Monday, 6 September 2010
Nomogram, A New Prediction Tool To Estimate Local Recurrence Of Non-Invasive Breast Cancer.
The decision concerning treatment for patients diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) following breast-conserving surgery has long been a controversial area of debate and confusion for patients as well as doctors. The mortality rates for DCIS are relatively not high but the risk of local recurrence in the breast is high. Standard treatments following surgery include radiation therapy and hormone treatment. Both techniques incur serious hazards to the patients as well as unproven improved survival rates but they can lower the risk of local tumor recurrence in the breast.
A New Method To Calculate High Radiation Doses During Radiotherapy.
In a recent study, researchers from the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-
James) have designed a new mathematical model to determine radiation doses delivered during several conditions such as treating cancer patients. The study is highlighted in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Usually, radiation doses are delivered, in small concentrations, to cancer patients on daily basis for several weeks. Radiation oncologists are used to determine the schedules for the fractionated, low-dose radiation courses applying a mathematical model named the linear-quadratic (LQ) Model. However, this model does not provide accuracy when used on high radiation doses. Dr. Nina Mayr, professor of radiation oncology at the OSUCCC-James, and the co-author of the study, explained "Unfortunately the LQ Model doesn't work well for high-dose radiation therapy. Our study resolves this problem by modifying the current method to develop the Generalized LQ (gLQ) Model that covers all dose levels and schedules." Dr.Mayr added that Generalized LQ offers new options for planning radiation doses and schedules used during recent procedures such as radiosurgery, stereotactic radiation therapy and high-dose brachytherapy techniques....
James) have designed a new mathematical model to determine radiation doses delivered during several conditions such as treating cancer patients. The study is highlighted in the journal Science Translational Medicine.Usually, radiation doses are delivered, in small concentrations, to cancer patients on daily basis for several weeks. Radiation oncologists are used to determine the schedules for the fractionated, low-dose radiation courses applying a mathematical model named the linear-quadratic (LQ) Model. However, this model does not provide accuracy when used on high radiation doses. Dr. Nina Mayr, professor of radiation oncology at the OSUCCC-James, and the co-author of the study, explained "Unfortunately the LQ Model doesn't work well for high-dose radiation therapy. Our study resolves this problem by modifying the current method to develop the Generalized LQ (gLQ) Model that covers all dose levels and schedules." Dr.Mayr added that Generalized LQ offers new options for planning radiation doses and schedules used during recent procedures such as radiosurgery, stereotactic radiation therapy and high-dose brachytherapy techniques....
Perry Hospital Provided Faulty Mammography Procedure Results.
Mammography has been one of the most important medical imaging techniques. It has been used for early detection of breast cancer in women. Yet, mammography has its own 
drawbacks; among them are the inaccurate results that sometimes appear with women with dense breast tissues. Perry Hospital has conducted faulty mammogram procedures that affected about 900 women. A prosecutor is going to update the public in the US about the results of the investigation. Rabb Wilkerson, the Houston County District Attorney, is providing the update during a news conference that will take place on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Victor Moldovan, the Hospital attorney, said that the fault mammography procedure results were caused by an employee, as he was not delivering the mammography scans to doctors for interpretation. This employee has been fired. Perry Hospital suggested the 900 women to come again to have another mammography scan.
drawbacks; among them are the inaccurate results that sometimes appear with women with dense breast tissues. Perry Hospital has conducted faulty mammogram procedures that affected about 900 women. A prosecutor is going to update the public in the US about the results of the investigation. Rabb Wilkerson, the Houston County District Attorney, is providing the update during a news conference that will take place on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Victor Moldovan, the Hospital attorney, said that the fault mammography procedure results were caused by an employee, as he was not delivering the mammography scans to doctors for interpretation. This employee has been fired. Perry Hospital suggested the 900 women to come again to have another mammography scan.
Intresco Trials Odyssey MarineAssess From Plain Healthcare.
Intresco, European based shipping management group, has announced its agreement with Plain Healthcare. 
