Latest news with #UniversityofPittsburgh
New York Post
17 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
Expert outlines grim reality of MRI's dangers after man with 20-pound chain dies in machine mishap: ‘Snap his neck'
The Long Island man killed in a freak MRI accident stood no chance against the machine's magnetic field that pulled him in with enough force to 'snap his neck,' according to an expert in the field. A 20-pound chain that Kevin McAllister was wearing around his neck would have been yanked into the machine at Nassau Open MRI with 'hundreds of pounds' of force, Dr. Emanuel Kanal told the Post on Tuesday. 'Even if he was standing there holding the chain in his hands, the strongest weightlifter would not be able to prevent this kind of an accident from happening,' said Kanal, director of Magnetic Resonance Service at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. 3 Keith McAllister, 61, suffered multiple heart attacks after he was sucked into an MRI machine by his 20-pound metal chain. Facebook/Karim McAllister 'The problem is it's not a regular magnet, it's not a regular piece of iron. It's an unbelievably powerful magnet, and it's an unbelievably large piece of iron,' Kanal said, adding that the two factors resulted in 'hundreds of pounds of attraction in the direction of the magnet.' McAllister was pinned to the machine for over an hour by the massive exercise chain fitted with a padlock that he wore when he was allegedly led into the machine room by an MRI technician to help his wife who was having her knee examined, his family said. When he got 'within a few inches' of the machine, it could suddenly pull with 'such strength that it could have pulled sufficiently strongly to snap his neck,' Kanal said. 3 Family of McAllister claimed the 61-year-old was led into the machine room by a technician who did not tell the doting husband to remove his large metal chain. Brigitte Stelzer McAllister was pronounced dead at North Shore University Hospital the day after the bizarre accident with the cause being identified as three heart attacks, according to his family. '[D]epending on the status of his health, he may have had problems with cardiovascular disease before, and when the excitement happened, he could have had a heart attack just from the event itself,' Kanal stated. McAllister's wife described the haunting moments when her husband was breathing his last. 'His body went limp,' Adrienne Jones-McAllister told News 12 Long Island. 'He went limp in my arms and this is still pulsating in my brain,' she told the outlet through tears. Despite decades in the medical industry, Kanal said the bizarre manner of death is incredibly rare. 3 The MRI machine could have pulled McAllister with enough force to snap his neck, an expert told The Post. Brigitte Stelzer '[It's] extremely rare that someone dies because of an interaction with a strong magnetic field — probably fewer than a dozen times since MRI first became a diagnostic tool in the early 1980s,' the expert stated. His stepdaughter claimed the technician never warmed McAllister to take off the necklace that led to his demise. 'While my mother was laying on the table, the technician left the room to get her husband to help her off the table,' step-daughter Adrienne Jones-McAllister wrote in a GoFundMe. 'He forgot to inform him to take the chain he was wearing from around his neck off when the magnet sucked him in,' she wrote.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Study Reveals the Top Predictor of Heart Disease for Women Over 45
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." New research points to poor sleep as a cause of poor heart health in menopausal women. The study analyzed health data from about 3,000 women who participated in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Sleep ended up being the biggest predictor of having a cardiovascular disease event and dying from any cause. The underlying causes of heart disease are varied and complicated, and doctors and scientists are still uncovering all the ways our genetics and lifestyle might affect our heart health. Now, new research published in the journal Menopause suggests that slacking on sleep can actually be a big problem for heart health, especially in menopausal women. What's behind the connection? Top experts in the sleep and cardiovascular fields explain why sleep is so tied to heart health and what this study means for you. Meet the experts: W. Christopher Winter, MD, is a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and host of the Sleep Unplugged podcast; Jennifer Wider, MD, is a women's health expert and co-host of the Open Wider podcast; Jessica Shepherd, MD, author of Generation M: Living Well in Perimenopause and Menopause: Samar R. El Khoudary, PhD, MPH, study co-author and a cardiovascular and women's health epidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health What did the study find? For the study, researchers analyzed health data from about 3,000 women who participated in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), which is an ongoing, longitudinal study of midlife women in the US. The researchers specifically looked at scores for Life's Essential 8, a health assessment tool created by the American Heart Association. After crunching the data, the researchers found that four components in Life's Essential 8 (blood glucose, blood pressure, sleep quality, and nicotine use) were the most important factors in predicting participants' future risk of developing cardiovascular disease. But sleep ended up being the biggest predictor of having a cardiovascular disease event and dying from any cause. And those who had better sleep quality had a lower risk of both of these outcomes. 'Midlife sleep quality may uniquely contribute to future event risk,' the researchers wrote in the conclusion. How is sleep related to heart health? There are a few potential factors at play here. 