Dr Ikram Ali Syed

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Dr Ikram Ali Syed

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Innovative Healthcare Executive | Lifestyle Counsellor| Consultant Rehabilitation | Diplomate Emergency & Lifestyle Medicine | Certified in Hyperbaric Medicine | 80+Certitudes by World Health Organization, Harvard University and Stanford University. 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝙄'𝙢 𝘿𝙧. 𝙄𝙠𝙧𝙖𝙢 𝘼𝙡𝙞 𝙎𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞-𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧. 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 19 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙣𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚.
𝙈𝙮 𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙉𝙚𝙪𝙧𝙤-𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙠𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮'𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙢𝙨. 𝙄 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙖 𝘿𝙤𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙮 (𝘿𝙋𝙏) 𝙙𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮, 𝙢𝙮 𝙈𝘽𝘼 𝙞𝙣 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥, 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝-𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨.
𝙁𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚, 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝘿𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙖 𝙞𝙣 𝙀𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨. 𝙈𝙮 𝘿𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙖 𝙞𝙣 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝘾𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙃𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙚 (𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙣𝙩𝙞-𝘼𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙚) 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙟𝙪𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 80 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙨 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙧𝙙, 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙊𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙛𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚.
𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧, 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝-𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨. 𝙈𝙮 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚. 𝙄 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧, 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮.

28/09/2025

Sweden has pioneered the use of microchips implanted under the skin to replace physical IDs, credit cards, keys, and even travel passes. More than 6,000 people in Sweden have chosen this technology, which uses NFC (Near Field Communication) to allow contactless transactions and authentication. Researchers at Lund University have studied the social and ethical implications of this trend, calling it one of the most advanced experiments in human-technology integration in Europe. This innovation raises debates about privacy, data security, and the future of personal identification systems.

28/09/2025

Scientists have uncovered how cold plasma can pe*****te deep into tumors and destroy hidden cancer cells—offering a potential new tool in cancer treatment.

Cold plasma is an ionized gas that produces reactive oxygen and nitrogen species—short-lived molecules that can disrupt cellular survival. Using newly developed 3D hydrogel tumor models, researchers observed how plasma molecules spread within tissue.

They discovered that peroxynitrite and other short-lived molecules pe*****ted several millimeters deep, strongly affecting tumor cells. Surprisingly, hydrogen peroxide—long thought to be the main active ingredient—played only a minor role, as plasma remained effective even when it was removed.

The team also simulated surgical conditions by applying plasma to artificial tumor wounds. Plasma treatment effectively targeted residual cancer cells, including those that had already spread into nearby tissue, suggesting it could reduce the risk of relapse after surgery.

Follow Dr Ikram Ali Syed for regular scientific updates

📄 RESEARCH PAPER

📌 Lea Miebach et al, “Gas plasma technology mediates deep tissue and anticancer events independently of hydrogen peroxide.”, Trends in Biotechnology (2025)

09/09/2025

Two new studies suggest that playing a musical instrument—even if you start in old age—could help protect your brain from the effects of aging and stave off cognitive decline.

In the first study, researchers compared older adults who had played music for decades with those who hadn’t. Brain scans showed that the musicians processed speech in noisy environments almost as efficiently as young adults, thanks to stronger neural connections. Non-musicians, by contrast, showed more signs of aging and had to work harder to complete the same task.

But the more exciting finding? A second study found that even seniors who only recently picked up an instrument—and stuck with it for four years—had healthier brains than those who stopped. Their memory was sharper, and crucial brain structures like the putamen hadn’t shrunk as expected with age.

These results point to the power of cognitive reserve—the brain’s ability to compensate for aging or damage. And music may be a particularly effective way to build it.

So whether you’re strumming a guitar, playing piano, or learning the violin for the first time—your brain might just thank you.

🎵 It’s never too late to tune your brain.

📄 RESEARCH PAPERS

📌 Xueyan Wang et al, "Never too late to start musical instrument training: Effects on working memory and subcortical preservation in healthy older adults across 4 years." Imaging Neuroscience (2025)

📌 Lei Zhang et al, "Long-term musical training can protect against age-related upregulation of neural activity in speech-in-noise perception", PLOS Biology (2025)

09/09/2025

🐙 Octopuses Rewire Their Brains to Survive Temperature Swings — And They Do It Fast

Octopuses have a remarkable way of protecting their powerful brains from temperature changes: they reprogram them on the fly. A new study reveals that California two-spot octopuses rapidly adapt to seasonal temperature shifts by editing their RNA — the molecule that helps turn DNA into proteins — especially in neural tissues.

This unusual strategy, observed in over 20,000 RNA sites, allows the animals to modify how key brain proteins are made depending on the surrounding temperature.

