Athletes who had repeated sports-related concussions and patients with traumatic brain injuries had an increased risk for long-term neurodegeneration, according to a study in the journal NeuroImage: Clinical. PET/MRI imaging with novel radiotracers showed increased tau aggregation and neuroinflammation among TBI patients and young athletes with multiple concussions, compared with healthy controls.

A deep learning algorithm used to detect the presence of metastatic lung nodules on chest imaging scans gathered from 226 patients with breast cancer was able to predict the mortality risk among those with lung metastases, according to a study presented at the American Roentgen Ray Society annual meeting. Researchers also found that the artificial intelligence-based classification and regression tree models created for risk assessment yielded a 0.857 area under the curve for mortality prediction when using clinical-, image- and pathological-based characteristics, and a 0.826 AUC when using maximal nodule size on AI and the total number of nodules.

Individuals who followed a Mediterranean diet who also ate low to moderate amounts of lean beef experienced reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, compared with those who followed an average American diet, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The findings, based on data from 59 participants, indicate that controlled consumption of lean beef along with a healthful diet could help reduce heart disease risk.

A study of nearly 400,000 female veterans, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that women diagnosed with PTSD were 44% more likely to suffer from ischemic heart disease than those who did not have PTSD. The study also found that women veterans who develop PTSD at younger ages, particularly under age 40, had a greater risk for heart disease than their older counterparts.

An increase in the number of COVID-19 long haulers, or patients with chronic, long-term symptoms, could "potentially increase resource utilization in [the] radiology department," according to a study presented at a virtual meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society. Researchers noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected a practice's economic and work patterns, and they suggested administrators and radiology leaders prepare for how to handle the possibility of a sudden increase in imaging consultations.

Implantable photonic neural probes may expand the use of light-sheet fluorescence microscopy for deep brain imaging in moving animals, according to research in Neurophotonics. "This new implantable photonic neural probe technology for generating light sheets within the brain circumvents many of the constraints that have limited the use of light-sheet fluorescence imaging in experimental neuroscience," said researcher Wesley Sacher.

Are you a technologist looking for a convenient, affordable option for earning CE credits? Join cardiovascular imaging leaders on ASNC's interactive virtual learning platform April 29 - May 2 for "Nuclear Cardiology Today: Strategies to Thrive in Changing Healthcare Environment." You'll learn the latest SPECT and PET advances plus how to streamline workflows, tackle challenging patient scenarios, and approach real-life practical dilemmas. Attendees are eligible for up to 15* ARRT Category A credits. Registration includes three months of on-demand access to the recorded program. REGISTER NOW.

If you've wanted to attend the International Conference on Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac CT but haven't had the bandwidth for time out of your office or the expense of a trip to Europe, this is your year. You can participate in all three days of ICNC-CT 2021 without leaving home. Among ICNC-CT 2021 highlights will be the "Best of Publication in Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiac CT," which will focus on important technical and clinical papers from the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology; JACC Cardiovascular Imaging; Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging; and the European Heart Journal: Cardiovascular Imaging. REGISTER FOR VIRTUAL ICNC-CT 2021.