Categories : Medical IndustryTags :

The Price of a Bad Hire: When One Mistake Costs More than Just a Salary

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Photo by Usman Yousaf on Unsplash

The modern complexities of the business world have meant that the cost of a bad hire can extend far beyond a salary, threatening your company’s financial health and reputation. With the rise of technology, background screening solutions can be a business’ best defense against costly hiring mistakes that may disrupt the workplace, writes Jennifer Barkhuizen, Head of Marketing at Managed Integrity Evaluation (MIE), the largest background screening and vetting company in Southern Africa, and a division of Mettus.

Hiring the wrong person can cost a lot more than just a salary. While the price tag of a bad hire isn’t always obvious, the damage to your bottom line, team morale, and reputation is undeniable. In South Africa’s competitive job market, where the cost of hiring is already high, ignoring the importance of thorough background screening can lead to financial damage.

It’s easy to focus on salary as the main expense when hiring, but the real costs go far deeper. The average cost of onboarding a new employee in South Africa equates to approximately R30 000, which increases significantly the more senior the position1. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Factor in time spent on interviews, onboarding, and training, and those costs start climbing.

A poor hiring decision means more than just one person’s salary – it involves wasted hours training someone who doesn’t deliver, creating a ripple effect of lost productivity. While not the case in all instances, more extreme situations can see exit costs escalate, including severance packages, legal fees, or worse, disputes over wrongful dismissal that can spiral costs further.

A bad hire doesn’t just drain your wallet – it can poison the well. Think about it: a disruptive employee can damage team morale, slow down productivity, and ultimately drive good employees out the door. That’s a double whammy. Not only are you paying for the bad hire, but you’re also forking out for the damage they cause when valued staff start walking.

Then there’s the reputational fallout. What happens if you hire someone without doing proper due diligence, only to find out later they’ve lied about their qualifications or have a criminal record? These instances have been well-documented in South Africa over the past few years, and the financial cost of replacing them pales in comparison to the reputational hit. Fixing damaged trust with clients or partners can cost far more than a few months’ salary. 

When it comes to hiring, there’s no room for shortcuts. A thorough background screening process isn’t just a box-ticking exercise but the first line of defense against costly mistakes. Checking for criminal records, verifying qualifications, and digging into work history are critical steps that can save you from disaster down the line.

Imagine the consequences of hiring someone with a history of violence, only to place them in a role of authority. Without a proper check, you could be exposing your employees to serious risks. Should something happen on your watch, your business is on the line, potentially facing lawsuits, compensation claims, and a PR nightmare that could leave your reputation in tatters.

In roles where financial responsibility is key, skipping a thorough check could expose your company to fraud, theft, and more. Bad hires in this scenario don’t only drain your budget – they can sink the ship.

A strong background screening policy is like insurance for your business. Having a clear, consistent process in place ensures that every new hire goes through the same process, protecting your company from both financial and reputational damage.

Consistency is key. It’s not just about avoiding bad hires, but about showing your clients, stakeholders, and employees that you take hiring seriously. Trust is built on actions and your reputation benefits when people see that you’re committed to a thorough screening process.

In the end, the true cost of a bad hire goes beyond the numbers. A robust background screening process isn’t just an extra step in the recruitment procedure, but a necessary one to safeguard your business, team, and reputation. When the stakes are this high, a bad hire isn’t just a mistake, but a business risk many simply can’t afford to take.

To avoid these costly risks, businesses should turn to trusted solutions providers who specialise in comprehensive background screening and vetting services. By investing in the right tools and expertise, businesses can protect themselves from the financial, reputational, and operational fallout of a bad hire. In today’s competitive market, a proactive approach to screening isn’t just a safety net, but a strategic advantage.

Categories : IT in Healthcare OphthalmologyTags :

AI Eye to Eye with Ophthalmologists in Diagnosing Corneal Infections

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Photo by Victor Freitas on Pexels

A Birmingham-led study has found that AI-powered models match ophthalmologists in diagnosing infectious keratitis, offering promise for global eye care improvements.

