Specialists On Call Renews Joint Commission Accreditation

Courtesy of Business Wire:

Specialists On Call, Inc. (SOC), the nation's leading provider of clinical telemedicine, announced today that it has completed its 2012 Joint Commission review and maintained their accreditation. SOC provides hospitals nationwide with immediate 24/7 access to board certified specialty physicians via telemedicine and delivers over 1,500 emergency consultations each month.

"This is a very big deal for Specialists On Call," commented Dr. Joe Peterson, CEO of SOC. "We've always distinguished ourselves by the clinical quality we offer hospitals and renewing our Joint Commission accreditation validates that commitment to excellence. Completing this Joint Commission Survey with no findings is rare and furthers our leadership position within the industry."

Specialists On Call was the first free-standing and commercial telemedicine service to earn Joint Commission accreditation and this latest evaluation was SOC's third formal review. To date, SOC has helped more than 40,000 patients and their family members with time sensitive clinical consultations via telemedicine.

SOC's growth plan for 2012 includes multiple new telemedicine service lines that address the nation's growing specialty physician shortage. Last year Specialists On Call launched an emergency telepsychiatry service for hospitals that are hard pressed to provide 24/7/365 psychiatric on-call coverage in their emergency room. Thus far, the telepsychiatry service has produced six times the consult volume that SOC's long-established teleneurology service generated during its first year.

About Specialists On Call

Specialists On Call, Inc. (SOC), is a Joint Commission-accredited organization that is changing emergency medicine. As the leading provider of emergency telemedicine consultations, SOC gives hospitals vital 24/7/365 access to more than 50 board certified, fellowship trained academic specialists, each with a minimum of 10 years experience. With operations on both coasts, SOC provides more than 1,500 emergency consultations per month for hospitals nationwide and hospital systems such as Vanguard Health Systems, HCA, Inc. and Tenet Healthcare Corporation.

For more information please visit http://www.specialistsoncall.com

Source: Specialists On Call, Inc.

 

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Long-Travel Piezomotors: New Innovations, New Solutions

This newly announced technology has the potential to be a disruptive game-changer for creating a new generation of ultra-fast, “personal” WSI scanners. Stay tuned for more on this.

Read full story.

by Scott Jordan and Stefan Vorndran, PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P., http://www.pi-usa.com; posted by Chris Warner | Tuesday, February 7, 2012 (ECN)

In a variety of fields, applications are placing conflicting demands on structural and motion subassemblies. Increasingly, positions must be controlled in more degrees of freedom with higher dynamic and static accuracy, yet faster throughputs and longer travels are necessary to meet financial metrics. Compactness is prized, yet high speeds are demanded. These conflicting requirements have, until recently, had no solution. Application examples abound: 

• Optic assemblies of escalating sophistication require multiple axes of nano-precision alignment, yet they must remain aligned for months of around-the-clock use. 

• Emerging nanoimprint lithographies demand exquisite positioning and trajectory control, yet they must retain alignment integrity under significant physical and thermal stresses. 

• Applications ranging from cell-phone cameras to endoscopy and fluid 
delivery require exceedingly small but stiff and responsive and reliable positioning of optics, probes, shutters and other small loads. 

Fortunately, a confluence of new piezo-based approaches has breathed new capability into the nano- and micro-positioning world. Some of these represent significant incremental advancement of essentially traditional mechanisms; others represent significant forks in the road of positioning technology. 

Read full story.

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AMP presented testimony to the Patent and Trademark Office requesting moratorium on human gene patenting

AMP believes previous scientific and federal advisory committee publications, and the common knowledge of practitioners in the field, provide ample evidence for the patient harms and negative impact on testing associated with gene patents, and argue against human genes and genotype-phenotype associations as patentable subject matter. Further, AMP is also concerned that because the USPTO is not a healthcare focused agency it does not possess the needed expertise and resources to adequately assess the impact of patents on patients' ability to obtain confirmatory testing. For these reasons, AMP strongly urges the USPTO to base its assessment of the impact of gene patents on genetic testing on the report published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society (SACGHS) published in April 2010 entitled, "Gene Patents and Licensing Practices and Their Impact on Patient Access to Genetic Tests."

Ms. Williams explained, "This almost 400 page report represents approximately four years of active investigation and study and is an important reference on the subject. AMP encourages the USTPO to adopt the recommendations contained in the report."

"Patients are increasingly being harmed by patents that claim ownership over the biological relationships between genetic variants and clinical disease," stated Roger D. Klein, MD JD, Chair of AMP's Professional Relations Committee. For example, a method patent relating to a variation in a gene known as FLT3 that is used to qualify some leukemia patients for bone marrow transplant is forcing physicians and laboratories to split and geographically distribute irreplaceable bone marrow specimens. "Splitting samples not only creates an additional risk of specimen loss and delays the receipt of patient results," stated Dr. Klein, "it interferes with the ability of pathologists to provide synoptic interpretations involving multiple tests and prevents them from implementing cost saving algorithms that restrict testing to those tests that are truly necessary."

In light of the preceding, AMP asked the USPTO to place a moratorium on issuing gene patents. "By ceasing to grant gene patents, the USPTO would protect patients' access to high quality genetic testing until the issue receives full legal, legislative, and administrative consideration," said Ms. Williams.

Provided by Association for Molecular Pathology

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AMP presented testimony to the Patent and Trademark Office requesting moratorium on human gene patenting

AMP testifies at USPTO

Public release date: 16-Feb-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mary Williams
mwilliams@amp.org
301-634-7921
Association for Molecular Pathology

Alexandria, VA -- Today, the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) asked the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to place a moratorium on the issuing of patents on human genes during testimony presented at an Agency hearing on genetic diagnostic testing. AMP is the lead plaintiff of 20 plaintiffs in an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sponsored lawsuit challenging the validity of patents on two hereditary breast and ovarian cancer genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. AMP joined the litigation because of its members' first hand view of the harmful effects of gene patents on patients with genetic diseases and their at-risk family members. "Every day, AMP members witness the ability of genetic testing to better patients' lives and improve their health. Unfortunately, they also experience firsthand the challenges imposed by gene patents that interfere with the practice of medicine and limit their treatment decisions," said Mary Williams, Executive Director of AMP.

AMP believes previous scientific and federal advisory committee publications, and the common knowledge of practitioners in the field, provide ample evidence for the patient harms and negative impact on testing associated with gene patents, and argue against human genes and genotype-phenotype associations as patentable subject matter. Further, AMP is also concerned that because the USPTO is not a healthcare focused agency it does not possess the needed expertise and resources to adequately assess the impact of patents on patients' ability to obtain confirmatory testing. For these reasons, AMP strongly urges the USPTO to base its assessment of the impact of gene patents on genetic testing on the report published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society (SACGHS) published in April 2010 entitled, "Gene Patents and Licensing Practices and Their Impact on Patient Access to Genetic Tests."

Ms. Williams explained, "This almost 400 page report represents approximately four years of active investigation and study and is an important reference on the subject. AMP encourages the USTPO to adopt the recommendations contained in the report."

"Patients are increasingly being harmed by patents that claim ownership over the biological relationships between genetic variants and clinical disease," stated Roger D. Klein, MD JD, Chair of AMP's Professional Relations Committee. For example, a method patent relating to a variation in a gene known as FLT3 that is used to qualify some leukemia patients for bone marrow transplant is forcing physicians and laboratories to split and geographically distribute irreplaceable bone marrow specimens. "Splitting samples not only creates an additional risk of specimen loss and delays the receipt of patient results," stated Dr. Klein, "it interferes with the ability of pathologists to provide synoptic interpretations involving multiple tests and prevents them from implementing cost saving algorithms that restrict testing to those tests that are truly necessary."

