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Copyright: © Richard Jacobs
Sandeep Jain, MD, FCCP, pulmonary and sleep medicine specialist, as well as the founder of ListenMD, discusses sleep issues and disorders, and the technology that is helping patients who suffer to get the care they need.
ListenMD is an intelligent, innovative universal health care communication platform centered on patients that have been specifically designed for doctors and nurses, their staff, caregivers and patients alike. The platform minimizes tedious tasks and expands a doctor's time while improving care, and—saving money. The HIPAA compliant messaging app is easy to use and it allows a patient to control access and view their appointments with physicians or other healthcare providers. More information can be found online at listenmd.com. Since the dawn of medical records, maintaining accurate information has been challenging. Jain discusses ways that ListenMD can help. As Jain explains, patients are now able to use their app to put them in the center of the data collection process, which improves their chances for better health.
Jain stresses the importance of communication in health care, especially in regard to sleep. Regarding patient care, Jain states that patients need to be looked in the eye and talked to directly so they can get the attention they deserve. Jain talks about obesity rates, how they are increasing, and thus—so is apnea.
Jain talks about the advances in auto-titrating CPAP devices used by some patients with sleep issues. He explains how the technology can vary the pressure and deliver the best breathing possible for each patient, tailored to their daily needs. CPAP is an acronym that stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy. CPAP is a useful treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. A CPAP machine contains a hose and mask, or sometimes a nosepiece, and it can deliver a steady air pressure to control breathing and keep it regulated.
Finally, Dr. Jain provides some real advice for those who are concerned that they may have a sleep disorder, and what they can do about it. And he underscores the importance of quality sleep, and the dangers we face in our daily environment if we are performing activities, especially driving or operating machinery, when sleep deprived.
Gabriel Rene, an architect of the spatial web, director of VERSES Foundation (verses.io), delivers an overview of the current state of technology, including AI and product interfaces as we move to a Web 3.0 world.
Gabriel Rene is excited about technology. As an experienced deep technology entrepreneur and researcher, he has been a leader in the technology, telecom, and entertainment industries for over 25 years. Rene has helmed innovative tech companies, and has been instrumental in developing consumer software. He has advised many leading industry brands including Verizon, Sony, Coca-Cola, Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Intel, Qualcomm, Universal, Boost Mobile, Conde Naste, Elle Magazine and even the Obama Campaign.
Rene talks about the history of humans and our relationship to information, transitions, and experiences. He provides his thoughts on evolution and the progression of man in regard to communication, from early years all the way up to the computer revolution that is now powering a multi-trillion dollar economy progressing through Web 2.0 developments. Web 2.0 refers to websites that push user-generated content, simplify use, etc. As the web develops, Rene states that we are moving toward spatial web.
Rene explains how the current AI boom will transition everything in our world into smart, autonomous, and self-programming products and devices. Blockchain and cloud-enabled systems and services will be able to support a secure data layer, and new virtual as well as augmented reality eyewear advancements will provide an opportunity to truly interface with an exciting, digitally-mapped, changing world, bursting with visual imagery and details never before seen.
Rene's company, VERSES, is a non-profit foundation that is producing the universal protocols and standards for the next-generation web. No longer tied to a page, the Spatial Web will exist freely, as a single, worldwide network that can creatively link people, places, and things—in the virtual and physical realms—and enable flowing interaction, transaction, as well as full and immersive navigation between them for a more advanced way to experience our daily lives.
Rene discusses the many regulatory issues surrounding data and privacy, etc. In Web 3.0, he states, the risks must be mitigated, and security must be built in to protect privacy, etc. He explains that a type of digital force field will be utilized to implement protections and securities for all of our products within our space, to control the information that is going out. Ultimately, as Rene states, much regulation will be needed, and that we will need to hold our elected officials accountable to implement laws that can help us all to enjoy the technological advances while keeping our privacy secure.
Trevor Morin, PhD, CSO biochemistry, and William Dunbar, PhD, cofounder and acting CEO, of Two Pore Guys, Inc., provide an interesting overview of nanotechnology as it applies to scientific advances.
Morin and Dunbar's company, Two Pore Guys, Inc., is literally transforming human and environmental health by bringing nanotechnology and precision science together to detect and quantify biomolecular targets.
