Innovative Technologies for the Diagnosis of Metabolic Disorders

ITDM-Project Description (Short form)

Metabolic Disorders (MD)

Metabolism plays the most important role in the function of all living cells. It goes down to the mitochondrial stage inside of the cells and serves, in conjunction with enzymes and metabolites and vital nutrients for energy and cell growth. Metabolic Disorders can cause serious illness and can be related to autoimmune disorders, tumours, skin disorders (ulceration, inflammation...) digestion problems, inflammatory and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), cardiovascular diseases, organ failure, diabetes, obesity, cachexia, cancer, and many more.

MD may be caused by Gen Anomaly (inherited inborn), Mitochondrial Cell Dysfunction, Organ Dysfunction (liver, pancreas,.), as well as by the Gut Microbiota and/or Nutrition Imbalance.

A classification of at least 15 classes of MD is given by "The National Library of Medicine" ("MeSH Descriptor Data: Metabolic diseases". )

It can be estimated that 20% of the population suffers from acute, general, progressive and permanent symptoms like lethargy, weight loss, jaundice, seizures, just to name a few.

Role of Microbiota in MD

While organ dysfunction related diseases, as diabetes, are treated under well known routine medication, the gastrointestinal microbiota is extremely complex and only explored in part.

The composition of human gut flora changes over time, when the diet changes, and as overall health changes. The gut flora itself appears to function like an endocrine organ, and dysregulation of the gut flora has been correlated with a host of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions as well as for certain central nervous system disorders.
The gut-brain axis includes the central nervous system, neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems including the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA axis), sympathetic and parasympathetic arms of the autonomic nervous system including the enteric nervous system, the vagus nerve, and the gut microbiota.

MD Diagnosis (State of the Art)

Diagnosis of MD is mainly based on blood and skin tests.

Although the microbiota plays an important role, routine diagnostic tools like blood test, coloscopy and Med. Imaging (MR, US, XR) can show pathological conditions of the digestive tract only (e.g. ulceration, M. Crohn, Coeliac D., Tumors), but cannot qualify the ongoing biochemical processes. Furthermore on principle of current methods, a diagnosis about the ongoing working function of the gut microbiota is not possible per se, because the digestive tract will be empty.

R&D Project

Target of the project and the R&D activities is the development of Innovative Technologies for the Diagnosis of Metabolic Disorders, particularly for in situ and in vivo measurements and process monitoring to further detect and identify irregularities and deliver diagnostic relevant data for medication. This includes work on

Sensors & Systems, Instrumentation, Advanced Procedures and Methods and Techniques

in the area of Biology, Medicine and Bio-Medical-Engineering

under the restrictions of Material Biocompatibility and Patient Safety.

This work will also involve skills of highest Univ. level, as well as traditional knowledge from ancient tribes, for preparing phyto- and herbal medicine and treatment by natural medication.