Wearable Tech Emerges as Powerful Tool for AF Heart Rate Control

FEATURED RESEARCH

Wearable Tech Emerges as Powerful Tool for AF Heart Rate Control

Consumer-grade wearable devices, like Fitbits and smartphones, are now playing an important role in medical research.

The RATE-AF trial, led by researchers from the University of Birmingham and the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, is exploring their potential by comparing digoxin and beta-blockers for heart rate control in elderly patients with permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure.

AI, specifically a convolutional neural network (CNN), was used to analyze the vast amount of data collected from these wearables, providing predictive insights into patients' health outcomes.

The study: The RATE-AF trial included 160 participants, all aged 60 or older, diagnosed with permanent AF, and experiencing symptoms of heart failure.

These patients were randomly assigned to receive either digoxin or beta-blockers. Researchers collected continuous heart rate and physical activity data over 20 weeks using wrist-worn wearables and smartphones.

Key findings:

• Comparable heart rate control: The study found no significant difference in heart rate control between digoxin and beta-blockers, both at rest and during physical activity.

• Quality of life improvements: While the primary outcome of quality of life at 6 months showed no significant difference, some measures favored digoxin at 12 months. Notably, patients on digoxin reported better improvements in their New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and had fewer adverse events compared to those on beta-blockers​

• Predictive power of wearables: The CNN model using data from wearables effectively predicted patients' future health status, comparable to traditional clinical measures like electrocardiograms (ECGs) and six-minute walk tests​

The impact: This research shows how wearables can provide continuous, real-world data, enhancing patient monitoring and treatment personalization.

By reducing the need for frequent clinic visits, wearables make healthcare more efficient and patient-friendly.

The study is a significant step toward integrating consumer tech into medical practice, promising a future where health monitoring is seamless, proactive, and empowering for patients and providers alike.

For more details: Full Article

Brain Booster

Which factor is most critical for the successful nesting of sea turtles on beaches?

1. High tidal activity

2. Warm sand temperatures

3. Presence of predators

4. Abundant beach vegetation

See below for the answer!

Seed to Success

CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE

AI Startup Synamics Therapeutics Secures Key Investment for Cancer Drug Resistance Battle

Synamics Therapeutics, an AI-driven drug discovery startup based in Copenhagen, has secured significant investment from biotech veterans Steen Riisgaard and Per Falholt, former executives at Novozymes.

Synamics leverages AI to develop therapies that overcome drug resistance in cancer, a major challenge in oncology.

Their innovative platform, Dynaptive™, designs compounds that preemptively tackle drug resistance, aiming to prolong and save lives.

Why it matters: Drug resistance in cancer treatment is a major issue. Cancer cells develop resistance through genetic mutations and epigenetic changes, enabling them to survive and proliferate despite chemotherapy, making long-term remission challenging.

AI’s role in drug resistance: AI plays a key role by analyzing high-resolution gene expression data from individual tumor cells, allowing for precise drug matching. This can lead to more effective treatments and longer-lasting responses.

By targeting specific genetic and epigenetic changes, AI-driven platforms like Dynaptive™ enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies and improve patient outcomes​.

The technology combines computational insights with experimental biological data to build and train its algorithms.

The bottom line: With extensive biotech backgrounds, Riisgaard and Falholt emphasize the potential impact of Synamics’ innovative approach on patients' lives.

Their support highlights the importance of novel solutions in combating drug resistance, positioning Synamics Therapeutics to make significant strides in cancer treatment by harnessing the power of AI.

For more details: Full Press Release

💰 4 Other funded companies

1. Huma raised $80 million to expand its AI-driven digital health platform, which integrates health monitoring devices to enhance patient management and remote monitoring, with total funding now over $300 million​.​ [Link]

2. Bioniq secured $15 million in Series B funding to expand its AI-driven personalized supplements globally, using blood biomarker data to create tailored health solutions​. [Link]

3. mpathic has received a $1.5 million SBIR grant to develop AI technology that addresses racial bias in mental health care by improving cultural attunement in real-time through NLP and generative AI​. [Link]

4. Modicus Prime raised $3.5 million in seed funding led by Silverton Partners to enhance its AI-driven software, mpVision, which automates biologics image analysis to prevent drug product quality failures during commercial production. [Link]

New Partnerships

LUNG DISEASE

Brainomix, Boehringer Ingelheim Team Up for Lung Disease Fight

Brainomix and Boehringer Ingelheim have joined forces to tackle fibrosing lung disease. This strategic partnership aims to leverage Brainomix's AI-powered imaging technology with Boehringer Ingelheim's pharmaceutical expertise.

