Sanjukta Mondal

The gut-brain axis is a two-way biochemical hotline, with messages zipping back and forth all day long. When the gut is chronically inflamed, inflammatory signals travel through the body to the brain and trigger neuroinflammation. ...

High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood. Over time, this extra strain can thicken the heart muscle and narrow the arteries, further complicating cardiovascular health. Even in people with no other ...

A form of lung cancer, which is found in about 10%–15% of Western patients and 40%–50% of Asian patients, is driven by a mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene. Gefitinib is a go-to drug that shuts down ...

The fate of global health does not rest on any single disease. True preparedness means pairing the fight against illness with strength in finance, climate, defense and security. The COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the world ...

Scientists have found a way to make salt taste saltier without increasing its sodium content, a welcome development in the culinary world. Salt is a powerful flavor enhancer, drawing out the subtle flavors of a dish while ...

A recent Phase III clinical trial, TRIUMPH-2, evaluated the efficacy and safety of retatrutide, a triple receptor agonist and experimental once-weekly injection being developed to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. What sets ...

Zavodovski, a volcanic island in Antarctica, is silently witnessing a shift in the local ecosystem. Known as home to the world's largest penguin colony, this island has long been under the watchful eye of scientists. One ...

Babies are born with some immunity, but they do not have as many tools as adults to fight diseases. Exposure to pathogens helps build their immune repertoire, but it also leaves them vulnerable to infection because many immune ...

When you think of people being exposed to occupational hazards, hairdressers don't come to mind. That may be why regulators often overlook the risks faced by people in this profession. Scientists have uncovered one such risk, ...

Giardia duodenalis is a microscopic, flagellated parasite that often calls the human and animal gut its home. In most cases, it coexists harmlessly with its host, and most infected pets and people show no signs of illness. ...

Every year, around 400 million people worldwide are affected by an intensely itchy skin condition caused by microscopic parasitic mites called Sarcoptes scabiei. Known as scabies, the infestation begins when the tiny mites ...

Tiny, shapeless invaders can find their way from ponds to the human brain and cause an infection so severe that it has a 95% fatality rate. The amoeba Naegleria fowleri naturally lives in ponds, feasting on bacteria, but ...

Infertility affects more than 15% of couples worldwide. Thanks to medical science, infertility treatments have come a long way over the past few years. For millions of people, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has opened a medical ...

Alongside words, humans have a treasure trove of nonverbal tools to help express themselves. We chuckle, sigh and gasp to communicate our feelings without uttering a word. What has amazed researchers for ages is how we rarely ...

Even a routine blood test may come with an overnight fasting requirement. Many medical practices still ask patients to go without food for 8–12 hours before blood is drawn. While the protocol was originally recommended for ...