• Asuragen (Austin, Texas) reported the launch of its new high-content microRNA (miRNA) service. The service enables comprehensive analysis of miRNA expression profiles from published miRNA sequences and a vastly expanded set of unpublished candidate miRNAs, the company said. The first generation platform for Asuragen’s DiscovArray miRNA expression service uses a new Ambion array that is custom-manufactured by Affymetrix and designed specifically for miRNA expression analysis. The array contains features representing validated Sanger miRBase content in combination with over 12,000 exploratory human miRNAs. Asuragen is a molecular biology service provider and oncology molecular diagnostic company.

• CAD Sciences (White Plains, New York) reported the release of a suite of motion correction (MC) algorithms that expand on the existing MC capabilities that have been embedded in CAD Sciences’ products since their commercial launch. The new MC suite represents an upgrade in MC processing as compared to competitive solutions and was developed through a combination of new algorithm creation and modification of existing technologies by CAD Sciences’ scientific team. The MC suite is optimized for specific scanning applications that include, among others, breast MRI, prostate MRI, lung CT and lung MRI. CAD Sciences specializes in MRI-CAD for breast, prostate and other organs.

• CompuMed (Los Angeles) reported that it has expanded its support of PACS/DICOM in its OsteoGram software. The picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) is standard for the interoperability and storage of medical imaging and typically supports the digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) image format. OsteoGram 1.36 includes the capability to send images to PACS systems directly from the OsteoGram report module, as well as the ability to query and retrieve images from PACS directly. CompuMed is a medical informatics company that makes diagnostic software solutions.

• Corgenix Medical (Denver) has submitted a 510(k) premarket notification to the FDA for the company’s IgG Anti-AtherOx test kit. This new laboratory test uses the company’s AtherOx technology to detect IgG antibodies to complexes formed by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) with ₂-glycoprotein I ( ₂GPI) in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus-like disorders (antiphospholipid syndrome). The AtherOx technology uses oxLDL complexed with the plasma protein ₂GPI. Although oxLDL has been implicated in cardiovascular disease, clinical data demonstrates that the determination of oxLDL/ ₂GPI complexes (AtherOx), rather than oxLDL alone, is a more physiologic and accurate way of assessing the risk of progressive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Corgenix licensed this technology in 2002, and is developing additional products utilizing this platform. Corgenix makes specialized diagnostic kits for vascular diseases, immunology disorders, and bone and joint disorders.

• Critical Diagnostics (New York) reported that a pivotal research paper has been published in the Journal of the College of Cardiology titled, “Measurement of the Interleukin Family Member ST2 in Patients with Acute Dyspnea: Results from the ProBNP Investigation of Dyspnea in the Emergency Department (PRIDE) Study.” The results of the study demonstrate the strength of ST2 as a biomarker for risk stratification and prediction of mortality in patients who present to the emergency department with shortness of breath and suspected acute decompensated heart failure. ST2 is a mechanically-induced cardiomyocyte protein, and serum levels of ST2 have been shown to predict outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction or heart failure. Critical Diagnostics makes the Presage laboratory assays using ST2 for the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular disease.