NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are all set to return to Earth after spending nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for a mission that was supposed to last just eight days. Spending a considerable amount of time in space can pose several health risks, some of which were well-documented as the two astronauts navigated these challenges. Bone and muscle deterioration, radiation exposure, vision impairment —these are just a few of the challenges space travellers face on long-duration missions, even before considering the psychological toll of isolation. In a previous interaction with mid-day.com, Dr Atul Narayankar, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, had highlighted how different elements in space can affect health, saying, “When travelling outside Earth's protective atmosphere, astronauts are exposed to cosmic rays and solar energetic particles, which can put them at a greater risk of cancer and damage to vital organs over time and even impact their neurocognitive functions.” Also Read: Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore stuck in space: How can it affect their health? Experts explain Further explaining the changes one’s body undergoes in space, he had said, “One’s muscles and bones tend to become weaker, causing distress. The fluids present in the body such as blood start to shift upward towards the brain which can cause several life-threatening complications. This includes complications like decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, dizziness, fluctuation in body temperatures, dehydration, swelling of the face, shock, respiratory distress, weakness, changes in vision and sleep apnea.” As space technology advances, there’s a need to create innovative solutions to safeguard the health of astronauts and the future of space exploration. Exercise key Despite the attention their mission has received, Williams and Wilmore’s nine-month stay is "par for the course," Rihana Bokhari, an assistant professor at the Center for Space Medicine at Baylor College, told AFP. ISS missions typically last six months, but some astronauts stay up to a year, and researchers are confident in their ability to maintain astronaut health for that duration. Most people know that lifting weights builds muscle and strengthens bones, but even basic movement on Earth resists gravity, an element missing in orbit. To counteract this, astronauts use three exercise machines on the ISS, including a 2009-installed resistance device that simulates free weights using vacuum tubes and flywheel cables, reported AFP. A two-hour daily workout keeps them in shape. "The best results that we have to show that we're being very effective is that we don't really have a fracture problem in astronauts when they return to the ground," though bone loss is still detectable on scans, Bokhari further said. Other health challenges Apart from this, balance disruption can also be an issue. "This happens to every single astronaut, even those who go into space just for a few days, as they work to rebuild trust in their inner ear," Emmanuel Urquieta, vice chair of Aerospace Medicine at the University of Central Florida, told AFP. Another challenge is "fluid shift" -- the redistribution of bodily fluids toward the head in microgravity. This can cause various health issues, including vision impairment. Dr Smit M. Bavariya, Cataract Surgeon at Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital, Wadala, in a previous interaction with mid-day.com had stated, “Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) is a condition which involves changes in vision, including blurred vision, difficulty focusing and changes in the shape of the eye. It is caused by increased intracranial pressure, which results from fluid shift in microgravity and affects the optic nerve and the eye's structure.” Managing radiation Radiation levels aboard the ISS are higher than on the ground, as it passes through the Van Allen radiation belt, but Earth's magnetic field still provides significant protection. The shielding is crucial, as NASA aims to limit astronauts' increased lifetime cancer risk to within three percent. However, missions to the Moon and Mars will give astronauts far greater exposure, explained astrophysicist Siegfried Eggl. "Shielding is best done with heavy materials like lead or water, but you need vast quantities of it," Eggl told AFP. Artificial gravity, created by rotating spacecraft frames, could help astronauts stay functional upon arrival after a nine-month journey to Mars. Alternatively, a spacecraft could use powerful acceleration and deceleration that matches the force of Earth's gravity. That approach would be speedier -- reducing radiation exposure risks -- but requires nuclear propulsion technologies that don't yet exist, reported AFP. (With inputs from AFP)
18 March,2025 11:14 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEven as the news of a woman in Kolkata being infected with Human Coronavirus HKU1 has raised fresh concerns, health experts on Monday said that the virus has been known for at least two decades and is less likely to cause any widespread infection. HKU1 was named after Hong Kong University where it was originally described in 2004. HKU1 is also known as Betacoronavirus hongkonense. It is a species of coronavirus that affects humans and animals. Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Chairman, Scientific Committee, IMA Cochin told IANS that HKU1 is different from Covid-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. “HKU1 is one of several common cold-causing viruses that belong to the coronavirus group. It is not the same as Covid-19 and is not a new virus,” Jayadevan said. “As per current understanding, HKU1 is a coronavirus subtype. It is less likely to cause any widespread infection,” Dr. Harshal R Salve, Additional professor at, the Centre for Community Medicine at AIIMS, New Delhi, told IANS. What is HKU1 and what are its symptoms? HKU1 is one of the four common cold-causing coronaviruses -- NL63, OC43, 229E. On the other hand, three coronaviruses cause severe disease -- Covid virus, the MERS virus, and the SARS virus. Jayadevan stated that HKU1 is not typically associated with severe disease. Most cases are mild with a runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. “But in vulnerable individuals, it is known to cause severe disease such as pneumonia,” he said. Global studies show that most children had at least one infection from HKU1 by 3-4 years of age. “Most children get exposed to these viruses while growing up. But immunity against coronaviruses is not long-lasting, which means repeated infections are the norm,” Jayadevan said. As per a 2021 study, published in the Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, HKU1 along with NL63, OC43, 229E accounted for 4.3 per cent of infection in a group of 250 children. HKU1 in India A 45-year-old woman from Garia, Kolkata, has been recently diagnosed with HKU1. She had been suffering from a fever, cough, and cold for the past 15 days, but doctors say her condition is stable. Since the virus is "not commonly tested for, it is meaningless to say it wasn't found in India," Jayadevan said. How to prevent HKU1 spreads mainly by contact, and also through the air by standing close to someone who is coughing or sneezing. “Viruses tend to stick to commonly touched surfaces and therefore washing hands with soap and water after returning from public places is a good habit,” the expert noted. He recommended vulnerable people take extra precautions against respiratory viruses because these infections may sometimes turn severe. Salve also stressed the "need to keep surveillance system robust as preparatory measures" against such viruses. 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
18 March,2025 10:04 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAustralian researchers have identified a surprising mechanism focusing on telomeres -- protective caps at the ends of chromosomes -- that can help cells defend against cancer. Telomeres are known to play a key role in ageing and cancer prevention. However, with age, these structures naturally shorten, signaling ageing cells to stop dividing -- a crucial safeguard against cancer, according to the study by Sydney-based Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported. "Our data shows telomeres are much more active. They can acutely respond to stress and actively open up to turn on a cellular response that looks like ageing. They do this to avoid cancer," said Tony Cesare of the Genome Integrity Unit at CMRI. Cesare and his team worked with their collaborators at the University of Kyoto to understand the "active" role that telomeres can play in avoiding cancer. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, revealed that telomeres do more than just passively shorten with age. They actively respond to stress by triggering cellular ageing processes to prevent cancer from developing. "Most people think of telomeres as a passive entity that shortens with cell division. This is a passive fail-safe used during ageing," Cesare said. By inducing cell cycle arrest or programmed cell death, telomeres help eliminate cells with chromosomal damage before they can divide uncontrollably, he said, adding this discovery introduces a previously unknown anti-cancer function of telomeres. Beyond its significance for telomere biology, Cesare suggests that this breakthrough could open new avenues for cancer treatment -- targeting telomeres to trigger cell death in cancerous cells may offer a promising therapeutic strategy. As per the latest estimates, in 2022, there were an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths. About 1 in 5 people develop cancer in their lifetime, approximately 1 in 9 men and 1 in 12 women die from the disease, according to data from the World Health Organization. Also Read: Cancer incidence steadily rising in India; lifestyle changes essential: Doctors 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
17 March,2025 02:08 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSThe '13th Gut Microbiota for Health World Summit' in Washington, DC, over the weekend revealed how cutting-edge research on gut microbiome science is being applied to clinical practice. The summit showcased the latest microbiome research on coronavirus, plant and dairy-based protein, as well as probiotics. A novel study found that the gut microbiome in children is altered post-COVID-19 infection, much like it is in adults. Researchers found a significant decrease in beneficial bacteria, like Lacticaseibacillus and Bifidobacterium, in children who had COVID-19 compared to those who didn’t. These bacteria help reduce inflammation and support gut health. Children with lingering symptoms also showed different types of bacteria, in addition to elevated markers of inflammation and decreased barrier function in the gut. Future research will examine immune responses and potential microbiome-targeted therapies for persistent post-COVID-19 symptoms. In another study, researchers analysed 35 plant-based and 23 dairy-based foods and found that nearly 50% of tested plants and milk and dairy products contain S100B, a helpful protein that binds calcium. The study suggested that S100B may interact with gut bacteria to promote a healthy microbiome, potentially influencing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The findings open the door for future dietary applications, such as using S100B in supplements and nutraceuticals. A meta-analysis of 10 studies, including 2,345 patients, showed that probiotics significantly reduced abdominal pain, bloating, and vomiting after a colonoscopy. While there was no significant reduction in nausea, constipation, gas, or diarrhoea, these findings suggest probiotics could improve patient recovery and encourage more individuals to undergo the crucial procedure. The event – organised by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) – brought together clinicians, researchers, nutritionists, and dieticians from around the world.
