Abdomen

Good news: midlife health is about more than a waist measurement. Here’s why

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 19, 2024
Incidental, Eating, Death, Body composition, Health, Overweight, Diet, Conditional sentence, Longevity, Hormone, Motivation, Facial muscles, Exercise, Woman, Disease, Connective tissue, Vital signs, Energy, Risk, Genetics, Inflammation, Metabolism, Patient, DSM-IV codes, GP, Extrapyramidal system, Lung, Mental health, Abdomen, Menopause, Weight, Research, Cancer, Food, Parenting, Life, Insulin resistance, Body mass index, Skin, Heart, Pancreas, Lipid metabolism, Waist, Dicarboxylic acid, BMI, Liver, Movement, Parent, Dietary supplement

During the appointment they measure your waist.

Key Points: 
  • During the appointment they measure your waist.
  • GPs and health professionals commonly measure waist circumference as a vital sign for health.
  • Men are at greatly increased risk of health issues if their waist circumference is greater than 102 centimetres.
  • More than two-thirds of Australian adults have waist measurements that put them at an increased risk of disease.

How much is too much?

  • A ratio of 0.6 or more places a person at the highest risk of disease.
  • This can kick off a discussion about their risk of chronic diseases and how they might address this.
  • For women, hormone levels begin changing in mid-life and this also stimulates increased fat levels particularly around the abdomen.
  • Finally, your family history and genetics can make you predisposed to gaining more abdominal fat.

Why the waist?

  • Visceral fat surrounds and infiltrates major organs such as the liver, pancreas and intestines, releasing a variety of chemicals (hormones, inflammatory signals, and fatty acids).
  • These affect inflammation, lipid metabolism, cholesterol levels and insulin resistance, contributing to the development of chronic illnesses.
  • In addition to the direct effects of hormone changes, declining levels of oestrogen change brain function, mood and motivation.
  • These psychological alterations can result in reduced physical activity and increased eating – often of comfort foods high in sugar and fat.
  • And importantly, the waist circumference (and ratio to height) is just one measure of human health.

Muscle matters

  • On current evidence, it is equally or more important for health and longevity to have higher muscle mass and better cardiorespiratory (aerobic) fitness than waist circumference within the healthy range.
  • So, if a person does have an excessive waist circumference, but they are also sedentary and have less muscle mass and aerobic fitness, then the recommendation would be to focus on an appropriate exercise program.
  • Conversely, a person with low visceral fat levels is not necessarily fit and healthy and may have quite poor aerobic fitness, muscle mass, and strength.

Getting moving is important advice

  • Exercise can counter a lot of the negative behavioural and physiological changes that are occurring during midlife including for people going through menopause.
  • And regular exercise reduces the tendency to use food and drink to help manage what can be a quite difficult time in life.
  • Measuring your waist circumference and monitoring your weight remains important.


Rob Newton receives funding from National Health and Medical Research Council, the Medical Research Future Fund, Cancer Council Western Australia, Spinal Cord Injuries Australia and the World Cancer Research Fund. Rob Newton is a board member of The Healthy Male.

The world’s oldest conjoined twins have died – what we know about this rare condition

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 19, 2024
Twin, Brain, Gene, MRI, Growth, Surgeon, Magnetic resonance, Conjoined twins, The Royal Court, Ageing, Abdomen, Hospital, Female, History, Child, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Death, Pregnancy, Life, Royal, Magnetic resonance imaging, Thalamus, Skull, Liver, Medical imaging

The world’s oldest conjoined twins, Lori and George Schappell, recently died, aged 62.

Key Points: 
  • The world’s oldest conjoined twins, Lori and George Schappell, recently died, aged 62.
  • Conjoined twins are incredibly rare, accounting for about one or two in every 100,000 births.
  • Because conjoined twins are so rare, it is difficult to know exactly how they come about.

