CNN explores the fascinating science of sweat - On Vital Signs

HONG KONG,Dec. 20, 2024/PRNewswire/ -- With rapid advancements in sweat diagnostics, CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr.Sanjay Gupta, explores how one of the body's most overlooked fluids has the potential to transform healthcare onVital Signs. From monitoring diseases to enhancing mental wellness and advancing precision medicine, sweat is emerging as a powerful tool at the forefront of medical research.

At theUniversity of California, San Diego,ProfessorJoseph Wangand his team have developed a touch-based fingertip sweat monitor capable of measuring levels of levodopa, a Parkinson's medication, directly from sweat. Their goal is to build a revolutionary"closed-loop"system that could assist physicians in precise medication dosage delivery, enabling patients to manage their symptoms more effectively.

Sweat is also revealing new biomarkers, many with a direct correlation to blood.ProfessorWei Gaoand his researchers from CalTech are embarking on groundbreaking work focusing specifically on how uric acid levels in sweat could help monitor and treat inflammatory diseases like gout, and potentially prevent debilitating attacks for patients. InChicago,ProfessorJohn RogersfromNorthwestern University, a pioneer in microfluidic wearable technology, enlists Sanjay to demonstrate two innovative sweat collection methods, highlighting how these advancements could one day become part of everyday healthcare, helping people to monitor their health conveniently from home.

Following a groundbreaking 2022 pilot study with over 1,000 firefighters which showed that sweat biomarkers could identify chemicals linked to depression and stress with 90% accuracy, researchers inThailandare leveraging sweat analysis to screen individuals in other high-stress jobs. Researchers and doctors atChulalongkorn UniversityinBangkokhave now shifted their focus to nurses in hospitals acrossThailand. By analyzing sweat samples collected during their busiest shifts, researchers are uncovering new possibilities for consistent and objective mental health screening — a crucial advancement for frontline workers navigating immensely stressful situations.

Vital Signs trailer:https://bit.ly/49FicHM

Vital Signs images:https://bit.ly/3VIgfUZ

Airtimes for 30-minute special:

Saturday, 21^stDecember4:30pmHKT

Sunday, 22^ndDecember10amand1:30pmHKT

Monday, 23^rdDecember12amHKT

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