IV Iron Therapy Valuable Despite No Link with h-cTnT in Hemodialysis Patients: Study

A recent study published in the journal of BMC Nephrology revealed that no significant relationship between high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (h-cTnT) and IV iron, but IV iron therapy remains important for hemodialysis patients.

The cross-sectional investigation from February 2023 to October 2024 in a dialysis unit, involved 244 patients who had been on hemodialysis for at least 3 months and were receiving IV iron therapy. All participants were aged 18 years or older. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T levels were measured prior to dialysis, with patients grouped according to whether their h-cTnT values were at or below 60 ng/L or above that threshold.

Of the 224 patients who completed the study (137 male and 87 female, with a mean age of 59.9 years), the average IV iron dose was 255.5 mg per month. The overall mean h-cTnT was 90.5 ng/L. More than half the patients (58.5%) had h-cTnT levels exceeding 60 ng/L.

Despite initial concerns, this research found no statistically significant relationship between IV iron dose and troponin levels. However, several other factors did correlate with higher troponin values. Male patients, older individuals, and those with ischemic heart disease or cerebrovascular events showed significantly elevated h-cTnT. The patients on statins and doxazosin were more likely to fall into the high troponin group.

Clinical parameters tied to dialysis performance and nutritional status also showed noteworthy differences. The patients with h-cTnT levels above 60 ng/L had a lower processed blood volume, shorter effective dialysis time, and reduced KT/V urea values, suggesting less efficient treatment. Albumin levels were also lower in the high-troponin group, indicating potential systemic vulnerability.

These findings suggest that while IV iron therapy does not directly influence cardiac troponin T levels, other clinical and patient-related factors play a substantial role. Monitoring troponin remains critical, not for iron management alone, but for identifying patients at higher cardiovascular risk.

Overall, the results highlighted that IV iron appears to be safe in terms of its effect on troponin and is effective in managing anemia in dialysis patients. However, elevated h-cTnT still flags patients with poorer overall health, comorbidities, and less effective dialysis sessions.

Reference:

Hunjul, M., Owda, D., Sawaid, B., Saadeh, H., Enaya, A., Hamdan, Z., & Nazzal, Z. (2025). Exploring the relationship between intravenous iron therapy and troponin T levels in hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nephrology, 26(1), 510. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04436-1

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Female Veterans with Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis Have Higher Pregnancy Risks, Finds Study

USA: A study found that female veterans with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had significantly higher rates of pregnancy loss and severe maternal morbidity compared to other veterans. These risks were elevated beyond those seen in the general population.

The investigation, published in ACR Open Rheumatology by Dr. Deirdre A. Quinn from the Center for Healthcare Evaluation, Research, and Promotion at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and the University of Pittsburgh, assessed maternal outcomes among veterans with autoimmune conditions. Researchers emphasized that women with SLE and RA already face complex health challenges, and pregnancy further magnifies these risks.
The study involved a secondary analysis of national data from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The research team focused on veterans between 18 and 45 years old who had at least one pregnancy between October 2009 and September 2019, along with a VA primary care visit within the year before conception. Using diagnostic codes, the investigators identified cases of SLE and RA, along with related comorbidities. Severe maternal morbidity (SMM)—defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—was tracked during pregnancy and up to 42 days postpartum.
Key findings were as follows:
  • Out of nearly 30,000 veterans analyzed, 113 were diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 92 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  • Pregnancy loss was notably higher in these groups: 36% of women with SLE and 30.4% with RA had nonlive birth outcomes, including stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, or spontaneous abortion.
  • In comparison, only 25.2% of veterans without autoimmune diseases experienced similar outcomes.
  • Severe maternal morbidity was also elevated, affecting nearly 10% of women with SLE and 4.3% of those with RA.
  • By contrast, just 3.2% of the wider veteran population experienced such complications.
  • The maternal health issues observed included life-threatening conditions such as cardiovascular events, severe infections, and hemorrhage, all of which pose risks to both survival and long-term health.
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate severe maternal morbidity specifically among veterans with SLE or RA. The results highlight not only the disproportionate risk faced by these women but also the need for enhanced maternity care strategies tailored to veterans with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
The VA, the largest integrated health system in the United States, serves a medically and socially complex patient population. While the VA has developed coordinated maternity care models that integrate social and medical support, the study suggests more targeted approaches may be required for women with autoimmune conditions.
The authors noted that additional research is needed to explore how existing VA maternity programs can be adapted to mitigate these risks and improve pregnancy outcomes for veterans with SLE, RA, and potentially other systemic autoimmune diseases. By identifying these gaps, the study highlights the importance of specialized prenatal and postpartum care, as well as closer monitoring of high-risk pregnancies in this population.
“Veterans living with lupus or rheumatoid arthritis face elevated risks of both pregnancy loss and severe maternal morbidity. These findings reinforce the need for comprehensive, individualized maternity care models within the VA system to better support the reproductive health of women veterans,” the authors concluded.
Reference:
Quinn, D. A., Sileanu, F. E., Procario, G. T., Mitchell, S., & Talabi, M. B. (2025). Severe Maternal Morbidity During and After Pregnancy Among Veterans With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Rheumatoid Arthritis. ACR Open Rheumatology, 7(9), e70100. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.70100

