CORE--IMAGING

该核心的主要目的是为肺气道和肺部提供光学成像服务。这些研究将依赖于各种尖端的显微镜方法，以支持其他生理和分子方法来研究CF中的气道功能障碍、气道损伤和潜在的治疗。因此，中央成像核心被定义为本提案的组成部分。核心将被安置在匹兹堡大学医学中心的生物成像中心（CBI）。该中心配备了执行光学方法的连续性，包括对该计划项目至关重要的所有类型的显微镜。在该计划的范围内，光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。我们在以下方面的丰富经验： 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，以证实细微的质的变化，这是本计划中核心的主要功能。在电子显微镜水平，必要时将采用薄切片电子显微镜和免疫电子显微镜评价标本，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。的这个方面 核心功能在预备数据部分有详细描述。CBI已经与项目负责人建立了广泛的互动关系。我们希望这些互动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.