Types of conjoined twins

  • There are 15 recognised types of conjoined twins, based on the various places their bodies fuse.
  • Conjoined twins are usually picked up on routine ultrasound scans performed during pregnancy.
  • Conjoined twins who are diagnosed by imaging are typically delivered by caesarean section.

Separating twins

  • One of the longest operations to separate conjoined twins, who were fused at the cranium, took more than 100 hours.
  • The earliest recorded attempt at surgical separation of conjoined twins dates back to AD945 in Armenia where conjoined brothers lived until middle age before one of them died.
  • Separating conjoined twins requires a significant amount of planning before surgery can begin, including, of course, lots of imaging such as ultrasound, CT and MRI.
  • Twins who share vital organs – or whose organs are fused – have a lower chance of a successful separation.


Adam Taylor does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Fossil beetles found in a Botswana diamond mine help us to reconstruct the distant past

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Diamond, Health, Isotope, Herbarium, Documentation, Natural history, Evolutionary Studies Institute, Bias, Tree (graph theory), Abdomen, Research, Orapa diamond mine, University, Dinosaur, Mineral, Life, Cretaceous, Plant, Leg, Mouth, Ecosystem, Universal indicator, Amber, Fossil

One of the few Cretaceous age deposits that’s been discovered in Africa is at Botswana’s Orapa Diamond Mine.

Key Points: 
  • One of the few Cretaceous age deposits that’s been discovered in Africa is at Botswana’s Orapa Diamond Mine.
  • Recently a team I lead discovered two new species of rove beetles preserved in the sediments of the Orapa Diamond Mine.
  • Rove beetles are typically identified by their unique short elytra (protective wing cases) which expose the rest of the abdomen.
  • Our finds are the first fossil rove beetles ever discovered on the continent and in the southern hemisphere.
  • The fossils closely resemble today’s rove beetles, showing how successful they’ve been in adapting to various environments without significant changes to their bodies.

Identifying the fossils

  • We found the fossils in lacustrine sediments (deposits that accumulate in lake environments).
  • Afristenus orapensis belongs to the stenine rove beetle subgroup while Paleothius mckayi belongs to the subgroup staphylinine.
  • The stenine rove beetle was previously described in Russia, France and Myanmar while the staphylinine rove beetle was previously described in Russia, China, Myanmar and England.
  • So we scoured research articles about fossils of a similar age that have already been studied elsewhere for comparative purposes.

More to find

  • We are currently studying each specimen and preparing academic manuscripts that describe what we’ve found.
  • My hope is that more money will be invested in training more palaeoentomologists in South Africa and on the continent more broadly.
  • The study of fossil insects and plants is an important way to preserve our beloved continent’s heritage.


Sandiso Mnguni receives funding from GENUS (Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences - UID 86073). He is affiliated with the Sophumelela Youth Development Programme (SYDP).

Venus Concept Announces Israeli Regulatory Approval for Venus Bliss MAX

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 8, 2024
Venus, Magnetic field, Communication, System, Spasm, Abdomen, History, Research, Human, Ministry of Health, Cellulite, Lipolysis, Annual report, Pain, Ministry, FDA

TORONTO, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Venus Concept Inc. (“Venus Concept” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: VERO), a global medical aesthetic technology leader, today announced that it has received approval for the Venus Bliss MAX from the State of Israel Ministry of Health.

Key Points: 
  • TORONTO, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Venus Concept Inc. (“Venus Concept” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: VERO), a global medical aesthetic technology leader, today announced that it has received approval for the Venus Bliss MAX from the State of Israel Ministry of Health.
  • The Venus Bliss MAX was first launched commercially in the United States in Q1 2022 after FDA 510(k) clearance and offered internationally in approved jurisdictions.
  • The Venus Bliss MAX offers three advanced technologies in one platform: diode laser applicators, (MP)2 applicator that combines Multi-Polar Radio Frequency and Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields with advanced VariPulse™ technology and the Company’s FlexMax EMS applicators.
  • “The Venus Bliss MAX has been well received internationally, and we look forward to bringing our comprehensive all-in-one platform to the Israeli aesthetic service providers,” said Dr. Hemanth Varghese, President and Chief Operating Officer of Venus Concept.

