Scholars@Duke

• Background
• 

  Education, Training, & Certifications

  • Fellow in Hematology and Oncology, Medicine, Yale University 1995 - 1998
  • Medical Resident, Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center 1992 - 1995
  • M.D., Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) 1986
• 

  Duke Appointment History

  • Associate Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Hematology, Medicine 2011 - 2013
  • Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Hematology, Medicine 2004 - 2010
  • Associate in the Department of Medicine, Medicine, Hematology, Medicine 1998 - 2004
• Research
• 

  Selected Grants

  • Hematopoietic Cell Therapy for Young Adults with Severe Sickle Cell Disease awarded by University of Pittsburgh 2011 - 2014
  • Phase II Study of Propranolol as Anti-Adhesive Therapy in SCD awarded by National Institutes of Health 2009 - 2013
  • PROPRANOLOL AS ANTI-ADHESIVE THERAPY IN SCD awarded by National Institutes of Health 2010 - 2012
  • Relationship of Depression to SCD Severity, Health Care Utilization and QoL awarded by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2008 - 2011
  • Pulmonary Hypertension in SCD awarded by National Institutes of Health 2005 - 2011
  • Factors Involved in B-CAM/LU-Mediated Adhesion awarded by National Institutes of Health 1999 - 2003
• Publications & Artistic Works
• 

