Doctors at the University of Virginia Health System (Charlottesville) are exploring a new approach to breast cancer treatment that allows them to administer significantly higher doses of cancer-killing radiation where it's needed at the same time as tumor removal, all while sparing healthy tissue.

Patient compliance to current screening methods has long been cited as the antagonistic force in the fight against colorectal cancer. Even with all the evidence pointing to early detection through colonoscopy being the key to survival, patients too often forgo colorectal screening because of the unpleasant nature of the procedure. The solution to this problem may lie in a blood-based diagnostic being developed for a broad range of cancers, including colorectal.

A new test used to assess risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) could help doctors significantly improve management of ICU patients and reduce costs to the healthcare system. Astute Medical (San Diego) said it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its first biomarker-based immunoassay, the NephroCheck test system, designed to assess risk for AKI. Astute has designated Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics (Raritan, New Jersey) as the exclusive sales agent for the NephroCheck test.

Cynosure (Westford, Massachusetts), a provider of laser- and light-based aesthetic treatments, said it has acquired the assets of Ellman International (Hicksville, New York) for about $13.2 million in cash. Ellman develops advanced radio frequency (RF) technology for precision surgical and aesthetic procedures and offers a line of aesthetic lasers.