'Poor sleep can lead to inflammation in the body,' says Jennifer Wider, MD, women's health expert and co-host of the Open Wider podcast. 'Research shows that even relatively mild sleep problems can cause inflammation in cells that line the veins in the heart, which could significantly contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.' But there can be an indirect impact of sleep on heart health, too. 'Lack of sleep may promote poor eating habits which over time can contribute to poor nutrition, diabetes, and heart disease,' Dr. Wider says. Consistent lack of sleep is also linked to high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, poor blood sugar control, and obesity, points out W. Christopher Winter, MD, a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and host of the Sleep Unplugged podcast. 'All of these are cardiovascular risk factors,' he says. What is considered 'poor sleep'? In the study, the sleep score was based on participants' responses to three questions about their sleep habits over the past two weeks, focusing on trouble falling asleep, frequent night awakenings, and early morning awakenings with difficulty returning to sleep, explains Samar R. El Khoudary, PhD, MPH, study co-author and a cardiovascular and women's health epidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health. Why do menopausal women need to prioritize sleep for heart health? "As cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women, it is important to protect heart health as much as possible," says Jessica Shepherd, MD, author of Generation M: Living Well in Perimenopause and Menopause. "As menopause affects every middle-aged woman, many post-menopausal women suffer from increased risks for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and sleep problems." But menopausal women in particular face potential issues with heart health due to declining levels of estrogen, Dr. Wider says. Estrogen is protective of the heart, she explains. As it drops in the body, a woman's risk of developing cardiovascular conditions, including heart disease, increases. "Sleep disturbances are common during the transition," El Khoudary says. "These issues, worsened by hormonal changes, vasomotor symptoms, and other factors, can increase with age and are linked to higher cardiovascular risk." Menopausal women also tend to see a "sharp increased risk" for sleep apnea, which usually leads to worse sleep and a higher risk of heart issues, Dr. Winter says. But Dr. Winter stresses that women shouldn't assume they're doomed to have poor sleep—and potentially developing cardiovascular disease as a result—during menopause. 'This is such a positive place for menopausal women to focus, because it is a variable that can be measured and improved upon,' he says. Ultimately, if you're struggling with sleep, it's a good idea to check in with a healthcare provider. Starting a good treatment plan could do more than make you feel well-rested the next day—it may support better heart health. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50 Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Pittsburgh college student says he returned to apartment to find 2 strangers living there
When a college student in Pittsburgh returned to his apartment after being away for a month, he found two strangers living there instead of his roommate. University of Pittsburgh student Maverick Crupi said he was blindsided last month when strangers suddenly moved in without notice from his landlord at the SkyVue Apartments. "I opened the door, I walked in, and everything in the kitchen that was there, that I had there, was no longer there," Crupi said. "And there was new pots, there was new pans, there's a candle." Crupi said he also found two naked strangers inside his apartment in the city's Oakland neighborhood. "This lady, she's probably like 35, 40 [years old], just naked, walks out, looks at me and starts screaming," he said. The college student said he was given no notice that his former roommate apparently sublet his room. After reviewing his contract, he believed it was in total violation of his rights as a tenant. "If you're going to rely on the contract to have me pay you rent every month and utilities and follow whatever addendums you have in there, then you, as the person that made the contract, need to follow it to a T, too." A clause in the contract states that replacing a resident or subletting "is allowed only when we expressly consent in writing," going on to say that "the remaining resident and replacement residents must sign an entirely new lease contract." But KDKA Investigates learned the contract Crupi signed was a "by-the-bed" lease, meaning while his apartment was a two-bedroom with a shared living space, he was only renting, paying for and leasing his bedroom. Several local attorneys told KDKA Investigates SkyVue was not in breach of the contract. "Because these were individual separate leases, then that's something where he's not really going to have much of a claim to the breach of the covenant of quiet and enjoyment here, just because new tenants were put in there without his prior knowledge or consent," attorney Daniel Stoner said. Stoner said that had Crupi and his former roommate signed a joint lease together, the subletting clause in his contract would have been effective. But even then, Stoner said it comes down to landlord discretion. "It is true that the landlord, that's really at their discretion and option if they want to enforce those clauses or not, and sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't," Stoner said. Several attorneys KDKA Investigates talked to say most tenant-landlord contracts typically are more landlord-friendly and weigh in favor of the property owner. "Look at your contract, look at the laws that are in the city, try to see if you're getting what you're entitled to. At the end of the day, the bare minimum, hopefully, at least you're getting that, and people are following their contract," Crupi said. Stoner said make sure tenants read and understand their contracts, and do not be afraid to ask questions. "Those are questions that you certainly should be asking, particularly if you are entering into a lease where you're renting out an individual bedroom and you're living in a unit with other people that are that are renting," Stoner said. If a tenant needs help with a contract, Stoner said to contact an attorney. He also suggested practicing good communication. Even so, Stoner said the landlord could have done a better job making sure this wasn't a surprise for Crupi. "If somebody did get hurt, the landlord could potentially be liable for all this," the attorney said. "This could have been easily preventable just by giving the guy a call or sending him a text or email to let him know this is happening."