Monthly Archives: March 2012

Shine a light on autism in April

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On Monday, April 2, families and friends of people who are impacted by autism will join together in front of Clock Tower Place in Maynard to watch the town clock turn blue to raise awareness of Autism in the community.

Adding itself to the list of international landmarks including the Sydney Opera House, Empire State Building and many more, Clock Towers blue lights will be a symbol that Maynard supports our community members who are impacted by autism, a complex neurobiological disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges.

Light It Up Blue is an international campaign created by the organization Autism Speaks.

Jae Mannion, a student at Fowler School and who has Aspergers Syndome, a type of autism, organized the Maynard event. Jae has made collection tins to raise money to pay for the plastic tube covers for the 48 lights, which light the clock every evening. The cost of the tubing is $284. Kevin Whalen, owner of Stow Ace Hardware, has helped support Jae in his efforts. Kevin and his wife Melissa, have a son, Ty, who has a severe form of autism.

According to the group, Autism Speaks, autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 110 children; one in 70 boys in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown. The mission of Autism Speaks is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. The organization is dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder.

The community is invited to watch the clock turn blue at 7 p.m., Monday April 2 in front of Clock Tower Place. Anyone can Light It Up Blue by purchasing a blue light for their home at Stow Ace Hardware. Maynard and Stow students are encouraged to wear blue to school on April 2.

For more information visit lightitupblue.org or email Danielle Mannion at dmannion@millisps.org.

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Order your Autism Awareness shirts now

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Order your Choose Blue shirts to support World Autism Awareness Month (April). Short-sleeve shirts are only $10 and long-sleeve shirts are $15. Join the Choose Blue campaign and order a blue shirt to wear during the month of April. Payment and order forms are due to Faith, Hope & Charity no later than Thursday, March 8th. The Choose Blue Shirts will be available for pick-up at Faith, Hope & Charity on Friday, March 30th.

“Choose Blue: For Autism Awareness and Advocacy” during World Autism Awareness Month in April. Storm Lake is Choosing Blue as part of Autism Speaks’ Light It Up Blue campaign to educate people on the disorder. Autism Speaks is an organization whose mission is to change the future for all who struggle with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

For the second year, Faith, Hope & Charity has teamed up with the Riesenberg family, and Storm Lake Radio to promote for Autism Awareness in the community. Knowing how hard it is for an outsider to relate to Autism, as well the pain-staking process of finding information and treatment options, these groups want to make a difference in the community.

With the Autism rates on the rise (Autism affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys, autismspeaks.org), more parents than ever will receive the news, “Your child has Autism.” Through projects like Choose Blue, Light It Up Blue and the Iowa Walk Now for Autism Speaks, parents will have a support system and be able to easily identify the information and tools to raise a child with Autism.

By increasing awareness and highlighting resources provided within the community as well as by Autism Speaks, children affected by Autism (and their families) can receive the help they need sooner. With the support of the community and families, we can change the future … Autism does not have to be a silent disease. Please join Faith, Hope & Charity, the Riesenberg family, and Storm Lake Radio as they Choose Blue: For Autism Awareness and Advocacy during the month of April.

On April 20th, FHC will host an Autism Awareness Walk with a blue balloon release to kick it off at 5:15 p.m. Families, friends and other supporters are invited to come to Faith, Hope & Charity to walk around our campus to promote Autism Awareness. Following the conclusion of the walk (6 p.m.), participants are encouraged to head to Lake Avenue Lounge (downtown Storm Lake) for a fundraising meal (starting at 6 p.m.) — complete with live entertainment.

For more resources please visit faithhopeandcharity.org, autismspeaks.org, or lightitupblue.org. And, for more information on Choose Blue: For Autism Awareness and Advocacy plans contact Stephanie Beck at Faith, Hope & Charity at 712-732-5127, ext. 102 or stephanie@faithhopeandcharity.org.

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Toys"R"Us®, Canada helps "Shine A Light For Autism" during third annual fundraising campaign to benefit Autism Speaks …

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Campaign Focuses On How Families Can “Light It Up Blue” To Raise Autism Awareness Across Canada

TORONTO, March 1, 2012 /CNW/ – Toys”R”Us, Canada today announced the launch of its in-store and online fundraising campaign to benefit Autism Speaks, North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization. Now through Monday, April 30, Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us stores will offer customers an Autism Speaks puzzle piece in exchange for a $1 donation. Monetary donations will be collected at all 73 stores (including Express locations) across the country and online at Toysrus.ca. The company is heightening its focus on autism awareness, unveiling a new theme for the 2012 campaign, “Shine A Light For Autism.”

“With so many children affected by autism and not enough known about causes or cures, we hope that our fundraising and awareness campaigns can contribute to solving the autism puzzle,” said Kevin Macnab, President, Toys”R”Us Canada. “Through our ongoing partnership, the “R”Us family remains committed to helping Autism Speaks and the critical work they do in supporting families affected by autism spectrum disorders.”

Shining A Light For Autism In-store and online

During the campaign, customers can contribute a cash donation at all Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us locations, including Express locations, and online at Toysrus.ca.

In-store signage displayed in Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us stores across the country feature children with autism dressed as super-heroes, with the Autism Speaks puzzle piece logo as their powerful emblem. The puzzle pieces are bursting with light, while inspiring everyone to donate to the cause by looking to the hero within.

“Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us stores across Canada are in a unique position to reach numerous parents daily, providing important awareness information about autism in their stores, as well as online,” said Suzanne Lanthier, Executive Director of Autism Speaks Canada. “We are thrilled to bring hope to families who live with the realities of autism every day, through ongoing support in our research and advocacy efforts.”

