New developmental theory challenges traditional views on childhood trauma memories
A new developmental theory is reshaping how experts understand the reliability of children’s and adolescents’ memories of traumatic events and adverse experiences.
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India could bear biggest impact from chikungunya, new maps suggest
The most comprehensive mapping to date of the global risk of chikungunya suggests India could experience the greatest long-term impact from the mosquito-borne virus.
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New developmental theory challenges traditional views on childhood trauma memories
A new developmental theory is reshaping how experts understand the reliability of children’s and adolescents’ memories of traumatic events and adverse experiences.
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Why exercise could actually save your heartbeats—not waste them
Forget the myth that exercise uses up your heartbeats. New Australian research shows fitter people use far fewer total heartbeats per day—potentially adding years to their lives.
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Roof collapses at VMMC Safdarjung Hospital hostel room, medical student injured
New Delhi: A shocking video from Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and Safdarjung Hospital, recently posted on social media showed a portion of the ceiling in a boys’ hostel collapsed onto the floor of a medical student’s room. The doctor who uploaded the video claimed that the student sustained minor injuries.
In the video, a part of the roof is seen collapsed on the floor, with debris scattered around, some even landing on a student’s bed. The plaster and part of the ceiling suddenly fell.
The medical student present in the room at the time sustained minor injuries but was immediately given first aid. According to local media report, his condition is stable, and he did not suffer any serious injuries.
Also read- Dr Devaunshi Kaul makes history as first woman president of FORDA
The incident has highlighted the poor infrastructure and living conditions of students in the hostel at one of the country’s top medical institutions.
The roof collapse occurred on the 7th floor of the hostel building, often referred to by students as the “Bhoot Bangla.” In his post on X (formerly Twitter), the doctor stated that the condition is so poor it “could claim the life of doctors before the patient.”
Reacting to the incident on X, a doctor recalled: “In my UG days it was already on life support, we’d shifted to the new boys’ hostel by 2nd–3rd year. Looks like the OBH roof finally gave up. The funny part? It still gets “maintenance” money every third month. Classic supervisor–thekedaar nexus. The so-called paint was mostly water.”
A doctor also pointed out that the hospital’s infrastructure problems are not limited to the hostels. He wrote, “Safdarjung’s infrastructure is so bad that if it rains for half an hour, the whole H block gets flooded. In the whole Emergency building there is not a single hygienic washroom for doctors.”
While another doctor said, “It’s worse than the kafala system construction labourers face in the Middle East.”
As per Rashtriya Judgment media report, the hospital administration has assured prompt action, and steps are being taken to inspect the safety of the building.
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Smoking and Genetic Susceptibility Linked to Higher Type 2 Diabetes Risk: Study
New research from Stockholm has found that individuals with a history of smoking face a significantly higher risk of all four subtypes of type 2 diabetes, with genetic susceptibility further increasing the likelihood.
The characteristics of type 2 diabetes vary from patient to patient and it has been proposed that the condition is made up of four subtypes. Now, new research being presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria (15-19 September) shows that smoking increases the risk of the condition, regardless of subtype.
The researchers in Sweden, Norway and Finland also found that people with a genetic susceptibility to develop diabetes seem more vulnerable to the adverse effects of smoking.
It has previously been suggested that type 2 diabetes (T2D) can be divided into the following subtypes: SIRD (severe insulin-resistant diabetes), characterised by insulin resistance (where the body’s cells don’t respond to properly to insulin and can’t easily take up glucose from the blood); SIDD (severe insulin-deficient diabetes), characterised by a lack of insulin; MOD (mild obesity-related diabetes), associated with obesity and younger age of onset; and MARD (mild age-related diabetes) which develops later in life.
Severity, prognosis and risk of complications differ across the subtypes but it is not clear if they have different risk factors.
To find out more, Emmy Keysendal, a PhD student at Karolinska Institutet, in Stockholm, Sweden, and colleagues examined the link between smoking, which is already known to be a potent risk factor for T2D in general, and other forms of tobacco use, and the various subtypes of T2D.
The researchers used data on 3,325 individuals with T2D (495 SIDD, 477 SIRD, 693 MOD and 1660 MARD) and 3,897 controls from a long-running diabetes study in Norway (average follow-up time of 17 years) and a case-control study in Sweden.
They found that ever smokers (current and past smokers) were at higher risk of all four sub-types of T2D than those who had never smoked. The link between smoking and SIRD was particularly strong.
Ever smokers were more than twice as likely (2.15 times) as never smokers to develop SIRD. This compares with increases in risk of 20% for SIDD, 29% for MOD and 27% for MARD.
Smoking was estimated to be responsible for more than a third of SIRD cases, but less than 15% of the other diabetes subtypes (SIDD, MOD and MARD).
