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Early warning for acute kidney injury

Researchers have identified a potential biomarker, urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL), to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill children. The study found that uNGAL levels increased 48 hours before a jump in serum creatinine levels, suggesting its potential as an early warning system for AKI preven...

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalCritical Care·DateAug 1, 2007

Role for proteomics in identifying hematologic malignancies

A new study has identified a set of biomarkers using proteomics that could help diagnose myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and reduce the need for bone marrow biopsies. The findings, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, used serum proteomic profiling to distinguish between MDS patients and healthy controls.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 11, 2007

Newer biomarkers add small improvement in cardiovascular risk prediction to established risk factors

Scientists found that persons with high multimarker scores had a risk of death four times as great and a risk of major cardiovascular events almost two times as great as those with low scores. The study used 3209 participants for 10 years, measuring 10 novel biomarkers in addition to established risk factors.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 20, 2006

First biomarker for human sleepiness identified in fruit flies

Researchers have identified amylase, an enzyme in saliva, as a biochemical marker linked to sleep loss. Flies subjected to prolonged sleep deprivation showed increased amylase levels, similar to humans who were kept awake for extended periods. The discovery aims to develop diagnostic tools and improve understanding of sleep disorders.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 11, 2006

Blood markers predict risk for recurrent stroke and mortality

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center found that elevated inflammatory biomarkers, such as Lp-PLA2 and hs-CRP, are associated with increased risk of recurrent stroke and mortality after a first stroke. The study's findings may lead to the use of prophylactic treatments to reduce stroke risk in people with elevated biomarkers.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateOct 24, 2006

Researchers use statistical technique to find mix of biomarkers predicting mortality

A study analyzing 13 biomarkers found that combinations of neuroendocrine and immune markers were associated with high-risk pathways in men, while systolic blood pressure was linked to female high-risk pathways. Recursive partitioning identified the importance of biological regulatory systems in predicting mortality in later life.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 20, 2006

New biomarkers for improving treatment of spondylarthritis

Researchers have identified new biomarkers that correlate with patient response to anti-TNFá therapy, improving the treatment of spondylarthritis. The study found changes in synovial tissue features, such as macrophage and PMN cell changes, associated with disease activity and treatment effectiveness.

SourceWiley·JournalArthritis & Rheumatism·DateMay 25, 2006

Modeling head and neck cancers

Researchers have developed a completely penetrant mouse model of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, recapitulating the human disease at both pathological and molecular levels. The model enables testing of combinations of targeted therapies and prevention approaches for HNSCC.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateMay 14, 2006

Cutting calories slightly can reduce aging damage

Scientists from the University of Florida's Institute on Aging found that reducing calories by 8% and exercising moderately extended lifespan and improved liver function in rats. This discovery suggests that even slight calorie moderation can have significant effects on health, with potential implications for human aging.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalAntioxidants & Redox Signaling·DateMay 8, 2006

The first clinical test for saliva-based oral cancer detection: Ready now!

Scientists have developed a standardized saliva RNA test for oral cancer detection, showing high accuracy rates in detecting oral cancer. The test has been confirmed to be highly accurate in identifying four saliva oral cancer RNA biomarkers, reducing mortality and morbidity for oral cancer patients.

Also in the December 21 Journal of the National Cancer Institute

A study by David L. Rimm and colleagues found that high biomarker antibody concentrations were associated with low patient survival in breast cancer patients, while low concentrations were linked to good outcomes. Another study examined the impact of long-term storage on circulating DNA levels in lung cancer patients.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 20, 2005