Digital Pathology Blog

Pathologist's frustrations with health care reform debate on YouTube

Dr. Ed Uthman is a practicing pathologist who recently posted this video on YouTube.  Regardless of where you are on the debate of healthcare reform I think Ed sums up succintly some widely perceived misconceptions regarding several "parts" of the current "system" that are a common source of frustration to health care providers.  He addresses issues related to government regulation, access to care, choice of insurance and health care provider(s), reimbursement  and how much of the current debate is not actually addressing "reform".

Google rolls out Wave to 100,000 early users

Google Inc.'s highly anticipated communication and collaboration tool - Google Wave - is one big step closer to its first customer shipment.

The company is inviting about 100,000 users and developers to preview the new technology, Lars Rasmussen, an engineering manager, and Stephanie Hannon, a group product manager at Google, said in a blog post Tuesday. The users and developers will get the invitations tomorrow, they said in the post.

The Google bloggers acknowledged that Google Wave, which was unveiled this past May, still isn't yet ready for prime time. But, they added, the developers are now ready to get some feedback on the current iteration of the tool.

"We'll ask some of these early users to nominate people they know also to receive early invitations -- Google Wave is a lot more useful if your friends, family and colleagues have it too," wrote Rasmussen and Hannon. "This, of course, will just be the beginning. If all goes well we will soon be inviting many more to try out Google Wave."

The Web-based Google Wave application is designed to consolidate features from e-mail, instant messaging, blogging, wikis, multimedia management and document sharing. Using social networking-like interfaces, the tool should enable collaboration and community-building applications.

Bee venom used to target cancer

The Wall Street Journal (9/29, D2, Loftus) reports that researchers have found a way to treat cancerous tumors using an ingredient of bee venom called melittin.  Past research has shown that melittin attacks healthy cells in the process of shrinking or slowing the growth of tumors.  But, researchers at Washington University discovered that by attaching melittin to nanoparticles, which are then injected into patients' blood stream, they can pinpoint cancerous tumors and potentially avoid some toxic side effects associated with other cancer treatments.  In a study on mice with breast and skin cancers, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, this approach was shown to halt tumor growth or shrink tumors, and reduce precancerous lesions.

Pulmonary pathology images on Flickr

Dr. Yale Rosen, a pathologist in Long Island, New York has posted a nice collection of pulmonary pathology images with gross and histologic examples as well as normal lung histology.  The images are of excellent quality and most contain a short description. 

Check out Pulmonary Pathology on Flickr and many thanks to Dr. Rosen for the excellent collection.

Typical carcinoid tumor (high power)

CAP Foundation Grant and Awards Application Due October 1

I encourage all residents interested in obtaining additional training in molecular diagnostics, molecular pathology, informatics or renal pathology or interested in attending a meeting or working with industry on a research project to apply for one of the grant and awards listed below.  Click on the image to be re-directed to the application site. 

The application process is short and review process timely.  Consideration is given to all submissions with an emphasis on the applicant's reasons for applying and need for extramural funding.

Case of the Week up at PathXchange

This week PathXchange (Px) is showcasing the "Fibroepithelioma of pinkus in a 9-year-old boy" by Dr. Deba Sarma as the "Px Case of the Week". 

 

Abstract:

Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus (FEP) is a rare indolent variety of basal cell carcinoma that is typically polypoid and located on the trunk of adult males aged 40–60 years. Basal cell carcinoma (including FEP) is very rare in the pediatric population.

Case Presentation:

A 9-year-old boy presented with a 6.0-mm polypoid erythematous nodule with ulceration on his left chest. An excisional biopsy was done. Histologically, the tumor revealed several foci of superficial basal cell carcinoma along the epidermis. In the dermis, the tumor was composed of basaloid epithelial anastomosing cords that were separated by fibrovascular stroma connected to the overlying epidermis.

The histopathological features were that of a fibroepithelioma of Pinkus. The lesion was completely removed with clear biopsy margin. The patient is being followed for any possible local recurrence.

 

 

Px Case of the Week is a program that allows Px members to send rare and interesting cases that they would like to showcase to the best advantage of the community. All entries made to this program are reviewed by the Px Case Editorial Board members. The case that gets selected as the "Px Case of the Week" is published every Monday and is rewarded*!

 

All entries are requested to be submitted by Friday every week.

 

To send a case:

• Mail your slides - Ship your case slides (H&E and available immunostains) with a short case description, clinical data, diagnosis and pathology category, along with your mailing address and phone number. Mail your slides to-

PathXchange (Case of the Week)

919, Hermosa Ct

Sunnyvale, CA- 94085

• Or, email digital images - Email high quality, digitized images in any of following formats (jpg, jpeg, gif, and png) with a short case description, clinical data, diagnosis, pathology category, along with your mailing address and phone number. You can email images to case@pathxchange.org

Log on now. See you online! Grab the chance to win exciting prizes*.

 

*Prizes vary each week, including but not limited to cash and cash equivalent items.

