Articles tagged with Positron Emission Tomography
Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the effects of antidepressant venlafaxine on clinically depressed patients. The study found that the drug produced robust alterations in the anterior cingulate area of the brain within two weeks, which may help predict treatment response.
The study found that whole-body 18F-FDG PET scanning resulted in a change in treatment plans for 55 patients, avoiding unnecessary irradiation and treatment costs. PET scans also detected previously undiagnosed distant metastases in some cases, sparing patients from futile radiation therapy.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine conducted a study on combined PET-CT for detecting ovarian cancer, finding that the combination showed high sensitivity (73.6%) and specificity (100%) rates. This improved detection accuracy compared to using PET scans alone.
A study of 16 patients with active multiple myeloma found that FDG PET scans accurately identified those at high risk, revealing disease spread outside the bone marrow. The scan also showed promise in identifying new disease sites for patients with relapsing disease, suggesting its potential as a complementary diagnostic tool.
Scientists have developed a new, non-invasive method to study neurochemistry and behavior in animal models of neurological and psychiatric diseases. The microPET technique allows researchers to measure dopamine receptor levels in living animals, providing insights into disease progression.
Researchers have developed a new diagnostic tool using PET scans to detect Alzheimer's disease more accurately. By analyzing brain activity, the scans can identify changes that occur before patients themselves may recognize problems.
A new study has identified a unique brain marker of 'vulnerability' that may explain why people who recover from major depression remain at risk for another episode. The finding could lead to more targeted treatments and help identify family members at risk before they experience a major depression.
Researchers at Washington University's Molecular Imaging Center are developing new applications for existing technologies like PET scans. They're also exploring new methods of molecular imaging using near-infrared fluorescence and bioluminescence probes to study protein-protein interactions, immune cells attacking tumors, and the cours...
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.
A new study found that 18F-FDG PET scans accurately predict lymphoma treatment outcomes, especially after one cycle of chemotherapy. The test's sensitivity was higher after the first cycle, making it a better predictor of outcome and response to therapy.
A brain-imaging study found that obese individuals have enhanced metabolic activity in specific regions involved in sensory processing of food. This suggests a heightened sensitivity to food palatability, potentially driving overeating in obese individuals.
The Society of Nuclear Medicine announced its Image of the Year, showcasing an innovative PET scan for detecting lung cancer in a patient with dermatomyositis. The image also highlights a groundbreaking study on dopamine transporters in mouse brains using ultra-high resolution SPECT.
A study found that lipid-lowering therapy may not be effective in arresting or reversing CAD in one out of four patients, highlighting the need for personalized medical management. PET MPI can help identify treatment failure and guide tailored treatment strategies.
The study found that higher initial FDG uptake in tumor was associated with poorer prognosis in osteosarcoma patients. Patients identified as having high FDG uptake could be treated more aggressively to improve outcomes.
The study found that while the CT and HPET images could be co-registered within 2mm in centrally located tumor inserts, tumor inserts on the peripheral were only 8-10mm due to distortion and resolution loss of HPET images. This made it difficult for a therapist to refine treatment volume using the co-registered HPET/CT images.
A PET scan study found impaired endothelium-dependent coronary artery vasodilator function in healthy young smokers, indicating increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The study suggests that smoking begins to cause damage much earlier than previously thought, even in those without apparent coronary disease.
A study using PET/CT scans found that 58.8% of patients had at least one positive focus of FDG uptake in the thoracic aortic wall, which may indicate 'vulnerable' plaque. This could lead to future cardiovascular events if left untreated.
Researchers found that ropinirole slowed the loss of dopamine function in early stages of Parkinson's disease by over 30 percent compared to levodopa. The REAL-PET study used positron emission tomography (PET) brain imaging and showed significant slowing of dopamine loss, which could lead to a better quality of life for patients.
A new study found that PET scans can reduce unnecessary colorectal surgeries by detecting disease earlier than other imaging modalities. The study analyzed 96 patients and found that PET scans led to active treatment for 12% of them, while conventional imaging indicated rising cancer markers in 10 cases.
