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Early diagnosis(1) of a heart attack(2) may now be possible using only a few drops of saliva(3) and a new nano-bio-chip(4), a multi-institutional(5) team led by researchers(6) at The University of Texas at Austin reported at a recent meeting of the American Association for Dental Research(7).

The nano-bio-chip assay(8) could some day be used to analyze a patient's saliva on board(9) an ambulance, at the dentist’s office or at a neighborhood drugstore, helping save lives and prevent damage from cardiac disease(10). The device is the size of a credit card and can produce results in as little as 15 minutes.

“Many heart attack victims(11), especially women, experience nonspecific(12) symptoms(13) and secure(14) medical help too late after permanent damage to the cardiac tissue(15) has occurred,” says John T. McDevitt, principal investigator(16) and designer of the nano-bio-chip. “Our tests promise to dramatically(17) improve the accuracy(18) and speed of cardiac diagnosis(19).”

McDevitt, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry(20) at The University of Texas at Austin, collaborated with(21) scientists and clinicians(22) at the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death(23) in developed countries, including the United States. In 2008, an estimated(24) 770,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack(25), and about 430,000 will have a recurrent(26) attack.

“There is certainly a strong need for more effective early diagnosis of cardiac disease,” says McDevitt.

McDevitt and his co-workers(27) and collaborators(28) took advantage of(29) the recent identification(30) of a number of blood serum proteins(31) that are significant(32) contributors to(33), and thus indicators of(34), cardiac disease.