Add BrightSurf on Google Email

UCI researchers reveal possible molecular blood signature for suicide in major depression

Researchers developed a novel gene expression approach to identify potential blood biomarkers associated with suicide in major depressive disorder. The study analyzed data from non-preserved blood samples and found significant differences in gene expression changes linked to stress response, immune dysregulation, and telomere maintenance.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalTranslational Psychiatry·DateMay 5, 2022

Chemical Insights Research Institute receives prestigious award from the National Institutes of Health

The Chemical Insights Research Institute has received a prestigious award from the National Institutes of Health to study the link between electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) usage and periodontal disease. The researchers will analyze consumer vaping behavior data and biosamples to identify biomarkers of exposure and injury, aim...

Study finds healthy-appearing lupus skin predisposed to flares, rashes

Researchers found that normal-appearing lupus skin contains the same inflammatory signals as skin with rashes, suggesting a primed state for inflammation. The study's findings provide new insights into how UV light triggers rashes in lupus patients and highlight the potential for precision medicine in treating the disease.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 3, 2022

Synthetic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS linked to liver damage

A new study systematically reviews data on PFAS exposure and liver damage, linking three commonly detected PFAS to elevated levels of a liver enzyme, ALT. The research suggests a potential link between PFAS and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a growing public health crisis affecting 25% of adults worldwide.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 27, 2022

Moffitt researchers develop model to predict patients with poor lung cancer outcomes

Researchers developed a model using radiomic features from screening images to identify high-risk lung cancer patients. The model divided patients into groups according to their risk of having poor outcomes, with low-risk patients having an 83.3% five-year overall survival and high-risk patients having a 25% five-year overall survival.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalCancer Biomarkers·TypeImaging analysis·DateApr 27, 2022

AI may detect earliest signs of pancreatic cancer

A new study indicates that artificial intelligence can accurately predict who will develop pancreatic cancer based on pre-diagnostic CT scan images. The AI tool was trained to analyze textural differences in the pancreas and achieved an accuracy rate of 86% in identifying those who would eventually develop the disease.

SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalCancer Biomarkers·DateApr 26, 2022

A doctor’s visit from the future

A doctor's visit from the future describes patient care in 2042, where diagnosis and treatment are personalized based on individual biological abnormalities. Researchers believe this approach could lead to more effective treatments for neurodegenerative disorders.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalThe Lancet Neurology·DateApr 20, 2022

Accounting for genetic factors that cause normal variations in PSA levels may improve the accuracy of prostate cancer detection

A study suggests that accounting for genetic factors causing normal variations in PSA levels could improve the accuracy of prostate cancer detection. By analyzing data from over 95,000 men, researchers identified a polygenic score that accounted for 7.3-8.7% of variation in baseline PSA levels and was not associated with prostate cancer.

Study reports potential target and compounds to slow the development of Alzheimer's disease

A study found a shift in the profile of specialized lipid mediators from pro-resolving to pro-inflammatory in patients with cognitive impairment, correlating with severity of cognition impairment. The researchers identified novel mechanisms of brain health and potential therapeutic targets for slowing down Alzheimer's disease onset.

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalCellular and Molecular Neurobiology·TypeObservational study·DateApr 6, 2022

Alpha brain waves can predict post-surgery pain

A new technique developed at the University of Birmingham uses electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain activity in patients before surgery, predicting their likelihood of severe pain after recovery. This allows clinicians to plan additional preventative pain medication and potentially reduce chronic symptoms.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalBritish Journal of Anaesthesia·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 5, 2022

Positive top-line data from monotherapy arm of the ATHENA (GOG 3020/ENGOT-ov45) trial (ATHENA-MONO) significantly improves progression-free survival in first-line maintenance treatment in patients with ovarian cancer regardless of their biomarker status

The ATHENA-MONO trial shows significant improvements in progression-free survival for patients with advanced ovarian cancer treated with Rubraca as maintenance therapy. Benefit was observed across all patients, including those with homologous recombination deficiency and BRCA mutant tumors.

