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Comparative Medicine
Dr. Cynthia Lees

Cynthia J. Lees, DVM

Assistant Professor of Pathology (Comparative Medicine)
Tel: (336) 716-1591
Fax: (336) 716-1515
clees@wfubmc.edu

Education:
  • Undergraduate: University of Georgia, 1975-76; Pennsylvania State University, BS, 1979
  • Postgraduate: North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, 1988
  • Fellowship: Bowman Gray School of Medicine, 1991-94
Interests:
  • Teaching: Bone Pathophysiology, Osteoporosis, Hormone Replacement Drugs, Nonhuman Primate Models of Bone Research
  • Research: Effects of Pregnancy and Lactation on Primate Bone, Osteoporosis in Primate Models
  • Clinical: Osteopathology
Current Research: 

Currently, I am examining novel compounds (SERMS, soy protein, PTH) to see if they prevent osteoporosis in the cynomolgus monkey model. This monkey model provides valuable information about cortical bone changes which can not be detected in the rat, the other major model used in osteoporosis research. Bone biomarkers, bone densitometry and bone histomorphometry are used to monitor drug induced changes during these experiments. Other areas of interest include trying to maximize peak bone mass during adolescence to prevent osteoporosis at menopause and examining skeletal changes due to pregnancy and lactation.  

Recent Publications:

Shively CA, Wood CE, Register TC, Willard SL, Lees CJ, Chen H, Sitruk-Ware RL, Tsong YY, Cline JM. Hormone therapy effects on social behavior and activity levels of surgically postmenopausal cynomolgus monkeys. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2007 Sep 1; [Epub ahead of print]

Lees CJ, Kaplan JR, Chen H, Jerome CP, Register TC, Franke AA. Bone mass and soy isoflavones in socially housed, premenopausal macaques. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jul;86(1):245-50. 
 
Sikoski P, Register TC, Lees CJ, Lundeen S, Hutchison J, Brown KH, Cline JM.  Effects of two novel selective estrogen receptor modulators, raloxifene, tamoxifen, and ethinyl estradiol on the uterus, vagina and breast in ovariectomized cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Jan;196(1):75.e1-7.

Wood CE, Sitruk-Ware RL, Tsong YY, Register TC, Lees CJ, Cline JM. Effects of estradiol with oral or intravaginal progesterone on risk markers for breast cancer in a postmenopausal monkey model. Menopause. 2007 Jul-Aug;14(4):639-47.

Wood CE, Register TC, Lees CJ, Chen H, Kimrey S, Cline JM. Effects of estradiol with micronized progesterone or medroxyprogesterone acetate on risk markers for breast cancer in postmenopausal monkeys. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2007 Jan;101(2):125-34.

Wood CE, Appt SE, Clarkson TB, Franke AA, Lees CJ, Doerge DR, Cline JM. Effects of high-dose soy isoflavones and equol on reproductive tissues in female cynomolgus monkeys. Biol Reprod. 2006 Sep;75(3):477-86.

Appt SE, Clarkson TB, Lees CJ, Anthony MS. Low dose estrogens inhibit coronary artery atherosclerosis in postmenopausal monkeys. Maturitas. 2006 Sep 20;55(2):187-94.

Honko AN, Sriranganathan N, Lees CJ, Mizel SB. Flagellin is an effective adjuvant for immunization against lethal respiratory challenge with Yersinia pestis. Infect Immun. 2006 Feb;74(2):1113-20.

Lees CJ, Ederveen AG, Spanjers CP, Clarkson TB. Effects of tibolone on bone quality in ovariectomized monkeys. Menopause. 2005 Sep-Oct;12(5):613-8.

Clarkson TB, Anthony MS, Cline JM, Lees CJ, Ederveen AG. Multisystem evaluations of the long-term effects of tibolone on postmenopausal monkeys. Maturitas. 2004 Aug 30;48 Suppl 1:S24-9.

Taylor PA, Lees CJ, Fournier S, Allison JP, Sharpe AH, Blazar BR. B7 expression on T cells down-regulates immune responses through CTLA-4 ligation via R-T interactions. J Immunol. 2004 Jan 1;172(1):34-9.

Davenport AT, Lees CJ, Green HL, Grant KA. Long-acting depot formulation of luprolide acetate as a method of hypothalamic down regulation for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and oocyte production in Macaca fascicularis. Biol Reprod. 2003 Jun;68(6):2261-6.

Lees CJ, Register TC, Turner CH, Wang T, Stancill M, Jerome CP. Effects of raloxifene on bone density, biomarkers, and histomorphometric and biomechanical measures in ovariectomized cynomolgus monkeys. Menopause. 2002 Sep-Oct;9(5):320-8.

Hotchkiss CE, Stavisky R, Nowak J, Brommage R, Lees CJ, Kaplan J. Levormeloxifene prevents increased bone turnover and vertebral bone loss following ovariectomy in cynomolgus monkeys. Bone. 2001 Jul;29(1):7-15.

Brommage R, Hotchkiss CE, Lees CJ, Stancill MW, Hock JM, Jerome CP. Daily treatment with human recombinant parathyroid hormone-(1-34), LY333334, for 1 year increases bone mass in ovariectomized monkeys. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999 Oct;84(10):3757-63.

Jerome CP, Johnson CS, Vafai HT, Kaplan KC, Bailey J, Capwell B, Fraser F, Hansen L, Ramsay H, Shadoan M, Lees CJ, Thomsen JS, Mosekilde L. Effect of treatment for 6 months with human parathyroid hormone (1-34) peptide in ovariectomized cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Bone. 1999 Sep;25(3):301-9.

Lees CJ, Ramsay H. Histomorphometry and bone biomarkers in cynomolgus females: a study in young, mature, and old monkeys. Bone. 1999 Jan;24(1):25-8.

Lees CJ, Jerome CP, Register TC, Carlson CS. Changes in bone mass and bone biomarkers of cynomolgus monkeys during pregnancy and lactation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998 Dec;83(12):4298-302.

Lees CJ, Ginn TA. Soy protein isolate diet does not prevent increased cortical bone turnover in ovariectomized macaques. Calcif Tissue Int. 1998 Jun;62(6):557-8.

Lees CJ, Jerome CP. Effects of pregnancy and lactation on bone in cynomolgus macaques: histomorphometric analysis of iliac biopsies. Bone. 1998 May;22(5):545-9.

Jerome CP, Turner CH, Lees CJ. Decreased bone mass and strength in ovariectomized cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Calcif Tissue Int. 1997 Mar;60(3):265-70.

Jerome CP, Johnson CS, Lees CJ. Effect of treatment for 3 months with human parathyroid hormone 1-34 peptide in ovariectomized cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Bone. 1995 Oct;17(4 Suppl):415S-420S.