ScienceDaily: Medical Imaging News

Noninvasive detection, diagnosis of oral cancer

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:03:03 EDT

More effective detection and diagnosis of oral cancer could result from an advance in noninvasive imaging of epithelial tissue. The research is thought to have the potential to change the way doctors look for precancerous and cancerous areas in a patient’s mouth.

MRI-based measurement helps predict vascular disease in the brain

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:37:37 EDT

Aortic arch pulse wave velocity, a measure of arterial stiffness, is a strong independent predictor of disease of the vessels that supply blood to the brain, according to a new study.

CT detects twice as many lung cancers as X-ray

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:01:01 EDT

CT scans detected twice as many early-stage lung cancers as chest X-ray on initial screening exam, according to new results. Investigators say the 20 percent lung cancer mortality reduction previously reported in the NLST is achievable at screening centers in the U.S.

Addiction as a disorder of decision-making

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:58:58 EDT

New research shows that craving drugs such as nicotine can be visualized in specific regions of the brain that are implicated in determining the value of actions, in planning actions and in motivation. Researchers suggest abnormal interactions between these decision-making brain regions could underlie addiction.

Small cancer risk following CT scans in childhood and adolescence confirmed

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:41:41 EDT

Young people who undergo CT scans are 24 percent more likely to develop cancer compared with those who do not, a study published today on bmj.com suggests. However the absolute excess for all cancers combined was low, at 9.38 for every 100,000 person years of follow-up.

Elusive search for biomarkers in Huntington's disease

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:36:36 EDT

While Huntington's disease (HD) is currently incurable, the HD research community anticipates that new disease-modifying therapies in development may slow or minimize disease progression. The success of HD research depends upon the identification of reliable and sensitive biomarkers to track disease and evaluate therapies, and these biomarkers may eventually be used as outcome measures in clinical trials. Biomarkers could be especially helpful to monitor changes during the time prior to diagnosis and appearance of overt symptomatology.

Premature birth interrupts vital brain development processes leading to reduced cognitive abilities in infants

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Researchers have for the first time used a novel form of MRI to identify crucial developmental processes in the brain that are vulnerable to the effects of premature birth. This new study shows that disruption of these specific processes can have an impact on cognitive function.

For combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, 'fear circuitry' in the brain never rests

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:32:32 EDT

Chronic trauma can inflict lasting damage to brain regions associated with fear and anxiety. Previous imaging studies of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, have shown that these brain regions can over-or under-react in response to stressful tasks.

Breakthrough for IVF? Selecting the most promising embryos

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:54:54 EDT

A recent study on 5-day old human blastocysts shows that those with an abnormal chromosomal composition can be identified by the rate at which they have developed to blastocysts, thereby classifying the risk of genetic abnormality without a biopsy. Now, researchers have undertaken a retrospective study, using their predictive model to assess the likelihood of any embryo transferred resulting in a successful pregnancy, with very encouraging outcomes.

Fishing for memories: How long-term memories are processed to guide behavior

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:39:39 EDT

In our interaction with our environment we constantly refer to past experiences stored as memories to guide behavioral decisions. But how memories are formed, stored and then retrieved to assist decision-making remains a mystery. By observing whole-brain activity in live zebrafish, researchers have visualized for the first time how information stored as long-term memory in the cerebral cortex is processed to guide behavioral choices.

Tissue damage from metal-on-metal hip implants appears before pain symptoms appear

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:14:14 EDT

Metal-on-metal hip implants can cause inflammation of the joint lining long before symptoms appear, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to identify this inflammation, according to a new study.

'Good vibrations:' Brain ultrasound improves mood

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:48:48 EDT

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques aimed at mental and neurological conditions include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for depression, and transcranial direct current (electrical) stimulation (tDCS), have been shown to improve memory. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) has also shown promise.

Nearly 50 percent increase in ICU admissions in U.S., new study says

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:29:29 EDT

A new study offers an in-depth look at hospitals nationwide in the United States and admissions to intensive care units (ICU). The study finds a sharp increase—nearly 50 percent—in ICU admissions coming from U.S. emergency departments.

Brain-imaging study links cannabinoid receptors to post-traumatic stress disorder: First pharmaceutical treatment for PTSD within reach

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:50:50 EDT

In a first-of-its-kind effort to illuminate the biochemical impact of trauma, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have discovered a connection between the quantity of cannabinoid receptors in the human brain, known as CB1 receptors, and post-traumatic stress disorder, the chronic, disabling condition that can plague trauma victims with flashbacks, nightmares and emotional instability.

