Study results from K. Ogawa et al provide new insights into arthritis
2007 NOV 19 -- New research, 'Identification of a predictive biomarker for the beneficial effect of a Kampo (Japanese traditional) medicine keishibukuryogan in rheumatoid arthritis patients,' is the subject of a report. "Kampo (Japanese traditional herbal) medicines are now ethically used in Japan as pharmaceutical grade prescription drugs. However, there are distinct groups of responders and non-responders to Kampo medicines," scientists writing in the journal Clinical Biochemistry report. "We searched for biomarker candidates to discriminate responders from non-responders to keishibukuryogan (KBG); one of the most frequently used Kampo medicines A combination of SELDI technology and a decision tree analysis with proprietary developed bioinformatics tools was applied to 41 (32 for tree construction and 9 for validation test) plasma samples obtained from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. A candidate biomarker protein was identified using LC-MS/MS The constructed tree with measurable reliability contained only a single peak which was identified as haptoglobin alpha 1 chain (Hpalpha1) Hpalpha1 is a biomarker candidate for discriminating responders from non-responders to KBG treatment for RA," wrote K. Ogawa and colleagues, . The researchers concluded: "The present results may open the way to the establishment of 'evidence-based' complementary and alternative medicine." Ogawa and colleagues published their study in Clinical Biochemistry (Identification of a predictive biomarker for the beneficial effect of a Kampo (Japanese traditional) medicine keishibukuryogan in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Clinical Biochemistry, 2007;40(15):1113-21). Additional information can be obtained by contacting K. Ogawa, Central Research Laboratories, Tsumura and Co., Ibaraki, Japan. The publisher of the journal Clinical Biochemistry can be contacted at: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd., the Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, England. Keywords: Japan, Ibaraki, Alternative Medicine, Arthritis, BioInformatics LLC, Biochemistry, Biotechnology Business, Biotechnology Company, Pharmaceuticals, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Therapy, Treatment. This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
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