Polarization gating spectroscopy of normal-appearing duodenal mucosa to detect pancreatic cancer.

Background: According to the field effect theory, by detecting microvasculature changes such as early increase in blood supply (EIBS) in the surrounding tissue, neoplastic lesions can be identified from a distance.

Objective: To determine the feasibility and efficacy of a fiberoptic probe containing novel polarization gating spectroscopy technology to identify patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) by the field effect theory.

Design: Prospective cohort (pilot) study.

Non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis using magnetic resonance elastography in liver transplant recipients with hepatitis C.

Background: Liver biopsy has been the reference standard when evaluating fibrosis due to recurrent hepatitis after liver transplantation. Magnetic resonance elastography estimates liver stiffness, correlating to fibrosis.

Aim: To investigate the utility of elastography in staging liver fibrosis in transplant recipients with hepatitis C.

Interobserver agreement on the endosonographic features of lymph nodes in aerodigestive malignancies.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is used to locally stage aerodigestive malignancies. Endosonographic features are used to predict malignant lymph nodes (MLN). Interobserver agreement on the endosonographic features of MLN has not been described.

Characterizing extravascular neutrophil migration in vivo in the iris.

Extravascular neutrophil migration is poorly characterized in vivo. To test the hypothesis that this migration is a non-random process, we used videomicroscopy to monitor neutrophils in irises of living mice with endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). Paths of individual cells were analyzed.

Antigen-specific accumulation of naïve, memory and effector CD4 T cells during anterior uveitis monitored by intravital microscopy.

Uveitis is an immune-mediated ocular disease and a leading cause of blindness. We characterized a novel model of uveitis with intravital microscopy. Transfer of ovalbumin-specific T cells from DO11.

APCs in the anterior uveal tract do not migrate to draining lymph nodes.

The migration of APCs from sites of infection and their maturation are critical elements in the generation of immune responses. However, the paths by which intraocular Ags migrate to draining lymph nodes are not known because the eye has limited lymphatic vessels. To date, only dendritic cells from the cornea and conjunctiva have been shown to emigrate.

Immunohistology of antigen-presenting cells in vivo: a novel method for serial observation of fluorescently labeled cells.

Purpose: Dendritic cells and macrophages are phagocytic antigen-presenting cells that bridge the innate and acquired immune systems. The coexistence of subtypes of dendritic cells and macrophages with overlapping properties complicates resolution of their precise roles in an immune response within a given tissue. This report documents a method to identify and observe these cells over time in a living animal and thereby to visualize them during a dynamic immune response.