Hartford Public Library receives grant to expand Spanish-language healthcare resources

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The Hartford Library announced that it has been awarded a $2,000 Collection Improvement Grant from the National Library of Medicine.
The grant will be used to expand the library's collection of Spanish-language health resources.
The resources will be focused on health conditions prevalent in Latino communities.
Hartford Public Library receives $117K grant for youth employment and learning
Topics like diabetes, heart disease, mental health, nutrition and preventative care will be covered in Spanish.
The library aims to increase representation and health literacy in the Spanish-speaking community.
'At Hartford Public Library, we are committed to meeting the evolving needs of our diverse community,' said HPL President and CEO Bridget E. Quinn. 'This funding helps us continue to take meaningful steps toward health equity by ensuring our Spanish-speaking community can access the health information they need and want in their preferred language.'
The grant is supported by the NLM and National Institutes of Health
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Newsweek

15 hours ago

• Newsweek

Exclusive: We Thought Having a Baby Was 'Impossible.' Then Doctors Used AI

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The parents of the world's first baby born thanks to AI exclusively told Newsweek how a new IVF procedure powered entirely by artificial intelligence made the "impossible" a reality. The couple's hopes of starting a family were crushed when Edna, 42, and Tony, 45, were diagnosed with infertility issues, including Edna's ovarian insufficiency. But in 2023, they were introduced to a prototype study led by Conceivable Life Sciences through Hope IVF—a private clinic in Mexico City. From left to right: Luis, Dr Luis Miguel Campos (the patients' clinician), parents Edna and Tony. From left to right: Luis, Dr Luis Miguel Campos (the patients' clinician), parents Edna and Tony. Conceivable The precision of AI This study proved it was possible to control robotics within the IVF lab to perform ICSI, otherwise known as Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, remotely to create an embryo. This means embryos created through the robotic ICSI step receive consistent treatment with high precision and a more controlled approach to combining the egg and sperm, compared to current manual methods. The surgeon still oversees the robot and the processes, but with much improved outcomes. Edna and Tony—who are using their middle names for privacy—spoke exclusively to Newsweek about how they became the first family shaped by AI. "We represent expectations and hope for all those couples who are unable to reach their goal to become parents," they said through Spanish translation. "Once we heard the baby's heartbeat, we felt like we reached something that seemed previously impossible." A scalable model for fertility treatment The prototype study involved 41 patients and to date, has resulted in 21 pregnancies and 18 live births. Its system sees AI-powered robots help human doctors in a first step towards automating IVF treatments. The remote ICSI procedure used allows for a much gentler approach to embryo creation, helping improve quality outcomes at a microscopic level. Baby Luis (his real name) was born in Morelia in November 2024. Now seven-months-old, he has become the first baby to be conceived thanks to AI. Inside the AI system Chief medical officer at Conceivable Life Sciences, Dr. Alejandro Chavez-Badiola and one of the principal investigators on the paper, shared two scenarios: "Am I the lucky patient who is going to be treated by the best embryologist in the world at 8 a.m. after a cup of coffee and with a smile on their face, fully focused," he told Newsweek. "Or am I going to be the unlucky patient who is going to be treated by the best embryologist in the world at 1 p.m. when they're about to inject their 17th egg, thinking about lunch and having just received a distressing phone call from their partner." With this new system, the entire procedure uses mathematical algorithms and robotics to carry out the fertilization process step-by-step, with future precision likely to be beyond human capability. "Automation is not only allowing us to standardize these issues with the precision of robots, but to scale this [and] to make sure that every patient anywhere in the world, at any given time, can be treated by the best embryologists," Dr. Chavez-Badiola said. Remote ICSI photography. Remote ICSI photography. Conceivable Tony told Newsweek that the couple didn't have concerns about using the technology to finally become parents. "Although it can be directed to other