SourceThe GOG Foundation Inc·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 31, 2022

Spanish scientists discover a new method for the early detection of subclinical atherosclerosis

A study identifies new biomarkers that predict the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis, providing a non-invasive way to detect cardiovascular disease. The research team analyzed blood plasma samples and validated three proteins as biomarkers, improving the prediction of cardiovascular risk.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)·JournalEBioMedicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 29, 2022

Study finds complex relationships between bacteria and markers of lower airway infection and inflammation in cystic fibrosis

Researchers identified unique metabolite biomarkers associated with increased inflammation and bacterial burden in cystic fibrosis lungs. The study found correlations between metabolites and bacterial communities, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of infection and inflammation in CF.

SourceAnn & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago·JournalFrontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology·DateMar 23, 2022

HRR mutational status prognostic of survival outcomes in biomarker analysis of NRG oncology trial for women with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer

The study found that homologous recombination repair mutant type (HRRmt) was prognostic of progression-free survival and predictive for olaparib activity in women with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. Patients with BRCA mutations showed clinically significant activity when treated with experimental drugs.

Recent study from University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging looks at blood test as possible diagnostic tool for Alzheimer’s disease

A recent study from the University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging has shown promising results for a blood test that could identify Alzheimer's changes in the brain before symptoms appear. The test detects proteins associated with Alzheimer's and brain damage, which may indicate preventative treatments can be used.

SourceUniversity of Kentucky·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·DateMar 10, 2022

Are statin side effects all in the mind? International experts recommend ways to improve adherence to statin therapy

The International Lipid Expert Panel recommends a step-by-step approach to diagnosing and managing muscle symptoms caused by statins. The 'nocebo/drucebo' effect, where patients experience side effects due to expectation, affects up to 70% of diagnosed statin intolerance cases.

SourcePolskie Towarzystwo Lipidologiczne (Polish Lipid Association)·JournalJournal of Cachexia Sarcopenia and Muscle·TypeSystematic review·DateMar 10, 2022

Development of semiconductor microchip that can detect prostate cancer markers with ultra-high sensitivity

Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology developed a microchip capable of detecting ultra-low concentrations of prostate cancer antigens using flexible nanosheets. The chip's lower detection limit is comparable to that of large testing devices, enabling fast and accurate diagnosis.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalSensors·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 3, 2022

Artificial intelligence and machine learning show promise in cancer diagnosis and treatment

Researchers propose various approaches using AI, deep learning, and machine learning to improve the accuracy and predictive power of biomarkers for cancer and other diseases. The tools have shown promising applications in identifying early-stage cancers, inferring the site of specific cancers, and predicting response to immunotherapy.

SourceIOS Press·JournalCancer Biomarkers·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2022

MU scientist links epigenetic biomarkers to gastrointestinal issues for kids with autism

A recent study identified specific RNA biomarkers linked to gastrointestinal symptoms in children with autism. The findings could lead to the development of personalized treatments to ease the pain of these individuals. The research has implications for precision medicine, enabling healthcare providers to track medication effectiveness...

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalFrontiers in Psychiatry·TypeCase study·DateFeb 25, 2022

Tumor tissue modified viral (TTMV)-HPV DNA biomarker test predicts recurrence of HPV-driven oropharynx cancer after treatment

A blood test detecting circulating tumor DNA can accurately predict recurrence of HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer following treatment. The biomarker test may detect recurrent disease earlier than imaging or other standard methods, allowing physicians to personalize treatment more quickly for patients whose cancer returns.

Black heart disease: Two elevated biomarkers distinguish Blacks with resistant hypertension from Whites

Researchers found elevated plasma xanthine oxidase activity and more fragments of damaged mitochondrial DNA in Black adults with resistant hypertension compared to white adults. These findings suggest an important underlying cause of increased cardiovascular risk in Blacks with difficult-to-treat hypertension.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalHypertension·TypeCase study·DateFeb 23, 2022

Ceramides – Blood lipids provide new insights into the link between diet and diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Researchers discovered specific ceramides in the blood are associated with unfavorable levels of diabetes-related compounds, linking unhealthy diets to increased risk. Ceramide profiling may enable more precise dietary approaches for preventing cardiometabolic diseases.

SourceDeutsches Zentrum fuer Diabetesforschung DZD·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 22, 2022

University of Houston researcher finds a new biomarker and potential drug target for breast cancer

Researchers at the University of Houston have identified a new biomarker, NPY1R, that predicts therapy outcome and has potential as a drug target in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. The study found that NPY1R expression is associated with favorable outcomes in Luminal A subtype breast cancer, but declines in resistant cases.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 21, 2022