Guided-mode resonance biochip system for early detection of ovarian cancer

Biomedical Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials, & Medical Devices Poster SessionA high-accuracy, sensor system has been developed that provides near-instantaneous detection of biomarker proteins as indicators of ovarian serous papillary carcinoma. Based upon photonic guided-mode resonance technology, these high-resolution sensors employ multiple resonance peaks to rapidly test for relevant proteins in complex biological samples. This label-free sensor approach requires minimal sample processing and has the capability to measure multiple agents simultaneously and in real time. In this work, a sensor system that uses a fixed-wavelength source with a shaped input wavefront to auto-scan in angle has been developed. As binding events occur at the sensor surface, resonance reflection peak shifts are tracked as a function of incident angle on an integrated CMOS detector. The amount of angular shift is linearly correlated to the quantity of biomarker protein in a biological sample. Multiple resonance peaks provide increased detection information about the binding dynamics occurring at the sensor surface, thus decreasing false detection readings. Simultaneous detection of multiple biomarker proteins in parallel with sensitivities in the pM range contributes to the potential for differential real-time data analysis. A biochip system prototype has been developed and the system performance characterized. Identification and quantification of protein biomarkers that are up- or down- regulated in blood and serum as indicators of ovarian cancer will be presented

Rapid label-free diagnostics for biomedical applications using advances in optics nanotechnology

Translational Medicine and Nanoscience PanelA new highly sensitive sensor technology has the potential to simplify medical diagnostic tests by significantly reducing operation complexity compared to standard tests such as enzyme-linked immunoassays. Sensor elements are fabricated from low-cost polymers and pre-sensitized to detect an array of agents related to the disease. These elements are disposable and designed to operate tag-free using patient samples without pre- or post-chemical processing. Picomolar concentrations for a wide variety of analytes, including proteins, drugs, bacteria, viruses, and DNA can be measured. Additionally, the sensor system design utilizes low-power laser diodes and detector arrays in a compact format allowing for enhanced portability. The heart of this new sensor technology is the guided-mode resonance (GMR) effect that occurs in sub-wavelength waveguide gratings. When these sensors are illuminated with a light source, a specific wavelength of light is reflected at a particular angle. Interaction of a target analyte with a biochemical layer on the sensor surface yields measurable angular shifts that directly identify the binding event without additional processing or foreign tags. Since the resonance layer is polarization sensitive, separate resonance peaks occur for incident polarization states. This property provides cross-referenced data points that can be used to calibrate for variations such as temperature or sample background and to reduce the probability of false readings

The Vision Research Center of Kansas City

Neuroscience - Vision and Functional Brain Imaging Poster SessionThe Vision Research Center was founded as and is a well established collaboration of several of UMKC schools and Kansas City Medical Centers and thus offers an unprecedented interdisciplinary synergy with a unified goal: to better diagnose, prevent, and treat eye disease and vision disorders through translational research in order to make a difference in the lives of tens of millions of people. To this end, the center conducts federally and industry funded basic, translational and clinical research to develop new medical therapies and offers patient care in all subspecialties of ophthalmology. The center's nationally recognized excellence in research, patient care and medical education contribute to UMKC's strengths in the life sciences. Past, present and future objectives of the Vision Research Center: Provide a direct avenue for basic and translational research in eye and related diseases; Transfer basic science findings seamlessly into practical use with patients trough translational research; Develop new therapy approaches urgently needed by physicians in the US and worldwide; Provide educational excellence; Ensure patients receive the most advanced medical treatments available; Become national center of excellence for eye researc

Editorial: Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection in Retinal Disease, Volume II.

Editorial on the Research Topic: Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection in Retinal Disease, Volume I

Transmittance, Reflectance and Emission Spectroscopy of Meteorites from the IV to the IR Spectral Range

In the last decade the Planetary Emissivity Laboratory (PEL) of DLR in Berlin has provided spec-tral measurements of planetary analogues from the visible to the far-infrared range for comparison with remote sens-ing spacecraft/telescopic measurements of planetary surfaces [1-5]. Bi-directional reflection, transmission and emis-sion spectroscopy are the techniques we used to acquire spectral data of target materials. In fall 2015 we started upgrading our laboratory set-up, adding a new spectrometer, three external sources, and new detectors and beamsplitters to further extend the spectral range of measurements that can be performed in the laboratory. Reflecting the wider scope of measurement capabilities the facility was renamed to Planetary Spectros-copy Laboratory (PSL). Two FTIR instruments are operating at PSL, in an air-conditioned room. The spectrometers are two Bruker Ver-tex 80V that can be evacuated to ~.1 mbar. One spectrometer is equipped with aluminum mirrors optimized for the UV, visible and near-IR, the second features gold-coated mirrors for the near to far IR spectral range. Apart from the mirrors the two instruments are identical, and can therefore share the collection of detectors and beamsplitters we have in our equipment to cover a very wide spectral range. The instruments and the accessory units used are fully automatized and the data calibration and reduction are made with software developed at DLR[4]. By using several pairings of detector+beamsplitter we can perform spectral measurements in the whole spectral range from 0.2 to 200 μm

