of Surgical Research 197(2):265-269, Aug. 2015 (Epub Apr. 9, 2015).  PMID: 25963164
  43. Grau JB, Kuschner CE, Johnson CK, Ferrari G, Zapolanski A, Brizzio ME, Shaw RE.  The effects of using a radial artery in patients already receiving bilateral internal mammary arteries during coronary bypass grafting: 30-day outcomes and 14-year survival in a propensity-matched cohort.  European Journal Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 49(1):203-210, Jan. 2016 (Epub May 23, 2015).  PMID: 26003960
  44. Songia P, Branchetti E, Parolari A, Myasoedove V, Ferrari G, Alemanni F, Tremoli E, Poggio P.  Mitral valve endothelial cells secrete osteoprotegerin during endothelial mesenchymal transition. Journal of Molecular & Cellular Cardiology 98:48-57, Sept. 2016 (Epub June 23, 2016).  PMID: 27338002
  45. Ayoub S, Ferrari G, Gorman RC, Gorman JH III, Schoen FJ, Sacks MS.  Heart valve bio-mechanics and underlying mechanobiology.  Comprehensive Physiology 6(4):1743-1780, Sept. 15, 2016.  PMID: 27783858
  46. Liu SL, Bae YH, Yu C, Monslow J, Hawthorne EA, Castagnino P, Branchetti E, Ferrari G, Damrauer SM, Puré E, Assoian RK.  Matrix metalloproteinase-12 is an essential mediator of acute and chronicarterial stiffening.  Nature.com Scientific Reports 5:17189, Nov. 26, 2016.
  47. Glineura D, Etienne P, Kuschner CE, Shaw RE, Ferrari G, Rioux N, Papadatos S,  Brizzio M, Mindich B, Zapolanski A, Grau JB. Bilateral internal mammary artery Y construct with multiple 5 sequential grafting improves survival compared to bilateral internal mammary artery with additional vein grafts: 10-year experience at 2 different institutions.  European Journal Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 2016 (in press).

Reviews in Peer Reviewed Research Publications

  1. Yu PJ, Ferrari G, Galloway AC, Mignatti P, Pintucci G.  Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2): The high molecular weight forms come of age. [Review] Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 100(5):1100-1108, Apr. 1, 2007.  PMID: 17131363
  2. Yu PJ, Ferrari G, Pirelli L, Gulkarov I, Galloway AC, Mignatti P, Pintucci G.  Vascular injury and modulation of MAPKs: A targeted approach to therapy of restenosis. [Review] Cellular Signaling 19(7):1359-1371, July 2007.  PMID: 17448633
  3. Beckmann E, Grau JB, Sainger R, Poggio P, Ferrari G.  Insights into the use of biomarkers in calcific aortic valve disease. [Review] Journal of Heart Valve Diseases 19(4):441-452, July 2010.  PMID: 20845891

Research Publications, Non-Peer Reviewed

  1. Ferrari G.  Study on DNA ligase I and Cyclin A (Italian).  MS Thesis, University of Pavia, Italy (1999).
  2. Ferrari G.  Phosphorylation and subnuclear localization of DNA ligase I (Italian).  PhD Thesis, University of Pavia, Italy (2004).