Toysrus.ca also serves as a resource for parents, caregivers, families and friends of children with autism. Visitors can find a list of “Ten Toys That Speak To Autism,” which provides toy suggestions to help guide anyone purchasing toys for a child with autism.

Walking To Benefit Autism Speaks

In conjunction with the campaign, the company is also kicking off its national sponsorship of Walk Now for Autism Speaks, a year-long series of more than 85 walk events taking place throughout North America. Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us employees will walk alongside the company’s iconic mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe, as well as individuals with autism, their families and friends to raise money and awareness for the cause. All funds raised through the Walk Now for Autism Speaks events will go directly to Autism Speaks to support research awareness and family services programs in Canada.

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Autism Is Jim Calhoun’s Biggest Opponent

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Jim Calhoun, like many coaches, is superstitious. He might have a lucky tie or piece of jewelry he must wear to end a losing streak, or keep a winning streak going.

But one item that remains in good times and bad is the blue puzzle piece he wears on the lapel of his suit jacket. The symbol for Autism Speaks, like the cause itself, remains close to his heart at all times.

“He has never taken it off,” Jeff Calhoun said. “I can’t tell you how many people who have mentioned it to me parents, families touched by autism, who tell me how much it means to them. He is very passionate about it. Just by lending his name and reaching out to people, he has done more than we could ever ask.”

Said Amy Calhoun: “When I see that blue pin on his lapel, it sometimes brings tears to my eyes. He is taking this on for Reese.”

The cause is a personal one for the Calhoun family. Jeff and Amy’s daughter, Reese, now 8, was diagnosed at 2, and her grandfather’s involvement with the advocacy group Autism Speaks is very deep.

But because he is scheduled to undergo back surgery on Monday in New York, Calhoun will not be able to participate in an event he has helped launch “CardioRaiser: Workout for Autism Speaks” at Cardio Express in Manchester and Southington from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Farmington Bank is the presenting sponsor.

“It’s just so important to raise awareness,” Jeff Calhoun said, “because autism, anything that involves the brain, is something we don’t talk about much as a society. We want to share our story, and hope it lets people know they are not alone.”

Hundreds are expected to participate, and the event is expected to raise at least $100,000 for the Connecticut chapter of Autism Speaks. Participants may choose from a variety of exercise activities to help in the cause. Although Jim Calhoun cannot be there, some of his assistants are expected to stop by the morning after UConn plays Syracuse (Saturday night at 9 p.m.). Panera Bread will provide breakfast for participants.

The event will become an annual one, Jeff Calhoun said.

“I am deeply committed to the cause of helping families confronting the many challenges of autism,” Jim Calhoun said in January, when the event was scheduled. “It is my hope that this event will bring Connecticut families together to raise dollars so important to all those facing this complex neurobiological disorder.”

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Redefining Autism: Proposal Worries Many Parents

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When Caleb Geary was diagnosed with autism at age 3, he had never spoken or eaten solid food.

Now 6, the boy speaks and tests at his first-grade level progress that his parents attribute to insurance-based services at home and intensive behavioral intervention at the boy’s school in Hamden.

But they worry what will happen to Caleb’s diagnosis and the services that have come with it if the American Psychiatry Association’s proposal to change the definition of autism is adopted.

Lori Geary said she has already fought to get her son the help he needs. Tom Zwicker, Caleb’s father and the director of an autism center for the Easter Seals of Coastal Fairfield County, said he believes insurance companies will start requesting annual diagnostic evaluations if the definition is revised. As a result, his son and many other children will lose out on services to treat their conditions.

“You have an entire group receiving services that would be left out in the cold,” said Zwicker, who lives in Branford. “We’re going to lose a whole generation of children.”

The autism community has been embroiled in a heated debate for the past few weeks over the proposal to dramatically change the criteria for autism diagnosis in the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The DSM-5, scheduled to be published in 2013, is the first revision since 1994.

The revision would create an umbrella category known as “autism spectrum disorder” that would include traditional autism, as well as Asperger’s Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) which currently are considered separate disorders. A new category, social communication disorder, would also be created.

“What became very apparent is that there aren’t clear boundaries, and that they really are all on a spectrum,” said Darrell Regier, director of research for the APA. The current criteria, he said, is “fuzzy” and as a result some people have been mislabeled as autistic, while others who need treatment can’t get it because their symptoms don’t match the current criteria.

“The thing that we tried to do is be a little more clear about the different deficits that these people have,” Regier said.

But some experts worry that the revision’s main effect will be to drastically reduce the number of people who are diagnosed with autism and who now qualify for services to treat it.

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Autism groups to merge

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The local nonprofit groups Life Skills for adults with developmental disabilities and TouchPoint Autism Services will merge their organizations as of July 1 to support a growing number of adults with autism.

The new organization will be known as Life Skills, and TouchPoint (formerly the Judevine Center for Autism) will still be used to refer to autism services.

“As these children who are diagnosed with autism are aging, we really wanted to be prepared to meet that need,” said Wendy Sullivan, CEO of the new organization.

Parents can be “confident you can stay with this organization through the child’s lifetime,” Sullivan said.

Life Skills provides 24-hour assistance including in-home care, job training and placement to teenagers and adults with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other developmental disabilities. TouchPoint Autism Services offers early intervention services, behavior therapy, parent training and employment services through seven offices in Missouri. Both groups, which have offices in west St. Louis County, are United Way member agencies.

