Scientists tested 39 sweeteners and uncovered surprising gut effects - Science Daily

Common sweeteners may be doing much more inside our bodies than simply replacing sugar. Scientists at the University of Cambridge have discovered that many widely used sweeteners can directly interfere with the growth of gut bacteria, and their effects can become even more pronounced when combined with medications or other everyday substances. In laboratory experiments involving 39 sweeteners and 25 species of gut bacteria, researchers found that roughly three-quarters of the sweeteners altered the growth of at least one bacterial species. Some slowed or completely stopped the growth of microbes associated with a healthy digestive system.

A new AI-driven platform could allow people to interact with their medical devices by sending messages using a smartphone application and receiving feedback in real time. Participants in a proof-of-concept study undergoing monitoring for seizures could ask questions about their brain activity, receive personalized alerts, report symptoms and behaviors and help train the system to better recognize seizure-related patterns.

Acute hemorrhage within the thyroid gland is uncommon but can cause rapid neck swelling and, in severe cases, airway compromise. We report a 65-year-old woman with hypertension and a history of partial thyroidectomy performed more than 25 years earlier who presented with painful neck swelling that developed overnight. The swelling was associated with pain on swallowing, without shortness of breath, voice change, drooling, fever, or recent neck trauma. She was hemodynamically stable with an oxygen saturation of 99% on room air. Examination showed marked neck swelling, thyromegaly, thyroid tenderness, and left-sided neck induration. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a multinodular thyroid with a large heterogeneous mass in the left thyroid lobe causing mass effect and rightward tracheal deviation. Subsequent ultrasonography demonstrated a heterogeneous intrathyroidal collection consistent with hematoma. The patient remained clinically stable and was discharged after approximately five hours of observation. At otolaryngology follow-up 10 days later, repeat ultrasonography showed a progressively enlarging left thyroid nodule, and fine-needle aspiration cytology wa