US-based Vattikuti Foundation on Friday announced to launch 'Vattikuti Explorers', a national competition aimed at identifying eight innovative medical students in India and nurturing them in the field of robotic surgery. The programme, open to third and fourth-year medical students, offers a unique opportunity to delve into specialised areas of research with accomplished robotic surgeons guiding as mentors, the Foundation said in a statement. "The 'Vattikuti Explorers' goes beyond traditional medical education as it offers students hands-on training, exposure to advanced surgical technologies, and the chance to connect with leading innovators across various medical fields," said Mahendra Bhandari, CEO, Vattikuti Foundation.

Tobacco-funded research continues to appear in highly-cited medical journals, reveals a study published in The BMJ on World No Tobacco Day on Friday. The findings by The Investigative Desk -- an independent platform for investigative journalism -- showed that the tobacco industry has a long history of subverting science. Even then most of the leading medical journals do not have policies that ban research wholly or partly funded by the tobacco industry.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala Police is in Chennai to probe the revelations made by the main accused in the Kerala kidney racket, Sabith Nasar who was arrested on May 18. Sources in Kerala Police told that the team will conduct a joint probe with the Tamil Nadu Police SIT. It may be recalled that Tamil Nadu Police has taken into custody three people who played a role in facilitating some kidney donors for Sabith Nasar for a price.

Using statin therapy as the first line of treatment for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention was found effective in preventing heart disease risk and all-cause mortality, even in adults aged 85 years and older, according to a study on Tuesday. Statins are known to lower cholesterol levels in the blood, thereby decreasing the risk of CVDs. Previously, the consensus on using statins for primary prevention of heart disease in adults aged 75 years or older has been little because of a lack of proper representation of the population in randomised controlled trials, said researchers from the University of Hong Kong.

An international team of scientists from Finland, Canada, the US, and New Zealand has discovered a specific brain network hub that plays a key role in stuttering, an advance that can lead to new treatment options. The research, published in the Brain journal, examines two different types of stuttering -- developmental and acquired. While both types are traditionally known to be separate, the study showed that besides "similarities at the behavioural level, there are also similarities at the neural level".

Doctors, on Monday, reported a significant rise in urinary tract infections and kidney stones in adults due to sweltering heat conditions. Urinary stones are small, hard deposits of mineral and acid salts that tend to form when urine gets concentrated. Staying hydrated by drinking enough water is key to prevent the condition. "Urinary stone problems are likely to increase in summer. This problem occurs when the amount of water in the body decreases due to heat. Every day, 2-3 patients come for treatment with complaints of abdominal pain," Dr Pawan Rahangdale, Urologist, Apollo Spectra Pune, told.

Researchers have detected novel biomarkers for kidney diseases associated with nephrotic syndrome using a new technique, a new study showed on Saturday. According to the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers identified 'anti-nephrin autoantibodies' as a reliable biomarker for tracking disease progression, opening new roads for personalised treatment approaches. Nephrotic syndrome, characterised by high protein levels in the urine, is linked to kidney diseases such as minimal change disease (MCD), primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and membranous nephropathy (MN).

Calling out the negative effects of social media, tech billionaire Elon Musk on Friday said that its excessive usage may be bad for children. "A lot of social media is bad for kids," he said in a post on X.com.

Cancer is affecting more young people in India. A new study on Friday showed that 20 per cent of the cancer cases in the country are being seen in men and women below the age of 40. The study by Cancer Mukt Bharat Foundation, a Delhi-based non-profit, showed that 60 per cent below 40 cancer patients were men, while 40 per cent were women. Head and neck cancer (26 per cent) were the most prevalent, closely followed by gastrointestinal cancers (16 per cent) like colon, stomach, and liver. Breast cancer accounted for 15 per cent, and blood cancers for 9 per cent.

Amid the global rise in H5N1 cases, US scientists have developed an experimental mRNA vaccine -- based on Covid-19 jab technology -- to fight avian or bird flu infections. Preclinical models, detailed in the journal Nature Communications, showed that the jab against the avian influenza virus H5N1 is highly effective in preventing severe illness and death. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania noted that the vaccine could potentially help manage the outbreak of the H5N1 virus currently circulating in birds and cattle in the US, and also prevent human infections with the virus.