‘How Thoughts Become Things': More Thoughts on 'The Secret'
'Think and Grow Rich,' by Napoleon Hill, is a book many Americans are familiar with. Similar to its premise, the documentary 'How Thoughts Become Things' explores the human ability to shape our destinies by using the power of our thoughts.
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Business Wire
3 hours ago
- Business Wire
Butterfly Network Advances AI-Powered Aortic Valve and Aorta Screening with New Research and Training Tools
BURLINGTON, Mass. & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Butterfly Network, Inc. (NYSE: BFLY), a digital health company transforming care with handheld, whole-body ultrasound and intuitive software, today announced its role in new research demonstrating the potential for machine learning (ML) models to support early detection of aortic stenosis (AS) using handheld ultrasound devices. The study, conducted by Tufts Medical Center and published in European Heart Journal – Imaging Methods and Practice, demonstrates that a ML model fine-tuned for use on Butterfly iQ+ devices can achieve high accuracy in identifying AS. The findings support the value of ML model development, and ultimately, are a positive step toward portable screening for earlier detection of this life-threatening condition. Aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve, affects over 13% of Americans over 75 years old and is often missed until it's advanced and symptomatic. Studies(1, 2) suggest that a significant number of AS cases remain undiagnosed, particularly among underserved and aging populations. This delay in diagnosis is associated with higher risk procedures, worse outcomes, and increased healthcare costs. As earlier identification and treatments of AS are increasingly associated with better patient outcomes, the need for upstream, accessible screening is critical. 'This research shows a promising path forward where lower-level providers, not just cardiologists or trained sonographers, could screen for aortic stenosis using AI-assisted handheld ultrasound,' said Dr. John Martin, co-author of the study and Butterfly's Chief Medical Officer Emeritus. 'This opens the door to early detection in a wide variety of care venues including primary care offices, long term care facilities, urgent care facilities and even in the home.' The study validated that an ML model trained on hospital-grade ultrasound images performed well when adapted to Butterfly's handheld ultrasound device. After fine-tuning the final layer of a neural network, researchers achieved an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.94 for differentiating between no aortic stenosis and any degree of aortic stenosis on handheld ultrasound images – a level of accuracy that supports potential clinical use in screening workflows. In a related development, Butterfly has just released the latest expansion of its Butterfly ScanLab™ AI-powered ultrasound education app: an Aorta Exam Protocol. This educational app harnesses animations, anatomical labeling, and a quality indicator to help teach users how to scan the abdominal aorta and recognize normal anatomy. With that training, users can then use POCUS to detect life-threatening conditions like abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and dissections. Designed for ease of use on an iPad, the module is included in every Butterfly membership and compatible with existing Butterfly probes. Joseph DeVivo, President, CEO, and Chairman of Butterfly Network concluded, 'Early detection saves lives, but access to imaging remains a major barrier. This work is about democratizing diagnostics. With AI and education working hand in hand, we're empowering more providers to deliver proactive care in places that were never possible before.' About Butterfly Network Butterfly Network, Inc. (NYSE: BFLY) is a healthcare company driving a digital revolution in medical imaging with its proprietary Ultrasound-on-Chip™ semiconductor technology and ultrasound software solutions. In 2018, Butterfly launched the world's first handheld, single-probe, whole-body ultrasound system, Butterfly iQ. The iQ+ followed in 2020, and the iQ3 in 2024, each with improved processing power and performance by leveraging Moore's Law. The iQ3 earned Best Medical Technology at the 2024 Prix Galien USA Awards, a prestigious honor and one of the highest accolades in healthcare. Butterfly's innovations have also been recognized by Fierce 50, TIME's Best Inventions and Fast Company's World Changing Ideas, among other achievements. Butterfly combines advanced hardware, intelligent software, AI, services, and education to drive adoption of affordable, accessible imaging. Clinical publications demonstrate that its handheld ultrasound probes paired with Compass™ enterprise workflow software, can help hospital systems improve care workflows, reduce costs, and enhance provider economics. With a cloud-based solution that enables care anywhere through next-generation mobility, Butterfly aims to democratize healthcare by addressing critical global healthcare challenges. Butterfly devices are commercially available to trained healthcare practitioners in areas including, but not limited to, parts of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America; to learn more about available countries, visit:
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
These Common Chemicals Could Be Harming Your Liver