Unlike DNA mutations that take generations to make a difference, RNA editing is fast and flexible. In fact, researchers found that octopuses could shift their RNA editing patterns within just a day, adjusting protein production for optimal function in warmer or colder conditions. The most affected proteins help control nerve cell behavior, especially those linked to cell membranes and calcium signaling — both of which are sensitive to temperature.

These changes aren’t just limited to lab tanks. Wild octopuses caught in different seasons showed similar editing patterns, suggesting that this brain rewiring is a widespread survival tool among octopuses and likely other cephalopods.

This opens new questions about how these creatures control RNA editing — and whether they use this trick to adapt to other challenges, like low oxygen or social stress.

RESEARCH PAPER 📄

Matthew A. Birk et al “Temperature-dependent RNA editing in octopus extensively recodes the neural proteome” Cell (2023)

09/09/2025

In a groundbreaking study, researchers from Kyoto University have revealed that audible sound waves can directly influence how our cells behave, opening a new frontier in non-invasive medical therapies.

Using a custom-designed system to deliver precise sound vibrations to cell cultures, the scientists discovered that even low-intensity acoustic waves could suppress the formation of fat cells and activate or suppress specific genes. These findings suggest that sound isn’t merely a sensory experience — it’s a mechanical signal that can alter biological processes.

At the heart of this research is the idea that sound is a form of mechanical energy. Like waves rippling through air or water, sound travels through our tissues and cells. The Kyoto team used this principle to design an experiment that bathed cultured cells in sound pressure and then analyzed how those cells responded. The results were striking: over 190 genes were found to be sound-sensitive, and one of the most pronounced effects was a reduction in adipocyte differentiation — the process of fat cell formation.

This discovery could mark a turning point in how we view sound and its potential in medicine. Unlike drugs or surgery, sound is non-material, non-invasive, and can be precisely controlled. As such, acoustic stimulation may offer a safe, fast-acting way to influence cell behavior — from altering gene expression to modulating how cells stick to their surroundings.

Beyond the medical implications, the study also challenges the traditional belief that sound perception is solely the domain of the ear and brain. Instead, it turns out your cells may be “listening” too — and responding in ways we’re just beginning to understand.

Follow Dr Ikram Ali Syed for regular scientific updates

📄 RESEARCH PAPER

📌 Masahiro Kumeta et al, "Acoustic modulation of mechanosensitive genes and adipocyte differentiation”, Communications Biology (2025)

09/09/2025

📱🚽 Your Toilet-Time Scrolling Could Be Hurting Your Health

New research suggests that using your smartphone while on the toilet may increase your risk of developing haemorrhoids by nearly 50%.

In a recent study, researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that smartphone users were five times more likely to spend over 5 minutes on the toilet compared to non-users. Prolonged time in this posture can increase pressure in the pelvic area—potentially leading to haemorrhoids, also known as piles.

Surprisingly, straining wasn’t found to be a major contributor, despite common assumptions. Instead, the act of sitting too long, especially in a posture that offers less pelvic support, may cause “passive pressure” that swells the haemorrhoidal cushions.

While the study doesn’t confirm causation, it’s one of the first to explore this modern habit’s effect on a centuries-old condition. Researchers now plan to test whether stopping smartphone use on the toilet can reduce the risk.

🔍 The takeaway? If you want to protect your backside, leave the phone outside the bathroom. A non-addictive print read might be okay—but maybe skip the TikTok deep dive.

Your gut—and your glutes—might thank you.

Follow Dr Ikram Ali Syed for regular scientific updates

📄 RESEARCH PAPER

📌 Chethan Ramprasad et al, "Smartphone use on the toilet and the risk of hemorrhoids", PLOS One (2025)

09/09/2025

🧠 Gut Health, Sleep, and Depression: A Three-Way Connection

A new study has uncovered a striking link between gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, sleep problems, and depression.

Analyzing nearly a decade of U.S. national health data, researchers found that people with GI issues—such as irritable bowel syndrome or acid reflux—were 70% more likely to report sleep troubles and twice as likely to be diagnosed with sleep disorders compared to those without GI conditions. They also tended to sleep fewer hours overall.

The key insight? Depression may be the missing piece of the puzzle. While digestive disorders directly impact sleep quality, the presence of depression significantly amplifies the risks. This suggests that mental health may play a mediating role in how gut conditions affect sleep.

These associations held true even after accounting for other health factors like diabetes, hypertension, or smoking. The findings support a growing body of research linking the gut-brain axis to mental and physical health, emphasizing that treating one system in isolation may not be enough.

The takeaway: Holistic care matters. For patients with GI problems and poor sleep, addressing underlying depression may be just as crucial as managing the digestive symptoms. The study urges clinicians to adopt a more integrated approach to care—because the body and mind are more connected than we often realize.

