Health

Immune cells within a brain tumour could be taking control of sugar metabolism, breaking down fructose to suppress immune responses and promote tumour growth, a study has found. Published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study is the first to identify a sugar metabolism driving immune suppression in glioblastoma, an aggressive, rapidly growing malignant tumour in the brain, researchers said. They suggested blocking how fructose gets broken down in specialised immune cells may improve a patient`s response to immunotherapy and outcomes. "Across several mouse models, when we removed the fructose transporter, the tumours simply didn`t grow," senior author Jason Miska, assistant professor of neurological surgery at Northwestern University`s school of medici...

Mumbai doctors have successfully given renewed hope to Rajiv Varwade, who was rendered quadriplegic after a devastating neck injury causing severe spinal cord compression, to stand and walk again. In the face of a grave prognosis and a prolonged lack of medical treatment, he underwent a complex, high-risk cervical spine surgery that has been miraculous for him.  Varwade sustained a life-threatening injury while returning home from work when an object suddenly came in his path, causing him to fall from his motorcycle. The impact resulted in a fracture of the cervical spine with severe compression of the spinal cord, leaving him paralysed below the shoulders. Injuries of this magnitude are associated with extremely high mortality and profound, often permanent neurological loss (like Christo...

For millions of observers worldwide, the post-Iftar slump is as much a part of Ramadan as the fast itself. We’ve all seen it: the heavy lethargy that hits right as the call for Taraweeh prayers begins. Traditional fried favourites like samosas and pakoras are cultural staples, but nutritionally, they are often energy thieves. They provide a momentary burst of satisfaction only to rob the body of the stamina needed. Amid the ongoing month of Ramadan, nutrition experts move beyond the standard ‘don`t eat fried food’ lecture that many find impossible to follow. Instead, they offer a high-performance blueprint for Iftar—to aid sustained energy, mental sharpness, and overall wellbeing. Phase 1: Waking up the digestive system During a prolonged fasting period, the human digestive system essen...

Remotely changing the composition of the gut microbiome by stimulating the vagus nerve, which sends signals from the gut to the brain, may help reverse ageing-related memory loss, according to a new study. Studies are looking at the gut for solutions to health issues arising due to ageing. "We wanted to understand why some very old people remain cognitively sharp while other people see significant declines beginning in their 50s or 60s," senior author Christoph Thaiss, assistant professor of pathology at Stanford University, said. "We learned that the timeline of memory decline is not hardwired; it`s actively modulated in the body, and the gastrointestinal tract is a critical regulator of this process," Thaiss said. The study in mice, published in the journal Nature, showed that compos...

A study has found that a women`s risk of developing dementia may be predicted 25 years before symptoms begin through a test of a blood-based biomarker called `phosphorylated tau 217` -- a protein linked to the brain changes seen in Alzheimer`s disease. Higher levels of phosphorylated tau 217, or p-tau217, were strongly associated with future mild cognitive impairment and dementia -- of which Alzheimer`s disease is the most common form -- among older women who were cognitively healthy at the study`s start. "Our study suggests we may be able to identify women at elevated risk for dementia decades before symptoms emerge," first author Aladdin H. Shadyab, associate professor of public health and medicine at the University of California San Diego, said. Source link

Talegaon: A 59-year-old hypertensive woman from Pune has regained normal breathing after battling a rare tracheal tumour. Struggling with progressive shortness of breath and stridor (noisy breathing), she received timely care at TGH Onco Life Cancer Centre, Talegaon Dabhade. Under the expertise of Dr Utkarsh R. Ajgaonkar, Dr Vivek Bande, Dr Ashish Bawiskar, Dr Madhura, and Dr Vishvas Koul, thoracoscopic-assisted tracheal resection restored her airway and quality of life, showcasing the impact of advanced minimally invasive surgery for rare airway cancers. Alka Deshmukh, a homemaker and resident of Talegaon, had been experiencing progressively worsening breathing difficulties for nearly a month. She initially consulted a chest physician, who advised a CT scan of the chest. The scan reveal...

A Mumbai couple, married for five years and trying to conceive for over a year, had been silently struggling with infertility because of sexual health challenges. Through personalised treatment, advanced reproductive techniques, and empathetic counselling, they recently welcomed a healthy baby boy. The husband was a known case of Type 2 Diabetes and suffered from erectile dysfunction, while the wife had been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and vaginismus. Due to vaginismus, a condition that causes involuntary tightening of vaginal muscles, making examinations and intercourse difficult, she initially found it difficult to even undergo internal examinations. With reassurance and gradual counselling by the clinical team, she was able to tolerate transvaginal ultrasonography a...

The Indian cricket team won a thrilling T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. While cheering for India, many fans also witnessed the impressive fitness levels of players such as Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya.   While their fitness routines are intense, Mumbai-based health experts, including sports medicine specialists, say you can bring elements of cricket fitness to your work desk. With long working hours becoming common, they say you can do some exercises during short breaks at work.   To know more, mid-day.com spoke to Dr Gazanfar Patel, who is the senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai Central, and Dr Anup Khatri, senior consultant, orthopaedics, Gleneagles...

The government has issued a draft Gazette Notification proposing amendments to avoid duplicate viral testing of blood products and invited public comments on it, an official statement said on Wednesday.  The amendment aims to align regulatory requirements for testing of blood products with internationally accepted pharmacopeial standards and to remove additional testing requirements on products that are not warranted under global best practices, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in the statement. The amendments were proposed to "Para G (Testing of Blood Products), Part XII C, Schedule F of the Drugs Rules 1945". The ministry described the move as a step toward regulatory harmonisation, scientific rationalisation of testing requirements and reduction of avoidable compliance ...

In an era of high-stress careers and constant digital connectivity, a good night’s sleep has become a luxury. This desperation has fuelled a massive surge in melatonin gummies — brightly coloured, sweet-tasting supplements marketed as a harmless, natural way to drift off. But Indian medical experts are sounding the alarm: melatonin is no simple vitamin; it’s a potent neuro-hormone, and unregulated use is disrupting the very systems it’s meant to help. Ahead of World Sleep Day on March 13, leading pulmonologists are raising red flags about the growing misuse of these popular gummy supplements. The hormone myth: Understanding the biology of sleep The first step in understanding the risk is correcting a common misconception: melatonin is not a vitamin. As Dr Salil Bendre, director of pulmon...