UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

FDA approves Apple Watch sleep apnea detection feature, available on Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 with watchOS 11, alerting users with consistent sleep interruptions to visit a physician.

Apple's latest AirPods feature built-in hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss, with personalized adjustments via iOS 18 hearing tests. Additionally, new Apple Watch features detect sleep apnea, pending FDA approval.

E-Scopics presents Hepatoscope, a software-based liver assessment tool at the 2024 EASD Congress, aligning with EASL-EASD-EASO guidelines recommending transient elastography for liver fibrosis detection. Hepatoscope, an ultraportable ultrasound device, aids in non-invasive liver stiffness measurements, facilitating early detection and treatment of MASLD.

Suresh Garimella appointed as U of A president with $810,000 salary. Delta Development Team's blood storage tech saves lives. Journey Venture Studio selects health care entrepreneurs. Ivy Brain Tumor Center tests new brain cancer drug. Tech Launch Arizona sets invention record. Peter Fine leads Banner Health's growth. Boeing, Honeywell launch STEM academy with EVIT.

Dr. Joseph Vacca, an award-winning medicinal chemist, joins ThirdLaw Molecular LLC as Scientific Advisor, bringing extensive drug discovery experience. He collaborates with Dr. Tomi Sawyer to advance the Spiroligomer™ platform, aiming to revolutionize disease diagnosis and treatment through targeted drug discovery.

Planes harbor germs on tray tables, bathroom handles, and drink cans, with studies showing high bacteria levels. Despite COVID-era cleaning improvements, concerns persist about cleanliness and airborne disease transmission. Experts recommend good hygiene and possibly masking to reduce infection risks.

The K-12 Health Literacy Project, led by the University of Arizona, aims to enhance science and health literacy among students through interactive scenarios and internships. It includes the 'Life of a Disease' course for high schoolers and the K-8 Health Connectors program, focusing on early engagement in health sciences and improving health literacy to empower future generations.

Long COVID, or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), affects a significant number of individuals with symptoms lasting weeks to years post-infection. Research under the NIH's RECOVER initiative explores mechanisms like viral persistence, immune dysregulation, and gut dysbiosis. Therapeutic trials are underway, focusing on repurposed and novel treatments, emphasizing the need for rigorous clinical trials to address this public health challenge.

RaeSedo Inc., a University of Arizona spin-out, received a $3.4 million Phase 2 STTR grant to develop asthma therapies using SP-A derived peptides. Aiming to reduce asthma's inflammatory environment, the company plans to advance to human trials after animal model evaluations. Asthma treatments cost $21 billion annually in the US, highlighting the need for new therapies.

Amid the obesity epidemic, the development and approval of new obesity drugs face challenges due to stringent FDA safety and efficacy standards. Recent approvals of Qsymia and Belviq highlight a shift, influenced by societal pressure and improved risk management strategies. The article suggests enhancing transparency in risk-benefit deliberations for obesity drugs through formal modeling, explicit discussions, and value-based considerations.