Health

A research team from Nagaland University, the only Central university in the state, has partnered with an Assam-based private varsity to carry out the first comprehensive scientific study on Goniothalamussimonsii, an endangered and endemic medicinal plant found in the forests of Meghalaya. Long used by indigenous communities to treat gastrointestinal complications, throat irritation, typhoid fever, and malaria, this plant had never before been studied for its scientific or pharmacological potential. Nagaland University officials said that the study provides scientific validation for the plant’s traditional use and reveals that G. simonsii is a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals with potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. Using advanced analytical tools and co...

A team of researchers from Japan has successfully treated spinal fractures in animal models using stem cells from fatty tissue.  The team from the Osaka Metropolitan University used stem cells extracted from adipose -- the body’s fatty tissue -- to treat spine fractures in rats similar to those caused by osteoporosis in humans. These cells offer the advantages of being easy to collect, even from elderly individuals, and causing little stress to the body, suggesting a non-invasive way of treating bone diseases. Bone regeneration and strength were significantly improved in rats transplanted with the adipose tissue (ADSCs). The genes involved in bone formation and regeneration were also activated. The study was published in Bone and Joint Research. “This study has revealed the potential ...

Medical specialists have warned residents of Delhi-NCR about a severe health crisis triggered by the high air pollution in the region. Dr Arvind Kumar, Thoracic (Chest) Surgeon & Lung Health Specialist, Medanta Hospital, said that hospitals are seeing a spike in cases related to effect of pollution The NCR Region faces poor air quality with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 345 at 8 am. on Monday, placing the national capital firmly in the `very poor` category. While talking to ANI, Dr Arvind Kumar described how hospitals are overwhelmed with respiratory cases, especially among children, due to air pollution. It includes symptoms like cough, cold, fever and difficulty breathing. "There are patients all around. Everywhere, children are being brought to hospitals coughing, snee...

"We have discovered the secret of life," said American scientist James Watson in 1962, along with Maurice Wilkins and Francis Crick, as the trio shared the Physiology and Medicine Nobel Prize for the DNA`s double helix structure discovery.  Famous geneticist Watson, who died at 97 as confirmed by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in the US -- where he worked and researched for decades -- was associated with one of the greatest breakthroughs of the 20th century. Although DNA was discovered in 1869, it took scientists until 1943 to discover that it made up the genetic material in cells. To date, the structure of DNA remains a mystery. Watson died on Thursday, November 6 (US time) after a brief illness, according to a statement from his former employer. “I think early on, I wanted to do some...

Cheeseburgers are extremely mouthwatering and that is what makes them tempt each and every one of us who loves cheese or burgers. While the classic cheeseburger has delicious ingredients that include two buns loaded with a ground beef patty, melted cheese, juicy tomatoes, lettuce, and onions, the vegetarian versions, have also become popular over time. However, Mumbai doctors say you may have to reconsider everything you love about the delicious version of the burger, for the sake of your health.  Interestingly, the glorious burger enjoys many different days to celebrate the creation including International Burger Day May 28, National Burger Day on August 21, and most recently National Cheeseburger Day on September 18. While there are many different types, the latter is easily the most de...

Antimicrobial peptides can control pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli -- a major cause of foodborne diseases -- and can also act as an alternative to antibiotics to help combat increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR).   Antimicrobial peptides, which are short chains of amino acids, have the potential to kill harmful bacteria without inducing resistance to antibiotics. The findings show that antimicrobial peptides have the potential to improve food safety and protect public health without relying on antibiotic use. “Antimicrobial peptides have the potential to be alternatives to antibiotics and thereby could mitigate antibiotic resistance,” said corresponding study author Gireesh Rajashekara, Professor at College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “The...

Having a neurodevelopmental condition such as autism and ADHD could be related with a nearly five times higher chance of dying before age 25, compared to those without, according to a study conducted in New Zealand. While relative risk between the two groups is high, it is important to remember that deaths in this group remain rare, said lead author Nick Bowden, from the University of Otago`s department of paediatrics and child health. Symptoms of neurodevelopmental conditions can emerge in early childhood, impairing one`s development in skills such as language, communication or behaviour. Social communication and behaviour is affected in autism, while ability to pay attention and focus on a task and emotion regulation is impaired in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Usi...

India had the second-highest number of people with chronic kidney disease in 2023 at 138 million, following China at 152 million, according to a global study published in The Lancet journal. The condition was the ninth-leading cause of death and claimed nearly 15 lakh lives globally the same year, researchers led by those at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington and other institutes in the US and UK found. The highest prevalence was seen in North Africa and the Middle East at 18 per cent each, nearly 16 per cent in South Asia and over 15 per cent in each of Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. Chronic kidney disease is a major contributor to heart disease and accounted for almost 12 per cent of cardiovascular deaths aro...

For millions, the vibrant energy of Diwali and the festive season —the sudden roar of fireworks, the dazzling blaze of lights, non-stop festive music, and the whirl of intense socialising—can feel less like a celebration and more like a sensory ambush. This high-octane environment, while a source of joy for extroverts, often triggers extreme anxiety, exhaustion, and burnout for introverts and the socially anxious. Your nervous system is genuinely being taxed, not by a lack of spirit, but by sheer overload. This festive season don`t just white-knuckle your way through the gatherings. Instead, mental health professionals offer therapeutic, evidence-based strategies designed to help you not just survive the dazzling chaos but actually find moments of genuine peace and potentially even enjoy ...

The 40s age group marks a pivotal and high-risk decade for women`s breast health. Defined by significant hormonal shifts, demanding careers, and active family lives, this decade requires women to navigate confusing bodily changes while maintaining vigilance for subtle cancer signs. Medical guidance is moving beyond routine screening, emphasising the critical need for women to proactively understand their bodies, know their individual risk profiles, and advocate for personalised care.  While October is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month every year, India also observes National Cancer Awareness Day on November 7, and there can never be enough awareness around any type including breast cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) underscores the seriousness of this challenge, noting t...