Infectious keratitis (IK) is a leading cause of corneal blindness worldwide. This new study finds that deep learning models showed similar levels of accuracy in identifying infection.

In a meta-analysis study published in eClinicalMedicine, Dr Darren Ting from the University of Birmingham conducted a review with a global team of researchers analysing 35 studies that utilised Deep Learning (DL) models to diagnose infectious keratitis.

AI models in the study matched the diagnostic accuracy of ophthalmologists, exhibiting a sensitivity of 89.2% and specificity of 93.2%, compared to ophthalmologists’ 82.2% sensitivity and 89.6% specificity.

The models in the study had analysed a combined total of more than 136 000 corneal images, and the authors say that the results further demonstrate the potential use of artificial intelligence in clinical settings.

Dr Darren Ting, Senior author of the study, Birmingham Health Partners (BHP) Fellow and Consultant Ophthalmologist, University of Birmingham said: “Our study shows that AI has the potential to provide fast, reliable diagnoses, which could revolutionise how we manage corneal infections globally. This is particularly promising for regions where access to specialist eye care is limited, and can help to reduce the burden of preventable blindness worldwide.”

The AI models also proved effective at differentiating between healthy eyes, infected corneas, and the various underlying causes of IK, such as bacterial or fungal infections.

While these results highlight the potential of DL in healthcare, the study’s authors emphasised the need for more diverse data and further external validation to increase the reliability of these models for clinical use.

Infectious keratitis, an inflammation of the cornea, affects millions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to specialist eye care is limited. As AI technology continues to grow and play a pivotal role in medicine, it may soon become a key tool in preventing corneal blindness globally.

Source: University of Birmingham

Categories : Medical Research & Technology Regenerative MedicineTags :

Novel Liver Patch could Help Treat and Prevent Liver Disease

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Source: CC0

As described in research published in the Biotechnology Journal, investigators have developed a novel patch that can help liver tissue regenerate. The patch is a combination of decellularised liver matrix, a liver growth factor, and an anticoagulant. In lab tests with liver cells, the patch helped liver cells regain function after exposure to a toxin.

In rats, patches attached to the liver and gut promoted recovery from liver fibrosis, with notable decreases in scarring and inflammation.

“The decellularised liver matrix–based hepatic patch has demonstrated the ability to restore liver function and inhibit inflammation in fibrotic livers,” said corresponding author Yung-Te Hou, PhD, of National Taiwan University. “This approach shows great potential for treating various liver-related diseases, ranging from mild conditions such as fatty liver to severe conditions like liver cirrhosis.”

Source: Wiley

Categories : Environmental Effects NeurologyTags :

PFAS Influence the Development and Function of the Brain

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Photo by Ryan Zazueta on Unsplash

Some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are poorly degradable and are also known as “forever chemicals”. They adversely affect health and can lead to liver damage, obesity, hormonal disorders, and cancer. A research team from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) has investigated the effects of PFAS on the brain.

Using a combination of modern molecular biology methods and the zebrafish model, the researchers revealed the mechanism of action and identified the genes involved, which are also present in humans. The test procedure developed at the UFZ could be used for the risk assessment of other neurotoxic chemicals. The study was recently published in Environmental Health Perspectives. 

Because of their special properties – heat resistance, water and grease repellence, and high durability – PFAS are used in many everyday products (eg, cosmetics, outdoor clothing, and coated cookware). But it is precisely these properties that make them so problematic. “Because some PFAS are chemically stable, they accumulate in the environment and enter our bodies via air, drinking water, and food”, says UFZ toxicologist Prof Dr Tamara Tal. Even with careful consumption, it is nearly impossible to avoid this group of substances, which has been produced since the 1950s and now includes thousands of different compounds. “There is a great need for research, especially when it comes to developing fast, reliable, and cost-effective test systems for assessing the risks of PFAS exposure”, says Tal. So far, the environmental and health consequences have been difficult to assess.

