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Research by Heather Gulley-Stahl, a doctoral student at Miami University, is noted in the May/June issue of Bio-Optics World magazine. Her work involves using an infrared spectroscopy method — attenuated total reflectance (ATR) — for studying kidney stone formation.
“Learning the cause of initial kidney stone formation requires the study of small mineral inclusions in tissue biopsies,” Gulley-Stahl said. This type of analysis has relied on histological preparations and examination with an optical microscope — an approach imposing numerous time and process limitations, according to the report. However, infrared methods can yield similar information plus the molecular information required for disease detection.
In collaboration with Andrew Evan, director of the International Kidney Stone Institute at Indiana University Medical School, Gulley-Stahl collected biopsy sections from calcium stone formers and analyzed them at the initial stages of stone development.
“Currently, the majority of tissue analysis with infrared (IR) microscopy is conducted with a reflection/absorption method,” Gulley-Stahl said, adding that the method has disadvantages when used in biological samples due to varying factors such as blood vessels and mineral inclusions, among other things. Gulley-Stahl used an alternative method, ATR, in which the IR beam is guided in an IR transparent crystal by total reflection. Increased spatial resolution is among the advantages of this method for tissue analysis.
“Ultimately, we would like to be able to quantitatively analyze small mineral inclusions that have a mixed composition at the very initial stages of stone formation,” she said. “This information could potentially allow a better understanding of initial stone formation and provide clues to aid in determining a cure for kidney stone disease.”
Gulley-Stahl recently presented her work at Pittcon 2009, the world’s annual premier conference and exposition on laboratory science, organized by the Pittsburgh Conference in Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy. She is advised by Andre Sommer, professor of chemistry and biochemistry and director of the Miami’s Molecular Microspectroscopy Laboratory.
Bio-Optics World is a bi-monthly magazine that provides news, analysis and explanation of applications involving lasers, optics and imaging systems in the life sciences. For more information go to www.bioopticsworld.com.
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