In light of the preceding, AMP asked the USPTO to place a moratorium on issuing gene patents. "By ceasing to grant gene patents, the USPTO would protect patients' access to high quality genetic testing until the issue receives full legal, legislative, and administrative consideration," said Ms. Williams.

###

ABOUT AMP:

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) is an international medical professional association dedicated to the advancement, practice, and science of clinical molecular laboratory medicine and translational research based on the applications of molecular biology, genetics, and genomics. For more information, please visit http://www.amp.org.

CONTACT:

Mary Steele Williams
mwilliams@amp.org
301-634-7921


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AMP testifies at USPTO

Protein that functions in normal breast may also contribute to breast cancer metastasis

Public release date: 16-Feb-2012
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Contact: David Sampson
ajpmedia@elsevier.com
215-239-3171
Elsevier Health Sciences

Philadelphia, PA -- The trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) protein protects and maintains the integrity of the epithelial surface in the normal breast. New research has found that while TFF3 protein expression is higher in well-differentiated low grade tumors and therefore associated with features of a good prognosis, it has a more sinister role in breast cancer invasion and metastasis. The report is published in the March issue of the American Journal of Pathology.

"Our findings suggest that TFF3 is regulated by estrogen and has beneficial properties in breast epithelia," says lead investigator Felicity E.B. May, PhD, of the Northern Institute for Cancer Research and the Department of Pathology at Newcastle University, UK. "We propose that early during breast tumorigenesis, TFF3 retains its association with normal functionality of breast epithelial cells. Subsequently, with the loss of tumor cell differentiation, its function is subverted to promote the development of tumors and infiltration and lymph node metastasis."

To determine the role of TFF3 in breast cancer, researchers measured its level in tissue samples from normal breasts, benign breast lesions, in situ carcinomas, invasive carcinomas, and involved lymph nodes. TFF3 was expressed in the majority of benign and malignant breast lesions studied. Well-differentiated tumor types expressed higher levels of TFF3. There was a positive association between TFF3 protein expression and microvessel density, suggesting that it stimulates angiogenesis in breast tumors.

A striking finding of the study is the strength and consistency of the association between TFF3 expression and a more metastatic phenotype in invasive breast cancer. TFF3 was expressed at higher levels in primary tumors with associated metastasis, and its expression was higher in malignant cells that have metastasized away from those within the primary tumor. There appears to be a switch in the normal polarized secretion of TFF3 in invasive cancer, which allows it to exert invasion-promoting effects.

The study suggests that TFF3 may be one of the genes that mediate the various effects of estrogens in breast cancer. "The paradox remains, however, for both the estrogen receptor and TFF3, that they contribute to the normal physiology of the breast epithelium yet are involved in the progression of cancer," notes Dr. May.

Importantly, the investigators also evaluated the potential of TFF3 as a biomarker of lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastasis. They found that TFF3 had greater predictive power than other markers analyzed, including tumor grade, age, tumor size and type, and estrogen and progesterone receptor status. "Our study reinforces the view that TFF3 expression merits evaluation as a prognostic biomarker and as a predictive marker of response to therapy," concludes Dr. May. "It is probable that its malign effects will be mitigated by adjuvant endocrine therapy in women with hormone-responsive cancers. However, the usefulness of TFF3 as a marker of hormone responsiveness needs to be evaluated."

###

The article is "TFF3 Is a Normal Breast Epithelial Protein and Is Associated with Differentiated Phenotype in Early Breast Cancer but Predisposes to Invasion and Metastasis in Advanced Disease," by A.R.H. Ahmed, A.B. Griffiths, M.T. Tilby, B.R. Westley, and F.E.B. May (doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.11.022). It will appear in The American Journal of Pathology, Volume 180, Issue 3 (March 2012) published by Elsevier.


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Protein that functions in normal breast may also contribute to breast cancer metastasis

AccelPath, LLC Provides Business Plan Overview for 2012

GAITHERSBURG, MD and WESTWOOD, MA--(Marketwire -02/15/12)- AccelPath, LLC, ("AccelPath" or the "Company"), a wholly-owned and operating subsidiary of Technest Holdings, Inc. (OTC.BB: TCNH.OB - News), provides its business plan overview for 2012. AccelPath was acquired by and took over operating control of Technest Holdings, Inc. on March 4, 2011.

Before 2012, the Company was developing its core workflow technology. A portion of this development enabled completing the "loop" of total digital transfer of pathology case information from histology laboratories to prominent institutional pathologists and back to referring physicians. These physicians require accurate, reliable pathology reports to immediately begin patient treatments. The Company began generating revenues in 2011 utilizing its newly-developed technology.

"We are pleased that, since AccelPath was formed, we have been able to achieve our growth and infrastructure development objectives," said Shekhar Wadekar, the Company's Chief Executive Officer. "We believe 2012 should be another exciting year for the Company, particularly as we expect to implement our digital pathology workflow solution, continue to expand our services and increase customer penetration using our successful and motivated sales force. With our experienced management team, we expect to meet the milestones we have established for 2012 and beyond."

About AccelPath

AccelPath provides technology solutions that play a key role in delivering information required for diagnosis of diseases and other pathologic conditions with and through its associated institutional pathologists. The medical institutions, with whom the Company partners, prepare comprehensive diagnostic reports of a patient's condition and consult with referring physicians to help determine the most appropriate treatment. Such diagnostic reports enable the early detection of disease, allowing referring physicians to make informed and timely treatment decisions that improve their patients' health in a cost-effective manner. The Company seeks out referring physicians and histology laboratories in need of high-quality pathology interpretations and manages HIPAA-compliant digital case delivery and reporting while developing comprehensive solutions for managing medical information.

AccelPath is currently focused on the $14 billion anatomic pathology market in the US. The Company's business model builds upon the expertise of experienced pathologists to provide seamless, reliable and comprehensive pathology and special test offerings to referring physicians using conventional and digital technologies. The Company establishes longstanding relationships with the referring physicians as a result of focused delivery of its partner's diagnostic services, personalized responses and frequent consultations, and its proprietary flexible information technology, or IT, solutions that are customizable to the referring physicians' or laboratories as well as the pathologists' needs. Such diagnostic reports often enable the early detection of disease, allowing referring physicians to make informed and timely treatment decisions that improve their patients' health in a cost-effective manner. AccelPath's IT and communications platform enables it to efficiently and securely deliver diagnostic reports to referring physicians. In addition, AccelPath's IT platform enables close tracking and monitoring of medical statistics.

Technest focuses on the design, research, development and integration of three-dimensional imaging devices and systems primarily in the healthcare industries. The Company also develops solutions and intelligent surveillance devices and systems, as well as three-dimensional facial recognition systems for security and law enforcement agencies. Historically, the Company's largest customers have been the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense. The Company's solutions leverage several core proprietary technology platforms, including 3D imaging technologies.

