Health

A team of scientists in Australia, led by those of Indian origin, has developed a new once-a-week injectable drug that could transform the lives of more than eight million people living with Parkinson`s disease, potentially replacing the need for multiple daily tablets.  Frequent dosing is a burden, especially for elderly patients or those with swallowing difficulties, leading to inconsistent medication levels, more side effects, and reduced effectiveness. To address this, the team from the University of South Australia (UniSA) developed a long-acting injectable formulation that delivers a steady dose of levodopa and carbidopa -- two key medications for Parkinson`s -- over an entire week. The biodegradable formulation is injected under the skin or into muscle tissue, where it gradually ...

While there are rights for people with disabilities, parents or caregivers are often faced with stress that can significantly affect their physical, mental, and financial conditions, finds a study by researchers from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, on Thursday. The study suggests providing parents or caregivers raising a child with developmental disabilities like autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with proper support systems for their well-being. Published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, the team investigated how the continuous demands of caregiving impact parent’s physical health, ultimately affecting their overall quality of life. The research showed that raising children with developmental disabilities presents...

A study has identified four distinct clusters of symptoms, including psychiatric and cardiovascular, that can progressively lead to Alzheimer`s disease -- an ageing-related condition in which memory and speech steadily declines, eventually disrupting daily activities. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, US, said the study offers new insights into how the disorder can develop over time rather than from isolated risk factors. "We found that multi-step trajectories can indicate greater risk factors for Alzheimer`s disease than single conditions," first author Mingzhou Fu, a medical informatics pre-doctoral student at the University of California, said. "Understanding these pathways could fundamentally change how we approach early detection and prevention," Fu said. ...

As people deal with many different sicknesses, it is often difficult to find hope not only for the patient but also for their family members. However, modern medical advances have made it possible to treat what was once thought to be difficult and may be impossible too.  In the most recent cases from this week, an elderly Mumbai man experienced relief after city doctors removed a tumour from his heart, helping him lead a normal life. Doctors at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital gave a new lease of life to a 74-year-old man from Mumbai, who was diagnosed with a lemon sized tumour (5x5 cm) inside his heart along with severe artery blockage after a simple ECG investigation. Using advanced Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS), the surgical team successfully removed the tumour and r...

A new study has mapped how different body parts communicate with each other under physiological stress, such as during exercise or sleep deprivation, which researchers say could one day help diagnose an illness earlier. Researchers at the University of Portsmouth and University College London, UK, said the study encourages a "whole-body" view of physiology, instead of focusing on isolated measurements such as heart or breathing rate. Using `transfer entropy` -- a method of monitoring body signals -- a complex network of maps was created showing which body parts act as `information hubs` under different stress conditions, the team explained. For example, during exercise, the heart -- which is working hard to pump blood to muscles -- receives the most input from other systems and therefor...

While cancer has seen some significant advancements in treatments that have shown promise and increased lifespan, these may also cause serious side effects, which can affect quality of life. A new study by researchers from Australia is shedding new light on the reasons behind these side effects, Xinhua news agency reported. The team from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Melbourne discovered that the protein MCL-1 -- a key target in cancer drug development -- plays not only a role in preventing cell death in cancer cells but also supplying energy to normal cells. As a result, drugs that inhibit MCL-1 can inadvertently damage healthy tissues that rely on this protein for energy, especially in organs with high energy demand like the heart and liver, leading to ...

A Mumbai hospital has successfully performed a rare and intricate heart surgery on an 18-month-old child diagnosed with a large ventricular septal defect (VSD) along with an exceptionally uncommon coronary artery anomaly. The child was brought to Dr Supratim Sen, senior consultant paediatric cardiologist at Narayana Health SRCC Children`s Hospital, Mumbai - OPD, with symptoms including poor weight gain, frequent respiratory infections, and delayed developmental milestones. A detailed cardiac evaluation revealed not only a significant VSD—an abnormal opening in the heart’s ventricular septum—but also raised suspicions of a rare condition involving the coronary arteries. Normally, the coronary arteries originate from the aorta and supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. In this case, howeve...

Bureaucracy vs Biology: The Two Speeds of European Healthcare Finland is demonstrating a different approach to modern healthcare—one that prioritizes accessibility, respect, and efficiency. In contrast to the often complex and delayed systems in many parts of Europe, Finnish providers are enabling patients to access treatment for sensitive issues like erectile dysfunction and obesity through secure, digital means. This approach reduces the need for in-person visits, long queues, and administrative barriers. In particular, the clinic Medilux has established a fully remote model for treating erectile dysfunction. Using secure identity verification via BankID, patients can consult licensed physicians online and receive prescriptions directly within Finland’s national digital system, Kanta. ...

With the monsoon season underway, experts have said there is a surge in viral fevers and other seasonal infections during this time of the year. Prolonged fever, often neglected and labeled as a mild infection, could be an early sign of a serious condition. Timely investigation and proper diagnosis are important, especially in children, where fever may be the only visible symptom of an underlying issue. Dr Nimitt Nagda, internal medicine expert, Zynova Shalby Hospital in Ghatkopar said, "With the start of the monsoon, we are seeing a big rise in cases of viral fever and PUO (pyrexia of unknown origin). In fact, about 30–40 per cent of patients visiting the OPD during this time come with fever-related complaints. The humid weather, waterlogging, and mosquito breeding create ideal condition...

Lungs of teenagers need protection, not pollution from vapes, medical experts have stressed while highlighting the dangers of vaping and the emergence of new-age gateway devices. A group of doctors supporting the movement of Mothers Against Vaping, a collective dedicated to raising awareness about the ill effects of vaping and working to eradicate it, said vaping has health implications, including issues like coughing, dry throat, shortness of breath, or headaches. More alarmingly, it can affect the heart, raising blood pressure, increasing heart rate, and even leading to a heart attack, they said. Dr K K Handa, chairman, ENT, head and neck surgery, Medanta Hospital, said the common myth that vaping is safer than smoking is totally incorrect. "Vaping can damage lungs after prolonged us...