News
Meridian Bioscience Receives FDA Clearance for New Molecular Amplification Test: illumigene® Mycoplasma
June 10, 2013 10:30 am | by Business Wire | CommentsMeridian Bioscience, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio (NASDAQ: VIVO) today announced that it has received FDA clearance for a new molecular diagnostic test for Mycoplasma pneumonia ( M. pneumoniae ), its fourth assay on the illumi gene platform. This innovative test that aids in identifying an important respiratory pathogen is a strong addition to the illumi gene platform.
3-D Map of Blood Vessels in Cerebral Cortex Holds Surprises
June 10, 2013 10:09 am | by University of California - San Diego | CommentsBlood vessels within a sensory area of the mammalian brain loop and connect in unexpected ways, a new map has revealed. The study, published June 9 in the early online edition of Nature Neuroscience, describes vascular architecture within a well-known region of the cerebral cortex and explores what that structure means for functional imaging of the brain and the onset of a kind of dementia.
MRI Detects Early Effects of Chemotherapy on Children's Hearts
June 10, 2013 10:07 am | by BioMed Central | CommentsMRI scans of children who have had chemotherapy can detect early changes in their hearts finds research in biomed Central's open access journal Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. Chemotherapy with anthracyclines, such as Doxorubicin, is one of the most effective treatments against many types of cancer, including leukaemia and Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast, lung, and ovarian cancer.
Women Can Be Screened Years Later than Men with 'Virtual Colonoscopy'
June 10, 2013 10:05 am | by Wiley | CommentsA new study has found that women can be screened for colorectal cancer at least five to 10 years later than men when undergoing an initial "virtual colonoscopy." Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings may help establish guidelines for the use of this screening technique, which is less invasive than a traditional colonoscopy.
Carbon Nanotubes for Molecular Magnetic Resonances
June 10, 2013 10:03 am | by ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences | CommentsScientists from ICFO- Institute of Photonic Science, in collaboration with researchers from the Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology (ICN2) and the University of Michigan, have been able to measure weak forces with sensitivity 50 times higher than what has been achieved to date. This significant improvement represents a turning point in measuring very weak forces and opens the door for magnetic resonance imaging at the molecular scale.
Judge's Ruling Challenges U.S. Transplant System
June 10, 2013 9:45 am | by Lauran Neergaard, AP Medical Writer | CommentsIt's a life or death matter: Who gets the next scarce donated organ? In an unprecedented challenge to the nation's transplant system, a federal judge has allowed one dying child — and a day later another — to essentially jump the line in rulings that could have ramifications for thousands of people awaiting new organs.
Patient and Healthcare Worker Safety Major Areas of Focus at B.Braun
June 7, 2013 11:45 am | by PR Newswire | CommentsCatheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), needlestick (sharps) injuries and exposure to potentially deadly blood borne pathogens continue to be major areas of concern for healthcare workers throughout the U.S. "We are committed to addressing these issues by providing a robust portfolio of safety-engineered IV therapy devices that offer patient protection against infection and optimum safety in the workplace," said Tom Sutton.
MedTech Firms Invited to Post Diabetes Questions
June 7, 2013 11:44 am | by Creative Medical Research | CommentsSuffolk (UK) based Creative Medical Research (CMR) is giving medical device manufacturers the chance to ask questions of 150 EU and US-based Diabetes Nurses through its latest Omnibus Survey. The survey has already attracted a number of the major medical device manufacturers keen to understand the concerns and thoughts of the Healthcare Professionals who focus on Diabetes and use their technologies every day.
Researchers Discover How Brain Circuits Can Become Miswired During Development
June 7, 2013 11:38 am | by Weill Cornell Medical College | CommentsResearchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have uncovered a mechanism that guides the exquisite wiring of neural circuits in a developing brain -- gaining unprecedented insight into the faulty circuits that may lead to brain disorders ranging from autism to mental retardation.
St. Jude Medical Signs Equity Investment and Option to Purchase Agreement with Spinal Modulation
June 7, 2013 11:01 am | by Business Wire | CommentsSt. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, and privately-held Spinal Modulation, Inc., today announced that they have entered into a series of agreements under which St. Jude Medical made a $40 million equity investment in Spinal Modulation, a company that has developed an innovative neuromodulation therapy that provides a new pain management option for patients with chronic, intractable pain.
3 Out of 20 Scopes Used to Examine GI Tracts and Colons Improperly Cleaned
June 7, 2013 10:42 am | by Association for Professionals in Infection Control | CommentsThree out of 20 flexible gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopes used for screening were found to harbor unacceptable levels of "bio dirt" – cells and matter from a patient's body that could pose potential infection risk -- according to a study of endoscopes used at five hospitals across the U.S.
Biomarker Identification May Lead to New Noninvasive Test for Colorectal Cancer Detection
June 7, 2013 10:39 am | by Elsevier Health Sciences | CommentsThe average 5-year survival for colorectal cancer is less than 10% if metastasis occurs, but can reach 90% if detected early. A new non-invasive test has been developed that measures methylation of the SDC2 gene in tissues and blood sera. This test detected 87% of all stages of colorectal cancer cases (sensitivity) without significant difference between early and advanced stages.
Non-Invasive First Trimester Blood Test Reliably Detects Down's Syndrome
June 7, 2013 10:37 am | by Wiley | CommentsNew research has found that routine screening using a non-invasive test that analyzes fetal DNA in a pregnant woman's blood can accurately detect Down's syndrome and other genetic fetal abnormalities in the first trimester. Published early online in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, the results suggest that the test is superior to currently available screening strategies and could reshape standards in prenatal testing.
Math Technique De-Clutters Cancer-Cell Data, Revealing Tumor Evolution, Treatment Leads
June 7, 2013 10:14 am | by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory | CommentsToday, two scientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) publish a mathematical method of simplifying and interpreting genome data bearing evidence of mutations, such as those that characterize specific cancers. Not only is the technique highly accurate; it has immediate utility in efforts to parse tumor cells, in order to determine a patient's prognosis and the best approach to treatment.
Alzheimer's, Schizophrenia, and Autism Now Can Be Studied with Mature Brain Cells Reprogrammed from Skin Cells
June 7, 2013 10:10 am | by Penn State University | CommentsDifficult-to-study diseases such as Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and autism now can be probed more safely and effectively thanks to an innovative new method for obtaining mature brain cells called neurons from reprogrammed skin cells.
