Research published this week in Nature Nanotechnology shows a new method of enzyme-controlled movement of a single strand of DNA through a protein nanopore. The paper, by researchers at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC), represents a key step towards nanopore sequencing of DNA strands. The publication describes the observation of single stranded DNA (ssDNA) as it translocates through a protein nanopore, alpha hemolysin (AHL).

Read the full story here

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that its corporate partner, Boston Scientific Corporation, has released comprehensive data from the TAXUS ATLAS clinical program, a series of global, prospective, singlearm trials evaluating the TAXUS® Liberté® Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent System in a variety of lesions and patient groups. Five-year results from the TAXUS ATLAS trial and four-year results from the TAXUS ATLAS Small Vessel and Long Lesion trials continue to show significant advantages for the thin-strut TAXUS Liberté Stent.

Read the full story here

St. Jude Medical, Inc. announced European CE Mark approval of its new Athena(TM) programmer, a deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy management system. This next-generation platform offers clinicians a powerful yet easy-to-use interface that enables them to set or adjust therapeutic parameters to optimize patient results. Additionally, the system has the most comprehensive data management capacity on the market, which will aid clinicians in the organization and storage of patient information.

Read the full story here

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics has published product data including GTINs for its complete U.S. product portfolio to the GHX Health ConneXion™ data pool, which is certified by GS1′s Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) to synchronize medical-surgical product data. The GS1 system of standards is the most widely used supply chain standards system in the world. Use of standards has proven highly effective in other industries, such as retail and consumer packaged goods.

Read the full story here

Roche Diagnostics announced it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the cobas® 8000 modular analyzer series, a Serum Work Area solution designed for diagnostic laboratories with a workload of 3-15 million clinical chemistry / immunochemistry tests per year. The cobas 8000 series is the newest member of the Roche cobas modular platform family, which combines clinical chemistry and immunochemistry testing.

Read the full story here

Transgenomic, Inc. announced that it completed the requirements for CE IVD labeling and has expanded distribution of its SURVEYOR® Scan K-RAS mutation detection kit throughout most of the European Union. The SURVEYOR Scan K-RAS CE IVD kit is a member of Transgenomic’s family of mutation detection kits, which features proprietary SURVEYOR endonuclease technology. The SURVEYOR Scan is a novel approach to mutation detection, which has been shown to provide comparable sensitivity than other commercial kits.

Read the full story here

A mathematical tool known as a Monte Carlo analysis could help improve the way X-rays are used for mammography and reduce the number of breast cancers missed by the technique and avoiding false positives, according to research published in the International Journal of Low Radiation. Researchers at the University of Cordoba have tested the different configurations used by radiographers to carry out X-ray mammography and analyzed the results statistically using the Monte Carlo technique.

Read the full story here

ForteBio®, Inc. announced the launch of its Dip and Read™ Protein G biosensor for rapid detection and quantification of numerous types of mammalian immunoglobulin (IgG), an antibody molecule, from solution. Because it runs on the company’s label-free Octet instrumentation platform, the new biosensor enables such measurements with unprecedented speed, ease of use and cost-efficiency. The company also announced that it has completed International Standards Organization (ISO) certification of its biosensor manufacturing facility.

Read the full story here

Endologix, Inc. announced that it received CE Mark approval to market its expanded offering of Powerlink® stent graft products and PowerFit™ Aortic Extensions in the European Union. The Company expects to launch the products in a limited market release in Europe during the fourth quarter of 2010, followed by a full product launch in 2011. Endologix recently received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for these new products and they are currently in a limited market release in the U.S., with a full market release in the U.S. planned for the fourth quarter of 2010.

Read the fulls story here

University of British Columbia researchers have led the development of a new “toolbox of MiniPromoters” for research and future therapies on brain, spinal cord and eye function. MiniPromoters are small segments of human DNA with the ability to turn genes on and off at specific times and locations. They’re important tools used by scientists and clinicians to mark cells, explore function and deliver therapeutic genetic medicine.

Read the full story here