Engineers discovered how to make atomic nuclei "talk" inside silicon chips, opening the door to scalable quantum computers. Researchers at the University of South Wales (UNSW) have found a way to make atomic nuclei communicate through electrons, allowing them to achieve entanglement at scales used in today's computer chips. This breakthrough brings scalable, silicon-based quantum computing much closer to reality. UNSW engineers have made a significant advance in quantum computing: they created 'quantum entangled states' - where two separate particles become so deeply linked they no longer behave independently - using the spins of two atomic nuclei. Such states of entanglement are the key resource that gives quantum computers their edge over conventional ones. The research was published on September 18 in the journal Science, and is an important step towards building large-scale quantum computers - one of the most exciting scientific and technological challenges of the 21st century. Lead author Dr Holly Stemp says the achievement unlocks the potential to build the future microchips needed for quantum computing using existing technology and manufacturing processes. "We succeeded in making the cleanest, most isolated quantum objects talk to each other, at the scale at which standard silicon electronic devices are currently fabricated," she says. The challenge facing quantum computer engineers has been to balance two opposing needs: shielding the computing elements from external interference and noise, while still enabling them to interact to perform meaningful computations. This is why there are so many different types of hardware still in the race to be the first operating quantum computer: some are very good for performing fast operations, but suffer from noise; others are well shielded from noise, but difficult to operate and scale up. The UNSW team has invested in a platform that - until today - could be placed in the second camp. They have used the nuclear spin of phosphorus atoms, implanted in a silicon chip, to encode quantum information. "The spin of an atomic nucleus is the cleanest, most isolated quantum object one can find in the solid state," says Scientia Professor Andrea Morello, UNSW School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications. "Over the last 15 years, our group has pioneered all the breakthroughs that made this technology a real contender in the quantum computing race. We already demonstrated that we could hold quantum information for over 30 seconds - an eternity, in the quantum world - and perform quantum logic operations with less than 1% errors," said Morello. "We were the first in the world to achieve this in a silicon device, but it all came at a price: the same isolation that makes atomic nuclei so clean, makes it hard to connect them together in a large-scale quantum processor," added Morello. Until now, the only way to operate multiple atomic nuclei was for them to be placed very close together inside a solid, and to be surrounded by one and the same electron. "Most people think of an electron as the tiniest subatomic particle, but quantum physics tells us that it has the ability to 'spread out' in space, so that it can interact with multiple atomic nuclei," says Dr Holly Stemp, who conducted this research at UNSW and is now a postdoctoral researcher at MIT in Boston. "Even so, the range over which the electron can spread is quite limited. Moreover, adding more nuclei to the same electron makes it very challenging to control each nucleus individually," added Dr Holly. "By way of metaphor one could say that, until now, nuclei were like people placed in a sound-proof room," Dr Holly says. She continued, "They can talk to each other as long as they are all in the same room, and the conversations are really clear. But they can't hear anything from the outside, and there's only so many people who can fit inside the room. This mode of conversation doesn't 'scale'," "With this breakthrough, it's as if we gave people telephones to communicate to other rooms. All the rooms are still nice and quiet on the inside, but now we can have conversations between many more people, even if they are far away." The 'telephones' are, in fact, electrons. Mark van Blankenstein, another author on the paper, explains what's really going on at the sub-atomic level. "By their ability to spread out in space, two electrons can 'touch' each other at quite some distance. And if each electron is directly coupled to an atomic nucleus, the nuclei can communicate through that." "The distance between our nuclei was about 20 nanometers - one thousandth of the width of a human hair," says Dr Stemp. "That doesn't sound like much, but consider this: if we scaled each nucleus to the size of a person, the distance between the nuclei would be about the same as that between Sydney and Boston!" added Dr Stemp. She adds that 20 nanometers is the scale at which modern silicon computer chips are routinely manufactured to work in personal computers and mobile phones. Despite the exotic nature of the experiments, the researchers say these devices remain fundamentally compatible with the way all current computer chips are built. The phosphorus atoms were introduced in the chip by the team of Professor David Jamieson at the University of Melbourne, using an ultra-pure silicon slab supplied by Professor Kohei Itoh at Keio University in Japan. By removing the need for the atomic nuclei to be attached to the same electron, the UNSW team has swept aside the biggest roadblock to the scale-up of silicon quantum computers based on atomic nuclei. 