A new breath analyzer called the Single Breath Disease Diagnostics Breathalyzer has the capacity to check for a variety of biomarkers, or biological indicators, of disease. The breathalyzer, invented by Dr. Perena Gouma of Stony Brook University, uses a sensitive ceramic chip to detect molecules in exhaled air that are only present in the case of particular disease processes. For instance, the concentration of ammonia in the breath gives information on how much waste is in the blood, which would allow home hemodialysis patients–hemodialysis is a technique used to clean waste out of the blood in the event of insufficient kidney function–to monitor their treatments. Similarly, the chemical acetone, found in nail polish remover, is a biomarker for uncontrolled diabetes.

The challenge associated with analyzing the breath for signs of disease is that there might be only a few biomarker molecules among billions of total molecules per exhaled breath. Tiny nanowires are responsible for the chip’s sensitivity. Notes Dr. Gouma:

There can be different types of nanowires, each with a tailored arrangement of metal and oxygen atoms along their configuration, so as to capture a particular compound. For example, some nanowires might be able to capture ammonia molecules, while others capture just acetone and others just the nitric oxide. Each of these biomarkers signal a specific disease or metabolic malfunction so a distinct diagnostic breathalyzer can be designed.

Gouma envisions a future in which the device could test for infection as well, noting that the wires could be programmed to detect viruses or bacteria. While the breathalyzer isn’t yet available to the public–testing is still underway–Gouma hopes to see the device hitting the consumer market within a few years.

Source: National Science Foundation

The human heart has a simple function: it’s a pump that circulates fluid (blood) through a series of pipes (blood vessels). However, the mechanics behind this function are quite complex. They involve an intricate series of conducting pathways that allow for the generation of an electrical impulse that propagates in a specific way through the heart muscle in order to produce a synchronized and efficient contraction, or heartbeat. While scientists understand the theory behind the electrical impulses that control the heartbeat, the specifics of the conducting pathway have been difficult to study…until now.

Researchers at the University of Liverpool in the U.K. have developed a method of 3D visualization for the conducting pathways of the heart. The technique combines iodine contrast solution with CT scan imaging. The conducting pathways absorb less of the iodine than surrounding muscle, allowing them to show up on CT images. Dr. Jonathan Jarvis, of the University’s Institute of Aging and Chronic Disease, explained the significance of the technology:

These new anatomically-detailed images could improve the accuracy of future computer models of the heart and help us understand how normal and abnormal heart rhythms are generated. 3D imaging will give us a more thorough knowledge of the cardiac conduction system, and the way it changes in heart disease.

Researchers hope that in particular, the technique will help them understand why the heart’s electrical system sometimes malfunctions, producing rhythms (such as fibrillation, or chaotic pumping) that are incompatible with life. Knowing how a normal heartbeat is generated — and knowing how that heartbeat becomes abnormal — may allow scientists to develop more effective means of preventing or treating heart problems associated with the heart’s electrical conduction system. The imaging technique was recently published in the journal PLoS ONE [1].

Source: University of Liverpool

Reference:

1. Stephenson et al. Contrast Enhanced Micro-Computed Tomography Resolves the 3-Dimensional Morphology of the Cardiac Conduction System in Mammalian Hearts. PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e35299. Epub 2012 Apr 11.
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Complete Genomics is one of 10 biomedicine companies included in Technology Review’s 50 Most Innovative Companies (TR50) for 2012 [1].

What is a TR50 company? It is a business whose innovations force other businesses to change their strategic course. TR50 companies are nominated by Technology Review’s editors who look for companies that, over the last year, have demonstrated original and valuable technology, are bringing that technology to market at a significant scale, and are clearly influencing their competitors.

Complete Genomics was established in June 2005. Four years later, the company announced that it had sequenced its first human genome. By the end of 2009, Complete Genomics had sequenced 50 human genomes. The company has now significantly increased the throughput in its genome sequencing factory; it sequenced and analyzed 300 complete human genomes in Q3 2010.

Complete Genomics was chosen to be a TR50 company because it developed a computational platform that allows it to assemble DNA sequences into genomes more accurately than other technologies. Complete Genomics performs whole human genome DNA sequencing using proprietary biochemistry based on DNA nanoball arrays and combinatorial probe-anchor ligation sequencing.

Complete Genomics’ proprietary human genome sequencing technology is optimized for the exclusive study of human DNA. The sequencing technology relies on two primary components: DNA nanoball arrays (DNB arrays) and combinatorial probe-anchor ligation reads (cPAL reads). Fluorescence imaging is used to ”read” the nucleotide sequence at lower volumes and concentrations of reagents than existing systems. In addition, Complete Genomics’ proprietary instrumentation allows for greater numbers of base reads per image.

Although Complete Genomics delivered data for approximately 1,200 genomes in the first quarter of 2012, it lost $20.2 million dollars [2]. The company recently announced that it has sequenced the genomes of 600 individuals from 20 Mexican-American families to help identify some of the rare variants involved in type 2 diabetes that have eluded researchers [3]. The multigenerational, whole genome sequencing study is thought to be the largest whole genome sequencing family study conducted to date and the first such study of its kind in a Latino population.

