In this article, a number of important research results have been sorted out to jointly focus on the new achievements of scientists in the study of biomarkers.

CancerRes: Scientists identify novel potential biomarkers or are expected to help develop individualized anti-cancer therapies

Recently, in a study published in the Cancer Research, scientists from institutions such as Duke-NUS Medical School have discovered a potential way to predict which patients will respond to cancer therapies that block Wnt signaling, such as ETC-159, a novel drug developed in Singapore, and the results may help scientists develop novel individualized cancer therapies.

Wnt protein is an important signaling molecule that helps surrounding cells communicate with each other, however, it induces cancer when the protein is produced in excess; Wnt protein is involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of common cancers, including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, leukemia and pancreatic cancer, and many mutations induce the appearance of Wnt hyperactivity, and the search for reliable biomarkers has been a major challenge for scientists. In the article, the researchers identified a novel biomarker called RNF43 that is altered in special types of Wnt-dependent cancers.

JBC: Scientists identify novel biomarkers indicating the development of cardiovascular disease

In a study published in Biological Chemistry, scientists from institutions like Graz University of Technology identified novel biomarkers of cardiovascular disease through the study; in the article, the researchers investigated the key role of dipeptidyl peptidase 3 (DPP3) in the renin-angiotensin system regulated by blood pressure, and the relevant findings may provide new clues and ideas for the development of novel therapies for the treatment of cardiorenal diseases.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activates angiotensin II when the body is hypotensive. This hormone induces vasoconstriction and promotes a return to blood pressure, while the enzyme DPP3 is significantly involved in the metabolism of angiotensin II, the researchers said. Professor Peter Macheroux said, for example, we all know that patients with heart attack, moderate or acute kidney injury have increased levels of DPP3 in their blood, which may increase patient mortality. However, little is known about the physiological function of DPP3. For this reason, in this study, they investigated the molecular mechanism by which DPP3 affects RAS.

Sci Rep: Biomarkers can be used to detect brain damage

Recently, a scientific team led by the University of Arizona and the City of Hope Institute for Translational Genomics (TGen) identified novel biomarker series through proteomics and metabolomics analysis that can help treat tens of millions of patients who suffer from brain injury and have the potential to prevent severe long-term disability. The results were published in the recent issue of Scientific Reports.

It is estimated that 69 million people worldwide suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year, including at least 3 million in the United States, resulting in nearly 288,000 hospitalizations, 56,800 deaths, and 90,000 permanent disabilities. One of the practical applications of the study is through the effectiveness of a treatment for brain injury called RIC (Remote Ischemic Conditioning). Dr. Pirrotte’s team used mouse models and advanced mass spectrometry tools to analyze proteins and metabolites, thereby identifying biomarkers that show the effectiveness of RIC, as well as other biomarkers that can be used to measure the presence of damage.

Clin Cancer Res: New results! Scientists identify novel biomarkers indicating poor Prognosis in patients with endometrial cancer

Recently, in a study published in Clinical Cancer Research, scientists from Queensland University of Science and Technology and other institutions have discovered new biomarkers that indicate the poor prognosis of endometrial cancer. This new cancer biomarker and diagnostic method may help effectively diagnose the types of tumors that are easy to spread and recur, thus helping researchers treat patients as early as possible and blocking cancer cells from attacking other parts of the body.

This novel biomarker may help researchers develop novel therapies to precisely target and kill these cancer cells before they spread, said researcher Pamela Pollock. Now we have developed and optimized a new technology to specifically detect genetic mutations that cause malignant endometrial and uterine cancer. This biomarker is based on mutations in the FGFR2 (Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2) gene, which is expressed in 40% of the 386 patient tumor samples studied in this paper.

FGFR2 gene mutations are directly associated with shorter survival and progression-free survival in a significant number of female patients. In early studies, researchers found that FGFR2 mutations can turn on protein expression all the time, while recent studies were based on previous findings. Because researchers have discovered a new method that can turn on FGFR2 expression, researchers believe that mutations called FGFR2c may be used to adjust the prognosis of patients with endometrial cancer and can also be used as a predictive biomarker to indicate whether tumors will be resistant or sensitive to FGFR inhibitors.

BJBMS: Identifying independent biomarkers indicating prognosis in gastric cancer

Although scientists have made a number of research advances in the diagnosis and therapy of gastric cancer in recent years, it is still an important public health problem, therefore, in addition to classical methods, scientists need new biomolecules to help predict the prognosis of gastric cancer and develop novel targeted therapies. Recently, in a study published in Basic Medical Sciences, scientists from the University of Feilat, Turkey, identified a novel independent prognostic indicator of gastric cancer through the study. The researchers say the P2X7 receptor is a special molecule that is thought to play a number of important roles in inflammatory events and cancer progression, and is located on the cell membrane where its levels increase in many types of cancer.

