Latest news with #CedarsSinai
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cedars-Sinai's AI tool delivered 24/7 care to 42,000 patients. Now, doctors can focus more on treatment, less on paperwork.
Cedars-Sinai launched CS Connect, an AI-powered platform for 24/7 healthcare support. The platform aims to reduce wait times and administrative tasks, improving care delivery. This article is part of "CXO AI Playbook" — straight talk from business leaders on how they're testing and using AI. Cedars-Sinai is a nonprofit healthcare organization based in Los Angeles. It's comprised of hospitals, clinics, and research facilities. Founded in 1902, Cedars-Sinai has more than 40 locations, employs over 4,500 physicians and nurses, and serves more than 1 million patients every year. Situation analysis Caroline Goldzweig, chief medical officer of Cedars-Sinai Medical Network, told Business Insider that the organization wanted to expand patients' access to primary care in a more efficient and convenient way. For instance, sometimes there are lengthy wait times for in-person doctor's appointments. At the same time, Goldzweig said the organization was looking to reduce the administrative burden on physicians, including patient intake and data entry, so that they could focus on providing care. To address these challenges, the organization launched Cedars-Sinai Connect in 2023. CS Connect is an artificial intelligence-powered virtual platform where patients can access healthcare support 24/7. Goldzweig said the AI technology allows healthcare providers to better support their patients while improving the speed of care delivery. "The other exciting thing is the ability to offer patients care in ways that meet their needs," she said. Key staff and partners Goldzweig told Business Insider that CS Connect was built using K Health, a digital healthcare company providing AI-powered primary and urgent care services. Cedars-Sinai's information technology teams worked with K Health to sync patients' electronic health records into the platform, she said. Cedars-Sinai's enterprise data intelligence and digital strategy teams were also involved in creating CS Connect. They continue to help manage it. AI in action The goal of the AI tool is to enable providers to spend more time counseling patients and making treatment decisions, rather than doing patient intake. To access the AI features, patients log into CS Connect via a mobile app or its website. Goldzweig said a chat feature then starts asking the user questions about their symptoms. The AI algorithm compares the patient's responses to their existing medical records and the records of other patients in the system who had similar symptoms. It then asks more detailed questions about a patient's specific health problems. The chatbot, for example, may prompt the patient to submit photos of their sore throat or rash. Goldzweig said the chat function is similar to how a physician might identify a patient's ailment. The AI then summarizes the patient's information — a task that usually demands manual effort from physicians — and recommends a treatment. The data collected by CS Connect is "part of the efficiency process," Goldzweig said. "It allows the physicians to review it, to understand what's going on, and to validate things with the patient — ask a couple of clarifying questions and maybe get a little bit more history." Physicians can choose to disagree with the AI's recommendations. Goldzweig said either way, they're required to sign off on each patient's treatment plan. Did it work, and how did leaders know? Goldzweig told BI that about 42,000 individual patients have used CS Connect. In April 2025, Cedars-Sinai published a study in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine comparing AI treatment recommendations in CS Connect with final recommendations from doctors. The study reviewed 461 physician-managed visits with AI recommendations for respiratory, urinary, vaginal, eye, and dental symptoms. Results showed that when AI and physician recommendations differed, the AI suggestions were often rated as higher quality. The study found that 77% of AI recommendations were rated as optimal, while 67% of physicians' decisions were rated optimal. For example, patients with recurring urinary tract infections sometimes encounter antibiotic resistance. Goldzweig said the AI was successful at identifying these patients and recommended a bacterial culture before prescribing antibiotics. In contrast, doctors sometimes prescribe medication without testing, which she said could result in the infection coming back. Goldzweig added that the study suggests that the AI tool tends to be more guideline-focused, while physicians have the ability to adapt medical guidelines based on the nuance of a patient's case. Goldzweig said the study has limitations, though. It examined only a few medical conditions and didn't factor in the nuance of individual patient cases. Another limitation is that the medical chart reviewers could see whether the recommendation was made by the AI or a physician. Cedars-Sinai is working to expand CS Connect. The organization is piloting remote patient monitoring technology using AI to help people manage chronic diseases, like high blood pressure. It's also planning to use the AI technology to connect in-person urgent care visits with virtual care. Read the original article on Business Insider
