Comment

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 9 hours ago

The potential health effects of plastic pollution are only just beginning to emerge, but the mounting evidence is not exactly inspiring hope.

In a study published last year, scientists discovered that when people put hot, disposable plastic cutlery in their mouths, it reduces their diversity of intestinal microbiota.

The next time you order takeaway, you might want to think about the heat of the food and the material of the packaging it might come in.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324014593

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 9 hours ago

Your Takeaway Food Packaging Could Increase Your Risk of Heart Failure

Disposable plastic containers could be leaching dangerous chemicals into your takeaway food, potentially increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease.

In experiments on rats, researchers in China have found evidence that drinking water exposed to the various chemical additives that seep from heated plastic packaging causes changes to the body, that begin with altered gut bacteria.

Rodents that ingested this cocktail of plastic contaminants for just three months showed broken or misaligned fibers, inflammatory cell infiltration, and mitochondrial swelling in their heart tissue. They also showed bleeding between myocardial cells.

Whether or not the same occurs in the human body is unknown, but the findings suggest that heated plastic containers may not be a safe vehicle for food.

Researchers argue that it is essential to avoid using plastic containers for high-temperature food.

Their experiments on rats were prompted by a survey of 3,179 older adults in China. Those who reported higher exposure to plastic on a questionnaire were more likely to suffer congestive heart failure.

Heat causes plastic to break down more easily, but even bottled water, which is usually kept at room temperature or colder, seems to be swimming with microplastics.

Recently, studies have shown that microwaving plastic food containers can release microplastics and nanoplastics into the meal, even if the containers claim to be microwave-safe. As few as three minutes can release billions of tiny plastic particles.

How many of those plastic particles are absorbed into the body when ingested is unknown. It's also a mystery as to how long the fragments stick around for.

Some studies on clogged arteries in human patients have found tiny fragments of plastic accumulating in more than 50 percent of plaques. Within roughly 34 months of surgery, those with plastics in their arteries were 4.5 times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or death compared to those where no plastic was detected.

When the body is exposed to plastic contaminants, researchers suspect there's a chance the additives can reduce the activity of antioxidant enzymes and trigger the body's inflammatory reaction, leaving it exposed to cardiovascular damage.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 10 hours ago

It is crucial to carefully consider the subject's posture during [pulse wave velocity] measurements to accurately assess arterial stiffness," the researchers wrote in their paper.

 Marino Karaki et al, The validity of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in the seated posture as an index of central arterial stiffness, American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (2024). DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00073.2024

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 10 hours ago

Vital sign accuracy may depend on body position, research suggests

Body position can affect the accuracy of vital sign measurements that indicate arterial stiffness—a risk factor for heart disease—according to new research. Sitting down during certain tests may cause a spike in arterial stiffness readings that does not reflect a true increase.

The study is published in the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 

Arterial stiffness is when the walls of the blood vessels are not as elastic or stretchy as they should be. The condition is often a part of aging and can also occur in people who have diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure. People with stiffer arteries have an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and other forms of heart disease.

Medical professionals most commonly measure markers of arterial stiffness with patients lying on their back (supine position). However, sitting may be a more practical option for people with chronic back pain or other health concerns.

In this study, researchers explored whether measuring carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity—the time it takes for the pulse to travel from the carotid to the femoral artery—can be considered reliable when measured in a seated position. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is considered the "gold standard" for measuring arterial stiffness.

The research team assessed a small group of young, healthy volunteers in both supine and seated positions on the same day. The researchers measured heart rate and blood pressure as well as cfPWV and took measurements three times in each position. They also analyzed the difference in arterial stiffness markers after a change from one position to the other.

Blood pressure, arterial pressure and heart rate were generally higher when participants were sitting compared to lying down. The researchers found cfPWV to be much higher when seated as well. However, when looking at blood flow and blood pressure between the two postures and adjusting the calculations to account for changes in hydrostatic pressure (pressure created due to gravity), the readings were much more comparable.
In addition, these findings suggest the activation of the sympathetic nervous system that occurs while sitting is not strong enough to cause large increases in arterial stiffness.

This study may have important implications for diagnosis of arterial stiffness and, in turn, the risk of heart disease.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 10 hours ago

Radon exposure linked to increased asthma symptoms in children

A radioactive gas could be contributing to asthma among schoolkids, researchers have found.

