The Neuropathology Core and Molecular Diagnostics Core is overseen by a professional staff of Michael L. Shelanski, M.D., Ph.D., and Steven S. Chin, M.D., Ph.D. The core provides """"""""state of the art"""""""" neuropathologic examination of patients with various neurodegenerative disorders as well as neurologically normal individuals. These patients are clinically evaluated in detail by the Columbia ADRC and other neurology groups. The core provides detailed reports of findings and diagnoses to patient families and their physicians. Diagnoses are rendered according to presently accepted and recommended neuropathological criteria. In particular, the recently developed NIH-Regan Institute Working Group diagnostic criteria for the neuropathological assessment of Alzheimer's disease is utilized. Standard postmortem handling of brain tissues includes hemisection of the fresh brain, quick freezing of coronally sliced slabs of one half of the brain for banking and eventual distribution to investigators within and outside the ADRC, and fixation of the other half in formalin for histopathological examination and diagnosis. Microscopic examination includes application of H&E, thioflavine S, modified Bieschowsky silver, Gallyas silver, anti-ubiquitin, anti-synuclein, anti- tau, and anti-amyloid stains to selected sections from a standardized set of sample neuroanatomic regions. Collections of formalin-fixed and frozen brain tissue, lymphoblastoid cell lines, DNA from study patients, and their corresponding databases are maintained and distributed to investigators by the core. The core actively educates and trains neuropathology fellows, pathology, neurology, and psychiatry residents, and other health professionals in the importance and practical aspects of post-mortem examination and tissue banking. Clinicopathological correlation conferences are held to review discuss interesting and instructive study cases. The core strongly encourages research collaborations, and providing neuropathological and basic research expertise, access to biologic specimens, and assistance and access to specialized instruments, such as fluorescence, electron and laser capture microscopes as well as high speed DNA sequence analysis.
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