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The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Small change in MBBS education curriculum can make substantial impact on early detection of TB: study
Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of India's most significant public health challenges, with the country accounting for nearly a quarter of the global TB burden. Despite a robust national programme and the availability of free diagnostic and treatment services under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), early detection of the disease continues to fall short. Many individuals with symptoms of TB go undiagnosed for weeks or even months, contributing to continued transmission within communities as well suffering avoidable health complications. The delays in diagnosis are often attributed not just to gaps in health infrastructure but also to a lack of early suspicion at the primary point of care. Patients commonly approach local healthcare providers with symptoms like persistent cough, weight loss, fever, or night sweats. However, these symptoms are frequently misattributed to other conditions or treated symptomatically, without considering TB as a possible cause. This widespread failure to 'suspect TB' -- a critical first step -- has been repeatedly identified as a major reason for missed cases. It is in this context that a community-based screening model was introduced at Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College in Pune. The goal was to find a sustainable, scalable way to improve TB case detection while simultaneously integrating public health practice into the medical curriculum. The innovation came through the Family Adoption Programme (FAP), a nationwide initiative mandated by the National Medical Commission, which assigns medical students to specific rural or urban communities for continuous engagement throughout their training. The study learnings from integrating TB screening activity into FAP for MBBS students was published in Frontiers in Public Health. The first point of contact and active case finding Swathi Krishna, TB researcher and public health physician based in Pune and key faculty member behind the programme's implementation, explains the rationale, 'In our healthcare system, the first point of contact is often a missed opportunity. Students are the future of that system, so we need to train them not just in hospital-based care but in recognising the realities at the ground level.' Under this initiative, MBBS students visiting households began asking just four simple symptom-based questions related to TB. If any symptom was reported, the case was flagged and referred to the local ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) for follow-up and testing. This low-cost, high-reach strategy is referred to as 'active case finding', a method endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the NTEP, but rarely operationalised at scale in routine community interactions. The results were encouraging: not only did the students identify presumptive TB cases, but they also became more confident in recognising its early signs and engaging with communities on sensitive health issues. The involvement of ASHA workers was crucial. According to Dr. Swathi, 'ASHA workers are already doing so much. When students collect these symptom reports during household visits, it lightens the ASHA worker's load and makes their follow-up more targeted.' In effect, the programme bridged the gap between community-based medical education and primary care outreach, enhancing both the learning experience of students and the reach of public health services. Breaking stigma barriers through continuos awareness Sanjivani Patil, associate professor in the Department of Community Medicine, adds that the model is particularly powerful because of its continuity. 'Unlike a one-off camp, the FAP ensures that students are visiting the same families regularly over three years. This builds rapport. Initially, people are hesitant to talk about TB symptoms because of stigma or fear. But with time, they open up. They trust the students.' Stigma remains a formidable barrier. In many communities, TB is still viewed with fear and shame, leading patients to conceal symptoms or delay care. Awareness about the Nikshay Poshan Yojana—a scheme under the NTEP that provides free treatment, nutritional support, and diagnostics—is also limited. But the presence of students, guided by faculty mentors and supported by local health workers, gradually breaks down these barriers. Community engagement activities such as street plays, awareness rallies, and health talks further reinforce positive messaging and reduce misinformation. From an educational standpoint, the intervention fits seamlessly into the competency-based medical education (CBME) framework. Students are trained to communicate effectively, collect and analyse health data, and understand the social determinants of disease. Their work is assessed through logbooks and field reports, ensuring accountability. As Dr. Patil observes, 'This experience gives students a reality check. In hospitals, they see rare diseases. But in the field, it's about cough, fever, diarrhoea, and skin issues. These are the cases they will encounter as primary care physicians. They learn to think beyond the textbook.' Possibilities of expansion, challenges and further research The programme's design also allows for replication. Every medical college implementing FAP can adapt this TB symptom screening model. Each batch of MBBS students is assigned around 800 households, translating into a wide population base being covered. Urban settings are not excluded -- Urban Health Training Centres (UHTCs) affiliated with medical colleges can deploy the same approach in underserved city neighborhoods, slum areas, or industrial zones. Saibal Adhya, another senior faculty member at the college and co-author of the study, highlights the policy implications. While India's TB programme is well-resourced, he points out that treatment and testing still need to be more accessible at the grassroots level. 