A toddler survived falling off a 15th-floor balcony. Experts explain how.
Incredible. Amazing. Miraculous.
There have been many ways to describe a 2-year-old boy surviving a 15-story free fall off an outdoor balcony into a small bush last week in Montgomery County, Maryland. But any discussion quickly gives way to the question: How?
'The first thing to realize is that it's not the fall, it's the landing,' said Anette Hosoi, a physicist and mechanical engineering professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
With 'Atmosphere,' Taylor Jenkins Reid leaves the Evelyn Hugo-verse behind and travels to space
Taylor Jenkins Reid recalls a moment writing her new novel, 'Atmosphere: A Love Story,' set against NASA's robust 1980s shuttle program, where she felt stuck. She went, where she often goes, to her husband to talk it through. 'I said, 'I can't write this book. I don't know enough about the space shuttle. I don't know what happens when the payload bay doors won't shut and you have to get back within a certain amount of revs, but they can't land at White Sands. They have to land at Cape Kennedy.' And he's like, 'Just listen to yourself. You know so much more than you knew a couple months ago. Keep doing what you're doing.''
Medscape
2 hours ago
- Medscape
Same-Day Discharge Criteria Outlined for AF Ablation
SAN DIEGO — Same-day discharge after ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is an appropriate strategy for saving costs if performed with strict selection criteria and protocols, according to a recently issued joint statement from the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society. Same-day discharge has long been indicated for catheter ablations to abort routine atrial flutter, atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, and focal atrial tachycardias, according to the authors of the new joint statement. Although they maintained patients selected for elective catheter ablation of AF require heightened scrutiny, they endorsed same-day AF ablation when used selectively. The statement evaluates 'evidence supporting shorter hospitalization stay with same-day discharge for intracardiac ablations agonistic to site of care,' reported Amit J. Shankar, MD , an electrophysiologist with Canton-Potsdam Hospital in Potsdam, New York, who served as a representative for the Heart Rhythm Society in developing the statement. Whether in a hospital setting or an outpatient facility, the statement describes same-day discharge ablation as an opportunity to improve patient access, improve efficiency, and reduce healthcare costs. The adoption of same-day discharge after AF ablation was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Samuel O. Jones, MD, a cardiologist affiliated with The Chattanooga Heart Institute in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. 'Improved workflows, technological innovations, and procedure advancements have also contributed to the high rates at which these are performed,' added Jones, who helped write the statement. The statement was released on April 24 to coincide with the first day of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) 2025 annual scientific meeting. It was simultaneously published in Heart Rhythm and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology . The scientific statement's recommendation is intended for elective rather than urgent or emergency ablations. Support for the statement was drawn from multiple case-controlled studies, meta-analyses, and outcome databases. In one example, a 12-study meta-analysis with data from more than 18,000 elective ablations showed no significant differences in major complications from the procedure among the 40.5% of patients discharged the same day relative to those who were discharged after at least one night in the hospital. In another study, drawn from a real-world prospective registry, outcomes were compared for potential candidates for same-day ablation on the basis of prespecified criteria and those who were not eligible for the procedure. These criteria included no bleeding history, a left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 40%, no pulmonary disease, and no surgical procedures within the previous 60 days. Of the 2332 patients included in the analysis, 1982 (85%) were deemed candidates for same-day ablation. Although freedom for atrial arrhythmias was comparable ( P = .0212) for the two groups, patients discharged the same day had a lower rate of complications (0.8% vs 2.9%; P < .001). The rate of readmission was similar (0.8% vs 09%; P = .924), according to the researchers. Contraindications for Same-Day Ablation In the document, relative contraindications for same-day ablation include decompensated heart failure, significant pulmonary disease, significant risk of bleeding, and any major unstable comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, or renal disease. The document recommends limiting same-day procedures to patients who can have readily available social support and can return to a hospital quickly in the event of a post-procedural complication. Acknowledging that most large hospitals offering ablation for AF already have formal selection criteria and protocols in place for same-day discharge, the authors called for free-standing sites to establish their own if they have not done so. In these settings, the authors emphasized the need to rigorously follow prespecified and 'ironclad' selection criteria and protocols. From this standpoint, Shankar said same-day procedures should always be performed on the basis of shared decision-making with the patient. While the economic benefits of same-day procedures might be shared by the facility and the patient, the latter should understand the inherent differences in the settings and participate actively in any decision of where the ablation is performed. Jones said while a substantial body of evidence supports same-day AF ablation as a safe and effective procedure that can free up necessary resources in the healthcare facility, the potential advantages are relevant only to appropriately selected patients. The new statement also suggests transfer agreements with inpatient facilities should be arranged in advance and that patients should be informed such a transfer is a possibility outside of a hospital setting. However, the document makes clear same-day ablations in alternative sites of care are reasonable when the precautions are observed. In any setting that AF ablation is performed, the writing committee encouraged tracking outcomes to ensure that high-quality care is achieved and sustained. Shankar and Jones reported no potential conflicts of interest.