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
These 4 habits are key to heart health in middle-aged women, study reveals
As women enter their late 40s and early 50s, the transition through menopause brings more than just the end of menstrual cycles. It triggers a cascade of physiological changes that significantly impact cardiovascular health. From increased belly fat and hormonal fluctuations to higher risks of inflammation, metabolic syndrome, and vascular stiffening, this phase of life poses a critical turning point for heart health. A new study from the University of Pittsburgh, cited by the New York Post, sheds light on the most impactful habits that can help reduce cardiovascular risk. Analyzing data from nearly 3,000 women, researchers found that four specific behaviors — sleep, blood pressure, blood glucose, and smoking — had the greatest long-term impact on heart disease outcomes. 4 habits every woman should track to protect her heart 1. Sleep quality: a nightly reset for your heart Poor sleep isn't just tiring, it can be dangerous for your heart. According to the New York Post, the study emphasized that sleep disruptions during menopause are common and can worsen cardiovascular markers. Hormonal shifts affect circadian rhythms, leading to insomnia and fragmented rest. This, in turn, increases cortisol levels and insulin resistance, both of which contribute to heart disease. The American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) includes sleep as a vital metric for this reason. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Park Crescent at Alembic City, Vadodara – Luxury Homes from ₹2.20 Cr* Onwards Alembic City West Learn More Undo Researchers found that better sleep directly correlated with healthier blood pressure and glucose levels, two other key metrics for heart protection. 'Sleep can suffer with the symptoms of menopause,' said study co-author Samar R. El Khoudary, as quoted in Medical News Today. 'This has implications for heart health we can't ignore.' 2. Blood pressure: the silent strain on your arteries As estrogen declines during menopause, women become more vulnerable to elevated blood pressure. The New York Post reported that the study found significant arterial thickening and stiffness in women entering their 50s, a change often undetected until damage is already underway. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is known as the "silent killer" because it typically shows no symptoms until it's too late. Yet, it's one of the most modifiable risk factors. Lifestyle changes like reducing salt, managing stress, and exercising regularly can help control it. 'There's a change in vascular health, with increasing thickness and stiffness in the carotid artery,' El Khoudary noted. 3. Blood glucose: the hidden predictor of heart risk Even without a diabetes diagnosis, elevated blood sugar levels in middle age are a serious warning sign. According to the study referenced by the New York Post, blood glucose control was among the strongest indicators of future cardiovascular trouble in menopausal women. Insulin resistance tends to rise during this period due to hormonal and metabolic shifts, increasing the likelihood of plaque buildup in the arteries. Experts advise limiting processed sugar, maintaining a balanced diet rich in fiber and healthy fats, and staying active to manage blood glucose levels effectively. Regular screening is also vital, as many cases of prediabetes go unnoticed until complications arise. 4. Smoking: the most avoidable threat to the heart Despite decades of public health warnings, tobacco use remains one of the most damaging and preventable contributors to heart disease. The New York Post noted that smoking was one of the four top predictors of heart problems later in life, especially in postmenopausal women. Nicotine and carbon monoxide not only increase heart rate and blood pressure but also damage the lining of blood vessels, accelerating atherosclerosis. The benefits of quitting are immediate and profound. Just one year after quitting, the risk of coronary heart disease drops by 50 percent. Combined with improvements in sleep, blood sugar, and blood pressure, stopping smoking creates a compounding protective effect for the cardiovascular system. A call to action: know your numbers, take control 'Nearly 45 percent of women over 20 are living with some form of cardiovascular disease,' cardiologist Dr. Stacey Rosen told Fox News Digital, underscoring the need for early and proactive care. Yet, the good news is that most heart disease is preventable through informed lifestyle choices. Doctors recommend regular monitoring of cholesterol, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, and blood sugar, all modifiable factors. The New York Post emphasizes the value of following the LE8 framework, which includes maintaining a healthy diet, exercising 150 minutes per week, and avoiding tobacco use. Your midlife years are not just about managing symptoms. They are a crucial window to strengthen your heart for the decades ahead.
