• This study involved 5306 diverse participants across 15 countries published in Nature medicine, involving University of Surrey where they measured brain aging using advanced brain clocks based on deep learning of brain networks.

• They quantified brain age gaps in healthy individuals and those with neurodegenerative conditions by analyzing data from functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) and electroencephalography(EEG).

• Study showed that in countries with high inequality, the brain tends to age faster and participants with dementia exhibited critical brain age gaps.

• It also highlighted sex differences such as women in Latin American countries(LAC) showed greater gaps in brain age.

• It has profound implications on understanding interaction between macro factors and mechanisms that underlie brain aging and integrates multiple dimensions of diversity into brain health research offering a new framework for personalized medicine.

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• The World Health Organisation declared India as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem on 8th October 2024. India joins Nepal and Myanmar in the South East Asia Region along with becoming the 19th country worldwide to achieve this status.

• India reduced cases of trachoma from causing 5% of blindness cases in the 1960s, to less than 0.008% in 2018, far less than the WHO standards of 5% or less. 

• Finally, after a series of impact, prevalidation and trachoma only surveys carried out from 2019-2024, India achieved its trachoma free status.

• The efforts were led by the development of a Trachoma Control Project in 1963 which became a part of the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) In 1976.

• The methods employed were based on the WHO SAFE method, focusing on surgical treatment for the trichomonas trichiasis stage (S), antibiotic distribution to cure infections (A), facial hygiene methods to reduce the spread of infections (F)and ensuring access to clean water and sanitation (E).

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• Visakhapatnam-based Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone, in collaboration with TransAsia Diagnostics Private Limited, unveiled India’s first indigenously developed Monkeypox (Mpox) diagnostic kit, named ‘ErbaMDx MonkeyPox RT-PCR Kit’.

• The kit underwent strict testing by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and received emergency authorization from The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

• It can be stored at ambient temperature, making it easy to use in inaccessible regions. 

• It also boasts a 12-month shelf life and 0 cross-reactivity with other orthopoxviruses, ensuring better diagnostic accuracy.

• The development of this kit thus signals India’s growing ability within the field of healthcare and diagnostics.

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• A study published in Environment, Development, and Sustainability, conducted by researchers in India and internationally led by the Department of Geography at Fakir Mohan University, Odisha, analyzed data to realize that lightning strikes increased in India from 2010 to 2020.

• Data from the National Crime Records Bureau found 1,01,309 deaths attributed to lightning since 1967. 

• Out of these, a third, i.e., 29,804, took place between 2010-2020, with 71,505 deaths registered from 1967 till 2010. 

• Meanwhile, average deaths per state and Union Territory increased from 38 in 1967-2010 to 61 in 2010-2020.

• Central India accounted for nearly 50% (50,884) of these deaths.

• The authors implicated environmental degradation, climate change, high population exposure, socioeconomic factors, etc., for the rise in lightning strikes.

• The authors encouraged early warning systems, greater research, and community engagement as methods to combat this rise.

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• WHO recently declared Dhulikhel municipality, a tourist town in the Kavrepalanchok district of Nepal, a ‘healthy city.’ 

• It became Nepal's first healthy city and Asia's second after Banda city in Pune, India.

• WHO started the Healthy Cities Network in Europe and expanded it beyond to inculcate cities that focused on health as a primary objective and enshrined community participation in decisions regarding healthcare.

• Dhulikhel scored 65.48 across various indicators such as citizens’ access to health, participation in health policy-making, political commitment to health, nutrition, child health, and innovative health initiatives such as tuberculosis-free and nutrition-friendly programs, etc., allowing it to join the network.

• The city also received a cash prize of USD 5000 for this achievement. 

• This achievement is in stark contrast to the rest of the country, which, based on PM 2.5 levels, has been named the third most polluted country in the world.

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• Limited testing capacity and delays in confirming mpox cases continue to hinder efforts in Africa, allowing the virus to spread further. 

• In 2024, over 30,000 suspected cases were reported across the continent, with the highest numbers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Nigeria. 

• Notably, only 37% of suspected cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been tested this year.

• The presence of the monkeypox virus is confirmed through nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT), including real-time or conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), as outlined in the WHO's Interim Guidance on diagnostic testing for mpox. 

• The lesion material is the recommended specimen type for confirming monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection through NAAT.

• The Alinity m MPXV assay is a real-time PCR test that detects monkeypox virus (clade I/II) DNA in human skin lesion swabs.

• By detecting DNA from pustular or vesicular rash samples, laboratory and health workers can confirm suspected mpox cases efficiently and effectively.

• This first mpox diagnostic test listed under the Emergency Use Listing procedure represents a significant milestone in expanding testing availability in affected countries.