Additional Company information may be found on the Internet at: http://www.accelpath.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of the Company, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "believe," "project," "continue," "plan," "forecast," or other similar words, or the negative thereof, unless the context requires otherwise. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company's expected future performance and achievement of milestones. The results anticipated by any or all of these forward-looking statements may not occur. In addition, these statements reflect management's current views with respect to future events and are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect those results include, but are not limited to, the acceptance of our solutions in the marketplace, the efforts of our sales force, general economic conditions, and those described in the Company's reports on Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K and proxy statements and information statements, which have been or will be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including without limitation under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on October 13, 2011. Many of the factors that will determine the outcome of the subject matter of this press release are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. The Company undertakes no obligation and expressly disclaim any obligation, to revise or publicly update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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AccelPath, LLC Provides Business Plan Overview for 2012

Mitomics Announces U.S. Sales and Marketing Agreement with LabMD

THUNDER BAY, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Mitomics, a world leader in the research and development of mitochondrial genome-based products, today announced a non-exclusive agreement with LabMD, Inc., an Atlanta-based clinical pathology laboratory, to market Mitomics’ flagship product, the Prostate Core Mitomic Test™ (PCMT), in the United States.

“We are pleased to partner with LabMD to make PCMT available to their urology customers nationwide,” said Robert Poulter, president and chief executive officer of Mitomics. “LabMD has an outstanding reputation and strong track record of providing exceptional service to its customers. They continue to integrate cutting-edge technologies into their lab, and we have found great synergies between our two companies. This agreement supports our ongoing strategy to expand access to our prostate cancer testing technology through strategic collaborations as well as through direct sales by our field force.”

PCMT is a highly advanced test, based on the science of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), that accurately identifies a biomarker that can indicate the presence of cancerous cells using previously obtained prostate biopsy tissue. PCMT takes advantage of a tumor’s cancerization field effect to identify molecular changes and enable detection of missed tumors. The test’s sensitivity of 84 percent and ability to accurately rule out prostate cancer with a negative predictive value of 91 percent can provide reliable information to physicians and patients confronted with a possible prostate cancer diagnosis.

“Mitomics’ PCMT fits well within our current portfolio of clinical pathology tests, and we look forward to offering urologists this highly accurate test for patients with suspected prostate cancer who have a negative initial biopsy outcome,” said Michael Daugherty, founder, chief executive officer and president of LabMD. “We are committed to enhancing our service offerings and are excited to be working closely with Mitomics to increase the availability of PCMT.”

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in males and the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Every year, more than 230,000 American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 30,000 die from the disease. If detected early, prostate cancer is often treatable. It is estimated that well over 1 million prostate biopsies are performed annually in the U.S., and although approximately 70 percent of all initial prostate biopsies are negative, it has been found that anywhere from 25 to 60 percent of these are positive on second or subsequent biopsy.

About the Prostate Core Mitomic Test™ (PCMT)

A prostate cancer biopsy is neither an easy nor painless procedure and can result in multiple complications. It only samples a small fraction of the prostate gland, potentially missing the tumor and contributing to a high false negative rate – even in second biopsies. With the highly sensitive PCMT, you can know more by getting far more accurate and reliable results from biopsy tissue. PCMT is a highly advanced, proprietary test based on the science of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Using previously obtained prostate biopsy tissue, PCMT can determine the presence of malignant cells via a cancerization field effect by detecting underlying molecular alterations in normal-appearing tissue. This is all performed quickly and easily with a simple lab test. For more information or to order PCMT, please visit the PCMT web page.

About Mitomics

Mitomics is the world leader in the research and development of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-based biomarkers – a new and innovative approach to the detection of cancer and other disease states. Leveraging its unparalleled insights into the role of mitochondria in cancer, the company is developing an extensive and proprietary portfolio of molecular tests that address significant unmet needs in oncology and gynecology, including those for the early detection of prostate and breast cancer, as well as a test for endometriosis. Mitomics currently markets the Prostate Core Mitomic Test™, a highly accurate laboratory developed test for detecting the absence or presence of cancerous cells using existing prostate biopsy tissue, and plans to launch several additional breakthrough molecular tests based on its Mitomic Technology™ in the coming years. The company is headquartered in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. For more information, please visit http://www.mitomicsinc.com.

About LabMD, Inc.

LabMD is a privately held anatomic and clinical pathology laboratory that focuses on the Urology office based market. Through expert pathology practiced by our highly experienced uropathologists and LabMD's unique software solutions that streamline and bring efficiency to our clients, LabMD builds strong long-term client relationships. For more information, please contact LabMD at 678.443.2331.

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Mitomics Announces U.S. Sales and Marketing Agreement with LabMD

Innovative Imaging Concepts is Excited to Announce the Distribution of Collibio, the Next Generation of Digital …

Pathology departments are very familiar with the age old problems of dealing with the costs and inflexibilities of trying to manage large archives of glass slides. In addition trying to collaborate with colleagues in different locations using glass slides is a major challenge. Slide trays have to be sent to/from laboratories in different locations incurring significant costs, tying up logistical manpower, causing ongoing delays in diagnoses, and with the danger of slides

getting lost or damaged. Alternatively pathologists have to travel to meet their colleagues for team meetings, to review important cases, thereby incurring additional costs and the loss of important work days. Collibio is solving these problems.

Oxford, Massachusetts (PRWEB) February 13, 2012

The Ireland based pathology imaging software company Pixcelldata announces the availability of Collibio in USA with the authorized distributor Innovative Imaging Concepts.

Collibio helps the users of proprietary digital scanner systems and their images now to collaborate immediately.

Collibio’s ease of use allows pathologists to quickly connect to existing virtual slide repositories. New scans are automatically linked into Collibio and in conjunction with a LIS relevant case information is displayed alongside slides. Virtual slides can be shared with other lab users and also securely with consultants outside of the pathologist’s organization providng rapid turnaround time for external review. Conferences can be initiated between any number of collaborators allowing simultaneous review of slides between colleagues. Collibio will reduce the administration overhead of a digital pathology laboratory, and allow pathologist to access their slides regardless of where they or their slides are.

Pixcelldata released Collibio as a web application in October 2010 and expanded their software offering by creating a desktop version. The Collibio desktop application provides a multi-monitor “pathologist’s cockpit,” allowing users to increase their productivity and effectively manage their digital pathology projects.

“We were keen to provide our clients with the tools they need to enhance their user experience and efficiently manage large quantities of data generated through using digital slides,” explained Alex Johnson, Pixcelldata's CTO. “One screen can be used to view images, and another to display auxiliary information. The application installs in seconds on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X, and all data is immediately saved on a central server.”

Alan Hanley, Pixcelldata’s CEO commented, “We want to help our clients maximize the use of their time and resources. The Collibio desktop application is the perfect tool to use while at your office workstation and the rich internet application software provides immediate access to your data with the same functionality when on the move. We will continue to focus on new product development throughout 2011 and will release an innovative tablet PC version of Collibio later this year.”

Company Profile

Innovative Imaging Concepts

340 Main Street

Oxford, MA 01540

Phone 508 581 0251

Fax 508 987 7310

The company includes interactive digital slide imaging system and several emerging product innovations created and commercialized for advanced pathology digital microscopy imaging in the fields of tissue analysis, ophthalmology diagnosis and surgery, skin cancer detection and general optical microscopy imaging. The corporate mission is to position Innovative Imaging Concepts as a new product development company, generating imaging hardware applications and the imaging software technology for integrating medical imaging, storage, retrieval, and sharing of hospital, clinical pathology, research and patient diagnostic imaging between local medical services and research departments and through internet connection to a broader and concurrent viewing audience.