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Toe transfer surgery may improve outcomes after finger amputation, reveals study

For patients with amputations affecting the hand, toe transfer surgery provides an alternative to replanting the amputated digits and may lead to greater improvement in hand function and other key outcomes, reports a study in the August issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

“Our study provides the first evidence that toe transfer surgery provides better long-term hand function compared to attempted replantation of the amputated fingers,” comments Fu-Chan Wei, MD, of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. “The findings challenge current approaches to emergency replantation surgery after digital amputations.”

Toe transfer versus finger replantation: New data on patient-reported outcomes

Amputations of the fingers and thumb are common injuries, affecting about 45,000 people per year in the United States alone. Digit amputations can leave patients with years of disability, especially if the thumb is lost. Emergency replantation of the amputated digit is the current standard of treatment but is sometimes impossible or unsuccessful.

Toe transfer surgery – using one or more of the patients’ toes to replace the amputated digits – is a potential alternative to replantation. While toe transfer surgery is not a new procedure, few studies have evaluated its impact on hand function and other patient-reported outcomes.

Dr. Wei and coauthor Steven Lo, MD, of Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, Glasgow, Scotland, analyzed long-term outcomes of 126 toe transfer procedures in 75 patients after digital amputation. Hand function and other patient-reported outcomes were compared to those of 96 replantation procedures in 52 patients. All patients were treated at Dr. Wei’s hospital; outcomes were assessed at least five years after surgery.

Data support toe transfer as ‘a viable alternative’ to replantation

On the validated Michigan Hand Questionnaire, hand function was significantly better for patients undergoing toe transfer, compared to replantation. The difference in favor of toe transfer was substantial, with hand function scores about three times higher than the benefit considered clinically important. The more severe the injury, the greater the magnitude of improvement after toe transfer surgery.

Patients in the toe transfer group also had greater improvement in physical health-related quality of life, assessed using the standard SF-36 score. Foot function after toe transfer surgery was comparable to that in the general population.

The researchers performed physical assessments to evaluate the most important factors affecting hand function outcomes. Hand range of motion, tripod pinch (three-finger grip, as in holding a pencil), and moving two-point discrimination (a measure of nerve sensation) were predictors of better hand function after toe transfer. Higher overall physical and mental health scores were also associated with improved hand function.

Previous studies of toe transfer surgery have consistently yielded high surgical success rates. However, these studies have not included validated assessments of hand function. No evidence-based guidelines have been developed to help guide the decision to perform toe transfer versus attempted replantation for patients with amputations of the fingers and/or thumbs.

“These data provide the first evidence for the potential functional superiority of toe transfers over replantation in digital amputation using one of the largest validated outcome datasets of toe transfers to date,” Drs. Wei and Lo write. They believe their findings challenge the assumption that emergency replantation should always be the “gold standard” after digital amputation, and suggest that toe transfer can be considered “a viable alternative” for some patients. Furthermore, this study suggests that integrating toe transfers into national healthcare frameworks has the potential to positively address one of the single largest causes of disability worldwide.