EchoNous Announces Revolutionary AI Enhancements in Upcoming Kosmos Release for Apple iOS

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 5, 2024
Cardiac output, SHM, ACP, POCUS, AIUM, Abdomen, IOS, TDI, Torso, Doppler effect, Workflow, Heart, Cosmos, ACC, IPhone, Medical imaging

REDMOND, Wash., April 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EchoNous, a leading innovator in ultrasound technology, is thrilled to announce the upcoming Kosmos 2.2 release on Apple iOS, a monumental update enriched with powerful new automated enhancements and significant workflow improvements, setting a new standard in point-of-care (POCUS) imaging.

Key Points: 
  • REDMOND, Wash., April 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EchoNous, a leading innovator in ultrasound technology, is thrilled to announce the upcoming Kosmos 2.2 release on Apple iOS, a monumental update enriched with powerful new automated enhancements and significant workflow improvements, setting a new standard in point-of-care (POCUS) imaging.
  • This feature is especially beneficial for new users, ensuring that they operate under the preset that will give them optimal image clarity.
  • These AI-driven features exemplify EchoNous’ commitment to enhancing user control while streamlining procedures, allowing for uninterrupted scanning and optimal imaging results.
  • EchoNous is excited to showcase these groundbreaking features at ACC and forthcoming shows such as AIUM, ACP, SHM, and ASE in the weeks ahead.

City of Hope Scientists Present Leading-Edge Research at American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 8, 2024
Science, Biotechnology, Research, Oncology, Health, Health Technology, Genetics, Clinical Trials, Breast cancer, Survival, Immunotherapy, Health equity, Patient, Lung, City, National Cancer Institute, AGAF, Breast, MicroRNA, Pancreatic cancer, Lymphocyte, Clinical trial, Neoplasm, Therapy, Cancer, Exosome, Plasma, Colorectal cancer, Risk, Experiment, DNA, Virus, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Memory, Treatment, Cholangiocarcinoma, Pathology, Liquid biopsy, Microbiome, Recurrence, Irell & Manella, Disease, Intelligence, Molecular diagnostics, Overalls, AACR, TILS, Pancreas, Prognosis, Beckman Research Institute, Biomarker, Abdomen, Biology, Abstract, Bangladesh Technical Education Board, Data, Blood, Medical imaging

“City of Hope’s research presented at AACR’s conference this year reinforces our focus on early detection, smarter and more precise treatments, and achieving health equity.

Key Points: 
  • “City of Hope’s research presented at AACR’s conference this year reinforces our focus on early detection, smarter and more precise treatments, and achieving health equity.
  • “Cancer is complex and the breadth and diversity of research this year further underscores the talent, scientific rigor and curiosity at City of Hope,” Van den Brink added.
  • But those diagnosed when the cancer is contained to the pancreas have a 44.3% relative survival rate after five years.
  • Scientists with Translational Genomics Research Institute, part of City of Hope, also contributed to the study.

Orphan designation: Florilglutamic acid (18F) Diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, 21/03/2016 Withdrawn

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Eurostat, Diagnosis, Civil service commission, Radiation, MRI, Weakness, Cell, Hepatitis B, Disease, Infection, Magnetic resonance imaging, Cirrhosis, Patient, Committee, Weight loss, Knowledge, PET, Neoplasm, Abdomen, Tissue, Regulation, Cancer, EMA, IRIS, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Woman, Nausea, European, COMP, Sponsor, European Commission, Safety, Pain, Molecular imaging, Marketing, Swelling, Liver, Medicine, Pharmaceutical industry

Orphan designation: Florilglutamic acid (18F) Diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, 21/03/2016 Withdrawn

