New eye test may detect signs of Alzheimer’s disease

The scientists have developed a new eye test that non-invasively scans the retina and detects beta-amyloid protein — a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloid beta are amino acids and main component of the amyloid plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer patients. The experimental technology scans the retina using techniques that can identify beta-amyloid protein deposits that mirror those in the brain. The findings revealed a 4.7-fold increase in retinal plaque burden in patients with Alzheimer’s, compared to controls.  “As a developmental outgrowth of the central nervous system that shares many of the brain’s characteristics, the retina may offer a unique opportunity to easily and conveniently detect and monitor Alzheimer’s disease,” said a scientist. Accumulations of neurotoxic beta-amyloid protein can be detected with positron emission tomography, or PET scans, and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, but these are invasive, inconvenient and costly, making them impractical for routine screening and follow-up evaluation.

However, the new technique uses an auto-fluorescence imaging system that includes a specialised ophthalmic camera and sophisticated image processing software.  The tests non-invasively detects presumed amyloid deposits in retinas of living patients. In addition, the tests showed retinal plaque clusters, or “hot spots”, containing the most toxic forms of beta-amyloid with specific distribution patterns in superior peripheral regions that were previously unexplored. “Findings from this study strongly suggest that retinal imaging can serve as a surrogate biomarker to investigate and monitor Alzheimer’s disease (early in the process),” noted the Associate Professor.

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Predicting silent heart attack

A Class 10 student from Tamil Nadu has developed a new technique that can non-invasively detect the risk of a ‘silent heart attack’, an advance that may save many lives in rural areas.

Akash Manoj is staying in Rashtrapati Bhavan as a guest of President Pranab Mukherjee under the Innovation Scholars In-Residence Programme.

He is being honoured with this opportunity for his innovation called “Non-invasive self diagnosis of silent heart attack”.

“Silent heart attacks are extremely deadly and alarmingly common these days. In these cases, almost no symptoms are evident and thus people look so healthy to us,” Manoj said during the Festival of Innovation organised in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The prototype of non-invasive self diagnosis of ‘silent heart attack’ developed by Akash Manoj. 

 

“My grandfather also looked healthy but one day he collapsed following a sudden heart attack,” he said.

The incident served as an impetus for Manoj to develop his prototype that was exhibited at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The technique involves frequently analysing the presence of FABP3 -- a blood biomarker of heart attack -- without puncturing the skin.
“FABP3 is one of the smallest proteins that can be present in blood, and is charged negatively (so it attracts to positive charges). I used these properties in this technique,” Manoj said.

Manoj’s model consists of a silicone membrane that represents the skin capillaries, and a drop of a solution of proteins albumin and FABP3 to simulate blood.

When a small potential of positive charge is applied to the model, FABP3 accumulates on dermal capillaries, which can then be detected by ultra-violet (UV) quantification, he said.

In this process, UV light is passed through the thin skin in which FABP3 is accumulated and a sensor detects the amount of protein there, based on the how much of the light was absorbed.

The innovation may be helpful for “at-risk” people in rural areas to test their heart’s health on their own, and consult a doctor in time.
Manoj, who wishes to become a cardiologist, wants this technique to be available in rural areas so that people can keep track of their heart’s health and seek timely medical help.

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Cancer cell fingerprints in blood may speed up diagnosis

Scientists have identified cancer cell fingerprints in the blood that could one day help doctors diagnose a range of children's cancers faster and more accurately.

Researchers, from the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, have found unique molecular fingerprints for 11 types of children's tumours, which could be used to develop blood tests to diagnose the cancers.

This may eventually lead to a quicker, more accurate way to diagnose tumours, and could also reduce the need for children to undergo surgery to get a diagnosis one day.

The researchers uncovered the fingerprints left by the tumours by analysing blood samples from children when they were diagnosed with cancer.

They were looking for molecules that turn genes on and off, called microRNAs, to find common changes linked to different tumours.

In particular they found a very specific fingerprint which identifies different types of neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer which develops from a type of nerve cell.

Lead researchers Dr Matthew Murray and Professor Nicholas Coleman, both from the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's Hospital said the research suggested that different types of tumour could be identified using a blood test which recognises the unique fingerprints produced by tumours.

"We hope that this early research could eventually lead to the development of non-invasive tests which are faster, more accurate and gentler, transforming the way we make a cancer diagnosis in the future," said Murray.

"Using a blood test instead of surgery to remove a tumour sample could improve diagnosis - such that results take a matter of hours rather than days or weeks.

"However, before such a test can be incorporated into clinical practice, it will now be important for these findings to be validated in other, larger independent studies," Murray said.

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