Google’s DeepMind says its A.I. tech can spot acute kidney disease 48 hours before doctors spot it

Five years after Google acquired DeepMind, the health and artificial intelligence group is unveiling its biggest breakthrough yet in health care. Its technology is able to predict if a patient has potentially fatal kidney injuries 48 hours before many symptoms can be recognized by doctors.

In a paper published on Wednesday, DeepMind researchers said their algorithms correctly predicted 90 percent of acute kidney injuries that would end up requiring dialysis. The work was the result of a project with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to help doctors get a head start on treatment.

“We’ve been really excited for the potential of using AI to support clinicians moving care from reactive to proactive and preventative,” said  DeepMind’s co-founder and clinical lead, in an interview.

About 2 million people die every year across the globe from acute kidney injury, according to researchers. The condition, which involves a sudden episode of kidney failure or damage, can be tricky for doctors to diagnose because there aren’t always immediate and clear symptoms. Studies have shown that catching it early can decrease the likelihood of serious injury or death.

In 2014, Google acquired DeepMind for a reported 500 million $ as it looked to expand in AI and bring in top industry experts to work on hard problems involving machine learning. As Alphabet and its various units have stepped into the health-care space in the past few years, much of the focus has been on using its technology to predict serious health outcomes before they happen. 

DeepMind’s health projects will soon be folded into Google Health. The group hasn’t said much publicly beyond its website, which says it’s studying how AI can be used to assist in “diagnosing cancer, predicting patient outcomes, preventing blindness, and much more.” Much of its team remains based in the U.K., although its health unit is expected to relocate to Google’s Silicon Valley headquarters.

Even in its early days, the company’s work in health care has been criticized for not adequately protecting user privacy. In a recent case, a patient sued Google and the University of Chicago Medical Center for not removing doctors’ notes and date stamps from personal medical records. And a U.K. government privacy watchdog said a hospital had illegally sent1.6 million records to Google DeepMind for a new health-care app.

The research on kidney injuries came from two separate joint studies with the VA and the Royal Free Hospital in London. DeepMind said it analyzed data stored electronically from more than 100 VA hospitals, reviewing information on hundreds of thousands of patients. Personal details like names and social security numbers were stripped from the data.

In addition to predicting acute kidney disease two days early, the company is also researching how to deliver these alerts in emergency situations so doctors properly recognize and act on them.

DeepMind’s King said there’s still work to be done to create a regulatory framework for bringing predictive tools to medicine and to better understand how they can be delivered in real time.

DeepMind’s breakthroughs might eventually augment the mobile app Streams, which is mostly used in the U.K. as a communications tool by doctors and nurses. It doesn’t currently use AI, but DeepMind has long stressed its vision of someday building an “an AI-powered assistant for nurses and doctors everywhere.”

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Stretchable Electronics Used in Soft Wireless, Wearable Health Monitor

The soft and conformable monitor can display electrocardiogram (ECG), respiratory rate, heart rate, and motion activity data as much as 15 m to a portable recording device such as a tablet computer or smartphone. The electronics are mounted on a stretchable substrate and linked to gold, skin-like electrodes via printed connectors that can stretch with the medical film in which they are fixed.

“This health monitor has a key advantage for young children who are always moving, since the soft conformal device can accommodate that activity with a gentle integration onto the skin,” said  an assistant professor. “This is designed to meet the electronic health monitoring needs of people whose sensitive skin may be harmed by conventional monitors.”
  
The monitor has been tested on animal models as well as humans.

Since the device conforms to the skin, it avoids signal problems that can be generated by the motion of the standard metal-gel electrodes across the skin. The device can even acquire accurate signals from a person who is running, walking, or climbing stairs.

“When you put a conventional electrode on the chest, movement from sitting up or walking creates motion artifacts that are challenging to separate from the signals you want to measure,” he said. “Because our device is soft and conformal, it moves with the skin and provides information that cannot be seen with the motion artifacts of conventional sensors.”

On-going evaluation with a wireless health monitor could enhance the assessment of children and help clinicians identify trends sooner, potentially enabling intervention before a condition spreads, said  a pediatric cardiologist.

