Volume XV | Issue 6 | June 2023 | |
HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry | |
Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc.
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Dear Colleagues –
Earlier this year, I was fortunate to be able to visit Ireland. It's a beautiful country with wonderful people. One afternoon, while enjoying lunch at a Pub (It was Ireland and I was on vacation!), a local looked at me and said, "America is the best country in the world, don't forget that." Trust me, I already knew that fact, but it was surprising and nice to hear that from someone from another country. There's much we take for granted in America, and I suspect the freedoms that we have are at the top of the list. We have the ability to live life how we want, say what we believe, and embrace endless opportunities. As we celebrate the arrival of July, let us reflect on the remarkable qualities that make our country exceptional. At HeartCare Imaging, we are proud to be part of an industry that contributes to the well-being of our fellow Americans. In this month's newsletter, we will dive into insightful articles and updates on the latest healthcare advancements, highlighting the impactful work we do to enhance patient care and improve outcomes for the best healthcare system in the world. Together, we can make a difference and uphold the values that make our Nation truly great.
Best Regards,
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FDA hopes nuclear medicine can cure cancer, treat Alzheimer’s
SNMMI President Dr. Munir Ghesani said nuclear medicine therapies are associated with fewer side effects than other treatments because they target cancer cells. "Deliver your treatment at the highest level of concentration, to where it matters, and avoid going to the non-target areas," Ghesani said. FDA Director of Radiation Medicine Dr. Louis Marzella called nuclear medicine "an expanding area that offers great hope."
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Folate-based radiopharmaceuticals could improve detection of gliomas
Experts recently discovered that folate-based radiopharmaceuticals have promising potential in detecting and treating deadly brain tumors.
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Experts analyze PSMA-PET for prostate cancer staging
Dr. Rashid Sayyid of the University of Toronto and Dr. Zachary Klaassen of Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University review a study in European Urology comparing PSMA-PET/CT, MRI and conventional imaging for initial staging of intermediate to high-risk prostate cancer. Overall, while PSMA-PET/CT showed higher sensitivity and specificity, they noted more evidence is needed to establish it as a standard diagnostic method.
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SNMMI Image of the Year shows potential for pancreatic cancer theranostics
A new theranostic pair for imaging and treatment of pancreatic cancer has won the Image of the Year award at the 2023 Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) annual meeting.
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Full-On Reversal of Cardiac Amyloidosis Possible With Antibodies
According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, or ATTR amyloidosis, could be reversed with antibody treatment after three men with progressive ATTR-CM and Perugini grade 2 cardiac uptake on 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy reported a reduction in symptoms and had not received new or disease-modifying treatments.
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New Cedars-Sinai AI tool may predict cardiac events and better assess risk
Cedars-Sinai researchers are developing a deep-learning artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that offers patients personalized predictions of their heart health. The system also offers a patient-friendly, graphical report that helps explain things more clearly than a text report. The findings were recently published in the peer-reviewed journal NPJ Digital Medicine
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FDA approves colchicine, the first anti-inflammatory drug for treating cardiovascular disease
Inflammation plays a major role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and has been a missing link in how cardiologists prevent and treat atherosclerotic plaques that can cause heart attacks or strokes. But now, after a priority review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Agepha Pharma USA's version of the drug colchicine, sold and marketed under the name Lodoco. It is the first anti-inflammatory medication approved by the FDA to treat CVD.
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Subsequent pregnancies risky for women with peripartum cardiomyopathy
Women with peripartum cardiomyopathy who recover left ventricular systolic function have unfavorable long-term outcomes with subsequent pregnancies.
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Bempedoic acid may cut CVD risk for primary prevention patients by 30%
Bempedoic acid significantly reduced risk for major adverse CV events in high-risk primary prevention patients compared with placebo. The drug was well tolerated by those unable or unwilling to take statins.
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Wearable Activity Trackers to Improve Physical Activity During Hospitalizations
Wearable activity tracker (WAT) interventions delivered to hospitalized patients were associated with higher physical activity levels and improved physical function, though the interventions and patient populations studied were heterogenous.
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Poor heart health linked to 17-fold risk of musculoskeletal disorders
Researchers investigated the link between cardiovascular risk and the development of musculoskeletal conditions. They found that those with higher cardiovascular risk are 17 times more likely to develop four or more musculoskeletal conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow, than those with low risk.
