Quest launches blood test for Alzheimer’s disease aimed at general consumers

Quest Diagnostics has released the AD-Detect test for general consumers to gauge beta amyloid levels, which are associated with neurodegenerative conditions. The test is for anyone “who has a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, is experiencing memory loss, or is experiencing early cognitive decline,” according to Quest.

3D-printed COVID-19 breath test takes two (2) breaths and one (1) minute

Breath test to detect COVID-19 produces results in 1 minute: A 3D-printed, portable and adaptable breath test device that can detect SARS-CoV-2 strains has been developed by Washington University in St. Louis researchers. The test requires individuals to breathe into an attached straw two, four or eight times and produces results within 60 seconds.

New Ultrasound Patch Spots Tiny Breast Abnormalities in Early Trial

Wearable ultrasound can detect tumors, cysts in breasts: A wearable ultrasound patch that can conform to the breast has been developed by researchers to detect abnormalities, such as tumors and cysts. The patch was able to scan for cysts as small as three millimeters during a study

FDA Warns Against Use of Unauthorized Ultrasound Devices Sold to Consumers

FDA issues warning on unauthorized ultrasound devices: The FDA has warned consumers not to buy or use unauthorized ultrasound medical devices manufactured and sold by Well-Being Reality, CellQuicken, and RoyalVibe Health as these devices have not been reviewed, cleared, or approved by the FDA. People who use the ultrasound devices may experience adverse events such as muscle weakness, nerve damage, pain, scarring, burns and bruising, the Agency said.

Mount Sinai Predictive Artificial Intelligence (AI) Flags Drugs That May Cause Birth Defects – New AI tool sheds light on the relationship between drugs, genes, and birth defects, allowing researchers to predict which medicines may cause congenital disabilities

Artificial Intelligence (AI) may predict if new drugs can cause birth defects: Artificial intelligence identified approved drugs most likely to cause birth defects and might be able to predict teratogenicity of preclinical compounds, researchers reported in the journal Communications Medicine. The model uses semi-supervised learning to integrate data on drugs, genes and birth defects, creating “knowledge graphs” that could help predict the likelihood that certain genes, drugs or molecules would cause birth defects.

Latest wearable sensor in Japan helps predict muscle fatigue:  It monitors sweat lactate during exercise, which indicates exercise intensity

Wearable monitors lactate for muscle fatigue prediction: A wearable sweat sensor that has a bigger sweat reservoir and continuously monitors lactate to help predict muscle fatigue has been designed by Tokyo University of Science researchers. A study found the wearable sustained a stable response for two hours, and sweat flow rate did not impact its measurement of lactate.

Hearing Aids May Cut Dementia Risk in Those at High Risk

Lower dementia risk seen with hearing-aid use in high-risk individuals: A study found that the use of hearing aids among older adults at higher risk of developing dementia was associated with 48% less cognitive change over three years.

Deep Learning Algorithm Predicts Need for Crohn’s Disease Therapy

Deep learning may guide Crohn’s Disease (CD) treatment: A deep learning model that analyzes capsule endoscopy videos identified patients newly diagnosed with Crohn’s disease who might benefit from biologic therapy, according to a study published in Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology. The model detected and accurately graded inflammation indicators in CE images and outperformed a standard scoring system when predicting the need for biologic therapy.

Researchers develop implantable heart valve that grows with a child

Implantable heart valve grows with a child thanks to new manufacturing method: A research team at the Wyss Institute and Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has developed a nanofiber fabrication technique to rapidly manufacture heart valves with regenerative and growth potential. This new manufacturing method will likely be useful for other medical devices, they said.