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RANZCR optimization training workshop enables radiation dose reduction in adult scans

Numerous radiology practices were able to significantly reduce the radiation dose associated with multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scans by participating in a one day dose optimization workshop provided by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists and supported by the local state health department, according to a study in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

2 Aug 2010

Illinois quickly begins implementing new law to end violence in nursing homes; N.J. reverses cuts in AIDS drug program

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn Thursday signed a law establishing new nursing home safety measures "aimed at ending chronic violence in the facilities. Work already has begun on hiring dozens of additional nursing home inspectors, as well as writing rules that will increase licensing fees and nursing staff levels in the homes. State authorities also say they are tackling one of the thorniest issues: finding ways to fund the law's multifaceted provisions even as Illinois faces a $13 billion budget deficit" (Jackson and Marx, 7/29).

31 Jul 2010

Innovative health care effort in Chicago reports successes and disappointments

"An initiative designed to transform health care on Chicago's South Side ... has linked 5,600 people to a 'medical home' since 2005, University of Chicago executives said Thursday," The Chicago Tribune reported.

31 Jul 2010

CD74 can serve as prognostic marker for colorectal cancer

CD74 is a protein that is expressed in and on cells of the immune system, such as B lymphocytes and antigen presenting cells. This protein is known for its function in facilitating antigen presentation enabling the immune response. Additionally, Professor Shachar's lab has previously shown that CD74 serves as a survival receptor on cells of the immune system, and that its stimulation by its natural ligand -migration inhibitory factor (MIF)- prevents apoptosis (self destruction) of these cells. It was shown that CD74 is markedly expressed on numerous tumors - hematologic as well as epithelial, and can serve as a prognostic marker. CD74's expression and function on colon intestinal epithelial cells is controversial.

31 Jul 2010

Transforaminal injection of steroids is a viable alternative for lumbar radicular pain surgery

A recent study from Australian researchers determined that transforaminal injection of steroids was a viable alternative to surgery for lumbar radicular pain due to disc herniation. Full details of the study appear in the August issue of Pain Medicine, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, and the International Spine Intervention Society.

30 Jul 2010

SIR offers five-day course that covers all aspects of acute stroke management

Catheter Lysis of Thromboembolic Stroke -an intensive five-day course offered by the Society of Interventional Radiology Oct. 24-28 in Dallas, Texas-provides interventional radiologists, neurointerventionalists, vascular neurologists and fellows-in-training with the unique educational opportunity to review, observe and discuss all aspects of acute stroke management.

29 Jul 2010

SCCT names recipients of fourth annual Young Investigator Award

The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT), the leading international professional society dedicated to research, education and clinical excellence in cardiovascular computed tomography (CT), has named Dr. Raman Dusaj and Dr. Thomas Smith the recipients of the fourth annual Young Investigator Award. The Young Investigator Award was announced at SCCT's 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting in Las Vegas.

28 Jul 2010

CTC is not cost effective compared with colonoscopy: Study

A UNC physician authored an editorial in the July 27 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) commenting on results of an analysis of the cost effectiveness of colonoscopy versus computed tomographic colonography (CTC).The cost effectiveness analysis concluded that CTC or virtual colonoscopy is not cost effective compared with colonoscopy if reimbursed at the same rate as colonoscopy

28 Jul 2010

State governments expect tax collections to grow but still face budget gaps

The Wall Street Journal: "State governments expect tax collections to grow for the first time in two years as tax increases and a recovering economy lead to higher collections. But states are still likely to face at least two more years of financial troubles and about half will see gaps in this year's budgets if Congress doesn't extend special Medicaid payments that were part of the 2009 stimulus act, according to a report expected to be released Tuesday by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

28 Jul 2010

Human fat tissue can be reprogrammed to yield clinically useful stem cells: Research

Australian scientists from the Monash Institute of Medical Research have "reprogrammed" adult mouse fat cells and neural cells to become stem cells that can differentiate into a variety of different cells (pluripotency). The cells, called "induced pluripotent stem cells" are nearly identical to the naturally occurring pluripotent stems cells, such as embryonic stem cells, which are highly pluripotent, in short supply and their access restricted in the U.S.

27 Jul 2010

Today's OpEds: Health reform and long-term care; Health care incentives; Reasons for optimism or repeal and replace?

Our system of long-term care does not provide adequate or coordinated human services and medical treatment for our growing aging population. … Thanks to a provision of the new health care law known as the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program, tomorrow's continuum of care does not have to be so unforgiving. For the first time, a voluntary public insurance program will be available to help adults and families pay for long-term care services (Bruce Chernof, 7/23).

