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MorningMed is the best way to keep up with the world of health and medicine through curated round-ups, useful insights and other practical resources.

A novel breakthrough allows for a man suffering from a decade of paralysis to walk naturally again. An implant created by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne allowed for a “brain-spine interface” that directly connected the brain and spinal cord via a neurological linkage, tying together intentions for movement to the action itself.

A fresh wave of Covid-19 is swelling over China, as they brace for a peak that could potentially reach a peak of 65 million cases a week. China, notoriously known for maintaining the harshest Covid restrictions on the planet, so far has a muted response to this threat relative to their initial reaction to the imposing pandemic.

Researchers utilizing artificial intelligence have discovered a new type of antibiotic that is effective against an especially menacing drug-resistant bacteria. The compound identified by AI was tested against 41 different strains of antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and proved successful against each strain of the superbug.

A recent CDC finding has discovered that around 40% of foodborne illness outbreaks at restaurants between 2017 and 2019 were linked to sick or infectious workers. The study unveiled by the CDC found that Norovirus accounted for 47% and Salmonella accounted for 19% of the 800 outbreaks identified at U.S. restaurants during the years studied.

The FDA has granted full approval to Paxlovid to treat Covid in high-risk adults (including those who have diabetes, heart conditions, cancer or a weak immune system), transitioning from its previous emergency use authorization. This decision is a result of extensive data supporting the antiviral pill’s safety and effectiveness.

Elon Musk’s Neuralink announces FDA approval to begin in-human clinical research

Neuralink, a brain implant company founded by Elon Musk, has announced that it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct clinical trials of its brain-computer interface technology in humans. The company aims to develop implants that can be used to treat neurological conditions and eventually enhance human capabilities. The FDA approval marks a significant milestone for Neuralink and opens the door for further research and development in the field of brain-computer interfaces.

• The Link will aim to help patients with severe paralysis control external assistive technologies by using neural signals transmitted from their thoughts and intentions. An example of utility includes giving ALS patients the opportunity to regain their ability to communicate by moving cursors and typing with their minds.
  
  
• Neuralink’s emergence into brain-computer interface, or BCI, will require patients to undergo invasive brain surgery to receive the small circular implant that will coordinate via Bluetooth with a Neuralink app.

Elon Musk, co-founder of Neuralink, states: “You could have a Neuralink device implanted right now, and you would not even know. In fact, in one of these demos, I will.”

Wearable technology has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, transforming how we monitor and manage our health. With the increasing popularity of smartwatches, fitness trackers, and other wearable devices, there has been a surge in interest in how these technologies can be used to improve healthcare outcomes. From mental health monitoring to treating physical conditions, here’s a more detailed look at how wearables are revolutionizing healthcare.

CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta investigates parenting in an era dominated by screens and social media

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a prominent medical expert, discusses the impact of social media and screen time on parenting and child development. He highlights the concerns of excessive screen use and the potential negative effects it can have on children's mental health, attention span, and social skills.

Key takeaways

• Dr. Gupta emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and creating a healthy balance between screen time and other activities, while also encouraging parents to be mindful of their own screen usage as role models for their children.
  
  
• He suggests that engaging in meaningful offline interactions and promoting physical activities can contribute to healthier child development in today's digital age.

By the digits

• 89% of American adults say they reach for their phones within 10 minutes of waking .
  
  
• 144: American adults check their phones an average of 144 times a day, or once every 7 waking minutes!
  
  
• 46% of American teens said they are online “almost constantly” according to a 2022 Pew survey of the under-18 set. treatment.
  
  
• 35% said they’re “almost constantly” on one of the five top social media apps: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.
  
  
• 500 hours of video were uploaded to YouTube every minute, according to the data company Domo.
  
  
• 1.3 billion photos are shared per day on Instagram, according to a photo industry estimate.

Is There a Doctor in the House?

A 35-year-old man, who has been your patient for the past year, comes to the office to request that a copy of his medical records be sent to another physician in town. The patient has an overdue account balance of $750, which he has not paid for several months. He signs an office form authorizing release of health information and provides the name and address of the other physician to whom he would like the records sent.

It is most appropriate to inform this patient of which of the following regarding his request for release of his medical records?

New research has linked marijuana use to mental health risks in young adults, with expansive evidence involving millions of people worldwide collected over decades. These results, which show a growing association between marijuana and psychiatric disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, especially in young men, also raise fears that the mental health crisis in the US could further intensify.

As weight loss drugs spike in popularity and availability, further research as shed light on a significant loss in lean mass, including a potentially concerning amount of muscle weight. While the goal of this type of intervention is to lose fat weight, the lean mass loss is alarming because of the associated loss of function in metabolism as a result.

A team of engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder has designed a new class of tiny, self-propelled robots coined “microbots” which have been designed to potentially deliver prescription drugs to difficult pathways inside of the human body. These “mini health care providers” have also been floated as having the potential to eventually perform complex tasks within the human body such as non-invasive surgeries by being delivered within a pill or injection.

Humbling research from the University of California – Davis has unveiled a new model of human evolution, which strikes down the previous beliefs that a single African population gave rise to all modern-day humans. This updated model was created by testing the genetic material of current populations in Africa and comparing against existing fossil evidence of early Homo sapiens populations there.

Thank you for reading! More next week,

My best wishes for a productive and idea-filled week ahead. Thanks for your ongoing efforts to improve the lives of the patients we all serve. Please send any news, comments, suggestions and ideas to hello@morningmed.email.

Quiz answer: The correct answer is A) "They will be released to his new physician promptly"

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