Huntington’s disease (HD) is a condition that is hereditary and causes nerve cells in specific parts of the brain to slowly deteriorate and die. The disorder affects regions responsible for controlled and intentional movements, as well as those tied to mood, thinking, and personality. People with HD often develop jerky, dance-like body movements known as chorea, along with unusual postures and emotional or cognitive changes. For instance, they may experience sudden, uncontrollable motions in their hands, feet, face, or torso. These movements tend to worsen when the person feels anxious or distracted, and as the disease advances, they become more frequent and harder to manage.

Is Huntington’s Disease Genetic?

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The institute further explains that children who do not receive the mutated gene will never develop HD and cannot pass it on to their own children.

What Causes Huntington’s Disease?

Over time, this unstable protein builds up in the brain and damages nerve cells. As the mutation is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, one copy of the defective gene is enough to cause the disorder.

Huntington’s Disease Can Now Be Treated With Gene Therapy

The results, shared by the Amsterdam-based gene therapy company uniQure, were considered statistically significant across several clinical measures. Researchers also found lower levels of a harmful protein linked to brain cell damage in the spinal fluid of participants who received the treatment. Encouraged by these results, uniQure has announced plans to seek regulatory approval next year.

“This gene therapy represents a major step forward,” said Dr. Sandra Kostyk, a neurologist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and one of the study’s investigators. “The data are encouraging.”

She added that while slowing the illness could mean more years of independence for patients, it is not a cure. Because of the small number of participants, more research and long-term follow-up are still needed.

Huntington’s Disease Symptoms You Need to Be Aware OfPeople with Huntington’s disease often lose control over their voluntary movements, which can affect daily functioning more severely than the involuntary jerks caused by chorea. Difficulties with voluntary movement can make it harder to work, communicate, and maintain independence.

According to the National Health Service, early signs may include trouble focusing or organizing tasks, forgetfulness, irritability, impulsive behavior, and changes in mood such as depression or anxiety. Other symptoms include small, uncontrollable jerks or twitches, clumsiness, and problems managing muscles.

Interestingly, symptoms can appear at any age but most often begin in a person’s 30s or 40s. When it develops before the age of 20, it is called juvenile Huntington’s disease. In such early-onset cases, symptoms may differ and the illness usually progresses more rapidly.

In light of growing concerns about harmful side effects linked to certain medicines, including the recent controversy over Coldrif syrup, authorities have now banned two more cough syrups after traces of diethylene glycol (DEG) were found. This chemical has already been linked to 22 deaths in the country.

While all fatalities so far have been connected to Coldrif, regulators in India, the world’s third-largest producer of medicines have advised people to avoid Respifresh TR and ReLife as well, since DEG contamination was detected in them during inspections. None of these products had been exported.

With cough syrups becoming a growing concern, we spoke with Dr. Umashankar Sharma, Medical In-charge (B.N.Y.S), Kailash Institute of Naturopathy, Ayurveda & Yoga, who shared safe alternatives and home remedies that parents can use to keep their children safe.

What Is The Coldrif Cough Syrup Row?

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has informed the World Health Organization (WHO) that three cough syrups, Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and ReLife have been recalled and their production has been stopped. According to reports by PTI, none of these medicines were exported from India.

The syrups were found to contain DEG, a chemical normally used in industrial processes, which can be extremely harmful if ingested, especially by children. The WHO highlighted the severity of the contamination: Coldrif was found to contain nearly 50% diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial antifreeze. The other two syrups contained the same chemical in smaller amounts.

Last week, the owner of Sresan Pharmaceutical was arrested, and local authorities have revoked the company’s manufacturing licence.

How Does Cough Syrup Become Deadly?

Some cough syrups are made using diethylene glycol (DEG) or ethylene glycol (EG). These chemicals are colourless, odourless, and sweet-tasting, which makes them seem harmless. They are also cheap, which tempts some manufacturers to use them instead of safer, more expensive sweeteners in children’s medicines.

