Smart lactation pads can monitor safety of breast milk in real time

Cell Press

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The lactation pad is removable for sanitary disposal and could be used for further testing.

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Credit: Mousavi et al., Device

Scientists at the University of Southern California (USC) have developed a lactation pad equipped with sensing technology that allows parents of newborns to monitor breast milk in real time. Publishing in the Cell Press journal Device on May 7, their work shows that the device is capable of ensuring that breast milk contains safe levels of the painkiller acetaminophen, which is often prescribed after childbirth and can be transferred to breastfeeding infants. 

“Our device represents a major innovation,” says first author Maral Mousavi, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at USC. “It is the first wearable tool for direct biochemical analysis in breast milk and the first lactation pad embedded with real-time sensing technology. This technology has the potential to empower lactating individuals with actionable health insights, supporting both maternal and infant health in ways that have never before been possible.” 

To make the device, the researchers installed electrodes and tiny channels into a lactation pad—an apparatus that nursing parents often wear throughout the day to protect their clothes from leaking breast milk. The smart lactation pad functions by measuring samples of the milk for acetaminophen as lactating parents go about their regular routines without requiring additional effort from the parent. 

Since the smart pad continuously monitors levels of acetaminophen in the milk throughout the day, it also offers a tool for scientists to better understand how drugs are transferred into breast milk, says Mousavi. 

“While it is generally safe at recommended doses, acetaminophen overexposure is a leading cause of acute liver failure in children,” she says. “It remains the most common reason for liver transplants related to drug toxicity.” 

The researchers were inspired to build the lactation pad after a graduate student in their research group gave birth and was prescribed acetaminophen to manage her postpartum pain. Despite the importance of breast milk as a source of nutrition for infants and its ability to help their fragile immune systems develop, the team found that few technologies existed to monitor its safety in real time. While a few companies offer mail-in services, these services involve collecting samples in specialized kits that can be costly and waiting days or weeks for results. 

“Given the risks and the critical decision-making parents face around breastfeeding and medication use, we wanted to create a tool that empowers them with real-time, personalized information rather than leaving them to rely on generalized drug-safety charts or delayed lab testing,” says Mousavi.  

The team hopes that the smart lactation pad can help parents make more informed decisions about breastfeeding after taking medications, such as optimizing the “pump and dump” strategy or discarding breast milk when drug levels are the highest.    

In addition to painkillers, the authors note that new mothers are also commonly prescribed antibiotics or antifungals, and although these medications are generally considered safe to take while breastfeeding, they aren’t always benign.  

While the version of the smart pad described in this study was developed to measure acetaminophen, Mousavi says that it can be adapted to detect other drugs and biomarkers for assessing health. For example, Mousavi and colleagues recently demonstrated another lactation pad with an embedded sensor designed to monitor glucose levels in breast milk—a function which she says could help parents manage their nutrition and address conditions such as gestational diabetes.  

Currently, the device is only able to measure milk produced from natural leakage, meaning its applications may be limited when little leakage occurs. The pads are also disposable, so a new lactation pad is required for each new test. The researchers are currently working to develop a version of the device that analyzes pumped milk to offer a more accessible and convenient testing option for parents. 

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Device, Mohamed et al.,“Safer breastfeeding with a wearable sensor for maternal acetaminophen transfer through breast milk.” https://www.cell.com/device/fulltext/S2666-9986(25)00087-0

Device (@Device_CP), is a physical science journal from Cell Press along with Chem, Joule, and Matter. Device aims to be the breakthrough journal to support device- and application-oriented research from all disciplines, including applied physics, applied materials, nanotechnology, robotics, energy research, chemistry, and biotechnology under a single title that focuses on the integration of these diverse disciplines in the creation of the cutting-edge technology of tomorrow. Visit http://www.cell.com/device/home. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com. 

