President-Elect Urges Electronic Medical Records – comments by Dr. Bill Crounse of Microsoft

<p> This is a great article and good comments from <strong><u>Dr. Bill Crounse at Microsoft. from ABC News.</u></strong>  <strong> If you read this blog often enough, you will find several posts relating back to his blog, as his posts are informative and he works hard at keeping interested readers up to date</strong>, not only here in the US, but he also shares <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/default.aspx"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="106" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWe3ueyeCMI/AAAAAAAAN0s/RwoUqqsLGOk/image%5B17%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="103" /></a>information from his travels and speaking engagements on what is happening outside the US.   </p> <p><strong><a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/default.aspx">You can find his blog here,</a></strong> or under my Blog Roll Section on the page, and here’s <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2009/01/09/electronic-medical-records-just-part-of-needed-transformation.aspx">a link to his post for today.</a>  </p> <p>  <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2009/01/09/electronic-medical-records-just-part-of-needed-transformation.aspx"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="263" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWe3wr_JFmI/AAAAAAAAN0w/eLcs5SAQKhA/image%5B11%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="366" /></a></p> <p><strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/himms-informative-and-influential.html">Last year I had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Crounse at HIMMS</a></strong> and we covered a lot of topics, and one thing of course we both have in common is that we are both avid Tablet PC fans, you will see quite a few posts on his blog relative to Tablets as well.  At HIMMS there were a lot of<strong> tablet pcs</strong> being shown in various booths, but I used my unit to work the show, in other words with every booth I visited, I had a business intelligence file already set up in <strong>One Note</strong> so I could take notes in real time with all I visited with, <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/sahara-slate-tablet-pc-i440d-from.html">Tablet PC, a</a></strong> great tool for working conventions. I was impressed as Dr. Crounse knew me as the “Medical Quack”, one huge compliment for me in knowing where this blog reaches at times. </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/himms-2008-summary-getting-organized-is.html"><font size="1"><strong>HIMMS 2008 Summary - Getting organized is the trick</strong></font></a></h4> <p>While at the show (with my tablet pc) I had an <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/electronic-medical-records-of-future.html">old demo version from Microsoft running on the tablet,</a></strong> and this was just before the public release on the Common User Interface project, and it drew a lot of attention.  I still keep seeing this YouTube video I made still popping up occasionally on websites today.  <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/tabletkiosk-i440d-sahara-tablet-video.html">I even got a little carried away</a></strong> with doing a speech recognition demo on the floor, which of course was not perfect, but rather just showing another way of interacting with a computer for input of medical records.  </p> <p>Back to the discussion at hand with medical records, one other thoughts that I have too on the subject is that it is a very complicated situation today.  As software algorithms continue to grow in complexity, so does the software, and that is everywhere we turn today.  This is rapidly presenting a need for standards and simplicity of use for the healthcare industry.  <a href="http://www.codeplex.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="53" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWe3xIi1ZNI/AAAAAAAAN00/aS6TYSm42is/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="163" /></a> </p> <p>Cost of course is a big ticket today with the state of our economy and something that can’t be overlooked, but where<strong> software developers can join force is to create a simpler, yet dynamic method for clinicians to use.</strong>  <strong><a href="http://www.codeplex.com/">Code Plex is a portion of Microsoft that is free and donated open source code</a></strong> available to any developer to work with and within Code Plex there is what is called <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/common-user-interface-update-and-walk.html">“A Common User Interface”</a> that any software company can download and develop. </p> <p><strong>So what is so important about standards and a common user interface – let me put this bluntly, it’s called ease of use and functionality.</strong>  Let’s take Dr. Smith who is on staff at 3 hospitals, each of them using a different medical records software system. <strong>Did I get your attention yet?</strong></p> <p>Well as we all complain about healthcare being so slow to adapt medical records, this one scores one big negativity factor for the doctors, does this doctor, who’s primary job is to take care of us, <strong>need to learn 3 different software systems,</strong> and how about the time it takes him.  Ok, we all go through software updates everywhere we go today, but keep in mind all the information about each patient that is flowing today to a physician.  <strong>It’s an administrative nightmare for the physician, no matter how you look at it and it’s no wonder the frustration and non-participation levels are high, put yourself in those shoes.</strong>   I have done my own little survey in asking doctors how they would feel if the screens and data entry were all the same at any hospital they happen to be on staff at or have a working relationship,<strong> do you think any of them said “no” I wouldn’t like that, of course not.</strong>  <u> I think one would have to be a bit crazy to say I like having 3 different input screens to learn, agree? </u></p> <p>So what we are talking about here is not only medical records, but a system that can work and have a familiar face at any facility.  The <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/common-user-interface-update-and-walk.html">Common User Interface</a>,</strong> as being developed by the NHS is something that should not be overlooked as much of the work is already done!  Do we really need to re-invent the wheel?   It does make me somewhat wonder if software developers are trying to do just that when reading articles such as this one, wondering what is going on here, are they trying to start from scratch?  </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/ge-mayo-clinic-others-to-develop-health.html"><font size="1">GE, Mayo Clinic, others to develop health record technology</font></a></h4> <p>I have a multitude of articles on the blog discussing the <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/common-user-interface-update-and-walk.html">Common User Interface,</a></strong> again free for taking and developing to perhaps one day bring the same dynamic data entry screens and processes to every hospital and physician’s office across the US.  Years ago I wrote a very simple EMR before the complexities of today and have followed the progress and am an active contributor and moderator on <strong><a href="http://www.emrupdate.com/forums/">EMR Update, a</a></strong> site discussing electronic medical records.  The physicians at <strong><a href="http://www.emrupdate.com/forums/">EMR Update</a></strong> came to know me around there a few years ago and we have a great exchange of technical and clinical information where input from both sides can lead to solutions and you will also find this blog syndicated there as well.  </p> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/ehrs-need-standard-templates-so-lets.html"><img align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SOuW8CfhrdI/AAAAAAAAJX4/HkLRVrmnr_k/image_thumb5.png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" /></a></p> <p><strong>Dr. Crounse on his blog also has a nice <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2008/09/26/test-drive-a-more-standardized-contemporary-and-intuitive-user-experience-for-clinical-systems.aspx">informative post about the Common User Interface with</a> links to the MSDN technical pages.</strong>  When you stop and think about it, the interface makes sense and I wonder where the delay is myself with developers who might not be taking a serious look at coming together to make the process easier, you have to think of the end user today with simplified software screens, otherwise it’s just another overloaded software system.<strong> Me, being a consultant too, just from my tiny corner of the word, how many software systems do I have to learn to be able to give support?  I feel the same as the doctors on this one.  (grin).</strong></p> <p>It just makes one wonder why perhaps we might not be a little more united in this effort to create a product that would have simplicity, dynamics, and something that would only require training on one interface, as the back end software could still function and query as usual.  The related reading below references many of my past posts on the subject and <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/common-user-interface-ehr-development.html">even one on a small developer in New Zealand who doesn’t even write code with a Microsoft product, but is making use of the interface</a> with his project.  </p> <p>In short, when it comes down to a system that will work, why don’t we all get together and take advantage of some valuable resources that are here today, built for the future and make it easier for the healthcare individuals we rely on to guide us to better healthcare?  </p> <p><em><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/microsoft-technology-centers-software.html"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="122" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SN7Gd9_ZgYI/AAAAAAAAJKc/c2IvPxP1Aw8/image_thumb%5B19%5D.png?imgmax=800" title="image" width="244" /></a></em></p> <p>In a related technology story, <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/vanderbilt-university-medical-center.html">I found my post on Vanderbilt’s internal website,</a> relating back to another solution for the <strong>instant detection of Sepsis,</strong> using Microsoft technology and the University is ready and willing to share with all. <strong><a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2008/04/02/patient-safety-screening-tool-for-sepsis-new-video.aspx">Dr, Crounse also has an in depth post on his blog that can be found here.</a></strong>  </p> <p>I also had a chance to talk with <strong>Hemang Patel from Microsoft’s mobility area of healthcare at HIMMS.</strong> You can view a <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2008/04/11/mobile-devices-and-solutions-for-healthcare.aspx">couple videos here</a> on Dr. Crouse's blog that have been posted in the past about healthcare as related to cell phone platforms.  </p> <p>One more item worth mentioning too is the availability of <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/microsoft-technology-centers-software.html">Microsoft Technical Centers,</a></strong> 16 locations where you can get free architecture help and get software up and running much faster.  Facilities as such might be able to help with programming of the <strong>Common User Interface</strong> too.  I have been to the facility in Irvine, and the link above mentions many of the local Irvine employees of Microsoft that I have the opportunity to learn from and interact with.  You get to see some very exciting technology too, see the link below about <strong>Microsoft Surface.</strong> </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/hospital-operator-demos-health-care.html"><font size="1">Hospital Operator Demos Health Care Application For Microsoft Surface</font></a></h4> <p>And more item worth a short note, <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/protein-folding-on-microsoft-surface.html">I was able to fold DNA protein on Surface</a></strong> while there one day for a meeting.  I mentioned this with my interview this week with <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/01/rosetta-genomics-interview-microrna-for.html">Rosetta Genomics</a> and he was very interested as well in how this could be done, as they work with microRNAs.  </p> <p>Long and short of all of this is that hopefully the Obama team will investigate and maybe find that most of the answers being sought out for solutions are already here, they just need to be instituted with a CTO that can get the job done for us and last but not least, we do have a couple good personal health records solutions that are there and available for consumers today.  My blog has many posts over the last year as well as permanent links for anyone to get started.  </p> <p><a href="https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=health&nui=1&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&followup=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&rm=hide"><img height="38" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SGRPjPR9NVI/AAAAAAAAH30/dA55nv_qrf4/googlehealth%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="95" /></a> <a href="http://www.healthvault.com/"><img height="40" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SM3q6TdZm-I/AAAAAAAAI90/u04OgRqDvPI/image%5B14%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="96" /></a></p> <p>The solutions are there for integration and technology today, standards and perhaps<u> unifying our efforts to become less fractured</u> will be the answer and again, I hope the Obama team is doing their homework here, and in time we will have a better idea of the direction we are heading without having to take time to re-invent the wheel.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><em>In the latest step toward the computerization of Americans' medical information, President-elect Barack Obama said in a speech Thursday that the government will push for electronic health records for all Americans within five years in order to save both dollars and lives.<img align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SCmrYmUInpI/AAAAAAAAGqA/e2Zfau-nbuk/image_thumb7.png?imgmax=800" /></em></p> <p><strong><em>Dr. Bill Crounse, senior director of worldwide health for the Microsoft Corporation, said that he is "thrilled that President-elect Barack Obama is stepping forward to carry the torch" with regard to the development of electronic medical records for all Americans. </em></strong></p> <p><em><strong>"The opportunity here is so much bigger than just electronic medical records," he said. "The opportunity is really to think in entirely new ways about how you do health care."</strong> </em></p> <p><em>Microsoft could well be one of the major players in the eventual development of such a system. The company launched a beta program of</em></p> <p><em>an online medical records program called Healthvault in 2007. The company now has partnered with Kaiser, the American Heart Association, the Cleveland Clinic and others in creating a user-accessible program and laying an infrastructure for others to build upon.</em></p> <p><em><strong>Crounse said that it is little surprise that few doctors -- particularly primary care doctors -- are stepping forward to invest what he says could be $25,000 in a system for electronic medical records.</strong> </em></p> <p><strong><em>"We're asking them to step up and spend a lot of money on electronic medical records. The doctors will say that a lot of the benefits of these systems accrue to everyone but the doctor." </em></strong></p> <p><em><strong>While he said that the benefits for doctors are there -- primarily in the form of improved patient safety and care -- this perception could give many doctors pause.</strong> </em></p> <p><strong><em>Ideally, Crounse and Robb both noted, these records would let patients manage their medical particulars in much the same way as they manage their financial matters online.</em></strong></p> <p><em>And Webb added that considering the current state of the country's health-care system, the time is ripe for change -- <strong>and government finds toward this effort would be money well spent.</strong></em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/President44/story?id=6606536&page=1">ABC News: President-Elect Urges Electronic Medical Records in 5 Years</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/himms-informative-and-influential.html">HIMMS - Informative and Influential People</a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/lawmakers-consider-adding-health-it-to.html"><font size="1">Lawmakers Consider Adding Health IT to Stimulus Package – We Need some Congressional Algorithms</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-federal-study-shows-barriers-to.html">New federal study shows barriers to healthcare IT - All over the place</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/bill-gates-testifies-before-congress.html">Bill Gates Testifies before Congress - more technology education needed before the US falls behind....</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-electronic-records-reach-your.html">How electronic records reach your doctor – Integrated through the Hospitals</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/ehr-adoption-remains-off-in-distance.html">EHR Adoption Remains Off in the Distance – Getting way to complicated</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/clinical-trials-in-us-begin-involving.html">Clinical Trials in the US – Begin involving the physicians and patients at the point of care to achieve greater success and participation with Personal Health Records</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/microsoft-technology-centers-software.html">Microsoft Technology Centers – Software Solutions with Assistance and Guidance</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/common-user-interface-update-and-walk.html">Common User Interface – Update and walk through video</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/07/healthcare-leaders-favor-personal.html">Healthcare leaders favor personal networks (Personal Health Records) to RHIOs for data exchange</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/social-security-likes-phrs-too-wanting.html">Social Security likes PHRs too – wanting to work with EMR and PHR software with pilot program</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/computer-technology-can-cut-into.html"><font size="1">Computer technology can cut into personalized patient care with complexity and complicated user interfaces</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/personalized-medicine-will-rely-on-it.html"><font size="1">Personalized medicine will rely on IT – It’s all about Software</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/scripps-navigenics-affymetrix-and.html">Scripps, Navigenics, Affymetrix and Microsoft team on groundbreaking health study – Personalized Medicine</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/ehrs-need-standard-templates-so-lets.html"><font size="1">EHRs need Standard Templates – So Let’s Look at the Common User Interface Project, a lot of the work is already in progress and partially completed</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/common-user-interface-ehr-development.html"><font size="1">Common User Interface – EHR Development Work in Progress</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/selling-bitter-emr-pill-himss-meeting.html"><font size="1">Selling the bitter EMR pill (HIMSS meeting) ...IT and IS, CIOs and CEOs...Quit Chopping Trees to find the answer...</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:fe148b35-110b-4916-84b1-896d8f5f1914" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medical+Records" rel="tag">Medical Records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft" rel="tag">Microsoft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Common+User+Interface" rel="tag">Common User Interface</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EHR" rel="tag">EHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EMR" rel="tag">EMR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/User+Interface" rel="tag">User Interface</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medical+Software" rel="tag">Medical Software</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Templates" rel="tag">Templates</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare+standards" rel="tag">healthcare standards</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ehealth" rel="tag">ehealth</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/interoperability" rel="tag">interoperability</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Obama+Healthcare+Plan" rel="tag">Obama Healthcare Plan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tablet+PC" rel="tag">Tablet PC</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HIMMS" rel="tag">HIMMS</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Crounse" rel="tag">Crounse</a></div>

