Volume XVI | Issue 6 | June 2024 | |
HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry | |
Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc.
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Dear Colleagues –
I can’t believe we’re already halfway through the year! Time seems to have flown by because we’ve been so busy at HCI. We've added new sites in Iowa, Kentucky, and Wyoming, and are gearing up for two more in Florida. Our team has been working diligently to ensure we continue providing excellent service to our great partners while establishing strong relationships with our new ones.
We have an incredible team of talented and dedicated members who are always focused on quality and service. On a side note, it's been wonderful to watch our team members’ families celebrate milestones, welcome new additions, and enjoy trips that recharge their batteries. I use the term ‘team’ to describe HCI, but perhaps 'family' is more fitting given how we all feel about each other.
With Independence Day right around the corner, please take a moment to remember what a great country we live in and the opportunities we have. The USA is truly the greatest country in the world, and we’re so fortunate to live and work here.
We hope you enjoy this edition of our newsletter!
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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Cardiac shockwave therapy in addition to coronary bypass surgery improves myocardial function in ischaemic heart failure: the CAST-HF trial
In chronic ischaemic heart failure, revascularisation strategies control symptoms but are less effective in improving left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The aim of this trial is to investigate the safety of cardiac shockwave therapy (SWT) as a novel treatment option and its efficacy in increasing cardiac function by inducing angiogenesis and regeneration in hibernating myocardium.
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Approximately 10% Of CV Deaths May Be Tied To “Nonoptimal” Temperatures, Study Finds
“Worldwide, nearly one in 10 cardiovascular deaths may be attributed to ‘nonoptimal’ temperatures, according to a study that tracked mortality over a 20-year period.” In the study, “comparing the periods of 2000-2003 to 2016-2019, the researchers saw a decline of 0.53 percentage points in cold-related excess CV death and an increase of 0.20 percentage points in heat-related excess death.” The results were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Stressful Events Raise Risk Of Heart Attack For People With Certain Genetic Traits, Study Finds
The Hill (6/3, Delandro) reports, “People with certain genetic traits are at a higher risk of heart attack during stressful events, such as a presidential election and holidays, a new study” presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session shows. The study found “people with specific genetic traits like anxiety or depression are at a ‘significantly higher heart attack risk.’” In the study, “stressful periods included the five days after presidential elections, 10 days after Christmas Day, and the five days after major sports events like the Super Bowl or NBA playoffs.”
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More Evidence That Flu Is Linked to Heart Attacks
Influenza infection was associated with an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction (MI), especially for those without a prior hospitalization for coronary artery disease (CAD), according to a Dutch observational case series study.
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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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'Critical Gaps' Seen in Managing Moms' Postpartum BP
Over 80% of women with new-onset hypertensive disorders during pregnancy experienced persistent hypertension in the 6 weeks after delivery.
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A historic moment in diabetes care: Teva launches first-ever generic GLP-1 in US
Teva Pharmaceuticals, a New Jersey-based affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, announced that it has officially launched generic liraglutide injections in the United States.
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AI-powered platform for arrhythmia detection gains FDA approval
Medicalgorithmics, a Polish healthcare technology company focused on using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models to diagnose arrhythmias, has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its new cloud-based DeepRhythm Platform.
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Women who experience depression during pregnancy or after birth have higher risk of cardiovascular disease
Women diagnosed with perinatal depression are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease in the following 20 years compared to women who have given birth without experiencing perinatal depression. The study is the first of its kind to look at cardiovascular health after perinatal depression and included data on around 600,000 women. It found the strongest links with risks of high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease and heart failure.
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Chronic high blood pressure during pregnancy doubled between 2008 and 2021 in the U.S.
The number of individuals in the U.S. who had chronic hypertension or chronic high blood pressure during pregnancy doubled between 2008 and 2021.
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Cannabis Use Tied to Increased Risk of Severe COVID
The gut microbiome — the ecosystem of tiny organisms inside us all — has emerged as fertile new territory for studying a range of psychiatric conditions and neurological diseases.
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Your gut microbes may influence how you handle stress
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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New genetic cause of obesity could help guide treatment
Scientists have discovered a new cause of why people who lack a specific blood group are genetically predisposed to be overweight or obese.
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Do Americans Drink Too Much? Alcohol Is Driving a Debate in Washington
For nearly three decades, federal dietary guidelines have said it is safe for men to have two or fewer drinks a day, and for women to have one. That could change next year when the Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments update recommendations that are part of federal dietary guidelines.
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Daily multivitamins might not help you live longer, study finds: 'No differences in mortality'
Approximately one-third of U.S. adults report taking multivitamins, data shows — but a new study suggests that the daily practice won’t extend longevity.
