Current blood tests are showing some promise for detecting cancer in patients But one major problem is that these don’t indicate where the tumour resides The new method relies on a process that controls how genes are expressed So it can pick up the signs of tumours – as well as where in the body...
Category: <span>Diagnostic</span>
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Why you should NOT rely on your Pap test: Experts warn the standard exam is too flawed to be a woman’s only test for ‘silent killer’ cancers
Many women believe Pap tests detect gynecological cancers But experts warn HPV tests are better at catching cervical cancer And it is incredibly rare that Pap smears can detect ovarian cancer Here we explain why some countries are switching wholesale from Pap to HPV testing as the standard, and what other tests you should be...
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Fiber optic probe beats a biopsy for measuring muscle health
A new fiber optic technique for studying muscle health could remove the need for painful muscle biopsies Diagnosing a muscular disorder, disease or infection often requires a sample of the tissue to be extracted, but these biopsies can be painful and difficult to perform. Researchers at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) have developed a...
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Google’s artificial intelligence can detect tumours with a 92% accuracy rate and is quicker than human doctors
Currently the process of diagnosing cancer can take weeks or even months However, DeepMind is on the verge of becoming a much quicker method Owned by Google’s parent company, it is also more accurate than humans It could also be used to see if the disease has spread to other parts of the body Artificial...
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Epigenetic enzyme found to be lacking in some patients with Crohn’s disease
High magnification micrograph of Crohn’s disease. Biopsy of esophagus. H&E stain. A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team has found how a variant in an important epigenetic enzyme—previously associated by population-based genetic studies with Crohn’s disease and other immune disorders—interferes with the action of the innate immune system, potentially upsetting the healthy balance between...
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BLOOD TEST MAY HELP DIFFERENTIATE PARKINSON’S FROM SIMILAR DISEASES
MINNEAPOLIS – A simple blood test may be as accurate as a spinal fluid test when trying to determine whether symptoms are caused by Parkinson’s disease or another atypical parkinsonism disorder, according to a new study published in the February 8, 2017, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology....
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From Alzheimer’s to autism, nuclear neurology could launch revolution in diagnosing and treating brain diseases
Image of glucose metabolism PET overlaid on CT in an Alzheimer’s patient with mild dementia. Green arrow points to regional hypometabolism in the medial parietal lobe, (which processes biographical information and memory),a proposed biomarker for Alzheimer’s. UB researcher with database of 16,000 brain scans proposes that powerful imaging can transform neurology as it did cardiology...
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Discovery could help doctors to spot cardiovascular disease at an earlier stage
Screening methods for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes could be improved by measuring different biological signposts to those currently being tested, a new study led by researchers from King’s College London suggests. Published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the study could allow doctors to better predict the development of...
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Scientists spot signs that predict worsening multiple sclerosis
(HealthDay)—Multiple sclerosis (MS) is more likely to progress to advanced disease among patients who suffer from fatigue and limited use of their legs, new research suggests. “Better understanding who is at high risk of getting worse may eventually allow us to tailor more specific treatments to these people,” said study author Dr. Bianca Weinstock-Guttman. She...
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Highly prevalent gene variants in minority populations cause kidney disease
Preclinical study is first proof-of-concept to pave way for development of new therapeutics Representative images of kidney tissue from APOL1-G1 and APOL1-G2 mice, showing severe scarring of the kidney filter. African Americans have a heightened risk of developing chronic and end-stage kidney disease. This association has been attributed to two common genetic variants — named...