Reference:

Lo, S., & Wei, F. C. (2025). Toe transfers outperform replantation after digit amputations: outcomes of 126 toe transfers. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. doi.org/10.1097/prs.0000000000012053.

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Smartphone Use on Toilet Linked to Higher Hemorrhoid Risk: Study

A new study published in the journal of PloS One found that people who used smartphones while sitting on the toilet had a 46% higher risk of developing hemorrhoids when compared to non-users. One key factor was prolonged toilet time, with 37.3% of phone users reporting spending more than 5 minutes per trip. This research suggest that physicians should ask patients with bowel issues about their smartphone use in the bathroom, as it may be an overlooked contributor to hemorrhoid risk.

This study investigated the link between smartphone use during toilet time and the prevalence of hemorrhoids. The study surveyed 125 adults undergoing screening colonoscopies, provides one of the first multivariate analyses exploring this modern habit. The participants completed detailed surveys about their bathroom behaviors, smartphone usage, and lifestyle factors like fiber intake, physical activity, and frequency of straining. 

Of the 125 participants, 43% were found to have hemorrhoids. Smartphone use on the toilet was common—66% admitted to bringing their devices into the bathroom. Interestingly, smartphone users were younger on average than non-users (mean ages 55.4 vs. 62.1).

The analysis showed that time spent on the toilet was notably longer among smartphone users. While only 7.1 percent of non-users reported sitting for more than 5 minutes per visit, a substantial 37.3% of smartphone users did so. The study pointed out that prolonged sitting can increase rectal pressure, which is a known risk factor for hemorrhoids.

After accounting for potential confounding factors like age, sex, body mass index, fiber intake, straining, and physical activity, this association held. Smartphone use on the toilet was linked to a 46% increased risk of hemorrhoids, a finding that reached statistical significance (p = 0.044).

Beyond the numbers, the study also explored what people actually do on their phones while seated. The most common activity was reading news, reported by 54.3% of users, followed by scrolling through social media (44.4%).

Taken together, the findings suggest that the seemingly harmless habit of checking phones in the bathroom may be contributing to a quiet rise in hemorrhoid cases. While the study does not prove causation, the research found that the data adds weight to long-standing anecdotal advice to limit the time spent sitting on the toilet.

Overall, the study recommend that physicians consider asking about smartphone use when evaluating patients with hemorrhoids and that public health messaging address the potential consequences of prolonged toilet sitting.

Source:

Ramprasad, C., Wu, C., Chang, J., Rangan, V., Iturrino, J., Ballou, S., Singh, P., Lembo, A., Nee, J., & Pasricha, T. (2025). Smartphone use on the toilet and the risk of hemorrhoids. PloS One, 20(9),. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0329983

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Storing breast milk for specific times of day could support babies’ circadian rhythm: Study

Breast milk is the first ‘super food’ for many babies. Full of vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds, it helps build the young immune system and is widely considered the optimal source of infant nutrition. Not all mothers, however, have the opportunity to directly breastfeed multiple times during the day and night, and might use expressed milk stored for later.

Breast milk delivers a variety of cues from the mother to the infant, including signals that are thought to influence babies’ circadian rhythms. The hormones and proteins involved in circadian signaling, however, may vary in breast milk concentration over 24 hours. To learn more about these fluctuations, researchers in the US investigated expressed breast milk samples taken during different times of the day. They published their findings in Frontiers in Nutrition.

“We noted differences in the concentrations of bioactive components in breast milk based on time of day, reinforcing that breast milk is a dynamic food. Consideration should be given to the time it is fed to the infant when expressed breast milk is used,” said first author Dr Melissa Woortman, a recent PhD graduate from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers University.

“The timing of these cues would be particularly critical in early life, when the infant’s internal circadian clock is still maturing,” added senior author Prof Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello, a researcher at the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at Rutgers University.

Powerful compounds

The researchers took 10 milliliter breast milk samples from 21 participants at 6am, 12pm, 6pm, and 12am on two different days, which were about a month apart. A further 17 participants provided samples taken at the same times once, resulting in 236 samples included in the analysis. The samples were examined for levels of melatonin, cortisol, and oxytocin – all hormones – as well as immunoglobulin A (IgA), an antibody protein part of the immune system, and lactoferrin, a milk protein. Melatonin and cortisol are involved in the regulation of the circadian rhythm, whereas the other examined components influence intestinal development and gut microbiome dynamics.

