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An affordable <keyword id="9107118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tuberculosis-testing" source="Orion">tuberculosis testing</keyword> technology that can detect the disease using a patient's sputum for just Rs 35 has been developed by apex medical research body <keyword id="19918794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICMR" source="keywords">ICMR</keyword>'s regional centre in Assam's Dibrugarh. The 'A <keyword id="19986036" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CRISPR" source="keywords">CRISPR</keyword> case-based TB detection system' is light, portable and involves three steps of testing. Over 1,500 samples can be tested in one single run in around two-and-half hours, ICMR sources said. Conventional diagnostic techniques for TB commonly rely on culture, which requires 42 days to confirm as TB negative, microscopy, and nucleic acid-based methods. These are also time-consuming and may require sophisticated equipment. An official said, "<keyword id="19992404" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tuberculosis" source="keywords">Tuberculosis</keyword> (TB) remains a global health challenge, necessitating the development of accurate and rapid diagnostic tools for effective disease management. Current <keyword id="22921102" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="diagnostic-methods" source="keywords">diagnostic methods</keyword> often exhibit limitations in terms of sensitivity, specificity, speed and cost, emphasising the need for innovative approaches". Additionally, some molecular diagnostic methods, while offering improved sensitivity, may lack the desired specificity or face challenges associated with cost and ease of handling. "Considering these problems, the CRISPR-Cas12a-based molecular diagnostic system 'GlowTBPCRKit' coupled with an amplification step (using thermal cycler) and the '<keyword id="22921103" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RapidGlow-device" source="keywords">RapidGlow device</keyword>' provides a promising solution," the official said. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has now invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from eligible organisations, companies, manufacturers for undertaking 'Transfer of Technology' for commercialisation of the 'A CRISPR case-based TB detection system' for the detection of <keyword id="20115212" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mycobacterium-tuberculosis" source="keywords">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</keyword>. The ICMR-RMRCNE institute will provide expert guidance and technical support for the production of 'A CRISPR Cas based TB detection system' in all phases. Such technical oversight by the institute would accelerate the development of the product and its commercialisation. The ICMR would also provide technical support through its team of experienced scientists in study, planning, product development, development of study protocol, results or data analysis, outcome assessment, safety and efficacy assessment, product improvement, etc., if deemed fit upon the mutual understanding between ICMR and collaborative company. The apex health research body through its institutes would provide support and facilitation to conduct the research and development or clinical study of new technology or product in India through its affiliates or institutes, in collaboration with the company and institutions in a professional and mutually agreed upon manner and timelines.

ICMR's regional centre develops technology that can test for tuberculosis in just Rupees 35!

With advancements in medical technology, novel diagnostic tools are emerging to facilitate early and accurate detection of <keyword id="24487" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alzheimers" source="Orion">Alzheimer's</keyword> disease, according to a report on Friday. Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, poses significant challenges to individuals, caregivers, and healthcare systems worldwide. Early detection plays a crucial role in managing the disease and improving patient outcomes. Researchers and medical device manufacturers have been working tirelessly to develop innovative solutions for early Alzheimer's detection, revealed the report by <keyword id="1670029" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="globaldata" source="Orion">GlobalData</keyword>, a leading data and analytics company. Prominent among these advancements is the development of blood-based biomarker tests, such as the recently introduced AD-detect blood test, amyloid beta biomarkers, tau protein biomarkers, and neurofilament light (NfL) Biomarkers. These groundbreaking tests detect specific biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease, providing a non-invasive and accessible method for early detection and monitoring of the disease progression. Leading pharmaceutical companies and research institutions are actively involved in clinical trials and studies to evaluate the effectiveness of these biomarker tests. The results so far have been promising, showing great potential for improving early diagnosis and intervention strategies for the neurodegenerative disease, the report said. "Early detection of Alzheimer's disease allows for timely interventions, including lifestyle modifications and potential treatment options, which can significantly impact the quality of life for individuals affected by the disease. The development of blood-based biomarker tests is a significant breakthrough in the field, offering a more accessible and convenient approach to detecting Alzheimer's at its early stages," said <keyword id="17233470" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="cynthia-stinchcombe" source="Orion">Cynthia Stinchcombe</keyword>, <keyword id="17367395" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="medical-analyst" source="Orion">Medical Analyst</keyword> at GlobalData, in a statement. "The advancements in diagnostic tools for early detection of Alzheimer's disease bring hope to millions of people worldwide. By increasing awareness, supporting ongoing research, and ensuring widespread access to these innovative diagnostic tests, we can make significant strides in improving the lives of those affected by Alzheimer's and moving closer to effective treatments," Stinchcombe added. The month of June is designated as Alzheimer's and <keyword id="17723100" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="brain-awareness-month" source="Orion">Brain Awareness Month</keyword>. It is dedicated to raising awareness about Alzheimer's disease, brain health, and supporting individuals and families affected by this condition. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/ramkrishna-forgings-titagarh-rail-consortium-bags-12227-crore-order-from-railways/articleshow/101039655.cms">Ramkrishna Forgings-Titagarh Rail consortium bags ₹12,227 crore order from railways</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/retail/e-commerce/news/magicpin-clocks-50-monthly-growth-on-ondc-with-over-30000-daily-orders/articleshow/101039648.cms">Magicpin clocks 50% monthly growth on ONDC with over 30,000 daily orders</a>

