AI Spots COVID and Other Diseases with Tongue Scans

FEATURED RESEARCH

AI Spots COVID and Other Diseases with Tongue Scans

In traditional medicine, the color of your tongue has been a window to your health for centuries. But now, AI is stepping in to modernize this ancient practice.

Researchers from the University of South Australia have developed a new AI-driven imaging system to analyze tongue color and accurately diagnose related diseases in real-time.

Why it matters: Your tongue's color can reveal a lot about your health, from common conditions like diabetes to more severe ailments like cancer or COVID-19.

However, traditional methods rely heavily on the subjective judgment of practitioners, which can lead to inconsistent diagnoses. This new system removes the guesswork, providing precise evaluations under various lighting conditions.

The tech behind it: Researchers trained an AI system on over 5,000 tongue images using six different machine learning algorithms.

The standout performer was the Extreme Gradient Boost (XGBoost) algorithm, achieving an impressive 98.71% accuracy.

This system can detect abnormal tongue colors that could indicate diseases, making it a powerful tool in both traditional and modern medical practices.

The future of diagnostics: As AI continues to integrate with healthcare, tools like this tongue diagnosis system could offer non-invasive, real-time insights that improve patient outcomes.

So the next time your doctor asks you to say "ahh," just know that your tongue might spill all your secrets!

For more details: Full Article

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SURGICAL ANALYTICS

Caresyntax Gets $180M to Take AI Surgery to the Next Level

Caresyntax just received a significant financial push—$180 million in a Series C extension led by surgical.ai.

This funding is set to accelerate the adoption of AI-enabled surgery, which could have a big impact on how surgeries are performed.

Smarter surgeries with AI: Caresyntax’s platform is designed to support surgeons by collecting and analyzing surgical data.

The AI system identifies potential risks and provides insights that can lead to better outcomes.

With over 30 million procedures already managed through its platform, Caresyntax is aiming to reduce surgical complications and improve outcomes globally.

Scaling the future of surgery: This new funding positions Caresyntax to expand its AI technology across more healthcare systems.

The focus is on making surgeries safer and more efficient, particularly in complex procedures where precision is critical.

Surgical errors contribute to an estimated 250,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone, so yeah, anything that helps avoid those oops moments is more than welcome.

So, if AI can help keep the scalpel where it’s supposed to be, I’m all in.

For more details: Full Press Release

💰 2 Other funded companies

1. CareYaya has received a grant from Johns Hopkins and the NIH through the A2 Collective to develop an AI-powered app designed to train caregivers for dementia patients, aiming to improve the quality of care and support provided to individuals with dementia. [Link]

2. Rice University has received an $18 million award from ARPA-H to develop a cutting-edge tumor analysis system for breast, head, and neck cancers, aiming to enhance early detection and treatment by integrating advanced imaging and AI technologies. [Link]

New Partnerships

CANCER DIAGNOSIS

Microsoft and Paige Launch Advanced AI for More Accurate Cancer Diagnosis

Paige and Microsoft have joined forces to roll out new AI models aimed at enhancing cancer diagnosis.

This collaboration is all about leveraging the power of image-based AI to give pathologists better tools for identifying and diagnosing cancer more accurately.

Smarter diagnostics with AI: The partnership brings together Paige’s expertise in AI-driven pathology and Microsoft’s powerful cloud computing capabilities.

The result? Enhanced AI models that can analyze medical images with greater precision, helping to detect cancer earlier and more reliably.

This is especially important for complex cases where a precise diagnosis can make all the difference.

Why it matters: With cancer being one of the leading causes of death globally, any advancement in diagnostic tools is a big deal.

These updated AI models aim to reduce errors in diagnosis, ensuring that patients receive the right treatment faster.

The collaboration also means these tools can be scaled and made available to more healthcare providers, potentially impacting millions of lives.

So, while AI might not have all the answers just yet, teaming up with Microsoft is a solid move toward making cancer diagnosis a bit less of a guessing game.

For more details: Full Press Release

🤝 3 Other collaborations shaping the future

1. Absci has entered into a collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to leverage its AI-powered antibody discovery platform for developing new cancer therapies. [Link]

2. Quantiphi has strengthened its collaboration with Transcell Oncologics in AI-driven drug discovery by making a strategic minority investment, aiming to accelerate advancements in personalized medicine. [Link]

3. Bioz and InvivoGen have formed a strategic alliance to enhance research discovery and efficiency by integrating InvivoGen's reagents with Bioz's AI-powered platform, enabling researchers to streamline experiment planning and improve reproducibility. [Link]

Milestone Moments

⚡4 Product launches, 1 acquisition, 1 regulatory approval

1. Vitrolife has introduced an AI-powered system that provides rapid and objective embryo assessments with just a click, enhancing decision-making in IVF treatments by streamlining the embryo selection process. [Link]

2. Insilico Medicine received FDA IND approval and Orphan Drug Designation for ISM6331, an AI-designed drug targeting mesothelioma and solid tumors, developed using their Chemistry42 platform. [Link]

3. Stryker has acquired care.ai, a developer of AI-driven smart hospital technology, continuing its strategy to expand in the digital healthcare space. [Link]

4. Kaiser Permanente is deploying Abridge's generative AI-powered clinical documentation tools across its enterprise, aiming to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of patient records. [Link]

5. Caregility has launched an AI-powered tool designed to detect fall risks in patients, enhancing safety by proactively identifying and alerting healthcare teams to potential fall incidents. [Link]

6. PathAI has introduced an AI-based tool for measuring MASH (Metabolic Associated Steatohepatitis) scoring, aiming to improve the accuracy and consistency of diagnosing liver conditions, particularly in clinical trials. [Link]

Opinion and Perspectives

AI IN HEALTHCARE

AI in Healthcare: What's Off-Limits?

AI is becoming a bigger player in healthcare, but there are some areas it just can’t touch. While it’s great at crunching numbers and spotting patterns, some parts of medicine still need a human hand.

Why the human element still counts: Doctors and nurses bring something to the table that AI can’t—compassion. When it comes to delivering tough news or making complex treatment decisions, a machine just doesn’t cut it.

As Dennis Chornenky puts it, "The experience of knowing that another human being understands our ailment and empathizes with us has been shown to have therapeutic effects on its own."

Where AI hits a wall: Ethics in healthcare is another area where AI falls short.

Decisions like end-of-life care or choosing the right treatment plan involve more than just data; they require a deep understanding of human values and emotions.

AI might help guide these decisions, but it can’t replace the nuanced judgment of experienced professionals.

So, while AI has its place, it’s clear that some aspects of healthcare are just too personal for a machine to handle.

For more details: Full Article

We Value Your Thoughts!

Trivia Answer: Cinnamon

Cinnamon isn’t just a delicious spice for baking; research suggests that inhaling its scent might actually boost brain function. Studies have shown that the aroma of cinnamon can enhance memory and cognitive processing, possibly by stimulating brain activity. So next time you’re in the kitchen, take a deep breath—your brain might thank you for it!

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