Detecting changes in cervical microstructure with quantitative ultrasound

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的目的是开发一种定量超声技术，以无创评估宫颈中的胶原蛋白，从而全面了解宫颈细胞外基质微观结构。我们预计，对宫颈微结构变化的深入了解将导致对妊娠期特定重塑过程的有针对性的研究，这将促进对宫颈功能不全（导致早产）的了解。这反过来将允许探索新的治疗策略的选择。公共卫生相关性：这是一个建议，以适应新的定量超声技术成像和量化体内宫颈微结构;具体来说，我们将目标胶原蛋白，因为它是宫颈细胞外基质的主要成分，并通过其在妊娠期间宫颈重塑过程中的变化，主要负责宫颈强度。所提出的努力包括：（a）确定超声对宫颈中胶原排列变化的敏感性，（B）在各向同性和各向异性体模以及离体宫颈组织中测试定量超声，以建立体内宫颈扫描的成像参数，以及（c）通过非线性光学成像确认我们正在检测宫颈中的胶原。准确成像宫颈微结构中胶原排列重排的能力将告知我们宫颈功能的概念，从而告知导致早产的功能障碍。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this proposal is to develop a quantitative ultrasound technique to noninvasively assess collagen in the uterine cervix in an attempt to build a comprehensive understanding of cervical extra- cellular matrix microstructure. We anticipate that an enhanced understanding of cervical microstructural changes will lead to targeted investigation of specific remodeling processes in pregnancy that will pro- mote understanding of cervical insufficiency (that leads to preterm delivery). This in turn will allow exploration of options for novel therapeutic strategies. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This is a proposal to adapt new quantitative ultrasound technology to image and quantify in vivo cervical microstructure; specifically, we will target collagen because it is the primary component of the cervical extracellular matrix and, through its changes during the cervical remodeling process during gestation, is primarily responsible for cervical strength. The proposed effort involves (a) determining the sensitivity of ultrasound to the changes in collagen alignment in the cervix, (b) testing quantitative ultrasound in isotropic and anisotropic phantoms as well as ex vivo cervical tissue in order to establish imaging pa-rameters for in vivo cervical scanning, and (c) confirming through nonlinear optical imaging that we are detecting collagen in the cervix. The ability to accurately image rearrangements in collagen alignment in the cervical microstructure would inform our concept of cervical function and thus the dysfunction that leads to preterm delivery.