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Oleksii Shandra, M.D./PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute

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Oleksii Shandra is an MD/PhD from Ukraine. As a medical doctor he earned his degree in Dermatology. During his student research, he was interested in studying epilepsy. Using the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) kindling model, he found that nifedipine not only caused suppressive effect on PTZ-induced seizures, but also on behavioral, EEG, sleep-wakefulness changes and the role of the hippocampus and caudate nucleus in the development and dynamics of PTZ-kindling in rats. Using the reserpine-induced model of Parkinsonism, he also investigated the contribution of different brain regions and neurotransmitters in muscle rigidity. Further, during his PhD in Pathophysiology, he had the opportunity to bridge his clinical specialty in Dermatology with Neuroscience as he looked at behavioral disorders, sleep-wake cycle impairments and the role of neural and immune system in an experimental model of atopic dermatitis in rats, caused by the repeated sensitization with potassium dichromate, and in atopic dermatitis in patients. His findings indicated that the development of experimental contact dermatitis in rats and atopic dermatitis in patients is connected with release of proinflammatory cytokines which caused central neurotropic effect. Studies of sleep-wakefulness cycle disorders in rats with developing experimental contact dermatitis have shown a significant increase of slow wave sleep, decrease of deep stages of sleep, which shows the undergoing changes in reactivity of neuronal brain structures that play major role in mechanisms of regulation of circadian rhythms. Considering the neuroimmune interactions he investigated the possibility that in contact allergic dermatitis, there is a secondary immune imbalance due to primary dysregulation of the nervous system. Therefore, the topic of his PhD thesis was on the therapeutic effect of the combination of delta sleep inducing peptide and melatonin on immune and neural system disorders in contact allergic dermatitis. After joining the laboratory of Developmental Epilepsy at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York in 2014, he further pursued his interest in neuroimmune interactions in epilepsies.

In 2016, as a next step in studying the mechanisms of neurodegeneration, he joined the laboratory of Dr. Stefanie Robel at Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute to study the role of astrocytes in CNS pathology after repeated mild traumatic brain injury.

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Publications: 

  1. Shandra O.O. (2015). Effect of deltaran and melatonin on immune system in rats with experimental contact dermatitis. International Journal of Physiology and Pathophysiology, v6.i3.10 - P. 177-183

  2. Shandra O.O. (2014). Effect of deltaran and melatonin on immune system in rats with experimental contact dermatitis. Fiziol Zh. 60(1):78-83. PMD: 24809178

  3. Shandra O.O., Lebedyuk M.N. (2013). Use of the drug "Deltaran" in the treatment of patients with atopic - Neuroscience: theoretical and clinical aspects – Vol. 9, â„– 1- 2. - P. 45-48. (in Ukrainian)  

  4. Shandra O.O., Holodkova E.L., Maznichenko E.A., Appelhans A.A., Neskromnaya N.V., Tsepkolenko A.V., Koslov V.P. (2013). The influence of the blood plasma enriched by platelets on skin regeneration in allergic dermatitis - Medical rehabilitation, balneology, physiotherapy. - â„– 1 (73). - P. 26-29. (in Ukrainian)

  5. Shandra O.O. (2013). “Deltalicyn” usage in atopic dermatitis complex treatment. – Ukrainian Journal of Neuroscience. (in Ukrainian) 

  6. Shandra O.O. (2013). Immune system activity correction using “Deltaran” and melatonin in conditions of experimental contact dermatitis. – Physiology Journal/ Ukrainian National Academy of Science/. (in Ukrainian) 

  7. Shandra O. (2012). Nervous system disorder and development of vegetative dysfunction in patients with atopic dermatitis - Ukrainian medical almanac. – Vol. 15, â„– 5. - S. 467- 469. (in Ukrainian) 

  8. Shandra O.O. (2012). Modified immunological reactivity in rats with atopic dermatitis influenced by pathogenic therapy. // Taurian Journal of Medicine and Biology. V.15, #3, part.1 (59) - p. 186190. (in Ukrainian)

