Investigators

Research Interest

I have special interest in evaluating the correlation of sex hormones and oxidative stress in patients with cognitive impairment. Actually I am following a cohort of HIV infected women at risk of HIV dementia with the collaboration of our nurse coordinator, Tania Ginebra, Neuropsychologist Dr. Raúl Mayo, and Psychologist Rosa Hechavarría. These patients are shared with Dr. Loyda Meléndez. We have followed these patients with neuropsychological test and viral immune profiles. I am also interested in the field of Clinical Neurophysiology and its applications to disease.

Research Projects

1. Pathophysiology of HIV Dementia in Women
   Role PI 2004-2009
   
   This is a cross sectional study to evaluate the relationship among HIV dementia sex hormones and oxidative stress of HIV infected women with menstrual cycle and at peri/post menopausal stages. Evaluations include neuropsychological and CSF immune function and oxidative stress.
   
   
2. Monocyte Immunity and HIV-Associated Dementia
   (NIH U54 NS43011, PI: Loyda Meléndez, Ph.D., Role: Co-Investigator 2001-2006)
   
   This is a prospective study to evaluate the progression of HIV Dementia and the viral/immune factors in a population of HIV infected women at risk for dementia.
3. MRS and HIV Dementia in Puerto Rican Women
   (RCMI Clinical Research Infrastructure Initiative 2002-2003)
   
   This study will correlate the degree of HIV dementia, estrogen levels and MRS findings.
   
   
4. Oxidative Markers in HIV Dementia
   (RCMI Clinical Research Infrastructure Initiative, Role PI, )2003-2004
   
   This study will identify protein carbonyls in the CSF of patient with and without HIV Dementia as an oxidative marker by using western blot and proteomics by antibody capture technique.

Education

1976 - 1980: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras PR: BS-Math

1980 - 1984: UPR,School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus: MD

1984 - 1988: University Hospital, UPR, Medical Sciences Campus: Neurology Resident

1988 - 1990: University Hospital, UPR, Medical Sciences Campus: Fellow Clincal Neurophysiology

Experience

1/88-6/88: Chief Resident, Neurology Service, UPR School of Medicine, Univ. Hospital, San Juan, PR

9/99-7/90: Clinical Instructor - Ad Honorem, Neurology Service, UPR School of Medicine, University Hospital, PR

1990-present: Faculty of the Neurology Service, University Hospital, UPR-MSC

1990-1995: Assistant Professor, Neurology Service, UPR-MSC

1/91-present: Director, Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Neurology Service, UPR, School of Medicine, Univ. Hospital, San Juan, PR

1/92-present: Director, Epilepsy Clinic, Neurology Service, UPR, School of Medicine, Univ. Hospital, San Juan, PR

5/94-present: Coordinator, Clinical Neurophysiology Rotation, Neurology service, UPR, School of Medicine, University Hospital, San Juan, PR

7/96-6/01: Associate Professor, Neurology Service, UPR School of Medicine, University Hospital, PR

7/01-present: Professor, Neurology Service, UPR, Medical Sciences Campus

9/01-present: Coordinator of Seminar Conferences at UPR-Specialized Neuroscience Research Program (SNRP)

7/02-06/05: Member of Curriculum Committee, Academic Affairs Office, Medicine Dean

9/02-present: Clinical Coordinator, UPR-SNRP

Federal Government Advisory Committees

6/03-present Ad Hoc Member of Neuroscience Training Study Group NIH

12/04-6/05 NIMH/NINDS Update on Diagnostic Definitions of HIV-Associated Dementia and Minor Cognitive Motor Disorder in the Era of HAART, Member of group I - Towards an Updated Nosology for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders

Publications

1. Velazquez I, Plaud-Valentin M, Wojna V, Skolasky R, Perez-Laspiur J, Melendez LM. Antioxidant enzyme dysfunction in monocytes and CSF of Hispanic women with HIV associated cognitive impairment. Journal of Neuroimmunology, Ms. No. CR-08-1672R2, In Press, 2008
   
   
2. Toro D, Rodriguez E, Plaud M, Ciborowski P, Duan F, Perez Laspiur J, Wojna V, Melendez L. Proteomic analyses of monocyte-derived macrophages infected with HIV-1 primary isolates from Hispanic women with and without cognitive impairment. Journal of Neurovirology, Manuscript ID: 338717, In Press 2008
   
   
3. Wojna V, Robles L, Skolasky RL, Mayo R, Selnes O, de la Torre T, Maldonado E, Nath A, Melendez LM & Lasalde-Dominicci J. Associations of cigarette smoking with viral immune and cognitive function in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive women. Journal of Neurovirology, 13, 561-568;2007
   
   
4. Wojna V, Skolasky RL, McArthur JC, Maldonado E, Hechavarria R, Mayo R, Selnes O, Ginebra T, de la Torre T, Garcia H, Kraiselburd E, Melendez-Guerrero LM, Zorrilla CD & Nath A. Spanish Validation of the HIV Dementia Scale in Women. AIDS Patient Care STDS, 21, 930-41;2007.
   