The science and technology entrepreneurs discuss their products and advances in nanotechnology in regard to agriculture, human, and animal use cases. They discuss nanopores, which are sort of like tiny gateways that allow only one molecule to proceed through at a time. As they explain, this 'passing through' process allows for information to be gathered in detail. The sweet spot for their technology, as they explain, is identifying pathogens based on their DNA or RNA-specific sequence.
Specifically, Morin and Dunbar's, Two Pore Guys, Inc. is a team of biochemists and engineers who work together to develop groundbreaking technology. Their innovative single-molecule-sensing platform can provide the precision, accuracy, and sensitivity of reference lab equipment while saving time and money.
The scientific pathology tech guys elaborate on how they solve problems built into field-deployable products. With singe molecule counting using an electrical output they find that their accuracy is heightened, with extremely sensitive reagents. Their breakthrough technology allows for superior detection of multiple infectious agents. Their device differentiates among a whole suite of infectious diseases with improved time performance. Additionally, as they explain, the Two Pore Guys' platform eliminates the need for complex instrumentation and chemistries, and again, is more cost effective than traditional methods used currently. And in regard to quantifying genetic variants, their outstanding platform can detect and quantify cancer variants from liquid biopsies with the precision of droplet digital PCR, and again, at a faster rate and reduced cost than traditionally used methods.
The science innovators discuss their timetable for revealing more of their product line. As they explain, their beta unit will be available in less than two years. Morin and Dunbar are excited about the possibilities and their continual advancement of products that can enhance scientific and medical innovation.
Quite a bit is known about bone-building cells (osteoblasts) and bone-resorbing cells (osteoclasts), but not much is known about bone marrow fat cells—aside from the fact that bone marrow becomes packed with them as we age or become obese. We also know that there is a correlation between the incidence of multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow) and age, and multiple myeloma and obesity. This naturally poses the question, how might bone marrow fat cells be connected to or aid in the development of the tumor cells seen in multiple myeloma?
This is precisely what Michaela Reagan, PhD and her team at the Maine Medical Center Research Institute are investigating. She joins the podcast today to discuss a variety of interesting topics, including the details of this research, the process of multiple myeloma, how tumor and non-tumor cells enter the bloodstream from the bone, the parallels between bone cancer and osteoporosis, epigenetic changes in tumors, and where her research is headed. Press play for all the details and learn more by visiting mmcri.org and clicking on Dr. Reagan in the faculty list.
Turn on the TV or flip through the latest celebrity magazine and you're almost guaranteed to find a blurb or picture of the latest botched plastic surgery or rumors about a celebrity's suddenly changed look. Why are these stories so commonplace—particularly the plastic-surgery-gone-wrong stories? Wouldn't these millionaire celebrities be able to afford the best out there?
Dr. Howard David Stupak joins the podcast to provide his answer to these questions, discuss the ironic reality and misconceptions surrounding plastic surgery, and touch on a range of topics in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery. He specializes exclusively in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face, head, and neck is board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is known for his delicate technique and natural-appearing results.
To get in touch and find out more, contact Dr. Stupak's Connecticut-based private practice at 203-227-1826.
The Stoppel Lab at the University of Florida opened its doors and accepted its first Ph.D. student just a few months ago, but they're already knee-deep in an exciting endeavor which could aid in the repair of injured or diseased tissues in patients: designing natural material that has the same characteristics and structure of natural tissue and is constructed to match the wound healing rate of different patients with different injuries or illnesses.
While other scientists may be working on similar projects, the Stoppel Lab is going about this in a unique way, by using a natural biopolymer extracted from the cocoon of silkworms. When these cocoons are washed, broken down into viscous solutions, and made insoluble, they can be used to create fully formed scaffolds which will be used in different tissue structures. The acellular platform being created has many beneficial characteristics that make it convenient for use in the surgery room. For example, it's easy to sterilize and easy to store, which means it doesn't have to be made on demand.
Whitney Stoppel, Ph.D. runs the Stoppel Lab and joins the podcast to discuss all the ins and outs of the chemistry and physiology behind the work being done and the greatest challenges faced so far. Press play for the full conversation and visit www.stoppellab.com to learn more.
