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Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio identifies possible markers for early metastatic lung cancer

A team of researchers at Mays Cancer Center has identified protein markers that could signal the early development of metastatic lung cancer. These markers have led to a $1.6 million grant and will pave the way for a clinical trial in patients with advanced lung cancer.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 4, 2023

BU researchers describe advances in sample preparation, mass spectrometry analysis to improve identification of glycopeptides

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have improved methods for identifying glycopeptides, which are proteins with attached carbohydrates. Conventional mass spectrometry methods are sufficient for peptides with one glycan, but an additional step is necessary for those with two or more glycans.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalAnalytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2023

AI helps ID cancer risk factors

A novel study from the University of South Australia identified 84 features that could signal increased cancer risk in a dataset of 459,169 UK Biobank participants. The study found several biomarkers linked to cancer risk, including urinary microalbumin and high levels of cystatin C.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Investigation·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 30, 2023

How plants pass down genetic memories

Researchers have discovered how plants pass along chemical markers that instruct cells on using DNA codes, a process known as epigenetic inheritance. The study reveals the role of protein DDM1 in making way for enzymes that add regulatory marks to new DNA strands, preserving genetic controls across generations.

Researchers discover a novel pathway that minimizes liver injury during transplantation

Researchers have discovered a novel pathway that minimizes liver injury during transplantation by activating the protective CEACAM1-S version. This protective characteristic is regulated by HIF-1α and can be enhanced using molecular tools and alternative gene splicing, reducing organ injury and improving post-transplant outcomes.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2023

Immobilizing melanoma

Researchers have identified podoplanin as a key protein driving the spread of mucosal melanoma, a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer. Eliminating this protein could lead to a potential treatment through antibody therapy, offering hope for patients with this devastating disease.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalMolecular Cancer Research·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 26, 2023

Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis studies make advances in spatiotemporal pharmacometabolomics, plasma proteome profiling, and hepatocellular carcinoma therapeutics

Researchers developed new methods for detecting drug-induced hepatotoxicity using 3D cell cultures and mass spectrometry imaging, identifying biomarkers and effective interventions. A zeolite-based protein corona method was also used to characterize plasma proteins, enabling the identification of low-abundance proteins and their potent...

SourceCactus Communications·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Analysis·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 26, 2023

Obesity associated with increased inflammation and prolonged symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury

Researchers found that obese patients with mild traumatic brain injuries had higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers and prolonged symptoms compared to those with healthy body mass indexes. The study suggests that obesity may mediate the inflammatory response and symptoms in mTBI patients.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalJournal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry·DateJun 27, 2023

1 in 3 adults with Type 2 diabetes may have undetected cardiovascular disease

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that elevated levels of two protein biomarkers associated with heart damage were linked to undetected or symptomless cardiovascular disease in adults with Type 2 diabetes. The study analyzed health information and blood samples from over 10,300 adults and foun...

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateMay 31, 2023

Antibody alternatives for biosensing

Researchers developed an electronic biosensor using DNA aptamers to detect biomarkers in whole blood samples. The biosensor successfully detected clinically relevant levels of a marker protein for cardiovascular disease without further sample preparation.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 18, 2023

Epilepsy could become easier to pinpoint with blood test

Researchers have discovered higher levels of immune proteins in the blood before and after epileptic seizures. The study suggests a potential biomarker for epilepsy, which could be identified using a simple blood test. This finding may help distinguish epilepsy from other conditions, such as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.

SourceLund University·JournalHeliyon·DateMar 13, 2023

Oncotarget | Novel prognostic index to predict survival outcomes in gastric cancer patients

Researchers have developed a novel prognostic index to predict survival outcomes in gastric cancer patients. The inflammation-combined prognostic index (ICPI) combines three biomarkers - lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio - to provide a personalized prognosis for each patient.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2023

'We're not all that different': Study IDs bacterial weapons that could be harnessed to treat human disease

Researchers discovered a cluster of enzymes in bacteria that can be reprogrammed to edit proteins and potentially treat human diseases such as Parkinson's and Crohn's. The study also identified key components of the bacterial immune system, including two on-off switches, that could be targeted therapeutically.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Medical College of Wisconsin scientists find new marker that predicts early recurrence of breast cancer

Medical College of Wisconsin scientists have identified PD-L2 as a therapy-relevant marker for predicting early recurrence of breast cancer. High levels of PD-L2 protein in cancer cells are associated with an elevated risk of progression and may indicate patients who can benefit from immunotherapies such as PD-1 inhibitors.

SourceMedical College of Wisconsin·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateJan 25, 2023

New blood test can detect ‘toxic’ protein years before Alzheimer’s symptoms emerge, study shows

A new laboratory test can measure levels of amyloid beta oligomers in blood samples, detecting toxic proteins up to years before cognitive impairment. The test, SOBA, has shown promising results in identifying individuals at risk or incubating Alzheimer's disease.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 5, 2022

Protein shapes indicate Parkinson’s disease

Researchers at ETH Zurich have identified 76 proteins that could serve as biomarkers for Parkinson's disease, with their molecular structures differing between healthy and diseased individuals. The study uses a unique method to analyze protein shapes in cerebrospinal fluid, providing a promising new approach for diagnosis and potential...

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateNov 25, 2022

Thirdhand smoke can trigger skin diseases

A UC Riverside-led study found that acute THS exposure initiates mechanisms of inflammatory skin disease and elevates urinary biomarkers of oxidative harm. The researchers discovered elevated molecular biomarkers in blood associated with early-stage activation of contact dermatitis, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalEBioMedicine·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2022

A smashing solution for cancer therapy

Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a cancer therapy model that utilizes a protein degrading system to transiently degrade and reduce the PD-1 protein, which blocks immune function. This approach has shown high therapeutic efficacy in inhibiting cancer cell growth in mice.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNAR Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 9, 2022

Determining how and why cells make decisions

Researchers at Texas A&M University are developing mathematical models to predict and control cellular differentiation. They created a technique using mix-and-read assays, which allow for the detection of key signaling proteins in live tissues. This method enables researchers to gain a deeper understanding of how cells make decisions.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalACS Omega·DateJul 1, 2022

Blood plasma protein fibrinogen interacts directly with nerve cells to cause brain inflammation

A USF Health study reveals that fibrinogen can directly interact with neurons, leading to inflammation and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury. The researchers found that blocking the binding of fibrinogen to its receptors may alleviate short-term memory problems associated with these diseases.

SourceUniversity of South Florida (USF Health)·JournalBiomolecules·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 8, 2021

AI knows where your proteins go

Researchers from Nara Institute of Science and Technology developed a machine learning program that accurately predicts the location of proteins related to actin in cells. The program achieved a high degree of similarity with actual images, showing promise for future applications in cell analysis and artificial cell staining.

SourceNara Institute of Science and Technology·JournalFrontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology·DateAug 5, 2021