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Journal

Device

DOI

10.1016/j.device.2025.100774 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Safer breastfeeding with a wearable sensor for maternal acetaminophen transfer through breast milk

Article Publication Date

7-May-2025

 

Specialized face mask can detect kidney disease with just your breath

American Chemical Society

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Embedded between the fabric layers of this FFP2-style face mask is a specialized gas sensor that could help diagnose chronic kidney disease from a person’s breath.

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Credit: Adapted from ACS Sensors 2025, DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c03227

Surgical face masks help prevent the spread of airborne pathogens and therefore were ubiquitous during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a modified mask could also protect a wearer by detecting health conditions, including chronic kidney disease. Researchers reporting in ACS Sensors incorporated a specialized breath sensor within the fabric of a face mask to detect metabolites associated with the disease. In initial tests, the sensor correctly identified people with the condition most of the time.

Kidneys remove waste products made by the body’s metabolic processes. But in the case of chronic kidney disease (CKD), these organs have become damaged and lose function over time, which can have wide-ranging implications on a person’s health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 35 million Americans have CKD, and many more could have the disease without knowing it, possibly at an early stage. Currently, medical professionals diagnose the condition by measuring metabolites in blood or urine, but low-cost, low-tech systems, like the ones made from specialized candies, could make the process easier.

Chemical breath sensors are another diagnostic tool currently being explored because people with CKD exhale elevated levels of ammonia — a chemical associated with the condition. However, ammonia is also associated with other health conditions. Corrado Di Natale and colleagues wanted to create a specific sensor that simultaneously detects ammonia and other CKD-related metabolites.

For ease of use, they incorporated the sensor into a familiar form: a surgical face mask. To create the breath sensor, the team first coated silver electrodes with a conductive polymer that is commonly used in chemical sensors. The polymer was modified with porphyrins — molecules sensitive to volatile compounds — to boost the sensitivity. The coated electrodes were placed between the layers of a disposable medical face mask, and wires connected the device to an electronic readout. When select gases interacted with this specialized polymer, it caused a measurable change of electrical resistance. These initial experiments in air confirmed the high sensitivity of the sensor for CKD-related metabolites, including ammonia, ethanol, propanol and acetone.

Then the specialized face masks were tested on 100 individuals. About half of the participants had a CKD diagnosis, and the other half (the control group) did not. The sensors detected several compounds in the participants’ breath, and statistical analysis of the data revealed a clear pattern distinguishing the participants with CKD from the control group. The team’s sensor correctly identified when a patient had CKD 84% of the time (true positive) and that a patient did not have CKD 88% of the time (true negative). In addition, the results suggest that the sensor data can be used to estimate the stage of CKD, which could be highly valuable in the diagnostic process.

The researchers say that these findings present the potential for straightforward, non-invasive and cost-effective monitoring of CKD patients.

“The implementation of this technology is expected to enhance the management of CKD patients by facilitating the timely identification of changes in disease progression,” say Sergio Bernardini and Annalisa Noce, coauthors of the study.

The authors acknowledge funding from the European Union’s NextGenerationEU project.

The paper’s abstract will be available on May 7 at 8 a.m. Eastern time here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acssensors.4c03227  

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The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, e-books and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Registered journalists can subscribe to the ACS journalist news portal on EurekAlert! to access embargoed and public science press releases. For media inquiries, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note: ACS does not conduct research but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.

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Journal

ACS Sensors

DOI

10.1021/acssensors.4c03227 

Article Title

Disposable Sensor Array Embedded in Facemasks for the Identification of Chronic Kidney Disease

Article Publication Date

7-May-2025

 

Chronic illnesses such as asthma and allergies have psychological impacts

May issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology explores mental health concerns

American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (May 7, 2025) – People who have struggled with asthma or allergies for years understand the psychological toll of these conditions. The May issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (Annals), the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, explores the mental health burden these conditions can exact.

