New drug for diabetes and obesity shows promising results

Lower blood sugar and increased fat burning – without negatively affecting appetite or muscle mass. These are some of the most promising effects of a new potential drug treatment for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to a new study published in the journal Cell by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University.

The new drug, which is taken in tablet form, has a completely different mechanism of action than the well-known GLP-1-based drugs, such as Ozempic, which is administered via injections. GLP-1 drugs affect hunger via signals between the gut and the brain, but often have side effects such as loss of appetite, reduced muscle mass, and gastrointestinal problems.

The new substance instead activates metabolism in skeletal muscle. In animal studies, the treatment has shown good effects on both blood sugar control and body composition, but without the side effects associated with today’s GLP-1-based drugs.

An initial phase I clinical trial involving 48 healthy subjects and 25 people with type 2 diabetes shows that humans also tolerate the treatment well.

“Our results point to a future where we can improve metabolic health without losing muscle mass. Muscles are important in both type 2 diabetes and obesity, and muscle mass is also directly correlated with life expectancy,” says one of the researchers behind the study, Tore Bengtsson, professor at the Department of Molecular Bioscience, Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University.

The drug substance is based on a molecule—a type of β2 agonist that the researchers have developed in a laboratory. The molecule can activate important signaling pathways in the body in a new way, which has a positive effect on the muscles without overstimulating the heart, which is a known problem with β2 agonists.

“This drug represents a completely new type of treatment and has the potential to be of great importance for patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Our substance appears to promote healthy weight loss and, in addition, patients do not have to take injections,” says Shane C. Wright, assistant professor at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Karolinska Institutet, who is one of the researchers behind the study.

This new type of drug not only works on its own, but can also work in combination with GLP-1, thanks to their different mechanisms of action.

“This makes them valuable both as a stand-alone treatment and in combination with GLP-1 drugs,” says Shane C. Wright.

The next step is a larger, clinical phase II study planned by Atrogi AB, the company developing the treatment. The aim of the study is to see whether the same positive effects seen in preclinical models also occur in people with type 2 diabetes or obesity.

Reference:

Motso, Aikaterini et al. GRK-biased adrenergic agonists for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, Cell, DOI:10.1016/j.cell.2025.05.042 

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Low FODMAP diet can ease GI symptoms of those with endometriosis: Study

A low FODMAP diet developed by Monash University researchers for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been shown to improve gastrointestinal symptoms in women with endometriosis.

Sixty percent of study participants responded to the Low FODMAP Diet (LFD), compared to 26 per cent who responded to a control diet based on Australian Dietary Guidelines.

The majority of those on the LFD experienced a clinically significant improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms, and overall symptom severity was 40 per cent lower on the LFD than on the control diet.

Published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, researchers found that the LFD also eased abdominal pain and bloating, and normalised stool consistency.

Dr Jane Varney, a Senior Research Dietitian in Monash University’s School of Translational Medicine Department of Gastroenterology, and Alfred Health, said this research showed for the first time that the Low FODMAP Diet reduced gastrointestinal symptom severity in women with endometriosis.

Dr Varney said more than 75 per cent of women with endometriosis experienced gastrointestinal symptoms, which mimic those experienced by people with IBS. She said that while many women with endometriosis attempted to modify their diet to help manage their symptoms, until now there was limited evidence to suggest any particular dietary approach worked.

“Six out of 10 patients responded to the Low FODMAP Diet and reported clinically significant improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms,” Dr Varney said.

“Abdominal pain and bloating improved, stool form normalised and quality of life improved. Given the high prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms among women with endometriosis, and the absence of targeted treatments, this study highlights a diet therapy that will bring symptom relief to many women.”

Developed in the mid-2000s, The Monash University Low FODMAP Diet revolutionised IBS treatment. Monash dietitians, scientists and gastroenterologists established the FODMAP diet’s effectiveness then released the FODMAP Diet App in 2012 and a cookbook in 2023.

