Novel microscope can non-invasively diagnose, treat diseases

Scientists have developed a specialised microscope that has the potential to diagnose diseases like skin cancer as well as perform precise surgery without making any incisions in the skin. According to the study, the microscope allows medical professionals to pinpoint the exact location of an abnormality, diagnose it and treat it instantly.

"Our technology allows us to scan tissue quickly, and when we see a suspicious or abnormal cell structure, we can perform ultra-precise surgery and selectively treat the unwanted or diseased structure within the tissue -- without cutting into the skin," said a researcher.

It could be used to treat any structure of the body that can be reached by light and requires extremely precise treatment, including nerves or blood vessels in the skin, eye, brain or other vital structures, researchers said.

"For diagnosing and scanning diseases like skin cancer, this could be revolutionary," said a Prof.

The study shows that the device allows imaging of living tissue up to about one millimetre in depth using an ultrafast infrared laser beam.

Researchers said that this microscope, however, is different from previous technology due to its capability to not only digitally scan living tissue, but also treat the tissue by intensifying the heat produced by the laser.

"We can alter the pathway of blood vessels without impacting any of the surrounding vessels or tissues," said the Prof.

The researchers also said that their aim is to make multiphoton microscope technology more versatile while also increasing its precision.

"We wanted to be able to identify what was happening under the skin from many different angles and to have the capability of imaging different body sites," said a Prof.

Developments of a miniature version of the telescope that could be used to perform microscopic examinations and treatment during endoscopy are also underway, researchers said.

"We are not only the first to achieve fast video-rate imaging that enables clinical applications, but also the first to develop this technology for therapeutic uses," said the Prof.

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Alzheimer's disease: It may be possible to restore memory function

Research published today reveals a new approach to Alzheimer's disease (AD) that may eventually make it possible to reverse memory loss, a hallmark of the disease in its late stages. 

The team, found that by focusing on gene changes caused by influences other than DNA sequences—called epigenetics—it was possible to reverse memory decline in an animal model of AD.

"In this paper, we have not only identified the epigenetic factors that contribute to the memory loss, we also found ways to temporarily reverse them in an animal model of AD," said senior author.

The research was conducted on mouse models carrying gene mutations for familial AD—where more than one member of a family has the disease—and on post-mortem brain tissues from AD patients.

AD is linked to epigenetic abnormality
AD results from both genetic and environmental risk factors, such as aging, which combine to result in epigenetic changes, leading to gene expression changes, but little is known about how that occurs.
The epigenetic changes in AD happen primarily in the later stages, when patients are unable to retain recently learned information and exhibit the most dramatic cognitive decline, the author said. A key reason for the cognitive decline is the loss of glutamate receptors, which are critical to learning and short-term memory.

"We found that in Alzheimer's disease, many subunits of glutamate receptors in the frontal cortex are down-regulated, disrupting the excitatory signals, which impairs working memory," the Prof. said.

The researchers found that the loss of glutamate receptors is the result of an epigenetic process known as repressive histone modification, which is elevated in AD. They saw this both in the animal models they studied and in post-mortem tissue of AD patients.

The Prof. explained that histone modifiers change the structure of chromatin, which controls how genetic material gains access to a cell's transcriptional machinery.

"This AD-linked abnormal histone modification is what represses gene expression, diminishing glutamate receptors, which leads to loss of synaptic function and memory deficits," the Prof. said.

Potential drug targets
Understanding that process has revealed potential drug targets, she said, since repressive histone modification is controlled or catalyzed by enzymes.

"Our study not only reveals the correlation between epigenetic changes and AD, we also found we can correct the cognitive dysfunction by targeting the epigenetic enzymes to restore glutamate receptors," the Prof. said.

The AD animals were injected three times with compounds designed to inhibit the enzyme that controls repressive histone modification.

"When we gave the AD animals this enzyme inhibitor, we saw the rescue of cognitive function confirmed through evaluations of recognition memory, spatial memory and working memory. We were quite surprised to see such dramatic cognitive improvement," the Prof. said.

"At the same time, we saw the recovery of glutamate receptor expression and function in the frontal cortex."

The improvements lasted for one week; future studies will focus on developing compounds that penetrate the brain more effectively and are thus longer-lasting.

Epigenetic advantage
Brain disorders, such as AD, are often polygenetic diseases, the Prof. explained, where many genes are involved and each gene has a modest impact. An epigenetic approach is advantageous, she said, because epigenetic processes control not just one gene but many genes.

"An epigenetic approach can correct a network of genes, which will collectively restore cells to their normal state and restore the complex brain function," she explained.

"We have provided evidence showing that abnormal epigenetic regulation of glutamate receptor expression and function did contribute to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease," the Prof. concluded. "If many of the dysregulated genes in AD are normalized by targeting specific epigenetic enzymes, it will be possible to restore cognitive function and behavior." 

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Women with PCOS highly prone to diabetes

Women suffering from Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a problem in which a woman's hormones are imbalanced, are highly prone to diabetes, according to the new findings.

Doctors  after conducting several survey, researches and monitoring patients during the Out Patient Department (OPD) sessions, have discovered that insulin resistance' is an integral part of PCOS and that women with the syndrome are at a higher risk for diabetes than the general population.
"Insulin resistance has been recognised as a risk factor for diabetes and may be the earliest detectable abnormality in individuals who proceed to develop diabetes," said  a senior endocrinology consultant and assistant professor.
Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body produces insulin but does not use it effectively. When people have insulin resistance, glucose builds up in the blood instead of being absorbed by the cells, leading to type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes.
PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Symptoms are irregular menstrual periods, irregular ovulation, hirutism, weight gain, hair loss and oily skin or acne. 

 PCOS symptoms vary from women to women thus making its diagnosis delayed or confusing.

Prof. said insulin resistance has been recognised as a risk factor for diabetes and may be the earliest detectable abnormality in individuals who proceed to develop diabetes.

India currently reports 10 per cent of the world's PCOS cases. The available data about PCOS suggests its prevalence to be around 4-10 per cent of it's population in USA, two per cent in European Countries, and 20 -25 per cent in women.

"PCOS is also associated with an increased risk of developing health problems in later life span, such as type 2 diabetes, hyper tension and heart disease, metabolic syndrome, NASG and sleep apnea. However, it has been seen that 50 per cent of affected women are not aware of it," reported a gynaecologist .
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