Abstracts, Past 3 Years

  1. Branchetti E, Poggio P, Sainger R, Shang E, Grau JB, Jackson BM, Lai E, Parmacek MS, Gorman RC, Gorman JH III, Bavaria JE, Ferrari G.  Oxidative stress modulates vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype via CTGF in thoracic aortic aneurysm.  Presented at the   American Heart Association’s Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 2013 Scientific Sessions, Lake Buena Vista, FL, May 2013.  Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis & Vascular Biology 33(Suppl. 1):A287, May 2013.
  2. Poggio P, Branchetti E, Sainger R, Grau JB, Lai E, Ferrari G. CD44 activation protects human sclerotic-derived valvular interstitial cells from calcification. Presented at the   American Heart Association’s Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 2013 Scientific Sessions, Lake Buena Vista, FL, May 2013.  Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis & Vascular Biology 33(Suppl. 1):A303, May 2013.
  3. Aggarwal A, Aguilar VS, Lee CH, Ferrari G, Gorman JH, Gorman RC, Sacks MS.  Spline based microstructural mapping for soft biologicaltissues: Application to aortic valves. Proceedings of the ASME 2013 Summer Bioengineering Conference V01AT04A006-V01AT04A006, June 26, 2013.
  4. Poggio P, Branchetti E, Grau JB, Bavaria JE, Gorman RC, Ferrari G.  Angiotensin II infusion provokes remodeling of the aortic valve tissue in mice: A model for early non-calcified stage of aortic sclerosis. Presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Session 2013, Dallas, TX, Nov. 2013.  Circulation 128 (22 Supplement):A18420, Nov. 26, 2013.
  5. Grau JB, Johnson CK, Ferrari G, Shaw RE, Brizzio ME, Zapolanski A.  Advantages of off-pump CABG over on-pump CABG for in-hospital and 30-day adverse events: Analysis using the STS predicted risk scores In 6,666 consecutive patients.  Presented at the 9th Annual Academic Surgical Congress (ASC) of the Association for Academic Surgery, San Diego, CA, Feb. 2014.  Journal of Surgical Research 2(186):493, Feb. 2014.
  6. Ferrari G, Quackenbush J, Strobeck J, Johnson CK, Shaw R, Brizzio ME, Zapolanski A, Grau JB.  Genome-wide transcriptional analysis of human left and right internal mammary arteries and their use in coronary artery bypass grafting.  Presented at the 9th Annual Academic Surgical Congress (ASC) of the Association for Academic Surgery, San Diego, CA, Feb. 2014.  Journal of Surgical Research 2(186):494, Feb. 2014.
  7. Branchetti E, Poggio P, Grau JB, Shaw R, Desai ND, Gorman JH III, Gorman RC, Bavaria JE, Ferrari G.  Circulating plasma level of sRAGE identifies bicuspid aortic valve patients and associated aortopathies in patients referred for surgery.  Presented at the AATS Aortic Symposium 2014, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, May 1-3, 2014.  Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis & Vascular Biology 34(Suppl. 1):A288, May 2014.
  8. Branchetti E, Rylski B, Poggio P, Lai E, Gorman RC, Gorman JH III, Levy RJ, Bavaria JE, Ferrari G.  Downregulation of microRNA-143 induces proximal aorta dilatation in C57BL6/J mice.   Presented at the AATS Aortic Symposium 2014, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, May 1-3, 2014.  Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis & Vascular Biology 34(Suppl. 1):A481, May 2014.
  9. Grau JB, Johnson CK, Ferrari G, Shaw RE, Brizzio ME, Flores DJ, Montgomery DH, Zapolanski A.  The effects of using a radial artery in patients already receiving bilateral internal mammary arteries during coronary bypass grafting: 30-day outcomes and 14-year survival in a propensity-matched cohort.  Interactive CardioVascular & Thoracic Surgery 19(Suppl 1):S31, Oct. 1, 2014.
  10. Ferrari G, Driesbaugh KH, Lee M, Branchetti E, Gorman RC, Gorman JH, Bavaria JE, Levy RJ.  Serotonin signalling and mitral valve prolapse: ovine and murine models reveal shared molecular mechanisms to human pathological remodelling.  Interactive CardioVascular & Thoracic Surgery 19(Suppl 1):S52-S53, Oct. 1, 2014.
  11. Branchetti E, Bavaria JE, Grau J, Updhayay A, Lai E, Shaw R, Gorman J, Gorman R, Ferrari G.  RAGE-HMGB-1 expression in the ascending aorta of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients correlates with circulating SRAGE and may predict vascular dysfunction associated with BAV disease.  Circulation 130(Suppl 2):A18727, Nov. 25, 2014.
  12. Grau JB, Johnson CK, Kuschner CE, Ferrari G, Shaw RE, Brizzio M, Kesselbrenner M, Zapolanski A.  The negative effects of perioperative blood transfusions may be mitigated when performing coronary artery bypass grafting off-pump.  Journal of the American College of Cardiology 65(10 Suppl): Mar. 17, 2015 (on-line).
  13. Ferrari G, Lai EK, Grau JB, Levy RJ, Gorman RC, Gorman JH III, Bavaria JE, Branchetti E.  Oxidative stress mediated increase of HMGB-1 and RAGE contributes to ascending aortic aneurysm development in vivo.   Presented at the American Heart Association’s Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 2015 Scientific Sessions, San Francisco, CA, May 2015.  Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis & Vascular Biology 35(Suppl. 1):A250, May 2015.
  14. Branchetti E, Lee S, Grau JB, Hazen SL, Levy RJ, Ferrari G.  Locked nucleic acid miR-143 ameliorates aortic valve functions in a ROS-mediated murine model of aortic valve sclerosis.  Presented at the American Heart Association’s Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 2015 Scientific Sessions, San Francisco, CA, May 2015.  Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis & Vascular Biology 35(Suppl. 1):A646, May 2015.
  15. Shaw RE, Kuschner CE, Johnson CK, Ferrari G, Brizzio ME, Zapolanski A, Grau JB. Duke Activity Status Index is sensitive to non-fatal adverse cardiac events when evaluating patient outcome at late follow-up.  Presented at the American Heart Association: Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Session 2015, Baltimore, MD, Apr. 29, 2015.  Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality & Outcomes 8(Suppl 2):A359, May 1, 2015.
  16. Grau JB, Kuschner CE, Johnson CK, Ferrari G, Zapolanski A, Brizzio ME, Shaw RE.  The effects of using a radial artery in patients already receiving bilateral internal mammary arteries during coronary bypass grafting: 30-day outcomes and 14-year survival in a propensity-matched cohort.  European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery May 23, 2015 (published on-line, ezv176).
  17. Driesbaugh KH, Grau JB, Bavaria JE, Alkhaleel F, Lai EK, Shaw RE, Gorman RC, Gorman JH III, Levy RJ, Ferrari G.  Mitral valve interstitial cells with the serotonin transporter (SERT)-LL polymorphism are more efficiently activated by serotonin.  American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2015 Scientific Sessions: Pathways to Cardiovascular Thera-peutics, New Orleans, LA, July 2015. Circulation Research 117(Suppl 1):A32, July 17, 2015.
  18. Lee S, Ferrari G, Levy RJ.  Oxidative damage in failed clinical bioprosthetic heart valve explants.  Circulation 132(Suppl 3):A14677, Nov. 2015.
  19. Ferrari G, Driesbaugh K, Grau JB, Levy RJ.  Serotonin receptors antagonists revert mitral valve Interstitial cell activation in vivo and in vitro  European Heart Journal 37(Suppl. 1):356, 2016.

