New Technique Might Help Diagnose Mesothelioma

Image via Wikipedia

This Medical News Today article reports a new technique that might be helpful in diagnosing mesothelioma, New Technique Can Help Diagnose Mesothelioma. A new technique may help clinicians diagnose patients presenting with a pleural effusion (accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity) of unknown cause. One of the causes of pleural effusion is malignant pleural mesothelioma, a relatively rare cancer. Currently, the first-line test for mesothelioma in patients with a pleural effusion is pleural fluid cytology, but this test isn't very sensitive. The research study results demonstrate that pleural fluid mesothelin levels were over six times greater in patients with mesothelioma than in patients with metastatic carcinomas, and ten times greater than in patients with benign effusions. This means serum mesothelin is a diagnostic biomarker for mesothelioma. Pleural fluid values are significantly higher than serum levels and may offer additional value over pleural fluid cytology for diagnosis of pleural malignancy. Additionally, pleural fluid mesothelin is a valuable adjunct to cytological examination in patients with an undiagnosed pleural effusion. Read the research study abstract: Clinical Impact and Reliability of Pleural Fluid Mesothelin in Undiagnosed Pleural Effusions 

Previous Posts: Hidden Health and Financial Liabilities of Nanotechnology CDC Says Mesothelioma Deaths Increasing 

Return Home: http://drughealth.blogspot.com/ 

FDA - Flu Meds and Swine Flu Tests

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in response to requests from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, has issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) to make available to public health and medical personnel important diagnostic and therapeutic tools to identify and respond to the swine flu virus under certain circumstances. The agency issued these EUAs for the use of certain Relenza and Tamiflu antiviral products, and for the rRT-PCR Swine Flu Panel diagnostic test, reports this FDA news release, "FDA Authorizes Emergency Use of Influenza Medicines, Diagnostic Test in Response to Swine Flu Outbreak in Humans." In essence, this authorizes the use of unapproved or uncleared medical products or unapproved or uncleared uses of approved or cleared medical products, made possible by this determination and declaration of emergency, provided certain criteria are met. The authorization ends when the declaration of emergency is terminated or the authorization revoked by the agency. 

Return Home: http://drughealth.blogspot.com/