Health

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...

New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) The breakthrough mRNA vaccine that enabled the world to fight Covid-19 may also be used to fight cancers of the lung or skin, according to a study.Researchers from the University of Florida and the University of Texas called it a defining moment in a decade-plus of research testing mRNA-based therapeutics designed to "wake up" the immune system against cancer.In their study, presented at the ongoing 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Berlin, the team shared that the patients with advanced lung or skin cancer who received a Covid-19 mRNA vaccine within 100 days of starting immunotherapy drugs lived significantly longer than those who did not get the vaccine.The findings from an analysis of more than 1,000 patients' records are preliminary, but if...

New Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) Osteoporosis is a growing public health challenge, but it can be effectively managed through the preventive and restorative wisdom of Ayurveda, the Ministry of Ayush said on Sunday.On the occasion of World Osteoporosis Day 2025, the ministry highlighted the importance of early preventive care, balanced nutrition, and lifestyle changes to protect bone health and reduce the risk of fractures, especially among the elderly and postmenopausal women.Osteoporosis, often called a “silent disease,” weakens bones and makes them fragile, increasing the chances of fractures in the hip, wrist, and spine.It usually develops slowly and often remains undetected until a bone breaks, causing pain and mobility issues.Experts say that with timely care and a healthy lifestyle, the risk...

New Delhi, Oct 18 (IANS) The IndiaAI Mission, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), on Saturday announced a global call for abstracts highlighting impactful and scalable applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health systems.Researchers, innovators, and institutions from across the Global South are invited to submit abstracts (maximum 250 words) capturing successful, implementable, scalable AI in health use cases by October 31.Shortlisted entries will be invited to contribute a chapter to the ‘Casebook on AI Health Use Cases Across the Global South’, which is set to be launched at the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi in February, according to IT Ministry.Developed by IndiaAI and WHO, this casebook will serve as a comprehensive reference for policymakers...

New Delhi, Oct 18 (IANS) Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, on Saturday said India has developed its first indigenously discovered antibiotic 'Nafithromycin', which is effective against resistant respiratory infections, particularly useful for cancer patients and poorly controlled diabetics.According to the minister, the antibiotic is the first molecule entirely conceptualised, developed and clinically validated in India, representing a significant leap toward self-reliance in the pharmaceutical sector.Dr Singh also mentioned that India has already sequenced over 10,000 human genomes and aims to scale this up to one million.The gene therapy trial, he added, recorded a 60–70 per cent correction rate with zero bleeding episodes, repre...

New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS) Even though preventable, lead exposure remains a serious global health threat and continues to affect millions of children and adults alike, said the World Health Organization on Friday, calling for immediate action to tackle the growing burden.Lead is present in numerous everyday materials, including paint, batteries, cosmetics, and even spices. It contaminates air, water, and soil, resulting in persistent exposure in communities worldwide.It is linked to approximately 1.5 million deaths annually, primarily from cardiovascular disease, and causes irreversible neurological and behavioural damage, especially in children. Young children absorb significantly more lead than adults, leading to reduced IQ, learning difficulties, and behavioural problems. Lead exposure al...