Researchers at the University of Frankfurt, in Germany, and colleagues have discovered that By monitoring an inflammation-related protein known as CD40 doctors may be able to identify heart patients at increased risk for death. The finding could help determine which patients are most likely to benefit from drugs that reduce the "stickiness" of platelets. CD40 is released by platelets, which are cells that play a key role in blood clot formation.
Source: The New England Journal of Medicine, March 2003
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University Medical School in Baltimore, Maryland, are developing a blood test to detect loss of imprinting in the gene for a protein called insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2). It may identify people who are likely to develop colon cancer and who would benefit from additional screening. The research is partly funded by Epigenomics AG, which has a licensing arrangement with the university.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical Institution in Baltimore, report that proenzyme prostate specific antigen (pPSA) does a better job of detecting prostate cancer and helping prevent unnecessary biopsies than free PSA (fPSA) does.
Source: Urology, February 2003