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Cardiovascular Safety of Testosterone-Replacement Therapy
Does testosterone replacement therapy in middle-aged and older men with hypogonadism cause increased overall cardiovascular risk?
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Repurposed drug shows promise for treating cardiac arrhythmias
Researchers invented a new reporting technique to monitor activity of CaMKII while screening the effects of nearly 5,000 FDA approved drugs on human cells that expressed the enzyme. The screen identified five previously unknown CaMKII inhibitors; ruxolitinib, which is used to treat cancers of the blood and bone marrow, along with skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and vitiligo, was the most effective.
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Big boost in sodium excretion with HF diuretic protocol
In patients with acute heart failure, a urine sodium-guided diuretic protocol, currently recommended in guidelines from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (HFA-ESC), led to significant increases in natriuresis and diuresis over 2 days in the prospective ENACT-HF clinical trial.
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Medicaid patients with heart failure get poor follow-up after hospital discharge
Nearly 60% of Medicaid-covered adults with concurrent diabetes and heart failure did not receive guideline-concordant postdischarge care within 7-10 days of leaving the hospital, according to a large Alabama study. Moreover, affected Black and Hispanic/other Alabamians were less likely than were their White counterparts to receive recommended postdischarge care.
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Heart valves made in minutes control blood flow immediately after being implanted into sheep
Researchers have developed a method for cheaply producing heart valves in the span of minutes that are functional immediately after being implanted into sheep. The scientists call their method 'Focused Rotary Jet Spinning,' which they describe as 'a cotton-candy machine with a hair dryer behind it.' Though long-term in vivo studies are needed to test the valves' endurance, they effectively controlled blood flow for an hour in sheep.
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Researchers uncover why light-to-moderate drinking is tied to better heart health
A new study offers an explanation for why light-to-moderate alcohol consumption may be associated with lower risk of heart disease. For the first time, researchers found that alcohol, in light to moderate quantities, was associated with long-term reductions in stress signaling in the brain.
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Radiologists want more training for subspecialty exam reads
Radiologists read an average of 4.7 subspecialty exams in daily practice, and less than half indicate they are "very confident" in the interpretations, according to a report by practice development firm Medality.
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Harvard medical school sued over stolen body part scandal
A Massachusetts-based law firm has filed a class action lawsuit against Harvard Medical School, alleging that it failed to protect the remains of people who donated their bodies to the university for research and education.
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Deadly Fungal Infections Confound Doctors—‘It’s Going to Get Worse’
Severe fungal disease used to be a freak occurrence. Now it is a threat to millions of vulnerable Americans, and treatments have been losing efficacy as fungal pathogens develop resistance to standard drugs.
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Are the US malaria cases in Florida and Texas a cause for concern?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert this week to clinicians that there are locally acquired cases of malaria in Florida and Texas, with four cases identified in Florida and one in Texas over the past two months. While thousands of Americans become sickened by malaria every year, the vast majority of cases are acquired outside of the United States. These cases represent the first time that malaria has been transmitted within the US in 20 years, according to the CDC.
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FDA approves novel pancreatic islet cell therapy for adults with type 1 diabetes
The FDA approved the first allogenic pancreatic islet cellular therapy for adults with type 1 diabetes.
In two trials, 21 of 30 adults receiving the therapy achieved insulin independence for at least 1 year.
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Probiotics may be the key to treating depression
New research has shown that people with major depressive disorder who took probiotic supplements along with standard antidepressant medication had reduced symptoms. The findings suggest that probiotic supplementation could help adults with depression as a complementary therapy, but further research is required. Experts recommend incorporating probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, kefir, miso, and tempeh into one’s diet.
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Why Parkinson's research is zooming in on the gut
Parkinson’s disease affects millions of people around the world, but it remains unclear exactly what causes it, and there is currently no cure for this condition. In an effort to better understand the mechanisms involved, some researchers are now looking to the gut. Why, and what could this research reveal? In this installment of our In Conversation podcast, we discuss how gut health may play a role in Parkinson’s.
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Unsafe feeding methods spiked during infant formula shortage
Nearly half of parents who relied on formula to feed their babies during the infant formula shortage last year resorted to potentially harmful feeding methods, according to a survey from researchers at the University of California, Davis. The study was published in the journal BMC Pediatrics.
