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SCOTS researchers are developing a mechanical device which could have a major impact on the diagnosis, assessment and surveillance of prostate cancer.

The 1 million e-Finger project will design and test a range of probes able to measure the hardness of the prostate tissue which has been linked to potential cancer development.

It is expected the use of the micro-mechanical probes, which are being developed collaboratively by researchers from Edinburgh and Herriot-Watt universities, will provide a minimally invasive measure of tissue quality. The probes will range in size for different types of testing and can also be used to aid doctors during surgery.

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The nation’s largest retailer may be working on plans to become the largest healthcare provider.

National Public Radio has published a leaked document sent from Walmart to various healthcare providers that says the company intends to open primary care clinics in 3,500 stores by 2014.

The opening of the clinics would coincide with the year that President Obama’s health care overhaul kicks in, meaning millions more people would have health insurance.

Walmart is denying the plans, saying the document is overblown and incorrect.

Bluetooth headset maker Jawbone released Jawbone UP this week, a continuously-worn wristband sensor that tracks daily activity and sleep patterns. The device retails for $99.99 and is available starting November 6 at retailers including Target, Apple Stores, and Best Buy.

The UP bands sensors track steps walked, pace, calories burned, and active versus inactive time. Its sleep sensor tracks phases of sleep, hours slept, overall sleep quality, and includes a smart alarm, which are most but not all of the metrics tracked by the best known sleep management device, Zeo.

As the global health crisis mounted, we felt a strong sense of responsibility to see if we could leverage our resources, talents, and ecosystem to try and help make a difference,” stated Hosain Rahman, Jawbone founder and CEO, in a press release. UP i Read more…

Oct. 27, 2011 — Women who undergo ovarian stimulation as part of IVF (in vitro fertilization) treatment may be more likely to develop “borderline” ovarian tumors, but not invasive ovarian tumors, later in life, Dutch researchers report.

The researchers defined borderline ovarian tumors as low-grade ovarian cancer that is far less aggressive than invasive ovarian cancer.

The new study is published online in Human Reproduction. It’s the first study to compare ovarian cancer rates among women with fertility problems who had gotten IVF and those who had not.

It’s not yet clear if ovarian stimulation causes those borderline tumors, or if the risk applies to current IVF treatment.

Meanwhile, the researchers aren’t calling for any changes in IVF use.

“We are talking about an increase in a special type of tumor that has an excellent prognosis,” Flora van Leeuwen, a professor at The Netherlands Cancer Institute, tells WebMD.

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