Article • Laboratories
Emergency POCT
Point-of-care testing can play an influential role in reducing overcrowding in hospital emergency departments.
News • Brain Activity
Sensory Stimuli Control Dopamine in the Brain
Type and intensity of stimuli control the activity of nerve cells that release the neurotransmitter dopamine
News • Antibiotics
Bacterial protein structure could aid development of new antibiotics
Bacterial cells have an added layer of protection, called the cell wall, that animal cells don't. Assembling this tough armor entails multiple steps, some of which are targeted by antibiotics like penicillin and vancomycin.
News • Alzheimer's
Concussion linked to brain changes in people at genetic risk for Alzheimer's
Moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury is a known risk factor for diseases that gradually destroy the brain - such as late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Now, a new study links mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, in people at genetic risk for Alzheimer's to accelerated brain deterioration and mental decline associated with the disease.
News • Wound Management
Using fat to help wounds heal without scars
Doctors have found a way to manipulate wounds to heal as regenerated skin rather than scar tissue. The method involves transforming the most common type of cells found in wounds into fat cells – something that was previously thought to be impossible in humans. Researchers began this work at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, which led to a large-scale, multi-year…
Article • Catheter systems
Ousting out-dated recommendations
Recommendations on the currently valid prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections from the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention at the Robert Koch-Institute (KRINKO) are now 14 years old and therefore out-dated.
Article • Innovation
A swift new lab automation system
‘Every single hour, more than 200,000 people worldwide are being diagnosed or treated with our devices,’ Michael Reitermann, COO of Siemens Healthineers, proudly reports. No reason, however, for Siemens to rest on its laurels. Quite the contrary: the company continues to drive innovation.
Article • Parsimony in genetic data study
Simplifying what is complex
Genetics stepping ahead as Spain-based researchers develop biomedical robots that can help in the study of rare diseases, neurodegenerative disorders and cancer, as well as the creation of orphan drugs.
News • PSP test
Most rapid sepsis point of care diagnostics
Abionic SA announced the receipt of CE Mark (Conformité Européenne) for two novel tests using its easy to use testing platform, abioSCOPE. The CE Mark allows Abionic to commercialize its tests for sepsis risk assessment and management (PSP Test) and iron deficiency throughout the European Union.
Interview • Neurological diseases
No case for a psychiatrist’s couch
Up to ten years ago only a handful of antibodies that could be detected in the blood were known to neurology.
Scientists tissue-engineer part of human stomach
Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center grew functional stomach and intestinal tissues to study diseases and new drugs. They use pluripotent stem cells to generate human stomach tissues in a petri dish that produce acid and digestive enzymes.
News • Oncology
One more piece in the puzzle of liver cancer identified
Researchers at University of Vienna discover unexpected role of signalling protein in hepatocellular carcinoma.
News • Study
Molecular Roots of Alzheimer’s
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have detailed the structure of a molecule that has been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. Knowing the shape of the molecule — and how that shape may be disrupted by certain genetic mutations — can help in understanding how Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases develop and how to prevent and treat them.
News • Neurology
Neural stem cells found in brain of epilepsy patients
Neural stem cells have been found in epileptic brain tissue - outside the regions of the brain where they normally reside. In a group of patients who underwent surgery for epilepsy, over half had stem cells where healthy individuals do not have them, according to a study from Sahlgrenska Academy.
Article • Pathology
Fusing microscopy and mass spectrometry
Pathology does not appear to have much in common with satellites, but the concept that satellites combine spatial resolution and image quality will be the future of disease diagnosis, according to researchers.
Article • Molecular diagnostics
A one-step system for faster turnaround of hospital samples
A new molecular diagnostics system is revolutionising analysis of hospital samples across an area of northern Italy. The Greater Romagna Area Hub Laboratory has recently installed the Beckman Coulter DxN VERIS Molecular Diagnostics System and is already reporting improved workflow and quicker turnaround time for results.
News • Blood poisoning
"Pulling" bacteria out of blood
Magnets instead of antibiotics could provide a possible new treatment method for blood infection. This involves the blood of patients being mixed with magnetic iron particles, which bind the bacteria to them after which they are removed from the blood using magnets. The initial laboratory tests at Empa in St. Gallen have been successful, and seem promising.
News • Microscopy
Intelligent imaging with Olympus’ DP74 camera
Helping to save time and increase comfort at the microscope, Olympus’ new DP74 camera delivers intelligent imaging with a range of innovative features designed to facilitate the workflow and enhance return on investment (ROI).
News • Whole genome sequencing
Genetic testing cannot determine antimicrobial susceptibility
Experts at the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST), who define the optimal drug concentrations to inhibit the growth of pathogens, have found that genetic methods cannot yet be used to test for susceptibility in a number of important bacterial species.
Article • Pathology
Creating a data powerhouse
The ability to digitise results from patient samples has been one of the key enabling technologies that make personalised medicine possible now, says Dr Fiona Carragher, the Deputy Chief Scientific Officer for NHS England.
News • Unsung Heroes
CARES Award helps people living with HIV/AIDS
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences is launching an international HIV/AIDS award at the 2016 conference for the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) being held in Cape Town, South Africa (December 3 to 8).
News • Study
A gene that limits desire to drink alcohol
In the largest study of its kind, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers and colleagues in Europe identified a gene variant that suppresses the desire to drink alcohol.
News • Digital pathology
Visiopharm A/S acquires LRI Imaging AB
Visiopharm A/S announces its acquisition of LRI Imaging AB. With more than 10 years of experience in the field, many successful installations in routine diagnostic pathology labs, LRI Imaging AB is the leading diagnostic digital pathology provider in Sweden.
News • Automation
Faster liquid handling system development for OEM applications
Tecan is making it quicker and easier than ever before for manufacturers to develop instruments for advanced liquid handling applications. The launch of the new Cavro Omni Flex further extends the flexibility and convenience of the company’s popular Cavro Omni Robot by offering more hardware options to complement its precision pipetting, including frames, worktables, power and input/output…
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A high performance semi-automated clinical chemistry analyser
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