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Of the various potential rulings possible in the case involving the abortion pill mifepristone, either of those outcomes would be unprecedented judicial intervention in the agency's regulatory process. Some of the FDA's options could be politically and legally risky both for the agency and mifepristone suppliers, they said. The FDA said the pill was deemed safe after extensive studies and use, and that the challenge comes much too late. Under FDA statutes and regulations, drug approval withdrawal generally begins with an informal hearing, which can entail extensive document preparation and the convening of an advisory committee. Overseas provider Aid Access, an Austria-based service that ships abortion medication to U.S. patients, said it would continue providing the pill no matter how the FDA responds.

☆ Generative AI Makes Headway in Healthcare
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Belle Lin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center plans to roll out a generative artificial intelligence-based tool from Abridge AI that helps doctors cut down on the amount of time they spend on notes. Startups offering the same kind of artificial intelligence behind the viral chatbot ChatGPT are making inroads into hospitals and drug companies even as questions remain over the technology’s accuracy. Healthcare startups such as Pittsburgh-based Abridge AI Inc., whose product helps doctors write notes after seeing their patients, and San Francisco-based Syntegra Inc., which uses generative AI to create realistic copies of patient data for research, say they have applied generative artificial intelligence for the safest and most accurate current uses in healthcare.

☆ Zaps to the Spinal Cord Improved Patients’ Paralysis After Stroke
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Nidhi Subbaraman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Stroke survivor Heather Rendulic, right, said she was able to open and close her hand for the first time in nine years while taking part in the trial. Photo: Tim Betler, UPMC and University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences

☆ Hamlin accepts NFLPA service award, vowing never to take role for granted
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Feb 8, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin accepts the Alan Page Community Award during the NFLPA press conference at the Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsPHOENIX, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin accepted the NFLPA's Alan Page Community Service Award on Wednesday, appearing in Phoenix ahead of the Super Bowl a little over a month after suffering cardiac arrest on the field during a game. Hamlin credited his father, who was in attendance for the award ceremony, with inspiring him to serve the community. Hamlin overcame adversity to reach the NFL, losing three friends to gun violence growing up in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. "And for everything that he means to me and us, I think we'd move heaven and earth to get him here."

☆ 'It's embarrassing for our sport.': Duke University women's basketball coach says her team played first half with the wrong ball
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

According to Lawson, her players complained about the basketball during the first half of the game against FSU. While Lawson alleges it was men's basketball used in the first half, the ACC and FSU concluded otherwise, per ESPN. Despite her outrage, Atlantic Coast Conference and Florida State officials concluded the ball used during the first half of Sunday's game, which was played in Florida, wasn't a men's basketball. They beat us playing with a men's ball in the first half and a women's ball in the second half," Lawson said. "But I can't say if we'd have played with a women's ball in the first half and the second half that we would have won.

☆ U.S. CDC still looking at potential stroke risk from Pfizer bivalent COVID shot
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Michael Erman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials said they had not detected a link between the shots and strokes in two other safety monitoring databases. The new data was presented at a meeting of outside experts that advise the FDA on vaccine policy. Most of the confirmed cases had also received a flu vaccine at the same time, which might be a factor, she said. FDA scientist Richard Forshee said the agency plans to study whether there is any increased risk of stroke from receiving the two shots at the same time. Both agencies still recommend older adults receive the booster shots, now tailored to target Omicron variants as well as the original coronavirus.

☆ Teachers are adapting to concerns about a powerful new AI tool
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Some teachers said they’ve also heard of students being required to film short videos that elaborate on their thought process. Public schools in New York City and Seattle, meanwhile, have already banned students and teachers from using ChatGPT on the district’s networks and devices. Reid, the professor at Coastal Carolina University, believes teachers should work with ChatGPT and teach best practices in the classroom. Reid said teachers could encourage students to plug an assignment question into the tool and have them compare that result to what they personally wrote. “Like with other new technologies, this could be a tool instructors use to help students express their ideas,” she said.

☆ Some Olaplex users say their hair broke and fell out after using the TikTok-famous luxury hair brand. Experts question a connection to the products.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Allana Akhtar | Alex Bitter | Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Insider interviewed 10 former Olaplex users who voiced concerns about Olaplex on social media and in emails to Insider. Asked about the symptoms that the Olaplex users experienced, an Olaplex spokesperson told Insider: "We take each and every customer inquiry very seriously. Aftering switching to a drugstore brand of hair products, she said she saw an immediate reduction in hair loss. Keannia Johnson said her hair fell out and turned straw-like in texture after using Olaplex products. She started using Olaplex products in April.