President-Elect Urges Electronic Medical Records – comments by Dr. Bill Crounse of Microsoft

This is a great article and good comments from Dr. Bill Crounse at Microsoft. from ABC News.   If you read this blog often enough, you wil...

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FDA scientists plea for agency reform – Technology will help with Transparency

<p> One of the real benefits of technology is that with software,<strong> 10 people can collaborate and review the same files, big breakthrough or surprise here?</strong>  Of course it is and with<u> having transparency instead of a paper folder tucked away somewhere, this will do wonders</u>.  Managers and scientists alike will be able to collaborate and know what the other is doing at all times, like a nice Share Point Server can do.  </p> <p><strong>As reported earlier this year some reports were still being written in longhand on paper!</strong>  You can see my somewhat sarcastic call out to Intel below to get all the folks at the FDA some “classmates” (inexpensive computers) that would be affordable if money and budgets were the issue (grin).  </p> <p><strong>Collaboration and Transparency are the name of the game today</strong> and it involves everyone using technology, like it or not, it’s part of the world we live in today.  BD  </p> <p><em><font size="1"><u>From a post earlier this year:</u></font></em></p> <p><em><font size="1">Next bunch, the FDA, they too were writing studies up long hand up until not too long ago and I can reflect back on a <img align="right" height="94" src="http://lh3.google.com/DucknetServices/R6ODTcwu9AI/AAAAAAAACjI/ePP10OGU3T8/image_thumb%5B1%5D?imgmax=800" width="108" /> somewhat </font></em><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/02/study-calling-for-medical-device.html"><em><font size="1">sarcastic comment I made in February</font></em></a><em><font size="1"> about helping the FDA with some inexpensive "Classmate" computers from Intel.  It is absolutely amazing what folks "don't" and "won't" work with.  So, now we have 2 entities still writing up studies and results in long hand, doctors wrote them up that way, FDA analyzes and wrote up a long hand report, so what's up with this!  <strong>Sounds like we have a 2 part issue here.</strong></font></em></p> <p><strong><em><font size="1"><u>And one more:</u>  </font></em></strong></p> <p><em><font size="1">On a prior post it was noted that the FDA needs some new technology...as the article states that <u>key employees were still writing these things out in longhand</u>...on paper...as technology continues to grow, those in responsible positions could certainly benefit with some technology updates, at least with hardware for a start...</font></em></p> <p><strong><em><font size="1">Hello Intel...anybody listening...maybe </font></em><a href="http://www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/bios/barrett.htm"><em><font size="1">Craig Barrett</font></em></a><em><font size="1">...could we get some </font></em><a href="http://www.intel.com/intel/worldahead/classmatepc/"><em><font size="1">Classmates</font></em></a><em><font size="1"> over there to help out??  BD</font></em></strong></p> <blockquote>The scientists say managers have demanded and intimidated FDA scientists to manipulate data, the <em>Wall Street Journal</em> reports, and honest employees can't act with integrity without fear of reprisal. "There is an atmosphere at the FDA in which the honest employee fears the dishonest employee," the letter states. The scientists say they've taken their concerns to Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach and others, but no action was taken.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/fda-scientists-plea-agency-reform/2009-01-09?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss&cmp-id=OTC-RSS-FP0">FDA scientists plea for agency reform - FiercePharma</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/medicine-is-low-tech-business-clinical.html"><font size="1">Medicine is a Low Tech Business - Clinical Studies still done on paper too!</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/04/fda-head-we-boosting-it.html"><font size="1">FDA Head: We're Boosting I.T.</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/02/study-calling-for-medical-device.html"><font size="1">Study Calling For Medical Device Information To Better Serve Patients And Doctors from the FDA</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:06be9a97-36e2-48fe-840a-2ce385eaa473" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Technology" rel="tag">Technology</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tablet+PC" rel="tag">Tablet PC</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Windows+Mobile" rel="tag">Windows Mobile</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Clinical+Trials" rel="tag">Clinical Trials</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Documentation" rel="tag">Documentation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medical+Records" rel="tag">Medical Records</a></div>

FDA scientists plea for agency reform – Technology will help with Transparency

One of the real benefits of technology is that with software, 10 people can collaborate and review the same files, big breakthrough or sur...

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Teva to Distribute Three Rosetta Genomics Cancer Diagnosis Tests in Israel and Turkey

<p><font size="2"> If you read my interview with Rosetta earlier this week, you will know how important these tests are in diagnosing “cancer of the unknown primary” </font><a href="http://www.rosettagenomics.com/"><font color="#000000" size="2"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="101" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW-eBqW5bI/AAAAAAAANyo/XcA04Rd2jaM/image%5B7%5D.png?imgmax=800" title="image" width="123" /></font></a><font size="2">with lung cancer tumors.  In case you missed it, here’s the link below:</font></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/01/rosetta-genomics-interview-microrna-for.html">Rosetta Genomics Interview – microRNA for Diagnosing Lung Cancer Tumors</a></h4> <p><strong><a href="http://www.rosettagenomics.com/index.asp"><em><font size="1">Rosetta Genomics</font></em></a></strong><em><font size="1"> – Today I had the opportunity to speak with and interview <strong>Ronen Tamir, Chief Commercialization Officer,</strong> at Rosetta to find out how </font></em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroRNA"><em><font size="1">microRNA</font></em></a><em><font size="1"> is helping diagnose and treat cancer.</font></em>  </p> <p><font size="1"><b>miRview™ squamous</b> is a microRNA-based molecular diagnostic test that accurately differentiates squamous from non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</font></p> <p><font size="1"><b>miRview™ mets</b> is a microRNA-based molecular diagnostic test that identifies the tissue-of-origin of metastatic tumors.</font></p> <p><font size="1"><b>miRview™ meso</b> is a microRNA-based molecular diagnostic test that differentiates malignant pleural mesothelioma from peripheral adenocarcinomas of the lung or metastatic carcinomas involving the lung pleura.</font></p> <p><font size="2">The tests are making it able to locate the source of cancer for many patients where the diagnosis has never been found and will lead to better coordinated treatment plans for lung cancer.  BD</font></p> <blockquote> <p>NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) — Rosetta Genomics has inked an agreement under which Teva Pharmaceutical Industries will distribute three of the company’s microRNA-based molecular diagnostic cancer tests in Israel and Turkey. </p> <p>Rosetta Genomics Chief Commercialization Officer Ronen Tamir said that because Israel has provided its citizens with health insurance under the National Health Law it is “a very attractive market,” adding that Turkey is “a country with significant market potential.”</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.genomeweb.com/issues/news/151653-1.html">GenomeWeb News: Teva to Distribute Three Rosetta Genomics Cancer Dx Tests in Israel, Turkey</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:079e475a-44df-472c-9c94-2d42c0cfa0b0" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rosetta" rel="tag">Rosetta</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Genomics" rel="tag">Genomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer+Tests" rel="tag">Cancer Tests</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lung+Cancer" rel="tag">Lung Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Biotech" rel="tag">Biotech</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cancer+treatment" rel="tag">cancer treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/green" rel="tag">green</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/microarray" rel="tag">microarray</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/microRNA" rel="tag">microRNA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/personalized+medicine" rel="tag">personalized medicine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Teva" rel="tag">Teva</a></div>

Teva to Distribute Three Rosetta Genomics Cancer Diagnosis Tests in Israel and Turkey

If you read my interview with Rosetta earlier this week, you will know how important these tests are in diagnosing “cancer of the unknown p...

