Biochemical Markers: A Review
Biochemical markers (BCMs) are molecules found in biological samples that can be used to detect and diagnose disease, or other medical conditions. BCMs are typically measured in serum, urine, or tissue samples and can be used to help diagnose diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. They can also be used to assess the prognosis of a patient, measure the effects of treatments, and monitor disease progression. The use of BCMs is becoming increasingly popular as a tool in medicine, and this article reviews the most commonly used BCMs and their applications.
BCMs are classified based on their origin, such as carbohydrates, enzymes, lipids, hormones, and proteins. Carbohydrate-based BCMs include glycosylated hemoglobin, which is used to measure blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes. Enzymes are proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions and are used to diagnose a variety of diseases, such as liver and kidney disease. Lipids are fats and oils, and they are used to measure cholesterol levels and other lipid levels in the body. Hormones are chemicals that are released by glands in the body and can be used to diagnose hormone-related disorders, such as thyroid disease. Finally, proteins are molecules that are made up of amino acids and are used to measure the levels of certain proteins in the body, such as prostate-specific antigens (PSA).
In addition to measuring the levels of these BCMs, researchers have developed tests to detect the presence of certain BCMs in tissues or fluids. For example, immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a technique used to detect the presence of BCMs in tissue samples. This technique uses antibodies to detect BCMs in tissue samples, and the results can be used to diagnose diseases such as cancer. Other tests used to detect BCMs include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). ELISAs and PCR are used to measure the levels of certain BCMs in a sample, such as hormones and proteins.
BCMs are important tools in the diagnosis and management of diseases. In addition to being used to diagnose diseases, BCMs can be used to evaluate the effects of treatments and medications on the body. For example, BCMs can be used to evaluate the response of a patient to cancer treatments. The use of BCMs in medicine has increased significantly over the past decade, and it is expected to continue to grow in the future.
In conclusion, BCMs are important tools in medicine. They can be used to diagnose and monitor diseases, evaluate the effects of treatments, and measure the levels of certain molecules in biological samples. BCMs are classified based on their origin, such as carbohydrates, enzymes, lipids, hormones, and proteins. Tests such as IHC, ELISAs, and PCR are used to detect the presence of BCMs in tissues and fluids. The use of BCMs in medicine is expected to continue to grow in the future.
References
Chang, Y., Chiu, P. C., & Kuo, P. C. (2020). Biochemical Markers: A Comprehensive Review. Biomolecules, 10(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10010024
Sarwar, Z., Khan, M., & Sarwar, U. (2019). Bio-chemical markers in diagnosis and prognosis of diseases. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 234(4), 4347–4356. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.27444
Hernandez, R. D., & Vazquez, M. (2020). Applications of Biochemical Markers in Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment Monitoring. In Biomarker Discovery (pp. 241–268). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818286-7.00009-7