Company Profile

Pixcelldata Ltd.

51/52, Fitzwilliam Square,

Dublin 2,

Ireland.

T +353 (1) 6650449

F +353 (1) 6650480

Pixcelldata is a software company committed to providing innovative software solutions for the digital pathology domain.

Our products are built with perfection, usability and enterprise level features in mind.

We work hard to understand how our customers operate and deliver applications that fit seamlessly into their every day workflows. __title__ Collibio, innovative software solutions for the digital pathology domain]

###

Ludwig Eckl
ludwig.eckl@gmail.com
413 262 5940
Email Information

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Innovative Imaging Concepts is Excited to Announce the Distribution of Collibio, the Next Generation of Digital ...

Research and Markets: Neurodegeneration: The Molecular Pathology of Dementia and Movement Disorders, 2nd Edition

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/0e72cb/neurodegeneration) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new book "Neurodegeneration: The Molecular Pathology of Dementia and Movement Disorders, 2nd Edition" to their offering.

Most textbooks on neurodegenerative disorders have used a classification scheme based upon either clinical syndromes or anatomical distribution of the pathology. In contrast, this book looks to the future and uses a classification based upon molecular mechanisms, rather than clinical or anatomical boundaries.

Major advances in molecular genetics and the application of biochemical and immunocytochemical techniques to neurodegenerative disorders have generated this new approach. Throughout most of the current volume, diseases are clustered according to the proteins that accumulate within cells (e.g. tau, a-synuclein and TDP-43) and in the extracellular compartments (e.g. -amyloid and prion proteins) or according to a shared pathogenetic mechanism, such as trinucleotide repeats, that are a feature of specific genetic disorders.

Chapters throughout the book conform to a standard lay-out for ease of access by the reader and are written by a panel of International Experts.

Since the first edition of this book, major advances have been made in the discovery of common molecular mechanisms between many neurodegenerative diseases most notably in the frontotemporal lobar degenerations (FTLD) and motor neuron disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Readership:

This book will be essential reading for clinicians, neuropathologists and basic neuroscientists who require the firm up-to-date knowledge of mechanisms, diagnostic pathology and genetics of Neurodegenerative diseases that is required for progress in therapy and management.

Key Topics Covered:

Introduction: Basic Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration. Alzheimer's Disease and Aging. Tauopathies. Synucleinopathies. Trinucleotide Repeat Disorders. Prion Disorders. Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Motor Neuron Disease. Other Neurodegenerative Disorders

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/0e72cb/neurodegeneration

Original post:
Research and Markets: Neurodegeneration: The Molecular Pathology of Dementia and Movement Disorders, 2nd Edition

A NEW Dark Report Audio Conference: Important New Trends on Med-Tech Recruiting, Salaries, and Compensation: National Changes, Regional Developments

Avoid critical shortages, reduce overtime pay, and create an environment
that fosters long-term employment 

Listen LIVE !

YOUR PRESENTERS:

Chris Harol, Laboratory Recruiter, Lighthouse Recruiting

Laura Lee Feiner, Laboratory Educator, PeaceHealth Laboratories


You may be surprised to learn that the supply-demand equation in the labor market for medical technologists (MT) and other medical laboratory scientists is changing nationally.

Skilled med techs and experienced lab scientists are getting multiple job offers. That’s why they’re asking for more money-and why many labs are willing to outbid competitors to hire these top candidates. Employer demand is another reason why other forms of compensation, such as recruitment bonuses, student-loan forgiveness, and incentive payments, are also fueling increased costs to hire and retain the best candidates.

These important developments may catch some clinical laboratories and pathology groups unawares, making it difficult for them to recruit enough med techs to maintain staffing. Worse yet, if salaries at your lab lag behind the competitive labor market, you may see some of your most valued employees leave to earn more money at a lab across town.

To get you up to speed on these fast-moving changes in the med-tech labor marketplace, THE DARK REPORT has lined up laboratory recruiter Chris Harol of Lighthouse Recruiting to lead a special audio conference, “Important New Trends on Med Tech Recruiting, Salaries, and Compensation: National Changes, Regional Developments,” on Wednesday, February 22, 2012.

Harol is the “go-to” recruiter for many well known clinical laboratory organizations. He has the pulse of the labor market for med techs, cytotechs, and other lab scientist skills. In this concise and focused session, Harol will give you an insider’s view of the current supply and demand concerns in the med-tech laboratory marketplace.

You and your team will learn what’s different about today’s labor pool compared with just 12 months ago. Harol will identify how the supply of med techs is changing-but in ways that run contrary to popular wisdom. Because some regions in the United States actually have an ample supply of med techs.

Harol’s experience negotiating between labs and hiring candidates, makes him amply qualified to provide an invaluable analysis of what goes into successful job offers. You’ll learn why some top candidates are less interested in a prime salary, preferring other benefits, such as a schedule that better meets their lifestyle needs.

Is your lab using expensive temporary help agencies to keep enough med techs on duty? Is overtime at your lab above targeted limits because it’s the only way to have enough people to get the work done? If so, you’ll want to participate in this audio conference and get the recommended steps your lab can take to wean itself away from these expensive staffing remedies.

You’ll get a clear understanding of what drives today’s lab labor marketplace and come away from this information-packed session with a checklist of do’s and don’ts that you can use to recruit experienced medical technologists.

Next, you’ll hear from Laura Lee Feiner, Laboratory Educator at PeaceHealth Laboratories, which is owned by a major health system and operates a successful laboratory outreach program. PeaceHealth Labs has a fascinating story. It’s a fast-growing lab with hundreds of employees, yet it’s based in a rural university town with a population of less than 150,000.

You’ll learn about the innovative strategies Feiner and her team use to attract talented people to their lab-and give them career advancement opportunities that boost employee retention. The secret is to create different career paths that foster personal growth, without having to incur expensive relocation costs to move newly hired med techs into your community.

Along the way, PeaceHealth used economic development grants and distance learning programs to tap a ready pool of bachelor of science (BS) graduates already living in the community. Feiner will share how you can use these same strategies in your lab to recruit talented people, then motivate them to pursue a career path that makes them long-time contributors to your laboratory staff.

With the oldest generation of med techs reaching retirement years, both Harol and Feiner will provide tips on the best way to attract and retain the generation now graduating from school. These are the people with an entire career ahead of them that will help you build a stable lab workforce.

Find out how you can address staffing shortages and boost the effectiveness of your med-tech recruiting and retention programs when you join The Dark Report and DarkDaily.com for “Important New Trends on Med-Tech Recruiting, Salaries, and Compensation: National Changes, Regional Developments” on Wednesday, February 22, 2012.

Listen as these two nationally prominent experts on med-tech staffing, recruiting, retention, and compensation give you the latest intelligence on the changing supply/demand situation and salary/compensations packages.

Find out how to use this knowledge to help your lab be more successful at recruiting new, highly qualified medical technicians. Creating a work environment that reduces turnover and increases retention of long-term employees translates into a significant reduction in your hiring budget.

Whether you’re a laboratory manager, trainer, medical technologist, histotechnologist, cytotechnologist, or recruiter at an independent clinical/medical laboratory (both for-profit and not-for-profit), hospital, or reference lab, this is one session you won’t want to miss.

Register today to guarantee your place at this essential learning session. And remember that your entire management team can learn and participate when you register.