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22 September,2025 03:08 PM IST | Washington DC (USA) | ANIVascular dementia -- cognitive impairment caused by disease in the brain's small blood vessels -- is a widespread problem, but it has not been as thoroughly studied as Alzheimer's disease, in which abnormal plaques and protein tangles are deposited in neural tissue, according to researchers. The team at the University of New Mexico developed a new model for characterising and categorising different forms of vascular dementia to better understand the various forms of the disease and find effective treatments. Conditions like hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes have been linked to vascular dementia, but other contributing causes, including the recent discovery of significant quantities of nano -- and microplastics in human brains, remain poorly understood, said Elaine Bearer, Professor at the varsity. "We have been flying blind. The various vascular pathologies have not been comprehensively defined, so we haven't known what we're treating. And we didn't know that nano -- and microplastics were in the picture, because we couldn't see them," she added. In the study, published in the American Journal of Pathology, Bearer and team identified 10 different disease processes that contribute to vascular-based brain injury, typically by causing oxygen or nutrient deficiency, leakage of blood serum, and inflammation or decreased waste elimination. These cause tiny strokes that harm neurons. She listed new and existing experimental techniques, including special stains and novel microscopy, to detect them. Meanwhile, a fresh area of concern is the unknown health consequences of nano-and microplastics in the brain, Bearer said. "Nanoplastics in the brain represent a new player on the field of brain pathology," she said. "All our current thinking about Alzheimer's disease and other dementias needs to be revised in light of this discovery." "What I'm finding is that there's a lot more plastic in demented people than in normal subjects," she said. "It seems to correlate with the degree and type of dementia." The quantity of plastics was also associated with higher levels of inflammation, she said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
21 September,2025 09:42 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSWith proper awareness and technology, nearly 85 per cent of oral problems are preventable, said health experts on Saturday, September 20. Speaking at the three-day 35th Annual Conference of the Indian Society for Dental Research (ISDR) held here, over 30 national and international keynote speakers emphasised the need for research-driven collaboration across oral and craniofacial sciences. "Oral diseases may not always be life-threatening, but they silently erode the quality of life. Nearly 85 per cent of oral problems are preventable if addressed through awareness, preventive research, and the use of affordable technologies," Prof. (Dr.) Mahesh Verma, Vice Chancellor, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), said. "Our challenge is big. Millions across rural and urban India either cannot access or cannot afford dental care. Technology and innovation must bridge this gap. Today, as lifestyles change and the standard of living rises, wellness cannot be achieved without oral health," added Verma, organising chairman of the conference. He also urged the need to give attention to oral health in the national health agenda. Verma said that dental research can be conducted in 36 categories, including regenerative therapies, revitalising dead tissues, material sciences, and public health approaches. The experts also noted how alcohol begins to silently erode oral health from the very first sip. Dr. Aswini Y.B. from the Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences stated that although it is commonly known that alcohol is harmful to the liver and body, the damage begins much earlier, right inside the mouth. “Our mouth has a delicate protective lining called the mucosa. Alcohol dries it out almost instantly. This dryness weakens the lining, triggers painful blisters, and makes the mouth far more vulnerable to infections,” Aswini said. “Alcohol also reduces the flow of saliva -- the mouth’s natural cleansing system. Without enough saliva, harmful bacteria thrive, infections spread faster, and over time, the risk of developing oral cancer increases,” the doctor added. Ashwini also issued a stark warning about mixing alcohol with tobacco. “This deadly combination multiplies the risk of serious oral diseases, including cancers. Unfortunately, it’s a habit far too common, especially in India,” the dentist said. Other experts at the conference urged the public to recognise early warning signs such as persistent mouth dryness, sores, or discomfort and to take them seriously. They stressed that protecting oral health is not just about brushing twice a day, but also about making smarter lifestyle choices. The three-day conclave has drawn more than 600 delegates, including 150 international participants from 20 countries. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