"Poor sleep is pervasive in our culture and is thought of as being…dispensable, and this has consequences that range from motor vehicle accidents to cancer," says Michael Howell, MD, and co-founder of Sleep Performance Institute. He's been practicing sleep medicine for years now and realizes all too well how many people don't consider their sleep challenges serious enough to seek help when in most cases all they need is a bit of knowledge and understanding in order to identify and fix their sleep issues. He also realizes the widespread impact of poor sleep on performance in general, and the Sleep Performance Institute focuses on helping organizations achieve their best performance by helping their employees achieve the best sleep.
Dr. Howell offers an impressive amount of information on everything sleep, including natural circadian rhythms and how they vary from individual to individual, the circumstances under which overnight work schedules can be detrimental, the process of lymphatic clearance during sleep, what happens during REM versus non-REM sleep, circadian realignment strategies, why many people don't enjoy or aren't hungry for breakfast in the morning, and tips on achieving just the perfect nap.
The team at Sleep Performance Institute is developing a web-based application that will help people better understand their natural circadian rhythm, which is the first step to achieving better sleep that's more aligned with the needs of individual bodies. Tune in for all the details and visit sleepperformanceinstitute.com for more.
Dr. Charles Samuels, M.D., CCFP, DABSM, is devoted to a good night's sleep—for everyone. He has committed many years to the study of sleep and recovery and in this podcast, he outlines the importance of sleep and what to do when our sleep is suffering.
Dr. Samuels is a board certified sleep medicine expert, certified with the American Board of Sleep Medicine, as well as the medical director of the Centre for Sleep & Human Performance in Calgary. As a top researcher he has been a primary player in multiple clinical trials from Phase II to Phase IV, and he has worked with some of Canada's extraordinary athletes on their sleep and recovery.
Dr. Samuels talks about his motivation for getting into the sleep research area, and he recalls a particular night in which he was driving on a low amount of sleep and nearly drove into a lake. From that brush with danger, he was alerted to the true power of sleep and the dangers of inadequate sleep in regard to performance. He decided to dig deeper and began to research more, which led to his development of a passion for sleep science.
Dr. Samuels' lab, The Centre for Sleep & Human Performance, offers study and consultation for sleep apnea, sleepwalking, insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep phases, movement disorders, sports performance, etc. The sleep guru provides an overview of occupational medicine, and makes a point about workweeks, stating that companies should limit employees' workweeks to the 40 to 48 hours per week range to ensure their greatest chance for safety and good health. Dr. Samuels outlines proper training and recovery for professional athletes, and great options to help them recover, and maintain better overall health and extend their professional careers in their chosen sport or competition. As president of the Canadian Sleep Society, Dr. Samuels has a responsibility to public health and he works tirelessly to provide the general public with valuable information on sleep and recovery to help them help themselves—and achieve the best health possible.
Just like human activity has resulted in pollution on Earth, it's resulted in the pollution of the space around Earth, leaving large volumes of space debris in orbit—debris ranging in size from a few millimeters to dead satellites weighing thousands of pounds. While even the smallest sizes of debris pose the threat of colliding with active satellites and causing damage—indeed, a piece of debris measuring just 0.7 mm recently caused a European spacecraft to lose power—the larger items of debris pose the additional threat of what's called the Kessler effect, which occurs when the collision of objects in space results in a chain reaction that can eventually render an orbit nonoperational.
Head of the European Space Agency (ESA) Clean Space Office, Luisa Innocenti, joins the podcast to discuss all the details of the problem with space pollution, catastrophic collisions, preventative measures that are currently being taken in order to avoid collisions, and two possible ways to clean up the orbits we so heavily rely upon one that involves a net, and one that involves the use of a robotic arm moving in synchronicity with space debris.
Press play for the full conversation on these important topics and visit https://www.esa.int/ESA for more information on the ESA's current projects.
Author of Evolution 2.0: Breaking the Deadlock Between Darwin and Design, creator of the Evolution 2.0 podcast, and electrical engineer Perry Marshall joins the podcast today for a compelling and exciting conversation about everything life and evolution, offering his opinion on questions concerning the origin of new species and the origin of life.
He discusses a variety of topics along the way, including plant versus animal hybridization, symbiotic mergers, the cognition and intelligence of cells, Donald Williamson's theory about metamorphosis, CRISPR gene editing, epigenetics, and emergent properties. The overarching and perhaps most surprising message of all is that the theory of evolution is in the process of being completely re-worked…leaving us to question nearly everything we've held true for decades. This isn't one to miss, so tune in and learn more at https://evo2.org/evolution/.
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