Medscape
22-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Hypothyroidism Linked to Gut Microbiome Disturbances
People with hypothyroidism show significantly higher levels of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and key bacterial distinctions than those without the thyroid condition, according to results of a study. '[The research] supports the idea that improving gut health could have far-reaching effects beyond digestion, possibly even helping to prevent autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto thyroiditis,' said senior author Ruchi Mathur, MD, director of the Diabetes Outpatient Treatment and Education Center and director of Clinical Operations of Medically Associated Science and Technology, at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, in a press statement for the study, which was presented at ENDO 2025: The Endocrine Society Annual Meeting. 'These findings open the door to new screening and prevention strategies,' Mathur added. 'For example, doctors may begin to monitor thyroid health more closely in patients with SIBO, and vice versa.' With some small studies previously suggesting an association between the gut microbiome and hypothyroidism, Mathur and colleagues further explored the relationship in two analyses. Assessing the Role of the Small Bowel For the first, they evaluated data on 49 patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) and 323 controls without the condition from their REIMAGINE trial, which included small bowel fluid samples from upper endoscopies and DNA sequencing. In the study, all patients with HT were treated with thyroid replacement (levothyroxine), hence, there were notably no significant differences between the two groups in terms of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. Despite the lack of those differences, patients with HT had a prevalence of SIBO more than twice that of the control group, independent of gender (33% vs 15%; odds ratio, 2.71; P = .005). When the two groups were further subdivided into two groups each — those with and without SIBO — significant further variations of microbial diversity were observed between those with and without HT, Mathur told Medscape Medical News . 'Interestingly, we saw the small bowel microbiome was not only different in SIBO-positive patients, including higher gram negatives, which is to be expected, but that the presence or absence of hypothyroidism itself was associated with specific patterns of these gram-negative bacteria,' she explained. 'In addition, when we looked at hypothyroidism without SIBO present, there were also changes between groups, such as higher Neisseria in the hypothyroid group.' 'All these findings are novel as this is the first paper to look specifically at the small bowel,' she added, noting that previous smaller studies have focused more on evaluation of stool samples. 'We believe the small bowel is the most metabolically active area of the intestine and plays an important role in metabolism,' Mathur noted. 'Thus, the microbial changes here are likely more physiologically significant than the patterns seen in stool.' Further Findings from a Large Population In a separate analysis, the team evaluated data from the TriNetX database on the 10-year incidence of developing SIBO among 1.1 million subjects with hypothyroidism in the US compared with 1 million controls. They found that people with hypothyroidism were approximately twice as likely to develop SIBO compared with those without hypothyroidism (relative risk [RR], 2.20). Furthermore, those with HT, in particular, had an even higher risk, at 2.4 times the controls (RR, 2.40). Treatment with levothyroxine decreased the risk of developing SIBO in hypothyroidism (RR, 0.33) and HT (RR, 0.78) vs those who did not receive treatment. Mechanisms? However, the fact that differences in SIBO were observed even between people who were treated for HT and those without the condition in the first analysis, and hence had similar TSH levels, was notable, Mathur. 'This suggests that perhaps there are other factors aside from TSH levels and free T4 that are at play here,' she said. 'Some people have theorized that perhaps delayed gut motility in hypothyroidism promotes the development of SIBO; however, there are many other factors within this complex interplay between the microbiome and the thyroid that could also be playing a role.' 