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Information technology

Cyber extortion is no way to get rich | Bloomberg.com

Increasing ransom demands isn't really a revenue-boosting option: Higher taxation leads only to lower collection rates, writes Elaine Ou in an op-ed. She argues that cybercriminals don't outnumber vulnerable corporations.

Why WhatsApp could be a game-changer for American healthcare | Fortune

When messaging service WhatsApp announced in April that it would adopt end-to-end encryption, it rankled law-enforcement agencies worldwide. But the move may have also opened the door to better healthcare.

Medical devices and equipment

Edible battery to power internal medical devices | Popular Science

Imagine taking a pill with an ingestible sensor that takes measurements and sends information wirelessly to your doctor. Ingestible medical devices promise such applications, and many more, but a big challenge is making their power sources safe for our bodies.

Pharmaceuticals

Novartis announces positive phase III results for MS drug siponimod | Reuters

Novartis AG said a late-stage study showed its oral, once-daily BAF312, or siponimod, reduced the risk of disability progression in a severe form of multiple sclerosis.

FDA warns former Sun Pharma U.S. drug factory over quality concerns | Reuters

The Food and Drug Administration has pulled up a former Sun Pharmaceutical drug factory for “knowingly” releasing 27 lots of the hypertension drug clonidine last year, despite proof that the raw materials used may have been contaminated.

Illegal street drugs, not prescriptions, now powering opioid abuse, study finds | STAT

The widespread abuse of the potent opioid fentanyl appears to be largely the result of illicit manufacturing of the synthetic drug as opposed to the misuse of legally prescribed versions of the painkiller, according to two U.S. government studies released Thursday.

Physicians

Teaching medical teamwork right from the start in Cleveland | National Public Radio

Health care in the 21st century is increasingly being provided by teams, yet most health care professionals don't encounter their "teammates" until they are well along in their training. The new Case Western Reserve University Heath Education campus is meant to change that.

The virtual surgeons of Syria | The Atlantic

A group of American physicians digitally connect with ill-equipped doctors at a Syrian clinic to help them treat those affected by the ongoing violence.

Safety, quality and clinical practice

Gas-relief drops may raise risk of contaminated medical scopes | National Public Radio

A surprising ingredient—gas relief drops designed for infants—may be contributing to the contamination of medical scopes and putting more patients at risk of infection, according to a small but provocative study.