purposes like weapons or other negative aspects, I feel like it should be applied on a daily basis, because well done, its purpose will be at the service of mankind," he said. While there will always be a clinical team overseeing the automated lab, remote control enables global teams to manage automated labs beyond regular hours, allowing for 18–20-hour workdays. Additionally, as the system can be operated remotely, a specialist in one country can carry out fertilization procedures for patients in another. Cost and duration were also differing factors from traditional methods, but the couple put their trust in the team at Conceivable. "By being more optimal and efficient, I feel like it will reduce the amount of attempts and the necessity of medications," Edna told Newsweek. Edna said that the process was fraught with emotion, given the negative outcomes of their previous IVF rounds. Edna was working in another city when she took the pregnancy test. "When I told Tony the news I was pregnant, it was a delightful surprise for him," she told Newsweek. "We were very happy." Luis, the first baby born from remote ICSI. Luis, the first baby born from remote ICSI. Conceivable The success rate of 51 percent aligns with industry standards, according to the Vienna Consensus. However, in their trials, the researchers also found that embryos created using this AI system had an as good—if not better—development potential than those made by humans alone, resulting in high-quality blastocysts—the stage at which embryos are typically relocated from an embryo transfer catheter to the uterus. Edna and Tony's clinician Dr. Luis Miguel Campos told Newsweek that once he had explained the process of ICSI to them, they saw it as an opportunity. "I joined this program to help two beautiful humans achieve their when they heard they were pregnant, I cried like never before," he said. As for next steps at Conceivable, Dr. Campos said consistency in outcomes is a top priority, eventually leading to an improvement in access for any patient around the world. "By [producing] consistency in results, the control process will imply reducing costs and be more efficient," he said. Ethics and AI Dr. Alexander Kotlyar, a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at Genesis Fertility, told Newsweek emerging AI tools in fertility can enhance core ethical principles, provided they are carefully assessed and properly trained. "The ethical debate around AI reminds me of the long-standing tug-of-war behind genetic testing of embryos," he said. "In both cases, there is concern about how the use of new technology, like DNA testing techniques, can truly benefit patient outcomes, [for example], getting pregnant and having a live birth." Dr. Kotlyar explained the use of AI in the fertility field has grown significantly since the first "test tube" baby was born over forty years ago. This development can be partly attributed to the fact that the processes behind AI algorithms are often not transparent, which raises questions about their outcomes and reliability. "This concern is even more profound with AI since decision-making is, at least partly, given to a machine," he told Newsweek. "However, I would reassure patients and the public that in both cases, the technology is always tested against the principles of core medical ethics and if we cannot stay true to those principles, then we do not use the technology." Hope for future parents For Edna and Tony, being the first successful participants of the prototype clinical trial is a dream come true. "We were fortunate to be selected over other candidates for this first treatment, and we feel blessed," they told Newsweek. "We encourage all those couples who are on the journey to becoming parents to not abandon their dreams and hopes." The couple received strong support from both sides of their families. "Some of them felt a little concerned but in the end, everyone was really happy for our outcome," Tony said. When he's old enough, both Edna and Tony will happily tell Luis that he was conceived using AI. "There's a lot of ignorance and certain concerns about technology, but we will explain gladly to our son." ‌Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about IVF? Let us know via health@ Reference Mendizabal-Ruiz, G., Chavez-Badiola, A., Hernández-Morales, E., Valencia-Murillo, R., Ocegueda-Hernández, V., Costa-Borges, N., Mestres, E., Acacio, M., Matia-Algué, Q., Farías, A. F.-S., Carreon, D. S. M., Barragan, C., Silvestri, G., Martinez-Alvarado, A., Olmedo, L. M. C., Aguilar, A. V., Sánchez-González, D. J., Murray, A., Alikani, M., & Cohen, J. (2025). A digitally controlled, remotely operated ICSI system: Case report of the first live birth. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 50(5).

