Blood clots in veins and arteries can lead to heart attack, stroke and pulmonary embolism, which are major causes of mortality. In the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s (JNM) July 2017 issue, German researchers show that targeting GPIIb/IIIa receptors, the key receptor involved in platelet clumping, with a fluorine-18 (18F) labeled ligand is a promising approach for diagnostic imaging. Current imaging modalities rely on structural characteristics, such as vascular flow impairment, and do not address the critical molecular components.

BTG plc recently highlighted the results of the ACCESS PTS trial, presented at the Society for Vascular Medicine 28th Annual Scientific Sessions, June 14-17 in New Orleans. The study found chronic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) patients with post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) can be treated safely and effectively with Ekos therapy. The ACCESS PTS protocol using Ekos therapy is now the only treatment regimen proven to significantly reduce the signs and symptoms of PTS and show a significant improvement in quality of life, according to the company.

July 6, 2017 — New data showed use of Medtronic’s cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices with its proprietary ...

Two predictive models may help cardiologists decide which patients would most benefit from an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), suggests a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. According to the researchers, confirming the findings in a larger, randomized trial could lead to new national guidelines for choosing patients who are good candidates for ICD implantation.

Michigan Medicine recently became the first healthcare institution in the United States to install the Artis pheno, the new robotic C-arm angiography system from Siemens Healthineers. The system is designed to broaden clinical capabilities and expand patient access while combating patient infection.

With worldwide cardiovascular deaths at an all-time high, European scientists have developed a new handheld scanner that can read the heart's vital signs like a supermarket barcode reader can scan items at the checkout. This would allow a general practitioner (GP) to diagnose even preclinical patients for the early onset of a disease.

When diagnosing strokes and heart diseases or looking at tumors, perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a gentler way to capture the blood flow circulation in the organs. However, the method is far from being implemented to its full potential at many clinics. The Fraunhofer Institute for Medical Image Computing MEVIS in Bremen, Germany organized a workshop entitled “Measurement of Perfusion and Capillary Exchange” from June 21-23 to promote adoption of the method. The event provided information about its applications and the current state of research.