In their current study, the researchers investigated how PFAS exposure affects brain development. To do this, they used the zebrafish model, which is frequently used in toxicology research. One advantage of this model is that around 70% of the genes found in zebrafish (Danio rerio) are also found in humans. The findings from the zebrafish model can therefore likely be transferred to humans. In their experiments, the researchers exposed zebrafish to two substances from the PFAS group (PFOS and PFHxS), which have a similar structure. The researchers then used molecular biological and bioinformatic methods to investigate which genes in the brains of the fish larvae exposed to PFAS were disrupted compared to the control fish, which were not exposed. “In the zebrafish exposed to PFAS, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (ppar) gene group, which is also present in a slightly modified form in humans, was particularly active”, says Sebastian Gutsfeld, PhD student at the UFZ and first author of the study. “Toxicity studies have shown this to be the case as a result of exposure to PFAS – albeit in the liver. We have now also been able to demonstrate this for the brain”.

But what consequences does an altered activity of the ppar genes triggered by PFAS exposure have for brain development and behaviour of zebrafish larvae? The researchers investigated this in further studies using the zebrafish model. Using CRISPR/Cas9 ‘gene scissors’ the researchers were able to “selectively cut individual or several ppar genes and prevent them from functioning normally”, explains Gutsfeld. “We wanted to find out which ppar genes are directly linked to a change in larval behaviour triggered by PFAS exposure”. Proof of the underlying mechanism was directly provided. In contrast to genetically unaltered zebrafish, the knockdown fish in which the gene scissors were used should not show any behavioural changes after exposure to PFAS.

The two behavioural endpoints

In one series of experiments, the researchers continuously exposed zebrafish to PFOS or PFHxS during their early developmental phase between day one and day four and in another series of experiments only on day five. On the fifth day, the researchers then observed swimming behaviour. They used two different behavioural endpoints for this purpose. In one endpoint, swimming activity was measured during a prolonged dark phase. PFAS-exposed fish swam more than fish not exposed to PFAS, whether continuously exposed to PFAS during brain development or shortly before the behaviour test. Interestingly, hyperactivity was only present when the chemical was around. When the researchers removed PFOS or PFHxS, hyperactivity subsided. In the second endpoint, the startle response after a dark stimulus was measured. “In zebrafish exposed to PFOS for four days, we observed hyperactive swimming behaviour in response to the stimulus”, says Gutsfeld. In contrast, zebrafish only exposed to PFOS or PFHxS on the fifth day did not have a hyperactive startle response.

Based on these responses, the researchers conclude that PFOS exposure is associated with abnormal consequences – particularly during sensitive developmental phases of the brain. Using knockdown zebrafish, the researchers identified two genes from the ppar group that mediate the behaviour triggered by PFOS. 

“Because these genes are also present in humans, it is possible that PFAS also have corresponding effects in humans”, concludes Tal. The scientists working with Tal want to investigate the neuroactive effects of other PFAS in future research projects and expand the method so that it can ultimately be used to assess the risk of chemicals in the environment, including PFAS.

Source: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ

Categories : Allergies Emergency MedicineTags :

Can Adrenaline Auto-injectors Prevent Fatal Anaphylaxis?

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Individuals at risk of anaphylaxis are often prescribed adrenaline (epinephrine) autoinjectors such as EpiPens. A recent review published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy finds that these autoinjectors, which people use to self-administer adrenaline into the muscle, can deliver high doses of adrenaline into the blood, but these levels are short-lived and may not be sufficient to save lives in cases of fatal anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is an acute systemic hypersensitivity reaction to an allergen or trigger, typically associated with skin reactions, nausea/vomiting, difficulty breathing, and shock.

Investigators noted that data from animal and human studies suggest that intravenous adrenaline infusions delivered directly into the blood can prevent fatal anaphylaxis, but adrenaline autoinjectors may have little impact in such deadly cases.

“For effective management of the most severe allergic reactions, adrenaline given by continuous intravenous infusion, with appropriate fluid resuscitation, is likely to be required—how this is safely achieved in the pre-hospital setting remains to be determined,” the authors wrote. This challenge stems from the fact that fatal anaphylaxis is unpredictable and fast. Fortunately, fatality is rare, with a population incidence of 0.03–0.51 per million per year.

