Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.

The Beth Israel Hospital Association

Beth Israel Hospital

Beth Israel Hospital Administration

Juan G Alvarez

Mark D Modell

Steven D Freedman

Jack Ludmir

Lev T Perelman

Apparatus including a broadband illumination source and a confocal optical system. The confocal optical system is configured and arranged to receive a portion of light projected onto an object by the broadband illumination source. The apparatus can include an illumination source, a confocal optical system, and at least one detector configured and arranged to receive angularly separated light corresponding to a confocal volume. There is also provided a light scattering spectroscopic device including a broadband illumination source, a two-dimensional detector, and a spectral separation device configured and arranged to receive scattered light from an object and to direct at least a portion of the scattered light onto the two-dimensional detector. The method and apparatus can combine confocal microscopy techniques with light scattering spectroscopy techniques to create a confocal light scattering spectroscopy (CLSS) system.

Method and apparatus for detecting microscopic objects

A method of treating disorders in which DHA levels are affected is described. The method includes administering to a subject suffering from the disorder a therapeutically affective amount of DHA. This method is particularly useful in treating subjects suffering from a disorder characterized by a defect in the CF gene, e.g., cystic fibrosis, or a chronic inflammatory disorder, e.g., ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, chronic pancreatitis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis or chronic gastritis. A method of ameliorating affects of cystic fibrosis in a newborn and a method of increasing surfactant levels in a fetus are also described.

Methods for treating disorders in which docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels are affected

A method of treating disorders in which DHA levels are affected is described. The method includes administering to a subject suffering from the disorder a therapeutically affective amount of DHA. This method is particularly useful in treating subjects suffering from a disorder characterized by a defect in the CF, gene, e.g. cystic fibrosis, or a chronic inflammatory disorder, e.g., ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, chronic pancreatitis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis or chronic gastritis. A method of ameliorating affects of cystic fibrosis in a newborn and a method of increasing surfactant levels in a fetus are also described.

Assays and kits for identifying fertile sperm samples (e.g. for use in an assisted reproductive technology or as an indication of an ineffective male contraception (vasectomy)) and sub-fertile sperm samples (e.g. as an indication of a potentially infertile male donor or an effective male contraception) are disclosed.

Assays and kits for determining male fertility

Systems and methods for material analysis are disclosed in which an organic sample (e.g., a foodstuff, tissue sample or petroleum product) is illuminated at a plurality of discrete wavelengths which are absorbed by fatty acid and fatty acid oxidation products in the sample. Measurements of the intensity of reflected or absorbed light at such wavelengths are taken, and a analysis of absorbance ratios for various wavelengths is performed. Changes in the reflection ratios are correlated with the oxidative state of fatty acids present in the material.

Method for determining a level of oxidative stress of a tissue sample

Kits and assays, incorporating antibodies specific for glutathione peroxidase, for determining the fertilizing ability of a male at home or in a clinical laboratory are disclosed.

Male fertility and contraception home test kits

Processes for detecting or quantitating a particular phosphoglyceride in a sample containing the phosphoglyceride and other lipids and clinical uses for the process (e.g. for diagnosing improperly functioning lungs and other conditions) are disclosed.

Processes for quantitating phosphoglycerides in a lipid mixture and

Method and apparatus for detecting hydrocarbon oxidation

The present invention provides an accurate, rapid and precise methodology for assessing maturity of the lungs in a fetus prior to birth, especially for premature fetuses having a gestation period of 37 weeks or less. The methodology quantitatively measures a specific phosphoglyceride, dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline, in samples of amniotic fluid for the assessment of fetal lung maturity. The process enzymatically cleaves such phophoglycerides and preferably detects the resulting diacylglycerols by HPTLC-reflectance spectrodensitometry.

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Boston, MA, United States of America

Juan G Alvarez