This study involved 35 women aged over 18 with diagnosed endometriosis and gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, altered bowel habits and pain during/after bowel movements.

After eating their usual diet for seven days, participants were randomised to one of two diets that were supplied by the researchers for 28 days. Both diets were based on Australian Healthy Eating Guidelines, but only one was low in FODMAPs. Participants then returned to their regular diet for 28 days, before crossing over to the alternate dietary intervention. The two study diets were matched for macronutrients, micronutrients and fibre, so they only differed in FODMAP content.

Senior author Associate Professor Rebecca Burgell, who is Head of the Functional Gut Service at Alfred Health, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Monash University School of Translational Medicine, said that despite the high prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in endometriosis, few treatments specifically targeted those symptoms, and some made them worse.

“Gastrointestinal symptoms associated with endometriosis are largely ignored in clinical guidelines,” Associate Professor Burgell said. “Most endometriosis guidelines fail to mention gastrointestinal symptoms and none offer advice about identification or management. Nor do IBS guidelines mention screening for endometriosis.”

Reference:

Jane E. Varney, Daniel So, Peter R. Gibson, Dakota Rhys-Jones, Yuet Sang Jimmy Lee, Jane Fisher, Judith S. Moore, Roni Ratner, Mark Morrison, Rebecca E. Burgell, Jane G. Muir, Clinical Trial: Effect of a 28-Day Low FODMAP Diet on Gastrointestinal Symptoms Associated With Endometriosis (EndoFOD)—A Randomised, Controlled Crossover Feeding Study, Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.70161

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Paternal Mental Distress Linked to Child Development, suggests study

A new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association showed that paternal mental distress during the perinatal period is a modifiable risk factor affecting child development. Further addressing fathers’ mental health during the transition to parenthood could play a crucial role in improving outcomes for both parents and their children.

To reduce the effects of mental strain on the growing fetus and newborn, the perinatal period, from conception to 24 months after delivery, is especially crucial. Thus, this study was to present a meta-analytic synthesis of the literature on the relationship between the development of the children during the first 18 years of life and the paternal prenatal depression, anxiety, and stress.

For this analysis, studies published up until November 2024 were found using MEDLINE Complete, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL Complete, and the gray literature. English-language accessibility, a human sample, quantitative data, a longitudinal design, and the possession of a measure of the emotional discomfort experienced by the father during pregnancy and the development of his kids were among the requirements for inclusion.

A total of 48 cohorts with 674 effect sizes (including 286 unpublished associations) met the requirements for quantitative synthesis out of the 9572 studies that were found. To statistically summarize the relationships between father prenatal mental distress and child development, univariate random-effects models were employed.

The US National Institutes of Health’s quality evaluation method for cross-sectional, cohort, and observational studies was used to evaluate the study’s quality. The examination of the data was finished in January 2025. Global, adaptive, social-emotional, cognitive, physical, linguistic, and motor development in children over the first 18 years of life were the main results.

Poorer global (r = -0.12; 95% CI, -0.22 to -0.01), social-emotional (r = 0.09; 95% CI, 0.07-0.11), cognitive (r = -0.07; 95% CI, -0.13 to -0.01), language (r = -0.15; 95% CI, -0.25 to -0.05), and physical (r = 0.04; 95% CI, 0.00-0.08) development in offspring were all linked to paternal perinatal mental distress.

There was no proof of motor or adaptive results. Thus, associations were stronger for postnatal mental anguish than for prenatal mental distress, indicating that a father’s mental health may have a greater direct impact on the growing kid after birth.

Overall, based on the data from this comprehensive review, father mental anguish may be able to be changed to predict a child’s growth. Preventative treatments that support dads during the transition to parenting and advance the health and well-being of next-generation kids should focus on reducing mental distress in fathers during pregnancy.