If you have any questions or comments regarding Px, please contact Px at info@pathxchange.org or by using the contact form @ www.pathxchange.org

 

Definiens offering Tissue Studio Webinar - October 1 @ 11:00 AM EDT

Definiens is proud to introduce Tissue Studio™ REGISTER HERE The Most Advanced Digital Pathology Image Analysis Solution for Biomarker Translational Research Definiens has long been recognized as having the most powerful image analysis solution in the world, with software applications spanning cellular assays, histopathology, medical imaging and even earth remote sensing. Now, Definiens is proud to introduce Definiens Tissue Studio – the most advanced digital pathology image analysis solution for biomarker translational research. Definiens Tissue Studio is an out-of-the-box software application that supports a wide array of tissue stains including blue, brown, and red, as well as H&E and IF. The pathologist first trains the system how to identify regions of interest by using the “paintbrush tool” to sample ROI’s on up to 4 images simultaneously, and then simply clicks “Learn and Apply” to complete the training process. The system is then optimized for nuclear, membrane, and /or cytoplasmic biomarker quantification using a simplified workflow. The solution is saved, and is then applied in batch mode for parallel processing either locally, or on a server cluster. No advanced computer programming is needed to create sophisticated, robust image analysis solutions that can uncover clinically relevant, quantitative biomarker attributes. Definiens Tissue Studio supports all common tissue formats including slides and TMAs; and supports all image formats from Aperio, Hamamatsu, Zeiss, Applied Imaging, Bacus, TissueGnostics, as well as generic file formats (.tiff, .jpeg). Join online for a demonstration and to answer questions about this new groundbreaking digital pathology image analysis solution

Title: Introduction to Definiens Tissue Studio Date: Thursday, October 1, 2009 Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Dark Daily Story on Pathology 2.0 and Digital Pathology Blog

Many thanks to the folks over at Dark Daily and coverage of Pathology 2.0 to include the digital pathology blog.

The Dark Report is known for their innovative reporting including a Best Investigative Reporting Award from SIPA.

Best known for The Dark Report, they also host the annual Executive War College on Laboratory and Pathology Management. This two-day event, now in its 15th year, attracts laboratory administrators worldwide who all seek to learn the latest successful innovations in laboratory management.

More national news coverage about The Dark Report.

Scientific American article on UCSB's Allosphere

Simply awesome - note to self - see if I can get a tour of this facility.

Scientists often become immersed in their data, and sometimes even lost. The AlloSphere, a unique virtual reality environment at the University of California, Santa Barbara, makes this easier by turning large data sets into immersive experiences of sight and sound. Inside its three-story metal sphere researchers can interpret and interact with their data in new and intriguing ways, including watching electrons spin from inside an atom or "flying" through an MRI scan of a patient's brain as blood density levels play as music.

Housed in a 5,760-square-meter space in the California NanoSystems Institute building, the AlloSphere is essentially a house-size digital microscope powered by a supercomputer. Its outer chamber is a cube covered with sound-absorbing material, making it one of the largest near-anechoic (nonechoing) spaces in the world. Inside are two joined hemispheres of perforated aluminum that contain a suspended bridge.

Read full story.

Apollo PACS, Inc. Selected by Henry Ford Health System for Its Digital Pathology Solution

Apollo PACS continues to make inroads with a number of new customers using their PathPACS® product for digital image management with their existing LIS.  Their latest addition is Henry Ford Health System, a department known for its LEAN processing initiatives led by their chair, Dr. Richard Zarbo and its strength in pathology informatics led by Dr. Mark Tuthill, a thought leader and visionary in pathology informatics.  The below press release describes this synergy and why those of us with interests in digital pathology think that this is an enabling technology that fosters increased patient safety, quality assurance and efficiencies in the delivery of pathology services. 

Apollo PACS, Inc. Selected by Henry Ford Health System for Its Digital Pathology Solution

Apollo PACS, Inc., (Apollo) a recognized and innovative leader in digital pathology solutions, has been selected by Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) in Detroit, MI, as the vendor to implement its digital pathology informatics vision. After conducting extensive research to identify a pathology PACS (Picture Archive and Communication System) solution to meet their operational needs, Henry Ford Health System selected Apollo’s PathPACS® as the product upon which they will implement the institution’s anatomic and clinical pathology, and outreach vision.

According to J. Mark Tuthill, MD, Division Head, Pathology Informatics at HFHS, "The Apollo PathPACS® product design is ideally suited to support our vision for expanding the use of digital imaging in the daily practice of surgical pathology and for the expedient delivery of pathology information to organizations outside the institution. Once fully implemented, PathPACS® will streamline the pathology imaging management process, address patient safety requirements, and optimize pathology case workflow throughout HFHS."

A key element critical in the decision to select PathPACS® is the product’s ability to provide comprehensive digital imaging management for HFHS pathology laboratories, integrating seamlessly with their Sunquest Anatomic Pathology Information System (CoPathPlus™) as well as the Sunquest Clinical Laboratory Information System. PathPACS® provides an impressive array of system features and an intuitive image management tool-set which aids users in quickly mastering system functionality to meet their specific needs. In addition to the staff productivity benefit offered by the PathPACS® intuitive user environment, the product easily integrates within the existing HFHS IT infrastructure thus minimizing the time required for bringing on-line the pathology image management capability. This will allow HFHS to apply LEAN principles to image acquisition and management following the tenants of the Henry Ford Production System.

Once PathPACS® is fully operational, the system will provide a seamless environment in which digital pathology will fully support the HFHS mission of providing quality patient care, strengthening the institution’s continued commitment to medical research, and innovative educational initiatives.