Latest news with #Herrmann
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New menstrual pad device tracks period blood for signs of disease
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Scientists have unveiled a new device that can be incorporated into menstrual pads and may someday be helpful for screening for diseases like ovarian cancer. The light-weight device looks for disease biomarkers — in this case, measurable levels of specific proteins — in menstrual blood. It includes a paper test strip that changes color when it's exposed to biomarkers of interest. "We imagine this tool to be potentially useful for women at increased risk for cancer," said Inge Herrmann, a professor and leader of the Nanoparticle Systems Engineering Lab at ETH Zurich. She told Live Science that she hopes that the technology may "provide users with an additional monitoring tool" that's cost effective. Herrmann and her colleagues authored a study about the device that was published in May in the journal Advanced Science. It has so far been tested with blood from healthy volunteers, so it needs further testing before it can be rolled out as a screening tool. The device, which measures about an inch squared (2 by 2 centimeters) and is encased in a soft silicone, sits at the bottom of the menstrual pad. The silicone encases the test strip that changes color when exposed to specific proteins. If a biomarker is present, either a line or a circle appears within about 15 minutes of exposure; the darker the color, the more protein is present. The researchers say these results can be read by eye, but they have also developed an app that uses a machine learning-driven image analysis to interpret the test. The pad the device is embedded in can be worn for as long as a regular menstrual pads, and as for the device itself, "you can't feel it," Herrmann said. Related: New blood test detects ovarian cancer years before conventional methods The researchers made their initial prototype sensitive to three biomarkers: C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation; carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a "tumor maker" associated with various cancers; and cancer antigen-125 (CA-125), which is specifically associated with ovarian cancer. Blood tests exist for all three of these biomarkers: CRP tests monitor inflammation in the body. CEA tests are used to assess how advanced a cancer is or whether treatment is working, but are not used for screening. CA-125 tests can be used to screen for ovarian cancer in people at high risk of the disease, but aren't used for people at average risk because high concentrations can be due to other conditions, including endometriosis. One draw of the new device is that it would be easy for patients to use and less invasive than these existing blood tests, said Dr. Paul Blumenthal, a professor emeritus in obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University. Blumenthal was not involved in the new study but has conducted similar research on the clinical potential of menstrual blood. To test the device, the researchers ran tests with venous blood and menstrual blood donated by volunteers to see if it detected similar biomarker concentrations in both types of blood. This included tests in which the scientists "spiked" blood samples with the biomarkers of interest, so they knew exactly how much should be in there. They compared the device's findings with the expected concentrations and also checked its work by assessing those concentrations with clinical chemistry. "There was always good agreement" among these assessments, Herrmann said. Additionally, they had volunteers wear the device while on their periods. These individuals reported that, in terms of comfort and wearability, there was "no difference compared to a commercially available sanitary pad." Blumenthal says such a tool has clinical potential. Considering ovarian cancer as an example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that there's "no reliable way to screen for ovarian cancer in women who do not have any symptoms." And early symptoms of the disease are similar to those seen during a typical menstrual cycle, such as bloating and lower back pain. Blumenthal suggested that monitoring CA-125 regularly over time could be a promising way to watch for the disease. "Year after year, let's just say I'm measuring your CA-125, and it's pretty normal," he said. "And one year it sneaks above your level — maybe that's the first indication [that] something is not right." Related: Scientists invent 1st 'vagina-on-a-chip' Herrmann also sees the technology as a potential screening tool — a sort of "early warning" detection system particularly for women at a higher genetic risk of cancer. RELATED STORIES —Menstrual cycle linked to structural changes across whole brain —Why do only some animals have periods? —What are ovarian cysts? All about cyst formation, symptoms and treatments That said, one possible issue with the device is that excess blood could get onto the test strip and make its results unreadable, Herrmann said. She also noted that this technology comes with a risk of creating "a lot of stress for users, when an app tells them that there's some deviation, and that they might come to the conclusion that it's cancer." That's a concern that should be taken into account with all tech intended to be used for self-monitoring, she noted. The next step is for researchers to recruit people to use the pad in "real world" conditions and investigate whether it really can provide a medical benefit, Herrmann said. They're now looking to recruit about 100 people for the next round of testing. Depending on how the lab's upcoming research goes and how the product is ultimately regulated, Herrmann believes that it could be available in about three years. This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas House shines light on Lone Star State innovators at SXSW London