More diagnostic tools for early detection of Alzheimer's underway: GlobalData

London, Apr 20 () Researchers have developed a new method to analyse the genetic code of the novel coronavirus, an advance that can shed light on how the virus evolves, and help identify new clusters of the disease. According to the scientists, including those from the University of York in the UK, analysing global data on the published genome sequences of the novel coronavirus can help accelerate our understanding of COVID-19. In the study, published in the journal Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, the scientists developed a novel platform, originally used to analyse the human genome, to pinpoint differences among the thousands of genetic sequences of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. The researchers assessed the first 181 published genome sequences from the current COVID-19 outbreak to understand how changes in the virus could affect its behaviour and impact. "This RNA virus is expected to evolve into a number of distinct clusters that share mutations, which is what we have confirmed and visualised," said S S Vasan, corresponding author of the study from the Australian federal government agency The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The scientists noted in the study that understanding these mutations may not affect the development and evaluation of COVID-19 vaccines, therapies, and diagnostics. However, they said it is important information to monitor as preclinical and clinical studies progress. "The more we know about this virus, the better armed we'll be to fight it," said Larry Marshall, study co-author and the Chief Executive of CSIRO. "This highly complex analysis of the genome sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has already helped to determine which strains of the virus are suitable for testing vaccines underway at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong -- the only high biocontainment facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere," Marshall said. According to Denis Bauer, another co-author of the study from CSIRO, as the virus evolves, this genetic blueprint becomes increasingly important since it holds instructions about the behaviour of the virus and what kind of disease it can cause. "Globally there is now a huge amount of individual virus sequences," said Bauer, who is also Honorary Associate Professor at Macquarie University in Australia. "Assessing the evolutionary distance between these data points and visualising it helps researchers find out about the different strains of the virus - including where they came from and how they continue to evolve," Bauer said. Accordingly to the scientists, the new data visualisation platform highlights the evolving genetic mutations of the virus as it continues to change and adapt to new environments. "The more informed we are about the genetic differences and their likely consequences on the progression of the disease, the better we can tackle the disease with diagnostics and treatments," Bauer said. VIS VISVISVIS

'Novel method to understand how coronavirus evolves developed'