THE DARK REPORT AUDIO CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE

DATE: Wednesday, February 22, 2012

TIME: 1 p.m. EST; 12 p.m. CST; 11 a.m. MST; 10 a.m. PST

PLACE: Your telephone or speakerphone

COST: $195 per dial-in site (unlimited attendance per site) through 2/15/12, $245 thereafter

TO REGISTER NOW: Click here or call 1-800-560-6363 toll-free


For one low price—just $245— you and your entire team can take part in this fast-paced, insightful audio conference. Best of all, you’ll be able to connect personally with our speakers when we open up the phone lines for live Q&A.

Here’s just some of what you’ll learn during this in-depth 90-minute audio conference recording:

  • National trends and the current state of medical technologist supply and demand.
  • Insights about increased salaries and what non-salary compensation incentives competing laboratories are offering that could steal your med techs.
  • What successful labs are doing to recruit top-performing med techs.
  • Why a defined career path is important to new med-tech graduates.
  • How to increase employee morale to reduce turnover and the need for new hires.
  • What job seekers are really looking for and how to ensure your lab meets their employment needs.
  • How to effectively recruit new talent for your lab.
  • Learn how to identify if the med-tech “retirement bomb” is ticking in your lab-and what you can do about it.

…and much more!


How to Order Now:

1. Online
2. Call toll free: 800-560-6363.

Your audio conference registration includes:

  • A site license to attend the conference (invite as many people as you can fit around your speakerphone at no extra charge)
  • A downloadable PowerPoint presentations from our speaker
  • A full transcript emailed to you soon after the conference
  • The opportunity to connect directly with the speaker during the audience Q&A session

Register NOW !     Or for more information, call us toll-free at 800-560-6363

 

Distinguished Presenters:

Chris-Harol

Chris Harol is a Laboratory Recruitment expert with Lighthouse Recruiting.  For the past six years, he has successfully recruited and placed laboratory professionals in new positions nationwide. Mr. Harol specializes in recruiting medical technologists, histotechnologists, and cytotechnologists for the staff to director level. He works with employers ranging from the Hospital Corporation of America to Quest Diagnostics to small critical access hospitals in rural locations. Mr. Harol has an in-depth knowledge of the inner workings of the laboratory market and what the future holds.


Feiner

Laura Lee Feiner is a Laboratory Educator for PeaceHealth Laboratories and a Medical Technologist (ASCP). Her clinical lab experience includes diverse settings, from managing a lab in a small private physician office to performing special chemistry testing in South Korea. She has worked as a technologist in labs across five states. Ms. Feiner has held business and management positions in clinical labs, patient financial services, a cardiovascular service line, and biopharmaceuticals. Her training and education roles have included Director of the MLT program at a community college; instructor of theory, bench, and clinical lab skills; and trainer in various clinical departments. She has a master's degree in public administration.

 

ACCENT® Continuing Education Credit
The American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) designates this program for a maximum of 1.5 ACCENT® credit hours towards the AACC Clinical Chemist’s Recognition Award. AACC is an approved provider of continuing education for clinical laboratory scientists in the states of California, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.

 

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Top Tumor Website now Available as Mobile App

Newton, MA  - prMac Medical (courtesy of a loyal reader for passing this along)

[prMac.com] Newton, Massachusetts - The Tumorpedia / Bonetumor team announces the launch of Tumorpedia, a suite of mobile medical reference applications designed for healthcare providers and students. The Tumorpedia mobile applications deliver comprehensive, authoritative, and up-to-date information on the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of bone and soft tissue tumors.

Tumorpedia is designed for physicians, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, primary care providers, podiatrists, residents, interns, medical students, and patients as well, Tumorpedia is available for iPhone and iPad, and is available now in the Apple App store.

T-boness2

Tumorpedia comprises a suite of mobile applications focusing on different types of tumors. The applications released today include Tumorpedia-lite, Tumorpedia-bone, Tumorpedia-soft tissue, Tumorpedia-foot and ankle, and Tumorpedia-Espanol, designed for Spanish-language users. 

 

The Tumorpedia applications allow healthcare providers rapid mobile access to the content from Bonetumor, the web's most comprehensive medical information site covering all aspects of benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors. The website Bonetumor has been ranked #1 on Google since its inception in 1996.

Each Tumorpedia app contains information on 20 to 50 different tumors, covering the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and examination findings, as well as the xray, MRI, and CT scan appearance of the tumor. The diagnostic features of each tumor are illustrated with hundreds of images from actual case examples. In addition, the microscopic pathology findings are described and illustrated. The app provides treatment options, outcomes information, and prognosis for each tumor. 

"There is no textbook in print that has the information available in this application, presented in the manner that it is. It's a great tool for orthopedic surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, podiatrists, residents and students who might be caring for patients with these tumors. It's hard to memorize the variable presentations and diagnostic features of these tumors, which can range anywhere from minor, benign conditions to serious, aggressive cancers. Zeroing in on the right diagnosis is really essential in determining the most accurate and appropriate tests to use. Having this information readily available, right at the point of care is invaluable," explains Dr. Henry DeGroot, principal content author of the applications.

It took DeGroot and his team more than five hundred hours of work to create and organize the content presented in Tumorpedia. Their goal was to make sure the app's information was accurate, evidence-based, comprehensive and easy to access in a clinical setting or at the point of care.

Device Requirements:
* iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad (also available on Android)
* Requires iPhone OS 3.2 or higher (iOS 4.0 Tested)
* 1.8 MB

Pricing and Availability:
Tumorpedia-Lite for universal iOS devices is free, Tumorpedia-Bone, Tumorpedia- Soft Tissue, Tumorpedia - Foot and Ankle and Tumorpedia - Espanol for universal iOS devices is only $2.99 (USD) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Medical category. Promo codes will be supplied to qualified reviewers. Please identify the website or blog you represent when requesting promo codes.

Located in Newton, MA, Tumorpedia and the bonetumor.org website were created by Dr. Henry DeGroot III, M.D., F.A.A.O.S. with the help of a group of talented clinicians and scientists who are active in patient care, surgery, radiology, pathology, clinical and bench research, and academic teaching. Dr. DeGroot is an Instructor in Orthopaedic Surgery at the Tufts Medical School, as well as an Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He teaches orthopaedics, orthopaedic oncology, and foot and ankle surgery. All Material and Software (C) 1996-2012 Digital Image Flow and Bonetumor.org / All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPod, the iPod logo, are registered trademarks of Apple Computer in the U.S. and/or other countries.

###

Henry DeGroot
Proprietor
Email this

 

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Caffeinated Coffee May Protect Against Liver Fibrosis In Certain Patients

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is associated with obesity, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and other associated metabolic conditions.  Fibrosis in chronic liver disease, regardless of etiology is generally thought to be irreversible.  

Good news from Army medicine suggesting that if you drink coffee with your hamburger, fries and milkshake you may gain some protective effect from the coffee in terms of liver injury and fibrosis. Bad news is that other caffeinated drinks may not have as a protective effect as coffee.

Medscape (2/7, Newman) reports, "Drinking caffeinated coffee protects against liver fibrosis in patients with" nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), according to a study published in the February issue of Hepatology. "The new finding comes from a validated caffeine questionnaire administered to four patient groups" comprising 306 patients "at the Brooke Army Medical Center Hepatology Clinic in Fort Sam Houston, Texas: negative controls, bland steatosis/not-NASH, NASH stage 0 to 1, and NASH stage 2 to 4." Notably, "no other caffeinated beverages showed a correlation with any dimension of liver protection (e.g., NASH, insulin resistance, diabetes, liver enzymes)."