21 September,2025 09:33 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSUS researchers have found that the glucose-fructose mix found in sugary drinks directly fuels the spread in cases of advanced colorectal cancer. To meet nutritional needs, many patients with cancer are encouraged to have nutritional supplement drinks and concentrated juices that contain high glucose and fructose content. A team from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center studied how sugary drinks may affect late-stage colorectal cancer. "Our findings highlight that daily diet matters not only for cancer risk but also for how the disease progresses once it has developed," said Jihye Yun, Assistant Professor of Genetics, at the varsity. Using laboratory cancer models, they compared the effects of the glucose-fructose mix found in most sugary drinks with those of glucose or fructose alone. Only the sugar mix made cancer cells more mobile, leading to faster spread to the liver -- the most common site of colorectal cancer metastasis. The sugar mix activated an enzyme called sorbitol dehydrogenase (SORD), which boosts glucose metabolism and triggers the cholesterol pathway, ultimately driving metastasis. This is the same pathway targeted by statins, common heart drugs that inhibit cholesterol production. Blocking SORD slowed metastasis, even with the sugar mix present. These findings, published in the Nature Metabolism journal, suggest that targeting SORD could also offer an opportunity to block metastasis. Sugar has long been indirectly linked to an increase in cancer risk through obesity. A previous study by Yun's lab showed that even moderate intake of sugary drinks directly fueled tumour growth in early-stage colorectal cancer, independent of obesity. Further, Yun explained it may be worthwhile to consider revisions to current dietary recommendations to reduce sugary drink consumption in cancer patients. "While these findings need further investigation, they suggest that reducing sugary drinks, targeting SORD, or repurposing statins may benefit patients with colorectal cancer," Yu said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
21 September,2025 09:24 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSWomen with excessive nausea and vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum) during pregnancy may be at a 50 per cent high risk of mental health conditions such as post-partum psychosis, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a study. Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) affects up to 3.6 per cent of all pregnancies. HG is the most common cause of hospitalisation in the first trimester of pregnancy, and the majority of HG cases (but not all) resolve in the second trimester. Women with HG experience prolonged and severe nausea and vomiting, leading to dehydration and weight loss. In the study, published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health, UK researchers examined 24 neuropsychiatric and mental health-related outcomes reported within a year of diagnosis in 476,857 pregnant women. Whilst previous research had shown that women with HG are at an increased risk of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, the new study found over 50 per cent increased risk in 13 conditions, including post-partum psychosis and post-traumatic stress disorder. The risks were doubled for Wernicke’s encephalopathy (a neurological condition due to vitamin B1 deficiency), refeeding syndrome (complications arising when food is introduced too quickly to someone who has been malnourished), eating disorders, and depression, particularly post-partum depression, which was 2.7 times more likely. “Many pregnant women experience nausea and vomiting, but for women with HG, this occurs at a level which is far from ‘normal’ and as such it can be profoundly debilitating. Many of these conditions would warrant urgent referral to specialist services for urgent assessment and treatment to ensure the safety of mother and child,” said Dr Hamilton Morrin, Doctoral Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London. In the ICD-11, the latest International Classification of Diseases by the World Health Organisation, HG is subcategorised into “mild HG” and “HG with metabolic disturbance”. The latter is characterised by carbohydrate depletion, dehydration, or electrolyte imbalance. The researchers also examined whether this categorisation is correlated with mental health outcomes. Importantly, cases of HG with metabolic disturbance (perceived as more severe) showed significantly reduced risk of depression compared to mild HG. This finding highlights the importance of adequate mental health screening and support for all women with HG, regardless of perceived severity. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 September,2025 05:09 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSA sudden outbreak of diarrhoea in Mohanpur village under Sadar block has left two dead and over 75 residents hospitalised, most of them children, during the ongoing monsoon season. The deceased have been identified as Deeplal Yadav and Laxmi Devi, both residents of Mohanpur. Infected villagers have been admitted to Darbhanga Sadar Hospital and Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) for treatment. Ranjana Devi, whose son is undergoing treatment at DMCH, described how the illness spread rapidly in her household. “First, one of my children showed symptoms of diarrhoea, and later the entire family, including me, developed the same symptoms. We first went to the primary health centre, but doctors referred us to DMCH for treatment,” she said. Darbhanga Civil Surgeon Dr. Arun Kumar confirmed the diarrhoea outbreak. “We have taken all precautionary measures in the village and established a makeshift medical camp with expert doctors. Medical teams are conducting door-to-door checks and distributing antibiotics, glucose, ORS, and other medicines among villagers. The doctors are closely monitoring the situation in the village,” Dr. Kumar said. “So far, over 75 people are hospitalised, though most have only mild symptoms. The situation is being closely monitored by specialist doctors at DMCH and Sadar Hospital,” he added. Health officials suspect contaminated water and poor sanitation as possible causes, a common concern during the monsoon. Authorities have urged residents to drink only boiled or filtered water and to report symptoms immediately. During the monsoon, when low-lying areas of Darbhanga are affected by floods, outbreaks of diarrhoea and other vector-borne diseases are common. Officials have urged villagers to sanitise their houses and maintain hygiene, while the district administration has begun sprinkling bleaching powder across the village to curb infections. Health authorities have also advised residents to drink only boiled or filtered water, use ORS in case of loose motions, and seek medical attention immediately if symptoms appear. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 September,2025 04:59 PM IST | Patna | IANSWhile medical imaging can be lifesaving, an alarming study showed that one in 10 blood cancers in children is driven by exposure to radiation from medical imaging. Medical imaging saves lives by enabling timely diagnosis and effective treatment, but it also exposes patients to ionising radiation -- a known carcinogen -- particularly through computed tomography (CT). Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco and Davis examined data from nearly four million children and estimated that some 3,000 cancers in all may be attributable to radiation exposure from medical imaging. The risk increased proportionally based on the cumulative amount of radiation the children received, revealed by the study appearing in The New England Journal of Medicine. "Children are particularly vulnerable to radiation-induced cancer due to their heightened radiosensitivity and longer life expectancy," said Rebecca Smith-Bindman, radiologist and professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, at UCSF. The findings underscore the critical need to carefully evaluate and minimise radiation exposure during paediatric imaging. "This involves ensuring that imaging is performed only when it provides essential information for the child's care and, in cases such as CT scans, using the lowest possible radiation doses," said Smith-Bindman. The researchers cautioned that doctors and parents should avoid excessive radiation doses and minimise exposure when clinically feasible. The study used a retrospective cohort design, looking back at the complete imaging histories of 3.7 million children who were born between 1996 and 2016. Investigators found a significant relationship between cumulative radiation dose and the risk of a hematologic malignancy -- which includes tumours affecting the blood, bone marrow, lymph, and lymphatic system. For children who underwent a head CT, the researchers attributed about a quarter of the children's subsequent hematologic malignancies to radiation exposure. For those who had radiographs, by contrast, they estimated that only a small fraction of the children's subsequent cancers were associated with radiation exposure. Getting one or two head CTs was associated with a 1.8-fold increased risk of a cancer diagnosis, and this rose to 3.5 times for children who received more scans and were therefore exposed to more radiation. Lymphoid malignancies accounted for 79.3 per cent, while myeloid malignancies and acute leukemia together accounted for 15.5 per cent. About 58 per cent of cancers occurred in males, and about half were diagnosed in children under 5. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 September,2025 04:44 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSResearchers have identified how the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum affects the brain, an advance that may help develop potential therapeutics that could help prevent or even reverse the damage. Cerebral malaria kills one out of five children who suffer from it and also causes long-term disabilities in half of the survivors. Malaria is caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which reproduces in our red blood cells and then breaks out of them to continue infecting new cells. Once the parasite makes it to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) -- a structure that protects the brain from harmful substances -- it can damage it, causing severe complications. To understand its effects, researchers