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TrialX.org – Clinical Investigator Sign up Now Available – Integrates with HealthVault and Google Health PHRs to locate available clinical trials based on health records

<p> As the project has been progressing, the site is now open for investigators to sign up. The related reading section below will give more details on how TrialX will work with the PHRs to find a trial that is suited for you, based on your health records.</p> <p>You can also do a general search from the widget on the blog as well, but the benefit of using the PHR records is that is will cut to the chase and find those that are a true fit and the software will initiate the formatted letters and correspondence with the investigators, so less work for the other end as well and the investigator will have all your information up front, when you decide to make contact. Investigator submissions for sign up will need to be verified. The website also has alerts for both sides that can be customized for notifications. BD </p> <blockquote> <h5><strong><u>From the website: </u></strong></h5> <h5><a href="http://trialx.org/accounts/register?investigator=1"><img alt="image" border="0" height="65" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWbpU7X5tbI/AAAAAAAAN0o/NFU2mMIUDe8/image%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline;" title="image" width="192" /></a></h5> <h5>Why create an account on TrialX?</h5> <ul> <li>Specify your clinical trials </li> <li>Communicate with potential participants for your clinical trials </li> <li>Get statistics on your trial views and matches </li> </ul> <h6><strong><u>Listing of your trials on TrialX is completely FREE!</u></strong></h6> <p>TrialX allows any clinical trial investigator to sign up and make their clinical trials available to Internet users. In this help section, we provide answers to commonly asked questions for the <a href="http://trialx.org/accounts/register?investigator=1">Investigator Sign Up</a> page.</p> <p><strong>What does Institution Name Field Mean?</strong></p> <p>We require that you provide us information about the organization/institution that you are affiliated with and under which perform your clinical research work.</p> <p><strong>What if I'm affiliated with multiple Institutions?</strong></p> <p>We require only one institution during Sign Up. You can add multiple institutions for all your trials, anytime after you signup.</p> <p><strong>I cannot find my Institution name in your list. What do I do?</strong></p> <p>TrialX allows investigators to enter any institution that they are affiliated with. Simply click on the institution field section and enter your institution. The "Find institution" listing is only meant to save your time in entering your institution information.</p> <p><strong>Why does it say that my username xxx@yyy.com is already taken</strong></p> <p>Your account already exists on TrialX. You may have registered before and we provide only one account per email. Please go to <a href="http://trialx.org/recoverpass">Forgot Password</a> page and we will email you instructions to recover your password.</p> <p><strong>Why do you require my institution email address as username?</strong></p> <p>We allow any email address as the username but providing your institution email address will help us verify your affiliation with the institution and expedite the process of approving your listed trials. We strive to provide potential participants with accurate information and need to verify the investigator submissions.</p> <p><a href="https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=health&nui=1&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&followup=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&rm=hide"><img height="38" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SGRPjPR9NVI/AAAAAAAAH30/dA55nv_qrf4/googlehealth%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="95" /></a> <a href="http://www.healthvault.com/"><img height="40" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SM3q6TdZm-I/AAAAAAAAI90/u04OgRqDvPI/image%5B14%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="96" /></a></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://trialx.org/accounts/register?investigator=1">TrialX.org - Connecting Participants to Clinical Trial Investigators</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/clinical-trials-and-personal-health.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">Clinical Trials and Personal Health Records – New Resources on the Medical Quack</span></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/clinical-trials-in-us-begin-involving.html">Clinical Trials in the US – Begin involving the physicians and patients at the point of care to achieve greater success and participation with Personal Health Records</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/study-predicts-big-savings-from-phrs.html">Study Predicts Big Savings from PHRs (Personal Health Records) – Best Kept Secret in Healthcare?</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/are-electronic-and-personal-health.html">Are electronic and personal health records inevitable? – Sure they are but we need education and mentors to make it work!</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/surveys-said-hospitals-cutting-back-on.html">Surveys Said: Hospitals Cutting Back on I.T. – Time to Get your PHR</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/technology-its-for-those-guys-over.html">Technology “It’s for Those Guys Over There” said the CEO – I Don’t Do Digital Notes</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/changing-paradigms-personal-health.html">Changing Paradigms – Personal Health Records Showing Real Value – Ask Aetna</a></h6> <div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline; float: none;" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f0b2cf66-2f3c-4c89-a65d-911aa3bda009" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Clinical+trials" rel="tag">Clinical trials</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/web+2.0" rel="tag">web 2.0</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PHR" rel="tag">PHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/medical+records" rel="tag">medical records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Google+Health" rel="tag">Google Health</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HealthVault" rel="tag">HealthVault</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/TrialX.org" rel="tag">TrialX.org</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/clinical+investigators" rel="tag">clinical investigators</a></div>

TrialX.org – Clinical Investigator Sign up Now Available – Integrates with HealthVault and Google Health PHRs to locate available clinical trials based on health records

As the project has been progressing, the site is now open for investigators to sign up. The related reading section below will give more d...

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Zoom (ZIPI) Add in for Microsoft Outlook – Zoom Address Book in Outlook

<p>It has been a while since I have posted about software that I like and use.  This has to be one of the biggest time savers for locating individuals.  When sending an email, after you have installed the add on, a new screen will appear.  The first tab does a search through your Outlook Contacts, and in the image below, I did a simple look up for myself.  <strong><a href="http://www.zoominfo.com/About/zipi/WhatIsZipi.aspx">ZIPI for Outlook</a></strong> creates an entire index of all your contacts in Outlook as well and they are NOT shared with what is on the web.  Additional professional services are available for companies as well.  </p> <p><a href="http://www.zoominfo.com/About/zipi/WhatIsZipi.aspx"><img alt="image" border="0" height="95" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWbdkM9BrGI/AAAAAAAAN0E/dSqEuRa8RjQ/image%5B22%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="292" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWbdme-Rj4I/AAAAAAAAN0I/TilCtMtxpcM/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="353" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWbdoK673RI/AAAAAAAAN0M/Lq79-uxwVO4/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="288" /></a> </p> <p>Now the second tab will use the web to find me and my <a href="http://www.zoominfo.com/">Zoom profile</a> is not complete yet for searching other than the blog, but it did find another Barbara Duck, but anyway you get the idea here, as it will mine the web for you in Zoom.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWbdpRM-FHI/AAAAAAAAN0Q/uzOzNI3_Yts/s1600-h/image%5B8%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="203" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWbdqci4YTI/AAAAAAAAN0U/4mf8zjl4pbY/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="300" /></a> </p> <p>Now I did a search by occupation, typed in doctor and had over 400 entries appear, and of course you would want to filter more than this, and this was only done for a demo.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWbdrF7iXaI/AAAAAAAAN0Y/hoxHZgVSqF4/s1600-h/image%5B12%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="183" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWbdsvx-sGI/AAAAAAAAN0c/4uMtw-bCUgs/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="283" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>But if I wanted to email any of them, the email addresses are ready to go.  Great way to find additional business people in Zoom.  This sure makes it easier to have it contained in Outlook rather than having to go to the web for a quick look up.  BD </p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWbduWTt4VI/AAAAAAAAN0g/vO3Xw5WpmRA/s1600-h/image%5B17%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="169" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWbdvb1yftI/AAAAAAAAN0k/ifH-9h_JGog/image_thumb%5B9%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="281" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.zoominfo.com/">http://www.zoominfo.com/</a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a64802e6-797f-4673-bc6c-b1e853c7820a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Zoom" rel="tag">Zoom</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Oulook+add+on" rel="tag">Oulook add on</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft+Outlook" rel="tag">Microsoft Outlook</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Contacts" rel="tag">Contacts</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mining" rel="tag">Mining</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/business+networking" rel="tag">business networking</a></div>

Zoom (ZIPI) Add in for Microsoft Outlook – Zoom Address Book in Outlook

It has been a while since I have posted about software that I like and use.  This has to be one of the biggest time savers for locating indi...

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California Supreme Court bans ER 'balance billing'

<p> This is good news for patients in not having to battle the insurance companies, but perhaps not so good for the doctors, as the president of the CMA (California Medical Association) states below, I guess I have to go to court.</p> <p>But when you look at this, it should not be a battle between doctors and patients to begin with, <strong>it’s the other party, the insurance carriers</strong> who <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWbVMIlEn0I/AAAAAAAANz8/qaQG_LcHQiM/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="145" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWbVNUN6-oI/AAAAAAAAN0A/xmENXMFhS-o/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="104" /></a>created the situation.  With contracts getting lower all the time and the need to almost have an attorney these days to interpret what is covered and for how much, how can anyone win here.  Similar battles with payments from insurers are going on in Massachusetts with Tufts getting ready to end their contracts with Blue Cross, so it’s back down to<strong> “will  someone please pay this bill”.</strong>  </p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/will-greed-lead-to-meltdown-of-health.html">Will Greed lead to Meltdown of the Health System?</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2009/01/health-insurance-reserves-how-much-is.html"><font size="1">Health Insurance Reserves – How much is in the till, could it be 1 or 2 trillion nationwide?</font></a></h4> <p>I certainly want to have a physician available to take care of me, and yes I feel he/she should be paid for their time too, but when complicated algorithms or formulas are run after the fact, like a Monday morning quarterback of sorts, how can you win?   Sure, there could be room for errors and those issues should be looked at, but again it’s the risk management formulas that tend to be ruling healthcare today and not the pursuit of better healthcare.  If the HMOs contracts were not so low on compensation and complicated, then none of this would have probably ever taken place.  BD </p> <blockquote> <p>The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that emergency room doctors can’t bill patients when their health plan doesn’t pay enough to cover their bills.</p> <p>In an unanimous ruling in Prospect Medical Group v. Northridge Medical Center, the high court said the matter must be resolved between doctors and patients, therefore prohibiting doctors from “balance billing” patients to recover their costs.</p> <p>Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose Department of Managed Care issued regulations last year banning the practice, applauded the court action. So did the HMO industry. Doctors blasted it for forcing doctors and hospitals to eat the cost of emergency medical care HMOs refuse to cover.</p> <p>“As a trauma surgeon, my No. 1 priority is to save lives and protect the health of my patients,” CMA president Dr. Dev GnanaDev said in a press release. “This court ruling basically says if I do my job as I see fit and HMOs don’t want to pay, tough luck, go to court. I signed up to be a doctor, not a lawyer.”</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2009/01/05/daily53.html">State Supreme Court bans ER 'balance billing' - Sacramento Business Journal:</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/desperate-hospitals-updated-november-21.html">Desperate Hospitals – Updated November 21, 2008</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/hospitals-put-patients-debt-up-for.html">Hospitals Put Patients' Debt Up for Auction</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/judge-rules-on-balance-billing-in.html">Judge Rules on Balance Billing in California – Physicians not be able to balance bil</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/health-plans-offer-comprehensive-reform.html">Health Care Insurers Suggest Algorithms and Business Intelligence solutions to provide health insurance solution</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/doctors-fight-balance-billing-ban-on.html">Doctors fight balance-billing ban on out-of-network costs to survive</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/medical-bills-you-shouldn-pay-balance.html">Medical Bills You Shouldn't Pay - The balance billing issue is alive and well</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/will-greed-lead-to-meltdown-of-health.html">Will Greed lead to Meltdown of the Health System?</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/california-health-insurance-companies.html">California Health Insurance Companies Spend $10.3 Billion On Administration And Profit</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/01/insurers-reserves-criticized.html">Insurers' reserves criticized</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:3052d579-a38b-4287-b199-a10f00cfbf35" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Balance+billing" rel="tag">Balance billing</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Balance+ER+billing" rel="tag">Balance ER billing</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/California+Supreme+Court" rel="tag">California Supreme Court</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Insurance+carriers" rel="tag">Insurance carriers</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heatlhcare" rel="tag">heatlhcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HMO" rel="tag">HMO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hospitals" rel="tag">hospitals</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/contracts" rel="tag">contracts</a></div>

California Supreme Court bans ER 'balance billing'

This is good news for patients in not having to battle the insurance companies, but perhaps not so good for the doctors, as the president o...

