HUMAN PATIENT

First human case of H5N2 bird flu died from multiple factors: WHO

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier in Geneva clarified the man's death as multi-factorial, with ongoing investigations on the source of H5N2 infection from poultry in Mexico.

WHO confirms first fatal human case of H5N2 bird flu

The first confirmed human case of infection with the H5N2 variant of bird flu was reported to the UN health body on May 23 after laboratory tests. The source of exposure to the virus remains unknown.

Govt issues guidance paper to strengthen vaccine companies' reporting of adverse events

The new report released last week aims to provide guidance to the manufacturers and importers of vaccines in the country so as to strengthen their AE/AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) monitoring and reporting and pharmacovigilance department to ensure patient safety.

Elon Musk's Neuralink seeks to enroll three patients in brain implant study

Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain-chip company, is conducting a study to evaluate its device for paralyzed patients to control digital devices through thoughts alone, facing criticism for lack of study information sharing.

Stocks with tailwinds called advantage India: 5 largecap stocks from 3 different sectors with an upside potential of upto 36 %

In terms of valuations and sentiment we are not far from the place where we were in the last quarter of 2023 or early part of this year. When it was not possible to find stocks which can be called as “fairly valued” forget “undervalued”, and the sentiment was very bullish. The only difference between then and now is that we have election results which are coming up. Surely a confirmation on 4th June that continuity in the policy making is a big factor. But there is another thing which long term investors need to look at before investing. Whether the company or the sector has an advantage due to India as a country. A well known example, which has been present for decades is that of the IT industry. India as a country is a factory of software engineers, and that is our strength. So when investing for the long term, look at sectors where we have some strong tailwinds due to our human capital.

'Unusual' form of cell death underlies lung damage in Covid patients, finds study

Ferroptosis, a less common cell death type, is linked to severe lung damage in Covid patients, causing inflammation and respiratory complications. Columbia University research highlights ferroptosis as a key factor in Covid-19 lung disease, with implications for treating neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Cruel Summer: Rethinking how to live, work in a world that is getting warmer

As this year’s summer, with its extended heat waves and record temperatures, warns, how to adapt to a warmer world is no longer a hypothetical question. A new study by World Weather Attribution says climate change has made a 30-day heat wave in South Asia 45 times more likely and 0.85o C hotter. Experts say we need to rethink the kind of houses we live in and offices we construct, how we grow our crops and the way we look at the impact of heat on our bodies, even as we tackle reducing the use of fossil fuels.

Elon Musk's Neuralink brain-chip malfunctioned? Here's the truth

Neuralink’s BCI chip which had been implanted in a patient’s brain has malfunctioned to some extent. The company is assessing the malfunctioning and is fixing the issue.

Neuralink says implant had issues after first human surgery

In the weeks following the January surgery on patient Noland Arbaugh, some of the electrode-studded threads that sit in the brain tissue began to retract from that tissue, the company said, resulting in the device not working properly.

Israel says it reopened a key Gaza crossing after a rocket attack but the UN says no aid has entered

The Israeli military reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza after days of closure, but no humanitarian aid has entered yet, and there is no one to receive it on the Palestinian side after workers fled during Israel's military incursion. The closure, prompted by a Hamas rocket attack that killed four Israeli soldiers, has raised concerns about aid operations in Gaza. The U.S. paused a bomb shipment to Israel last week over fears of a full-scale assault on Rafah, further straining U.S.-Israel relations.

Dr orang is ready to see patients

Rakus, the orangutan in Sumatra, surprised scientists by self-medicating a facial wound with Akar Kuning plant, questioning human uniqueness in self-care abilities and showcasing DNA similarities.

Doctors combine a pig kidney transplant and a heart device in a bid to extend woman's life

Lisa Pisano's combination of heart and kidney failure left her too sick to qualify for a traditional transplant, and out of options. Then doctors at NYU Langone Health devised a novel one-two punch: Implant a mechanical pump to keep her heart beating and days later transplant a kidney from a genetically modified pig.

World's most powerful MRI produces unseen images of human brain

The world's most powerful MRI scanner, Iseult, located in France's Plateau de Saclay, has captured its first images of human brains. With an 11.7 tesla magnetic field, ten times more powerful than hospital MRIs, it reveals unprecedented detail, potentially advancing brain research and treatment for diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. While not for clinical use yet, its insights may inform future medical practices.

Eyestem to begin human trials for its pioneering Dry AMD treatment

Dry AMD, a leading cause of vision loss in the ageing population of people over 50, has long been a challenge due to the limited availability of effective treatments and the high costs associated with emerging therapeutic options.

Study finds dogs can 'sniff out' PTSD episodes in their human companions

A recent study suggests that dogs may have the ability to detect the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) episodes in their human companions. Researchers found that some dogs could identify stress-related chemicals in the breath of individuals experiencing PTSD symptoms. The study involved training pet dogs to recognize these chemical cues, with promising results showing their accuracy in distinguishing between stressed and non-stressed breath samples.

Big news for Kidney patients: Pig kidney successfully transplanted into a living patient

In a groundbreaking procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital, doctors successfully transplanted a pig kidney into a 62-year-old patient, marking a milestone in xenotransplantation. The recipient, Richard Slayman, expressed hope for himself and others awaiting transplants. With recent advancements, including genetic modifications in pigs, this achievement offers promise for addressing the critical shortage of organs.

Encoding the human brain: IIT Guwahati’s novel algorithm may code brain connectivity patterns of healthy and Parkinson’s patients

IIT-Guwahati's UBNIN, a novel algorithm, encodes brain networks of Parkinson’s disease patients and healthy individuals. It serves as a biomarker for tracking mental illness progression across neuroimaging modalities, offering potential in brain printing and neurodegenerative disorder diagnosis.

'Demonstrating telepathy': Neuralink's first brain chip patient plays chess with his mind

Elon Musk's Neuralink showcased Noland Arbaugh, paralyzed post-diving, easily getting brain chip implant. Arbaugh played Civilization VI, facing challenges but praising ongoing process. Robot aids in brain-computer interface surgery.

IIT Guwahati researchers develop cost-effective motion sensor for healthcare applications

Flexible and wearable electronics play a pivotal role in augmenting human capabilities, serving functions like artificial skin and prosthetics to assist human movements or integrating with clothing and the human body in areas like bioelectronics, wearable sensors, energy-storage devices, and stretchable optoelectronic devices. Particularly, stretchable wearable devices are extremely beneficial for sensing minor movements of body parts.

Neuralink's first human patient able to control mouse through thinking: Elon Musk

The study uses a robot to surgically place a brain-computer interface implant in a region of the brain that controls the intention to move, Neuralink has said, adding that the initial goal is to enable people to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts.

Neuralink's first human patient able to control mouse through thinking, Elon Musk says

Neuralink had successfully implanted a chip on its first human patient in January, after receiving approval for human trial recruitment in September. Musk said Neuralink was now trying to get as many mouse button clicks as possible from the patient.

Elon Musk says Neuralink installs brain implant in first human

The neurotechnology company co-founded by Musk in 2016 aims to build direct communication channels between the brain and computers. The ambition is to supercharge human capabilities, treat neurological disorders like ALS or Parkinson's, and maybe one day achieve a symbiotic relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.

Elon Musk's Neuralink implants brain chip in first human