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March 4, 2013

News for nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals

The news summaries appearing in SNMMI SmartBrief are based on original information from multiple internet sources and are produced by SmartBrief, Inc., an independent e-mail newsletter publisher. The items below are not selected or reviewed by SNMMI prior to publication. Questions and comments may be directed to SmartBrief at snmmi@smartbrief.com.

Top Story

Canada has an isotope plan, but will it deliver?
The Canadian government has allotted $24.3 million to advance production of isotopes without the use of highly enriched uranium by 2016, but it's possible the system may not deliver as expected. Timothy Meyers of TRIUMF, one of the three institutes awarded funding, acknowledged there are still challenges to be met. Meyers said his organization expects the technology will be ready by 2016, but the health care community should be prepared for a possible temporary shortage that year. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (tiered subscription model) (2/28)

Clinical News & Research

Study: Retinal abnormalities linked to Alzheimer's
Data from an Australian study indicate that patients with Alzheimer's disease have abnormalities in retinal vascular parameters, such as a higher arteriole-to-venule ratio and narrower veins, according to a study published in Translational Psychiatry. PiB-PET imaging also showed that people without the disease who had high levels of neocortical plaque accumulation also manifest some RVP changes, suggesting they may have preclinical Alzheimer's. Eye tests may present another option for diagnosing Alzheimer's, although not as a stand-alone method, researchers said. Medscape (free registration) (3/1)

Industry Report

Agfa set to showcase latest Impax software
Agfa HealthCare is preparing to introduce its Impax CV Web+ software at a cardiology meeting this month. The company said the software is a standards-based, vendor-neutral system that allows for access to an integrated cardiovascular information platform's results and modalities, including nuclear cardiology data. The product is expected to be available later this year. AuntMinnie.com (free registration) (2/28)

News from the Field

Report projects growth for optical imaging
A report from Markets and Markets showed the value of the optical imaging technology market approached $916 million last year. The report projects the market could be valued at $1.9 billion by 2018. The study assessed various technologies, including hyper spectral imaging and near-infrared spectroscopy. BeckersASC.com (3/1)

International Developments

Canadian university gets OK to move forward with isotope initiative
The University of Saskatchewan has received approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to initiate testing of its Medical Isotope Project, which is focused on producing the isotope molybdenum-99 without the use of highly enriched uranium. The project involves the use of a synchrotron called the Canadian Light Source. CKOM-AM (Saskatchewan) (3/1)

Health Policy

Lawmakers reintroduce bill seeking to stop imaging fee cuts
Lawmakers have revived the Diagnostic Imaging Services Access Protection Act. Similar to previous versions of the measure, the bill seeks to block a 25% cut in Medicare payments for the reading of advanced diagnostic imaging results. The bill would cover tests conducted on the same patient in a single procedure. HealthImaging.com (2/28)

Sequestration could hurt FDA, public health
Sequestration, which took effect Friday, may force the FDA to cut its staff, potentially slowing the drug approval process and limiting inspections at facilities that manufacture food products. The budget cuts also threaten public health by forcing agencies to curtail health care services for children, HIV treatment and prevention, and more. MedCityNews.com/Kaiser Health News (3/1) , The Hill/Healthwatch blog (3/1) , MSNBC (2/28)

Advancing Health Care

Former FDA chief: Reform rules for clinical trials
Changing the FDA's burdensome requirements for clinical trials could help double the number of new drug approvals, former FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach and University of Chicago public policy professor Tomas Philipson write. Phase III studies are unnecessarily large and cumbersome for more precise and personalized medicine. Adopting smaller, quicker adaptive studies with post-market oversight would mean greater innovation and a better economy. Bloomberg (2/28)

From SNMMI

Update: Mallinckrodt provides additional information on Dutch High-Flux Reactor
On Feb. 28, Mallinckrodt issued a customer letter sharing new information regarding the operational status of the Dutch High-Flux Reactor. Mallinckrodt was informed by the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group that they expect a return to service for the reactor no earlier than the beginning of May.

JNM and JNMT launch new, full-text mobile journal application
SNMMI has released a full-text mobile application for The Journal of Nuclear Medicine and the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology. Compatible with iOS devices (iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone), the applications can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store. The application is free for SNMMI members and journal subscribers, and nonmembers can download and access the application for no charge during an extended trial period.

SmartQuote

The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. Accept life, and you must accept regret."

--Henri Frédéric Amiel,
Swiss philosopher, poet and critic

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