Comparing the efficacy of the monocular trial treatment paradigm with multiple measurements of intraocular pressure before and after treatment initiation in primary open-angle glaucoma

The monocular trial has been proposed as a test to help control for diurnal fluctuations in eye pressure when assessing medication effectiveness. We undertook a prospective study to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the monocular trial as a test for determining the effectiveness of a glaucoma medication. The efficacy of the monocular trial was compared to the diagnostic paradigm of repeated pre- and post-treatment measurements in determining whether an intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering drug is effective. Forty-two patients with newly diagnosed open-angle glaucoma completed five visits: visit 1 for determining eligibility, obtaining consent, and measuring IOP, visit 2 for a second pressure measurement, and visit 3 for a third pressure reading. The new medication was then started in one eye. IOP measurements were made at weeks 4 and 6. The gold standard IOP change was defined as the difference in mean between the pre- and post-medication visits. A medication was deemed effective if this difference was at least 15%. The monocular trial pressure change was defined as the IOP change in the treated eye between the visit immediately before and immediately after the medication addition, corrected by subtracting the pressure change in the untreated eye. All 42 patients completed the full protocol with good compliance. Twenty-five of 42 (60%) medication additions were considered effective by the gold standard method, and 25/42 (60%) by the monocular trial method. However, the two methods agreed in only 26 patients (17 Yes/Yes, 9 No/No). The calculated sensitivity was low (0.68), with a specificity of 0.53. The monocular trial can give useful clues as to whether a medication is effective, but should not be the only information used in making this determination. To obtain the most valid results, multiple pressure checks should be done before and after starting a new medication

Identification and Functional Distribution of Intracellular Ca2+ Channels in Mouse Lacrimal Gland Acinar Cells

We have determined the presence and cellular distribution of intracellular calcium channels, inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) and ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in adult and postnatal (P10) lacrimal gland acinar cells. Western blot analysis of both P10 cultures and adult tissue identified the presence of each IP3R and RyR isotypes. The immunocytochemistry analysis showed a differential cellular distribution of these calcium channels where the nuclear envelope, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus membranes represent areas with highest levels of channel expression. This IP3R and RyR isotype distribution is confirmed by the immuno-EM results. The findings described in this study are in agreement with published pharmacological data that shows the participation of these channels in the secretion process of the lacrimal gland acinar cells. Furthermore, the differential subcellular distribution between the isoforms could indicate a potential role of these intracellular Ca2+ channels on the regulation of specific cellular functions

Proteome changes in a human retinal pigment epithelial cell line during oxidative stress and following antioxidant treatment

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in the elderly. Oxidative stress contributes to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction and cell death thereby leading to AMD. Using improved RPE cell model systems, such as human telomerase transcriptase-overexpressing (hTERT) RPE cells (hTERT-RPE), pathophysiological changes in RPE during oxidative stress can be better understood. Using this model system, we identified changes in the expression of proteins involved in the cellular antioxidant responses after induction of oxidative stress. Some antioxidants such as vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols) are powerful antioxidants that can reduce oxidative damage in cells. Alpha-tocopherol (α-Toc or αT) and gamma-tocopherol (γ-Toc or γT) are well-studied tocopherols, but signaling mechanisms underlying their respective cytoprotective properties may be distinct. Here, we determined what effect oxidative stress, induced by extracellularly applied tBHP in the presence and absence of αT and/or γT, has on the expression of antioxidant proteins and related signaling networks. Using proteomics approaches, we identified differential protein expression in cellular antioxidant response pathways during oxidative stress and after tocopherol treatment. We identified three groups of proteins based on biochemical function: glutathione metabolism/transfer, peroxidases and redox-sensitive proteins involved in cytoprotective signaling. We found that oxidative stress and tocopherol treatment resulted in unique changes in these three groups of antioxidant proteins indicate that αT and γT independently and by themselves can induce the expression of antioxidant proteins in RPE cells. These results provide novel rationales for potential therapeutic strategies to protect RPE cells from oxidative stress