Robert Beck, at 80; leader in early work on radioactive materials for medical imaging Aug 19, 2008
After Harper's team injected the isotope, also known as a radiotracer or radionuclide, into a patient, it could be tracked through the bloodstream and eventually to the heart, liver, and other organs. In 1963, the team conducted a scan of the human brain, and technetium-99 became an accepted diagnostic tool for finding tumors and other masses. (Boston Globe)
Robert N. Beck, 80, Leader in Advancing Scanning for Medical Diagnoses, Dies Aug 18, 2008
After Dr. Harper s team injected the isotope, also known as a radiotracer or radionuclide, into a patient, it could be tracked through the bloodstream and eventually to the heart, liver and other organs. In 1963, the team conducted a scan of the human brain, and technetium-99 became an accepted diagnostic tool for finding tumors and other masses. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
SwRI wins R&D Award for nuclear waste modeling software Jul 17, 2008
As more nations develop geological repositories for high-level nuclear waste, the study and prediction of radionuclide transport in the Earth s subsurface is a key process in assessing the safety of these potential repositories, says Scott Painter, a staff scientist in the Geosciences and Engineering Division s Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses at SwRI and principal developer of the software program. TDRW uses a particle tracking algorithm in which individual particles represent... (San Antonio Business Journal, TX)
Water report card released Jul 13, 2008
The one area the city s water system continues to stuggle in is Radionuclide contamination. Radionuclides are naturally occurring radioactive particles which sluff off of underground radioactively charged portions of the Earth s crust ... As groundwater passes through the rock microscopic particles, called, radionuclides, become part of the makeup of the water. (Park Hills Daily Journal, MO)
Personalizing Medicine: New Research Shows Potential Of Targeted Therapies For Cancer Jun 29, 2008
Additionally, PET/CT imaging of mice pretargeted with the bispecific antibody 16 hours earlier revealed excellent high-contrast images of CEA-expressing tumors within one hour after injection of the radionuclide gallium-68 (Ga-68)-labeled histamine-succinyl-glycine (HSG) peptide. "When the imaging component of a pretargeting agent is used in concert with the therapeutic component, it permits the selection of a patient population that over-expresses a particular antigen, thus increasing these... (Science Daily)
New Study Shows Potential To Treat Or Prevent Viral Cancers Jun 19, 2008
The antibodies were radiolabeled with 188-Rhenium--a powerful beta-emitting radionuclide. "This study demonstrates a real possibility for more specifically targeted cancer treatments," said Dadachova. (Science Daily)
American Heart Association's 3rd new journal -- Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging Jun 17, 2008
Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging will focus on new translational and clinical research on noninvasive imaging technologies, including echocardiography, radionuclide imagine, PET/CT, cardiovascular CT and MRI, molecular imaging and anatomic and functional vascular imaging. Timely review articles will include updates on current applications of cardiovascular imaging, new imaging technologies and their clinical roles, issues in imaging research, and translational aspects of molecularly targeted... (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
Pulmo BioTech Announces Appointment of Chief Financial Officer May 2, 2008
PulmoBind uses an intravenously delivered radionuclide tagged molecule which specifically bonds to the inner walls of the circulatory system in the lungs, and by the use of an external Gamma Camera allows an image of the integrity of the blood vessels throughout the lungs to be seen by a diagnostic clinician. PulmoScience is currently undertaking Regulatory Approval for Phase I Human Trials, and while subsequent results from additional tests might not corroborate the current results,... (Canada Newswire)
CV Therapeutics and Astellas Announce FDA Approval for Lexiscan(TM) (regadenoson) Injection Apr 11, 2008
April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CV Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ) and Astellas Pharma US, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lexiscan(TM) (regadenoson) injection, an A2A adenosine receptor agonist, for use as a pharmacologic stress agent in radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) -- a test that detects and characterizes coronary artery disease -- in patients unable to undergo adequate exercise stress ... About Lexiscan Lexiscan is an A2A... (PR Newswire)
The importance of left ventricular function in long-termprognosis after primary percutaneous coronary intervention Feb 24, 2008
In the present study we sought to determine the long-term prognostic value of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), assessed by planar radionuclide ventriculography (PRV), after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Methods. (BioMed Central)
You can't teach old materials new tricks Feb 17, 2008
Five primary materials are used for radiation detection, but they all have limitations, such as small size, challenges in manufacturing, poor discrimination of radionuclides and poor sensitivity ... 5 million research effort aimed at discovering new materials for radionuclide identification, accelerating discovery processes and improving our fundamental understanding of radiation detection. (EurekAlert!)
