A study found that a quadriplegic individual's brain preserves its ability to 'feel' and 'move' despite severe spinal cord injury. The findings indicate stability in the brain's motor patterns, suggesting a small portion of the spinal cord may still be intact.
Researchers have developed a new technology using firefly light to monitor herpes infections in mice, allowing for repeated tracking over time without sacrificing animals. This non-invasive method enables the investigation of viral populations and immune system influences.
The UNC Conte Center will conduct four interrelated studies using distinct research methods to identify critical brain events triggering the development of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. The center aims to explain how certain behavioral and neurobiological factors transform normal individuals into those with schizophrenia.
Women with stage IIIb cervical cancer may benefit from different treatments depending on the spread of their disease, according to a new study. The research found that women whose cancer had not spread to lymph nodes had the highest survival rates, while those with upper chest lymph node involvement typically died within months.
The National Lung Screening Trial will enroll 50,000 current or former smokers in the US to compare the effectiveness of CT scans and chest X-rays in detecting lung cancer. The trial aims to determine if early detection can lead to a reduction in lung cancer deaths.
The Dartmouth team is learning about breast tissue structure and behavior using magnetic resonance elastography, electrical impedance spectral imaging, microwave imaging spectroscopy, and near infrared spectral imaging. By combining these four techniques, they aim to provide a more complete picture of normal and abnormal breast tissue.
Researchers discover 3-bromopyruvate selectively kills liver cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. The compound, which blocks energy production in cells, may offer a promising alternative to existing treatments for liver cancer.
Researchers at CWRU have developed a new cancer treatment using dual-release kinetics, which could potentially allow for more effective and safest local drug therapy. The device is designed to work in synergy with image-guided thermal ablation and aims to reduce exposure of normal tissues to drugs while increasing the dosage to the tum...
University of Pittsburgh researchers found combined PET/CT scans to be a valuable tool for staging and re-staging patients with difficult-to-track cancers. The technology identified additional cancerous lesions in 80% of ovarian carcinoma patients and 45% of cervical carcinoma patients, leading to changes in treatment plans.
Researchers use helium-3 diffusion MRI to detect emphysema changes in the smallest airways of the lung. The technique reveals enlarged air spaces that allow helium atoms to move freely, enabling the visualization of lung structure at a scale too small for traditional imaging methods.
Researchers at Stanford University Medical Center have developed a novel approach to fighting cancer using a modified cold virus that targets cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. In a phase I study, 28 patients who received the highest dose of the virus survived for nearly a year and saw significant tumor shrinkage.
A $26.5 million grant has funded a massive study comparing digital and film mammography to determine its effectiveness in breast cancer diagnosis. The Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial will involve almost 50,000 women and provide valuable insights into the technology's ability to detect early breast cancers.
A study of 13,958 Canadian women found that the median time from screening to first assessment was 2.6 weeks and to diagnosis was 3.7 weeks. Women with breast cancer waited shorter times than those with benign findings. However, even with expedited investigations, 10% of women with breast cancer still waited over 12 weeks for a diagnosis.
The new imaging device provides a larger bore diameter, allowing patients with large or obese bodies to receive scans in treatment position. This enables oncologists to obtain more accurate views of the patient's body dimensions and calculate radiation doses for cancer treatment.
A study published in Radiology found that women who receive further testing on the same day as an abnormal screening mammogram experience significantly less stress than those who have to wait. The researchers also found that offering immediate diagnostic imaging can reduce the stress of a false positive mammogram, but would increase ov...
A study published by Indiana University School of Medicine found that men and women process language in different ways, with men using only the left side of their brain. The research may have implications for understanding how men and women recover from stroke and brain tumors, as well as improving imaging technologies.
A new radiation treatment technique targets head and neck tumors while sparing salivary glands, enabling patients to function more normally. Patients who received intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) experienced improved saliva flow and quality of life compared to conventional radiation therapies.
The Bio-X program awarded nearly $3 million in grants to Stanford faculty for innovative biological projects, including a method to rapidly synthesize patient-specific vaccines and an interdisciplinary course on human pathophysiology. The grants aim to promote interdepartmental bioscience research and education in biology, medicine, co...
The hospital's new digital mammography system offers improved diagnostic evaluations and quicker image acquisition, reducing patient anxiety and inconvenience. Researchers will collaborate with GE Medical Systems to develop computer-aided detection software programs for better patient evaluations.
Researchers found that amygdala activity levels are related to unconscious social evaluation, but not conscious attitudes. The study used fMRI to examine the role of the amygdala in racial evaluation and found a significant link between neural activity and implicit race bias.