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Atlanta Hospitals to Grady Memorial – Can’t Help as we have our own issues

<p> They did come to the table with some ideas, but the five other other hospitals said no to a tax to help out.  The related reading has some past articles about the history of recent and financial struggles of Grady Hospital in Atlanta.  BD </p> <blockquote> <p>Metro Atlanta hospitals turned down <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/related_content.html?topic=Grady%20Memorial%20Hospital">Grady Memorial Hospital</a>’s request for $30 million over five years to help the safety net hospital <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SMSwfUjlAtI/AAAAAAAAI3o/ujO35rAKNRQ/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="117" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SMSwgYr5z7I/AAAAAAAAI3s/V1VrqCV5KVI/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="148" /></a>offset its ballooning indigent care tab.</p> <p>On Dec. 15, Grady made its case for more support before top industry executives at a private meeting hosted by the <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/related_content.html?topic=Georgia%20Hospital%20Association">Georgia Hospital Association</a> (GHA). The hospitals sent Grady a letter on Jan. 6 to give their decision.</p> <p>In the letter, obtained by Atlanta Business Chronicle, area hospitals disputed Grady’s assertion that they steer uninsured and underinsured patients to Grady.</p> <p><strong>“Our own internal data shows that in these troubling economic times, all hospitals throughout Metropolitan Atlanta are shouldering the growing burden of treating those who cannot pay,” the letter noted.</strong></p> <p>Metro Atlanta hospitals, in the letter, made clear they would oppose a new tax on them, but offered Grady help in other ways, including creating a “community indigent care consortium” to direct funds and other assistance to major Grady cost centers such as outpatient dialysis and radiation therapy.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/01/05/daily66.html">Hospitals dismiss Grady's $30M request - Atlanta Business Chronicle:</a></p> <p><font size="1">Related Reading:</font></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/human-error-to-blame-for-grady-data.html"><font size="1">Human error to blame for Grady data breach</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/nonprofit-hospital-battles-to-protect.html"><font size="1">Nonprofit Hospital Battles to Protect Tax Exemption</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/grady-to-other-hospitals-take-your.html"><font size="1">Grady to other hospitals: Take your share of poor patients</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/kaiser-permanente-will-donate-5-million.html"><font size="1">Kaiser Permanente will donate $5 million to Grady Memorial Hospital - more desperate hospitals</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/desperate-hospitals-grady-financial.html"><font size="1">Desperate Hospitals - Grady's financial cure in question</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/08/grady-hospital-woes-hit-big-screens.html"><font size="1">Grady Hospital Woes Hit Big Screens</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/05/portrait-of-er-at-breaking-point.html"><font size="1">Portrait of an ER at the Breaking Point</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:bef065ab-6d37-48c9-9ab2-1a8af3bcacfe" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Grady+Memorial+Hospital" rel="tag">Grady Memorial Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/desperate+hospitals" rel="tag">desperate hospitals</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Atlanta+healthcare" rel="tag">Atlanta healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/insolvency" rel="tag">insolvency</a></div>

Atlanta Hospitals to Grady Memorial – Can’t Help as we have our own issues

They did come to the table with some ideas, but the five other other hospitals said no to a tax to help out.  The related reading has some ...

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Harvard Physician Suggests Getting a Personal Health Record Account

<p> Until all health care facilities are electronically connected, a PHR is the common denominator that will get the job done for you and your doctor. BD</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>What you can do to get personalized medical treatment - <strong>Howard E. LeWine, M.D., Harvard Medical School</strong></strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977557130&grpId=3659174697246155&nav=Groupspace"><img alt="image" border="0" height="92" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWa2Br28xnI/AAAAAAAANz4/YsCyPWbgAWI/image%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none ; display: inline;" title="image" width="355" /></a> </p> <p>Even with the limits that I describe, you and your doctor can very much personalize your medical care. Organizing your medical information is really the first step toward personalized medicine.<strong> An increasingly popular way to have your medical information in one place is to create a Personal Health Record. Google, Microsoft, and several insurance companies offer this service for free.</strong> This is your record and cannot be viewed by anyone without your consent. You decide who has access to your medical information.</p> <p><a href="https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=health&nui=1&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&followup=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhealth%2Fp%2F&rm=hide"><img height="38" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SGRPjPR9NVI/AAAAAAAAH30/dA55nv_qrf4/googlehealth%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="95" /></a> <a href="http://www.healthvault.com/"><img height="40" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SM3q6TdZm-I/AAAAAAAAI90/u04OgRqDvPI/image%5B14%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="96" /></a></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977557130&grpId=3659174697246155&nav=Groupspace">How to keep the “Personal” in Personalized Medicine | Gather</a></p> <div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline; float: none;" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:941a6a88-693e-4d76-b9ac-273bb00e9bb8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PHR" rel="tag">PHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Personal+Health+Record" rel="tag">Personal Health Record</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medical+Records" rel="tag">Medical Records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HealthVault" rel="tag">HealthVault</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Google+Health" rel="tag">Google Health</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/online+records" rel="tag">online records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Harvard+Medical+School" rel="tag">Harvard Medical School</a></div>

Harvard Physician Suggests Getting a Personal Health Record Account

Until all health care facilities are electronically connected, a PHR is the common denominator that will get the job done for you and your ...

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Health Insurance Reserves – How much is in the till, could it be 1 or 2 trillion nationwide?

<p> This is only one branch of one insurance company in Maryland, but it does make you wonder if<strong> all the “reserves” of all healthcare insurance companies were all added together nationwide, how big of piggy bank would we have? </strong> The story states this group sits on 1.7 billion.  There are even laws around that supposedly govern the amount of “reserves” to be on hand to keep a company from being insolvent, but that didn’t help AIG recently and with today’s state of affairs is there any guarantee, maybe ask Wall Street?   The Dow Jones employees were given a wage freeze today.</p> <p>From a post last year, 3 carriers in the state of <strong>Washington found this group of 3 carriers had 2.2 billion</strong> and that was in the year 2006 so there might be a good chance the bank roll has increased a bit.  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWazj-8ARiI/AAAAAAAANzw/7olCCutd0pc/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="103" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWazk-pJSVI/AAAAAAAANz0/Ib99_QD-ymQ/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="146" /></a> </p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/01/insurers-reserves-criticized.html"><font size="1">Insurers' reserves criticized</font></a></h4> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/01/private-health-insurance-study-finds.html"><font size="1">Update:</font></a><font size="1">  2 consumer groups disputing and want financial information relative to health care insurers in Washington...<strong>as the study finds 2.2 billion in cash surplus</strong>...if this is true I don't even want to think about how much California insurers might have.....insurers claim the figures are not correct...BD</font>  </p> <p>Anyway, just something to ponder and think about if all “reserves” for all health insurance companies across the US were lumped together, how much money just sits there, as it is not operating capital, or dividends paid to stockholders either, but there must be enough of a cushion as<strong> <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/bluecross-blueshield-create-new-venture.html">Blue Cross had enough to start a Venture Capital firm</a></strong> lately and <strong>I don’t see any insurers volunteering any relief funds to perhaps help out some of the charities that were recently hit by the Madoff Ponzi scheme.</strong>  I read somewhere too that these funds could be used to help out financially in the case of a world wide bird flu breakout.  </p> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/beware-of-geeks-bearing-formulaswarren.html"><font size="2">Beware of Geeks Bearing Formulas</font></a></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/desperate-hospitals-updated-november-21.html"><font size="2">Desperate Hospitals – Updated November 21, 2008</font></a></h4> <p>I write and read about so many having problems getting their needs met, those who have insurance, not to mention the non insured in this case that exist in growing numbers as well.  <strong>Hospitals are going broke and having to put their debt up for auction in some areas as they are not recession proof, they cut employees,</strong> cut back on purchases, expansions, and other areas, <strong>but the piggy bank never gets tapped.</strong>  Does risk management completely run healthcare?  Scary, but it sure looks like this is getting to be the case and it gets stronger every year.  <strong>Are there any algorithms around that might give us some transparent information?</strong>  <strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/2-new-hot-words-in-healthcare.html">Algorithms and Whistleblowers</a></strong> are still two hot words today in healthcare, hotter perhaps than they should be.  BD    </p> <blockquote> <p><em>Physicians, health care advocates and government officials in Maryland and Washington, D.C., have long questioned the level of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield's reserves.</em></p> <p><em>Now Maryland's insurance commissioner will try to get an independent ruling on whether the plan's rainy day fund is more than is necessary for a rainy day. <strong> According to its most recent filing with the National Assn. of Insurance Commissioners, the company had nearly $1.7 billion in reserve.</strong></em></p> <p><em>Commissioner Ralph Tyler in December 2008 said his office would issue a request for proposals soliciting an audit of the reserves and hoped to have someone working on the project in early 2009. There is no word on when the audit would be complete.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/01/05/bisb0105.htm">AMNews: Jan. 5, 2009. Maryland insurance commissioner seeks audit of CareFirst reserves ... American Medical News</a></p> <p><u><strong>Related Reading:</strong></u></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/health-insurance-feeling-pinch-well.html"><font size="1">Health Insurance feeling the pinch, well a little pinch</font></a></h4> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/madoff-scam-hits-harvard-medical-school.html">Madoff Scam Hits Harvard Medical School Grants and affiliate Beth Israel Medical Center</a></h6> <p><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/wall-street-greed-and-fraud-hits-boston.html"><font size="1">Wall Street Greed and Fraud Hits Boston Hospitals and Healthcare - donors bilked out of millions</font></a></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/blue-crossblue-shield-of-massachusetts.html">Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts reports $57.6 million profit for the 3rd quarter</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/bluecross-blueshield-create-new-venture.html">BlueCross BlueShield Create New Venture Capital Organization</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/health-insurers-reinvent-themselves-as.html">Health insurers reinvent themselves as money managers – Banks</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/01/california-regulators-to-audit-health.html">California regulators to audit health insurers</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/08/blue-cross-blue-shield-starts-new-bank.html">Blue Cross Blue Shield starts new bank for customers</a></h6> <p><a name="8081255440662183319"><font color="#669966" size="1"></font></a></p> <h6><font color="#669966"></font></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/07/wellpoint-settles-calif-lawsuit-and.html"><font color="#669966"></font></a></h6> <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/01/insurers-reserves-criticized.html"><font size="1">Insurer's Reserves Criticized</font></a> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/01/private-health-insurance-study-finds.html">Private health insurance study finds disparity between profits, coverage</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/2-new-hot-words-in-healthcare.html">The 2 New Hot Words in Healthcare: Algorithms and Whistleblowers</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/desperate-hospitals-updated-november-21.html">Desperate Hospitals – Updated November 21, 2008</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/hospitals-put-patients-debt-up-for.html">Hospitals Put Patients' Debt Up for Auction</a></h6> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:1fb3c303-8e01-4136-940f-13f7837cb6c3" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health+Insurance" rel="tag">Health Insurance</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health+Insurance+Reserves" rel="tag">Health Insurance Reserves</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Blue+Cross" rel="tag">Blue Cross</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Venture+Capital" rel="tag">Venture Capital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Desperate+Hospitals" rel="tag">Desperate Hospitals</a></div>

