CORE--IMAGING

这个核心的中心目标是为肺气道和肺提供光学成像服务。这些研究将依赖于各种尖端的显微镜方法来支持其他生理学和分子方法来研究CF的呼吸道功能障碍、损伤和潜在的呼吸道治疗。因此，中央成像核心被定义为这一提议的一个组成部分。核心将被安置在匹兹堡大学医学中心的生物成像中心(CBI)。该中心配备了一系列光学方法，包括本计划项目所必需的所有类型的显微镜。在本计划的范围内，光学显微镜技术包括传统的组织学、免疫组织学、激光共聚焦和原位杂交方法以及多参数 比率计量法和活细胞和组织成像技术。我们在这方面的丰富经验 计算机化的图像处理和形态测量将允许对观察到的现象进行定量分析，以证实微妙的质变，这是本计划核心的主要功能。在电子显微镜一级，当需要时，将采用样品的薄片电子显微镜和免疫电子显微镜评估，作为光学显微镜分析的自然延伸。核心功能的第二个方面是专门为该计划开发新的光学成像方法。这方面的 核心功能在初步数据部分进行了详细描述。CBI已经与项目负责人建立了广泛的互动。我们预计这些互动将在该计划的正式范围内继续扩大。

The central aim of this core is to provide optical imaging services for the pulmonary airways and the lung. These studies will rely on a variety of cutting edge microscopic methods to support other physiologic and molecular approaches to study airway dysfunction in CF, injury and potentially therapy to the airway. Therefore a central imaging core is defined as an integral component of this proposal. The Core will be housed in the Center for Biologic Imaging (CBI) of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. This Center is equipped to perform a continuum of optical methods including all types of microscopy essential to this Program Project. Within the scope of this Program light microscopic techniques include conventional histological, immuno-histological, laser confocal, and in situ hybridization methods, as well as multiparametric ratiometric methods and live cell and tissue imaging technologies. Our considerable experience in computerized image processing and morphometry will allow quantitative analysis of observed phenomena to corroborate subtle qualitative changes, and this a major function of the Core in this Program. At the electron microscopic level thin section electron microscopy and immuno-electron microscopic evaluation of specimens as a natural extension of the light microscopic analyses will be employed when needed. A second facet of core function is in the development of novel optical imaging methods specifically for this program. This aspect of core function is described in detail in the preliminary data section. The CBI already has extensive established interactions with the project leaders. We expect these interactions to continue to expand within the formal rubric of this program.