IOF and IFCC review describes the current status of assays for reference bone turnover markers
Bone turnover markers (BTMs) in blood and urine are useful tools in monitoring osteoporosis treatment effects and may be useful for improving patient adherence.
In 2011, a Joint Committee on Bone Metabolism of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) designated Procollagen type I N-propeptide (PINP) and the C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX) in blood as reference bone turnover markers for bone formation and bone resorption, respectively, in osteoporosis. However, the effective clinical implementation of these recommendations requires the standardization/harmonization of commercial assays.
Newly discovered biochemical pathway can protect cells from ferroptosis
The hallmarks of cancer include rapid cell-reproduction and metabolic activity. But these processes also lead to increased cellular stress and oxidation, and the risk of cell death.
To circumvent these negative consequences of supercharged growth, cancer cells stimulate pathways to reduce oxidative stress and avoid cell death. In an article published in
Cell Metabolism, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers report on a newly discovered biochemical pathway that protects cells from a type of cell death called ferroptosis.
Ferroptosis is a specialized type of cell death that is caused by imbalances in oxidation within cells. Ferroptosis results in changes to molecules in the cell membrane called lipids and can be caused by cysteine starvation.
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Green millet genome resource provides a valuable tool for studying major crops
Scientists will be better able to investigate the genetics of important traits in crops such as maize and sorghum thanks to a new genome resource for green millet developed by a team that included three RIKEN researchers
1. Its value has already been demonstrated by identifying the gene in foxtail millet responsible for seed shattering-the process by which plants release seeds, which is essential for plants to propagate in the wild but is a major cause of yield loss in crops.
The genome resource consists of a reference sequence from green millet line A10.1 together with the sequenced genomes of nearly 600 diverse samples of green millet. It was assembled by an international team led by Elizabeth Kellogg of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Jeremy Schmutz of the Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, and included Hitoshi Sakakibara of the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource
Metformin drug decreases mortality rate in COVID-19 patients with type 2 diabetes
Use of the diabetes drug metformin before a diagnosis of COVID-19 is associated with a threefold decrease in mortality in COVID-19 patients with Type 2 diabetes, according to a racially diverse study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Diabetes is a significant comorbidity for COVID-19.
This beneficial effect remained, even after correcting for age, sex, race, obesity, and hypertension or chronic kidney disease and heart failure.
Anath Shalev, M.D, Study Lead Author and Director of Comprehensive Diabetes Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham Since similar results have now been obtained in different populations from around the world including China, France and a UnitedHealthcare analysis this suggests that the observed reduction in mortality risk associated with metformin use in subjects with Type 2 diabetes and COVID-19 might be generalizable, Shalev said.