Volume XVI | Issue 5 | May 2024 | |
HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry | |
Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc.
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Dear Colleagues –
We’ve just been informed that Modern Healthcare has selected HeartCare Imaging as a ‘Best Place to Work’ for the 8th consecutive year! Modern Healthcare is the leading news organization for our industry, so this recognition really means a lot to everyone at HCI. MH does a thorough survey of all employees for every company that applies. They then select the very best for the designation of a ‘Best Place to Work’. We, at HCI, use the survey results to understand what we do well and where we can improve. Every year we learn and grow with our team members. Prior to founding HCI in 1998, I had the opportunity to work with Fortune 100 companies. I enjoyed the professionalism and benefits of these large corporations and wanted to include that environment in HCI. But, I also wanted to have a less rigid atmosphere that allowed us to work as a team in the interests of our partner-clients and the patients that we serve together. I think we’ve been able to do that, which has allowed us to grow and establish a great family of professionals who love coming to work every day. I also thank our wonderful partner-clients who provide the environment to deliver services and thrive together.
Thanks to all on our team for making HCI a great place to work, it means more than I have words to express!
Best Regards,
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Newly Identified PET Biomarker Predicts Success of Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy
The protein galectin-1 (Gal-1) has been identified as a new PET imaging biomarker for immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy, allowing physicians to predict the tumor responses before beginning treatment. Information garnered from Gal-1 PET imaging could also be used to facilitate patient stratification and optimize immunotherapy, enabling targeted interventions and improving patient outcomes. This research was published in the May issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
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New PET Agent Provides Exceptional Same-Day Imaging for Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients
A novel investigational PET imaging agent can rapidly and accurately visualize lesions in clear cell renal cell cancer (ccRCC) patients according to new research published in the May issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
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New Drug Application for PSMA-PET 'cold kit' could expand access to prostate imaging
Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a “cold kit” that could expand access to PSMA (prostate specific membrane antigen) PET imaging for suspected prostate cancer.
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New PET technique spots 'smoldering' changes not visible on MRI in the brains of MS patients
With the help of a specialized radiotracer, PET scans could explain why patients with multiple sclerosis are not responding well to treatment when MRI exams don’t reveal the cause.
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Cardiologists ID signs of widespread heart disease in ancient mummies
A team of cardiologists has used cardiac imaging technology to confirm that cardiovascular disease was a significant issue thousands of years ago, presenting its findings in European Heart Journal.
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Fasting before coronary angiography, PCI may not be necessary
Asking patients to fast before undergoing interventional coronary procedures may not be beneficial, according to new data published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. In addition, allowing patients to eat before treatment improves patient comfort and decreases the risk of cancelation.
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Women remain underrepresented in revascularization trials—can cardiology leaders reverse that trend?
Women are severely underrepresented in clinical trials focused on coronary revascularization, according to a new commentary published in JAMA Cardiology. The authors emphasized that stakeholders will need to work together if this trend is ever going to change.
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Psoriasis Linked to Higher Incidence of MACE Despite Statin Use
Over a period of 5 years, the likelihood of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with psoriasis and dyslipidemia who were on statin therapy was 40% greater than that in non-psoriasis patients with dyslipidemia on statin therapy, even after adjusting for covariates, results from a large retrospective study showed.
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Loss of Glycemic Control in Diabetes Increases Stent Failure
For the first time, there is compelling evidence that the degree of poor glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes is a relative risk factor for stent failure after a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
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FDA Advisors Not Convinced Once-Weekly Insulin Is Safe in Type 1 Diabetes
An FDA advisory committee mostly agreed on Friday that an investigational once-weekly insulin product carries too much risk for adults with type 1 diabetes to recommend approval in this population.
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Ultraprocessed Food Consumption in Young Kids Tied to Cardiometabolic Risk Factors
High consumption of ultraprocessed foods in children as young as 3 years of age was associated with adiposity and other cardiometabolic risk factors, a study in JAMA Network Openopens in a new tab or window found.
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A long-term ketogenic diet accumulates aged cells in normal tissues, study finds
New research finds that a continuous, long-term ketogenic diet may induce senescence, or aged, cells in normal tissues, with particular implications for heart and kidney function. But planned breaks from the diet could help in prevention.
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Risk Screening Tool Helped Identify Pregnant Patients Previously Undiagnosed With CVD
More than a quarter of pregnant or postpartum patients who screened positive for cardiovascular disease ended up with a cardiovascular disease diagnosis when providers used a risk screening tool built into the electronic medical records system for all patients, according to research presented at the annual clinical and scientifice meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
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Men at higher risk for diabetes-related complications than women
Men had about a 1.5-fold increased risk for CVD, lower limb and kidney complications vs. women. However, high complication rates in both sexes show a need for screening and prevention strategies.
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Introducing peanut butter during infancy can help protect against a peanut allergy later on, new study finds
Reassuring new evidence suggests that feeding children smooth peanut butter during infancy and early childhood can help reduce their risk of developing a peanut allergy even years later.
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Screen Time Before Bed Might Not Be That Bad After All
Spurred by recent research, sleep scientists and doctors are rethinking the conventional wisdom. In some cases, they are backing away from dogmatic approaches such as cutting out screens two hours before bedtime. And they are questioning how much the dreaded “blue light” actually delays sleep.
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A low-carb diet may help IBS as much as tricky elimination diets, and more than drugs
Dietary changes relieved abdominal pain and other symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome more effectively than medications, a new study shows.
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Anger Does a Lot More Damage to Your Body Than You Realize
Getting angry doesn’t just hurt our mental health, it’s also damaging to our hearts, brains and gastrointestinal systems, according to doctors and recent research. Of course, it’s a normal emotion that everyone feels—few of us stay serene when a driver cuts us off or a boss makes us stay late. But getting mad too often or for too long can cause problems.
