Medical Bulletin 09/September/2023

Here are the top medical news of the day:

AI helps identify cancer risk factors

A novel study from the University of South Australia has identified a range of metabolic biomarkers that could help predict the risk of cancer. Deploying machine learning to examine data from 459,169 participants in the UK Biobank, the study identified 84 features that could signal increased cancer risk. Several markers also signalled chronic kidney or liver disease, highlighting the significance of exploring the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of these diseases for their potential connections with cancer.

Reference: Iqbal Madakkatel, Amanda L. Lumsden, Anwar Mulugeta, Ian Olver, Elina Hyppönen. Hypothesis‐free discovery of novel cancer predictors using machine learning. European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2023; DOI: 10.1111/eci.14037

New blood test significantly improves cancer detection

Cancer is most treatable in its early stages, so finding innovative and non-invasive methods to diagnose cancer early on is crucial for fighting the disease. Liquid biopsies, which require just a simple blood draw, are an emerging technology for non-invasively testing for cancer using DNA or RNA sequencing of a patient's blood.

Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Daniel Kim and his lab are developing more accurate and powerful liquid biopsy technologies that take advantage of signals from RNA "dark matter," an understudied area of the genome. Kim's new research shows that this genetic material is present in the blood of people with cancer and can be identified to diagnose specific cancer types such as pancreatic, lung, esophageal, and others early in the course of the disease.

Reference: Roman E. Reggiardo, Sreelakshmi Velandi Maroli, Vikas Peddu, Andrew E. Davidson, Alexander Hill, Erin LaMontagne, Yassmin Al Aaraj, Miten Jain, Stephen Y. Chan, Daniel H. Kim. Profiling of repetitive RNA sequences in the blood plasma of patients with cancer. Nature Biomedical Engineering, 2023; DOI: 10.1038/s41551-023-01081-7

Longevity gene from naked mole rats may be the next ‘fountain of youth’

In a groundbreaking endeavor, researchers at the University of Rochester have successfully transferred a longevity gene from naked mole rats to mice, resulting in improved health and an extension of the mouse's lifespan.

Naked mole rats, known for their long lifespans and exceptional resistance to age-related diseases, have long captured the attention of the scientific community. By introducing a specific gene responsible for enhanced cellular repair and protection into mice, the Rochester researchers have opened exciting possibilities for unlocking the secrets of aging and extending human lifespan.

Reference: Zhihui Zhang, Xiao Tian, J. Yuyang Lu, Kathryn Boit, Julia Ablaeva, Frances Tolibzoda Zakusilo, Stephan Emmrich, Denis Firsanov, Elena Rydkina, Seyed Ali Biashad, Quan Lu, Alexander Tyshkovskiy, Vadim N. Gladyshev, Steve Horvath, Andrei Seluanov, Vera Gorbunova. Increased hyaluronan by naked mole-rat Has2 improves healthspan in mice. Nature, 2023; DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06463-0