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Researchers led by John Marlowe at nChroma Bio have developed CRMA-1001, an experimental therapy that switches off hepatitis B genes without cutting or altering DNA, using a lipid-wrapped genetic package that attaches "mute button" methyl tags directly to viral DNA. In human liver cell cultures, it reduced viral proteins by 98%, and in mice, three monthly doses left up to 90% with undetectable hepatitis B surface antigen and unmeasurable viral DNA six months later. Tests in monkeys showed the therapy reached the liver as intended with only mild, temporary side effects, and it caused no detectable unintended genetic changes in human liver cells. While researchers caution that animal models can't fully replicate human hepatitis B infection, they believe the results support moving CRMA-1001 into human clinical trials, offering hope for a potential cure beyond the lifelong antiviral treatment most patients currently rely on.

Research shows a bidirectional link between sleep and the gut microbiome, communicated through the sleep-gut-brain axis via microbial metabolites, serotonin, histamine and other neuroactive compounds. Many gut bacteria follow daily rhythms tied to feeding cycles and circadian clock genes, and disrupting sleep can throw off this balance, sometimes lowering microbial diversity, shifting the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio and reducing beneficial, butyrate-producing bacteria, though human study results remain mixed. Animal research suggests sleep loss can weaken the gut's protective barrier, allowing inflammatory triggers to enter the bloodstream and activate systemic inflammation, though this pathway isn't yet firmly established in humans. Chronic sleep disruption, seen in night-shift workers and people with sleep apnea, appears particularly linked to microbiome changes and metabolic issues like insulin resistance, though lifestyle factors like diet and stress make the relationship difficult to isolate.

Dizziness on standing is often blamed on a drop in blood pressure, but Dr Preema Khan, Consultant - Internal Medicine, KIMS Hospitals, Bengaluru, says several other conditions can look similar. Causes range from dehydration and anaemia to low blood sugar in diabetics, heart rhythm disorders, and inner ear or neurological issues like positional vertigo. While occasional dizziness on standing may be harmless orthostatic hypotension, Dr Khan warns against assuming this every time, especially if episodes are frequent. Red flags like fainting, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, facial drooping, slurred speech or sudden severe headache demand immediate medical attention, while recurring or persistent dizziness should always prompt a proper evaluation to pinpoint the real cause.

The CDSCO has warned against indiscriminate use of NSAID painkillers and antibiotics, citing risks to kidney health, though it clarifies the two work very differently. NSAIDs can directly harm kidneys by inhibiting prostaglandins that maintain blood flow, potentially causing acute kidney injury and worsening existing disease, especially in people with kidney impairment, dehydration or cardiovascular conditions. Antibiotics, by contrast, mainly pose risks through misuse itself, driving antimicrobial resistance and adverse reactions rather than directly causing chronic kidney disease, says Dr Amitav Banerjee, professor emeritus at Dr DY Patil Medical College. The regulator isn't urging people to stop using these medicines, but to avoid self-medication, follow prescriptions, use the lowest effective painkiller dose for the shortest duration, and never share or reuse leftover antibiotics.

Researchers used CRISPR gene editing to remove CD33, a protein target, from donor stem cells, potentially giving doctors a way to attack aggressive blood cancers while sparing the healthy cells patients depend on after a transplant. In a 30-patient trial, the edited stem cells successfully engrafted and appeared to shield blood cells from a CD33-targeted cancer treatment, suggesting cancer therapy could be intensified without the usual collateral damage to a patient's healthy blood supply. The approach opens the door to more aggressive, targeted treatment strategies for blood cancers where destroying healthy cells alongside cancerous ones has long been a major limitation of existing therapies.

Dr Jaya Agarwal, Senior Consultant, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, says isabgol (psyllium husk) supports gut health but shouldn't be seen as a cancer-preventing remedy. While high-fibre diets from whole foods are strongly linked to lower colorectal cancer risk, clinical trials on fibre supplements like psyllium, including a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, found no clear benefit in preventing the recurrence of colorectal adenomas, cancer precursors. Isabgol remains genuinely useful for relieving constipation and supporting blood sugar and cholesterol control when taken with adequate water, but Dr Agarwal stresses it should complement a fibre-rich diet, not replace it. True cancer prevention, she notes, depends on a healthy weight, regular activity, avoiding smoking and processed meat, and timely screening, not any single supplement.

Perilla frutescens, a mint-family herb long used in East Asian cuisine, contains over 270 identified bioactive compounds, including rosmarinic acid, luteolin and omega-3-rich seed oil, that show anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity in preclinical research. A small human trial found oral rosmarinic acid-enriched Perilla extract improved symptoms in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients, though it didn't significantly suppress systemic IgE or key inflammatory markers, pointing to a more targeted effect. Animal studies suggest Perilla leaf and seed extracts can boost regulatory T-cells, reduce inflammatory cytokines, improve gut barrier integrity and support healthier microbiota, with some seed-residue extracts even slowing early markers of colorectal cancer. However, most evidence remains confined to lab and animal models, and researchers stress that large, standardized human trials are still needed before clear clinical guidelines can be established.

Chronic inflammation linked to stress, lifestyle, mental health and socioeconomic conditions may silently reshape the heart for years before any symptoms appear, according to new findings. People with the highest inflammation levels faced a 43% greater risk of heart attack and stroke compared to those with lower levels, suggesting the damage builds long before a diagnosis would typically catch it. The results raise hopes that earlier inflammation testing could flag at-risk individuals sooner, while anti-inflammatory treatments might offer a new way to prevent serious heart disease before it strikes, adding to a growing body of evidence that heart health is shaped as much by chronic stress and inflammation as by traditional risk factors like cholesterol and blood pressure.

A UK study of over 33,000 postmenopausal women found that a higher BMI at age 20 was linked to a 15% lower risk of postmenopausal breast cancer for every 5 kg/m² increase, the opposite of midlife BMI, where each 5 kg/m² increase raised risk by 20%. Researchers found this early-life effect works partly through mammographic density: a higher BMI at 20 was associated with lower visual analog scale (VAS) density, and lower density itself is linked to reduced cancer risk. Notably, VAS percentage density showed a stronger link to cancer risk than the volume-based fibroglandular volume (FGV) measure. The findings suggest that adiposity's effect on breast cancer risk depends heavily on when in life it occurs, highlighting mammographic density as a key pathway connecting early-adulthood body size to later cancer outcomes.

A study of 92 older adults with memory complaints found that those with higher dietary intake of polyphenols, plant compounds found in fruits, vegetables and other plant foods, were significantly less likely to have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) than those with lower intake, even after adjusting for age, sex, education and other factors. Flavonoids and lignans showed the strongest links, with flavones standing out among flavonoid subclasses. However, total polyphenol intake wasn't significantly correlated with cognitive test scores directly, and while some weak associations with inflammatory markers emerged, the findings didn't confirm an anti-inflammatory mechanism. Since the study was small and cross-sectional, researchers caution the results are exploratory and cannot prove that polyphenols directly prevent cognitive decline, calling for longitudinal and interventional studies to confirm the link.