Genetics / Net News / Pathology

Crowdsourced Pathology, Thanks to Video Gamers

by Gene Ostrovsky on May 4, 2012
Crowdsourced Pathology, Thanks to Video Gamers

Researchers from UCLA’s School of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Medicine have designed a system that can harness distant groups of people to analyze pathology images for signs of disease. They tested the ability of non-professionals to quickly learn to detect malaria when looking at images of red blood cells and have shown that if necessary, with a bit of help from online crowds, large groups of people can potentially be screened for the disease.

The system they built relies on video gaming to attract people to do the visual tasks necessary to spot malaria.  The study subjects, mostly untrained newbie undergrads, showed a spotting ability that was within 1.25 percent of medical professionals.

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Radiology / Vascular Surgery

Navalyst Embarc Microcatheter for Narrow Vasculature

by Gene Ostrovsky on May 4, 2012
Navalyst Embarc Microcatheter for Narrow Vasculature

Navilyst Medical out of Marlborough, MA, which is expected to become part of AngioDynamics by the end of May, has launched in the U.S. its Embarc Microcatheter with Glyce hydrophilic coating, a catheter made for diagnostic and interventional use in peripheral vessels.

The device has a kink resistant shaft, a special coating for smooth delivery, and a number of other features to make it easier to operate in difficult anatomy.

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Net News

Tawkon App Helps Empower Your Cell Phone Exposure Paranoia

by Gene Ostrovsky on May 4, 2012
Tawkon App Helps Empower Your Cell Phone Exposure Paranoia

Though the paranoia related to the topic of mobile phones causing cancer is a bit out of proportion to the science showing a connection, it’s not stopping folks from offering an app that can give you an idea of your exposure to the non-ionizing radiation.

The tawkon (pronounced as “talk on”) app for Android phones estimates the energy emitted by your phone’s antenna and measures how often you use your phone traditionally, via a headset, or through a speakerphone.

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Genetics / Nanomedicine / Pathology

Electron Microscopy in Stunning, Real-Time 3D – Coming Soon to a Laboratory Near You!

by Scott Jung on May 4, 2012
Electron Microscopy in Stunning, Real-Time 3D - Coming Soon to a Laboratory Near You!

Over at the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), researchers have developed a special scanning electron microscope (SEM) capable of generating high-resolution 3D images of the study subject. 3D SEM is actually not new technology, however, the JST SEM is the first device of its kind that can show 3D images in real-time. The secret is a special electromagnetic lens that slants an electron beam aimed at a specimen, which results in instant left and right parallax images needed to create a 3D effect. Normal 3D SEM imaging techniques require the left and right parallax images to be taken separately and at different angles.

If you have a pair of red/blue 3D glasses, be sure to take a look at the above anaglyph of a piece of metal, produced by the JST SEM.

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Medicine / Net News / Pediatrics

iBGStar Glucometer for iPhone Now Available in U.S.

by Gene Ostrovsky on May 4, 2012
iBGStar Glucometer for iPhone Now Available in U.S.

Sanofi has announced that its iBGStar, the first approved blood glucose meter to interface with the iPhone, is now available in the U.S. The device will display glucose readings on the iPhone (or iPod touch) screen and those will be saved for long term analysis. On the other hand, if your iPhone is out of power or you managed to lose it, fear not, the iBGStar dock will work independently and provide readings on its own little display. While disconnected from the iPhone, the meter will save glucose levels it measures locally until it is back in touch with the phone.

Sanofi is reporting that the new glucometer is available from Apple and Walgreens at both their retail and online stores.

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Net News

Avanquest Mobile Alert Panics for You During Emergencies

by Gene Ostrovsky on May 3, 2012
Avanquest Mobile Alert Panics for You During Emergencies

Avanquest Software has developed an app that may save lives during emergency situations. Imagine you’re alone when you are struck by an acute allergic reaction, a heart attack, or some other life threatening condition that can make it difficult for you to call for help and explain your predicament. The Mobile Alert, which will be distributed via cell phone operators, manufacturers, and resellers rather than through app stores, provides a big red panic button that, when pushed, activates a series of actions like calling paramedics, messaging your emergency contacts, and displaying your health conditions, allergies, and any other warnings. The messages that it sends out contain location information, so the stricken person can be quickly located, and, according to GigaOM, it will also sound a siren to alert people around that someone needs attention.

Interestingly, Avanquest claims that the app will be able to contact emergency services even when you’re traveling and are outside your country of residence.

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Medgadget Exclusive / Net News

Thieme Debuts Proprietary eBook App for iPad

by Dan Buckland on May 3, 2012
Thieme Debuts Proprietary eBook App for iPad

Medical publisher Thieme recently debuted their own free iBooks-like app for the iPad. This is an interesting way for medical publishers to start their own eco-systems, allowing institutional and personal subscriptions that don’t rely on a single platform. Already accessible through their web portal, in the future they could expand to Android tablets or whatever else comes along. It doesn’t anchor users to Apple, but it does keep them with Thieme, and prevents the end user from selling a used copy. Like with most electronic media, users want to access their purchases with whatever device they happen to have on hand, and since most physicians are using an iPad for a tablet, Thieme seems to be responding appropriately.

The app itself is pretty basic, serving as both a bookshelf and a portal to their eBook store, but we don’t know that you would want it to do much more. It downloads purchased books through the storefront in the app, or when you sign in with your Thieme username you get access to all of the eBook versions of Thieme books you already own on other devices. The files are saved on the iPad, so you don’t need internet access once the book is downloaded. We looked at three titles that Thieme provided free for review:

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Medgadget Exclusive

Medgadget Partnering with Stanford Medicine X

by Gene Ostrovsky on May 3, 2012 •

stanford medicine x Medgadget Partnering with Stanford Medicine XWe would like to announce that Medgadget will be joining Stanford Medicine X as a media partner. This year’s conference is scheduled for September 28 – 30 on the campus of the university.  The upcoming gathering is billed as “a catalyst for new ideas about the future of medicine and health care,” hoping to bring “a broad, academic approach to understanding emerging technologies with the potential to improve health and advance the practice of medicine.” We’re looking forward to covering the various Medicine X talks and technology presentations from an interdisciplinary group of leaders in their respective fields.

Link for more information about the conference: Stanford Medicine X…

in the news...

Novel Bone Scaffold Draws Strength from Tiny Silk Fibers

by Brian Klein on May 3, 2012
Novel Bone Scaffold Draws Strength from Tiny Silk Fibers

Every few months or so, researchers announce a new breakthrough with silk. For instance, earlier this year in March, scientists from the US Air Force Research Laboratory reported that they had transformed the material into a bactericidal fabric. In February, researchers at University of Akron had developed a spider-silk inspired thread for wound-healing applications.

Now, David Kaplan, PhD, chair of biomedical engineering at Tufts University, whose interest in silk goes back for decades, has helped develop a silk-reinforced biodegradable material that can provide significant mechanical support during bone repair. He and a group of biomedical engineers at Tufts University’s School of Engineering have developed micron-sized fibers that reinforce the matrix much as steel rebar reinforces concrete in construction. Potential applications of the scaffold include bone and tissue repair following accidents or diseases.

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