The new antibiotic EVG7 has demonstrated the ability to fight the dangerous gut bacterium C. difficile with only a minimal dose, a new study showed.

C. difficile is a persistent intestinal bacterium that can cause severe illness, particularly in older people and those with weakened health.

The bacterium produces a toxin that leads to severe diarrhoea. Current treatments are not always effective, as the infection often returns.

"With existing antibiotics, C. difficile sometimes reappears just weeks after treatment," said researcher and lead author Elma Mons, from the varsity.

Scaling up investment in primary health care is critical to ensure local and global communities are ready to prevent and respond to the next pandemic, said a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO), on Tuesday.

The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) report, released during the ongoing World Health Summit held in Berlin, emphasised the urgent need to transform global health security in a world that is experiencing new volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity while still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Calling for a transformative shift in pandemic preparedness, it also urged countries to invest more in real-time risk assessment and international cooperation.

While Covid-19 infection is known to have lasting effects on the brain, an alarming animal study showed that SARS-CoV-2 infection in fathers before conception can cause changes in sperm, altering children’s brain development and behaviour, and increasing the risk of anxiety later.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, show that Covid could have long-lasting effects on future generations.

Previous studies have shown that male mice exposed to specific environmental and lifestyle factors, like a poor diet before mating, could change brain development and behaviour in offspring.

Pakistan's Lower South Waziristan region has witnessed a sharp rise in measles cases during the current year, sparking public health concerns in the tribal district, local media reported on Monday.

As per the official data shared by the health department, more than 850 measles cases have so far been reported in Lower South Waziristan, with the most impacted areas being Wana, Toi Khulla, Birmal, and Shakai tehsils, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported. Health officials said that the increase in measles cases is due to low vaccination coverage and vaccine hesitancy among patients, especially in remote and mountainous areas of the district.

Speaking to leading Pakistani daily Dawn, Hameedullah, coordinator of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) in Lower South Waziristan, said that most of infected children had not been vaccinated against measles vaccine, leaving them vulnerable to the outbreak.

India is facing a silent but serious health challenge of Vitamin D deficiency, according to a report on Monday that urged the government to tackle the lack of the sunshine vitamin in one in every five Indians.

The Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), along with the ANVKA Foundation, submitted two key policy briefs elaborating a national roadmap to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), and an action plan specific to Delhi.

The suggestions are based on a recently released study, which highlighted that Vitamin D deficiency has become a public health concern in India and is affecting people across regions, age groups, and income levels.

Women, especially young, account for seven out of 10 patients with autoimmune diseases, said health experts, emphaising the need for increasing awareness and early screening among females.

Autoimmune diseases are chronic conditions where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues. Common conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroiditis, psoriasis, and Sjögren’s syndrome. These diseases can affect joints, skin, blood vessels, and even internal organs like the heart or lungs.

The condition is far more common among women, especially between the ages of 20 and 50, when hormonal and lifestyle factors are most active. Many times, with a lack of awareness and other burdens, women tend to ignore their symptoms, leading to worsening outcomes.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are the leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide, according to a new study published in the journal The Lancet on Monday.

The study, based on the latest analysis of Global Burden of Disease (GBD), and also presented at the World Health Summit in Berlin, showed that the causes of death are shifting from infectious to NCDs -- which now account for nearly two-thirds of the world's total mortality and morbidity.

Ischemic heart disease, stroke, and diabetes were identified as the leading causes of mortality and morbidity across the globe, including in India. This was followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infections, and neonatal disorders.

India needs a national strategy on ageing and mental health to fight the rising cases of Alzheimer’s disease in the country, according to health experts.

In an editorial published in the Indian Journal of Public Health, experts from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, along with M M Medical College and Hospital, Himachal Pradesh, argued the need to implement a comprehensive National Dementia Plan aligned with WHO’s global framework.

“India needs to view Alzheimer’s not just as a clinical issue but as part of a comprehensive national strategy on ageing and mental health. Integrating cognitive health screening in primary care, investing in long-term care models, building caregiver support systems, and strengthening research on risk factors are key steps forward,” Dr K Madan Gopal, one of the authors, shared in a post on professional networking platform LinkedIn.