Source: Wiley

Categories : AgeingTags :

Metformin Found to Slow Ageing in Primate Trial

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Photo by Andre Mouton on Unsplash

An exhaustive four year-long study has shown that metformin reduces the effect of ageing. Using a wide array of ageing indicators, the researchers found that metformin resulted in about six year regression in brain ageing. They reported their findings in Cell.

Prior research and anectodal evidence suggested that metformin had an anti-ageing effect. Given to flies, worms and rodents, the drug showed evidence of rejuvenation. People taking metformin also reported feeling younger the longer they took it for.

In a rigorous 40-month study, the researchers gave metformin to 12 elderly male cynomolgus macaques and 18 other cynomolgus monkeys the drug daily. They were aged 13–16 years, equivalent to 40–50 in human years. A control group was used, as well as middle-aged and younger controls to account for ageing effects.

The study encompassed a comprehensive suite of physiological, imaging, histological, and molecular evaluations, substantiating metformin’s influence on delaying age-related phenotypes at the organismal level.

Tissue samples were taken at regular intervals, we leveraged pan-tissue transcriptomics, DNA methylomics, plasma proteomics, and metabolomics to develop innovative monkey aging clocks and applied these to gauge metformin’s effects on ageing.

The results highlighted a significant slowing of aging indicators. A number of organs that seemed to benefit included the kidneys, lungs and the skin. The greatest effect was seen in the brain, however. Metformin exerts a substantial neuroprotective effect, preserving brain structure and enhancing cognitive ability. In this case, treated monkeys had brain activity comparable to those six years younger.

The geroprotective effects on primate neurons were partially mediated by the activation of Nrf2, a transcription factor with anti-oxidative capabilities. The researchers say that this work pioneers the systemic reduction of multi-dimensional biological age in primates through metformin, paving the way for advancing pharmaceutical strategies against human aging.

The researchers have also started a much larger phase 2 human trial, with 120 participants.

Categories : NeurologyTags :

Cannabis Use in Adolescence has Visible Effects on Brain Structure

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Photo by Anna Shvets

Cannabis use may lead to thinning of the cerebral cortex in adolescents according to a recent study.  The study demonstrates that THC – or tetrahydrocannabinol, an active substance in cannabis – causes shrinkage of the dendritic arborisation, neurons’ “network of antennae” whose role is critical for communication between neurons. This results in the atrophy of certain regions of the cerebral cortex – bad news at an age when the brain is maturing.  

The study, led by Graciela Pineyro and Tomas Paus, involved researchers at CHU Sainte-Justine and professors at the Université de Montréal Faculty of Medicine, was published in The Journal of Neuroscience.

“If we take the analogy of the brain as a computer, the neurons would be the central processor, receiving all information via the synapses through the dendritic network,” explains Tomas Paus, who is also a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Université de Montréal. “So a decrease in the data input to the central processor by dendrites makes it harder for the brain to learn new things, interact with people, cope with new situations, etc. In other words, it makes the brain more vulnerable to everything that can happen in a young person’s life.”

A multi-level approach to better understand the effect on humans

This project is notable for the complementary, multi-level nature of the methods used. “By analysing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brains of a cohort of teenagers, we had already shown that young people who used cannabis before the age of 16 had a thinner cerebral cortex,” explains Tomas Paus. “However, this research method doesn’t allow us to draw any conclusions about causality, or to really understand THC’s effect on the brain cells.”  

Given the limitations of MRI, the introduction of the mouse model by Graciela Pineyro’s team was key. “The model made it possible to demonstrate that THC modifies the expression of certain genes affecting the structure and function of synapses and dendrites,” explains Graciela Pineyro, who is also a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at Université de Montréal. “The result is atrophy of the dendritic arborescence that could contribute to the thinning observed in certain regions of the cortex.”  

