disease progression

Scientists have developed a system which can pinpoint potential "biomarkers" of early forms of cancer, by looking at structures of specific sugar molecules which are attached either to proteins of cancerous cells or to proteins involved in the host response.

The availability of such cancer biomarkers could also allow disease progression and response to therapy to be monitored more easily and accurately than is currently possible.

The hepatitis C therapy peginterferon alfa-2b, when given as low-dose maintenance therapy, can prevent disease progression in certain patients who failed previous interferon-based hepatitis C therapies and have advanced liver disease.

Naturally elevated levels of the antioxidant urate may slow the progression of Parkinson's disease in men. Researchers examined data from an earlier study and found that, among recently diagnosed Parkinson's patients, those with the highest urate levels had a significantly slower rate of disease progression during the two-year study period.

Individuals with multiple sclerosis develop progressive neurological disability that is thought to be caused by degradation of nerve cells.

A new study has characterized an agent that protected nerve cells from damage in culture and markedly reduced disease progression in a mouse model of MS.

The authors of the study therefore suggested that agents similar to the one they characterized might provide a new approach to treating individuals with MS and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Some patients with kidney disease aren't referred to kidney specialists in time to delay disease progression and improve their prognosis for a variety of reasons.

An analysis of 18 separate studies found that overall, being older, belonging to a minority group, being uninsured and suffering from multiple health problems are patient characteristics associated with late referral.