However, DEG and EG are highly toxic, especially for kids. Even small amounts can cause severe problems, including breathing difficulties, kidney failure, long-term disability, or death. For this reason, their use in medicines is banned in many countries. In India, DEG is only allowed in medications at very low levels which is 0.1% or less.

Safe Alternatives For Cough Syrups In India

Coughs in children are often caused by viral infections, allergies, or environmental irritants such as dust or smoke. Many over-the-counter syrups are not recommended for young kids as they may have side effects and offer little relief.

Dr. Umashankar recommends several safe home remedies that can ease a child’s discomfort naturally. He says, “Warm liquids like soups, clear broths, or mild herbal teas, such as chamomile, help keep the throat moist and reduce irritation. Honey is a great natural option for children over one year; half to one teaspoon before bedtime can help calm night-time coughing.”

He also suggests using a cool-mist humidifier in the child’s room to add moisture to the air, which can loosen mucus and ease breathing. Saline nasal drops or a short steam session in a warm shower can also help relieve congestion.

Ensuring the child gets plenty of rest and stays hydrated with water or warm drinks is essential. Slightly elevating their head with an extra pillow at night can reduce coughing while they sleep..

These remedies are generally safe and effective. However, if the cough persists for more than two weeks, or if the child experiences high fever, wheezing, or difficulty breathing, it’s important to consult a doctor to rule out more serious conditions.

Health experts are raising alarms over a disturbing new trend in which drug users exchange blood to experience a shared high. Known as “bluetoothing,” this new practice is driving a sharp increase in HIV infections in regions such as Fiji and South Africa. Doctors warn that the recent rise in reported cases may only reveal a fraction of the potential damage linked to this dangerous act, which is also called “hotspotting.” But what exactly is behind this risky phenomenon, and why is it spreading?

What Is Bluetoothing and How Is It Linked to Rising HIV Cases?

Bluetoothing is a hazardous street practice where a person injects a potent drug such as heroin or meth, then withdraws a small amount of their own blood, now mixed with the drug, into a syringe and injects it into someone else to share the high. This process can continue from one person to the next, often using the same needle.

According to Brian Zanoni, a professor at Emory University who has studied drug-injecting behavior in South Africa, “it’s a cheap way to get high, but it comes with serious consequences as you’re essentially getting two doses for the price of one.” However, experts note that the effectiveness of this method is uncertain. Some believe the secondary injection produces only a mild high, while others argue it is just a placebo affect.

Why Is Bluetoothing So Dangerous for Health?

The idea of passing around drug-laced blood is so shockingly unsafe that for years, health professionals questioned whether it actually happened. Yet even if practiced by a small number of people, it can rapidly spread bloodborne diseases like HIV and hepatitis, prompting calls for an urgent public health response.

In Fiji, authorities have identified bluetoothing as a key factor behind an alarming rise in HIV rates. According to UNAIDS data, new HIV infections there increased tenfold between 2014 and 2024, leading to an official outbreak declaration in January.

About half of newly diagnosed individuals receiving antiretroviral treatment in Fiji reported contracting HIV through needle sharing, though it remains unclear how many knowingly exchanged blood. Most of these new cases were among people aged 15 to 34.

How Dangerous Is HIV and What Are Its Stages?

Without treatment, HIV gradually weakens the immune system, making the body vulnerable to serious infections. Over time, untreated HIV can develop into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The progression of HIV occurs in three key stages for people who are not on treatment:

Acute HIV Infection

This first stage usually appears two to four weeks after exposure. Many people experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, rash, and headache. During this phase, the virus multiplies quickly and attacks the immune system’s CD4 cells, leading to a very high viral load and increased risk of transmission.

Chronic HIV Infection

In this second stage, the virus continues to replicate at low levels. People often do not show symptoms, but without antiretroviral therapy (ART), this stage can advance to AIDS within a decade or sooner. With proper treatment, individuals can live in this stage for many years.

