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Popular Articles

Optimizing Molecular Signatures For Predicting Prostate Cancer Recurrence
UroToday.com - The mortality rate for prostate cancer is declining due to improvements in earlier detection and in local therapy strategies, however, the ability to predict the metastatic behavior of a patient"s cancer, as well as to detect and eradicate disease recurrence remains some of the greatest clinical challenges in oncology.

Bloggers Scrutinize Fox News' O'Reilly's Past Comments On Murdered Abortion Provider Tiller
Some liberal journalists and bloggers are criticizing Fox News host Bill O"Reilly for the language he has used when discussing abortion provider George Tiller, with some suggesting that his harsh rhetoric incites violence, the New York Times reports. Tiller, who was one of a small number of U.S. doctors who performed abortions later in pregnancy, was shot and killed on Sunday while serving as an usher in his local church. On Monday, O"Reilly said that "clear-thinking Americans should condemn" the murder but also defended his past remarks about Tiller. O"Reilly said that "every single thing we said about Tiller was true, and my analysis was based on those facts."Salon within nine hours of Tiller"s death had posted video clips of 29 on-air references that O"Reilly had made about Tiller on past programs. O"Reilly has said that Tiller and other abortion providers conduct the "business of destruction" and that he "wouldn"t want to be these people if there is a Judgment Day." Media Matters for America on its site published a 2006 clip in which O"Reilly said, "If I could get my hands on Tiller," adding, "Well, you know. Can"t be vigilantes. Can"t do that. It"s just a figure of speech."According to the Times, O"Reilly often draws particular attention because his cable news show has held a No. 1 rating for the past seven years. Burt Neuborne, a New York University law professor and a former legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union, said that a commentator"s language, regardless of its severity, usually cannot be treated as an incitement of violence unless it includes direct instructions to individuals. He added, "It"s important not to allow that to happen. It would have a dramatic effect on the ability to speak vigorously" (Stelter, New York Times, 6/2).
News of the day
Some Small Businesses Must Cut Employee Health Benefits Or Lay Off Workers Amid Economic Recession
Small businesses increasingly are eliminating their employee health coverage plans because of rising health care premiums and declining revenue attributed to the current economic recession, the Wall Street Journal reports. About 10% of small companies are considering ending their employee health coverage plans over the next year, compared with 3% of small businesses in 2005, according to a recent survey by the National Small Business Association. In 2008, 38% of small companies offered health coverage, compared with 41% in 2007 and 61% in 1993, according to NSBA. According to a Hewitt Associates survey, 19% of all U.S. businesses plan to halt providing health care benefits to their employees in the next three to five years.A rise in health care coverage premiums has contributed to employers eliminating plans, according to the Journal. Premiums for single policies increased by 74% for small businesses from 2001 to 2008, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. According to Scott Krienke, senior vice president of product lines for Assurant Health, health insurance premiums for small businesses increase by 8% to 16% annually on average, with smaller firms often having the highest increases. According to the Journal, many employers are choosing to eliminate health coverage instead of eliminating jobs or closing down their business. Some businesses have chosen instead to shift more health care costs to workers, change health insurers, switch prescription drug plans to encourage employees to purchase more generic drugs or offer employees wellness plans that encourage healthy habits as a strategy to reduce health care costs, the Journal reports (Mattioli, Wall Street Journal, 5/26).
Diagnostics

Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Launches 24-Hour Remote Monitoring Center

Ortho Clinical Diagnostics announced the launch of its Remote Monitoring Center, the first 24-7 central command center in the in vitro diagnostic industry that continuously tracks the condition of laboratory instrument performance. Using proprietary remote diagnostic tools leveraging more than 30 years of field engineering experience, the Remote Monitoring Center helps customers identify specific service needs up to 30 days in advance. This innovative service detects and predicts potential instrument problems before they interrupt the ability of the laboratory to deliver quality test results. With the Remote Monitoring Center, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics fundamentally changes the way laboratories manage and maintain instruments so they can deliver timely and accurate results to physicians and patients. The Remote Monitoring Center uses proprietary e-Connectivity((TM)) technology to continuously track a steady stream of data sent by the instrument on its performance. This state-of-the-art, secure, two-way broadband Internet connection allows Ortho Clinical Diagnostics technical support specialists and engineers to perform remote system analysis, as well as monitor, review and upgrade system configuration, data and performance information. This remote diagnostic capability also allows Ortho Clinical Diagnostics technical specialists and engineers to diagnose issues remotely and, when required, schedule service at a customer"s convenience, allowing laboratories to optimize instrument uptime. "With the Remote Monitoring Center, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics advances instrument servicing from the old "break-fix" model to a new "predict and maintain" model," said Troy Taylor, Vice President, Worldwide Customer Technical Service, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. "By detecting and predicting potential problems before they occur, we are working with customers to help maximize efficiency and provide optimal workflow, while minimizing laboratory downtime." With laboratories facing skilled labor shortages, budget reductions and increasing test volumes, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics identified an unmet need for new technologies that reduce the potential for instrument failures and workflow interruptions. "Ortho Clinical Diagnostics is continuing its commitment to providing customers with innovative products, services and process solutions to make labs more efficient in delivering quality results," said Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Worldwide Commercial President Mark Straley. "The Remote Monitoring Center extends the science of predictive knowledge to our customers so they can deliver timely and accurate results to benefit patient lives." Ortho Clinical Diagnostics constructed the first Remote Monitoring Center in Rochester, New York. A second center will be constructed in Strasbourg, France, and a third center is planned for the Asia Pacific region. About e-Connectivity(TM) Ortho Clinical Diagnostics" e-Connectivity((TM)) Interactive System Management feature provides a secure, two-way connection between VITROS((R)) instruments and the highly skilled technical support team at the Remote Monitoring Center. Technical support specialists and engineers are able to perform remote system analysis, as well as monitor, review and upgrade system configuration, data and performance information. Features provided by e-Connectivity((TM) )technology include: -- Automatic two-way data exchange provides the ability to automatically send and receive data securely from the technical support team at the Remote Monitoring Center. -- Assay and equipment predictive alerts are automatically sent to the technical support team when specific events or statistical trends have been observed. -- Remote diagnostic operation allows the technical support team to access the instrument remotely, with oversight from the instrument operator, so that technical challenges can be solved more efficiently. -- System upgrades can be performed so the VITROS((R)) Systems are running as efficiently as possible with the newest available technology. e-Connectivity((TM) )technology is available to customers using VITROS((R)) Systems, including: the VITROS((R)) 5600 Integrated System, the VITROS((R)) 3600 Immunodiagnostic System, the VITROS((R)) 5,1 and the VITROS((R)) ECi/ECiQ. Data exchanged via e-Connectivity((TM)) is securely encrypted, protecting valuable and confidential patient information. e-Connnectivity((TM)) operates on a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN), which means data is not exposed directly to the Internet. The VPN analyzer has a non-routable, pre-assigned IP address that can only communicate with Ortho Clinical Diagnostics servers. The customer also retains full control of the data, as Ortho Clinical Diagnostics cannot access the customer"s network through the connection. About Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, delivers the high quality in vitro diagnostic products that give healthcare professionals around the world the knowledge they need to make better treatment decisions sooner. The company serves the global transfusion medicine community with donor screening and blood typing products to help ensure every patient receives blood that is safe, the right type, and the right unit. Ortho Clinical Diagnostics also brings sophisticated information management, testing technologies, automation and interpretation tools to clinical laboratories worldwide to help them run more efficiently and improve patient care. Ortho Clinical Diagnostics


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