Health

New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) People eating more junk food can counteract its ill effects on mental health by cardio exercises such as running, according to an animal study on Tuesday.Researchers at University College Cork in Ireland identified specific metabolic pathways through which exercise counteracts the negative behavioural effects of consuming a Western-style diet.The research demonstrated that voluntary running exercise can mitigate depression-like behaviours induced by high-fat, high-sugar diets associated with both circulating hormones and gut-derived metabolites.“The findings provide crucial insights into how lifestyle interventions might be optimised to support mental health in an era of widespread ultra-processed food consumption,” said Professor Yvonne Nolan from the varsity.In t...

New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) This Diwali surged to dangerous highs in the national capital, with PM2.5 concentrations averaging 488 µg/m3 post the festival of lights.An analysis compiled by Climate Trends based on the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from 2021-2025 showed that Delhi’s air pollution levels on Diwali surged to dangerous highs, with PM2.5 concentrations averaging 488 µg/m3 post-Diwali.Over the five-year analysis, data showed a consistent Diwali-related pollution spike with PM2.5 values typically doubling or tripling during the festival of night and persisting through the next day.Firecracker emissions remain the dominant cause of Delhi’s short-term air quality collapse during the festive period. What is particulate matter? Airborne particulate matter (PM) is ...

New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) Amid 'very poor' air quality levels in the national capital after Diwali, former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on Tuesday urged the need for ruthless and sustained execution to tackle the condition that has become a health hazard.According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR remained in the 'very poor' category, reaching 400 a day after Diwali festivities.While the overall AQI stood at 347, several areas recorded levels in the 'severe' category.“Delhi’s air quality lies in shambles: 36/38 monitoring stations have hit the 'red zone,' AQI is above 400 in key areas,” Kant shared in a post on social media platform X.“Delhi remains among the world’s most polluted capital...Only ruthless and sustained execut...

New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories on Tuesday announced that its manufacturing facility in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, has received a "Voluntary Action Indicated" (VAI) status from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). The company shared this information with the stock exchanges and said it received the Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) on October 20.According to the company, the inspection by the USFDA is now officially closed. The VAI classification means that the US health regulator found some issues at the facility, but it does not plan to take any regulatory or administrative action at this time."We wish to inform you that the company has received the Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) on October 20, 2025. The USFDA h...

New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) Ayurveda Day has transformed from national observance into a global health movement, said Dr Naresh Kumar, Chief Scientist, CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR).Speaking during the 10th Ayurveda Day celebration at the institute last week, the scientist highlighted the remarkable global expansion of Ayurveda.The occasion marked a significant milestone in promoting Ayurveda, as a holistic approach to health and well-being rooted in sustainability and natural living.The celebration was also commemorated by a NIScPR SVASTIK lecture under the umbrella of the national initiative #SVASTIK (Scientifically Validated Societal Traditional Knowledge) to communicate scientifically validated traditional knowledge to society.Kumar als...

New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) Researchers at the Nagaland University have identified a naturally occurring plant compound called ‘Sinapic acid’ as a powerful therapeutic agent that can significantly enable wound healing in patients with diabetes.A diabetic wound is a slow-healing sore, most often a foot ulcer. Also known as diabetic foot, it raises the risk of nerve damage (neuropathy) and poor blood circulation, foot ulcers, infections, and amputation in severe cases.The study, published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports, demonstrated that oral administration of Sinapic acid can accelerate diabetic wound healing in preclinical models.Sinapic acid is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in various edible plants.The research established that the compound works by activating the SIRT1 p...

New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) Women experiencing earlier menopause can affect heart health, and can together affect brain and cognitive performance, according to a study on Tuesday.While previous studies have established that earlier menopause is associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s dementia later in life, little is known about the combined impact of earlier age at menopause and reduced cardiac function on brain and cognitive outcomes, the team said.Reduced cardiac function can affect brain health by limiting the essential supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. This reduced blood flow can damage brain tissue, contribute to silent strokes, and increase the risk of dementia, underscoring the critical connection between heart and brain health.The new study sugge...

New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) A wireless retinal implant showed potential to restore central vision in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to clinical trial results published on Monday.Advanced atrophic AMD, also known as geographic atrophy (GA), is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in older adults, affecting more than 5 million people worldwide.The study, led by researchers from the University College London, University of Pittsburgh, and Stanford Medicine revealed that 27 out of 32 participants had regained the ability to read a year after receiving the device.The device, called PRIMA, is the first eye prosthesis to restore functional sight to patients with incurable vision loss, giving them the ability to perceive shapes and patterns -- also kno...

New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) A novel monoclonal antibody, developed by US researchers, has shown promise against malaria infection in an early clinical trial.Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) found that the antibody -- MAM01 -- provided dose-dependent full protection against the malaria parasite with minimal side effects."This new monoclonal antibody could transform how we prevent malaria in young children and pregnant women," said lead author Kirsten E. Lyke, Professor of Medicine at the varsity’s School of Medicine."Unlike vaccines that may require multiple doses or boosters, a single injection of a long-acting antibody could provide immediate, months-long protection. It's a fundamentally different way to sto...

New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Even as the national capital woke up to toxic air on Monday morning with the Air Quality Index (AQI) falling to the "very poor" category, health experts warned an increase in respiratory diseases, stroke, and heart attack, among others.According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 335 at 8 am on Diwali morning after people burst crackers on the eve of the festival of lights, causing severe noise pollution and blanketing Delhi-NCR in smoke.The CPCB’s forecast for the coming days indicates a similar trend, with the air quality expected to deteriorate further into the "severe" category on Tuesday and Wednesday.“Increased exposure to air pollution has both acute short-term and long-term impacts on health. Short-te...