On the Other Side of Grief: ‘It Is Well With My Soul'
During his greatest hardship, attorney and businessman Horatio Spafford searched for answers to these questions. He leaned on his faith for healing and wrote a song that continues to be a vital source of comfort for those grieving today.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
Horatio Gates Spafford (1828–1888) was a distinguished lawyer in Chicago, who was also involved with his Presbyterian church. When he wasn't working, he could be found teaching Sunday School or discussing theology with his fellow worshipers.
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Fox News
2 days ago
- Fox News
AI tech detects hidden heart disease doctors often miss
You might think heart disease comes with warning signs. But some of the deadliest types, like structural heart disease (SHD), creep in silently. No chest pain. No shortness of breath. Nothing until it's too late. Now, a new artificial intelligence tool called EchoNext is changing the game. It can flag hidden heart problems that even trained cardiologists miss just by analyzing a standard ECG. That's right. A routine, five-minute heart test you've probably already had could now unlock life-saving information if AI is watching. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my SHD refers to defects in the heart's walls, valves or chambers. Some are present at birth. Others develop slowly over time. Either way, they often go unnoticed until something major happens, like a heart attack or stroke. That's why experts sometimes call SHD the "hidden" heart disease. Here's the problem. Even the ECGs doctors routinely use to spot heart issues often can't detect SHD on their own. And that's where EchoNext comes in. EchoNext was created by researchers at Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian. The tool was trained on over 1.2 million ECG and echocardiogram pairs from more than 230,000 patients. Its job? Figure out when a patient's ECG suggests a deeper look is needed, specifically, an echocardiogram, the ultrasound that gives a detailed view of heart structure. "EchoNext basically uses the cheaper test to figure out who needs the more expensive one," explained Dr. Pierre Elias, who led the study. And the results? Stunning. In tests, EchoNext correctly flagged 77% of structural heart disease cases from ECGs. Cardiologists? Just 64%. Even more impressive, when tested on nearly 85,000 people, EchoNext identified over 7,500 at high risk for undiagnosed SHD. A year later, researchers found that 73% of those who followed up with echocardiograms were indeed diagnosed with SHD, a rate far above average. These groundbreaking results were published in Nature, one of the world's most respected scientific journals. That's not just a better test. That's a potential lifesaver. Millions walk around every day with SHD and have no idea. They skip heart screenings because nothing feels wrong. Even when they do get an ECG, subtle warning signs can slip by unnoticed. EchoNext doesn't miss them. And it doesn't get tired or distracted. This isn't about replacing doctors. Iit's about giving them a powerful new tool to catch what humans alone can't. You don't need to wait for symptoms to take your heart health seriously. If you've ever had an ECG, or you're getting one soon, AI could now help spot hidden risks your doctor might miss. Tools like EchoNext make it easier to catch heart problems early, even if you feel fine. This means fewer surprises, fewer missed diagnoses and a better shot at treatment before it's too late. It's not about replacing doctors. It's about giving them, and you, a better shot at catching problems early. Ask your doctor if AI tools are being used to review your heart tests. You deserve every advantage. Right now, EchoNext is being used in research settings, but tools like it are quickly moving toward wider use in hospitals and clinics. AI is no longer the future of medicine. It's happening now. EchoNext proves that machine learning can radically improve how we detect silent killers like SHD. If a simple ECG plus AI could save thousands of lives, what are we waiting for? Would you trust a machine to catch what your cardiologist might overlook? Let us know by writing us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
New York Post
16-07-2025
- New York Post
New AI tool can detect 'hidden' heart disease 77% of the time
This new AI heart disease detector can't be beat. Structural heart disease (SHD) refers to defects in the heart's valves, wall or chambers that are present at birth or develop over time. These abnormalities can impair the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. SHD is sometimes described as 'hidden' heart disease because it can progress without noticeable symptoms — until there's a major event like a heart attack or stroke. 4 Dr. Pierre Elias, a cardiologist and AI expert at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University, helped develop EchoNext. Courtesy of NewYork-Presbyterian Now, researchers at Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian have developed an AI- powered screening tool to identify who should undergo a key ultrasound used to diagnose structural heart problems. 'There has been a growth in the number of AI models to detect, or opportunistically screen, disease,' Dr. Pierre Elias, an assistant professor of medicine and biomedical informatics at Columbia's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, told The Post. 'Some of the most exciting can look for coronary disease on CT scans or look at mammograms to help doctors find breast cancer more accurately,' he added. 'EchoNext is the first model to detect all forms of structural heart disease from ECGs.' An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a quick, non-invasive procedure that measures the heart's electrical activity. 4 EchoNext is the first model to detect all forms of structural heart disease from an electrocardiogram, Elias said. An ECG (pictured here) is a quick, non-invasive procedure that measures the heart's electrical activity. amazing studio – It's one of the most frequently used cardiac tests, often ordered when patients experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations or sudden loss of consciousness. While an ECG can detect some heart conditions, it's not reliable for catching SHD on its own. Enter EchoNext. The tool, fine-tuned over four years, analyzes ECG data to determine when follow-up with an echocardiogram is necessary. