Google DeepMind’s guardrailed AMIE AI system outperforms clinicians in diagnostic consultations under physician oversight

Revolutionary oversight model enables safe AI deployment in healthcare diagnostics

Google DeepMind researchers have developed an asynchronous oversight system enabling AI to conduct diagnostic consultations whilst maintaining physician accountability. The guardrailed AMIE system demonstrated superior performance to nurse practitioners and primary care physicians in virtual clinical examinations whilst strictly deferring medical advice to supervising doctors.

Associate Professor Elliot Long, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

Phoenix sepsis criteria fail to detect 95% of hospitalised children

A large-scale prospective study across Australia and New Zealand has revealed that the internationally recognised Phoenix sepsis criteria identify fewer than 5% of children hospitalised with suspected sepsis, raising significant concerns about diagnostic accuracy and patient safety in paediatric emergency medicine.

music therapy

Music therapy intervention shows promise for NHS dementia wards

A pioneering music therapy programme embedded within NHS mental health dementia wards has demonstrated feasibility and acceptability in a groundbreaking study that could transform care for some of the most vulnerable patients in the health system. The MELODIC intervention achieved high treatment adherence rates while showing no increase in distress symptoms or safety incidents.

Anti-obesity drug users face significant weight rebound after stopping treatment

Anti-obesity drug users face significant weight rebound after stopping treatment

A comprehensive meta-analysis reveals that patients prescribed anti-obesity medications experience substantial weight regain starting eight weeks after discontinuing treatment, with the rebound effect continuing for an average of 20 weeks before stabilising. The research highlights critical challenges in long-term weight management strategies.

Brain

Digital test breakthrough links brain chemistry to cognitive health

A revolutionary digital assessment that measures brain chemistry in just three minutes has been validated against direct neuroimaging for the first time, offering new possibilities for early detection of cognitive decline and dementia. The breakthrough research demonstrates that a self-administered computerised test can accurately reflect levels of acetylcholine, a crucial neurotransmitter whose decline signals cognitive […]

Bill Gates

Global protein study reveals new biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease

A landmark international collaboration has created one of the world’s largest protein datasets, analysing 250 million protein measurements from over 35,000 biofluid samples to identify novel biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions that affect 57 million people globally.

Medical tourism for weight loss surgery requires urgent global regulation

A new commentary in BMJ Global Health calls for immediate international regulation of bariatric surgery medical tourism, highlighting significant safety, ethical, and legal risks despite the industry’s rapid growth and potential benefits for obesity treatment access.

liquid biopsy test to detect early-stage colorectal cancer

Revolutionary liquid biopsy detects early colorectal cancer via RNA

Researchers at the University of Chicago have pioneered a groundbreaking liquid biopsy technique that analyses RNA modifications from gut microbes in blood samples to detect early-stage colorectal cancer with 95% accuracy. The innovative LIME-seq method represents a significant advance over current non-invasive testing approaches, offering unprecedented sensitivity for identifying the disease at its most treatable […]

osteoporosis

AI system detects osteoporosis from routine X-rays

Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence system that can estimate bone mineral density and detect osteoporosis from standard lumbar X-ray images, achieving sensitivity rates of 86.4% for osteopenia detection. The technology could transform routine clinical X-rays into powerful screening tools for bone health assessment.

Consultant radiologist and Chairman of Marris Medical, Dr Ammad Hussain

New Harley Street diagnostics clinic opens with the support of equipment and finance from Siemens

Marris Medical is offering high-quality diagnostic imaging, as well as an ‘office-based laboratory’ for a range of minimally invasive procedures, improving access to care. Finance from Siemens Financial Services (SFS) and equipment from Siemens Healthineers was integral to the clinic’s launch in the UK.