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Hepatologist <keyword id="20175163" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cyriac-Abby-Philips" source="keywords">Cyriac Abby Philips</keyword>, better know by his social media handle The <keyword id="22296957" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="liver-doc" source="keywords">Liver Doc</keyword>, recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the story of one of his patients. The 40-year-old had purportedly attended a party over the weekend and suffered bleeding in his brain, landing him in the ICU on life support. While his life hangs in the balance, the doctor used this case as an example to show what alcohol can do to an individual.<br /><br />The Liver Doc shared two <keyword id="22579105" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="brain-scan" source="keywords">brain scan</keyword>s: one of a 68-year-old who did not consume alcohol and the 40-year-old patient who had consumed alcohol. And the difference was stark. While the brain scan of first person seems healthy, the other patient’s brain had big white splothces. The doctor explained that these patches were actually blood and that the bleeding inside the brain had increased the pressure within his skull, crushing his brain tissue.<br /><div type="twitter" handle="theliverdr" handlename="theliverdr" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1848328167637033401"></div>Dr Philips further said that the patient won’t make it.<br /><br />This is not the first time The Liver Doc has spoken about the risks of alcohol consumption and advocated for people to party without the beverage, but this post has garnered significant attention from fellow X users.<br /><br />One medical professional highlighted that stroke after alcohol consumption is on the rise, particularly in young people. The MD in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation said that he had first-hand experience with patients coming in for Neuro-Rehabilitation after waking up to a stroke from partying and having a few drinks.<br /><br />He also suggested that, contrary to the popular belief that only binge drinking is harmful, “even a single glass of beer can trigger a stroke”.<br /><br />Another user shared that an acquaintance had a lot to drink and passed away due to brain haemorrhage the same night. The Liver Doc commented under this, saying that strokes can occur even without binge drinking and the absence of underlying liver disease.<br /><h2>Supporting studies</h2>There is also plenty of scientific evidence to support how more and more younger people are falling prey to storkes. A study published in <em>Neurology </em>said that people in their 20s and 30s who drink moderate to heavy quantities of alcohol face higher risks of stroke as young adults.<br /><br />The study, led by Eue-Keun Choi of Seoul National University, examined over 1.5 million participants, with 3,153 experiencing a stroke during the study period. Those who drank 105 grams or more of alcohol per week (about one drink per day) were classified as moderate to heavy drinkers.<br /><br />The findings showed that individuals with two or more years of moderate to heavy drinking were 20% more likely to have a stroke than those who drank lightly or not at all. The risk increased as the duration of drinking rose: two years of <keyword id="22540860" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="moderate-drinking" source="keywords">moderate drinking</keyword> increased <keyword id="22427757" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stroke-risk" source="keywords">stroke risk</keyword> by 19%, three years by 22%, and four years by 23%.<br /><br />The increased risk was particularly tied to hemorrhagic stroke, caused by bleeding in the brain. Choi emphasised the importance of reducing alcohol consumption in young adults as part of strategies to prevent strokes and reduce their long-term impact on health.<br />    <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114327102" title="At 95, I&amp;#39;m a gym rat. I stopped drinking wine a decade ago and eat homegrown food." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br />

The Liver Doc shares brain scan of 40-year-old on alcohol; highlights link between brain strokes and drinking

Popular actress and ‘Lady Superstar’ <keyword id="19918476" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nayanthara" source="keywords">Nayanthara</keyword> recently landed in hot water after promoting the supposed health benefits of <keyword id="22585206" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hibiscus-tea" source="keywords">hibiscus tea</keyword> on social media — and not just any hot water, it was the boiling indignation of <keyword id="22585207" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Liver-Doc" source="keywords">The Liver Doc</keyword>. Her post, which has since been deleted, touted the beverage as a cure-all for everything from diabetes to acne, and inevitably caught the attention of famous hepatologist <keyword id="22296959" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dr-Cyriac-Abby-Philips" source="keywords">Dr Cyriac Abby Philips</keyword>.<br /><br />For the unversed, The Liver Doc is known for fighting misinformation around health using his social media presence. He recently got into something of an altercation with another South Indian actress, <keyword id="19995770" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="samantha-ruth-prabhu" source="keywords">Samantha Ruth Prabhu</keyword>. The latter shared the benefits of hydrogen peroxide nebulisation on her Instagram handle, claiming that it had helped her in her struggle with her health conditions. This did not go down well with the hepatologist, who called her a ‘health illiterate’ and the doctors she had cited “frauds and businessmen”.<br />  <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111515126" title="Samantha Ruth Prabhu faces heavy backlash after recommending hydrogen peroxide inhalation to cure viral fever" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Now, Nayanthara praised hibiscus tea for its supposed anti-oxidant properties and ability to combat various health issues, including diabetes and heart-related ailments. Let’s just say that Dr Cyriac did not hold back in his response this time, either. <br /><div type="twitter" handle="theliverdr" handlename="theliverdr" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1817745408787095994"></div><h2>"Absolute BS, bordering on quackery"</h2>Criticising Nayanthara for misleading her millions of followers, The Liver Doc called the claims about hibiscus tea "absolute BS, bordering on quackery." He pointed out that none of the actress' claims have been scientifically proven.<br /><br />Dr Cyriac also clarified that there are different types of hibiscus, and the one Nayanthara was likely referring to (<em>Hibiscus sabdariffa</em>) has no proven health benefits. He cautioned against confusing it with another type (<em>Hibiscus Macranthus</em>) that might have some benefits for men, but is not well-studied.<br /><br />He expressed concern about the long-term effects of consuming large amounts of hibiscus tea, particularly for men and women of reproductive age. The lack of safety data prompted him to advise people to avoid it altogether. He also took a jab at Ayurveda, criticising the "absurd and unscientific theory of hot and cold foods."<br /><br />Nayanthara has since taken down the post.<br /><h2>Calling out promotional posts</h2>Dr Cyriac's critique extended beyond the tea itself. Nayanthara even promoted her "<keyword id="22585208" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="celebrity-nutritionist" source="keywords">celebrity nutritionist</keyword>," Munmun Ganeriwal, who claims to be the world's only "gut microbiome specialist" using a blend of Ayurveda and modern science. And The Liver Doc cast doubt on the qualifications of Nayanthara's nutritionist, questioning the legitimacy and the supposed ability to combine ancient practices with modern science to cure diseases.<br /><br />“It also seems like the post was an advertisement for her "celebrity nutritionist",” he wrote in his long rant on X (formerly Twitter). <br /><br />Munmun Ganeriwal also has other famous clients, with Vigenh Sivan, director and Nayan’s husband, being one of them. Other celebrities that are a part of Munmun’s clientele include Taapsee Pannu, Rakul Preet Singh, Ekta Kapoor and Anupama Chopra.<br /><br />To establish his own credibility, Dr Cyriac highlighted his expertise in gut microbiome modulation and his work at the Liver Institute, known for pioneering stool transplants and microbiome treatments for severe liver diseases.<br /><br />Dr Cyriac's message is clear: when it comes to your health, trust real doctors with evidence-based advice. Be wary of <keyword id="21207351" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="celebrity-endorsements" source="keywords">celebrity endorsements</keyword> and unproven claims, especially when it comes to miracle cures and fad diets. The next time you see a health tip online, remember, a little research can go a long way.<br />