 Treating patients with steroids may offer a universal complementary treatment to fight tuberculosis (TB) -- affecting more than 10 million people annually worldwide, according to a study.

The study published in the journal Scientific Reports showed that targeted use of steroids enhances the function of the immune cells called macrophages to kill the mycobacteria, while diminishing pathways of inflammatory damage.

While steroids like dexamethasone are used in certain TB cases, their impact on immune cells is not well understood.

Dexamethasone, a potent glucocorticoid, reduces glycolysis in human lung and blood-derived macrophages. This reduces the amount of energy available in the cell.

Gut microbiome may hold the key to improving depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions -- one of the world’s most pressing health challenges affecting nearly one in seven people globally, according to a study.

Researchers from the University of South Australia explored the connections between the gut and the brain to decipher their role in mental health and wellbeing.

They examined the growing evidence that the gut and the brain are deeply connected. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Mental Health, found the strongest proof yet that changes in a person’s gut microbiome can directly affect their brain chemistry.

South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion on Friday said its biosimilar for eye diseases has received approval for sale in the US.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Eydenzelt, Celltrion's biosimilar referencing Eylea, for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration and other ophthalmic conditions, the company said, in a statement, Yonhap news agency reported.

Both the Eydenzelt injection and Eydenzelt prefilled syringe (PFS) formulations have been approved, it added.

The global market for Eylea, developed in the United States, was valued at 13.33 trillion won (US$9.52 billion) last year, with the US sales alone reaching 8.36 trillion won, according to the company.

Indian professionals continue to be hesitant to make mental health conversations at work, over fear of being perceived as incapable and judged, according to a report on World Mental Health Day on Friday.

World Mental Health Day is observed every year on October 10 to raise awareness about the importance of mental well-being and fight against the stigma surrounding it.

The report by job portal Naukri, based on a survey covering 19,650 job seekers, showed that 31 per cent of employees feared voicing out mental health issues for the fear of being viewed as incapable.

Mental health is a fundamental part of our overall well-being, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday on World Mental Health Day.

World Mental Health Day is observed every year on October 10 to raise awareness about mental health issues.

“World Mental Health Day serves as a powerful reminder that mental health is a fundamental part of our overall well-being,” PM Modi shared in a post on social media platform X.

He stressed the need to show compassion to people suffering from mental health issues like anxiety and depression, among others.

Behavioural therapies may be effective for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) -- an intestinal disorder causing pain in the stomach -- according to a study on Friday.

IBS affects around 5 per cent of people worldwide and is characterised by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits.

There is no cure, and treatments such as diet changes and medications often only provide partial relief of symptoms; therefore, medical guidelines also recommend considering behavioural therapies.

The study, published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, showed that brain-gut behaviour therapies, including forms of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH), can be effective.

Amid increasing deaths of children allegedly due to contamination of cough syrup, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday sought answers from the Indian authorities on the export of 'Coldrif'.

According to a report by Reuters, the WHO wanted to know whether Coldrif was exported.

Based on confirmation from the Indian health officials, the global health body said it will assess the need for a Global Medical Products Alert on Coldrif syrup, the report said.

Telangana Drugs Control Administration on Wednesday issued 'stop use' (public alert) notice regarding two more cough syrups found adulterated with Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a toxic substance.

It has cautioned people to immediately stop using Relife and Respifresh TR syrups.

This comes four days after Drugs Control Administration issued 'stop use' notice for Coldrif syrup in view of the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

A team of Australian researchers has decoded important genetic differences in how females and males experience depression for the first time, an advance that could pave the way for more targeted intervention and treatments.

In the study, published in Nature Communications, scientists found that genetic factors contribute more to depression risk in females than in males.

The team from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute discovered about twice as many genetic "flags" for depression in the DNA of females as they did in that of males.