The generation of continuous data from the respiratory and cardiovascular systems could allow for the application of advanced diagnostics to detect changes in clinical status, response to therapies and implementation of early intervention. A device to literally follow every breath a child takes could allow for early recognition and intervention prior to a more severe presentation of a disease.

A Pediatric Cardiologist

When used in the home, a wearable monitor might sense variations that might not otherwise be obvious, he said. When the wireless device is used in clinical surroundings, children would not feel “tethered” to equipment. “I see this device as a significant change in pediatric health care” the Dr. added.

The monitor uses three gold electrodes fixed in the film that also comprises the electronic processing equipment. The total health monitor measures just three inches in diameter. Soon a more advanced version will measure just half that size. The wireless monitor is currently driven by a small rechargeable battery, but upcoming versions may substitute the battery with an external radio-frequency charging system.

The researchers  are concentrating on pediatric applications due to the need for ambulatory monitoring in children. However, they think that the health monitor could also be used for other patient groups, such as older adults who may also have sensitive skin. For adults, there would be extra benefits.

The monitor could be worn for multiple days, perhaps for as long as two weeks. The membrane is waterproof, so an adult could take a shower while wearing it. After use, the electronic components can be recycled.

An Assistant Professor.

Two versions of the monitor have been built. One is based on medical tape and engineered for short-term application in a hospital or other care facility, while the other uses a soft elastomer medical film permitted for use in wound care. The latter can stay on the skin for a longer period.

“The devices are completely dry and do not require a gel to pick up signals from the skin,” the Prof. explained. “There is nothing between the skin and the ultrathin sensor, so it is comfortable to wear.”
Since the monitor can be worn for extended periods of time, it can offer a long-term record of ECG data useful to understanding potential heart complications.

“We use deep learning to monitor the signals while comparing them to data from a larger group of patients,” the Prof. said. “If an abnormality is detected, it can be reported wirelessly through a smartphone or other connected device.”

The monitor’s circuitry is manufactured using thin-film, mesh-like patterns of copper that can flex with the soft substrate. The only part not flexible is the chips, but they are placed on the strain-isolated soft substrate rather than a traditional plastic circuit board.

Going forward, the researcher plans to decrease the size of the device and incorporate features to measure other health-connected factors such as blood oxygen, temperature, and blood pressure. A major breakthrough would be a clinical trial to assess performance against standard health monitors.
For the researcher, who is an expert in nano- and micro-engineering, the probability of seeing the device in clinical trials—and eventually used in children’s hospitals—is a strong incentive.

It will be a dream come true for me to see something we have developed be helpful to someone who is suffering. We all want to see developments in science and engineering translated into improved patient care.

 An Assistant Professor

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Essential Amino Acids: Definition, Benefits and Food Sources

Amino acids, often referred to as the building blocks of proteins, are compounds that play many critical roles in your body.

They're needed for vital processes like the building of proteins and synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters.

Some may also be taken in supplement form for a natural way to boost athletic performance or improve mood.

They’re categorized as essential, conditionally essential or nonessential depending on several factors.
This article tells you everything you need to know about essential amino acids, including how they function, possible food sources and the benefits of taking a supplement.

What Are Essential Amino Acids?

Amino acids are organic compounds composed of nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, along with a variable side chain group.

Your body needs 20 different amino acids to grow and function properly. Though all 20 of these are important for your health, only nine amino acids are classified as essential.

These are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan  and valine.

Unlike nonessential amino acids, essential amino acids can’t be made by your body and must be obtained through your diet.

The best sources of essential amino acids are animal proteins like meat, eggs and poultry.
When you eat protein, it’s broken down into amino acids, which are then used to help your body with various processes such as building muscle and regulating immune function.

Conditionally Essential Amino Acids

There are several nonessential amino acids that are classified as conditionally essential.

These are considered to be essential only under specific circumstances such as illness or stress.
For example, although arginine is considered nonessential, your body can’t meet demands when fighting certain diseases like cancer.

That’s why arginine must be supplemented through diet in order to meet your body’s needs in certain situations.

Summary The nine essential amino acids can’t be produced by your body and must be obtained through your diet. Conditionally essential amino acids are only essential under special circumstances like illness.