After Samantha, The Liver Doc goes after Nayanthara for sharing health benefits of hibiscus tea

<em>Have an injury? Add some haldi to milk and sip on it. Want to lose weight? Oh, drinking <keyword id="20121840" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-tea" source="keywords">green tea</keyword> is wonderfully helpful. Looking to improve the quality of your sleep and reduce stress levels? <keyword id="19931248" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ashwagandha" source="keywords">Ashwagandha</keyword> Is the answer. </em>As generic, well-meaning and seemingly harmless this advice may seem at first glance, research suggests that it couldn’t be further from the truth.<br /><br />In our quest for natural wellness, many of us turn to <keyword id="21026336" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="herbal-remedies" source="keywords">herbal remedies</keyword>, entrusting our health to the power of botanicals like <keyword id="20083142" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="turmeric" source="keywords">turmeric</keyword> and green tea. However, if you see a loved one indulging in <keyword id="22711781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="botanical-supplements" source="keywords">botanical supplements</keyword> that they claim are perfectly safe (without running it past a healthcare professional first), you may do well to swat that thing right out of their hands.<br /><br />A recent <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821951">survey</a> by the University of Michigan reveals a concerning trend: while these herbs can offer benefits, their misuse poses significant threats to our liver.<br /><br />According to the survey, approximately 18.6 million people in the United States regularly use herbal remedies that have the potential to harm the liver. These findings highlight a growing reliance on plant-based supplements for health management. In moderation, herbs like green tea and turmeric can indeed support our well-being. Yet, when consumed in concentrated forms, such as capsules, the risk of overdosing increases, leading to a rise in hospitalisations due to herbally-induced liver problems globally.<br /><br />    <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="95151293" title="Doctors say trendy turmeric supplements can cause liver damage and urge Americans to know the risks" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br />Using data from 9,685 participants in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), researchers identified the six most commonly consumed herbal products. These include supplements used to treat high cholesterol, depression, and pain. Disturbingly, these are also the products most frequently implicated in liver injury. Over the past two decades, the rate of drug-induced liver injury from these supplements has nearly tripled, rising from 7 percent in 2004 to 20 percent by 2014.<br /><br />Among the botanical products associated with severe and sometimes fatal liver injury are turmeric, kratom, green tea extract, and Garcinia cambogia. Diagnosing liver injury can be challenging until it becomes severe, with symptoms such as fatigue, low appetite, and weight loss. In advanced cases, the liver's inability to process bilirubin leads to jaundice, characterised by a yellowing of the skin and eyes.<br /><br />Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known as <keyword id="17696323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-liver-doc" source="Orion">The Liver Doc</keyword>, also took to his X handle to comment on this topic. He shared the experience he had with one of his patients, where the consumption of a BCAA supplement likely harmed their liver possibly because of ingredients like curcumin — known to have liver toxic properties. He called for doctors to check for the complete list of ingredients in the medicines and supplements they prescribe while being especially wary of modern medicine products with herbal components.<br /><br />Evidently, a glaring problem here is that the safety and efficacy of herbal and <keyword id="21293800" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dietary-supplements" source="keywords">dietary supplements</keyword> remain poorly established, primarily due to the lack of stringent regulatory requirements by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Unlike conventional medications, these supplements do not undergo rigorous human pharmacokinetic or prospective clinical trials before reaching the market. A similar problem exists in India, as well.<br /><br />    <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111332110" title="Should you take multivitamins? 20-year-long study on 3 lakh people shows they DON’T help you live longer" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br />Meanwhile, the study showed that the use of <keyword id="22711780" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="herbal-supplements" source="keywords">herbal supplements</keyword> is more prevalent among individuals with <keyword id="22711782" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chronic-medical-conditions" source="keywords">chronic medical conditions</keyword> like arthritis and diabetes. These users tend to be older, more educated, and have higher incomes compared to those who do not use these supplements. Many turn to turmeric-containing products for joint health or arthritis, driven by the belief in turmeric's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, multiple randomised clinical trials have shown no efficacy of turmeric-containing products in treating osteoarthritis.<br /><br />Similarly, despite widespread media attention, clinical research has found no significant impact of Garcinia cambogia on weight loss or green tea extract on overall health. A 2019 study using spectroscopic analysis further revealed discrepancies between the contents of these supplements and their labels, raising additional concerns about their safety.<br /><br />The safest approach to maintaining health is through a balanced diet that provides necessary nutrients. Supplements should only be used to address diagnosed deficiencies and under medical guidance. For those who choose to use herbal supplements, it is crucial to keep healthcare providers informed. This ensures that any adverse reactions can be promptly and effectively addressed.<br /><br />    <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="110365530" title="Is it time we stopped taking over-the-counter fish oil supplements?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br />

Study links turmeric, Ashwagandha and green tea  ‘herbal supplements’ to liver damage

