Ultrasound News and Research

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Ultrasound is a procedure in which high-energy sound waves are bounced off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echo patterns are shown on the screen of an ultrasound machine, forming a picture of body tissues called a sonogram. Also called ultrasonography.

Surgery gives normal life expectancy to patients with severe mitral regurgitation

"We know from previous studies that patients with symptomatic mitral regurgitation are at increased risk of death, but for those without symptoms the picture has been murkier," says Maurice Enriquez-Sarano, M.D., the Mayo Clinic cardiologist who led the study. "In this study we followed a large population of asymptomatic patients prospectively to identify keys to improved long-term outcomes, and to determine when patients should consider surgery."

2 Mar 2005

Radiopharmaceuticals and lasers produce sound to treat and detect cancerous moles

When treating skin cancer, differentiating between melanoma and healthy moles can be difficult. Doctors must know the shape of the cancer and how deep it is before treating the problem. Now, a skin care specialist at the University of Missouri-Columbia has teamed with MU engineering and internal medicine professors to develop a better identification and treatment process.

1 Mar 2005

Abnormal electrocardiograms linked to heart enlargement

When a segment of a patient’s electrocardiogram known as QRS is unusually long, the patient may also be more likely to have an enlarged left ventricle, even when there are no signs of heart failure or previous heart attack, according to a new study(PDF) in the March 1, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

1 Mar 2005

Middle-aged women who take an active role in their health care may be less likely to develop cardiovascular disease

The results, presented today at the American Psychosomatic Society Annual Meeting, suggest women who believe they should take charge of their health, rather than rely solely on treatment by doctors, have fewer signs of pre-clinical atherosclerosis.

28 Feb 2005

Cigarette smokers have an increased risk of experiencing rotator cuff tears

Cigarette smokers have an increased risk of experiencing rotator cuff tears in their shoulders than their tobacco-free counterparts, according to study results presented today at the 72nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

27 Feb 2005

New imaging technology may serve as objective outcome measures for orthopedic conditions

New imaging technologies are enabling doctors to not only diagnose a variety of orthopaedic and musculoskeletal conditions with more accuracy, but also to determine with unprecedented precision whether clinical recovery from bone, joint or tendon damage is actually complete and not simply a "placebo effect."

27 Feb 2005

Sudden emotional stress can result in severe but reversible heart muscle weakness

Shocking news, such as learning of the unexpected death of a loved one, has been known to cause catastrophic events, such as a heart attack.

10 Feb 2005

People with gum disease are more likely to suffer from atherosclerosis

A new study by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center provides the most direct evidence to date that preventing gum disease could significantly improve your chances of avoiding vascular problems.

7 Feb 2005

MRI is both safe and accurate for diagnosing pregnant women with acute pain in the abdomen and pelvis

MRI is both safe and accurate for diagnosing pregnant women with acute pain in the abdomen and pelvis, surpassing the limits of both CT and ultrasound for this purpose, according to a new study by researchers from University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill, NC.

3 Feb 2005

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients receive less aggressive attention than those with stroke

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients receive less aggressive diagnostic testing, treatment and education compared to stroke patients, which is a missed opportunity to prevent permanent disability or death, researchers reported at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2005.

3 Feb 2005

Mother’s diet and slimness might have long-term effects on the health of her baby

Researchers have discovered a link between the amount of blood flowing through the liver of the unborn baby in late pregnancy and the diet of expectant mums.

20 Jan 2005

Role of ethnicity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

The first study to examine nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among different ethnic and racial groups in the United States finds that Hispanics may be at a higher risk of developing the condition. The study is published in Hepatology, the official journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hepatology is available online via Wiley InterScience.

19 Jan 2005

New system may help babies avoid brain damage

The same heightened electrical activity that indicates an adult taking a treadmill test isn’t getting enough oxygen to his heart is now being measured during labor to see if it can better identify babies in serious distress who need immediate delivery.

12 Jan 2005

System to help babies avoid brain damage

The same heightened electrical activity that indicates an adult taking a treadmill test isn't getting enough oxygen to his heart is now being measured during labor to see if it can better identify babies in serious distress who need immediate delivery.

9 Jan 2005

Reduced progression of atherosclerosis tied to statin drugs lowering fats, protein

Aggressive therapy with statins -- drugs that inhibit cholesterol synthesis -- works better than moderate statin therapy in reducing fats and proteins in the blood that have been linked to atherosclerosis, a new multi-center study concludes. Statins’ effects on both complex compounds appear beneficial in cutting patients’ cardiovascular risks.

6 Jan 2005

Study evaluates new stroke prevention treatment

Doctors at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center are evaluating a new treatment designed to prevent strokes caused by a small heart defect.

21 Dec 2004

Breast MRI moderately useful for detecting breast cancer

In women with breast lesions that are suspicious for cancer, based on clinical examination or mammography, performing a breast MRI has high sensitivity but only moderate specificity for detecting breast cancer, but does not necessarily eliminate the need for tissue sampling, according to a study in the December 8 issue of JAMA.

8 Dec 2004

Study provides reassurance to the safety of repeated ultrasound examination during pregnancy

Results of a study from Australia in this week’s issue of THE LANCET provide reassurance to the safety of repeated ultrasound examination during pregnancy.

4 Dec 2004

Guidelines needed for the use of androgens for women with sexual dysfunction

The Endocrine Society, which represents more than 12,000 endocrinologists who are specially trained to diagnose, treat and conduct basic and clinical research on complex hormonal disorders, has called for new clinical guidelines on the use of androgens in women/female sexual dysfunction.

3 Dec 2004

Researchers are successfully treating incontinent women with the patient's own muscle-derived stem cells

Austrian researchers are successfully treating incontinent women with the patient's own muscle-derived stem cells. The findings of the first clinical study of its kind were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

29 Nov 2004