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Boston Globe
12-08-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
At least one dead in explosion at US Steel plant, authorities say
Joshua Pershing, a fourth-generation steelworker who works at the plant, said he was in another building at the plant and felt it shake from the blasts. Advertisement 'Next thing I knew, guys were running in, saying something just blew up,' said Pershing, 31. 'We don't know who's alive and who's gone,' he said, choking up. 'But pray for their families.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Few details were available on the extent of injuries or what caused the explosion near the northern end of the Clairton plant, a sprawling facility covering hundreds of acres along a mile-long bend of the Monongahela River, about 15 miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh. Scott Buckiso, an executive vice president and chief manufacturing officer of US Steel, said the explosion happened at two coke oven batteries that had appeared to be in good condition before the blast. 'Safety is our No. 1 priority every day, every shift, 365,' Buckiso said. 'So, obviously, this is a tragedy that we want to understand.' Advertisement Earlier in the day, officials had estimated that dozens of people had been hurt. Abigail Gardner, a spokesperson for Allegheny County, said some people at the plant had been critically injured while others had minor wounds. The county health department urged people within 1 mile of the explosion to remain indoors. Ronnie Fordyce, who works at the plant, said he and others were on their lunch break, far away from where the explosions occurred, when they felt the blasts. 'Then we went outside and saw the smoke,' he said. Zachary Buday, a construction worker at a job site less than half a mile away from the plant, said the explosion 'took the air out of your chest,' even at a distance. A spokesperson for the Allegheny Health Network said that two of its trauma center hospitals had received one patient each. Five more patients were taken to the network's hospital that is closest to the scene, and all were released within a few hours. Three additional patients were taken to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Butch Michaels, who works at Hometown Burgers and Deli next to the plant, said he felt the building shake and thought at first that it was from a construction site next to the deli. But his manager told him the blast was too strong for that. 'It blew our front door open,' Michaels said. Bernie Hall, who leads the United Steelworkers union in Pennsylvania, said in a statement that the union would seek a 'thorough investigation' and provide its members with support. The Allegheny County Police Department said its homicide unit would be leading the investigation with help from the county fire marshal and federal authorities. Advertisement The plant, which has been in operation for more than a century, is a remnant of the industrial concentration that built Pittsburgh into the Steel City and helped power the Industrial Revolution. Coal arrives at the plant by train and barge, and is converted into coke to fuel the blast furnaces that manufacture steel. US Steel said in a statement that the company was working with authorities to determine what had caused the disaster. 'Nearly 1,300 dedicated men and women work at the Clairton Plant each day, performing their jobs with the utmost safety,' David B. Burritt, the company's president, said in the statement. 'During times like this, US Steel employees come together to extend their love, prayers and support to everyone affected.' The company's website says that the plant is the largest coke manufacturing facility in the United States, with 10 operating batteries of coke ovens that produce a total of approximately 4.3 million tons of coke annually, according to US Steel. In recent years, the Clairton plant has drawn criticism from environmental groups and nearby residents over pollution and over what critics said was deficient maintenance. A sprinkler pipe failure in 2018 led to a fire at the plant on Christmas Eve, and there were power outages at the plant in 2019 and 2022. US Steel reached a settlement with Allegheny County and two environmental groups in 2024 in which the company agreed to pay $4.5 million toward environmental projects as a result of those incidents. The company also promised to invest roughly $19.5 million to upgrade its coke oven gas cleaning facilities. Richard Lattanzi, the mayor of Clairton, worked at US Steel for 30 years, including eight as a safety inspector, and said he knew it was a dangerous place to work. Advertisement But, he added, 'nobody should die at work.' He said he had met with workers at the plant. 'I shook all their hands,' he said. 'They're going to take it home with them.' Senator John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, told reporters Monday that the disaster 'reminds everybody how dangerous of a job it is to make steel here.' 'It's just absolutely tragic,' he said. This article originally appeared in
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
If You Notice This Sensation When Walking, Your Shoes Are Probably The Wrong Size
