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SAN
DIEGO, March 10, 2003 - The Alzheimer’s and Aging Research
Center today announced that one its award grantees, Dr. Alan Kleinfeld,
has developed a rapid, sensitive, cost effective means for detecting
heart attacks and strokes much earlier than current methods. Studies
show early detection and treatment of heart attack and stroke, within
one hour of symptom onset, can reduce mortality by 50 to 90%. Dr. Kleinfeld
presented his findings to colleagues at symposia for the American College
of Cardiology and the American Heart Association in 2002.
Funded in part by the Alzheimer’s and Aging Research Center, Dr.
Kleinfeld studies the molecular and physiological behavior of free fatty
acids (FFA) and their relation to a host of health conditions. Patients
with ischemia, diabetes, cancer and other aging-related conditions exhibit
elevated levels of FFA, making these molecules attractive targets for
study. Whether these molecules play a role in disease etiology or merely
indicate their presence remains to be determined.
Dr. Kleinfeld’s recent results indicate levels of unbound free
fatty acids (FFAu) in the bloodstream can be used as an effective predictor
of ischemia, the initial event of a heart attack or stroke indicating
restriction of blood flow to the heart or brain. Routine measurements
of FFA are not performed because they are insensitive, time consuming
and expensive. The advent of ADIFAB, a fluorescent molecular probe developed
by Dr. Kleinfeld, makes rapid, sensitive detection of serum FFA possible.
Dr. Kleinfeld presented his results, “Serum Levels of Unbound Free
Fatty Acids Reveal High Sensitivity for Early Detection of Acute Myocardial
Infarction in Patient Samples From the TIMI II Trial,” in March
2002 at the American College of Cardiology 51st Annual Scientific Session.
In another study, Dr. Kleinfeld determined FFAu levels can aide in the
diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), an umbrella term used to
describe a variety of serious heart disease conditions, such as unstable
angina, which often lead directly to heart attack. Dr. Kleinfeld presented
the findings, “Measurement of Levels of Unbound Free Fatty Acid
Allows the Early Identification of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome,” at
the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in November
2002.
Dr. Kleinfeld received his Ph.D. in nuclear physics from Rutgers University.
He held positions at the University of Cologne, Harvard Medical School
and Medical Biology Institute before joining Torrey Pines Institute for
Molecular Studies in 1998.
The Alzheimer’s and Aging Research
Center supports biomedical research to find treatments and cures for
Alzheimer’s, heart disease, cancer,
arthritis and other aging-related conditions. The Center fosters scientific
collaborations, trains new scientists and provides education to the public
worldwide. For more information visit our website at www.alz-aging-research.org.
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