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Ultrasound ablation of global pallidus can improve motor symptoms of Parkinson's
The proportion of patients with Parkinson's disease receiving levodopa who had a reduction of motor impairment or dyskinesia was two times higher in the group which received focused ultrasound ablation therapy of the global pallidus interna than in the group that received a sham procedure, as per a study. Dysarthria and visual and gait disturbances were common side effects.
Twitter @NEJM
Renal denervation lowers systolic blood pressure
Patients with hypertension who were not on antihypertensives and underwent renal denervation reduced daytime ambulatory systolic BP by 7.9 mm Hg compared to 1.8 mm Hg in those who underwent a sham procedure, as per a study. The ultrasound renal denervation effects were consistent throughout a 24-hr circadian cycle. Moreover, 6 out of 7 secondary outcomes also improved with it.
Health Day
A powerful MRI pinpoints the spot in the brain causing seizures
A woman diagnosed with epilepsy at age 11 has suffered seizures for years. Numerous PET, MRI, and ECG scans could not find the problem. A 7-tesla MRI, an FDA-approved scan, revealed a small lesion in the brain. After the non-invasive test pinpointed the tiny lesion, she underwent laser ablation therapy to remove that spot. She remained seizure free after the procedure.
Cleveland Clinic
Gadolinium in MRI contrast agents can infiltrate kidneys
The contrast agents given as infusion to enhance MRI scans contain a rare earth element called gadolinium. Researchers found it could leech from the contrast agent and enter kidney tissues to start nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, which can be fatal. But how the metal detaches from the contrast agent and why only some people develop kidney events is not known.
University of New Mexico
New AASLD guideline highlights screening high-risk people for NAFLD
The guideline urges physicians caring for people at higher risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease should be screened using noninvasive liver tests like FibroScan. Patients with type 2 diabetes should also be screened and referred to specialists for advanced treatment. The guideline also emphasized early diagnosis to provide treatment and prevent disease progression.
Healthcare Dive
MRI scans show how the brain network changes post-cold water shock
Researchers, for the first time, observed changes in brain interactions after cold water immersion, which is growing popular. The MRI scans after immersion showed rewiring in the parietal cortex and the medial prefrontal cortex, which control attention and emotions. These findings aligned with the excitement and alertness reported by participants after a cold bath.
University of Portsmouth
PET scan shows greater lung damage with E-cigarettes than cigarettes
People using e-cigarettes had greater lung inflammation than those smoking cigarettes or never smoked, as per a study that used a novel radiotracer, 18F-NOS. People using e-cigarettes and cigarette smokers overexpressed the enzyme iNOS. It is linked to chronic and acute inflammatory diseases, making it a relevant target for studying lung inflammation.
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Can non-MRI-conditional ICDs work after MRI?
A new study says that non-MRI-conditional implantable cardioverter defibrillators can work adequately for tachycardia even after a 1.5-Tesla MRI scan. Also, it did not report serious adverse effects due to MRI on the device's functioning. These findings align with the growing evidence that 1.5-Tesla MRI does not cause clinically significant changes in non-MRI-conditional ICDs.
Twitter @AnnalsofIM
FDA approves inhalable gas contrast for lung MRI
Polarean's Xenon gas-based contrast agent, Xenoview, is the first inhalable contrast agent to visualize the lungs' ventilation. It can be delivered with an agreeable safety profile to understand patients' lung disease. It is a major step in lung imaging and can fill the unmet needs for non-invasive imaging. FDA also cleared other products for image processing.
Radiology Business
Marijuana smokers more likely to suffer emphysema than cigarette smokers
About 75% of marijuana smokers suffered emphysema, a lung disease causing difficulty breathing, compared to 67% of tobacco smokers in a study. In comparison, only 5% of non-smokers suffered emphysema. Also, gynecomastia was more common in marijuana smokers (38% vs 11%). However, there were no differences in the rates of coronary artery calcification between the groups.
Radiological Society of North America