☆ Pharmacies can now sell the abortion pill, but you probably won't find it at top chains like CVS, Walmart, or Walgreens anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Ben Tobin | Sarah Braner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The FDA authorized retail pharmacies to become certified to carry mifepristone in a ruling Tuesday. Retailers may not sell the abortion pill due to administrative hurdles and backlash, experts say. But don't expect to be able to find the pill at your local Walmart or CVS any time soon. The FDA implemented the regulatory change Tuesday night to allow retail pharmacies to dispense mifepristone to people with a prescription. Insider contacted seven major retail pharmacies to ask whether they plan to sell mifepristone.

☆ Fans donate to Damar Hamlin's charity toy drive after Bills player's collapse
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Leila Sackur | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

An online toy drive fundraiser created by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been flooded with donations after he collapsed during a game Monday night. 3 Panthers jersey, and added: “Damar Hamlin is the best of us. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during a game against the Cleveland Browns, on Nov. 20, 2022, in Detroit. NFL players joined in rallying around Hamlin as emotional fans gathered outside the hospital with candles, video from NBC affiliate WLWT showed. The Buffalo Bills tweeted “Bills Mafia is with you, @HamlinIsland,” referring to the player and a name for Bills fans.

In just his second year of pro football, Damar Hamlin had just come into his own with the Super Bowl-contending Buffalo Bills before he was rushed to a Cincinnati hospital. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (31) at Soldier Field in Chicago, on Aug. 21, 2021. He was a sixth-round pick from Pitt last year and he took a starting role for Buffalo after a neck injury to Micah Hyde. Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo native, tweeted: "Praying for Damar Hamlin. Josh Shapiro said in a statement: "Praying for Damar Hamlin and his family."

Summary Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after a hitNo decision on rescheduling gameBengals leading 7-3 when game haltedJan 3 (Reuters) - Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was in critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during Monday's National Football League (NFL) game against Cincinnati. "Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals," the Bills said in a statement. The game was suspended with suspended in the first quarter after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) was taken away in an ambulance following a play. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-USA TODAY Sports'PLEASE BE OK'The NFL Players Association also said Hamlin's health was the number one priority. "We have been in touch with the Bills and Bengals players, and with the NFL," it said.

When it comes to persistent bad breath, the types of probiotic bacteria found in fermented foods like yogurt, sourdough bread and miso soup may help ease the offending odor, a new study suggests. A major cause of persistent bad breath is gaseous blends of sulfur and other elements, known as volatile sulfuric compounds, that are produced by mouth bacteria, the researchers note. To take a closer look at whether probiotic bacteria might help manage bad breath, the researchers scoured the medical literature for studies on the topic. Bad breath severity in the trials was assessed by measurements of the compounds detected in the mouth, along with a score that indicated how strong the bad breath odors were at various distances from the mouth. Nutritionist Perri Halperin said people with persistent bad breath should see a dentist for potential underlying health issues.

Perry was chatting with his mother at 10:06 p.m. EST Nov. 13 as they approached campus, his parents, Happy and Sean Perry said. Minutes after hanging up, social media lit up with word of an active shooter on the Charlottesville campus, his parents said. “He said they were on the way back almost to campus and his phone was going dead," his mother told NBC News. Former Virginia football player Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. has been arrested and charged in the deadly shooting. "If we don't do something about it, it will continue," Sean Perry said.

☆ What's in the 'magic spray' World Cup players use, and does it really work?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Angela Yang | Angela Yang Is An Intern For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Saudi Arabia's midfielder Salem Al-Dawsari receives medical treatment during the Qatar 2022 World Cup match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico on Nov. 30. It’s common for soccer players to take impacts in bony areas, which can cause pain but don’t often lead to lasting injuries. But if a player suffers a fracture or tear, cold spray might do more harm than good. Serbia's forward Aleksandar Mitrovic receives medical attention during the Qatar 2022 World Cup match between Cameroon and Serbia on Nov. 28. The general public can find versions of these sprays at drug stores or online, sold as “Cold Spray” or “Pain Relief Spray” by brands like Cramer or MyDerm.

☆ Americans are eating more whole grains, but are still confused by the food labels
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Linda Carroll | Linda Carroll Is A Regular Health Contributor To Nbc News | Reuters Health. She Is Coauthor Of | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

At least half of the grains consumed daily should be whole grains, according to the USDA's recommendations. “Consumers need to be careful when they go shopping for whole grain foods,” said Zhang. What’s important is the percentage of the total grain in the food that is actually whole grain, Zhang said. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans identifies whole grain foods as those containing 50% or more by weight of the grain- or flour-containing component as whole grain ingredients. For example, when a product is described as being made with whole grains, that doesn’t mean it’s 100% whole grains, Cholewka said.

☆ Elon Musk showed off updates to his brain chips and said he’s going to install one in himself when they are ready
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk's health tech venture Neuralink shared updates to its brain-implant technology during a "show and tell" recruitment event Wednesday night. "We're confident there are no physical limitations to restoring full body functionality," Musk said. Neuralink could begin to test the motor cortex technology in humans in as soon as six months, Musk said. "You could have a Neuralink device implanted right now and you wouldn't even know. Musk showed footage of a monkey with a computer chip in its skull playing "telepathic video games," which Neuralink first debuted over a year ago.

