Highly Accurate Urine Test for Brain Tumors
“Japanese researchers at Nagoya University have . . . devised a novel microRNA test [these RNAs control gene expression, but do not code for proteins] that can detect brain tumors from less than a drop of urine. . . the Japanese researchers . . . made their own device capable of accurately extracting and reading microRNA from urine samples. The device consists of 100 million zinc oxide nanowires, which are suitable for medical use. The wires can extract a great variety and quantity of microRNAs from a single milliliter of urine. . . . The results showed that the test could distinguish patients with brain tumors from non-patients at a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 97%, regardless of the malignancy and size of tumors.” MORE
Oct 5. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons.