Precision Medicine

Also called personalized medicine, this evolving field makes use of an individual’s genes, lifestyle, environment and other factors to identify unique disease risks and guide treatment decision-making.

PLoS: Wantedpatient-centered MRI scanners

Although claustrophobic patients randomized to an open MRI system reported fewer events than those in a short-bore cohort, neither system effectively prevented claustrophobia. Researchers called the claustrophobic event rates of more than 25 percent disappointing and highlighted the need for patient-centered MRI design in a study published in the August issue of PLoS.

Stroke: Care guidelines for primary stroke centers updated

Primary stroke centers improve care and are an important component in the care continuum of stroke patients. In the September issue of Stroke, members of the Brain Attack Coalition updated recommendations for the formation and operation of primary stroke centers with the goal of enhancing diagnoses and improving care.

Radiology: Quantitative 3D MR aids diagnosis of kidney transplant dysfunction

Low-dose MR renography may offer a noninvasive means to differentiate between acute kidney rejection and acute tubular necrosis after kidney transplantation, according to a study published in the September issue of Radiology.

Hong Kong hospital taps GE for PET/CT + MR

Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital has selected GE Healthcares tri-modality imaging solutionPET/CT + MR.

JCO: MRI may predict rectal cancer survival

MRI may be used to evaluate responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy to predict survival among patients with advanced rectal cancer, according to a study published in the September issue of Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Philips debuts wearable monitor

Royal Philips Electronics has released IntelliVue MX40, a new wearable monitor for ambulatory patients and those in transit. 

Radiology: CT lung screening can detect unsuspected malignancies

A retrospective examination of 5,201 high-risk patients undergoing annual screening CT studies for five years found unsuspected extrapulmonary malignancies in 0.5 percent of the cohort, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in Radiology.

JAMA: Patients admitted to hospital are more likely to discontinue meds

Older patients admitted to the hospital are at a higher risk for discontinuing medications prescribed for chronic diseases after discharge compared to patients who were not hospitalized, according to a study published in the Aug. 24/31 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Patients admitted to the ICU may be even worse off due to multiple transitions of care.

Around the web

The American College of Cardiology has sent a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that outlines some of the organization’s central priorities and concerns. 

One product is being pulled from the market, and the other is receiving updated instructions for use.

If the Trump administration continues taking a laissez-faire stance toward AI—including AI used in healthcare—why not let the states go it alone on regulating the technology?