Previous researchers have found that P2X7 receptor may be used as a biomarker of poor prognosis in a variety of malignant tumors, such as pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and kidney cancer. However, after recent studies on cancer cell lines, scientists have found that P2X7 receptor antagonists can effectively slow down tumor growth, but researchers have not conducted detailed clinical studies to investigate the effect of P2X7 receptor on the treatment prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

You all know protein foods, especially lean proteins, are an important macronutrient group to incorporate into your daily diet. Protein is not only essential for satiating hunger, it’s also vital for feeding muscle repair and tissue growth—plus, your body uses protein to produce hormones, enzymes and other body chemicals.

The NHS recommends consuming 0.75g of protein per kilo of bodyweight—that’s 43.5g of protein for a 58kg woman. Whilst you can get enough protein in your diet from natural food sources such as poultry, fish, eggs, yoghurt and legumes, there are also several protein powders and vegan protein powders on the market great for whacking in smoothie recipes or healthy bakes.

But we digress. You’ve all heard chicken touted as one of the best protein sources—it’s a lean source, after all, and can contain up to 31g of protein per fillet. That’s an awful lot.

But could the humble egg, suitable for vegetarians and flexitarians alike, pip the chicken to the post in terms of protein bang for buck?

Which is more nutrient dense—chicken or eggs?
The stats:
Just shy of one billion chickens were eaten in the UK last year. That’s an estimated 15 birds per meat-eating person annually. And yet, 13 billion eggs were eaten in the UK the year before that, according to egg-industry statistics. That’s roughly 200 per Brit. No yolk.

The science:
Chicken’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which can boost the optimum rate at which your heart, lungs and muscles can effectively use oxygen during exercise. Plus, all the branched-chain amino acids present in your nuggets support both cardiac and skeletal muscle.

On the other hand, a University of Illinois study suggests the high lutein content of egg yolks may help defend against the onset of dementia. A Harvard study has also linked the all-star compound to a decreased risk of vision degeneration in old age. Cracking.

The pros:
Protein-rich chicken has a well-deserved rep for muscle growth – 100g serves up 31g of the stuff and just 3.6g fat (provided you avoid eating the skin—try these healthy chicken recipes) – and it’s also high in selenium, which is linked to fat loss.

However, two large eggs not only serve up 12g protein, making them a great choice post-strength training, but contain more than double the amount of cancer-fighting riboflavin and brain-boosting vitamin B12 found in chicken. Not bad.

The cons:
Intensive farming led to the unnecessary deaths of 1.35 million chickens between 2016 and 2017. It pays to buy free-range. Pasture-raised chicken is higher in vitamin E and can also be up to 50% lower in fat.

Meanwhile, eggs have roughly the same amount of fat as they do protein, and are a source of cholesterol. But it’s untrue that you need to stick to four a week max. Cholesterol in food has little effect on the cholesterol in your blood – it’s sat fats you should swerve, so try to poach rather than fry.

The expert verdict:
Rick Miller, clinical and sports dietician, recommends eating a mixture of chicken cuts to reap the most nutrition benefits. Why? He explains: ‘The more nutrient-rich portions of chicken tend to be in the dark meat. Thighs and legs contain a little more iron and zinc.’

And when it comes to your yolk-consumption, Rhiannon Lambert, Harley Street nutritionist, says eggs are a great protein, B12 and B6 source, which help with energy release from food. More on that: ‘Whole eggs are a rich source of choline – a little-known nutrient that’s useful for brain and nervous-system health.’

The winner: Eggs
Vegans aside – and we suspect you won’t be reading this if you are one – both warrant a place in your shopping basket (free-range only, please).

But the superior nutritional profile of eggs affords them multivitamin status, enhancing both brain and brawn.

When it comes to protein, many say that it is an important component of all cells and tissues of the human body, and all important components of the body need to be involved in protein. In this article, researcher Professor Nathan Ahlgren from Clark University explains what proteins are, how they are formed, and what important functions proteins play in the body.

What is protein?

Protein is the basic structure existing in all life, of course, it is first a molecule. The key to protein is that it is composed of smaller components, and these components are amino acids. We can imagine amino acids into a string of beads of different colors, each bead represents an amino acid, and amino acids are composed of smaller molecules, which contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and sometimes sulfur atoms. So proteins are essentially a string of structures composed of these small amino acids, and we can combine 22 different amino acids in any different combination to produce different proteins.

Proteins usually do not exist as beads, which fold into a specific shape according to different amino acid sequences and modes of interaction, and this shape can affect the role that proteins play in the body.

Where do amino acids come from?

Amino acids in the body come from the food we eat, of course, we will also make amino acids in the body, for example, other animals will also make protein, and we will obtain protein by ingesting the meat of these animals; the body will decompose these protein chains into single amino acids, and then transform them into the protein we need, once the protein is decomposed into amino acids in the digestive system, it will be taken to the cells and float in the cells, like the small beads we compare, and then in the cells, the body will connect them to make the protein we need; we can make about half of the amino acids needed by the body, and the others can be obtained from the food.