Health Insurance Reserves – How much is in the till, could it be 1 or 2 trillion nationwide?

This is only one branch of one insurance company in Maryland, but it does make you wonder if all the “reserves” of all healthcare insuranc...

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Response Genetics to Triple Size of Sales Force to market Genomic Based Cancer Tests

<p> The company offers test for markers for cancer treatment for both lung and colon cancer to help determine which treatment plans will benefit the patient.  The use of genetic testing is getting very specific as well as the tests and expressions.  </p> <p><em><font size="1">“RGI has determined ranges of ERCC1 expression values that will optimally classify tumors into categories of low and high probability of response to platinum-based therapy. The ERCC1 test can help doctors to make informed decisions about whether to recommend platinum versus non-platinum therapies for NSCLC.”</font></em></p> <blockquote> <p><font size="2"><em>NEW YORK (GenomeWeb</em> News) – <a href="http://www.responsegenetics.com/">Response Genetics</a> said today that it intends to triple the size of its sales force in response to higher demand for its ResponseDx genetic testing services.</font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWaj4s6CoSI/AAAAAAAANzo/sT-UythHouk/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><font size="2"><a href="http://www.responsegenetics.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="51" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWaj7PvKmGI/AAAAAAAANzs/eT4cNXWUazA/image%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="244" /></a></font></a><font size="2"> </font></p> <p><font size="2"><strong>According to Response Genetics, it has sold more than 500 of its ResponseDx: Lung and ResponseDx: Colon tests since their launch in September 2008.</strong> It said that sales figures have surpassed the firm’s initial goals. The firm also noted that it is experiencing a reorder rate of more than 90 percent for the PCR-based tests, which are offered through Response Genetics’ CLIA-certified lab and through NeoGenomics Laboratories, which inked </font><a href="http://www.genomeweb.com/issues/news/149700-1.html"><font size="2">a deal</font></a><font size="2"> in September to offer the tests.</font></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.genomeweb.com/issues/news/151681-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS">GenomeWeb News: Response Genetics to Triple Size of Sales Force</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:de2a3d7a-3888-44c8-a4ff-7c7005c2f048" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/pharmacogenomics" rel="tag">pharmacogenomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cancer" rel="tag">cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/tests" rel="tag">tests</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/DNA" rel="tag">DNA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/genomics" rel="tag">genomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/biotech" rel="tag">biotech</a></div>

Response Genetics to Triple Size of Sales Force to market Genomic Based Cancer Tests

The company offers test for markers for cancer treatment for both lung and colon cancer to help determine which treatment plans will benefi...

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Wynonna Judd teams up with alli® to lose weight

<p> Why, because it is FDA approved she says.  alli could be making a comeback of sorts.  We all remember the jokes and comments made about the <a href="http://www.myalli.com/mystorymyalli/Myalli.aspx"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="77" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWafqJo2KTI/AAAAAAAANzk/XUuZZB7ULZc/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="135" /></a>instructions from a short while back from the likes of Jay Leno on the Tonight Show, reminding all to bring a change of clothes with you when using the drug.  GlaxoSmithKline manufactures the drug and it is available over the counter.  </p> <p>The alli website is here and  it is used to promote weight loss.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><strong>Parsippany,</strong> <strong>NJ</strong> <strong>(January 7, 2009)</strong> - alli announced today the signing of music superstar Wynonna Judd as the face of the over-the-counter weight loss aid.  Its sensible and easy-to-use program led Judd to alli, and she looks forward to sharing her experiences and encouragement with others on their journeys toward living healthier lives. </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.fiercebiotech.com/press-releases/wynonna-judd-reveals-her-alli-her-story-finding-healthier-lifestyle">Wynonna Judd reveals her alli®, her story for finding a healthier lifestyle – FierceBiotech</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:56f76e55-d0c4-4b24-a265-f660e6f9785f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/alli" rel="tag">alli</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/weight+loss" rel="tag">weight loss</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Judd" rel="tag">Judd</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/GlaxoSmithKline" rel="tag">GlaxoSmithKline</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/obesity" rel="tag">obesity</a></div>

Wynonna Judd teams up with alli® to lose weight

Why, because it is FDA approved she says.  alli could be making a comeback of sorts.  We all remember the jokes and comments made about the...

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Rosetta Genomics Interview – microRNA for Diagnosing Lung Cancer Tumors

