The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) biomarker is the bullseye for three new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents that bind to the protein in not only prostate cancer, but a range of tumor types. The agents were discussed in research unveiled at the 2015 annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Researchers announced the results of a study to develop and validate a model, comprised of echocardiographic and clinical data, to predict three-year mortality of patients hospitalized in coronary care units (CCU). The results describe an integrated score for three-year mortality of CCU patients, comprised of fewer variables and better/equal predictive value compared to existing scores.

Researchers announced results of a new study which demonstrated that smartphone-based mHealth devices, coupled with handheld echocardiography, can provide improved assessment and are readily integrated at the point-of-care for evaluation of patients with structural heart diseases. This study was conducted as part of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) Foundation’s Valvular Assessment Leading to Unexplored Echocardiographic Stratagems (VALUES) program, a four-day teaching and research event held at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences in Bangalore, India, August 11-14, 2014. Over the course of several days, researchers assessed patients with multiple forms of rheumatic valvular heart disease with either standard diagnostic equipment or mobile health-based devices.

A first-in-human study shows how a powerful new drug finds and attaches itself to the ovarian and prostate cancer cells for both imaging and personalized cancer treatment. Study results were revealed at the 2015 annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Siemens’ PETNET Solutions Inc. has entered into a nationwide agreement with U.K.-based Blue Earth Diagnostics Ltd. for the exclusive commercial manufacturing and distribution of Fluciclovine (18F), an investigational positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) radiopharmaceutical. Fluciclovine (18F) is being studied for prostate imaging in clinical trials conducted in the United States, Japan, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The F-18-based radiopharmaceutical has a long half-life, which may facilitate its geographical distribution to clinical trial sites and then to clinical imaging centers once it gains approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Researchers announce the results of an early study that shows a fused fluoroscopic/ echocardiographic imaging (FFEI) system is feasible and provides improved guidance of interventional procedures in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease. An estimated 40,000 children are born in the United States each year with various forms of Congenital Heart Disease, with at least a quarter of those requiring some type of surgical intervention. The study is being presented at the 2015 American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) June 12- 16, in Boston.

At the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), June 6-10 at the Baltimore Convention Center, Siemens Healthcare debuted new technologies designed to expand the capabilities and improve the productivity of molecular imaging. Symbia Evo, Siemens' new single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system, boosts user productivity, providing facilities with more time to plan treatment schedules, personalize studies, serve additional patients and improve workflow efficiency.