Better dyes for imaging technology

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:55:55 EDT

From microscopes to MRI scanners, imaging technology is growing ever more vital in the world's hospitals, whether for the diagnosis of illness or for research into new cures. Imaging technology requires dyes or contrast agents of some sort. Current contrast agents and dyes are expensive, difficult to work with and far from ideal. Now, chemists have discovered a new dye and proved its worth against any of the dyes currently available.

Nerve stimulation for severe depression changes brain function

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:44:44 EDT

For nearly a decade, doctors have used implanted electronic stimulators to treat severe depression in people who don't respond to standard antidepressant treatments. Now, preliminary brain scan studies are revealing that vagus nerve stimulation brings about changes in brain metabolism weeks or even months before patients begin to feel better.

Cancer treatment could target inflammation in CVD

Sun, 05 May 2013 07:37:37 EDT

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy with radiolabeled somatostatin analogs, an established treatment for cancer patients, could offer a novel therapeutic approach to decrease levels of inflammation in the atherosclerotic plaques of patients with cardiovascular disease, new research suggests.

New, more accurate way of imaging lung cancer tumors

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:55:55 EDT

Scientists have devised a new computational method for assessing lung cancer tumors using CT, PET or MRI diagnostic technologies. The method, called single click ensemble segmentation (SCES), uses a new computer algorithm developed by the researchers to help segment and extract features of a tumor. The new approach not only improves diagnosis and prognosis assessments, but also saves time and health care dollars.

Brilliant dye to probe the brain

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:17:17 EDT

To obtain very-high-resolution 3D images of the cerebral vascular system, a dye is used that fluoresces in the near infrared and can pass through the skin.

New imaging technique to visualize bio-metals and molecules simultaneously

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:17:17 EDT

Metal elements and molecules interact in the body but visualizing them together has always been a challenge. Researchers have now developed a new molecular imaging technology that enables them to visualize bio-metals and bio-molecules simultaneously in a live mouse. This new technology will enable researchers to study the complex interactions between metal elements and molecules in living organisms.

High-resolution diffusion MRI can help map the microstructure of the trigeminal nerve, improve treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia sufferers

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:44:44 EDT

Researchers describe their study regarding the use of high-resolution diffusion MRI to evaluate the microstructure of the cranial nerves, and how it offers exciting possibilities to further the understanding of the pathophysiology of trigeminal neuralgia and, ultimately, improve available treatments.

Tiny worm sheds light on giant mystery about neuron

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:59:59 EDT

Scientists studying neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans have found a gene, unc-16, that serves as a gatekeeper, restricting the flow of specific membrane-enclosed organelles from the cell body to the axon. Organelles clogging the axon could potentially interfere with neuronal signaling or cause the axon to degenerate, leading to neurodegenerative disorders.

Researchers devise method for enhancing CEST MRI

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:41:41 EDT

Researchers have created a novel way to enhance MRI by reducing interference from large macromolecules that can often obscure images generated by current chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) methods.

Using microbubbles to improve cancer therapy

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:24:24 EDT

Microbubbles decrease the time and acoustic power of ultrasound required to heat and destroy an embedded target, finds new research. If these results can be replicated in the clinic, microbubbles could improve the efficiency of high intensity ultrasound treatment of solid tumors.

Microwave imaging can see how well treatment is progressing

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:18:18 EDT

Microwave imaging can be used to monitor how well treatment for breast cancer is working, finds new research. Microwave tomography was able to distinguish between breast cancer, benign growths, and normal tissue.

Alzheimer's researchers creating 'designer tracker' to quantify elusive brain protein, provide earlier diagnosis

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:21:21 EDT

Alzheimer's researchers know the disease is caused by toxic beta amyloid and tau lesions, yet, the recent failure of emerging therapies targeting these lesions suggest that successful treatments will require diagnosis of disease at its earliest stages. Now, by using computer-aided drug discovery, researchers are in the process of developing an imaging chemical that attaches predominantly to tau-bearing lesions in living brain, opening the door for earlier diagnosis – and better treatments for tau-involved conditions like Alzheimer’s, frontal temporal dementia and traumatic brain injuries.

Atrophy in key region of brain associated with multiple sclerosis

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:11:11 EDT

Magnetic resonance imaging measurements of atrophy in an important area of the brain are an accurate predictor of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study. According to the researchers, these atrophy measurements offer an improvement over current methods for evaluating patients at risk for MS.

