Latest news with #McGillUniversity
New Indian Express
19 minutes ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Surrogacy vs mental health
From Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan (AbRam) to Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao (Azad), Tusshar Kapoor (Laksshya), and Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas (Malti Marie), several celebrities have turned to surrogacy to build their families. As public awareness grows and stigma fades, surrogacy has become a more accepted reproductive option, especially in cases where medical complications prevent women from carrying a pregnancy themselves. However, a new study has added an important dimension to this evolving narrative. Published in JAMA Network Open, the landmark research by McGill University and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), Canada, reveals that surrogacy may carry a higher risk of mental health challenges for gestational carriers — commonly known as surrogates. Study at a glance The study analysed an extensive dataset of 7,67,406 pregnancies in Ontario, Canada, between 2012 and 2021. It found that women who carry a pregnancy for others are significantly more likely to develop new-onset mental health conditions during or after pregnancy compared to women who conceive either naturally or via IVF. 'Pregnancy is not just a biological process, it's deeply emotional,' says Dr Sumina Reddy, fertility consultant and director at Fertilica IVF & Women Care, Hyderabad. 'For surrogates, the journey comes with added psychological layers. Even if there is no genetic link to the baby, they still undergo all the hormonal, physical, and emotional changes that pregnancy brings,' she adds. Diagnosed conditions ranged from mood and anxiety disorders to psychosis, substance use, and self-harm. Alarmingly, many diagnoses were made in emergency or inpatient settings, pointing to delayed support and crisis-level interventions. 'Surrogates face a higher likelihood of developing mental health issues compared to women who carry their own children,' notes Dr Sarada Vani N, senior consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and high-risk pregnancy specialist at Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad. 'Mood and anxiety disorders were most common, and the median time from conception to diagnosis was around two and a half years. This shows how some issues may emerge long after the pregnancy ends,' she notes. The doctor adds that surrogates who previously experienced mental health issues were particularly vulnerable. Even when compared to women who conceived without assistance but no longer lived with their child a year after birth, surrogates showed elevated risks, hinting at a grief-like experience akin to that seen in adoption or foster care.
CBC
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Author Heather O'Neill and daughter Arizona find a bit of magic on the Montreal Metro
When the award-winning Canadian author Heather O'Neill was approached to write a serialized novel, she knew she wanted it to be set in the Montreal Metro, which had long served as both an inspiration and an escape for her. Originally published in weekly installments in the Montreal Gazette, the story follows a young orphan named Valentine who spots her lookalike in the subway. Earlier this month, the complete story was released as a novel called Valentine in Montreal, which features brand new illustrations by Heather's longtime creative collaborator — her daughter, Arizona. For Heather and Arizona, the Montreal Metro has long played a special role in their relationship. Some of Arizona's fondest childhood memories are of riding the metro with her mother. Since they didn't have a car, they'd often travel long distances together by transit. "I had trouble reading at a young age, so my mother read out loud to me, actually, until I was 12 because I have dyslexia and it's quite bad," Arizona tells Q 's Tom Power in an interview alongside her mother. "When we used to ride the metro, she would read out loud to me — which must have been obnoxious to everyone else around — but I remember us on the metro and her reading A Series of Unfortunate Events to me. [The metro is] a very comfortable place and it almost feels like a home." After graduating from McGill University, Heather unexpectedly became a mother at age 20, which changed the course of her entire life. "I thought I was going to go live whatever the writer's life is, like getting drunk in Paris with three husbands," she says. "But then all of a sudden I found myself with a baby. So I was constantly in this world of play. I was reading Jean Genet all the time at night, and then reading Dr. Seuss to Arizona…. But then I was like, 'We're going to just make the best of it. And I'm going to show you how amazing the world is.'" Heather published her debut novel, Lullabies for Little Criminals, in 2006 to widespread critical acclaim. It's about a 12-year-old girl named Baby who's growing up in Montreal's red-light district with her heroin-addicted father, Jules. "I was writing about difficult childhoods, but then there was this possibility that a childhood could be magical," Heather says. "Heather's writing has so much childhood fancy in it, even though oftentimes she's tackling very difficult subjects," Arizona adds. "So I feel, like, maybe trying to make me feel the magic, she's brought in this magic to her own writing. When I was illustrating [ Valentine in Montreal ] as well, [I could see] those moments of magic, because I see the world, actually, through my mother's eyes…. I never had to go to her and ask, 'What did you mean by this description?' I just had such an easy time illustrating it because I felt like I really knew the inside of her brain."