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="1591962" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="safe-mode">Safe Mode</keyword> is a basic diagnostic mode for your operating system that starts the computer without most of its drivers and software. </li><li>You can use Safe Mode to solve serious issues like uninstalling incompatible software or <keyword id="54201" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Malware">malware</keyword> that's preventing your computer from running properly. </li><li>Both <keyword id="6354717" type="DEFINITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Windows">Windows</keyword> and <keyword id="62949" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="MaC">Mac</keyword> computers can be booted into a version of Safe Mode. </li></ul>If your computer is experiencing serious problems, either due to a software glitch or <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-malware" target="_blank" rel="noopener">malware</a>, and will not run properly, then you might need to use <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/safe-mode" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Safe Mode</a>.Safe Mode is a basic diagnostic and troubleshooting mode that launches the operating system without most of its usual drivers and software. A computer that refuses to start normally because of a catastrophic glitch should be able to start in Safe Mode, where you can attempt to troubleshoot and resolve the problem.Both <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/windows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Windows</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/mac" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mac</a> computers have their own version of Safe Mode. <h2>What happens in Safe Mode</h2>Safe Mode is designed to launch your computer with the minimum necessary software to give you access to your operating system, such as Windows or MacOS. That means it starts with a minimal set of services and drivers. For example, you'll find that when in Safe Mode, your screen resolution is greatly reduced; the full video drivers are bypassed and instead, a simplified VGA driver is used regardless of the screen resolution. Most or all networking and file sharing features are disabled in Safe Mode as well. In addition, no startup programs or third-party software is run at startup. The intention is to start the computer with the minimum configuration to give you the best chance of identifying and solving the problem you're experiencing. Despite the limitations, you can get to all settings and control panels, uninstall software, and run most software, such as utilities and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-windows-defender-microsoft-defender-antivirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antivirus programs</a>. <h2>How to start your computer in Safe Mode</h2>Both <a href="https://shop-links.co/1734971899888345705" target="_blank" rel="nofollow nofollow noopener sponsored sponsored">Windows</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmacbook-pro%2F13-inch" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Mac</a> have their own version of Safe Mode you can invoke if you're having a serious problem with your computer. The method of starting Safe Mode has changed over the years with various versions of Windows. Through Windows 7, you would typically invoke Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key just as your computer starts to boot. In Windows 10, you don't have to time pressing a function key during startup. Instead, you can start Safe Mode from the Settings app - restart into Safe Mode from the Recovery section. Read our article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-boot-in-safe-mode-windows-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how to boot your Windows 10 computer into Safe Mode</a> for more information.You can launch your <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fshop%2Fbuy-mac%2Fmacbook-pro%2F13-inch" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Mac</a> into Safe Mode by holding down the Shift key just as you start your computer. Read our article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-start-mac-in-safe-mode" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how to start your Mac computer in Safe Mode</a> for more information.<a data-type="5fac6ac2bf96b936b9303b23">Ransomware can encrypt your files and force you to pay money - here's how to avoid ransomware, or deal with an infection</a><a data-type="60634733266b204c56496bf1">What is Secure Boot? A guide to your PC's security check during startup</a><a data-type="6063889dd26b7d6c90456c57">How to disable Secure Boot on your PC when you need to install components that aren't compatible with the security feature</a><a data-type="5fada43dbe509c16f80c2743">What is a computer virus? Here's how to spot signs of viruses and avoid them</a>

A guide to Safe Mode, a troubleshooting method to use when your computer isn't working properly

Ahmedabad: City-based <keyword id="23141571" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="DNA-Wellness" source="Orion">DNA Wellness</keyword> on Thursday said it will invest Rs 200 crore to set up over 100 cervical cancer screening labs across India by 2027. The company has acquired exclusive rights to conduct the <keyword id="23141572" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="DNA-Ploidy-Test" source="Orion">DNA Ploidy Test</keyword>, a diagnostic tool developed by the <keyword id="23141214" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="british-columbia-cancer-research-agency" source="keywords">British Columbia Cancer Research Agency</keyword>, Canada, the company said in a statement. The test, also known as CERViSure, is a quick, accurate, and non-invasive method to detect cervical cancer. DNA Wellness also announced the launch India's first CERViSure laboratory in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which will provide easy access to cervical cancer screening facility to people. "Going forward, DNA wellness will invest Rs 200 crore to set up some 100 dedicated CERViSure laboratories across India, in a phased manner by 2027, to help the DNA Ploidy reach a maximum number of patients," the company said. "By October 2024, the company will open dedicatedlaboratories in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat," <keyword id="23136756" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pathik-bhandari" source="keywords">Pathik Bhandari</keyword>, Co-founder, DNA Wellness, said. The company will also explore collaboration with hospitals, clinics, and doctors to expand access to the DNA <keyword id="23136760" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ploidy-test" source="keywords">Ploidy Test</keyword>, aiming to make it available nationwide. Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in India, with some 1.3 lakh new cases and 80,000 deaths reported every year, the company said. DNA Wellness is a leading player in providing advanced DNA profiling technologies in India. It works in the area of detecting genetic instability to improve patient outcomes for screening of diseases.

DNA Wellness to invest Rs 200 crore to set up over 100 cervical cancer screening labs

