Release date: 2015-03-06 A new study found that a new type of skin test can be used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and other neurodegenerative diseases. Source: Bio Valley
[Sample requirements] Vtm Sampling Tube With Swab,Disposable Collection Tube Of Virus Samples,Hi Media Vtm Kit,Amylase Sample Collection Tube Jilin Sinoscience Technology Co. LTD , https://www.jilinsinoscience.com
The collected nasopharyngeal swab samples should be transported at 2°C to 8°C and sent for inspection immediately, and the sample delivery and storage time should not exceed 48 hours.
[Testing method]
1. Before sampling, mark the relevant sample information on the label of the sampling tube.
2. According to different sampling requirements, use a sampling swab to sample in the nasopharynx.
3. The specific sampling methods are as follows:
a) Nasal swab: Gently insert the swab head into the nasal palate, stay for a while and then slowly turn to exit. Wipe the other nostril with another swab, immerse the swab head in the sampling solution, and discard the tail.
b) Pharyngeal swab: Wipe bilateral pharyngeal tonsils and posterior pharyngeal wall with a swab, also immerse the swab head in the sampling solution, and discard the tail.
4. Quickly put the swab into the sampling tube.
5. Break the part of the sampling swab higher than the sampling tube, and tighten the tube cover.
6. Freshly collected clinical specimens should be transported to the laboratory within 48 hours at 2°C to 8°C.
[Explanation of test results]
After the sample is collected, the sampling solution turns slightly yellow, which will not affect the nucleic acid test result.
[Limitations of the test method]
1. For samples that are seriously contaminated due to improper storage after collection, the final test results will be affected.
2. If the sample is not stored at the specified temperature, the final test result will be affected.
The first case of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease in vivo detection technology
Researchers from the Central Hospital of Potosi, San Luis, Mexico, found that the levels of tau and α-Syn proteins in living skin samples from patients with AD or PD were significantly higher than those in the control group.
"This is the most promising way for our biopsy of neurodegenerative diseases, and it can be done in any general pathology laboratory or hospital clinical laboratory around the world." Dr. Ildefonso Rodriguez-Leyva, lead researcher for the study, said.
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Later, Dr. Rodriguez-Leyva hoped that neuroscientists could perform epidermal tissue screening for various neurological diseases (including AD and PD) for a long time as a supplementary examination. The results of this study will be reported at the 67th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.
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Although misfolded proteins reflect functional disorders of the central nervous system in AD and PD patients, misfolded proteins also appear in areas outside the brain tissue. Recent studies have detected the presence of α-Syn in the large intestine, peripheral nerve endings, and salivary glands. "We expect that misfolded proteins in brain tissue will also have corresponding misfolding in other areas," Dr. Rodriguez-Leyva said.
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In this study, the researchers obtained skin samples from 65 volunteers, 20 of whom had AD, 16 had PD, 17 had non-degenerative dementia, and 12 were in good health. Volunteers are between 62 and 85 years old. After a series of steps to protect the sample, the researchers performed an immunohistochemical test to detect the unique protein components in the tissue. "Once a particular protein in a tissue is identified, a color response will appear indicating the location and amount of that protein in the tissue." The researchers used the corresponding antibodies to detect α-Syn and p-Tau. The results showed that the levels of p-Tau and α-Syn in the epidermal tissues of AD patients and PD patients were 7-fold and 8-fold higher, respectively, compared with healthy people and non-degenerative dementia patients.
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Tau protein is a hallmark protein in brain tissue of AD patients, but tau has recently been found to be altered in PD patients. In addition, a significant change in α-Syn was also observed in the brain tissue of PD patients. Necrotic brain cells in patients will deposit such proteins and mix them with other cell debris called Lewy bodies. Lewy body is the main indicator for detecting PD by autopsy. Dr. Rodriguez-Leyva believes that their research is very important for future clinical testing, "if it can be confirmed by other scholars, this method can provide a choice for biopsy of neurodegenerative diseases."
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However, it is not yet possible to determine the quantitative relationship between protein content and the occurrence of neurological diseases. "We need to test more patients to establish an accurate threshold." In addition, Dr. Rodriguez-Leyva believes that this diagnosis is not mature for a particular patient.
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At present, the research on the molecular mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases in the world is growing. "Because of the current severity of such diseases and their impact on the socio-economic, research on potential diagnostic methods is a very hot area." Dr. Rodriguez-Leyva said.
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However, when other researchers looked for answers in the peripheral nervous system or other organs, they chose skin testing. Looking to the future, Dr. Rodriguez-Leyva believes that the detection of skin samples may be a standardized test for neurodegenerative diseases. At the same time, he expects that this type of detection may include all kinds of neurodegenerative diseases other than AD and PD. Although more samples are needed and trained by relevant technicians.