Julie G. Pilitsis MD, PhD

 JPilitsis

Academic Role: Director of Functional Neurosurgery, Asstistant Professor
Faculty Appointment(s): Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery
Other Affiliation(s): Adjunct Appt- Clinical Population and Health Research
Phone/ Fax: (508) 334-0605/ (508) 856-5074
Email: Julie.Pilitsis@umassmemorial.org

 

Training- Clinical Interests- Research - Publications -Awards and Honors 

1. Training

  •  Neurosurgery Residency- Wayne State University Detroit, MI;
  •  Functional Neurosurgery- Rush University, Chicago, IL
  •  PhD in Physiology- Wayne State University Detroit, MI

 

2. Clinical Interests: functional neurosurgery, deep brain stimulation, facial pain

3. Research: Functional imaging of Parkinson’s Disease; Improvements in stereotactic procedures for deep brain stimulation/gene therapy in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders

4.  Publications

Journal Articles

  1. Pilitsis J and Kimelberg HK. Adenosine Receptor Mediated Stimulation of Intracellular Calcium in Acutely Isolated Astrocytes. Brain Research 798: 294-303, 1998.
  2. Pilitsis J and Brisson P. The Use of Argon Beam Coagulation in Management of Bleeding from an Ulcerated Breast Lesion. The Breast Journal 5: 267-271, 1999.
  3. Pilitsis JG, Diaz FG, Wellwood J, O’Regan MH, Fairfax MR, Phillis JW, and Coplin WM. Quantification of free fatty acids in human cerebrospinal fluid. Neurochemical Research 26: 1265-1270, 2001.
  4. Pilitsis JG, Diaz FG, O’Regan MH, and Phillis JW. Inhibition of Na+/Ca++ exchange by KB-R7943, a novel reverse mode antagonist, attenuates free fatty acid efflux in rat cerebral cortex during ischemia-reperfusion injury. Brain Research 916:192-8, 2001.
  5. Pilitsis JG, Diaz FG, O’Regan MH, and Phillis JW. Inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange by SM-20220, a novel selective antagonist, attenuates free fatty acid efflux in rat cerebral cortex during ischemia-reperfusion injury. Brain Research 913: 156-158, 2001.
  6. Pilitsis J and Rengachary SS. Complications of head injury. Neurological Research 23: 227-36, 2001.
  7. Vinas F and Pilitsis J.  Penetrating Head Injury.  eMedicine Journals: Medicine, Ob/Gyn, Psychiatry, and Surgery. 2:5, 2001.
  8. Vinas F, Pilitsis J, and Wilner H. Spontaneous Resolution of a Syrinx. J. Clin. Neurosci. 8: 170-2, 2001.
  9. Pilitsis JG and Rengachary SS. The role of vertebroplasty in metastatic spine disease. Neurosurgical Focus. Dec 2001.
  10. Pilitsis JG, Lucas DR, and Rengachary SS. Bone healing and spinal fusion. Neurosurgical Focus. Dec 2002; 13:1.
  11. Phillis JW, O’Regan MH, Diaz FG, and Pilitsis JG. Effects of immunosuppressants on free fatty acid efflux in rat cerebral cortex during ischemia-reperfusion injury. Brain Research 957:12-24, 2002.
  12. Phillis JW, Diaz FG, O’Regan, and Pilitsis JG. Differential effects of phospholipase inhibitors on free fatty acid efflux in rat cerebral cortex during ischemia-reperfusion injury. Brain Res 951: 96, 2002.
  13. Pilitsis JG, Coplin WM, O’Regan MH, Wellwood JM, Diaz FG, Fairfax MR, Michael DB, and Phillis JW. Free fatty acids in human cerebrospinal fluid following subarachnoid hemorrhage and their potential role in vasospasm. J Neurosurgery 97: 272-279, 2002.
  14. Pilitsis JG, Diaz FG, O’Regan MH, and Phillis JW. Inhibition of mitochondrial Na+/Ca++ Exchange by CGP-37157 attenuates free fatty acid efflux in rat cerebral cortex during ischemia-reperfusion injury. Neuroscience Letters 321: 1-4, 2002.
  15. Pilitsis JG, Coplin WM, O¹Regan MH, Wellwood JM, Diaz FG, Fairfax MR, Michael DB, Phillis, JW. Free fatty acids in cerebrospinal fluids from patients with traumatic brain injury. Brain Res 985: 198-201, 2003.
  16. Pilitsis JG, Coplin WM, O¹Regan MH, Wellwood JM, Diaz FG, Fairfax MR, Michael DB, Phillis, JW. Free fatty acids in cerebrospinal fluids from patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Neuroscience Letters 349: 136-8, 2003.
  17. Pilitsis JG, Rezai AR, Boulis NM, Henderson JM, Busch RM, Kubu CS. A preliminary study of transient confusional states following bilateral subthalamic stimulation for Parkinson's disease. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 83:67-70, 2005.
  18. Brown JA, Pilitsis JG. Percutaneous balloon compression for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia: results in 56 patients based on balloon compression pressure monitoring. Neurosurg Focus 18, 2005.
  19. Brown JA, Pilitsis JG. Motor Cortex Stimulation for central and neuropathic facial pain: a prospective study of ten patients and observations of enhanced sensory and motor function during stimulation. Neurosurgery 56: 290-7, 2005.
  20. Brown JA, Pilitsis JG. Motor Cortex Stimulation.  Pain Med 7:140-5 2006.
  21. Lee A, Pilitsis JG. Spinal Cord Stimulation: indications and outcomes. Neurosurgical Focus 21 (6): 3, Dec 2006.
  22. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE. Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease. Contemporary Neurosurgery, Vol 29, 2007.
  23. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE. Deep brain stimulation for psychiatric disorders. Psychopharm Review; Vol 42, 2007
  24. Pilitsis JG, Chu Y, Kordower J, Bergen D, Cochran E, Bakay RAE. Post-mortem study of deep brain stimulation of the anterior thalamus. Neurosurgery. 62:E530-2; 2008.
  25. Pilitsis JG, Verhagen LM, Sani SB, Hughes LE, Toleikis JR, Bakay RAE. Factors associated with stimulation failure in essential tremor patients with Vim DBS. Journal of Neurosurgery; 109: 640-646, 2008.

