The University of Ottawa Heart Institute

Scientists have developed a new radiotracer (called [18F]4-FDF) that can map how cells use fructose for energy. The vast majority of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging systems map out how the body uses a radioactive form of glucose for energy. Since many cancers use glucose as metabolic fuel, they light up on glucose PET scans. However, not all cancers use glucose as fuel, and some normal organs, like the brain and heart, use high amounts of glucose too, making it difficult to identify some diseases from this type of diagnostic scan. Now, scientists at the University of Ottawa (uOttawa) have developed a new radiotracer (called [18F]4-FDF) that can map how cells use fructose for energy. Fructose is a different type of metabolic fuel that is increasingly being recognized as a fuel for disease. Fructose, a monosaccharide known as "fruit sugar," is a common dietary sugar found naturally in fruit, honey, and processed foods. Unlike glucose, fructose is not normally used for fuel by the healthy brain and heart, appearing mostly in healthy liver and kidneys. By identifying where fructose is being used in the body, [18F]4-FDF will allow for earlier detection of a wide range of diseases, including cancers, as well as inflammation of the heart and brain. The research was conducted in the Molecular Medicine Lab at uOttawa under Associate Professor Adam Shuhendler from uOttawa's Faculty of Science, who is also a scientist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, in collaboration with uOttawa professors Robert Ben and Christina Addison. Lead author Alexia Kirby, who is a doctoral student in biology, was responsible for validating and testing the radiotracer across various cell and animal models, while Nicholas Calvert, a doctoral student in chemistry and biomolecular sciences, used carbon isotope labeling to determine the metabolic pathway of the radiotracer in cells. The synthetic chemistry was developed by colleagues Rob Ben, Thomas Charlton, and Mojmir Suchy, while Dominic Graf and Mojmir Suchy handled the radiochemistry. "For the first time, we can see where fructose, a common dietary sugar, is used in the body. Outside of the kidneys and the liver, fructose metabolism in any other organs may point to a sinister problem including cancer and inflammation," explains Professor Shuhendler. The [18F]4-FDF compound is made of a carefully modified form of fructose that incorporates a radioactive fluorine atom at a key chemical position, allowing researchers to track where and how much fructose is metabolized in our bodies. Through imaging with a PET camera, a tool that is routinely used in diagnostic imaging, observers can see the increased fructose used by malfunctioning organs and tissues, providing early indications of inflammation. This discovery opens up new avenues for the earlier detection and care of cancers, as well as brain and heart conditions.

OTTAWA, Feb. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Media and the public are invited to learn about the current state of women's cardiovascular health in Canada and the actions that need to be taken to achieve equitable care in 2024. The Canadian Women's Heart Health Centre (CWHHC) at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) and its national alliance of experts and advocates will present a livestream webinar on February 13 as part of scheduled programming planned for Wear Red Canada Day. Events held across the country will serve to remind Canadians – especially Canadian women – to be mindful, curious, and proactive in the management of their heart health and wellness. For a complete list of Wear Red Canada initiatives and programming, visit wearredcanada.ca. A “must-see” presentation for all Canadians Title: Lessons Learned and Recommendations to Ensure Equitable Care for Women with Cardiovascular Disease in Canada Date and time: Tuesday, February 13, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. EST. Event summary: The Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA) ATLAS webinar will summarize the existing education and research on cardiovascular disease in Canadian women, knowledge gaps to guide future research; and recommend prioritizing women's heart health in research, leading to systemic changes in education and public health policies. This webinar will also highlight a person with lived experience with cardiovascular disease (Helen Robert) and the importance of engaging patient partners in research. Please register to attend the webinar on Zoom. Expert speakers: Dr. Kerri-Anne Mullen, PhD, MScActing Chair, Executive Steering Committee, CWHHADirector, Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre and Prevention and Wellness CentreDivision of Cardiac Prevention and RehabilitationUniversity of Ottawa Heart InstituteOttawa, ONHelen Robert, B.Comm, CCPPatient Advocate Co-Chair, Knowledge Translation and Mobilization, CWHHAPerson with lived experience with cardiovascular diseaseOttawa, ONDr. Christine Pacheco, MD, MSc, FRCPCHealthcare Professional Co-Chair, Knowledge Translation and Mobilization, CWHHACardiologist, Pierre-Boucher Hospital and University of Montréal Hospital CentreFaculty Member, Department of Medicine, University of MontréalClinical Investigator-Researcher, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de Université de Montréal Montréal, QCDr. Colleen Norris, PhD, MSc, BScN, RN, FAHA, FCAHSPast Chair, Health Systems and Policy Working Group, CWHHAAssociate Dean of Research, Professor and Clinician Scientist, Faculties of Nursing, Medicine and Dentistry, and School of Public Health, University of AlbertaScientific Director, Cardiovascular Health and Stroke Strategic Clinical NetworkFellow, American Heart AssociationFellow, Canadian Academy of Health SciencesEdmonton, ABDr. Jill Bruneau, PhD, NP, CC(N)CAssistant ProfessorFaculty of NursingMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John’s, NFLDDr. Martha Gulati MD, MS, FACC, FAHA, FASPC, FESCPresident-ElectAmerican Society for Preventive CardiologyLos Angeles, CA, USADr. Najah Adreak MD, MScTrainee Representative, Executive Steering Committee, CWHHAClinical Researcher, Study Coordinator in Pediatric cCardiology, BC Children’s HospitalNational CAPSNet Data Registry Coordinator, Pediatric SurgeryUniversity of British Columbia (Vancouver Campus)Vancouver, BCDr. Sharon Mulvagh, MD, FRCPC, FACC, FAHA, FASEPast Chair, Knowledge Translation and Mobilization Working Group, CWHHACo-Director, Women’s Heart Health Clinic, QEII Health Sciences CentreProfessor of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NSProfessor Emeritus, Mayo ClinicRochester, MN, USADr. Tracey Colella, RN, PhDClinician Scientist, KITE | Toronto Rehab | University Health Network, Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation ProgramAssociate Professor, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of TorontoToronto, ONKiera Liblik, Bsc (Hons)Clinical Trainee Queen's University School of MedicineMaster's Student, Translational Medicine Program Queen's University Kingston, ON Quotes “Women's heart health in Canada remains a pressing concern due to inadequate levels of awareness, diagnosis, treatment, research, and support. Significant effort is needed to address these disparities and to ensure equitable care for all women and men,” said Dr. Kerri-Anne Mullen, a scientist and director of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre at the UOHI, and acting chair of the CWHHA executive steering committee. “As women, we must understand our risks, recognize symptoms, and advocate for better care. It is crucial for us to listen to our bodies and to educate ourselves, and for healthcare providers to recognize our differences and respond accordingly with gender-specific care,” said Helen Robert, a heart attack survivor and patient advocate co-chair of the Knowledge Translation and Mobilization Group with the CWHHA. “Together, there is a lot we can all do to help reduce the risk. Heart disease is largely preventable.” Media opportunities To request an interview with a spokesperson from the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre at the UOHI and the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance, please contact the liaison below. Media contact Leigh B. MorrisCommunications OfficerUniversity of Ottawa Heart Institute613-316-6409 (cell)lmorris@ottawaheart.ca