A team of researchers found that radiologists prefer different images for evaluating various breast tissue abnormalities, requiring new computer programs for optimal results. The technology holds great promise in finding breast cancer earlier, but optimizing images for different tasks is crucial.
Researchers use MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy to detect Alzheimer's disease by measuring chemical markers in the brain. The study found that this technique can distinguish patients with Alzheimer's from those without the disease and identify patterns of damage consistent with the disease.
A study published in Radiology found that Gulf War veterans experienced significant brain-cell loss, particularly in the brain stem, right basal ganglia, and left basal ganglia. The loss of functioning brain cells was linked to various symptoms, including joint pain, fatigue, dizziness, and mental confusion.
A large randomized clinical trial shows that self-hypnotic relaxation techniques can decrease pain medication use, reduce operating room time, and improve vital signs during surgery. The study's findings suggest that hypnosis can be a safe and effective method for reducing anxiety and pain in patients undergoing invasive procedures.
A new research center at the University of Michigan will study new ways to see cancer using sophisticated medical imaging technology, including MRI and PET scans. The center aims to improve diagnosis and treatment by spotting important molecular events during cancer growth, potentially laying the groundwork for new therapies.
Researchers developed Diffraction Enhanced Imaging (DEI), a new X-ray imaging method that produces significantly better pictures of breast tissue than conventional X-rays. The technology has shown superior tumor visibility in six out of seven specimens, and further work aims to make it clinically portable.
Research at UCSF found that MRI can provide more information on fetal abnormalities than ultrasound, leading to changes in treatment plans and improved outcomes. In two cases, MRI-based diagnosis led to treatments that saved the children's lives.
Researchers developed a new imaging technique to identify abnormal blood vessels in the brain, improving diagnosis and treatment of related conditions. The 'high resolution BOLD venography' method revealed detailed information on blood vessel malformations in nine out of ten patients.
Researchers use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study children's brain development and identify language centers. The non-invasive test shows that children as young as 7 years old rely on the left hemisphere for language, similar to adults.
Scientists discovered that p-glycoprotein and a similar protein collaborate to limit drug traffic through the brain. This finding could lead to improved treatment of diseases like AIDS, depression, cancer, and more.
Researchers at Penn discovered that chemoembolization doubles the survival time of adult patients with colon cancer that has spread to the liver. The procedure, which delivers chemotherapy directly to tumor cells, outperforms systemic chemotherapy in managing metastasized disease.
A landmark study involving women with invasive cervical cancer showed that adding chemotherapy to radiation therapy significantly improves survival rates and disease-free survival. The study found that 73% of patients who received both treatments survived for at least five years, compared to 58% of those given only radiation.
Researchers discovered ehrlichiosis, a tick-borne infection, shows increased fluid in lungs on chest X-rays, helping doctors diagnose it earlier and potentially treat it more effectively. The illness can be mild but also rapidly fatal, and early detection is crucial.
A study found that older women, especially minorities, get the fewest mammograms due to fears of finding a lump and erroneous beliefs about breast cancer. Tailoring messages to address these concerns can encourage more women to undergo screening.
Researchers have discovered a way to quickly determine if women with advanced breast cancer are responding to hormone therapy using positron emission tomography (PET). The finding could reduce the need for harsher chemotherapy and improve quality of life for patients.
A new digital X-ray technology being studied at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital has the potential to replace film-based radiography, reducing healthcare costs and improving patient care. The technology offers enhanced image quality, lower radiation doses, and increased efficiency for radiologists.
A new device has been developed to protect patients from radiation exposure during CT scans, with significant reductions in breast and thyroid radiation exposure reported. The reusable protective garment is expected to cost less than $30, making it a potential game-changer for individuals at risk of increased lifetime breast cancer risk.
A new X-ray technique called defraction-enhanced imaging (DEI) produces sharper images of breast tissue, potentially diagnosing tumors earlier and reducing cancer deaths. The method uses a single-energy X-ray source to reduce scatter and improve contrast, highlighting the edges of structures in cancerous tumors.
A recent study published in the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology found that children with soft tissue sarcomas who did not respond well to chemotherapy can benefit from radiation therapy. The treatment was shown to improve survival rates by up to 40% in this patient population.
A computer model developed by researchers at WashU Medicine suggests that one-time carotid artery screening is beneficial for asymptomatic men with high-risk factors, preventing strokes at a relatively low cost. However, annual screening would be prohibitively expensive and may even increase stroke risk in low-risk individuals.