First Patient with Pig Kidney Transplant Dies, Research Continues
2024 13 May
Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston announced the passing of Rick Slayman, 62, who earlier this year made medical history as the first human recipient of a genetically modified pig kidney. Despite the pioneering transplant in March, his death saddened both the medical community and his family, who emphasised his inspirational legacy. ...Read more
Ascension Healthcare Network Disrupted by Cyberattack
2024 10 May
On Wednesday, the Ascension Healthcare Network disclosed a disturbance in its clinical operations attributed to a cybersecurity incident. The attack has affected Ascension's extensive network of 140 hospitals nationwide, including 14 in the Chicago region. Detecting anomalous activity on select technology networks, Ascension has promptly...Read more
NVIDIA's Journey From Gaming to Healthcare
2024 09 May
NVIDIA, primarily known for its groundbreaking GPUs in the gaming industry, has made significant strides in healthcare. While its foray into this sector might have initially caused confusion, the company has emerged as a key player, especially in the realm of AI-driven solutions. In recent years, NVIDIA has intensified its efforts, culminating...Read more
AlphaFold 3 by Google DeepMind Transforms Molecular Understanding
2024 09 May
A recent paper published in Nature introduces AlphaFold 3, a groundbreaking model that predicts the structure and interactions of molecules in cells with remarkable accuracy. It significantly improves over existing methods, particularly in predicting protein interactions with other molecules. AlphaFold 3 is anticipated to revolutionise biology...Read more
Performance of iNAV and dNAV Cardiac MRI Techniques for Atrial Fibrosis
2024 09 May
Over the past decade, late gadolinium-enhanced (LGE) cardiac MRI has been crucial in assessing left atrial (LA) fibrosis in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, aiding in predicting AF recurrence post-ablation. This fibrotic burden can guide treatment decisions. Typically, imaging protocols involve a time-consuming diaphragm-navigated (dNAV) sequence....Read more
Photon-Counting Detector Technology in Paediatric CT Imaging
2024 09 May
Photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) is a cutting-edge advancement in CT imaging technology that addresses limitations of conventional methods. It enhances visualisation of small anatomical structures and may enable higher precision with lower radiation exposure. The unique features of PCD-CT require updated scanning protocols for various diagnostic...Read more
Enhancing Pulmonary Embolism CT Detection Through AI
2024 09 May
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a significant cardiovascular-related cause of death, often detected incidentally during imaging studies like chest CTs for other reasons. Symptoms are vague, making diagnosis challenging. PE can complicate various conditions and procedures. Abdominal CTs, although not primarily for lung evaluation, can incidentally capture...Read more
LLMs’ BI-RADS Categorisations Can Negatively Affect Patients
2024 09 May
The widespread availability of large language models (LLMs) has sparked considerable interest in their potential applications within healthcare, prompting investigations into their efficacy across various clinical tasks. In radiology, LLMs have been tested for tasks ranging from processing radiologic request forms to providing imaging recommendations...Read more
Enhancing Cancer Care: Audio Mindfulness During Radiation Therapy
2024 09 May
Radiation therapy (RT) is a common treatment for cancer, but it often leads to side effects like fatigue, stress, and sleep disturbance. Previous research suggests mindfulness can alleviate these symptoms, but traditional programs may be inaccessible to many patients. A recent study published in Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health...Read more
Assessing Imaging Overuse in Emergency Departments
2024 09 May
In a recent analysis published in Emergency Radiology , researchers examined the appropriateness and outcomes of ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR) orders in the emergency department (ED) of a large academic centre. The study revealed concerning trends, indicating that a significant portion of imaging exams...Read more
Ethics Concerns with AI-Based Decision Support Systems
2024 08 May
Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to the development of intelligent decision-support systems (IDSSs), which can significantly influence human ethical decision-making. These systems, ranging from those guiding moral deliberation to providing concrete moral advice, raise questions about the extent to which humans are outsourcing...Read more
Google Med-Gemini Outperforms GPT-4
2024 08 May
Google Research and DeepMind have introduced Med-Gemini, an advanced family of AI models tailored for medical applications. These models represent a significant leap in clinical diagnostics, offering immense potential in real-world healthcare scenarios. They address the multifaceted challenges doctors face daily, such as understanding patient records,...Read more
Growing Compatibility of Open Standards in Digital Health
2024 08 May
The digital health sector faces significant data challenges due to its fragmented nature, hindering effective collaboration and resulting in suboptimal care, inconsistent services, and financial waste. Despite the potential of interoperable data to address these issues, efforts have been inconsistent, leading to numerous incompatible standards....Read more
Delayed Hospital Discharges Strain Patients and Providers
2024 08 May
One of the most persistent challenges in modern healthcare systems is the timely discharge of patients who no longer require acute care. This issue has plagued hospitals for years and is now reaching critical levels, leaving both patients and providers in a precarious situation. Across the United States, hospital leaders are grappling with an...Read more
USA Hospitals Face Rising Operational Costs Pressure
2024 08 May
Hospitals and health systems, despite grappling with significant challenges, are demonstrating remarkable resilience in this period of transformation. They face rising demand for high-acuity care and financial instability due to workforce shortages, supply chain disruptions, and inflation. Yet, despite these hurdles, many hospitals are operating...Read more
Antibiotic Overuse in Newborns With Suspected Sepsis
2024 08 May