Chapters 

  1. Pilitsis JG, O’Regan MH, and Phillis JW. The role of Na+/H+ exchange during ischemia-reperfusion injury in heart and brain. In: Recent Research Developments in Neurochemistry. (Ed) SG Pandalai, Research Signpost, India, 5 2002.
  2. Phillis JW, Pilitsis JG, and O’Regan MH. The potential role of the Na+/H+ exchanger in ischemia/reperfusion injury of the central nervous system. In: The Sodium-Hydrogen Exchange. From Molecule to its Role in Disease, M. Karmazyn, Ed. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2003.
  3. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE The future of deep brain stimulation in: Deep Brain Stimulation in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Eds.Tarsy, Okun, Starr, and Vitek; Humana; Totowa, NJ, 2008.
  4. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE. Novel neuromodulation strategies in Alzheimers and other neurodegenerative disorders in: Textbook of Neuromodulation Eds. Krames E, Peckham PH, Rezai A; Blackwell; Boston; March 2009.
  5. Sierens D, Kutz S, Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE. Stereotactic surgery with microelectrode recordings in: Movement Disorders:The Essentials. Ed. Bakay RAE;  Thieme; New York ; August 2008.
  6. Pilitsis JG, Lozano AM, Bakay RAE.  Stimulating and Ablative Procedures for Parkinson’s Disease in: CNS Regeneration: Basic Science and Clinical Advances, 2nd edition; Eds. Tuszynski M, Kordower J; Elsevier San Diego, 2008.
  7. Brown JA, Pilitsis JG.  Percutaneous Balloon Compression for the Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia. Neurosurgical Operative Atlas 2E: Functional Neurosurgery, Eds. Starr P, Barbaro N, Larson P. Thieme, New York , 2009.