Joanna Fowler has made significant contributions to positron emission tomography (PET), including the development of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and radiotracers for monoamine oxidase (MAO). Her work has improved our understanding of biochemical processes in addiction, aging, and drug action.
A study published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine found that PET imaging was more accurate than conventional imaging in detecting recurrent breast cancer. PET correctly predicted the outcome in 80% of cases vs. 20% for conventional imaging, with a higher sensitivity and specificity.
A new PET tracer, 11C-acetate, has been found to detect prostate cancer earlier and more accurately than 18F-FDG PET. This breakthrough may enable the detection of cancers that are currently undetectable by conventional methods.
A new study has found a significant association between activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and individual differences in mood. The researchers used brain imaging techniques to record brain activity in 89 individuals, who were asked about their experiences with unpleasant moods.
Researchers have developed a non-invasive method to visualize brain lesions indicative of Alzheimer's disease in living patients using FDDNP and PET scans. This breakthrough will enable doctors to monitor disease progression and test new treatments more effectively.
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center used PET scanning to assess abnormal energy metabolism in the hearts of young patients with fatty acid metabolism disorders. They found that affected children have a diminished capacity to use fatty acids and experience metabolic crises if untreated.
Researchers developed a prognostic model for patients with prostate cancer who have returned after surgery, identifying risk factors that predict treatment success. PET scans also showed promise in assessing lung cancer patients' response to radiation therapy.
The study found that PET scans changed treatment for 63% of patients with recurrent lung cancer, with a significant impact on patient care and well-being. For newly diagnosed patients, PET results led to changes in staging and treatment planning, impacting 42% of cases.
A study published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine found that FDG PET detected recurrent thyroid cancer 50% more often than conventional imaging, leading to changes in clinical management for almost 80% of patients. The PET scan identified additional tumor sites and distant metastases, improving patient outcomes.
Physicists at Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin are working on more accurate PET scanners, improving detection of tumors and other abnormalities in human organs. The new design enhances image quality and sharpness by detecting gamma rays' radial positions.
A new study using brain PET scans identifies metabolic changes in older adults that may indicate an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers hope to develop a diagnostic tool to identify individuals at risk for the disease, allowing them to take preventive measures.
A new study found that PET scans changed clinical management for 60% of women with recurrent breast cancer, including shifting from surgery to radiation therapy or medical treatment. The scan also significantly impacted disease staging, upstaging 28% and downstaging 8%, leading to more patients being classified as stage IV.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found PET scans to be more accurate than CT scans in detecting cervical cancer spread. The imaging method reveals metabolic differences between cancer cells and normal tissue, identifying abnormal lymph nodes.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have successfully implanted LBS-neurons into patients with chronic stroke, showing a greater than 10% increase in metabolic activity in damaged areas. The surrounding area showed maintained or improved function, suggesting integration of the new neurons.
The UC Davis Department of Biomedical Engineering has been awarded a $12 million grant by the Whitaker Foundation to support its research programs and faculty recruitment. The grant will help establish the department as a leading center for biomedical engineering in the US, with a focus on genomics and imaging technology.
The [18 F]FDDNP PET scan revealed longer retention times of the tracer in areas with high densities of ß-amyloid senile plaques. This finding provides valuable insights into Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. The image is expected to shed light on disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
A Yale researcher found that brain activity is consistently present in the background, contradicting cognitive theories. The study highlights the need for a more holistic approach to understanding brain function and bridging the gap between psychiatric and neuroscientific views.
A study found that PET scans are more accurate than traditional diagnostic techniques in determining how far lung cancer has spread. PET scans revealed cancer in 27 patients that had spread farther than thought, sparing them from futile attempts at aggressive therapy.
Researchers will present and discuss new PET clinical uses, including cancer diagnosis and management, and comparison with CT for staging melanoma. The briefing also explores PET imaging agent Fluorocholine and its applications.
Researchers found that ERT increased blood flow to areas involved in memory formation, such as the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. The study suggests ERT may lower susceptibility to age-related memory problems and Alzheimer's disease.