Family and friends of three college football players, gunned down at the University of Virginia, called their slayings "heartbreaking and tragic." This is my firstborn child,” he said, adding that his son who could “light up a room just with a smile” was focused on school, football and his family. Their family, from Charleston, South Carolina, was heading to the UVA campus Monday. “It is heartbreaking and tragic that Devin’s young life was cut short by violence," Wisconsin Athletic Director Chris McIntosh said in a statement. Chandler still had plenty of friends in Madison and Sunday's fatal shooting will be felt throughout the program, Wisconsin officials said.

The race is a must-win for Democrats to have any hope of retaining control of the House. It’s one where, on the whole, it might edge Democratic looking at the district but with no incumbent, a pretty well-funded Republican and a good cycle. It makes me mad.”In an interview ahead of the rally with Oz rally in suburban Pittsburgh, Shaffer said Deluzio was “desperate” because his campaign has gained some momentum in the final weeks. As for why the area has become such a significant swing district, Rothfus cited its economic and geographic importance. “It’s the crossroads of a huge section of the country, right between the Midwest and the Northeast,” he said.

John Fetterman, the Democratic Senate nominee, along with Democratic candidates in local House races on the University of Pittsburgh's campus. Former President Barack Obama speaks to supporters of Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fetterman in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Democratic Pennsylvania Senate nominee John Fetterman speaks to supporters on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh on Saturday. Jeff Swensen / Getty ImagesOz, Obama said, would be a vote for Trump in case of another close election in 2024. Oz, Trump said, is "desperately" needed in the Senate where "he could very well be the tie-breaking vote."

☆ Just 10% of voters under 40 'strongly approve' of Biden in new poll, inflation remains a top concern ahead of the midterm elections
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

One quarter of all respondents under 40 strongly disapproved of Biden's performance. Twenty-six percent of respondents said they "approve somewhat" of Biden's performance and an additional 22% neither approve or disapprove. "There's overwhelming disagreement with the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and we find the Supreme Court is highly unpopular among young adults," Ramanathan said. "Inflation is the most salient issue among young adults — specifically inflation, rather than general economic concerns," Ramanathan said, noting that it's increased from previous surveys. "More young adults say inflation makes them more likely to support Republicans than Democrats, but the plurality, about a third, say it won't impact their vote."

☆ Gerald Stern, prize-winning and lyrical poet, dies at 97
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Stern, New Jersey’s first poet laureate, died Thursday at Calvary Hospice in New York City, according to his longtime partner, Anne Marie Macari. He regarded “The One Thing in Life,” from the 1977 collection “Lucky Life,” as the poem that best defined him. Stern studied political science at the University of Pittsburgh and received a master’s in comparative literature from Columbia University. They had two children, Rachael Stern Martin and David Stern. Or get laid.”Besides Macari and his children, Stern is survived by grandchildren Dylan and Alana Stern and Rebecca and Julia Martin.

Instead, data and child welfare experts suggest the changes may have done the opposite. State child welfare officials say more vigilance in documenting severe cases of abuse likely contributed to the increase. Child welfare experts say these findings cast doubt on the effectiveness of the primary tool that states rely on to protect children: mandatory child abuse reporting. These policies, the bedrock of America’s child welfare system, were first implemented more than half a century ago in response to growing national awareness of child maltreatment. “We are continuing to tell mandated reporters, ‘Report, report, report,’ and nobody can handle it,” Berger said in an interview.

☆ Alzheimer's disease, retirement 'pacts,' and serving until you're 104 years old: Inside the federal judiciary's reckoning with age
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( C. Ryan Barber | Camila Dechalus | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

She was nearly two decades older than the median age — 68 — for all federal judges, according to an Insider analysis. More than a century later, in the 1920s, future Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes argued for a mandatory retirement age. In 1954, the Senate passed a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that'd require retirement at age 75 for federal judges. A recent poll by Insider and Morning Consult found that 71% of 2,210 respondents said the federal judiciary should have a mandatory retirement age. For Scheindlin, the former federal judge in Manhattan, Weinstein was an example of an older judge who was "terrific to his last day."

☆ What happens when you don't get enough sleep? Blood samples show heart risks.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Linda Carroll | Linda Carroll Is A Regular Health Contributor To Nbc News | Reuters Health. She Is Coauthor Of | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

“In subjects who had undergone sleep restriction, the number of immune cells circulating in the blood was higher. To look at the impact of restricted sleep on the immune system, Swirski and his colleagues conducted experiments in humans and in mice. Once again, the researchers drew blood samples and totaled the number of immune cells. Moreover, the stem cells that give birth to immune cells had changed as a result of the six weeks of shortened sleep. Those marks on the stem cells, through a series of steps, eventually lead to less diversity among the immune cells.

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