Radiation-blocking underwear…
September 13, 2010
Airport X-ray scanners is the latest security measure that you have to go through before boarding a plane in the US. But, how safe are they? A lot to discuss about it… So far, you still got the option of getting a pat down. So no need to worry too much, right? Well, if you belong to those that think that soon there’ll be x-ray scanners everywhere, from schools to museums, etc., a company (Rocky Flats Gear) seems to have found the solution for you: ‘radiation-blocking’ underwear.
This all sounds very nice, but what happens with the rest of the body, doesn’t it get affected by radiation? Soon, we’ll have to be walking around on ‘radiation-blocking’ clothes. And the head? use an astronaut-like mask? How far can we go with those ”prevention” measures?
NSF and gadolinium contrast in MR examinations: FDA updates warning labels
September 13, 2010
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just updated the regulations regarding warning labels on gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents, due to the risk of NSF.
From now on, Magnevist, Omniscan, and Optimark would be required to carry labels with the following warning: “inappropriate for use among patients with acute kidney injury or chronic severe kidney disease.” The labels will emphasize the importance of screening patients to detect kidney dysfunction before MRI contrast administration.
According to the FDA, the latest review of the safety of the most widely used gadolinium-based contrast agents “determined that Magnevist, Omniscan, and Optimark are associated with a greater risk than other [gadolinium-based contrast agents] for NSF in certain patients with kidney disease.” However, all gadolinium-based contrast agents are under study, as data suggests that NSF may follow the administration of any of them.
Triathlon training shapes the heart
September 6, 2010
With the help of cardiac MR, German researchers have found out that he human heart adapts to triathlon training by developing greater muscle mass and wall thickness, as well as larger left atria and larger right and left ventricles.
The researchers carried out cardiac MR exams on 27 triathlon elite athletes and 27 controls, and measured the ejection fraction, myocardial mass, and atria and ventricles volumes. A comparison between triathlon athletes and the control group showed significant differences. The results of this study will be published in the October issue of Radiology (multicenter study led by researcher Michael Lell, MD, and colleagues at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Erlangen).