📄 RESEARCH PAPER

📌 Ye S et al, "Association between gastrointestinal disorders and sleep-related problems: the mediating effect of depression.", BMC Gastroenterol (2025)

06/09/2025

In August 2024, the world’s first mRNA-based lung cancer vaccine, called BNT116, officially entered phase 1 clinical trials across seven countries: the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and Turkey. Developed by BioNTech, the same company behind one of the leading COVID-19 vaccines, BNT116 is designed to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common and deadly form of lung cancer.

According to Portside and Human Progress, the vaccine works by training the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells using messenger RNA that carries tumor-specific markers. The goal is not only to eliminate existing cancer cells but also to prevent recurrence, a major challenge in lung cancer treatment.

About 130 patients are participating in the trial, ranging from early-stage cases to those with recurrent disease, and the vaccine is being administered alongside immunotherapy.

Follow Dr Ikram Ali Syed for more in detail about life science.

06/09/2025

BREAKING: The Global Sumud Flotilla sets sail for Gaza with humanitarian aid anmessage of solidarity! 🌟🚢

Key Facts:

- 50+ ships* from 44 countries are participating in this massive effort

- Greta Thunberg and Mandla Mandela are among the prominent figures joining the flotilla

- The journey will take 7-8 days, covering 3,000 km to reach Gaza

- The mission aims to deliver essential supplies like *food*, *medical equipment*, and *baby formula* while highlighting the impact of Israel's blockade on Gaza's population

- Despite threats from Israel, the flotilla remains committed to its mission

Let's show our support for the people of Gaza!🌎💕

06/09/2025

🩻 A groundbreaking study shows that simply changing how you walk may relieve knee osteoarthritis pain and even slow joint damage—without pills or surgery.

Osteoarthritis, which affects nearly one in four adults over 40, gradually erodes the cartilage that cushions joints and is a leading cause of disability. Current treatments mostly focus on pain relief until joint replacement becomes necessary.

Researchers tested a personalized gait retraining method in a year-long randomized controlled trial. Participants with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis adjusted their foot angle while walking, guided by motion-capture assessments and biofeedback training.

Those who adopted the personalized gait change reported pain reduction comparable to medication, and MRI scans revealed slower cartilage deterioration compared to a placebo group.

Unlike earlier studies that applied a one-size-fits-all approach, this trial tailored walking adjustments to each participant’s biomechanics, making the intervention far more effective. Importantly, participants could easily maintain the new walking style in daily life, suggesting long-term benefits.

The study provides the first placebo-controlled evidence that gait retraining can act as a safe, drug-free treatment for osteoarthritis—potentially filling the gap between early pain management and eventual joint replacement surgery.

Follow Dr Ikram Ali Syed for regular scientific updates

📄 RESEARCH PAPER

📌 Scott D. Uhlrich et al, “Personalised gait retraining for medial compartment knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial.” The Lancet Rheumatology (2025)

05/09/2025

For the first time in history, scientists have restored hearing in children born deaf by repairing a single faulty gene using viral therapy. In recent trials, doctors inserted a healthy copy of the gene directly into the inner ear, allowing sound-sensitive cells to finally function as they should. Within weeks, children who had never heard sound began responding to voices, music, and even whispers.

This breakthrough offers life-changing hope for families affected by congenital deafness and represents a major leap in gene therapy. Researchers believe the same approach could eventually target other sensory disorders, showing how modern medicine is rewriting what once seemed impossible.

05/09/2025

Research reveals a strong link between poor dental health and faster brain shrinkage in regions critical to memory—raising new concerns about the impact of oral hygiene on cognitive aging.

Published in Neurology, the study tracked 172 older adults over four years, using dental assessments, memory evaluations, and brain scans. Researchers found that individuals with both gum disease and tooth loss experienced more rapid shrinkage in the left hippocampus—a brain region deeply involved in memory and one of the first areas affected in Alzheimer’s disease.

While the study doesn’t prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting oral health may influence brain aging.

The link also varied with the severity of gum disease. Among those with milder gum problems, losing teeth was tied to greater brain atrophy. However, in participants with severe gum disease, keeping more natural teeth was paradoxically linked to worse brain outcomes—possibly due to the inflammation caused by infected tissue.

The findings point to an important message: preserving healthy gums may be just as crucial as saving teeth when it comes to brain health. Regular dental care could be a surprisingly effective step in reducing the risk of cognitive decline.

The study was published in Neurology.

Follow Dr Ikram Ali Syed for regular scientific updates

RESEARCH PAPER 📄
Satoshi Yamaguchi et al, "Associations of Dental Health With the Progression of Hippocampal Atrophy in Community-Dwelling Individuals", Neurology (2023)

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