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zap-energy-fusion-power-plant-z-pinch-2023-12">fusion reactor</a> in southern France achieved a significant milestone toward clean, limitless energy.</li><li>The fusion reactor, WEST, created a super-hot plasma and sustained it for a record-breaking 6 minutes.</li></ul>A fusion reactor in southern France, called WEST, just achieved an important milestone that brings us one step closer to clean, sustainable, nearly limitless energy.Scientists at New Jersey's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, who collaborated on the project, announced today that the device created a super-hot material called <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-video-solar-flares-erupt-simultaneously-on-sun-earth-impacts-2024-4">a plasma</a> that reached 90 million degrees Fahrenheit (50 million degrees Celsius) for 6 straight minutes.The ultimate goal is to sustain a super-hot plasma for many hours, but 6 minutes is a new world record for a device like WEST. Other nuclear reactors similar to WEST have created hotter plasmas, but they haven't lasted as long.WEST is what's called <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/largest-fusion-reactor-power-on-in-japan-2023-12">a tokamak</a>. It's a donut-shaped fusion reactor the size of an 8-by-8-foot room with 8-foot-tall ceilings, capable of generating the same type of energy that powers our sun. That's why scientists sometimes call these machines "artificial suns."<div type="image" title="the sun glowing yellow-orange orb in black space covered in roiling plasma with two dark large spots" height="1024" width="1024" msid="109895805" hostid="261"></div>"What we are trying to do is create a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/second-nuclear-fusion-reaction-experiment-yields-more-energy-2023-8">sun on Earth</a>," Luis Delgado-Aparicio, PPPL's head of advanced projects, told Business Insider. "And that is extremely, extremely challenging," he said, but this new record suggests they're headed in the right direction.The sun runs on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hydrogen-bomb-vs-atomic-bomb-what-is-the-difference-2023-9">nuclear fusion</a> (when atomic nuclei combine and release energy) not to be confused with the nuclear fission process (when atomic nuclei split apart and release energy) that powers today's nuclear reactors.Fusion energy is more powerful than any form of energy we have today. If we can harness that power, it could <a target="_blank" href="https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-is-nuclear-fusion">produce</a> almost 4 million times more energy per kilogram of fuel than fossil fuels. Plus, it's carbon-free.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-no-fusion-energy-power-plants-yet-how-2023-10">Significant challenges</a> remain before that becomes a reality, which is where experimental reactors like WEST come in.While WEST won't be used to generate fusion for electricity to power homes, it's critical for the research that's laying the groundwork for future commercial reactors.<h2>WEST creates more energy and lays the groundwork for ITER</h2><div type="image" title="The exterior of a tokamak, a large device with metal ladders and scaffolding around it" height="552" width="600" msid="109895807" hostid="261"></div>WEST has a lot in common with ITER, a nearby reactor being built in southern France, which will be the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/whats-the-iter-nuclear-fusion-plant-and-why-is-it-important-2016-2">world's largest tokamak</a> capable of self-sustaining burning plasmas when it's finished. Creating that self-heating mix is a crucial step to harnessing the power of fusion for commercial purposes.However, due to cost and technology <a target="_blank" href="https://phys.org/news/2023-01-international-fusion-energy-delays-chief.html">setbacks</a>, it's unclear when ITER will be finished. In the meantime, other facilities are conducting experiments to figure out how best to operate the giant reactor. That includes WEST.The two reactors are practically neighbors, and the experiments at WEST are directly applicable to ITER, Delgado-Aparicio said.For fusion to happen on Earth, the fuel needs to reach at least 50 million degrees Celsius. One of the main obstacles fusion power faces is that it takes a tremendous amount of energy to generate those extreme temperatures, and, so far, reactors can't sustain a plasma long enough to gain an energy surplus that could be put toward commercial use. For now, fusion reactors typically consume more energy than they produce.WEST's latest breakthrough was no exception. However, it did generate 15% more energy from fusion compared to earlier attempts, PPPL reported in a statement. Moreover, the plasma was twice as dense, another important component of creating more energy.<h2>The key to WEST's record success: tungsten</h2><div type="image" title="A man holds a sample of tungsten in a glass jar" height="651" width="1024" msid="109895809" hostid="261"></div>WEST is helping scientists test the best materials for building the walls inside a fusion reactor, which isn't easy since these environments can reach temperatures more than three times hotter than the sun's center.Originally, WEST contained carbon walls. While carbon is easy to work with, Delgado-Aparicio said, it also absorbs tritium, a rare <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oppenheimer-science-to-understand-physics-atomic-bombs-2023-7">hydrogen isotope</a> that fuels the fusion reaction."Imagine you have a wall that is not only a wall, but it's some sort of a sponge," he said, "a sponge that absorbs your fuel."So, in 2012, scientists decided to test a different material for the tokamak's walls, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tungsten-cube-sold-on-amazon-sell-for-thousands-crypto-community-2021-11">tungsten</a> — the same material that ITER will use for some of its main components.<div type="image" title="Three men in white lab coats sit at a desk looking at a computer" height="1281" width="2000" msid="109895810" hostid="261"></div>Because of tungsten's ability to withstand heat without absorbing tritium, Delgado-Aparicio believes it is the ideal material for tokamak walls.That said, tungsten isn't perfect. One of its downfalls is it can melt and enter <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fusion-startup-tokamak-energy-raises-87-million-2020-1">the plasma</a>, contaminating it. In turn, this can counteract the process, radiating a lot of energy away and cooling the plasma.To optimize the system, scientists need to understand how exactly tungsten behaves and interacts with the plasma. That's what researchers are doing with WEST.<div type="image" title="A purplish wavy line against a blue background" height="570" width="696" msid="109895812" hostid="261"></div>The team at PPPL modified a diagnostic tool that they used in this latest experiment from WEST. The tool helped the team accurately measure the plasma's temperature to better understand how tungsten migrates from the wall of the device to the plasma."We can detect how it moves inside, we can follow it, we can study its transport inside the machine," Delgadot-Aparicio said. That could help build future methods for keeping the plasma free of impurities like blobs of tungsten that cool it down."Now we understand how that cooling needs to be taken care of," he said, "and that experience is going to be exported next door to ITER."WEST and ITER aren't the only reactors that use tungsten.Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), for example, is using tungsten walls for SPARC, its demonstration <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/power-line-fuel-for-fusion-energy-investment-falls-bankruptcy-woes-2020-5">fusion reactor</a>. And Korea's KSTAR has a tungsten divertor and recently demonstrated a 30-second, 100-million-degree plasma.Whether tungsten proves to be the key to unlocking commercial fusion energy remains to be seen.Commercial fusion energy is still likely decades away, but Delgado-Aparicio thinks they're making steps toward "this big goal of giving energy to humankind."PPPL said it will publish the results of its experiment in a peer-reviewed journal in a few weeks.