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Why the CDC is Warning Parents About Measles
This month the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory Message, providing guidance on measles prevention for those traveling abroad this summer.
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How to Protect Yourself From Wildfire Smoke
Wildfires in Canada are generating enormous quantities of smoke, posing a health threat to millions of North Americans. Here’s how the smoke can harm you, and how to stay safe.
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Health Care Industry News | |
Green-Card Backlog Fuels Shortage of Nurses at Hospitals, Nursing Homes
Foreign nurses can’t get green cards to work in the U.S., alarming hospitals, nursing homes and other medical providers who have relied on them to help alleviate staffing shortages.
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Drug Shortages Stem From Quality Problems in Indian Factories
Shoddy conditions at factories in India have sickened Americans and stoked a shortage in chemotherapy drugs for cancer patients, raising calls to make the generic-drug supply more resilient.
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45 health systems with strong finances
Here are 45 health systems with strong operational metrics and solid financial positions, according to reports from credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investors Service and S&P Global in 2023.
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The 'potential is mind-blowing': How hospitals use ChatGPT for marketing
Health systems are using generative artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT to assist in creating marketing materials, though human staffers still review the writing for accuracy.
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88% of physicians say telehealth increases access to care
ight-eight percent of U.S. physicians said telemedicine has been a vital tool in helping patients access healthcare, particularly in patient populations that have historically faced barriers to care, according to a June 29 report from digital healthcare platform Doximity.
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Healthcare costs to jump 7% in 2024: PwC
Healthcare costs will increase by a projected 7 percent in 2024 as the healthcare industry continues to face high inflation, rising wages and other costs, which are compounded by workforce shortages, according to a report from the PwC Health Research Institute.
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Childhood Reading Habits Boost Brain and Mental Health in Teens
Encouraging children to indulge in reading for pleasure can enhance their cognitive and mental health during adolescence, a recent study reveals. The research, involving over 10,000 young adolescents from the US, discovered that an optimal reading duration of 12 hours per week contributed to improved brain structure and mental health.
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The Gut-Brain Connection: Probing Neurological Disorders
Researchers designed a technology that allows them to probe and control the neural circuits between the gut and brain, demonstrating their ability to influence feelings of fullness or reward-seeking behavior in mice.
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Unleashing the Mind: The Neuroscience of Meditation and its Impact on Memory
Meditation’s impact on memory is a fascinating confluence of ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience. Evidence suggests that meditation can stimulate changes in the brain, or neuroplasticity, potentially fostering structural growth in the hippocampus, a region vital for memory.
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Chronic stess-related neurons identified
Researchers have identified a group of nerve cells in the mouse brain that are involved in creating negative emotional states and chronic stress. The neurons, which have been mapped with a combination of advanced techniques, also have receptors for estrogen, which could explain why women as a group are more sensitive to stress than men.
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New Neural Pathway to Combat Fentanyl Addiction Identified
Researchers reveal the significant role of claustral neurons in controlling fentanyl consumption.
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Bristol Myers Squibb joins others suing US government over portions of the Inflation Reduction Act
A portion of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that affords federal officials certain negotiating liberties pertaining to top-selling medications has been dealt yet another blow, as the list of entities suing over the measures continues to grow.
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Former Johnson & Johnson sales rep indicted for defrauding hospital out of hundreds of thousands of dollars
A former sales representative of Johnson & Johnson unit DePuy Synthes was indicted this week for allegedly defrauding a Boston area hospital out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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DOJ charges dozens in multiple states for $2.5 billion healthcare fraud
The Department of Justice and federal and state law enforcement agencies have charged 78 people across 16 states for $2.5 billion of attempted healthcare fraud and opioid abuse schemes that officials say targeted the elderly and disabled as well as HIV and opioid patients.
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State legislatures around US grapple with how to handle nursing shortages
At least 18 states have introduced or advanced safe staffing bills this year in an effort to reduce nurse burnout, but hospital groups are resisting the changes.
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CDC Director Post Will Require Senate Confirmation Starting in 2025
President Biden's announcement on June 16opens in a new tab or window that Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, would be the next director of the CDC represented the likely end of an era for the way this position is filled.
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HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com | | | | |
