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Mediterranean diet reduces heart failure risk as determined by modified biomarkers: decreased ox LDL, natriuretic peptide...

post menopausal estradiol in women associated with pro-inflammatory state.  SHBG was associated with a decrease in the inflammatory cytokine biomarkers.  Postmenopausal women were found to have an increased Testosterone to estradiol ratio.

heat shock proteins (HSP) and cancer.  They can be useful as biomarkers for some specific cancers.  HSP are normally biologically active, but are increased in cancer.

This article's conclusion fits the definition of insane. This article found that the flu vaccine in pregnant women found significant increased CRP, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 inflammatory biomarkers.  It is well recognized the impact of inflammation on health and in this case the developing baby.   For example, preeclampsia and preterm birth are inflammatory conditions.  Yet, ACOG has made recommmendations for all pregnant women to get the flu vaccine?!?! Here is their conclusion: "However, further research is needed to confirm that the mild inflammatory response elicited by vaccination is benign in pregnancy".  Take home, you are being studied to see the effects of the flu vaccine on you, if you are pregnant, and your developing child.  And who decides what "mild" is anyways.  If you develop preeclampsia and delivery early, where is the "mild" in that?

this study, though in mice, should strike fear in all parents.  This study found that the inflammatory biomarker IL-6 was critical in the development of autism and schizophrenia in the mice offspring.  Neuro development was altered by inflammation exposure during preganancy.  This was from a single injection of IL-6!  This in light of recent studies that show that the flu vaccine and other vaccines increase IL-6 production in pregnant mothers.  So, why did ACOG promote flu vaccines in pregnancy again?

astaxanthin reduced oxidative stress biomarker and inflammation in human study.

As I have been saying for awhile now, low Testosterone is the effect not the cause: new study finds that low T is a biomarker of diabetes and not a cause.  

proinsulin is a good biomarker to assess insulin resistance in people with diabetes.  Proinsulin levels are associated with atherosclerosis and CVD.

Interesting study finds that men with low serum Total Testosterone, elevated RBP4 and low SHBG at baseline predict weight regain.  Thus Testosterone should be used as a biomarker of failure in weight loss and if low, Testosterone therapy should be employed to improved metabolic function.  Other parameters, such as leptin, adiponectin, prolactin, progesterone...were not predictive.

Study of 500 men with CHF and reduced LVEF found that estradiol has a "U" shaped relationship to prognosis.  A low and high estradiol levels are associated with increased poor prognosis.  Other biomarkers in these 2 groups were different, suggesting different physiologic mechanisms.

Retrospective study finds that 2 years of Testosterone and GH do not change metabolic biomarkers, PSA, or disease risk.  LDL and TC were in fact decreased in the study arm without statin therapy.

biomarker of low grade inflammation, CD163, associated with Klinefelter Syndrome.  Low T is common in Klinefelter syndrome.  However, Testosterone therapy did not decrease CD163.

Disordered Tryptophan metabolism is a useful biomarker for those with Sjogren's syndrome.  This study found an increased degradation of Tryptophan and increased IDO activity that correlated with increased severity of Sjogren's syndrome.

elevations of CCL2/MCP-1 present in those with ASIA versus those not.  The author concludes this should be use as a biomarker for MMF.  The study subjects were long post-vaccine.

Three inflammatory biomarkers, TNF-alpha, CRP and IL-6 found to be associated with cancer.

This population study finds increased risk, significantly more for women vs men, of type II Diabetes with gout.  This should come as no surprise as the underlying pathophysiology is the same.  Fructose increases Uric acid.  Uric acid is a biomarker of MetS.  Fructose increases abdominal adiposity and eventually inflammation which leads to diabetes.  

three year follow up study of 1031 men >40.  The study found a reduction in mortality with Testosterone treatment (10.3%) versus a mortality rate of 20.7% in men not treated.  This is a second study that points to a reduction in mortality with normalization of Testosterone levels with Testosterone therapy.  Breaking out of the mode, that Testosterone is also therapeutic not just a biomarker in men.

Weight loss increases Testosterone levels.  This author points to low Testosterone as merely a biomarker of poor health.  In some this is correct, but Testosterone can have significant positive effects.

Good discussion of the gut microbiome.  Age effects the gut bacteria balance.  The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio increases from young, to young adult, to the elderly in this study.  Is this simply a reflection of aging or is the a biomarker that can be changed through diet and targeted probiotics?