An 'artificial sun' achieved a record-breaking fusion experiment, bringing us closer to clean, limitless energy

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dogs could be our best friends when it comes to flagging COVID-19 infections.</li><li>New research finds they can diagnose COVID quickly, even at levels too low for tests. </li></ul>If you're tired of sticking swabs up your nose to test for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.insider.com/august-flu-vs-covid-infection-rate-2023-8">COVID-19</a>, rest assured that a much friendlier (and furrier) option may be on the horizon.New research suggests COVID-sniffing dogs are as effective or even better at detecting infections compared to currently-available tests in at-home kits and clinics — so much so they could replace <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-test-rapid-antigen-test-lateral-flow-pcr-explained-2021-1">PCR tests as the "gold standard" for diagnosis</a>, according to researchers from the University of California Santa Barbara.Scientists already know that dogs can probably <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323620">sniff out various types of cancer</a> — colon, prostate, breast skin — and may be able to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.insider.com/guides/pets/can-dogs-sense-pregnancy">sense pregnancy</a>. At first, there was little research on whether they could detect COVID, too, but a new research review has found a large body of evidence suggesting how helpful dogs can be in diagnosing the infectious illness. The authors of the new review, published last month in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/jom-2023-0104/html">Journal of Osteopathic Medicine</a>, looked at 29 studies — including more than 30,000 samples across 31 countries. They said they found extensive evidence that trained dogs can accurately identify positive cases of COVID-19 through smell, which could be a less-invasive and more environmentally-friendly testing strategy than relying on plastic kits and disposable swabs. In some cases, dogs were able to identify COVID-19 infections in patients who had a viral load too low for other tests to work, the review found.The specially-trained canines could also diagnose quicker than other testing methods, after just a quick sniff of a person, and could also flag the virus in sweat samples in a process that takes only minutes. Dogs have incredibly sensitive noses that make them uniquely suited to sniffing out disease, according to Tommy Dickey, co-author of the paper, professor emeritus at UC Santa Barbara, and a certified <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/emotional-support-animal">therapy dog</a> handler."They can detect the equivalent of one drop of an odorous substance in 10.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools," Dickey said in a press release. "For perspective, this is about three orders of magnitude better than with scientific instrumentation."And when it comes to snooting out COVID, all dogs are good dogs, according to the review. While scent dogs like hounds would be ideal, studies found that weeks of training could turn dogs of different ages, breeds, and backgrounds into virus-detecting pros. Diagnostics could even be a career option for rehabilitating troubled pups, as one study found a so-called "problem" pit bull from an abusive home got a fresh start as a COVID detector. Still, there are some logistical challenges to training and deploying the dogs on a large scale before we can toss out our test kits in favor of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/benefits-of-having-a-dog">four-legged friends</a>, according to the researchers."There's quite a bit of research, but it's still considered by many as a kind of a curiosity," Dickey said.

