Health
Influenza or a cold? A new technology can help you
Smart gadgets in the home might soon be able to tell you what’s wrong with you. But the technology is good news for a lot of other things too.
Microresonators made of germanium. These might have a bigger impact on your future than you might think.
« Influenza or a cold? A new technology can help you
Newswise — Some people do such smart and difficult things that it’s hard to see what in the world they might have to do with you and me, so we just shrug them off. But that’s often the wrong response.
What if you had a simple gadget at home that could tell you why you’re feeling so lousy?
Our microresonator is about 100 times better than what was available before for the longwave infrared spectrum.
What if this gadget could within short order check whether you have COVID or the flu – or maybe it would even pick up that you have diabetes without knowing it? The device could figure all this out without you having to go to a doctor or a laboratory.
Stores the light better
This technology could become a reality within a few years, and electrical engineers are some of people who make it possible to create such gadgets, which contain a key component called the whispering gallery mode microresonator.
New technology is providing better optical sensors, which are important for electronics, including devices that analyse chemicals using light.
“We’ve built the lowest loss whispering gallery mode microresonator out there for the longwave infrared spectrum. Because the longwave infrared spectrum provides definitive information about chemicals, it provides new possibility for sensing applications,” says Dingding Ren, a researcher at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s (NTNU) Department of Electronic Systems.
We’ll talk more about what a microresonator is later in the article. But first back to Ren. He and his colleagues have developed a new whispering gallery mode microresonator – which can store light for certain wavelengths much longer in the resonance.
“Our microresonator is about 100 times better than what was available before for the longwave infrared spectrum,” says Ren.
“It can retain the light 100 times longer than previous versions, which amplifies the optical field inside and makes nonlinear processes much easier, such as frequency comb generation,” he said.
Opens up great opportunities
Storing light waves in the infrared part of the light spectrum more effectively is good news for several types of new technologies, especially for particle sensing and spectroscopic chemical identification that analyse a gas/fluid sample to check for viruses and bacteria and other nasties you might have.
The new microresonator means that scientists can develop broadband frequency combs in the longwave infrared spectrum using these devices. And just what might those be?
Frequency combs are laser lights whose spectrum consists of a series of discrete, equally spaced frequency lines. These can be found various places, such as in your GPS, in atomic clocks and in fibre optic equipment used in telephones and computers. The technology also opens the door to analysing several chemicals at once, if a broadband frequency comb is available at the longwave infrared spectrum.
“The technology is still in its initial stage when it comes to measurements in this the longwave infrared spectrum of light. But our improvement gives us the possibility to identify several different chemicals in real time in the near future,” says Ren.
This kind of spectroscopic machine already exists, like something called a Fourier-transform infrared interferometer, but they are so big and so expensive that only hospitals and big budget institutions can afford them. Other, slightly simpler machines might be able to analyse a few chemicals, but not many at once – unlike what the new technology could make possible.
Ren has worked closely with Professor David Burghoff and his colleagues at the University of Notre Dame in the USA.
“The competition is fierce in this field,” says Ren.
The new microresonator is made using the element germanium. The material may sound exotic, but was used in the world’s first transistor as early as 1947, before silicon took over that market.
We can compare the microresonator to what happens with the sound in the whispering gallery in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Today, germanium is frequently used in optical lenses in sensors and infrared cameras, and it is consequently neither particularly rare nor expensive. These are also advantages when theory is going to be brought to the market.
What are microresonators anyway?
Microresonators, which a type of optical cavities, can store high optical field inside a very small volume. They can be made into a trace or disk geometry, but they usually are at a microscale dimension, similar to the thickness of a hair. Light travels inside the microresonator in circles, so the optical field gets amplified.
“We can compare the microresonator to what happens with the sound in the whispering gallery in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London,” says Ren.
This elliptical gallery has produced a famous phenomenon. You can whisper at one end of it and people at the other end of the room can hear you, even though they wouldn’t normally be to able hear you at that distance. The sound waves are amplified by the shape of the room and the walls, which is how light waves behave in the microresonator. You can read the research article if you want to try to understand this phenomenon better. The link can be found at the bottom of the article.
Funded by Fripro money
Ren is financing the research through a Fripro project grant from the Research Council of Norway, which lasts for three years. Money from Fripro is dedicated to basic research.
“We promised that we would develop a better microresonator, and we’ve succeeded,” Ren said. The research group delivered on its promise.
Stunning work
Bjørn-Ove Fimland and Astrid Aksnes, both professors in NTNU’s Department of Electronic Systems, have provided advice along the way.
“Ren has done excellent work, which is supported by the fact that he’s had an article published in Nature Communications,” says Aksnes.
The fact that we can now measure in the longwave IR range (8-14 µm, or micrometres) of the light spectrum opens up many possibilities in relation to use in imaging and detection, environmental monitoring and biomedical applications, says Aksnes.