<h4><strong><u>Tests to detect cancer of the unknown primary</u></strong></h4> <p><strong><a href="http://www.rosettagenomics.com/index.asp">Rosetta Genomics</a></strong> – Today I had the opportunity to speak with and interview <strong>Ronen Tamir, Chief Commercialization Officer,</strong> at Rosetta to find out how <a href="http://www.rosettagenomics.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="101" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW-eBqW5bI/AAAAAAAANyo/XcA04Rd2jaM/image%5B7%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="image" width="123" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroRNA">microRNA</a> is helping diagnose and treat cancer. </p> <p>If you have been keeping up with the news of late, Rosetta in the last couple of weeks has had <u>3 press releases</u> announcing their new <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroRNA">microRNA</a> tests which they will begin offering to help doctors analyze and determine diagnosis of certain types of lung cancer and where cancer has it’s origins. This is expected to help doctors decide<u> </u>what type of cancer is to be treated. <strong>The use of microRNAs will give accurate information about the cancer they are dealing with and aid doctors in guiding personalized treatment plans, specific to the type of cancer that is detected.</strong></p> <p>In other words, a tumor from the lung might not actually be lung cancer, but rather a cancer that has originated in another organ that has traveled through the body and has formed a metastasis in the lung area.<strong> Today, cancer treatment plans are varied and with genomic research, we now are beginning to have the ability to treat each cancer specifically.</strong> Certain types of therapy that might work well for some types of cancer, may not work as well or at all for other types of cancer found in the body. </p> <p>With the acquisition of <a href="http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=203066&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1178656&highlight=">Parkway Clinical Labs</a>, Rosetta has positioned itself with a location in Philadelphia that will be geographically friendly to many hospitals and universities on the east coast and will serve the entire nation and the rest of the world. <strong>Lab results can be returned in 10 days or so.</strong> <u>Rosetta Genomics has it’s roots in Israel</u> and has been working with oncology research since the year 2000. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW-leCWUuI/AAAAAAAANys/njGO2V6u95g/s1600-h/image4.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="213" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW-oE_6aSI/AAAAAAAANyw/3XR6oyCUceo/image_thumb1.png?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="image" width="370" /></a></p> <p> <strong>MicroRNAs are now being considered “The Master Switch of the Body”, Mr. Tamir stated,</strong> and by determining the level of expression of specific MicroRNAs, we can make diagnostic decisions. The use of microRNAs are able to report a very high rate of accuracy as well, not seen with other tests used. Also, what is also unique is the fact that Rosetta’s tests use <strong>Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) tissue samples,</strong> whereby the tissue is saved in a container that does not require any type of special care other than room temperature and the lab can use the 3-10 slices to extract the microRNA without any additional issues for a physician to deal with such as having to use dry ice, etc. </p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW-q_MUkXI/AAAAAAAANy0/VmtnPUn81AI/s1600-h/image5.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="159" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW-r0-Tc0I/AAAAAAAANy4/_qfyuEzrFd4/image_thumb2.png?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="image" width="167" /></a> </p> <p>Rosetta has also been working with institutions such as the <strong>M.D. Anderson Cancer Center</strong> and <strong>Johns Hopkins</strong> and has a couple partnerships with pharmaceutical companies in the area of developing cancer therapies.</p> <p><a href="http://www.isispharm.com/partnerships.html" title="Isis Pharmaceuticals">Isis Pharmaceuticals</a> <a href="http://www.regulusrx.com/">Regulusrx Therapeutics</a></p> <p>The three tests released are as follows, as were covered in press releases last week. </p> <p><b><i>miRview™ squamous</i></b> is a microRNA-based molecular diagnostic test that accurately differentiates squamous from non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p> <p><b><i>miRview™ mets</i></b> is a microRNA-based molecular diagnostic test that identifies the tissue-of-origin of metastatic tumors.</p> <p><b><i>miRview™ meso</i></b> is a microRNA-based molecular diagnostic test that differentiates malignant pleural mesothelioma from peripheral adenocarcinomas of the lung or metastatic carcinomas involving the lung pleura.</p> <p><a href="http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=203066&p=irol-news"><strong>Recent company press releases can be found here.</strong></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW-yZmEWoI/AAAAAAAANy8/qhM5KTwoi24/s1600-h/image41.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="224" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW-1ZV63_I/AAAAAAAANzA/DH1gNavh0dQ/image4_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="image" width="387" /></a> </p> <p>As shown above, a special “hairpin” (as it looks like a pin one would wear in your hair) process enables a special folding process. If you have done any reading about proteins, there is a folding process that takes place to create expression. A while back, courtesy of the folks at Microsoft I had an opportunity to <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/protein-folding-on-microsoft-surface.html">try my hand folding proteins</a> on a <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/SURFACE/index.html">Surface Computer</a> at their Irvine Office. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW--G-5ACI/AAAAAAAANzI/Vs6xJf9TF78/s1600-h/image101.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="229" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW_CYvWUrI/AAAAAAAANzM/xJUVU39tAAk/image10_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="image" width="390" /></a> </p> <p>Rosetta Genomics created a database that keeps the microRNA profile of all the samples they have tested. The data base was started in the year 2000 and<u> an extensive collection of thousands of samples has been acquired,</u> putting Rosetta as a front runner in the technology.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW_KoSf6jI/AAAAAAAANzQ/BwvDuv7HJnY/s1600-h/image141.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="221" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW_N0fpcXI/AAAAAAAANzU/m-gYGbo2BvA/image14_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="image" width="378" /></a> </p> <p>The company’s proprietary <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_microarray">microarray</a> platform is designed to detect the expression of microRNAs in tissues. </p> <p> <b><u><em>miRview™ </em></u><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squamous_cell_carcinoma"><em>squamous –</em></a> this is the test used to determine what type cancer is contained in the tissue sample from the lung. It has a 95% accuracy rate and will make the determination of squamous or non squamous cancer. </b></p> <p><strong><em><u>miRview™ mets</u> –</em></strong> this test will determine the cancer of origin of a metastases. In too many cases, the origin of the cancer is never found, thus this test will identify the origin. The physician can develop a treatment plan. There could be as many as 25 different tumor types and liver cancer for example is one that can <a href="http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Metastized">metastasize</a> in other places in the body. Again this will serve to assist the oncologist with a more personalized treatment plan, based on the results of extracting and processing the microRNAs. </p> <p><em>Mr. Tamir felt this test should be in demand as there is very little in the way of diagnostics that could attain the same results with the high level of accuracy. I asked about insurance coverage for such tests and he stated <em>currently the tests are very new and thus are not covered, but</em> hopefully some companies will take into consideration <em>the fact that that this test </em>could save thousands of dollars as well as <em>a lot of time and suffering to the patient </em>with being able to narrow down <em>the search for the origin to one tumor type in the majority of cases. </em></em></p> <p><em><em><strong>By knowing quickly and accurately the origin of the metastases, doctors can come up with</strong></em><em><strong> a guided treatment plan and remove much of the trial and error with drugs and choose therapies that are specifically targeted for the type of cancer to be treated.</strong> </em></em></p> <p><em><em>Each test is around $3500.00, which could be far less than a battery of additional tests such as MRIs, CT scans, etc. that could or could not determine the type of cancer. </em></em></p> <p><i><u><strong>miRview™ meso –</strong></u> this test will be able to determine whether or not a lung tumor was either created by the body itself or if it was a result of exposure to asbestos (<i>mesothelioma). </i>This type of cancer can hibernate for around 30-40 years before the cancer develops. If one were a heavy smoker or a fire fighter for example who was exposed to a lot of smoke, etc. this test could be the identifying factor in how the cancer developed. </i></p> <p><em>This test could also be used potentially in legal cases as well by making an accurate diagnosis between Mesothelioma, that may be the results of exposure to risk factors, or Adenocarcinoma in the lung. </em></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW_Rm2uSRI/AAAAAAAANzY/kWSlACf2Ctg/s1600-h/image182.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="232" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW_UeeSYnI/AAAAAAAANzc/SIg8WhFF6Xg/image18_thumb1.png?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="image" width="313" /></a> </p> <p>For a quick visual, the picture above illustrates the process from the Paraffin block, extracting the microRNA and the final analysis. Rosetta <strong>makes it fairly simple for the ordering physician or pathologist to order the test and sends out a collection kit and instructions on how to save the tissue samples to send <strong>slices from the paraffin block </strong>to the facility in Pennsylvania for processing. Information and instructions are located on the website. </strong></p> <p>In summary, being able to identify <strong>“cancer of the unknown primary”</strong> could certainly stand to improve not only treatments but save lives as well with being able to define personalized treatment plans without having to put the patient through a number of additional tests and expenses that may not be <a href="http://www.rosettagreen.com/"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="93" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWW_VTM14bI/AAAAAAAANzg/auDHmtLxVlg/image11.png?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="image" width="105" /></a>necessary, but done to work on a process of elimination for diagnosing. </p> <p>In addition to oncology processes, Rosetta also has another division, <a href="http://www.rosettagreen.com/">Rosetta Green</a>, that is related to studying the microRNA of plants, in other words work in progress to create stealthier plant life, such as potatoes or corn, that could have the potential to grow, thrive and produce food products in areas where it has been impossible for such plants to survive and product to date. </p> <p>I would like to say thank you to <strong>Ronen Tamir</strong> for taking time out to talk with me today. After having our conversation I myself have a much better understanding of the the processes and hopefully I have also conveyed some of the same here. Rosetta also has more additional work in the pipeline related to gastric and ovarian cancer which we may be hearing about down the road. </p> <p><strong>One other item that Rosetta focuses on is the need for standardization.</strong> With my work with software and the complicated algorithms coming in to play today, that is music to my ears as well, as without some standardization of tests, software, reporting, etc. it gets very complicated and the processes end up taking longer than they should, and we all need to be on the same path for better healthcare today more than ever. </p> <p></p> <div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline; float: none;" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:29d732e0-54d1-4cb8-a01f-3be9fccebdaa" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rosetta" rel="tag">Rosetta</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Genomics" rel="tag">Genomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer+Tests" rel="tag">Cancer Tests</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lung+Cancer" rel="tag">Lung Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Biotech" rel="tag">Biotech</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cancer+treatment" rel="tag">cancer treatment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/green" rel="tag">green</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/microarray" rel="tag">microarray</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/microRNA" rel="tag">microRNA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/personalized+medicine" rel="tag">personalized medicine</a></div>

Rosetta Genomics Interview – microRNA for Diagnosing Lung Cancer Tumors

Tests to detect cancer of the unknown primary Rosetta Genomics – Today I had the opportunity to speak with and interview Ronen Tamir, Chi...

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Heart valves implanted without having open-heart surgery

<p> This is still listed as a clinical trial, and there is either a small incision in the chest, or no incision with navigating through the femoral artery in the patient’s leg.  This option will enable patients, who normally would not be able to survive a full open heart surgery to have the opportunity to have a heart valve replaced. </p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWWksc6aRGI/AAAAAAAANyI/1YNyUP4kvTI/s1600-h/image%5B12%5D.png"><strong></strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWWksc6aRGI/AAAAAAAANyM/SBTkxDqXZh8/s1600-h/image%5B17%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="111" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWWkzAHjgII/AAAAAAAANyQ/dnH_YhZ-PnU/image_thumb%5B9%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="178" /></a></a></p> </a> <p>The procedure takes 90 minutes, compared to a much longer procedure with full open heart surgery, whereby the entire chest area is cut open, ribs <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/news/blogentries/index.html?bbPostId=BAfMYODD5A1mB4i22hiR9pHlAwOSfL8mkMAB9x1YtNW7Bk0"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="143" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWWk14hkFSI/AAAAAAAANyU/IhsSnoGoBww/image%5B19%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="185" /></a>expanded, and with around a 3 month recovery.  It is amazing what technology is creating these days with procedures as such that are saving lives.  The procedure is still considered a trial at Phase 3.  </p> <p><strong><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/interview-with-bart-e-muhs-md-yale.html">Not too long ago I did an interview with Dr. Muhs from Yale Medical Center relative</a></strong> to aneurisms and the processes are very similar as far as using a catheter and not having full open heart surgery and was also featured in the <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/news/blogentries/index.html?bbPostId=BAfMYODD5A1mB4i22hiR9pHlAwOSfL8mkMAB9x1YtNW7Bk0">Chicago Sun Times.</a>  </p> <p>As with aneurisms, aortic valve disease can eventually lead to death in some cases as well.  Additional information and videos that show and describe the procedure can be found on the <a href="http://www.edwards.com/products/transcathetervalves/sapienthv.htm">Edwards website.</a></p> <p>As was mentioned in my interview with Dr. Muhs, I might also tend to think that follow up visits with the doctor would also be necessary to follow up to check and make sure the valve is still in place and functioning properly.  Minimally invasive surgery is making some real strides in the last few years, especially with endovascular procedures.  BD    </p> <p>An innovative approach for implanting a new aortic heart valve without open-heart surgery is being offered to patients at<strong> New York-Presbyterian </strong><strong>Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.</strong> Known as the <strong>PARTNER (Placement of AoRTic traNscathetER valves) trial,</strong> this Phase 3 multicenter study is being led by national co-principal investigators Dr. Martin Leon and Dr. Craig Smith and is focused on the treatment of patients who are at high risk or not suitable for open-heart valve replacement surgery.  </p> <p><a href="http://www.edwards.com/products/transcathetervalves/sapienthv.htm"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWWk5SVyhfI/AAAAAAAANyY/v_Xfl9Wc6xQ/s1600-h/image%5B11%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="198" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWWk7anhYHI/AAAAAAAANyc/C-B4X1d1OzQ/image_thumb%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="244" /></a></a></p> <p>The Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve, made of bovine pericardial tissue leaflets hand-sewn onto a metal frame, is implanted via one of two catheter-based methods -- either navigated to the heart from the femoral artery in the patient's leg, or through a small incision between the ribs and into the left ventricle. It is then positioned inside the patient's existing valve, using a balloon to deploy the frame, which holds the artificial valve in place. Both procedures are performed on a beating heart, without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass and its associated risks.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWWk-e1xdFI/AAAAAAAANyg/hkVSyjDIazI/s1600-h/image%5B10%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="197" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWWlAeCz28I/AAAAAAAANyk/1lTBJS_-1Rg/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" width="244" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.physorg.com/news150561085.html">Heart valves implanted without open-heart surgery</a> </p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/interview-with-bart-e-muhs-md-yale.html"><font size="1">Interview with Bart E. Muhs, M.D., Yale School of Medicine – Aneurysm Repair Surgery</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:265f899d-c598-49ff-99dc-92f834d3cd21" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Heart+Surgery" rel="tag">Heart Surgery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/transcatheter" rel="tag">transcatheter</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heart+valve" rel="tag">heart valve</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/New+York+Presbyterian+Hospital" rel="tag">New York Presbyterian Hospital</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Clinical+Trial" rel="tag">Clinical Trial</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heart+disease" rel="tag">heart disease</a></div>

Heart valves implanted without having open-heart surgery

This is still listed as a clinical trial, and there is either a small incision in the chest, or no incision with navigating through the fem...

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Surgeon Files for Divorce and Claims Extra Marital Kidney affairs..