Their Roles in Your Body

The nine essential amino acids perform a number of important and varied jobs in your body:

1. Phenylalanine: Phenylalanine is a precursor for the neurotransmitters tyrosine, dopamine,  epinephrine and norepinephrine. It plays an integral role in the structure and function of proteins and enzymes and the production of other amino acids .
2. Valine: Valine is one of three branched-chain amino acids, meaning it has a chain branching off to one side of its molecular structure. Valine helps stimulate muscle growth and regeneration and is involved in energy production .
3. Threonine: Threonine is a principal part of structural proteins such as collagen and elastin, which are important components of the skin and connective tissue. It also plays a role in fat metabolism and immune function .
4. Tryptophan: Though often associated with causing drowsiness, tryptophan has many other functions. It’s needed to maintain proper nitrogen balance and is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates your appetite, sleep and mood.
5. Methionine: Methionine plays an important role in metabolism and detoxification. It’s also necessary for tissue growth and the absorption of zinc and selenium, minerals that are vital to your health.
6. Leucine: Like valine, leucine is a branched-chain amino acid that is critical for protein synthesis and muscle repair. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels, stimulates wound healing and produces growth hormones.
7. Isoleucine: The last of the three branched-chain amino acids, isoleucine is involved in muscle metabolism and is heavily concentrated in muscle tissue. It’s also important for immune function, hemoglobin production and energy regulation .
8. Lysine: Lysine plays major roles in protein synthesis, hormone and enzyme production and the absorption of calcium. It’s also important for energy production, immune function and the production of collagen and elastin .
9. Histidine: Histidine is used to produce histamine, a neurotransmitter that is vital to immune response, digestion, sexual function and sleep-wake cycles. It’s critical for maintaining the myelin sheath, a protective barrier that surrounds your nerve cells .

As you can see, essential amino acids are at the core of many vital processes.

Though amino acids are most recognized for their role in muscle development and repair, the body depends on them for so much more.

That’s why essential amino acid deficiencies can negatively impact your entire body including your nervous, reproductive, immune and digestive systems.

Summary All nine essential amino acids perform varied roles in your body. They’re involved in important processes such as tissue growth, energy production, immune function and nutrient absorption.

Health Benefits of Supplementing With Essential Amino Acids

While essential amino acids can be found in a wide array of foods, taking concentrated doses in supplemental form has been linked to several health benefits.

May Help Improve Mood and Sleep

Tryptophan is needed for the production of serotonin, a chemical that acts as a neurotransmitter in your body.

Serotonin is an essential regulator of mood, sleep and behaviors.

While low serotonin levels have been linked to depressed mood and sleep disturbances, several studies have shown that supplementing with tryptophan can reduce symptoms of depression, boost mood and improve sleep.

A 19-day study in 60 older women found that 1 gram of tryptophan per day led to increased energy and improved happiness, compared to a placebo.

Can Boost Exercise Performance

The three branched-chain essential amino acids are widely used to alleviate fatigue, improve athletic performance and stimulate muscle recovery after exercise.

In a study in 16 resistance-trained athletes, branched-chain amino acid supplements improved performance and muscle recovery and decreased muscle soreness, compared to a placebo.

A recent review of eight studies found that supplementing with branched-chain amino acids was superior to rest in promoting muscle recovery and reducing soreness after exhaustive exercise.

Additionally, taking 4 grams of leucine per day for 12 weeks increased strength performance in untrained men, showing that essential amino acids can benefit non-athletes as well.

Can Prevent Muscle Loss

Muscle loss is a common side effect of prolonged illnesses and bed rest, especially in older adults.
Essential amino acids have been found to prevent muscle breakdown and preserve lean body mass.

A 10-day study in 22 older adults on bed rest showed that those who received 15 grams of mixed essential amino acids maintained muscle protein synthesis, while the process decreased by 30% in the placebo group.

Essential amino acid supplements have also been found to be effective in preserving lean body mass  in elderly people and athletes .

May Promote Weight Loss

Some human and animal studies have demonstrated that branched-chain essential amino acids may be effective in stimulating fat loss.

