The non-sugar sweetener aspartame has been linked to adverse health outcomes, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

IARC and the WHO-FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) jointly evaluated it.

According to the report, there is "limited evidence" of possible human carcinogenicity.

Aspartame is classified by the IARC as "potentially carcinogenic" to humans (IARC Group 2B), and the JECFA has reiterated that 40 mg/kg of body weight is the safe daily intake.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has set guidelines for artificial sweeteners in line with risk assessments and ADI established by JECFA, aligned with Codex Alimentarius Commission standards.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh, has reported 69,493 confirmed Dengue cases from July 1 to August 7.

The disease mortality was 327, and the case fatality rate was 0.47%. (DENV 2>DENV3).  

Six hospitals have been put in force to strengthen case management.  

The core areas enforced to enhance the management are 

WHO has categorized Bangladesh as a ‘high’ risk area for Dengue.   

WHO has also emphasized strict vector control measures, especially in high-risk places (schools, workplaces, and residences) via Integrated Vector Management which aims at eliminating the adult and larval stages of Aedes mosquitoes.  

IVM includes the use of larvicides, including fogging and Personal protective measures.

The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare pledged to eliminate filariasis by 2027 during the inauguration of the 2nd phase of the Annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration. 

The 2nd phase shall cover nine endemic states (Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh). 

The minister has also emphasized the importance of a holistic approach toward achieving this goal. 

He also cited that both treatments, as well as prevention by vector control measures, should be the focus of action, which could be achieved by: 

The Railway Board has taken prompt measures to rectify a tragic event in which a Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable killed four persons on a moving train.  

To avoid such incidents in the future, a six-member high-level group was formed with a critical mandate: to recommend comprehensive mechanisms for examining the mental health of RPF personnel before they are entrusted with weapons. 

Their primary focus will be on the precaution that must be taken before issuing guns to RPF. 

The Railway Board has requested that the committee conduct a thorough evaluation of existing rules for both physical and mental health exams and submit a detailed report. 

The presumed psychotic diagnosis of the accused constable, Chetan Singh, was withheld from RPF authority, emphasizing the severity of the situation. 

By implementing the recommendations, the Board aims to strengthen the mental health evaluation process for RPF personnel, ensuring a safer and more secure environment.

Peter Levine invented and developed the bio-psychological working paradigm known as Somatic Experiencing® to comprehend, prevent, and treat post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic stress.

An interventional study using Somatic Experiencing®, done on Breast cancer survivors, showed encouraging findings that support the use of this model to address the psychological effects of medical therapy and prolonged treatments for breast cancer. 

The study involved BC survivor women in Italy who had been diagnosed with 

The individuals, who were split into interventional and control groups, had :

At baseline, the survivors reported normal to borderline levels of depression and anxiety as well as a composite to impaired body image.

At the conclusion of the eight online group sessions, the women in the intervention group displayed improved psychological health. 

They had a considerable reduction in their levels of anxiety, depression, and distress symptoms. 

Results indicate that this model may help in developing more effective coping strategies and trauma reworking skills in terms of a decrease in anxious preoccupation and a greater forward focus. 

Additionally, it was seen that most of the women in the interventional group had a positive change in their perception of their bodies.

Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, NCT of Delhi, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal are among the worst affected states wherein the drug problem was widespread among children and adults alike. 

Nearly 7 lakh children (10-17 years) are abusers of substances like tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, opioids, sedatives, and inhalants. 

The most common substance abuse among school and college goers was tobacco, additionally-

The problem is also similarly widespread among adults, with over 66 lakh total abusers.  

21 lakh people are addicted to various kinds of opioids, including heroin.

According to WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic: "Protect People from Tobacco Smoke, 2023"-

The WHO's MPOWER policies have resulted in 300 million less smoking globally. 

The smoking prevalence fell from 22.8% to 17% from 2007-2021. 

Initiatives comprise of 

The report focuses on second-hand smoking that causes a major burden of many fatal diseases. 

It acknowledges India's achievements, with 85% of cigarette packs carrying warnings on both sides. 

India has also banned the sale of e-cigarettes and has comprehensive restrictions on tobacco advertising. 

Experts recommend additional measures such as 

The city of Bengaluru has been specially mentioned because of the 27% decrease in smoking 

This can be attributed to-

The city has gained worldwide acclaim for its tobacco control initiatives.

Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc., Lupin's US subsidiary, has withdrawn two batches of Tydemy, an oral contraceptive, due to 'out of specification' outcomes at the 12-month stability check point. 

The recall is voluntary due to a considerable decrease in the amount of inactive content (ascorbic acid) in the product and went into effect following Lupin's notification to the US Food and Drug Administration on July 29. 

Tydemy lots that were impacted were distributed between June 3, 2022 and May 31, 2023.

The Vadodara Municipal Corporation's (VMC) Standing Committee has approved the restart of enriched flavoured milk delivery to Anganwadi children. 

During the Covid-19 epidemic in 2020, the distribution was halted. 

The ICDS department requested approval and a Rs 1.93 crore budget to offer fortified milk to 10,120 children at VMC Anganwadi six days a week.

Originally, milk was planned to be delivered twice a week, but it will now be delivered six days a week. 

The fortified milk contains Vitamin D and Vitamin A and will be given to each child attending the Anganwadi, with a possibility of 200 ml if there's a health requirement. 

The proposal also seeks approval for making advance payments to Baroda dairy and Amul, which supply the fortified flavoured milk to around 436 Anganwadi in the city. 

The United states center for disease control (CDC) approves a first ever vaccine against severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease. 

RSV is one of the most common causes of childhood respiratory sickness and the cause of death for 100 to 300 US children under the age of five per year. 

CDC found that use of the long-acting monoclonal antibody Nirsevimab, tradename BeyfortusTM, reduced the incidence of both hospitalizations and doctor visits for RSV in newborns by nearly 80%. 

CDC recommends single dose of Nirsevimab for all under 8 months, for their first RSV season and additional dose for immunocompromised children between the ages of 8 and 19 months.

According to an observational study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, a fourth dose of the bivalent (two-strain) COVID-19 vaccine is significantly more effective against medical treatment and hospitalization than a fourth monovalent (single-strain) dose among both previously infected and never-infected individuals who had received three monovalent doses. 

The study involved 2,749,829 participants and found that those who had never been exposed to COVID-19, a fourth dose of the monovalent vaccine did not provide any further protection over three doses against symptomatic infection while dose four of the bivalent vaccine did. 

The bivalent vaccine targets both the wild-type virus and the Omicron variant, as opposed to the monovalent which only targets the wild-type SARS-CoV-2.

US researchers developed an artificial intelligence model on chest X-rays. 

The AI analyses the distribution of fatty tissue and uses it to flag people with high risk of developing diabetes.

It ensures early diagnosis in individuals who may not be regularly screened for non-communicable diseases for example individuals with low BMI. 

The AI presents an exciting opportunity to extract data from routine tests to improve patient care. 

The researcher are next aiming to examine how well these X-rays can identify diseases such as chronic obstructive lung disease and congestive heart failure.