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Scientists develop 3D printed microneedle vaccine patch that outperforms jabs

January 28, 2022 Applied directly to the skin, the microneedle patch reportedly delivered an immune response ten (10) times greater than a vaccine delivered into an arm muscle via a needle jab.  The microneedle patch also has other advantages, including easy and painless delivery, and the potential to be self-administered.  “In developing this technology, we … Read more

FDA extends temporary halt in inspections driven by the Omicron COVID-19 variant

January 25, 2022 FDA previously announced it would halt certain inspectional activities out of concern for its employees and those of the companies it regulates amid the wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the Omicron COVID-19 variant.  At the time, the Agency said it would continue to conduct “mission-critical” work through 19 January 2022.  In … Read more

Pioneering Alzheimer’s test could increase early diagnosis

January 20, 2022 A pioneering EEG test could dramatically increase early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, researchers have announced.  Scientists have developed a two-minute passive-test called Fastball EEG that measures people’s brain waves in response to a series of images, potentially helping diagnose dementia earlier.  Participants look at a series of flashing images on a computer screen … Read more

New machine learning approach can identify your circadian rhythm from a blood sample

January 18, 2022 Many of the body’s physiological activities, including hunger, wakefulness, and metabolism, run on 24 hour cycles called circadian rhythms.  These cycles are primarily controlled by the release of chemical messengers into the bloodstream from the brain and have been linked to cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and weight-gain. Measuring circadian rhythms could significantly … Read more

FDA temporarily halts inspections due to Omicron COVID variant

January 11, 2022 Just before the New Year, on 29 December 2021, FDA “implemented temporary changes to its inspectional activities to ensure the safety of its employees and those of the firms it regulates as the agency further adapts to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of the omicron variant.”  FDA announced the changes … Read more

This technology can predict early Alzheimer’s with near 100% accuracy

January 07, 2022 The method uses Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning to analyze brain images.  It is faster than manual analysis, which also requires specific knowledge of the changes associated with Alzheimer’s.  Researchers from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) in Lithuania developed the method while analyzing functional MRI images obtained from 138 subjects.  They found … Read more

Futuristic bionic arm helps amputees feel the sensation of touch and movement

January 06, 2022 Dreaming of a future where Luke Skywalker’s replacement hand is more than a sci-fi fantasy, scientists have designed a “bionic arm” that enlists help from tiny robots to re-create the vital sensations forfeited when one loses an upper limb.  The bots do that by safely vibrating muscles at the amputation site. By … Read more

Machine Learning Triage Tool Better Predicts Mortality in ED

December 30, 2021 In a cohort study, researchers compared how an interpretable machine learning triage tool for predicting mortality operates in a cohort of patients admitted to the hospital from the Emergency Department (ED) versus standard triage scores.  ED triage is a complex clinical judgment-based process to understand a patient’s probability of survival and availability … Read more

Telehealth’s Limits: Battle Over State Lines and Licensing Threatens Patients’ Options

December 29, 2021 Tele-visits for medical care took off during the worst days of the pandemic, quickly becoming commonplace.  Most states and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services temporarily waived rules requiring licensed clinicians to hold a valid license in the state where their patient is located.  Those restrictions do not keep patients from … Read more

Steps taken toward smartphone app for automatically detecting Parkinson’s Disease

December 23, 2021 The team built a set of 126 voice markers (i.e., “features”) touching everything from tone, pitch and loudness to enunciation, pace and pause ratio.  Additionally, they had their best model analyze 25 isolated Spanish-language words pronounced by each study subject (50 Parkinson’s patients and 50 healthy controls). The study’s lead author is … Read more