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new review has found that exposure to particular chemicals can, when combined, enhance damage to the liver. The researchers of the July 2025 review, published in Toxicological Sciences, found that both alcohol and PFAS chemicals—a group of widely-used compounds—damage the liver in similar ways. This could be "causing fat buildup, inflammation, and oxidative stress," Vasilis Vasiliou, one of the authors of the review, and chair and professor of environmental health sciences at Yale School of Public Health, told Newsweek. While alcohol is a well-established cause of liver disease, PFAS chemicals may "act as a 'second hit,' especially in people who already drink alcohol or have other liver risk factors," he added. PFAS chemicals, also known as "forever chemicals" or Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 1 carcinogen—with studies since finding the chemicals can cause a wide range of effects on public health. These chemicals can be found across various industries and consumer products, from nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing and stain-resistant furniture, to food packaging and even smartwatch wristbands. They can also be found in drinking water sources across the country. According to the review's researchers, detectable levels of PFAS chemicals have been found in over 98 percent of the human population. Meanwhile, more than half of all Americans drink alcohol—with 17 percent binge drinking, meaning, for women, they have four or more drinks on one occasion, while for men, they have five or more drinks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. Per the CDC's data, 6 percent also drink heavily, meaning, for women, they have eight or more drinks in a week and for men, they have 15 or more drinks. According to the review's researchers, while global consumption of alcohol has been decreasing since 2010, in the U.S. there has been an increase in consumption, meaning it is now nearly double the global average. File photo: A gastroenterologist doctor explaining liver and gallbladder problems using an anatomical model to a patient during a clinic visit. File photo: A gastroenterologist doctor explaining liver and gallbladder problems using an anatomical model to a patient during a clinic visit. peakSTOCK/Getty Images What The Review Found When people are exposed to both alcohol and PFAS chemicals, these "effects can add up or even multiply, leading to more serious liver injury," Vasiliou said. He added that vulnerable populations, or those with limited health care access, are particularly at risk. "Our review suggests that PFAS exposure may worsen the damage already caused by alcohol, raising the risk of progression from fatty liver to more severe conditions like cirrhosis or liver cancer," he said. The review noted that around two million deaths a year are estimated to occur due to advanced liver disease, predominantly cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, with alcohol consumption being a significant risk factor for these conditions. Alcohol contributed to nearly half of all cirrhosis deaths and over 150,000 new cases of liver cancer globally in 2016. "The findings are not unexpected," Dr. Suthat Liangpunsakul, a professor of medicine and of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Indiana University School of Medicine, told Newsweek. "Both alcohol and PFAS have independently been shown to affect the liver through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, lipid dysregulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction," Liangpunsakul said. "Given these overlapping pathways, the possibility that combined exposures may exacerbate liver injury is a reasonable hypothesis," he added. Liangpunsakul said the study therefore "brings together existing evidence in a way that highlights the need for further investigation." It adds to the "body of literature suggesting that multiple exposures, including lifestyle and environmental factors, can interact in complex ways to affect liver health," he said. However, "further research, particularly in human populations, will be important to better characterize these interactions and their potential clinical implications," he added. Vasiliou said that he and the other researchers in the laboratory are continuing to investigate the impact of PFAS chemicals on the liver in animal models and intend to expand research to human studies. In this photo illustration, water flows from a tap on July 06, 2023 in San Anselmo, California. In 2023, a study by the US Geological Survey found that nearly half of the tap water in... In this photo illustration, water flows from a tap on July 06, 2023 in San Anselmo, California. In 2023, a study by the US Geological Survey found that nearly half of the tap water in the United States was contaminated with "forever chemicals," considered dangerous to human health. More/Getty Images How PFAS Chemicals And Alcohol Could Harm The Liver PFAS chemicals may harm the liver by "disturbing fat metabolism, damaging mitochondria, increasing oxidative stress, and triggering inflammation," Vasiliou said, adding these were many of the same processes affected by alcohol. Liangpunsakul also said that PFAS chemicals "can accumulate in the liver" and cause the same problems mentioned by Vasiliou. Meanwhile, "alcohol has long-established and well-characterized hepatotoxic effects, particularly in the setting of chronic use," Liangpunsakul