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Telemedical Retinal Image Analysis and Diagnosis technology permits early detection of diabetic retinopathy

Automated Medical Diagnostics, a startup company based in Memphis, envisions its product helping to preserve the sight of millions of people at risk of vision loss from diabetic retinopathy.

7 May 2010

Gene patenting policies affect patient access to testing for disease-causing genes: Study

Policies allowing genes to be patented can make it more difficult for patients to access testing for important disease-causing gene mutations, according to a series of papers in a special online supplement published by Genetics in Medicine, the official peer-reviewed journal of The American College of Medical Genetics.

7 May 2010

$CT technique is more specific than X-rays in detecting thoracic, lumbar spine fractures: Study$

CT technique is more specific than X-rays in detecting thoracic, lumbar spine fractures: Study

When trauma patients receive a computed tomography scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, a technique called CT spine reformatting eliminates the need for X-rays of the thoracic and/or lumbar spine to detect spinal fractures. This technique can lower cost and overall patient radiation exposure, according to a study to be presented at the ARRS 2010 Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.

7 May 2010

Roche launches cobas(R) 4800 System in Canada for testing CT, NG and HPV

Roche Diagnostics Canada announced today the launch of a new Health Canada approved clinical laboratory system designed to increase laboratory testing efficiency and to accommodate current and long-term molecular diagnostic needs. The cobas(R) 4800 System combines in vitro diagnostic tests for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing with fully-automated sample preparation and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 7 May 2010

New CD4 test kit can improve quality of life for HIV and AIDS patients

The use of rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests for the measurement of CD4 T-cells, a marker of the immune system will be an important factor in improving the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS especially in developing and resource-poor countries.

7 May 2010

DXA testing can prevent osteoporosis in at-risk women

Geisinger has exceeded the national benchmark for testing women who are at risk for developing osteoporosis - a silent and serious disease.

7 May 2010

VA plans to limit surgeries at some of its facilities

The Department of Veterans Affairs will limit the kinds of surgeries at some hospitals after a review of surgical deaths at a hospital in southern Illinois, The Associated Press reports. "Under a new system, the VA has given each hospital a 'surgical complexity' level. Because of that, hospitals in at least five states — Louisiana, West Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois and Washington state — will now only perform less-complicated surgeries. The VA will pick up the tab for patients who have surgeries performed elsewhere" (Hefling, 5/6).

7 May 2010

Genzyme to initiate $2 billion stock buyback

Genzyme Corp. today announced that its Board of Directors has voted to pursue several actions to increase shareholder value. The company will initiate a $2 billion stock buyback, under which $1 billion of stock will be repurchased in the near term and financed with debt. The additional $1 billion of stock will be repurchased during the next 12 months.

7 May 2010

Series Three of Percepta's Gene Expression Profiling Life Science Dashboard market research report

Percepta Associates Inc. announces the release of Series Three of its Gene Expression Profiling Life Science Dashboard market research report. Unique to the Percepta report, Series Three offers comparisons to the findings of Series One (February 2007) and Series Two (April 2008).

6 May 2010

TechniScan granted U.S. patent for methods in creating diagnostic images from complex wave fields

TechniScan, Inc., the developer of a revolutionary 3-D breast imaging system, announced today the grant of U.S. Patent 7,684,846, which provides additional intellectual property protection for proprietary methods in creating diagnostic images from complex wave fields.

6 May 2010

NanoString Technologies receives ISO 13485:2003 certification

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 it has received ISO 13485:2003 certification, an internationally recognized quality standard for medical devices.

From NanoString Technologies 6 May 2010

Xience V sales out-performing Promus in Japanese drug-eluting stent market: MRG

According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, when Abbott Vascular's Xience V and Boston Scientific's Promus entered the Japanese drug-eluting stent market in Q1 2010, both companies picked up share from competitors Medtronic and Cordis.

6 May 2010

RayBiotech announces biomarker grant winners

RayBiotech, Inc. has announced the winners of its Biomarker Discovery Pilot Grant program. In total, 18 award recipients were chosen for grants of up to $20,000 each, redeemable for RayBiotech products and services. "By offering these grants," states Dr. Ray (Ruopan) Huang, Founder and President of RayBiotech, "we intend to demonstrate that any researcher with a modest research budget can successfully discover and validate disease-related biomarkers using our antibody arrays."

6 May 2010

LightLab Imaging granted FDA clearance for C7-XR Imaging System and C7 Dragonfly Imaging Catheter

LightLab Imaging, Inc., the pioneer and leader in the development of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) technology for vascular and other imaging applications, has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the C7-XR Imaging System and companion C7 Dragonfly Imaging Catheter.

5 May 2010

Investment report on Misonix from MicroStockProfit.com

MicroStockProfit.com announces an investment report featuring Misonix Inc. The report includes financial, comparative and investment analyses, and industry information you need to know to make an educated investment decision.

5 May 2010

Genetics researchers use new approach to detect causal gene variants

In findings that may speed the search for disease-causing genes, a new study challenges the prevailing view that common diseases are usually caused by common gene variants (mutations). Instead, say genetics researchers, the culprits may be numerous rare variants, located in DNA sequences farther away from the original "hot spots" than scientists have been accustomed to look.

5 May 2010

Research analyzes clinical connection of NPH to AD

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus is a neurological condition which typically affects adults ages 55 and older. This condition was first described in the 1960s as a triad of gait disturbance, dementia, and bladder incontinence. The ventricles of the brain appear enlarged although the cerebrospinal fluid pressure remains normal.

5 May 2010

CombiMatrix first-quarter diagnostic lab revenues up 29% sequentially

CombiMatrix Corporation today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

5 May 2010

Myriad Genetics' third-quarter fiscal 2010 revenues increase 5% to $90.8M

Myriad Genetics, Inc. today reported financial results for the third fiscal quarter and the nine-month period ended March 31, 2010.

5 May 2010

Biotech industry reviews effects of the recession

Minneapolis Star Tribune, on the Biotechnology Industry Organization's convention in Chicago: "The biotechnology industry, hurt by the recession, is looking for inspiration from Charles Darwin. Leading executives say unless biotech companies adapt to a less-robust economy and changing industry standards, they won't survive the downturn. Biotech start-ups, seen as the lifeblood of the industry, have been among the worst hit by a decline in venture capital investments."

5 May 2010