http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. A new chemical process developed by a team of Harvard researchers greatly increases the utility of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in creating real-time 3-D images of chemical process occurring inside the human body. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-biological-pathways.html Cancer Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:20:03 EST news239622640 A new report in Biological Psychiatry suggests that deficits in endocannabinoid function may contribute to anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Endocannabinoids are substances made by the brain that affect brain function and chemistry in ways that resemble the effects of cannabis derivatives, including marijuana and hashish. These commonly abused drugs are well known to increase appetite, i.e. to cause the "munchies". Thus, it makes sense that deficits in this brain system would be associated with reduced appetite. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-deficits-brain-cannabinoids-contribute-disorders.html Psychology & Psychiatry Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:41:53 EST news239276506 The prognosis for patients with stage II and III inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poor, with only about 15 percent of patients surviving at five years post-treatment for the disease. While new treatment strategies are being intensely studied, timely assessment of their efficacy has proven difficult. In a presentation today, Mitchell Machtay, MD, principal investigator of the ACRIN 6668/RTOG 0235 trial and RTOG deputy chair, reported the that post-treatment F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans show promise for predicting the prognosis of patients with inoperable disease. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-fdg-pet-prognosis-patients-inoperable-nsclc.html Cancer Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:32:43 EST news237043940 Researchers are investigating a potential treatment and noninvasive imaging modality for pancreatic cancer that shows promise, according to researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, N.Y., and Genelux Corporation in San Diego, Calif. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-virus-imaging-pancreatic-cancer.html Cancer Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:02:53 EST news235314075 A study made by IDIBELL researchers shows that glucose metabolism inhibition with 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) induces cell death in a type of childhood sarcoma: alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. The results have been published in the journal Cancer Research. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-treatment-aggressive-childhood-cancer.html Cancer Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:08:27 EST news235217285 The metabolic state of glioma stem cells, which give rise to deadly glioblastomas, is significantly different from that of the brain cancer cells to which they give birth, a factor which helps those stem cells avoid treatment and cause recurrence later. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-metabolic-state-brain-cancer-stem.html Cancer Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:43:16 EST news234546183 For the first time, researchers at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance have demonstrated the feasibility of using serial positron emission tomography (PET) scans, using a special estrogen-containing isotope, to confirm the relative effectiveness of estrogen-blocking and estrogen-depleting therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer. The results of the research are published online in Clinical Cancer Research. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-pet-scans-effectiveness-estrogen-blocking-drugs.html Cancer Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:46:17 EST news232883156 Two new studies published in the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM) provide insight into the potential of positron emission tomography (PET) to differentiate between types of dementia and to identify pharmaceuticals to slow the progress of dementia. With proposed National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Alzheimer's Association guidelines for detecting Alzheimer's-related brain changes expected in September, these articles give a preview of what may be to come. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-upcoming-alzheimer-disease-guidelines.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:18:09 EST news231432132 A non-invasive PET imaging technique may identify lung cancers that respond best to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), allowing doctors to better select patients for personalized therapy, according to research presented at the 14th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Amsterdam, hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-pet-scan-11cerlotinib-noninvasive-method.html Cancer Tue, 05 Jul 2011 04:49:28 EST news229060128 A new treatment option may soon be available for children with neuroblastoma according to research published in the July issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. The study tested the principle that combined positron emission tomography and X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT) may be used to select children with primary refractory or relapsed high-risk neuroblastoma for treatment with a molecular radiotherapy known as 177Lu-DOTATATE. This therapeutic option was found to be viable option for children with neuroblastomas. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-therapy-childhood-neuroblastoma-feasible-safe.html Cancer Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:47:08 EST news228584793 In one of the first studies of its kind, UCLA researchers used a unique brain scan to assess the levels of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles -- the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease -- in adults with Down syndrome. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-brain-scan-patterns-plaques-tangles.html Neuroscience Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:00:12 EST news227199214 A study presented at SNM's 58th Annual Meeting focuses on the effect that breathing irregularities have on the accuracy of 4D positron emission tomography (PET) scans and outlines a PET imaging method that reduces "motion artifacts" or image blurring arising from respiratory motion. Non-gated PET imaging with 4D computed tomography may be useful for imaging patients who do not benefit from the use of respiratory gating, most notably patients with erratic breathing. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-irregular-affect-accuracy-d-petct.html Cancer Tue, 07 Jun 2011 02:50:01 EST news226584692 Research presented at SNM's 58th Annual Meeting highlights molecular imaging's diagnostic potential for patients with fever of unknown origin. Persistent fever can be a warning sign for a range of diseases that could be dangerous if left untreated. A single, full-body molecular imaging scan may give physicians everything they need to narrow down the cause and determine appropriate treatment. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-molecular-imaging-fast-effective-diagnosis.html Cancer Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:40:02 EST news226584833 A study presented at SNM's 58th Annual Meeting may provide a new tool for detection of malignant-stage ovarian cancer. Researchers found that positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT), which images both functional and anatomical changes in the body, was useful for preoperative cancer imaging of ovarian masses when used with a radiotracer that is actively metabolized by cells as fuel. Physicians imaging patients suspected of having malignant tumors can see where cancerous cells are hyper-metabolizing the tracer and accurately predict whether a mass is malignant, cancerous but stable, or benign. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-pet-imaging-malignancy-potential-ovarian.html Cancer Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:10:01 EST news226584500 A study introduced at SNM's 58th Annual Meeting shows potential relief for patients who suffer chronic pain after back surgery. A molecular imaging procedure that combines functional and anatomical information about the body is able to zero in on the site of abnormal bone reaction and provide more accurate diagnoses and appropriate pain management for patients who have received hardware implants or bone grafts. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-molecular-imaging-source-chronic-pain.html Other Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:30:01 EST news226584310 Researchers the world over are advancing positron emission tomography (PET) as an effective method of early detection for Alzheimer's disease, a currently incurable and deadly neurological disorder. Three studies presented at SNM's 58th Annual Meeting are providing new insights into the development of Alzheimer's disease while opening the door to future clinical screening and treatments. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-molecular-imaging-alzheimer-disease-hospitals.html Medical research Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:50:03 EST news226584656 With the deficiencies in knowledge of tuberculosis -- as well as in the practices, programs and strategies used to combat the disease and co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -- the spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis poses a major problem for the health care community. Research in the June issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, however, shows that the use of 18F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) scans can help to determine earlier if treatment for tuberculosis is working or if the disease is MDR. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-pet-scans-effectiveness-treatment-multidrug-resistant.html Other Tue, 24 May 2011 11:41:35 EST news225456045 (Medical Xpress) -- Perhaps the most puzzling symptom of anorexia nervosa -- a disorder that tends to occur in young women -- is the refusal to eat, resulting in extreme weight loss. While most people have a great deal of difficulty in dieting and losing weight, particularly if a diet extends over many months or years, individuals with anorexia nervosa can literally diet themselves to death. In fact, this disorder has a very high death rate from starvation. A new study, now online in the journal International Journal of Eating Disorders, sheds light on why these symptoms occur in anorexia nervosa. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-pleasure-anxious.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 20 May 2011 08:47:35 EST news225100027 The benefit and harm of positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with head and neck tumours, applied alone or in combination with computed tomography (CT), cannot currently be reliably assessed. This is the result of a final report published by the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). The Institute was commissioned by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) to assess the advantages and disadvantages of this diagnostic method. However, as the authors of the report explain, suitable studies for this purpose are lacking. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-04-benefit-pet-patients-neck-tumors.html Cancer Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:15:24 EST news223290896 Combining computerized tomography (CT) with fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) images results in significantly more defined tumor outlines and potentially different treatment options in head and neck cancer patients compared to using CT alone, according to research presented today, at the Cancer Imaging and Radiation Therapy Symposium in Atlanta. This symposium is co-sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-04-combining-ct-fdg-pet-accurate-treatments.html Cancer Fri, 29 Apr 2011 08:24:21 EST news223284228