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A biomarker is a biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease. A biomarker may be used to see how well the body responds to a treatment for a disease or condition. Also called molecular marker and signature molecule.

Study confirms safety and efficacy of new second line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer

A randomized trial in 650 patients has confirmed the safety and efficacy of a new second line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer, researchers report at the ESMO Asia 2017 Congress.

20 Nov 2017

Researchers identify possible genetic basis for coronary artery disease

The buildup of plaque in the heart's arteries is an unfortunate part of aging. But by studying the genetic makeup of people who maintain clear arteries into old age, researchers led by UNC's Jonathan Schisler, PhD, have identified a possible genetic basis for coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as potential new opportunities to prevent it.

17 Nov 2017

Aging tests disagree with one another

Whether it's an on-line quiz, a $300 chromosome test or an $800 blood panel, a lot of people seem to be interested in whether they're aging faster or slower than their chronological age would suggest.

16 Nov 2017

Genetic diversity of tumor tissues can be barrier to precision medicine in gastric and esophageal cancers

A new study focused on describing genetic variations within a primary tumor, differences between the primary and a metastatic branch of that tumor, and additional diversity found in tumor DNA in the blood stream could help physicians make better treatment choices for patients with gastric and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

15 Nov 2017

WFIRM-led project aims to study health risks astronauts face from exposure to space radiation

The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine has been selected by NASA to lead a multi-institutional project to better understand the health risks astronauts face from the exposure to galactic cosmic ray (GCR) and solar energetic particle (SEP) radiation that occurs from long-duration missions in deep space, and to develop countermeasures to keep astronauts safe.

14 Nov 2017

Analysis finds simple method to identify patients most likely to benefit from long-term canakinumab treatment

A new analysis seeks to answer the question of which patients are likely to gain the greatest cardiovascular benefit when treated with the anti-inflammatory agent canakinumab.

14 Nov 2017

Pilot study raises concerns about exposure of pregnant women to benzene in British Columbia

Université de Montréal research reveals that 29 pregnant women living near natural-gas hydraulic fracturing sites had a median concentration of a benzene biomarker in their urine that was 3.5 times higher than that found in women from the general Canadian population.

13 Nov 2017

Researchers find low levels of neuroactive steroid in both obese and anorexic women

Women at opposite extremes of the weight spectrum have low levels of the neuroactive steroid allopregnanolone, according to new research published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.

10 Nov 2017

New biomarker could lead to early detection of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have identified a peptide that could lead to the early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

10 Nov 2017

Common genetic fusion event could help identify patients with low-risk prostate cancer

Establishing the way in which a genetic alteration called a TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion forms in a prostate cancer, rather than the presence of the gene fusion itself, could help identify patients with prostate cancer with a low risk of spreading, which might determine the best course of treatment for the patient.

10 Nov 2017

New PEth test could accurately identify alcohol misuse in critically ill patients

A simple blood test for a compound called PEth can accurately identify critically ill hospital patients who misuse alcohol, a study has found.

9 Nov 2017

Early intervention may be crucial to successful treatment of Friedreich's ataxia

New research published today in Disease Models & Mechanisms indicates that early intervention should be a key target in the development of new therapeutics for Friedreich's ataxia, as current treatments may be administered too late to target the disease effectively.

8 Nov 2017

Mental stress and anticipation of pain may trigger painful sickle cell episodes

Mental stress and the anticipation of pain may cause blood vessels to narrow and trigger episodes of severe pain (vaso-occlusive crisis, or VOC) in sickle cell disease (SCD).

7 Nov 2017

UofL researchers help discover new autoimmune disease that causes kidney failure

Researchers at the University of Louisville were part of a group that discovered an insidious new autoimmune disease that causes kidney failure.

3 Nov 2017

Research reveals presence of potential autoantigen in patients with aggressive kidney disease

New research reveals the presence of abundant levels of a certain protein in the kidneys of patients with fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN). In FGN, large amounts of protein become trapped in the millions of filtering units - or glomeruli - that make up the kidney.

3 Nov 2017

Discovery of genetic markers could guide individualized treatments for advanced prostate cancer

Researchers at Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine have uncovered genetic clues to why tumors resist a specific therapy used for treating advanced prostate cancer.

2 Nov 2017

Healthy people with psychotic-like experiences have altered brain dynamics, study finds

Healthy people experiencing subtle symptoms observed in psychotic disorders, such as hallucinations and delusions, have altered brain dynamics, according to a new study published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging.

1 Nov 2017

Deep-learning technology reveals anti-aging plant extracts

Life Extension, in collaboration with Insilico Medicine, have employed artificial intelligence to develop a novel dietary supplement of plant extracts that can activate the body's own anti-aging path ways.

31 Oct 2017

New biomarkers could help doctors diagnose traumatic brain injury through simple blood test

UCLA researchers have identified four biomarkers that could help doctors diagnose brain trauma and concussions through a simple blood test. The biomarkers are proteins, from brain cells called astrocytes, which are released instantly into the bloodstream when astrocytes' outer membranes rupture from blunt impact or whiplash trauma.

31 Oct 2017

Montmorency tart cherry juice found to help extend sleep time among adults 50 years and older

Montmorency tart cherry juice was found to help extend sleep time by 84 minutes among eight study participants, ages 50 and older who suffer from insomnia, according to a new pilot study published in American Journal of Therapeutics.

28 Oct 2017

Biomarker News and Research

Further Reading

Study confirms safety and efficacy of new second line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer

Researchers identify possible genetic basis for coronary artery disease

Aging tests disagree with one another

Genetic diversity of tumor tissues can be barrier to precision medicine in gastric and esophageal cancers

WFIRM-led project aims to study health risks astronauts face from exposure to space radiation

Analysis finds simple method to identify patients most likely to benefit from long-term canakinumab treatment

Pilot study raises concerns about exposure of pregnant women to benzene in British Columbia

Researchers find low levels of neuroactive steroid in both obese and anorexic women

New biomarker could lead to early detection of Alzheimer's disease

Common genetic fusion event could help identify patients with low-risk prostate cancer

New PEth test could accurately identify alcohol misuse in critically ill patients

Early intervention may be crucial to successful treatment of Friedreich's ataxia

Mental stress and anticipation of pain may trigger painful sickle cell episodes

UofL researchers help discover new autoimmune disease that causes kidney failure

Research reveals presence of potential autoantigen in patients with aggressive kidney disease

Discovery of genetic markers could guide individualized treatments for advanced prostate cancer

Healthy people with psychotic-like experiences have altered brain dynamics, study finds

Deep-learning technology reveals anti-aging plant extracts

New biomarkers could help doctors diagnose traumatic brain injury through simple blood test

Montmorency tart cherry juice found to help extend sleep time among adults 50 years and older

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