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The experts that can outsmart optical illusions

Researchers found that medical imaging experts can solve common optical illusions, including judging the size of objects. Training to improve visual perception can also make experts less susceptible to these illusions. This study has implications for training medical image analysts.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateApr 1, 2025

Research spotlight: A generalized epilepsy network derived from brain abnormalities and deep brain stimulation

A team of researchers has identified a common brain network that generalized seizures hijack, which is located in the region where deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes are placed. This finding could help explain why DBS is effective in alleviating generalized seizures and potentially improve treatment outcomes.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateMar 24, 2025

High resolution ultrasound could enable faster prostate cancer diagnosis

A new study has shown that high-resolution ultrasound can diagnose prostate cancer as effectively as MRI, with improved resolution and lower costs. The technology, called micro-ultrasound, is expected to speed up diagnosis, reduce hospital visits, and make imaging more accessible, particularly in less developed healthcare systems.

SourceEuropean Association of Urology·JournalJAMA·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 23, 2025

Cambridge team uses powerful new MRI scans to enable life-changing surgery in first for adults with epilepsy

A new MRI technique has been successfully used to treat adults with drug-resistant epilepsy, allowing doctors to offer life-changing surgery to patients. The parallel transmit 7T scanner identified previously unseen structural lesions in nine patients, confirming the effectiveness of the treatment option.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalEpilepsia·TypeImaging analysis·DateMar 20, 2025

Groundbreaking AI tool generates 3D map of the brain

Researchers created a powerful new computational and artificial intelligence tool that can generate high-resolution 3D maps of the brain in mice, allowing users to zoom in and out and peer into the full set of molecules producing energy for brain functions. This breakthrough brings scientists closer to understanding the role of metabol...

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalNature Metabolism·TypeImaging analysis·DateMar 19, 2025

An unexpected insight into Alzheimer’s disease

A unique case study reveals an unexpected discrepancy between Alzheimer's pathology and cognitive function in a woman with Down syndrome. The study highlights the need to expand inclusion criteria for therapeutic drug trials and uncover genetic or lifestyle factors that contribute to cognitive preservation.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·TypeCase study·DateFeb 28, 2025

University of Houston researchers paving the way for new era in medical imaging

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new technology that uses photon counting detectors to capture X-ray images with multiple energy levels simultaneously. This allows for more precise 3D visualization of different tissues and contrast agents, which can improve cancer detection and other medical applications.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalJournal of Medical Imaging·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 25, 2025

A completely new type of microscopy based on quantum sensors

Researchers at TUM developed a new microscopy technique combining magnetic resonance spectroscopy with fluorescence microscopy, enabling high-resolution imaging of individual cells and structures down to the microscopic level. The technique has potential applications in cancer research, pharmaceuticals, and materials science.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 25, 2025

Chinese Academy of Sciences explores the application of intelligent imaging technology

Researchers found AI-based imaging technology improves disease diagnosis accuracy, particularly in cardiology, oncology, neurology, and ophthalmology. The technology also enhances diagnostic efficiency and reduces healthcare disparities by delivering high-quality diagnostics to underserved areas.

SourceChinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd.·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateJan 23, 2025

MRI scanning and biopsy could reduce delays in the correct treatment for bladder cancer by more than six weeks

A new trial has found that patients with suspected invasive bladder cancer treated with initial MRI imaging and biopsy are faster than those assessed with TURBT alone. The BladderPath trial showed a median time of 53 days from referral to correct treatment, compared to 98 days for usual care.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 15, 2025

Exposure to aircraft noise linked to worse heart function

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that people exposed to high aircraft noise levels had stiffer and thicker heart muscles, which contracted and expanded less easily. This was especially true for those exposed to higher noise at night, potentially due to impaired sleep and stress responses.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJan 8, 2025

