World

A remarkable two-decade wait has finally ended for one couple. Doctors at Columbia University Fertility Center have reported the first-ever pregnancy achieved using a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) system, offering new hope to couples struggling with male infertility. In a pioneering advancement, Columbia’s fertility specialists announced the first successful pregnancy using the STAR (Sperm Tracking and Recovery) system, an AI-based procedure designed to identify and isolate viable sperm in cases of azoospermia, a condition marked by the absence of detectable sperm in a man’s ejaculate.

The brain is one of the most vital organs in the human body, overseeing nearly every action and reaction we have. However, it relies on proper nutrition to operate at its best. Without the right diet, brain function can decline significantly. To help your brain thrive, here are the top five foods you should include in your daily meals to enhance focus and memory:

A medical expert has raised concerns over the rising global infertility crisis, revealing that more than 1.2 billion people worldwide are affected by infertility-related issues. Dr. Charles Eromosele Uhioh, Chief Medical Director of Mother Theresa Specialist Hospital and Fertility Centre, shared this during the hospital’s 20th anniversary celebration in Asaba, Delta State. Dr. Uhioh, a Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist, and Infertologist, described infertility as a major health burden both globally and nationally. “Of the world’s eight billion population, about 15 percent experience difficulty in conceiving. This includes both men and women, and around 10 percent of these cases are classified as ‘unexplained infertility,” he said.

Ahead of the 2025 World Obstetric Fistula Day, health professionals in Northeast Nigeria are urging heightened awareness and proactive measures to combat the preventable yet debilitating condition. Dr. Aisha Adamu Buba, a consultant gynaecologist at Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, highlighted the importance of the day during an interview with journalists in Damaturu on Friday. She stressed the need for both government and community efforts to focus on awareness, prevention, and treatment. She said, “Obstetric fistula, a childbirth injury that leaves women with lifelong physical and social burdens, is often caused by prolonged obstructed labour, surgical errors, or unsafe delivery practices.” Buba described it as a “heartbreaking consequence of neglected maternal healthcare.”

Researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking wearable device that continuously monitors the heart and lungs of hospital patients as they rest, presenting a transformative alternative to traditional CT scans. Developed by scientists at the University of Bath in partnership with Polish tech firm Netrix, the innovative belt-like device wraps around the chest and uses ultrasound technology to produce high-resolution, real-time images of internal organs. Unlike CT scans that provide a single snapshot, this device delivers a dynamic stream of images over extended periods, offering clinicians a more comprehensive view of a patient’s health.

A major new study suggests that weight-loss injections could nearly halve the risk of cancers linked to obesity. Cancer specialists have hailed the research as “groundbreaking,” with the potential to usher in a “new era of preventive cancer medicine.” Obesity has been linked to 13 different types of cancer. Although losing weight is already known to lower cancer risk, scientists have found that weight-loss drugs offer additional protective benefits beyond simply reducing body weight. Researchers in Israel tracked 6,000 adults without a prior history of cancer, who either underwent bariatric surgery or used glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) such as liraglutide (Saxenda), exenatide (Byetta), or dulaglutide (Trulicity). These medications mimic the GLP-1 hormone, helping lower blood sugar and increasing feelings of fullness.