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.

Elasticity imaging could alleviate need for biopsies

A noninvasive technique to visualize soft tissue stiffness allows radiologists to accurately distinguish benign from malignant breast lesions.

2 Dec 2006

VNUS Medical Technologies announces favorable ruling in patent case

VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc has announced that United States District Judge Maxine M. Chesney of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California issued a Markman order in the litigation brought by VNUS Medical Technologies against Diomed Holdings, Inc. and Diomed, Inc., AngioDynamics, Inc. and Vascular Solutions, Inc. (the "defendants").

23 Nov 2006

New gold standard of care for overactive bladder

A major clinical trial finds that a combination of two common medications -- tolterodine (Detrol LA) and tamsulosin (Flomax) -- works better than either drug alone for men struggling with lower urinary tract symptoms, including tough-to-treat overactive bladder (OAB).

14 Nov 2006

Pioglitazone may help slow progression of artery wall thickening

A medication given to diabetics to improve their body's sensitivity to insulin also appears to slow the thickening of their artery walls, according to a study posted online by JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association.

13 Nov 2006

Thiazolidinediones may reduce cardiovascular risks

A drug commonly used to increase the body's sensitivity to insulin may slow the progression of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine.

13 Nov 2006

Birth of conjoined twins a medical and practical challenge

Another set of conjoined twins are expected to be born this week in Canada.

25 Oct 2006

New technique detects signature of metastasizing melanoma with as few as 10 cancer cells present in blood sample

Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia can now detect the spread of skin cancer cells through the blood by literally listening to their sound.

16 Oct 2006

Walnuts better for the heart than olive oil

According to Spanish researchers walnuts might be even better for the arteries than olive oil.

10 Oct 2006

Pregnancy centers opening near abortion clinics offer sonograms, other services to pregnant women

Some antiabortion groups in recent years have opened pregnancy counseling centers in or near facilities that provide abortions and are offering "medical services," including sonograms, to pregnant women who visit the centers, the Washington Post reports.

11 Sep 2006

Ultrasound targets angioplasty

World Congress of Cardiology 2006 - A simple technique - combining cardiac ultrasound with a heart muscle-stimulating drug - can identify the MI patients who would benefit most from angioplasty after thrombolysis, reports a study in Hot Line session II.

6 Sep 2006

Researchers study cells whose membranes have been opened by ultrasound

Researchers have shown how ultrasound energy can briefly "open a door" in the protective outer membranes of living cells to allow entry of drugs and other therapeutic molecules – and how the cells themselves can then quickly close the door.

5 Sep 2006

Test on viability of heart muscle identifies patients who will benefit from angioplasty after clot-lysing therapy for an acute heart attack

Emergency angioplasty (balloondilation of the coronary vessel) is the preferred treatment for patients with an acute heart attack. Because of its limited availability worldwide, the majority of patients who are admitted to the hospital with a heart-attack are treated with clot-lysing drugs (thrombolysis).

5 Sep 2006