Exposure to aircraft noise linked to worse heart function

A new study found that exposure to high aircraft noise levels can lead to stiffer and thicker heart muscles, increasing the risk of poor heart function and major cardiac events. People exposed to night-time aircraft noise were particularly at risk, with increased risks of heart attacks, life-threatening rhythms, and strokes.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 8, 2025

Poor vascular health accelerates brain ageing

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet used AI to analyze brain images from 70-year-olds and found that factors like inflammation and high glucose levels are associated with an older-looking brain. A healthy lifestyle, on the other hand, was linked to brains with a younger appearance.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·TypeObservational study·DateDec 20, 2024

Study supports new blood-based biomarker to detect early brain changes leading to cognitive impairment and dementia

A new blood-based biomarker, placental growth factor (PlGF), has been identified as a potential tool for detecting early brain changes associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. Elevated PlGF levels were found to be linked to increased vascular permeability, leading to white matter injury and subsequent cognitive decline.

Magnetic resonance imaging also sheds light on history without destroying fragile finds - Ancient Roman harbor wooden structures analyzed at the University of Oulu, Finland

A recent study used NMR methods to investigate rare 300-century wooden structures from the Roman Empire, shedding light on their history and behavior in water. The analysis revealed valuable insights into the structure and changes of archaeological wood remains, contributing to the preservation of heritage for future generations.

SourceUniversity of Oulu, Finland·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateDec 16, 2024

Breakthrough in treatment approach showing promise in the fight against glioblastoma, the deadliest and most aggressive type of brain cancer

A phase 2 study conducted by Mayo Clinic found that 56% of participants were alive after 12 months, with a median overall survival of 13.1 months. The treatment, which combines short-course hypofractionated proton beam therapy with advanced imaging techniques, was more effective in patients over 65 with favorable tumor genetics.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateDec 16, 2024

For the first time, researchers detect pre-malignant pancreatic lesions with magnetic resonance imaging

A new study detects pre-malignant pancreatic lesions using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), a form of MRI, which could enable early diagnosis and effective therapies. The detection was successful in both transgenic mice and human samples, opening the way to non-invasive diagnostic tools for PanINs.

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalInvestigative Radiology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 13, 2024

Artificial intelligence improves mammography-based risk prediction

Artificial intelligence is enhancing breast cancer risk prediction through mammographic analysis, uncovering key features that predict breast cancer risk. These AI-generated features may inform personalized screening strategies, such as more frequent or less frequent screenings for women at high or low risk of breast cancer.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Cancer·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateDec 12, 2024

Imaging technique allows rapid assessment of ovarian cancer subtypes and their response to treatment

A new MRI-based imaging technique can rapidly assess ovarian cancer subtypes and their response to treatment, allowing for personalized treatment planning. The technique, called hyperpolarised carbon-13 imaging, distinguishes between two different subtypes of ovarian cancer and reveals their sensitivities to treatment.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalOncogene·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 5, 2024

A molecular trap for exotic metals promises improved diagnostics and faster drug development

Scientists at IOCB Prague have developed a new compound that securely binds metal elements, known as lanthanides, inside molecules of medical drugs. This breakthrough discovery, called 'ClickZip', improves diagnostics and accelerates drug development by making pharmaceuticals more stable.

We could soon use AI to detect brain tumors

Researchers have trained AI models to distinguish brain tumors from healthy tissue using convolutional neural networks and transfer learning. The models achieved an average accuracy of 85.99% at detecting brain cancer, with the ability to generate images showing specific areas in its tumor-positive or negative classification.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalBiology Methods and Protocols·TypeContent analysis·DateNov 19, 2024

In 10 seconds, an AI model detects cancerous brain tumor often missed during surgery

Researchers developed an AI-powered model called FastGlioma that can detect residual tumor tissue with high accuracy in 10 seconds. The technology outperformed conventional methods, reducing the risk of missed tumors by nearly 75%. This innovation could change the field of neurosurgery and minimize reliance on radiographic imaging.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateNov 13, 2024