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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Protea and UK research group study molecular changes in Alzheimer's

Protea Biosciences, based in Morgantown, Va., is collaborating with the Carare Research Group at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, to develop a technology that will “mine” brain cells affected by Alzheimer's in order to visualize vast numbers of molecules simultaneously.

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Immunotherapy could clear out cervical cancer

T cell immunotherapy prompted a striking response from three out of nine women with advanced cervical cancer, including one who had extensive metastases, according to new data from the National Cancer Institute. This could offer an alternative treatment option for women with few choices remaining.

MPI finds more CAD five years after treatment

Stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) when conducted five years following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has the potential to pinpoint addition disease in more than half of patients, according to a study published ahead of print May 14 in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

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National Parkinson's Foundation gifts nearly $1M to top studies

The National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) is providing almost $1 million in funding for four major studies in Parkinson's disease, the Foundation announced May 22.

Alzheimer's treatment enters phase III trial this year

AZTherapies, a Boston-based biomedical company investigating Massachusetts General Hospital-licensed treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD), announced May 23 that the FDA has cleared the path for a phase III clinical trial for ALZT-OP1, a combination of two drugs with the aim of curbing the neurodegenerative disease in its earliest stages.

NTP Radioisotopes: A glowing example of a South African triumph

NTP Radioisotopes SOC Ltd, a subsidiary of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), produces a quarter of the world's medical radioisotopes used to allow for about 40 million medical diagnostic images every year, making it the third largest producer and supplier globally. This proud South African corporate citizen is situated at the sophisticated Necsa nuclear facility site, west of Pretoria and routinely serves customers in 60 countries on six continents with its range of nuclear radiation-based products and services.

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Imaging Genomics in the Age of Bioinformatics

No longer are oncologists settling for vague positive and negative results. Tumors are as varied in their topography as any terrain on the planet and distinct characteristics in texture and morphology are important for tumor staging and predicting survival.

Fighting for the Cause: Could It Mean a Cure?

I have been thinking lately about issues related to the direction of research funding for the field of molecular imaging. I have to confess my preference for nuclear techniques in this regard since tracer techniques usually have the advantage of not perturbing the observed state.