SONOWORLD

FDA Advisory Committee Denies Approval for Progesterone Gel to Reduce Risk of Preterm Birth
While panel members generally agreed that progesterone vaginal gel 8% is safe, the panel stated that more information is needed to support approval.

Carticept scores another 10 Million to support launch of automated injection system.
Carticept Medical will launch its new ultrasound-guided, computer-controlled drug delivery system for joint pain medications sometime during its fiscal 2012 first quarter, fueled by a new, $10 million round of Series C financing cash.

Remote lung ultrasounds performed using Skype & iPhone
Institutions from around the world collaborated on a study that assessed how economically and practically this information could be obtained remotely over a cellular connection.

New fibrosis classification improves accuracy of diagnosis in hepatitis C
The new non-invasive classification of fibrosis is as accurate as existing systems that include liver biopsy, but is more precise with six fibrosis classes and entirely non-invasive with no liver biopsy required for the same level of accuracy.

Mixed advice in Europe over faulty breast implants
European health authorities have issued widely different. Germany and the Czech Republic following France in recommending their removal, while Britain insisted there isn't enough evidence to suggest they should be removed.

Simple blood test in the first trimester predicts fetal gender
A new research study published in the January 2012 edition of The FASEB Journal describes findings that could lead to a non-invasive test that would identify fetal gender as early as the first trimester.

Fluorescence imaging - novel new technique being developed for prostate cancer diagnosis
A French consortium has developed a bimodal transrectal probe allowing fluorescence and light absorption measurements to be added to the traditional ultrasound imaging.

EAE/ASE 3D echocardiography image acquisition recommendations
A joint committee of the European Association for Echocardiography and the American Society of Echocardiography have issued recommendations on image acquisition using three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE).

More late abortions since late ultrasound scan introduced in Netherlands
The number of abortions at between 20 weeks and 24 weeks of pregnancy has more than doubled since late ultrasound scans were introduced for all women in 2007, according to Netherlands health ministry statistics.

Aria Diagnostics plans to offer blood test to detect Down Syndrome in first half of this year
New test may offer an alternative to fetal nuchal translucency testing.

Restricted embryo growth 'predicts miscarriage risk'
The growth of an embryo during the early stages of pregnancy is linked to its risk of miscarriage, says a University of Nottingham study.

Ultrasound Guided Needle Aspiration as good as Surgical Drainage in the management of breast Abscesses
Small clinical trial conducted in Uganda finds ultrasound guided needle aspiration as effective as surgical drainage for breast abscesses with a diameter up to 5 cm

Ultrasound vs. CT and MRI for measurement of renal mass size
Ultrasound measurements were comparable with those made by CT and MRI. Use of ultrasound as a replacement for CT/MRI offers the potential for reducing costs and levels of radiation exposure for the long-term follow-up of patients receiving active surveillance.

Smoking During Pregnancy May Damage Children's Blood Vessels
Yet Another Reason Not to Smoke During Pregnancy

Is American Medicine Too Test Happy?
Overuse of diagnostic exams can harm patient health, inflate medical costs, some experts warn

3-D printing - future of transducer manufacture?
With 3-D printing, manufacturers can make existing products more efficiently—and create ones that weren't possible before. GE researchers are using a 3-D printing machine to print ultrasound transducers.

Ultrasound Stroke Treatment Device Receives CE Mark
Cerevast Therapeutics device uses ultrasound energy to drive acoustic streaming to enhance clot lysis within the occluded vessel of the brain.

NAFLD common in adolescent girls with PCO
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is common in adolescent girls with polycystic ovaries, and its presence coincides with worse metabolic derangements, according to Australian researchers.

France to pay for breast implant removal over cancer fear
The French government will pay for tens of thousands of women to have silicone breast implants removed over concerns about a possible link to a rare form of cancer, the Ministry of Health said Wednesday.

AIUM and AUA release Joint Practice Guideline for Ultrasound in Urology
The guideline addresses kidney, bladder, prostate, scrotal and penile ultrasound, documentation, quality control and improvement, safety, infection control and patient education.

Medicine Needs Frugal Innovation
A thought-provoking article on the conflict between adoption of new technology and the current payment system for medicine

Ultrasound headset tracks blood flow after brain injuries
For soldiers with blast-related injuries and patients who have survived aneurysms, a new headset ultrasound monitor could help detect potentially dangerous aftereffects.

ICUS applauds FDA on proposed contrast agent label change
The International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS) threw its support behind a proposed FDA label change that would affect the use of Optison, an ultrasound contrast agent marketed by GE Healthcare for use in contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) procedures.

Fetal Tracheal Occlusion Improves Neonatal Survival
A new study published in the journal Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology reveals that fetal tracheal occlusion (FETO) improves infant survival rate in severe cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Lay Article: Medical Radiation: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Exposure to ionizing radiation through medical testing is generally safe, but there are risks that patients and caregivers need to be aware of.

Study Confirms Value of Progesterone in the Prevention of Preterm Birth
Cervical ultrasound in all pregnant women and treating those with a short cervix with vaginal progesterone reduces the rate of preterm birth and neonatal complications.

Performance-enhancing drug hurts brain
Erythropoietin, considered a "performance enhancing" substance for athletes, may increase risk of vascular problems in the brain, Swiss researchers said. Study found increases in blood vessel constriction and higher blood pressure with use.

Fujifilm to Purchase SonoSite for $995 Million
Under the proposed deal, Fujifilm would use a U.S. subsidiary to offer $54 in cash for each share of SonoSite stock, which it said was a 50 percent premium from the average closing price during the past three months.

Breast Implant Displaces into Thorax During Pilates Session
A breast cancer survivor's breast implant was displaced into her thorax during a Pilates session, resulting in surgical intervention to retrieve it and place it back into the breast, according to an article by doctors at Johns Hopkins' University and published in NEJM.

Dr Topol: Haven’t used a stethoscope in 2 years
Why would you listen to a heart when you have an ultrasound in your pocket?” said Topol, then he did a live demonstration of GE’s Vscan ultrasound device.