All articles by julian turner
julian turner
Harmful rays – fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures
Technologists who perform fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures face increased risks of brain and breast cancers and melanoma, according to a new study. Dr Preetha Rajaraman, South Asia programme director at the US National Cancer Institute’s Center for Global Health, discusses the safety issues for patients and radiologists.
Secrets to perfection – the perfect central sterile services department
Practical Patient Care explores how to make the perfect central sterile services department (CSSD) in a hospital. We talk to Courtney Mace-Davis – who recently won a prestigious award for her work at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics – about her profession, its place in hospital management and her personal tips on building a successful and effective team in the CSSD.
X marks the spot – minimising X-ray exposure using video gaming technology
The device at the centre of a sophisticated new approach to minimising X-ray exposure isn’t a new piece of medical machinery, but a video gaming system. Dr Steven Don of Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, explains to Sarah Williams how the depth sensors, RGB camera and software of a Microsoft Xbox Kinect can be used to map patients against X-ray detectors in order to measure body-part thickness, without any physical contact.
Asthma research catches its breath
Once seen as a single condition, asthma is now known to be a heterogeneous disease with many distinct phenotypes. Unfortunately, not all these subgroups respond to existing treatments, meaning the search for targeted therapies is gathering pace. Dr Yassine Amrani of the University of Leicester tells Abi Millar how his work into the pathogenesis of asthma could ultimately help change these patients’ lives.
Seek and destroy – detecting and combatting leukaemia
Scientists at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a new method of detecting and combatting leukaemia by tracing the cellular production of the enzyme deoxycytidine kinase (dCK). Greg Noone talks to Dr Caius Radu, the lead scientist on the project and a professor in molecular and medical pharmacology at UCLA, about the significance of the seven-year study and the extraordinary effort made by the university to bring the technique to market.
Financial stress: a barrier to diabetes care
People with diabetes can face financial stress, and often have to sacrifice healthcare and food, regardless of their country’s healthcare system, according to data from sources across the globe. Practical Patient Care looks into the risks of perceived financial stress in diabetes care and speaks to Dr Minal Patel about how innovative policies can help to alleviate patients’ suffering.
Break out the bubbles – delivering cancer drugs using external magnets
Scientists at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have created magnetic microbubbles that can target and deliver cancer drug particles with the aid of an external magnet. Medical Imaging Technology discusses the research with Dr Xu Chenjie, assistant professor at the institution’s School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.
Reducing radiation dose for paediatric CT
Radiation dose, always a concern in CT, is particularly risky for children. Luckily, there is a new way to reduce the dose without adversely affecting image quality, according to a study published online in Radiology.
Heart can heal using own immune cells, say US researchers
The heart contains its own pool of immune cells capable of helping it heal after injury, according to new research in the US.
Best in small doses – improving CT safety
While CT scans are highly effective methods of imaging, the safety risks associated with them are troubling, fuelling fears that the modality is being overused. At Massachusetts General Hospital, the Radiology Department has taken steps to reduce the rate of ‘inappropriate tests’ and cut radiation dose overall. Dr Dushyant Sahani, chief of CT, discusses what measures hospitals can take to improve CT safety.