from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Barcelona, Spain, created a lab-grown BBB to show how the parasite damages it. "You have to imagine the BBB as a system of tightly sealed pipes that prevent leaks. The malaria parasite is capable of developing cracks in those pipes and creating a leak that starts dripping infected fluid into the brain, causing swelling and making the disease irreversible," said Livia Piatti, postdoctoral student at EMBL. The lab-grown infection model of the human BBB included the key cellular players: endothelial cells that line the blood vessels, supporting pericytes, and astrocytes, which are star-shaped brain cells, all arranged in a 3D structure with flowing fluid. The miniature BBB-on-a-chip (3D-BBB) was exposed to the parasite at its most explosive stage: the moment it bursts out of red blood cells in a process called egress. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, indicated that the barrier had become more permeable. In addition, analysis of gene expression at the single-cell level showed that cells were producing less of the proteins that keep the BBB sealed, and more of the molecules that cause inflammation. Further, the researchers successfully tested an approved drug, Ruxolitinib, on their 3D-BBB model, with results suggesting that it could be effective for deadly cases of malaria. By helping calm the inflammation in the blood vessels of the brain, the drug reduced the leakiness of the BBB, they said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 September,2025 04:35 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSRenowned Mumbai pathologist Dr Anita Borges has passed away, Tata Memorial Hospital confirmed through a social media post on Friday, September 19. The medical expert was closely associated with the city-based cancer hospital. The city-based pathologist, who was the daughter of renowned Indian oncologist and cancer surgeon Dr Ernest Borges, was a pioneer of oncopathology and held several prominent positions in the medical field in Mumbai and India.In a career spanning over four decades, she was the head of Surgical Pathology of Tata Memorial Hospital. While she has been the director of the Centre for Oncopathology at Wadala, she was also a consultant histopathologist and the head of Department of Histopathology at S.L. Raheja Hospital in Mumbai, and the Dean of the Indian College of Pathologists. The Mumbai health expert has also been the Vice President (Asia) of the International Academy of Pathology.Among many achievements during her academic and life of research in pathology, she was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Society of Head and Neck Oncologists. Many from the medical fraternity and Mumbai have reacted mourning the loss of Dr Borges. We deeply mourn the loss of Dr. Anita Borges, India's most illustrious oncopathologist. Her service to countless patients at TMH and beyond leave an indelible legacy. It was indeed fitting that she left for her heavenly abode doing what she was most passionate about, teaching 🙏 pic.twitter.com/8lsFDcpPbW — Tata Memorial Hospital (@TataMemorial) September 19, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by KHAKI Lab (@khakilab)
19 September,2025 06:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDoctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, have successfully performed a life-saving keyhole lung surgery on a 50-day-old baby weighing just 2.5 kilograms. The infant, referred from Bihar, was suffering from a rare and serious condition known as congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) - an abnormal development of a part of the lung that prevents normal breathing, according to an official release. In this case, the malformation was unusually large and located on the right side of the chest. It compressed the left lung, leaving the baby gasping for breath. By the time he arrived at AIIMS, his condition was critical, and the child was placed on ventilator support. Given the severity of the condition, the child was admitted, stabilised, and prepared for surgery. For such a young infant, the challenges were immense - not only because of his very low weight and age, but also because managing such patients on ventilator support requires continuous vigilance. This task was handled by the residents of the Department of Pediatric Surgery, who played a crucial role in round-the-clock pre-and post-operative management. Instead of opting for open chest surgery, which would have required a large incision and led to prolonged recovery, the doctors chose a thoracoscopic (keyhole) approach. In this minimally invasive technique, specialised instruments as small as 3 to 5 millimetres were inserted into the chest along with a miniature camera, enabling surgeons to operate inside the baby's tiny thorax. The diseased portion of the right lung was carefully removed through an incision only about one centimetre wide. During the operation, the baby had a dangerous dip in oxygen levels. This required immediate response and coordination between the surgical and anaesthetic teams. The anaesthesia was managed by Dr Rakesh Kumar, who stabilised the baby with expert precision and ensured that the procedure could continue safely. The surgical team was led by Dr Vishesh Jain, Professor in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at