said. Therefore, the "real danger lies in their combined impact," Vasiliou said. "Together, they can accelerate liver damage in ways that neither might do alone." Liangpunsakul said that it is difficult to compare the "relative toxicity" of alcohol and PFAS, "as they operate under different exposure contexts and time courses." However, based on the review, he said that "PFAS may contribute additional stress to the liver, particularly in individuals with other risk factors such as alcohol use." While PFAS chemicals are in a wide range of everyday products, the most common way people are exposed to PFAS chemicals is through ingestion, Vasiliou said. "PFAS often enter our bodies through contaminated drinking water; food, especially fish [and] meat; fast-food packaging; and household products like nonstick cookware or stain-resistant fabrics," he said. Once ingested, PFAS chemicals can "circulate in the blood and accumulate in the liver, where they can persist for years due to their resistance to breakdown," he added. Those who are also occupationally exposed to the chemicals due to their work, such as firefighters or factory workers, may also "inhale PFAS or absorb them through the skin," he said. How Could The Research Shape The Treatment of Liver Disease? Liangpunsakul said the review highlights a growing area of scientific interest—"how environmental exposures might interact with more traditional risk factors like alcohol." He said that while "it is too early to say how this will influence clinical practice," the findings "may help guide future research into liver disease progression and its multifactorial drivers." "Improved understanding of co-exposures could eventually contribute to more refined risk assessment strategies," he added. The research also suggests that increasing awareness on individual PFAS exposure may become an important part of maintaining health. "For people with liver risk factors, such as alcohol abuse use or obesity, minimizing PFAS exposure could be especially important," Vasiliou said. However, "avoiding PFAS completely is difficult because they are so widespread, but people can take steps to reduce exposure," he added. He said individuals can use PFAS-free cookware and personal care products, filter drinking water with systems certified to remove PFAS, and check local advisories about contaminated water or fish. On a broader level, Vasiliou said that "stronger policies and better regulation are needed to reduce PFAS in our environment." Reference Arthur D Stem, Ricardo Scheufen Tieghi, Vaia Lida Chatzi, Nicole Kleinstreuer, Damaskini Valvi, David C Thompson, Vasilis Vasiliou, (2025). Synergistic Toxicity in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease and PFAS Exposure, Toxicological Sciences,
Cosmopolitan
5 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan
Are Love Island winners Toni and Cach still together? Relationship timeline and latest news
Love Island has officially come to an end for 2025, with Toni and Cach being crowned as this year's winners. The show wrapped up on Monday 4th August, and saw the couple in the final along with Shakira and Harry, Yasmin and Jamie, and Angel and Ty. During the finale, Toni revealed that Cach dropped the L-bomb the night before and she said it back (you guys!) But, there is one elephant in the room when it comes to this couple - Cach lives in the UK and Toni lives in the US, leading fans to wonder if these two will be able to make it work on the outside. Read on for everything you need to know. They are! It's still very early days, but Toni and Cach left the villa in a an exclusive couple. During the final, they also revealed that they'd both said "I love you" and were making plans to split their time between the UK and US. Cach and Toni got together during Casa Amor when Cach joined as a bombshell. The pair hit it off instantly and shared multiple kisses, before Toni decided to choose him at the recoupling. However, when Toni's ex Harrison returned to the villa, it was clear there was still some unfinished business between them. She chose Harrison at the next recoupling, leaving both Cach and Harrison's partner at the time, Lauren, distraught. But it wasn't meant to be between Toni and Harrison, as she learned he'd been intimate with Lauren prior to this and still decided to take her to the terrace. Lauren was later dumped and Harrison decided to leave with he. During this time, Cach had been getting to know Billykiss, however, the Islanders decided to send her home during a twist. Cach and Toni then rekindled their romance, and made it to the final together. Toni and Cach were announced as the season 12 winners on Monday 4th August 2025. Speaking after the show, Toni said: "Oh it's so crazy that we won just because I know none of my Americans can vote, so thank you to all of my UK people for voting for us." Cach added: "For me, big up the UK! Thank you so much. I appreciate you guys a lot. This is a connection right now and I love you guys a lot." Looking at Cach, Toni said: "Oh I couldn't have done this without you, honey." He replied: "I couldn't have done it without her. You made this ride bumpy, but I enjoyed every bump of the way. I appreciate having you by my side. And I wouldn't want to stand here with anybody else but her." The pair then hugged, as Toni gushed: "Thank you for treating me like the queen I am." Oh these two are just too cute! Love Island is available to stream on ITVX.