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Austin's iconic South by Southwest (SXSW) launches its inaugural Europe festival this week, one group of Texans is hoping to highlight the spirit of the Lone Star State in London. Texas House launched as a satellite activation in Austin during SXSW in March 2025. According to the organizers, the event hosted nearly 3,000 attendees over two days, nearly 40% of whom were C-suite level executives. It offered panel discussions, focusing on how Texas is experiencing a modern renaissance — leading in tech, energy, life sciences and innovation. The founder, Will Herrmann, said he hopes to bring the same focus on Texas innovators to the European leg of SXSW. MORE: SXSW to expand with a London edition in 2025 'We're living in an era of significance in this state that we've not seen since we discovered oil. It is remarkable time to be a Texan — and I think that the world needs Texans and what we have to offer more than ever,' he said. Herrmann credits the idea for Texas House to his late wife, Abby. 'After many years of attending South by Southwest and seeing a house for every city, state and country except our own, we thought it was time to tell our story,' he said. Alex Kuehler, vice president of communications for Texas House, said the interest and success of the Austin activation in March inspired them to take their show on the road. 'We were like, 'Well, there's only a couple months away. Let's jump at the opportunity and give it another go,'' Kuehler said. 'The whole thing, right from the beginning, was Texans leading global conversations, and what better place to do that than in a global city like London?' SOLD OUT: KXAN investigates how SXSW musician pay highlights industry struggle For its London version, Texas House plans to host several expert panels again, featuring leaders from Rice University and other groups. The activation will also screen a portion of the Texas wildlife documentary, 'Deep in the Heart.' The organizers said one of the biggest differences from the Austin event is barbecue on the menu, from a London eatery known as Texas Joe's — operated by a Texan, of course. 'He also does union western clothing,' Kuehler noted. 'So we're going to have a couple of those things on display, which — he's outfitted Post Malone, done custom for others like Charlie Crockett.' Both Kuehler and Herrmann said they hope people pack their boots, wear their cowboy hats on the plan and join them. Check out the schedule here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Indianapolis Star
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Sydney Herrmann has been 'killing it.' She delivered again to send Center Grove to regionals
MOORESVILLE — Sydney Herrmann is killing it and she's been doing it all spring. That was Center Grove softball coach Alyssa Coleman's initial bit of analysis of the senior first baseman, and her assessment is easily quantified. Herrmann has already reset her career-highs for average (.443), runs (21), RBIs (32) and doubles (10), and is one-off last season's high-water mark for hits (35). The kid just doesn't go away, Coleman continued. "Sydney shows the maturity of (someone) who has been on the big stage before and knows what she's doing. She believes in herself and she helps us win whether she gets the hit or not." Herrmann was at the plate for the moment Wednesday night, stepping up with two on and two out in the third inning of a scoreless stalemate vs. Franklin Central. And as a single angry cloud began spitting raindrops from overhead, the Dartmouth signee delivered the hit, sending a line drive off the centerfield fence that cleared the bases and had Herrmann triumphantly screaming to her teammates in the dugout from second base. "She was throwing me a lot of changeups, so I was trying to look for a fastball," Herrmann said. "And once I got that one, I was attacking." Following a brief weather delay — that single angry cloud invited friends and they had themselves a monsoon — Center Grove set about closing out the win with Riley Fuhr and Kara Biever holding a potent Flashes lineup to zero runs on six hits, while the bats tacked on an insurance tally in the sixth. Final score: 3-0. Center Grove is onto regionals for the second consecutive season and seventh time since 2015. "We just keep reloading and we have people who are ready for the opportunity," Herrmann said. "That's just the team we are." "When I look at the lineup, there's no one who can't do the job," added catcher Madisyn Tharpe, who uncorked a perfect throw to end the top of the fourth with a caught stealing. "And if one person doesn't, the next one picks them up." Though they graduated a few key pieces from last year's semistate runner-up squad, including a pair of high-Division I commits, these Trojans are experienced and, in terms of talent, they are elite. CG is 23-3 with a 224-6 run differential. It's batting nearly .400 as a team with 297 hits and 185 RBIs, and brings a trio of pitchers headlining a staff that boasts a collective 2.15 ERA and 152 strikeouts (freshman Sarah Riley, who's currently injured, rounds out the top-three). "They're an interesting crew," Coleman said of her team. "They just keep doing their job and getting stronger throughout the year. Things don't really faze them. We found out pretty early they're a resilient group and — cool, I'm down. I'll never complain about that. They can take punches and punch right back." Center Grove used the Horseshoe Classic in mid-April as a launching point, going 3-1 with the loss against top-5 Lake Central in a down-to-the-wire heavyweight bout, then harnessed the frustrations of a one-run loss to New Palestine at the end of April to launch them into May and their current 13-game win streak. "The New Pal game put a sour taste in their mouth," Coleman said. "They've got a little of that piss and vinegar in them, I like that." Now the Trojans, led by their seven seniors, await the winner of Brownsburg-Avon in Tuesday's regional championship. They beat both teams by a run during the season, besting the Bulldogs, 7-6, on April 17 and the Orioles, 10-9, on May 12.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New smart sanitary pads detect cancer, inflammation markers in menstrual blood