Source:

Le Bas, G., Aarsman, S. R., Rogers, A., Macdonald, J. A., Misuraca, G., Khor, S., Spry, E. A., Rossen, L., Weller, E., Mansour, K., Youssef, G., Olsson, C. A., Teague, S. J., & Hutchinson, D. (2025). Paternal perinatal depression, anxiety, and stress and child development: A systematic review and meta-analysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.0880

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Stellate Ganglion Block Fails to Improve COVID-Related Smell Distortion: JAMA

A new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association showed that stellate ganglion block did not reduce COVID-19-induced odor distortion.

A persistent symptom of the post-COVID-19 syndrome that has an incalculable negative impact on quality of life is smell distortion, or parosmia. There is currently no accepted standard for treating this annoying illness. Thus, to ascertain if stellate ganglion block (SGB) is safe and successful in resolving olfactory impairment in individuals with chronic COVID-19-induced parosmia, Nyssa Fox Farrell and colleagues undertook this investigation.

The trial took place at Barnes Jewish Hospital and Washington University in St. Louis between October 2023 and September 2024. A total of 192 volunteers were screened, where 57 were included after fulfilling the eligibility requirements, which included being between the ages of 18 and 70, having self-reported parosmia that occurred at least 6 months following COVID-19 infection, and having a screening score of at least 40 on the Parosmia Olfactory Dysfunction Outcomes Rating [DisODOR] scale. The most frequent explanations for the exclusion of 135 were previous SGB (n = 42) and parosmia resolution or non-COVID-19-induced parosmia (n = 28). 

A board-certified anesthesiologist and pain medicine expert administered 6 to 8 mL of active mepivacaine, 1%, or saline, 0.9%, by ultrasound-guided injection at the right or left (randomized 1:1) stellate ganglion. 25% difference between subjects in the percentage of respondents who dropped their DisODOR score by 15 points from the baseline was considered as the primary outcome.

32 people were randomly assigned to SGB (median [range] age, 45 [19-64] years; 25 [81%] female) and 16 were assigned to placebo (median [SD] age, 45 [26-64] years; 13 [81%] female) out of the 48 persons examined in the research. Both groups had comparable times after COVID-19 infection (SGB, 35.3 vs. placebo, 30.6 months; MD = -3.1 months; 95% CI, -10.9 to 3.7).

For SGB, the 3-month response rate was 43% (n = 13), while for the placebo, it was 38% (n = 6; difference, −5%; 95% CI, −32% to 33%). There was no difference in the clinical overall perception of improvement across the groups. Overall, in accordance with the results of this research, SGB is not a better therapy for COVID-19-induced parosmia than a placebo, and as such, it should not be suggested.

Source:

Farrell, N. F., Crock, L. W., Islam, A., Adkins, D., Peterson, A. M., Kallogjeri, D., & Piccirillo, J. F. (2025). Stellate ganglion block for the treatment of COVID-19-induced parosmia: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2025.1304

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New PET tracer may identify diverse invasive mold infections behind life-threatening illnesses in cancer and transplant patients: Study

A novel PET radiotracer can accurately detect a wide range of mold species that are linked to dangerous infections, according to new research presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2025 Annual Meeting. The imaging agent has the potential to dramatically enhance the diagnosis and monitoring of invasive mold infections in patients.

Advances in cancer and immunosuppressive treatments have helped many patients live longer, but they also leave more people with weakened immune systems, making invasive mold infections increasingly common. With mortality rates of invasive mold infections reaching up to 85 percent, early and accurate diagnosis followed by timely treatment is critical to improving patient outcomes.

“Currently it’s very difficult to detect invasive mold infections,” said Carlos Ruiz-Gonzalez, MD, a postdoctoral research fellow at Johns Hopkins University Medical School in Baltimore, Maryland. “Definitive diagnosis often depends on invasive procedures or on biomarkers that lack sensitivity for many mold species. In this study, we aimed to develop a PET tracer capable of detecting a broad range of mold infections and distinguishing them from inflammation with high sensitivity and specificity.”