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• A recent study published in The Lancet Public Health highlights that immunity from the measles vaccine wanes over time, contributing to an increase in cases among vaccinated individuals in England. 

• Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine used mathematical modeling to analyze measles transmission data from 2010 to 2019.

• The study examined three scenarios: no waning of immunity, waning based on time since vaccination, and waning starting in 2000. 

• Using data from over 7,500 measles cases, the study found that waning immunity best explained the increase in cases, especially in those aged 15 years and older who had received two doses of the vaccine. 

• The estimated waning rate was 0.039% per year, leading to 83% of onward transmission from vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated ones.

• The findings underscore the need for ongoing monitoring of vaccine-induced immunity in near-elimination settings like England, where waning immunity could pose a risk for future outbreaks. 

• Despite the vaccine’s high long-term effectiveness, this slow waning still increases the measles burden.

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• A recent study published in eClinicalMedicine reveals that cancer survivors face elevated risks of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, non-fatal self-harm, and suicide, compared to cancer-free individuals. 

• Researchers conducted a cohort study using UK electronic health records from over 853,000 cancer survivors and 8.1 million cancer-free individuals. 

• The study focused on survivors of the 20 most common cancers and examined mental health outcomes over short, medium, and long-term follow-up.

• The methodology involved matching cancer survivors with cancer-free individuals based on age, sex, and general practice, and analyzing their risks for new mental health episodes using Cox regression models. 

• The results showed that survivors of cancers with poorer survival rates, such as lung and pancreatic cancers, experienced significantly higher risks of depression, anxiety, and self-harm. 

• These risks were highest within the first year after diagnosis but persisted for more than five years for many cancer types.

• The study concludes that cancer survivors need enhanced psychological support, especially those with poorer prognosis cancers. 

• The findings highlight the importance of addressing the long-term mental health impacts of cancer survivorship.

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• In the year 2021-2022, children and adolescents in the United States had an emergency department (ED) visit rate of 38.6 per 1,000 for acute upper respiratory infections (URI). 

• The highest visit rate was observed in infants under one year at 120.5 per 1,000, while the lowest was in adolescents aged 12-17 at 14.4 per 1,000. 

• Regardless of whether they were viral or bacterial, these infections had a significant impact on younger age groups, and the rates decreased as age increased. 

• The data was collected from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, which focused on general hospitals throughout the United States, excluding federal and military facilities.

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• Tiruchirappalli, a vibrant city in Tamil Nadu, is setting a powerful example of urban sanitation through its community-managed toilet initiative.

• In areas previously known for poor sanitation, the city’s slums have witnessed a remarkable transformation.

• Approximately 400 public toilets have been constructed, with 150 of them managed by women-led self-help groups (SHGs), known as Sanitation Hygiene Education (SHE) teams.

• These groups play a vital role in maintaining hygiene standards, which has significantly contributed to Trichy becoming an Open Defecation Free (ODF) city.

• As India marks the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, this initiative highlights the importance of community participation in sustaining sanitation infrastructure.

• The ongoing Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S) campaign celebrates Trichy’s success, demonstrating how grassroots efforts can lead to lasting, sustainable improvements in public health and cleanliness.

• This story of Tiruchirappalli reminds us that the true change can come from within the community

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• Only 221 transgenders currently benefit from the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), a key social protection initiative that provides PKR 10,500 (approximately $37.50) quarterly to 8.6 million recipients nationwide.

• Following the devastating floods of 2022, about 95% of transgender individuals were unable to access relief programs due to challenges in producing identity documents.

• Many lack ownership papers for their residences and utility bills in their names, which further complicates their eligibility for assistance.

• Additionally, few have been able to participate in the government's free solar panel distribution initiative launched in August.

• Transgender individuals are notably absent from Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) disaster management guidelines, highlighting systemic gaps in support for this community.

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• The Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) foundation has launched a portal to provide breast cancer patients with their DNA, RNA, and protein profiles and clinical outcomes.

• With a set of data coming from the West, there can be major variances in genetic variants in cancer among Indian patients. The platform aims to increase our understanding about these variations.

• The platform now has data from 50 breast cancer patients in an attempt to increase ethical communication and cooperation in the field of cancer research. In the future, data from more than 500 patients are going to be covered, though.

• The International Consortium for Genome Atlas (ICGA) is modeled after the U.S.-based Cancer Genome Atlas and aims to develop an ecosystem of drug firms, diagnostic businesses, and hospitals by offering incentives for data sharing.

• It is based on the cBioPortal Platform which guarantees smooth integration with worldwide cancer research endeavors.

• The program aims to transform cancer research in India by assisting scientists and medical professionals in creating individualized treatment plans.

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