Medical Bulletin 13/February/2024

Here are the top medical news highlights of the day:

Urine samples may reveal early signs of ovarian cancer

A new study done at Virginia Commonwealth University shows potential for a urine-based test for ovarian cancer.

The research led by Joseph Reiner and colleagues focuses on nanopore sensing, which can potentially detect multiple peptides simultaneously. The basic idea of nanopore sensing involves passing molecules through a tiny pore, or nanopore, and measuring the changes in electrical current or other properties as the molecules move through.

Earlier studies have revealed the presence of thousands of small molecules, known as peptides, in the urine of ovarian cancer patients. However, traditional detection methods for these peptides are neither straightforward nor cost-effective.

Reference:https://www.biophysics.org/newsroom?ArtMID=802&ArticleID=14928&preview=true

Innovative method reveals additional human gene regulation layer

A new study, published online on February 9, 2024, in Molecular Cell, demonstrates a technique capable of finding the frequency and locations of "backtracking" molecular events across any species' genome. These findings support the theory that backtracking serves as a widespread mechanism of gene regulation, impacting numerous human genes crucial for fundamental life processes such as cell division and embryonic development.

The work revolved around genes, the stretches of DNA molecular "letters" arranged in a certain order (sequence) to encode the blueprints for most organisms. In both humans and bacteria, the first step in a gene's expression, transcription, proceeds as a protein "machine" called RNA polymerase II ticks down the DNA chain, reading genetic instructions in one direction. As RNA polymerase II backtracks, it forces out (extrudes) from its interior channel the tip of the RNA chain it has been building based on the DNA code.

The study led by Evgeny A. Nudler and his team at NYU Langone Health reveals that the new technique called Long Range Cleavage sequencing (LORAX-seq), can directly detect where backtracking events begin and end. By complementing past approaches that were indirect or limited, the new method reveals that many such events move backward further than once thought, and in doing so, last longer.

Reference: Kevin B. Yang, Aviram Rasouly, Vitaly Epshtein, Criseyda Martinez, Thao Nguyen, Ilya Shamovsky, Evgeny Nudler. Persistence of backtracking by human RNA polymerase II. Molecular Cell, 2024; DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.01.019

Heart attack symptoms vary between men and women

According to a new study, sweating, nausea, dizziness, and unusual fatigue, which may not seem like typical heart attack symptoms, are more common in women than men and may occur more frequently during rest or sleep.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic revealed that, unlike men, women may not always experience severe or prominent chest pain, pressure, or discomfort during a heart attack. Therefore, women must recognize their unique symptoms and take steps to lower their risk of heart disease.

Reference: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/heart-month-mayo-clinic-says-heart-attack-symptoms-in-women-are-often-different-than-men/