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Menopause may help whale species survive: Female short-finned pilot whales, orcas, false killer whales, narwhals and beluga whales all experience menopause and live an average of 40 years longer than similar-size females of other whale species, researchers reported in the journal Nature. Female toothed whales are known to share food and guide their pods to food sources, suggesting that menopause enables the species to help ensure their families’ survival without continuing to reproduce, said researcher Darren Croft, Executive Director of the Center for Whale Research.

Cool scientist “humbled” by Girl Scouts: The Girl Scouts of San Diego named Suzie Alarcón one of this year’s Cool Women, an honor that “humbled and wowed and inspired” Alarcón, who is Director of the La Jolla Institute for Immunology’s Next Generation Sequencing Core. Alarcón led the team that won the grand XPrize for its COVID-19 test and is the founder of genome sequencing firm UGenomics. “I don’t know if I can be an inspiration to [young girls], but I can show them they can be complicated people and get to something that suits you in your career,” Alarcón said.

Massive dog research project has implications for humans: The “Dog Aging Project”, now in its fourth year, has collected data from 47,000 dog owners acting as volunteer scientists, with the information gathered ranging from tracking the amount eaten and other activities through more detailed environmental monitoring through wearing silicone tags that are later assessed by mass spectrometry. “A lot of the environmental factors that influence the health of dogs also affect humans in a very similar way, because our genetic structure is so similar,” said Audrey Ruple, a Veterinary Professor who also serves on the project’s board.

GI leaks detected by implantable device in pigs and rats: After gastrointestinal surgery, patients are at risk of developing leaks that can cause infections; however, a new implantable device was able to detect these leaks in pigs and rats, researchers reported in the journal, Science. The BioSUM device contains a pH-sensitive gel that reacts to leaks from the stomach or other organs, causing the gel to expand and push metal discs in the device further apart, which can be detected by ultrasound.

As journalists, we always hope our words will resonate with readers. However, we do not always like the reason why our words strike a chord. This was the experience one writer from MD+DI, Heather R. Johnson, faced with her recent article entitled “When Will the EU MDR Burden Begin to Ease?”

The ex-CEO was recently convicted on one count of healthcare fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare and wire fraud.

A look at the European Union’s (EU) endorsement of the pioneering AI (Artificial Intelligence) Act, focusing on its implications for medical device manufacturers, challenges faced by notified bodies in conformity assessments, provisions to support small- and medium-sized businesses and concerns regarding conflicting definitions and potential discrepancies with existing regulations.

The app is centered around Abbott’s Freestyle Libre 2. The goal is to help people living with diabetes understand how food and activity impact their glucose levels.

The Council of the European Union (EU) recently announced new measures to help prevent medical device shortages, create greater transparency, and access to information.

At a Glance –
• The device uses vibration technology to promote bone health.
• Clinical trials validate the device’s effectiveness in reducing bone strength loss and vertebral bone density.
• The company is in discussions with payers/insurers regarding pricing and coverage.