Researchers from the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism have found increasedgray matter in the brain areas that govern social processing and learning byobservation in children with autism. The findings suggest that the inabilityof autistic children to relate to people and life situations in an ordinaryway may be the result of an abnormally functioning mirror neuron system. Theautistic children in the study also evidenced a significant decrease of graymatter in the right amygdala region of the brain that correlated with severityof social impairment. Autism is the fastest growing developmental disabilityin the U.S. This study will be presented by Manzar Ashtari, Ph.D.
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'Stereo' Mammography Takes Breast Imaging to a New Dimension (embargoeduntil 9:30 a.m. CT, Nov. 28)
Stereoscopic digital mammography, a new diagnostic technique capable ofproducing three-dimensional, in-depth views of breast tissue, could contributeto the earlier detection of cancer and significantly reduce the number ofwomen who are recalled for additional tests following routine screeningmammography, according to a large-scale Emory University Breast Clinic trial.Stereoscopic digital mammography detected more true lesions than standarddigital mammography and reduced false-positive findings by nearly half. Thisstudy will be presented by David J. Getty, Ph.D.
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Minimally Invasive Treatment Reduces Shoulder Pain from Tendonitis(embargoed until 10 a.m. CT, Nov. 28)
A large-scale, Italian study found that minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided nonsurgical therapy effectively treats tendonitis caused by calciumdeposits in the shoulder. Calcific tendonitis is a common ailment typicallyaffecting 30- to 40-year-olds. It can cause pain and a reduction in shouldermobility. The researchers treated 2,543 patients with shoulder pain that wasunresponsive to previous medical treatment. The results showed that inapproximately 72 percent of the patients, the calcification was fullydissolved in one treatment. Another 24 percent of patients required a secondprocedure because of the presence of more than one calcification. Theprocedure is inexpensive and takes 10 minutes to perform with a localanesthetic. This study will be presented by Luca Sconfienza, M.D.
High Blood Pressure May Heighten Effects of Alzheimer's Disease (embargoeduntil 10:30 a.m. CT, Nov. 28)
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have found that havinghypertension, or high blood pressure, reduces blood flow in the brains ofadults with Alzheimer's disease. MRI results showed that in all patient groupsblood flow in the brain was substantially decreased in patients withhypertension compared to those without. Cerebral blood flow was lowest amongthe Alzheimer's patients with hypertension. The findings suggest thathypertension may increase the brain's vulnerability to the effects of
Alzheimer's. About 50 million Americans have hypertension. This study will bepresented by Cyrus Raji, B.S., B.A.
FOR PHONE INTERVIEWS, PRESS RELEASES, B-ROLL OR OTHER INFORMATION,CONTACT: RSNA Newsroom -- 312/949-3233; after Nov. 29 call 630/590-7762.
SOURCE Radiological Society of North America