Interested in other Top 10 Innovative Biomedicine companies for 2012? Check them all out with the tag 2012 Biomedicine TR50.

References

1. The 50 Most Innovative Companies in 2012. Technology Review. Accessed 2012 Apr 10.
2. Complete Genomics Reports First Quarter 2012 Results. Complete Genomics press release. 2012 May 7.
3. Whole Genome Sequencing in Type 2 Diabetes Genetic Study. Complete Genomics press release. 2012 May 9.

Mason, Ohio-based AssureRx Health announced this week that it has launched a personalized medicine test for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The new pharmacogenomic test — GeneSightRx ADHD — analyzes variations in three genes that influence how a patient might metabolize certain medications used to treat ADHD in children and adults.

ADHD is the most common childhood disorder and can continue into adulthood. The disorder is characterized by intense motor restlessness, an inability to stay focused or pay attention, and radical impulsivity.

Over the past decade, ADHD diagnoses have increased 66%. Scientists recently identified a genetic link to ADHD, showing that children with the disorder have twice as many large copy number variations (CNVs) — the presence of more or less than two copies of a region of DNA due to its duplication or deletion — as healthy controls. These genomic differences may influence how individual patients tolerate ADHD medications.

The AssureRx Health genetic test helps clinicians understand a patient’s unique genomic profile and individualize medication selection. Using a simple, non-invasive cheek swab, AssureRx Health can rapidly test the sample and post a report via a secure online portal. The GeneSightRx ADHD test provides objective, evidence-based information for clinicians to personalize medication selection for each patient.

Source: Biomarker Commons

Foundation Medicine is one of 10 biomedicine companies included in Technology Review’s 50 Most Innovative Companies (TR50) for 2012 [1]. What is a TR50 company? It is a business whose innovations force other businesses to change their strategic course. TR50 companies are nominated by Technology Review’s editors who look for companies that, over the last year, have demonstrated original and valuable technology, are bringing that technology to market at a significant scale, and are clearly influencing their competitors.

Foundation Medicine was founded by world leaders in genome technology, cancer biology and medical oncology from several renowned institutions, including the Broad Institute, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The company plans to launch a clinical diagnostic test this year that uses the latest in genetic sequencing technology —  next generation sequencing — to identify personalized cancer therapies for patients. Specifically, Foundation Medicine plans to sequence approximately 200 genes, focusing  on genes and pathways that have been shown to have clinical application. The company views this as the ”sweet spot” between conventional hot spot testing (common today) and whole genome/exome sequencing.

Foundation Medicine is backed by Third Rock Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Google Ventures, bringing the scientific and medical expertise of its founding advisors together with the company-building expertise of the leading venture capitalists in the life sciences, molecular diagnostics and emerging technology fields.

Foundation Medicine was chosen to be a TR50 company because its new diagnostics exploit a growing understanding of the molecular basis of cancer. The company is partnering with pharmaceutical companies and plans to use the comprehensive cancer diagnostic test in drug development.

Interested in other Top 10 Innovative Biomedicine companies for 2012? Check them all out with the tag 2012 Biomedicine TR50.

References

1. The 50 Most Innovative Companies in 2012. Technology Review. Accessed 2012 Apr 10.

Epocrates is one of the most popular medical apps available for iPhones, iPads, Android, Blackberry, Palm, and Windows Mobile. It’s intended to help physicians access medical information — including drug dosing, reference values for vital statistics, and information about diseases — quickly and efficiently. Because the app market is glutted with medical applications, the value of Epocrates is that it combines the most important functions into a single app. In a recent press release, the Epocrates compay referred to the app as a “prescription for medical app overload”:

Mobile apps are only as valuable as they are useful. We’ve advanced the user experience of our world-class drug reference app and added a singular channel to discover, store and access reliable tools. Furthermore, this is a fresh foundation for new partner engagements and opportunities to deliver even more value-add resources to our network.

While Epocrates is intended for clinicians, patients may also find the information contained in the application useful. For instance, Epocrates can check whether two medications interact with one another, which can help consumers avoid potential dangerous drug overdoses associated with combination medicines available over the counter. The app also provides safety information for prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, including safety during pregnancy and lactation.

While Epocrates is a powerful healthcare tool, it’s a reference tool; essentially, a set of computerized reference books. The app is not a substitute for diagnostic ability in a physician, or a visit to the doctor by a layperson.

Source: Epocrates

There are a number of physical characteristics associated with increased risk of skin cancer, and more specifically, with melanoma, a particularly dangerous and aggressive form of skin cancer. These include blue eyes, red hair, freckles on the face, a significant number of moles on the body, and light skin. While these factors have long been used by dermatologists to predict those individuals who would be at greatest risk of melanoma, a new study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology uses a novel approach to demonstrate that there’s a relationship between these factors and visible signs of sun damage [1]. Researchers used ultraviolet (UV) photography to compare the skin of 12-year-old participants; under UV light, sun damaged areas appear darkened. UV photographic equipment is similar in many regards to the tools employed in regular photography, though the flash is UV rather than visible light, and much of the processing software is different.

