• Edwards Lifesciences (Irvine, California) reported the introduction of its Edwards PediaSat Oximetry Catheter, calling it the first real-time, continuous ScvO₂ monitoring device designed for children. This central venous catheter uses fiber optics to monitor and identify potentially life-threatening changes in oxygen-saturation of venous blood in critically ill children. Until now, clinicians have had to rely on manual, intermittent blood sampling to monitor a child’s oxygenation status in a critical care setting. Intermittent blood sampling incurs the risks of multiple blood draws, infection and increased potential for transfusions, the company said.

• Merge Healthcare (Milwaukee) reported the creation of a new eStore affiliates program, which enables participating organizations to sell eFilm workstation and other eCommerce products offered through Merge Healthcare’s eCommerce web site. The eStore affiliates program represents an expansion of the eCommerce channel, which has provided a cost-effective and user-friendly way to try, buy, license and receive support for eFilm workstation as well as future eCommerce products. Partners who agree to the terms of the eStore affiliate program are eligible to receive commissions for completed orders, have their own customized and branded eStore page for Merge Healthcare’s solutions and will be able to provide customized and automated communications to their customers. Merge Healthcare makes medical imaging software.

• Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis) reported the introduction of the LentiExpress shRNA-based system for rapid high-throughput RNAi screening with minimal reagent preparation or optimization required. The addition of this technology to the Mission shRNA platform pairs the benefits of lentiviral-based shRNA with a simple streamlined protocol. The bottleneck for researchers is the time and expense required to generate viral particles and devise a robust screening strategy. With the Mission LentiExpress technology, an optimization plate enables researchers to optimize the system for their particular cell line. The LentiExpress format with the Human Kinase shRNA collection of The RNAi Consortium enables rapid human kinome RNAi screening. The MISSION LentiExpress Human Kinase shRNA set consists of 3,109 individual pre-arrayed lentiviral clones harboring shRNA sequences that target 673 human kinase genes for gene silencing. Sigma-Aldrich is a life science and high technology company.

• Vermillion (Fremont, California) reported the publication of research that details how a protein biomarker called beta-2 microglobulin may aid in the diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD). The findings, which suggest beta-2 microglobulin is elevated in patients with PAD and that the level of the protein is correlated with the severity of the disease, will be published in the September issue of Circulation. Vermillion said it intends to develop a blood test for the diagnosis of PAD and the company’s development program is aimed at identifying and commercializing a panel of new biomarkers, which includes the newly discovered role of beta-2 microglobulin. Beta-2 microglobulin levels were correlated with the severity of disease, as determined by ankle blood pressures, and by the distance patients could walk on a treadmill. Beta 2microglobulin was an independent predictor, even after taking into consideration traditional risk factors such as cholesterol, diabetes, and age. Vermillion makes diagnostic programs in oncology/hematology, cardiology and women’s health with an initial focus in ovarian cancer.

• Whatman (Florham Park, New Jersey) said that it will provide DNA collection kits based on its FTA elute technology for a pharmacogenotyping study looking at genetic markers in prostate cancer. The international study is part of the Systemic Therapy in Advancing or Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Evaluation of Drug Efficacy (STAMPEDE) trial. STAMPEDE is a multi-stage, randomized, controlled trial for patients with newly diagnosed advanced prostate cancer or for patients with a rapid PSA rise following previous surgery or radiotherapy. The sub study is designed to increase understanding of metabolic pathways by which androgen blocking drugs affect patients. Each patient with advanced prostate cancer, who will participate in one of the five stages of the study, will have the option to contribute a sample of genetic material using the Whatman FTA Elute kit. FTA Elute utilizes a chemically-treated matrix that lyses cells and immobilizes nucleic acids on contact, enabling scientists to collect, transport, archive, and isolate DNA and RNA samples at room temperature in a single step. Whatman specializes in separations technology.