Just a quick post to promote the work of Jamie Burgess under the primary supervision of Dr Uazman Alam.
In this paper (image above is a link), Jamie developed an automated and standardised approach to staining skin sections from intradermal nerves. The density of these nerves is used as a diagnostic test of small fibre neuropathy. However, the current (manual) system is is labour intensive, requires some specialised skills and is user-to-user variable which limits its usage to specialised centres. The hope here is that Jamie’s approach will allow greater accessibility to this diagnostic test.
Below is the overview of the process (taken from the paper):
Small Fibre Neuropathy is a condition that damages the tiny nerves that sense pain and temperature in the skin and other organs. It causes severe and often unpredictable attacks of stabbing, burning, or itching sensations, usually in the feet or hands, but sometimes elsewhere. It can also affect the autonomic nervous system, which controls functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, and digestion, leading to symptoms such as fainting, dry eyes, or bladder problems. It can be caused by various factors, such as genetic mutations, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, infections, toxins, or medications, but sometimes the cause is unknown. It is treated with medications that target nerve pain, such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or opioids, or with non-pharmacological therapies, such as acupuncture, electrical stimulation, or cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Funding for this work was received from Pain Relief Foundation to support Jamie’s PhD studentship. The participants were recruited as part of a wider study supported by Versus Arthritis led by Uazman.
LaNts and Laminins 