National Post
11 hours ago
- Politics
- National Post
Derek Finkle: Consumption sites ruining neighbourhoods by increasing public drug use, overdoses
At this time last summer, Montreal's Victor-Rousselot Park found itself at the centre of the national debate over supervised injection sites. In April 2024, three months earlier, Maison Benoît Labre, a facility that includes both drug consumption services and a drop-in centre for the homeless, had opened just metres away from the park, which doubles as a playground for the nearby elementary school, whose students use it for recess and lunch breaks. Article content Article content Within weeks, the amount of new drug activity, along with assaults and public sex acts, was such that students required police escorts to and from the park at recess. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, already in campaign mode, held a press conference in Victor-Rousselot Park on July 12, 2024, to announce that, if elected, his Conservatives would shut down injection sites 'next to schools, playgrounds and anywhere else they endanger the public.' Article content Article content Six days later, Guy Felicella, one of British Columbia's most vocal defenders of injection sites, flew to Montreal and recorded his own monologue in the same park. Felicella, a harm-reduction advocate who survived three decades of addiction and six overdoses before turning his life around, is B.C.'s poster boy for injection sites. Article content During Felicella's brief visit to the park, he said he saw none of the things residents had been complaining about. Felicella steadfastly denies the possibility that injection sites cause increases in crime and disorder even though he is open about his own lengthy criminal record, which includes numerous convictions for break and enter, drug trafficking and uttering threats. (He has denied a judge's accusations of violence, and threats of violence, against women that recently surfaced in a 1995 sentencing decision for an ex-girlfriend of Felicella's who pleaded guilty to stealing $18,500 from the Calgary bank where she worked as a teller that have not previously been part of his inspirational life story.) Article content Article content Felicella attributed the lack of open drug use in Victor-Rousselot Park to the new injection site next door. As far as he was concerned, the approach was 'working as it should,' and the crime and disorder that had required police at school recess seemingly did not exist. Article content Article content A year has passed: was Guy Felicella right? Did the site work as it should? Was Montreal's St. Henri neighbourhood full of NIMBYs who fabricated a bunch of scary incidents to get it moved out? Article content One of the residents representing St. Henri in that process before Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant was no slouch. Michael Mackenzie, a professor of social work and pediatrics at McGill University, is also the Canada research chair in child well-being.
Sustainability Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Sustainability Times
Scientists Say 'We're Part Virus' as Ancient DNA Discovery Sheds Shocking Light on What Makes Us Truly Human
IN A NUTSHELL 🧬 Researchers from McGill University and Kyoto University have discovered ancient viral DNA in the human genome that may regulate gene activity. in the human genome that may regulate gene activity. 🔍 The study highlights a newly identified subgroup, MER11_G4 , that is particularly active in human stem cells and found only in humans and chimpanzees. , that is particularly active in human stem cells and found only in humans and chimpanzees. 🛠️ Modern computational techniques have enabled scientists to revisit and refine outdated genome annotations , revealing new evolutionary insights. , revealing new evolutionary insights. 💡 These findings suggest that viral DNA elements could play crucial roles in gene expression and potentially influence human health and disease. In the intricate tapestry of human DNA, there exist ancient viral sequences once thought to be mere remnants of past infections. However, recent research from McGill University and Kyoto University suggests these viral strands might be more than just genetic clutter. These sequences could be instrumental in regulating genes, offering new insights into what makes us human. By tracing the evolutionary history of these viral codes, scientists are unveiling their potential roles in gene regulation, especially in human stem cells. This groundbreaking discovery challenges long-standing assumptions and opens up new avenues for genetic research. Viruses That Engineered Us In an eye-opening study, researchers found that roughly eight percent of our genome comprises viral DNA, remnants from ancient viral infections. Historically dismissed as genetic debris, these sequences are now believed to have been co-opted by evolution to perform critical biological functions. The study highlights a specific viral DNA family, MER11, and unveils a new subgroup known as MER11_G4. This subgroup is uniquely active in human stem cells and appears exclusively in humans and chimpanzees. As Professor Guillaume Bourque from McGill University points out, understanding which parts of our genome are viral in origin brings us closer to comprehending human uniqueness, health, and disease. The discovery of MER11_G4 is particularly intriguing due to its potential regulatory roles. Researchers suggest that this group contains a unique DNA motif, possibly linked to gene regulation. The initial human genome sequencing, conducted 25 years ago, noted viral DNA presence but lacked the tools to explore its significance. Today, with advanced computational techniques, scientists are revisiting these annotations, finding that many were outdated or incomplete. This new perspective is reshaping our understanding of the genome's viral components and their impact on human biology. 