In a groundbreaking surgery, 91-year-old John Farley became the first patient in England to receive an artificial cornea, skipping a year-long wait for a traditional human cornea transplant that had previously failed. Surgeon Thomas Paul believes this new technique, using the Endo artificial cornea, may become the norm, offering hope to patients on long transplant waiting lists. In other news, a new AI tool called Rapid Aro can rapidly rule out heart attacks in patients in A&E, potentially reducing hospital stays and admissions. Additionally, research from Curtin University suggests that fresh water was present on Earth 500 million years earlier than previously thought, challenging existing theories. Stay tuned for more news updates on the next episode of The Standard’s Tech and Science Daily podcast.
In groundbreaking news, 91-year-old Cile John Farley has become the first patient in England to receive an artificial cornea, marking a historic moment in medical innovation. After facing a year-long wait for sight-saving surgery following a failed human cornea transplant, Mr. Farley underwent the pioneering procedure performed by consultant opthalmologist Thomas Paul at the Fley Health NHS Foundation trust. This new corneal implant, which acts as an inner corneal graft, has already shown promising results, with Mr. Farley experiencing significant improvements in vision post-surgery. The success of this revolutionary technique offers hope to those on long transplant waiting lists for an effective and speedy procedure.
Meanwhile, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence tool known as rapid Ro has been developed to rapidly rule out heart attacks in patients in A&E departments, potentially revolutionizing emergency medical care. Lead researcher Roberto Dario, a PhD student at the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London, explained that the algorithm combines data from troponin blood tests with other patient information to identify individuals at very low risk of experiencing a heart attack. By accurately ruling out heart attacks in a significant proportion of patients, rapid Ro could reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and lengthy stays, ultimately benefiting both patients and the healthcare system.
In another study, researchers from Durham University have found that domestic dogs have lost many of their facial expressions compared to their wolf ancestors, challenging the common belief that dogs are highly expressive animals. Using a dog facial action coding system, the team analyzed video recordings of captive wolves and domestic dogs, identifying nine emotional states that could be predicted based on facial movements. Despite some limitations in facial expressions, domestic dogs may compensate by vocalizing more during social interactions. This research sheds new light on canine communication and behavior, offering insights into the unique ways in which dogs express emotions.