The organization will have a combined 1,200 employees. There are no immediate plans for layoffs or eliminating positions, Sullivan said.

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Heart-Pacing Devices Hold Promise for Heart Failure

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(HealthDay News) -- New research provides more evidence that a new type of pacemaker/defibrillator technology may be a good option for patients with mild forms of heart failure.

An international team of researchers reports that the kind of heart "pacing" provided by new defibrillators and pacemakers can help these patients. But the research still needs to be confirmed before doctors begin embracing its findings, said a cardiologist familiar with the research.

The technology in question "is expensive, resource-intensive, and associated with increased risk of complications compared with less complex devices," explained Dr. Jeptha Curtis, an assistant professor of medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine.

Heart failure occurs when the heart fails to pump blood properly, often as a result of heart attacks, and affects an estimated 5.7 million Americans. "Patients often feel fatigue, as well as shortness of breath from fluid building up in the lungs and swelling of the legs from fluid building up there as well," said Dr. Kevin Heist, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Read more...

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Heart-Pacing Devices Hold Promise for Heart Failure

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(HealthDay News) -- New research provides more evidence that a new type of pacemaker/defibrillator technology may be a good option for patients with mild forms of heart failure.

An international team of researchers reports that the kind of heart "pacing" provided by new defibrillators and pacemakers can help these patients. But the research still needs to be confirmed before doctors begin embracing its findings, said a cardiologist familiar with the research.

The technology in question "is expensive, resource-intensive, and associated with increased risk of complications compared with less complex devices," explained Dr. Jeptha Curtis, an assistant professor of medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine.

Heart failure occurs when the heart fails to pump blood properly, often as a result of heart attacks, and affects an estimated 5.7 million Americans. "Patients often feel fatigue, as well as shortness of breath from fluid building up in the lungs and swelling of the legs from fluid building up there as well," said Dr. Kevin Heist, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Read more...

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Closing The Medical Data Gap: Using IT To Close The Gap Between Health Information Systems And External Documents

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Closing The Medical Data Gap: Using IT To Close The Gap Between Health Information Systems And External Documents

Healthcare creates a wealth of data. Every patient encounter, even a routine checkup, generates a significant volume of information ranging from personal identification data such as Social Security number, age, and address, to clinician notes and impressions, patient data like blood pressure, temperature, pulse, as well as complexlaboratory information.

The trend is toward digital medical information, automated data entry, and the use of Electronic Health Records (EHR), Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) and Health Information Exchanges (HIE), among many other health IT tools. Healthcare reform and various government-led stimulus packages have further pushed the digital revolution onto healthcare. Nonetheless, there is a significant gap between reality and full adoption of digital medical information. A great deal of information is still produced on paper. Integrating it into an EHR for digital archiving, search, retrieval and analysis is a difficult, expensive and time-consuming task.

The Dark Report is happy to offer our readers a chance to download our recently published FREE White Paper “Closing The Medical Data Gap: Using IT To Close The Gap Between Health Information Systems And External Documents” at absolutely no charge. This free download will provide readers with a detailed explanation of how to improve Health Information Systems and IT in the laboratory environment.

 

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Among other topics, this FREE White Paper specifically addresses:

  1. Structured Data Versus Unstructured Data
  2. Different Data Approaches
  3. Specific Data Gap Solutions in Detail…and More

For more about closing the medical data gap in your lab, please CLICK HERE.

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Table of Contents

Introduction — Page 3

Chapter 1. Structured Data Versus Unstructured Data — Page 5

Chapter 2. The Push For Digital Medical Data — Page 7

Chapter 3. The Laboratory Environment — Page 8

Chapter 4. Data Approaches — Page 10

Chapter 5. Data Gap Solutions – Extract Systems — Page 14

 Chapter 6. Data Gap Filled — Page 16

 References — Page 18

Appendices

A-1 About Mark Terry — Page 20

A-2 About Extract Systems — Page 21

A-3 About DARK Daily — Page 22

A-4 About The Dark Intelligence Group, Inc., and THE DARK REPORT — Page 23

A-5 About the Executive War College on Laboratory and Pathology Management — Page 24

A-6 About David Rasmussen — Page 26

 Terms of Use — Page 28


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HistoRx achieves dominant IP position with digital pathology instrumentation

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BRANFORD, Conn., Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — HistoRx, the leader in quantitative immunohistochemistry, has earned two additional patents covering AQUA technology and critical elements of digital microscopy standardization. Combined with patents earned previously, these issuances by the US Patent & Trademark Office advance the Company’s proprietary position in standardization of quantitative digital pathology to a dominant role in the industry.

Challenges associated with the generation of reproducible digital microscopy images and image data at the appropriate stringency for quantitative analysis are addressed by these newly issued patents. Digital pathology initially evolved to capture images of clinical samples interrogated through the microscope for telepathology, archival and research use. Today, however, in the research and clinical settings, digital microscopy images support image analysis as well. The image is the primary source of data used for the assessment of a variety of features of the clinical sample, from morphological characteristics to measurement of biomarker expression. Robust quantitative data can only be achieved from analysis of reproducible images, generated from standardized digital microscopy instruments. Digital pathology companies interested in making the leap from merely qualitative to truly quantitative analysis can ensure an effective transition to clinic-ready results through collaboration with HistoRx.