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Umbrella Labs Expands Research Portfolio with Availability of Retatrutide (LY3437943), a Next-Generation Triple Agonist Peptide
TUCSON, AZ / / June 2, 2025 / Umbrella Labs, a leading supplier of advanced research chemicals, announced the expansion of its peptide catalog to include Retatrutide (LY3437943), an investigational triple agonist peptide developed for use in scientific and academic research. This addition marks a significant milestone in the company's commitment to supporting cutting-edge research in metabolic disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Retatrutide has gained attention within the scientific community due to its unique ability to activate three key receptors involved in metabolic regulation: GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide), GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), and glucagon receptors. This multi-receptor mechanism offers a promising new direction for researchers investigating novel treatments for obesity-related diseases. "We are proud to offer Retatrutide as part of our mission to provide academic and institutional researchers with the most innovative compounds available," said Samuel Yanner, Director of Scientific Operations at Umbrella Labs. "The peptide's clinical and preclinical data demonstrate its potential as a transformative research molecule." Scientific Highlights: Preclinical and Clinical Validation In comparative rodent studies, Retatrutide outperformed GLP-1 monotherapy and the dual agonist Tirzepatide, producing over 30% weight reduction while improving liver lipid profiles, insulin sensitivity, and inflammatory markers (Ma et al., 2025). A Phase 2 human trial led by Jastreboff et al. (2023) demonstrated up to 24.2% weight loss in non-diabetic obese participants, along with significant improvements in blood pressure, fasting glucose, LDL cholesterol, and HbA1c. These outcomes exceed the performance benchmarks of currently approved GLP-1-based therapeutics, including semaglutide. Expanding Research Horizons: Metabolic, Hepatic, and Cardiovascular Implications Retatrutide's diverse effects have fueled interest in multiple areas of academic investigation: Obesity and Weight Management: The triple receptor action mimics metabolic responses seen in bariatric surgery, with non-invasive delivery. T2DM Research: Demonstrated reductions in HbA1c (up to 2.2%) and possible β-cell preservation. NAFLD/NASH Models: Reduction in hepatic fat, ALT/AST normalization, and improved lipid oxidation suggest promising utility. Cardiovascular Metrics: Lower CRP and triglycerides, with HDL elevation, signal potential long-term cardiac benefit. Emerging exploratory areas include microdosing studies in appetite regulation, mitochondrial function, and speculative neuroendocrine roles due to GLP-1 expression in the central nervous system. Commitment to Quality: Umbrella Labs as a Trusted Supplier Retatrutide remains an investigational compound not approved for human use and is offered strictly for in vitro and animal-based research by qualified institutions. Umbrella Labs ensures cGMP-compliant manufacturing, third-party analytical testing, and reliable batch documentation for all peptides. Researchers interested in sourcing Retatrutide can find the compound listed at:Buy Retatrutide (LY3437943) - Umbrella Labs For additional research peptides and SARMs, visit the Umbrella Labs homepage. About Umbrella Labs Umbrella Labs is a premier supplier of research-grade peptides, SARMs, and other investigational compounds used by universities, pharmaceutical developers, and independent research teams. With a focus on purity, testing transparency, and customer support, Umbrella Labs continues to lead the field in supplying next-generation biochemicals for science-driven innovation. Media Contact Samuel YannerDirector of Scientific OperationsUmbrella Labs1-866-289-7276support@ E Hemisphere Loop, Tucson, AZ 85706 References Coskun T, Sloop KW, Loghin C, et al. LY3437943, a Novel Triple GIP/GLP-1/Glucagon Receptor Agonist, Improves Metabolic Parameters in Preclinical Models of Obesity. Cell Metab. 2018;28(5):710-722.e10. Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, et al. Triple-hormone-receptor agonist Retatrutide in adults with obesity: a randomized, double-blind, phase 2 trial. N Engl J Med. 2023;389(13):1134-1145. Ma X, Zhang L, Su Y, et al. Comparative efficacy of GLP-1/GIP/glucagon receptor agonism in diabetic mice: insights into Retatrutide's hepatometabolic benefits. J Endocrinol Invest. 2025;48(1):55-66. Drucker DJ. Advances in oral peptide therapeutics. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2020;19(4):277-289. Killion EA, Wang J, Yie J, et al. Glucagon receptor activation increases energy expenditure and modulates lipoprotein metabolism in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2018;115(5):E1051-E1060. SOURCE: Umbrella Labs View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