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Maps show dengue fever risk areas as CDC warns of global case surge
As dengue cases break international records, U.S. health officials warned doctors Tuesday to be alert for the mosquito-borne virus, prompting questions about where exactly the disease has been detected.
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Friendly’s, Hershey’s ice cream products among various brands recalled over bacterial contamination concerns
Consumers looking to cool off this summer are advised to avoid popular ice cream products from brands including Friendly’s, Hershey’s and Chipwich due to possible Listeria contamination, according to a recall announced Monday.
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CDC strengthens RSV vaccine recommendation only for the oldest adults
People 75 and older should be vaccinated for RSV, but those 60 to 74 should do so only if they are higher risk for severe disease.
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Only 1 in 4 People Who Need Meds to Fight Opioid Addiction Get Them
Just 25% of people battling opioid use disorder are getting medications aimed at helping them quit and potentially avoid an overdose, new data shows.
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Most kids get antibiotics for pink eye. Experts say they're not needed.
Doctors are prescribing antibiotics to most kids and teens who have pink eye, despite guidelines that discourage their use, researchers reported Thursday.
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Health Care Industry News | |
Rural Hospital Closures Harm Local Real Estate
In March 2021, this town of about 2,000 residents in the hills of east Tennessee lost its hospital, a 54-bed acute care facility. Campbell County, where Jellico is located, ranks 90th of Tennessee's 95 counties in health outcomes and has a poverty rate almost double the national average, so losing its health care cornerstone sent ripple effects through the region.
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Health insurers cover fewer drugs and make them harder to get
Insurance companies’ lists of covered drugs, called formularies, are shrinking. In 2010, the average Medicare formulary covered about three-quarters of all drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration, according to new research by GoodRx, a website that helps patients find discounts on prescription drugs. Now, it’s a little more than half.
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Walgreens Plans Major U.S. Store Closures; Shares Tumble
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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Mail-Order Drugs Were Supposed to Keep Costs Down. It’s Doing the Opposite.
A key tool that businesses have counted on to keep a lid on employees’ drug spending—filling workers’ prescriptions by mail—is now driving up their costs.
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UAB Health to acquire Ascension St. Vincent’s for $450M
Ascension is selling its interest in five-hospital Alabama-based Ascension St. Vincent’s Health System to the University of Alabama Health System Authority for approximately $450 million, UAB announced Tuesday.
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For-profits performed worse on ‘most socially responsible’ hospital rankings
For-profit hospitals represented an outsized portion of low grades on an index from the Lown Institute measuring equity, care value and patient outcomes.
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Internet addiction affects the behavior and development of adolescents
Adolescents with an internet addiction undergo changes in the brain that could lead to additional addictive behavior and tendencies, finds a new study.
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New Molecular Signatures Found for Alzheimer’s Disease
Researchers identified unique molecular signatures of blood-brain barrier dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. They discovered altered communication between brain vascular cells mediated by VEGFA and SMAD3 molecules. These findings could lead to new diagnostic biomarkers and treatment options for Alzheimer’s.
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Studies uncover the critical role of sleep in the formation of memories
A lack of sleep can make it extraordinarily difficult to retain information. Two new studies uncover why this is and what is happening inside the brain during sleep and sleep deprivation to help or harm the formation of memories.
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First Child Brain Implant for Epilepsy Appears Successful
A groundbreaking implantable device has significantly reduced the frequency and severity of seizures in children with severe epilepsy, according to a new UK clinical trial.
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AI Model Predicts Alzheimer’s Using Speech Analysis
AI can predict whether someone with mild cognitive impairment will develop Alzheimer’s disease with 78.5% accuracy by analyzing speech. This tool could enable earlier diagnoses and more accessible cognitive impairment screening without expensive tests.
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SCOTUS strikes down Chevron doctrine, curbing federal agency power
The court’s controversial decision raises the bar for healthcare regulators when they’re implementing laws with undefined terms.
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Kentucky to open applications for the state's medical marijuana business
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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CMS to end Change Healthcare cyberattack financial relief program
The Medicare funding program, which launched in March to ease cash flow challenges for providers, will stop accepting applications July 12.
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National health spending reached $4.8T last year, CMS actuaries estimate
More Americans had insurance in 2023 than at any other time in the nation’s history, spurring medical utilization and accelerating healthcare spending faster than growth in the overall economy.
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Arkansas sues Optum, Express Scripts over role in opioid epidemic
Pharmacy benefit managers have largely avoided the brunt of public blame for the deadly opioid crisis. Arkansas’ lawsuit brings the drug middlemen back to the forefront of the controversy.
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HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com | | | | |
