docTLDR

A sudden spike in deaths—20 in the last two months—in Turakapalem village, Andhra Pradesh, has prompted a major public health investigation. Authorities suspect melioidosis, a bacterial infection, and have deployed teams for fever surveys, blood sampling, and sanitation drives to contain the outbreak and identify the cause.

A 65-year-old South Korean woman with osteoarthritis developed severe knee pain after repeated gold-thread acupuncture, leading to hundreds of gold filaments visible on X-ray. While gold-thread acupuncture is common in Asia for arthritis, there is no evidence of its efficacy, and it may delay appropriate treatment, worsen disease progression, and cause complications such as cysts or tissue damage. Doctors caution against relying on such alternative therapies for chronic joint pain.

The NIRF 2025 medical rankings, released by the Ministry of Education, reaffirm AIIMS Delhi as the top medical college in India, followed by PGIMER Chandigarh at second place. The rankings, based on parameters like teaching, research, graduation outcomes, inclusivity, and perception, highlight AIIMS Delhi's continued leadership and PGIMER's consistent performance, guiding medical aspirants on institutional excellence.

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has released the NEET PG 2025 scorecards for 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats on September 5, 2025. Candidates must download their scorecards from natboard.edu.in, as no offline copies will be issued. The scorecard includes scores, percentile, and All India Rank, and is mandatory for AIQ counselling. Scorecards remain accessible for six months.

GST on medical-grade oxygen, anaesthetics, diagnostic essentials, and most medicines has been cut from 12% to 5%, while life-saving drugs are now GST-free. Hospitals expect treatment costs, especially for cancer and chronic diseases, to fall by 8–10%, making quality care more affordable for Indian patients.

A 12-year-old boy from Andhra Pradesh was repeatedly misdiagnosed until CMC Vellore neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar identified his mealtime 'tantrums' as eating epilepsy—a rare reflex epilepsy triggered by chewing. EEG and video EEG during meals confirmed the diagnosis. Anti-seizure medication and migraine therapy led to full recovery within six months. Eating epilepsy is rare globally but more prevalent in South Asia, accounting for only 0.05–0.1% of epilepsy cases.

The United Doctors Front (UDF) has urged AIIMS to immediately implement its recent order limiting resident doctors' duty to 12 hours per day and 48 hours per week, citing concerns over mental health, burnout, and exploitation. Despite the official directive, many residents report non-compliance and fear punitive action for demanding adherence. UDF demands transparent duty rosters, protection for whistleblowers, accurate record-keeping, and strict enforcement to ensure resident well-being and ...

A large Neurology® study found that adults consuming the highest amounts of artificial sweeteners—such as aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, xylitol, and sorbitol—experienced a 62% faster decline in memory and thinking skills over eight years compared to low consumers. The effect was strongest in people with diabetes and those under 60. These sweeteners, common in ultra-processed foods and beverages, may trigger neuroinflammation, disrupt the gut-brain axis, and compromise the bl...

A major global study reveals deaths from chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to hypertension surged by nearly 150% in DALYs and over 454,000 lives lost annually since 1990. Only 20% of hypertensive patients achieve target blood pressure, fueling this crisis. The burden is highest in older adults and men, with poor hypertension control and delayed CKD management driving premature mortality. Comprehensive prevention, screening, and treatment strategies are urgently needed.

A novel blood test can identify amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) up to 3.5 years before clinical symptoms appear, according to new research. The test detects neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein, a biomarker for neuronal damage, offering hope for earlier diagnosis and intervention. This breakthrough could transform ALS management and research by enabling pre-symptomatic detection.

A Kerala team successfully treated a 17-year-old with simultaneous amoebic meningitis and fungal brain infection—the first such case globally. The multidisciplinary approach, including advanced diagnostics and neurosurgery, highlights the value of robust government guidelines and rapid clinical response in rare, high-mortality infections.

A novel stent retriever for ischemic stroke, trialed across 16 Indian hospitals, has received regulatory approval. Designed for Indian patients, it enables rapid clot removal and is expected to halve device costs once local manufacturing begins. This breakthrough could dramatically improve outcomes in large vessel occlusion strokes, which account for 70% of Indian stroke cases.

A retrospective study published in Scientific Reports found a nonlinear positive correlation between liver stiffness, fat content, and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. Higher liver stiffness and fat content, measurable by non-invasive imaging, were independently linked to increased CHD risk, suggesting liver health as a key cardiovascular risk indicator. The authors recommend incorporating liver metrics into CHD risk models for earlier detection and prevention.

Cardiologists highlight Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) as a critical, genetically determined heart disease risk marker often missed by standard cholesterol tests. Elevated Lp(a) affects up to 25% of people and is linked to higher risks of heart attack, stroke, and aortic valve narrowing—even with normal cholesterol. Routine Lp(a) testing is not yet standard, but experts urge screening, especially for those with a family history of early heart disease. No approved therapies exist, but new drugs are in...

An AIIMS board found that Lady Hardinge Medical College doctors wrongly certified two hearing-impaired NEET-qualified students as ineligible for disability reservation, despite valid Unique Disability IDs showing 63% and 50% disability. The AIIMS assessment confirmed higher disability levels (66.5% and 43.13%), enabling court-ordered participation in MBBS counselling. Disability rights activists demand accountability and an enquiry into the certification process.