The FDA has provided clearance to initiate a clinical study supporting a joint development program for Celsions ThermoDox cancer treatment combined with Philips Sonalleve MR-guided high intensity focused ultrasound.

Toshiba America Medical Systems has received FDA clearance for its high-density 16-element coil system, developed in partnership with NeoCoil.

Its the classic chicken or egg type question: Do activation patterns in the brain predict the onset of heavy drinking behaviors, or is it the heavy drinking itself that leads to neural abnormalities? The answer appears to be a little of both as adolescents who initiate heavy drinking have different brain activation before the onset of drinking, while heavy drinking leads to further neural responses over time, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

The FDA has approved Abbott's Omnilink Elite vascular balloon-expandable stent system for the treatment of iliac artery disease, a form of peripheral artery disease that affects the lower extremities.

In an effort to elicit greater understanding of how states will uphold most provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, chairman of the Republican Governors Association, has submitted a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services with critical questions that must have answers before states can determine best how to proceed in light of the courts decision.

More than 48 million Medicare beneficiaries insurance cards show their Social Security numbers (SSNs). To reduce the risk of identity theft, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) develop an approach and cost estimate for removing them from Medicare cards.

The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) announced the recipients of the 2012 Toshiba Young Investigator Award at its seventh annual scientific meeting, July 19-22, in Baltimore.

Average total hospital costs rose across the board for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions and procedures between 2001 and 2010, according to an analysis by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). In most categories, costs are projected to continue climbing through 2012.