Apple, J&J to study if Apple Watch app leads to lower stroke risk

March 31, 2020 Last year, Apple’s Heart Study found that the watch could accurately detect atrial fibrillation, the most common type of irregular heartbeat, according to a study that explored the role of wearable devices in identifying potential heart problems.  Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke more than fivefold, according to the American Heart … Read more

Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma to ship 500K COVID-19 test kits to U.S.

March 26, 2020 The co-founder of the Alibaba Group — which encompasses the international online retail giant Alibaba as well as cloud computing subsidiaries and other tech offerings — made the announcement on Twitter, saying it was currently preparing the shipment.  “Drawing from my own country’s experience, speedy and accurate testing and adequate personal protective … Read more

Blood drives – and donors – fall off as coronavirus worries grow

March 24, 2020 Dozens of blood drives have been canceled, and regular donors are no-shows, industry officials said, especially in states like Washington and California where the virus is spreading more broadly within communities and health officials are urging residents to avoid public gatherings to reduce risk. As of the beginning of March, the crisis … Read more

FDA grants emergency nationwide use to CDC’s coronavirus test

March 19, 2020 Until now, the test — a real-time RT-PCR panel that searches for traces of viral RNA in nasal or oral swab — could only be used to evaluate samples shipped to the CDC’s own labs, slowing the (FDA) Agency’s turnaround time in responding to the spread of the disease.  FDA Commissioner Stephen … Read more

FDA approves hydrogel injection for stress urinary incontinence

March 17, 2020 Developed by the London-based Contura, the Bulkamid hydrogel also acts as a scaffold for growing cells, to provide longer-lasting treatment.  The injection was first granted a CE mark in 2003, and the company says that over 70,000 women have been treated to date in more than 25 countries.”We are extremely proud to … Read more

Blood testing nears a turning point as the evidence becomes undeniable

March 10, 2020 Blood testing is ubiquitous; however, it is clear its possibilities are unfulfilled.  Through different methods and modalities, these diagnostics promise to be a more accessible, less invasive, smarter, cheaper and a comprehensive way to gather knowledge about what’s going on under the skin — whether in a doctor’s office, at home or … Read more

CRISPR baby scientist He Jiankui sentenced to 3 years in prison

March 05, 2020 A court in Shenzhen found that He, an Associate Professor at the nearby Southern University of Science and Technology, and two (2) embryologist colleagues were guilty of an “illegal medical practice” that resulted in the birth of twin girls with altered genomes.  In November 2018, the Researcher publicized his plans to edit … Read more