<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWWIB-waQzI/AAAAAAAANx4/NYgLJuhAAkg/s1600-h/image%5B8%5D.png"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="112" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWWIDfgrflI/AAAAAAAANx8/9xXThIvK8OQ/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="146" /></a> This is not one of somewhat off balanced individuals walking the earth, this is a surgeon, but he did say he would take 1.5 million instead of the return of the kidney.  Obviously he saved her life and this sounds like one of those moments of rage that occur with divorce, or at least let’s hope so.</p> <p>This is a bit different than the usual fighting over the furniture, refrigerator, etc.  Does the wife have 1.5 million of funds first of all, and how would one use a kidney as collateral?  The story said he has not been able to see his kids for a few months, so that may add fuel to the fire, but if I were him and wondered where the wife and kidney had been, he might be better off to hire a private investigator and try that route.  If he was looking for publicity for his case, he certainly has it now.  BD  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWWIEY-LEAI/AAAAAAAANyA/dVZVqn-n3P4/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="149" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWWIFSNglXI/AAAAAAAANyE/_S9jcNY5Z1k/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="131" /></a>  </p> <blockquote> <p>A Long Island surgeon embroiled in a nearly four-year divorce proceeding wants his estranged wife to return the kidney he donated to her, although he says he'll settle for $1.5 million in compensation.</p> <p>Dr. Richard Batista, a surgeon at Nassau University Medical Center, told reporters at his lawyer's Long Island office Wednesday that he decided to go public with his demand for kidney compensation because he has grown frustrated with the negotiations with his estranged wife.  He said he gave his kidney to Dawnell Batista, now 44, in June 2001. She filed for divorce in July 2005, although he claims she began having an extramarital affair 18 months to two years after receiving the kidney transplant, his attorney, Dominick Barbara said.</p> <p>Batista, 49, said he has no regrets about donating the kidney, only about the failed marriage. The couple was married in 1990 and lived in a million-dollar home in Massapequa. They met while he was working at a hospital and she was training to be a nurse.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.silive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-29/123135986657520.xml&storylist=simetro">http://www.silive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-29/123135986657520.xml&storylist=simetro</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:d6ad1f2c-c7f6-4d74-aa5f-8f3b264dd6f2" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Divorce" rel="tag">Divorce</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Wierd+story" rel="tag">Wierd story</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kidney" rel="tag">Kidney</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/transplant" rel="tag">transplant</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/surgeon" rel="tag">surgeon</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/affairs" rel="tag">affairs</a></div>

Surgeon Files for Divorce and Claims Extra Marital Kidney affairs..

This is not one of somewhat off balanced individuals walking the earth, this is a surgeon, but he did say he would take 1.5 million instead...

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Goats milk used for blood thinning drugs..DNA and Proteins at work

<p> The drug, ATryn has already been approved in Europe.  Up until now the drug has been created from blood from human donors.  The drug is used to prevent blood clots and would be used during surgery given via an IV, and would not replace normal prescribed blood thinners taken as a normal treatment plan.  </p> <p><font size="1"><em>“Milk from transgenic goats is collected according to standard operating procedures that meet or exceed established practice for the dairy industry. GTC Biotherapeutics has developed a highly efficient proprietary process for the recovery of biologically active proteins from this milk. This process typically begins with direct filtration of raw milk under specific conditions that remove fat, casein, cells and particulates. This is followed by a capture chromatography step that is specific for the particular protein. Additional chromatography steps are then used to achieve high level purity of the protein</em>.”</font></p> <blockquote> <p>WASHINGTON (AP) — You've heard of making cheese from goats' milk, but prescription drugs? In what would be a scientific first, an anti-clotting drug made from the milk of genetically engineered goats moved closer to government approval Wednesday after experts at the Food and Drug Administration reported that the medication works and its safety is acceptable.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gtc-bio.com/science.html"><img alt="image" border="0" height="436" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWWAPo_K8XI/AAAAAAAANx0/BggH6ibXCXo/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="297" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://www.gtc-bio.com/science.html">Called ATryn,</a> the drug is intended to help people with a rare hereditary disorder that makes them vulnerable to life-threatening blood clots.  To make the drug, scientists at GTC put DNA for the human antithrombin protein into single cell embryos of goats. Goat embryos with the gene were then inserted into the wombs of surrogate mothers who gave birth to baby goats carrying the new trait.</p> <p>Its approval would be a major step toward new kinds of medications made not from chemicals, but from living organisms genetically manipulated by scientists. Similar drugs could be available in the next few years for a range of human ailments, including hemophilia.</p> <p>Scientific advisers to the FDA will weigh the risks and benefits of ATryn at a meeting Friday, and make a recommendation on approval. The FDA will make the final decision.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jHfshsnKbBXyBOenoGHXCj8qlrnAD95IHIJ00">The Associated Press: Drug from genetically engineered goats a first</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:cdcb4753-eb86-4638-b11f-8c6a070b045b" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/drugs" rel="tag">drugs</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/pharma" rel="tag">pharma</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/genomics" rel="tag">genomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/DNA" rel="tag">DNA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a></div>

Goats milk used for blood thinning drugs..DNA and Proteins at work

The drug, ATryn has already been approved in Europe.  Up until now the drug has been created from blood from human donors.  The drug is use...

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Have some coffee with your fruit…Study says it helps lower chances of selected oral types of cancer

<p> Here’s some good news for coffee lovers like me, this time it’s good news, add some coffee to your diet with a cup a day and your chances of cancer may decline as related to throat and oral types of cancer.  BD  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWV0rY_5XiI/AAAAAAAANxs/Y7mAdHq9s0A/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="104" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWV0sAIyCfI/AAAAAAAANxw/wfiMWhIoZIQ/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="132" /></a> </p> <blockquote> <p>Raise high the coffee bean! Good news, coffee-drinkers: a new study shows your beverage of choice may lower your chances of getting oral, esophageal and pharyngeal (back-of-the-throat) <a href="http://www.sciam.com/topic.cfm?id=cancer">cancer</a>. <br />Japanese researchers report in the <em>American Journal of Epidemiology</em> this week that people they studied who drank a cup or more of Joe daily had about a 50 percent less chance than non-imbibers of developing these cancers.  The scientists based their findings on 13 years of data of some 38,000 people ages 40 to 64 with no history of cancer.</p> <p><strong>"The evidence is pretty strong" in this research, says</strong> Ann Gillenwater, a professor of head and neck surgery at the University of Texas <strong>M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston</strong>, who was not involved in this study.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=a-perk-for-coffee-lovers-java-may-l-2009-01-07">A perk for coffee lovers: java may lower oral cancer risk : Scientific American Blog</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:7630c0f3-1fbb-4731-9284-d5c1c8be35da" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Coffee" rel="tag">Coffee</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Fruits" rel="tag">Fruits</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nutrition" rel="tag">Nutrition</a></div>

Have some coffee with your fruit…Study says it helps lower chances of selected oral types of cancer

Here’s some good news for coffee lovers like me, this time it’s good news, add some coffee to your diet with a cup a day and your chances o...

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Access Additional News Items on the Medical Quack from Journals, Other Bloggers and Online Newspapers

<p>There is another column added whereby information from other blogs and journals can be viewed on the site.  What happens when you click on a link, the full story will show up within the website, so you don’t have to leave the blog to view a post from another blogger, journal or paper.  You will see this in the middle of the page, a short distance down from the top.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWRSDXalq3I/AAAAAAAANxM/SIN5ZH08MWo/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="315" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWRSEokJrdI/AAAAAAAANxQ/Y2fSDLzQWkE/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="185" /></a> </p> <p>Here is one from Fierce, which most may all be familiar with their web site.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWRSII04gHI/AAAAAAAANxU/9eOsZsuZMUc/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="180" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWRSJUPLzSI/AAAAAAAANxY/mBMEpRme0u4/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="392" /></a> </p> <p>After viewing the article, all you need to do is scroll down and you are right back to the main page, or use the link and close the article viewed.  The article will appear on top of the normal items on the blog.</p> <p>Also the Sphere Icon is there as well to bring up a window that will take you to other blogs, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, etc. for related articles.  The icon is located at the bottom of the posted article.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWRSKBksSBI/AAAAAAAANxc/f_SXt1dH6Mo/s1600-h/image%5B8%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="62" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWRSKlVE9OI/AAAAAAAANxg/xaUb0JSgxUA/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="201" /></a> </p> <p>This is the pop up window you will see and it will allow you to look up related posts easily from both blogs, journals and news papers.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWRSOnAhD8I/AAAAAAAANxk/OuNI1AAYKtQ/s1600-h/image%5B11%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="343" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWRSQIl14nI/AAAAAAAANxo/bWQmHKZH5ts/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="379" /></a> </p> <p>Anyway, while you are here, hopefully the additional listings and tools might make it easier than having to exit and chase down similar stories on the web.  </p> <p>Thanks once more to everyone who takes the time to stop by and tell a friend!  </p>

Access Additional News Items on the Medical Quack from Journals, Other Bloggers and Online Newspapers

There is another column added whereby information from other blogs and journals can be viewed on the site.  What happens when you click on a...

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Injected Fat-Dissolver Shows Promise in Human Tests - Kythera

<p> Clinical Trials coming soon!  FDA still working with the company so I guess the trials are TBA for now.  Kythera was formed by a group of former Amgen employees.  If approved by the FDA, off label use here looks very attractive, forget the jaw and let’s get down the real problem areas (grin).  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.kytherabiopharma.com/news.html">Kythera Biopharmaceuticals,</a> <a href="http://www.kytherabiopharma.com/docs/090106_ATX101.pdf">announced “clinically meaningful” positive results</a> from two phase II studies of its lead product, ATX-101, for zapping small fat deposits under the chin. </p> <p>Details were sparse. But the closely held company said the studies, involving 157 patients, showed the experimental drug was “safe and tolerable” and also demonstrated a statistically significant improvement over a placebo. Side effects seen in the studies included <a href="http://www.kytherabiopharma.com/news.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="60" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWQxDN20SDI/AAAAAAAANxA/BQZTrZ7L1m0/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="120" /></a>temporary swelling of the injected area as well as mild post-injection pain followed by temporary numbness.</p> <p>The tests were performed on fat deposits immediately beneath the chin and jaw line. <strong>If the drug were to obtain FDA approval it would also be possible for physicians to use it </strong><a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/off-label/DI00088"><strong>off-label</strong></a><strong> in other parts of the body, such as the thighs and abdomen, where many people carry unwanted fat. </strong></p> <p><strong>Kythera, based in Los Angeles, said it expects to enroll a “substantial” number of patients for its pivotal human tests,</strong> but declined to discuss specifics or timing. The firm said it has been discussing various aspects of the trial with the FDA</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/01/06/injected-fat-dissolver-shows-promise-in-human-tests/#comment-385458">Health Blog : Injected Fat-Dissolver Shows Promise in Human Tests</a></p>

Injected Fat-Dissolver Shows Promise in Human Tests - Kythera

Clinical Trials coming soon!  FDA still working with the company so I guess the trials are TBA for now.  Kythera was formed by a group of f...