  9. Shandra O.O. (2012). Use of Deltaran and melatonin for complex pathogenetic therapy of experimental atopic dermatitis. - Journal of Ukrainian Medical Dental Academy – Poltava – P. 191-195. (in Ukrainian)  

  10. Shandra O.O. (2012). The influence of Deltaran preparation on the course of contact allergic dermatitis in rats//Clinical and experimental pathology XI, #3 (41), part 1, - p.181-185. (in Ukrainian) 

  11. Shandra O.O. (2012). The influence of “Deltaran” on sleep-wakefulness cycle structure normalization in conditions of experimental atopic dermatitis // Actual Problems of Transp.Med. – â„– 2 (28). – P. 113. (in Ukrainian) 

  12. Shandra O.O., Lebedyuk M.N. (2010). The peculiarities of sleep-wake cycle in rats with modelling contact dermatitis // Integr.Anthropology. –N2 (16). – P.58-62. (in Ukrainian)  

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Abstracts:

  1. Shandra O., Mowrey W., Moshé S.L., Galanopoulou A.S. (2016). Effects of lacosamide on spasms after acute treatment in the multiple-hit rat model of infantile spasms – Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, December 2-6, Houston, TX. 

  2. Shandra O., Mowrey W., Moshé S.L., Galanopoulou A.S. (2016). Acute effects of lacosamide on spasms in the multiple-hit rat model of infantile spasms – Society for Neuroscience, Annual Meeting, November 12-16, San Diego, CA.

  3. Shandra O., Moshé S.L., Galanopoulou A.S (2016). Neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis and treatment of West syndrome: a cause, side effect, or contributory factor? – review proposal for Epilepsy&Behavior

  4. Shandra O., Mowrey W., Moshé S.L., Galanopoulou A.S. (2016). Lacosamide acutely suppresses spasms in the multiple-hit rat model of infantile spasms – Pediatric Research Day, Montefiore Medical Center, April 20, The University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY

  5. Shandra O., Mowrey W., Moshé S.L., Galanopoulou A.S. (2016). Acute effects of lacosamide on spasms in the multiple-hit rat model of infantile spasms – Young research investigators symposium, Montefiore Medical Center, April 8, The University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY

  6. Shandra O., Wang Y., Mowrey W., Moshé S.L., Galanopoulou A.S. (2015). Effects of celastrol and edaravone in the multiple-hit rat model of infantile spasms –– American Epilepsy Society, Annual Meeting, December 4-8, Philadelphia, PA

  7. Shandra O., Wang Y., Mowrey W., Moshé S.L., Galanopoulou A.S. (2015). Role of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant drugs in the treatment of spasms in the multiple-hit rat model of infantile spasms –– Society for Neuroscience, Annual Meeting, Nanosymposium – Mechanisms of Epilepsy, October 17-21, Chicago, IL

  8. Shandra O., Mowrey W., Galanopoulou A.S. (2015). Celastrol acutely suppresses spasm frequency in the multiple-hit rat model P41 of infantile spasms – ADD Symposium: Therapy Development in the Era of Team Science & Big Data: What Will the Future Bring to the Patient with Epilepsy? – May 17-20 Park City, UT

  9. Shandra O., Mowrey W., Galanopoulou A.S. (2015). Acute spasm reduction with Celastrol in the multiple-hit rat model of infantile spasms. Young Investigator Symposium, April 17, Montefiore Medical Center, The University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY

  10. Shandra O., Mowrey W., Galanopoulou A.S. (2014). Acute spasm reduction with Celastrol in the multiple-hit rat model of infantile spasms – Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, December 5-9, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA

  11. Shandra O., Mowrey W., Galanopoulou A.S. (2014). Acute spasm reduction with Celastrol in the multiple-hit rat model of infantile spasms - Neuroscience Retreat, September 22-23, 2014, Briarcliff Manor, NY

  12. Shandra O., Mowrey W., Galanopoulou A.S.  (2014). Acute spasm reduction with Celastrol in the multiple-hit rat model of infantile spasms - Gordon Research Conference, Mechanisms of Epilepsy & Neuronal Synchronization, August 17-22, Mount Snow Resort, West Dover, VT