  Selected Publications

  • Academic Articles

    • Elmariah, Hany, Melanie E. Garrett, Laura M. De Castro, Jude C. Jonassaint, Kenneth I. Ataga, James R. Eckman, Allison E. Ashley-Koch, and Marilyn J. Telen. “Factors associated with survival in a contemporary adult sickle cell disease cohort.” Am J Hematol 89, no. 5 (May 2014): 530–35. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.23683.
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    • Klings, Elizabeth S., Roberto F. Machado, Robyn J. Barst, Claudia R. Morris, Kamal K. Mubarak, Victor R. Gordeuk, Gregory J. Kato, et al. “An official American Thoracic Society clinical practice guideline: diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of pulmonary hypertension of sickle cell disease.” Am J Respir Crit Care Med 189, no. 6 (March 15, 2014): 727–40. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201401-0065ST.
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    • Shah, Nirmish, Margo Rollins, Daniel Landi, Radhika Shah, Jonathan Bae, and Laura M. De Castro. “Differences in pain management between hematologists and hospitalists caring for patients with sickle cell disease hospitalized for vasoocclusive crisis.” Clin J Pain 30, no. 3 (March 2014): 266–68. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0b013e318295ec04.
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    • Edwards, Christopher L., Alvin Killough, Mary Wood, Todd Doyle, Miriam Feliu, Camela S. Barker, Priyanka Uppal, et al. “Emotional reactions to pain predict psychological distress in adult patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).” Int J Psychiatry Med 47, no. 1 (2014): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.2190/PM.47.1.a.
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    • Shah, Nirmish, Jude Jonassaint, and Laura De Castro. “Patients welcome the Sickle Cell Disease Mobile Application to Record Symptoms via Technology (SMART).” Hemoglobin 38, no. 2 (2014): 99–103. https://doi.org/10.3109/03630269.2014.880716.
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    • Tanabe, Paula, Autumn Stevenson, Laura DeCastro, Linda Drawhorn, Sophie Lanzkron, Robert E. Molokie, and Nicole Artz. “Evaluation of a train-the-trainer workshop on sickle cell disease for ED providers.” J Emerg Nurs 39, no. 6 (November 2013): 539–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2011.05.010.
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    • De Castro, Laura M., Rahima Zennadi, Jude C. Jonassaint, Milena Batchvarova, and Marilyn J. Telen. “Effect of propranolol as antiadhesive therapy in sickle cell disease.” Clin Transl Sci 5, no. 6 (December 2012): 437–44. https://doi.org/10.1111/cts.12005.
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    • Shah, Nirmish, Daniel Landi, Radhika Shah, Jennifer Rothman, Laura M. De Castro, and Courtney D. Thornburg. “Complications of implantable venous access devices in patients with sickle cell disease.” Am J Hematol 87, no. 2 (February 2012): 224–26. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.22230.
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    • Ashley-Koch, Allison E., Emmanuel C. Okocha, Melanie E. Garrett, Karen Soldano, Laura M. De Castro, Jude C. Jonassaint, Eugene P. Orringer, James R. Eckman, and Marilyn J. Telen. “MYH9 and APOL1 are both associated with sickle cell disease nephropathy.” Br J Haematol 155, no. 3 (November 2011): 386–94. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2141.2011.08832.x.
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    • Royal, Charmaine D., Charles R. Jonassaint, Jude C. Jonassaint, and Laura M. De Castro. “Living with sickle cell disease: traversing 'race' and identity.” Ethn Health 16, no. 4–5 (August 2011): 389–404. https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2011.563283.
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    • Jonassaint, Charles R., Jude C. Jonassaint, Michael V. Stanton, Laura M. De Castro, and Charmaine D. Royal. “Clinical and sociodemographic factors predict coping styles among adults with sickle cell disease.” J Natl Med Assoc 102, no. 11 (November 2010): 1045–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0027-9684(15)30731-8.
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    • Stanton, Michael V., Charles R. Jonassaint, Frederick B. Bartholomew, Christopher Edwards, Laura Richman, Laura DeCastro, and Redford Williams. “The association of optimism and perceived discrimination with health care utilization in adults with sickle cell disease.” J Natl Med Assoc 102, no. 11 (November 2010): 1056–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0027-9684(15)30733-1.
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    • Adam, S. S., M. J. Telen, C. R. Jonassaint, L. M. De Castro, and J. C. Jonassaint. “The relationship of opioid analgesia to quality of life in an adult sickle cell population.” Health Outcomes Research in Medicine 1, no. 1 (July 1, 2010). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehrm.2010.04.002.
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    • Steinberg, Martin H., William F. McCarthy, Oswaldo Castro, Samir K. Ballas, F Danny Armstrong, Wally Smith, Kenneth Ataga, et al. “The risks and benefits of long-term use of hydroxyurea in sickle cell anemia: A 17.5 year follow-up.” Am J Hematol 85, no. 6 (June 2010): 403–8. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.21699.
