Channels

 

Special Offers & Promotions

 

 

Latest News

 

 

View Channel

New Products

 

 

View Channel

Video Presentations

 

 

View Channel

Separation Science

 

 

View Channel

Microscopy & Image Analysis

 

 

View Channel

Laboratory Automation & IT Solutions

 

 

View Channel

 

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Appendicitis PR.jpgSAN JOSE, Calif. (December 14, 2009)  Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today announced that a team of researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston identified a promising biomarker, known as LRG, that they believe will help physicians diagnose acute pediatric appendicitis more accurately and efficiently. The team conducted its research on a Thermo Scientific LTQ Orbitrap mass spectrometer and discovered several potential biomarkers, including leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein (LRG).

Biomarkers are biological indicators, commonly detected in blood, urine or tissue samples, which can reveal key risk indicators for a disease, the presence of a disease or shed light on how a disease may develop in an individual. In addition to their use in pre-clinical research and clinical diagnosis, biomarkers play a significant role in the early treatment of certain diseases.

The research was inspired by the reality that appendicitis diagnosis often requires long hours in an emergency room and expensive diagnostic imaging procedures. Even worse, incorrect diagnosis leads to unnecessary surgeries – in one out of every ten to twenty appendectomies a healthy appendix is removed. The Children's Hospital team, led by Hanno Steen, PhD, director of the Proteomics Center at Children’s Hospital Boston, with Alex Kentsis, MD, PhD and Richard Bachur, MD of the Division of Emergency Medicine, used an LTQ Orbitrap™ mass spectrometer to study over an 18-month period protein and peptides in urine samples from 67 children. Dr. Steen’s findings show that the LRG biomarker is a consistent and accurate indicator of appendicitis and that LRG levels directly correlate with the severity of infection.

“Given the time spent diagnosing appendicitis, the radiation exposure due to computed tomography, and the number of unnecessary surgeries, we’re naturally very excited about the implications of identifying these biomarkers,” said Dr. Hanno Steen, “The next step for us is to look for biomarkers for adult appendicitis and fulfill our vision of developing a rapid urine test, using a simple dipstick, to accelerate testing and improve accuracy and reliability.”

“The Children’s Hospital Boston team is demonstrating the promise of mass spectrometry for breakthrough medical research by using it to discover biomarkers that will ultimately impact patient care,” said Robert Kane, sales representative at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “In the past few years, this technology has advanced – with greater speed and precision – to a point where scientists are discovering biomarkers more rapidly.”

For more information about the Thermo Scientific LTQ Orbitrap and other mass spectrometers from Thermo Fisher Scientific, please visit www.thermo.com/ms.

Thermo Scientific is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science.


If you have not logged into the website then please enter your details below.



 

News Channels

 

 

Subscribe to any of our newsletters for the latest on new laboratory products, industry news, case studies and much more!

Newsletters from Lab Bulletin

 

Request your free copies HERE

 

 

 

Popular this Month

Top 10 most popular articles this month

 

 

Today's Picks

 

 

 

 

Looking for a Supplier?

Search by company or by product

 


Company Name:

Product:


 

 

 

 

Please note Lab Bulletin does not sell, supply any of the products featured on this website. If you have an enquiry, please use the contact form below the article or company profile and we will send your request to the supplier so that they can contact you directly.

Lab Bulletin is published by newleaf marketing communications ltd.


 

Media Partners

 

Exhibitions & Events