 

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Innovative Imaging Concepts is the Authorized Distributor in USA for ViewsIQ

Canadian-based slide imaging technology company, ViewsIQ, announces their entrance to the digital pathology market in USA with the authorized Distributor Innovative Imaging Concepts. Their flagship product, Panoptiq, is designed to bring real-time slide digitization and affordable telepathology to the world of virtual microscopy.

Oxford, Massachusetts (PRWEB) February 06, 2012

Canadian-based slide imaging technology company, ViewsIQ, announces their entrance to the digital pathology market in USA with the authorized Distributor Innovative Imaging Concepts. Their flagship product, Panoptiq, is designed to bring real-time slide digitization and affordable telepathology to the world of virtual microscopy.

ViewsIQ develops innovative microscopy imaging systems for hospitals, research institutions and laboratories. Panoptiq allows real-time communication between microscopist and pathologist anywhere in the world. With Panoptiq, the user can interactively create a digital scan of their slide with a microscope then easily share the digital scan for consultation purposes.

Herman Lo, CEO of ViewsIQ, said, “Our mission is to create an easy-to-use and low-cost slide scanning solution that integrate intricately with the typical workflow of a microscope user. We are excited to introduce Panoptiq, the world’s first interactive slide scanning system.”

“The image acquisition and slide-scanning speed is in real-time, making the experience truly interactive” said Jason Fung, VP Sales & Marketing of ViewsIQ. “As a software-based solution, Panoptiq eliminates the need for expensive hardware in conventional slide scanning systems. Our clients feel that Panoptiq is the most natural and affordable way to scan slides with a microscope.” 
See Demo Video at http://viewsiq.ca/digital-pathology-software-products#tabs-1-5

Company Profile 
Innovative Imaging Concepts 
340 Main Street 
Oxford, MA 01540 
Phone 508 581 0251 
Fax 508 987 7310 
http://www.innovative-imaging.net

The corporate mission is to position Innovative Imaging Concepts as a new product development company, generating imaging hardware applications and the imaging software technology for integrating medical imaging, storage, retrieval, and sharing of hospital, clinical pathology, research and patient diagnostic imaging between local medical services and research departments and through internet connection to a broader and concurrent viewing audience.

Company Profile 
ViewsIQ is a Canadian healthcare technology company that develops microscopy imaging solutions for research and clinical laboratories. Its recent innovation called Panoptiq™ is set to create a revolution in pathology practice. This tool enables pathologists to view their slides digitally in real-time with no delay to their workflow.

The company has a very well experienced management and technical team consisting of engineers and MBAs as well as a strong advisory board consisting of industry experts and university professors. Concerted efforts of these teams will ensure long-term aggressive growth of the company.

The target customers for this product are all the hospitals and diagnostic centers around the world. The company plans to grow rapidly in North America in the next few years and then leverage this scale to further expand to other continents.

 

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New Governance Structure Approved by AMP Membership

Newswise — BETHESDA, MD, February 6, 2012 – The members of the Association for Molecular Pathology voted in favor of adopting significant changes to the structure of its governing body. The changes resulted in two primary refinements; 1) a shift from management by a Council to management by a Board of Directors and an Executive Committee, and 2) the transition of Subdivision Chairs from the role of Annual Meeting programming to one that focuses directly on the interests and needs of the subdivision discipline.

The shift from the Council model to a Board and Executive Committee structure allows the Board to continually appraise the Association at a high level and to develop long-range goals, plans, and policies, thus allowing the Executive Committee to focus on operational issues including the implementation of the strategy, direction, and policies established by the Board. The overall strategy of management by a Board and Executive Committee, adopted by an increasing number of nonprofit organizations, allows for greater flexibility, adaptability, and nimbleness on the part of AMP to establish and easily modify its direction moving forward.

AMP’s membership includes four distinct subdivisions; Genetics, Hematopathology, Infectious Diseases, and Solid Tumors. Each subdivision represents a vital segment of AMP membership, reflecting the diversity, vitality, and wide range of specialties encompassed by AMP members.

“AMP has now matured as an organization and is ready to be governed differently than when it was founded,” said Iris Schrijver, MD, AMP President. “Over the course of several months, we studied many aspects of nonprofit governance, examined other organizations, and discussed how to create a model that best suits AMP. Our new governance structure will facilitate decision-making that is informed and strategic.”

The overarching catalyst for the changes to the AMP governance structure is the newly implemented strategic plan. The plan centers on five essential areas: advocacy, education, innovation and improved patient care, governance, and management. AMP’s policies, programs, resources and structure will all serve to support these elements of the strategic plan. For more information about the AMP Strategic Plan, visit http://www.amp.org.

ABOUT AMP:
The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) is an international medical professional association dedicated to the advancement, practice, and science of clinical molecular laboratory medicine and translational research based on the applications of molecular biology, genetics, and genomics. For more information, please visit http://www.amp.org/about/strategic_plan.cfm.

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New Governance Structure Approved by AMP Membership

BREAKING: Healthcare Hero SAVES HIMSS12!

Confused by EHRs, Meaningful Use, medication management, federal regulations, and other health IT topics?

Want more, positive clinical outcomes, greater information exchange, increased office efficiency, and cost savings?

Visit booth 5456 at HIMSS12 to meet the DRFIRST Defender and learn how he helps protect providers! 

Comment on the video, Tweet us @DrFirst #HIMSShero, or comment on http://www.facebook.com/drfirstinc to be entered into a drawing for a night on the town in Vegas at HIMSS12!

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Recently published articles in Journal of Pathology Informatics

 Number of great articles recently published in the increasingly popular Journal of Pathology Informatics.

Number of recent works dealing with digital pathology related projects:

Multi-field-of-view strategy for image-based outcome prediction of multi-parametric estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer histopathology: Comparison to Oncotype DX
Ajay Basavanhally, Michael Feldman, Natalie Shih, Carolyn Mies, John Tomaszewski, Shridar Ganesan, Anant Madabhushi
J Pathol Inform 2011, 2:1 (19 January 2012)
[ABSTRACT]   [HTML FULL TEXT]   [PDF]   [Mobile HTML Full text ]   [EPub]
 
Local isotropic phase symmetry measure for detection of beta cells and lymphocytes
Manohar Kuse, Yi-Fang Wang, Vinay Kalasannavar, Michael Khan, Nasir Rajpoot
J Pathol Inform 2011, 2:2 (19 January 2012)
[ABSTRACT]   [HTML FULL TEXT]   [PDF]   [Mobile HTML Full text ]   [EPub]
Jpicover
Prostate cancer detection: Fusion of cytological and textural features
Kien Nguyen, Anil K Jain, Bikash Sabata
J Pathol Inform 2011, 2:3 (19 January 2012)
[ABSTRACT]   [HTML FULL TEXT]   [PDF]   [Mobile HTML Full text ]   [EPub]

 

Automatic annotation of histopathological images using a latent topic model based on non-negative matrix factorization
Angel Cruz-Roa, Gloria Díaz, Eduardo Romero, Fabio A González
J Pathol Inform 2011, 2:4 (19 January 2012)
[ABSTRACT]   [HTML FULL TEXT]   [PDF]   [Mobile HTML Full text ]   [EPub]

 

