The HCI Spotlight

Volume XVII | Issue 7 | July 2025

THE HCI SPOTLIGHT

HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry

Robert J. Stilley

President, CEO

HeartCare Imaging, Inc.

A Message from the CEO

Dear Colleagues –

Summer always flies by, but there’s something about late July that feels like a natural reset. Vacations wind down, calendars fill up, and the second half of the year starts to take shape. It’s the perfect time to reflect, regroup, and refocus.

That’s exactly what we’ve been doing at HeartCare Imaging. We’ve just finished three new installs—two in West Virginia and one in Georgia—and we’re excited to bring high-quality imaging to new communities. These launches were the result of months of planning and partnership, and we’re proud of the teams that made it happen.

Looking ahead, we’re continuing the momentum with new sites launching in North Dakota and Tennessee before the end of the year. Whether it’s expanding services or streamlining operations, we’re here to help our partners finish strong.

Let us know how we can support you as we head into the next chapter.

Best Regards,

Visit our Website

Nuclear Medicine

Mayo Clinic develops AI capable of substantially improving dementia diagnoses

Experts at the Mayo Clinic have developed an artificial intelligence tool that could markedly improve the diagnosis of different types of dementia.

Post-ablation PET imaging may not be cost-effective in patients with liver metastases

PET imaging after thermal ablation for colorectal cancer liver metastases may not be cost-effective for most patients, new data suggest.

PET/MR findings in long COVID patients linked to long-term cardiopulmonary diseases

Certain imaging findings in long COVID patients may be indicative of the development of long-term cardiopulmonary disease, according to new data.

PET imaging findings support use of intranasal drug delivery for Alzheimer's patients

New PET imaging data could be a game-changer for researchers developing treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.

Opioid overdose medications may be more effective in women, according to new PET imaging study

Using whole-body PET imaging, researchers recently determined that drugs developed to treat overdoses may be more effective in certain individuals.

Novel Radioimmunotherapy Eradicates Cancer Stem Cells in Ovarian Cancer Model

A new radioimmunotherapy approach has been shown to successfully eliminate cancer stem cells (CSCs) in preclinical models of ovarian cancer, outperforming the current gold standard. This research, published in the July issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, lays the foundation for further development of radionuclide therapies targeting CSCs, offering renewed hope for more effective treatment options and improved outcomes for patients.

Cardiology

The best heart hospitals in the United States

There is a new No. 1 hospital in the United States for cardiology, heart surgery and vascular surgery, according to updated rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

How drinking habits influence heart health

Drinking healthy beverages, and limiting unhealthy ones, is associated with a significantly lower risk dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new findings published in Nutrition Journal.

Trump administration takes aim at ultra-processed foods, highlighting heart risks

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture are looking to reduce the amount of ultra-processed foods being eaten by Americans on a daily basis. The agencies highlighted years of research that have linked ultra-processed foods to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and other serious health conditions.

New gene therapy for rare heart condition gains FDA’s fast track designation

Solid Biosciences, a Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical company, has received the FDA’s fast track designation for a first-in-class gene therapy for the treatment of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT).

AI spots deadly heart risk most doctors can't see

An advanced Johns Hopkins AI model called MAARS combs through underused heart MRI scans and complete medical records to spot hidden scar patterns that signal sudden cardiac death, dramatically outperforming current dice-roll clinical guidelines and promising to save lives while sparing patients unnecessary defibrillators.

Combination Cardiovascular Therapies May Protect the Aging Brain

Older adults taking a combination of medications to treat high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes experienced slower cognitive decline and reduced dementia-related brain pathologies than those taking fewer or no such medications, a large analysis showed.

Lifestyle Interventions Should Not be Replaced by GLP-1s

Nutrition, exercise, and pharmacotherapy work in tandem to promote optimal metabolic health.

Evolving Heart Failure Management With a Comprehensive Approach

Heart failure (HF) care is complex. Most people with HF are balancing multiple comorbidities.

Health

Irregular Sleep Linked to 172 Diseases

An analysis of sleep data from over 88,000 people found that poor sleep patterns—especially irregular bedtimes and unstable circadian rhythms—were linked to elevated risk for 172 different diseases.

10,000 Daily Step Count Goal Debunked by Huge Study

A goal of 5,000 to 7,000 steps per day was deemed appropriate for achieving good health.

This gut hormone could explain 40% of IBS-D cases—and lead to a cure

A mysterious gut hormone may be behind many cases of chronic diarrhea, especially in people with undiagnosed bile acid malabsorption, a condition often mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome.

To stay sharper while aging, get active, challenge your brain, and eat healthy

It’s official: Older Americans worried about cognitive decline can stay sharper for longer by exercising both their bodies and their brains and eating healthier.

Dogs can detect Parkinson’s years before symptoms—with 98% accuracy

Dogs trained to detect Parkinson’s disease using scent have shown remarkable accuracy in new research.

UV Lights Might Modestly Reduce Nursing Home Respiratory Infections

Germicidal UV misses the target in randomized trial but might still have a "meaningful effect".

Is Alkaline or Electrolyte-Infused Water Better Than Tap? What Experts Think

As summer temperatures soar, so does the popularity of so-called “functional” waters — especially alkaline and electrolyte-infused varieties — often touted as “smarter” ways to hydrate when heat and humidity are at their peak.

3 out of 5 liver cancer cases are preventable, study finds

Liver cancer kills more than 700,000 people a year. But 3 in 5 cases could be prevented, according to a comprehensive analysis published Monday in the journal Lancet.

Health Care Industry News

UnitedHealth confirms it’s under investigation by DOJ

UnitedHealth on Thursday said it’s under federal investigation from the Department of Justice about its Medicare program.

HHS says it will begin reforms of organ donation system after federal investigation finds ‘horrifying’ problems

The US Department of Health and Human Services said Monday that it’s undertaking an initiative to reform the country’s organ donation system, after a federal investigation found that one organization in the Kentucky region began the process to take organs from people who may not have been dead.

Hospitals are buying more doctor’s offices. That’s tied to higher costs, study finds

New research in NBER links hospital-physician consolidation to lower competition and higher costs down the line. The American Hospital Association slammed the study as flawed.

Telehealth groups urge DEA to issue plan on remote controlled substance prescriptions

More than 200 organizations pressed the Drug Enforcement Administration to ensure a plan is in place by fall before flexibilities expire at the end of the year.

Neuroscience

Music Shows Promise in Easing Distress in Dementia

A new study highlights how music therapy can help ease severe distress in dementia patients on hospital wards

Microglia May Hold Key to Slowing Alzheimer’s Progression

Alzheimer’s disease is marked by toxic amyloid-beta protein clumps, but some people seem naturally protected. A new study reveals that a receptor called ADGRG1 enables immune cells called microglia to effectively clear these harmful plaques.

Science tested 64 natural remedies for depression—only a few actually work

Over-the-counter (OTC) products like St John’s Wort and omega-3s have long been touted for helping with depression, but new research reveals that 64 different OTC products have been tested in clinical trials, with varying levels of evidence.

Even without catching COVID, the pandemic may have quietly aged your brain

Even people who never caught Covid-19 may have aged mentally faster during the pandemic, according to new brain scan research.

The silent threat: How hearing loss and loneliness are fueling memory decline

A massive European study has uncovered a powerful connection between hearing loss, loneliness, and memory decline.

Tobacco Use Linked to Higher Depression and Anxiety

Adolescents who use e-cigarettes or conventional tobacco products are significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety than non-users, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed data from over 60,000 U.S. middle and high school students surveyed between 2021 and 2023.

HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com

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