Children exposed to elevated levels of radon gas tended to have more asthma symptoms, results show.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that's odorless and invisible, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It emanates from the breakdown of trace amounts of uranium found in soil. Homes can fill with radon as it seeps out of soil and up through cracks and crevices, the CDC says. It is the second-leading cause of lung cancer deaths in some countries after cigarette smoke.

 Tina M. Banzon et al, Effect of radon exposure on asthma morbidity in the School Inner‐City Asthma study, Pediatric Pulmonology (2023). DOI: 10.1002/ppul.26429

Joyce E. Yu, Effect of Radon Exposure on Asthma Morbidity in the School Inner-City Asthma Study, Pediatrics (2024). DOI: 10.1542/peds.2024-069114KG

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 10 hours ago

Screen time linked to bipolar and manic symptoms in  preteens

Preteens who spend more time on screens are more likely to develop manic symptoms two-years later, according to a new study published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.

The findings reveal that 10–11 year-olds who engage heavily with social media, video games, texting, and videos show a greater risk of symptoms such as inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, rapid speech, racing thoughts, and impulsivity—behaviors characteristic of manic episodes, a key feature of bipolar-spectrum disorders.

Adolescence is a particularly vulnerable time for the development of bipolar-spectrum disorders. Given that earlier onset of symptoms is linked with more severe and chronic outcomes, it's important to understand what might contribute to the onset or worsening of manic symptoms in teenagers.

Symptoms of social media and video game addiction, characterized by the inability to stop despite trying, withdrawal, tolerance, conflict, and relapse, may play a role. Screen addictions and irregular sleep patterns may exacerbate manic symptoms in susceptible teens.

The study adds to the wealth of knowledge on the associations between screen use and poor mental health in adolescents.

Jason M. Nagata et al, Screen time and manic symptoms in early adolescents: prospective findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s00127-025-02814-6

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 10 hours ago

Experts strongly recommend against spine injections for chronic back pain

Spine injections should not be given to adults with chronic back pain because they provide little or no pain relief compared with sham injections, say a panel of international experts in The BMJ.

Their strong recommendations apply to procedures such as epidural steroid injections and nerve blocks for people living with chronic back pain (lasting at least three months) that is not associated with cancer, infection or inflammatory arthritis.

Their advice is based on the latest evidence and is part of The BMJ's "Rapid Recommendations" initiative—to produce rapid and trustworthy guidance based on new evidence to help doctors make better decisions with their patients.

Chronic back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. It is estimated to affect one in five adults aged 20–59, with higher rates likely among older adults.

Procedures such as epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation (using radio waves to destroy nerves) are widely used to stop pain signals reaching the brain, but current guidelines provide conflicting recommendations for their use.

So an international panel, made up of clinicians, people living with chronic spine pain, and research methodologists, carried out a detailed analysis of the latest evidence using the GRADE approach (a system used to assess the quality of evidence).

This evidence, based on reviews of randomized trials and observational studies, compared the benefits and harms of 13 common interventional procedures, or combinations of procedures, for chronic, non-cancer spine pain against sham procedures.

After careful consideration, the panel concluded that there was no high certainty evidence for any procedure or combination of procedures, and all low and moderate certainty evidence suggests no meaningful relief for either axial pain (in a specific area of the spine) or radicular pain (radiating from the spine to the arms or legs) for spine injections compared with sham procedures.

As such, they strongly recommend against their use.

This includes injections of local anesthetic, steroids, or their combination; epidural injections of local anesthetic, steroids, or their combination; and radiofrequency ablation with or without local anesthetic plus steroid injections. The panel added that these procedures are costly, a burden on patients, and carry a small risk of harm. As such, they say almost all informed patients would choose to avoid them.

Finally, they acknowledge that further research is warranted and may alter future recommendations, in particular for procedures currently supported by low or very low certainty of effectiveness. Further research is also needed to establish the effects of interventional procedures on important outcomes for patients, such as opioid use, return to work, and sleep quality.

Commonly used interventional procedures for non-cancer chronic spine pain: a clinical practice guideline, The BMJ (2025). DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2024-079970

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa 11 hours ago

Possible evidence of windborne H5N1 viral infections in chickens

A team of government veterinarians with the State Veterinary Institute Prague in the Czech Republic has found possible evidence of windborne H5N1 infections in chickens. In their paper posted on the bioRxiv preprint server, the group describes how chickens in a closed environment became infected with the H5N1 virus despite no contact with other chickens, wild birds, or their feces, leaving the wind as the only likely source.