Comments for Publication

  1. Pilitsis JG, Fessler RD, Comments on: Ammar K et al; Anatomic Landmarks for the Cervical Portion of the Thoracic Duct. Neurosurgery. 53:1385-1388, 2003.
  2. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE.  Comments for publication on Hodaie M, Neimat J, Lozano AM. The dopaminergic Nigrostriatal system and Parkinson’s Disease: molecular events in development, disease, and cell death and therapeutic strategies. Neurosurgery 2007; 60: 29-30.
  3. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE Comments for publication on Blomstedt P, Olivecrona M, Sailer A, Hariz AI. Dittmar and the history of stereotaxy; or rats, rabbits and references. Neurosurgery 2007; 60: 201
  4. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE Comments for publication on Moyer JT, Danish SF, Keating JG, Finkel LH, Baltuch GH, Jaggi JL. Implementation of dual simultaneous microelectrode recording systems during deep brain stimulation surgery for Parkinson’s disease: technical note. Neurosurgery 2007; 60: ONS-E178
  5. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE Comments for publication on Woerdeman PA, Willems PWA, Noordmans HJ, van der Sprenkel JW, Barkelbach M. The effect of repetitive manual fiducial localization on target localization in image space. Neurosurgery 2007; 60:104
  6. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE Comments for publication on Levy R, Lozano AM, Hutchinson WD, Dostrovsky JO. Dual microelectrode technique for deep brain stereotactic surgery in humans. Neurosurgery 2007; 60: ONS284
  7. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE Comments for publication on Tir M, Devos D, Blond S et al. Exhaustive, one year follow-up of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation in a large single center cohort of Parkinsonian patients. Neurosurgery 2007; 61: 297-305.
  8. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE. Comments for publication on Tabbal SD, Revilla FJ, Mink JW et al. Safety and efficacy of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation performed with limited intraoperative mapping for treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Neurosurgery 2007; 61: ONS 119-129. Neurosurgery. 61(2):329-337, August 2007.
  9. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE. Comments for publication on De Beaumont, L, Lassonde, M.; Leclerc, S.; Theoret, HD.  Long term and cumulative effects of sports concussion on motor cortex inhibition.  Neurosurgery 61: 329-337, 2007.
  10. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE. Comments for publication on Deogaonkar, M, Walter, BL Boulis, N; Starr, P. Clinical Problem Solving: Finding the Target. Neurosurgery. 61:815-825, 2007.
  11. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE. Comments for publication on Patel NK, Plaha P, Gill S. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Directed Method for Functional Neurosurgery using Implantable Guide Tubes.  Neurosurgery. 61 Suppl 2:358-366,  2007.
  12. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE. Comments for publication on Baker KB, Koppell BH, Malone D et al. Deep brain stimulation for obsessive compulsive disorder: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological techniques: technical case report. Neurosurgery 2007 61: ONSSE367-368.
  13. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE: Comments for publication on Temel Y, Wilbrink P, Duits A, et al. Single electrode and multiple electrode guided electrical stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus in advanced Parkinson’s Disease. Neurosurgery 2007; 61: ONS346-ONS357.
  14. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE. Comments for publication on Olstorn H, Moe MC, Roster GK, et al. Transplantation of stem cells from the adult human brain to the adult rat brain. Neurosurgery 2007; 60: 1089-1099.
  15. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE: Comments for publication on Lipsman N, Neimat JS, Lozano AM. Deep brain stimulation for treatment refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder: the search for a valid target. Neurosurgery 2007; 61: 1-13.
  16. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE: Comments for publication on Tenti, G, Sivaloganathan, S, Drake, J. Mathematical Modeling of the brain: principles and challenges. Neurosurgery. 62:1146-1157, 2008.
  17. Spiotta, AM, Bain, MD, Deogaonkar, M et al. Methods of scalp revision for Deep brain stimulator hardware: Case report. Neurosurgery. 62: Supplement 1:249-250, 2008.
  18. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE: Comments for publication on Heuer, GG,  Zaghloul, KA, Jaggi, JL,  Baltuch, GH. Use of an integrated platform system in the placement of deep brain stimulators. Neurosurgery. 62 Supplement 1:245-248, 2008.
  19. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE: Comments for publication on Location of active contacts in patients with primary dystonia treated with globus pallidus deep brain stimulation. Hamani, C, Moro, E, Zadikoff, C, et al. Neurosurgery. 62 Supplement 1:217-225, 2008
  20. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE: Comments for publication on Hartov A, Roberts D, Paulsen K. A comparative analysis of coregistered ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in neurosurgery. Neurosurgery 62: Suppl1: 91-101, 2008.
  21. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE: Comments for publication on Sillay K, Larson P, Starr P. Deep Brain Stimulator Hardward Related Infections: Incidence and management in a large series. Neurosurgery 62: 360-7, 2008.  
  22. Pilitsis JG, Bakay RAE: Comments for publication on Guridi J, Obeso JA, Rodriguez-Oroz M, Lozano A, Manrique M. L-Dopa induced dyskinesia and stereotactic surgery for Parkinson’s Disease. 