If there were a way to avoid foot pain during runs, walks, hikes or a long day on your feet, you'd probably want to know it, right? It's supremely frustrating to go out for a run or walk just to notice tightness or soreness in your feet. And while there are any number of reasons why you may feel pain when you're on your feet, one common, yet avoidable, culprit is too-small shoes. Even if you're in a pair of sneakers that are your regular size, they may not actually be the right size for your runs or walks. 'It's very true that running and prolonged time on your feet, whether that's walking or standing or running, can cause swelling in your feet,' said Dr. Jeffrey Fleming, a sports medicine physician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the associate medical director of the Pittsburgh Marathon. 'It's very normal. It happens to lots of people, regardless of their age or activity level,' Fleming added. Gravity pulls fluid to your lower extremities, which contributes to the swelling in your feet, he explained. How much someone's foot swells varies from person to person. You'll know best how much (and if) your feet swell when you're on your feet for a long time. If you commonly deal with swollen feet, you'll want to keep a few things in mind when buying sneakers. Here's what to know: 'If you're somebody that is more prone to swelling, you could consider getting a slightly larger shoe. We usually recommend getting a half-size larger to begin and going from there,' Fleming said. You could also try a shoe in a larger width, said Liz Pagonis, the chief marketing officer of Philadelphia Runner, a running store. Pagonis said in her experience, many folks do need to size up. 'You want to have about a half to full finger [of space] if you're resting your thumb horizontally in front of your toes, just a little bit of a buffer between your feet and shoe, so you're not rubbing,' Pagonis said. If you notice tightness when trying on a sneaker, that is a sign in itself that you should size up, she noted. If you can't buy a new pair of sneakers right now, you can just lace up your sneakers a little looser than usual, Fleming added. 'But if you're somebody that doesn't get a ton of swelling, and you haven't noticed this before, I think it's very OK to just get your normal, true-to-fit shoe size, and you can always change if you do develop swelling in the future,' Fleming noted. Foot swelling can happen whether you're running, walking or just on your feet all day at work, Pagonis said, but it's especially common when it's hot and humid. 'I'm sure people have seen their hands swell [when it's hot], so [foot swelling] kind of happens faster in the summer,' Pagonis said. You're also more likely to have swollen feet if you're on your feet for really long periods of time, like long days at work, lengthy hikes or while running marathons or half marathons, she noted. Those who deal with foot swelling probably know it, but if you're unsure, try to pay attention to how your feet feel in your shoes. If you notice tightness after a long walk or run, that's a sign that you're prone to swelling, said Fleming. 'The other thing is sometimes you can visibly tell that your feet are a little bit more swollen, especially around the ankles, like right where the foot and ankle meet, kind of the top border of the foot is a common place to get post-running swelling,' Fleming said. You can often see the swelling there or feel that it's more swollen than normal, he noted. After a run or walk, you can also take your shoe off and 'press with two of your fingers on the inside bone of your ankle, where you see a little bump there — that's a common place to see the swelling,' Fleming added. 'And if you feel some extra squishiness, that could be a sign that you have some very slight swelling of your ankle, that's usually just the easiest place to check,' said Fleming. When your shoes are too tight, it can cause real problems beyond discomfort. First, 'it can cut off circulation,' said Pagonis. It can also lead to bunions, she added. 'And, when you're restricting the movement of your feet, it can cause other injuries throughout the rest of your body because you're not propelling yourself forward naturally. [You're] overcompensating, it's affecting your gait,' Pagonis said. It can also lead to chafing and some of the common issues you hear about in runners, such as ripped toenails and blisters, she added. If you wear a shoe that accounts for the swelling, though, this won't be a problem. 'Most of the time, swelling of your feet after running is fairly harmless, so I wouldn't let it cause you too much worry,' Fleming said. 'The only time where you want to consider looking into it further or seeking more medical attention is if the swelling persists for more than a few hours after you're running, or if the swelling just continues to increase after you're done running, or if you get any changes in color to the skin,' he added. Additionally, if you have underlying conditions or a medical history that raises concerns about the swelling, Fleming said, you should also consult your doctor. 'But, the vast majority of these cases, they're fairly benign,' he said. To make sure you're prepared for any foot swelling that may happen during your walk or run, consider getting properly fitted for running or walking shoes at your local running store. Or, you can talk to a sports medicine doctor about what you should look for in a sneaker. Is Running Really THAT Bad On Your Knees? The Answer May Surprise You. 'Rucking' Is The Latest Walking Trend You Need To Try. Here's Why. 4 Ways To Make Your Daily Walk More Effective
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
KAHR Bio Announces Positive Phase 2 Results of DSP107 in Combination with anti-PD-L1 in Colorectal Cancer