17 March,2025 10:45 AM IST | New York | IANSA recent study has made significant progress in uncovering the microscopic mechanism behind heavy-ion cancer therapy, which is expected to optimise cancer treatment strategies and promote the development of new radiotherapy technologies. The findings, led by researchers from the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and their collaborators, were recently published as a highlighted paper in the journal Physical Review X, Xinhua news agency reported. Heavy-ion therapy, a cutting-edge radiotherapy technique, uses heavy-ion beams to destroy cancer cells. Since the concept was proposed in 1946, over 50,000 patients worldwide have undergone heavy-ion treatment. "Under the same radiation dose, heavy ions exhibit two to three times greater cancer-cell-killing efficiency than traditional X-ray radiotherapy," said Xu Shenyue, a researcher with the IMP. Heavy ions can more efficiently cause DNA double-strand breaks in tumour cells, resulting in stronger biological effects. But the specific microscopic mechanism underlying these effects had long been unclear, Shenyue added. Researchers conducted experiments at the heavy-ion research facilities in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, to address this question. For the first time, they observed an intermolecular energy and proton transfer cascade mechanism triggered by heavy-ion irradiation in biomolecular clusters. "The observed mechanism sheds light on the molecular mechanisms of radiation damage, and may play an essential role in optimising radiotherapy techniques in the future," said Ma Xinwen, another researcher with the IMP. The study was conducted by scientists from the IMP, in collaboration with researchers from Russia's Irkutsk State University, Germany's Heidelberg University, the University of Science and Technology of China, Xi'an Jiaotong University and Lanzhou University. Meanwhile, a recent report said that the scientists are working on a new type of antibody that could help fight treatment-resistant breast and ovarian cancers. The antibody, known as IgE, has shown the ability to stimulate the immune system and slow down tumour growth. Currently, IgG antibodies are commonly used in immunotherapy to activate the body’s immune system against cancer. This treatment is often preferred over chemotherapy and radiation because it specifically targets cancer cells.
17 March,2025 10:24 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSA team of researchers has revealed powerful virtual reality (VR) treatment for speech anxiety, that is becoming increasingly more common over time globally. Published in the journal Frontiers, the study reported work by Dr Chris Macdonald from University of Cambridge in the UK who created an online platform where users transform into skilled and confident public speakers. On the platform, tailored course material develops key skills and life-like virtual reality training environments build confidence. “In physical reality, a user might be practising a presentation alone in their bedroom but on the new virtual reality platform, they can experience the sensation of presenting to a wide range of increasingly challenging photorealistic audiences,” said Dr Macdonald. By developing a method that converts smartphones into VR headsets, Dr Macdonald has made sure that the platform is accessible to all. The platform has been clinically proven to significantly increase levels of confidence for most users after a single 30-minute session. In the most recent trial with students from Cambridge and University College London (UCL), it was found that a week of self-guided use was beneficial to 100 per cent of participants. The platform helped all users in one or more of the following ways: to feel more prepared, more adaptable, more resilient, more confident, to be better able to manage nerves, and to feel less anxious. A user-centric iterative process ensured that the platform would work ‘in the wild’. In between each rebuild thus far, the platform has hosted over 50,000 practice presentations from remote beta users. To further stress test the software and hardware, in-person events were organised, one of which involved over 1,000 members of the public using the platform in suboptimal conditions in a demo room in Cambridge. To further expand and deepen the participant pool, the lab went on tour. This included stops at the largest science and technology events such as New Scientist Live as well as less formal settings such as a local market, library, community centre, church, and even someone’s living room. Speech anxiety and the fear of public speaking impact most people, and it is becoming increasingly more common over time. The platform has immense potential to empower individuals to overcome their fear of public speaking, ultimately enhancing not only their quality of life but also their capacity to become a driving force of positive change in the world,” said the authors.