<keyword id="15160768" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="presvu" source="Orion">PresVu</keyword> eye drops, developed by <keyword id="20007796" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="entod-pharmaceuticals" source="keywords">Entod Pharmaceuticals</keyword>, were launched with considerable media attention earlier this month as a novel solution for <keyword id="23035383" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="presbyopia" source="keywords">presbyopia</keyword>. Presbyopia is a condition where individuals aged 40 and above experience difficulty focusing on nearby objects, often requiring reading glasses. PresVu claimed to reduce or eliminate the need for these glasses, offering an alternative through its active ingredient, 1.25% Pilocarpine, which temporarily contracts the pupil, improving near vision.<br /><br />Entod Pharmaceuticals earlier announced that the product had approval from the <keyword id="20047866" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="drug-controller-general-of-india" source="keywords">Drug Controller General of India</keyword> (<keyword id="20046022" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dcgi" source="keywords">DCGI</keyword>). These announcements created substantial buzz, as the treatment promised a non-invasive solution to a common problem affecting millions of people.<br /><h2>Regulatory backlash</h2>The situation escalated when the Drug Controller General of India suspended the marketing and distribution licence of PresVu eye drops. The suspension was issued due to unauthorised promotional campaigns by Entod, which made unverified claims about the drug's capabilities. The company had reportedly promoted PresVu not as a prescription drug, but as an over-the-counter (OTC) solution that could potentially replace reading glasses — a claim that regulators found highly misleading.<br /><br />The DCGI expressed concerns that such promotions could lead to misuse, with patients potentially self-administering the product without medical guidance, raising significant safety concerns. Furthermore, the regulatory body pointed out that while the product had been approved as a prescription drug, the marketing blitz implied it was a quick-fix solution available to anyone, which it was not.<br /><h2>Entod Pharmaceuticals responds</h2>Entod Pharmaceuticals quickly defended itself against these allegations, maintaining that their marketing campaign was based on the information cleared by the DCGI. According to Entod, the promotion highlighted only the approved uses of the <keyword id="4537914" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="eye-drop" source="Orion">eye drop</keyword>, and any misconceptions arose from how the media and public interpreted the information. The company asserted that it would challenge the suspension in court, emphasising that other pharmaceutical companies frequently follow similar marketing practices without facing such scrutiny.<br /><br />In a statement, Entod’s CEO, <keyword id="21011592" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nikkhil-k-masurkar" source="keywords">Nikkhil K Masurkar</keyword>, clarified that the company had conducted phase 3 clinical trials in India to ensure the product’s safety and efficacy.<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113251803" title="The next big market for weight-loss drugs: children" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>“Our approval by DCGI was based on a valid controlled clinical trial in 234 patients which was successful in showing efficacy and safety of these eye drops in patients of Presbyopia, who used these drops without eyeglasses and could read additional lines on Snellen's chart which is yardstick of near vision impairment,” Masurkar commented in a statement.<br /><br />He insisted that the product’s promotional activities had followed standard protocols and blamed the viral nature of media reports for blowing the issue out of proportion. Despite these defences, the product remained suspended pending further investigations.<br /><br />"Such eye drops with the same active ingredient and same concentration have been approved by the US <keyword id="19918726" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fda" source="keywords">FDA</keyword> and marketed in the US for the last three years without any serious complications. FDA didn’t take any action on the companies marketing the same in the USA,” Masurkar further elaborated.<br /><h2>Public and expert reactions</h2>The controversy garnered widespread attention, particularly from medical professionals. The Liver Doc, a prominent liver specialist that takes to social media to debunk pseudoscientific claims, criticised the situation on X (former Twitter), warning about the dangers of exaggerated medical claims in advertising.<br /><br />The doctor’s tweet emphasised that blaming Indian media for blowing Entod’s claims out of proportion was “shameless”, noting that the media merely reported exactly what the company had themselves claimed earlier.<br /><div type="twitter" handle="theliverdr" handlename="theliverdr" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1833828866210849170"></div>As of September 12, 2024, the suspension of PresVu's marketing approval remains in place. Entod Pharmaceuticals is preparing to contest the decision in court, hoping to reinstate its flagship product in the Indian market. The regulatory investigation continues, with the DCGI seeking clarification on the exact nature of the promotions and whether they indeed violated ethical standards.<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113229771" title="China&amp;#39;s drug regulator clears mpox vaccine; to undergo clinical trial" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Despite Entod’s defence, the controversy has raised important questions about the marketing of prescription drugs in India, with regulators, the media, and the public closely watching how this case will evolve. The outcome could set a precedent for how pharmaceutical companies in India can market innovative treatments, particularly when dealing with sensitive areas like vision correction.<br />

PresVu eye drops: Why has a pharma company fallen in controversy for claiming to cure near-sightedness?