Dogs can smell COVID-19 — and may be better at diagnosing it than a COVID test

<keyword id="109073" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="duke-university" source="Orion">Duke University</keyword> engineers have created a gadget that employs sound waves to separate and sort the smallest particles found in the blood in a couple of minutes. The technique is based on a concept known as "virtual pillars," and it has the potential to benefit both scientific research and medicinal applications. Small extracellular vesicles (<keyword id="14313578" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sevs" source="Orion">SEVs</keyword>) are tiny biological <keyword id="67799" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nanoparticles" source="Orion">nanoparticles</keyword> generated by all types of cells in the body and are thought to play an important role in cell-to-cell communication and disease transmission. Acoustic Nanoscale Separation by Wave-pillar Excitation Resonance, or ANSWER for short, is a revolutionary technology that not only extracts nanoparticles from biofluids in under 10 minutes but also separates them into size categories thought to have unique biological roles. The findings were published online in the journal Science Advances. "These nanoparticles have significant potential in medical diagnosis and treatment, but the current technologies for separating and sorting them take several hours or days, are inconsistent, produce low yield or purity, suffer from contamination and sometimes damage the nanoparticles," said Tony Jun Huang, the William Bevan Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Duke. "We want to make extracting and sorting high-quality sEVs as simple as pushing a button and getting the desired samples faster than it takes to take a shower," Huang said. According to a recent study, sEVs are divided into various subgroups of varying sizes (e.g., smaller than 50 nanometers, between 60 and 80 nanometers, and between 90 and 150 nanometers). Each size is thought to have unique biological features. Researchers are thrilled by the recent finding of sEV subpopulations because of their potential to transform the field of non-invasive diagnostics, such as the early identification of cancer and Alzheimer's disease. However, the particles have not yet made their way into therapeutic settings. Huang attributes this to the challenges in identifying and isolating these nano-sized sEV subpopulations. Huang, his doctoral student Jinxin <keyword id="16963" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="zhang" source="Orion">Zhang</keyword>, and collaborators from UCLA, Harvard, and the Magee-Women'<keyword id="15695474" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="s-research-institute" source="Orion">s Research Institute</keyword> created the ANSWER platform to solve this problem. A single pair of transducers generates a standing sound wave that envelops a narrow, enclosed fluid-filled channel. Through the channel walls, the sound wave "leaks" into the liquid core and interacts with the original standing sound wave. This interaction causes a resonance that forms "virtual pillars" throughout the middle of the channel with proper design of the wall thickness, channel size, and sound frequency. Each of these virtual pillars is effectively a half-egg-shaped high-pressure zone. Particles that attempt to cross the pillars are forced toward the channel's boundaries. And the greater the particle size, the greater the push. By tuning the series of virtual pillars to create nuanced forces on the travelling nanoparticles, the researchers can precisely sort them by size into a variety of groups determined by the needs of the experiments at hand. "The ANSWER EV fractionation technology is the most advanced capability for precise EV fractionation, and it will significantly impact the horizon of EV diagnostics, prognostics and liquid biopsy," said David Wong, director of UCLA Center for Oral/Head &amp; Neck Oncology Research. In the new paper, the researchers demonstrate that their ANSWER platform can successfully sort sEVs into three subgroups with 96 per cent accuracy for nanoparticles on the larger end of the spectrum and 80 per cent accuracy for the smallest. They also show flexibility in their system, adjusting the number of groupings and ranges of sizes with simple updates to the sound wave parameters. Each of the experiments only took 10 minutes to complete, whereas other methods such as ultra-centrifugation can take several hours or days. "Due to its contact-free nature, ANSWER offers a biocompatible approach for the separation of biological nanoparticles," Zhang said. "Unlike mechanical filtration methods, which have fixed separation cutoff diameters, ANSWER offers a tunable approach to nanoscale separation, and the cutoff diameter can be precisely modified by varying the input acoustic power." SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/centre-to-convene-all-party-meet-monday-to-finalise-strategies-for-2023-g-20-summit/articleshow/95975548.cms">Centre to convene all-party meet Monday to finalise strategies for 2023 G-20 summit</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/tech-majors-are-also-the-companies-that-employ-the-highest-number-of-women/articleshow/95946250.cms">Tech majors are also the companies that employ the highest number of women</a>

Researchers develop device that uses sound waves to separate blood-based nanoparticles