Covidien and BioSynthema Sign Exclusive Agreements for Cancer Therapy Technology Oct 15, 2007
The license will enable BioSynthema to use this technology in conjunction with its own technology and proprietary clinical research to further develop a new targeted radionuclide therapy product. Under the terms of a separate agreement, Covidien will have exclusive marketing rights to the resulting cancer therapy technology. (Canada Newswire)
Nuclear Medicine Now Safer Than Ever Oct 11, 2007
Previously hospitals have used off-the-shelf Radionuclide Calibrators which needed re-calibrating every time new applications for nuclear medicine or a new design of vial came on stream ... The ionisation chamber is an identical version of the master chamber here,' says Piers de Lavison, the Head of Radionuclide Metrology at NPL. 'It's like having NPL in a box -- it is a great example of how our work contributes to quality assurance in healthcare, something that touches all our lives. (Science Daily)
SNM applauds NAS study showing need to restore federal nuclear medicine research funding Oct 4, 2007
notes that domestic medical radionuclide production should be improved. suggests that DOE and NIH convene expert panels to identify critical national needs for training nuclear medicine scientists and. (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
Homes coming, so homeless must go, then tainted soil follows Sep 13, 2007
Sahu said the three things that most worry him in the area's soil and water are metals primarily arsenic and pesticides including relatives of DDT and radionuclide ... Meanwhile, in the next month or so, the company will cut down tamarisks and test the soil and water in the remaining 1,800 acres to see whether there are metals, pesticides, radionuclide or other chemicals in amounts that would make it necessary to also remove soil from those areas. (Las Vegas Sun)
ACC/AHA release revised UA/NSTEMI guidelines Aug 7, 2007
Major changes to the guidelines include: suggesting an initial non-invasive set of preliminary tests, such as a stress test, echocardiogram or radionuclide angiogram; recommending the use of anti-platelet therapy clopidogrel for at least one year after receiving a drug-eluting stent; highlighting the importance of more intense lipid and blood pressure control; and advising cessation of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) use for all UA/NSTEMI patients during hospitalization ... The... (EurekAlert!)
Radioactive phosphate waste should not be used in roadbeds Jun 14, 2007
Only a few radionuclide sources are currently regulated, giving the public the impression that no real hazard exists ... Unlike some approaches used to "solve" water pollution problems, dilution of levels of radionuclides to acceptable low levels is not feasible with phosphogypsum. (Herald-Tribune)
PET/CT: The Best Test For Women With Ovarian Cancer Jun 8, 2007
When PET is used to image cancer, a radiopharmaceutical (such as FDG, which includes both a sugar and a radionuclide) is injected into a patient. Cancer cells metabolize sugar at higher rates than normal cells, and the radiopharmaceutical is drawn in higher concentrations to cancerous areas. (Science Daily)
FDG-PET Imaging Clearly Predicts Lung Cancer Patients' Response To Chemotherapy May 12, 2007
When PET is used to image cancer, a radiopharmaceutical (such as FDG, which includes both a sugar and a radionuclide) is injected into a patient ... PET scans show where FDG is by tracking the gamma rays given off by the radionuclide tagging the drug and producing three-dimensional images of their distribution within the body. (Science Daily)
Government inquiry into Sellafield body parts claims Apr 19, 2007
Ministers moved quickly after feelings of "shock and outrage" were expressed over the disclosure that in 65 cases, tissue was taken from individuals which was then analysed for the radionuclide content of organs. A radionuclide is an unstable form of an element that can decay and give off radiation ... British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL), which operates the Sellafield site, identified 65 cases in which tissue was taken from individuals which was then analysed for the radionuclide content of organs,... (Independent)
QC will probe body parts removal Apr 18, 2007
BNFL, which operates the Sellafield site, identified 65 cases in which tissue was taken from individuals which was then analysed for the radionuclide content of organs, said the minister. "It's important to tell the House the limited nature of the records that are held by BNFL. These are medical records which show what analysis was done on organs removed following post mortem examination. "Because they are medical records which dealt with the analysis carried out at Sellafield, they do not... (Guardian Unlimited -- UK)
Capital improvement sales tax passes Apr 5, 2007
Part of the money raised by the tax will be used to remove radionuclides from the water system if current methods are not sufficient. Currently, the city is working with the state s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to analyze the extent of radionuclides ... The city has a five-year schedule for installing radionuclide treatment on its wells, and already has chosen a treatment system, Beavers added. (Park Hills Daily Journal, MO)
Environmental groups plan Uranium Summit Mar 15, 2007
Harold One Feather wrote on March 14, 2007 11:35 AM:"I wonder when the issue of aquifer restoration will come up...I don't think I have seen that discussed yet. At the other places where they try to restore the aquifers to pre-ISL mining levels; the ISL mining companies have discovered that if they don't inject hydrogen sulfide into the ore bed, the uranium keeps dissolving into the aquifer. Now I may not be a chemist but I do know what hydrogen sulfide is: it smells like rotten eggs. Also this... (Rapid City Journal, SD)
Researchers wake up viruses inside tumors to image and then destroy cancers Mar 1, 2007
For imaging purposes, FIAU can carry a radionuclide that emits a low energy gamma photon, but it can also be engineered to carry therapeutic radionuclides, which are lethal to cells in which TK is activated. Results of this study suggests that this strategy could be applied to other viruses associated with tumors, and that other drugs may potentially be used to activate these viruses, Pomper says. (EurekAlert!)