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Social Security begins taking online applications – Available now

<p> Even Social Security is jumping on the bandwagon with allowing enrollment on the internet.  Recently I had also posted about<u> Beth Israel Hospital in Boston working with Social Security on the exchange of medical records as relates to disability with their pilot program.  </u></p> <p>Just like every other business today, the human time to sit down with each person for around 45 minutes is just not available at the pace we are moving at today.  There will be upcoming ads in the papers as well to promote.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/social-security-likes-phrs-too-wanting.html">Social Security likes PHRs too – wanting to work with EMR and PHR software with pilot program</a></h4> <p><em><font size="1">Beth Israel is always on the cutting edge with technology.  As integration and transfer of medical records continues, Social Security has also  asked EHR and PHR vendors, health providers and payers to suggest how such a process could be set up, as most adhere to the CCR or HL7 </font></em><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SE7zRJB3f_I/AAAAAAAAHkQ/uEnj0rtM9BE/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><em><font color="#000000" size="1"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="96" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SE7zR5B3gAI/AAAAAAAAHkU/R6Qbd2OrJi8/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" title="image" width="134" /></font></em></a><em><font size="1">standards.  This makes sense for both, and especially the PHR today, since budgets and the economy are putting restraints on some areas of expansion with EMR/EHRs.</font></em></p> <p>— The Social Security Administration, bracing for the coming eligibility of 80 million baby boomers, is introducing an online application that will allow people to apply for retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes.</p> <p>Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue said in an interview the agency was completely overhauling its electronic services in recognition of the greater computer skills of future Social Security recipients and the need to more efficiently process the coming flood of applications.</p> <p><strong>"We just don't have the infrastructure to handle that workload in the traditional fashion," he said</strong>.</p> <p><strong>Here’s where you go:   </strong><a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov"><strong>http://www.socialsecurity.gov</strong></a><strong> and click on "Filing Online for Retirement Benefits."</strong></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iRj0kJdCxx7gYtp4vZJCebi4AthwD95HPHGG6">The Associated Press: Social Security begins taking online applications</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a2cd6ed2-905a-4c8f-9483-fdd77c5f2d1c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Social+Security" rel="tag">Social Security</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/integration" rel="tag">integration</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Beth+Israel+Deaconess+of+Boston" rel="tag">Beth Israel Deaconess of Boston</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PHR" rel="tag">PHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/personal+heatlh+records" rel="tag">personal heatlh records</a></div>

Social Security begins taking online applications – Available now

Even Social Security is jumping on the bandwagon with allowing enrollment on the internet.  Recently I had also posted about Beth Israel H...

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Suits Pile Up Over ObTape Medical Device for Women

<p> The FDA issued a generic alert to doctors warning of complications in surgical mesh devices designed to treat stress urinary incontinence but the product was not specifically named.  <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/johnson-and-johnson-buys-medical-device.html">Johnson and Johnson back in December just</a> purchased Mentor, who is also known for their other products such as <a href="http://www.mentorcorp.com/index-aesthetics.htm"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="78" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/STS3hl1-PtI/AAAAAAAANek/0wh54PESsXU/image%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" title="image" width="163" /></a>breast enhancement implants.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>The manufacturer of a medical device used to treat a form of urinary incontinence in women is heralding a recent court verdict as dozens of lawsuits alleging problems tied to the product have been consolidated and head to their first pretrial hearing this month. </p> <p>In the past year and a half, 32 lawsuits have been filed against <a href="http://www.mentorcorp.com/index-aesthetics.htm">Mentor Corp.</a>, a Santa Barbara, Calif.-based cosmetic surgery device manufacturer that, in 2003, launched the ObTape, a sling that is surgically implanted to treat stress urinary incontinence, which often is brought on by coughing, sneezing or exercise, and is common in women after childbirth. The product was removed from the market in 2006.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202427218210&pos=ataglance">Law.com - Suits Pile Up Over Controversial Medical Device for Women</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:5ed0929f-5b3e-4938-a254-5165446431ce" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medical+Devices" rel="tag">Medical Devices</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mentor" rel="tag">Mentor</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Johnson+and+Johnson" rel="tag">Johnson and Johnson</a></div>

Suits Pile Up Over ObTape Medical Device for Women

The FDA issued a generic alert to doctors warning of complications in surgical mesh devices designed to treat stress urinary incontinence b...

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Brain Implants For Parkinson's Show Benefits as well as risks

<p> Neuromodulation is a growing field to say the least.  There is also this related story below which is using pretty much the same technology.</p> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/sex-chip-is-to-stir-up-libido-latest.html"><font size="1">Sex Chip is to stir up the libido – the latest technology with implanted medical devices?</font></a></h4> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SOaRUN5ODHI/AAAAAAAAJSs/WtAxwT2gbFQ/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="185" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SOaRWafEx2I/AAAAAAAAJSw/1CqwhHZhf-8/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" width="202" /></a></p> <p>The story below about the banjo player who was helped is quite a success story.  As with any procedure there is a risk of infection and is is no different with devices being implanted.  A drug is a visitor, but a device comes home to live with you.  </p> <p>For other uses, such as depression, you might have to do some real convincing for me at least, although I have had readers comment in the recent past that the device has worked for them, and this was a patient suffering from depression and not Parkinson’s.  Check out the related reading below and watch the video on the banjo player who was helped with the therapy for more information.  BD    </p> <blockquote> <p>A study of brain-stimulation technology for patients with advanced Parkinson's Disease showed treatment helped battle symptoms better at six months than drugs and therapy did, but also caused many more adverse events such as infections.</p> <p>Medication can help, although not all patients respond and medication can lose effectiveness while causing more side effects over time, according to researchers involved with this study. Doctors have also been using stimulation devices to treat patients for the last decade or so. Medtronic's system was approved for a different use in 1997, but doctors can choose to use devices for so-called off-label purposes.</p> <p>The technology involves implanting a pacemaker-like device in the chest and then running wires deep into patient's brain, where energy is used to stimulate areas linked to movement issues. Medtronic's system today is approved for essential tremor, Parkinson's and another movement disorder called dystonia, and the company is aiming to win approval for epilepsy, depression and obsessive- compulsive disorder.</p> <p>Total costs to get a system implanted are about $60,000.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200901061615DOWJONESDJONLINE000535_FORTUNE5.htm">Brain Implants For Parkinson's Show Benefits, Risks – Study</a></p> <p><strong><u>Related Reading:</u></strong></p> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/future-day-of-going-to-doctor.html">The Future – A Day of Going to the Doctor</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/what-is-cyberchondria-and-who-has-it.html">What is Cyberchondria and Who Has it?</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/fda-clears-neurostar-tms-therapy-for.html">FDA Clears Neurostar® TMS Therapy For The Treatment Of Depression</a></h6> <h6><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/10/legendary-banjo-player-brain-helped.html">Legendary Banjo Player's Brain Helped with Deep Brain Stimulation - The Brain Defibrillators are here</a></h6> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/11/brain-power-technology-awesome.html"><font size="1">Brain Power Technology – Awesome Breakthrough!</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/09/many-illnesses-may-be-in-for-shock.html"><font size="1">Many illnesses may be in for a shock - The Brain Defibrillators</font></a></h4> <h4><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/08/tapping-brain-for-profit-medical.html"><font size="1">Tapping the Brain for Profit - Medical Devices for the Brain, they do exist</font></a></h4> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:6bc70969-5b9e-496c-b5d1-fb35bb3a822f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Neuromodulation" rel="tag">Neuromodulation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Brain" rel="tag">Brain</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medtronics" rel="tag">Medtronics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/St.+Jude" rel="tag">St. Jude</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Parkinsons+Disease" rel="tag">Parkinsons Disease</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/depression" rel="tag">depression</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/brain+implants" rel="tag">brain implants</a></div>

Brain Implants For Parkinson's Show Benefits as well as risks

Neuromodulation is a growing field to say the least.  There is also this related story below which is using pretty much the same technology...

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“Beetle” Based Food Color Must Be Listed On Label Says the FDA – Beetle Juice?

<p> I had no idea I have been munching on these little guys for years, and probably wearing them as well!  As everything else goes today with being the informed consumer, transparency on what we are wearing and eating will be reflected on the labeled products, gives a whole new meaning to “beetle juice”.  BD   </p> <blockquote> <p>That’s right, bugs. Specifically, crushed cochineal beetles. The ingredient is also often called carmine. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWQIkPggCwI/AAAAAAAANw4/59ghpfI1ubs/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="89" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWQIl571hNI/AAAAAAAANw8/eObr7LI0eyc/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="118" /></a> </p> <p>There has been debate for many years about the safety of using these crushed bugs to color food and cosmetics. </p> <p>Now the Food and Drug Administration has finally ruled that products with carmine and cochineal list them by name in ingredient lists. </p> <p>Until now there was no way to know if a product contained the bug-based food color. </p> <p><strong>It has been found it in yogurt, Good and Plenty candy and Tropicana's Ruby Red grapefruit.</strong> </p> <p>The coloring, which is extracted from the dried bodies of the tiny cochineal bug, have been hidden on labels under the terms “artificial colors” or “color added.”</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.wpxi.com/consumer/18416632/detail.html">FDA Rules: Bug Based Food Color Must Be Listed On Label - Consumer News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:16e07af3-3c1a-4450-9e2d-b4b4fdf2bf03" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Food+coloring" rel="tag">Food coloring</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/healthcare" rel="tag">healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/transparency" rel="tag">transparency</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/beetle" rel="tag">beetle</a></div>

“Beetle” Based Food Color Must Be Listed On Label Says the FDA – Beetle Juice?

I had no idea I have been munching on these little guys for years, and probably wearing them as well!  As everything else goes today with b...

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DiFusion Technologies – Medical Device to fight infections after spinal surgery

<p>This is pretty interesting in the fact that the device mixes silver, zinc and copper ions within the device instead of a coating placed on the outside, in other words it is part of the product or solution.  5 percent of spinal surgeries are known to involve infections and this appears to be able to fight <a href="http://www.difusiontech.com/index.php"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="40" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWQBvXmpetI/AAAAAAAANws/52Nl6Dhljpg/image%5B14%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="97" /></a>off the bacteria after surgery, it is not FDA approved yet but anticipated later this year.  The company is currently existing on “Angel” funding, of which, most investors are surgeons.  </p> <p>With the never-never events scrutinized at hospitals, this looks like it could have some real benefit in reducing the number of infections after surgery.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.difusiontech.com/index.php">DiFusion Technologies Inc.</a>, a start-up medical device company, is gearing up to launch a flagship product that will target the orthopedic market at the same time it's raising additional capital. </p> <p>Dr. Matthew Geck, founder and board member of DiFusion, said the company will release a medical device this year capable of <strong>killing 650 types of bacteria,</strong> including antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA (also known as “Superbugs”), in local surgical wounds for up to four weeks following surgery.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWQBx43XqII/AAAAAAAANww/bcxLg-PO-58/s1600-h/image%5B12%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="174" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/SWQBzp8oXFI/AAAAAAAANw0/qEEUiiSGj6Y/image_thumb%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="174" /></a> </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://losangeles.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2009/01/05/daily16.html">DiFusion Technologies takes aim at surgical infections - Austin Business Journal:</a></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:41dced68-8dd6-4d94-bba0-618359354b84" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/MRSA" rel="tag">MRSA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Spinal+Surgery" rel="tag">Spinal Surgery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Infections" rel="tag">Infections</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/orthopedics" rel="tag">orthopedics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Angel+Funding" rel="tag">Angel Funding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/bacterial" rel="tag">bacterial</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hospital+acquired+infection" rel="tag">hospital acquired infection</a></div>

DiFusion Technologies – Medical Device to fight infections after spinal surgery

This is pretty interesting in the fact that the device mixes silver, zinc and copper ions within the device instead of a coating placed on t...

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