MDS, a Canadian health care company specializing in analytical instruments, molecular imaging and contract research, would be worth more if it splits into three separate units rather than continuing as a single entity, according to a market analyst. However, the tight credit market could make the breakup difficult to implement, the analyst said. Reuters (11/19)

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The FDA is scheduled today to open in Beijing its first overseas office, the first of three stations the agency plans to set up in China to validate inspections of food, drugs, medical devices and other products bound for the U.S. The FDA will allow third-party certifiers from Chinese government agencies or private commercial facilities to assist. Washington Post, The (11/19) Austin American-Statesman (Texas) (free registration) (11/19)

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PET/CT cases cover every major tumor type detectable. PET/CT Cases are a component of the SNM Maintenance of Certification practice improvement program. A CE certificate reflecting 25 CE credit hours can be printed immediately after completing the cases. More information. (11/18)

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InSight Health Services, a provider of imaging services, reported a 6.9% drop in revenue for its first quarter, ending Sept. 30, compared with the same period a year ago. The company also saw a net loss of $7.2 million for the quarter. AuntMinnie.com (11/14)

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Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals said its total revenue for the third quarter of this year was about $60,000, a drop about $300,000 in the same period a year ago. The Mass.-based radiopharmaceutical developer attributed the drop to the timing of its grant-related activities. AuntMinnie.com (11/13)

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GE Healthcare and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have agreed to establish at least 25 cancer clinics in the next 10 years in a bid to expand to new markets. Under the deal, UPMC will exclusively use GE scanning and imaging devices for in the proposed clinics, which will be built in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Wall Street Journal, The (subscription required) (11/13)

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A Democratic-led Congress under President-elect Barack Obama may seek to boost FDA funding by imposing new user fees on device and drug firms, an industry expert said. John Manthei, a partner at the law firm Latham & Watkins, also predicted congressional oversight to shift focus from the FDA to industry players, especially concerning product-safety issues and the transparency of safety data between companies and the FDA. Medical Devices Today... // SmartBrief

Travel document requirements for entry into Canada: Visitors must have valid travel documents to enter Canada to provide proof of their citizenship. U.S. residents must present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the U.S. Requirements may vary depending on mode of transportation. Passport fees range from $20 to $160. Get detailed information. Information for international visitors available at www.cbsa.gc.ca and... // SmartBrief

The Indian Nuclear Society on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Belgium Nuclear Society to collaborate in the field of nuclear technology for use in medical research, cancer treatments and other applied sciences. The two countries hope to work together on the Myrrha experimental fast reactor project and on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project. Thaindian News (11/11)

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Doctors using PET scans with the radioactive tracer fluoro-L-thymidine during the first days of treatments were able to identify leukemia patients who would likely respond to chemotherapy, U.S. researchers reported. The scans could help physicians decide whether to discontinue an ineffective regimen and switch to a more effective treatment plan, the lead researcher said. WKOW-TV (Madison, Wis.) (11/11)

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The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio has started pilot testing the use of a personal health record system with Microsoft 's HealthVault Web-based platform. The pilot aims to show that the PHR system will enable doctors and patients to better manage and monitor chronic diseases from the home. Healthcare IT News (11/10)

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SNM's new program for developing FLT-PET as a biomarker in clinical trials under a multicenter IND will be explained in a workshop for drug developers, imaging centers and radiopharmaceutical manufacturers following the 2009 SNM Mid-Winter Educational Symposium . Get more information. (11/11)

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CLEVELAND, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleveland Clinic, a world-classacademic medical institution and leader in health information technology,today announced collaboration with Microsoft Corp., a worldwide leader insoftware, to pilot the patient-controlled data exchange between Microsoft(R)HealthVault(TM), a Web-based personal health platform; a suite of widely-useddigital medical devices; and eCleveland Clinic MyChart(R), Cleveland Clinic'selectronic personal health record (PHR) system. Today, more than 150,000 Cleveland Clinic patients use eCleveland ClinicMyChart(R). The short-term pilot, begun on Monday, Nov. 3, is the first pilotin the country to follow multiple diseases in the clinical delivery settingusing multiple at-home devices such as glucometers, heart rate monitors,weight scales... // International Business Times

SNM is sponsoring a symposium on multimodality cardiovascular molecular imaging April 30 to May 1, 2009, at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. Poster abstracts are being accepted here through Jan. 23. (11/10)

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Scintimammography developer Dilon Technologies has signed a deal to introduce users of its 6800 gamma camera to the PenRad mammography information system. The PenRad MIS auditing and tracking system is designed to help improve analysis and reporting in clinics and hospitals that perform scintimammography. AuntMinnie.com (11/06)

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The International Atomic Energy Agency has published a set of recommendations to help operators of research nuclear reactors optimize the safety and reliability of their facilities to ensure there is an adequate supply to meet the global demand for radioisotopes. The report, which drew from the experiences of 12 reactor operators and institutions, focuses on several aspects of management, including risk-informed maintenance and... // SmartBrief

The American Society of Echocardiography has published a statement on the use of ultrasound contrast agents. The statement aims to address the concerns of physicians and echocardiographers about the value and safety of contrast agents, such as Definity and Optison, which have been linked to patient deaths and serious cardiopulmonary reactions. Medscape (free registration) (11/06)

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Industry observers say the CMS missed an opportunity to prevent physician self-referral when it decided to drop a provision in the final rules of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Hospital Outpatient Perspective Payment System for 2009 that requires physician groups to enroll as independent testing facilities. CMS said provisions in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, which requires all CT, MR, PET and... // SmartBrief

The FDA has granted 510(k) clearance for Aurora Imaging Technology's breast MR spectroscopy package aimed at enhancing the image specificity of its Aurora 1.5 Tesla system. The AuroraSPECTROSCOPY could enable users of Aurora 1.5T MR to carry out MR spectroscopic imaging and in vivo breast MR spectroscopy. HealthImaging.com (11/03)

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