“Many molecules have fundamental vibrational bands in the mid-wave IR range (2-20 µm), the so-called ‘molecular fingerprint region’. By measuring in this wave range, we achieve higher sensitivity,” she says.
Reference: Ren, D., Dong, C., Addamane, S.J. et al. High-quality microresonators in the longwave infrared based on native germanium. Nat Commun 13, 5727 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32706-1
Source: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Lifestyle
How to Manage Symptoms of Heart Failure
Symptoms of Heart Failure: Managing heart failure is a significant expense to the U.S. healthcare system, costing the nation approximately $40 billion in 2020 and expected to increase to approximately $142 billion a year by 2050. If you (or a loved one) are living with the condition, consider these tips to help manage it.
How to Manage Symptoms of Heart Failure
(Feature Impact) Americans are facing a growing health challenge, with 1 in 4 adults at risk of heart failure, according to the Heart Failure Society of America. Additionally, approximately 6.7 million U.S. adults who are 20 years old or older are currently living with heart failure, and that number is projected to reach 8.7 million by 2030.
Managing heart failure is a significant expense to the U.S. healthcare system, costing the nation approximately $40 billion in 2020 and expected to increase to approximately $142 billion a year by 2050.
If you (or a loved one) are living with the condition, consider these tips to help manage it.
Adhere to the Treatment and Follow-Up Plan
Ongoing outpatient care is important when managing heart failure. Understand the treatment plan provided by your healthcare team, make diet and lifestyle changes, take medications as directed and keep recommended follow-up appointments.
Pay attention to changes in symptoms and communicate with your healthcare provider if treatment does not seem to be working as expected. If their conditions are left unmanaged, patients can experience a range of heart-failure-related symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, buildup of fluid and more.
Understand Challenges with Diuretic Treatment
Diuretics help the body remove excess fluid and are commonly used to treat swelling, or edema, associated with heart failure. Your provider may try different diuretics, sometimes referred to as “water pills,” to manage your heart failure symptoms. However, intravenous (IV) diuretic therapy may be required for some patients if symptoms continue.
Ask About Treatment Options Before IV Care Is Needed
For some adults, a healthcare provider may consider recommending an at-home, non-oral diuretic option prior to escalating to IV therapy.
For example, ENBUMYST™ (bumetanide nasal spray) is a prescription diuretic used in adults to treat edema associated with congestive heart failure. It’s administered as a nasal spray for short-term use to manage excess fluid with the goal of transitioning to oral diuretic therapy when appropriate.
Talk with your healthcare provider to learn more and visit enbumyst.com. Read the full Prescribing Information and Patient Information.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
Important Safety Information
What is ENBUMYST?
ENBUMYST is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat swelling caused by excess fluid in the body (edema) from congestive heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disease.
What is the most important information I should know about ENBUMYST?
- ENBUMYST is a diuretic that helps your body remove fluid. Losing too much fluid can cause dehydration, low blood volume, and increase the risk of blood clots. Blood abnormalities may include decreased salts (electrolytes), and increased nitrogen, glucose and uric acid. The risk of these abnormalities is higher in elderly people, those using higher doses, or those who do not get enough electrolytes by mouth.
- You should not use ENBUMYST if you have severe electrolyte loss. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience unusual thirst; dizziness or lightheadedness; weakness or tiredness; fast heart rate; dry mouth or tongue; sudden pain; redness or swelling in your joints; pain, swelling, redness, or warmth in your leg; shortness of breath or fast breathing; high blood sugar; dark urine; pale, tight, cool or clammy skin; muscle cramps; confusion.
Do not use ENBUMYST if youhave low or no urine production or are allergic to bumetanide or to any of the ingredients in ENBUMYST.
Before using ENBUMYST, tell your healthcare provider if you have low electrolytes, are on a low-salt diet, have diarrhea, diabetes, nasal problems such as a runny or stuffy nose or polyps, a history of nasal injury or surgery, are or plan to become pregnant, are or plan to breastfeed.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
ENBUMYST may cause serious side effects, such as worsening kidney function and ringing in the ears or hearing loss.
The most common side effects of ENBUMYST include dehydration, headache, muscle cramps, dizziness, low blood pressure, nausea, and abnormal brain functioning with certain liver problems.
These are not all the possible side effects of ENBUMYST. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information.
Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
US-ENBU-2600110
SOURCE:
Esperion
recipes
Keeping the Love of Food with Type 2 Diabetes
Living with Type 2 diabetes often means making adjustments to your daily routine, especially when it comes to food. Although adjusting to life with diabetes may take time, you don’t have to give up your favorite foods and flavors. In fact, it can be an opportunity to discover meals that support your health goals while still enjoying the foods you love.
