Health

The Southeast Asia region, including India, has about 3.9 million people living with HIV (PLHIV), representing 10 per cent of the global burden, WHO`s Regional Director, South-East Asia, Saima Wazed, said ahead of World AIDS Day.  In the region, 78 per cent of PLHIV knew their status in 2023. While 66 per cent received lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, 64 per cent had suppressed viral load. Wazed informed that despite treatments, the region also has a high burden (80,000 children and adolescents aged 0-14) due to vertical transmission (mother-to-child); and about 53,000 infants are born with congenital syphilis. "These children are one too many as there are effective interventions to eliminate mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, labour, and childbirth," she said. "While ...

SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the Covid-19 pandemic, remains in the skull and meninges for years after infection, leading to a long-lasting effect on the brain, according to a major German study.  Researchers from Helmholtz Munich and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat (LMU) found that SARS-CoV-2 spike protein remains in the brain`s protective layers -- the meninges, and the skull`s bone marrow for up to four years after infection. These spike proteins are responsible for triggering chronic inflammation in affected individuals and increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, the team found. Prof. Ali Ertürk, Director at the Institute for Intelligent Biotechnologies at Helmholtz Munich said that the long-term neurological effects include “accelerated brain ageing, potentially leading to a...

Pregnant women’s exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) may alter immune responses, leading to adverse birth outcomes, according to a new study. While previous research linked PM2.5 exposure to maternal and child health complications including preeclampsia, low birth weight, and developmental delays in early childhood, the new study, published in Science Advances, is the first to examine the relationship between PM2.5 and maternal and foetal health. Researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health focused on understanding air pollutants` impact on a single-cell level. Kari Nadeau, Professor of Climate and Population Studies at the varsity said that the findings showcase “a substantial step forward in understanding the biological pathways by which PM2.5 exposure a...

Researchers, who reviewed 18 studies on benefits of drinking water, found the most evidence related to preventing kidney stones and helping people lose weight.Drinking eight cups of water a day significantly lowered one`s chances of getting another kidney stone, the researchers at the University of California San Francisco found. They added that evidence from several studies suggested drinking about six cups of water a day helped adults lose weight. However, a study involving teenagers found that drinking a little more than eight cups of water a day had no effect. Further, studies raised the possibility of benefits for patients with migraine, urinary tract infection, diabetes and hypotension (low blood pressure) despite the limited quality and quantity of scientific evidence on the bene...

Holy Family Hospital in Bandra has successfully carried out the birth of healthy quadruplet girls, an exceptionally rare event that has brought immense joy to the family and medical community. Born on October 7, the quadruplets are thriving under the care of the hospital’s expert team, marking a milestone in maternal and neonatal care.   Quadruplet births occur in only 1 in 700,000 pregnancies worldwide, making this event a truly extraordinary occurrence. Due to the seamless collaboration between the hospital’s specialists and its state-of-the-art facilities, the mother and her babies are in excellent health.   The quadruplets were delivered under the expert care of Dr Jacintha Mathias, consultant gynaecologist at Holy Family Hospital who managed the high-risk pregnancy and delivery with...

According to the Global Cancer Observatory, ovarian cancer was the third most common cancer among women in India in 2022, with 47,333 new cases. Given its high prevalence, it is important to be aware of its symptoms, and subsequent diagnosis and treatment process. Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries, which produce eggs and hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Explaining how the disease is caused, Dr Swati Gaikwad, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital, Pune, says, “The disease occurs when cells in the ovaries grow abnormally. While the exact cause of ovarian cancer remains unknown, several factors can contribute to its development. Genetics, age, family history of ovarian cancer, obesity, smoking and hormones are among these factors.” “Women who started mens...

The air quality in the national capital fell back to `very poor` on Thursday from being in `severe` category a day before, as AQI was recorded at 304 as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Several residents complained of irritation in the eyes and difficulties in breathing amid the rising pollution levels. According to the CPCB data, the AQI measured at DTU as of 7 am was 261, Pusa at 281, ITO at 284, Lodhi Road at 250, and IGI Airport (T3) at 301, which are in the `poor` category. However, several places in Delhi recorded the air quality as `severe` with AQI in Dwarka Sec 8 at 332, Jahangirpuri at 354, Sonia Vihar at 315, Wazirpur at 330, Ashok Vihar at 318, and Bawana at 341 as of 8 am today. Chittaranjan Tripathi, a Delhi resident, attributed the main reason for the risi...

US President-elect Donald Trump on November 26 announced that he was thrilled to nominate Kolkata-born Indian-American scientist Jay Bhattacharya as the head of National Institutes of Health. It is the country`s leading health research institution. The NIH, an agglomeration of 27 separate research organisations dealing with different diseases and health issues, has an annual budget of $48 billion  An elated Bhattacharya said on X (formerly known as Twitter), "We will reform American scientific institutions so that they are worthy of trust again and will deploy the fruits of excellent science to make America healthy again!" Bhattacharya is yet another Indian-origin expert in the US government, apart from Kamala Harris, who was in the race for the position for the US president, before she ...

Various factors like stress, unhealthy diets, obesity, and diabetes but also air pollution can negatively impact the fertility of both men and women. These factors can take a toll on one’s reproductive health and result in challenges with conception. It is crucial to consult a fertility specialist to enhance the chances of conceiving successfully. Air pollution is becoming an increasing concern. It not only affects your respiratory, eye, or skin health but also hurts your fertility. There is a significant link between air pollution and infertility problems in males and females. “Pollutants present in the air like particulate matter (PM), toxic chemicals, and heavy metals can take a heavy toll on the reproductive health of males and females. Long-term exposure to these pollutants can highl...

Women suffering from depression are more likely to experience menstrual pain (also known as dysmenorrhea), finds a study on Wednesday. Previous research has shown women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression and often experience more severe physical symptoms. While the links between mental health and reproductive health have been found, the associations have remained underexplored. To decode this, researchers from China and the UK led a study where they analysed genetic variation and identified specific genes that may be responsible for the effect of depression on menstrual pain. "Our findings provide preliminary evidence that depression may be a cause, rather than a consequence, of dysmenorrhea," said lead author Shuhe Liu, a doctoral student at Xi`an Jiaotong-Liverpool-U...