Name:             Li Li, Ph.D.

Address:         Department of Biomedical Engineering

                        Washington University-Saint Louis

                        Whittaker Hall 360

                        One Brookings Drive

                        Saint Louis, MO 63130-4899

Telephone:     1-314-935-8377

Email:             Li.Li3@po.cwru.edu

Research experiences:

September 2000-present   Graduate research assistant in Dr. Igor R. Efimov's lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, CWRU, Cleveland, OH & Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO

Shock-induced arrhythmogenesis and arrhythmia maintenance

• Investigated the effect of sodium channel blocker lidocaine on shock-induced arrhythmogenesis and arrhythmia maintenance by optically mapping transmembrane potential in rabbit heart in vitro. Designed the experimental protocols and developed LabView-based data analysis programs. [Publication]

• Compared the effect of excitation-contraction-decoupler BDM and Cyto D on shock-induced arrhythmogenesis of rabbit hearts. Designed the experimental protocols and developed data analysis programs in MatLab and LabView. [Publication]

• Investigated the shock-induced arrhythmogenesis and arrhythmia maintenance in the chronic infarcted rabbit hearts. [Publication] [PhD thesis]

• Investigated the effect of shock-polarity on vulnerability grids in rabbit hearts with both modeling and experimental approaches (with Prof. Trayanova’s group). Finished all the experiment-related work. [Publication]

Gap junction remodeling

• Investigated the gap junction remodeling of the chronic infarcted rabbit hearts through the histology and immunohistochemistry studies. [PhD thesis]

• Investigated the arrhythmia and gap junction remodeling in the canine atria during pericarditis (with Prof. Waldo’s group). Finished all the gap junction-related work.

• Investigated the gap junction remodeling in the hibernating ground squirrels during hyperthermia. [Publication]

Bidomain model simulation

• Investigated the effect of shock waveform (ascending ramp vs. descending ramp) on shock-induced arrhythmogenesis on healthy hearts. Finished the bidomain model simulation work for optical mapping data interpretation. [Publication]

Publications in peer-reviewed journals:

1. Li L., Nikolski V., Efimov I.R., The effect of lidocaine on shock-induced vulnerability. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol., 2003, 14: S237-S248 [PubMed]

2. Cheng Y., Li L., Nikolski V.P., Tchou P.J., Efimov I.R., Shock-induced arrhythmogenesis is enhanced by 2,3-butanedione monoxime as compared with Cytochalasin D., Am. J. Physiol., 2004, 286(1): H310-H318. [PubMed]

3. Qu F., Li L., Nikolski V.P., Sharma V., Efimov I.R., Mechanisms of superiority of ascending ramp waveforms: new insights into mechanisms of shock-induced vulnerability and defibrillation, AJP, 2005 Aug;289(2):H569-77. [PubMed]

4. Rodriguez B., Li L., Eason J.C., Efimov I.R., Trayanova N., Differences between left and right ventricular chamber geometry affect cardiac vulnerability to electric shocks. Circ Res. 2005 Jul 22;97(2):168-75. [PubMed]

5. Li L., Nikolski V.P., Wallick D.W., Efimov I.R., Cheng Y., Mechanisms of enhanced shock-induced arrhythmogenesis in the rabbit heart with healed myocardial infarction, AJP, 2005 May 6. [PubMed]

6. Fedorov V., Li L., Glukhov A., Shishkina I., Aliev R., Mikheeva T., Nikolski V.P., Rosenshtraukh L.V., Efimov I.R., Hibernator Citellus undulatus maintains safe cardiac conduction and is protected against tachyarrhythmias during extreme hypothermia: possible role of Cx43 and Cx45 up-regulation, Heart Rhythm. 2005 Sep;2(9):966-75.. [PubMed]

Proceedings & abstracts

1. Li L., Nikolski V.P., Wollenzier B.R. Efimov I.R. Effects of lidocaine on shock-induced vulnerability and defibrillation. Proc. of the Second Joint EMBS/BMES Conference, Houston, TX, USA, October 23-26, 2002, p. 1451-1452.

2. Rodriguez B., Campbell C., Li L., Eason J.C., Efimov I.R., Trayanova N., Effect of Electrode Polarity on Shock-induced Arrhythmogenesis, PACE, 2003, 26:978

3. Li L., Nikolski V., Efimov I.R., Cheng Y., Effects of 2, 3-Butanedione Monoxime and cytochalasin D on vulnerability and arrhythmia dynamics. 2003 BMES Annual meeting, Nashville, TN, Oct 1-4, 2003

4. Li L., Nikolski V., Wallick D., Efimov I.R., Cheng Y., Redistribution of Cx43 Expression in the Endocardial Infarction Border Zone Is Associated with Increased Arrhythmogenesis in the Rabbit Heart. Circulation, 2003, 108(17): IV-189

5. Ryu K., Li L., Khrestian C.M., Matsumoto N., Sahadevan J., Ruehr M.L., van Wagoner D.R., Efimov I.R. Waldo A.L., New Insights into Pericarditis: Transmural Gradient of Connexin 40 and 43 Contributes to Abnormal Conduction and Atrial Arrhythmias. Circulation 2004; 110 (Supp.III):291

6. Li L., Fedorov V., Nikolski V.P., Efimov I.R., Cx43 and Cx45 remodeling in hibernating ground squirrel during hypothermia. Gordon Research Conference on Cardiac Arrhythmia Mechanisms, Santa Ynez Valley, CA, February 20-25, 2005.

7. Ryu K., Li L., Khrestian C.M., Matsumoto N., Sahadevan J., Ruehr, M.L., van Wagoner, D.R., Efimov I.R., Waldo A.L.. Pericarditis Induced Remodeling of Connexins 40 and 43 Contributes to Abnormal Atrial Conduction and Arrhythmogenesis. Heart Rhythm, 2005, 2(1S): S69

8. Rodriguez B., Campbell C., Li L., Eason J.C., Efimov I.R., Trayanova N., Role of Ventricular Anatomy in Vulnerability to electric shocks, Heart Rhythm 2005. Heart Rhythm, 2005, 2(1S): S257

9. Li L., Fedorov V., Glukhov A., Nikolski V.P., Rosenshtraukh L.V., Efimov I.R., Connexins 43 and 45 Remodeling Improves Conduction Safety In Hibernating Ground Squirrel Cittelus undulatus. Heart Rhythm, 2005, 2(1S): S70