For example, an eight-week study in 36 strength-trained men found that supplementing with 14 grams of branched-chain amino acids per day significantly decreased body fat percentage, compared to whey protein or a sports drink .

A study in rats showed that a diet composed of 4% supplemental leucine reduced body weight and fat.

However, other studies investigating the potential link between branched-chain amino acids and weight loss have been inconsistent. More studies are needed to determine if these amino acids can promote weight los .

Summary Supplementing with certain essential amino acids may help improve mood, boost exercise performance, prevent muscle loss and promote weight loss.

Food Sources and Recommended Intake

Since your body cannot produce essential amino acids, they must be provided through your diet.
Fortunately, many foods are rich in essential amino acids, making it easy to meet your daily needs.
The US recommended daily allowances per 2.2 pounds (1 kg) of body weight for the nine essential amino acids are :

• Histidine: 14 mg
• Isoleucine: 19 mg
• Leucine: 42 mg
• Lysine: 38 mg
• Methionine (+ the non-essential amino acid cysteine): 19 mg
• Phenylalanine (+ the non-essential amino acid tyrosine): 33 mg
• Threonine: 20 mg
• Tryptophan: 5 mg
• Valine: 24 mg

Foods that contain all nine essential amino acids are referred to as complete proteins.
Complete protein sources include:

• Meat
• Seafood
• Poultry
• Eggs
• Dairy Products

Soy, quinoa and buckwheat are plant-based foods that contain all nine essential amino acids, making them complete protein sources as well.

Other plant based sources of protein  like beans and nuts are considered incomplete, as they lack one or more of the essential amino acids.

However, if you’re following a plant-based diet, you can still ensure proper intake of all essential amino acids as long as you eat a variety of plant proteins each day.

For example, choosing a variety of incomplete proteins such as beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains and vegetables can ensure that your essential amino acid needs are met, even if you choose to exclude animal products from your diet.

Summary Both animal and plant products, such as meat, eggs, quinoa and soy, can contain all nine essential amino acids and are considered complete proteins.

The Bottom Line

There are nine essential amino acids, which you must get through your diet: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine.

They’re vital for functions such as protein synthesis, tissue repair and nutrient absorption.

Some may also prevent muscle loss and improve mood, sleep, athletic performance and weight loss.
Fortunately, these vital compounds are found in many animal-and-plant=based-foods, helping you meet your daily needs through a healthy and balanced diet.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                      FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                    

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Research unveils how dietary interventions can significantly enhance cancer treatment

Diet is already a key part of managing diseases like diabetes and hypertension, but new research adds to a growing body of evidence that it could help cancer treatment too. The study found restricting intake of an amino acid found in red meat and eggs significantly enhanced cancer treatment in mice, slowing tumour growth.

"These are very strong effects, and they are effects that are as strong as we would see with drugs that work," said the lead researcher.

"What this study is showing is that there are many situations where a drug by itself doesn't work, but if you combine the drug with the diet, it works. Or the radiation therapy doesn't work well, but if you combine... with the diet, it works well," he told.

The study focused on restricting intake of the amino acid methionine, which is key to a process called one-carbon metabolism that helps cancer cells grow. Methionine restriction has already been associated with both anti-aging and weight loss, but its importance to cancerous cells suggested it could also be a promising way to enhance cancer treatment.

The researchers first tested methionine restriction in healthy mice to confirm it was having the desired effects on metabolism and then moved to testing it in mice with colorectal cancer and soft tissue tumours known as sarcomas.

They found that a low dose of chemotherapy, which on its own had no effect on colorectal cancer, led to "marked inhibition of tumour growth" when combined with methionine restriction. Similarly, combining methionine restriction with radiation therapy in the case of the soft tissue sarcoma reduced tumour growth.

"You're starving the cancer cells of certain nutrients, at a very basic level," explained the researcher. He cautioned that the results should not be extrapolated beyond the cancers tested so far, and that the research was far from being tested in humans.

"This is certainly not a be-all, end-all to cancer. This is not some panacea," he said. Independent experts also warned against reading too much into the study just yet.

"Before drawing any conclusions about the potential for dietary restriction as an approach to treating cancer, human studies are needed," said  a professor of Cancer Epidemiology.

