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Cultivating cells in sealed, sterile plastic bags

Using plasmas, sealed plastic bags can be modified at atmospheric pressure so that human cells can adhere to and reproduce on their walls. Cell culture bags of this kind are an important aid for research and clinical purposes and may eventually replace the Petri dishes used today.

11 Nov 2011

First Edition: Nov. 11, 2011

In today's health policy headlines, reports about the challenges the super committee continues to confront as the clock ticks toward its deadline, as well as news about the Supreme Court's expected announcement on whether it will hear health law appeals.

11 Nov 2011

NYU Langone professor offers guidance on risk factors, interventions for SUDEP

Over time, epileptic seizures can lead to major health issues, including significant cognitive decline and even death, warns Orrin Devinsky, MD, professor, Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center.

11 Nov 2011

Study reveals risk factors for temporomandibular disorders

Now, for the first time, researchers in the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine are publishing a comprehensive set of clinical characteristics that they say will lead to the ability to identify individuals at risk for developing the painful conditions. Their new clinical assessments will help researchers and clinicians better understand TMD and other pain conditions, so as to find ways to better manage and treat them.

11 Nov 2011

Long-range wind transport of an infectious agent may cause KD

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a severe childhood disease that many parents, even some doctors, mistake for an inconsequential viral infection. In fact, if not diagnosed or treated in time, it can lead to irreversible heart damage. After 50 years of research, including genetic studies, scientists have been unable to pinpoint the cause of the disease.

10 Nov 2011

SNI receives NINDS grant to conduct clinical research studies on brain disorders

Swedish Neuroscience Institute (SNI) has been selected by the National Institutes of Health as the Pacific Northwest member of a national consortium of 25 neuroscience centers that will conduct clinical research studies on a variety of brain-related diseases.

10 Nov 2011

Vegetative patients could be contacted using simple, cheap and portable technique – EEG

Scientists from the UK and Belgium have found a way to communicate with brain damaged patients who appear to be in a vegetative state. Writing in The Lancet medical journal they describe how they measured electrical activity in the brain to detect consciousness. The technique, known as EEG or electroencephalogram, is painless and involves attaching electrodes to the head.

10 Nov 2011

PlusNews examines difficulties in diagnosing, treating MDR-TB in children

PlusNews examines the difficulties in diagnosing and treating multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in children, writing, "With weaker immune systems, children who contract TB -- most often from parents -- progress to active disease in about a year. But just how many children are affected is not known as there is almost no research into children and MDR-TB -- and very little useful guidance on how to treat them."

10 Nov 2011

Clinical diagnoses of autism may vary widely across centers

To diagnose autism spectrum disorders, clinicians typically administer a variety of tests or scales and use information from observations and parent interviews to classify individuals into subcategories listed in standard psychiatric diagnostic manuals.

10 Nov 2011

U of T, UHN launch Techna Institute to develop new healthcare technologies

The Techna Institute, an innovation hub poised to integrate and fast track research, development and commercialization of new healthcare technologies, launches today at University Health Network (UHN) and the University of Toronto.

10 Nov 2011

Clinilabs to utilize NewCardio's QTinno in Phase I trial of new CNS drug

NewCardio, Inc., a cardiovascular diagnostic solutions developer, announced today that its strategic partner, Clinilabs, will utilize QTinno, NewCardio's automated cardiac safety solution, to conduct a Phase I trial of an investigational new drug under development for a central nervous system (CNS) indication.

10 Nov 2011

Transgenomic third quarter total revenue increases 87% to $8.3 million

Transgenomic, Inc. today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and provided a business update.

10 Nov 2011

Online platform for automatic analysis of microscopic image data

Under the microscope lies a specimen of a liver. Deep in concentration, a student is analyzing the structure of the tissue when the university official asks her to finish up - the lab is about to close. This is a situation that may be familiar to many students. After all, the examination of specimens is an important course component; to practice and consolidate the theory presented in lectures.

9 Nov 2011

Study: Children with autism have more prefrontal brain neurons

In a small, preliminary study that included 13 male children, those with autism had an average 67 percent more prefrontal brain neurons and larger than average brain weight, than children without autism, according to a study in the Nov. 9 issue of JAMA.

9 Nov 2011

VCU pediatric surgeons successfully separate Dominican twin toddlers

A team of Virginia Commonwealth University pediatric surgeons today successfully completed the separation of 19-month-old conjoined twins Maria and Teresa Tapia of the Dominican Republic.

9 Nov 2011

Three common scales are not accurate predictors of severe dehydration in children

A physician team from Rhode Island Hospital led a study to evaluate the accuracy of the commonly used dehydration scales as they apply to children in a low-income country. Based on their experience in Rwanda, the researchers determined that none of the three scales were accurate predictors of severe dehydration in children with diarrhea and/or vomiting.

9 Nov 2011

Two U-M physicians caution about implications of cardiac imaging study

Two University of Michigan Health System physicians are raising notes of caution about the implications of a new study that found cardiologists were more likely to refer patients for stress imaging when their practice owned imaging machines - resulting in potential overuse because of financial incentives.

9 Nov 2011

Highmark now covers AlloMap for monitoring heart transplant rejection

XDx, Inc., a molecular diagnostics company focused on the development and commercialization of clinically differentiated, high value non-invasive diagnostic tests to monitor immune-mediated conditions, today announced that Highmark Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is now covering AlloMap for its beneficiaries.

9 Nov 2011

Compugen third quarter net loss decreases to $3.6 million

Compugen Ltd. today reported financial results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2011.

9 Nov 2011

Alliance HealthCare Services third quarter revenue increases 4.7% to $126.8 million

Alliance HealthCare Services, Inc., a leading national provider of outpatient diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy services, announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011.

9 Nov 2011