 

Abstracts 
  1. Michael D, Pilitsis J, and Walker PD. The Effects of Ethanol and Drugs of Abuse on Immediate Early Gene Expression Following Traumatic Brain Injury. Soc Neurosci Abst 1999.
  2. Michael D, Pilitsis J, Underwood BD, Walker PD, and Dutcher SA. The Effects of Ethanol on Heat Shock Protein Expression Following Traumatic Brain Injury. Soc Neurosci Abst 2000.
  3. Pilitsis JG, Diaz FG, Wellwood J, O’Regan MH, Fairfax MR, Phillis JW, and Coplin WM. Quantification of free fatty acids in human cerebrospinal fluid: identification of markers for neurological diseases. Soc Neurosci Abst 2001.
  4. Pilitsis JG, Diaz FG, O’Regan MH, and Phillis JW. Inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange and Na+/Ca++ exchange attenuates free fatty acid efflux during ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat cerebral cortex. Soc Neurosci Abst 2001.
  5. Pilitsis JG, Coplin WM, Wellwood JM, O’Regan MH, Diaz FG,  Michael DB, Fairfax MR, and  Phillis JW. CSF Free Fatty Acid concentrations and outcome after traumatic brain injury. Soc Neurosci Abst 2003.
  6. Brown JA, Pilitsis JG. Percutaneous balloon compression for trigeminal neuralgia. Neurosurgery 57(2):414, August 2005.
  7. Gilmer-Hill H, Pilitsis  JG, Kowaleski JL, Rozzelle A, Canady AI. Management of Deformational Plagiocephaly: A Randomized, Prospective Analysis: Neurosurgery. 57(2):433, August 2005

