Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, impacts a significant number of women worldwide. It is a complex condition with multiple factors at play, including genetics, hormones, and metabolism. However, the precise cause remains elusive. Current diagnostic methods, primarily based on the Rotterdam criteria, often lead to delayed identification, resulting in various lifesty...
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a well-known health issue. It is a serious lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. It is a major problem for many people. It is a big deal. There are chances to spot it earlier and handle it better. Yet, these chances are often missed. Some patients with COPD have a tougher time. These are the ones who hav...
Ovarian cancer is a serious threat to women's health. It is often deadly because it is hard to catch early. Next-generation sequencing has been looked at for screening, but it is too expensive for widespread use. So, researchers have come up with a new way to detect ovarian cancer early. They focused on the most aggressive type, high-grade serous ovarian cancer. They...
Researchers have found a strong link between a specific protein in blood, called phosphorylated tau217, and memory problems in people with Alzheimer's disease. This protein, found in plasma, can hint at the earlier stages of Alzheimer's. While scientists already knew that these proteins could show changes in the brain, they weren't sure how well these blood tests ref...
In the vast and complex realm of brain health lies a subtle warrior, Mathilda, also named Glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome (Glut1DS). Triggered by mutations in the SLC2A1 gene, Mathilda remains largely undetected since her discovery in 1991. She confuses even the brightest medical minds because she takes on many forms. However, the key to controlling her imp...
Scientists have found a promising way to detect kidney rejection early using cell-free DNA from donors. This method, called dd-cfDNA monitoring, can spot antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in people who have received kidney transplants. The tricky part is that we need to see if this method actually helps patients in the long run. Early diagnosis of AMR is crucial bec...
Thoracic disc herniation might not be as rare as you think. But why is it such a big deal? Well, there are two main obstacles we face with this condition. First, cutting out the herniated disc can be a real challenge. The thoracic spine is a tricky area to operate on because it's protected by the rib cage and lungs. Also, diagnosing this condition early isn't always ...
Imagine detecting cancer early with just a drop of blood, all for the price of a coffee. That's what scientists at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) have developed: a simple, low-cost device called the paper-in-polymer-pond (PiPP). This clever gadget uses regular paper, similar to what coffee filters are made of, combined with a plastic framework to spot canc...