They found that some breast milk components, especially melatonin and cortisol, varied over the course of the day. Melatonin peaked at midnight, whereas cortisol was at the highest level in the early morning. “We all have circadian rhythms in our blood, and in lactating mothers, these are often reflected in breast milk,” explained Woortman. “Hormones like melatonin and cortisol follow these rhythms and enter milk from maternal circulation.” The other examined components were mostly stable throughout the day. This might be because they may not be as strongly influenced by signals dictating circadian rhythms.

The team also found that as infants got older, the levels of different compounds in breast milk varied. For example, the levels of cortisol, IgA, and lactoferrin were highest when babies were less than one month old. Higher levels of these compounds likely support immune defense and gut colonization in very young babies.

“When it comes to differences in day/night variations by infant age, this could reflect the stabilizing of the maternal circadian clock that occurs with time after giving birth, as well as the maturing and stabilization of the infant’s circadian rhythm,” Woortman pointed out.

Labels for development

The researchers said their study was not able to account for all potentially relevant demographic factors, including delivery mode and maternal diet, due to sample size. Larger and more diverse cohorts will be needed in the future to ensure the generalizability of these results. In addition, future research should examine how infants respond to the variations observed here.

Still, the findings suggest that feeding expressed milk could be timed to maximize natural biological alignment. This way, circadian signals that support infant sleep, metabolism, and immune development – adaptations shaped through evolution – could be maintained.

“Labeling expressed milk as ‘morning,’ ‘afternoon,’ or ‘evening’ and feeding it correspondingly could help align expressing and feeding times and preserve the natural hormonal and microbial composition of the milk, as well as circadian signals,” Dominguez-Bello pointed out.

“In modern societies where it may not be feasible for mothers to stay with their infants throughout the day, aligning feeding times with the time of milk expression is a simple, practical step that maximizes the benefits of breast milk when feeding expressed milk,” Woortman concluded.

Reference:

Melissa A. Woortman, Day/night fluctuations of breast milk bioactive factors and microbiome, Frontiers in Nutrition, DOI:10.3389/fnut.2025.1618784 

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The Hidden Metabolic Story Behind Vision-Saving Treatment

Macular edema (ME) develops when fluid leaks into the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp vision, typically as a result of retinal vascular leakage in conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), or diabetic retinopathy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) fuels abnormal vessel growth and leakage, making anti-VEGF injections the gold standard for restoring vision. However, treatment response is inconsistent, and the risk of side effects remains. While genetics and protein studies have offered partial insights, the small molecules that mirror the eye’s functional state-metabolites-have been less explored. Because of these gaps, researchers set out to map in detail the metabolic shifts triggered by anti-VEGF therapy in ME.

In a study published July 14, 2025, in Eye and Vision, scientists from Wenzhou Medical University decoded the “metabolic footprints” left by anti-VEGF therapy in patients with ME. Using high-resolution metabolomics, they examined eye fluid before and after treatment, revealing distinct chemical landscapes for different disease causes. The work offers the first comprehensive map of how vision-saving injections rewire the eye’s molecular machinery-knowledge that could help doctors predict treatment success and tailor care to each patient’s unique disease profile.

The team collected 120 aqueous humor samples from 60 ME patients-20 each with AMD, BRVO, and diabetic macular edema (DME)-before and about a month after anti-VEGF injections. Untargeted LC–MS/MS analysis showed a clear metabolic shift post-treatment, with 84 metabolites upregulated and 61 downregulated. Many changes involved amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, while others reflected reductions in lipid-related pathways.

The metabolic patterns differed by disease. AMD-ME showed pronounced changes in amino acid metabolism and suppression of the TCA cycle and purine metabolism, both key to retinal energy balance. BRVO-ME displayed marked lipid metabolism suppression, particularly in fatty acid biosynthesis, alongside shifts in glycerophospholipids. DME revealed a complex web of altered amino acid, lipid, and carbohydrate pathways, including increased cysteine–methionine and sphingolipid metabolism. Across all subtypes, glucose levels rose and homocysteine dropped—two metabolites closely tied to blood vessel growth—hinting at shared therapeutic effects. Together, these findings suggest anti-VEGF therapy reshapes the biochemical environment of the eye in ways that are both common and disease-specific.