As millions suffer from fatigue and other other symptoms of <keyword id="9814327" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="long-covid" source="Orion">long Covid</keyword>, researchers have presented new evidence of triggers for fatigue following the SARS-COV-2 infection. The team from <keyword id="197550" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="university-of-vienna" source="Orion">University of Vienna</keyword> and the <keyword id="746390" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="medical-university-of-vienna" source="Orion">Medical University of Vienna</keyword>, led by chemist Christopher Gerner, showed that an exaggerated anti-inflammatory response is likely to be responsible for long <keyword id="8764262" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid" source="Orion">Covid</keyword> syndrome. Although auto-immunity was previously suspected as the main cause of long Covid, there is no evidence of accompanying inflammatory processes in the long Covid syndrome patients. According to the new study published in iScience, not the excessive inflammatory reaction but anti-inflammatory substances as the triggers for the long Covid syndrome. Contrary to previous expectations, the researchers were able to find several anti-inflammatory proteins, lipids and metabolites in long Covid patients, which on the one hand could contribute to the most important long Covid syndrome symptoms, and, on the other hand, point to the formation of alternatively polarised macrophages as the cause. In the course of a viral infection, there is normally a very strong activation of the immune system. But in virtually all of the long Covid patients studied, corresponding markers such as cytokines, acute phase proteins and eicosanoids, which indicate inflammation, were in fact hardly detectable. "All important potential markers for acute inflammatory processes were below the levels of healthy donors or not detectable at all in LCS patients," said Gerner. Surprisingly, the differences were more pronounced in long Covid patients compared to asymptomatic patients recovering from Covid disease than to healthy controls. "This finding shows that there was indeed some residual inflammatory response detectable in asymptomatic recovered patients, whereas long Covid patients had the opposite finding," Gerner added. The researchers are confident that in the near future, they will be able to offer significantly improved diagnostic options for long Covid syndrome and, above all, monitoring methods to evaluate the effects of therapy.

European researchers identify triggers for long Covid syndrome

Genetic correlation estimates typically assume that mating is random. But in the real world, partners tend to pair up because of many shared interests and social structures. Many estimates of how strongly traits and diseases share genetic signals may be inflated, according to a new UCLA-led study that indicates current methods for assessing genetic relationships between traits fail to account for mating patterns. Through the use of powerful genome sequencing technology, scientists in recent years have sought to understand the genetic associations between traits and disease risk, hoping that discoveries of shared genetics could point to clues for tackling diseases. However, <keyword id="6412602" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ucla" source="Orion">UCLA</keyword> researchers said their new study, published Nov. 17 in Science, provides caution against relying too heavily on genetic correlation estimates. They say that such estimates are confounded by non-biological factors more than has been previously appreciated. Genetic correlation estimates typically assume that mating is random. But in the real world, partners tend to pair up because of many shared interests and social structures. As a result, some genetic correlations in previous work that have been attributed to shared biology may instead represent incorrect statistical assumptions. For example, previous estimates of genetic overlap between body mass index (<keyword id="6378215" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bmi" source="Orion">BMI</keyword>) and educational attainment are likely to reflect this type of population structure, induced by "cross-trait assortative mating," or how individuals of one trait tend to partner with individuals of another trait. The study authors said genetic correlation estimates deserve more scrutiny since these estimates have been used to predict disease risk, glean clues for potential therapies, inform diagnostic practices, and shape arguments about human behaviour and societal issues. The authors said some in the scientific community have placed too much emphasis on genetic correlation estimates based on the idea that studying genes, because they are unalterable, can overcome confounding factors. "If you just look at two traits that are elevated in a group of people, you can't conclude that they're there for the same reason," said lead author <keyword id="15550777" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="richard-border" source="Orion">Richard Border</keyword>, a postdoctoral researcher in statistical genetics at UCLA. "But there's been a kind of assumption that if you can track this back to genes, then you would have the causal story." Based on their analysis of two large databases of spousal traits, researchers found that cross-trait assortative mating is strongly associated with genetic correlation estimates and plausibly accounts for a "substantial" portion of genetic correlation estimates. "Cross-trait assortative mating has affected all of our genomes and caused interesting correlations between DNA you inherit from your mother and DNA you inherit from your father across the whole genome," said study co-author <keyword id="15550778" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="noah-zaitlen" source="Orion">Noah Zaitlen</keyword>, a professor of computational medicine and neurology at UCLA Health. The researchers also examined genetic correlation estimates of psychiatric disorders, which have sparked debate in the psychiatric community because they appear to show genetic relationships among disorders that seemingly have little similarities, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia. The researchers found that genetic correlations for a number of unrelated traits could be plausibly attributed to cross-trait assortative mating and imperfect diagnostic practices. On the other hand, their analysis found stronger links for some pairs of traits, like anxiety disorders and major depression, suggesting that there truly is at least some shared biology. "But even when there is a real signal there, we're still suggesting that we're overestimating the extent of that sharing," <keyword id="38530" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="border" source="Orion">Border</keyword> said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/covid-19-infection-may-reactivate-several-latent-viruses-in-body-study/articleshow/95581176.cms">Covid-19 can reactivate latent viruses lurking in the body's cells</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/stillbirths-are-a-hidden-tragedy-says-icmr-as-it-seeks-research-funding/articleshow/95582779.cms">Stillbirths are a hidden tragedy says ICMR as it seeks research funding</a>