In a recent op-ed published in the TIME, <keyword id="19918823" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="OpenAI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="OpenAI" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="OpenAI">OpenAI</keyword> CEO <keyword id="19918827" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sam-Altman" source="keywords">Sam Altman</keyword> and <keyword id="22347613" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thrive-Global" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Thrive Global" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Thrive Global">Thrive Global</keyword>’s <keyword id="22347614" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arianna-Huffington" source="keywords">Arianna Huffington</keyword> pose as champions of affordable healthcare. Soft-launching the new company <keyword id="22347612" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thrive-AI-Health" source="keywords">Thrive AI Health</keyword> through the article, the duo speak of using <keyword id="19904566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="keywords">artificial intelligence</keyword> to help people take charge of their well-being and make expert health advice accessible to all. Most notably, they suggest that AI could help improve “both our health spans and our lifespans”.<br /><br />Thrive AI Health will primarily focus on promoting healthy behaviour, like the five foundational behaviours Sam himself swears by: getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, spending time in nature and meditating. Furthermore, this <keyword id="22347611" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AI-health-coach" source="keywords">AI health coach</keyword> wouldn't just tell you to eat better or exercise more, but promises to take your preferences, your schedule and your health data into account. OpenAI’s Whoop coach already exists while Google and Apple are also planning to roll out similar tools soon.<br /><br /><strong>Related: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/ai-can-identify-clinically-anxious-youth-based-on-brain-structure-study/articleshow/108613080.cms">AI can identify clinically anxious youth based on brain structure: Study</a><br /></strong><br />According to the TIME article, the AI will be trained on the “best peer-reviewed science”. And here’s where it starts to get tricky. Both peer-reviewed and ‘under-review’ scientific literature consists of inaccurate and confusing interpretations when it comes to human health. Being an ever-evolving field of academia, the studies coming out in this domain have always been subjected to cherry-picking of data and misinterpreting the findings. <br /><br />So, will AI be able to navigate this challenge, especially considering the recent episodes of AI hallucinations even among the most advanced large language models? AI definitely holds promise to make affordable healthcare a reality at warp speed, but how could we make it safe if the training data itself is ambiguous?<br /><br /><h2>Dealing with <keyword id="18230708" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-hallucination" source="Orion">AI hallucination</keyword><br /></h2>It’ll be a hot while before we purge our minds of the memory of a Google AI search result stating that it was perfectly normal for 5-10 cockroaches to crawl into your penis hole and that this was how they got the name “cock” roach. So forgive us if we don’t jump with joy at the thought of relying on technology trained using LLMs for any sort of health advice. <br /><div type="twitter" handle="JeremiahDJohns" handlename="JeremiahDJohns" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1794543007129387208"></div>We asked Dr Marcus Ranney — Longevity Physician, Founder of <keyword id="10673536" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="human-edge" source="Orion">Human Edge</keyword> and formerly General Manager with Thrive Global — what he thought about the limitations of using LLM-trained AI for healthcare.<br /><br /><a href="https://ever.humanedge.co/">Human Edge</a>, which provides wellness and fitness services, also employs generative AI tools. And Dr Ranney acknowledged that they had to deal with their share of AI hallucinations and inaccuracies. To tackle this little problem, Human Edge was taking the “man-in-the-middle” approach during training. Here, an actual healthcare professional would intercept the conversation between the AI and the user, and select the right answer from the options suggested by the tool. <br /><br />The other problem is that Thrive AI Health’s responses will obviously depend on the user’s input and what medical data they choose to share about themselves. While Altman and Huffington are thankfully playing it safe and only intend for this app to start off with generalised (and mostly harmless) tips, we do wonder if it could land some people in a soup simply because they forgot to share something or thought it inconsequential.<br /><br /><h2>Impact on doctors</h2>A common misconception that many harbour is that such healthcare tools could replace healthcare providers. We can argue this point by saying that AI is only supposed to support the healthcare system and not uproot it. But in a country like India, where we tend to rely on the pharmacist’s advice instead of a doctor’s appointment to save time and money, over-reliance on AI healthcare tools could be a real problem. <br /><br />However, Dr Ranney stresses on how this could serve as the first tier of health advice. It would certainly also help reduce the burden of overworked doctors who are also busy battling the surge of misinformation on the internet — cue the tiff between Indian actress <keyword id="689826" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="samantha-ruth-prabhu" source="Orion">Samantha Ruth Prabhu</keyword> and The Liver Doc.<br /><br /><strong>Read: </strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/samantha-ruth-prabhu-faces-heavy-backlash-after-recommending-hydrogen-peroxide-inhalation-to-cure-viral-fever/articleshow/111515126.cms"><strong>Samantha Ruth Prabhu faces heavy backlash after recommending hydrogen peroxide inhalation to cure viral fever</strong></a><br /><br />When someone as influential as the actress shares the “benefits” of inhaling hydrogen peroxide with her millions of followers, it is bound to make waves, no matter how dubious the source of the information may be. Talking about the barrage of confounding medical advice bandied on social media and its many dangers, the Human Edge CEO insists that a reliable AI health coach could actually be a much better source of information.<br /><br /><h2>Could an AI health coach lead to data breaching issues?</h2>Depending on how much you engage with it, this health coach will likely know every tiny detail about you — from how many minutes you spend on your porcelain throne every morning to how many times you stayed up past your bedtime that week. And let’s face it, not all of us are completely okay with this sacred information being made available to others. <br /><br />Altman and Huffington do seem to be particular about ensuring “robust privacy and security safeguards”, but the technology will also rely on potentially several billion data points — data from users. So the chances of a data breach, no matter how miniscule, do exist. As Dr Ranney said, we’re going to need a lot of regulation to prevent something like this.<br /><br />That being said, if Thrive’s AI health coach delivers on its promises, it’s going to be a huge deal that revolutionises healthcare worldwide. While Dr Ranney did share his viewpoints from an industry perspective, he says he’s very excited about Thrive AI Health — and frankly, so are we (even if it didn't seem like it).<br />