While the number of tobacco users has dropped in recent years, the industry has devised new strategies driving a new wave of nicotine addiction with e-cigarettes, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

For the first time, the WHO in a new global report estimated global e-cigarette use -- and the numbers are alarming: more than 100 million people worldwide are now vaping. At least 86 million users, mostly in high-income countries, are adults.

Notably, at least 15 million children (13-15 years) are already using e-cigarettes. In countries with data, children are on average nine times more likely than adults to vape.

Malawi continues to register more cases of mpox disease, with the capital, Lilongwe, recording the highest number, according to the latest update on the outbreak from the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM).

Since the first case was recorded on April 17, the total number of cases in the country has now amounted to 128, with Lilongwe having recorded 104 cases cumulatively. Only one mpox-related death has been reported so far.

On Monday, the PHIM announced that two new cases had been diagnosed and confirmed at two separate clinics in Lilongwe: one involving a nine-year-old female and one involving an 11-year-old female.

Even as oral cancer is becoming a major public health issue in India, a new study on Tuesday urged the need for more effective warning signs on tobacco products to help prevent the risk of mouth cancer, which affects the tissues in the mouth and throat.

Despite having a law regulating tobacco production and sale, a national programme for tobacco control and prevention, and a national programme for oral cancer prevention and screening in place, the burden of oral cancer continues to rise in India.

With over 1,35,000 new cases reported annually, India reports the highest burden of oral cancer globally. Although preventable, the country accounts for nearly one-third of the global incidence of the disease, as per GLOBOCAN 2020 and the National Cancer Registry Programme.

People with severe obesity are likely to have their lungs age faster, according to an animal study.

Researchers from the University of Bonn in Germany investigated how the lungs adapt to nutritional challenges in obesity.

The team showed that obesity remodels the extracellular matrix in the lungs -- the protein-based "scaffolding" that gives the lungs their shape and stability.

“These changes in lung tissue are similar to those that normally occur with age and suggest that being overweight causes the lungs to ‘age’ prematurely,” they said in the paper published in the journal Cell Reports.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidelines to prevent, diagnose, and treat postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), which causes excessive bleeding after childbirth, to millions of women across the globe.

The maternal health guidelines, co-published with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and the International Confederation of Midwives, highlight the urgent need for earlier detection and faster intervention to prevent death among new mothers.

PPH is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality globally, causing nearly 45,000 deaths due to excessive bleeding after childbirth.

The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has ordered an immediate halt to the sale, distribution, and use of Coldrif Syrup across the state, citing toxic adulteration linked to the tragic deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

State Drug Controller DR Gahane issued a statement late Sunday night, alerting all licensees and the public to immediately freeze any stock of Coldrif Syrup (Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, Chlorpheniramine Maleate Syrup), Batch No SR-13, manufactured by Sresan Pharma, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu. The specific batch, with manufacturing date May 2025 and expiry date April 2027, is allegedly contaminated with Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a poisonous substance, the statement said.

Glioblastomas -- the deadliest form of brain cancer -- affect much more than just the brain, scientists have found.

A team from the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECCC) and Albert Einstein College of Medicine has found the first evidence to show that glioblastoma can erode the skull, alter the makeup of skull marrow, and interfere with the body's immune response.

Importantly, drugs intended to inhibit skull-bone loss made the cancer more aggressive, according to results published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

Imagine a microscopic tunnel that can tell whether you might be developing cancer -- well, scientists at BRIC-RGCB, Thiruvananthapuram, are turning that imagination into reality.

In a breakthrough study, researchers have created mirror-image nanopores, tiny protein-like channels designed to act like a reflection of natural molecules.

Led by Dr. K.R.Mahendran, the team built these synthetic structures, named DpPorA, from special peptides that are flipped versions of natural proteins.

Eating a plant-based diet, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables, with moderate intake of foods such as poultry and egg, can not only boost human health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases, but also keep the planet healthy with less impact on climate change and biodiversity loss, according to a new report by the Lancet Commission on Friday.

The report showed that food systems are key drivers of the world's most urgent challenges, from chronic diseases and rising inequality to accelerating climate change and biodiversity loss.

