Tag: Health

Wastewater surveillance in Bengaluru closely tracked COVID-19 trends during the first Omicron wave, but later emerged as an important tool in identifying hidden surges that were not fully captured through routine clinical testing, according to researchers studying the city’s sewage-based monitoring network.  A study published in PLOS Global Public Health by researchers from the Indian...

High-income countries are on track to eliminate cervical cancer — preventable through vaccination and screening — by 2048, while low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) will see only slight reductions over the next century, according to a study published in The Lancet journal. As a result, the gap between regions will widen dramatically, with women in...

India’s agricultural transformation has long been driven by technological shifts—from the Green Revolution’s high-yielding varieties to the widespread use of synthetic fertilisers. Today, nano urea is being positioned as the next leap: a precision input that promises higher efficiency, lower environmental damage, and reduced dependence on conventional fertilisers. Backed by policy support and fast-tracked approvals,...

When contagions don’t discriminate, why should cures? That question encapsulates a bitter irony of global public health. Countries that contribute the most pathogens to medical research are often the last to benefit from the outcomes. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America, where new pathogens often emerge, are expected to...

For decades, medical science has viewed dementia as a slow-burning fire fuelled by genetics and lifestyle. However, a recent, compelling study published in PLOS Medicine suggests that more sudden events occurring externally may shape the timeline of cognitive decline. Specifically, cases of severe cystitis (bladder infections) and even tooth decay have been identified as accelerants...

Fundamental research is the ‘silent engine’ of modern medicine. Before a scientist can design a pill or a new therapeutic technology, they must first understand the biology of the disease, including what is defective in the diseased state. This is particularly true for rare genetic disorders, where the roadmap to a cure is often missing....

We are all aware of the fact that the use of plastics causes harm to our environment, and dangerously so. But not many people think about what happens when plastics enter our bodies. As far as gynaecological reproductive health is concerned, while the major emphasis continues to remain on genetics, hormonal imbalances, diet and exercise,...

The human body is highly adaptable. It continuously reconfigures and reorganises itself in direct response to the demands placed upon it. Its musculature is not a static structure, but a highly dynamic system that responds immediately to both activity and inactivity. When regular activity is removed, the human body does not simply stop or pause...

The 1912 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Alexis Carrel “in recognition of his work on vascular suturing and the transplantation of blood vessels and organs.” His work addressed a fundamental problem in early surgery, how to restore blood flow after injury or operation and helped make complex procedures like organ transplantation...

The SELECT trial, led by A. Michael Lincoff and published in The New England Journal of Medicine (2023), showed that once-weekly semaglutide reduced major cardiovascular events by 20% in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or higher and pre-existing cardiovascular disease, but without diabetes. The trial enrolled 17,604 participants and tracked outcomes...