Epigenomics
The UK’s Babraham Institute, which conducts biomedical research, has established a ‘high throughput’ epigenomics sequencing facility to improve understanding of healthier ageing.
In vitro tests to detect malaria
Inverness Medical has produced the Clearview Malaria rapid test range for rapid in vitro detection of malarial antigens in whole blood. The test comes in two different formats: Clearview Malaria P.f. is a qualitative test for detecting the most common, virulent and deadly malaria causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum; Clearview Malaria Combo detects and differentiates between the Plasmodium…
Glucose monitoring: from lab to POC?
According to estimates up to 450 million patients will suffer from diabetes in the year 2025 (currently 250 million). In view of this, glucose monitoring is of utmost importance. Scientific studies and practical experiences with glucose monitoring at the point of care (POC) were evaluated recently during a meeting of experts in Vienna.
The increasing importance of clinical lab scientists
Clinical laboratory scientists, the medical technologists of the 21st century, are not only enjoying a rapidly expanding role in clinical work but are also increasingly undertaking non-clinical duties such as consultation, quality assurance, laboratory management, professional advocacy and education.
Polish blood banks counting on Ortho Clinical Diagnostics
The newest laboratory system from Ortho Clinical Diagnostics is a big success: 32 VITROS 3600 immunoassay systems are going to be used in 15 of a total of 21 blood banks in Poland in the future. They will enable roughly 800,000 blood tests to be carried out each year. This next-generation diagnosis platform is based on VITROS technologies, the best in the world, thus meeting the demands of modern…
New Digital Camera for Fluorescence Applications
The detection and documentation of low light fluorescence signals in live cell experiments is a particular challenge for digital cameras. To meet this demand, Leica Microsystems adds the new Leica DFC345 FX to its portfolio of powerful digital cameras. In addition to combining high sensitivity with high resolution, this new camera features a fast image capture rate and a broad dynamic range,…
Mindray expands IVD portfolio with 4 new analyzers
Marking its 10th year of participating in Medica, Mindray Medical International introduced in Europe four new products for its growing portolfio of in vitro diagnostics. Three five-part hematology analyzers were featured front-and-center at the company's stand in Hall 03 covering the range of laboratory needs from the manual BC-5300, to the mid-line automated BC-5380 to the top of the line BC…
As POC testing grows, so do risk of errors, quality
Today testing of patients at the point of care (POC) accounts for 25% of all testing, and these portable assays are increasing their penetration into medical practice at rapid rate of 12% each year. Yet along with the growth comes an increasing risk of errors that adversely affect quality of clinical decision-making and patient safety.
State-of-the-art diagnostic systems
Roche Diagnostics presents nine new products at this year’s Medica. Three of them were the focal point of today’s launch event at which customers and visitors had a chance to find out more about state-of-the-art systems for PCR and high throughput laboratories.
Human papilloma viral infection
A global vaccination programme against human papilloma virus (HPV), to include boys as well as girls, could lead to eradication of the virus and virtual disappearance of cervical cancer, according to Nobel Prize winner, Professor Emeritus Harald zur Hausen (University of California, San Diego) after recently delivering a keynote lecture at the 16th International Meeting of the European Society of…
Influenza
As concern over the potential mutation of the latest form of influenza virus continues to vex governments and their healthcare organisations, WHO 2009 data has shown that acute respiratory infections, influenza and respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) epidemics coincide with epidemics of S. pneumoniae. In fact, half or more of flu-associated mortality in the 1918-1919 Spanish Flu epidemic is…
A Scaffold to regenerate lost bones and tissue
Mother Nature has provided the lizard with a unique ability to regrow body tissue that is damaged or torn - if its tail is pulled off, it grows right back. She has not been quite so generous with human beings. But we might be able to come close, thanks to new research from Tel Aviv University.
New horizons in Nuclear Medicine therapy
Radionuclide therapy has been rapidly developing for the last 20 years, due to the availability of new carrier molecules and radionuclides. For some years the clinical efficacy has been modest with a low percentage of objective responses and no survival benefit because, most often, the patients had large tumor burden.
Mit CISH und Chips den Weichteiltumor exakter identifizieren
Krebs kann sich in jeder Stelle des Körpers bilden. Selbst in Muskeln, Fett- und Nervengewebe können Tumore entstehen. Rund 4.000 Menschen in Deutschland erkranken jährlich an Weichteiltumoren. Damit zählen die sogenannten Sarkome zu den seltenen Krebserkrankungen und werden dadurch oft nur schwer erkannt.
Nobel scientist urges wider vaccination against HPV infection
A global vaccination programme against human papilloma virus (HPV), to include boys as well as girls, could lead to eradication of the virus and virtual disappearance of cervical cancer, predicted Nobel Prize winner, Professor Harald zur Hausen, after delivering the key-note lecture at the 16th International Meeting of the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) in Belgrade, Serbia,…
Threat of communicable diseases to become worse
The threat of communicable diseases will become even worse in the near future. At the European Health Forum Gastein, the European Union's leading health policy congress for experts and decision-makers, experts stressed that there are a number of risk factors which contribute to a growing risk of the spread of communicable diseases into Europe, namely into the European Union.
Bayer Diabets launched DIDGET
Bayer Diabetes Care in the UK and Ireland has launched Didget, the first and only blood glucose meter for diabetic children that connects directly to Nintendo DS and DS Lite gaming systems.
Simpler tests for gastrointestinal cancers
Colorectal cancer occurs in approximately one in every 17 people during their lifetime and is the second leading cause of cancer death in Europe. Two new blood tests could aid in the early identification of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The tests will make GI cancer detection simpler, cost-effective, and more acceptable to patients than current methods, the researchers say.
Personalised cancer care
For many years we have heard about personalised cancer treatments, understood each cancer patient is different and that 'one size fits all' treatments are not appropriate. We have been told that early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment and that no two patients have the same genetic or biological profile.
Microbiology lab automation
Full automation has now become the gold standard for clinical laboratories. Without hospital microbiology labs, which according to the Centres for Disease Control deal with 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths annually in the US alone, the growing threat of community-acquired and nosocomial infections could prove insuperable.
Successful self-monitoring of blood glucose
Common European guidelines for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) designed to improve glucose management in diabetics
The 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association or the Study of Diabetes
Vienna, Austria 30 September - 2 October
Russian endocrinology
The fact that child diabetics (type I) in Russia do not receive necessary and qualitative therapy was again highlighted during the 7th Russian conference 'The priority national project - Health - and the tasks of children's endocrinologists' held in Saint-Petersburg this June.
The St Vincent Declaration: 20 years on And still diabetes increases
Martin Steinberg reports
Europe's diabetes dilemma
The difference in the prevalence of diabetes in European countries is striking. Meike Lerner asked Sir Michael Hirst, Vice President of the International Diabetes Federation, why, for example, Germany has the highest number of diabetics (about 12% of the population) whilst the United Kingdom shows just 4%.