'Even though the services are free, the unavailability of drugs or closed diagnostic labs leads people to spend from their own pockets. That's where trust in the system erodes,' he says. He also recommends that regular faculty development sessions and workshops on NTEP guidelines be institutionalised across all medical colleges. 'You cannot expect students to be champions unless their teachers are aligned with national health priorities,' he says. Authors also point out the importance of such TB screening initiatives, as a modest change in routine educational practice can make a substantial impact on both medical training and public health outcomes. Dr Swati says, 'It reinforces the idea that meaningful change does not always require massive infrastructure or funding. Sometimes, it just takes the right questions asked at the right time by the right people.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Biodexa Pharmaceuticals sees cash runway into 1Q26
As of May 29, 2025, the Company had access to the following cash resources: Cash at bank $5.7M; Cash in escrow for eRapa Phase 3 program $4.4M; Undrawn CPRIT grant for eRapa Phase 3 program $11.9M; Debt $0.5M. The CPRIT grant, together with Company match means the eRapa Phase 3 program is substantially funded. Based on its latest projections, the Company has sufficient working capital to fund operations into the first quarter of 2026. Issued shares, total voting rights, market capitalization As of May 29, 2025, there were 50,506,308,922 ordinary shares, equivalent to 5,050,630 American Depositary Shares, outstanding. The Company holds zero shares in treasury and therefore the number of voting rights is the same as the number of ordinary shares outstanding. Based on the closing share price on May 29, 2025 of $1.06 per ADS, the Company's market capitalization was $ Phase 3 study of eRapa in FAP is in the final stages of implementation. It will be a double-blind placebo-controlled trial in 168 patients, randomized 2:1 drug / placebo. It is expected the study will be conducted in approximately 30 clinical sites across the US and Europe. The US component of the study will be conducted by LumaBridge, based in San Antonio, Texas and the European component will be conducted by Precision for Medicine. All planned US sites and the majority of European sites have been identified. Recruitment is expected to begin in the next few weeks. Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See Insiders' Hot Stocks on TipRanks >> Read More on BDRX: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Biodexa Pharmaceuticals Releases 2024 Annual Report and Announces AGM Biodexa Pharmaceuticals Plans Share Capital Reorganization and New Share Allotment Biodexa Pharmaceuticals Secures Additional $3M Grant for eRapa Phase 3 Program Biodexa Pharmaceuticals announces award of additional $3M grant from CPRIT Biodexa Pharmaceuticals Lowers Warrant Exercise Price to Boost Capital
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Bowel cancer is rising rapidly in younger people: Causes and symptoms of the silent killer
Bowel cancer in young people is on the rise. As per a recent study , Scientists have found that a bacterial toxin called colibactin may be causing the rise in bowel cancer among young adults. As per them, being exposed to this toxin in childhood could increase the risk of developing cancer later in life. Although researchers are not certain how this exposure occurs, they know that colibactin is produced by certain strains of Escherichia coli bacteria in the gut. They suggest that damaging exposure likely happens within the first 10 years of life. What is bowel cancer? Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a type of cancer that develops in the colon or rectum. It can be caused by the abnormal growth of cells in the lining of the colon or rectum, often starting as small polyps. Symptoms can include blood in the stool, changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, and weight loss. How is colibactin linked to bowel cancer? Colibactin has been linked to bowel cancer before, but researchers had not specifically studied its effects on people under 50 until now. This link may help explain why bowel cancer is expected to be the leading cancer-related cause of death for young adults in the coming years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo One possibility is that childhood infections produce colibactin, which then harms DNA in the bowel. These mutations can increase the chance of developing cancer later on, often many years after the colibactin is gone. Colibactin-related DNA mutations were found to be 3.3 times more common in adults diagnosed with cancer before age 40 compared to those diagnosed at 70 or older. In older patients, the DNA patterns were more often linked to normal aging. Causes of bowel cancer : Bowel cancer is a complex disease with multiple potential causes and risk factors, including age, family history, diet, lifestyle, and certain medical conditions. While the exact cause is not always known, certain factors can increase the likelihood of developing bowel cancer. Key risk factors: Age: The risk of bowel cancer increases significantly with age, with most cases occurring in individuals over 50. However, younger adults of the age group 25-49 are getting more susceptible to the disease with the passing days. Family history: A family history of bowel cancer or certain inherited conditions like Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) can increase the risk. Diet: A diet low in fiber and high in fat can increase the risk of bowel cancer. Consuming large amounts of red meat and processed meats has been linked to an increased risk. Lifestyle: Lack of regular physical activity, i.e., a sedentary lifestyle is associated with a higher risk of bowel cancer. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing bowel cancer. Smoking and alcohol consumption: Smoking tobacco is a known risk factor for bowel cancer. Excessive alcohol use can also increase the risk. Medical conditions: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Individuals with chronic ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, which cause inflammation in the colon, have an increased risk of developing bowel cancer. Polyps: Bowel polyps, which are small growths on the lining of the colon, can sometimes develop into cancer. Radiation therapy: Previous radiation therapy to the abdomen can increase the risk of bowel cancer. Symptoms of bowel cancer : Bowel cancer symptoms can include changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or a change in the frequency or appearance of stools. Other common symptoms include rectal bleeding or blood in the stool, abdominal pain or cramping, and a feeling that the bowel doesn't empty completely. Fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and weakness are also possible symptoms. Detailed look at symptoms: Changes in bowel habits: This can include diarrhea, constipation, or alternating between the two. You might also notice changes in the frequency or appearance of your stools, such as thinner than normal stools or ribbon-like stools. Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool (can range from bright red blood to dark, tarry blood) is also indicative of the disease. Abdominal pain or cramping: If the pain is persistent or intermittent and accompanied by bloating, you're advised to consult a healthcare professional. Feeling of incomplete bowel evacuation: You might feel like you need to defecate even after having a bowel movement. Tiredness and weakness: Fatigue and weakness can be caused by anemia, which can result from blood loss in the digestive tract. Unexplained weight loss: Weight loss without trying can be a sign of cancer. Other symptoms: Some people may experience other symptoms like a lump in the abdomen or back passage, nausea, vomiting, or a change in appetite. Bowel cancer can often be asymptomatic in its early stages, so it's important to be aware of these symptoms and consult a doctor if you experience any of them. Early detection and treatment significantly improve the chances of survival and cure. Certain types of dietary fibre cause inflammatory response in some patients: Study One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NeurAxis Announces Closing of $5.0 Million Registered Direct Offering
Strengthens Balance Sheet and Provides Growth Capital CARMEL, Ind., May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeurAxis, Inc. ('NeurAxis,' or the 'Company') (NYSE American: NRXS), a medical technology company commercializing neuromodulation therapies addressing chronic and debilitating conditions in children and adults, today announced the closing of its previously announced registered direct offering of 1,538,461 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $3.25 per share. The gross proceeds from the offering are approximately $5.0 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses. 'This financing, along with the recent FDA clearance expanding indications for IB-Stim treatment of Pediatric Functional Abdominal Pain (FAP), marks a significant milestone for NeurAxis,' said Brian Carrico, President and Chief Executive Officer of NeurAxis. 'The $5.0 million raise, coupled with over $1 million obtained from warrant exercises this week, shores up our balance sheet as we continue to drive revenue growth for IB-Stim and prepare for the implementation of our CPT Category I code, effective January 1, 2026. These expanded indications for IB-Stim are a breakthrough in pediatric care, especially given the lack of FDA-approved drug therapies for children suffering from abdominal pain disorders linked to gut-brain interaction.' Craig-Hallum Capital Group acted as the exclusive placement agent for the offering. A shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-283798) relating to the securities offered was originally filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') on December 13, 2024, and declared effective on February 11, 2025. The offering was made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus that form a part of the shelf registration statement. The final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering were filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC's website at Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained on the SEC's website at or by contacting Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC at 323 North Washington Avenue, Suite 300, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, by telephone at 612-334-6300, or by email at prospectus@ This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About NeurAxis, Inc. NeurAxis, Inc., is a medical technology company focused on neuromodulation therapies to address chronic and debilitating conditions in children and adults. NeurAxis is dedicated to advancing science and leveraging evidence-based medicine to drive adoption of its IB-Stim™ therapy, which is its proprietary Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation (PENFS) technology, by the medical, scientific, and patient communities. IB-Stim™ is FDA cleared for functional abdominal pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adolescents 8-21 years old. Additional clinical trials of PENFS in multiple pediatric and adult conditions with large unmet healthcare needs are underway. For more information, please visit Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect the Company's business, strategy, operations