docTLDR

IIT Roorkee scientists report Compound 3b, a β‑lactamase inhibitor designed to work with meropenem and counter KPC‑2–producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, a WHO‑priority superbug. Led by Prof Ranjana Pathania with collaborators in Norway, the candidate neutralized resistance and showed strong therapeutic effects in preclinical models. The study, published in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, could guide future anti‑AMR drug development.

A large US study of older adults found that roughly 1 in 5 cancers are diagnosed with emergency department (ED) involvement shortly before the index date, and these patients have worse outcomes and reflect socioeconomic disparities. ED-linked diagnoses were far more common in lung and colorectal cancers than breast or prostate, and were associated with later stage disease, higher comorbidity, and higher-poverty areas—highlighting delays in detection and inequities in access to timely care.

A Medical Dialogues report highlights NHANES 2013–2014 data showing adults with poor sleep patterns had a 65% higher odds of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and over twofold higher odds of severe AAC versus healthy sleepers, after multivariable adjustment. Sleep score incorporated duration, trouble sleeping, and diagnosed sleep disorders using Kauppila scoring for AAC, underscoring sleep as a modifiable vascular risk factor.

Kannur Police arrested two Chennai-based suspects for allegedly defrauding a Mattannur-based doctor of ₹4.43 crore via a fake online share-trading scheme. The gang reportedly contacted the victim over WhatsApp, lured him with high returns, and had him transfer funds to multiple accounts. Cyber police traced transactions and made arrests; further probes to identify other accomplices and recover money are underway. The case underscores rising doctor-targeted cyberfrauds in Kerala.

A US NHANES cohort study (38,093 adults) found prediabetes prevalence of 26.2% (~51M). While unadjusted mortality risk was higher (HR 1.58), the association lost significance after adjusting for demographics, lifestyle, and comorbidities (HR 1.05). Critically, age-stratified analyses showed a significant risk only in adults 20–54 years (HR 1.68), not in older groups, underscoring the need for age-tailored screening and prevention strategies.

A Scientific Reports mouse study from Griffith University found Chlamydia pneumoniae can travel from the nasal cavity to the brain via the olfactory nerve, especially when the nasal epithelium is damaged—conditions that nose-picking or hair plucking might cause. This triggered increased amyloid-beta production and Alzheimer’s-like pathology in mice. Researchers caution the link in humans remains unproven but advise avoiding nasal trauma pending further studies.

India’s government clarified there is no official 'life-saving drug' category, but 930 medicines remain under price control. Price caps on anti-cancer, cardiovascular, and diabetic drugs have saved patients over Rs 2,800 crore annually. The Janaushadhi scheme now covers 2,110 medicines and 315 devices, with 16,912 outlets nationwide. Doctors should expect increased patient access to affordable generics and tighter regulation of device pricing.

A new study highlights that Indian kidney transplant recipients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection face a significantly elevated risk of severe hepatic complications. The findings urge clinicians to intensify HCV screening and management protocols in transplant candidates to reduce post-transplant liver morbidity and mortality.

A large multinational randomized trial presented at IDWeek and later published shows that a 7-day antibiotic course for hospitalized patients with uncomplicated bloodstream infections is noninferior to 14 days for 90-day outcomes, with similar mortality and relapse. Shorter therapy also reduced length of hospitalization and supports antimicrobial stewardship by limiting unnecessary antibiotic exposure, offering practical benefits for resource-constrained settings.

While core symptoms overlap for both sexes—blood in stool, bowel habit changes, abdominal discomfort, weight loss, anemia—men have a higher lifetime risk and earlier onset, whereas women tend to present about a decade later. Women more often develop right‑sided (proximal) tumors, which are flatter, harder to detect on colonoscopy, and linked to MSI/CIMP biology and later-stage diagnosis, contributing to worse outcomes, especially in older women.

A 25-year Northwestern SuperAging study reports that some adults aged 80+ retain memory akin to people decades younger, tied to distinct neurobiology. Superagers show thicker anterior cingulate cortex, greater von Economo neuron density, slower cortical thinning, fewer neurofibrillary tangles in entorhinal/hippocampal regions, lower blood p‑tau181, robust basal forebrain cholinergic integrity with fewer acetylcholinesterase‑rich neurons, and reduced white‑matter microglial activation.[2]

A new systematic review and meta-analysis reports that adults with type 2 diabetes have a markedly higher burden of hearing loss than controls. Across 39 studies (88,395 T2DM; 20,337 controls), clinically significant hearing loss was 53.0% in T2DM vs 25.2% in controls (RR 2.3). Sensorineural loss predominated (46.2%), with notable rates of moderate impairment. Authors urge integrating routine hearing assessments into diabetes care to mitigate underdiagnosis and functional decline.

A CMC Vellore–trained doctor warns that heart attack warning signs can appear up to a decade earlier, often as recurring or exertional chest discomfort consistent with angina, along with atypical symptoms many dismiss. He urges early risk assessment and management—lipids, blood pressure, diabetes control, smoking cessation, exercise, diet—and prompt evaluation of unexplained chest pain to prevent future myocardial infarction.

A randomized study from India (30 adults, moderate OSA) found that six months of daily shankh (conch) blowing for at least 15 minutes, five days/week led to 34% less daytime sleepiness, better self-reported sleep, four to five fewer apneas per hour on polysomnography, and higher nocturnal oxygen levels versus deep-breathing controls. Researchers propose airway muscle strengthening as the mechanism and plan multicenter trials, including comparisons with CPAP.

The Hindu reports that rural-to-urban migration in India is associated with higher obesity—especially abdominal obesity—with risk increasing the longer migrants reside in cities. Drawing on recent analyses of LASI data and prior cohort evidence, the piece links urban lifestyles (reduced physical activity, dietary shifts, and socio-economic transitions) to growing waistlines and elevated NCD risk among middle-aged and older adults. It urges targeted urban health interventions for migrants.