The imaging agent, 18F-FDS, was first evaluated in vitro to determine its ability to detect 30 different strains of disease-causing molds collected from infected patients. 18F-FDS PET/CT was then performed to identify fungal infections in mice with weakened immune systems, as well as in four human patients with confirmed invasive mold infections, and five control patients with inflammatory diseases or cancer, but no infections.

18F-FDS was found to quickly and specifically accumulate inside a wide range of disease-causing molds (including drug-resistant strains) while showing no uptake in heat-killed molds or human cells. Among mice, it accurately identified fungal infections in the lungs, brain, and sinuses, and was able to distinguish these from non-infectious inflammation. In patient studies, 18F-FDS PET safely detected and localized mold infections-including one missed by a previous brain MRI.

“This research demonstrates that 18F-FDS PET is a promising, noninvasive diagnostic tool to detect mold-related invasive fungal diseases,” noted Ruiz-Gonzalez. “What’s more, since 18F-FDS can be easily produced from 18F-FDG, it can be synthesized on demand and made available globally. This can have a real impact for patients around the world.”

Reference:

Carlos Ruiz-gonzalez, Oscar Nino-meza, Medha Singh, Yuderleys Masias-leon, Amy Kronenberg, Madelynn Shambles, Xueyi Chen, Mona Sarhan, Elizabeth Tucker, Laurence Carroll, Kenneth Cooke, Olivia Kates, Shmuel Shoham, 18F-Fluorodeoxysorbitol PET for noninvasive detection of invasive mold infections in patients, Journal of Nuclear Medicine. 

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Atopic Dermatitis Linked to Shorter Stature in Young Children, Finds Research

USA: Researchers have discovered in a new study that young children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) tend to be shorter than their peers. They suggest that factors such as poor sleep quality and extended use of topical or systemic glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants could contribute to this impaired growth.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, was led by Dr. Amy Paller of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, along with her colleagues. The research highlights the potential influence of chronic skin inflammation on growth patterns in children under 12 years of age.

Atopic dermatitis is widely known to affect the quality of life in children, leading to discomfort, disturbed sleep, and emotional stress. However, its potential effects on physical growth, particularly in the context of long-term treatments such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressants, have not been fully understood. Given that childhood growth is a critical marker of general health, investigating this relationship is essential.

To address this knowledge gap, the researchers analysed data from 1,329 children enrolled in PEDISTAD (NCT03687359), an ongoing international, observational study focusing on patients younger than 12 years with moderate-to-severe AD. The analysis compared the children’s height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) against the CDC Learning Management System reference population, offering insights into how these growth parameters align with healthy norms.

The study revealed several key findings:

  • Only 38% of boys with AD were taller than the 50th percentile for height, although 50% exceeded the 50th percentile for weight.
  • Among girls, 52% were taller than the 50th percentile for height, while 51% surpassed the 50th percentile for weight.
  • The height disparity became even more evident in older children: in the 5- to 12-year age group, just 28% of boys and 47% of girls were taller than the 50th percentile for height.
  • For BMI, 69% of boys and 71% of girls exceeded the 50th percentile.
  • The overall average percentiles across all ages for boys were 46th for height, 51st for weight, and 58th for BMI.
  • Among girls, these averages were 50th for height, 50th for weight, and 59th for BMI.

Based on these findings, the authors suggest that moderate-to-severe AD may hinder linear growth in children, possibly due to chronic inflammation, poor sleep, or long-term effects of corticosteroid and immunosuppressant therapy.

“The study emphasizes the importance of monitoring growth parameters in children with AD and considering these factors when selecting treatment strategies,” the authors noted. “Further research is needed to understand better the long-term effects of AD and its treatments on child development.”

Reference: https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(24)01056-9/fulltext

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Significantly Increases Pulmonary TB Risk, Regardless of Treatment Status: Study Suggests

South Korea: In a large-scale, longitudinal study published in ERJ Open Research, researchers have found that individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain significantly more vulnerable to active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), even in clinical settings where TB screening is routinely conducted before initiating biologic therapies.

The research, led by Dr. Hayoung Choi from the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, underscores the continued need for vigilant TB surveillance in RA populations.

The nationwide study followed over 59,000 RA patients—subdivided into seropositive (SPRA) and seronegative (SNRA) groups—alongside nearly 298,000 matched controls without RA, over a period spanning up to nine years. Participants were tracked between 2010 and 2019, with a median follow-up duration of 4.4 years.

The key findings include the following:

  • Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had a 3.2-fold higher risk of developing active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) compared to those without RA, even after adjusting for potential confounders.
  • Seropositive RA patients exhibited a 3.2-fold increased TB risk compared to the general population.
  • Seronegative RA patients showed a 2.5-fold higher risk of active pulmonary TB than matched controls.
  • RA patients treated with biological or targeted synthetic DMARDs had a nearly 4.7-fold increased risk of developing active TB.
  • RA patients not receiving these advanced therapies still had a 2.9-fold higher TB risk than the general population.
  • The elevated TB risk in RA patients persisted regardless of exposure to DMARDs.
  • Additional factors linked to increased TB susceptibility among RA patients included male sex, being underweight, and having comorbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus.

While the study stands out for its robust national dataset and comprehensive analysis of confounding variables, the authors acknowledged several limitations. For instance, data on individual TB infection screening outcomes and treatment completion were not available. Additionally, because the study population included individuals who had undergone health screenings, selection bias might have contributed to a relatively lower observed TB incidence. Moreover, the findings, derived from a country with an intermediate TB burden like South Korea, may not be directly generalizable to nations with lower or higher TB prevalence.

Despite these limitations, the research highlights a critical gap in TB prevention among RA patients. According to the authors, current TB infection screening and treatment protocols may not be sufficient to eliminate the risk of active disease, particularly in those on immunosuppressive therapies.

The authors concluded, “Given these insights, the study advocates for more tailored and intensified TB screening strategies in RA care—especially for patients with seropositive RA or those receiving biologics or targeted DMARDs.”

Reference:

Choi H, Eun Y, Han K, Jung JH, Jung W, Kim H, Shin DW, Lee H. Impact of seropositivity and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs on pulmonary tuberculosis risk in rheumatoid arthritis. ERJ Open Res. 2025 May 27;11(3):00957-2024. doi: 10.1183/23120541.00957-2024. PMID: 40432816; PMCID: PMC12107382.

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Immediate Dentin Sealing may Improve Adhesion and Restoration Durability in both healthy and eroded dentin: Study

Researchers have found in a new study that immediate dentin sealing (IDS) enhances bond strength and surface wettability in both healthy and eroded dentin. This technique is especially valuable in cases with compromised dentin, contributing to improved adhesion, durability, and overall success of restorative dental procedures.

A study was done to investigate the influence of immediate dentin sealing (IDS) on the shear bond strength (SBS) and wettability of both sound and eroded dentin. Dentin specimens were divided into four groups (n= 21): sound dentin with and without IDS and eroded dentin with and without IDS. Erosive cycling was performed using 1% citric acid solution, and lithium disilicate discs were cemented onto the dentin. The samples underwent thermocycling and SBS testing (n= 10), with failure modes analyzed by stereomicroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (n= 3) was used to examine the hybrid layer and resin tags, while wettability (n= 8) was measured by contact angle analysis. Results: Erosion significantly reduced the SBS (P< 0.001), while IDS increased it for both sound and eroded dentin (P< 0.001). The most common failure mode was adhesive. SEM revealed a thicker hybrid layer and more resin tags in eroded dentin with IDS. Erosion did not affect wettability (P= 0.186), but IDS increased it (P< 0.001). IDS improved both SBS and wettability in sound and eroded dentin, suggesting it may be an effective technique for enhancing adhesion in restorative dentistry. Immediate dentin sealing (IDS) improves bond strength and wettability in both sound and eroded dentin, making it a valuable technique for enhancing adhesion in restorative procedures, especially in cases with compromised dentin. This could contribute to the durability and success of restorations.

Reference:

Dos Santos Neto OM, Souto ICC, de Almeida RP. Effect of immediate dentin sealing on bond strength and wettability in sound and eroded dentin: A laboratory study. Am J Dent. 2025 Jun;38(3):129-134. PMID: 40455951.

Keywords:

Immediate, Dentin, Sealing may, Improve, Adhesion, Restoration Durability, healthyerode, dentin, study, Dos Santos Neto OM, Souto ICC, de Almeida RP.

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Which mesh is best? Outcomes for abdominal ventral hernia repair patients projected by new research model

Repair of ventral hernias-hernias of the abdominal wall-is among the most commonly performed operations, but not all meshes used in these procedures are created equal, with varying outcomes and costs for each option, according to researchers from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. The researchers developed a new model to project the performance of different mesh types for patients undergoing ventral hernia repair (VHR). Their findings are published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS).

Three different mesh types were evaluated. Biologic meshes have properties similar to human tissues, whereas synthetic meshes are composed of artificial materials. The third type, long-acting resorbable meshes, combines characteristics of biologic and synthetic meshes.

Key Findings:

• At 5 years, about 41% of VHRs with biologic meshes, 27% with synthetic meshes, and 22% with long-acting resorbable meshes are expected to fail due to recurrence of the hernia.

• At 10 years, these rates will rise to 65%, 47%, and 39%, respectively.

“Even in contaminated surgical settings, synthetic meshes performed better than biologic ones—despite being made of foreign materials.” said first author Abdulaziz Elemosho, MD, plastic surgery postdoctoral research fellow at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Long-Term Data Hard to Find

Studying the performance of meshes for VHRs presents a challenge for researchers. Logistically, it can be complicated to follow the same patients for more than a decade to measure outcomes. The authors conducted an extensive literature review to find high-quality data on mesh performance.

That data was then used to create a model that could accurately project 5-year outcomes suggested by current research and then projected outcomes for 10 and 15 years.

The approach, called “population survival kinetics,” is a first for surgical research, according to the authors.

“Standard meta-analyses can’t truly depict time-dependent outcomes like hernia recurrence,” said coauthor Jeffrey E. Janis, MD, FACS, clinical professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “That’s why we turned to population survival kinetics — an approach never before applied to surgical outcomes.”

Population survival kinetics has typically been used in oncology to project outcomes, such as proportions of who are going to relapse or be cured and their response to chemotherapy.

Data-Driven Future Decisions

Previously, if a surgical site was contaminated, biologic mesh was preferred. The reasoning was that biologic-based materials would resist infection better, but this did not play out in the data. Biologic mesh performed the worst, with the shortest time-to-recurrence and the highest proportion of “at-risk” repairs. This specialized material also comes at a cost, with biologic and long-acting resorbable meshes ranging between $20,000 to $30,000 per operation.

“If cost is a consideration, synthetic mesh remains a good fit for patients undergoing a VHR,” said Dr. Elemosho, “When cost isn’t a factor, preference should shift to long-acting resorbable meshes since they outperformed all other meshes.”

The data also showed that if a recurrence had not occurred by 15 years after surgery, 99% of the meshes would remain intact beyond that timepoint, meaning that risk levels taper off over time.

Without current national guidelines, the authors hope these data can inform best practices moving forward in mesh type and follow up schedule. They suggest that patients who had VHR with biologic and synthetic mesh should be evaluated for recurrence every 6 months for 2 years, then yearly for up to 15 years. Patients repaired with long-acting resorbable meshes should be evaluated for recurrence starting at 12-18 months post-repair, then yearly.