“The diseases we treat in allergy/immunology are primarily chronic illnesses and they often have a psychological impact on those who suffer from them,” says allergist Mitchell Grayson, MD, editor in chief of Annals. “Sometimes, as doctors, we focus on the diagnosis and treatment of the disease but don’t realize the suffering that the patient is undergoing. Fear and anxiety can be major components of allergic diseases and can greatly interfere with successful treatment of the underlying disease. In this issue we explore the mental health impacts of atopic dermatitis, food allergy, and asthma. We not only describe the mental health impacts on patients, but also (and more importantly) explore ways in which clinicians can mitigate these effects leading to better care for their patients.”

Below are summaries from the abstracts of three of the mental health articles featured in the May issue of Annals:

Title: Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: Recognizing and Addressing Mental Health Burden

“The psychosocial burden of atopic dermatitis (AD) is extensive, stemming from intense itch, sleep disturbance, unpredictable flares, social stigma, treatment burden, lifestyle restrictions and missed activities…Although depression and anxiety are known comorbidities of AD, the mental health burden of AD often goes unaddressed, which may further a sense of isolation for patients and families. Given the strong association between symptom severity and increased mental health burden, optimizing AD treatment and reducing itch are critical. Health care professionals can support patients with AD and their caregivers by encouraging open conversations about mental health, addressing common areas of condition-related stress, screening for depression and anxiety, and facilitating referrals to mental health professionals for further assessment and evidence-based care…Further research is needed to  evaluate psychological interventions for pediatric patients with AD and for patients with clinical diagnoses of depression and anxiety to better guide shared decision-making around support for these patients.”

Title: Managing Childhood Asthma with an Eye Toward Environmental, Social and Behavioral Features

“Discussions around asthma management tend to focus on the therapeutic aspects… However, there are many other components of asthma management that are now receiving increased attention as we seek to make right on health disparities and strive towards health equity…On the other hand, we know very little about what we can do to control the other inflammatory features that contribute to asthma. Factors, such as environmental exposures, social determinants of health and risk-taking behaviors may be at the root of asthma persistence, progression and co-morbidities. We continue to learn about methods to identify these issues and draw them into a shared decision-making approach to dialogue with patients and their caregivers. In this review, we provide information and available tools to address these non-pharmacologic aspects of asthma management.”

Title: Want to Help Your Patients with Food Allergy Anxiety? Do Proximity Challenges!

“In their landmark paper published nearly a decade ago, Dinakar and colleagues recommended that food allergists incorporate proximity food challenges into clinical practice to improve patient knowledge and anxiety. Such challenges are akin to the exposure tasks routinely employed in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), the first-line psychosocial intervention for anxiety disorders. Exposure is a therapy technique where a person…directly, strategically, and repeatedly confronts their feared object, situation, or activity in real life... Following a summary of the history and evidence-base for exposure in both the psychiatric and food allergy literature, we review several considerations related to conducting in-office proximity challenges. Topics include assessment of anxiety and medically unnecessary avoidance, choosing appropriate, individualized proximity challenges based on patient presentation, and practical considerations in carrying out in-office proximity challenges to maximize benefit to anxious patients.”

Dr. Grayson noted on the topic of theme issues, “Theme issues allow Annals the opportunity to highlight a specific issue, disease, or concept in a way where the reader gets a more concentrated exposure. This makes for a better reader experience and allows the reader to better focus on the specific topic of the issue. Having themes also allows readers to pull specific issues that contain the information they are interested in when they need that information. In addition, Annals has online article collections (at www.annallergy.org)  where readers can find groupings of articles (from multiple theme issues).”

About ACAAI

The ACAAI is the premier professional medical organization of more than 6,000 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. The College fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy, and research. ACAAI allergists are board-certified physicians trained to diagnose allergies and asthma, administer immunotherapy, and provide patients with the best treatment outcomes. For more information and to find relief, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter/X and Threads.

 

 

 

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Journal

Annals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology

Article Title

Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

Article Publication Date

7-May-2025

 

Treatment for panic disorder has a good long-term effect

Patients report they continued to experience improvement weeks after the treatment was first undertaken

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

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Patients report that they feel even better long after treatment than immediately after the therapy, says researcher and psychology specialist Kristen Hagen from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

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Credit: Kristen Hagen, NTNU

Panic attacks can be extremely unpleasant and can cause intense fear. If you experience these attacks regularly, professionals call it panic disorder.