- Findings presented in an oral presentation at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting - DSP107 in combination with atezolizumab in 3rd line microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC) patients elicits anti-tumor activity and extends survival including in patients with liver metastases MODI'IN, Israel, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- KAHR, a clinical-stage biotech company developing DSP107, a first-in-class bi-specific 4-1BB T-cell engager that activates innate and adaptive immunity to treat solid tumors, today announced positive results from the Phase 2 dose expansion cohort of DSP107 in combination with atezolizumab (Tecentriq®), an anti-PD-L1 cancer immunotherapy, in patients with 3rd line microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC). In addition to its favorable safety profile, the combination has shown anti-tumor activity and extended survival including in patients with liver metastases. The results were presented in an oral presentation by Anwaar Saeed, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Director, Gastrointestinal Disease Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025 Annual Meeting, May 30 – June 3, 2025, in Chicago, IL. "Colorectal cancer, the second largest cause of cancer deaths worldwide, is considered a 'cold' tumor that usually does not elicit an efficient immune response," said Dr. Saeed. "This immunotherapy combination showed durable results in MSS-CRC patients. Not only is the median survival of DSP107 with atezolizumab longer than current standard treatments, it is also very well tolerated by patients, without the severe, sometimes life-threatening side effects of chemotherapy in such advanced lines of treatment. Importantly, the majority of patients in the combination cohort had active liver metastases and the activity and survival benefit were also seen in these patients, who are very difficult to treat, suggesting that DSP107 in combination with a PD1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor may become an effective immunotherapy treatment option for this patient population." Yaron Pereg, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of KAHR, said, "We are extremely encouraged by the dose expansion data, showing objective responses and extended survival in response to DSP107 in combination with atezolizumab in patients with 3rd line MSS-CRC. We look forward to initiating a Phase 2b, randomized, controlled study to confirm these promising efficacy signals. In addition, we expect data in 2026 from a Phase 2 dose expansion cohort in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide." Results from the completed dose expansion cohort show that DSP107 monotherapy and combination treatment with atezolizumab were well tolerated with no dose limiting toxicities. The median OS from the efficacy-evaluable patients who received DSP107 monotherapy (n=19) and combination therapy with atezolizumab (n=21) has not been reached, but currently (May 2025 cutoff) stands at 8.1 and 17 months, respectively. Disease control was demonstrated in 21% (monotherapy) and 62% (combination) of evaluable patients including a patient who achieved a complete response (> 2.5 years) and a patient with a deep (86% target lesion reduction) and durable (> 16 months) confirmed partial response and disappearance of pulmonary and hepatic metastases. Immunofluorescence analysis of baseline tumor biopsies demonstrated very high levels of CD47 expression, the DSP107 target, in all samples collected from liver metastases. The MSS-CRC dose expansion phase of the study was an open label, multi-center trial (NCT04440735) that enrolled patients with 3rd line MSS colorectal cancer patients, treated weekly with 10 mg/kg DSP107 infusions and atezolizumab (1200 mg) every three weeks, until disease progression. The primary objective was to determine the safety and tolerability of DSP107 in combination with atezolizumab. The secondary objective was to assess the preliminary efficacy of DSP107 in combination with atezolizumab. Presentation information: Abstract Title: Phase 2 dose expansion study of DSP107, a first-in-class bi-specific 4-1BB T-cell engager, with and without atezolizumab in metastatic MSS colorectal cancer patients. Abstract Number for Publication: 3517 About DSP107 KAHR's lead drug candidate, DSP107, is a first-in-class bi-specific 4-1BB T-cell engager utilizing CD47 overexpression as a tumor anchor. DSP107 binds to CD47 that cancer cells express on their cell surface. Once bound, DSP107 converts the CD47 signal, which cancer uses to camouflage itself from the innate immune system, into a 4-1BB signal, which attracts and activates adaptive immune cells, primarily cancer cytotoxic CD8 T-cells. In this way, DSP107 engages both parts of the immune system in a wholistic anti-cancer response. This is particularly relevant in colorectal cancer, where 70%+ of the metastatic patients have metastases in the liver, and where liver metastases highly express CD47 in response to first- and second-line chemotherapy treatments. Previous attempts to treat colorectal cancer with immunotherapy have failed as there is a lack of immune cells in the tumor. DSP107 is unique in that it takes advantage of CD47 expression to drive immune cells into the tumor. DSP107 is also being tested in Phase 2 expansion cohort in 2L/3L PD1-experienced NSCLC. About microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC) Microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC) is a subtype of colorectal cancer that lacks deficiencies in the DNA mismatch repair system, resulting in stable microsatellite regions within the genome. Unlike microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumors, MSS-CRC exhibits lower tumor mutational burden and is less responsive to immunotherapy. MSS tumors represent the majority of colorectal cancer cases and are typically more challenging to treat. Standard treatment for metastatic MSS-CRC often involves a combination of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and in select cases, surgical intervention. About KAHR KAHR develops novel, dual-targeting fusion protein therapeutics engineered to activate both the innate and adaptive immune systems simultaneously and localize that response in the tumor microenvironment. The Company is developing multifunctional fusion proteins that boost the immune systems' response to cancer. KAHR Bio was founded based on technology developed at the University of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson University. For more information, please visit Media contact:Tsipi HaitovskyGlobal Media LiaisonKAHR +972-52-598-9892Tsipihai5@ View original content: SOURCE KAHR Medical 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
