Volume XVII | Issue 3 | March 2025 | | HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry | |
Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc.
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Dear Colleagues –
Over the past month, both my father-in-law and mother-in-law had hospital stays. Although I work on the business side of healthcare, being closely involved in their experiences gave me a fresh perspective. I’ve always known the importance of what happens at the bedside, but seeing it through the eyes of a patient’s family member made it deeply personal.
As I helped navigate their diagnoses and treatment plans, I saw just how essential it is for caregivers not only to care but to communicate. Thankfully, our hospital did a fantastic job at both.
The first question we should ask anyone wanting to work in healthcare is: Why did you get into this field? If their answer doesn’t reflect a genuine desire to help people and make a difference, this might not be the right place for them. The individuals who cared for my in-laws would have answered that question with heart.
But even the most compassionate caregivers need to communicate clearly—whether it’s with the patient, their family, or their teammates. That combination of empathy and communication is what builds trust, reduces fear, and elevates care.
This experience reminded me why our work matters so much—regardless of our role. At the end of the day, healthcare is about people helping people.
Best Regards,
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PET Imaging Confirms Direct Involvement of Dopamine in Cognitive Flexibility
For the first time, scientists have confirmed a neurobiochemical link between dopamine and cognitive flexibility, according to new research published in the March issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. PET imaging shows that the brain increases dopamine production when completing cognitively demanding tasks, and that the more dopamine released, the more efficiently the tasks are completed. Armed with this information, physicians may soon be able to develop more precise treatment strategies for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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Novel Radiotracer Identifies Biomarker for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
A new PET radiotracer can effectively visualize Nectin-4, an emerging biomarker found in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). According to research published in the March issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, the PET tracer has the potential to play a critical role in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of this aggressive disease, improving clinical outcomes for patients.
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Review examines PSMA PET's role in prostate cancer care
A study in the journal Cancers reviews the advantages of PSMA PET imaging in the diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer, providing superior sensitivity and specificity compared with conventional imaging methods like CT and MRI. PSMA PET also facilitates advanced therapeutic approaches for prostate cancer, including metastasis-directed therapy and radioligand therapy such as lutetium therapy.
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FDA approves new prostate cancer imaging agent with extended shelf life
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given the green light to a new PET imaging agent targeted at prostate cancer.
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New PET imaging method could improve our understanding of long COVID
Experts have developed a PET imaging method they believe could offer new insight into the trajectory of COVID-19 in individuals who continue to struggle with lingering symptoms after their initial recovery.
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Bracco updates HeartSee coronary flow capacity software with new diagnostic features
Bracco Diagnostics, a U.S. subsidiary of Bracco Imaging S.p.A., has made substantial updates to its popular HeartSee software for quantifying myocardial blood flow (MBF) in cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.
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Preclinical study: After heart attack, a boost in anti-inflammatory cells promoted healing
A scientific technique that rapidly increases the body's production of anti-inflammatory cells promoted healing from heart attacks in mice, according to a new study. Once adapted to treat humans, the technique could potentially be used to repair heart muscle damage after a heart attack and be applied to a variety of inflammatory disorders.
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Adulting is hard on the heart: Teen to young adulthood is a critical time to address risk
Many youth have heart disease risk factors by their late teens, and preventing or addressing these risks early may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the future, according to a new scientific statement.
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Abbott gains CE mark approval for Volt PFA system
Abbott has received CE mark approval in Europe for its new Volt Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System to be used for the treatment of patients presenting with atrial fibrillation (AFib). The approval, which Abbott said arrived earlier than expected, came after regulators reviewed data from a global clinical trial the company launched in January 2024.
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FDA sees promise in new AI model for heart attack detection
Powerful Medical, a New York-based artificial intelligence (AI) company, has received the FDA’s breakthrough device designation for its AI model designed to detect signs of an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in electrocardiography results.
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A glass of orange juice a day may help keep the cardiologist away
According to the old saying, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But can drinking orange juice have a similar effect on cardiologists?
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Is statin therapy safe for pregnant women?
The long-standing prohibition on statin use during pregnancy has been reconsidered, opening the door for broader clinical discussions between cardiologists and expectant mothers. Laxmi Mehta, MD, a professor of medicine and section director of preventative cardiology and women's cardiovascular health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, emphasized the importance of these conversations in an interview with Cardiovascular Business.
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Cannabis use increases risk of heart attack, stroke in young adults
Using cannabis significantly raises a person’s myocardial infarction risk, even if they are young and otherwise quite healthy, according to the research team behind two new studies. The first is a retrospective analysis that was just published in JACC Advances, while the other is a meta-analysis being presented at ACC.25, the American College of Cardiology’s annual conference.
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New drug shows early potential to treat aortic stenosis in some patients without TAVR, SAVR
A new drug has shown early potential to slow the progression of aortic stenosis (AS) and potentially limit the number of heart patients who require transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).