(Feature Impact) Living with Type 2 diabetes often means making adjustments to your daily routine, especially when it comes to food. Whether you’re living with the condition or supporting someone who is, it can influence everything from meal planning to dinners out and everyday activities. Although adjusting to life with diabetes may take time, you don’t have to give up your favorite foods and flavors. In fact, it can be an opportunity to discover meals that support your health goals while still enjoying the foods you love.
That’s what professional chef and TV show host Kardea Brown did, alongside her husband Bryon Smith, who was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at age 38.
“When my husband was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it didn’t mean the end of the foods we love,” Brown said. “It meant I had to get creative. I started reimagining my recipes, so they still carry that same soul, that same comfort, just with ingredients that love him back a little better.”
To remove the guesswork about how certain ingredients affect Smith’s glucose levels, the couple relies on Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor with Libre Assist*, a feature within the accompanying Libre app**. The technology provides real-time glucose insights and can help predict how certain foods may affect his glucose^ levels before a meal.
“I open the Libre Assist feature in the app, snap a photo and instantly see how that food might affect me before I even take the first bite,” Smith said. “It even suggests healthier swaps to help lower the impact.”
Small lifestyle changes can also make a difference in diabetes management. Brown recommends:
- Building balanced meals that prioritize non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins and healthy carbs for added fiber.
- Reading labels carefully to ensure you choose ingredients with little or no added sugars.
- Boosting fiber intake with ingredients like lentils, oats, beans and whole fruits.
- Cooking smarter at home by using simple methods like grilling, baking or sauteing with healthy fats, such as olive or canola oil.
- Planning and preparing for success by shopping with a list and planning meals in advance so you always have nutritious ingredients ready to cook.
To learn more about Libre Assist and to see if you qualify for a free† sensor, visit freestylelibre.us/LibreAssist.
The views expressed in this article should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice. Individual symptoms, situations and circumstances may vary.
* Libre Assist is a feature within Libre app that uses generative artificial intelligence to provide information on how foods could impact your glucose levels. Generative artificial intelligence may not always be accurate, and it should not be used to make treatment decisions.
** The FreeStyle Libre systems apps are only compatible with certain mobile devices and operating systems. Please check the Support section of our website for more information about device compatibility before using the apps. Use of the FreeStyle Libre systems apps may require registration with LibreView.
^Predicted glucose impact is based on user-provided food data and may differ from actual impact, which depends on sensor readings and factors like activity, stress, medication and alcohol. For personalized advice, consult your healthcare provider.
†Offer available for people who qualify. Visit MyFreeStyle.us to see all Terms and Conditions. Certain exclusions apply. Medicare and Medicaid patients are not eligible. See MyFreeStyle.us for more information.
Important Safety Information: Product for prescription only, for Important Safety Information visit FreeStyleLibre.us.
Shrimp Scampi and Cauliflower Grits
Recipe courtesy of Kardea Brown on behalf of Abbott
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Grits:
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup light cream
- 1 cup stone-ground grits
- 1 cup cauliflower rice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Shrimp Scampi:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons dry white wine
- 1 lemon, juice only
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- To make grits: Bring broth and cream to gentle boil; whisk in grits. Cook 10-15 minutes. Stir in cauliflower rice and cook 5-7 minutes. Add butter, cheese, salt and pepper.
- To make shrimp scampi: In pan, heat butter and oil; saute garlic and red pepper flakes, if desired, 30 seconds. Add shrimp, cook 1-2 minutes per side and remove.
- Add broth, wine, lemon juice and lemon zest; simmer 2-3 minutes. Return shrimp; toss; season with salt and pepper, to taste; and stir in parsley.
- Serve shrimp over creamy grits.
Macaroni and Cheese with Chickpea Pasta
Recipe courtesy of Kardea Brown on behalf of Abbott
Prep time: 20 minutes
Bake time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4-6
Pasta:
- 8 ounces chickpea-based, gluten-free pasta
Bechamel Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons almond flour
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
Cheese Blend:
- 1 cup medium cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Topping:
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar and Gruyere cheese
- 2 tablespoons almond flour (optional)
- chopped parsley
- Preheat oven to 375 F and grease baking dish.
- To make pasta: Cook pasta al dente.
- To make bechamel sauce: Melt butter and whisk in almond flour, 1-2 minutes. Slowly add half-and-half, heavy cream and broth. Stir until thickened. Season with mustard, garlic powder, smoked paprika and salt and pepper, to taste. Remove from heat.
- To make cheese blend: Mix cheddar, gruyere and Parmesan. Stir half the cheese blend into bechamel sauce until smooth. Stir in pasta.
- Layer pasta and cheese sauce in dish: half pasta, half cheese and repeat. Top with reserved cheese and almond flour, if desired.
- Cover with foil and bake 15-20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10-15 minutes uncovered until golden.
