Molecular Imaging

Molecular imaging (also called nuclear medicine or nuclear imaging) can image the function of cells inside the body at the molecular level. This includes the imaging modalities of positron emission computed tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. How does PET and SPECT imaging work? Small amounts of radioactive material (radiopharmaceuticals) injected into a patient. These can use sugars or chemical traits to bond to specific cells. The radioactive material is taken up by cells that consume the sugars. The radiation emitted from inside the body is detected by photon detectors outside the body. Computers take the data to assemble images of the radiation emissions. Nuclear images may appear fuzzy or ghostly rather than the sharper resolution from MRI and CT.  But, it provides metabolic information at a cellular level, showing if there are defects in the function of the heart, areas of very high metabolic activity associated with cancer cells, or areas of inflammation, data not available from other modalities. These noninvasive imaging exams are used to diagnose cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, bone disorders and other disorders. 

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FDA increased regulation 15% over 12 years

A spike in regulatory requirements has been reported by Regulatory Focus according to data released by George Mason University's Mercatus Center for market research in Arlington, Va. According to the numbers, FDA requirements picked up 15 percent from the year 2000 until 2012.

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Survey: Alzheimer’s costs 25% of caregivers $4K every month

Here is more incentive to bring investigative Alzheimer’s treatments to maturity—approximately a quarter of caregivers with a family member diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia end up paying out $4,000 in disease-related costs on a monthly basis, according to a survey released today from AgingCare.com

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Bayer addresses Xofigo shortage

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) today released a statement from Bayer HealthCare dated Oct. 21 providing more information to healthcare professionals about the ongoing shortfall in Ra-223 dichloride (Xofigo) prescribed for castration-resistant prostate cancer with metastases to the bone.

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Multinational collaboration to develop hi-res protein imaging

Three biomedical companies from across the globe are banding together with research institutions to develop knowledge about a “super-family” of protein receptors called G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Images of these biomarkers could open the door to a new era of pharmaceuticals.

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Frontotemporal dementia research gets $30M from NIH

Over the next five years, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be rolling out $30 million in funding for research gleaning new information and treatments for frontotemporal degeneration, the culprit in many cases of early onset dementia, the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration announced this week.

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Advanced surgical cytoscopy uses antibodies to detect bladder cancer

Intraoperative cytoscopic imaging being developed at Stanford University School of Medicine uses antibodies and fluorescence to home in on a protein target called CD47 to improve surgical accuracy, the institution announced Wednesday. 

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Sentinel lymph node mapping for ovarian cancer?

With all of the recent expansion of sentinel lymph node mapping for melanoma and breast cancers and now in all solid tumors, some experts are wondering about the value of this technique for ovarian cancer. A study published ahead of print Oct. 20 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine makes the case.

Endomicroscopic imaging points to esophageal disease prior to surgery

Surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) could be improved by an emerging imaging technique called endomicroscopy, which can detect cellular changes indicating pre-cancerous or cancerous growths. The system can also be used to monitor patients for recurrent disease after GERD anti-reflux surgery.

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