AIIMS. "Operating on a 50-day-old infant weighing only 2.5 kilograms truly pushes the boundaries of what is possible with minimally invasive surgery," Dr Jain noted. "It was the coordinated effort of the surgical team and the anaesthesia team, along with the state-of-the-art facility and trained manpower at AIIMS, New Delhi, that made this success possible." Dr Sandeep Agarwala, Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatric Surgery, AIIMS, praised the effort: "This case shows our commitment to extending advanced surgical care even to the most fragile infants. Managing and operating upon such a young baby highlights the strength of our department's teamwork." Following the operation, the child recovered steadily and was soon able to breathe comfortably without ventilator support. For his parents, who had travelled from Bihar in desperation, the successful surgery and their child's recovery have been a profound source of relief and gratitude. This case is believed to be the youngest and smallest child in the country to undergo such a complex thoracoscopic lung surgery, remarkably, in a critical condition where the baby was already on ventilator support before the operation. By choosing a minimally invasive approach rather than traditional open surgery, the doctors ensured less pain, minimal trauma, and a faster recovery - critical factors in newborns with fragile health. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
19 September,2025 04:36 PM IST | New Delhi | ANICurrently, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal disorders affecting a large number of women. PCOS is increasingly seen in the 15–30-year age group, which covers adolescence and early adulthood. This rise is linked to lifestyle changes, stress, and genetic factors. Hence, women should pay attention to early symptoms and seek medical help to avoid complications, improve fertility, and ensure a better quality of life. PCOS is a condition in which the ovaries produce higher levels of male hormones (androgens), and small cysts may develop on the ovaries. It leads to irregular periods, difficulty in ovulation, and several metabolic concerns. The causes can be attributed to hormonal imbalance, sedentary lifestyle, poor eating habits, family history of PCOS or diabetes, stress, and even obesity. The symptoms are irregular or missed periods, excess facial or body hair, acne and oily skin, weight gain, especially around the abdomen, and difficulty conceiving. It is the need of the hour to pay attention to PCOS in women and take prompt steps. This condition shouldn’t be neglected at all. Dr Surabhi Siddhartha, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital, Kharghar, said, “Women in the 15–30 years age group are at the highest risk of developing PCOS because this is the reproductive age when hormonal changes are most active. Currently, 60 per cent of women may be struggling with PCOS. In a month, 6 out of 10 women visit with symptoms such as irregular cycles, acne, facial hair, and weight-related issues during their teenage years and early adulthood. Diagnosis is made using blood tests and an ultrasound to check hormone levels and ovarian health. With timely treatment that includes lifestyle changes like regular exercise, a balanced diet, weight management, and sometimes medications, PCOS can be effectively managed." She adds, "If left untreated, PCOS can increase the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and infertility in later life.It also has a major mental health impact like anxiety, depression , body image issues in young women. Timely attention not only improves fertility outcomes but also reduces long-term complications, giving young women a better quality of life. PCOS is a leading cause of infertility in young women, as irregular ovulation makes natural conception difficult. Advanced ART methods like in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection ( ICSI) have proven to be a boon, helping many women with PCOS achieve pregnancy successfully. It is advisable to seek help without any delay to improve the quality of life, Timely attention not only improves fertility outcomes but also reduces long term health complications. PCOS is manageable and one should not loose hope. Early diagnosis is a must and is a proactive approach." "PCOS is now common in women aged 15–30 years due to hormonal imbalance, poor lifestyle habits, obesity, and stress. 50% of women aged 15-30 are battling PCOS silently. Monthly, 5 out of 10 women are presenting with irregular periods, weight gain, and excess hair growth, darkening of the skin, and hair loss, which should not be ignored. There is still a lack of awareness in women regarding this condition, and many often fail to seek treatment. PCOS management involves a healthy diet, exercise, and weight control, along with medicines to regulate hormones. Timely treatment helps restore menstrual cycles, improve fertility, and prevent long-term complications like infertility, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even endometrial cancer. Women, exercise caution when it comes to your well-being and seek immediate help from an expert,” concluded Dr Anagha Chhatrapati, senior consultant Gynaecologist, Gleneagles Hospital.
19 September,2025 04:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
