Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF) are characterized by airway obstruction and an inflammatory process. Reaching early diagnosis and discrimination of subtypes of these respiratory diseases are quite a challenging task than other chronic illnesses. ⋯ In the last decade, metabolomics has already proved to be useful for the characterization of several pathological conditions and offers promises as a clinical tool. In this article, we review the current state of the metabolomics of COPD, asthma and CF with a focus on the different methods and instrumentation being used for the discovery of biomarkers in research and translation into clinic as diagnostic aids for the choice of patient-specific therapies.
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Review
Are recently reported biomarkers helpful for early and accurate diagnosis of acute kidney injury?
Over the past few years and with the use of innovative genomic and proteomic tools, several molecules that their urinary concentration is modified during acute kidney injury have been identified and proposed as biomarkers. Among the most studied biomarkers are neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin-2, kidney injury molecule-1, interleukin-18, cystatin C, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, liver fatty-acid binding protein, and heat shock protein 72. Here, we reviewed and compared the sensitivity and specificity of each biomarker for the appropriate diagnosis of acute kidney injury, as well as its ability to stratify renal injury and to monitor a renoprotective pharmacologic strategy.
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Acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a common serious clinical problem. Up to date mortality due to AKI, especially in intensive care units, has not been changed significantly over the past 50 years. This is partly due to a delay in initiating renal protective and appropriate therapeutic measures since until now there are no reliable early-detecting biomarkers. The gold standard, serum creatinine, displays poor specificity and sensitivity with regard to recognition of the early period of AKI. ⋯ Adequately powered clinical trials testing a row of biomarkers are warranted before they may qualify for full adoption in clinical practice.
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The health burden from tobacco smoking results almost entirely from inhalation of the components of smoke, although this is not widely known. The primary benefit of smoking is nicotine delivery, but nicotine can be obtained without combustion. Thus there is potential for tobacco harm reduction (THR), the substitution of lower-risk nicotine products for smoking. ⋯ Despite the practice of harm reduction being widely accepted in public health, however, THR has faced fierce opposition from antitobacco activists. These activists have effectively misled the public about what aspect of smoking cigarettes causes the harm, convincing them that nicotine and tobacco themselves are harmful, ignoring the smoke. In the interests of promoting public health and rescuing science from politics, experts on inhalation hazards and health could play an important role in educating the public and policy makers about THR.
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Review Historical Article
Smokeless tobacco: a gateway to smoking or a way away from smoking.
Recently, tobacco companies have been marketing moist smokeless tobacco products that are 'spitless'. These products have lower concentrations of tobacco-specific nitrosamines and of other harmful chemicals than other tobacco products, but can deliver relatively high doses of nicotine. They are packaged in small sachets, similar to tea bags that are placed between cheek and gum. ⋯ The opponents argue that snus has its own risks, that no form of tobacco should ever be promoted; and that 'snus is culture-bound and not transferable to other settings'. Critics also suspect that the tobacco industry will use snus marketing as a 'gateway' to promote cigarettes among young people. Research on the effects of marketing snus to smokers is too limited to support using snus as a harm-reduction tool, and the epidemiological data are not conclusive.