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NanoString Technologies launches new miRNA assay kits

NanoString Technologies, Inc., a privately held life sciences company marketing a complete solution for detecting and counting large sets of target molecules in biological samples, today announced a unique new product for miRNA analysis that includes a multiplexed assay for profiling the human miRNA transcriptome in a single tube. The company introduced the new assay kit, which expands the applications for its nCounter® Analysis System, at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting.

From NanoString Technologies 20 Apr 2010

CombiMatrix announces operational restructuring plan

CombiMatrix Corporation announced today that it is implementing a restructuring plan to significantly reduce operating costs, increase the focus on the Company's diagnostic services business and transition senior management. After the restructuring, CombiMatrix will be focused on its diagnostics services business, including increasing utilization of its existing tests, expanding the test menu, increasing the number of customers and partners, and improving reimbursement for its testing services.

20 Apr 2010

Spacelabs Healthcare launches Ultraview DM3 vital signs monitor

Combining the simplistic performance of a spot-check monitor with the sophistication of continuous monitoring, Spacelabs Healthcare's Ultraview DM3 provides caregivers with a dual-mode solution for accurately and efficiently measuring vital signs (SpO2, pulse rate, non-invasive blood pressure, respiration and temperature) on adult and pediatric patients.

20 Apr 2010

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy receives health insurance coverage

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) today announced its support of recent policy changes by Aetna Inc. and United Healthcare. The national health insurance giants will now cover laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a newer method of bariatric surgery that is becoming increasingly popular as a treatment for morbid obesity.

19 Apr 2010

Study reveals increased risk for cancer among Latino populations

New findings from epidemiology and observational studies show an increased risk for cancer among Latino populations, but unique demographic characteristics suggest the problem may be worse than currently known.

19 Apr 2010

Enigma Diagnostics receives patent for amplification consumables

Enigma Diagnostics Limited, the decentralised and point-of-care molecular diagnostics company, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted U.S. Patent No. 7,659,096 with claims that cover the use of amplification consumables in several current real-time and end point PCR instruments.

19 Apr 2010

Enhancing drug residence time may help develop better diagnostic, therapeutic agents

Research conducted at the Stony Brook University Institute for Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery that enhances the time a drug remains bound to its target, or residence time, may prove to be an important step in developing better diagnostic and therapeutic agents based partly on longer drug residence time.

17 Apr 2010

TGen, Asuragen sign microRNA technology agreement for pancreatic cancer research

The Translational Genomics Research Institute and Asuragen Inc. today announced a research agreement that could lead to ways of detecting cancer before it spreads.

17 Apr 2010

Ocera Therapeutics presents data on prevalence of neurocognitive impairment in cirrhotic patients

Ocera Therapeutics, Inc. presented an analysis of the prevalence of neurocognitive impairment in ambulatory cirrhotic patients. The data came from the screening period of the ASTUTE Study, an ongoing Phase 2b study evaluating the safety and efficacy of AST-120 (spherical carbon adsorbent) in the treatment of mild hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). The poster was presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Liver (EASL) in Vienna, Austria. Efficacy and safety data from the ASTUTE study are expected in the summer of 2010.

17 Apr 2010

Ontario continues to have high quality laboratory testing and diagnostic systems: Lab MDs

April 18th-24th is National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week and Ontario's laboratory physicians want to emphasize that Ontario continues to have one of the safest, highest quality laboratory testing and diagnostic systems in the world.

17 Apr 2010

Role of race and health insurance status in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment

Researchers at The GW Cancer Institute, with funding from the National Cancer Institute, examined the effect of race and health insurance status on diagnostic and treatment delays over a 5-year period, with initial screenings going back 12 years, and found that race may play a larger role than previously thought when it comes to optimal diagnosis and treatment of black women with breast cancer.

17 Apr 2010

SNM continues to stress the need for Congress to implement long-term fix

On April 16, the President signed a bill granting temporary relief from looming cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates. Although a positive step, the medical community-along with millions of patients-continues to face significant threats to medical coverage for critical diagnostic imaging tests and therapeutics.

17 Apr 2010

Health sciences professionals meet to discuss public health care issues

Members of the Health Sciences Association, the health care union that represents health sciences professionals who deliver diagnosis, treatment and recovery in BC's hospitals and communities, is meeting this weekend at its 39th annual convention in Vancouver.

17 Apr 2010

Diagnosis errors have put patient health in danger: NPSA study

The study, which was conducted by the NHS' National Patient Safety Agency, analysed over a thousand cases where cancer had been misdiagnosed or indentified late over a 12-month period.

16 Apr 2010

RadNet acquires Truxtun Medical Group

RadNet, Inc., a national leader in providing high-quality, cost-effective, fixed-site outpatient diagnostic imaging services through a network of 185 fully-owned and operated outpatient imaging centers, today reported it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Truxtun Medical Group.

16 Apr 2010

Idaho Technology receives USASMDC contract to develop flu tests for military personnel

Idaho Technology, Inc. has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) to develop tests for multiple flu strains on the Joint Biological Agent Identification and Diagnostic System (JBAIDS).

16 Apr 2010

International experts discuss threats posed by ticks and fleas

As experts from around the world met in New York this week they discussed the need for greater understanding of the threat posed by ticks, fleas and sand flies. Leading scientists called on veterinarians and dog-owners around the world to take action to protect dogs and humans from potentially lethal diseases.

16 Apr 2010

Complete Women's Imaging selects Merge Healthcare as IT partner

Merge Healthcare today announced that it was selected by Complete Women's Imaging, P.C., a designated Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Commission on Breast Imaging, to provide a complete diagnostic imaging workflow and physician reporting solution to the Atlantic Coastal Plain region of New York.

15 Apr 2010

Early, accurate detection of superficial bladder cancer with Olympus PDD

With Olympus photodynamic diagnosis (PDD), superficial bladder cancer can be detected earlier, easier and more accurately. Bladder cancer is diagnosed by cystoscopy, the endoscopic introduction of a light source through the urethra (transurethral) into the bladder. The imaging technology PDD uses blue light to increase the contrast between tumour tissue (red) and healthy tissue (blue).

From Evident Corporation - Life Sciences 15 Apr 2010

Foundation Medicine completes $25M Series A financing led by Third Rock Ventures

Foundation Medicine, a personalized cancer medicine company that aims to bring comprehensive cancer genome analysis into routine clinical care, today announced it has completed a $25 million Series A financing led by Third Rock Ventures.

15 Apr 2010