US Patent 8,121,794 “Systems and methods for automated analysis of cells and tissues,” issued February 21, 2012, and is the third US patent protecting methods and now, microscopy systems, that localize and quantitate a biomarker in subcellular compartments in a tissue sample, the hallmark of AQUA technology.
US Patent 8,120,768, “Method and system for standardizing microscope instruments,” also issued February 21, 2012, and is the third US patent protecting methods, software, and standardized microscopy systems that provide for the generation of reproducible digital microscopy images and image data at the appropriate stringency for quantitative analysis.

“Our patent position has evolved beyond AQUA technology to methods necessary for advancing digital microscopy images from images that are visually appealing to images that are suitable for quantitative analysis with the accuracy required for clinical results,” commented Wendy Davis, VP of Intellectual Property and Portfolio Management at HistoRx. “What can be measured can be managed. It was through the use of AQUA technology that the need to standardize microscopy systems and the images they generate was revealed. Therefore the 8,120,768 patent is broadly applicable to digital microscopy bringing its utility from generating images to generating quantitative clinical diagnostic results.”

AQUA technology is an automated, quantitative IHC testing method that enables measurement of protein biomarkers in tissue as an aid to a pathologist’s diagnosis. Such precise determination of first, the location within the tumor cell and second, the amount in each location is not possible with conventional testing methods, such as standard immunohistochemistry (IHC). AQUA analysis is used in cancer research by more than twenty leading academic centers worldwide, is part of the clinical development plans for more than ten drug candidates from major pharma companies, and has been cited in more than 120 peer-reviewed publications. AQUA technology is currently available on the ScanScope FL™ from Aperio and the Vectra™ 2 system from Caliper Life Sciences, a PerkinElmer company.

About HistoRx, Inc.

HistoRx, Inc. is the leader in quantitative immunohistochemistry and a leading developer of tissue-based diagnostic solutions to advance individualized patient care. The company’s products and services are based on proprietary analysis of tissue biomarkers using AQUA technology. HistoRx is commercializing a pipeline of proprietary diagnostic products targeting improved treatment decision-making and patient outcomes in cancer care. For more information, please visit http://www.historx.com.

SOURCE HistoRx, Inc.

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Halfpenny Technologies Secures $2.25 Million in Capital Investment

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 Funding Will Support Halfpenny's Continued Accelerated Growth as It Expands Its Lab and EHR Integration Offering for Hospitals, Labs, Physicians, Payors, HIEs, and Regional Extension Centers

BLUE BELL, Pa., Feb 22, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Halfpenny Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of clinical data integration solutions specializing in laboratory, pathology and physician electronic health record (EHR) system interoperability, today announced that it has secured $2.25 million in venture capital funding co-led by Connecticut-based Vital Financial and Philadelphia-based Emerald Stage2 Ventures. Prior investors including Pennsylvania-based Osage Venture Partners, New York-based Milestone Venture Partners, and LORE Associates, a Philadelphia-based angel, also participated in the round.

"We are very pleased to have the backing of investors who share our vision of delivering innovative clinical data integration solutions to hospitals, laboratories, and payors," said Tim Kowalski, CEO of Halfpenny Technologies. "This round of financing positions the company to provide its Lab Hub platform to a broader range of clients."

The Lab Hub platform enables computerized order entry (CPOE) and results reporting interfaces between hospitals, laboratories and physician EHR systems. It also fulfills downstream requirements for viewing normalized, LOINC-mapped (Logical Observation Identifiers, Names and Codes) data for chronic disease management and other population health management goals.

For the past twelve years, Halfpenny's healthcare connectivity and integration solutions have been connecting physician EHR systems with hospitals and laboratories. In just the past two years, the company has connected EHR systems in over 1,500 practices to hospitals and labs. Halfpenny has successfully worked with EHR systems from more than 160 different vendors, enabling computerized physician order entry (CPOE) and structured laboratory results reporting. Additionally, the Company's solutions satisfy the HEDIS clinical data reporting requirements for health plans. Halfpenny's products and services are helping physicians and hospitals meet the laboratory related provisions of the HITECH Act's meaningful use criteria for CPOE, results reporting and quality reporting.

Halfpenny also offers a Web-based portal that enables physicians to order laboratory procedures and review results through a standard Web browser. The company's mobile results reporting solution is enabling hospitals and labs to provide physicians with critical value alerts and results reporting on mobile platforms including the Apple iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry.

"Halfpenny's proven cloud-based technology platform, deep domain knowledge, and real-world value proposition position the company for success in meeting the needs of the evolving healthcare market," said Craig Asher, partner at Vital Financial.

"We are excited to partner with Halfpenny as it extends its reach in the evolving healthcare market. Halfpenny's capability to facilitate information sharing among disparate clinical systems will improve efficiency, enhance care delivery and reduce healthcare costs," added Saul Richter, managing partner at Emerald Stage2.

About Halfpenny Technologies, Inc.

Halfpenny Technologies is a leading provider of healthcare connectivity and integration solutions for Health Information Exchange. The Company utilizes its depth of knowledge and real world clinical experience to meet the increasing demand for connectivity to physician electronic health record (EHR) systems. Through its proprietary Integration Technology Framework(TM) (ITF-Hub), Halfpenny Technologies delivers clinical data integration and connectivity solutions that enable hospitals and laboratories to receive, process and respond to physician-initiated requests for ancillary services. Halfpenny's targeted solutions cover the full spectrum of health information exchange to provide reliable, secure and efficient exchange of clinical information while also facilitating the flow of patient, financial and administrative data between physician practices, laboratories, hospitals and health plans. The Company has established a national reputation for delivering innovative integration and connectivity technology solutions for its clients. For more information, please visit http://www.halfpenny.com.

