更简单更精确的前列腺癌的筛选方法
2012-08-06 23:35:17   来源： 丁香园   作者：  评论：0 点击：

Simpler and more accurate way to test for prostate cancer

更简单更精确的前列腺癌的筛选方法

1、 An undergraduate student's technique for detecting certain metabolites in urine samples could lead to a simpler and more accurate way to test for prostate cancer.
一项本科生在尿液样本中检测某种代谢产物所使用的技术，可能会为我们引领一种更简单更精确的前列腺癌的筛选方法。

2、 Developed by Casey Burton of Lake Ozark, Mo., a senior chemistry major at Missouri University of Science and Technology, the technique also could prove to be less expensive than conventional prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer. That is because Burton's technique does not require the use of high-tech instrumentation often used to detect metabolites. Instead, his technique relies on a simple chemical reaction as well as diagnostic equipment that is available in most health clinics.
那项技术由来自于美国密苏里州奥斯卡湖的Casey Burton 所发明，他是美国密苏里科学大学化学专业一个高年级的学生，该技术也可以证明比传统的通过检测前列腺特异性抗原（PSA）来筛选前列腺癌患者的技术，花费 的更少。 这是因为Burton 的技术并不需要经常使用高科技仪器来检测代谢产物。相反，他的技术依赖于一个简单的化学反应，并且这些诊断设备可见于大多数的保健中心。

3、 Burton also believes his approach would be more accurate than PSA tests, which "cannot accurately differentiate between benign prostate conditions and active prostate cancer," Burton writes in a recent research article published in the journal Analytical Methods.
Burton也相信他的技术比PSA检测法更加精确。他在Analytical Methods期刊上发表的最新的研究论文中写道：“PSA检测法并不能准确区分良性的前列腺增生和恶性的前列腺癌。”

4、"This lack of sufficient diagnostic techniques for prostate cancer highlights the need for more effective screening methods," he writes in his paper, "A novel enzymatic technique for determination of sarcosine in urine samples." The paper was published in Analytical Methods, Vol. 4, 141-146, in January 2012.
他在论文中写道：“由于缺乏充分的诊断前列腺癌的技术，使我们迫切需求一个更有效的筛选前列腺癌的方法，一种新的测定尿液样本中肌氨酸的酶技术应运而生。”这篇论文于2012年1月发表在Analytical Methods期刊的第4期第141-146页。

5、 In the journal article, Burton explains how treating urine samples with a certain enzyme can determine the concentration of the metabolite sarcosine. Enzymes interact with a substrate, or molecule, to cause a chemical reaction that can be measured through various analytical techniques.
Burton在期刊论文中介绍了如何用一种特定的酶来处理尿标本，进而来测定代谢产物中肌氨酸的含量。酶与基质或分子之间发生的相互作用所引起的化学反应，可以通过各种分析技术来测量。

6、 Until recently, the presence of sarcosine in urine was thought to be linked to prostate cancer, but that correlation has been refuted, Burton says. Even so, his method for detecting the presence of sarcosine could be used to test for the presence of other metabolites that may be linked to various diseases. The enzyme he used is one of a broad class of enzymes that operate similarly on molecules like amino acids and nucleic acids, among others.
Burton说：“直到最近，尿液中存在的肌氨酸被认为与前列腺癌有着密切的联系，但 那种联系已经被驳斥。即便如此，他这种对肌氨酸存在的检测方法，同样可以用来检测与各种疾病相关的其他代谢产物的存在。 他所使用的酶是广谱酶类的一种，它们的关系正如其中的氨基酸和核苷酸一样，对分子起着类似的作用。

7、Using the enzyme sarcosine oxidase on the samples produced the chemical compound formaldehyde. Through oxidation, the formaldehyde in turn produced formic acid.
在样本中使用这种肌氨酸氧化酶能够产生化学复合物甲醛。甲醛通过氧化，反过来又可以产生甲酸。