A method to treat the disorder was developed some time ago in Bergen. It runs over four days and is called the Bergen 4-Day Treatment (B4DT) .

Previous research has confirmed that this treatment is a good method to quickly help patients with panic disorder. One week after treatment, almost 90 per cent of patients experience a clear improvement.

But what about the long-term effect? New research has good news to report.

Amazing results

"It turns out that the improvement not only persists, but it actually gets stronger over time for many," said Kristen Hagen, a psychologist and associate professor at NTNU. Hagen is the project manager and senior author of two studies recently published in BMC Psychiatry.

"With long-term follow-up, patients report that they feel even better – than immediately after therapy and at the follow-up three months after," says Hagen.

"The fact that patients get even better over time is simply remarkable," he says.

[caption id="attachment_85907" align="aligncenter" width="610"] Patients report that they feel even better long after treatment than immediately after the therapy, says psychology specialist Kristen Hagen. Photo: Private[/caption]

The studies also show that the treatment not only reduces panic disorder symptoms, but also symptoms of general anxiety and depression.

Hagen says that despite the good results of the studies, they need to be confirmed with a larger number of patients.

How the treatment works

Instead of dragging the treatment over many weeks, the B4DT method is carried out intensively over four days in the same week.

Three to six patients meet in groups with a corresponding number of therapists.

The patients receive tailored treatment where they practice seeking out symptoms, situations and situations that can trigger anxiety. The patient has often avoided these situations for a long time.

In this therapy, patients face the difficult in a different and more appropriate way. This gives patients insight into the fact that it is the panic disorder and not real causes that have made them fear situations.

Almost 9 out of 10 patients report great improvement with this method. They have minimal symptoms and function relatively well in everyday life afterwards.

The method was developed to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, but has been adapted to treat other mental disorders such as panic disorder.

References: Thorstein Olsen Eide, Bjarne Hansen, Kay Morten Hjelle, Stian Solem, Michael G. Wheaton, Thröstur Björgvinsson, Gerd Kvale & Kristen Hagen: The Bergen 4-day treatment for panic disorder: a longer-term follow-up BMC Psychiatry

Thorstein Olsen Eide, Thorbjørn Olsen, Hans Hansen, Bjarne Hansen, Stian Solem & Kristen Hagen: The Bergen 4-Day Treatment for panic disorder patients in a rural clinical setting: a long-term follow-up study BMC Psychiatry

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Journal

BMC Psychiatry

DOI

10.1186/s12888-025-06527-7 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

The bergen 4-day treatment for panic disorder: a longer-term follow-up

Inclusive peer support groups are expanding at US colleges, but stable funding is needed

A new study found that collegiate recovery programs that have multiple sources of funding served twice as many students as programs with only one source of funding

Boston University School of Public Health

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A new study found that collegiate recovery programs that have multiple sources of funding served twice as many students as programs with only one source of funding. These programs, particularly those that offer support groups for students in all stages and types of recovery, can serve as a lifeline during the challenging college experience. 

As colleges and universities continue to prioritize student mental health and well-being, collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) are emerging as a vital component of these efforts for students recovering from substance use disorders and behavioral addictions. A new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher presents a foundational assessment of CRPs’ structure and programming, lending insight into how academic institutions can strengthen and sustain these chronically underfunded, but critically needed, programs. 

The study is the first to acquire this data through the lens of program directors, who are better positioned than students to identify CRPs’ operational and funding needs.

Published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, the study revealed important differences in the programs’ reach, based on the number of their funding sources; CRPs that had multiple funding sources served twice as many students as CRPs that relied on only a single source. These programs were also more likely to provide dedicated space and relapse management support to students. All Recovery meetings, which are inclusive support groups open to people exploring different forms of recovery and in all stages of the recovery process, were the most common type of mutual-aid support groups in CRPs. 

