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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101208130040.htm
Science News
Firefly Protein Lights Pathway to Improved Detection of Blood Clots
ScienceDaily (Jan. 3, 2011) — The enzyme that
makes fireflies glow is lighting up the scientific path toward a
long-sought new medical imaging agent to better monitor treatment with
heparin, the blood thinner that millions of people take to prevent or
treat blood clots, scientists are reporting. Their study appears in the
ACS' journal Bioconjugate Chemistry.
Bruce Branchini and colleagues describe a need for new medical
imaging agents that emit near-infrared light -- the light rays that
"night vision" technology detects, enabling soldiers to see in the dark.
Those rays penetrate deeper into the body and could give doctors a
better way of detecting the proteins involved in blood clotting.
Scientists already use luciferase, the enzyme that makes lightning bugs
glow, in laboratory research.
The new study describes an advance toward using luciferase in medical
imaging. The scientists combined a protein obtained from firefly
luciferase with a special dye that allows the protein to emit
near-infrared light. In laboratory experiments, the new material
successfully detected minute amounts of a specific blood protein, called
factor Xa, which is used to monitor the effectiveness of heparin
treatment. It offers promise for improved monitoring of heparin therapy,
the article suggests.
The authors acknowledge funding from the Air Force Office of
Scientific Research, the National Science Foundation, and the Hans &
Ella McCollum '21 Vahlteich Endowment.
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by American Chemical Society.
Journal Reference:
- Bruce R. Branchini, Danielle M. Ablamsky, Justin C. Rosenberg. Chemically Modified Firefly Luciferase Is an Efficient Source of Near-Infrared Light. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 2010; 21 (11): 2023 DOI: 10.1021/bc100256d
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American Chemical Society (2011, January 3). Firefly protein lights pathway to improved detection of blood clots. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 7, 2011, from https://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2010/12/101208130040.htm
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to
provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do
not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Dr. Mercola's site....
https://search.mercola.com/results.aspx?k=heparin
FDA Approved the Wrong Drug Plant
… reactions to heparin.
… This is not the first time the safety of heparin has surfaced in the news.
… Heparin is one of the drugs that, frequently enough, cause of severe harm or
… This is not the first time the safety of heparin has surfaced in the news.
… Heparin is one of the drugs that, frequently enough, cause of severe harm or
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/03/11/fda-approved-the-wrong-drug-plant.aspx
Prescription Drugs More Likely to Kill You than Recreational Drugs
… of the problems -- heparin, a tainted blood thinner from China that caused an international safety …
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/11/11/beware-of-these-two-drugs-that-are-harming-people-at-exploding-rates.aspx
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
