Photoacoustic imaging for non-invasive assessment of biomarkers of intestinal injury in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an often-lethal disease of the premature infant intestinal tract, exacerbated by significant diagnostic difficulties. In NEC, the intestine exhibits hypoperfusion and dysmotility, contributing to disease pathogenesis. However, these features cannot be accurately and quantitively assessed with current imaging modalities. We have previously demonstrated the ability of photoacoustic imaging (PAI) to non-invasively assess intestinal tissue oxygenation and motility in a healthy neonatal rat model.

Methods

In this first-in-disease application, we evaluated NEC using PAI to assess intestinal health biomarkers in an experimental model of NEC. NEC was induced in neonatal rats from birth to 4-days. Healthy breastfed (BF) and NEC rat pups w

SUBMITTER: Weis JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11666804 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature