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Here are the top medical news for the day:
Can a Plant-Based Diet Lower Breast Cancer Risk?
A recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition concludes that following a healthy plant-based diet significantly lowers the risk of breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women and those with a healthy weight. Conducted in Iran, the research examined the dietary habits of 133 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 265 healthy women to understand how different plant-based diets impact cancer risk. Using a detailed food questionnaire, they assessed how closely each woman’s diet matched three plant-based diet indexes:
PDI (Plant-Based Diet Index): Overall intake of plant vs. animal foods
hPDI (Healthful Plant-Based Diet Index): Emphasis on healthy plant foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains
uPDI (Unhealthful Plant-Based Diet Index): Focus on less healthy plant foods like refined grains, sweets, and sugary drinks
Foods were grouped into three categories: animal-based, unhealthy plant-based, and healthy plant-based. Higher scores on each index showed stronger adherence to that diet type.
The findings revealed that women who followed diets rich in whole, unprocessed plant foods—such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and vegetable oils—had about half the risk of developing breast cancer compared to those who consumed fewer of these foods. In contrast, women consuming plant-based diets high in refined grains, sweets, sugary beverages, and potatoes had a notably higher risk, especially if they were premenopausal.
The study also found that the protective effects of a healthy plant-based diet were strongest in women with a BMI below 25, suggesting that maintaining a healthy weight may enhance the benefits of such diets. These plant-based foods are naturally high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and phytochemicals—compounds known to support DNA protection, regulate cell growth, and reduce inflammation, all of which can contribute to lowering cancer risk.
However, the study had limitations, including unassessed tumor subtypes, potential recall bias from self-reported diets, and a small, hospital-based sample, underscoring the need for larger, broader studies.
Future research should further explore how different types of breast cancer interact with diet and how hormonal status and therapy affect these relationships.
Reference: Souni F, Mansouri F, Jafari F, Sharifi R, PourvatanDoust S, Shateri Z, Nouri M, Rashidkhani B. The association between plant-based diet indices and the risk of breast cancer: a case-control study. J Health Popul Nutr. 2025 Apr 19;44(1):127. doi: 10.1186/s41043-025-00879-2. PMID: 40253371; PMCID: PMC12008985.
Indian Scientists Develop Eco-Friendly Cholesterol Detection Device
A highly sensitive, eco-friendly and cost-effective optical sensing platform developed for cholesterol detection can help identify early symptoms of diseases like atherosclerosis, venous thrombosis, cardiovascular diseases, heart disease, myocardial infarction, hypertension, and cancer. The work was published in the “Nanoscale” Journal, published by Royal Society of Chemistry.
Detecting fatal diseases at their earliest symptoms is essential, as abnormal biochemical markers may sometimes accompany such disorders. Therefore, reliable point-of-care (POC) detection of biomarkers associated with these diseases is necessary for personalized health monitoring.
Cholesterol is an essential lipid in humans, produced by the liver. There are two types of cholesterol: LDL (low-density lipoprotein), often referred to as 'bad' cholesterol because it can accumulate in the walls of arteries and contribute to severe diseases, and HDL (high-density lipoprotein), known as 'good' cholesterol.
However, maintaining a balance in cholesterol levels is crucial. Both high and low cholesterol levels can lead to various diseases, including atherosclerosis, venous thrombosis, cardiovascular diseases, heart disease, myocardial infarction, hypertension, and cancer. Atherosclerotic plaques form when excess cholesterol builds up on artery walls, hindering proper blood flow.
A team of interdisciplinary researchers at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) in Guwahati, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST, has developed an optical sensing platform for cholesterol detection based on silk fibre functionalized using phosphorene quantum dots.
A point-of-care (POC) device has been developed in the laboratory scale for detecting cholesterol using this. It can sense cholesterol in trace amounts, even below the preferred range. It can be an efficient tool for routine monitoring of cholesterol levels in the human body.
The project, led by Prof. Neelotpal Sen Sarma, a retired Professor; Dr. Asis Bala, an Associate Professor; and Ms. Nasrin Sultana, a DST INSPIRE Senior Research Fellow incorporated the material – the silk fibre, into a cellulose nitrate membrane to create an electrical sensing platform for cholesterol detection.
The synthesized sensors were highly sensitive as well as selective for cholesterol detection. Furthermore, the electrical sensing platform generates no e-waste, a key advantage of the fabricated device. Both sensing platforms respond similarly to real-world media such as human blood serum, experimental rat blood serum, and milk.
Reference:https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspxPRID=2123766#:~:text=A%20team%20of%20interdisciplinary%20researchers,silk%20fibre%20functionalized%20using%20phosphorene
Fear of Vision Loss May Delay Cataract Surgery: Study Finds
Fear of vision loss may deter some patients from undergoing necessary cataract surgery, according to a newly published study published in The Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. The study highlights the trust patients place in their physicians and the critical role of doctor-patient communication in making medical decisions.
The research team surveyed 42 patients at Hoxworth Eye Clinic, the training site for UC's ophthalmology residents located near UC Medical Center. The study explored a possible link between health literacy and fear surrounding cataract surgery.
Among those surveyed, 36% reported fear of cataract surgery, and more than half of those specifically feared it would lead to vision loss. However, researchers found no correlation between this fear and a patient's health literacy level.
"We found patients who would benefit from surgery reasonably understood the procedure after we educated them," said Lisa Kelly, MD, a Taylor Asbury-endowed professor-educator and director of medical student education in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. "But even with clear explanations, sometimes their fear persisted."
The study pointed to the importance of open communication.
"Yes, patient education matters, but it's not always sufficient," said Kelly. "What's equally important is building relationships and trust to help patients overcome fear."
Reference: https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2025/04/uc-study--fear-may-deter-patients-from-cataract-surgery.html
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