Health

Researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have uncovered a surprising player in autophagy, or the “self-eating” process that removes damaged parts of cells that can pave the way for developing therapies for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson`s, and cancer.  Autophagy is a key biological process where cells clear out damaged and unwanted materials. When a cell fails to clear waste, its health suffers, especially in long-lived neurons. The autophagy pathway, which removes damaged material and defends against infections, is disrupted in diseases like Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s. In cancer, autophagy plays dual roles. Autophagy initially prevents cancer but later supports tumour growth. Autophagy also acts as a tumour suppressor by maintaini...

Researchers have identified a previously overlooked protein that helps regulate appetite and energy use in the body. This "helper" protein supports a key system that decides whether the body burns energy or stores it, and when it does not function properly, appetite signals can weaken. New research suggests that a protein the body relies on to manage appetite and energy levels cannot function on its own. Instead, it depends on a partner protein to work properly. This discovery could help scientists better understand how genetic factors contribute to obesity. In a study published in Science Signalling on December 16, an international research team led by scientists at the University of Birmingham examined how a helper protein known as MRAP2 supports an appetite-regulating protein called...

Air pollution is no longer just an environmental concern; it is steadily shortening life expectancy, reducing productivity and quality of life, said health experts here on Thursday, even as the national capital has been witnessing deteriorating air quality for over a month.  Visuals from different parts of Delhi and the NCR showed sharply reduced visibility as dense smog engulfed roads, residential areas, and public spaces, affecting daily movement and raising health concerns among residents. Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 356, as per data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The experts noted that prolonged exposure to air pollution is eroding India’s economic growth while triggering a sharp rise in serious health conditions such as stroke, cardiovascular disea...

In a remarkable achievement, doctors in Pune have successfully saved the life of a 23-week premature baby boy weighing only 550 grams at birth, and complications like breathing difficulties.   The baby, delivered after premature rupture of membranes at a private hospital in Kondhwa, required immediate life support. The NICU transport team, also known as “NICU on wheels”, retrieved the extremely premature newborn in a specialised neonatal ambulance. After 100 days of care, the baby was discharged at 37 weeks, weighing 2.2 kgs, breastfeeding well, and showing a healthy developmental progress. The couple, who were expecting their first child, and eagerly looking forward to parenthood had to face a challenge. They never imagined that their joyful journey would suddenly turn into fear and un...

Even as the bird flu virus H5N1 is evolving rapidly, with the potential to become a significant threat to human health, a team of Indian researchers using an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based model has decoded how the deadly virus can actually spillover to humans.  In the study, published in the BMC Public Health journal, the team used BharatSim -- an ultra-large-scale agent-based simulation framework for infectious diseases that was originally built for Covid-19 modelling -- to describe the sequential stages of a zoonotic spillover. “We modelled the possibility of initial spillover events of H5N1 from birds to humans, followed by sustained human-to-human transmission,” said Philip Cherian and Gautam I. Menon from the Department of Physics at the Haryana-based Ashoka University, in the ...

While cheese -- high in saturated fat and sodium -- is known to raise the risk of high cholesterol or blood pressure, a new study has linked it to a lower risk of developing dementia.  The study, published in the journal Neurology, showed that some high-fat dairy products, such as cheddar, Brie, and Gouda, as well as whipping cream, double cream, and clotted cream, may actually lower the risk of dementia. The findings challenge some long-held assumptions about fat and brain health. However, researchers from Lund University, Sweden, clarified that “the study does not prove that eating high-fat cheese and high-fat cream lowers the risk of dementia, it only shows an association”. Researchers analysed data from 27,670 people in Sweden with an average age of 58 at the start of the study. The...

A team of researchers from Bose Institute in Kolkata has developed a peptide therapy that offers a promising, multidisciplinary approach to treating fungal keratitis -- a severe, sight-threatening infection of the cornea -- the clear front part of the eye.  The team, including researchers from the L V Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, designed a 15-residue peptide, named SA-XV, derived from a larger host-defense peptide -- S100A12. This peptide, previously shown to inhibit fungal growth, has been characterised for its antifungal potency and mechanism of action. Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the researchers hailed the new therapy as an alternative to antimycotics (antifungals) with reduced side effects. Corneal infections, often referred to as a slow epidemic, affect...

Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have identified a new pathway involving nanoparticles to treat Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), said the Ministry of Science & Technology on Tuesday.  Conventional Alzheimer’s therapies often target only a single pathological feature, such as amyloid aggregation or oxidative stress, yielding limited clinical benefit. However, the new therapy involves nanoparticles that integrate polyphenol with antioxidant properties found in green tea, a neurotransmitter, and an amino acid. It has the potential to treat Alzheimer’s Disease by changing the path of the progression of the disease, slowing it, improving memory, and supporting thinking skills, said the researchers in the paper, published in the journal Small. The ther...

Winter can feel like a natural time to slow down, but when profound fatigue, bone pain, and persistent low mood set in, it might be more than just the winter blues. This complex set of symptoms is often dismissed, yet experts warn they could be subtle indicators of one of the most widespread nutritional deficiencies: Vitamin D deficiency.  As sunlight exposure dwindles in the colder months, the body`s primary way of producing this essential nutrient is impaired, leading to consequences that affect everything from energy levels and immune function to bone health.  This winter, medical experts guide you through the latest diagnostic standards, the non-deficiency causes of fatigue, and the practical steps you can take to maximise your health and vitality throughout the winter and into the n...

A two-year-old baby boy was successfully treated by doctors in Pune after accidentally ingesting acetic acid, a corrosive household cleaning chemical that caused severe burns to his mouth, food pipe, chest, genitals and groin.  It all happened on this Children’s Day, when the two-year-old boy from Satara, met a life-threatening emergency when he accidentally ingested acetic acid, turning an ordinary day for his family into a nightmare within minutes. The corrosive liquid stored in a drinking water bottle burned his lips, oral cavity and food pipe and left painful chemical injuries on his chest and groin.  As the child gasped for breath, crying in severe pain, his frightened parents watched helplessly, unable to understand what was happening or how their playful toddler had suddenly slippe...