Kazem Azadzoi, M.D, M.A.
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Research Professor of Urology and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (BU Medical School) Director of Urology Research (Boston VA) Senior Health Scientist (Boston VA) |
Contact Information
Bulding 1A, Room 315
150 S. Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 01230
Phone: (857)-364-5602
Fax: (857)-364-4540
Email: kazadzoi@bu.edu
Professional Memberships
American Urological Association (AUA)
International Society for Impotence Research
International Continence Society (ICS)
International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS)
North-East Smooth Muscle Society
Urological Research Society (URS)
Committees, Editorial and Review Boards, Consultant
Chairman, VA Boston Health Care System IACUC
Ad hoc member, Boston University promotion committee
Voting Member, VA Boston Healthcare System Research and Development
Voting Member, VA Boston Healthcare System Steering Committee
Editorial Board Member, British Journal of Urology International (BJUI)
Editorial Board Member, Open Access Journal of Urology
Editorial Board Member, Open Access Andrology Journal
Advisory Board Member, European Urological Society 2000 Annual Meeting
Reviewer: American Journal of Urology, American Journal of Physiology, Urology Journal (Gold),
International Journal of Impotence Research, Journal of Sexual Medicine,
Journal of Neurourology and Urodynamic, American Journal of Andrology,
European Urology, Asian J. of Andrology, British Journal of Urology,
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Consultant, Veterans Affairs Central Office Surgery Study Section
Ad hoc consultant, NIH, Urologic and Kidney Disease Study Section
Awards and Honors
Jean-Francois Ginestié Prize for basic research in impotence, 1990
Endourological Society Prize for basic research in endourology, 1993
Jean-Francois Ginestié Prize for basic research in female sexual dysfunction, 1996
Jack Lapides Prize for best research in urodynamic and neurourology, 1988
American Urological Association CIRCON Prize for best research in prostate dysfunction, 2000
Hall of Fame, Appointed to International Continence Society (ICS) Hall of Fame 2005
National Register’s Who’s who in Executives and Professionals, included in the 2005 edition
VIP, Global Who’s Who, included in the 2007 edition
Who’s Who in America, included in the Marquis Who’s Who in America, 2008 edition
Research Interests
Our research introduces a new concept in the pathophysiology of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). The etiology of LUTS is poorly understood and the close association of LUTS and ED remains a clinical mystery. We have attempted to present a unifying concept, namely pelvic arterial insufficiency, as underlying the common clinical problems of LUTS and ED. We realize that each disorder has a complicated multifactorial etiology. However, in view of growing evidence from clinical and basic research, we are increasingly convinced that ischemia is an important etiological factor in ED-associated LUTS. Certainly, atherosclerosis can explain the marked association of these conditions with increased age and their association with vascular risk factors. In addition, the fact that the cavernosal, bladder and prostate smooth muscle alterations seen clinically can be reproduced in our experimental model of pelvic ischemia, lends further credence to our unifying hypothesis.
Our clinical studies have shown that human pelvic perfusion correlates with LUTS as well as erectile dysfunction. We also found that human bladder non-compliance correlates with decreased bladder blood flow. Our studies with experimental models have shown that pelvic ischemia exposes the bladder, prostate and penis to repeating cycles of oxidative stress as these organs undergo smooth muscle contraction and relaxation for regular physiologic activities. Oxidative stress under ischemic conditions triggers a cascade of molecular events involving oxidative stress-responsive genes, antioxidant defense mechanisms, growth factors, prostaglandins and leukotrienes leading to smooth muscle dysfunction, microvascular damage, neurodegeneration and fibrosis. Treatment with antioxidants appears to delay or prevent these changes.
Our current studies extend the previous findings to cellular and molecular mechanisms of oxidative and nitrosative injury and the roles of stress-responsive genes, antioxidant enzymatic system, S-nitrosylation, and mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins in smooth muscle dysfunction, vasculopathy and neurodegeneration of the ischemic bladder, prostate and penile erectile tissue. Another goal is to develop newer prophylactic and therapeutic strategies against LUTS and ED using antioxidants.
Research Team:
Kazem Azadzoi, M.D., M.A. (Director)
Jinghua Yang, Ph.D. (Investigator)
Mike Siroky, M.D. (Investigator)
Subbaroa Yalla, M.D. (Collaborator)
Maryrose Sullivan, Ph.D. (Collaborator)
Vivian Cristofaro, Ph.D. (Research fellow)
Yang Liu, Ph.D. (Research associate)
Qi Zhang, Ph.D. (Research assistant)
Positions available:
We are seeking a Research Associate and a Research Assistant to assist our investigators at the university and VA Boston research laboratories. For further information, please contact Dr. Azadzoi or send your CV to kazadzoi@bu.edu.
Recent publications
- Azadzoi KM, Ziv M. Radisavljevic and Siroky MB: Effects of ischemia on tachykinin containing nerves and neurokinin receptors in the bladder, Urology 71(5): 979-83, 2008.
- Azadzoi KM, Subbarao V. Yalla and Siroky MB: Oxidative stress and neurodegeneration in the ischemic overactive bladder J Urology 178: 710-715, 2007.
- Azadzoi KM: Immunohistochemical distribution of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase-1 in human prostate tissue. Editorial comment, European Urol 52: 501-02, 2007.
- Azadzoi KM: Relationship between vascular damage degrees and endothelial progenitor cells in patients with erectile dysfunction. Effect of Vardenafil administration and PDE5 expression in the bone marrow. Editorial comment, European Urol, 51: 1481-1419, 2007.
- Azadzoi KM: Arteriogenic Erectile Dysfunction: Beyond the hemodynamic changes. Review article in British J Urol 97:11-16, 2006.
- Azadzoi KM and Siroky MB. Neurogenic Sexual Dysfunction in Men and Women. Chapter in Male Sexual Function: A Guide to Clinical Management. Edited by John J Mulcahy. pages: 195-226, 2006.
- Azadzoi KM, Schulman R, Michael Aviram and Siroky MB. Oxidative stress in arteriogenic erectile dysfunction: Prophylactic role of antioxidants. J Urology 174: 386-393, 2005.
- Siroky MB and Azadzoi KM: Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction. Chapter in “Pelvic Floor Disorders” by Bourcier and McGuire, WB Saunders, 89-120, 2004.
- Azadzoi KM: Effect of chronic ischemia on bladder structure and function. Chapter in “Bladder Disease: Research concepts and clinical applications”. By Atala and Slade, 271-280, 2004.
- Azadzoi KM, Master TA and Siroky MB: Effect of chronic ischemia on constitutive and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in erectile tissue. J. Andrology 25(3): 382-388, 2004.
- Azadzoi KM , Heim VK, Tarcan T and Siroky MB. Alteration of urothelial-mediated tone in bladder ischemia: Role of eicosanoids. Neurourol & Urodynamic, 23 (3): 258-264, 2004.
- Azadzoi KM. Effect of chronic ischemia on bladder structure and function. Exp Medicine and Biol. 539 (Pt A): 271-280, 2004.
- Wang T, Soker S, Atala, A Siroky MB, and Azadzoi KM. Changes in angiogenic growth factor and NOS expression in the ischemic corpus cavernosum. International J Impot Research 16: 403-411, 2004.