OpenAI & Thrive-backed “hyper-personalised” AI health coach is in the works. Should you be excited or worried?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>What we eat makes a difference to our brain health.</li><li>Brain doctors Ayesha and Dean Sherzai list 9 favorite foods for boosting cognition.</li></ul><p>Brain doctors Ayesha and Dean Sherzai have spent their careers investigating how to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mind-diet-longevity-brain-health-ways-to-follow-2024-2">have a healthy brain</a>.</p><p>"We learned that yes, there are things you can do," Mr. Sherzai told Business Insider. "Lifestyle has the most profound effect on brain health, more than anybody could imagine."</p><p>One big study the two doctors often reference, which examined the diets of older adults living in public housing and nursing homes around Chicago, showed that those who adhered to a more brain-friendly diet pattern had a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4532650/">53% lower risk</a> of developing dementia.</p><p>"These are unimaginable numbers," Sherzai said. "No protocols, no weird stuff, no vitamin concoction."</p><p>It's findings like this that have convinced the "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/thebraindocs/?hl=en">Brain Docs</a>," as they call themselves on social media, to focus on promoting "simple dietary changes" people can make immediately to promote better cognitive health, instead of waiting for drugs to treat the symptoms of dementia later on in life.</p><p>"We think that if you take care of brain health, you've taken care of all health," he said. "Everything you need for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cardiologist-shares-easy-way-avoid-biggest-calorie-heart-health-mistake-2024-6">heart</a>, for liver, for kidney is included in neuro."</p><h2 id="e089bd0b-5997-4326-9f86-57de312e4e85"><strong>9 evidence-backed foods for brain health</strong></h2><h3 id="c04fae47-ea59-45d9-9105-dbe7ecbe76c8"><strong>Greens</strong></h3><div type="image" title="A bag of spinach" height="4000" width="6000" msid="111864469" hostid="261" sizebytes="597522"></div><p>Cost: about $1 for one serving of bagged spinach (2 cups)</p><p>Evidence: Getting in at least <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/leafy-greens-linked-slower-age-related-cognitive-decline">one serving of leafy greens, like lettuce, spinach, or kale per day</a> is associated with better performance on cognitive tests for competencies like working memory, spatial awareness and perception among older adults. Scientists think there's probably something neuroprotective about the nutrients in the leaves, which include folate, nitrate, and lutein.</p><h3 id="791e3737-52f6-46ee-ace0-b0f97b45ecc7"><strong>Legumes</strong></h3><div type="image" title="Bowl of Lentils" height="807" width="1211" msid="111864456" hostid="261" sizebytes="136880"></div><p>Cost: $0.50 or less per serving for things like canned chickpeas, black beans, or bagged lentils</p><p>Evidence: <a target="_blank" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12967-017-1209-5">Studies</a> consistently suggest plant proteins like legumes are good for the aging brain — and nutrition experts suspect that might be in part because they're <a target="_blank" href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/boost-your-brain-with-b-vitamins-and-beans">packed with B vitamins</a> that help keep our nervous system humming along.</p><h3 id="ba605431-2308-4344-bcca-564a108d3b36"><strong>Berries</strong></h3><div type="image" title="02_superfoods berries" height="3648" width="5472" msid="111864464" hostid="261" sizebytes="2399590"></div><p>Cost: probably the priciest item on this list, at roughly $3-7 for a carton of fresh berries like strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries. But since a serving of berries is only half a cup, you can still <em>probably</em> squeeze in a serving for $1 or less. You can always opt for (cheaper) frozen berries, which <a target="_blank" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12188629/">studies</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12188629/">show</a> are just as nutritious as the fresh stuff — and sometimes even a little bit more nutritious — because fruits are typically frozen just as they reach peak ripeness.</p><p>Evidence: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-memory-supplement-plant-protein-berries-scientist-2024-2">Berries like blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are rich in chemical compounds</a> that help keep our cells running well. There's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10376627/">evidence to suggest</a> they may also prevent some of the oxidative stress that's associated with cognitive decline, but more research is still needed to better understand the precise link between <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-researcher-takes-strawberry-antioxidant-fisetin-healthy-aging-2023-5">berry eating</a> and better brain health.</p><h3 id="e9b33d19-7c16-42c2-bbeb-2781335cd223"><strong>Whole grains</strong></h3><div type="image" title="bowl of quinoa salad" height="1402" width="2100" msid="111864449" hostid="261" sizebytes="228020"></div><p>Cost: similar to legumes, generally less (and sometimes far less) than $1 per serving for things like oats, bulgur, corn, millet, quinoa, or brown rice.</p><p>Evidence: Whole grains are consistently <a target="_blank" href="https://medicine.uky.edu/news/whole-grains-linked-slower-cognitive-decline-among-2023-11-29t13-09-16">linked to slower cognitive decline</a>, and experts think that probably has something to do with all the anti-inflammatory effects they have on the body. Whole grains are also great at staving off other health issues, like diabetes, and heart disease, which can accelerate cognitive decline as they impact our vascular health.</p><h3 id="09460907-2ff6-4ce2-a496-fb6e80962a41"><strong>Nuts</strong></h3><div type="image" title="walnuts in shells " height="1400" width="2100" msid="111864471" hostid="261" sizebytes="159484"></div><p>Cost: varies, but considering a one-pound bag of walnuts or almonds typically costs about $5-6, each serving would be less than $0.50</p><p>Evidence: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blue-zone-nutrition-meal-plan-2024-7">Nuts</a> are thought to be great for your brain in large part because they're <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9965316/">loaded with nutrients</a>, including many that naturally improve vascular health and tamp down inflammation. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-pollan-eats-high-protein-snack-to-curb-his-cravings-for-ultra-processed-foods-2024-4">Walnuts</a> are an especially popular choice among nutrition buffs and longevity-seekers because they offer a decent dose of omega-3, which "is the only fat that your brain needs," Sherzai said.</p><h3 id="f00c3063-80eb-4fd8-bf79-e407cf4a3a52"><strong>Herbs and spices</strong></h3><div type="image" title="turmeric" height="1043" width="1400" msid="111864453" hostid="261" sizebytes="141242"></div><p>Cost: pennies</p><p>Evidence: There are various reasons that seasonings can boost cognitive health. A favorite example of many health experts is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/turmeric-curcumin-health-benefits-anti-inflammatory-antioxidant-2018-7">turmeric</a>, which has nice anti-inflammatory effects and is consistently linked to better cognitive function, but there are also real benefits to various other spices, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/spice-up-your-holidays-with-brain-healthy-seasonings-2016120710734">cinnamon</a> (anti-inflammatory) and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.weekand.com/healthy-living/article/effect-black-pepper-brain-18009022.php">peppers, including black pepper</a> (increases absorption of other nutrients, and may be directly neuroprotective). In general, being able to spice up your dishes in a way that tastes yummy to you also probably means you'll be able to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/processed-foods-may-increase-dementia-risk-study-finds-2022-12">cook more at home and enjoy less processed foods</a>, which is also a boon for overall health and well-being and linked to lower dementia risk.</p><h3 id="d6d83923-5eac-4855-8221-4715055f7418"><strong>Seeds</strong></h3><div type="image" title="chia seeds" height="3456" width="5184" msid="111864466" hostid="261" sizebytes="1284862"></div><p>Cost: about $0.35-0.75 per serving for things like chia seeds and pumpkin seeds</p><p>Evidence: Much like nuts, seeds are great for the brain because they're full of fiber, healthy fats, key vitamins and minerals, including fatty acids like omega-3.</p><h3 id="1c61323e-53c3-49a9-820c-3a9230cd75fa"><strong>Crucifers</strong></h3><div type="image" title="broccoli" height="1500" width="2000" msid="111864472" hostid="261" sizebytes="703512"></div><p>Cost: between $0.50 and $1 per serving of broccoli or similar brassica veggies, like chard, kale, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.</p><p>Evidence: These <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/broccoli-benefits-anti-cancer-supplement-2024-4">crunchy stalks are well-known health foods</a> because they're great for blood flow. They are consistently linked to less cognitive decline, are great cancer preventers, and lower the incidence of strokes.</p><h3 id="675e89af-c4d8-4390-a7bc-f6973bd71f2f"><strong>Tea</strong></h3><div type="image" title="green tea benefits" height="1414" width="2121" msid="111864475" hostid="261" sizebytes="126320"></div><p>Cost: varies, but generally between $0.10 and $0.60 per cup.</p><p>Evidence: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/black-tea-health-benefits-daily-drinking-linked-longer-life-study-2022-8">Tea</a> leaves are chock-full of various plant compounds that can be beneficial for our long-term health, improving inflammation (a hallmark of dementia) and possibly even lubricating <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190912100945.htm">neurotransmission</a>.</p><h2 id="44280a3c-cacb-4a30-8823-2871732209f8"><strong>You might've noticed that everything on this list is a plant</strong></h2><div type="image" title="A man tending plants on the balcony of an apartment" height="1186" width="1778" msid="111864477" hostid="261" sizebytes="90540"></div><p>Experts say it's too simplistic to attempt to break down these natural foods into exhaustive laundry lists of nutritional components that fully explain their health benefits.</p><p>While they all do offer vitamins, fiber, and other beneficial compounds, they are also each their own little biological systems, working synergistically with our bodies in ways <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/eating-color-to-prevent-cognitive-decline">we may not fully understand</a>.</p><p>"The data shows that if you eat more plants and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CECnIMoVxII">less processed food</a>, you are going to do amazingly," Sherzai said. "It's not about superfood. It's about your dietary pattern."</p>