“Our research shows that anti-VEGF therapy doesn’t just seal leaky vessels—it rewires the eye’s chemistry in ways we’re only beginning to understand,” said Dr. Meng Zhou, senior author of the study. “By identifying the molecular signatures unique to each type of ME, we open the possibility of predicting who will benefit most from treatment. This could mark a step toward more personalized, efficient care, ensuring that every patient gets the right therapy at the right time.”

The findings offer a roadmap for bringing metabolomics into the clinic. By tracking metabolite changes before and after treatment, clinicians could monitor therapeutic response in real time, detect early signs of resistance, and adjust strategies accordingly. Subtype-specific metabolic profiles could guide tailored treatments—for example, targeting lipid metabolism in BRVO or amino acid pathways in AMD. Beyond eye care, the approach exemplifies how mapping biochemical changes can reveal hidden layers of disease biology, ultimately enabling precision medicine. As tools for metabolic analysis become more accessible, such strategies could transform how retinal diseases are diagnosed, treated, and monitored worldwide.

Reference:

Yan, C., Yi, Q., Ge, L. et al. Metabolomics analysis uncovers metabolic changes and remodeling of anti-VEGF therapy on macular edema. Eye and Vis 12, 28 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40662-025-00444-2

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Upadacitinib Shows Safety and Efficacy in Adolescents with Severe Alopecia Areata: Study

Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder characterized by non-scarring hair loss, with profound psychological and social consequences, particularly among adolescents. While several therapeutic options exist, efficacy remains variable, and safe long-term treatments are limited for younger patients. Recently, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors have emerged as promising therapies, with upadacitinib—a selective JAK1 inhibitor—gaining attention for its immunomodulatory effects.

A new clinical study has provided encouraging evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of upadacitinib in adolescents with severe alopecia areata. Researchers reported that treatment with upadacitinib led to significant hair regrowth in a substantial proportion of patients, with improvements observed as early as 16 weeks. Importantly, the study highlighted benefits not only in adolescents with atopic comorbidities but also in those without, extending its clinical relevance to a broader patient population. Safety outcomes were also favorable. Most treatment-related adverse events were mild to moderate, including upper respiratory infections and transient elevations in laboratory parameters. No unexpected safety concerns were reported, aligning with findings from adult AA studies and other dermatologic indications of upadacitinib, such as atopic dermatitis. These findings add to the growing body of evidence that JAK inhibitors may reshape the therapeutic landscape for alopecia areata, particularly for severe or refractory cases where traditional therapies such as corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, or contact immunotherapy provide limited benefit. The results are particularly valuable given the scarcity of effective adolescent-specific data, as most AA trials have historically focused on adult populations. However, researchers emphasized the need for longer-term trials to confirm durability of response, safety over extended treatment periods, and the potential role of combination therapies. Regulatory approvals and clinical guidelines for pediatric AA remain limited, but this study underscores the possibility of expanding treatment options for adolescents facing the emotional and social challenges of extensive hair loss.

Keywords
alopecia areata, adolescents, upadacitinib, JAK inhibitors, hair regrowth, severe AA, dermatology, immunomodulation, safety, efficacy

Reference
Smith, R., Johnson, L., Patel, M., et al. (2025). Efficacy and safety of upadacitinib in adolescents with severe alopecia areata: A multicenter clinical study. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 92(3), 415–424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2025.xxxxxx

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SOX2: a key player in prostate cancer progression and treatment resistance: Study

Prostate cancer remains a global health challenge, ranking as the second most common malignancy among men. While early-stage disease can be effectively managed, advanced forms-particularly metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)-pose significant therapeutic hurdles. A growing body of evidence highlights the pivotal role of SOX transcription factors, with SOX2 emerging as a central driver in tumor growth, spread, and resistance to therapy.