Presentations 

  1. Boulos A., Pilitsis JG, Moza K., Hlavac P.J., Henson S., Tranmer B. I., and A.J. Popp (poster presentation at AANS 1998) The Sensitivity of New Generation Computed Tomography in Detecting Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Secondary to Angiographically Evident Lesions.
  2. Pilitsis JG, Michael DB, and Walker PD. (Congress of Neurological Surgeons- oral presentation- November 1999) The Effects of Ethanol and Drugs of Abuse on Immediate Early Gene Expression Following Traumatic Brain Injury.
  3. Dutcher SA, Pilitsis JG, Underwood BD, Walker PD, and Michael D. (Congress of Neurological Surgeons- poster presentation- October 2000) The Effects of Ethanol on Heat Shock Protein Expression Following Traumatic Brain Injury.
  4. Pilitsis JG, Diaz FG, O’Regan MH, and Phillis JW. (Congress of Neurological Surgeons – oral presentation – October 2001). Inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange and Na+/Ca++ exchange attenuates free fatty acid efflux during ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat cerebral cortex.
  5. Pilitsis JG, Diaz FG, O’Regan MH, Michael DB, Fairfax MR, Wellwood JM, Phillis JW, and Coplin WM. (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies – oral presentation – September 2001) Free Fatty Acids in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Markers of Secondary Injury.
  6. Pilitsis JG, Diaz FG, O’Regan MH, and Phillis JW. (Joint Section of Cerebrovascular Surgery – oral presentation – February  2002). Inhibition of mitochondrial Na+/Ca++ exchange by CGP-37157 attenuates free fatty acid efflux during ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat cerebral cortex.
  7. Pilitsis JG, Diaz FG, O’Regan, and Phillis JW. (poster presentation- Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2002) Differential effects of phospholipase inhibitors on free fatty acid efflux in rat cerebral cortex during ischemia-reperfusion injury.
  8. Pilitsis JG, Coplin WM, O’Regan MH, Wellwood JM, Diaz FG, Fairfax MR, Michael DB, and  Phillis JW. (oral presentation at the Michigan Association of Neurological Surgeons- 2002 )The effects of stroke and other cerebral insults on free fatty acid release.
  9. Pilitsis JG and Brown JB. (Michigan Association of Neurological Surgeons – oral presentation June 2002). Motor cortex stimulation in the treatment of central and neuropathic facial pain.
  10. Pilitsis JG and Brown JB. (Neurosurgical Society of America- oral presentation April 2002). Motor cortex stimulation in the treatment of central and neuropathic facial pain.
  11. Pilitsis JG, Phillis JW, Wellwood JM, O’Regan MH, Diaz FG,  Michael DB, Fairfax MR , and Coplin WM. (poster presentation at American Association of Neurological Surgeons -2002) CSF Free Fatty Acid concentrations and outcome after ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
  12. Pilitsis JG, Coplin WM, Wellwood JM, O’Regan MH, Diaz FG,  Michael DB, Fairfax MR, and  Phillis JW. (oral presentation at Congress of Neurological Surgeons -2003) CSF Free Fatty Acid concentrations and outcome after traumatic brain injury.
  13. Pilitsis JG, Coplin WM, Wellwood JM, O’Regan MH, Diaz FG,  Michael DB, Fairfax MR, and  Phillis JW. (oral presentation at Society for Neuroscience -2003) CSF Free Fatty Acid concentrations and outcome after traumatic brain injury.
  14. Pilitsis JG, Coplin WM, Wellwood JM, O’Regan MH, Diaz FG,  Michael DB, Fairfax MR, and  Phillis JW. (oral presentation at National Neurotrauma Society -2003) CSF Free Fatty Acid concentrations and outcome after traumatic brain injury.
  15. Pilitsis JG and Brown JA. (oral presentation at the Michigan Association of Neurological Surgeons- 2003). Motor cortex stimulation for neuropathic facial pain: results of multidimensional pain scale evaluation and observations of sensory and motor improvement during stimulation.
  16. Pilitsis JG and Brown JA. (oral presentation - American Association of Neurological Surgeons April 2003) Motor cortex stimulation for neuropathic facial pain: results of multidimensional pain scale evaluation and observations of sensory and motor improvement during stimulation.
  17. Pilitsis JG. (oral presentation - American Association of Neurological Surgeons April 2003) Alfred Reginald Allen: A Pioneer in Spinal Cord Injury.
  18. Pilitsis JG, Rezai AR, Henderson JM, Boulis NM, Busch RM, Kubu CS. (Oral presentation- ASSFN 2004) Variables affecting the development of transitional confusional states following bilateral STN stimulation in Parkinson’s disease.
  19. Brown JA, Pilitsis JG. (oral presentation- CNS 2005) Percutaneous balloon compression for trigeminal neuralgia.
  20. Pilitsis JG, Rezai AR, Henderson JM, Boulis NM, Busch RM, Kubu CS. (Poster presentation- AANS 2005) Post-operative confusion following STN DBS predicts greater neuropsychological difficulties in the longterm: Preliminary Findings.
  21. Gilmer-Hill H, Pilitsis  JG, Kowaleski JL, Rozzelle A, Canady AI. (Oral presentation- AANS 2005) Management of Deformational Plagiocephaly: A Randomized, Prospective Analysis.
  22. Sani S, Pilitsis J, Bakay RAE. (poster presentation- CNS 2005) Technical complications of deep brain stimulation.
  23. Pilitsis JG, Verhagen LM, Sani SB, Hughes LE, Toleikis JR, Bakay RAE. Factors associated with stimulation failure in essential tremor patients with Vim DBS. (Poster presentation- CNS-2006).
  24. Pilitsis JG, Verhagen LM, Toleikis JR, Bakay RAE.  Evaluation of the accuracy of intraoperative xray in bilateral STN DBS surgeries. (Poster presentation AANS 2007).
  25. Burrows A, Moser R, Weaver J, Litwin D, Pilitsis J. (oral presentation- CNS 2008)/ The effect of the role out of Massaschusetts health care reform on neurosurgical procedure reimbursements.

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5. Awards/Honors: 

  • 1996,1997           Dean’s Certificate for Outstanding Research Endeavor, Albany Medical College
  • 1999                   Intern of the Year- Department of Surgery- Wayne State University
  • 2001, 2002          Neuroscience Travel Award- Wayne State University
  • 2001,2002,2003  Academic Achievement Award, Dept. of Neurosurgery- Wayne State University
  • 2002                   Elected to Young Neurosurgeons Committee of the AANS
  • 2003                   William H. Sweet Young Investigator Award, Pain section award - AANS/CNS
  • 2003                   Resident Award – Best research presentation,  Michigan Association of Neurological Surgeons
  • 2003                   Semifinalist- Student research, National Neurotrauma Society
  • 2006                   Executive Council- AANS/CNS Joint Section on Pain
  • 2008-current       Secretary/Treasurer- AANS/CNS Pain Section
  • 2008-current       Executive Council- AANS Women in Neurosurgery
  • 2008                   American Parkinson’s Disease Association, “Comparison of gait and cognitive function with STN v. ZI DBS in Parkinson’s Disease”

                                Faculty Mentor- for student stipend

  • 2008                  Worcester Biomedical Foundation Grant-

                               PI-“Functional Imaging as a Marker for Parkinson’s Disease”        

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