'For example, SIBO leads to inflammation and weakening of the gut barrier,' Mathur explained. Furthermore, 'levothyroxine absorption and cycling of the thyroid hormone occurs predominantly in the small bowel, [while the] microbiome plays a key role in the absorption of iron, selenium, iodine, and zinc, which are critical for thyroid function.' Overall, 'further research is needed to understand how the mechanisms are affected during the development of SIBO and hypothyroidism,' Mathur said. Assessment of Changes Over Time Anticipated Commenting on the research, Gregory A. Brent, MD, senior executive academic vice-chair of the Department of Medicine and professor of medicine and physiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles said the study is indeed novel. 'This, to my knowledge, is the first investigation to link characteristics of the small bowel microbiome with hypothyroidism,' Brent told Medscape Medical News . While any clinical significance has yet to be determined, 'the association of these small bowel microbiome changes with hypothyroidism may have implications for contributing to the onset of autoimmune hypothyroidism in susceptible populations as well as influences on levothyroxine absorption in hypothyroid patients on levothyroxine therapy,' Brent said. With the SIBO differences observed even among treated patients with vs without HT, 'it seems less likely that the microbiome changes are the result of reduced thyroid hormone signaling,' Brent noted. Furthermore, a key piece of the puzzle will be to observe the microbiome changes over time, he added. 'These studies were at a single time point [and] longitudinal studies will be especially important to see how the association changes over time and are influenced by the treatment of hypothyroidism and of SIBO,' Brent said.
CNET
18-07-2025
- Health
- CNET
9 Foods That Will Naturally Increase Your Testosterone Levels, According to Experts
Everyone produces testosterone, regardless of sex. Not only is it a pivotal hormone in development (particularly for males) and for masculine characteristics, it's also essential for muscle growth, strength, bone density and sex drive. Like the best tools we rely on every day -- from solid routines to dependable phones -- testosterone plays a foundational role in how our bodies function, according to the director of Clinical Operations at ModifyHealth, Madison Reeder. Reeder explains that testosterone is far more involved than you would first think -- it plays are part in everything from muscle maintenance to energy levels to red blood cell production. "It plays a far more expansive role by supporting cellular signaling, protein synthesis, fat distribution and cognitive and emotional regulation," she says. Testosterone is vital for overall well-being, especially in men. Low testosterone, or hypogonadism, happens when the testicles don't produce enough of the hormone. It's more common than you might think, affecting about 35% of men over 45. To maintain healthy testosterone levels, it's helpful to moderate alcohol consumption and, if possible, quit smoking entirely. Your diet is equally important, so make sure to include these top foods (as picked out by our CNET experts) to boost your testosterone levels effectively. Why do testosterone levels vary? Testosterone naturally fluctuates. According to Dr. Justin Houman, an assistant professor of urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, testosterone levels are generally at their highest point in the morning and decline throughout the day, in line with the body's circadian rhythm. Testosterone also changes throughout life. It increases sharply during puberty and then gradually decreases after age 30. "Beyond that, fluctuations can be influenced by a wide range of factors: sleep quality, stress levels (particularly cortisol), body fat percentage, alcohol consumption, certain medications and even acute or chronic illness," said Houman. The pituitary gland is central to regulating testosterone production in the body, and it's a sensitive system that can easily be thrown off. Things that can impact testosterone levels include but are not limited to: Medications like steroids or opioids Chronic health conditions like kidney disease, lung disease or diabetes Sleep apnea and poor sleep Stress Obesity According to the American Urological Association, low testosterone is a level below 300 ng/dL. A healthy range is considered between 450 and 600ng/dL. "However, there is no 'one-size-fits-all' testosterone level. The body's ideal level is influenced by age, sex, genetics, health history, and even how well you sleep or manage stress," Reeder said. If you're struggling with low testosterone, one of the first places you can look is your diet. Unhealthy diets or chronic under-fueling can impair hormone production while working toward a balanced diet full of nutrients can help stabilize your levels. 