Genetics says mating is random, but in reality it takes shared interests to pair up, say researchers

<ul class="summary-list"><li>My mom moved from the US to Andalusia, Spain, after retiring. </li><li>We haven't had to pay more than $3 for prescriptions and never receive bills from doctors. </li></ul>At 40, I rerouted a Los Angeles-based writing career to join my 73-year-old mother in a village in southern <a href="https://www.insider.com/moving-from-united-states-to-spain-surprising-things-2022-5">Spain</a>. While she and I have always been close, we tend to argue about everyday things. Moving with my partner to <a href="https://www.insider.com/surprising-things-about-living-in-spain-as-american-2023-2">a foreign country </a>to be with her was a personal and professional risk, even as a temporary arrangement.<h2>I saw the benefit of living in a country that values its elderly population</h2>A report called "<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559486/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Filling the Geriatric Gap</a>" estimated that nearly<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559486/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> one in five Americans would be over the age of 65 between 2010 and 2030</a>. The author posed an important question, "Is the US health system prepared for an aging population?"The question remained relevant in 1998, as my mother was retiring at the age of 60 as the president of an art college in Philadelphia and had decided to branch out as a consultant for international programs. Her pension and some small investments would serve as income until she could take her Social Security distribution.She had an opportunity to time-share a house in Andalusia, and in 1998 that turned into her packing up and leaving the US entirely. I don't remember speaking with her about this decision. I'm her only child, and I hadn't considered the logistics of traveling overseas to see her. The move was permanent for her. My partner and I spent a couple of years traveling between LA and Spain, but finally decided to settle in Spain. For us, the move is also permanent. We all live in the same property but in different houses. <h2>I worried about her in a foreign country alone</h2>Spain's National Health System is based on the principles of<a href="https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/countries/spain" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> "universality, free access, equity, and fairness of financing</a>" and covers 99.1% of the population, the World Health Organization's website says. As a legal resident, my mother relies on this resource like any Spanish-born citizen.<div type="image" title="The author and her mom posing for a ohoto" height="1360" width="1814" msid="99591456" hostid="261" sizebytes="167042"></div>When something feels off, we go to the "consultorio" — a local medical center where she speaks to a doctor about her medications or other health concerns. We pick up prescriptions at the pharmacy using her medical card and pay no more than $2 or $3 a visit. If she requires a specialist, the consultorio puts in a request for an appointment. In an emergency, we would be sent to the hospital, where her information would already be in the system for admittance and treatment. <h2>We have never received a bill for a doctor, MRI, or other diagnostic service or hospital visit</h2>Andalusian culture values its aging citizens. At every social event, grandparents are as engaged in the festivities as anyone else. When my mother's cane falls to the ground, at least two people go out of their way to pick it up. Shopkeepers are patient as she methodically puts her money in her wallet. The bus driver gets out of his seat to help her with the stairs. Neighbors stop in to talk about her artwork. In town, I'm routinely asked, "How is your mother?" <h2>I rarely worry about her, which is important as a freelance writer working remotely</h2>While my mother had a successful career and financial resources, I doubt she would have had the same quality of life if she had stayed in the US. She falls into what AARP calls <a href="https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2022/jenkins-long-term-care-crisis.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"the gigantic middle"</a>, Americans whose resources make them ineligible for Medicaid but are not wealthy enough to sustain the long-term, ongoing costs of healthcare as they age. In Spain, my mother lives well on her monthly Social Security payments thanks to the universal healthcare system, and I'm able to make sure she has fruitful golden years as my mother and friend.Michelle Cutler is an essayist and screenwriter based in southern Spain with her partner, mother, and dog, Ragazzo.

You Searched For "diagnostic methods" and got 11 results

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My mom retired to Spain for a better quality of life. I didn't know it would include me moving with her.

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