Utah reports 48 cyclospora cases, all but 5 could be tied to travel - KSL.com
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday that Utah has had 48 reported cases of cyclospora since May 1.Of those sick individuals, 31 reported traveling outside the United States, and 12 reported traveling to other states, but five reported they had not traveled outside of Utah.The health department said those five cases are still being investigated, and several of the sick individuals have not been interviewed yet.Cyclosporiasis is caused by a microscopic parasite that leads to severe diarrhea and dehydration in those infected. It is often more common in the spring and summer, but this year's cases are higher than normal, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting over 18,000 cases around the country.Some Iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms from Mexico has been recalled in connection with the outbreak, but Utah's health department said Utah has not received any of those recalled products.The CDC says the outbreak is occurring in nine states, which does not include Utah.On Monday, it was reported that two people in Michigan died in connection with the cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Georgia woman had unnecessary hysterectomy after lab mixup and cancer misdiagnosis, lawsuit says - NBC News
An Atlanta-area woman alleges that negligent handling of a tissue sample led to her being misdiagnosed with an aggressive form of uterine cancer and undergoing a full hysterectomy when she was 43. Cassandra Barksdale was forced into premature menopause after doctors removed her cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries last year, according to a lawsuit filed in Clayton County, Georgia.
Expert shares tips for choosing a dentist and cutting dental costs - KOMO
Few people enjoy going to the dentist, but keeping teeth and gums healthy can help lower the risk of serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, and possibly Alzheimer’s disease. A good dentist can be a key ally in maintaining oral health, but patients can also face expensive procedures and confusing treatment recommendations.
AI technology a game changer for treatment of COPD and asthma - KSL.com
A new study by researchers at Intermountain Health and CareCentra found that using AI technology to streamline and enhance care for two of the world's most common chronic pulmonary conditions resulted in a 50% drop in hospitalizations, 20% fewer emergency department visits and a 57% cost reduction.Intermountain researchers say the study is a game changer for the care of the millions of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.Those two pulmonary conditions cost more than $50 billion to treat per year in the United States – much of it spent on hospitalizations that could be prevented.Researchers say some of the most concerning moments for doctors treating patients with chronic lung disease are not hospitalizations but the period between patient visits – those weeks or months in which risk accumulates invisibly, unmonitored, until the next health crisis arrives.Researchers from Intermountain Health and CareCentra set out to end that by utilizing new AI technology to help monitor patients between visits and improve care for patients with COPD and asthma.In the two-year study, Intermountain Health researchers found that continuous, AI-driven monitoring of patients resulted in reduced total cost of care for patients by 57%, hospitalizations by 50%, and emergency department visits by 20%."The clinical results of the study are game-changing," said Peter Crossno, MD, principal investigator and senior medical director of respiratory care at Intermountain Health. "This technology and process enhancement allows us to move from reactive care to proactive care for these patients."We demonstrated that it is possible to gather signals of patient risk continuously between clinic visits, shape their response behaviors through personalized nudges, and intervene, when necessary, through escalations to our pulmonary disease navigators – all in one composite solution," he added.