The finding that All Recovery meetings were the most common support group on college campuses came as a surprise to the researchers, who were expecting to see a greater proportion of traditional support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). All Recovery meetings lack a centralized structure, and there is little data about their effectiveness, but this new data suggest that this alternative form of support is an effective one by providing a welcoming space for students on different recovery journeys to connect and heal together as they navigate their shared college experience.

“As a nation, we are looking for ways to have an impact on the addiction crisis in the US,”  says study lead and corresponding author Dr. Noel Vest, assistant professor of community health sciences at BUSPH. “Collegiate recovery programs offer one ray of hope by offering multiple resources and opportunities to combat this issue in an environment where excessive alcohol and drug use are normalized and pervasive. The steady presence of CRPs not only assists students in recovery during their time in college, it reduces the stigmas associated with recovery in college that might otherwise deter these students from seeking help.”

Without multiple streams of funding, these programs may not withstand times of financial uncertainty, he says.

“CRPs that have to rely on a single source of funding may be in tenuous positions if that funding dissolves,” Dr. Vest says. “Our findings really underscore the need for diversified and sustainable funding for these programs.”

For the study, Dr. Vest and colleagues administered a survey to 70 CRP directors across the US and Canada, asking them to share details about their program, including physical features of their sites on campus, as well as policy and program offerings, and funding sources. CRPs provide a variety of support services, including physical gathering spaces, academic assistance, peer mentoring, and substance-free housing.

The program directors were predominantly non-Hispanic, White, and female, and 15 percent represented gender and sexual minorities. The highest number of directors were from colleges or universities in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina.

CRPs with two or more funding sources had more drop-in centers than CRPs with only one funding source (although the team did not observe a difference in staff size or level of peer mentorship), as well as more policies in place to manage students who relapsed and a greater proportion of recovery housing.

About 67 percent of program directors reported that their CRP provided All Recovery meetings. All Recovery meetings meet students where they are—physically, emotionally, and behaviorally—and aim to reduce the negative consequences of addiction and mental health through the lens of the student experience rather than focusing on total abstinence from substance use. 

With support and advocacy from the Association of Recovery in Higher Education, CRPs have surged in popularity, with nearly 150 programs operating on college campuses across the country. It is critical that these programs receive adequate funding to address the needs of the estimated 650,000 college students in recovery. The researchers hope the new findings inform state and federal policies that promote student health and enable college students to have reliable and consistent access to a variety of recovery services—for the benefit of the students, as well as their college campus and the greater community. In Massachusetts, for example, a proposed bill aims to provide housing, counseling, mentoring, peer support, and overdose training to public colleges and universities.

“As a marginalized group with histories of trauma, college students in recovery are struggling in many different ways and put in a lot of work to get to college,” Dr. Vest says. “They put in a lot of work to get to college, and collegiate recovery programs provide the space and tools for success once they arrive.”

The study's senior author is Dr. Keith Humphreys, Esther Ting Memorial Professor and professor, by courtesy, of health policy at Stanford University. The study was coauthored by Ms. Michelle Flesaker, research fellow in the Department of Epidemiology at BUSPH; Dr. Robert Bohler, assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy & Community Health at the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern University; Dr. Christine Timko, senior research career scientist at the Veterans Administration Health Services Research and Development Service and affiliated clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine; Dr. John Kelly, psychologist and professor of psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital; and Dr. Michael Stein, BUSPH dean ad interim.

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About Boston University School of Public Health 

Founded in 1976, Boston University School of Public Health is one of the top ten ranked schools of public health in the world. It offers master's- and doctoral-level education in public health. The faculty in six departments conduct policy-changing public health research around the world, with the mission of improving the health of populations—especially the disadvantaged, underserved, and vulnerable—locally and globally. 

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Journal

Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

DOI

10.15288/jsad.24-00207 

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Characterizing Collegiate Recovery Programs in the US and Canada: A Survey of Program Directors

Article Publication Date

7-May-2025