Rare, “zebra” diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 worldwide are anything but rare — there are 7,000 of these diseases, and as much as 10% of the US population suffers from one of them. Those who suffer from the conditions have many obstacles to good care, such as having the disease diagnosed correctly to start with. That’s why a team of researchers are designing AI algorithms that will predict a person’s risk for developing a zebra disease. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
