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Study shows CAC screening plays prominent role in determining person's risk for heart attack and stoke

A new study shows that coronary artery calcium (CAC) screening, an assessment tool that is not currently recommended for people considered at low risk, should play a more prominent role in helping determine a person's risk for heart attack and heart disease-related death, as well as the need for angioplasty or bypass surgery.

23 Dec 2013

FibroGen starts patient enrollment in FG-3019 Phase 2 study for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treatment

FibroGen, Inc., announced today that patient enrollment has started in a new Phase 2 clinical study of FG-3019 in patients who suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

20 Dec 2013

Over-use of staging procedures more prevalent in younger, early-stage breast cancer patients

More than one third of younger, early stage breast cancer patients undergo unnecessary imaging procedures - including position emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine bone scans (NMBS) and tumor markers (TM) -- at the time of staging and diagnosis, according to research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

13 Dec 2013

NLST data provides vital information to better understand the benefits, risks of lung cancer screening

Data from the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial—conducted by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network and National Cancer Institute Lung Screening Study—provided researchers the opportunity to investigate the probability that a cancer detected with screening low-dose computed tomography would not have progressed to become life threatening. The results of this investigation published online today in JAMA Internal Medicine suggest that up to 18 percent of the cancers detected by LDCT may not have progressed enough to affect patient health if left undetected.

12 Dec 2013

Circulating nucleosomes and colorectal cancer diagnostics: an interview with Dr. Stefan Holdenrieder, University Hospital Bonn

For my MD thesis I modified and evaluated an immunological assay that detected the cell death products “nucleosomes” as a new blood-based cancer biomarker. As cell death processes are enhanced or suppressed during different stages of tumor development, it was assumed that they may enable stage-dependent detection of cancer disease.

12 Dec 2013

Pharmacyclics presents ibrutinib trial data for B-cell malignancies at ASH meeting

Pharmacyclics, Inc. today announced results of 40 clinical, non-clinical and pre-clinical presentations on ibrutinib (IMBRUVICA™) at the 55TH Annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) held in New Orleans, Dec 7 - 10, 2013.

11 Dec 2013

New review calls for action to reduce illness and death from silica exposure at work

A new review highlights new developments in understanding the health effects of silica, and calls for action to reduce illness and death from silica exposure at work, including stronger regulations, heightened awareness and prevention, and increased attention to early detection of silicosis and lung cancer using low dose CT scanning.

11 Dec 2013

Lung cancer screening using low-dose CT reduces mortality in high-risk smokers

Previous evidence, including published National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST) results, shows that computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screening significantly reduces lung cancer deaths in high risk patients*, and is appropriate, with careful patient selection and follow-up.

9 Dec 2013

Training advised to plug lung cancer care gaps

Guideline-consistent care for patients with suspected lung cancer with mediastinal lymphadenopathy without distant metastases varies by region and physician characteristics, say researchers.

5 Dec 2013

Researchers found that blood vessels in face transplant recipients reorganize themselves

For the first time, researchers have found that the blood vessels in face transplant recipients reorganize themselves, leading to an understanding of the biologic changes that happen after full face transplantation.

4 Dec 2013

Reimbursement cuts for image-guided breast biopsies may reduce women's access to mammography

Drastic reimbursement cuts for image-guided breast biopsies, and other medical imaging techniques in the 2014 Medicare Fee Schedule Final Rule, may further reduce women's access to mammography and other breast cancer services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services directly cut imaging reimbursement every year since 2007. This, along with 12 Medicare imaging cuts in the last six years due to legislation, increasingly threatens patient care.

3 Dec 2013

Special issue of JACR focuses on the role of imaging-based screening in preventive medicine

To be published online Monday, Dec. 2, a special issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology addresses imaging-based screening and radiology's increasing role in preventive medicine. Topics covered include breast density legislation, digital breast tomosynthesis (or 3-D mammography), lung cancer screening and computed tomography colonography reimbursement.

2 Dec 2013

RSNA and Regenstrief Institute partner to standardize radiology procedure names

Under a contract awarded by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, the developers of two advanced medical terminologies have begun work to harmonize and unify terms for radiology procedures. Creating standardized radiology procedure names will improve the quality, consistency and interoperability of radiology test results in electronic medical record systems and health information exchange.

27 Nov 2013

Neurosurgeons use novel technique to visualize the brain's delicate anatomy prior to surgery

Neurosurgeons at UC San Diego Health System are using a new approach to visualize the brain's delicate anatomy prior to surgery. The novel technique allows neurosurgeons to see the brain's nerve connections thus preserving and protecting critical functions such as vision, speech and memory. No needles, dyes or chemicals are needed to create the radiology scan. The main imaging ingredient? Water.

22 Nov 2013

Findings could potentially save millions of people from having unnecessary cardiac catheterization

An ultrafast, 320-detector computed tomography scanner that shows both anatomy within coronary arteries and blood flow can accurately sort out which people need - or don't need - an invasive procedure to identify coronary blockages, according to an international study. The researchers say their findings could potentially save millions of people worldwide from having an unnecessary cardiac catheterization.

20 Nov 2013

Data from CT scans can be used with 3-D printers to make accurate copies of fossilized bones

Data from computed tomography (CT) scans can be used with three-dimensional (3-D) printers to make accurate copies of fossilized bones, according to new research published online in the journal Radiology.

20 Nov 2013

Researchers determine link of CAC volume and CAC density with cardiovascular disease

Michael H. Criqui, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues determined the independent associations of coronary artery calcium (CAC) volume and CAC density with cardiovascular disease events.

19 Nov 2013

Research findings offer new hope for millions of traumatic brain injury patients

Every year, nearly two million people in the United States suffer traumatic brain injury (TBI), the leading cause of brain damage and permanent disabilities that include motor dysfunction, psychological disorders, and memory loss. Current rehabilitation programs help patients but often achieve limited success.

19 Nov 2013

Measuring BMI can help predict diabetic patient's risk for heart disease

Researchers from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute, in collaboration with researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health, have discovered a simple way to further predict a diabetic patient's risk for heart disease: by measuring their body mass index or BMI.

17 Nov 2013

LLN spirometry inadequate to detect airflow obstruction

Research published in Thorax indicates that use of a lower limit of normal spirometric threshold fails to identify a number of patients with airflow obstruction and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

14 Nov 2013