or financial performance, and actual results and other events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results, developments, business decisions or other events to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements in this press release. These factors include, among other things, the conditions in the U.S. and global economy, the trading price and volatility of the Company's stock, public health issues or other events, the Company's compliance with applicable laws, the results of the Company's clinical trials and perceptions thereof, the results of submissions to the FDA, the results of the shareholder vote to enable the issuance of the Preferred Stock, and factors described in the Risk Factors section of NeurAxis's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and, except to the extent required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of any new information, future events and developments or otherwise. For more information, please visit For contraindications, precautions, warnings, and IFU, please see: Contacts: CompanyNeurAxis, Investor RelationsLytham PartnersBen Shamsian646-829-9701shamsian@ in to access your portfolio
New York Post
14-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Insiders reveal why ACS decided to leave kids in hands of abusive parents
'Pathetic.' That's how Kevin O'Connor describes the response from Administration for Children's Services Commissioner Jess Dannhauser in The Post last week to accusations that his agency is prioritizing progressive ideology over children's safety. O'Connor, a 35-year NYPD veteran who retired two years ago, knows whereof he speaks. His whole career — rising from a school cop in Hell's Kitchen to the Bronx Juvenile Crime Squad to assistant commissioner for youth strategies — has been devoted to serving the vulnerable kids of this city. Advertisement O'Connor tells me, 'ACS is a complete disaster. There is no accountability by the administration whatsoever.' O'Connor points to two developments in particular that have set ACS on its unfortunate path. First, 'they destroyed ACS when they went to Family Assessment.' Advertisement The Family Assessment Program (FAP) is, according to the state Office of Children and Family Services, 'a non-investigative, family-centered approach to addressing some reports of child maltreatment.' Rather than take seriously claims of child abuse and neglect, agencies like ACS shift what they see as the less serious problems and then move them onto this more cooperative track. 3 Nazir Millien, 8, special needs child, who died of neglect. Obtained by NY Post Unfortunately, many caseworkers have no way of knowing what is serious or not based on a single report, and without a real investigation they may never find out. Beginning of the end Advertisement This shift happened before the Adams administration, and it's a practice that has been adopted in other jurisdictions as well. But O'Connor says this move in New York to offer families voluntary services instead of having official investigations with actual consequences for those who failed to comply was the beginning of the end. The CARES program, instituted by the most recent administration, has pushed an even larger percentage of families into the voluntary services track. Advertisement The assumption of the program is that what families mainly need are material resources — housing, assistance with utility bills, access to food — but most families in the system are already receiving public assistance. Their problems generally stem from substance abuse and/or mental illness, as the recent spate of fatalities in families known to ACS demonstrates. Under FAP, ACS has also been reluctant to use PINS (person in need of supervision) warrants. Typically, when a parent (often a single mother or grandmother) would find themselves with a kid who was out of control, ACS would get a warrant. Then the NYPD would bring that child in front of a judge who would 'put them on notice or mandate services or rules for the child. The program, says O'Connor, 'empowered parents' and allowed them to get their kids under control. But now ACS's strategy for dealing with juvenile delinquency is just to pretend it doesn't exist. Take, for instance, the Children's Center, which is designated as a temporary shelter for kids who have been removed from their families. It is not supposed to be a juvenile detention facility, but O'Connor says that ACS is regularly putting kids there who need to be in a secured environment. The Kips Bay neighborhood where it's located is traditionally one of the city's safest, but juvenile robbery rates skyrocket periodically when ACS doesn't have anywhere else to put young lawbreakers. And the lack of space is becoming a bigger problem in recent years. Because of the 'raise the age' law, more and more adults are taking up space in juvenile facilities — 60% are over 18 in New York's two facilities, according to O'Connor. Advertisement 3 De'Neil Timberlake, 5, OD'd on methadone in The Bronx. Instead of moving those who are adults into adult jails, though, we have overcrowded and more dangerous juvenile institutions. ACS used to cooperate with the NYPD, says O'Connor. If the police suspected a child was becoming increasingly out of control and the parents weren't willing or able to help, the police would ask ACS to get involved. The case could end up in family court, and the kid would be removed if necessary. Today, says O'Connor, the family is just offered services to work through the issue on their own. Dismantled protections Advertisement Shortly before he retired, three preteen boys raped a 9-year-old girl on the roof of the Taft Houses. The police made the arrest, but the boys' case was handled in family court. Now, says O'Connor, the police have no role at all thanks to a change in the law that bars the arrest and prosecution of anyone under 12 for any crime other than homicide. Today, those boys' families would simply be offered services by ACS. But what are the parents going to do at that point? Advertisement 'You think those boys are being raised properly?' O'Connor asks. 