Tobacco report shows progress on anti-smoking policies worldwide
The report, issued at the recent World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin, found that 2.6 billion people in 79 countries are covered by smoke-free policies in indoor public places.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Legionnaires' disease cluster in New York City causes a 5th death, sickens 109 people. What is it, and how do you get it?
NYC health officials identified the buildings connected to the outbreak, one being Harlem Hospital. A fifth person has died, and 109 people have been sickened with Legionnaires' disease — 9 of them currently hospitalized — amid an outbreak in central Harlem in New York City, health officials said Monday. The disease was initially detected on July 25. Since then, the New York City Department of Health has been investigating the cluster and linked it to 12 cooling towers in 10 Harlem buildings. Cooling towers are structures containing water and a fan that are used to regulate a building's temperature. Eleven of the 12 cooling towers that tested positive for the bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease have been remediated, with the last one currently undergoing remediation, acting Health Commissioner Michelle Morse said during an Aug. 14 news conference. Health officials released a list that identifies the 10 buildings connected to the outbreak: BRP Companies, Lafayette Development LLC, 2239 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. BVK, 215 W. 125th St. Commonwealth Local Development, 301 W. 124th St. CUNY — City College Marshak Science Building, 181 Convent Ave. Harlem Center Condo, 317 Lenox Ave. NYC Economic Development Corporation, 40 W. 137th St. NYC Health Department Central Harlem Sexual Health Clinic, 2238 Fifth Ave. NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, 506 Lenox Ave. The New York Hotel Trades Council Harlem Health Center, 133 Morningside Ave. Wharton Properties, 100 W. 125th St. (three of eight towers) Overall, the following ZIP codes have been affected in Harlem: 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 and 10039. 'We are continuing to urge all New Yorkers who live or work in the identified ZIP codes in central Harlem who have flu-like symptoms to contact a health care provider immediately,' Morse said. 'New Yorkers should know the air is safe to breathe, and we are seeing declining numbers of new cases each day,' New York City Mayor Eric Adams told the media. 'I want to thank the health workers who worked tirelessly to treat this community and make sure its residents are healthy.' What is Legionnaires' disease? It's a serious type of pneumonia, a lung infection, that is caused by Legionella bacteria. People can become sick from inhaling water vapor that's contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Less commonly, a person can get sick when water contaminated with the bacteria accidentally enters the lungs by aspiration. How does it spread? In general, Legionnaires' is not transmitted from person to person. Legionella can grow and spread in human-made water systems like showerheads and sink faucets, hot tubs, decorative fountains, complex and large plumbing systems and cooling towers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are also factors that make it easier for Legionella to grow and survive in water, including: Biofilm, which is slime that enables germs to grow Temperatures from 77 degrees to 113 degrees Fahrenheit Not having enough disinfectant Slow or no water movement (read more from the CDC about how to prevent waterborne germs while away from your home) What are the symptoms of Legionnaires' disease? Symptoms usually appear in a person within two to 14 days after they've been exposed to the bacteria, the CDC says. Symptoms can be similar to other types of pneumonia, such as: Headache Muscle aches Shortness of breath Cough Fever Other symptoms can include confusion, diarrhea or nausea. Who is at risk of getting sick? Most healthy people exposed to Legionella don't become ill, according to the CDC's website. However, the following people are at increased risk of getting sick from the bacteria: People 50 years and older Current or former smokers People with specific health issues or conditions, like cancer, chronic lung disease, diabetes, kidney failure, liver failure and a weak immune system Diagnosis and treatment A chest X-ray can confirm if a person has pneumonia. But additional tests are needed to confirm if Legionella bacteria is the cause behind it, such as a urine test, or a lab test involving a sample from phlegm (sputum) or lung lavage (lung washing), according to the CDC. The disease is treatable with antibiotics, but hospital care is often needed.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
BioEcho Unveils EchoLUTION™ Cell Culture RNA Kit, Delivering Superior Quality and Speed for Research
BioEcho launches new EchoLUTION™ Cell Culture RNA kit, offering superior quality and speed for academic and biopharma research in under 10 minutes. COLOGNE, GERMANY, August 21, 2025 / / -- BioEcho Life Sciences GmbH, an Admera Health company, has launched its new EchoLUTION™ Cell Culture RNA purification kit. This kit utilizes the revolutionary one-step EchoLUTION™ technology to deliver superior RNA quality with high recovery rates and more usable reads in downstream applications. The purification method drastically reduces hands-on time and overall turnaround, with a workflow of under 10 minutes. The launch of the Cell Culture RNA kit follows the successful introduction of the EchoLUTION™ FFPE RNA kit in late 2023. Both kits are critical tools for academic and biopharma researchers, offering significant cost savings by eliminating multiple wash steps and reducing the use of consumables. The new kit is available in 96- and 384-well plate formats and can be used with a variety of sample types. This new approach inverts the logic of traditional purification, which has for decades relied on harsh, inefficient binding techniques. By retaining impurities and allowing the nucleic acids to pass through in a single step, the method eliminates multiple wash steps, which are a major source of sample loss and time consumption. 