Biopsy News and Research

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Biopsy is the removal of cells or tissues for examination by a pathologist. The pathologist may study the tissue under a microscope or perform other tests on the cells or tissue. There are many different types of biopsy procedures. The most common types include: (1) incisional biopsy, in which only a sample of tissue is removed; (2) excisional biopsy, in which an entire lump or suspicious area is removed; and (3) needle biopsy, in which a sample of tissue or fluid is removed with a needle. When a wide needle is used, the procedure is called a core biopsy. When a thin needle is used, the procedure is called a fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

Positive interim results from Helix BioPharma's Topical Interferon Alpha-2b Phase II pharmacokinetic study

Helix BioPharma Corp. today announced that the first ten patients that have been enrolled in its Phase II pharmacokinetic study of Topical Interferon Alpha-2b in patients with low-grade cervical lesions have completed the pharmacokinetic primary endpoint analyses with positive findings.

14 Feb 2010

Theragenics announces record $18.7M consolidated revenue for fourth-quarter 2009

Theragenics Corporation, a medical device company serving the surgical products and prostate cancer treatment markets, today announced consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. Consolidated results include the results of NeedleTech Products, Inc. (“NeedleTech”) subsequent to its acquisition by Theragenics on July 28, 2008.

11 Feb 2010

HDC signs agreement to receive clinical specimens for colon cancer molecular diagnostic test

Health Discovery Corporation announced today that the Company has entered into an exclusive agreement with the Pancreas, Biliary and Liver Surgery Center of New York at Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York City to provide clinical specimens to be utilized to complete the final validation of HDC's molecular diagnostic test for colon cancer. This test demonstrated a 93% Sensitivity and a 93% Specificity in a previous validation study.

11 Feb 2010

Bombarding DNA nucleotides and mammalian meat with ‘femto-neutrons’ open new path to femtomedicine

Bombarding DNA nucleotides and mammalian meat with ‘femto-neutrons’ has opened up the path to femtomedicine, an entirely new cancer diagnostics, it was reported today at First Global Congress on NanoEngineering for Medicine and Biology in Houston, TX.

10 Feb 2010

Study validates Transgenomic's COLD-PCR technology for colorectal tumor-associated KRAS mutation detection

Transgenomic, Inc. announced today that it has completed a preliminary study with a leading pharmaceutical company that validates the use of its licensed COLD-PCR technology to detect colorectal tumor-associated KRAS mutations that determine efficacy of recently developed therapies. These were detected in plasma samples in which the mutation levels were too low for detection by standard DNA analysis methodologies such as Sanger sequencing.

9 Feb 2010

U.S. PSA screening efficacy lower than in ERSPC-Rotterdam due to lower testing sensitivity

Fewer prostate cancers were detected by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in the U.S. than in a European randomized trial because of lower screening sensitivity, according to a new brief communication published online February 8 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

9 Feb 2010

Stanford researchers use DNA minicircles to induce pluripotency in stem cells from human fat

Tiny circles of DNA are the key to a new and easier way to transform stem cells from human fat into induced pluripotent stem cells for use in regenerative medicine, say scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Unlike other commonly used techniques, the method, which is based on standard molecular biology practices, does not use viruses to introduce genes into the cells or permanently alter a cell's genome.

8 Feb 2010

Non-invasive MR Spectroscopy to determine ability to be fathers

Men with no sperm in their ejaculate—a condition known as azoospermia—may no longer need invasive procedures to determine if they have sperm in their testes according to a new study published in Human Reproduction.

5 Feb 2010

Bioheart initiates REGEN Phase I Clinical Trial for testing genetically modified MyoCell in CHF patients

Bioheart, Inc., announced today that the company has commenced work on its REGEN trial, a Phase I Clinical Trial to test genetically modified MyoCell® in patients suffering from Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). Bioheart’s MyoCell® is a regenerative cell therapy that uses myoblasts, or muscle stem cells,that are grown from a patient’s own muscle. MyoCell® has been tested successfully on patients in four clinical trials.

5 Feb 2010

IMRIS to acquire NASL

IMRIS Inc. today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire NeuroArm Surgical Limited ("NASL"), a privately held company based in Calgary, Alberta, and its magnetic resonance-compatible neurosurgical robot. The companies expect to close the transaction no later than February 8, 2010, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. IMRIS has also entered into a memorandum of understanding with MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Limited ("MDA") to create the next generation of the technology.

4 Feb 2010

Asuragen enters into research agreements to develop microRNA-based diagnostic test

Asuragen, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostics and RNA-based pharmacogenomics services, announced today that it has entered into research agreements with The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Dartmouth’s Hitchcock Medical Center and the University of Sherbrooke to develop a microRNA-based diagnostic test to aid the detection of pancreatic cancer from fine-needle aspirate (FNA) biopsies.

1 Feb 2010

Breast cancer patient battles insurer; Recession burdens charity clinics

News outlets report on a patient's struggle to get coverage for cancer treatment and over-burdened charity clinics.

30 Jan 2010

How to recognize heart attack symptoms in younger women

The risk for heart-related death is increasing in young adults ages 35 to 54, and the numbers are even more alarming for younger women. It is the number-one cause of death for both men and women in the United States, yet every year since 1984 more women have died of cardiovascular health problems than men, according to the American Heart Association.

29 Jan 2010

Patients with NAFLD have higher overall mortality rate, say researchers

Researchers from the Karolinska Institute determined that patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have a higher overall mortality rate compared with the general population.

28 Jan 2010

TE can be accurately performed in majority of NAFLD patients to exclude advanced fibrosis

Researchers from France and Hong Kong determined that transient elastography (TE), a noninvasive, ultrasonic imaging modality, can be accurately performed in the majority of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to exclude advanced fibrosis. Full findings of this study, funded by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, appear in the February issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

27 Jan 2010

Suneva Medical to present interim data from its Artefill study for NLF correction at the Maui Derm 2010

Suneva Medical, a privately-held aesthetic medical device company, today announced 18-month interim results from its prospective, open-label, five-year safety and patient satisfaction study on Artefill for nasolabial fold (NLF) correction. The study assessed adverse events with Artefill starting at 6-months post treatment. Initial results show the incidence of adverse events with Artefill compare favorably to the current label, and that the majority of patients (88%) reported a high satisfaction rating. Upon completion, this will be the largest and longest duration prospective U.S. clinical study of any dermal filler.

27 Jan 2010

NCMHD awards Weill Cornell Medical College $8M for establishing CEDREC in New York City

Weill Cornell Medical College has established a new research center to improve medical care in ethnically diverse and medically underserved communities in New York City.

23 Jan 2010

Combination of saliva test with ultra high-tech biopsy process may help prevent genetic disorders

Florida's largest fertility clinic announced it is the first in the state to offer promising new tests against birth defects: a coupling of technologies that will allow couples to avoid passing along more than 100 genetic diseases to their newborn.

22 Jan 2010

Molecular image guided system for diagnosis and treatment of small-cell peripheral lung cancer

Scientists at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute in Houston received a research grant from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) today to develop the first molecular image guided system to diagnose and treat small-cell peripheral lung cancer in one sitting.