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Biotech / Medical : IMAT - ultrafast tomography for coronary artery disease -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: robert scheb who wrote (2309)	4/3/1998 9:20:00 PM
From: ENOTS	Respond to of 3725

Intelihealth info from Johns Hopkins. See following post re Dr. Fishman and his work with ultrafast CT. at Johns hopkins.. CT Scanning What is CT scanning? Computed tomography or CT scanning is a radiographic procedure used for diagnosis. X-rays are taken from a series of different angles and assembled to show a cross- sectional view of internal organs. In this procedure your body is exposed to a very small amount of radiation. When is it used? CT scanning is used when your doctor needs more detailed information than regular x-rays provide, particularly to look for head injuries, brain disease, and tumors. How do I prepare for CT scanning? No preparation is necessary unless your doctor gives you special instructions. What happens during the procedure? CT scanning can be done in a hospital. You are put in a reclining position on a moving table that can change your position inside the scanner. The scanner itself can move around you to change the angles of the x-rays. Contrast media may be injected into your blood vessels or you may be asked to swallow the contrast media, which will show any abnormalities as it passes through the body. This process is called enhancement. Inside the scanning machine, multiple x-ray beams are passed very quickly through your body at different angles. The images are projected onto a TV screen and prepared for the doctor to examine. What happens after the procedure? Generally, there are no special measures to take after the procedure. What are the benefits of this procedure? A CT scan may help the doctor diagnose your problem. What are the risks associated with this procedure? Exposure to radiation is considered unhealthy if you are exposed to it frequently or in large amounts. However, the amount of radiation you receive in a CT scan is not considered threatening. Pregnant women should not have a CT scan without first discussing the possible risks with their doctor. There is a small risk that you will have an allergic reaction to the contrast media. Be sure to tell your doctor if you know you are allergic to any medications. When should I call the doctor? Call the doctor immediately if you have any change or worsening of pain or symptoms. Call the doctor during office hours if: You have questions about the procedure or its result. You want to make another appointment.

To: robert scheb who wrote (2309)	4/3/1998 9:23:00 PM
From: ENOTS	Respond to of 3725

More Johns Hopkins stuff.. Imaging Process Identifies Heart Attack April 3, 1998 NEW YORK (Reuters) -- A new imaging agent can help emergency room physicians diagnose heart attacks, especially where the electrocardiogram (ECG) is unhelpful, researchers report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. More than 5 million people in the US visit an emergency room each year complaining of chest pain. While approximately half of them are admitted to the hospital, only 10% to 15% of them turn out to have a heart attack or unstable angina. And roughly 5% to 10% of patients with chest pain who are not admitted are later found to have suffered a heart attack. Researchers now report that injecting a small dose of a new imaging agent into the bloodstream can help physicians obtain a clear image of the patient's heart vessels -- and indicate if the coronary arteries are blocked, causing a heart attack. The official name of the imaging technique is acute rest technetium-99m tetrofosmin (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging. "Our new test helps us see whether the patient has coronary artery disease," Dr. Gary V. Heller of Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut, said in a statement. Heller, along with his colleagues, tested the procedure in a study of 357 patients. "This technique is very accurate and helps rule out people who don't have heart attacks. The whole idea is to help emergency room physicians make good decisions for their patients and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations." The researchers estimate that acute SPECT imaging could reduce hospital admissions for possible heart attack victims by 57% and save more than $4,000 per patient. SOURCE: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (1998;31:1011-1017) Copyright 1998 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. MORE NEWS Top News General Health Family Health Womens' Health Mens' Health Mental Health Healthy Living Fitness & Nutrition Heart Health Cancer Allergy AIDS Johns Hopkins News and Commentaries Today in Health History Women in Health History Breaking news and updates on the most important and intriguing health stories, from Johns Hopkins, Reuters, UPI and other news services. WANT MORE? Get additional details on these and other topics in our Health Library. FACT Percentage of women over 40 reporting mammogram use in 1979: 22. Percentage in 1992: 68. (National Cancer Institute) TIP The infant mortality rate fell about 3% a year from 1950 to 1991. Prime reasons, according to the National Center for Health Statistics: fewer deaths from pneumonia and influenza, respiratory distress syndrome, prematurity and low birthweight, birth defects and accidents.