docTLDR

A large UK study has found that acetaminophen use in adults aged 65 and older is associated with a significantly increased risk of heart failure, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and gastrointestinal bleeding. The risk rises with higher doses and prolonged use. These findings challenge the perception of acetaminophen as a safer alternative to NSAIDs for older adults and highlight the need for careful pain management in this population.

India welcomed 1,31,856 foreign medical tourists from January to April 2025, with Bangladesh as the top source. The government’s ‘Heal in India’ campaign and expanded e-medical visa access are driving growth. Doctors should expect increased international patient inflow, especially in tertiary and specialty care.

Private hospitals across Haryana have indefinitely suspended Ayushman Bharat services due to unpaid reimbursements nearing Rs 500 crore. This move affects 1.8 crore low-income beneficiaries, halting critical treatments and admissions. Doctors warn patient care will suffer unless dues are cleared, highlighting urgent financial and operational challenges for both providers and patients.

The government confirms paracetamol remains approved and widely available, countering recent rumours of a ban. However, 156 fixed-dose combinations (FDCs), including some with paracetamol, have been banned for safety reasons. Doctors should review current FDC prescriptions and reassure patients about paracetamol’s continued availability.

A multicenter trial found that colistin combined with meropenem, when shown to be synergistic in vitro, significantly reduced clinical failure rates in patients with carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (CRGNB) pneumonia and Acinetobacter baumannii infections compared to non-synergistic colistin-based therapy. Mortality and microbiologic cure rates were similar, but the odds of clinical failure were notably lower with synergistic therapy (adjusted odds ratio 0.62, p=0.049). This finding...

A viral case highlights hepatitis B/C transmission risk from eyebrow threading if hygiene is poor. Dr Aditij Dhamija described a 28-year-old woman who developed liver failure after threading with reused thread, likely due to micro-cuts allowing viral entry. Experts clarify threading itself isn't dangerous, but contaminated tools or hands can transmit blood-borne viruses. Strict hygiene and disposable threads are essential to prevent infection.

The Union Health Minister detailed in Parliament that, per NMC guidelines, medical colleges seeking 250 MBBS seats must have at least 900 patient beds and 2000 OPDs. The requirements scale down for lower seat counts: 220 beds/400 OPDs for 50 seats, 420 beds/800 OPDs for 100 seats, and so on. These standards aim to ensure adequate clinical exposure and infrastructure for medical education expansion.

A 43-year-old health department officer was arrested in Cuttack, Odisha, for allegedly sexually and mentally harassing a 31-year-old woman doctor at a government hospital over three months. Despite the doctor reporting the harassment to senior authorities, no action was initially taken, prompting her to file a police complaint. The accused was arrested after police reviewed call records and CCTV footage. He faces charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sexual...

A Danish study of over 1,000 children and adolescents found that each additional hour of daily screen time increases cardiometabolic risk, with adolescents particularly vulnerable. Notably, longer sleep duration may mitigate these adverse effects. Researchers also identified a blood-based metabolomic signature linked to high screen time, offering potential for early identification of at-risk youth. The findings are observational and highlight the need for interventions targeting both screen u...

A new study highlights that obesity independently increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), even after adjusting for common comorbidities like hypertension and diabetes. The findings suggest that weight management should be a primary strategy for AF prevention, emphasizing the need for clinicians to address obesity directly in cardiovascular risk reduction protocols.

OpenAI's GPT-5 demonstrates advanced performance in early cancer detection and clinical decision support, outperforming previous models in real-world medical scenarios. Its ability to interpret complex health data and communicate with patients could soon empower Indian doctors with AI-driven diagnostics and patient education tools.

A Simon Fraser University study reveals that the organization of brain networks in children aged 4–7 strongly influences attention skills and may help identify those at risk for ADHD. Using MRI and graph theory, researchers found that tightly connected brain regions support better focus and task-switching. The findings highlight early childhood as a critical window for interventions and pave the way for personalized brain models and future screening tools, even in resource-limited settings.

A new study found that a personalized dietary plan emphasizing moderate vegetable oil intake led to significantly greater reductions in ALT, AST, and TBIL levels in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients over 6 months, compared to traditional low-oil diets. The approach did not affect HBsAg clearance but showed improved liver recovery, supporting the use of vegetable oils over animal fats in CHB dietary management.

A Simon Fraser University study reveals that the organization of brain networks in children aged 4–7 strongly predicts attention skills, including focus, task-switching, and distraction resistance. Using MRI and graph theory, researchers found that tightly connected brain regions within groups support better attention. The findings highlight early childhood as a critical period for identifying and supporting children at risk for attention difficulties, such as ADHD, and pave the way for perso...

A new study highlights that elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels are strongly associated with a higher risk of developing diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Mendelian randomization analysis showed that a 1-unit increase in log-transformed genetically predicted hs-CRP raised nephropathy risk by up to 80%, supporting hs-CRP as a causal biomarker and potential target for early intervention.