Robot that watched surgery videos performs with skill of human doctor
Many people learn best by watching others do a task first, and it turns out that method worked for a robot to perform surgery tasks just as well as a human doctor. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University trained the robot to perform surgery by having it watch videos of real surgeons.
The team used the da Vinci Surgical System, which is a robotic platform combining imitation learning with technology similar to how ChatGPT functions.
But instead of processing text, this system works with mathematical language of robotic motion.
The team trained the robot to perform three tasks: use a needle, lift body tissue and suture.
In each case, the robot performed the same surgical procedures as skillfully as human doctors, surprising the team.
“The model is so good learning things we haven’t taught it,” senior author Axel Krieger said. “Like if it drops the needle, it will automatically pick it up and continue. This isn’t something I taught it to do.”
The researchers said they’re now using imitation learning to train a robot to perform a full surgery.
Israel captures 100 suspected Hamas fighters at Gaza hospital
Israel said it captured about 100 Hamas fighters. The capture took place not in a tunnel or military base, but at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces released video which it said is from the raid on the hospital. Once the soldiers were inside and the location secured, the IDF said it arrested approximately 100 suspected Hamas militants. Israel said some of those arrested were dressed as hospital staff, while others tried escaping by hiding among civilians during the initial evacuation process.
In addition to the suspected fighters, Israeli soldiers reportedly also found weapons, cash and intelligence documents.
Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas and has an at-best tenuous relationship with the truth, said the Israeli soldiers damaged the hospital during the raid and detained hospital staff who were just trying to do their jobs.
Israel admitted to destroying some dual-use items, like oxygen tanks which could be turned into explosive devices.
While Israel said the men it arrested were fully-identified terrorists, the hospital was also full of wounded Palestinians and others trying to flee the fighting in Gaza.
After more than a year of war, Hamas is beaten down but not completely destroyed. The terrorist group still holds around 100 hostages from its Oct. 7 attacks in 2023. Not all of those hostages are thought to be alive, but there may be a deal in the works to bring at least some of them home.
Egypt is working on a ceasefire proposal that calls for the fighting to stop for two days and the release of four hostages in exchange for some Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is reportedly open to the deal, but this is the Middle East, so nothing is considered final until it actually happens.
Seemingly harmless gesture a warning sign of a concussion in athletes
A common, seemingly innocuous gesture could be a sign of a concussion, and experts say recognizing it could be the key to reducing the number of concussions that go undiagnosed. It’s the quick head shake after a hard hit.
To better understand the movement, researchers with Mass General Brigham and the Concussion Legacy Foundation surveyed hundreds of high school, college and semi-pro athletes. They found most of the athletes were familiar with the action and have even experienced it themselves, often more than once.
In nearly 3 out of 4 cases, researchers found those who experienced SHAAKE got a concussion at that time. They also found the causes of SHAAKE are often common symptoms of concussion, like disorientation, confusion and changes to spatial perception. However, the head shake by itself is not considered a sign of concussion, leading many brain injuries to go undiagnosed.
The researchers behind the new study now say formal recognition of SHAAKE as a sign of a concussion could help identify up to a third of undiagnosed concussions.
In the study, the researchers pointed out a particularly nasty concussion seen in 2022 involving Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. They say the example highlights how adding SHAAKE to professional concussion protocol could make a big difference.
Tagovailoa fell to the ground after a hard hit. It was attributed to a previous back injury at first, but he later ended up being hospitalized with a concussion. The study’s authors said hospitalization may have been avoided if SHAAKE were part of the protocol.
In a press conference Tuesday, Oct. 22, the Dolphins announced Tagovailoa would be back at practice Wednesday, Oct. 23, with hopes of playing in the game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Oct. 27. Tagovailoa also said he would not wear a Guardian Cap, which is a protective helmet cover used as an extra layer of defense against concussions.
There are actually multiple helmet options that players can pick from that test just as effectively as wearing the guardian cap.
In a statement in response to this new study, the NFL’s chief medical officer said the league regularly reviews new research, adding, “Our concussion protocol, a conservative process developed from internationally accepted guidelines, is reviewed annually to ensure players are receiving care that reflects the most up-to-date medical consensus on the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of concussions.”
Hurricane Helene spurred IV fluid shortage may delay surgeries for weeks
Hospital officials said on Tuesday, Oct. 22, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene may delay scheduled surgeries for weeks after the storm washed out nearby bridges and water seeped into the factory. Baxter International’s North Carolina plant reportedly supplies 60% of IV solutions nationwide and sterile water for surgeries.
Health systems report rationing fluids and giving some patients Gatorade or water to drink instead of IVs, and hospitals have postponed non-emergency surgeries.
The federal government and medical suppliers are working to ease the supply shortage. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is temporarily importing fluids from other Baxter plants in other countries and is allowing some pharmacies to produce certain IV drugs in short supply.
The supply chain issue also comes at a time when hospitals expect to fill more beds with cold and flu patients.
However, supply experts are hopeful the situation will get better but cannot guarantee whether these moves will fix the shortage of supplies, adding that hospitals usually have extra supplies on-hand to handle planned and emergency surgeries.