   
5. Rozek W, Ricardo-Dukelow M, Holloway S, Gendelman HE, Wojna V, Melendez LM & Ciborowski P. Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteomic Profiling of HIV-1-Infected Patients with Cognitive Impairment. J Proteome Res, 6, 4189-4199;2007.
   
   
6. Nieves DM, Plaud M, Wojna V, Skolasky R & Melendez LM. Characterization of peripheral blood human immunodeficiency virus isolates from Hispanic women with cognitive impairment. J Neurovirol, 13, 315- 27;2007
   
   
7. Laspiur JP, Anderson ER, Ciborowski P, Wojna V, Rozek W, Duan F, Mayo R, Rodriguez E, Plaud- Valentin M, Rodriguez-Orengo J, Gendelman HE & Melendez LM. CSF proteomic fingerprints for HIVassociated cognitive impairment. J Neuroimmunol, 192, 157-70;2007
   
   
8. Antinori A, Arendt G, Becker JT, Brew BJ, Byrd DA, Cherner M, Clifford DB, Cinque P, Epstein LG, Goodkin K, Gisslen M, Grant I, Heaton RK, Joseph J, Marder K, Marra CM, McArthur JC, Nunn M, Price RW, Pulliam L, Robertson KR, Sacktor N, Valcour V, & Wojna VE. Updated research nosology for HIVassociated neurocognitive disorders. Neurology, 69, 1789-99;2007
   
   
9. Venkatesan A, Selnes O, Wojna V, McArthur JC, Nath A. Neuropsychological Consequences of HIV and Drug Abuse. Am J Infect Dis 2(2):90-97;2006.
   
   
10. Wojna V, Nath A. Challenges to the Diagnosis and Management of HIV Dementia. The AIDS Reader 6:615-616,621-624,626,629-632;2006. Editorial Comment by Dr. Richard W. Price.
    
    
11. Wojna V, Skolasky RL, Hechavarr’a R, Mayo R, Selnes O, McArthur JC, MelŽndez LM, Maldonado E, Zorrilla CD, Garc’a H, Kraiselburd E, Nath A. Prevalence of HIV Dementia in a Group of Hispanic Women at Risk. J NeuroVirol 2(5):356-364;2006
    
    
12. Wojna V, Carlson KA, Luo X, Mayo R, Meléndez LM, Kraiselburd E, Gendelman HE. Proteomic fingerprinting of HIV-associated dementia from patient monocyte-derived macrophages: A case study. J Neuro Virol 10(supplement 1):74-81: 2004
    
    
13. Turchan J, Sacktor N, Wojna V, Conant K, Nath A. Neuroprotectve theraphy for HIV dementia. Curr HIV Res. 2003 Oct;1(4):373-83.
    
    
14. Luo X, Carlson KA, Wojna V, Mayo R, Biskup T, Stoner J, Anderson J, Gendelman HE, Meléndez LM. Macrophage proteomic fingerprinting predicts HIV-1-associated cognitive impairment. Neurology, 60:1931-1937; 2003
    
    
15. Wojna V, Gonzalez M, Margarida MT, Cotto M. Melatonin in Partial Complex Seizures. J CLin Neurophysiol y añade: J Clin Neurophsyiol 20(3):215;2003.
    
    
16. Nath A, Hauser KF, Wojna V, Booze RM, Maragos W, Prendergast M, Cass Wa, Turchan JT. Molecular Basis for Interactions of HIV and Drugs of Abuse. J AIDS, 31 Suppl 2:S62-9;2002
    
    
17. Wojna V, Curry T, Nath A, Meléndez L. Measurement Of Estradiol Levels In Women With Hiv Dementia. J Neurovirology 8(Sup. 1):69-70;2002
    
    
18. Wojna V., Rosa J, Vélez-Borrás J, Cotto M. EEG in Attention Deficit Disorder. J Clin Neurophsyiol 18(5);486:2001
    
    
19. Wojna V, Guerrero L, Guzmán J, Coto M. Effect of Flumazenil on EEG Patterns Induced by Midazolam. Puerto Rico Health Science Journal, 19(4):353-356, 2000
    
    
20. Gayá W, Wojna V, Case Report: a 36-year-old Woman with Ocular Dyskinesia and Myoclonic Tremors. Neurology Reviews, 6(2):31-1998
    
    
21. Noriega-Sánchez A, Andino A, Wojna V, Feliciano B, Tous A. Complex Partial Seizures: Its Effects on Sleep. J Clin Neurophysiol, 12(4):391, 1995
    
    

Poster Presentations

1. Wojna V, Gerena V, Ginebra T, Skolasky T, García H, Gendelman H, Kraiselburd E, McArthur J, Nath A, Zorilla C, Meléndez L. Prevalence of HIV Dementia in a group of Hispanic Women at risk. 3rd Annual Meeting SNRP Nashville, TN, May 2004 and 2nd Pan American Congress of Neurovirology, Monterry, Mexico, May 2004
   
   
2. Wojna V, Turchan J, Meléndez LM, Mayo-Santana R, McArthur J, Kraiselburd E, Hechevarría R, Zorrilla C, García H, Plaud M, Ginebra T, Gerena V, Nath A. CSF induced mitochondrial toxicity, cytokines, and chemokines in Hispanic women with HIV Dementia AAN, San Francisco, CA, April 29, 2004.
   
