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Study shows effects of psychotropic drug treatment on brain morphology

It is increasingly recognized that chronic psychotropic drug treatment may lead to structural remodeling of the brain. Indeed, clinical studies in humans present an intriguing picture: antipsychotics, used for the treatment of schizophrenia and psychosis, may contribute to cortical gray matter loss in patients, whereas lithium, used for the treatment of bipolar disorder and mania, may preserve gray matter in patients.

9 May 2012

Highlights of orthopaedic research studies in JBJS

Below are highlights of orthopaedic research studies appearing in the May 2, 2012 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS), as well as the issue's full Table of Contents.

9 May 2012

Results reported for clinical trial for the treatment of depression using external trigeminal nerve stimulation

Earlier today, at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Dr. Ian Cook, Principal Investigator and Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, and a Senior Medical Advisor to NeuroSigma, Inc., presented the results of a Phase Ib open-label clinical trial that studied the effects of eTNS™ on depressive symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy. Results from the 17-question Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17), a clinician-rated scale, showed a 50.0% reduction in depression and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), a self-reported scale, showed a 58.0% reduction in scores. Both scales achieved statistical significance. In the trial, subjects placed stimulating eTNS™ electrodes on their foreheads for 8 hours each night and their depression was measured every two weeks using recognized standard tests. eTNS was well tolerated and no serious adverse events occurred during the 8-week treatment period.

9 May 2012

Medtronic’s Valiant Captivia Stent Graft now available in seven countries

Increasing patient access to endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms worldwide, Medtronic, Inc. is expanding availability of the Valiant Captivia Thoracic Stent Graft System in several countries, including China, Japan and the United States.

From Medtronic 9 May 2012

UVA achieves two important milestones in VISIUS Surgical Theatre

IMRIS Inc. today reported on the preliminary successes that the University of Virginia (UVA) has achieved in their VISIUS Surgical Theatre. UVA clinicians have treated over 50 patients in their VISIUS Surgical Theatre since its opening, achieving two important milestones in the use of their new intraoperative imaging capabilities.

9 May 2012

FDA clears Hitachi’s Echelon Oval 1.5T Ultra-Wide MR system

Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc., a leading provider of diagnostic imaging equipment, announced FDA clearance to market its Echelon Oval 1.5T Ultra-Wide MR system.

9 May 2012

Psychopaths’ brains differ from healthy non-offenders: Study confirms

Approximately half of male prisoners in England and Wales will meet diagnostic criteria for ASPD. The majority of such men are not true psychopaths (ASPD-P). They are characterized by emotional instability, impulsivity and high levels of mood and anxiety disorders. They typically use aggression in a reactive way in response to a perceived threat or sense of frustration.

8 May 2012

Researchers find talking about ourselves triggers sensation of pleasure

According to researchers, talking about ourselves - whether in a personal conversation or through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter - can trigger the same sensation of pleasure in the brain as food, money or sex.

8 May 2012

Cellular-level images of the living eye

The same technology used by astronomers to obtain clear views of distant stars is now being used by optometrists to perform incredibly detailed examinations of the living eye.

8 May 2012

Mindray first quarter net revenues increase 21.1% to $219.0 million

Mindray Medical International Limited, a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices worldwide, announced today its selected unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.

From Mindray 8 May 2012

Rare form of dementia eats away at personality and language

Michael French suffered from a rare form of dementia. It made him do unwise things like throwing away tax documents, getting a ticket for trying to pass an ambulance and buying stock in companies that were obviously in trouble. He seemed withdrawn and no longer spoke to his wife over dinner. He also lost his job at the consulting firm. This happened in 2006. His wife found he had changed suddenly from the smart, good-natured, hardworking man and was considering divorce when his ailment came into the picture.

8 May 2012

North Suburban Medical Center's Northeast ER opens today

North Suburban Medical Center's Northeast ER opens its doors today at the corner of Holly Street and 128th Avenue to receive emergency patients from the surrounding communities. The 10,000-foot, state-of- the-art emergency department will function just like a hospital-based ER, treating everything from minor injuries to more severe and life-threatening illnesses such as stroke or heart attack. Northeast ER is a true emergency facility, open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.

8 May 2012

DBS may offer hope for patients with mild Alzheimer's

A study on a handful of people with suspected mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) suggests that a device that sends continuous electrical impulses to specific "memory" regions of the brain appears to increase neuronal activity. Results of the study using deep brain stimulation, a therapy already used in some patients with Parkinson's disease and depression, may offer hope for at least some with AD, an intractable disease with no cure.

8 May 2012

Hologic features minimally invasive technologies at ACOG annual clinical meeting

Hologic, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics products, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, is featuring minimally invasive technologies in surgical, diagnostic and skeletal health at The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) annual clinical meeting.

From Hologic, Inc. 7 May 2012

Comprehensive mobile stroke ambulance

NeuroLogica Corporation and German based MEYTEC GmbH announced today the development of the world's first comprehensive mobile stroke ambulance. Stroke-Emergency-Mobile, VIMED STEMO, combines MEYTEC's cutting-edge telemedicine solutions with NeuroLogica's state of the art portable CT scanner, CereTom.

7 May 2012

Brain networks may avoid traffic jams by communicating on different frequencies

Brain networks may avoid traffic jams at their busiest intersections by communicating on different frequencies, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the University Medical Center at Hamburg-Eppendorf and the University of T-bingen have learned.

7 May 2012

iCAD, Breastlink announce agreement to offer Xoft brachytherapy system

iCAD, Inc., an industry-leading provider of advanced image analysis, workflow solutions and radiation therapy for the early identification and treatment of cancer, and Breastlink Medical Group in Southern California, today announced an agreement that will make the Xoft Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy System available to breast cancer patients treated at Breastlink.

5 May 2012

TCFC completes two in-utero fetal cardiac interventions to treat HLHS

The team at Texas Children's Fetal Center, a national leader for treating fetal anomalies, has successfully completed two in-utero fetal cardiac interventions to treat hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a congenital heart defect that is one of the most complex heart defects to treat.

5 May 2012

ACR names WDI as Breast Imaging Center of Excellence

Women's Digital Imaging of Ridgewood (WDI) has been named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The Center of Excellence designation is awarded to facilities that meet the highest standards set by the ACR through peer-review evaluations conducted in each breast imaging modality by board-certified physicians and medical physicists.

5 May 2012

PACSGEAR Image Exchange to be showcased at SIIM 2012

PACSGEAR, the leading provider of imaging connectivity for electronic health records, today announced the PACSGEAR Image Exchange, a cloud-based solution designed to securely upload and share medical images and results between facilities.

5 May 2012