The North Carolina plant has reportedly been thoroughly cleaned and employees are testing and repairing equipment. Baxter says it hopes to restart production in phases by the end of the year.
Mask mandates return for some California health care workers
Mask mandates are returning for at least some California residents. Starting Nov. 1, five bay-area counties will require employees at hospitals and other health care facilities to mask up to help stop the spread of COVID-19, the flu and other seasonal viruses.
The counties included are Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Napa. Santa Clara and San Mateo will also require visitors at health care facilities to wear masks. In some places, it would be considered a misdemeanor to not wear a mask during the mandates.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, mask mandates have been a point of debate. Now, critics are weighing in on the mandates returning.
“Mask mandates are making a comeback in California. We must elect the right people to assure history doesn’t repeat itself,” Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., said.
Former President Donald Trump has been outspoken on preventing mask mandates from coming back. Earlier this year, he said he would cut funding to any school that has a vaccine or mask mandate.
Trump’s running mate JD Vance filed the Freedom to Breathe Act in 2023 to stop the president or any federal official from issuing a mask requirement on domestic air travel, public transit and some schools. Congress didn’t pass the bill.
Vice President Kamala Harris has not commented recently on mask mandates.
The recent mask orders are similar to the orders issued in multiple states during last year’s cold and flu season. Those mandates were lifted once the season ended. The recent mandates are expected to end in either March or April 2025.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, wearing a mask can help lower the risk of respiratory virus transmission. However, different masks give different levels of protection.
US sending troops, anti-missile system to Israel as war escalates
The United States is sending troops and an anti-missile system to Israel. And an incredible landing has SpaceX cheering and thinking about future missions. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 14, 2024.
US sending troops, anti-missile system to Israel as war escalates
Iran has now warned Washington to keep American military forces out of Israel.
“While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X.
This comes as Israel said at least four of its soldiers were killed in a drone attack by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah Sunday, Oct. 13. At least 60 other people were injured in the attack on an army base in central Israel, including seven soldiers.
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Hezbollah said the attack was in response to Israeli strikes on Beirut last week that left 22 people dead.
An attack this deadly in Israel is unusual. Its advanced air defense systems usually spot a threat well beforehand. Israel has said it’s investigating how the drone entered the country without triggering an alert.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes left at least 40 people dead in Gaza Sunday, including 13 children, according to local officials. One of those strikes was at a hospital in central Gaza, where thousands of displaced Palestinians were sheltering.
The Israeli military said it was a precise strike on a Hamas command center “embedded inside a compound that previously served as the ‘Shuhadah Al-Aqsa’ hospital.” Israel’s military also said it took steps to limit harm to civilians in the attack.
Authorities said the Nevada man had a shotgun, a loaded handgun, ammunition and several fake passports with him when he was stopped near where the rally was being held in Coachella.
Deputies assigned to the rally said they stopped the 49-year-old suspect as he was driving an unregistered vehicle with a “homemade” license plate. They said the man claimed to be a journalist.
The man passed an outer security boundary before being stopped at an inner perimeter, patrolled by local deputies. Authorities said former President Trump was not yet at the rally when the arrest happened, and he was “not in any danger.”
The suspect has since been released on $5,000 bail. Court records show his next appearance is scheduled for Jan. 2.
Biden approves $612 million to support Florida’s hurricane-ravaged communities
As hundreds of thousands remain without power and flooding continues to be an issue, President Biden visited Florida on Sunday for the second time in less than a week. This time it was to get a firsthand look at communities ravaged by Hurricane Milton.
On Saturday, Biden approved a disaster declaration to give federal funding to people affected by Milton, including grants for temporary housing, home repairs and loans. Biden said more than 250,000 Floridians have already registered for help, which he said was “the most in a single day ever in the history of this country.”
Trial begins in mysterious murders of 2 Indiana teenagers
Investigators arrested Allen in 2022 in connection to the deaths of 14-year-old Libby German and 13-year-old Abby Williams, five years after the girls disappeared while walking on a trail in the town of Delphi near an abandoned bridge. Searchers found their bodies a day later.
SpaceX pulled off an incredible feat on Sunday, successfully launching its fifth test flight of its unmanned Starship spacecraft. However, it was the return of the Super Heavy rocket booster that wowed the crowd, as well as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
For the first time, after breaking off from the Starship, the 232-foot-tall booster returned to Earth but didn’t land in the ocean like the spacecraft would. Instead, it returned to the Texas launch pad, caught by two mechanical arms which SpaceX calls “chopsticks.”
Elon Musk called the moment a “big step towards making life multiplanetary.”
SpaceX is hoping its Starship system will one day take people to the moon and Mars — with plans to use the capsule to transport NASA astronauts to the moon as soon as 2026.
‘Game of Thrones’ Iron Throne sells for $1.49 million
One “Game of Thrones” fan is sitting pretty, or at least powerfully, after taking the iconic “Iron Throne.” Unlike the characters in the HBO drama, the winner didn’t have to go through eight seasons of fighting, just a six-minute bidding war and $1.5 million.
