A new study shows that arthritis of the knee often is diagnosed in its late stages, after cartilage has degraded and bones are rubbing against each other in the joint.
After assessing levels of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and interleukin‐8, the team came up with an algorithm based on the ratio of these two markers and validated its efficacy in ...
The fluid test looks for a protein called cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), as well as an inflammatory biochemical called interleukin-8 (IL-8), researchers said. COMP levels tend to be high ...
The latter two compounds then couple in a stepwise fashion, through several carbon atoms on the indole structure, to form sprawling oligomeric mats, which stack four to six high to form melanin 5.