Smoking heavily (≥15 pack-years/20 cigarettes a day for 15 years or equivalent) further increased the risk of all four subtypes. Heavy smokers were 2.35 times more likely to develop SIRD than never smokers and 52%, 57% and 45% more likely develop SIDD, MOD and MARD, respectively.
Interestingly, the data on men in Sweden suggested that heavy use of snus, a smokeless tobacco product popular in Scandinavian countries, was linked to increased risk of the severe subtypes SIDD (19% higher risk) and SIRD (13% higher risk) compared to never users of snus.
The study also explored whether smoking further increased the risk in individuals with a genetic predisposition to T2D, insulin resistance or reduced insulin secretion.
This showed that heavy smokers with genetic predisposition to T2D or reduced insulin secretion were particularly vulnerable.
For example, those who smoked heavily and had a high genetic risk for impaired insulin secretion had more than three times the risk (3.52-fold) of developing SIRD compared to those without these risk factors.
The researchers concluded that smoking increases the risk of T2D, whatever the subtype.
Ms Keysendal adds: “It is clear that smoking increases the risk of type 2 diabetes whatever the subtype, that is, regardless, of whether the diabetes is characterised by insulin resistance, lack of insulin, obesity or old age.
“The strongest association was seen for the subtype characterised by severe insulin resistance (SIRD), which suggests that smoking may contribute to diabetes by impairing the body’s ability to respond to insulin.
“Our findings emphasise the importance of smoking cessation in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. They also indicate that genetic information may help identify individuals most likely to benefit from extra support in stopping smoking.”
Reference:
Smoking increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, regardless of its characteristics, European Association for the Study of Diabetes, Meeting: Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
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Electrophysiological Study Superior to ECG for Prophylactic Pacing Selection in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1: JAMA
France: The findings of a new study published in JAMA Cardiology suggest that an electrophysiological study (EPS) provides greater accuracy than an electrocardiogram (ECG) in identifying patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) who may benefit from prophylactic permanent pacing.
The multicenter cohort analysis, led by Dr. Nicolas Clementy of the Department of Cardiology at Université de Tours, CHU de Tours, Paris, France, evaluated 706 adults with genetically confirmed DM1 drawn from the DM1 Heart Registry. The study aimed to determine whether ECG or EPS criteria better predict major bradyarrhythmic events (MBAEs), which include sudden cardiac death, resuscitated cardiac arrest, or advanced atrioventricular block.
The study revealed the following findings:
- Participants had a median follow-up of nearly six years.
- At baseline, 38% of patients had a His-ventricular (HV) interval ≥70 milliseconds.
- At baseline, 32% of patients met ECG-based criteria (PR interval ≥240 milliseconds or QRS duration ≥120 milliseconds).
- During follow-up, 14% of patients experienced a major bradyarrhythmic event (MBAE).
- Multivariable analysis showed that the HV interval was the only variable significantly associated with MBAE incidence.
- An HV interval ≥70 milliseconds was a stronger predictor of MBAEs than ECG criteria, with hazard ratios of 2.89 versus 1.95.
- EPS correctly identified 68.35% of patients at risk, compared with 34.76% for ECG-based assessment.
- Lowering the HV threshold to 65 milliseconds increased sensitivity to over 90% and improved net patient reclassification by 33.7%.
According to the researchers, these results suggest that EPS allows for more precise risk stratification in DM1 patients, potentially guiding timely prophylactic pacemaker implantation and preventing sudden cardiac death. In contrast, reliance on ECG criteria alone may underestimate risk in a substantial proportion of patients, potentially leaving high-risk individuals unprotected.
Professional practice guidelines currently recommend prophylactic pacemaker implantation in asymptomatic DM1 patients who meet ECG or EPS thresholds as class IIa indications. This study provides strong evidence that EPS, particularly HV interval assessment, may be the more reliable method for selecting patients who would benefit most from pacing.
The authors note that adopting a slightly lower HV threshold could further optimize patient care by identifying more at-risk individuals without significantly increasing unnecessary interventions. While the study is retrospective and observational, it is strengthened by a large, multicenter cohort and long-term follow-up.
“The study highlights the clinical value of electrophysiological evaluation over ECG in DM1. Using EPS to guide prophylactic pacemaker implantation could significantly improve outcomes by accurately identifying patients at the highest risk for major bradyarrhythmic events, ultimately enhancing both survival and quality of care in this vulnerable population,” the authors concluded.