'We have dismantled the system designed to protect kids.' And why? James Osgood was able to get a firsthand view of the ideological pressure that has pushed ACS down this road. Osgood was the executive officer at the Brooklyn Child Abuse Squad and an investigative consultant supervisor at ACS from 2007 to 2018. Advertisement 'Their priorities are keeping the family together,' he tells me in no uncertain terms. 'I've been to meetings where caseworkers were discouraged from removing children of color because removed children are at greater risk for being involved in the system as adults.' Shortly after the riots in Ferguson, Mo., Osgood says, ACS hosted a guest speaker from that city who said the fact that black children are removed to foster care at higher rates is actually the reason for the higher rates of black incarceration. And then the speaker told the assembled ACS employees that 'more white children should be removed introduced into the system to even out the black/white population in prisons.' As Osgood said, 'you can't make this up.' Osgood was told before the meeting 'to be quiet.' 'Mind-boggling' O'Connor finds the idea that ACS is making policies that prioritize keeping black children in dangerous homes because of racism to be 'mind-boggling.' He wonders: 'Does anyone care that a black child was murdered?' He says that he has worked his entire career in minority communities. He just attended the wake of a mother who lost two boys to gun violence. 'Do you think I care what color their skin is?' he added. 3 Jelayah Eason Branch, 6, beaten to death in The Bronx. Osgood was among the first hired by ACS as part of a partnership with the NYPD. And while most of the caseworkers they worked alongside appreciated them, the managers did not. He often spoke to caseworkers to help them understand how to ask the right questions, how to tell whether family members were lying, and how to stay safe in dangerous situations. 'I had over 20 years of experience,' Osgood said. 'I could walk into an apartment right away and tell what was going on.' He and his colleagues also did database and background checks about families being investigated. As former members of the NYPD, they were able to access information about families that caseworkers may not have. For instance, if a child had previously reported abuse but then recanted, that would be in a police record, but ACS would have no knowledge of it. The caseworkers wanted these partnerships, but management was less keen on them. Osgood says that since COVID, these investigative consultants work from home 40% of the time, doing background checks and other desk work instead of helping out in the field where they are most needed. His former colleagues at ACS, meanwhile, 'are overworked,' he says. They are 'trying not to open cases,' because that will only add to the load. They are 'burnt out after two or three years,' partly because they don't feel like they are making a difference. He tells them to become police officers instead. 'You can do a lot more good as police officers. You can go into the special victims unit,' he would advise them. The NYPD priorities are keeping kids safe but at ACS 'the priorities are keeping the family together.' Indeed, as O'Connor notes, ACS seems intent on ignoring possible signs of trouble. He marveled at the recent report on chronic absenteeism in New York City public schools, with more than a third of students — or roughly 300,000 — absent for 10 or more days in a school year. 'That's supposed to be an ACS case after 10 days,' he said. As it happens, ACS has been discouraging teachers from reporting students to the agency. It has bragged about a reduction in calls coming from schools to the state Central Register. Since COVID, truancy has become all but ignored by both the Department of Education and ACS. In response to The Post, ACS disputed these points, saying it provides support to prevent burnout, and that it handled 6,711 allegations of 'educational neglect' in 2024. 'In this administration, we are focused on getting it right — for all children and families — regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, neighborhood, or LGBTQAI+ status,' an ACS spokesperson said. 'When children are at imminent risk, we will take action and place them in foster care. When there are services and supports available to mitigate risk or give families the help they need, we will provide it.' No accountability O'Connor recalls an incident under former Commissioner Gladys Carrión's tenure where a school finally called after a 6-year-old girl had not showed up to school for 14 days. He and a fellow officer knocked down the family's door and found her in the closet beaten to death. Maybe they could have helped if someone called sooner. What happens to all of the children who die of abuse or neglect? O'Connor says that ACS is using privacy laws to cover up the problems: 'It gives everyone a get-out-jail-free card.' As for the recent announcement by Dannhauser that ACS has convened a 'multidisciplinary panel' to examine these fatality cases (which still won't release the results to the public), O'Connor says it is 'the definition of lunacy.' 'They keep doing the same thing over and over. When programs that they say will help vulnerable groups don't help them, they just double down,' he said. When, O'Connor wonders, 'will they just admit it doesn't work?' Naomi Schaefer Riley is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she helped to found Lives Cut Short. She is the author of 'No Way to Treat a Child: How the Foster Care System, Family Courts, and Racial Activists Are Wrecking Young Lives.'
