Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Improved predictive value of biomarkers in HF makes earlier diagnosis and better management possible

Researchers have discovered two efficient biomarker applications that promise even earlier diagnosis and improved treatment of heart failure. Biomarkers N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cystatin C can identify patients at high risk, enabling targeted care and reducing healthcare costs.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Journal of Heart Failure·DateMar 29, 2009

Penn Medicine pathologists pioneer biomarker test to diagnose or rule out Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at Penn Medicine have developed a biomarker test that can confirm or rule out Alzheimer's disease by measuring cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of amyloid beta42 peptide and tau protein. The test accurately predicted the conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease in 81.8% of cases.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateMar 16, 2009

Researchers identify another potential biomarker

A recent study by Boston University researchers has identified a class of microRNAs that regulate gene expression changes in airway cells caused by smoking and lung cancer. These findings may lead to a non-invasive biomarker for smoking-related lung diseases, improving early diagnosis and treatment options.

SourceBoston University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 13, 2009

Stanford blood scanner detects even faint indicators of cancer

A team of Stanford researchers has created a prototype blood scanner that can detect cancer biomarkers in the bloodstream at an early stage of the disease. The system uses magnetic nanotechnology to spot cancer proteins, which is tens to hundreds of times more sensitive than existing commercial devices. This technology holds promise fo...

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 1, 2008

Markers of inflammation and blood-clotting tied to hazards of intermittent HIV treatment

Researchers found strong associations between intermittent HIV treatment and higher levels of inflammation and blood-clotting biomarkers, leading to a higher risk of death from non-AIDS diseases. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and D-dimer levels rose significantly in the intermittent-treatment group after one month.

Also in the Oct. 7 JNCI

Researchers propose a nested case-control study design called PRoBE to evaluate biomarker classification accuracy, minimizing bias. Regular NSAID use is associated with a 12% relative risk reduction in breast cancer risk, according to a meta-analysis of 38 studies involving 2,788,715 women.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateOct 7, 2008

NEJM: Low-fat diets not best for weight loss: New study by Ben-Gurion U. of the Negev

A two-year study found that low-carbohydrate and Mediterranean diets were as effective as low-fat diets in achieving weight loss. The Mediterranean diet showed significant improvements in cholesterol levels and fasting glucose, while the low-carb diet improved HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

SourceAmerican Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJul 16, 2008

Blood testing for mood disorders

A new approach identifies five genes involved in myelination and six genes involved in growth factor signaling as potential biomarkers for high and low mood states. The study suggests that blood biomarkers may offer an informative window into brain functioning and disease state.

SourceMolecular Psychiatry·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateFeb 25, 2008

Scientists using laser light to detect potential diseases via breath samples, says new study

Researchers from NIST and CU-Boulder have developed a technique using optical frequency comb spectroscopy to detect molecules in breath that may be markers for diseases like asthma or cancer. The technique can identify thousands of different molecules simultaneously, providing highly reliable information about various diseases.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalOptics Express·DateFeb 18, 2008

Laser light may be able to detect diseases on the breath

Researchers have created a new technique using laser light to analyze breath samples, detecting biomarkers for diseases like asthma and cancer. This non-invasive method could provide rapid and reliable health screenings, addressing existing limitations in breath analysis.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Express·DateFeb 18, 2008

Proteomic profiling shown more accurate than traditional biomarkers in identifying liver cancer

A study published in Clinical Cancer Research demonstrates that a novel mass-spectrometry based proteomic profiling method is more accurate than traditional biomarkers in distinguishing liver cancer patients from patients with hepatitis C liver cirrhosis. The technique, SELDI-TOF MS, identified an 11-protein signature that accurately d...

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateJan 15, 2008