This 310-pound plastic version of the throne was used during promotional and touring events for the series.
In total, Heritage auctions said its three-day auction in Dallas raked in more than $21 million dollars, making it the company’s second biggest entertainment event ever — behind the $22.8 million record set in 2011 by the Debbie Reynolds sale.
They’re dangerous, even deadly. So why are baby walkers still legal?
Sit-in baby walkers have been banned in Canada for two decades, but they are still one of the most popular baby items in the United States despite renewed calls for a ban on them. The walkers are linked to thousands of injuries every year and were linked to at least eight deaths between 2004 and 2008.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has called for their ban since 2004 to no avail. Safety standards were tightened in 2010 and again in 2022 to prevent stair falls and tip-overs. However, almost 2,500 injuries were reported each year from 2021 to 2023.
Even though walker sales dropped by about 350,000 over the last decade, the AAP says that while stair falls may have been reduced, head and neck injuries are still common. There are also other risks like children inadvertently rolling into pools or being burned or poisoned because reaching high objects is easier in a walker.
Consumer Reports, a nonprofit dedicated to product testing, asked the Consumer Product Safety Commission if it would consider a ban on baby walkers.
“Staff constantly review incident data with a view toward ensuring that standards continue to address product hazards,” the organization said. “To the extent that staff recommend additional improvements to the mandatory standard, the Commission will consider how best to act on those recommendations.”
Heart health is key in reducing risk of dementia: AHA
A new statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) revealed that heart health plays a critical role in maintaining brain functions as people age. Research from neurology professors at the University of Illinois emphasized that adopting a healthy lifestyle early and managing heart disease risk factors can help prevent cognitive decline.
Heart disease, which affects nearly 130 million Americans, significantly increases the risks of dementia, the study found. Experts highlighted the importance of taking preventive action early in life, sometimes even before birth.
The AHA reported that plaque buildup in arteries can restrict blood flow to the brain, leading to cognitive impairment. According to the findings, having heart disease raises the risk of dementia by 27%, often without clear symptoms.
In the United States, someone suffers a heart attack every 40 seconds. Of those who survive, up to half experience some degree of cognitive decline.
Heart failure poses an even greater threat, with over 80% of patients showing signs of brain impairment. Another heart condition, atrial fibrillation, which is becoming more prevalent, can trigger small brain bleeds, further increasing dementia risk.
Experts estimated that by 2050, as many as 16 million Americans could be affected by atrial fibrillation.
Despite the statistics, experts agree that lifestyle changes can have a significant impact. Maintaining a healthy diet, prioritizing sleep, managing stress and engaging in regular exercise can help reduce heart disease and protect brain health.
Critical IV fluid manufacturing facility spared Hurricane Milton’s wrath
As the U.S. faces a shortage of IV fluid in the wake of Hurricane Helene, one major manufacturer was spared Hurricane Milton’s wrath. When Helene tore through North Carolina, it damaged Baxter International, a company that makes IV fluids which are critical for hospitals to fully function.
Baxter is the biggest supplier of IV bags in the country, so the hit was especially devastating, forcing hospitals to turn to other suppliers to fill the gap. One of those suppliers is B. Braun Medical in Daytona Beach. Before Hurricane Milton, the federal government helped the company move more than 60 truckloads, or about 1.5 million bags of IV solution to north Florida, where the storm’s impacts were minor.
Officials with Braun said the Daytona Beach facility was not seriously impacted by Milton and it reopened Friday, Oct. 11. The IV bags that it moved out of the storm’s path are also being returned to the facility.
Baxter started limiting customer orders after Helene. Hospitals also started conserving IV fluids and delaying some nonemergency surgeries that would require it. The Daytona Beach site is a key part of the plan to address the IV fluid shortage. Braun also said it is increasing production at its factory in Irvine, California.
Formerly conjoined twins go home after year in Philly hospital
It was a joyous sendoff at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on Tuesday, Oct. 8, for twin brothers who were born conjoined. After an eight-hour surgery in August, the siblings were successfully separated and over a month later — just days after their first birthday — Amari and Javar Ruffin were able to finally go home with their parents and older siblings.
The boys’ journey home began months before they were born when an ultrasound in the 12th week of pregnancy confirmed to their parents they were conjoined. Shaneka and Tim were told by a specialist to terminate the pregnancy.
But the couple decided to go to CHOP for a second opinion. After going through a series of examinations, the hospital team told them that “things looked favorable for separation.”
The boys shared the lowest part of their sternum, diaphragm, abdominal wall and liver. The boys were born on Sept. 23, 2023, through C-section and spent 10 months in the hospital preparing for surgery day. That came on Aug. 21, 2024.
A team of more than two dozen specialists, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, nurses and many others, performed the eight-hour surgery to separate Amari and Javar. After the boys were separated their abdomens were closed and rebuilt using layers of mesh and plastic surgery techniques.
Each baby was also given a new belly button.
Conjoined twins are rare, with one occurring in approximately 35,000 to 80,000 births. Amari and Javar became the 32nd set of conjoined twins to be separated at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. CHOP said the boys will continue routine weekly follow-ups as they begin life at home with their family.