Puffing on polonium Dec 2, 2006
A fraction of a trillionth of a curie (a unit of radiation named for polonium's discoverers, Marie and Pierre Curie) may not sound like much, but remember that we're talking about a powerful radionuclide disgorging alpha particles - the most dangerous kind when it comes to lung cancer - at a much higher rate even than the plutonium used in the bomb dropped on Nagasaki. Polonium 210 has a half life of about 138 days, making it thousands of times more radioactive than the nuclear fuels used in... (International Herald Tribune)
Polonium 210 Facts Dec 2, 2006
Po-210 is a particularly energetic radionuclide, giving off 5,000 times more alpha particles than does the same amount of radium. Po-210 is used in some industrial applications such as static eliminators, which are devices designed to eliminate static electricity in processes such as paper rolling, manufacturing sheet plastics, and spinning synthetic fibers. (CBS News -- Evening News)
Targeted tumor therapy: When antagonists do the better job Oct 20, 2006
Agonists have traditionally been favored in targeted therapy since they and their activated receptors readily slip inside cells taking the attached radionuclide with them, destroying them from within ... Mcke, who is highly experienced in in vivo radionuclide targeting, also acknowledges the significance of using antagonist rather than agonist guidance systems, saying, "It is by far the most significant conceptual and pragmatic development of the past ten years.". (EurekAlert!)
Identifying The 'Nuclear' In Nuclear Medicine As High Benefit Oct 5, 2006
Your physician can help you avoid any security problems by providing a letter containing the following information: the patient s name, name and date of the nuclear medicine procedure, the related radionuclide, its half life, the administered activity and 24-hour contact information ... These substances consist of radionuclides, or pharmaceuticals that. (Science Daily)
Project Bioshield: Researchers To Develop Anti-Radiation Treatments Sep 27, 2006
In the event of an attack by a nuclear explosive device or radiological "dirty bomb," individuals potentially could inhale, ingest or absorb through their skin radioactive atoms called radionuclides. Depending on the type of radionuclide that a person is exposed to, the particles may be excreted from the body or enter bones, organs or other tissues, which could have significant adverse health consequences ... Through an initiative announced in 2005, NIAID already is working to speed the... (Science Daily)
World Heart Day: Find tools that serve your heart Sep 24, 2006
Newer imaging techniques such as ultrasound, Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMRI), PET (positron emission tomography or cardiac viability study), and Cardiac Computed Tomography, the nuclear heart scan (or Radionuclide Imaging or Radionuclide Ventriculography) allow a closer look at the heart and great vessels at little risk to the patient. In patients suffering from coronary artery disease, the electronbeam computed tomography (EBCT) - identifies calcium within the plaque found in the... (India Times)
Radioactive treatment can set off security alarms Aug 8, 2006
City Hospital, Birmingham as a result have now begun issuing all patients with a radionuclide card explaining the risk of persisting radioactivity following such treatment and the problems this might cause, including the risk of radiation alarms being triggered. The report is published in the , August 5, 2006. (News-Medical.net)
Therapy 'sets off airport alarms' Aug 7, 2006
Researchers at City Hospital, Birmingham, say that having heard about the problems their 46-year-old patient encountered, they began issuing all patients with a radionuclide card explaining the risk of persisting radioactivity following such treatment and problems this might cause, including the risk of radiation alarms being triggered. Airports worldwide are deploying more sensitive radiation detection systems and one would therefore expect more such cases. (BBC News -- Health)
Analysis: Medical radiation 'alarming' Aug 6, 2006
"Our nuclear medicine department gave him the radionuclide instruction card highlighting the usual precautions to be taken. However, the card did not mention the risk of radiation detectors being triggered," Gangopadhyay said ... "Luckily, he was carrying his radionuclide card with him. He was finally released after a long delay and much embarrassment," Gangopadhyay reported ... "We apologized to him for the lack of information given to him after the radioiodine treatment, and since this event,... (United Press International)
Medical treatment makes patients raioactive Aug 5, 2006
Dr Gangopadhyay, of City Hospital, Birmingham, said: "While narrating this story in the clinic, he stated that he would not have made the US journey if he had had any inkling of the harassment he was likely to face."We apologised to him for the lack of information given to him after the radioiodine treatment, and since this event changes have been made to the radionuclide card issued to patients. "Afterwards, his team searched the records and found four other cases that further underline the... (Life Style Extra)
Patients Receiving Treatment With Radioisotopes May Trigger ... Aug 4, 2006
Following this incident their Nuclear Medicine department has now amended the radionuclide card given to patients receiving radioiodine treatment to read: "Airport alarms may be triggered for up to 12 weeks after receiving your therapy dose.". "Airports worldwide are deploying more sensitive radiation detection systems and hence one would expect more such cases unless we take responsibility of forewarning our patients," they write. (eMaxHealth.com)
Coming Soon: 3-D Imaging That Flies 'Through' And 'Around' Cancer Jul 15, 2006
When PET is used to image cancer, a radiopharmaceutical (such as fluorodeoxyglucose or FDG, which includes both a sugar and a radionuclide) is injected into a patient ... These substances consist of radionuclides, or pharmaceuticals that. (Science Daily)
Patients To Benefit From Novel Technology Revolutionizing High-speed Molecular Imaging Jun 9, 2006
For 50 years, physicists have been struggling with the inherent trade-off between spatial resolution and sensitivity associated with radionuclide imaging, said Patton ... These substances consist of radionuclides, or pharmaceuticals that. (Science Daily)
New Combination Treatment Induces Regression Of Prostate Cancer Jun 9, 2006
"A new treatment protocol combining radionuclide therapy and chemotherapy may represent a distinct advantage over conventional protocols, especially when patients have metastatic (or spreading) prostate cancer that is not responding to hormonal therapy," said Giuliano Mariani, professor of nuclear medicine and director at the Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Pisa Medical School in Italy. "Radionuclide therapy alleviated bone pain, but preliminary observations indicated... (Science Daily)
Data Presented at SNM Meeting Demonstrate New Potential for PROSTASCINT(R) through Advances in Nuclear Medicine Imaging Jun 8, 2006
Cytogen is also developing CYT-500, a therapeutic product candidate using the same monoclonal antibody from PROSTASCINT combined with a higher affinity linker to attach a therapeutic as opposed to an imaging radionuclide. CYT-500 is designed to enable targeted delivery of a cytotoxic agent to PSMA- expressing cells. (PR Newswire)
Cytogen Announces Positive Interim Findings from a Phase I Clinical Trial of QUADRAMET(R) Combination Study in Patients with Relapsed Multiple Myeloma Jun 4, 2006
Novel systemic radionuclide-based therapies may therefore provide a significant advance in clinical therapy of myeloma. About QUADRAMET QUADRAMET is indicated for the relief of pain in patients with confirmed osteoblastic metastatic bone lesions that enhance on radionuclide bone scan. (PR Newswire)
Think Twice Before Exercising When Getting That PET Scan Mar 10, 2006
To image cancer, a radiopharmaceutical such as fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), which includes both sugar (metabolized at a higher rate by cancer cells) and a radionuclide, is injected into the patient ... The PET scan shows where the radiopharmaceutical is by tracking the gamma ray signals given off by the radionuclides ... These substances consist of radionuclides, or pharmaceuticals that. (Science Daily)
Mental stress effects on heart more common than previously known Mar 8, 2006
"If we didn't have the radionuclide imaging procedure, we would not have been able to tell whether the patient actually had ischemia. It's really totally silent. The patients didn't have any chest pain," Dr. Sheps said ... "It has previously been shown that mental stress can induce myocardial ischemia in a substantial number of coronary artery disease patients. The common thinking is that this occurred primarily in patients with positive exercise tests. This study is important because it... (EurekAlert!)
Some heart patients vulnerable to mental stress Mar 7, 2006
The findings suggest patients who experience reductions in blood flow detectable when they are experiencing mental stress but not during standard exercise radionuclide testing may have a worse form of heart disease than expected, cautioned David S. Krantz, Ph. D., chairman and a professor of medical and clinical psychology at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Md. (EurekAlert!)