Reference:

Elemosho, Abdulaziz MDa; Janis, Jeffrey E. MD FACSa. Comparative Long-Term Performance of Biologic, Synthetic, and Long-Acting Resorbable Meshes in Ventral Hernia Repair: Population Survival Kinetics Approach. Journal of the American College of Surgeons ():10.1097/XCS.0000000000001412, May 29, 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000001412

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NEET 2025: NTA Opposes Re-Exam Plea, Says Performance Not Affected due to Power Outage

Indore: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has submitted that the one-hour power outage during the National Eligibility-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2025 examination at the examination centres in Indore did not affect the performance of the candidates, who had approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking relief.

Filing pleas before the HC bench, medical aspirants alleged that the power outage at the NEET exam centres across Indore affected their performance, and they had to complete their NEET UG 2025 exam using emergency lamps or candles. 

However, during the hearing of the case on Monday (June 23), the counsel for NTA presented before the Court a report drafted by an independent committee, which showed that despite the one-hour power outage at the 18 affected centers, the candidates had sufficient natural light to complete the exam.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represented the NTA, informed the HC bench, “If there had truly been insufficient lighting, the first indication would have been a significantly lower number of attempted questions. The broader outcome would not have reflected such high performance, yet, 11 candidates from the concerned centres have scored over 600 out of 720 marks.”

The HC bench comprising Justice Subodh Abhayankar has now listed the pleas for further hearing on June 30, 2025.

Also Read: Power Outage disrupted NEET 2025- MP HC Stays Result Declaration for Complainant Candidates

NEET UG examination, which was held on May 4 this year, is the gateway for medical aspirants to get admitted to undergraduate medical courses across the country. However, this year, on the day of the exam, several exam centres in Indore faced a power outage because of the weather conditions.

Around 27,000 students appeared for the NEET UG exam in 2025 in Indore, for which 49 centres were set up. Earlier, in its reply submitted before the HC bench, NTA had clarified that the NEET exam was disrupted at 18 centres in Indore and 6 centres in Ujjain, affecting more than 2,000 students in total. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that more than 60 petitions had been filed from Indore and Ujjain in connection with this issue.

In one of the pleas, the petitioner alleged purported mismanagement and lack of power backup for around 1 to 2 hours while organising NEET exam at some of the centres in Indore. The petitioner alleged that the exam was conducted at various centres across the country and abroad on May 4 from 2 PM to 5 PM. Further, the petitioner stated that the Meteorological Department had issued a red alert and an advisory on 03.05.2025 highlighting chances of severe thunderstorm and gusty winds along with rainfall.

The petitioner had further submitted that despite the red alert, the authorities failed making proper arrangements for a power backup and due to this, the candidates had to face complete mismanagement for 1 to 2 hours because of which students at the centres were forced to write their exam in the poorly lit areas. This caused extreme stress to them, alleged the petition.

On the other hand, NTA in its affidavit dated 19.05.2025 stated that field reports obtained from the City Coordinator, Center Supervisor and Observers as well as report from the District Collector, Indore suggested that there was no obstruction in proper completion of exam. However, as a measure of abundant caution a response analysis of the questions attempted by the candidates on their respective OMR Answer sheets has been carried out by a team of Statistical Experts engaged by NTA. According to NTA, this body said that the Committee carried out a detailed statistical analysis and according to NTA findings of Committee suggests that there was no major deviation amongst the centres which are purportedly affected due to the weather and the centres which were unaffected.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that while considering these pleas, the Madhya Pradesh HC had previously stayed the publication of NEET-UG exam results at 11 centres in Indore, which had faced the power outage during the exam on May 4, 2025. Even though at first the HC bench had stayed the NEET UG results for the entire country, later it modified the order after noting that the problem of power outage was limited to 11 centres only.

Earlier this month, again modifying its earlier order, the Madhya Pradesh High Court clarified that the stay imposed on the declaration of NEET results for candidates affected by the power outage would be limited to only those who filed petitions before the Court. Therefore, the Court granted liberty to the National Testing Agency (NTA) to declare the results of all other candidates except the petitioners.