About Vital Fin

Vital Financial is an active early-stage venture investor in business-to-business SaaS software and in medical diagnostics and device companies throughout North America. We highly enjoy building long-term relationships with dynamic management teams. We aim to support the management teams with our operational and financial experience. For more information, please visit http://www.vitalfin.com.

About Emerald Stage 2 Ventures

Emerald Stage2 is a Philadelphia-based venture fund that invests in small financing rounds of early stage information technology companies that utilize emerging technologies to create compelling business opportunities. The Fund invests across the information technology spectrum but has a special focus on the healthcare information technology arena. The Fund's other verticals of interest include pharmaceutical information technology, financial services information technology and outsourced business services. For more information, please visit http://www.s2vc.com

About Osage Venture Partners

Osage Venture Partners, located near Philadelphia, PA, is a leading provider of venture capital to early stage technology and healthcare IT companies in the Mid-Atlantic region. Additional information is available at http://www.osagepartners.com

About Milestone Venture Partners

Milestone Venture Partners, located in New York City, is an early-stage venture capital fund with $70 million under management. Milestone invests in early stage, capital-efficient Digital Health and information services businesses. For more information about Milestone, visit http://www.milestonevp.com

SOURCE: Halfpenny Technologies, Inc.

 

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Teleradiology Solutions Celebrates its 10th Anniversary

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Headquartered in Bangalore, Teleradiology Solutions (http://www.telradsol.com/) provides quality diagnosis to the world and much more.

Bangalore, India (PRWEB) February 24, 2012

Teleradiology Solutions, the #1 national teleradiology company in the United States, is happy to be celebrating the tenth anniversary of providing Teleradiology services to hospitals around the world. In a decade when a number of teleradiology vendors got sold or closed down, it is a matter of pride for TRS to still be standing and growing. It's special birthday gift was being awarded the title of "Best in KLAS" for Teleradiology Services in the USA 2011, by KLAS, a Utah-based research firm that specialises in monitoring healthcare vendors.

The company (http://www.telradsol.com) which started in a home office with 2 employees now has become a global group with radiologists based in Israel, USA, Europe and India. It covers over 150 hospitals in 20 countries globally. It recently started covering hospitals in Africa in Tanzania, Nigeria and Djibouti.

In 2005, the TRS became the first healthcare organisation outside Singapore to be accredited by the Ministry of Health of Singapore. In the same year it became one among the first teleradiology companies to be accredited by The Joint Commission, a U.S.-based organisation that accredits healthcare facilities. The Bangalore based company is growing and was showcased to US President Barack Obama during his visit to India in November 2010 as an example of innovation in action.

TRS not only provides teleradiology but is also involved in several other activities from training radiologists (http://www.radguru.net), to enabling teleradiology by other Radiologists/doctors by developing and marketing RadSpa, a new generation teleradiology workflow (http://teleradtech.com/), to helping poor patients in Asia get access to high quality diagnostics (http://www.teleradfoundation.org). The multispeciality clinic set up by it-RxDx (http://www.rxdx.in) uses Cisco's HealthPresence and provides telemedicine to poor patients living in villages in Raichur, located in North Karnataka in India. TRS has also become the managed service provider for Cisco's telemedicine in India in 2012.

Teleradiology Solutions is a company with a difference. It has evolved from being a pure nighthawk US teleradiology group to being at the forefront of several innovative technology and healthcare initiatives. For the coming decade, TRS aims at adhering to its new title -"Best in Klas" , innovating continuously, reaching needy patients around the world and widening its scope globally to include all facets of technology and health - teleradiology, telecardiology, tele-medical e-teaching, telemedicine and more.

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Virtual Microscopy – Real Regulations

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Nice read by Dr. Stacey Mills over at Pathology Network (Pn Blog). A recognized expert in surgical pathology and director of such at the University of Virginia, he writes, "It seems somewhat surprising, at least to me, that a technique based on standard light microscopy, with microscopes being essentially unregulated, Class I devices, should be given the "highest risk" class III rating." Vendors will have to speak to this at upcoming USCAP meeting.  I hope the word "surprise" is not in their vocabulary given statements made on this topic back at the FDA panel meeting in 2009 and inviting the FDA back to Pathology Visions for guidance on the subject.

The lead article in the January 2012 issue of CAP Today addresses the pending FDA regulation of whole slide imagers (WSI's). The FDA has concluded dthat these devices are "Class III" medical devices, and as such are subject to considerable federal regulation (compared to Class I and II devices).  Depending on your perspective, this is either a good thing for patient safety or the death knell for rapid development, certification and deployment of these devices in the United States, with many companies looking elsewhere for testing and validation).
 
By way of quick review, Class I devices are lowest risk and require no pre-market notification.  Your light microscope is, believe it or not, classified as a Class I device.  Class II devices are considered "moderate risk" and are usually based on modifications of prior approved devices or techniques.  Class III devices are considered "highest risk" and such devices require premarket FDA approval, quality controls, etc. Automated cytology screeners, for example, are Class III devices. The FDA has said that WSI's belong in this category as well.
 
It seems somewhat surprising, at least to me, that a technique based on standard light microscopy, with microscopes being essentially unregulated, Class I devices, should be given the "highest risk" Class III rating.  Although the rationale for that decision may be difficult to fathom, it has, in fact, been made and is highly unlikely to be reversed.
The fact that the FDA has even been reviewing WSI's and has decided to regulate them as "highest risk" Class III devices, may come as a surprise to most end-user pathologists since the topic of regulation is understandably not a major one at trade shows where vendors try to sell these devices.  It certainly isn't a topic the vendors themselves are likely to bring up, at least until now.
 