A premature baby infected with measles has died in Alberta, marking the province's first measles-related death and the second nationwide since the start of Canada's ongoing outbreak, local media reported.

Adriana LaGrange, Alberta's minister of primary and preventative health services, said in an emailed statement she was "saddened" to confirm the death.

Children under five, pregnant people and those with weak immune systems face the highest risk from measles, LaGrange said. She urged anyone planning a pregnancy to ensure they have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine beforehand, as vaccination is not recommended during pregnancy.

The country's first recent measles death was reported in Ontario in June, when another prematurely born baby died of the disease.

Japanese researchers have identified two distinct stem cell lineages that drive tooth root and alveolar bone formation, offering key insights for future regenerative dental therapies.

The team from the Institute of Science Tokyo, used genetically modified mice and lineage-tracing techniques to shed light on the cell signaling mechanisms guiding differentiation in stem cells in the developing teeth.

"Our findings provide a mechanistic framework for tooth root formation and pave the way for innovative stem-cell-based regenerative therapies for dental pulp, periodontal tissues, and bone," said Mizuki Nagata, Assistant Professor at the Institute's Department of Periodontology.

Health authorities in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) on Thursday issued a measles alert for northern Sydney after being notified of a case who was infectious while visiting several locations.

NSW Health said that the confirmed case visited five locations in Sydney's northern beaches region, including a supermarket, restaurant, cafe and pharmacist, while infectious on September 25 and 27.

The case was a close contact of a recently-reported measles case in northern Sydney, NSW Health said.

Anyone who attended the five locations at the same time as the new case has been advised to monitor for the development of symptoms until mid-October.

Scientists have, for the first time, directly visualised the way Parkinson's disease gets 'triggered' in human brain tissue.

Using a newly developed technique, called ASA-PD (Advanced Sensing of Aggregates for Parkinson's Disease), researchers from the University of Cambridge and University College London, UK, could see, count, and compare the protein clusters called alpha-synuclein oligomers in human brain tissue.

Oligomers have long been considered the likely culprits behind Parkinson's, but until now, these tiny clusters -- just a few nanometres long -- have evaded direct detection in human brain tissue.

More than 34.9 million people worldwide are at risk of chikungunya infections every year, with South Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, and Indonesia, as well as Brazil, sharing the highest burden, according to a large global study on Thursday.

Chikungunya virus is an arbovirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and causes epidemics in tropical regions with potential risk in higher latitudes.

Pakistan's capital Islamabad has reported 52 dengue cases in a single day. Of those, 33 were reported in rural areas while 19 were found in urban areas of Islamabad, according to the District Health Office, local media reported on Wednesday.

The highest number of cases were reported in Islamabad's Bhara Kahu (17). After the emergence of new dengue cases, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal has ordered officials to intensify fogging, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported.

A reinfection with the SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind Covid-19 disease, doubled the risk of developing long Covid among children, according to a large study published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

The findings involving over 460,000 children and adolescents across 40 paediatric hospitals in the US found that after the first Covid infection, about 904 children per million developed long Covid within six months.

Following a reinfection, this number more than doubled to approximately 1,884 children per million.

Young night shift workers are more at risk of developing kidney stones, according to a study.

The findings, published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, showed that the shift workers have a 15 per cent higher risk of developing kidney stones, especially younger workers and those with low levels of manual labour.

Body mass index (BMI), fluid intake, and other lifestyle factors play key roles in the occurrence of kidney stones.

Heart attack, stroke, or heart failure come with warning signs in 99 per cent cases, according to a large study that refuted the notion that these devastating events often strike people without warning signs.

The study led by Northwestern Medicine, US, and Yonsei University in South Korea, showed people with these deadly cardiovascular diseases -- which remain the leading cause of death worldwide -- had at least one risk factor above an optimal level beforehand.

"We think the study shows very convincingly that exposure to one or more nonoptimal risk factors before these cardiovascular outcomes is nearly 100 per cent," said senior author Dr. Philip Greenland, professor of cardiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.