'They're Hiding Something Under the Ice': Scientists Clash After Bizarre Radio Signals Emerge from Deep Beneath Antarctica The Code Still Works The evolutionary perspective adopted by the researchers has allowed them to identify cryptic subfamilies of endogenous retroviruses within the MER11 group. Prior to this study, only three subtypes of MER11 were recognized. The identification of a fourth subtype, MER11_G4, highlights its regulatory potential. Notably active in human stem cells, MER11_G4 may influence developmental processes by modulating gene activity. This suggests that these viral elements are not just evolutionary leftovers but integral parts of the gene expression system. Understanding these viral elements could have significant implications for identifying genetic disorders and explaining why certain gene mutations become harmful. The findings, published in Science Advances, emphasize the need to reconsider the role of viral DNA in our genome. By exploring these evolutionary relics, researchers can gain insights into how they continue to influence human biology, potentially affecting cell development, stress responses, and even diseases like cancer. 'Humanity's Red Dawn Is Here': Scientists Claim Terraforming Mars Is Now Possible, Unveiling Astonishing Plans for This Bold New Frontier Revisiting Viral DNA Annotations The current annotation of viral DNA in the human genome is far from definitive. As scientists like Guillaume Bourque suggest, it is time to refine and revisit these annotations. The previous limitations in understanding viral DNA's significance stemmed from a lack of technological tools. However, with modern computational methods, researchers are now able to analyze these sequences in greater detail, revealing evolutionary patterns that were previously overlooked. This new approach does more than just compare sequences; it groups them based on their evolutionary trajectories. By doing so, researchers have uncovered patterns missed by traditional techniques, painting a more dynamic picture of viral DNA's role in gene regulation. The realization that these sequences could be crucial in controlling gene expression is reshaping our understanding of genetic regulation and its implications for human health and disease. 'This Isn't Science, It's an Arms Race': Furious Backlash Erupts Over Invictus Program's Hypersonic Mach 5 Spaceplane by 2031 The Implications for Human Health The potential regulatory roles of viral DNA elements like MER11_G4 could have profound implications for understanding human health. By tracing the origins of these sequences, researchers hope to uncover the genetic roots of certain disorders. This could lead to new diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies, particularly for diseases linked to gene regulation failures. The study's findings also raise intriguing questions about the role of viral DNA in evolutionary processes. Could these ancient sequences have contributed to human adaptability and resilience? As researchers continue to investigate these viral elements, they are likely to uncover new layers of complexity in the genome, further enriching our understanding of what makes us uniquely human. The research into ancient viral DNA and its regulatory roles is transforming our understanding of the human genome. These findings challenge long-held beliefs and highlight the intricate interplay between viral sequences and gene regulation. As we delve deeper into the mysteries of our DNA, one question remains: How will these insights shape the future of genetic research and medicine? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (29)
NDTV
2 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Study In Canada: Top Universities, Courses And Application Process
Study In Canada: Canada continues to be a top destination for Indian students due to its multicultural environment and world-class education system, home to prestigious institutions like McGill University and the University of Toronto. To study in Canada, students must secure admission to a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Top Universities And Their Courses In Canada University of Toronto The University of Toronto is ranked as the second-best university in Canada but holds the top position across all major subject areas among Canadian institutions, according to the QS University Rankings 2026. It offers a total of 151 undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The five broader subjects and University of Toronto's ranking globally is as follows: Arts and Humanities - 14 Engineering and Technology - 17 Life Sciences and Medicine - 13 Natural Sciences - 20 Social Sciences and Management - 14 University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia is ranked third best in Canada with global ranking of 40. This university provides 255 bachelor's courses and 236 master's courses. Arts and Humanities - 19 Engineering and Technology -31 Life Sciences and Medicine - 25 Natural Sciences - 22 Social Sciences and Management - 20 McGill University McGill University is the best university in Canada and ranked 27th globally as per the QS World Rankings 2026. This university provides a total of 498 undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Here are the subject-wise rankings for McGill University: Arts and Humanities - 36 Engineering and Technology - 45 Life Sciences and Medicine -27 Natural Sciences - 48 Social Sciences and Management - 39 Application Eligibility Requirements Before applying for a study permit, students must get registered with a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)- which could be a school, university or college, from where students will have to first receive an offer of admission. Students will also be required to submit a proof of having enough funds to handle expenses such as tuition-fees, living expenses, return-transportation. Students will also need to prove to an officer that they will leave Canada once their study permit expires. They may also be required to go under Medical examination. Students who wish to remain in Canada after graduation can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which is granted based on several factors including the length and type of study program.