Although the FDA has been less than specific in discussing their thinking, they have indicated that they have concerns about image quality when compared to standard light microscopy, and the effect of navigating on a computer screen v. moving a slide on a microscope.  It is even unclear whether WSI's might be approved for a certain TYPE of specimen or group of diagnoses and not for other types or groups.  Might it be approved for small core biopsies and not for big tissue blocks?  Might it not be approved for hematologic malignancies, where the diagnosis often requires viewing large areas at relatively high magnification, something that is more difficult with a WSI?  At this point, no one knows.  Clinical trials comparing the accuracy of WSI's v. traditional microscopy will be difficult to construct and time consuming to perform, but will likely provide the data to answer these questions.
 
Given the FDA's pace of action in regard to other issues, it's now expected that it may take up to five years for the first devices to be approved in the United States, with Aperio likely to be among the first.  Some companies will most likely concentrate their efforts in Europe where the approval process (and subsequent sales) are likely to be much more rapid.
 
There are many unanswered questions at this early juncture, but it does seem clear that buying and using a WSI for clinical (not research) diagnosis would not be a prudent move at this point in time.  If you are currently using a WSI for primary clinical diagnosis, you had better have "state of the art" (whatever that is!) validation policies in effect, and even then your CLIA or CAP inspection is likely to be problematic.   Even when these instruments gain approval, their use for diagnosis at a distance will fall under the highly diverse state laws regarding telemedicine.  A topic I covered in one of my early blogs, "Down the Telepathology Rabbit Hole."

Published: 2/27/2012

Read more…

 

 

Mills

Stacey E. Mills, MD, a graduate of University of Virginia (UVA) and the UVA Medical Center, has authored nearly 230 articles, 20+ books, atlases and monographs—including the renowned Sternberg's Diagnostic Surgical Pathology. He has been a practicing Professor and Staff Pathologist at UVA for 30+ years and is Director of Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology. His clinical specialty is general surgical pathology with emphasis on neoplasms and neoplasm-like lesions. Dr. Mills is also Editor-in-Chief of The American Journal of Surgical Pathology.

 

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Ventana Obtains FDA Clearance for Ki-67 Image Analysis

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TUCSON, Ariz., Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (Ventana), a member of the Roche Group, received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the VENTANA Companion Algorithm Ki-67 (30-9) image analysis application used with the VENTANA iScan Coreo Au scanner running VIRTUOSO software. Ventana is currently the only company offering an FDA cleared Ki-67 image analysis algorithm for determining Ki-67 expression levels in breast cancer patients.

The Ki-67 protein is known to be an excellent marker for cellular proliferation. The Ki-67 (30-9) application may assist pathologists in achieving objective and consistent Ki-67 interpretation and can provide quantitative results for images with hundreds or thousands of cells.

When the VENTANA Ki-67 (30-9) algorithm is used with the VENTANA CONFIRM anti-Ki-67 (30-9) Rabbit Monoclonal Primary antibody, it may be used as an aid in the assessment of Ki-67 status in breast cancer patients but is not the sole basis for treatment. The 510(k) clearance covers all components of the VENTANA workflow solution used together including the company's BenchMark slide stainer, Ki-67 (30-9) clone, detection systems, slide scanner and image management software.

"Ventana is the only company to offer a 510(k) cleared Ki-67 image analysis solution to pathologists today," said Dr. Steve Burnell, Vice President, Ventana Digital Pathology and Workflow. "This most recent addition to our digital pathology portfolio demonstrates our continued commitment to our customers by providing them with the most advanced clinical pathology workflow solutions available to support the highest standards of patient care."

Ventana also received FDA clearance for the digital read application that allows the pathologist to interpret Ki-67 (30-9) stained slides as images on a computer monitor with the VENTANA iScan Coreo Au scanner and Virtuoso software.

About Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. ("VMSI") (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), a member of the Roche Group, innovates and manufactures instruments and reagents that automate tissue processing and slide staining for cancer diagnostics. VENTANA solutions are used in clinical histology and drug development research laboratories worldwide. The company's intuitive, integrated staining, workflow management platforms, and digital pathology solutions optimize laboratory efficiencies to reduce errors, support diagnosis and inform treatment decisions for anatomic pathology professionals. Together with Roche, VMSI is driving personalized healthcare through accelerated drug discovery and the development of "companion diagnostics" to identify the patients most likely to respond favorably to specific therapies. Visit http://www.ventana.com to learn more.

SOURCE Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.

 

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Web applications and cloud hosting bring new affordable options to Digital Pathology

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Web applications and cloud hosting bring new affordable options to Digital Pathology

Tissue Imaging is ready to go digital. In the last decade technology advances in hardware, computing, networking as well as declining storage prices have made storing and handling Whole Slide Images technically viable. The advantages of digital imaging are apparent and market size for pathology is significant, so a flock of companies from pioneers like Aperio and BioImagene, to established players like Leica, Zeiss, Olympus, Phillips and GE got busy working on innovative digital solutions for pathologists.

Today they have solutions that work well, but with the technical problem solved, the economic problem remains for typical pathology lab.  The Digital Pathology package usually includes a slide scanner, an image server and  software for handling and viewing digital slides, and will cost upwards of $150K for a typical installation. This price tag may be attainable for a large hospital chain with capital budgets and IT staff, but 80% of US pathology labs are small business employing staff of 10 people or less.  They are service providers that charge “by the drink” and have no capital budgets or IT support.  They cannot justify large IT investments or technical support staff.