The H5N1 virus is responsible for a worldwide avian flu pandemic in chickens. The virus has been determined to be a subtype of the influenza A virus and was first observed in China in 1996. Since then, it has infected birds across the world, with epidemics rising and falling in different countries at different times.

Prior research has suggested that birds infect one another via the transfer of saliva, mucus or contact with feces. Infections between other types of animals have been seen due to the transfer of bodily fluids such as saliva, milk or even blood. Once an infection occurs in a single location, such as a chicken farm, it can spread rapidly. Research has also suggested that infections at sites such as chicken farms most likely occur due to wild birds dropping feces near the chickens. In this new effort, the research team found an incident where a chicken farm was infected without any known outside source, suggesting the wind carried the virus.

In their case, the veterinarians were conducting research on a highly secure chicken research farm—the birds there were not allowed out of their cages or barns. The water came from a secure well and was filtered to remove pathogens. The barns have large fans that create a one-way airflow, and the entire facility is surrounded by a highly secure fence. Also, no employees came into contact with any other birds when not on duty. Still, the farm experienced an infection. The veterinarians suggest the only possibility left is that the virus was carried aloft by the wind and wafted into the barn, settling on the captive birds. No evidence of the virus traveling via the wind has been found. The evidence is circumstantial, but the team suggests the virus could have hitched a ride on a bit of dust from hay exposed to wild bird excrement.

Alexander Nagy et al, Genetic data and meteorological conditions: unravelling the windborne transmission of H5N1 high-pathogenicity avian influenza between commercial poultry outbreaks, bioRxiv (2025). DOI: 10.1101/2025.02.12.637829

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

The results of this now published research provide a strong impulse to intensify the exploration for natural H2 in mountain ranges. In fact, various exploration efforts are already underway in places such as the Pyrenees, the European Alps, and the Balkans, where researchers have previously found indications of ongoing natural hydrogen generation.

Frank Zwaan, Rift-inversion orogens are potential hotspots for natural H2 generation, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr3418. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr3418

Part 3

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

Natural hydrogen can be generated in several ways, for instance by bacterial transformation of organic material or splitting of water molecules driven by decay of radioactive elements in the Earth's continental crust.

As a result, the occurrence of natural H2 is reported in many places worldwide. The general viability of natural hydrogen as an energy source has already been proven in Mali, where limited volumes of H2 originating from iron-rich sedimentary layers are produced through boreholes in the subsurface.

However, the most promising mechanism for large-scale natural hydrogen generation is a geological process in which mantle rocks react with water. The minerals in the mantle rocks change their composition and form new minerals of the so-called serpentine group, as well as H2 gas.

This process is called serpentinization. Mantle rocks are normally situated at great depth, below the Earth's crust. In order for these rocks to come in contact with water and serpentinize, they must be tectonically exhumed, i.e. being brought near the Earth's surface.
There are two main plate tectonic environments in which mantle rocks are exhumed and serpentinized over the course of millions of years: 1) ocean basins that open as continents break apart during rifting, allowing the mantle to rise as the overlying continental crust is thinned and eventually split (for example in the Atlantic Ocean), and 2) subsequent basin closure and mountain building as continents move back together and collide, allowing mantle rocks to be pushed up towards the surface (for example in the Pyrenees and Alps).
A thorough understanding of how such tectonic environments evolve is key to properly assess their natural hydrogen potential. Using a state-of-the-art numerical plate tectonic modeling approach, calibrated with data from natural examples, the GFZ-led research team simulated the full plate tectonic evolution from initial rifting to continental break-up, followed by basin closure and mountain building.

In these simulations, the researchers were able to determine for the first time where, when, and how much mantle rocks are exhumed in mountains, and when these rocks may be in contact with water at favorable temperatures, to allow for efficient serpentinization and natural hydrogen generation.

It turns out that conditions for serpentinization and thus natural H2 generation are considerably better in mountain ranges than in rift basins. Due to the comparably colder environment in mountain ranges, larger volumes of exhumed mantle rocks are found at favorable serpentinization temperatures of 200–350°C, and at the same time, plenty of water circulation along large faults within the mountains can allow for their serpentinization potential to be realized.

As a result, the annual hydrogen generation capacity in mountain ranges can be up to 20 times greater than in rift environments. In addition, suitable reservoir rocks (for example sandstones) required for the accumulation of economically viable natural H2 volumes are readily available in mountain ranges, but are likely absent during serpentinization and hydrogen generation in the deeper parts of rift basins.
Part 2

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