A 35-year-old melanoma survivor. Skin under normal (left) and UV light (right). Dark areas on the right is damage from the sun.

Those pre-teens with multiple melanoma risk factors had increased sun damage compared to those with fewer risk factors. This finding is particularly distressing given that the signs of sun damage in those with multiple risk factors were significant, even relatively early in life.

The researchers suggest that UV photography could be incorporated into sun awareness intervention programs, as seeing a photograph of existing sun damage can be more persuasive to teens and young adults than vague warnings about the dangers of sun exposure. Further, note the researchers, the results of the study suggest that UV photography is most likely to be an effective intervention technique for those individuals who have multiple melanoma risk factors, as they are most likely to show significant sun damage early in life.

Reference

1. Gamble et al. Sun damage in ultraviolet photographs correlates with phenotypic melanoma risk factors in 12-year-old children. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Mar 9. [Epub ahead of print]
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Athenahealth is one of 10 biomedicine companies included in Technology Review’s 50 Most Innovative Companies (TR50) for 2012 [1]. What is a TR50 company? It is a business whose innovations force other businesses to change their strategic course. TR50 companies are nominated by Technology Review’s editors who look for companies that, over the last year, have demonstrated original and valuable technology, are bringing that technology to market at a significant scale, and are clearly influencing their competitors.

Founded in 1997, Athenahealth is a publicly traded American healthcare technology company that provides physician practices with proprietary cloud-based practice management and electronic health record (EHR) software, a continuously updated payer knowledge-base, integrated back-office service operations, live patient communications services, and other healthcare business services.

Athenahealth was chosen to be a TR50 company because its systems help doctors and patients with the morass of medical records and billing paperwork. The company’s key innovation is the development of cloud-based software for electronic health records and practice management.

Jonathan Bush, CEO of Athenahealth, will be the keynote speaker at the Health 2.0 Spring Fling: Matchpoint conference in Boston on May 14-15, 2012. The conference will showcase speakers focusing on the commercializing of the Health 2.0 movement, and Bush will detail his company’s rise from start-up to $2.5 billion market cap segment leader.

Interested in other Top 10 Innovative Biomedicine companies for 2012? Check them all out with the tag 2012 Biomedicine TR50.

References

1. The 50 Most Innovative Companies in 2012. Technology Review. Accessed 2012 Apr 10.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the week of April 21, 2012 to be World Vaccination Week. The purpose of the initiative is to spread information about the importance and safety of vaccines.

The Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition has developed a website called Immunize For Good, which provides parents with useful resources and factual information about vaccinations. Topics addressed on the website include information about vaccine safety, the number of vaccines given and the rationale for each, and vaccine side effects. Of particular importance, the site addresses whether parents should consider spacing out vaccinations in an attempt to reduce side effects or avoid “overloading the immune system.” While vaccinating on an alternative schedule has become popular in recent years, there’s no scientific evidence to support such an approach. From the website:

Vaccines are tested to work together to best protect your child’s health. The CDC vaccine schedule is designed to give your child the greatest protection possible… There is no medical benefit in spreading out vaccines. The alternative or delayed vaccine schedule will not decrease adverse reactions.

By 15 months, children on [a popular] delayed schedule are given 17 shots and visit the doctor’s office 9 times — almost twice as many visits to the doctor as compared to the CDC schedule.

In an effort to encourage parents to vaccinate on the CDC’s recommended schedule — and to make keeping track of vaccinations easier — the coalition has developed a web-based vaccine tracking program.

Parents can access the vaccine tracking program from either a home computer or a mobile device. By logging in and providing information about their child’s age and vaccines the child has received, parents can get a personalized vaccination schedule that will keep their child up to date on all CDC-recommended immunizations.

Remember, vaccines save lives.

Source: Immunize For Good

A poll conducted by consulting company PricewaterhouseCoopers shows that one-third of Americans use social media, including Facebook and Twitter, to obtain information about health and wellness [1]. Respondents reported using social media resources to self-diagnose, get information about prescription drugs, and check up on doctors’ and hospitals’ reputations.

As might be expected, the youngest adults were most likely to be willing to obtain or share health information online. Eighty-percent of adults age 18-24 reported a willingness to share personal health information via social media, and 90% of this same group said they’d trust their social media contacts as sources of accurate health information. Older adults were less likely to share health information online, with less than half of those aged 45-65 indicating a willingness to do so.

While sourcing friends and acquaintances on the Internet may be a good way to find a doctor or identify the best insurance plan — and indeed, 41 and 32% of respondents, respectively, stated that they used social media for these purposes — the report also revealed that 34% of polled consumers would allow social media contacts to influence their decision to take a medication or undergo a procedure. Unfortunately, however, much of the information available from social media contacts regarding health and medicine is anecdotal, erroneous, or both. Case in point: the nearly epidemic fear of vaccines of the last several years has been propagated to a significant degree through the Internet and social media.

Perhaps, however, as consumers indicate an increasing desire to use the web for health information, healthcare practitioners will respond by making accurate health information increasingly available online to meet that demand.

References

1. Social media “likes” healthcare: From marketing to social business. PricewaterhouseCoopers Health Research Institute. 2012 April