  13. Shandra O. (2013). Effect of complex pharmacotherapy clinical course of atopic dermatitis - Modern theoretical and practical aspects of clinical medicine, Intern. Science. Conf. students and young scientists assign. 100th anniversary of KD Dvuzhylna, 14-15 March, Odessa - P. 83-84 - Abstract. (in Ukrainian)

  14. Shandra O.O. (2013). The impact of complex drug therapy on the clinical course of atopic dermatitis - International scientific conference of students and young scientists. – Abstracts, P. 121 (in Ukrainian)

  15. Shandra O.O. (2012).Experimental atopic dermatitis treatment accenting on neural and immune system activities improvement // The Actual Problems of The Contemporary Medicine. – Abstracts. – Kharkiv – P. 161-162. (in Ukrainian)

  16. Shandra O.O., Lebedyuk M.N. (2012). Complex therapy of allergic dermatitis considering pathogenetic role of neurological disorders - Ukrainian Journal of Neuropsychiatrist – (IV National Congress of neurologists, psychiatrists and drug treatment Ukraine. Kharkiv, 3-5 October, Vol. 20, no. 3 (72). - P. 110 - Abstract. (in Ukrainian)

  17. Shandra O.O. (2012). The influence of atopic dermatitis experimental treatment using “Deltaran” on cellular immunity - Atherosclerosis contemporary treatment – from hypothesis to facts, VII South Ukraininian  Scientific Conference, Aprill 11 – Abstracts. Odessa – P. 143. (in Ukrainian)

  18. Shandra O.O., Kuleshova O.A., Maznichenko Y.O., Pokora Y.Y., Kiro L.S. (2012).The influence of the blood plasma enriched by platelets on skin regeneration in allergic dermatitis - Modern theoretical and practical aspects of clinical medicine, Intern. Science. Conf. students and young scientists assign. 155th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Podvysotskiy 19-20 April – Abstracts. – Odessa – P. 42. (in Ukrainian)

  19. Shandra O.O. (2012).The role of the immune system disturbances on experimental atopic dermatitis pathogenesis // The Contemporary Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Clinical Medicine. – Abstracts. – Odessa – P. 162. (in Ukrainian)

  20. Shandra O.O. (2011).Sleep-wakefulness cycle correction by “Deltaran” in conditions of chrome-induced experimental contact dermatitis // Youth – to future medicine. – Abstracts. – Odessa – P. 103. (in Ukrainian)

  21. Shandra O.O. (2010).Features of sleep-wakefulness cycle in the formation of contact dermatitis in experimental animals// V Southern Ukraine Scientific Conference// Abstracts –P. 128. (in Ukrainian)

  22. Shandra O.O. (2010).Analysis of concomitant skin diseases in HIV-infected patients in association with tuberculosis // International scientific conference of students and young scientists. – 2010 – Abstracts. – Odessa – P. 132. (in Ukrainian)

  23. Shandra O.O. (2010). Pathogenetic approaches to study complex treatment of experimental allergic dermatitis - Biophysical standards and information technology in medicine, Science. Conf., in September, Odessa: - P. 65-66 - Abstract. (in Ukrainian)

  24. Shandra O.O. (2009).Analysis of concomitant skin diseases in HIV-infected patients in association with tuberculosis // Conference on HIV-associated diseases of the skin and sexually transmitted infections – P. 55. (in Ukrainian)

  25. Shandra O.O. (2006).Reserpine-induced model of parkinsonian syndrome in rats: a study of muscle tone and effects of some drugs // International scientific conference of students and young scientists – Abstracts - P.117. (in Ukrainian)

  26. Shandra O.O. (2005).Study of behavioral changes and memory in rats with corazol kindling. // International scientific conference of students and young scientists – Abstracts - P. 124. (in Ukrainian)

  27. Shandra O.O. (2005).The effect of nifedipine on the development of corazol kindling. // International scientific conference of students and young scientists - Abstracts. - P.153. (in Ukrainian)

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