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Researchers Create a Protein Map of Human Spit
Ant writes "United States researchers have identified all 1,116 unique proteins found in human saliva glands. It was a discovery they said on Tuesday that could usher in a wave of convenient, spit-based diagnostic tests that could be done without the need for a single drop of blood. As many as 20 percent of the proteins found in saliva are also found in blood, said Fred Hagen, a researcher at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York who worked on the study."
punch them in the mouth a few times.
i call dibs on the patent to beating patients as a diagnostic tool.
anyone want to participate in clinical trials?
but after rtfa, I must say it is pretty cool. The spit based tests would make the trip to hospitals whole lot less stressful. However what is not mentioned is reliability of these tests, or mainly how many false positives it gives for let's say breast cancer. If 100% of women with breast cancer have a certain protein, but also 60% of women who don't have breast cancer have that same protein, it makes the test...well less effective.
Man, it's hard enough to fill those little cups with urine, but now they want a cup full of spit? They'd better have a good, stimulating magazine to help with that, like Texas Chili Monthly.
Funny thing is, companies like Genova Diagnostics of North Carolina have been doing saliva hormone testing for several years now and have touted it as the only way to get true levels of estradiol, testosterone, cortisol, progesterone, DHEA and others. A doctor that I worked for 3-4 years ago to set up a fellowship in functional medicine was big into saliva testing and hormone balancing based on these saliva tests, and she's still doing some good work today. I know she's worked with lots of patients, mostly premenopausal and menopausal women, and has helped them with maladies that go along with menopause like headaches, osteoporosis, and all the uncomfortable changes that go along with the big change in life. Biggest problem she's had is getting the mainstream insurance companies to accept her work and the work of others that have gone toward supporting the use of saliva hormone testing.
Who said the poster isn't a lesbian woman, talking about her girlfriend?
Sure, I know you're thinking "this is Slashdot, it's full of virgin nerd males, why would there be any lesbians posting on here"? Well sir, I believe that's just the sort of close-minded thinking that keeps hot lesbians off of Slashdot. To think, if it weren't for intolerant bigots like yourself Slashdot would surely be awash with not just lesbians, but promiscuous heterosexual women and even adventurous bisexual female couples looking for a third. You sir, should be ashamed of yourself.