For those who spent their careers in IT, this looks all too familiar: remember those old enterprise IT systems? If you wanted to have company email, share calendar and access your files remotely on the same server, you would have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on servers, software and IT support.  That is until cloud and web applications came along.  Now any small business can get big business IT for affordable monthly rate as long as it is connected to the internet, and every large tech company from Cisco to Microsoft is working hard to package their technology offerings for small businesses.

Serving the small business market economically is the inevitable next step and a challenge for Digital Pathology vendors. Number of industry innovators like Mikroscan, DigiPath, Objective Imaging, ViewsIQ and others are pushing technology envelope trying to bring the cost of equipment within the affordability range for a typical lab. They manage to bring hardware price under $30K. Yet, there is another challenge to overcome: small businesses have “0-0-0” expectation from technology. That means zero installation effort, zero learning curve and zero support. They need technology that “just works” and expect vendors to deliver it. The logical solution: cloud hosting and web applications. If done right, cloud software and web applications can bring the same benefits to pathology labs as they did to other businesses in other areas.

Image_gallery

Houston-based software company, Smart Imaging Technologies aspires to bring cloud computing and web applications for whole slide imaging to Digital Pathology with software called Simagis Live. The company experience offers insights for those who are considering whole slide imaging in the cloud:

Upload. Once you move imaging server from the local network, uploading digital slides becomes a critical issue.  Traditional remote upload methods like FTP or WebDav do not work well for large image files; they drop data packets and take forever to complete the job. Smart Imaging had to develop special Turbo Upload Utility that can take Whole Slide Image or folder with image tiles and move it to remote server at blazing speed of 1.5 GB/ minute on high-speed internet connection, all with just 3 mouse clicks, right from the web browser. 

Access and Sharing. Small businesses do not conform to unified corporate IT policies. They use variety of computers, operating systems and browsers. So, the web image browser should “just work” across all computers, operating systems and browsers too, period. And don’t forget tablets! “Just works” means nothing to download, install or update before you can view digital slide online, be it on Windows, Mac, iPad, or Android tablet. Sharing and collaboration process in general should be both easy and secure. Users can invite collaborators and share digital slides in a few clicks, but also they should be able to separate shared and private images and revoke access at any time.

Integration. This issue is absolutely critical to success. In order to meet “0-0-0” expectation, the software should work seamlessly with the imaging hardware, making connections and handling images behind the scenes.  Simagis Live software, for example, includes nifty integration feature called “MicroPlug”.  It adds additional menu option “Save and Share” to imaging device software. When user clicks it, the digital slide is saved to disk and uploaded to user workspace on cloud server at the same time, automatically behind the scenes. The Company does not mind if an imaging device manufacturer puts custom branding on top of the software, in fact it encourages OEM and custom branding solutions as they deliver the most cohesive experience to the end user.  

Business Model and Pricing. Software technology vendors have to structure their offeringsso that they are paid the same way that their clients are paid and make money when their clients make money. They have to give customers no-obligation trials and free-tier service to try the new technology. Cloud software and web applications can provide that flexibility. In the case of Simagis Live, anybody can sign up for free service and get 2GB of space on public application server. If they like the experience, they can get additional space, rent private cloud server or install software on-site.  Clients can pay for only what they, by month or by image, with no upfront capital investments, long-term commitments, installation or IT costs.

In the coming years tissue imaging will follow the path of other imaging modalities like X-ray, CT and MRI and turn digital.  Web applications hold a lot of promise for Digital Pathology and Tissue Diagnostics.  Cloud software can make digital solutions affordable and universally accessible and we should see a lot of interesting developments in this area in the near future. 

 ROI

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Webinar: PathXL Tutor – Build a Microscopy Course

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Pathxl logo
PathXLTM Tutor: Digital Pathology Software for Education and Training

7th March 2012, 4.15pmGMT / 11.15amEST / 8.15amPST / 5.15pmCET

PathXLTM Tutor allows users to create and manage digital slides and other content, publish online, share and view from anywhere in the world. 

Customers include The London Deanery, The Pathological Society of Great Britain & Ireland, University of Giessen, Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Queen's University Belfast.

Webinar image

Guest Speaker

Dr Stephen McCullough, Queen's University Belfast 


Why Attend

Learn how you can build online teaching modules for large groups of students and trainees, incorporating virtual slides, X-ray images, gross images and other multimedia. Test students and trainees using PathXL Online Test. 

No Digital Scanner? No problem! We have virtual slide catalogues covering a wide range of human and animal pathology, histology and cytology. The digital slides can be pre-loaded to your account. This means you can immediately start to build modules and use the pre-loaded slides as cases.

Click here to register

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Digital Health NOW Spotlight Report: The Evolving Field of Digital Pathology

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Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Digital Health NOW Spotlight Report: The Evolving Field of Digital Pathology" report to their offering.

"Digital pathology is a disruptive technology; however, the consensus is that digital pathology is clearly our future. This iteration of Branham's Digital Health NOW Spotlight report takes a look at the emerging Digital Pathology market segment in health care. The report provides an overview and a general understanding of Digital Pathology rather than a detailed discussion of underlying technologies and vendors.

Digital pathology is rapidly gaining momentum as a proven and essential technology that is helping to reduce laboratory expenses, improve operational efficiency, enhance productivity and improve treatment decisions and patient care. It is used worldwide in drug development, reference lab, hospital, and academic medical centre settings. Applications include education, research, image analysis, archival and retrieval, LIS/LIMS integration, secondary consultations and virtual slide sharing. However, widespread adoption of digital pathology has been hindered not only by cost and technical factors but also largely by the mind set of technophobic pathologists.