New immune cells hint at eczema cause

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:13:13 EDT

Researchers have discovered a new type of immune cell in skin that plays a role in fighting off parasitic invaders such as ticks, mites, and worms, and could be linked to eczema and allergic skin diseases.

Landmark studies report on success of using image-guided brachytherapy to treat cervical cancer

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:06:06 EDT

Two large, landmark radiotherapy studies have shown that it is possible to treat cervical cancer effectively with high doses specifically adapted to each tumour, and with fewer serious side-effects to the surrounding normal organs.

Hologram-like 3-D brain helps researchers decode migraine pain

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:46:46 EDT

Wielding a joystick and wearing special glasses, a pain researcher rotates and slices apart a large, colorful, 3-D brain floating in space before him.

Scientists scan the human heart to create digital anatomical library

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:42:42 EDT

Medical researchers have demonstrated the anatomical reconstruction of an active human heart. The research uses contrast-computed tomography (CT) to allow in-depth 3-D computer modeling of hearts that can be used for prolonged archiving.

Photoacoustics spares healthy lymph nodes in patients with metastasized cancer

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:46:46 EDT

If a tumor has spread through the lymph nodes, the decision is often taken to exercise caution and remove extra tissue, to prevent it from spreading further. This often involves the removal of healthy lymph nodes. Photoacoustic detection allows surgeons to see which nodes are affected and which are not, while the operation is in progress. This could cut the number of unnecessary complications following surgery, while still ensuring that all affected tissue is removed.

CT and serum LDH shows promise as survival predictor for some metastatic melanoma patients

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:21:21 EDT

Combining CT imaging findings with baseline serum lactate dehydrogenase levels is showing promise as a way to predict survival in patients with metastatic melanoma being treated with anti-angiogenic therapy.

Researchers devise X-ray approach to track surgical devices, minimize radiation exposure

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:44:44 EDT

Researchers have developed a new tool to help surgeons use X-rays to track devices used in "minimally invasive" surgical procedures while also limiting the patient's exposure to radiation from the X-rays.

Mammogram tool improves some breast cancer detection but also increases false alarms

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:23:23 EDT

A costly and widely used mammography add-on increases detection of noninvasive and early-stage invasive breast cancer but also makes more mistakes than mammography alone, researchers have found.

Doctors freeze nerves to knock chronic pain out cold

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:20:20 EDT

For the millions of Americans who rely on pain medications for neuralgia, a condition where nerves damaged by surgery, traumatic injury, or diseases such as diabetes cause chronic pain, an emerging non-pharmacological treatment may offer relief. By placing a tiny ball of ice on damaged nerves by way of a minimally invasive interventional radiology treatment called cryoneurolysis, doctors were able to safely short circuit chronic pain caused by nerve damage.

Picture this: A dramatic drop in wrong patient errors

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:08:08 EDT

Adding a photo of a face to X-ray images can reduce "wrong-patient" errors five-fold, a new study finds.

Brain imaging studies reveal neurobiology of eating disorders

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:15:15 EDT

Walter Kaye, MD, professor of psychiatry and director of the Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Program at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. and colleagues are beginning to be use advanced brain imaging technologies to study and improve eating disorder treatments.

Non-invasive mapping helps to localize language centers before brain surgery

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:23:23 EDT

A new functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique may provide neurosurgeons with a non-invasive tool to help in mapping critical areas of the brain before surgery, reports a new study.

Distorted thinking in gambling addiction: What are the cognitive and neural mechanisms?

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:50:50 EDT

Fascinating new studies into brain activity and behavioral responses have highlighted the overlap between pathological gambling and drug addiction. The research has implications for both the treatment and prevention of problem gambling.

For breast cancer screening, one size doesn't fit all

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:48:48 EDT

Although mammography, the gold standard of breast cancer screening, reduces breast cancer mortality, it has important limitations. Critics point to reduced sensitivity for women with dense breasts, a high rate of false positives leading to excessive biopsies, and concerns about long-term effects of repeated radiation. With greater understanding of risk stratification, the authors of this review envision a re-thinking of the typical breast cancer paradigm to include new technologies that allow a more individualized approach that integrates patient-specific metrics, such as age, breast density, and personal preference.

Experts call for research on prevalence of delayed neurological dysfunction after head injury

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:14:14 EDT

One of the most controversial topics in neurology today is the prevalence of serious permanent brain damage after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Long-term studies and a search for genetic risk factors are required in order to predict an individual's risk for serious permanent brain damage, according to a new review article.