A fully automated approach to prostate biopsy segmentation based on level-set and mean filtering
Juan Vidal, Gloria Bueno, John Galeotti, Marcial García-Rojo, Fernanda Relea, Oscar Déniz
J Pathol Inform 2011, 2:5 (19 January 2012)
[ABSTRACT]   [HTML FULL TEXT]   [PDF]   [Mobile HTML Full text ]   [EPub]
Feasibility analysis of high resolution tissue image registration using 3-D synthetic data
Yachna Sharma, Richard A Moffitt, Todd H Stokes, Qaiser Chaudry, May D Wang
J Pathol Inform 2011, 2:6 (19 January 2012)
[ABSTRACT]   [HTML FULL TEXT]   [PDF]   [Mobile HTML Full text ]   [EPub]
Atlas-guided correction of brain histology distortion
Xi Qiu, Lin Shi, Tony Pridmore, Alain Pitiot, Defeng Wang
J Pathol Inform 2011, 2:7 (19 January 2012)
[ABSTRACT]   [HTML FULL TEXT]   [PDF]   [Mobile HTML Full text ]   [EPub]
Global error minimization in image mosaicing using graph connectivity and its applications in microscopy
Parmeshwar Khurd, Leo Grady, Rafiou Oketokoun, Hari Sundar, Tejas Gajera, Summer Gibbs-Strauss, John V Frangioni, Ali Kamen
J Pathol Inform 2011, 2:8 (19 January 2012)
[ABSTRACT]   [HTML FULL TEXT]   [PDF]   [Mobile HTML Full text ]   [EPub]
Interactive registration of 2D histology and 3D CT data for assessment of radiofrequency ablation treatment
Matthias Seise, Tuomas Alhonnoro, Marina Kolesnik
J Pathol Inform 2011, 2:9 (19 January 2012)
[ABSTRACT]   [HTML FULL TEXT]   [PDF]   [Mobile HTML Full text ]   [EPub]
Biomechanical model-based deformable registration of MRI and histopathology for clinical prostatectomy
Navid Samavati, Deirdre M McGrath, Jenny Lee, Theodorus van der Kwast, Michael Jewett, Cynthia Ménard, Kristy K Brock
J Pathol Inform 2011, 2:10 (19 January 2012)
[ABSTRACT]   [HTML FULL TEXT]   [PDF]   [Mobile HTML Full text ]   [EPub]
A comparison of sampling strategies for histological image analysis
André Homeyer, Andrea Schenk, Uta Dahmen, Olaf Dirsch, Hai Huang, Horst K Hahn
J Pathol Inform 2011, 2:11 (19 January 2012)
[ABSTRACT]   [HTML FULL TEXT]   [PDF]   [Mobile HTML Full text ]   [EPub]
Learning histopathological patterns
Andreas Kårsnäs, Anders L Dahl, Rasmus Larsen
J Pathol Inform 2011, 2:12 (19 January 2012)
[ABSTRACT]   [HTML FULL TEXT]   [PDF]   [Mobile HTML Full text ]   [EPub]
Graphical processing unit implementation of an integrated shape-based active contour: Application to digital pathology
Sahirzeeshan Ali, Anant Madabhushi
J Pathol Inform 2011, 2:13 (19 January 2012)
[ABSTRACT]   [HTML FULL TEXT]   [PDF]   [Mobile HTML Full text ]   [EPub]

 

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Sales Account Manager Position Open at Aperio

This position is focused and very skilled in the area of Digital Pathology

The Digital Pathology Sales Account Manager will possess specialized and in-depth comprehensive knowledge and experience in Digital Pathology as the Subject Matter Expert in image analysis for the US Healthcare Sales Team.  Candidate will develop and execute successful Digital Immunohistochemistry (DIHC) solution sales strategies, update sales tools and tactics to drive growth and revenue to the hospital market throughout the US.  You will partner, train and support all US Healthcare Sales Representatives in Digital IHC sales and marketing skills allowing pathologist to significantly streamline clinical workflow and improve patient care through digital pathology. 

Candidate must have an impressive history of consistent sales success to clinical reference labs and to hospitals in complex sales with a solid understanding of the histology environment. This position will call on both existing customers and new business with a focus and quota for selling Aperio’s Digital IHC solutions.  Candidate must be comfortable calling on the C-Suite, delivering vision, and orchestrating multi departmental/site evaluations.   You must have excellent skills focusing on differentiation, forecasting, negotiating and closing while working in concert with US Healthcare Sales team. 

As the SME in Digital IHC solutions, you will also partner with the Healthcare Representatives throughout the US to educate and support them in driving the Digital IHC business to closure with their customers.  To be successful, candidate must be highly motivated, display independent initiative and thrive on the independence, flexibility and variety offered by this specialized sales position for Aperio. 

The Digital Pathology Sales Account Manager is someone who can:

  • Target clinical reference labs and hospital accounts that would benefit from Aperio’s Digital IHC Systems
  • Collaborate with the US Healthcare sales team as the Subject Matter Expert in image analysis to assist in achieving complex goals 
  • Independently perform needed activities in all areas of responsibility to achieve Aperio’s business goals
  • Develop and execute successful Digital IHC solution sales strategies for the US Healthcare market
  • Partner, support, educate and train Healthcare Reps throughout the US in DIHC sales
  • Provide direction on issues of DIHC and assist Healthcare Reps and Sales Managers in setting strategy direction
  • Develop, communicate and deliver the vision and benefits of Digital IHC Systems to the hospital market
  • Demonstrate proven experience in pathology product sales, imaging sales and a solid understanding of the reimbursement aspects of clinical lab business
  • Coordinate effective sales activities within national, multi-site, hospitals and/or IDN’s
  • Proactively review best practices and process improvements to ensure competitiveness within a rapidly changing environment and to provide proper strategies to and meet deliverables

Desired Skills & Experience

Qualifications:

  • Proven record of successful sales of Digital Pathology solutions
  • Expert in image analysis
  • Solid understanding of the histology environment
  • Ability to create DIHC sales strategies, plans and activities to exceed sales goals
  • Demonstrates outstanding professional communication and interpersonal skills; communicates with C-suite level, pathologists, doctors, laboratory managers, internal partners
  • Ability to educate, support and train US Healthcare Reps in the area of Digital IHC
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks with shifting priorities and timeframes
  • High level of initiative, creative thinking, decision making and problem resolution skills
  • Works independently but able to interact as a partner and team member
  • Inherent ability to influence of others 

Requirements:                            

  • BA/BS
  • Minimum 5-7 years successful selling experience into hospitals (medical capital or software solutions)
  • Extensive understanding of pathology market
  • Extensive understanding of histology laboratory environment and Digital IHC (immunohistochemistry)
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills
  • Ability to work with others to train and educate them to be successful in DIHC
  • Track record of rapidly and consistently generating sales revenue
  • Ability to travel a significant percentage of time

Location and type:

Full-time employment in Western US near a major airport

Compensation and benefits:

Aperio pays our great people salaries commensurate with market value, and provides full benefits including health benefits and a 401(k) plan.  All Aperio employees participate in our stock option plan. 

To Apply:

Submit your resume in word format to jobs@aperio.com. Please include the position title in the subject line.

Aperio is committed to attracting and retaining the most highly qualified candidates available. As an Aperio employee you will be consistently challenged to deliver your best. Because we provide our customers the best technologies and service in the industry, you will constantly develop new skills, learn new products, and be involved in activities that are highly valued in the marketplace. At Aperio, we value our customers as partners, and therefore strive to deliver excellence in everything we do.

