Latest news with #ChrisThornton
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fungal test could save people from fatal infection
A new test which creators say could one day save the lives of people suffering from a deadly fungal infection is being developed at the University of Exeter. Mucormycosis, commonly known as black fungus disease, spiked during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, Professor Chris Thornton, a professor in fungal immunology at the university, has developed a prototype lateral flow test, which could save valuable time in getting patients the treatment they need. The test has been validated using patient samples could be ready to use in hospitals within three years if it passes regulatory checks, project leaders said. More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon The fugal spores that cause black fungus disease are ever-present in the environment and harmless for most people. The disease is rare and thought to only affect those with compromised immunity. However, a combination of Covid infection, poorly-managed diabetes and an over-use of steroids to control lung inflammation from Covid led to a spike in infections. In 2021, there was an epidemic in India, with 40,000 cases leading to 3,500 deaths. Many of the survivors were left with facial disfigurements. Although still at prototype stage, a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology has shown the new test to be swift and accurate in identifying the disease. Professor Thornton, co-author of the study, said: "Mucormycosis is an horrific disease, which spreads rapidly in the body and can leave people horribly facially disfigured, and is often fatal." "Early diagnosis is crucial for the best outcome. This study shows that our new test is quick and effective. "These exciting results are a critical milestone in the development and validation of the test, which we aim to commercialise in the next three years." The study was conducted in partnership with colleagues at Besançon University hospital in France. Researchers tested the device in patients with mucormycosis, patients with other fungal infections, and patients without fungal infections. The test detects mucormycosis in 30 minutes with a high level of specificity and sensitivity. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ The deadly 'black fungus' maiming Covid patients India reports nearly 9,000 'black fungus' cases Why has India got so many 'black fungus' cases? University of Exeter
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Lateral flow test could save people from deadly fungal infection
A new test which creators say could one day save the lives of people suffering from a deadly fungal infection is being developed at the University of commonly known as black fungus disease, spiked during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, Professor Chris Thornton, a professor in fungal immunology at the university, has developed a prototype lateral flow test, which could save valuable time in getting patients the treatment they test has been validated using patient samples could be ready to use in hospitals within three years if it passes regulatory checks, project leaders said. The fugal spores that cause black fungus disease are ever-present in the environment and harmless for most people. The disease is rare and thought to only affect those with compromised immunity. However, a combination of Covid infection, poorly-managed diabetes and an over-use of steroids to control lung inflammation from Covid led to a spike in infections. In 2021, there was an epidemic in India, with 40,000 cases leading to 3,500 deaths. Many of the survivors were left with facial still at prototype stage, a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology has shown the new test to be swift and accurate in identifying the disease. Professor Thornton, co-author of the study, said: "Mucormycosis is an horrific disease, which spreads rapidly in the body and can leave people horribly facially disfigured, and is often fatal.""Early diagnosis is crucial for the best outcome. This study shows that our new test is quick and effective. "These exciting results are a critical milestone in the development and validation of the test, which we aim to commercialise in the next three years." The study was conducted in partnership with colleagues at Besançon University hospital in France. Researchers tested the device in patients with mucormycosis, patients with other fungal infections, and patients without fungal infections. The test detects mucormycosis in 30 minutes with a high level of specificity and sensitivity.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AGP-North America's New Jersey glass plant secures FSSC 22000 certification
Ardagh Glass Packaging-North America (AGP-North America), a division of Ardagh Group, has revealed that its glass manufacturing facility in Bridgeton, New Jersey, has earned the Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000. The plant is built according to the FSSC 22000 standard, which establishes a structured approach to managing food safety responsibilities within a business. Fully accredited by the Global Food Safety Initiative, this certification validates the robustness of a company's food safety procedures. To achieve the certification, the facility was tasked with demonstrating the successful integration of a strong food safety management system in compliance with global standards. With this latest achievement, AGP-North America now has eight certified facilities across the US. Alongside Bridgeton, the certified plants include Burlington, Wisconsin; Dunkirk, Indiana; Henderson, North Carolina; Pevely, Missouri; Port Allegany, Pennsylvania; Sapulpa, Oklahoma; and Winchester, also in Indiana. AGP said glass continues to be a trusted material for food packaging, recognised as the only widely used option deemed 'generally recognised as safe' by the US Food and Drug Administration. For more than 125 years, Ardagh Group has been producing glass packaging, offering a range of glass bottles and jars in different sizes, colours, and styles for food and beverage packaging. AGP-North America chief operations officer Chris Thornton said: 'Achieving the FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification at our Bridgeton facility underscores our commitment to the highest standards of food safety and quality. 'This certification reinforces our dedication to delivering safe, reliable glass packaging solutions to our customers while ensuring that we continue to meet the precise requirements of the food and beverage industry.' Last month, AGP-North America completed solar facility construction at its glass manufacturing plant in California, US. "AGP-North America's New Jersey glass plant secures FSSC 22000 certification" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
South China Morning Post
02-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
NBA on glass? German company would love to challenge basketball's hardwood-floor foundation
Chris Thornton loves talking about playing basketball on the most fragile-sounding of surfaces: glass. Advertisement Thornton is managing director of the Americas division of ASB GlassFloor, a German company building floors made of fused-together layers of safety glass covering LED panels. The courts are a far more dynamic visual feast, with customised playing lines, logos, colours, animated graphics and advertisements for multiple sports. In basketball, where wood is still king, Thornton sees growth potential for glass courts – already showing up in the NBA and internationally – as a tech-driven alternative to the sport's long-running hardwood foundation. 'I use this analogy a lot: we're at the initial stages of the iPhone being launched,' Thornton said. 'Way back when Apple did that, the design of the hardware has changed, but more importantly the original iPhone was just a phone, a text device and music player. Now you're running your entire life and communicating to the world on it. I see this in the same regard.' But it's glass! It seems strange at first blush – big, strong athletes jumping and running across a court of glass while 'pounding the rock' and even diving on the floor. That is a future ASB GlassFloor company envisions, citing technology improvements allowing for a safe and viable surface featuring stunning visuals that can be changed with a few swipes and taps of a smartphone or tablet app.
Washington Post
02-04-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Hardwood is basketball's longtime foundation. A German company would love to change that to glass
Chris Thornton loves talking about playing basketball on the most fragile-sounding of surfaces: glass. Thornton is managing director of the Americas division of ASB GlassFloor , a German company building floors made of fused-together layers of safety glass covering LED panels. The courts are a far more dynamic visual feast, with customized playing lines, logos, colors, animated graphics and advertisements for multiple sports.