Reference:
Clementy N, Labombarda F, Grolleau F, et al. Electrocardiogram vs Electrophysiological Study and Major Conduction Delays in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. JAMA Cardiol. Published online September 24, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2025.3055
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Empagliflozin Fails to Preserve Beta-Cell Function After Gestational Diabetes: Trial Finds
Canada: Empagliflozin did not significantly preserve beta-cell function in women with a recent history of gestational diabetes, according to a randomized, placebo-controlled trial published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. While the study did not show a clear benefit for beta-cell health, researchers observed signals suggesting the drug might help stabilize insulin sensitivity and fasting glucose, highlighting the need for larger, longer studies.
Led by Caroline K. Kramer of the Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, the trial addressed an important question: can early pharmacological intervention protect women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) from progressing to type 2 diabetes? Women with a history of GDM are known to face a heightened risk of beta-cell decline and subsequent dysglycemia, yet few clinical trials have tested strategies to slow this process.
The double-blind study enrolled 91 participants between 6 and 36 months after childbirth. All had experienced GDM during pregnancy. They were randomly assigned to receive either 10 mg of the sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor empagliflozin or a placebo once daily for 48 weeks. Investigators used the Insulin Secretion-Sensitivity Index-2 (ISSI-2) derived from an oral glucose tolerance test to evaluate beta-cell function. Additional measures included the insulinogenic index/HOMA-IR and ΔC-peptide/Δglucose multiplied by the Matsuda index.
The study revealed the following findings:
- After nearly a year of treatment, there was no significant difference in beta-cell function between the empagliflozin and placebo groups.
- Baseline-adjusted ISSI-2 scores were 525 for the empagliflozin group and 560 for the placebo group, a nonsignificant difference.
- Other indicators of beta-cell activity and insulin secretion showed similar results, confirming no meaningful preservation of beta-cell capacity with empagliflozin.
- Rates of dysglycemia were comparable, affecting 65.7% of the empagliflozin group and 48.2% of the placebo group.
- Only 9.4% of women on empagliflozin experienced worsening glucose tolerance compared with 28% in the placebo group, a trend approaching statistical significance.
The researchers pointed out that the relatively small sample size limited the trial’s power to detect subtle effects. They also emphasized that although the main beta-cell endpoint was negative, the data hinted at potential benefits in insulin sensitivity and fasting glucose trajectories among those taking empagliflozin.
“Given the persistent risk of type 2 diabetes in women with prior gestational diabetes, the findings underscore the importance of continued investigation. Larger, longer trials are needed to clarify whether SGLT-2 inhibitors like empagliflozin can play a preventive role in this high-risk population,” the authors wrote.
“While empagliflozin did not demonstrate a protective effect on beta-cell function over 48 weeks, its favorable influence on glucose trends suggests it may warrant further evaluation as part of a broader strategy to reduce diabetes risk after gestational diabetes,” they concluded.
Reference: https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.70146
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Long COVID in children may be twice as high after a second infection: Lancet
A new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases involving over 460,000 children and adolescents across 40 paediatric hospitals in the USA suggests that children who were infected with COVID-19 for the second time during the Omicron wave had more than double the risk of developing long COVID.
Conducted by researchers under the US National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded RECOVER Initiative*, this is the largest study to date examining the long-term effects of COVID-19 reinfection in young people. The study analysed electronic health records from January 2022 through October 2023, a period dominated by the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Researchers compared health outcomes following children’s first and second documented COVID-19 infections to isolate the risks associated with reinfection.
They found that after a first COVID-19 infection, about 904 children per million developed long COVID within six months. Following a second infection (reinfection), this number more than doubled to approximately 1,884 children per million. The higher risk was observed across many different groups in the study, regardless of whether they were vaccinated, how serious their first illness was, their age, gender, race or ethnicity, or if they were living with overweight or obesity. The authors say this increased risk of long COVID following reinfections highlights the continued importance of preventing COVID-19 infections through vaccination and other protective measures such as masking and social distancing.
Reinfection was linked to a wide range of rare but persistent and sometimes serious conditions potentially associated with long COVID in children, including heart inflammation (myocarditis), blood clots, kidney injury, cognitive difficulties, fatigue, and respiratory problems.
The authors emphasise that while vaccines and other prevention measures may not completely eliminate the risk of contracting COVID-19, they remain the most effective way to prevent both initial infections and reinfections, thereby reducing the risk of long-lasting symptoms in children. They say the study’s findings reinforce the need to strengthen public health efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccination coverage among children and adolescents.
*The NIH’s RECOVER (Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery) Initiative is dedicated to understanding long COVID, developing better treatments, and guiding strategies to protect people of all ages from the prolonged effects of COVID-19.
Reference:
Zhang, Bingyu et al., Long COVID associated with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection among children and adolescents in the omicron era (RECOVER-EHR): a retrospective cohort study, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, DOI:10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00476-1.
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