The researchers extended the research by testing a methionine-restricted diet in six healthy humans, and found that the effect on human metabolism appeared similar to that seen in mice. That suggests that the diet could have a similar effect on certain tumours in humans, though he warned it was far too early to draw any definitive conclusions.

And a professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics, warned that "there is no evidence from this study to suggest following a vegan diet will help patients with cancer." The Prof. said he hoped to eventually test the research in humans with cancer, but noted that nutrition research often struggles for funding because it proposes treatments that are not obviously profitable.

Still, he said the work adds to a body of research that suggests diet may play an important role in cancer treatment. Last year, a study showed one type of chemotherapy drug was more effective in combination with a diet low in sugar and high in protein and fat. Other cancers appear to be better combated in combination with low-sugar diets alone.

"Research like this can lead to studies in people," said a professor of cancer medicine and oncology. "How dietary interventions influence cancer... is likely to be really important in years to come."

The researcher agreed, calling the field a "really exciting area right now... where we're seeing that diet has a huge effect on human health." He hopes for a future where doctors will eventually be able to advise cancer patients to follow specific diets to assist their treatment. "We're not there yet, but the goal is to eventually get there."

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11 health benefits of papayas

Christopher Columbus, an Italian voyager once referred to papayas as the fruit of the angels. The fruit which is extremely rich in Vitamin C has a wide range of health benefits making it a great fruit option to include in your diet. Here are some of the top health benefits of papaya.

1. Lowers cholesterol
Papaya is rich in fibre, Vitamin C and antioxidants which prevent cholesterol build up in your arteries. Too much cholesterol build-up can lead to several heart diseases including heart attack and hypertension.

2. Helps in weight loss
Those looking to lose weight must include papaya in their diet as it is very low in calories. The fibre content in papaya leaves you feeling full and also clears your bowel movement making your weight loss regime easier.

3. Boosts your immunity
Your immunity system acts as a shield against various infections that can make you really sick. A single papaya contains more than 200% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C, making it great for your immunity.

4. Good for diabetics
Papaya is an excellent food option for diabetics as it has a low-sugar content even though it is sweet to taste. Also, people who don’t have diabetes can eat papaya to prevent it from happening.

5. Great for your eyes
Papaya is rich in Vitamin A which helps protect your vision from degenerating. Nobody wants to lose their ability to see due to diseases like age-related macular degeneration, and eating papayas will ensure that you do not see a day where you cannot see.

6. Protects against arthritis
Arthritis can be a really debilitating disease and people who have it may find their quality of life reduced significantly. Eating papayas are good for your bones as they have anti-inflammatory properties along with Vitamin C which helps in keeping various forms of arthritis at bay. A study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases showed that people who consumed foods low in Vitamin C were three times more likely to have arthritis than those who didn’t.

7. Improves digestion
In today’s times, it is near impossible to avoid eating foods that are bad for your digestive system. Often we find ourselves eating junk food or restaurant food prepared in excessive quantities of oil. Eating a papaya daily can make up for such occasional mistakes, as it has a digestive enzyme known as papain along with fibre which helps improve your digestive health.

8. Helps ease menstrual pain
Women who are experiencing menstrual pain should help themselves to several servings of papaya, as an enzyme called papain helps in regulating and easing flow during menstrual periods.

9. Prevents signs of ageing
All of us would love to stay young forever, but no one in this world has managed to do it. Still, healthy habits like eating a papaya daily will prolong the process and may make you look 5 years younger than you are. Papaya is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E and antioxidants like beta-carotene which helps prevent your skin from free radical damage keeping wrinkles and other signs of ageing at bay.

10. Prevents cancer
Papaya is a rich source of antioxidants, phytonutrients and flavonoids that prevent your cells from undergoing free radical damage. Some studies have also linked the consumption papaya to reduced risk of colon and prostate cancer.

11. Helps reduce stress
After working hard for the whole day, it is a good idea to come home to a plate a papayas. The wonder fruit is rich in several nutrients like Vitamin C which can keep you free from stress. According to a study conducted in University of Alabama, found that 200 mg of Vitamin C can help regulate the flow of stress hormones in rats.

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