An injectable biomaterial activated by pulses of low-energy blue light has tremendous potential for on-the-spot repair to the domed outer layer of the eye, a team of researchers and their collaborators have revealed. An injectable biomaterial activated by pulses of low-energy blue light has tremendous potential for on-the-spot repair to the domed outer layer of the eye, a team of University of Ottawa researchers and their collaborators have revealed. Guided by biomimetic design -- innovation inspired by nature -- the multidisciplinary researchers' compelling results show that a novel light-activated material can be used to effectively reshape and thicken damaged corneal tissue, promoting healing and recovery. This technology is a potential game-changer in corneal repair; tens of millions of people across the globe suffer from corneal diseases and only a small fraction are eligible for corneal transplantation. Transplant operations are the current gold standard for ailments resulting in thinning corneas such as keratoconus, a poorly understood eye disease that results in loss of vision for many people. "Our technology is a leap in the field of corneal repair. We are confident this could become a practical solution to treat patients living with diseases that negatively impact corneal shape and geometry, including keratoconus," says Dr. Emilio Alarcon, an Associate Professor at the uOttawa Faculty of Medicine and researcher at the BioEngineering and Therapeutic Solutions (BEaTS) group at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. The cornea is the protective, dome-like surface of the eye in front of the iris and pupil. It controls and directs light rays into the eye and helps achieve clear vision. It's normally transparent. But injury or infection results in scarring of the cornea. The collaborative team's work was published in Advanced Functional Materials. The biomaterials devised and tested by the team are comprised of short peptides and naturally occurring polymers called glycosaminoglycans. In the form of a viscous liquid, the material gets injected within corneal tissue after a tiny pocket is surgically created. When pulsed with low-energy blue light, the injected peptide-based hydrogel hardens and forms into a tissue-like 3D-structure within minutes. Dr. Alarcon says this then becomes a transparent material with similar properties to those measured in pig corneas. In vivo experiments using a rat model indicated that the light-activated hydrogel could thicken corneas without side effects. The research team -- which employed a much smaller blue light dosage compared to what's been used in other studies -- also successfully tested the technology in an ex vivo pig cornea model. Testing in large animal models will be necessary prior to clinical human trials. "Our material was engineered to harvest the blue light energy to trigger the on-the-spot assembling of the material into a cornea-like structure. Our cumulative data indicates that the materials are non-toxic and remain for several weeks in an animal model. We anticipate our material will remain stable and be non-toxic in human corneas," says Dr. Alarcon, whose uOttawa lab focuses on developing new materials with regenerative capabilities for tissue of the heart, skin, and cornea. The rigorous research took over seven years to reach the publication stage. "We had to engineer each part of the components involved in the technology, from the light source to the molecules used in the study. The technology was developed to be clinically translatable, meaning all components must be designed to be ultimately manufacturable following strict standards for sterility," Dr. Alarcon says. The research findings are also the focus of a patent application, which is presently under negotiations for licensing. Dr. Alarcon was the study's senior author who guided the material design aspect of the research, while uOttawa's Dr. Marcelo Muñoz and Aidan MacAdam played big roles in creating the novel technology. Interdisciplinary collaborators included Université de Montréal scientists Dr. May Griffith, an expert in cornea regeneration, and Dr. Isabelle Brunette, an ophthalmology and corneal transplant expert.