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Food insecurity today, heart disease tomorrow? Study is the first to show food insecurity raises risk of heart disease over time
Struggling to afford food today could mean heart problems tomorrow. Young adults experiencing food insecurity have a 41% greater risk of developing heart disease in midlife, even after accounting for demographic and socioeconomic factors, according to a new study.
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AI model can read ECGs to identify female patients at higher risk of heart disease
A new AI model can flag female patients who are at higher risk of heart disease based on an electrocardiogram (ECG).
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Anti-amyloid drug shows signs of preventing Alzheimer's dementia
An experimental drug appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's-related dementia in people destined to develop the disease in their 30s, 40s or 50s, according to the results of a new study. The findings suggest -- for the first time in a clinical trial -- that early treatment to remove amyloid plaques from the brain many years before symptoms arise can delay the onset of Alzheimer's dementia.
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Cold plunges actually change your cells
Cold water immersion for seven days significantly improves cellular resilience and autophagic function, helping cells manage stress better. This adaptation could enhance health and longevity, potentially preventing diseases and slowing aging at a cellular level.
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The Longevity Business Is Booming—and Its Scientists Are Clashing
The antiaging movement has raced ahead amid fierce debates; critics of a grandfather of the field, Leonard Guarente, include former protégés and rivals.
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Smartwatches may help control diabetes through exercise
Wearable mobile health technology could help people with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) to stick to exercise regimes that help them to keep the condition under control, a new study reveals. An international team studied the behavior of recently-diagnosed T2D patients in Canada and the UK as they followed a home-based physical activity program, with some participants wearing a smartwatch paired with a health app on their smartphone.
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Highly Educated People Face Steeper Cognitive Decline After Stroke
Education level was associated with the trajectory of cognitive decline following stroke, an individual participant data meta-analysis of four U.S. cohort studies showed.
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Therapy Dogs Calm Kids in Emergency Departments
In a randomized trial, a 10-minute interaction with therapy dogs, alongside child-life support, reduced anxiety in children during visits to an emergency department.
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Your phone may not be the problem when it comes to distraction, study says
Less distraction from your phone may take some conscious changes in your behavior, a new study suggests.
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First Gene-Modified Pig Liver Transplanted Into a Human
A multidisciplinary team from China has successfully transplanted a gene-modified pig liver into a human recipient diagnosed with brain death. During a 10-day observation period, the porcine liver produced bile and porcine albumin, maintained stable blood flow, and showed no signs of rejection.
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| | Health Care Industry News | |
Physician sentiment survey shows returning optimism, decreased quit intentions
A new survey from Athenahealth and the Harris Poll shows physicians are thinking less about quitting their jobs and are more favorable toward AI.
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GLP-1s are accelerating spending growth on traditional drugs, Evernorth research finds
Spending growth for simple-to-administer medications used to treat common health problems is outstripping spending growth for pricey medications used to treat complex and chronic conditions.
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J&J boosts US manufacturing as big pharma reshores
Following big announcements from Lilly and Merck, J&J is pledging $55 billion over the next four years to open new plants.
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23andMe files for bankruptcy; CEO Anne Wojcicki resigns
The DNA testing company plans to sell its assets after the board rejected an acquisition proposal from Wojcicki.
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Health system CFOs fight for Medicaid on Capitol Hill
Multiple health system CFOs recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, advocating against proposed Medicaid cuts that could threaten access to care and lead to the closure of essential hospital services.
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Changes in Sleep Patterns Could Predict Dementia Risk
A new study finds that women in their 80s who develop increasing daytime sleepiness over five years are twice as likely to develop dementia. Researchers tracked 733 women without cognitive impairment, using wrist devices to monitor sleep and circadian rhythms.
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Nature’s Painkiller: How Virtual Scenes Ease Pain in the Brain
Viewing natural scenes can significantly reduce how people perceive pain, a new neuroimaging study has found.
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High-Fat Diet Triggers Memory Decline Within Days
A new study shows that just three days of a high-fat diet can cause memory impairments and brain inflammation in older adults, independent of obesity.
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How cells respond to stress is more nuanced than previously believed
The body's cells respond to stress -- toxins, mutations, starvation or other assaults -- by pausing normal functions to focus on conserving energy, repairing damaged components and boosting defenses.
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Why Simply Putting Away Your Phone Won’t Help You Focus
A new study reveals that placing your smartphone out of reach doesn’t significantly reduce distraction or boost productivity. While participants used their phones less when they were farther away, they simply shifted their attention to other devices like laptops. The core issue isn’t the phone itself but the deeply ingrained habits and routines we’ve built around it.
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Brain Distinguishes Pain and Itch Using Separate Neural Circuits
A new study reveals that pain and itch are processed by distinct neural circuits in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).
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| | HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com | | | | |