What roles do proteins play in the body?

Scientists are not sure, and most people agree that there are about 20,000 different proteins in the body, and studies have shown that there are even more proteins, which perform a variety of different and functional functions to switch the body’s metabolism and promote cells to maintain together. These functions of proteins can be divided into several categories. First, they are structural. Our body is composed of many different structures. Imagine the linear structure, globular structure, etc.; they constitute the substances that link the body together; collagen is a special protein, which constitutes the structures of skin, bone and even teeth; integrin is a special protein that makes the intercellular junctions more flexible, while hair and nails are composed of a protein called keratin.

Another important role that proteins play is that they play special biochemical reactions in body cells, such as breaking down fats or amino acids; researchers say that certain proteins break down proteins ingested by the body, and even this function can be done by proteins such as pepsin; another example is hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen in the blood. Proteins can process signals and information, such as circadian proteins that can maintain time in cells.

Why is protein often closely related to muscle and meat?

Different types of foods contain a variety of different protein contents, such as wheat and rice and other plants have many carbohydrates, and their protein content is not rich; however, generally meat is more rich in protein, and the muscles of the human body also require a large amount of protein to make; so this is why protein is often closely linked to eating meat and building muscles, but the role of protein in the body may not be so far.

The world went through many changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and it is still causing change all over. People had to go into isolation to protect themselves from the virus and to stop it from spreading in their communities, there was very few or no social interactions, many people (especially the elderly) were left alone, people lost their jobs and other sources of income, and so much more. The pandemic affected individuals, businesses, as well as communities, and nations as a whole.

Many people who suffered going through the death of a loved one, or any one of these other adverse conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, have suffered one or more mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, etc.

Social isolation and lockdowns have resulted in adverse mental health issues, and it has affected the elderly (those above 65 years of age) and adolescent-age children much more than others, as they find it more difficult to adapt to these unprecedented changes. A major contributor to the increase in mental health and substance use during COVID-19 was the fact that those people who were already suffering from mental disorders prior to the pandemic have not been able to get sufficient care and medication during this time. This situation has seen a huge increase in the severity of mental diseases and those suffering will no doubt require greater attention and care for long periods of time from clinics and doctors providing services in mental health in Mt. Gravatt and other areas of the country, as well as the world.

In addition, low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety have been found among those who had lost their jobs and sources of income due to the pandemic. The inability to provide for themselves and their families has caused grave mental stress for working-age adults.

Another group of people at high risk of anxiety and depression are frontline workers, such as healthcare workers. Extreme fatigue, inability to spend time with their loved ones, fear of contracting the disease, are some of the factors that have contributed towards a decline in the mental health status of frontline workers.

What can you do as an individual and as a family to keep your mental health in good condition during this pandemic?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are certain things you can do and steps you can follow to keep yourself fit both physically and mentally during these difficult and uncertain times, such as:

Stay physically fit – Irrespective of whether you are a child or an adult, you should keep yourself active, even if you are in isolation in your home or elsewhere. This will benefit both your body and your mind and help reduce the risk of certain diseases such as Stroke, Diabetes Type 2, Heart Disease, etc. A regular time for physical activity and exercise on a daily basis is recommended, which will give you a set routine to follow, reducing the risk of depression, anxiety, etc, as it will give you an overall good feeling. You can always exercise together with friends and family through video calls and similar methods, which also gives you the all-important social interaction which you need.
Look after your mind – Being stuck at home because of isolation or loss of a job can make people sluggish and this, in turn, can cause mental disorders as well as increased substance use. Anxiety and fear, and depression are some of the major issues faced by people. However, following a few simple steps can protect you from adverse mental reactions to the situation, such as:
Have a set routine daily.
Keep engaged with family, friends, and work colleagues. It is now easier than ever to talk to people using technology.
Reduce the amount of news you listen to which can cause you anxiety or fear.
Limit your alcohol use, and don’t start using it, if you haven’t used it before. The effects of alcohol and drugs could prevent you from taking proper precautions against the virus.
Reduce screen time and time spent playing video games, as these could cause behavioral problems and other adverse mental issues.
Be positive on social media and don’t fall prey to misinformation.
Offer help to others who may need it if you are able to.
If you are already suffering from a mental illness, make sure that you take your medications regularly and on time, and that you keep in close contact with your mental health doctor or clinic on a regular basis.
Pay a lot more attention to children and discuss the situation with them. Support them as they will have to make huge changes in their lives as well during this time.
Eat a healthy diet – A healthy and nutritious diet is an important factor in protecting yourself against COVID-19. It helps support the immune system and staying healthy can affect your mental health in a good way.
In general, if you feel that you are going through unusual bouts of depression, mood swings, anxiety, panic attacks, and fear during this COVID-19 pandemic, then it is best to seek help immediately. Get in touch with a doctor or clinic that provides services in mental health in Mr. Gravatt or anywhere close to you as soon as possible.