Category: 8. Health

The discovery sheds light on how a small genetic variation may have helped Homo sapiens develop complex language abilities.

The research centers on the NOVA1 gene, which plays a crucial role in brain development and is present in many animals. However, a specific version of this gene, found only in humans, appears to regulate vocalization-related genes in unique ways. By introducing this human-specific NOVA1 gene into mice, scientists observed changes in the mice’s communication patterns – particularly in how infant mice called to their mothers.

“We thought, wow. We did not expect that. It was one of those really surprising moments in science,” said Professor Robert Darnell, lead researcher at Rockefeller University.

Mice with the humanized NOVA1 gene emitted higher-pitched squeaks and produced a different mix of vocal “letters” compared to ordinary mice. In their natural state, baby mice produce ultrasonic squeaks categorized by scientists into four basic types – S, D, U, and M. However, in the modified mice, some of these elements changed entirely, suggesting that the human gene directly impacted vocal behavior.

As the mice grew, the differences became even more evident, particularly in male mice during mating calls, which were more varied and pronounced. According to the researchers, these vocal changes indicate that the human NOVA1 gene may have helped shape early language development by influencing how sounds are formed and perceived.

Importantly, this specific variant of the NOVA1 gene is not found in Neanderthals or Denisovans – ancient human relatives. The researchers noted that the human version causes an amino acid change known as I197V, which may have provided Homo sapiens with a distinct evolutionary edge in communication.

“This genetic change might have been crucial in allowing Homo sapiens to develop sophisticated communication skills, distinguishing them from other species,” said Darnell. “It raises the possibility that advanced communication gave our ancestors an advantage in survival and adaptation.”

The study not only broadens scientific understanding of the genetic foundations of language but also opens potential avenues for medical research, particularly in neurological development and speech disorders.

Earlier, scientists from Shanghai Jiao Tong University successfully created mice using genetic material from two male parents. For the first time, these mice developed into healthy, fertile adults capable of producing offspring, marking a significant milestone in reproductive and genetic research.

Eating foods known to trigger inflammation during pregnancy could increase the risk of children developing type 1 diabetes later in life, according to a new Danish study.

Published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, the research indicates that a maternal diet high in inflammatory foods raises a child’s diabetes risk by approximately 16% for each incremental increase in inflammation-inducing foods consumed.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed, requiring lifelong insulin therapy.

The incidence of type 1 diabetes is rising by about 3-4% annually, particularly in developed countries.

This trend suggests environmental factors, including maternal diet during pregnancy, could play a significant role.

Researchers from Denmark analysed dietary data from nearly 68,000 women who took part in the Danish National Birth Cohort between January 1996 and October 2002. The mothers completed detailed dietary questionnaires during mid-pregnancy, around 25 weeks, providing information on 38 food groups comprising more than 360 items.

The scientists then calculated an empirical dietary inflammatory index (EDII) score, indicating how likely certain foods were to promote low-grade inflammation.

Foods commonly associated with inflammation include red and processed meats, sugary drinks, refined carbohydrates like white bread and pasta, deep-fried items, pastries, margarine, and products containing trans fats.

Among the children tracked over an average of 17 years, 281 were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes around 0.5% of the total group with an average age of 10 at diagnosis.

Higher maternal EDII scores indicating greater consumption of inflammatory foods were linked with younger maternal age, higher body mass index (BMI), lower socioeconomic status, shorter breastfeeding duration, and smoking during pregnancy.

Mothers with higher inflammatory diets tended to eat more red meats, margarine, pizza, savoury snacks, French fries, potatoes, and low-fat dairy products. In contrast, lower EDII scores correlated with higher intake of anti-inflammatory foods such as leafy vegetables, garlic, onions, tomatoes, whole grains, dark-meat fish, tea, coffee, and fruits.

For every single-unit increase in the EDII score – approximately moving from the bottom third to the top third of inflammatory food consumption – the risk of a child developing type 1 diabetes increased by about 16%.