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    • Vichinsky, Elliott P., Lynne D. Neumayr, Jeffrey I. Gold, Michael W. Weiner, Randall R. Rule, Diana Truran, Jeffrey Kasten, et al. “Neuropsychological dysfunction and neuroimaging abnormalities in neurologically intact adults with sickle cell anemia.” Jama 303, no. 18 (May 12, 2010): 1823–31. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.562.
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    • Brittain, Julia E., Ben Hulkower, Susan K. Jones, Dell Strayhorn, Laura De Castro, Marilyn J. Telen, Eugene P. Orringer, Alan Hinderliter, and Kenneth I. Ataga. “Placenta growth factor in sickle cell disease: association with hemolysis and inflammation.” Blood 115, no. 10 (March 11, 2010): 2014–20. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2009-04-217950.
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    • Fitzhugh, Courtney D., Naudia Lauder, Jude C. Jonassaint, Marilyn J. Telen, Xiongce Zhao, Elizabeth C. Wright, Francis R. Gilliam, and Laura M. De Castro. “Cardiopulmonary complications leading to premature deaths in adult patients with sickle cell disease.” Am J Hematol 85, no. 1 (January 2010): 36–40. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.21569.
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    • Edwards, Christopher L., Marquisha Green, Chanté C. Wellington, Malik Muhammad, Mary Wood, Miriam Feliu, Lekisha Edwards, et al. “Depression, suicidal ideation, and attempts in black patients with sickle cell disease.” J Natl Med Assoc 101, no. 11 (November 2009): 1090–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0027-9684(15)31103-2.
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    • Ballas, S. K., W. F. McCarthy, N. Guo, L. DeCastro, R. Bellevue, B. A. Barton, and M. A. Waclawiw. “Exposure to hydroxyurea and pregnancy outcomes in patients with sickle cell anemia.” Journal of the National Medical Association 101, no. 10 (2009): 1046–51.
    • Adam, Soheir, Jude Jonassaint, Hillary Kruger, Melanie Kail, Eugene P. Orringer, James R. Eckman, Allison Ashley-Koch, Marilyn J. Telen, and Laura M. De Castro. “Surgical and obstetric outcomes in adults with sickle cell disease.” Am J Med 121, no. 10 (October 2008): 916–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2008.04.040.
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    • Fung, Ellen B., Paul R. Harmatz, Meredith Milet, Vinod Balasa, Samir K. Ballas, James F. Casella, Lee Hilliard, et al. “Disparity in the management of iron overload between patients with sickle cell disease and thalassemia who received transfusions.” Transfusion 48, no. 9 (September 2008): 1971–80. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1537-2995.2008.01775.x.
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    • Villers, Margaret S., Margaret G. Jamison, Laura M. De Castro, and Andra H. James. “Morbidity associated with sickle cell disease in pregnancy.” Am J Obstet Gynecol 199, no. 2 (August 2008): 125.e1-125.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2008.04.016.
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    • Ashley-Koch, Allison E., Laine Elliott, Melanie E. Kail, Laura M. De Castro, Jude Jonassaint, Terry L. Jackson, Jennifer Price, et al. “Identification of genetic polymorphisms associated with risk for pulmonary hypertension in sickle cell disease.” Blood 111, no. 12 (June 15, 2008): 5721–26. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2007-02-074849.
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    • Ataga, Kenneth I., Wally R. Smith, Laura M. De Castro, Paul Swerdlow, Yogen Saunthararajah, Oswaldo Castro, Elliot Vichinsky, et al. “Efficacy and safety of the Gardos channel blocker, senicapoc (ICA-17043), in patients with sickle cell anemia.” Blood 111, no. 8 (April 15, 2008): 3991–97. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2007-08-110098.
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    • Eyler, Christine E., Terry Jackson, Laine E. Elliott, Laura M. De Castro, Jude Jonassaint, Allison Ashley-Koch, and Marilyn J. Telen. “beta(2)-Adrenergic receptor and adenylate cyclase gene polymorphisms affect sickle red cell adhesion.” Br J Haematol 141, no. 1 (April 2008): 105–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2141.2008.07008.x.
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    • Zennadi, R., L. De Castro, C. Eyler, K. Xu, M. Ko, and M. J. Telen. “Role and regulation of sickle red cell interactions with other cells: ICAM-4 and other adhesion receptors.” Transfus Clin Biol 15, no. 1–2 (February 2008): 23–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tracli.2008.04.009.
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    • De Castro, Laura M., Jude C. Jonassaint, Felicia L. Graham, Allison Ashley-Koch, and Marilyn J. Telen. “Pulmonary hypertension associated with sickle cell disease: clinical and laboratory endpoints and disease outcomes.” Am J Hematol 83, no. 1 (January 2008): 19–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.21058.