According to the agreement, Intresco will trial Plain Healthcare’s Odyssey MarineAssess to provide its ships’ crews with fast and efficient medical advice when out at sea.
More about Odyssey MarineAssess.
The software, which will be provided on touch screen tablets, is developed to be used by the ships’ captains in cases such as a crew sickness or emergencies when the ship is located many miles off shore with inaccessible medical facilities and unavailable communications. Intresco has its own healthcare professionals, who will receive calls if a medical emergency happens..
According to the agreement, Intresco will trial Plain Healthcare’s Odyssey MarineAssess to provide its ships’ crews with fast and efficient medical advice when out at sea.More about Odyssey MarineAssess.
The software, which will be provided on touch screen tablets, is developed to be used by the ships’ captains in cases such as a crew sickness or emergencies when the ship is located many miles off shore with inaccessible medical facilities and unavailable communications. Intresco has its own healthcare professionals, who will receive calls if a medical emergency happens..
CSC Receives Certification From EuroRec.
CSC has been awarded certification from EuroRec, a non profit organization dedicated to promoting high quality 
electronic health record (EHR) systems. CSC is one of the first software providers in Europe to receive certification from EuroRec. Freddy Lykke, managing director of CSC’s European healthcare solution centre, said: “EuroRec is driving standardization in EHR systems and CSC believes that this is a crucial step forward for the industry. We feel that common standards, which allow the performance of each vendor’s software to be measured and compared, are useful means through which vendors like CSC can demonstrate that EHR systems perform as described.”
electronic health record (EHR) systems. CSC is one of the first software providers in Europe to receive certification from EuroRec. Freddy Lykke, managing director of CSC’s European healthcare solution centre, said: “EuroRec is driving standardization in EHR systems and CSC believes that this is a crucial step forward for the industry. We feel that common standards, which allow the performance of each vendor’s software to be measured and compared, are useful means through which vendors like CSC can demonstrate that EHR systems perform as described.”
Medical Radiation Technologists In New Zealand To Conduct Their National Strike On Tuesday.
A national industrial action, organized by Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs) and their APEX Union, will take place next Tuesday the 7th of September, starting from 7 am, till 7
am on Wednesday the 8th of September. The strike means that X-ray service will be stopped in CDHB hospitals during the time of the strike. A larger number of hospitals will have their X-ray services affected by the strike, such as Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch Women’s Hospital, Burwood Hospital and Ashburton Hospital.
Moreover, some previously scheduled appointments for pre-surgical radiology examinations have been postponed. Dr.Nigel Millar, CDHB Chief Medical Officer, said “Members of the public affected by this action are being contacted and we will be doing all we can to minimize the impact of the strike on people in hospital. Our number one consideration in preparing for this strike is patients, maintaining urgent care and minimizing risks to them” Dr. Millar noted that according to a previous agreement with APEX Union, people with serious conditions will undergo X-ray examinations at hospitals......
am on Wednesday the 8th of September. The strike means that X-ray service will be stopped in CDHB hospitals during the time of the strike. A larger number of hospitals will have their X-ray services affected by the strike, such as Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch Women’s Hospital, Burwood Hospital and Ashburton Hospital.Moreover, some previously scheduled appointments for pre-surgical radiology examinations have been postponed. Dr.Nigel Millar, CDHB Chief Medical Officer, said “Members of the public affected by this action are being contacted and we will be doing all we can to minimize the impact of the strike on people in hospital. Our number one consideration in preparing for this strike is patients, maintaining urgent care and minimizing risks to them” Dr. Millar noted that according to a previous agreement with APEX Union, people with serious conditions will undergo X-ray examinations at hospitals......
Colonoscopy Needs Repeating If Conducted By Non-gastroenterologists.
According to a recent report, older individuals who undergo colonoscopy procedures carried out by family doctors, internists or general surgeons are more likely to have a need to repeat the procedure within one year. Meanwhile, individuals who undergo colonoscopy carried out by gastroenterologists do not usually need to repeat the procedure. The report is highlighted in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Colonoscopy procedures and chances of repeating.
