{"588513":{"#nid":"588513","#data":{"type":"event","title":"GT Neuro Seminar Series","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026ldquo;How to Improve Detection and Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMachelle Pardue, Ph.D.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nProfessor\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nGeorgia Tech\/Emory University\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults. DR is clinically diagnosed by late stage vascular changes in the retina. Detecting early stage retinopathy prior to the onset of these clinical findings would greatly impact the management and treatment of DR. We have identified several tests that show dysfunction in the retina prior to the onset of vascular lesions induced by diabetes. Using novel stimuli with the electroretinogram, we have determined that rod photoreceptor function is most vulnerable to diabetes. Our studies show similar delays in rodent models of diabetes and diabetic patients, prior to clinically diagnosed DR, suggesting a potential screening tool. In addition, we have shown that spatial frequency and contrast sensitivity thresholds decline prior to vascular changes when tested with moving gratings. Finally, we have demonstrated the application of reactive fluorescent tags to detect reactive oxygen species in the retina, providing another possible screening tool for DR. The detection of early stage DR opens a therapeutic window for neuroprotective agents that could slow or halt the progression of disease. We have demonstrated that L-DOPA or exercise treatments are promising interventions to slow the progression of DR and preserve visual function.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis presentation can be seen via videoconference on the Emory Campus HSRB E160\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":"","field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"\u201cHow to Improve Detection and Treatment of  Diabetic Retinopathy\u201d - Machelle Pardue, Ph.D. - Georgia Tech"}],"uid":"27349","created_gmt":"2017-03-09 17:29:01","changed_gmt":"2017-04-13 21:12:26","author":"Floyd Wood","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2017-03-27T12:00:00-04:00","event_time_end":"2017-03-27T13:00:00-04:00","event_time_end_last":"2017-03-27T13:00:00-04:00","gmt_time_start":"2017-03-27 16:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2017-03-27 17:00:00","gmt_time_end_last":"2017-03-27 17:00:00","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/","title":"Neural Engineering Center"},{"url":"https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Machelle-Pardue","title":"Pardue profile"}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"248","name":"IBB"},{"id":"126591","name":"go-NeuralEngineering"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1795","name":"Seminar\/Lecture\/Colloquium"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"78761","name":"Faculty\/Staff"},{"id":"78751","name":"Undergraduate students"},{"id":"174045","name":"Graduate students"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:crozell@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EChris Rozell\u003C\/a\u003E - faculty host\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}