By Debbie Bunch
April 7, 2025
New AI-Driven Model Predicts Sepsis in the ICU
Researchers from China working with a colleague in Spain believe they have developed an AI-powered sepsis model capable of predicting who in the ICU will develop sepsis much more quickly and accurately than standard scoring systems like APACHE-II.
The two-stage Transformer-based model analyzes hourly data on key predictors of mortality, such as lactate levels, respiratory rates, and coagulation markers, to identify critical intra-day fluctuations in vital signs and lab results. These daily data are then integrated to capture longer-term trends.
The developers believe the layered approach enables the model to adapt to the rapidly changing nature of sepsis.
“This Transformer-based model represents a paradigm shift in how we approach sepsis prognosis in ICUs,” said study author Dr. Bairong Shen. “By integrating real-time, time-series data, we can provide clinicians with more accurate and timely risk assessments, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing mortality rates.”
Dr. Shen and his colleagues believe the system could be embedded into hospital information systems, providing clinicians with daily risk alerts that will allow for more targeted and timely interventions.
Precision Clinical Medicine published a paper on the new model. Read Press Release Read Full Paper
Lung Cancer Deaths Down Significantly Since 1970
American Cancer Society researchers who analyzed mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics found that substantial reductions in smoking prevalence between 1970 and 2022 prevented 3.8 million lung cancer deaths and gained a little over 76 million years of life in the U.S.
Specific results showed:
- Among the 3,856,240 lung cancer deaths that were averted, 2,246,610 were in men and 1,609,630 were in women.
- Among the 76,275,550 person-years of life gained, 40,277,690 were in men and 35,997,860 were in women.
- An average of 19.8 person-years of life were gained (17.9 in men, 22.4 in women) per averted death.
- The number of averted lung cancer deaths accounted for 51.4% of the estimated declines in overall cancer deaths and was substantially greater in men (60.1%) than women (42.7%).
- By race, this proportion was 53.6% in the White population (62.6% in men, 44.6% in women) and 40.0% in the Black population (44.4% in men, 34.7% in women).
Despite these positive findings, the study authors emphasize lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and smoking still contributes to mortality and morbidity from other cancers and diseases as well, suggesting more needs to be done to curtail the damaging effects that tobacco use has on human health.
Lisa A. Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, calls for increased and sustained funding for evidence-based tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
“Access to barrier-free, culturally competent cessation services, substantially increasing tobacco taxes, and implementing comprehensive smoke-free policies are proven policies to help people quit and prevent people, especially youth, from ever starting,” she said.
The study was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Read Press Release Read Full Paper
Nasal Lavage May Diagnose COPD
Diagnosing COPD at the earliest possible stage of the disease is considered vital to improving the prognosis. However, standard diagnostic methods are labor-intensive and require specialized skills.
Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden believe a simple nasal lavage could be the answer.
The study was conducted among 50 smokers with and without COPD, along with a group of healthy controls. The investigators specifically looked for elevated levels of the protein interleukin-26 (IL-26), a cytokine with a direct inhibitory effect on bacteria and viruses, because it is known to be elevated in the lower respiratory tract of people with COPD.
Results showed it was elevated in the noses of COPD patients as well.
“We have discovered that IL-26 is produced in greater amounts in the nose of smokers with COPD compared to non-smokers, while smokers without COPD showed a tendency towards increased levels,” said study author Julia Arebro. “This opens up an easier way to characterize COPD patients without having to examine their lower airways with resource-intensive methods and involve medical risks.”
Dr. Arebro and her colleagues believe their discovery may also open up new treatment strategies aimed at targeting IL-26, with the goal being to reduce inflammation and improve the quality of life for patients. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology published the study. Read Press Release Read Abstract