9 foods that can boost your brain health — and don't cost more than $1 per serving

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Many risk factors have been linked to cancer, but not all of them are backed up by evidence.</li><li>Cutting out alcohol, smoking, and processed meat has been proven to reduce the risk of cancer in humans.</li></ul><p>There's no magic-bullet solution to avoid getting cancer, but decades of scientific research have identified a few factors that can affect risk.</p><p>A person's risk of cancer depends on a myriad of lifestyle factors, including diet and exercise, as well as genetic predispositions. Even <a href="https://www.insider.com/study-confirms-link-between-forever-chemicals-and-liver-cancer-risk-2022-8">workplace exposure to chemicals</a> can affect health in the long term.</p><p><a href="https://theoncologydietitian.com/">Nichole Andrews</a>, RDN, works with cancer survivors to support their recovery and future health with dietary and lifestyle changes. She recently posted a video to TikTok where she shared seven evidence-backed ways to reduce cancer risk. </p> <p>Andrews, known as <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@oncology.nutrition.rd">oncology.nutrition.rd</a> on TikTok, said she has been working as an oncology dietitian for more than 10 years. Here are her top tips.</p><h2><strong>Replace junk food with plant-based alternatives</strong></h2><p>The first tip Andrews shared is to add more plant foods to your diet.</p><p>Evidence has suggested that eating whole grains and other foods rich in dietary fiber protects against colorectal cancer, according to the <a href="https://www.wcrf.org/diet-activity-and-cancer/cancer-prevention-recommendations/eat-wholegrains-vegetables-fruit-and-beans/">World Cancer Research Fund</a>. That association is also consistent across studies of diet and overall cancer risk.</p><p>Andrews explained that while she does not recommend going fully vegan to reduce cancer risk, foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains should replace some of the heavily processed items on your plate.</p><p>"Two-thirds of all of your meals and plates should consist of fruits, veggies, beans, legumes, grains, nuts, or seeds," she said.</p><p>The WCRF recommends a diet that includes 30 grams of fiber and at least 400 grams of fruit and vegetables each day, ideally non-starchy options.</p><h2><strong>Cut out alcohol, smoking, and processed meats</strong></h2><p>Next on Andrews' list is <a href="https://www.insider.com/two-alcoholic-drinks-a-day-linked-to-cancer-new-study-2021-7">alcohol</a>, which has been proven to increase cancer risk. Cutting out alcohol means eliminating one of the more common carcinogens that people willingly consume.</p><p>Consumption of alcoholic drinks has been proven to cause cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast, colon, and stomach, according to <a href="https://www.wcrf.org/diet-activity-and-cancer/cancer-prevention-recommendations/limit-alcohol-consumption/">WCRF</a>.</p><p>Similarly, Andrews recommended staying away from <a href="https://www.insider.com/red-meat-diet-unhealthy-as-processed-meat-study-2021-3">processed meats,</a> which have been linked to <a href="https://www.wcrf.org/diet-activity-and-cancer/cancer-types/colorectal-cancer/">colorectal cancers</a>.</p><p>She also said to remove smoking from your lifestyle. Doctors have known for years that smoking cigarettes causes most cases of lung cancer, and according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/cancer.html">US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>, smoking can increase the risk of other cancers as well.</p><h2><strong>Stay active and maintain a healthy weight</strong></h2><p>Andrews shared two tips for maintaining a healthy, low-risk lifestyle. </p><p>First, she said to aim for 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, or 30 minutes of movement five days a week. The <a href="https://www.wcrf.org/diet-activity-and-cancer/cancer-prevention-recommendations/be-physically-active/">WCRF</a> simply recommends walking more and sitting less to protect against breast, colon, and endometrial cancers.</p><p>Andrews also recommended reducing sugar intake and fast food consumption to help maintain a healthy weight, which in turn <a href="https://www.wcrf.org/diet-activity-and-cancer/risk-factors/obesity-weight-gain-and-cancer/">reduces cancer risk</a>. </p><h2><strong>Don't take high-dose supplements</strong></h2><p>Finally, Andrews said to be careful with dietary supplements, as high doses of certain vitamins and minerals have been linked to cancer in some people.</p><p>High-dose <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/beta-carotene-oral-route/description/drg-20066795">beta-carotene supplements</a>, which may be prescribed to increase the amount of vitamin A in the body, has been associated with an <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6636175/">increased risk of lung cancer</a> in people who smoke or who have been exposed to asbestos. </p><p>In general, the WCRF recommends that people <a href="https://www.wcrf.org/diet-activity-and-cancer/cancer-prevention-recommendations/do-not-use-supplements-for-cancer-prevention/">aim to meet nutritional needs through a balanced diet</a>, not supplements.</p>

7 evidence-backed ways to reduce your cancer risk, according to an oncology dietitian