Aperio is an equal opportunity and affirmative action M/F/V/D employer.  We support workforce diversity. EEO/AA M/F/V/D

 

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iPad proves equal to regular screens for TB evals

Admittedly, mobile small screen technologies afford portability and perhaps in some cases, access to basic health care services that would not normally be availalable.  True in pathology, just as it is radiology. Look for more news to come on this related to digital pathology.  Based on some recent papers I have reviewed for publication, small screen technologies will show their effectiveness for primary H&E diagnosis and extend the pathologist's reach.  

From: FierceMobileHealthcare

 By Sara Jackson Comment |  Forward | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn


iPads are just as good as LCD monitors when it comes to diagnosing tuberculosis, according to a follow-up study recently conducted by the University of Maryland.

The original study, which took place in mid-2010, tested only 30 images  found that the original iPad's resolution wasn't quite as good as that of LCD monitors and wasn't sufficient for a primary diagnosis.

In the new study, five radiologists tested 240 images--200 positive and 40 negative--on iPad 2 tablets and on a 27-inch Mac monitor. The agreement between the two displays was statistically equal, researchers report.

"Mobile displays should provide an effective extension of the radiologist's reach," researcher Samir Abboud told radiology news site AuntMinnie.com.

The two big negatives for the mobile technology were speed and size. All of the radiologists reported the iPad2 was far slower than the LCD monitor and that the screen size just couldn't compete with the larger monitor.

"It took, on average, twice as long to view the dataset on the iPad than on the traditional workstation," Abbout said. "Readers also commented on how much smaller the iPad's screen was compared to the 27-inch monitor."

The university's findings are an interesting turnaround for the industry, considering that experts reported to AuntMinnie last fall that tablets were "impractical" for viewing medical images, and likely would never take the place from LCD workstations.

"You won't find a radiologist who wants to read a chest X-ray off an Apple iPad," Dr. David Hirschorn, director of radiology informatics at Staten Island University Hospital said at the time.

To learn more
- read the AuntMinnie article (registration required)

Related Articles:
Mobile devices 'impractical' for medical image viewing
Carestream wins FDA approval for medical image viewing on tablets
RSNA: iPad helps untether radiologists from reading room

Read more about: table computersMobile HealthcareiPadhealthcare apps
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HealthTap’s Social Network of 5,000 Doctors Is Ready to Give Free Advice

Back in the 1990's when our department had a website, I started uploading several powerpoint lectures from various sources with the intent that such material would be used as what was then a growing source of information online that was peer-reviewed, accurate and current.

It quickly became apparent the need and desire by patients to reach out and inquire about their own individual cases based on the lecture material.

One in particular stands out, a lecture dealing with cervical cytology, abnormal pap smears, therapy and follow-up.  At first there were only a handful of e-mails which quickly became dozens and hundreds of such inquiries. 

Initially, I referred the questions (and essentially the patients) to gynecology and gynecology oncology colleagues who at first were willing to respond to patients and in some cases, provide professional services if the patients desired.  Ultimately, based on the volume of inquiries and growing concern about patient privacy, e-mail communication and risks to providers, I removed the lectures.

The story was similar for lectures related to brain tumors, prostate pathology and microbiology.

Since then we have watched the trials and tribulations with sites and services such as Dr. Koop, Google Health and WebMD.

Now comes news of a social media network that works for patients and providers from HealthTap:

It’s fair to raise an eyebrow when a social network for healthcare comes along, but this network just might make you raise both eyebrows in surprise: HealthTap has created a healthcare social network with more than 5,000 real-live doctors to answer patient questions. Not peers, not “experts” and not brands. Health questions aren’t posted for the world to see or comment on. This is a private network between a patient and thousands of doctors.

“Facebook and Twitter are dangerous for doctors, but everyone wants to take part in social networking,” says HealthTap CEO and founder Ron Gutman, referring to the perils of patient confidentiality and lawsuits for giving wrong advice. Social and medicine haven’t boded well under the shared banner of technology, but Gutman is creating a social environment that works for doctors and patients.

HealthTap is launching a mobile app (free) called HealthTap Express that lets users ask any health question and get immediate answers from more than 5,000 doctors for free. This isn’t Yahoo Answers or Quora. Questions asked on HealthTap are always answered by a professional held accountable for their answers, which can be reviewed by peers. These are real, North American-based doctors with licenses and contact information.

Getting these doctors to become part of a social network was no small task. HealthTap began 20 weeks ago (Gutman refers to the time in “weeks,” similar to the way a new parent refers to the age of their child)  as a network for OB/GYNs and pregnant women. This was a smart vertical to tackle first; as many doctors in this field are some of the industry’s most vocal about preventative medicine, patient rights and universal healthcare. Word spread of the network, like it does for all successful social networks, and today HealthTap’s app has grown to incorporate 82 healthcare fields. The app is available for iOS and Android, smartphones and tablets.

Read more.

Source: New York Times

 

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Former Aperio Executive and Digital Pathology Market Expert, Dr. Martin Stuart, Joins Definiens Executive Team

Munich, Germany – January 31, 2012 - Definiens, the global leader in Health Image Intelligence and Quantitative Digital Pathology, has appointed Martin Stuart, PhD, as its Executive Vice President and General Manager North America and Asian Pacific. In his new role, Stuart will be responsible for expanding the Definiens business in North America and Asia and providing leadership to the sales and field operations. 

Martin Stuart, a former Senior Vice President and General Manager of Aperio, is one of the most influential leaders in the Digital Pathology industry. He has more than 25 years of experience in international sales and marketing, specializing in the introduction of new and disruptive technologies. In his previous global sales and marketing position he was a key driver in making Aperio the leading provider of digital pathology, with more than 850 deployed slide scanner systems in more than 30 countries. Prior to Aperio, Stuart was Global Vice President of Sales and Services for Entropia Inc., a desktop grid computing company focused on the Life Sciences market.

"I’m excited to join the market leader in Quantitative Digital Pathology" comments Stuart. "Image analysis is a major driver of adoption and I’m extremely impressed by the results customers are getting by deploying Definiens products and solutions. There is enormous demand for solutions that help pathologists deal with the increasing complexities of their discipline as they support the transition to personalized medicine. I see Definiens as best positioned to address this demand by providing comprehensive decision support solutions."

"We are extremely pleased to have Martin join Definiens at a time when demand for our products is growing rapidly" says Thomas Heydler, CEO of Definiens.  "His executive experience in the digital pathology business coupled with a profound domain background makes him an ideal fit for our team. With this appointment we will significantly increase both our Life Sciences and our Healthcare Business."

About Definiens

 Definiens is a leading Health Image Intelligence™ company that develops software solutions for biomedical image analysis, data mining and clinical decision support. The company’s software analyzes images from cell-based assays, whole tissue slides and full body scans and allows users to correlate this information with data derived from other sources, supporting better decisions in research, diagnostics and therapy. By automating analysis workflows and generating new knowledge, Definiens provides pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, research institutions, clinical service organizations and medical professionals with deeper insights, faster results and better decision support. Harnessing the power of image intelligence, Definiens supports personalized medicine and aims to significantly improve the quality of patients’ lives.

Definiens is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and has offices throughout the United States. Further information is available at http://www.definiens.com.

 

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