17 March,2025 10:09 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSScientists at Osaka University in Japan have devised a new AI model to estimate a person’s biological age — a measure of how well their body has aged, rather than just counting the years since birth. Using just five drops of blood, this new method analyses 22 key steroids and their interactions to provide a more precise health assessment. The team’s breakthrough study, published in Science Advances, offers a potential step forward in personalised health management, allowing for earlier detection of age-related health risks and tailored interventions. “Our bodies rely on hormones to maintain homeostasis, so we thought, why not use these as key indicators of aging?” said Dr Qiuyi Wang, co-first author of the study. To test this idea, the research team focused on steroid hormones, which play a crucial role in metabolism, immune function, and stress response. The team developed a deep neural network (DNN) model that incorporates steroid metabolism pathways, making it the first AI model to explicitly account for the interactions between different steroid molecules. One of the study’s most striking findings involves cortisol, a steroid hormone commonly associated with stress. The researchers found that when cortisol levels doubled, biological age increased by approximately 1.5 times. This suggests that chronic stress could accelerate aging at a biochemical level, reinforcing the importance of stress management in maintaining long-term health. “Stress is often discussed in general terms, but our findings provide concrete evidence that it has a measurable impact on biological aging,” said Professor Toshifumi Takao, a corresponding author and an expert in analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry. The researchers believe this AI-powered biological age model could pave the way for more personalised health monitoring. Future applications may include early disease detection, customised wellness programmes, and even lifestyle recommendations tailored to slow down aging. 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.
17 March,2025 10:03 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSThe new study conducted among urban Indian corporate employees, has found that vitamin B12 deficiency, crucial for neurological function and energy metabolism, was significantly higher among men, with 57.16 per cent showing insufficient or deficient levels. Meanwhile, 49.9 per cent of women also exhibited deficiencies, emphasising the importance of dietary adjustments and supplementation for overall well-being. The study was released earlier this week by Indian digital healthcare company MediBuddy highlighting nutrient deficiencies among Indian corporate professionals aged 40–50. It analysed data from around 4,400 individuals (3,338 men and 1,059 women) in the age group, brings to the fore the urgent need for targeted health interventions and preventive care strategies, particularly for men who exhibit a higher prevalence of key deficiency. Contrary to the common belief that urban men have an adequate diet, the study suggests that poor gut absorption, dietary choices, and a predominantly vegetarian diet could be contributing factors to this widespread deficiency. Several underlying reasons may explain this trend:1. Poor absorption: Even in individuals consuming B12-rich foods, malabsorption issues such as suboptimal stomach acid production (common with age), gastrointestinal disorders, or long-term use of medications like antacids and metformin can hinder effective B12 absorption. Another big issue is gut microbiome imbalance causing poor absorption.2. Dietary choices: Corporate professionals, particularly vegetarians or vegans, are at a higher risk of deficiency since natural sources of B12 are primarily found in animal-based foods (meat, fish, dairy, and eggs). Even those consuming dairy and eggs may still struggle to meet their daily requirements without fortified foods or supplementation.3. Sedentary lifestyles and metabolic stress: High-pressure corporate jobs often lead to erratic eating habits, increased alcohol consumption, nicotine use and stress, which can further deplete B12 levels. Dr Gowri Kulkarni, head of medical operations, MediBuddy, speaking about the findings, said, “Preventive care is the cornerstone of long-term health, and these findings reinforce the need for early intervention, especially for employees in high-pressure corporate environments. At MediBuddy, we are committed to empowering individuals with accessible healthcare solutions that encourage proactive wellness. Through timely screenings, digital health tracking, and expert-led guidance, we aim to shift healthcare from a reactive to a preventive approach, ensuring better long-term health outcomes.” As India's corporate sector continues to expand, these findings underline the importance of personalised health assessments that go beyond standard metrics. Regular health screenings focused on nutritional status and metabolic markers can help identify issues before they progress to more serious conditions, particularly for men, who are often less likely to seek preventive care.