A recent study conducted by the University of Gothenburg involving over a million newborns in Sweden highlights a concerning trend: despite a notable decrease in the rate of sepsis among this group, the administration of antibiotics remains disproportionately high. The study, published in JAMA, highlights the need for a reevaluation of antibiotic...Read more
Apple Watch Receives FDA Approval as MDDT
2024 08 May
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made history by granting the Apple Watch approval as a digital health technology device. Specifically, the FDA has endorsed its atrial fibrillation (AFib) feature as a qualified tool in the Medical Device Development Tools (MDDT) programme. This feature aids in detecting irregular heart patterns and has...Read more
Gartner Identifies the Top Cybersecurity Trends for 2024
2024 08 May
When it comes to cybersecurity, there’s no single playbook to follow. However, looking to experts and analysts who spend their days laser-focused on the latest threats and trends can offer valuable direction. Generative AI (GenAI), unsecured employee behaviour, third-party risks, continuous threat exposure, boardroom communication gaps and identity-first...Read more
Safeguarding the Wellbeing of Healthcare Workers: A Multifaceted Approach
2024 08 May
Mental health is increasingly recognised as a critical component of overall well-being, not only for individuals and families but also for the productivity of economies and the inclusivity of societies. However, challenges persist, particularly within healthcare settings where the well-being of healthcare professionals is deeply intertwined with...Read more
ECRI’s Top 10 Health Technology Hazards Report: Key Safety Issues for 2024
2024 08 May
The purpose of ECRI's 17th edition of the Top 10 Health Technology Hazards list is to aid care providers in identifying and mitigating potential sources of harm associated with health technology. The list, compiled annually by ECRI’s Device Evaluation group, highlights risks that require attention to prioritise patient safety efforts. It serves...Read more
Pioneering Deep Learning in Intracranial Aneurysm Detection
2024 07 May
In the pursuit of automating the detection and segmentation of intracranial aneurysms (IAs), a recent study published in European Radiology aimed to address the challenge of automating the segmentation and detection of IAs using deep learning techniques, specifically focusing on magnetic resonance T1 images. Through a retrospective diagnostic...Read more
Systematic Review Offers Insights on Pre-eclampsia Prediction
2024 07 May
Pre-eclampsia (PE) affects a significant percentage of pregnancies globally and leads to numerous foetal and maternal deaths each year. Early identification is crucial for effective monitoring and prevention. Aspirin prophylaxis for high-risk women can reduce PE rates and adverse outcomes. Healthcare providers often predict future health events...Read more
Enhancing Thyroid Nodule Characterisation: A CT-Based Radiomics Approach
2024 07 May
The incidence of thyroid nodules has risen significantly in recent decades, with detection rates as high as 65% in the general population. Despite this, only a small percentage of nodules are cancerous. It's crucial to accurately distinguish between benign and malignant nodules for proper clinical management. While fine-needle aspiration biopsy...Read more
ChatGPT in Radiology: Potential, Limitations & Future in Clinical Radiology
2024 02 May
Generative pre-trained transformer (ChatGPT), developed by OpenAI, is an advanced web-based chatbot utilising a large language model (LLM) AI. Trained extensively on vast text datasets, it excels in understanding and generating human-like responses, primarily in English. Initially released as ChatGPTv3.5 in November 2022 and updated to ChatGPTv4...Read more
Time-Saving Innovation: Leveraging Technology for Healthcare Efficiency
2024 02 May
The NHS faces significant demand pressures, and technology presents a promising opportunity to alleviate some of these challenges. While it's not a cure-all and requires investment to address workforce shortages, recent advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, have generated interest in using technology to boost productivity and...Read more
Prostate Cancer Surveillance can be Enhanced with Advanced MRI Techniques
2024 02 May
Active surveillance (AS) is endorsed by the European Association of Urology (EAU) for low to favourable intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa) patients. It aims to delay or avoid radical treatments while maintaining oncological outcomes. AS's safety is supported by trials like ProtecT and PIVOT, despite potential understaging and undergrading....Read more
Safeguarding Patient Care: The Imperative of Infusion Pump Cybersecurity
2024 30 Apr
Inadequate cybersecurity within healthcare systems poses a significant threat to patient safety. This assertion, supported by the American Hospital Association, underscores the urgent need for aligning cybersecurity initiatives with patient safety protocols to protect both patient well-being and network integrity. Brian Heersink, the IT Director...Read more
USPSTF Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations Shifts Towards Earlier Screening
2024 30 Apr
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has updated its recommendations for breast cancer screening, suggesting that women should begin regular mammograms at the age of 40 rather than waiting until 50 as previously advised. This decision, published in JAMA , was reached by one of the foremost independent organisations setting...Read more
EUSOBI’s Recommendations for Breast Cancer Screening
2024 30 Apr
Breast cancer is a significant global health concern, with over 2 million new cases diagnosed annually worldwide and nearly 8 million cases existing within a 5-year span. In Europe, it is the most prevalent cancer among women, comprising 15% of new cases overall and 30% among women specifically. Over half a million new cases are diagnosed annually...Read more
Quantitative Interstitial Abnormalities are Linked to Acute Respiratory Disease Events in Smokers
2024 30 Apr
Quantitative interstitial abnormalities (QIAs) are subtle lung features detected through automated machine learning on CT scans. QIAs are linked to reduced lung function, exercise capacity, and increased respiratory symptoms and mortality. Risk factors for QIA progression include age, sex, smoking, and genetic factors. QIA progression is associated...Read more