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 at Brookhaven Lab are developing a noninvasive blood monitor for PET imaging that can measure glucose metabolism in the blood without puncturing an artery. The device uses a patented detector and has the potential to significantly improve cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as other diseases.
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in functional MRI technology, enabling accurate mapping of cortical columns, the brain's microprocessors. This advancement will greatly improve our understanding of human perception and higher cognitive functions.
A University of Michigan study found that older adults tend to use the left front side of the brain, specifically the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, when performing concurrent tasks. This is a difference from younger adults who rely more on visual cortices for task switching.
The Wake Forest University School of Medicine has been awarded $400,000 for a new MicroPET scanner, which will enable researchers to conduct PET studies in nonhuman primates and rodents. The scanner's higher resolution allows for more detailed brain structure imaging.
Researchers found a reciprocal relationship between emotional and cognitive areas of the brain in depressed individuals, with blood flow decreasing in cortical regions and increasing in limbic regions. The study provides new insights into the neural interplay between mood and cognition in depression.
Researchers found distinct brain activity patterns in introverts and extroverts using PET scans. Introverts exhibit more internal processing, while extroverts show increased sensory processing.
Researchers have identified a new area for spatial working memory in the human brain, challenging current theories and revealing expanded frontal cortex development. Functional MRI allowed for real-time observation of neural activity, providing new insights into human brain function and evolution.
Researchers at UPMC found PET scanning to be 84% accurate in detecting distant metastases, compared to CT's 63% accuracy. The study highlights the potential benefits of PET scanning in improving treatment decisions for patients with esophageal cancer.
Researchers found that Ritalin reduces activation in the cerebellum and basal ganglia while increasing activation in novel areas of the brain, improving working memory in ADHD patients. This study provides new clues for developing more specific drug treatment for individuals with ADHD.
Researchers used PET images of people tracing maze patterns to find distinct brain areas active during learning and skilled performance. The brain's 'right premotor cortex' and 'left cerebellum' are active early on, while the 'supplementary motor area' takes over after practice.
A new study finds that positron emission tomography (PET) can detect additional tumors in patients with warning signs of colorectal cancer. PET imaging confirmed disease in 15 out of 17 patients with tumors, while those with negative results remained cancer-free for at least nine months.
Researchers have discovered an imaging agent called Altropane that visualizes nerve loss in Parkinson's patients, providing a faster and cheaper alternative to existing methods. The study suggests that Altropane can help identify presymptomatic patients for experimental treatments and track disease progression.
Using PET scans to track glucose metabolism, researchers can identify malignant tumors and detect early metabolic changes in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's. Serial scans also assess disease progression and therapeutic interventions.
A team of researchers used radiotracer chemicals to study the dopamine system in older adults, finding that dopamine receptors decrease with age. The findings have implications for understanding Parkinson's disease and cognitive decline, suggesting that enhancing dopamine activity could help slow down these effects.
Researchers found that the d-threo enantiomer, which is 10 times more potent than its chiral counterpart, binds precisely to dopamine targets in the brain. This suggests that using a single enantiomer form may be beneficial for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Scientists have identified specific brain regions linked to tinnitus, a condition with no known cause or effective treatment. The study's findings raise hopes for developing treatments and possibly even a cure.
Researchers at the University of Michigan found that dedicated PET scanners are significantly more accurate than dual-head coincidence cameras in detecting cancer. They also showed that PET can diagnose infections in just an hour or less, compared to days with conventional tests.
Neuroscientists at the University at Buffalo have produced an image of the brain's neural activity when monitoring multiple conversations. The study used PET and electrophysiology to identify how resources are allocated, revealing that the brain can complete tasks with focused attention but struggles with divided attention.
A study by UPMC researchers found that serotonin receptors in the brain decline by 55% with age, even after accounting for normal aging changes. This decline may contribute to the development of depression and Alzheimer's disease, highlighting the need for effective treatments.
Researchers found that pallidotomy surgery for Parkinson's disease improves brain activity in areas responsible for controlling movement and decreases abnormal activation in cerebral areas. The study provides new insight into the brain mechanisms responsible for symptomatic improvement following surgery.