8、 From this series of chemical reactions, Burton was able to determine how much sarcosine was in each sample by examining the levels of fluorescence after the enzyme treatment. The more the samples fluoresced, or glowed, the lower the level of sarcosine. Conversely, a decrease in fluorescence from the samples indicated a higher level of sarcosine. Burton validated his method with nine urine samples.
从这一系列 化学反应中， 每个样本在经酶处理后，Burton能够通过检查它们荧光性的水平来确定每个样本含有多少量的肌氨酸。发荧光的样品量越多，或者颜色越鲜艳，说明肌氨酸水 平较低。相反，若从样本检测到少量的荧光性，则表明样本中含有较高水平的肌氨酸。Burton用9个尿液样本验证了他的方法。

9、 Burton's method may be applied to other metabolites that may be linked to prostate cancer, he says. But the greatest value of his process may be its ease of use.

Burton说，他的方法可以用于检测可能与前列腺癌有关的其他代谢产物。但是他的方法的最大价值可能是它使用简单。

10、"Instead of using fancy machinery, I can use an enzyme to make the chemical fluoresce," he says. "So we can effectively analyze our urine samples, and determine whether or not they contain metabolites."
他说：“我可以使用一种酶,来代替使用昂贵的机器，使它产生化学荧光。因此，我们可以有效地分析我们的尿液样本，并确定它们是否包含有代谢产物。”

11、The system's low cost when compared to traditional PSA

这种方法比传统的检测PSA的方法成本更低

12、tests is also a plus, Burton says.
Burton说，检测都是一种额外的花费。

13、"This costs a tenth of a penny per sample, compared with the $70 or so it costs to get a PSA test at a health clinic or doctor's office," he says.
他说：“与在保健中心或者医务室进行的PSA检测所花费的70美元左右的价格相比，使用这种方法，每个样品仅需花费十分之一个便士。”

14、 Burton works with Dr. Yinfa Ma, a Curators' Teaching professor of chemistry at Missouri S&T and creator of an instrument, called the P-scan, which can be used to screen urine for oncopterine and six other pteridine biomarkers. Oncopterine exists only in the urine of cancer patients.
Burton与在密苏里科技大学化学系的主任教授Yinfa Ma 博士一起进行研究。Yinfa Ma 博士发明了一种称为‘逐层扫描’的仪器，可对尿中的蝶呤肿瘤和其他六个蝶啶生物标志物进行普查。蝶呤肿瘤标志物只存在于癌症患者的尿液中。

15、 Ma and Sanjeewa Gamagedara, who recently graduated from Missouri S&T in 2012 with a Ph. D. in chemistry, co-authored the Analytical Methods article with Burton.
论文的合著者—于2012年刚从密苏里科技大学毕业的化学系Ma 和Sanjeewa Gamagedara博士 ，他们与Burton.一起在Analytical Methods 期刊上发表了论文。

16、 Burton's research is supported through the S&T chemistry department and the university's Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience program as well as the Environmental Research Center. Earlier this year, Burton was one of 74 undergraduates chosen by the Council on Undergraduate Research to discuss their research with lawmakers and policymakers in Washington, D.C. During that trip, Burton met with U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, whose 8th congressional district includes Rolla and Missouri S&T.
Burton的研究是由科技大学化学系和大学对本科生科研体验课程提供的机会以及环境研究中心共同来提供支 持。今年早些时候，Burton是由本科生科研理事会挑选出来的与华盛顿特区的立法者和决策者共同讨论他们研究的74个本科生之一。在那次旅途 中，Burton会见了美国的众议员Jo Ann Emerson,她的第八届国会选区包括罗拉分校和密苏里科技大学。

18、"She was very fond of and supportive of our university," Burton says. "It was nice to learn that she was aware of all of the research we conduct at Missouri S&T."

Burton说：“她很喜欢和支持我们的大学， 我非常高兴得知她了解我们在密苏里科技大学进行的所有的研究。”