MRI measure of blood flow over atherosclerotic plaque may detect dangerous plaque

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:49:49 EDT

Researchers have shown that using magnetic resonance imaging to measure blood flow over atherosclerotic plaques could help identify plaques at risk for thrombosis.

New minimally invasive, MRI-guided laser treatment for brain tumor found to be promising in study

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:48:48 EDT

The first-in-human study of the NeuroBlate Thermal Therapy System finds that it appears to provide a new, safe and minimally invasive procedure for treating recurrent glioblastoma, a malignant type of brain tumor.

New frontiers in breast cancer screening

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 06:44:44 EDT

Researchers predict that advancements in breast cancer screening will need a personalized touch because mammography is not a "one strategy fits all" technology.

Imaging specialists create 3-D images to aid surgeons

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:44:44 EDT

Researchers have successfully created three-dimensional anatomical models from CT scans using 3-D printing technology, a process that holds promise for medical professionals and their patients.

Brain-imaging tool and stroke risk test help identify cognitive decline early

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:13:13 EDT

Medical researchers have used a brain-imaging tool and stroke risk assessment to identify signs of cognitive decline early on in individuals who don't yet show symptoms of dementia.

3-D stem cell culture technique developed to better understand Alzheimer's disease

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:16:16 EDT

A team of researchers has developed a technique to produce three-dimensional cultures of induced pluripotent stem cells called embryoid bodies, amenable to live cell imaging and to electrical activity measurement.

Personalized brain mapping technique preserves function following brain tumor surgery

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:09:09 EDT

In a new paper, researchers review research showing that this ability to visualize relevant white matter tracts during glioma resection surgeries can improve accuracy.

Early COPD diagnosis possible with nuclear medicine

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:15:15 EDT

In vivo ventilation/perfusion imaging can detect early changes to the lung caused by cigarette smoke exposure and provides a noninvasive method for studying lung dysfunction in preclinical models, according to new research. These measures have the potential to be applied clinically to study and diagnose the early stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Breaking ground in robotic cervical surgery

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:51:51 EDT

A medical researcher has used ultrasound-guided laparoscopic surgery to tighten a pregnant patient's incompetent cervix.

New metabolite-based diagnostic test could help detect pancreatic cancer early

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:43:43 EDT

A new diagnostic test that uses a scientific technique known as metabolomic analysis may be a safe and easy screening method that could improve the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer through earlier detection.

Parkinsons' drug helps older people to make decisions

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:23:23 EDT

A drug widely used to treat Parkinson's disease can help to reverse age-related impairments in decision making in some older people, a new study has shown.

Acting out dreams linked to development of dementia

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:48:48 EDT

The strongest predictor of whether a man is developing dementia with Lewy bodies — the second most common form of dementia in the elderly — is whether he acts out his dreams while sleeping, researchers have discovered.

Gulf War illness linked to physical changes in brain fibers that process pain

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:28:28 EDT

Researchers have found what they say is evidence that veterans who suffer from "Gulf War Illness" have physical changes in their brains not seen in unaffected individuals. Brain scans of 31 veterans with the illness, compared to 20 control subjects, revealed anomalies in the bundles of nerve fibers that connect brain areas involved in the processing and perception of pain and fatigue.

Stem cells entering heart can be tracked with nano-hitchhikers

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:27:27 EDT

The promise of repairing damaged hearts through regenerative medicine -- infusing stem cells into the heart in the hope that these cells will replace worn out or damaged tissue -- has yet to meet with clinical success. But a highly sensitive visualization technique may help speed that promise's realization.

Uncontrolled hypertension could bring increased risk for Alzheimer's disease

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:04:04 EDT

A new study suggests that controlling or preventing risk factors such as hypertension earlier in life may limit or delay the brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease and other age-related neurological deterioration.

Improved detection of frontotemporal degeneration may aid clinical trial efforts

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:08:08 EDT

A series of studies demonstrate improved detection of the second most common form of dementia, providing diagnostic specificity that clears the way for refined clinical trials testing targeted treatments.

Software for new cancer screening method developed

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:57:57 EDT

Women may one day have a more accurate, less expensive means of detecting breast cancer, thanks in part to new software. Microwave tomography imaging, or MTI, has the potential to produce an image capable of finding cancer, even in women with dense breast tissue.

New MRI method fingerprints tissues and diseases: Aims for fast and affordable scans, early and quick diagnoses

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:25:25 EDT

A new method of magnetic resonance imaging could routinely spot specific cancers, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and other maladies early, when they're most treatable, researchers say. Each body tissue and disease has a unique fingerprint that can be used to quickly diagnose problems, the scientists say.