26 Jul 2010

Brainlab launches ExacTrac Infrared Monitoring device for patient positioning during radiation therapy

Brainlab announced the availability of ExacTrac® Infrared Monitoring, an add-on device to existing treatment machines for monitoring patient positioning during radiation therapy treatments, at the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Annual Meeting last week.

26 Jul 2010

Radiologists better at evaluating legal cases: Study

A study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers found that 31 radiologists who reviewed the CT scans used in a medical malpractice lawsuit did not agree with the conclusions reached by four paid medical expert witnesses in the case.

26 Jul 2010

ACLU says some nursing homes use 'scare tactics' to keep psychiatric patients

The American Civil Liberties Union says in court papers that some for-profit nursing home operators are using "scare tactics" to persuade psychiatric patients to stay in their facilities. "The action follows a historic court settlement in which Illinois authorities pledged to offer supportive community-based housing and treatment to roughly 4,500 psychiatric patients who now live in two dozen large nursing homes designated as Institutions for Mental Diseases.

23 Jul 2010

Canada performs fewer diagnostic imaging scans relative to population size than OECD average

Diagnostic tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans, are more commonly used on patients in some provinces than in others, according to new data released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

23 Jul 2010

Effective prevention therapy, early critical care and rehabilitation needed to overcome cost burden of stroke

The consequences of stroke, reported to be the third leading cause of death in the U.S., can extend beyond the physical to impose devastating financial burdens on families and society in general. According to the American Heart Association, the total direct and indirect costs of stroke in 2008 have been estimated at $65.5 billion.

23 Jul 2010

Lack of insurance coverage and fees deter willingness to undergo CTC for colorectal cancer screening

A recent questionnaire submitted to a group of patients at one of the nation's largest general hospitals suggests that a significant number of patients, who have previously refused colorectal cancer screening, are willing to undergo computed tomography colonography (CTC) (or virtual colonoscopy), but not willing to pay for the exam themselves when not covered by insurance, according to a study in the August issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (www.ajronline.org).

22 Jul 2010

'Mystery patients' study says doctors can miss health's social determinants

Chicago Tribune: So-called "mystery patients" are showing that doctors often ignore or fail to ask about social determinants when it comes to health outcomes, a recent study suggests, for exampel, testing an emaciated patient for cancer before asking if he got enough to eat (he didn't).

22 Jul 2010

Hospital updates: ERs try to shorten waits, Florida Children's Hospital to join with Johns Hopkins

To attract patients, hospitals are increasingly posting wait times for their emergency rooms "on billboards, websites, social media outlets like Twitter and in text messages," The Salt Lake Tribune reports. "It's a competitive strategy, but also a tool for bending the wait-time curve and, hopefully, improving patient care, said Mary Joe Jones, chief clinical nursing officer at St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City."

22 Jul 2010

Today's OpEds: U.S. and AIDS; Mass. example on health reform?; Unions and health costs

George W. Bush made an impressive commitment to the international fight against AIDS when he formed the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief program. … Thanks to these efforts — and similar initiatives ... the number of African patients with access to AIDS drugs jumped tenfold from 2003 to 2008. Since 2004, the AIDS-related mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa has dropped 18 percent. Yet President Obama added only $366 million to the program this year — well below the $1 billion per year he promised to add when he was on the campaign trail (Desmond Tutu, 7/20).

22 Jul 2010

CT News and Research

RANZCR optimization training workshop enables radiation dose reduction in adult scans

Illinois quickly begins implementing new law to end violence in nursing homes; N.J. reverses cuts in AIDS drug program

Innovative health care effort in Chicago reports successes and disappointments

CD74 can serve as prognostic marker for colorectal cancer

Transforaminal injection of steroids is a viable alternative for lumbar radicular pain surgery

SIR offers five-day course that covers all aspects of acute stroke management

SCCT names recipients of fourth annual Young Investigator Award

CTC is not cost effective compared with colonoscopy: Study

State governments expect tax collections to grow but still face budget gaps

Human fat tissue can be reprogrammed to yield clinically useful stem cells: Research

Today's OpEds: Health reform and long-term care; Health care incentives; Reasons for optimism or repeal and replace?

Brainlab launches ExacTrac Infrared Monitoring device for patient positioning during radiation therapy

Radiologists better at evaluating legal cases: Study

ACLU says some nursing homes use 'scare tactics' to keep psychiatric patients

Canada performs fewer diagnostic imaging scans relative to population size than OECD average

Effective prevention therapy, early critical care and rehabilitation needed to overcome cost burden of stroke

Lack of insurance coverage and fees deter willingness to undergo CTC for colorectal cancer screening

'Mystery patients' study says doctors can miss health's social determinants

Hospital updates: ERs try to shorten waits, Florida Children's Hospital to join with Johns Hopkins

Today's OpEds: U.S. and AIDS; Mass. example on health reform?; Unions and health costs

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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