A new technology developed at ETH Zurich is transforming a long-overlooked source of medical data — menstrual blood — into a powerful health-monitoring tool. Dubbed MenstruAI, this innovative system integrates a non-electronic sensor into a sanitary towel, allowing users to analyze biomarkers in their menstrual blood using just a smartphone photo and a dedicated app. Lucas Dosnon, the study's first author, refers to the lack of research on menstrual blood as a 'systemic lack of interest in women's health." 'To date, menstrual blood has been regarded as waste. We are showing that it is a valuable source of information,' he adds. Menstrual blood contains hundreds of proteins, many of which correlate with concentrations in venous blood. Among these are biomarkers linked to inflammatory diseases and cancers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), a general marker for inflammation, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), often elevated in cancer, and CA-125, associated with ovarian cancer and endometriosis. At the core of MenstruAI is a paper-based test strip, similar in principle to rapid COVID-19 tests. Instead of saliva, it analyzes menstrual blood. The pad contains a small silicone chamber housing the test strip, which reacts to specific proteins by changing color — the darker the color, the higher the concentration of the biomarker. Users simply wear the pad, then take a photo of the used sensor with a smartphone. The MenstruAI app, powered by machine learning, analyzes the image to detect even subtle changes in color intensity, translating them into readable health insights. 'The app also recognises subtle differences, such as the amount of proteins present, and makes the result objectively measurable,' explains Dosnon. Following a successful feasibility study, the team is preparing a larger field study involving over 100 participants to test the technology under real-world conditions. Researchers will assess how biomarker concentrations vary across the menstrual cycle and among individuals, ensuring clinical relevance and accuracy. To improve usability and break down psychological barriers, the project team is collaborating with designers from the Zurich University of the Arts. 'It's also about designing the technology in such a way that makes it technically and socially acceptable,' says Inge Herrmann, a professor at the University of Zurich. 'Right from the outset, the aim was to develop a solution that can also be used in regions with poor healthcare provision and would be as cost-effective as possible, potentially enabling population-based screening,' says Herrmann. While it does not deliver definitive diagnoses, MenstruAI can alert users to concerning biomarker levels, encouraging them to seek medical advice. Over time, it could also support long-term health tracking, helping individuals detect trends and understand changes in their bodies. 'When we talk about healthcare, we can't simply phase out half of humanity,' Herrmann underlines. 'Courageous projects are called for to break down existing patterns of behaviour to ensure that women's health finally takes the place it deserves," concludes Dosnon. The study has been published in Advanced Science.
Economic Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Chicago Fire Season 13: When will new episode release? See Episode 21 air date, time across regions, plot, upcoming episode schedule and where to watch
Air Time Across Regions and Where to Watch Expected Runtime of Episode Live Events Plot Upcoming Episode Schedule FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Chicago Fire continues its thirteenth season with Episode 21, titled The Bad Guy. The episode will premiere on May 14, 2025, on NBC at 9 pm ET. The show maintains its regular schedule and can also be streamed on new episode will air at 8 pm CT in the US and 10 pm in Brazil. It will be available on May 15 at 2 am in the UK and 3 am in Central Europe. In India, it will stream at 6:30 am, while viewers in Australia can watch it at 11 pm. New Zealand fans will get it at 12 Fire airs weekly on NBC. Viewers can watch it live on the NBC channel, or via the NBC app using their cable credentials. The episode will also be available on Peacock the next day. Previous seasons are currently streaming on the official runtime for Episode 21 has not been confirmed. Based on previous episodes, it is expected to be around 45 minutes. Past episodes of this season have ranged from 40 to 45 minutes. A longer runtime may be reserved for the finale, Episode story follows the aftermath of a deadly car crash. The person responsible for the death of Chief Dom Pascal's wife is rescued from a separate accident. Evidence suggests that a piece of firehouse equipment may be involved, raising suspicions about someone within the and Natalie share time together on a road trip, building their connection. Meanwhile, Violet receives recognition in a local paper and a career opportunity arises. The team also faces the threat of layoffs. Ambrose, the efficiency expert, continues to assess the team. He questions Herrmann's decisions and points out possible like Herrmann and Mouch are at risk. Mouch pushes back, stating they are not going anywhere. The impact of Ambrose's decisions remains 21: The Bad Guy – May 14, 2025Episode 22: It Had to End This Way – May 21, 2025You can watch it on May 14, 2025, at 9pm ET on NBC or stream it on Peacock the next the season finale, Episode 22, will air on May 21, 2025, and continues key storylines from Episode 21.