9 foods that may increase testosterone "There isn't a single 'testosterone superfood,' but certain foods support the body's natural testosterone production by providing key nutrients or reducing inflammation and oxidative stress," Houman said. The nutritional content of certain foods can give you a leg up when it comes to testosterone, especially if you're deficient in that particular nutrient. Reeder pointed to zinc, vitamin D, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids and high-quality protein as pivotal nutrients for healthy testosterone production. Adding the foods on this list to your diet won't magically fix low testosterone levels. However, being intentional about making good food choices can help supplement level management as you speak to your doctor. Your needs will vary depending on your age, health conditions and hormonal status. Milan_Jovic/Getty Images Leafy greens Leafy greens like spinach, kale and collard greens contain a lot of magnesium, which can help regulate total and free testosterone. Research suggests that magnesium deficiency may also play a role in low testosterone levels. Magnesium reduces oxidative stress, or the body's imbalance of antioxidants and free radicals. Reducing oxidative stress benefits testosterone bioactivity because inflammation and oxidative stress can lower testosterone levels. Eating leafy greens may help boost testosterone levels. However, if you're not a big green eater, beans, nuts and dark chocolate are also excellent sources of magnesium. Fatty fish Fatty fish have a lot going for them in the testosterone department. They are great sources of "good fats" known as omega-3s, which are known to support heart and joint health. Research has revealed that low-fat diets can be associated with lower testosterone levels. While we need more research to fully understand why this is the case, incorporating healthy fats into your diet, such as fatty fish, can benefit your overall health. That's not the only benefit of fatty fish. They have a high nutritional content of essential vitamins like zinc and vitamin D, which are crucial for healthy testosterone levels. Those with less vitamin D tend to have lower testosterone levels than those with more vitamin D. You can take a fish oil supplement if you're not a fish eater. A 2020 study found that fish oil supplements with omega-3s boost testosterone in men. Cruciferous vegetables Houman explained that cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts can indirectly support healthier testosterone balance by lowering estrogen levels. They can do this because cruciferous vegetables have a compound called indole-3-carbinol. Some studies suggest that indole-3-carbinol may slow the growth of cancer cells, although the research is limited. DragonImages/Getty Images Eggs Eggs can help maintain healthy testosterone levels because they contain vitamin D and healthy fats. They also contain the antioxidant selenium. Animal studies have found that selenium can increase testosterone production. However, it's important to remember that we don't have human studies to draw any conclusions about the extent of the relationship between selenium and testosterone. Regardless, eggs are highly nutritious and contain other testosterone-friendly nutrients. One smaller study found that eating the whole egg will be better for testosterone levels than egg whites. Avocados Avocados are a triple threat when it comes to boosting testosterone levels. They are a great source of healthy fats and magnesium and contain boron, a trace element linked to testosterone production. One study found that within a week of taking boron supplements, testosterone levels in males increased up to 32%. Oysters and other shellfish According to Houman, zinc is an essential nutrient for testosterone synthesis in the testes. Oysters offer the most zinc per serving than any food. Other shellfish, like shrimp, clams, mussels, crab and lobster, have notable zinc levels. If seafood isn't your thing, red meat, pumpkin seeds and lentils are other zinc-rich foods. Beyond the benefits of zinc, oysters and other shellfish's antioxidant effect may boost testosterone by increasing the efficiency of the Leydig cells, the primary source of testosterone. Read more: 15 Best Food Sources of Zinc Select fruits Fruits with flavonoid antioxidants, like pomegranates, berries and cherries, can help support testosterone production. A study of active young men found that drinking two cups of pure pomegranate juice each day for three weeks helped with muscle recovery, reduced inflammation and saw an increase in testosterone. Olive oil Olive oil has several health benefits, like increasing good cholesterol and lowering bad cholesterol. There is also some evidence that it may increase testosterone. One small study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research of 60 young males discovered that a daily intake of around five teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil increased testosterone by 17%. Fermented foods Reeder explained that gut health is gaining more attention for its role in hormone regulation. Fermented foods, such as yogurt and kimchi, can indirectly support testosterone levels by ensuring your gut microbiota is healthy. A healthy gut plays a role in inflammation and hormone metabolism, so eating gut-friendly foods is always good. "While eating these foods won't artificially raise testosterone beyond your body's natural capacity, they can help create the right environment for hormonal stability," Reeder said. Jose LuisWhat is the best diet for boosting testosterone levels? Any balanced diet that includes testosterone-friendly foods is a good option. However, if you're looking for a specific diet to help you create meals, try the Mediterranean diet. It's rich in lean proteins, healthy fats and plenty of veggies. Houman explained that following a Mediterranean diet has been linked to higher testosterone levels and better reproductive health in men. You don't have to follow the Mediterranean diet to boost your testosterone levels; you can focus on healthy eating habits to see the benefits. However, it's essential to acknowledge what not to do. Houman explained that ultra-processed foods and high-sugar diets can suppress testosterone by promoting insulin resistance. You'll always want to stay away from trans fats and packaged snacks. Read more: The Best Food Subscriptions for a Mediterranean Diet That said, you don't want to cut out fats entirely. "Very low-fat diets can be problematic. Fats, especially those from whole food sources, provide cholesterol, a crucial building block for hormone production," Reeder said. Don't cut out all fats from your diet or you may see a hormone level drop. Instead, focus on high-quality fats and moderate how often you eat processed foods. If you don't know where to start with your diet or how to recognize your food patterns, working with a registered dietitian can help you find a diet that works best for your body. Other natural ways to boost testosterone Everything starts with the foods you eat, though your diet isn't the only thing that could impact your testosterone levels. Your lifestyle matters too. Other healthy habits to maintain testosterone levels:
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Peeing For Longer Than This Exact Amount Of Time Could Reveal Health Issues
We've written before at HuffPost UK about how the colour of your pee can reveal a lot about your health. And according to experts, how long your wee lasts can reveal potential bladder issues too. Speaking to The Washington Post, Stephen Freedland, a professor of urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, advised that an average pee shouldn't last longer than half a minute. 'Once you get going and it takes you a minute to empty your bladder, that's a problem. That's not normal,' he added. Meanwhile, Dr. Janis Miller, nurse practitioner behind the bladder-based website puts it at an even stingier 20 seconds, per Well + Good. Funnily enough, most mammals ― regardless of size, so long as they're over 3 kilos ― spend more or less exactly 21 seconds urinating, due to gravity and a phenomenon called Pascal's Barrel. Regularly taking a lot longer than that to pee may mean you're drinking too much water, that you're not giving yourself enough wee breaks, or even that you're overstretching your bladder, Dr. Miller suggests. If, for instance, you get too used to holding in your urine, a condition that's sometimes called 'nurse's bladder' or 'teacher's bladder' can happen, urologist Nicole Eisenbrown, MD, told Well + Good. At this point, your brain becomes less able to pick up fullness cues from your bladder, leading you to empty it less often than you should. 'Your bladder just gets slightly bigger, then slightly bigger, and slightly bigger,' she explained. In the short term, that can make your urination sessions lengthy ― and over time that makes your bladder weaker. Unusual peeing habits can also sometimes reveal other conditions, including diabetes, neurological disorders or prostate issues, The Washington Post revealed. The odd extra-long pee likely isn't too much to worry about. But if you're regularly spending a lot of time on the loo and aren't sure why, if it's interfering with your daily life, and if you have other issues that worry you with your urine, it could be a good idea to chat to your GP. The Mayo Clinic adds that you should seek medical help immediately if you notice any of the following; Blood in your urine. Red or dark brown urine. Pain when you pass urine. Pain in your side, lower belly or groin. Trouble passing urine or emptying your bladder. A strong urge to pass urine. Loss of bladder control. Fever. If Your Urine Is This Colour, It's Probably Time To See A Doctor Here's When A Urine Bug Could Be A Sign Of Something More Serious Could This Urine Test For Prostate Cancer Be A Lifesaver For Men?