Newsweek

2 days ago

• Newsweek

America's Drinking Water is Changing How Babies Are Being Born: Study

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Even low levels of arsenic in U.S. public drinking water may increase the risk of below average birth weight and other adverse birth outcomes, says a new national study led by researchers at Columbia University. The findings, drawn from nearly 14,000 pregnancies across 35 cohort sites participating in the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, were published on the medical journal site JAMA Network earlier this week. "It is concerning, but what really stands out as major concern from this study is that no exposure level seems truly safe during pregnancy," Vasilis Vasiliou, chair and professor of environmental health sciences at Yale School of Public Health, told Newsweek. Newsweek has contacted the EPA via email for comment. Why It Matters The research addresses growing concerns about the adequacy of U.S. drinking water safety standards, particularly for vulnerable populations. The findings suggest that health risks may occur from exposure below levels currently considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) arsenic limit that was determined in 2001. The study also said that low birth weight and preterm birth are "important predictors of infant mortality and morbidity across the life span," highlighting that low-level exposure to arsenic in drinking water could have prolonged and even fatal impacts. File photo: a young girl drinks some water from a bottle. File photo: a young girl drinks some water from a bottle. Nicolas Messyasz/Sipa via AP What To Know The study found that prenatal exposure to arsenic—even below the current federal standard of 10 micrograms per liter—was linked to a higher likelihood of babies being born preterm, with lower birth weights, or smaller than expected for their gestational age. Preterm birth was noted when a baby had a gestational age of less than 37 weeks, and low birth weight was identified as a weight of less than 2500 grams, or 2.5 kilograms. Both outcomes were observed across multiple racial and ethnic groups, including White, Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander families. The authors noted that the risk of low birth weight following prenatal exposure to arsenic was higher among White, Black and Hispanic/Latino birthing parents. "Arsenic's toxicity during pregnancy is multifactorial, involving oxidative stress, epigenetic disruption, placental toxicity, immune dysregulation, and hormonal interference—all of which can independently or jointly lead to low birth weight, preterm birth, and developmental programming of chronic disease," Vasiliou told Newsweek. In 2001, the EPA announced its 10 micrograms per liter standard for arsenic. At the time, the EPA Administrator, Christine Todd Whitman, stated that "the 10 ppb protects public health based on the best available science and ensures that the cost of the standard is achievable." However, some states, such as New Jersey and New Hampshire, have since enacted stricter limits of 5 micrograms per liter. "Arsenic is released from rocks and soil into groundwater, which then feeds into municipal supplies," Vasiliou said. He added that regions like the Southwest, parts of New England, Minnesota, and Wisconsin "are known for elevated natural levels." Human activities like mining, agriculture, and industrial processes "can raise arsenic levels in nearby water systems," he said. What People Are Saying Vasilis Vasiliou, chair and professor of environmental health sciences at Yale School of Public Health, told Newsweek: "I believe that based on this, the EPA should consider lowering the maximum contaminant level below 10 µg/L. The authors explicitly recommend this as a way to help reduce low‑birth weight rates. More frequent testing of public water systems, especially in high‑risk locales, along with investment in treatment technologies, for example coagulation, adsorption, ion exchange, will be essential. Communities with elevated but sub-limit arsenic should be informed about risks, and pregnant people encouraged to use alternative water sources or filtration. I believe that we should continue monitoring birth outcomes in relationship to low-dose arsenic exposure and refine risk estimates across different demographics." He added: "Arsenic isn't the only chemical of concern in tap water; I can list PFAS, 2,4-dioxane and other emerging chemical contaminants. Therefore, pregnant people often face multiple low-level exposures. Even small reductions in one contaminant can yield meaningful health improvements when cumulative." What Happens Next The study's authors urged for further research to dissect the combined influence of arsenic and other social determinants of health. They also stressed the importance of reviewing legacy contaminants like arsenic and updating health-based water safety standards at both federal and state levels.

New York Post

2 days ago

• New York Post

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe hospitalized due to illness with FIFA Club World Cup status in doubt

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