AIDS

The final and most severe stage occurs when the immune system is badly damaged. The body becomes unable to fight off infections and certain cancers. A diagnosis of AIDS is made when CD4 counts fall below 200 cells/mm³ or specific infections appear. At this stage, the viral load is high and transmission risk increases sharply. Without treatment, life expectancy is typically around three years.

Since “bluetoothing” is not a wireless or digital act but an extreme form of intravenous drug use, protection begins with avoiding environments where it might occur. The safest approach is never to start injecting drugs. Acknowledge that this practice is real and extremely dangerous, rather than dismissing it as an online rumor, especially in communities where drug abuse and poverty are common.

Scientists at Northwestern Medicine have made a major discovery: a much better and faster way to help bones heal. They wrote about their work in the science journal Nature Communications. We have always known that the loss of bones and teeth can be a permanent one, while we have artificial methods to fix the irregularities, we can no longer grow this tissue back.

However, this new method is very exciting because it could totally change how doctors create implants, the plates, screws, or replacement parts used in surgery. The main goal is to improve healing by getting the body to use its own natural tools to repair itself.

Can We Regrow Our Bones?

Guillermo Ameer, ScD, the lead researcher, believes this technique could revolutionize surgeries for bones and joints, (orthopedic) and for the face and skull (craniofacial). Instead of just being a passive structure, these new implants actively encourage healing using the body's own cells and repair mechanisms.

Dr. Ameer noted that damage from injuries is very common. Usually, doctors put in artificial materials like metal or plastic to fill the gap. He explained that their work, called regenerative medicine, is focused on helping the body regrow its own natural tissue to fix the damaged area permanently.

Can We Use Cells To Rebuild Bones?

Dr. Ameer’s team had previously developed a unique implant. Its surface isn't smooth; it has tiny, engineered micropillars (small bumps). When special repair cells called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) stick to the implant, these tiny bumps physically push on and change the shape of the cell's center, called the nucleus.

The big new finding from this latest study is that these cells—whose nuclei have been squished—start to release special healing proteins. These proteins actively promote bone growth in other nearby cells, not just the ones touching the implant.

How Can You Regrow Bones?

In their most recent experiment, the scientists watched closely to see exactly how the new implants caused bone to grow. They found that when the MSCs had their nuclei changed by the micropillars, they quickly increased their release of proteins that organize the extracellular matrix (ECM). Scaffolding is the process of construction where a temporary structure is made to support the workers while they do the construction. The ECM is basically the natural, supportive scaffolding around all tissues in the body

This newly organized scaffolding then tells other nearby MSCs to start making bone, even if they aren't directly on the implant. It's like a secret instruction being passed through the structural environment.

To test this in a real situation, the team placed the micropillar implants into mice with small holes in their skull bones. They saw that the cells on the implants made much more of a key protein called collagen, which is the main building block of bone structure. The result was significantly faster and better bone healing in the injured area.

What Is Cellular Communication?

These results show a special way cells talk to each other, called matricrine signaling. Instead of using direct contact or typical chemical messages, cells influence their neighbors by changing the extracellular matrix which is the scaffolding around them.

Dr. Ameer explained that when a cell's nucleus is deformed, its internal structure is rearranged. This makes the cell favor the production and release of proteins that tell other cells, "Start making bone!" He clarified that these released proteins actually change the environment (the matrix) surrounding nearby cells, instructing them to support new bone growth. This discovery opens up huge possibilities for designing implants that don't just act as supports, but actively guide and speed up the natural healing process.

Dr. Ameer also mentioned that this idea might be useful for repairing other tissues in the future, such as cartilage.

He stressed that losing cartilage, particularly in conditions like arthritis, is a major issue because the body has trouble regrowing it on its own. He noted that his team is already working on ways to use 3D printing to apply a similar strategy and help the body regenerate damaged cartilage.