Research Update: Flow FISH vs MM-qPCR telomere testing

Here we discuss the key findings and conclusions from a recently published study ‘Comparison of flow FISH and MM-qPCR telomere length assessment techniques for the screening of telomeropathies’. Why test telomere length, and how? Telomere length testing is an important element in the diagnosis of dyskeratosis congenita (DC) and telomere biology disorders (TBDs) when assessing […]

Telomere Length Is Correlated With Quality Of Life In COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an age-related disease, with data supporting the notion that COPD is a systemic disease of accelerated aging. COPD is associated with oxidative stress, which becomes amplified during exacerbations and enhances telomere shortening. A recent 2018 study shows that participants with moderate-to-severe COPD who had shorter leukocyte telomere lengths were […]

How Telomere Testing Is Being Used In Hospital Settings

Telomere testing is used as a diagnostic tool by medical professionals. When looking to find out about a patient’s health, this kind of test can reveal important information. While this type of testing is not yet widespread throughout the medical community, recent research published in PNAS has shown the rise and success of its use […]

Lymphocyte Homeostasis in Acquired Aplastic Anemia is Associated With Short Telomeres

Hepatitis‐associated aplastic anemia (HAA) is a variant of acquired aplastic anemia (AA) in which immune‐mediated bone marrow failure (BMF) develops following an acute episode of seronegative hepatitis. Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is an inherited BMF syndrome characterized by the presence of short telomeres, mucocutaneous abnormalities, and cancer predisposition. While both conditions may cause BMF and hepatic […]