Interestingly, researchers also noted that increased gluten consumption during pregnancy further amplified this risk. Every additional 10 grams of gluten intake was associated with a 36% increase in the child’s type 1 diabetes risk.

The researchers emphasised that pregnancy appears to be a crucial period where maternal lifestyle, including diet and smoking habits, can influence the child’s later health.

Lead researchers stated, “These findings suggest mid-pregnancy might be a particularly sensitive window where maternal diet and lifestyle significantly influence a child’s future risk of developing type 1 diabetes.”

While this observational study cannot definitively prove cause and effect, it highlights the potential importance of reducing inflammatory foods during pregnancy to promote long-term health for both mother and child.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an urgent warning about tianeptine – a substance marketed as a dietary supplement but known on the street as “gas station heroin”.

Linked to overdoses and deaths, it is being sold in petrol stations, smoke shops and online retailers, despite never being approved for medical use in the US.

But what exactly is tianeptine, and why is it causing alarm?

Related: FDA Issues Eye Drops Warning After Deadly Outbreak of Bacterial Infections

Tianeptine was developed in France in the 1960s and approved for medical use in the late 1980s as a treatment for depression.

Structurally, it resembles tricyclic antidepressants – an older class of antidepressant – but pharmacologically it behaves very differently. Unlike conventional antidepressants, which typically increase serotonin levels, tianeptine appears to act on the brain’s glutamate system, which is involved in learning and memory.

It is used as a prescription drug in some European, Asian and Latin American countries under brand names like Stablon or Coaxil. But researchers later discovered something unusual, tianeptine also activates the brain’s mu-opioid receptors, the same receptors targeted by morphine and heroin – hence it’s nickname “gas station heroin”.

At prescribed doses, the effect is subtle, but in large amounts, tianeptine can trigger euphoria, sedation and eventually dependence. People chasing a high might take doses far beyond anything recommended in medical settings.

Despite never being approved by the FDA, the drug is sold in the US as a “wellness” product or nootropic – a substance supposedly used to enhance mood or mental clarity. It’s packaged as capsules, powders or liquids, often misleadingly labelled as dietary supplements.

This loophole has enabled companies to circumvent regulation. Products like Neptune’s Fix have been promoted as safe and legal alternatives to traditional medications, despite lacking any clinical oversight and often containing unlisted or dangerous ingredients.

Some samples have even been found to contain synthetic cannabinoids and other drugs. According to US poison control data, calls related to tianeptine exposure rose by over 500% between 2018 and 2023. In 2024 alone, the drug was involved in more than 300 poisoning cases. The FDA’s latest advisory included product recalls and import warnings.

Users have taken to the social media site Reddit, including a dedicated channel, and other forums to describe their experiences, both the highs and the grim withdrawals. Some report taking hundreds of pills a day. Others struggle to quit, describing cravings and relapses that mirror those seen with classic opioid addiction.

Since tianeptine doesn’t show up in standard toxicology screenings, health professionals may not recognise it. According to doctors in North America, it could be present in hospital patients without being detected, particularly in cases involving seizures or unusual heart symptoms.

People report experiencing withdrawal symptoms that resemble those of opioids, like fentanyl, including anxiety, tremors, insomnia, diarrhoea and muscle pain. Some have been hospitalised due to seizures, loss of consciousness and respiratory depression.

UK legality

In the UK, tianeptine is not licensed for medical use by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and it is not classified as a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. That puts it in a legal grey area, not formally approved, but not illegal to possess either.

It can be bought online from overseas vendors, and a quick search reveals dozens of sellers offering “research-grade” powder and capsules.

There is little evidence that tianeptine is circulating widely in the UK; to date, just one confirmed sample has been publicly recorded in a national drug testing database. It’s not mentioned in recent Home Office or Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs briefings, and it does not appear in official crime or hospital statistics.