The impact: Fibrosing lung diseases, like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, are life-threatening conditions that cause lung scarring and breathing difficulties. Early detection and precise treatment are crucial to improving patient outcomes. This collaboration promises to advance these critical areas.

Brainomix brings its cutting-edge e-ILD technology, designed to enhance the accuracy of lung disease diagnosis through AI. Boehringer Ingelheim contributes its deep knowledge and resources in lung disease treatment.

Together, they aim to streamline the diagnostic process and personalize treatment plans.

Next steps: The collaboration will focus on integrating Brainomix's e-ILD software into clinical workflows globally. This integration aims to improve diagnostic accuracy, speed up treatment decisions, and, ultimately, save lives.

For more details: Full Press Release

🤝 6 Other collaborations shaping the future

1. Guidehealth and Story Health have partnered to deliver value-based cardiology care via Story Health's virtual cardiac care platform, enhancing patient management post-diagnosis using AI-driven tools and remote monitoring. [Link]

2. Innovaccer and P3 Health Partners have partnered to enhance value-based care through Innovaccer's AI-driven platform, which integrates health records and data analytics to improve patient care and reduce provider administrative burdens. [Link]

3. COTA and Texas Oncology have partnered to use AI-powered precision medicine to improve cancer care by transforming healthcare data into actionable insights, enabling personalized treatments. [Link]

4. Bangkok Hospital uses AI technology from Agnos to streamline patient flow, enhancing registration, symptom checking, insurance verification, and queue management. [Link]

5. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awarded Abridge AI and Nuance Communications contracts to develop AI-driven ambient scribe software to reduce clinical documentation burden and clinician burnout. [Link]

6. ICL and Lavie Bio have partnered to develop AI-driven bio-stimulant products that enhance fertilizer efficiency, with ICL investing $10 million in Lavie Bio through its startup hub. [Link]

Milestone Moments

⚡2 regulatory approval

1. Diamyd Medical received its second FDA Fast Track designation for Diamyd® to prevent Type 1 Diabetes in children with the HLA DR3-DQ2 genotype, expediting its development and review process. [Link]

2. Subtle Medical received FDA clearance for SubtleSYNTH, an AI-powered software that creates synthetic MRI images from T1 and T2 contrasts, reducing acquisition times to zero and improving operational efficiency and patient care. [Link]

Opinion and Perspectives

AI ADOPTION

Healthcare Leaders Optimistic About AI's Future

AI is set to transform healthcare, promising to enhance patient care and streamline administrative tasks. However, its success hinges on the willingness and ability of healthcare workers to embrace the technology.

AI offers benefits like improved diagnostic accuracy, streamlined operations, and personalized care, but its effectiveness depends on the people using it.

Why it matters: AI can reduce burnout, enhance patient outcomes, and manage data. However, without healthcare worker buy-in, these benefits may not materialize. A recent report indicates that 75% of healthcare leaders see AI as a key to reducing operational costs, yet only 32% of workers feel adequately trained to use it.

What they're saying:

• Healthcare leaders: Optimistic about AI improving efficiency and care. They call for proper training and support to integrate AI.

• Healthcare workers: Concerned about job security and potential complications. They stress the need for clear communication and robust training.

• Tech developers: Emphasize AI's role in augmenting, not replacing, human workers. They focus on creating user-friendly tools.

The bottom line: AI has a bright future in healthcare, but its success hinges on the industry's ability to support and educate its workforce.

Embracing AI requires a collaborative effort between healthcare leaders, workers, and tech developers to ensure that everyone is on board and prepared for the changes ahead.

For more details: Full Article

We Value Your Thoughts!

Trivia Answer: Warm sand temperatures

Warm sand temperatures are critical for the incubation of sea turtle eggs. The temperature of the sand determines the sex of the hatchlings, with warmer temperatures generally producing more females and cooler temperatures producing more males. This is known as temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD).

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