'We are proud to introduce a product that will significantly improve the efficiency and quality of nucleic acid purification workflows,' said Dr. Sarah Eckenrode, General Manager of BioEcho. 'The EchoLUTION™ Cell Culture RNA kit is a game-changer for academic and biopharma researchers who need fast, reliable, and cost-effective solutions. We developed this kit to address the common bottlenecks associated with traditional methods, providing a gentle yet powerful alternative that truly reveals the unseen.' The new EchoLUTION™ Cell Culture RNA kit is a critical tool for researchers in academic and biopharma labs. It is available in 96- and 384-well plate formats and can be used with a variety of sample types. About BioEcho Life Sciences GmbH BioEcho Life Sciences is an ISO 9001 certified company specializing in nucleic acid sample preparation tools for life sciences research, agricultural, and industrial applications. Founded in 2016 by a team of industry experts in genomic sample preparation, BioEcho was established with the mission of utilizing its proprietary technologies and technical expertise to overcome the limitations of many standardized methods in molecular biology workflows. BioEcho kits offer customers industry-leading quality, speed, simplicity, and sustainability for the purification of high-quality nucleic acids from a wide variety of samples. Our mission is to provide simple, safe, and sustainable solutions that enable our customers to reveal the unseen and echoing true biology. For more information, visit Sarah Eckenrode BioEcho Life Sciences [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
Dr. Nikola Cihoric Redefines Clinical Research Through Innovation, Technology, and Data
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, August 21, 2025 / / -- Bridging Medicine, Research, and Technology for Patient-Centric Solutions Dr. Nikola Cihoric, founder and visionary behind Wemedoo AG, is redefining clinical research by merging technology, innovation, medicine, and data into a seamless ecosystem that empowers healthcare professionals and researchers alike. With over 15 years of experience in radiation oncology and a deep commitment to clinical data standardization, Dr. Cihoric is setting a new standard in the way clinical trials are conducted worldwide. A Vision Born from Real Clinical Challenges Wemedoo was born from Dr. Cihoric's firsthand frustration with fragmented healthcare systems and inefficient clinical workflows. 'I observed the paper world and sloppy digitalization that slowed treatment delivery and overburdened medical staff,' he explains. His focus on data standardization and cross-sector collaboration led to the development of an early prototype, oopus (initially SmartOncology), which received support from the Swiss Cancer Foundation. Building on this experience, Wemedoo developed its unique approach, which eliminates silos, enhances transparency, and gives researchers full control across the clinical data lifecycle. Learn more about Dr. Cihoric's vision in the Xraised interview. Transforming Clinical Trials Through Technology Unlike traditional clinical trial solutions that rely on multiple disconnected systems, Wemedoo's oomnia system integrates EDC, CTMS, eTMF, eConsent, RTSM, and advanced reporting in a single, unified, and interoperable environment. This approach eliminates costly integrations, reduces errors, and ensures data consistency across every stage of a trial. 'By using technology to unify processes, we save time, reduce errors, and provide real-time insights for clinicians and researchers,' Dr. Cihoric notes. 'Our no-code configuration also allows rapid adaptation to evolving trial requirements, ensuring flexibility without compromising quality.' Ethical AI and Data-Driven Innovation Wemedoo integrates AI into oomnia practically and responsibly, focusing on automating processes where it delivers immediate value without unnecessary risks, essential in a highly regulated industry. Their work is guided by explainability and transparency, from AI-driven risk assessment tools for protocol design to semantic mapping engines that cut data processing timelines from months to days. Wemedoo is also exploring agentic AI to support operational decision-making, always with a 'man-in-control' philosophy to ensure accountability. What makes this possible is oomnia's semantic foundation, structured data, common data elements, and standard vocabularies, which keep outcomes reproducible, interpretable, and aligned with regulatory frameworks. Beyond technology, Wemedoo collaborates with public institutions and publish in peer-reviewed journals, reinforcing their belief that AI is only meaningful if it strengthens trust, transparency, and data integrity. Balancing Clinical Practice and Product Development Despite his active role at Wemedoo, Dr. Cihoric continues to work in a leading academic hospital. This dual role allows him to translate real-world clinical challenges into actionable system improvements. 'Being close to patients and clinical teams keeps me grounded in reality, ensuring that our technology delivers tangible benefits,' he says. Long-Term Vision for Clinical Research Looking ahead, Dr. Cihoric aims to remove barriers between clinical practice and research, investing in education, resources, and stakeholder alignment to ultimately improve patient outcomes. 'The goal is to create a future where innovation, technology, and real-world data converge seamlessly to benefit patients worldwide,' he asserts. About Dr. Nikola Cihoric Dr. Nikola Cihoric is a radiation oncologist, researcher, and founder of Wemedoo AG, with expertise in clinical data standardization, AI integration, and oncology innovation. He has published over 35 scientific papers and actively contributed to international standards groups such as mCODE, CodeX, HL7/FHIR, and CDISC. For more information on Dr. Nikola Cihoric and Wemedoo's groundbreaking work, visit Wemedoo and explore insights from Xraised ( ). Media and Business Inquiries General contact: [email protected] Business development: [email protected] Website: LinkedIn: Wemedoo AG. Gianmarco Giordaniello Xraised email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