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Master model builders construct the massive <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/lego">Lego</a> structures, like the ones replicating American cities, at <keyword id="1240696" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Legoland">Legoland</keyword>.</li><li>A baby wrangler is hired by <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/movies">movie</a> productions to make babies cry onscreen.</li><li>Marble harvesters extract 4 million tons of marble per year from the famous quarries in Carrara, Italy.</li></ul><p><em><strong>Following is a transcript of the <keyword id="21654" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="video">video</keyword>: </strong></em></p><p>From people who harvest giant blocks of marble to master <keyword id="6380548" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="lego">Lego</keyword> builders, to people who can make babies cry in <keyword id="406" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Movies">movies</keyword>, there are a lot of fascinating and unexpected jobs out there. But just because you haven't heard of them doesn't mean you haven't seen their work on the big screen, on your plate, or in your blankets. Here are 21 jobs you probably never knew existed.</p><p>This cinder-block was made to be broken. And it was created by NewRuleFX's Ryan Johnson, who specializes in breakaway movie props. His most frequently requested props are these glass bottles. They're made with a thin resin plastic that looks exactly like the real thing, but an actor can break one over their head on camera without getting injured. Some other props include chairs and bricks that can fall apart with just a little pressure and glass shards that are actually made from rubber. Breakable windows are made by gluing together multiple panes of glass. So while the shards are real, they won't hurt the actor as long as they punch straight through the pane.</p><p>To be a great bonsai artist, one needs to dwarf real trees, and then master bending and twisting trees into intricate and artful shapes. But there's one trait a bonsai tree artist like Chiako Yamamoto needs to master, patience. It takes three years for a transplant to create new roots and five years for the tree to adapt to any of Yamamoto's changes. According to Yamamoto, this small bonsai took 15 years to finish. And this one here took 25 years to look like this. And while this is an art form, these are living things, so they constantly change and respond to light and water. It's no wonder that one can sell for around a hundred million yen or just under a million dollars.</p><p>Matt Slagle is one of the master model builders behind these massive Lego replicas of major cities. Here's New York, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. The builders used 10 million blocks on Miniland USA, with New York alone using three million. And everything there from a car to the Statue of Liberty, had to be built exactly on a one-to-20 scale of its real life counterpart. And master model builders have to get every tiny detail right, like you can see here in each of San Francisco's Painted Ladies. Their crowning achievement? The One World Trade Center replica. At 26 feet tall, it stands as the tallest Lego model in the U S.</p><p>More marble has come from the quarries in Carrara, Italy, than anywhere else on earth. The quarries produce four million tons per year, and it takes 13,000 people to harvest and extract all that material, including 600 truck drivers who make their way up dangerous roads every single day. To remove the marble, quarriers have to carefully drill three holes in a slab, creating one vertical line and two horizontal lines. These meet in one central strategic spot. They then carve it out using a five-millimeter diamond wire until the marble is fully removed from the mountain. More wires or a chainsaw can then cut these marble blocks down even more.</p><p>Real truffles are only found underground by a truffle hunter like James Fever. First Fever's dog has to sniff out the truffles' location. Then Fever has to dig each one out by hand. He also needs to sniff it to make sure it's even ripe after picking it. And even if he does get a good one, it can go bad after just five days, so they need to be sold quickly. However, a truffle can reap big rewards. An 80-gram truffle can net you $90, while the world's largest white truffle sold for $61,000 in 2014.</p><p>Elaine Hall is what is known in Hollywood as a baby wrangler. Her job is to make sure that child actors are safe on set and that they give the best performance possible. Hollywood has specific time limits for how long young stars can work, so Hall makes sure her stars nail their takes as quickly as possible. When working on "Akeelah and the Bee," she was able to get a baby to hysterically cry on command simply by fake crying herself.</p><p>The Greenland shark is the most toxic shark in the world, but in <keyword id="55091" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Iceland">Iceland</keyword>, Gurjon Hildibrandsson and his family have been making and selling fermented meat from it for generations. It's a laborious six month process to make these sharks edible. The meat is first fermented in cold storage rooms for six to nine weeks. Then it needs to be hung outside for six months to dry out while still retaining the correct texture.</p><p>While certain food items you see on screen might be fake, a lot of food and movie scenes is real. And for those occasions, productions hire a food stylist like Zoe Hegedus. Her job is to make sure all the food on camera is both appealing to the cameras and edible for the actors. Sometimes that even involves substituting real food with edible lookalike props. For example, when working on the film, "Midsommar," Hegedus had to make a Scandinavian dish topped with egg yolk. However, the real egg yolks wouldn't hold together on the long hot shoot days. So instead she concocted a sphere made of mango and orange juice that looked exactly like a real egg.</p><p>Before eiderdown fibers end up in high-end duvet covers, they first need to be harvested from ducks. Farmers start by collecting every eider nest by hand. The job entails a lot of wandering because the nests are located far apart, and a harvester needs several nests, as each one yields just 15 grams of material. The harvesting process is both ethical and completely natural, and at the same time, incredibly difficult, but that's only a fraction of the work. Machines help the harvester sort through the nests, but unwanted objects like rocks, sticks, seaweed, and feathers need to be picked out by hand. Cleaning one kilo of it can take up to five additional hours.</p><p>Stephen Kutcher is known as The Bug Man of Hollywood, training bugs for the big screen. To get a spider to crawl across the floor and into a slipper in "Arachnophobia," he guided the spider to where it needed to go using invisible vibrating wires. In Spider-Man, Kutcher put a spider on a paintbrush, then tapped it once the spider was at the end to get it to drop down to an exact spot. And in "Exorcist II: The Heretic," he trained 3,000 locust to cling onto the wall of a cage by shining a heat emitting light at it, drawing them to the warmth.</p><p>Not all scissors are mass produced. Some are still handmade by master putter-togetherers at this factory in England and can cost anywhere between 100 and $315. Cliff Denton is one of just two remaining master putter-togetherers at the Ernest Wright factory. And it takes years of training to get to his level of craftsmanship. The final stage of scissor making alone can take five years of training. If you hit the wrong spot while hammering the blade, the entire pair of scissors will be ruined.</p><p>Sophia Bogle is a book conservationist whose daily job is to restore 120-year-old archival books. The process begins with deconstruction. Vogel removes the acidic old tape from the book cover. She also sands it and then cleans it with a repair knife. Then she washes the individual pages in hot water and restores them using Japanese tissue to fix any tear she finds. The rest of the process involves touching up the cover, embossing, and then gluing and pressing it all together. And the tiny details matter. If she uses the wrong type of black pen on the cover, she can damage it.</p><p>A lot of those sounds you hear in nature docs are actually fake since it's often too difficult to capture the real sounds in the field. So Foley artists like Richard Hinton have had to find creative ways to pair sounds with nature. Some of the sounds he has mastered are swimming schools of fish, lava, and even an orangutan eating.</p><p>Just one of these Kolinsky sable paint brushes can take a week and a half to make, with brush makers separating hundreds of strands of hair by hand. And it's the hair that makes these brushes remarkable. The brushes are made from the strong high-quality tail hairs of the Kolinsky sable in Siberia. Sandra Harris is one of only nine brush makers in the world who can make these Series 7 Kolinsky sable watercolor brushes. It can take three years of training to get to her level.</p><p>Fugu, or puffer fish, is a poisonous fish that's a delicacy in Japan. To properly prepare the fish and make it edible, chefs like Yutaka Hattori must carefully remove its toxic eyes, gills, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, and ovaries. The Japanese government tightly controls who can prep the fugu. Only a few select chefs are trained to make it edible, and they must take an extensive exam to legally serve the fish. One of the biggest challenges is that the poisonous parts vary by species and can be more difficult to identify in hybrid puffer fish.</p><p>Rogan art is created with a castor oil based paint combined with different colors. Before using it, it needs to be lit up. It's a dangerous process that only a few artists are skilled enough to handle, as it can catch fire at any time. During this process, Abdul Gafur Khatri swirls paint on his palm to create heat, and then uses a metal rod to create designs on fabric. This art form has been in the Khatri family in India for eight generations, and they are the last family still keeping it alive. These days, they find themselves competing with mass produced textiles. It's a completely freehand painting process, meaning the design can come out completely different than originally planned. This is one of the reasons it takes years to learn, and also what makes both this skill set and the craft itself so unique.</p><p>Filmmakers can't achieve the realistic look of their characters' weapons in close-ups if they resort to plastic blades. Enter blacksmith Tony Swatton, who has been forging weapons for movies and TV for over 30 years. He made the swords in "Pirates of the Caribbean" and the hook from "Hook." And Swatton can design weapons from all eras and cultures. Zoro's blade in "The Mask of Zorro" was created using two curved hunting swords from the 1500s that were cobbled together to look like the classic rapier.</p><p>Cheryl Eisen stages <keyword id="513494" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="luxury-apartments">luxury apartments</keyword> up for sale in New York. That means she makes them look stylish enough that people will actually want to buy them. Eisen selects her decor from a 60,000 square foot warehouse in Jersey City, full of custom furnishings, lighting, and artwork. She might choose an oversized print to make a room look bigger, or throw in some floor-to-ceiling drapes to make ceilings appear higher than they really are. A stager must have a good eye to nail the right aesthetic for the location and the prospective buyer. Staging an apartment shows the buyer how they can live in and furnish a space, which you wouldn't see in an empty apartment.</p><p>Your favorite video game characters might be created digitally, but somebody still needs to act out all of their motions. Enter Richard Dorton, a creature performer who specializes in all kinds of video game characters. His movements become the base of these characters thanks to motion capture. First Dorton's full body is scanned and his motions are captured by a computer in real time. These actions are then translated to the CG character in the game. And to make this all the more realistic, he has to get really physical, especially for particularly dramatic moments like this roar. The most commonly seized item at JFK International Airport is actually food, and it's an agricultural specialist's job to seize and destroy all of it. These agents are trained to prevent the spread of any pests or diseases that could harm US livestock or crops. So before dropping any fruits or vegetables in the grinder, agents like Ginger Perrone must cut open and inspect each piece for evidence of disease or pests. But Perrone gets a little help from some four-legged canine friends like Biscuit, who's trained to sniff out food in luggage. These dogs' sense of smell is so strong that they have an estimated 90% accuracy rate.</p>