But that may simply reflect the fact that no one is looking for it. Without testing protocols in place, it could be present, just unrecorded.

Because of its chemical structure and unusual effects, if tianeptine did show up in a UK emergency department, it could easily be mistaken for a tricyclic antidepressant overdose, or even dismissed as recreational drug use. This makes it harder to diagnose and treat appropriately.

It’s possible, particularly among people seeking alternatives to harder-to-access opioids, or those looking for a legal high. With its low visibility, online availability and potential for addiction, tianeptine ticks many of the same boxes that once made drugs like mephedrone or spice popular before they were banned.

The UK has seen waves of novel psychoactive substances emerge through similar routes, first appearing online or in head shops, then spreading quietly until authorities responded. If tianeptine follows the same path, by the time it appears on the radar, harm may already be underway.

Michelle Sahai, Computational Biochemist, Brunel University of London

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

New Delhi: A study has shown that neurons or nerve cells continue to form well into late adulthood in the brain’s hippocampus, which manages memory — a finding that presents compelling new evidence about the human brain’s adaptability.

Neurogenesis — a process whereby new neurons are created — is said to continue throughout one’s life, even as the rate is considered to slow down with age.

However, researchers from Karonlinska Institutet in Sweden said the extent and significance of neurogenesis is still debated with no clear evidence of cells that precede new neurons — or ‘neural progenitor cells’ — actually existing and dividing in adults.

“We have now been able to identify these cells of origin, which confirms that there is an ongoing formation of neurons in the hippocampus of the adult brain,” Jonas Frisen, professor of stem cell research, Karolinska Institutet, who led the research published in the journal Science.

The team used carbon dating methods to analyse DNA from brain tissue, which made it possible to determine when the cells were formed. Tissue samples of people aged 0 to 78 were obtained from international biobanks, they said.

The results showed that cells that precede the forming of new neurons in adults are similar to those mice, pigs and monkeys, with differences in genes which are active.

The researchers also found large differences between individuals — some adult humans had many neural progenitor cells, others hardly any at all.

Frisen added that the study is an “important piece of the puzzle in understanding how the human brain works and changes during life”, with implications for developing regenerative treatments in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.

A steady loss of neurons resulting in an impaired functioning and eventually cell death is said to drive neurodegenerative disorders, which affects the hippocampus, among other brain regions. Risks of the disorders are known to heighten with age.

For the study, the researchers used a method called ‘single-nucleus RNA sequencing’, which looks at activity of a gene in a cell’s nucleus.

This was combined with machine learning (a type of AI) to discern varied stages of how neurons develop, from stem cells to immature neurons, many of which were in the division phase, the team said.

“We analysed the human hippocampus from birth through adulthood by single-nucleus RNA sequencing. We identified all neural progenitor cell stages in early childhood,” they wrote.

“In adults, using antibodies against the proliferation marker Ki67 and machine learning algorithms, we found proliferating neural progenitor cells,” the authors wrote.

“The results support the idea that adult neurogenesis occurs in the human hippocampus and add valuable insights of scientific and medical interest,” the study said. PTI

With nearly half the world’s population at risk, dengue has evolved from a seasonal disease to a global health threat — and Pakistan is in no position to take this lightly. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates 100 to 400 million dengue infections every year, a staggering figure that underscores the urgency of preventive measures. Closer to home, Sindh recently reported its first dengue-related death of the year, a grim reminder that the virus continues to claim lives while our public health response lags dangerously behind. The crisis, particularly in Sindh, is rapidly escalating. So far, 295 cases have been reported in the province — with Karachi alone accounting for nearly 260. This spike follows recent rains, which once again exposed the deep dysfunction in local governance. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) admitted it could only drain rainwater from main roads, passing the buck to town municipal corporations for cleaning residential areas. This lack of coordination is a failure that costs lives.

