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Early Osteoarthritis Diagnosis Blood Test

Warwick University are engaged in research that could see a blood test developed that can provide an early diagnosis of osteoarthritis several years before the onset of physical and irreversible symptoms.

blood test

 

The blood test will work by allowing the detection of damaged proteins in samples from patients but at markedly lower levels than they would usually be found. This will provide identifiable markers much earlier in the diagnostic process.

 

According to Dr Naila Rabbani of Warwick Medical School:

“Damage to proteins in the arthritic joint have been known for many years but this is the first time it has been exploited for early-stage diagnosis.

For the first time we measured small fragments from damaged proteins that leak from the joint into blood. The combination of changes in oxidised, nitrated and sugar-modified amino acids in blood enabled early stage detection and classification of arthritis – osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or other self-resolving inflammatory joint disease.

This is a big step forward for early-stage detection of arthritis that will help start treatment early and prevent painful and debilitating disease.”

Read more about this research on the Warwick University’s website.

For the full research article you can visit Arthritis Research and Therapy.

If you are living with arthritis and are looking for helpful content take a look at the following talkhealth resources:

Arthritis & Joint Pain Forum

Arthritis Hub

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What to expect in a bone density test

If you’ve been asked to have a bone density test, here’s everything you need to know.

Bone density tests are commonly used to determine if someone has osteoporosis – a disease that weakens bones, causing them to become thinner and more brittle. This means they’re more likely to break or fracture.

It’s helpful to detect osteoporosis early on to establish whether your bone density has decreased, before you suffer any fractures. It also helps in assessing your risk of developing fractures in future. A bone density test may also be used to confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis, and to monitor the success of treatment you receive.

bonedensitythedited

 

What is a bone density test?
A bone density test is used to measure the density of your bones, using X-rays to measure the calcium and other bone minerals within a section of bone. It is different to a bone scan, which is used to detect fractures, cancer, infections and other bone abnormalities. Unlike a bone scan, which usually requires an injection, a bone density test is easy, quick and pain-free.

Some simple bone density tests can even be done at your local pharmacy, but other times it will need to be done at a hospital. If your test takes place in a hospital, you should let your doctor know if you may be pregnant. You should also tell your doctor if you’ve recently received a barium exam or been injected with contrast material for a CT scan or nuclear medicine test. This is because the contrast materials might interfere with your test.

What happens during the test
A bone density test is usually conducted on the areas must susceptible to fractures from osteoporosis – namely the spine, hip and forearm. Your test will likely examine your lower spine bones (called the lumbar vertebrae), the neck of the thighbone, which is nearest your hip joint), and the bones in your forearm.

There are two types of equipment used to conduct bone density tests – a central device and a peripheral device. If you have your test in hospital, it’s normally done with a central device. You’ll lie on a padded table while a mechanical, overhead ‘arm’ performs an X-ray on the area of bone being measured. The test usually takes between 10 and 30 minutes, and exposes you to less radiation than that emitted during a chest X-ray.

If you’re tested with a peripheral device instead, this can sometimes be done in a pharmacy. A peripheral device is a small machine that measures the bone density in your peripheral bones – such as your heel, wrist or finger. However, because bone density levels are different throughout the body, measurements taken at your spine or hip provide greater accuracy. This means that if you test positive for thinning bones during a peripheral device test, you may need a second scan with a central device to confirm your diagnosis.

Understanding your results
The results of your bone density test are reported in two numbers: your T-score and your Z-score.

The T-score is based on your gender and compares your bone density levels with those of a healthy young adult of the same gender. It gives you the number of units (also known as standard deviations) by which your bone density is above or below the average.

If your T-score is -1 or above, you have normal bone density. If it’s between -1 and -2.5, your bone density is below normal, and you may develop osteoporosis in the future. If your score is -2.5 or more, this indicates you likely have osteoporosis.

Your Z-score compares your results to the norm for your age, sex, weight, and ethnic or racial origin. If you have a Z-score of -2 or lower, there may be a cause of abnormal bone loss other than aging. However, if your doctor can identify the cause, you may be able to treat the underlying problem and slow or stop bone density loss altogether.

You can find out more about osteoporosis treatments at BMI Healthcare here  or you can make an online enquiry.

Sources
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=dexa
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Osteoporosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/in-depth/osteoporosis-treatment/art-20046869

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Innovative ovarian cancer test detects the disease before symptoms are present

Find out more about the brand new ROCA test, which is helping to detect ovarian cancer at an earlier stage before any symptoms are present.

Ovarian cancer is common in the UK, affecting around 7,000 women each year. It can often be difficult to spot the symptoms, meaning many women are not diagnosed until the disease is in its later stages and has spread to other parts of the body. For this reason, ovarian cancer is often described as the silent killer. There is now a brand new test for ovarian cancer, called the ROCA Test. Here, we explain more about this disease and what the new test means for diagnosis.

ovarian-cancer

You are more likely to develop ovarian cancer if you are older, as eight in ten cases occur in women who have gone through menopause. In one in ten cases, there is a genetic link so, if two or more of your close family members have a history of ovarian cancer or breast cancer, then you should discuss this with your doctor.

Spotting ovarian cancer

Early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is the most important factor in increasing the chance of successful treatment. However, most women don’t realise they have it until the late stages when the cancer is more aggressive. Currently, three quarters of women with the disease are only diagnosed once the cancer has already spread. Only three percent of women in the UK say they feel very confident about recognising a symptom of ovarian cancer.

The best way to protect yourself is to be vigilant for the signs and symptoms. You should look out for the following:

  • increased abdominal size or persistent bloating;
  • difficulty eating and feeling full;
  • pelvic or abdominal pain; and
  • needing to wee more urgently or more often.

These symptoms can be caused by countless other conditions and aren’t usually a cause for concern. However, with ovarian cancer the symptoms happen frequently – typically more than 12 times in a month, and are more persistent. Make sure you see a doctor if you are concerned about any of the symptoms mentioned above.

The ROCA Test

The ROCA Test is a simple blood test and it forms the first part of a multimodal screening for ovarian cancer. The results of the blood test give healthcare professionals an indication of how likely a woman is to have ovarian cancer, and whether she should undergo additional testing. Further tests are often more invasive, but give a more conclusive answer.

The ROCA Test has undergone extensive research by the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKTOCS). After 15 years and 670,000 screenings, UKTOCS has announced that the ROCA Test is safe and effective. Multimodal screening using the ROCA Test identified 85 out of 100 cancers, which is twice as many as would have been found by a conventional test.

What does this mean for women?

The ROCA Test could help to prevent one in five deaths from ovarian cancer by diagnosing women earlier. This test is able to detect ovarian cancer before the woman experiences any symptoms and is particularly useful for monitoring women who are known to have a high genetic risk of ovarian cancer. This means that more women can be diagnosed earlier, when the disease is easier to treat.

How can I get tested?

BMI Healthcare is now offering the ROCA Test across the country, but it is not currently available on the NHS. If you choose to have the ROCA Test, you will be cared for by BMI gynaecological consultants at one of their screening clinics. You can find out more about cancer screening and treatments at the cancer care hub.

Content Supplied by BMI Healthcare

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