Key Topics Covered:

What is Digital Pathology?

  • Steps in Digital Pathology
  • Scanning
  • Quantitative Analysis and Computer-Assisted Image Data Mining
  • Pathology Image Management and Storage

Benefits of Digital Pathology

  • Dramatic Reduction in Misdiagnosis
  • Remote Diagnosis and Support
  • Educational Benefits

Market Trends

  • Evolving Market
  • Validation is Still Incomplete
  • Archival and Retrieval Systems
  • Regulatory Challenges
  • Sluggish Growth
  • Lack of Standards
  • Telepathology
  • Vendor Landscape

Final Thoughts

For more information visit: 

 http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/548166/digital_health_now

 

 

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Observatory's Anthropomorphic Taxidermy Class with Sue Jeiven in the International News!

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The one-day workshop, which teaches students how to stuff dead mice and pose them up as if they were humans, is becoming a popular pastime in New York.

White-haired mice styled in tutus and polka dot hair bows; their spindly paws strumming miniature guitars - even reading the New York Times - were photographed in Ms Jeiven's class

An educator and tattoo artist, [Sue Jeiven] begins the four-hour lesson handing out the lifeless little creatures, having sucked out their blood with a syringe beforehand. A statement on the class website warns only feeder mice are used for the arts and crafts session.

But strange or morbid as it might seem to some, anthropomorphic taxidermy – the practice of mounting and displaying taxidermied animals as if they were humans or engaged in human activities – has a long and storied history, beginning with the most privileged classes.

It was a popular art form during the Victorian and Edwardian eras; the best known practitioner of the art form being British taxidermist Walter Potter, whose works included The Kitten Wedding and The Kitten Tea Party, which the mind immediately wants to imagine.

--"Is this the most bizarre art project ever? Taxidermy class teaches students how to stuff dead mice and pose them up 'as if they were humans'" Jennifer Madison, The Daily Mail

For anyone looking for that extra-authentic flavour to their fireplace display, Susan Jeiven's anthropomorphic taxidermy class might just the class you're looking for.

At the Morbid Academy, as Jeiven calls it, about 20 students learn to transform the bodies of dead white mice into human-like pantomimes. In one example, a white mouse holds a miniature classical guitar. In another, a mouse wearing a pink bow on its head reads a tiny facsimile of the New York Times.

--"Would you buy or make dead mouse art?" Canadian Broadcasting Corporation News

There are mice and men and, thanks to a macabre hobby, there are also mice that look like men.

Bent over tables in a room in an industrial corner of Brooklyn, about 20 New Yorkers use scalpels to slice into dead white mice, the first step in the animals’ unlikely journey toward an afterlife spent in human poses and dolls’ clothing.

Anthropomorphic taxidermy is an art form that became hugely popular in Britain in the 19th century, with Queen Victoria herself a fan. Now, as with many odd activities, it has found new life in Brooklyn.

“It’s a little immortality,” instructor Susan Jeiven, 40, explains at the start of her latest sold-out class.

--"Morbid Anatomy 101: Macabre hobby gives dead animals new life" Sebastian Smith, Ottawa Citizen

Congratulations to Sue Jeiven--our amazing anthropomorphic taxidermy teacher--for the recent flurry of international press surrounding her oft-sold out class excerpted above. You can read the whole Daily Mail article--from which all of the images and first excerpt above are drawn--by clicking here, the CBC News article by clicking here, and the Ottawa Citizen article by clicking here.

I am also very pleased to announce that we just added five new classes to our roster, and four of those still have vacancies. If you are interested in learning more--or better yet, signing up for one of Sue's incredible classes--click here. To find out more about the "Morbid Academy" Sue refers to (we call it The Morbid Anatomy Art Academy), click here. To watch a short video about Sue and her work, click here.

All images from the Daily Mail Article; ©AFP/Getty Images.

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Texas family turned to Bonita stem cell doctor, but 5-year-old died before ‘miracle’

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Jason Bell

BONITA SPRINGS Jimmy and Jennifer Bell were scrambling to save their 5-year-old-son, Jason, last fall.

Shell-shocked with a diagnosis that their youngest child had primary pulmonary hypertension, a rare lung disorder, they decided to take a chance. If not, a heart-lung transplant would be their son's only chance.

They put their trust in a Southwest Florida cardiologist, Dr. Zannos Grekos, more than 1,000 miles from their Texas home. They learned Grekos performs an experimental stem cell therapy that possibly could help. That's despite a lack of clinical studies and scientific papers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn't approved stem cell therapy despite a buzz of optimism of its potential for repairing damaged tissue.

"I was willing to do anything to give my son a fighting chance," said Jimmy Bell, 43, who owns a landscaping company in Keller, a suburb of Fort Worth. "When you are given no other option, you've got to try something."

The treatment would involve a trip to Bonita Springs where Grekos has his practice, Regenocyte; a trip to the Dominican Republic where the treatment would be done, and an up-front payment of $57,000.

"They looked at his medical records first. They didn't know if they could treat him," Bell said. "Once they agreed to treat him, I talked to Grekos. It was the greatest news in my life. I broke down. I just knew this was going to be the miracle to save his life."

* * * * *

The family wired the money in late October 2011 to a Regenocyte account in the Dominican Republic, according to a copy of the paid invoice furnished to the Daily News.

Originally posted here:
Texas family turned to Bonita stem cell doctor, but 5-year-old died before 'miracle'