   
3. Irani DN, Anderson C, Moore S, Wojna V, Nath A. SELDI-TOF-MS Analysis identifies unique protein expression patterns in cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis. AAN, San Francisco, CA, April 27, 2004.
   
   
4. Wisniewski AB, Wojna V, Apel SE, Selnes O, Mayo R, Hechevarría R, Meléndez L, Nath A, Dobs AS. Depression and quality of life in HIV infection and injection drug use: Noteworthy sex differences and implications for treatment. 5th ISNV, Baltimore, MD, September, 2003.
   
   
5. Wojna V, Turchan J, Melendez LM, Mayo, McArthur JC, Kraiselburd E, Hechavarria R, Plaud M, Ginebra T, Gerena V, Nath A. CSF Induced Hispanic Women with HIV Cognitive Impairment. Poster presentation at AAN, San Francisco 4/2004 and ISNV, Baltimore, 9/2003 Neurology (Supplement) 62(7):A408;2004.
   
   
6. Pita IL, Serrano C, Wojna V. Depression in a group of Puerto Rican patients with Parkinson's Disease. Movement Disorders 19(supplement 9):644;2004.
   
   
7. Wojna V, Gerena V, Ginebra T, Skolasky R, Garcia H, Gendelman H, Kraiselburd E, McArthur JC., Nath A, Zorrilla C, Melendez L. Prevalence of HIV dementia in a group of Hispanic women at risk. J Neurovirol 10(Supplement 3):88-89;2004.
   
   
8. Toro Nieves D.M, Anderson E., Plaud M., Wojna V., Ciborowski P., Gendelman H., Meléndez-Guerrero, LM. Effect of HIV-1 Primary Isolates on Macrophage Proteome and Neurovirulence from Hispanic Women with Cognitive Impairment. 12th Conference Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), Boston. Feb 23, 2005.
   
   
9. Anderson, E.R., Ciborowski, P., Gendelman, H.E., Wojna V., Anderson J., Plaud M., Rodriguez E., Rodriguez-Orengo J., Kraiselburd E., and Melendez, L. Proteomic Analysis of Pre-fractionated Cerebrospinal Fluid from a Cohort of HIV-1 Infected Hispanic Women. 5th Annual Conference of Specialized Neuroscience Research Programs. Maryland, June 2, 2005.
   
   
10. Toro Nieves D.M, Anderson E., Plaud M., Wojna V., Ciborowski P., Gendelman H., Meléndez-Guerrero, LM. Characterization of HIV isolates from peripheral blood of women with dementia. 5th Annual Conference of Specialized Neuroscience Research Programs. Maryland, June 2, 2005.
    
    
11. Wojna V., Colon E., Melendez M, Anderson C., Truchan-Cholewo J., Skolasky R., Hidalgo A., Mayo R., Curry T., Fernandez M., Melendez L., McArthur J.C., Nath A. Oxidative Stress and Sex Hormones in Brain Atrophy by MRS in HIV Positive Women. 5th Annual Conference of Specialized Neuroscience Research Programs. Maryland, June 2, 2005 and HIV Infection and the Central Nervous System: Developed and Limited Resource Settings. Frascati, Italy, June 11, 2005.
    
    
12. Wojna V., Nath A., Mayo R., Skolasky R., Hechavarria R., McArthur J.C., Fernandez M., Melendez L., Garcia H., Zorrilla C., Kraiselburd E. Correlations and Strengths of the Scales for HIV Dementia in a Cohort of HIV Positive Women. HIV Infection and the Central Nervous System: Developed and Limited Resource Settings. Frascati, Italy, June 11, 2005.
    
    
13. Grant I., Byrd D., Cherner M., Clifford D., Joseph J., McArthur J., Nunn M., Valcour V., Wojna V. Towards an Updated Nosology for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders. HIV Infection and the Central Nervous System: Developed and Limited Resource Settings. Frascati, Italy, June 11, 2005.

Book Chapter

1. Melendez, L.M., Luciano, C. Mayo-Santana R., Wojna, V. Ethnicity and Neuro-AIDS Conditions in the HAART Era. In "The Spectrum of NeuroAIDS Disorders: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment". ASM Press, 2008.