Hand-held unit to detect cancer in poorer countries

ScienceDaily (Aug. 26, 2011) — An engineering researcher and a global health expert from Michigan State University are working on bringing a low-cost, hand-held device to nations with limited resources to help physicians detect and diagnose cancer.

Syed Hashsham, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at MSU, is developing the Gene-Z device, which is operated using an iPod Touch or Android-based tablet and performs genetic analysis on microRNAs and other genetic markers. MicroRNAs are single-stranded molecules that regulate genes; changes in certain microRNAs have been linked to cancer and other health-related issues.

He is working with Reza Nassiri, director of MSU's Institute of International Health and an assistant dean in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, on the medical capabilities for the device and establishing connections with physicians worldwide.

Cancer is emerging as a leading cause of death in underdeveloped and developing countries where resources for cancer screening are almost non-existent, Nassiri said.

"Until now, little effort has been concentrated on moving cancer detection to global health settings in resource-poor countries," he said. "Early cancer detection in these countries may lead to affordable management of cancers with the aid of new screening and diagnostic technologies that can overcome global health care disparities."

Hashsham demonstrated the potential of the Gene-Z at the National Institutes of Health's first Cancer Detection and Diagnostics Conference. The conference, held recently in Bethesda, Md., was sponsored by the Fogarty International Center and the National Cancer Institute.

"Gene-Z has the capability to screen for established markers of cancer at extremely low costs in the field," Hashsham said. "Because it is a hand-held device operated by a battery and chargeable by solar energy, it is extremely useful in limited-resource settings."

The NIH conference was attended by several U.S. research institutions, including MSU. One of the primary objectives of the meeting was to address the utility of new cancer detection technologies.

Since cancer diagnostics and rapid screening methods currently are not suitable for low-income and resource-limited countries, Nassiri said a concentrated effort should be made to develop more appropriate and cost-effective technologies such as the one developed by Hashsham for widespread global use.

Nassiri said the goal is to continue the partnership between Hashsham and MSU's Institute of International Health to promote his Gene-Z device globally and validate it in the field with clinical care partners across the world.

In addition to cancer detection, the Gene-Z device also is being developed to diagnose routine tuberculosis and drug-resistant TB, determine HIV virus levels during treatment and monitor overall antibiotic resistance.

Working with Hashsham in the development of the Gene-Z device was a team of MSU students, led by Robert Stedtfeld and including Farhan Ahmad, Dieter Tourlousse and Greg Seyrig. The cancer marker approach was led by Maggie Kronlein, a civil and environmental engineering undergraduate researcher.

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The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Michigan State University.

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Photo/radar sensors detect debris on airport runways

Scientists have created a new sensor system, designed to spot potentially hazardous debris on airport runways (Photo: Fraunhofer)

When the Air France Concorde Flight 4590 was taking off from Charles de Gaulle International Airport in July of 2000, it ran over a piece of debris that had been left on the runway by another plane. That incident caused the tire to rupture, sending pieces of itself flying into the underside of the Concorde. This in turn caused a fuel tank to rupture, the escaping fuel to catch fire, and ultimately led to the crashing of the airliner ... If there's one thing that this event proved, it's that debris on the runway can be dangerous. While human crews do already manually check for such debris, German scientists have created an automated system that they claim should do a better job.

The debris sensor system is being developed by scientists at the Fraunhofer Institutes for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR and for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE; the University of Siegen; PMD Technologies GmbH; and Wilhelm Winter GmbH. The project is called LaotSe, which stands for "Airport runway monitoring through multimodal networked sensor systems" (in German).

The system would consist of a number of weatherproof sensors, which would be located along the sides of the runways. Each sensor would incorporate an infrared camera, optical 2D and 3D cameras, and networked radar sensors. The radar would scan the runway surfaces continuously, and would be able to detect objects even in the fog or the dark. It can't classify them, however, so when an object was spotted by radar, the cameras would be instructed to take a closer look in order to possibly identify it. All of the data would then be combined using custom software, to produce a "situational overview." If that overview indicated that something potentially hazardous was out there, the control tower staff personnel would be informed, and they could investigate.

Each sensor would be capable of scanning 700 meters (2,297 feet) in all directions. Things such as birds or wind-blown garbage would not set them off, as objects would have to remain stationary for a set amount of time before being reported.

Presently, most airports use human crews to look for debris, who regularly drive up and down the runways. Some airports do use other types of radar-based sensors, but according to Fraunhofer, these can only detect metal objects and are vulnerable to damage, as they are mounted on top of tall masts.

Testing of the system is planned to start this fall at Germany's Cologne-Bonn airport.

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