The report used Medicare data for about 300,000 colonoscopy procedures. Data showed that nearly 5% of patients repeated colonoscopy procedures within a year. Data also noted that 6.4% of 7,700 colonoscopy procedures carried out by family doctors were requiring other follow procedures within the year. The percentages for general surgeons and internists were 5.6% and 5.3% respectively. On the other hand, in 240,000 colonoscopy procedures carried out by gastroenterologists, only 4.6% required another procedure within the year. After further considerations of other factors such as the ages of patients, medical conditions, and income, researchers noted that when a colonoscopy procedure is conducted by a family doctor, it is accompanied with 39% more chances of a need to repeat the procedure against only one chance for a procedure managed by a gastroenterologist......Nightingale On Demand EMR Now Available In Saskatchewan Province.
Nightingale Informatix Corporation, a company providing electronic medical records (EMR) solutions, announced that it has extended its operations to the province of 
Saskatchewa. Nightingale On Demand, the innovative EMR solution from Nightingale, has been recently granted a certification as an Approved Vendor of the Saskatchewan EMR program. The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) fund the EMR program.
Saskatchewa. Nightingale On Demand, the innovative EMR solution from Nightingale, has been recently granted a certification as an Approved Vendor of the Saskatchewan EMR program. The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) fund the EMR program.More about Nightingale On Demand EMR solution.
Nightingale On Demand was chosen along with other three EMR solutions which will be available to about 1,400 physicians in Saskatchewan. Nightingale was named as an Approved Vendor following a request-for-proposal process. The Certification was granted to Nightingale’s solution after evaluation and confirmation that Nightingale On Demand was following all core SMA requirements. President & CEO, Nightingale, Sam Chebib, said "Entering the Saskatchewan market represents an opportunity for Nightingale to extend its footprint further across the country. Nightingale has already started to execute an aggressive strategy in an effort to capture a sizeable share of the Saskatchewan market. We believe that the SMA's funding model will encourage physicians to realize the full potential of their EMR at an accelerated pace. Nightingale will work tirelessly with physicians to ensure their successful transition to Nightingale On Demand."PET/CT Technique To Detect Breast Cancer Metastasis.
According to a recent study, PET/CT scans can be used for the most accurate, efficient and effective detection of breast cancer metastasis to bone. The study was conducted 
by researchers from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in women. Around 1/3 of breast cancer patients usually have their breast cancer metastasizing to reach other locations, mainly bone. The study is highlighted in June issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
by researchers from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in women. Around 1/3 of breast cancer patients usually have their breast cancer metastasizing to reach other locations, mainly bone. The study is highlighted in June issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Canon U.S.A. Announces Its First Wireless Digital Radiography System.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., has launched its new wireless digital radiography system, CXDI-70C, at the Canon Expo 
2010 in New York City. The CXDI-70C has been announced for the first time at the recently held AHRA Annual Meeting. The system has an image area of 14” x 17”, facilitating its mobility for radiologists and technologists. The new equipment weighs only 7.5 pounds and integrates a Canon-developed glass substrate with a pixel pitch of 125 microns. The unit also features a cesium iodide scintillator. At AHRA, the company also displayed several other systems, such as the CXDI-50RF Dynamic/Static Digital Radiography System, the CXDI-55G and CXDI-55C Digital Radiography systems, the CXDI-60C Multipurpose Portable Digital Radiography System, and the CXDI-40G COMPACT Digital Radiography System.
2010 in New York City. The CXDI-70C has been announced for the first time at the recently held AHRA Annual Meeting. The system has an image area of 14” x 17”, facilitating its mobility for radiologists and technologists. The new equipment weighs only 7.5 pounds and integrates a Canon-developed glass substrate with a pixel pitch of 125 microns. The unit also features a cesium iodide scintillator. At AHRA, the company also displayed several other systems, such as the CXDI-50RF Dynamic/Static Digital Radiography System, the CXDI-55G and CXDI-55C Digital Radiography systems, the CXDI-60C Multipurpose Portable Digital Radiography System, and the CXDI-40G COMPACT Digital Radiography System.
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