login
Become a member
Quick Registration
Full Registration Benefits -
Free Homepages for Doctors
Free Homepages for Hospitals
Free Homepages for Medical Conference
Free Homepages for NGO's
Personal Health Record Creation
Access to all Medical Slides
Access to all Jobs & Products Sale
New Biomarker for Heart Disease?
People with bad lungs or who smoke get heart disease, but the exact molecular mechanism behind this was never clear.
A biomarker or biological marker is a substance that can be used as an indicator of a particular biological disease. For example Trop-T is one biomarker whose elevated level points to a heart attack.
The biomarker being discussed is called surfactant protein-D (SP-D). It is produced by chronically inflamed lungs. SP-D that leaks from damaged lungs has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Whether SP-D itself is an accelerator of atherosclerosis, i.e. whether it can speed up the collection of fatty materials along the walls of arteries is not known. It is however now clear that lung inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of heart and blood-vessel disease. Results of the study were published in the European Heart Journal.
A more detailed study is mandatory since findings would have colossal significance. The SP-D protein as a biomarker to risk-stratify cardiovascular-disease patients would gain the upper hand over traditional markers like blood cholesterol and C-reactive protein.
Future studies that can clarify if SP-D is notorious in accelerating atherosclerosis are also called for since this would mean development of new drugs or molecules that block this protein from getting into the blood. It would help people cope better with atherosclerosis.
Source: European Heart Journal
Source-Medindia
|
|
More News on: Heart, Healthy Heart , Lifestyle Paths to Heart Disease, Statins, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Aortic Valve Stenosis
 Comment & Contribute
|
Medwonders Health Network
- Health News Index
 | Quiz on Heart A quiz on heart to learn more about its functions. 
|
- News Quick Links
 |
Heart
Complete Medindia Resources
|
| News Categories: |
| » | Mystery of 'Disappearing' Tweets Solved |
| » | 'Slut Walks' Attract Thousands in Brazil |
| » | Enthusiasm for Tattoos High Among Women |
| » | Individuals' Brains 'Tick Together' If They Have Strong Emotions |
| » | Keeping Emotions in Check and Being Resilient Helps to Remain Satisfied With Life |
| More Life Style News | |
|
