California office for Bridge Healthcare Finance

Bridge Healthcare Finance (Chicago) reported the opening of an office in Irvine, California. With offices in Chicago and Hartford, Connecticut, Bridge now operates in three locations covering the Midwest and the East and West coasts.

Bridge appointed Brett Crabtree director of the new office. Most recently, Crabtree was vice president of Marsh and McLennan's Private Equity and Merger & Acquisition Services Group.

Cepheid acts to correct software 'bug'

Cepheid (Sunnyvale, California) reported that it has identified a software bug in a function of diagnostic software used in conjunction with its SmartCycler system.

The company said that it notified customers concerning "a simple work-around" providing continued reliable use of the system. In addition, it said it would be providing customers with software that identifies assay runs that may have been affected by the bug, as well as replacement software that eliminates the bug.

Cepheid said that in addition to notifying customers, it has notified its business partners, distributors and regulatory authorities regarding the problem and the recommended corrective actions.

It said that SmartCycler life science research software and GeneXpert software do not have the software function at issue and are not involved in the corrective action.

Cepheid is a manufacturer of integrated systems en-abling genetic assessment.

Dental X-rays said to detect stenosis

Dentists from across the U.S. exchanged information at the Academy of General Dentistry's annual meeting in Washington showing that dental X-rays, known as panor-amic radiographs, used for oral health examinations, are effective in detecting some cases of clinically significant carotid artery stenosis, or blockages in the carotid artery, which can potentially lead to stroke.

The findings were presented by Laurie Carter, DDS, PhD, professor and director of oral and maxillofacial radio-logy and director of graduate studies at Virginia Common- wealth University School of Dentistry (Richmond, Vir-ginia).