- Rest 5 minutes, garnish with parsley and serve warm.
Red Velvet Layer Cake with Almond Flour
Recipe courtesy of Kardea Brown on behalf of Abbott
Prep time: 25 minutes
Bake time: 20 minutes
Chill time: 30-60 minutes
Servings: 12
Cake:
- 2 cups almond flour
- 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups monk fruit-allulose blend
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup plain unsweetened Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup avocado oil
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon distilled vinegar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- red food coloring (optional)
Whipped Cream:
- 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup powdered monk fruit
- 1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
Berry Drizzle:
- 1/2 cup no-sugar-added wild berry jam
- 1-2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
Filling and Topping:
- 2 cups mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
- Preheat oven to 350 F and grease or line three 8-inch pans.
- To make cake: In bowl, mix almond flour, pastry flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt and monk fruit-allulose blend. In separate bowl, mix eggs, Greek yogurt, avocado oil, buttermilk, distilled vinegar, vanilla extract and red food coloring, if desired. Combine dry and wet ingredients until smooth. Divide evenly into pans and bake 18-22 minutes. Cool completely.
- To make whipped cream: Whip cream cheese and monk sugar until smooth. Add cream gradually and whip to medium-stiff peaks. Chill.
- To make berry drizzle: Warm berry jam with water and lemon juice, if desired, until pourable; cool slightly.
- To assemble cake: Layer cake, whipped cream, jam and berries; repeat for three layers. Top with berries and drizzle.
- Chill 30-60 minutes before slicing.
Photo courtesy of Abbott (Bryon Smith and Kardea Brown, a paid partner)
SOURCE:
Abbott
Health
When Vision Changes: 5 Ways to Navigate What Comes Next
Whether sight changes suddenly or gradually, a question often follows: “Now what?” There is no single way to adjust to vision loss, and the questions can change over time. These five starting points can help you identify what matters most now and where to find support.
(Feature Impact) A change in vision can turn ordinary routines into unfamiliar challenges. A favorite book becomes harder to read. Walking through a familiar neighborhood feels different. A family member offers help, but you may not know how to ask for what you need. Whether sight changes suddenly or gradually, a question often follows: “Now what?”
Medical care is essential, but many people encounter a Grand Canyon-sized gap between clinical care and everyday life with vision loss. Questions arise around getting around safely, continuing to do things you love, talking to family about what is changing and more. The answers take more than information; they require practical guidance, emotional support and connection with people who understand.
“The medical conversation rarely has room for what people are actually grappling with: fear, grief and the very practical question of how to keep living the lives they want,” said Johnjoe Farragher, CEO of Hadley, a nonprofit dedicated to helping adults with vision loss. “Those ‘now what?’ moments are where people need a clear place to begin.”
There is no single way to adjust to vision loss, and the questions can change over time. These five starting points can help you identify what matters most now and where to find support.
Take One Step at a Time
You don’t have to solve every challenge at once. Ask your vision care team about your diagnosis and treatment then think about what is most difficult in daily life right now. It could be reading email, moving safely through your home or using your phone. Choose one concern to address first. A small, useful change can make the next step feel more manageable.
Make Room for the Emotional Side
Vision loss may bring grief, frustration, fear or a change in how you see yourself. Those feelings don’t have to be brushed aside before you can move forward. Share those feelings with someone you trust and seek professional support if you need it. Hearing how others navigated similar changes can help you feel less alone and identify possibilities you may not have imagined.
Find a Trusted Place to Begin
Ask your vision care team about support available in your community. If you’re unsure what to ask for, start with a specific daily challenge on your mind. Offering on-demand guidance, practical tools and opportunities to connect with others living with vision loss, Hadley focuses on life with vision loss beyond the doctor’s office. Its expert-informed guidance and community members address both practical problems and the emotions that come with them, shaped by lived experience. Support is available without cost or waitlists, whether you’re living with vision loss or helping someone you love.
Define Independence on Your Terms
Independence doesn’t have to mean doing everything alone. It may mean finding a new way to do something, choosing a tool that helps or telling family and friends exactly what assistance is useful. Think about a goal that matters to you, whether it’s getting around your home with more confidence or staying involved in a favorite activity, and build from there.
Keep Doing What Matters to You
A change in sight can change how you do things without ending your connection to the people and activities you love. The right adaptations depend on your vision, your interests and your goals.
For instance, when reading gets hard, magnifiers, enlarging fonts, access to free audiobooks and learning braille can make a difference. Passionate home chefs may use tactile or high-contrast labels, well-placed lighting, consistent organization or adaptive tools and techniques to keep cooking with confidence. Assistive technology, low-vision tools and simple adaptations can make everyday routines more accessible and help people stay connected to the activities and relationships that matter most.
When a new “now what?” question comes up, HadleyHelps.org offers a trusted place to start and a path forward.
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