Key Points: 


Orphan designation: Florilglutamic acid (18F) Diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, 21/03/2016 Withdrawn

Orphan designation: Eflornithine Treatment of neuroblastoma, 27/09/2011 Withdrawn

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Eurostat, Diagnosis, Civil service commission, Radiation, Brain, Ornithine decarboxylase, Enzyme, Growth, Weakness, Survival, Cell, Neuroblastoma, Disease, Patient, Tablet, Committee, Knowledge, Abdomen, Regulation, Child, Cancer, EMA, IRIS, Bone pain, Mouth, European, Polyamine, Fever, COMP, Sponsor, European Commission, Spine, Safety, Marketing, Limited, Medicine, Pharmaceutical industry

Orphan designation: Eflornithine Treatment of neuroblastoma, 27/09/2011 Withdrawn

Key Points: 


Orphan designation: Eflornithine Treatment of neuroblastoma, 27/09/2011 Withdrawn

Nanox Announces AI Software Increases Identification of Patients with Vertebral Compression Fractures, an early sign of Osteoporosis, Up to Six-Fold

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Syndrome, Health, National Health Service, ROI, Congress, LTD, Rheumatology, Bone disease, Data analysis, Risk, Patient, Fracture, VCF, NHS, Abdomen, Hospital, Research, AI, University, Systematic review, Treatment, Spine, FLS, Family, FDA, Vertebral compression fracture, University of Oxford, Medical device

PETACH TIKVA, Israel, March 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NANO-X IMAGING LTD ("Nanox" or the "Company," Nasdaq: NNOX), an innovative medical imaging technology company, and its deep-learning medical imaging analytics subsidiary, Nanox AI Ltd. (Nanox.AI), today announced that early findings from the AI-enabled Detection of OsteoPorosis for Treatment (ADOPT) study, which uses a Nanox.AI artificial intelligence solution, HealthVCF, to review routine CT scans, have identified up to six times more patients with vertebral compression fracture than the national average at National Health Services (NHS) hospitals in the UK, which include University of Oxford and other healthcare centers.

Key Points: 
  • Thus far in the study, the Nanox.AI algorithm has identified over 2,400 patients with VCF from routine CT scans that were not known to the NHS’s hospitals, and have since been flagged for follow-up assessments.
  • “Leveraging AI-powered population health solutions presents an effective and efficient avenue for early identification of patients at very high risk of fractures, facilitating timely intervention and care.
  • As such, there have been efforts to introduce FLS into public health systems.
  • The next-generation HealthOST received FDA 510(K) clearance in April 2022.

Inspira™ Announces Program to Pioneer the Applicable Use of the INSPIRA™ ART100 Device for an Artificial Womb

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
ART, OXY, Annual report, Unitary state, Risk, Patient, Coma, Abdomen, Research, Meconium, Meconium aspiration syndrome, Human, Congenital diaphragmatic hernia, Intubation, Pharmaceutical industry

Ltd. (NASDAQ: IINN) (NASDAQ: IINNW) (the "Company" or "Inspira"), a breakthrough medical technology company, is delighted to announce the commencement of a program to explore the applicable use of the INSPIRA™ ART100 Device for an artificial womb for neonates in need of vital respiratory support.

Key Points: 
  • Ltd. (NASDAQ: IINN) (NASDAQ: IINNW) (the "Company" or "Inspira"), a breakthrough medical technology company, is delighted to announce the commencement of a program to explore the applicable use of the INSPIRA™ ART100 Device for an artificial womb for neonates in need of vital respiratory support.
  • Inspira aims to explore how this potential additional application of the INSPIRA ART100 device to provide neonates with vital respiratory support could replace the currently used mechanical ventilators.
  • "Inspira is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of medical technology to save and improve lives," remarked Dagi Ben-Noon, CEO of Inspira Technologies.
  • The Company's products have not yet been tested or used in humans and has not been approved by any regulatory entity.