16 March,2025 10:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTrying to lose weight? A new study claims replacing animal products with plant-based foods like soy milk and vegan meat that are ultra-processed, can lead to significant weight loss. The research by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine looked at the role of plant-based processed foods in weight loss. High-processed foods -- rich in sugar, salt, and fat -- are known to be unhealthy and contribute to weight gain, obesity, and a host of diseases. “Our research shows that choosing a bagel instead of bacon for breakfast or a veggie burger instead of a hamburger for dinner is the best option if you are looking to lose weight,” said Hana Kahleova, director of clinical research for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. “Filling your plate with plant-based foods -- even if they are considered ultra-processed like soy milk and vegan meat and yogurt alternatives -- instead of animal products can have a positive impact on your weight and overall health,” Kahleova added. The findings, published in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism, showed that participants in the vegan group decreased consumption of animal products and increased plant-based foods. This led to an average weight loss of 5.9 kilograms, compared to an insignificant change in the control group. The top three predictors of weight loss were reduced consumption of processed animal foods (such as smoked fish), unprocessed or minimally processed animal foods (such as milk, beef, and eggs), and ultra-processed animal foods (such as cheese, fried chicken, and sausage). This appears to have resulted from reduced calorie and fat intake and increased fiber intake, as well as calorie burn from increased after-meal metabolism, said the researchers. “Our new study is an important reminder that plant-based foods that are considered processed, like canned beans, cereal, and veggie burgers, are actually part of a healthy diet that can help fight diet-related chronic disease epidemics,” Kahleova 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.
16 March,2025 10:17 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSA team of US researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) based system that may help assess cognitive impairments and curb the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia in older adults. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, so identifying people with cognitive issues early could lead to interventions and better outcomes. However, diagnosing MCI can be a long and difficult process, especially in rural areas where access to licensed neuropsychologists is limited. Researchers from the University of Missouri created a portable system that comes with a depth camera, a force plate, and an interface board. The study showed it can efficiently measure multiple aspects of motor function. The team examined older adults, some of whom had MCI, and asked them to complete three activities: standing still, walking, and standing up from a bench. Participants had to complete these activities while counting backward in intervals of seven at the same time. Based on their performance, which was captured by the new portable system, the data was fed into a machine learning model -- a type of artificial intelligence -- that accurately identified 83 per cent of those in the study with MCI. “The areas of the brain involved in cognitive impairment overlap with areas of the brain involved in motor function, so when one is diminished, the other is impacted as well,” said Trent Guess, an associate professor in the College of Health Sciences, at the varsity. “These can be very subtle differences in motor function related to balance and walking that our new device is able to detect but would go unnoticed through observation,” Guess added. With the number of people globally with Alzheimer’s disease expected to surge, the portable device has the potential to help millions of older adults given that MCI is one of the precursors to Alzheimer’s and dementia. “This portable system has many other applications, too, including looking at those with concussions, sports rehabilitation, ALS and Parkinson’s disease, knee replacements and hip replacements,” Guess 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.
16 March,2025 10:06 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSA team of US researchers has identified high-risk cells in fallopian tubes that may trigger a deadly form of ovarian cancer. The discovery of the high-risk cells -- a subset of progenitor cells that reside in fallopian tube supportive tissue, or stroma -- may pave the way for better approaches to prevent and detect high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), said the team from the University of Pittsburgh. HGSOC is a type of ovarian cancer that starts in the fallopian tubes and spreads to the ovaries. It is the most common form of ovarian cancer. "Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of death from gynecologic cancer, but we currently have no way to detect it early and no prevention strategies apart from surgical castration, which is only indicated in high-risk women," said Lan Coffman, Associate Professor of malignant hematology and medical oncology in the Pitt School of Medicine. "Understanding the underlying biology of how ovarian cancer forms is critical to improving outcomes for our patients," Coffman said, in the paper, published in the journal Cancer Discovery. HGSOC begins in the fallopian tubes when healthy epithelial cells transform into precursor lesions known as serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC). These STIC lesions often develop into HGSOC tumours. To find out, Coffman and her team turned to the stroma -- the non-cancerous connective tissue that helps cancer grow. In the stroma of ovarian cancer, a type of progenitor cell normally involved in the growth and repair of healthy tissue (mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) becomes reprogrammed by tumour cells to support cancer growth. Further probe revealed that cells that looked like cancer-associated MSCs in the fallopian tubes of healthy women, had higher risk of ovarian cancer. The risks include older age or with mutations in the BRCA gene -- suggesting that they play a role in cancer initiation. When the researchers introduced these high-risk MSCs into organoids, or mini-organs, derived from patient fallopian tube tissue, healthy epithelial cells transformed into cancerous cells. "High-risk MSCs promote DNA damage in epithelial cells and then help those mutated cells survive," explained Coffman. "It's the perfect storm for cancer initiation." 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.
16 March,2025 09:59 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSADVERTISEMENT