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
5 Health Benefits of Drinking Tea Every Day
Far beyond a comforting ritual, your daily cup of tea might be doing more than keeping you hydrated. Enjoyed around the world for centuries, tea is packed with nutrient compounds that may support everything from heart health to brain function. Here's what nutrition experts say about the health benefits of drinking tea every Zenker, RD, MAN, registered dietitian at MyHealthTeam Meghan Laszlo, MS, RD, CSO, clinical nutrition coordinator at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles'Regular tea consumption has been associated with possible reductions in blood pressure, LDL ('lousy') cholesterol, and triglycerides, which are all biomarkers linked to cardiovascular disease,' says Avery Zenker, RD, MAN, registered dietitian at MyHealthTeam. Much of this benefit comes from polyphenols, particularly EGCG, which is found in the highest amounts in green tea and, to a lesser extent, in black tea, and has shown promising protective effects for heart health.'Green tea has been associated with decreased risk of death from cardiovascular disease of all kinds, where three cups per day was linked to a 26% lower risk of death,' says Zenker. 'It's also associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular complications, including coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke.' Black tea also delivers a dose of flavonoids. 'Flavonoids may help support vasodilation, the relaxing of blood vessels, which may help reduce blood pressure,' Zenker explains. There's also some evidence that hibiscus tea may help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, possibly due to its anthocyanin content, which are antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. When it comes to cognitive function, one of the most studied compounds in tea is caffeine, found in green, black, and oolong varieties, which has been shown to enhance performance during long, demanding cognitive tasks and improve alertness, arousal, and vigor. 'L-theanine, another compound in tea, promotes relaxation, reduces tension, and increases calmness,' says Zenker. 'When combined, caffeine and L-theanine have been found to improve attention-switching and alertness, though less than caffeine alone.' This duo may also support better focus, memory, and distraction control. Found in both green and black tea, L-theanine can help take the edge off caffeine, reducing overstimulation and helping you stay calm but alert. Green tea's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may also play a role in supporting brain health. 'The antioxidant properties of tea compounds, particularly L-theanine, may help protect brain cells from oxidative stress, potentially slowing cognitive decline,' says Zenker. The polyphenols in tea also feed the good bacteria in your gut, helping support the growth of beneficial microbes like Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, Zenker points out. An optimal ratio of these is linked to a lower risk of obesity and metabolic disorders. 'Tea has been found to decrease the amount of inflammatory compounds produced by gut bacteria, like lipopolysaccharides,' says Zenker. Tea also helps fuel the production of short-chain fatty acids, beneficial compounds that gut microbes make during digestion, supporting a more balanced gut microbiome overall. 'Green tea in particular has been found to support the growth of helpful bacteria and decrease the growth of harmful bacteria,' says Zenker. 'This finding was associated with intake of four to five cups of green tea per day.' Green tea, especially, contains bioactive compounds that can help regulate metabolism. While the size of the effect can vary, Zenker says EGCG has been found to boost fat burning and improve insulin sensitivity. Drinking tea in general has been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, with about two cups per day showing benefits, and a 15% reduced risk observed at four cups per day, Zenker points out. 'Many chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, are closely related to metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and insulin resistance. By influencing inflammatory processes, tea consumption may indirectly support metabolic health and insulin sensitivity," Zenker says. Black tea, which contains about 269 milligrams of flavan-3-ols per 8-ounce cup, is linked to better blood sugar control. The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends a daily intake of 400 to 600 milligrams of flavan-3-ols from food sources to help reduce risks associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. 'Flavan-3-ols have been found to reduce blood pressure, improve cholesterol and blood sugar control. The higher the intake, the lower the risk of CVD,' says Meghan Laszlo, MS, RD, CSO, clinical nutrition coordinator at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. 'Flavan-3-ols lower LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, A1C, and raise HDL cholesterol.' Regular tea drinking is also associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, coronary heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Read the original article on Real Simple