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    • Edwards, Christopher L., Renee Dunn Raynor, Miriam Feliu, Camela McDougald, Stephanie Johnson, Donald Schmechel, Mary Wood, et al. “Neuropsychological assessment, neuroimaging, and neuropsychiatric evaluation in pediatric and adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).” Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 3, no. 6 (December 2007): 705–9. https://doi.org/10.2147/ndt.s518.
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    • Elliott, Laine, Allison E. Ashley-Koch, Laura De Castro, Jude Jonassaint, Jennifer Price, Kenneth I. Ataga, Marc C. Levesque, et al. “Genetic polymorphisms associated with priapism in sickle cell disease.” Br J Haematol 137, no. 3 (May 2007): 262–67. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2141.2007.06560.x.
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    • Fung, Ellen B., Paul Harmatz, Meredith Milet, Samir K. Ballas, Laura De Castro, Ward Hagar, William Owen, et al. “Morbidity and mortality in chronically transfused subjects with thalassemia and sickle cell disease: A report from the multi-center study of iron overload.” Am J Hematol 82, no. 4 (April 2007): 255–65. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.20809.
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    • Kihara, Alexandre Hiroaki, Leandro Mantovani de Castro, Anselmo Sigari Moriscot, and Dânia Emi Hamassaki. “Prolonged dark adaptation changes connexin expression in the mouse retina.” J Neurosci Res 83, no. 7 (May 15, 2006): 1331–41. https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.20815.
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    • Edwards, Christopher, Keith Whitfield, Shiv Sudhakar, Michele Pearce, Goldie Byrd, Mary Wood, Miriam Feliu, et al. “Parental substance abuse, reports of chronic pain and coping in adult patients with sickle cell disease.” J Natl Med Assoc 98, no. 3 (March 2006): 420–28.
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    • Pells, Jennifer J., Katherine E. Presnell, Christopher L. Edwards, Mary Wood, Myleme O. Harrison, Laura DeCastro, Stephanie Johnson, et al. “Moderate chronic pain, weight and dietary intake in African-American adult patients with sickle cell disease.” J Natl Med Assoc 97, no. 12 (December 2005): 1622–29.
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    • Harrison, M Ojinga, Christopher L. Edwards, Harold G. Koenig, Hayden B. Bosworth, Laura Decastro, and Mary Wood. “Religiosity/spirituality and pain in patients with sickle cell disease.” J Nerv Ment Dis 193, no. 4 (April 2005): 250–57. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nmd.0000158375.73779.50.
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    • Edwards, Christopher L., Mischca T. Scales, Charles Loughlin, Gary G. Bennett, Shani Harris-Peterson, Laura M. De Castro, Elaine Whitworth, et al. “A brief review of the pathophysiology, associated pain, and psychosocial issues in sickle cell disease.” Int J Behav Med 12, no. 3 (2005): 171–79. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm1203_6.
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    • Zennadi, Rahima, Patrick C. Hines, Laura M. De Castro, Jean-Pierre Cartron, Leslie V. Parise, and Marilyn J. Telen. “Epinephrine acts through erythroid signaling pathways to activate sickle cell adhesion to endothelium via LW-alphavbeta3 interactions.” Blood 104, no. 12 (December 1, 2004): 3774–81. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2004-01-0042.
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    • Zen, Qin, Milena Batchvarova, Christina A. Twyman, Christine E. Eyler, Huiling Qiu, Laura M. De Castro, and Marilyn J. Telen. “B-CAM/LU expression and the role of B-CAM/LU activation in binding of low- and high-density red cells to laminin in sickle cell disease.” Am J Hematol 75, no. 2 (February 2004): 63–72. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.10442.
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    • Steinberg, M. H., F. Barton, O. Castro, C. H. Pegelow, S. K. Ballas, A. Kutlar, E. Orringer, et al. “Effect of Hydroxyurea on Mortality and Morbidity in Adult Sickle Cell Anemia: Risks and Benefits Up to 9 Years of Treatment.” Journal of the American Medical Association 289, no. 13 (2003): 1645–51. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.289.13.1645.
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    • De Castro, L. M., P. Smitheran, and P. Thomas. “Prevalence of hepatitis c in adults with sickle cell disease.” Blood 96, no. 11 PART II (January 1, 2000).
    • Rinder, H. M., J. B. Tracey, M. Recht, L. DeCastro, C. S. Rinder, C. McHugh, and B. R. Smith. “Differences in platelet α-granule release between normals and immune thrombocytopenic patients and between young and old platelets.” Thrombosis and Haemostasis 80, no. 3 (1998): 457–62.
    • De Castro, L. M., E. R. Kern, E. De Clercq, A. Ghaffar, E. P. Mayer, P. E. Vogt, and J. D. Gangemi. “Phosphonylmethoxyalkyl purine and pyrimidine derivatives for treatment of opportunistic cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus infections in murine AIDS.” Antiviral Res 16, no. 1 (July 1991): 101–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/0166-3542(91)90062-v.
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