While provinces like Punjab, historically hard-hit, have managed to keep a relatively low case count this season, Sindh stands out for all the wrong reasons. Prevention is the only real defence against dengue, given the absence of a vaccine. Yet in many parts of Sindh, mosquito spraying campaigns are either token or entirely missing. Standing water — a notorious breeding ground for dengue-carrying mosquitoes — remains untouched in many neighbourhoods, often hidden behind mountains of uncollected garbage. The result: an environment primed for disease. The 2022 floods should have been a wake-up call. Displaced communities in Sindh and Balochistan then suffered not just from displacement but from swarms of giant mosquitoes and the diseases they carried. But if there were lessons learned, they’ve long since been shelved. The WHO has laid out clear, actionable guidelines: wear protective clothing, use mosquito nets (especially during daytime sleep), install window screens, apply repellents and ensure proper waste disposal. These are simple measures, yet their successful implementation hinges on robust public education and a functioning civic infrastructure.

It is time our provincial governments treated this as a public health emergency. Awareness campaigns must reach every citizen. Municipal bodies should be empowered with not just mandates but also the budgets needed to clean and sanitise urban and rural areas alike. Trash piles must be cleared, and stagnant water must be drained without delay. The tools are available; what’s missing is political will and coordinated action. While the current numbers remain within a manageable range, complacency now could spiral into an uncontrollable crisis in the coming weeks. Every day of inaction widens the window for the virus to spread further. Pakistan cannot afford another preventable health disaster. All provinces must urgently come together, devise a unified national strategy and act. Dengue may be a mosquito-borne disease, but in Pakistan, it thrives on mismanagement.

Veteran mountaineer Petra Thaller does not easily accept defeat – especially from cancer.

In 2014, the German mother-of-two, then aged 53, was hiking the Carstensz Pyramid – also known as Puncak Jaya – which at 4,884 metres (16,024 feet) is Indonesia’s highest peak.

She found it odd that she felt so tired on the climb. At one point, while crossing a river, she hurt her breast, which immediately swelled up and felt tender and sore.

On her return to Germany, her doctor found five malignant tumours in her breast. Treatment was aggressive: lymph node removal, chemotherapy, a mastectomy and then radiotherapy.

Less than two years later, while still in treatment, two small nodules – diagnosed as “precancerous” – were found in her other breast.

Although no treatment was required at that stage, she felt as if she was back at square one, she says over Zoom from her home in Munich, Germany.

Omega-3 is a healthy fatty acid, which is linked to enhanced brain function and development in all stages of life.Studieshave shown that omega-3 fatty acids increase learning, memory, cognitive well-being, and blood flow in the brain. Omega-3, particularly EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), are essential fats that build and maintain brain cell membranes. Foods such as fatty fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel), chia seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, and algal oil (plant-based DHA supplements) are good sources of Omega-3.

Type 5 diabetes is no longer a footnote. On April 9, 2025 the International Diabetes Federation confirmed that chronic undernutrition can seed a very different form of blood‑sugar trouble, giving the condition its own place in the global classification system.

“Malnutrition‑related diabetes has historically been vastly under‑diagnosed and poorly understood,” said Dr. Meredith Hawkins as the vote was announced.

Hawkins is an endocrinologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and founding director of the Global Diabetes Institute (GDI).

Why a fifth type matters

Nearly one in nine adults worldwide now lives with some form of diabetes, and more than 250 million people remain unaware of their status, according to the 11th edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas.

Most public campaigns focus on type 2 diabetes, yet an estimated 20 to 25 million lean adolescents and young adults in Asia and Africa carry the new diagnosis of type 5, a burden comparable in size to HIV infection in the same regions.

Unlike type 2, type 5 takes hold where food is scarce, not plentiful. That reality undercuts a long‑standing public narrative that ties diabetes exclusively to over‑nutrition.

For governments counting every healthcare dollar, a distinct label matters. Budgets follow labels, and without one, entire populations have slipped through screening and treatment programs designed for very different metabolic problems.