21 jobs you probably never knew existed

<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>In the latest round of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sony-execs-email-inboxes-leaked-hackers-2014-12" target="_blank">cyber attacks</a> against Sony,&#xa0;<span>more than three dozen employees' medical information has been released.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">The information includes "detailed and identifiable health information on employees, their children or spouses," a<span>ccording to&#xa0;</span><span></span><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-11/sony-hack-reveals-health-details-on-employees-and-their-children.html" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>.<span><br /></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Bloomberg adds:</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">One memo by a human resources executive, addressed to the company's benefits committee, disclosed details on an employee's child with special needs, including the diagnosis and the type of treatment the child was receiving. The memo discussed the employee's appeal of thousands of dollars in medical claims denied by the insurance company.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Another document revealed&#xa0;<span>is a spreadsheet from a human resources folder on Sony's servers that includes the birth dates, gender, health condition and medical costs for 34 Sony employees, their spouses and children who had very high medical bills, the report stated. Premature births, cancer, kidney failure, and alcoholic liver cirrhosis were among the conditions listed, but the doc doesn't reveal employees' names.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;"><span>Previously&#xa0;<span>on December 5th,&#xa0;</span><a href="http://www.thewrap.com/gop-hackers-to-sony-your-family-will-be-in-danger/" target="_blank">an email was sent threatening the well-being</a><span>&#xa0;of Sony employees and their families.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">The latest medical leak comes after a second <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sony-hackers-new-warning-on-computers-2014-12" target="_blank">"disturbing" warning sign popped up</a> on Sony employees' computers on Thursday.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Hackers calling themselves "Guardians of Peace" have been releasing documents since the initial Nov. 25 attack against Sony, which <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-sony-looks-for-possible-north-korea-link-in-hacking-incident-report-2014-11" target="_blank">shut down the studio's entire computer system</a>.&#xa0;<span>The group is demanding that the studio stop the&#xa0;</span><span>Seth Rogen</span><span>-</span><span>James Franco</span><span>&#xa0;comedy "The Interview," which has been denounced by North Korea but premiered Thursday in Los Angeles.</span></span></p>

Sony Employees' Medical Records Leaked In Hack

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Just hours before the deadly shooting in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/thousand-oaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thousand Oaks, California</a>, the NRA tweeted out an angry rebuttal of a position paper authored by the American College of Physicians.</strong></li><li><strong>The <a href="http://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/2709820/reducing-firearm-injuries-deaths-united-states-position-paper-from-american" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paper in question</a>&#xa0;wrestled with how to reduce gun injuries in the US, and called for a "<span>multifaceted and comprehensive approach to reducing firearm violence that is consistent with the Second Amendment."</span></strong></li><li><strong><span>The NRA blasted the paper, telling doctors to "stay in their lane."</span></strong></li><li><strong><span>Doctors quickly pushed back, saying that the consequences of gun violence are in their lane, since they're the ones who stop the bleeding and save lives after people get shot.</span></strong></li><li><strong><span>One doctor asked, "where are you when I'm having to tell all those families their loved one has died?"</span></strong></li></ul><p>The National Rifle Association (NRA), the most powerful gun lobby in the country, is under fire from doctors for a Tweet that many are calling an insensitive and ill-reasoned.&#xa0;</p><p>On Wednesday, just hours before a gunman <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/thousand-oaks-shooting-california-2018-11">stormed into a bar in California and killed 12 people</a>, the NRA went after the American College of Physicians on Twitter for&#xa0;<a href="http://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/2709820/reducing-firearm-injuries-deaths-united-states-position-paper-from-american" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writing about policies</a> that could reduce the number of deaths and injuries from firearms.&#xa0;</p><p>The tweet came shortly ahead of the US'&#xa0;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-mass-shootings-in-america-this-year-2018-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">307th mass shooting of the year</a>, and a day before the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6744a3.htm?s_cid=mm6744a3_w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> revealed that gun deaths are on the rise across the country, at rates not seen in a decade.</p><p>The&#xa0;<a href="http://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/2709820/reducing-firearm-injuries-deaths-united-states-position-paper-from-american" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paper in question</a>&#xa0;wrestled with how to reduce gun injuries in the US, and called for a "multifaceted and comprehensive approach to reducing firearm violence that is consistent with the Second Amendment."</p><p><span><em><strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gun-control-in-america-how-many-dollars-the-us-spends-on-gun-violence-research-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The US spends less on gun violence research than nearly every other leading cause of death in America - and that's on purpose</a>.</em></span></p><p>Doctor Cedric Dark was one of the first to point out the timing of the NRA's comments. "This tweet didn't even make it 12 hours before another mass shooting," he wrote.&#xa0;</p><p>In response to the NRA's "stay-in-your-lane" argument, the Annals of Internal Medicine, the journal in which the paper appeared, tweeted back: "We wish we could. <span>Instead, we pledge to talk to our patients about gun violence whenever risk factors are present." </span></p><p>Doctors like Dena Grayson were also quick to point out that their "lane" pretty much <em>is</em> gun violence, since they are the ones who "staunch the bleeding" when people get shot.</p><p>One of the most devastating responses came from a pediatrician based in Oregon:</p><p>Gynecologist Jen Gunter said, "<span>Who do you think removes bullets from spines... The tooth fairy? This literally is medicine's lane."</span></p><p>Joseph Sakran, a trauma surgeon at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, asked the NRA, "<span>Where are you when I'm having to tell all those families their loved one has died?"</span></p><p>Dr. Mary Brandt pointed to several studies showing a clear link between lax gun rules and more gun deaths, and started a hashtag: #ItIsOurLane.&#xa0;</p><p>The American Academy of Pediatrics joined in, tweeting that "<span>As long as gun violence remains a public health threat to children and families, pediatricians will not rest in our pursuit to keep them safe."</span></p><p>Despite the fact that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nra-power-lobbying-statistics-gun-control-2017-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the NRA represents less than 20%</a> of all gun owners in the US, the <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=d000000082" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lobbying group is extremely influential in Washington</a>. The NRA pushes for laws that restrict how federal money can be spent to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gun-control-in-america-how-many-dollars-the-us-spends-on-gun-violence-research-2018-3">study gun violence</a>, which makes it difficult for lawmakers to figure out how to reduce gun deaths.</p><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nra-extremism-hurts-gun-owners-members-america-2018-2">HENRY BLODGET: The NRA's extremism hurts gun owners, NRA members, and America</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

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