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Scientists develop carbon based nanoscale to detect single DNA molecules

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new, carbon-based nanoscale platform to electrically detect single DNA molecules.Using electric fields, the tiny DNA strands are pushed through nanoscale-sized, atomically thin pores in a graphene nanopore platform that ultimately may be important for fast electronic sequencing of the four chemical bases of DNA based on their unique electrical signature.The pores, burned into graphene membranes using electron beam technology, provide Penn physicists with electronic measurements of the translocation of DNA.

27 Jul 2010

UCLA Health System launches hand transplantation program

The UCLA Health System has launched the new UCLA Hand Transplantation Program, the first of its kind on the West Coast and only the fourth such center in the United States. The program will help those who have suffered the traumatic loss of a hand or forearm and allow them to regain function and improve their quality of life. Qualified candidates are now being sought for a clinical study of the procedure.

27 Jul 2010

Scientists discover mechanism of herpes virus cell entry machinery

The mechanism by which a herpes virus invades cells has remained a mystery to scientists, but now research from Tufts University and the University of Pennsylvania reveals the unusual structure of a key member of the protein complex that allows a herpes virus to invade cells.The new map details an essential piece of the herpes virus "cell-entry machinery," providing scientists with a new target for antiviral drugs.

27 Jul 2010

Brainlab launches ExacTrac Infrared Monitoring device for patient positioning during radiation therapy

Brainlab announced the availability of ExacTrac® Infrared Monitoring, an add-on device to existing treatment machines for monitoring patient positioning during radiation therapy treatments, at the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Annual Meeting last week.

26 Jul 2010

Researchers discover potential method for neurodegenerative disease detection

New investigations, initiated by research workers at CIC bioGUNE and led by Dr. Aitor Hierro, have opened possibilities for making progress in the knowledge and prediction of neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), according to the journal of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.This study opens the possibility of research in humans to detect this pathology before the symptoms arise.

26 Jul 2010

Diagnostic guidelines for arthritis-related back pain result in excessive tests, delay in pain relief: Research

Slavishly following long-held guidelines for diagnosing the cause of arthritis-related back pain is resulting in excessive tests, delays in pain relief and wasteful spending of as much as $10,000 per patient, new Johns Hopkins-led research suggests.

26 Jul 2010

Lack of insurance coverage and fees deter willingness to undergo CTC for colorectal cancer screening

A recent questionnaire submitted to a group of patients at one of the nation's largest general hospitals suggests that a significant number of patients, who have previously refused colorectal cancer screening, are willing to undergo computed tomography colonography (CTC) (or virtual colonoscopy), but not willing to pay for the exam themselves when not covered by insurance, according to a study in the August issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (www.ajronline.org).

22 Jul 2010

Southeast Emergency Consultants changes name to Titan Emergency Group

Southeast Emergency Consultants, an emergency medicine physician group that contracts with hospitals throughout the Southeast, changed its name to Titan Emergency Group announced Ray Gyarmathy, M.D., F.A.A.E.M., the company's president. The group selected the name to kick off a period of aggressive growth to expand the number of hospitals where it provides emergency department staffing and support services. The new name better reflects the company's personality and eliminates any potential confusion related to its geographic service area.

22 Jul 2010

Boston Scientific second-quarter net sales decrease 7% to $1.928 billion

Boston Scientific Corporation today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010, as well as guidance for net sales and earnings per share (EPS) for the third quarter and full year 2010.

22 Jul 2010

New FDR D-EVO flat panel cassette available for clinical environment

Imaging facilities looking to convert existing analog x-ray rooms to digital can now benefit from the ease-of-use and exceptional image quality of the FDR D-EVO flat panel cassette from FUJIFILM Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc. Now FDA 510(k) cleared, the FDR D-EVO™ makes it more convenient to transition to DR with its seamless retrofit that enables facilities to insert the DR detector directly into the existing x-ray table or wall stand without modification.

21 Jul 2010

Hybrid Linac-MR imaging system tracks cancer tumors in real time

Today, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) in Philadelphia, a group of researchers from Stanford University will describe the latest developments toward their goal of integrating two existing medical devices -- medical linear accelerators, or "linacs," which produce powerful X-rays for treating cancer, and magnetic resonance imagers (MRIs), which are widely used to image tumors in the human body.

21 Jul 2010

Diffused ultraviolet radiation penetrates beach umbrellas

A team of researchers from the University of Valencia (UV) has proven that 34% of ultraviolet radiation filters through under beach umbrellas. According to what is published in the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology, umbrellas intercept the full direct flow that comes from the Sun, but not the diffused radiation that penetrates through from the sides.

20 Jul 2010

John Theurer Cancer Center to acquire TrueBeam system for treating cancer patients

In a promising development for cancer patients in New Jersey and surrounding areas, the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center announced today that it will be the first cancer center in New Jersey to acquire an innovative system that enables a radically different approach to treating cancer with image-guided radiotherapy known as the TrueBeam- system.

20 Jul 2010

Three different methods for accurately measuring breast density

Two new studies announced this week have tested three different methods for accurately measuring breast density -- the relative portion of tissue to fat in a woman's breasts and a strong indicator of breast cancer risk.

19 Jul 2010

Low-dose method of performing CT heart scans developed at Porter Adventist Hospital

As warnings and concern increase over the health risks of commonly used scanning tests involving high doses of radiation, radiologists and scientists are seeking ways to improve the safety of the tools they use in diagnosing disease.

17 Jul 2010

An overview of AAPM annual meeting

AAPM is the premier organization in medical physics, a broadly-based scientific and professional discipline encompassing physics principles and applications in medicine and biology. Its membership includes medical physicists who specialize in research that develops cutting-edge technologies and board-certified clinical medical physicists who apply these technologies in community hospitals, clinics, and academic medical centers.

16 Jul 2010

Philadelphia to host 52nd annual meeting of American Association of Physicists in Medicine

Next week the city of Philadelphia will host the 52nd annual meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), the premier organization in medical physics, a broadly-based scientific and professional discipline encompassing physics principles and applications in medicine and biology.

16 Jul 2010

Twin Cities Orthopedics opens new medical facility to help orthopedic patients

To help orthopedic patients receive a full range of care under one roof, Twin Cities Orthopedics today is opening a new state-of-the-art medical facility in Edina.

16 Jul 2010

An overview of heart palpitations from Mayo Clinic

Almost everyone feels occasional heart palpitations -- a change in the heart's rhythm. Palpitations range from what feels like a skip, flip or bump in the heart's rhythm to a sustained, racing heartbeat.

16 Jul 2010

Premier, Xoft execute group purchasing contract

Premier Inc., an alliance of more than 2,300 U.S. hospitals and 67,000-plus other healthcare sites working together to achieve high quality, cost-effective care, and Xoft, Inc., the leading provider of FDA-cleared Electronic Brachytherapy Systems, announced the execution of a group purchasing contract. Xoft was awarded an exclusive three-year contract for brachytherapy systems with Premier Purchasing Partners L.P., the group purchasing unit of Premier, Inc.

15 Jul 2010