Fast Company
2 days ago
- Science
- Fast Company
How AI is impacting trust among college students and teachers
The advent of generative AI has elicited waves of frustration and worry across academia for all the reasons one might expect: Early studies are showing that artificial intelligence tools can dilute critical thinking and undermine problem-solving skills. And there are many reports that students are using chatbots to cheat on assignments. But how do students feel about AI? And how is it affecting their relationships with peers, instructors and their coursework? I am part of a group of University of Pittsburgh researchers with a shared interest in AI and undergraduate education. While there is a growing body of research exploring how generative AI is affecting higher education, there is one group that we worry is underrepresented in this literature, yet perhaps uniquely qualified to talk about the issue: our students. Our team ran a series of focus groups with 95 students across our campuses in the spring of 2025 and found that whether students and faculty are actively using AI or not, it is having significant interpersonal, emotional effects on learning and trust in the classroom. While AI products such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude are, of course, affecting how students learn, their emergence is also changing their relationships with their professors and with one another. 'It's not going to judge you' Most of our focus group participants had used AI in the academic setting—when faced with a time crunch, when they perceive something to be 'busy work,' or when they are 'stuck' and worry that they can't complete a task on their own. We found that most students don't start a project using AI, but many are willing to turn to it at some point. Many students described positive experiences using AI to help them study or answer questions, or give them feedback on papers. Some even described using AI instead of a professor, tutor or teaching assistant. Others found a chatbot less intimidating than attending office hours where professors might be 'demeaning.' In the words of one interviewee: 'With ChatGPT you can ask as many questions as you want and it's not going to judge you.' But by using it, you may be judged. While some were excited about using AI, many students voiced mild feelings of guilt or shame about their AI use due to environmental or ethical concerns, or just coming across as lazy. Some even expressed a feeling of helplessness, or a sense of inevitability regarding AI in their futures. Anxiety, distrust and avoidance While many students expressed a sense that faculty members are, as one participant put it, 'very anti-ChatGPT,' they also lamented the fact that the rules around acceptable AI use were not sufficiently clear. As one urban planning major put it: 'I feel uncertain of what the expectations are,' with her peer chiming in, 'We're not on the same page with students and teachers or even individually. No one really is.' Students also described feelings of distrust and frustration toward peers they saw as overly reliant on AI. Some talked about asking classmates for help, only to find that they 'just used ChatGPT' and hadn't learned the material. Others pointed to group projects, where AI use was described as 'a giant red flag' that made them 'think less' of their peers. These experiences feel unfair and uncomfortable for students. They can report their classmates for academic integrity violations—and enter yet another zone in which distrust mounts—or they can try to work with them, sometimes with resentment. 'It ends up being more work for me,' a political science major said, 'because it's not only me doing my work by myself, it's me double checking yours.' Distrust was a marker that we observed of both student-to-teacher relationships and student-to-student relationships. Learners shared fears of being left behind if other students in their classes used chatbots to get better grades. This resulted in emotional distance and wariness among students. Indeed, our findings reflect other reports that indicate the mere possibility that a student might have used a generative AI tool is now undercutting trust across the classroom. Students are as anxious about baseless accusations of AI use as they are about being caught using it. Students described feeling anxious, confused and distrustful, and sometimes even avoiding peers or learning interactions. As educators, this worries us. We know that academic engagement—a key marker of student success—comes not only from studying the course material, but also from positive engagement with classmates and instructors alike. AI is affecting relationships Indeed, research has shown that faculty-student relationships are an important indicator of student success. Peer-to-peer relationships are essential too. If students are sidestepping important mentoring relationships with professors or meaningful learning experiences with peers due to discomfort over ambiguous or shifting norms around the use of AI technology, institutions of higher education could imagine alternative pathways for connection. Residential campuses could double down on in-person courses and connections; faculty could be incentivized to encourage students to visit during office hours. Faculty-led research, mentoring and campus events where faculty and students mix in an informal fashion could also make a difference. We hope our research can also flip the script and disrupt tropes about students who use AI as 'cheaters.' Instead, it tells a more complex story of students being thrust into a reality they didn't ask for, with few clear guidelines and little control. As generative AI continues to pervade everyday life, and institutions of higher education continue to search for solutions, our focus groups reflect the importance of listening to students and considering novel ways to help students feel more comfortable connecting with peers and faculty. Understanding these evolving interpersonal dynamics matters because how we relate to technology is increasingly affecting how we relate to one another. Given our experiences in dialogue with them, it is clear that students are more than ready to talk about this issue and its impact on their futures. Acknowledgment: Thank you to the full team from the University of Pittsburgh Oakland, Greensburg, Bradford and Johnstown campuses, including Annette Vee, Patrick Manning, Jessica FitzPatrick, Jessica Ghilani, Catherine Kula, Patty Wharton-Michael, Jialei Jiang, Sean DiLeonardi, Birney Young, Mark DiMauro, Jeff Aziz, and Gayle Rogers.
