This invention could fully revolutionize healthcare for women: Swiss researchers have developed a connection that recognizes diseases such as ovarian cancer and endometriosis.
The procedure is simple: women can take a photo of the link used with the smartphone and evaluate it with an app. The researchers of the Swiss Federal Technical University in Zurich (Eth Zurich) baptized their smart connection, as the university announced on Tuesday.
“Menstrual blood has so far been considered a waste. We show that it is a valuable source of information,” said developer Lucas Dosnon. The blood therefore contains hundreds of proteins, the concentration of which is in many cases comparable to that in the blood from the veins. Diseases such as inflammation, certain tumors or endometriosis ensure that certain proteins are measured in the blood. Researchers speak of biomarkers.
The newly developed relationship recognizes three such biomarkers: CRP, CEA and CA-125. The first is generally in the case of inflammation in the blood, the second is usually increased in all types of cancer and the third can increase in endometriosis and ovarian cancer.
Test strips such as with Covid test
They have equipped the bandage with a test strip, as they are known for COVID self-tests. If the biomarker comes into contact with a specific antibody on the test strip in the menstrual blood, a strip of color appears. Depending on the concentration of the corresponding protein, this varies in the color intensity.
According to ETH, the results can be read with the naked eye or with a specially developed app based on machine learning and evaluates the color intensity. According to the researchers, the connection can serve as an early warning system. It may not replace established diagnoses, but must give instructions when a visit to practice can be useful.
In a study published in the magazine “Science Advances”, the researchers showed that the connection is working. In a future study, researchers with more than a hundred people want to test how new technology is.
Source: Krone
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