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Study of Screening for Increased CSF Total Protein During Bacterial Meningitis by Brillouin Scattering (CAT#: STEM-ST-0095-YJL)

Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a disease of pronounced clinical significance, especially in the developing world. Immediate treatment with antibiotics is essential, and no single test can provide a conclusive diagnosis. It is well established that elevated total protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is associated with bacterial meningitis. <br />Bacterial meningitis is a challenging diagnosis for most physicians due to the non-specificity of symptoms, particularly in small children. Even with early diagnosis and treatment, a 10% mortality rate persists, often within a day or two of symptom onset. If no treatment is available, as is the case in many parts of the developing world (where meningitis is up to ten times more prevalent), the mortality rate increases to as high as 80%.




Principle

From a quantum point of view, Brillouin scattering is an interaction of light photons with acoustic or vibrational quanta (phonons), with magnetic spin waves (magnons), or with other low frequency quasiparticles interacting with light. The interaction consists of an inelastic scattering process in which a phonon or magnon is either created (Stokes process) or annihilated (anti-Stokes process). The energy of the scattered light is slightly changed, that is decreased for a Stokes process and increased for an anti-Stokes process. This shift, known as the Brillouin shift, is equal to the energy of the interacting phonon and magnon and thus Brillouin scattering can be used to measure phonon and magnon energies.

Applications

Brillouin scattering is used to determine acoustic velocities and elastic properties of a number of crystalline solids, glasses, and liquids.

Procedure

1. Sample preparation
2. Measurement by scattering detection instrument
3. Data analysis

Materials

Brillouin scattering measurement system (Brillouin spectrometer)