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Participants of pioneering CRISPR gene editing trial see vision improve
About 79% of clinical trial participants experienced measurable improvement after receiving experimental, CRISPR-based gene editing that is designed to fix a rare form of blindness, according to a new article.
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Scientists work out the effects of exercise at the cellular level
The health benefits of exercise are well known but new research shows that the body's response to exercise is more complex and far-reaching than previously thought. In a study on rats, a team of scientists has found that physical activity causes many cellular and molecular changes in all 19 of the organs they studied in the animals.
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This year's measles case total is now the highest in the U.S. since 2019
This year's measles case total is now the highest of the last five years. The United States has seen 125 cases across 17 states as of Thursday — its largest annual tally since 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Bilingual AI brain implant helps stroke survivor communicate in Spanish and English
The implant uses a form of AI to turn the man's brain activity into sentences, allowing him to participate in a bilingual conversation and "switch between languages."The implant uses a form of AI to turn the man's brain activity into sentences, allowing him to participate in a bilingual conversation and "switch between languages."
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Lab-Grown Meat Isn't on Store Shelves Yet, but Some States Have Already Banned It
Lab-grown meat is not currently available in any U.S. grocery stores or restaurants. If some lawmakers have their way, it never will be.
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The first pill for postpartum depression is finally getting to patients. Doctors say it’s working.
It was supposed to be an exciting time. The new mother had just given birth at age 42, after a much-desired pregnancy. But within a week, she developed postpartum depression. The medical condition — characterized by extreme sadness, anxiety or despair following childbirth — affects up to 1 in 5 women.
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Health Care Industry News | |
Florida Allows Doctors To Perform C-Sections Outside of Hospitals
Florida has become the first state to allow doctors to perform cesarean sections outside of hospitals, siding with a private equity-owned physicians group that says the change will lower costs and give pregnant women the homier birthing atmosphere that many desire.
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An Obscure Drug Discount Program Stifles Use of Federal Lifeline by Rural Hospitals
Facing ongoing concerns about rural hospital closures, Capitol Hill lawmakers have introduced a spate of proposals to fix a federal program created to keep lifesaving services in small towns nationwide.
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You Can Thank Private Equity for That Enormous Doctor’s Bill
When a business gets bigger, it forces mom-and-pop players out of the market, but it can boost profits and bring down costs, too. Think about the pros and cons of Walmart and “Every Day Low Prices.” In a complex, multitrillion-dollar system like America’s healthcare market, though, that principle has turned into a harmful arms race that has helped drive prices increasingly higher without improving care.
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More than a third of healthcare organizations aren’t prepared for cyberattacks: report
Thirty-seven percent of healthcare organizations did not have a cyberattack contingency plan in place, despite half having experienced an attack, according to a new survey from Software Advice.
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HHS agency launches program to automate cybersecurity at hospitals
The program will invest more than $50 million to create a software suite that can automatically find potential vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit and deploy fixes.
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Epic continued to outstrip EHR competitors in 2023: report
Epic was the only vendor to see a net increase in acute care market share last year, while Oracle Health saw its largest net hospital loss on record, according to Klas Research.
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Early Memory Complaints Linked to Alzheimer’s Brain Changes
A new study finds that reports of cognitive decline from patients and their partners are linked to the accumulation of tau tangles, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. This underscores the importance of addressing memory concerns early.
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AI Tool Speeds Up Brain Tumor Classification
Researchers developed DEPLOY, an AI tool that can classify brain tumors into 10 major subtypes with 95% accuracy. The tool analyzes microscopic images of tumor tissue, providing a faster and more accessible alternative to DNA methylation-based profiling. DEPLOY could potentially be used to classify other cancers as well.
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Brain Molecular Changes In PTSD and Depression Revealed
A new study reveals shared and distinct molecular changes in the brain and blood of individuals with PTSD and MDD. The research uncovers how these disorders affect various brain regions, cell types, and genomic layers, highlighting key molecular pathways and potential biomarkers.
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Scientists map networks regulating gene function in the human brain
A consortium of researchers has produced the largest and most advanced multidimensional maps of gene regulation networks in the brains of people with and without mental disorders. These maps detail the many regulatory elements that coordinate the brain's biological pathways and cellular functions. The research used postmortem brain tissue from over 2,500 donors to map gene regulation networks across different stages of brain development and multiple brain-related disorders.
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Hitting the target with non-invasive deep brain stimulation: Potential therapy for addiction, depression, and OCD
Researchers have successfully tested a novel technique for probing deep into the human brain, without surgery, for potential therapeutic purposes. In the rapidly evolving field of neuroscience, non-invasive brain stimulation is a new hope for understanding and treating a myriad of neurological and psychiatric conditions without surgical intervention or implants.
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US hikes tariffs on medical products from China
The rate hikes focus on areas where the Biden administration has sought to boost domestic production, such as medical supplies that were essential to the COVID-19 pandemic response.
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House committee takes aim at healthcare consolidation, eyes site-neutral payments
Equalizing Medicare payment between sites of service to cut down on provider consolidation is a “no brainer,” one witness testified during the hearing.
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House committee advances bill that would extend telehealth flexibilities
The legislation would extend a number of Medicare flexibilities through 2026. Lawmakers have until year-end to take action before the pandemic-era rules expire..
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Minnesota’s Medicaid program to block for-profit insurers from participation
The ban initially only affects UnitedHealthcare, which is the only for-profit managed care organization with a Medicaid contract in the state.
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Nursing homes sue to block HHS staffing mandate
The plaintiffs slammed the rule as an overreach of authority that creates an “onerous and unachievable” mandate.
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HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com | | | | |