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound imaging test used to diagnose a range of heart conditions, including valve disorders and congenital heart defects. 'EchoNext basically uses the cheaper test to figure out who needs the more expensive ultrasound,' said Elias, study leader and medical director for artificial intelligence at NewYork-Presbyterian. 'It detects diseases cardiologists can't from an ECG,' he continued. 'We think that ECG plus AI has the potential to create an entirely new screening paradigm.' 4 An echocardiogram is shown here. EchoNext tells doctors which patients need this ultrasound imaging test. H_Ko – EchoNext was trained on over 1.2 million ECG–echocardiogram pairs from 230,000 patients. The tool accurately detected 77% of structural heart problems on 3,200 ECGs, outperforming 13 cardiologists who logged a 64% accuracy. EchoNext then identified over 7,500 people from a pool of nearly 85,000 study participants as high risk for undiagnosed SHD. The researchers followed the patients for a year without telling their physicians about the forewarning. Some 55% went on to have their first echocardiogram. Of those, almost three-quarters were diagnosed with SHD, a much higher positivity rate than usual. 4 This diagram shows the anatomy of the heart. An echocardiogram is used to diagnose a range of heart conditions. joshya – The findings were published Wednesday in the journal Nature. 'The goal is to get the right patients to the right doctor and treatment sooner,' Elias said. 'The reality is many patients that need a cardiologist are often missed, and EchoNext helps facilitate getting these patients to the cardiologist who can then get the patient to the treatment they need.' Looking ahead, Columbia has submitted a patent application on the EchoNext ECG algorithm. A clinical trial to test EchoNext in eight emergency departments is also underway.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
Explore Ayrshire's fascinating history by walking in the footsteps of Covenanters
A brand new walking trail that charts the history of the Covenanters, a Presbyterian movement in 17th century Scotland who opposed English interference in their religion, will be officially opened in East Ayrshire next Saturday One of life's great simple pleasures is enjoying a walk on a summer's day. But for regular ramblers, it can get quickly repetitive to do the same routes over and over. Good news, then, that there is now a brand-new walking trail set to open next weekend – the Covenanter's Trail in East Ayrshire. On Saturday 19 July, a special event will mark the official opening of this 7.74-mile (12.46 km) walking route that traces the footsteps of Scotland's Covenanting past. The event will begin at 11am at Lochgoin Museum, a site of deep historical significance dedicated to the memory of the Covenanting cause in Ayrshire. So who were the Covenanters? A significant religious movement in 17th-century Scotland, the Covenanters had strong roots in Ayrshire, where they championed Presbyterianism and opposed English interference in Scottish religion, especially royal efforts to impose changes under Charles I. In 1638 thousands of Scots signed the National Covenant, sparking the Bishops' Wars and securing control of the Scottish government. They fiercely fought to keep Scotland's spiritual independence, and many faced persecution and execution until the Church of Scotland was restored as Presbyterian in 1688. My knowledge of this chapter in Scotland's history was admittedly minimal before embarking on the trail. Thankfully then, the walking route started at Lochgoin Covenanters' Museum, an impressively comprehensive venue found in a modest cottage on the site of a working farm. Free to enter, the museum features plenty of information on local Ayrshire Covenanters, as well as artefacts, armoury and an interactive video screen. It's a great place to initiate yourself in the Covenanting cause before beginning the walk – though it's important to note that this is a linear route and does not return to the same starting point. As a result, if you park your car at the Covenanting Museum you will have to be prepared to walk back to the start point, or arrange return transport. With that in mind, East Ayrshire Leisure are arranging opportunities to join the walk at various points, including Waterside and Fenwick, on the day of the official launch. From the museum, the route passes by the Lochgoin Monument, an impressive structure that offers wonderful views across the open farmland and across to the turbines of Whitelee Windfarm. It then winds across the open moorland of the windfarm, a strangely soothing environment that feels a world away from city life. From there, it passes through some truly scenic stretches of countryside, alongside key memorials and points of interest from the history of the Ayrshire Covenanters. Eventually it finishes at the charming village of Fenwick, at the village's historic parish church (built back in 1643). The kirkyard contains various graves and memorials to key figures in the Covenanting cause, and it's a fascinating place to wander around and learn more about the lives of those who gave everything for their religion. I found the route to be both an eye-opening insight into the history of the area, as well as a thoroughly enjoyable route through some gorgeous stretches of untouched countryside. If you think you would like to explore the Covenanters Trail, make sure you head along to the official opening event next weekend. The event will begin at 11am at Lochgoin Museum with a short opening ceremony, before following the trail in its entirety to Fenwick Parish Church. Along the way, there will be moments of reflection at key points on the route, with Rev. Kim Watt, Minister of Fenwick Church, offering walkers the opportunity to pause and consider the sacrifices made by those who lost their lives during this turbulent period in Scottish history. The walk is expected to conclude at Fenwick Parish Church at approximately 2.30pm, where refreshments will be provided and the community will have the chance to gather in reflection. In addition to the walk, a Conventicle Service will be held on Sunday at 3pm on Sunday 20 July at Fenwick Parish Church. This service will commemorate the spirit of the secret outdoor worship gatherings once held by the Covenanters – a fitting conclusion to the weekend's events. To find out more, visit