“This is about equity, science, and saving lives,” said Professor Peter Schwarz, president of the IDF, summing up the stakes during the Bangkok congress. 

Early hunger leaves a lasting mark

Decades of animal work show that a low‑protein diet during gestation or adolescence stunts pancreatic growth and the formation of beta cells, the tiny factories that make insulin.

Human epidemiology echoes that biology, linking low birth weight and recurring childhood malnutrition to impaired glucose control later on.

Researchers now group type 5 under severe insulin‑deficient diabetes, a label that captures the core defect: the pancreas never learned to keep up with sugar loads, even though the rest of the body remains sensitive to insulin.

In South India, investigators tracked adults whose body‑mass index averaged just 18.3 kg/m² yet whose blood sugar routinely soared; birth‑weight records, where available, pointed to under‑nutrition in the womb.

Community nutrition programs are therefore viewed not only as anti‑hunger measures but also as long‑range diabetes prevention.

Public‑health economists note a secondary benefit. Feed a girl properly before and during pregnancy, and her children may avoid the same metabolic trap, breaking an expensive inter‑generational cycle of disease.

State‑of‑the‑art euglycemic clamp studies, published in 2022, confirmed that type 5 patients secrete dramatically less insulin than matched controls while showing normal or even heightened insulin sensitivity.

The same work found little visceral fat and modest liver fat, a stark contrast to type 2 profiles. In practical terms, these young adults do not carry the metabolic baggage that fuels insulin resistance in obesity‑driven diabetes.

Autoantibody screens stay negative, ruling out the immune‑mediated beta‑cell destruction that defines type 1 diabetes.

The numbers therefore line up: glucose levels look dangerous, C‑peptide looks scant, but inflammatory markers typical of autoimmunity are absent.

Because the pancreas is small, many experts suspect that oral drugs that nudge the remaining beta cells may help more than high‑dose insulin injections, a strategy that could lower costs and reduce dangerous hypoglycemia in food‑insecure settings.

Diabetes type causes clinical confusion

“Doctors are still unsure how to treat these patients, who often don’t live for more than a year after diagnosis,” Dr. Hawkins warned.

Younger clinicians, trained on the obesity paradigm, may reach for large insulin doses that push already fragile patients into ulcerating hypoglycemia.

Misclassification also skews surveillance data. When a thin teenager in rural Uganda shows up with elevated glucose but no ketosis, the chart often reads “type 1,” obscuring the true epidemiology and directing precious insulin supplies away from those who need them.

A 2025 commentary in the Bangladesh Journal of Endocrinology emphasized the threat: standard insulin regimens carry “potentially fatal consequences” for type 5 patients who are mis‑typed as type 1, because even small dosing errors provoke sharp glucose crashes.

Simple screening cues can help. A BMI below 19 kg/m² in the absence of autoantibodies should prompt consideration of type 5, especially when the history includes prolonged childhood hunger.

Steps for care of diabetes type 5

Two weeks after the Bangkok vote, the IDF launched a dedicated working group to write diagnostic criteria, compile treatment algorithms, and build an international patient registry by 2027.

The panel, co‑chaired by Hawkins and Dr. Nihal Thomas of Christian Medical College in Vellore, India, will test low‑dose insulin, sulfonylureas, and structured nutrition programs in multi‑site trials. Results could reshape essential‑medicine lists in low‑income countries.

Public‑health agencies are already modeling the economic impact. Analysts predict that shifting even half of misdiagnosed cases from insulin vials to oral drugs could save tens of millions of dollars each year, funds that might be redirected to maternal nutrition.

Advocates also press for the inclusion of pancreas‑focused imaging in major nutrition cohorts. Measuring organ size early could identify high‑risk children before glucose spirals out of control.

“We are taking decisive steps to correct this,” said Schwarz, insisting that momentum will continue. Policies built on that momentum will decide whether type 5 becomes another silent killer or a preventable relic of poverty.

The study is published in Diabetes Care.

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