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Documentary drives home seriousness of heart attacks among South Asians
During a hike at Nainital in Uttarakhand, US-based physician Dr Renu Joshi had chest pain and for a minute was scared she would not make it. Though she recovered, this incident – combined with the alarming number of friends and acquaintances in the South Asian community developing early and severe heart disease, some even passing away — prompted her and her husband, Dr Nirmal Joshi, to take action. The two medical school sweethearts and senior physicians from Pennsylvania with over 70 years of medical practice set out to uncover what was behind this increasing loss of life. In the process, they met more than 40 heart specialists ,well-known actors and directors to now release a documentary drama called The Brown Heart. Released in May this year, the film unites voices from across fields to spark awareness and change and confronts this crisis head-on through real-life stories and expert insights. Heart attacks are a significant health concern, particularly in South Asia where the risk of cardiovascular disease is high and tends to occur earlier in life. According to the World Health Organisation, this premature onset of heart disease is attributed to a combination of genetic factors, lifestyle choices and environmental factors. Dr Nirmal Joshi recalled how Renu and he would discuss the issue and decided to undertake this journey two years ago. 'We travelled to India, USA and UK to gather human stories of survival and loss related to the menace of heart disease in South Asians (from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka and Nepal). We were able to weave over 100 hours of these interviews into a two-hour documentary film,' Dr Joshi said, adding that a longer version with four 45-minute episodes in the form of a web-series has also been taken up. Dr Joshi, who had earlier written and directed The Hippocratic Oath, a 45-minute digital film that was used for educating doctors in training across the United States, also directed the professional short film Goodnight Giggles that was selected in the Satyajit Ray short film competition at the London Indian Film Festival in November 2023. Dr Renu Joshi, who was also Vice-President of Population Health and Diabetes at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, participated actively in the unique venture. The duo soon connected with Yogendra Singh as the film's associate director. This ambitious project received donations from private donors in Central Pennsylvania but the majority of funding was provided by two couples Hersha and Hasu P Shah and Madhavi and Ramesh Bathini. While in India, the senior doctors travelled to Pune and spent an entire day at the Diabetes Research Unit at KEM Hospital Pune. Dr C S Yajnik, director of the unit who is well-known for his research on the `thin-fat' Indian phenotype said that it was a great effort taken and the film was a one-stop compendium of factors associated with heart attack in young Indians.. Dr Yajnik also encouraged the Joshi's to create 15-minute documentaries with simple, easy-to-understand messages aimed at students in schools and colleges.'This will reinforce the importance of guiding youngsters to take concrete steps to improve their lifestyle, get necessary tests done to assess their risk of future health problems. This is the need of the hour,' he added. The Brown Heart premiered recently on JioHotstar and according to Dr Joshi, they embarked upon this unique venture hoping to bring about a change. 'Even if we can inspire a small percentage of viewers to change after watching the film, our hard work would have been worth it,' Dr Joshi said. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
Time Magazine
08-05-2025
- Health
- Time Magazine
Shiv Rao
Much of what inspires people to go to medical school or nursing school is the opportunity—the "privilege," as Dr. Shiv Rao sees it—to serve patients while building strong relationships with them. But the reality of the job often means being consumed with paperwork for hours after the last appointment of the day. That's why Rao, a practicing cardiologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center with an interest in machine learning, founded Abridge, which uses AI to turn doctors' conversations with patients into billable clinical notes that are integrated directly into health records. The tool works by recording a patient's visit (with their consent), automatically transcribing it, and creating a useful summary. 'Abridge unburdens clinicians from the clerical work that crushes their souls, so they can focus on the person in front of them,' says CEO Rao. Abridge is now used at more than 100 health systems across the U.S., including Kaiser Permanente, Duke Health, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and UChicago Medicine. Rao expects that growth to continue: In February, the company raised $250 million, which it will funnel into research and development. It also started rolling out a product built for nurses at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. The same month, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association concluded that 67% of clinicians using Abridge believed their risk of burnout due to paperwork had decreased, and 77% felt the tool improved patient care. Rao recalls a rural primary care physician who wrote to the company about her experience with the tool. When she sat down to dinner with her family, her young son asked her: 'Mommy, why aren't you working right now?' The woman explained that she was using Abridge, a tool that allowed her to come home early enough for dinner—and that now, she could do so every night. 'Clinicians across the country can get their life back,' Rao says. 'But they can also hopefully deliver more empathetic care because they're more present and building better relationships.'