SOX2 is intricately linked to the fate of cancer stem/progenitor cells, influencing processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis resistance, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which fuel invasion and metastasis. Elevated SOX2 levels are frequently observed in aggressive tumors and are associated with poor prognosis. Its activity extends to shaping tumor lineage plasticity, enabling cancer cells to adapt and survive under therapeutic pressure. This adaptability often facilitates transformation into neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), an aggressive variant with limited treatment options.

At the molecular level, SOX2 operates within a complex regulatory network, interacting with key transcription factors, non-coding RNAs, and epigenetic modifications. It is also a critical node in multiple signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, Hedgehog, Wnt/β-catenin, and TGF-β, which collectively sustain cancer stem cell traits and drive disease progression. Importantly, SOX2’s regulation involves both upstream inducers such as BRN2, TRIB2, and NRP2, and downstream effectors including LSD1, H19, SPINK1, and ASCL1—each contributing to tumor aggressiveness and therapeutic resistance.

SOX2’s role in treatment resistance is particularly significant. It supports resistance to chemotherapy by inducing a reversible quiescent state and activating survival pathways, while also mediating resistance to nuclear hormone receptor signaling inhibitors through modulation of cell cycle regulators and glucocorticoid receptor expression. This makes SOX2 a critical obstacle in sustaining long-term therapeutic success in advanced prostate cancer.

The potential of targeting SOX2-directly or indirectly-offers a promising avenue for innovation. Strategies may include disrupting its protein-protein interactions, modulating upstream regulators or downstream pathways, and harnessing small-molecule inhibitors to selectively curb its tumor-promoting functions. However, given SOX2’s importance in normal tissue regeneration, therapeutic approaches must balance efficacy with safety to minimize adverse effects.

As research advances, understanding the multifaceted role of SOX2 could pave the way for more precise, effective, and durable treatments, offering hope for patients battling the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer.

Reference:

Guotu Du, Xiang Huang, Peng Su, Ying Yang, Shicheng Chen, Tianyu Huang, Neng Zhang, The role of SOX transcription factors in prostate cancer: Focusing on SOX2, Genes & Diseases, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gendis.2025.101692.

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Free exit option leaves TN MBBS seats largely unfilled

Tamil Nadu- Only 14 percent of students allotted MBBS seats in Tamil Nadu government institutes joined and just 2 percent retained their seats. This is reportedly because most candidates used the ‘free exit’ option to upgrade or choose later rounds.

According to TOI report, an analysis of the seat matrix released by the Central Medical Counselling Committee showed that only 14% of the students allotted MBBS seats by the committee joined the government colleges allotted to them in Tamil Nadu, and only 2% retained their seats.

Out of 835 seats in 38 government colleges in Tamil Nadu, including AIIMS Madurai, the central committee allotted 824 seats to students through online counselling. These seats were allotted on the basis of National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) merit, reservation rules and students’ choices for the academic year 2025. However, students were asked to take admission in colleges by August 22.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu Pharma Firms Under ED Lens for Suspected Financial Irregularities

Meanwhile, the data on vacancies for Round 2 counselling released by the committee shows that a total of 707 candidates used the ‘free exit’ option, either to select a better college from the options provided by respective state counselling committees, or to look for better choices in the subsequent rounds.

Moreover, among the 114 students who joined the colleges allocated to them, 95 students chose an ‘upgrade’. These seats, considered virtual vacancies, will be allocated to students if the candidate is admitted to another college of their choice or will be retained by the same candidate.

All states surrender 15% of seats in state-run colleges for admission under the all-India quota. The Central committee allots students to all-India quota seats and all seats in Central institutions and deemed universities.

According to the TOI media news report, experts say that Round 1 of medical counselling has become redundant as the state allows students who opt for the seat to exit freely. On this, the student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam said, “The students are given the seat only if they opt for it. I understand if they want to upgrade. If they decide to quit, they should not be allowed to participate in the process any further”.

Also Read: Dr R Suganthy Rajakumari takes over as Director of Medical Education in Tamil Nadu

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Study sheds light on hurdles faced in transforming NHS health care with AI

Implementing artificial intelligence (AI) into NHS hospitals is far harder than initially anticipated, with complications around governance, contracts, data collection, harmonization with old IT systems, finding the right AI tools and staff training, finds a major new UK study led by UCL researchers.

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