Interestingly, these genes were also found in humans, particularly in the thinner cortical regions of the cohort adolescents who experimented with cannabis. By combining their distinct research methods, the two teams were thus able to determine with a high degree of certainty that the genes targeted by THC in the mouse model were also associated to the cortical thinning observed in adolescents. 

With cannabis use on the rise among North American youth, and commercial cannabis products containing increasing concentrations of THC, it’s imperative that we improve our understanding of how this substance affects brain maturation and cognition. This successful collaborative study, involving cutting-edge techniques in cellular and molecular biology, imaging and bioinformatics analysis, is a step in the right direction for the development of effective public health measures.

Source: University of Montreal

Categories : Environmental Effects Substance UseTags :

Pharmaceutical and Illicit Drugs Contaminating New York’s Rivers

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In research published in Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, investigators sampled water from 19 locations across the Hudson and East Rivers in 2021 and 2022 to identify and quantify the prescribed pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse that are making their way into New York City’s rivers and to determine the source of these pollutants.

Metoprolol and atenolol (blood pressure medications), benzoylecgonine (the main metabolite of cocaine), methamphetamine (a stimulant), and methadone (an opioid) were the most prevalent drugs, present in more than 60% of water samples.

More drugs and higher concentrations were detected in water contaminated by Enterococci (bacteria that live in the intestinal tract) and after rainfall, indicating an impact from sewer overflow. However, the presence of drugs in clean water and during periods of dry weather indicated that wastewater treatment plant discharge may also contribute to the presence of drugs in rivers.

“This study shows how pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse enter the New York City aquatic environment, highlighting the necessity of improving the current water management system,” said corresponding author Marta Concheiro-Guisan, PharmD, PhD, of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Source: Wiley

Categories : Neurology UncategorizedTags :

Can Space Radiation Affect Astronauts’ Long-term Cognition?

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Photo: Pixabay CC0

During missions into outer space, galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) will penetrate current spacecraft shielding and thus pose a significant risk to human health. Previous studies have shown that GCR can cause short-term cognitive deficits in male rodents. Now a study published in the Journal of Neurochemistry reveals that GCR exposure can also cause long-lasting learning deficits in female rodents.

The impact of GCR on cognition was lessened when mice were fed an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound called CDDO-EA.

Beyond its immediate implications for space exploration, the findings contribute to a broader understanding of radiation’s long-term impact on cognitive health.

“Our study lays the groundwork for future causal delineation of how the brain responds to complex GCR exposure and how these brain adaptations result in altered behaviours,” said co-corresponding author Sanghee Yun, PhD, of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

Source: Wiley

Categories : NeurologyTags :

Insights into How the Brain Regenerates Lost Myelin

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Myelin sheath damage. Credit: Scientific Animations CC4.0

The neurons of the brain are protected by an insulating layer called myelin. In certain diseases like multiple sclerosis, the protective myelin layer around neurons is damaged and lost, leading to death of neurons and disability. New research published in The FEBS Journal reveals the importance of a protein called C1QL1 for promoting the replacement of the specialised cells that produce myelin. The findings could have important implications for the ongoing effort to develop new and improved therapies for the treatment of demyelinating diseases.

In experiments conducted in mice, deleting the gene that codes for C1QL1 caused a delay in the rate at which oligodendrocytes (the cells that make myelin) mature, leading to reduced myelination of neurons.

After mice were fed a drug that destroys myelin, recovery of oligodendrocytes and myelination were delayed in mice lacking the C1QL1 protein. Causing mice to express more C1QL1, however, led to increased numbers of oligodendrocytes and more myelination upon drug withdrawal, suggesting that C1QL1 helps to restore the damaged myelin layer.  Thus, investigational therapies that boost C1QL1 may hold promise against demyelinating diseases.

“Our basic research on C1QL1 is nascent, but there is potential that it is relevant for a novel treatment for multiple sclerosis,” said corresponding author David C. Martinelli, PhD, of the University of Connecticut Health Center. “New drug treatment options for patients with multiple sclerosis could have a large impact on their quality of life.”

Source: Wiley