ABSTRACT
The lecture deals with biomarkers, a newly introduced direction in biomedical research. The following terms, definitions, and characteristics were proposed to describe biomarkers: diagnostic tools, clinical endpoints and surrogate endpoints. Examples of predictors for cardiovascular diseases, acute-phase of inflammation and malignant tumors are represented. The special attention is given to the characteristic of the widespread biomarkers: homocysteine, transthyretin and C-reactive protein. Modern methods of identification, qualitative and quantitative determination of biomarkers are considered: mass spectrometric methods, immunoassay. The relationships between the latest achievements in the field of genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics and biomarker's investigations are established. The perspectives of biomarkers are discussed.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers/analysis , Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnosis , Genomics , Humans , Inflammation/diagnosis , Monitoring, Physiologic/methods , Neoplasms/diagnosis , Prognosis , Reference Values , Risk Assessment/methodsABSTRACT
For 3 years following the Chernobyl accident, DNA repair efficiency was studied in irradiated and control populations of various plant species. Compared with the control populations, some irradiated populations exhibited increases in the yield of DNA single-strand breaks per unit dose of challenge radiation. The effect was registered in low-dose-rate alpha-irradiated populations, but was absent in plant populations growing in conditions of low-dose-rate beta-irradiation. The efficiency of single-strand DNA repair was identical in control and irradiated populations and approximated 100%.
