Some methods of minimally invasive biopsy for breast cancer are nearly as accurate as surgical biopsy but have much less risk of harms, according to a new report funded by HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The report, prepared by the ECRI Institute’s Evidence-based Practice Center under contract to AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program, compares traditional surgical biopsies with various types of “core needle biopsies.”

For the full story, Click Here

The Cedars-Sinai Center for Weight Loss has received re-accreditation as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence from the American College of Surgeons. This is a nationally-recognized acknowledgement of the high quality of care provided at Cedars-Sinai to patients who have bariatric surgery – such as lap-band, gastric sleeve or gastric bypass. More than 550 patients each year receive bariatric surgery procedures at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, more than any other program in Southern California.

For the Full Story, Click Here

NeuroVasx, Inc. has announced that the first procedure in Spain utilizing its cPAX Aneurysm Treatment System was performed in Madrid. cPAX received CE Mark earlier this year. The cPAX System is a minimally invasive device for the embolization of cerebral aneurysms, abnormal bulges or sacs in the wall of an artery in the brain. If ruptured, aneurysms can result in massive intracranial bleeding and often lead to death.

For the full story, click here

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals is confident of outlicensing at least one of its new chemical entities (NCEs) under development before the end of this financial year. Glenmark has six molecules under development. Its Crofelemer, an anti-diarrheal molecule under development, is now in Phase-III of clinical trials, with plans for a launch in developing countries by next year. Eli Lilly, which had in-licensed an osteoarthritis and pain molecule from Glenmark, also had suspended further development in October 2008.

CordLife, Asia-Pacific’s largest network of stem cell banks, which gave Calcutta its first full umbilical cord blood tissue processing and storage facility near Joka, has announced the launch of “the most advanced umbilical cord banking technology in India”. This technology has the ability to isolate two cell types to help hasten the healing of general and diabetic foot ulcers or repair injured tissues and organs, according to stem cell therapy experts.