As per the latest media report by Live Law, during the hearing of the case on Monday (June 23), Solicitor General Tushar Mehtra informed the Court that NEET exam was conducted at 5,466 centres across India, including 49 centres in Indore. Among these, 18 centres reportedly faced power outages. He informed the bench that while around 22.9 lakh candidates appeared in the exam, only 27,064 were from Indore and only 75 candidates from the city had approached the Court and it remained uncertain which centres these candidates had attended.

Proposing a non-adversarial approach, the SG highlighted that a committee of three independent experts had been constituted to examine the issue. Referring to the committee’s report, he pointed out that 11 candidates from Indore had scored more than 600 marks- placing them among the 1,300 top scorers nationwide.

He further claimed that the data showed consistency in the average number of questions attempted across Indore centres, whether or not they experienced power outages. The average ranged between 119 and 127 questions out of 170, indicating that performance was not materially affected.

On the other hand, the counsel for the petitioners argued that the district administration had failed to ensure basic power backup arrangements at the exam centres. Therefore, he claimed that more than 100 petitioners were now before the Court from 24 centres in Indore and six more students were from two centres in Ujjain. According to the petitioners, the examination observer acknowledged that a power failure occurred and reported that visibility had dropped significantly from 4 to 1.

The petitioners also questioned the impartiality of the committee as it had been formed by NTA itself, the body responsible for conducting the NEET UG exam.

Meanwhile, addressing the petitioners’ concerns regarding the impartiality of the committee, SG Mehta clarified that independent experts were part of the committee and they were not affiliated with the NTA.

SG Mehta also submitted a report detailing the power conditions at 49 exam centres in Indore. The report highlighted that there was either adequate natural light or a DG backup to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination. The SG submitted that while the power was disrupted at 18 centres for one hour, sufficient natural light was reportedly available to allow candidates to continue writing the exam without interruption.

The NTA’s counsel also read the conclusion of the report, stating, “With 99% confidence, there is no evidence to suggest that the power outage at the centres had any significant adverse effect on candidates’ performance as measured by the number of questions attempted. Then there is no significant difference between candidates who appeared at the affected and non-affected centres in Indore and neighbouring cities.”

Referring to this, he argued, “If the petitioners’ prayer (for reconducting the exam) is granted, it would raise the issue of differential difficulty levels across question papers and it would force about 27,000 candidates who will be sitting in the exam centre without their consent.”

Arguing that the pleas stemmed largely from apprehensions and a natural desire among candidates to have performed better, SH Mehta submitted before the Court, “Many of the candidates from the concerned centres have scored very good marks. But out of just fear, which every student would have and with the wish that they could do better, they are before the court.”

However, he also emphasized that the interests of the remaining 27,000 candidates from Indore must also be considered.

At this outset, the Court sought to know if there was any case where a number of candidates or a limited number of candidates were allowed to re-appear in an examination. 

After taking instructions, SG Mehta informed the bench that last year there were some questions with 2 correct answers, so, based on the NTA’s report, the Supreme Court had directed the affected candidates to re-appear in the examination.

Questioning the facts submitted by SG Mehta, the counsel for the petitioners pointed out that no verifiable evidence was presented by the NTA, including a lack of CCTV footage. He argued that the statistical data was just showing the number of questions attempted.

Therefore, the petitioners’ counsel asked, “But how will we record the fear and anxiety of the candidates facing such power outages?”

When the counsel argued that NTA denied access to CCTV footage, SG Mehta argued, “There is no dispute that there was a power outage; this is an accepted fact. But the question is, did the power outage impact the candidates?”

In response, the counsel for the petitioners argued, “it is not that every student has to give the examination, there must be an option.”

However, SG Mehta opposed this submission, contending that it would lead to ‘unlevelled playing field’.

The matter has now been listed for a further hearing on June 30, 2025.

Also Read: Power Outage Disrupts NEET 2025 in Indore, HC stays results for 11 Exam Centres

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