Molecular Imaging

Molecular imaging (also called nuclear medicine or nuclear imaging) can image the function of cells inside the body at the molecular level. This includes the imaging modalities of positron emission computed tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. How does PET and SPECT imaging work? Small amounts of radioactive material (radiopharmaceuticals) injected into a patient. These can use sugars or chemical traits to bond to specific cells. The radioactive material is taken up by cells that consume the sugars. The radiation emitted from inside the body is detected by photon detectors outside the body. Computers take the data to assemble images of the radiation emissions. Nuclear images may appear fuzzy or ghostly rather than the sharper resolution from MRI and CT.  But, it provides metabolic information at a cellular level, showing if there are defects in the function of the heart, areas of very high metabolic activity associated with cancer cells, or areas of inflammation, data not available from other modalities. These noninvasive imaging exams are used to diagnose cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, bone disorders and other disorders. 

Stem cells engineered to fight brain cancer

Toxins produced by highly specialized stem cells work to treat brain cancer. Researchers from Harvard Medical School are the engineers behind these killer stem cells.

October 28, 2014

CMS overhauls doctor payment website

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has relaunched its Open Payment website. The general impression is that the new site is worlds easier to navigate than its original launch.

October 22, 2014

Specialized eyes of mantis shrimp show cancer in new light

A new and tiny camera steals from the sight of the powerful, all-seeing mantis shrimp in order to detect cancers that we currently cannot. The new and rather simple system relies on polarized light, which these shrimps can see in spades, to create a whole new dimension of cancer imaging, according to this report from Smithsonian.

October 13, 2014

Exceptional responders may hold genetic keys to better cancer treatments

The National Cancer Institute has mounted a search for people who are dramatic outliers in their response to cancer therapies in an effort to improve treatments for common malignancies.

October 10, 2014
Strategy

FDA draws up new regulatory strategy for research, pharmaceuticals and devices

Almost 50 percent of devices and 40 percent of medications administered in the U.S. are produced outside its borders. Around 80 percent of the producers of active pharmaceutical ingredients are internationally based and the speed of global research and commerce is swiftly changing. Clearly, the regulatory framework needs to keep up. With that in mind, the FDA is setting new priorities for the coming years. An official document has been drawn up by the FDA to that effect.

October 6, 2014

RSNA announces new NIBIB funding for QIBA research

The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) announced today that it has received an additional $1.27 million of funding from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) to support research by the Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA). 

October 6, 2014

Angsty women in mid-life may be at higher risk for Alzheimer’s

Yet another risk factor for neurodegenerative disease has cropped up in recent studies: Worry among older women. Research conducted at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden provided a score on the scale of neuroticism for 800 women in mid-life and evaluated any potential links to Alzheimer's. Those who peaked on the anxiety scale were two times as likely to develop the disease.

October 3, 2014

A breakdown of genetic biomarkers

An analysis of genetic biomarkers from Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology explains the differences between predictive and prognostic characteristics and provides a perspective on the current landscape of research and development for a number of key assays.

October 1, 2014

Around the web

Automated AI-generated measurements combined with annotated CT images can improve treatment planning and help referring physicians and patients better understand their disease, explained Sarah Jane Rinehart, MD, director of cardiac imaging with Charleston Area Medical Center.

Two advanced algorithms—one for CAC scores and another for segmenting cardiac chamber volumes—outperformed radiologists when assessing low-dose chest CT scans. 

"Gen AI can help tackle repetitive tasks and provide insights into massive datasets, saving valuable time," Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said Tuesday. 

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