Editorials, Chapters, Case Reports & Participation in Committee Reports

  1. Aggarwal A, Aguilar VS, Lee CH, Ferrari G, Gorman JH III, Gorman RC, Sacks MS.  Patient-specific modeling of heart valves: from image to simulation. Contribution in Ourselin S, Rueckert D, Smith N (eds.): Functional Imaging & Modeling of the Heart: Lecture Notes in Computer Science.   New York: Springer, 2013, 141-149.
  2. Ferrari G.  Translational medicine's transformative opportunity for cardiac surgery. A commentary on "Subclinical Aortic Valve Disease: New Tools for Risk Stratification and Therapy."  EACTS Annual Meeting: Daily News Oct 14 2014

Books

  1. Montecucco A, Rossi R, Ferrari G, Lidonnici MR, Biamonti G.  Recruitment of replicative factors to DNA replication factories: The human DNA ligase I model.  In Pandalai SG (ed.): Recent Research Developments in Molecular & Cellular Biology. Scarborough, Ontario, Canada: Research Signpost, 2002, 3:423-437.

Alternative Media

  1. Ferrari G. Description of federal Recovery Act grant, National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, Oct, 2009.
  2. Ferrari G.  On-line article in Penn Surgery Society News, Dec. 2010.
  3. Ferrari G. Translational Research Meeting interview, Milan, Italy, Mar. 2012. 
  4. Levy RJ, Ferrari G. Seeking serotonin-connected solutions to heart valve disease.  Penn News Today 2016.

Patents

  1. Ferrari G, Branchetti E. Methods for diagnosing bicuspid aortic valve and/or aortopathies.  61/831.067. USA, 2013.
  2. Ferrari G, Levy RJ.  Methods for managing care of patients predispose to progressive mitral valve diseases. 61/947,684. USA, 2014.
  3. Ferrari G.  Anti-AGE strategies for stabilizing bioprosthetic tissues.  USA, 2016 (in process).
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