Credits: Canva
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved TNKase or Tenecteplase, which is a thrombolytic or clot-dissolving agent, for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in adults.
Ischemic strokes happen when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in your brain. It can cause permanent brain damage and death. If enough brain cells die, you can also lose the abilities or body functions those cells control. They are also the most common types of stroke, with 80% of all strokes being ischemic strokes.
It is delivered as a single five-second intravenous bolus, which is faster than the standard of care Activase or alteplase, which is administered as an intravenous bolus followed by a 60-minute infusion. The manufacturer of TNKase, Genetech said a new 25-mg vial configuration will also be available in the coming months.
The approval came at the backdrop of a study that compared TNKase to Activase in patients with acute ischemic stroke. These patients also presented with a disabling neurological deficit. Results show that TNKase was comparable to Activase in terms of efficacy and safety.
In the United States it self, it affects more than 795,000 people each year and is the leading cause of long-term disability. It is also the fifth leading cause of death. Since brain damage can happen if this progresses rapidly, one needs an immediate, fast-acting medical care.
TNKase thus provide a faster and simpler administration which can be critical for anyone. The chief medical officer and head of global product development at Genetech, Levi Garraway, MD., PhD., said, "Today's approval is a significant step forward and underscores our commitment to advancing stroke treatment options for patients."
Some of the most common symptoms include weakness or paralysis on one side of your face and body. You may also feel trouble speaking or have loss of speech, also known as aphasia. You may faced slurred or garbled speaking, also known as dysarthria. Other symptoms include loss of muscle control on one side of your face, or sudden worsening or loss of your senses, including vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.
While these are symptoms one has who is prone to this condition. However, often, many may confuse it with other illnesses. It is best to keep an eye out for warning signs. These could be looking out for yourself or your loved one. Note if there is a sudden loss of balance. Look out for sudden vision loss or changes in one or both eyes. Look for a droop on one or both sides of your face, especially when you smile. Raise both arms and see if one arm sags or drops in a way it usually does not. Note for your speech. Are you as fluent? Are you have trouble speaking? If you see any of such signs, start tracking it and talk to your healthcare provider.
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A six-year-old boy died after his health worsened during an MRI scan at a private Greater Noida diagnostic centre. His family alleged medical negligence and claimed that he was administered a wrong or heavy dose injection.
As per the boy's father, Prashant Kasana, his son was taken to the centre for some test and was given an injection before the MRI procedure. The family said that during the MRI scan, the child was administered a heavy dose. Due to which his condition worsened and he also lost consciousness.
The family also said that when they asked for information about the child's condition and his medical report, they were not given any satisfactory answers. They also claimed that the doctors gave another dose to the child. The child's condition did not improve and the family had to rush the child to another nearby private hospitals. This is where the doctors declared him dead.
After this incident, family members accused the staff of the KB Healthcare Centre, where the child was first taken for an MRI scan. Villagers and workers of the Bharatiya Kisan Union also reached the spot and staged a protest.
The state spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Pawan Khatana, stated that the child was brought to the centre at 10.30am, and was in normal condition. As per the spokesperson, doctors did not disclose the quantity of the dose administered to the child.
As per Khatana, even after half an hour, the child did not gain consciousness and when the doctors checked him again, he was unresponsive and cold. The family took to another private hospital where he was declared dead. Khatana also alleged that there are many such unauthorized screening and imaging centres operating in Greater Noida and demanded a thorough probe.
Police on reaching the spot received the information, while protesters demanded for a fair investigation and strict action against those responsible. The Station House Officer of Neta 2 police station said the child was a resident of Reelkha in Dankaur. He was brought to a private pathology lab in Sector P3 for an MRI scan. As per the officer, the doctor administered the child with anesthesia for an MRI. After this, the child's health started to deteriorate.
Police has sent the body for post-mortem after completing the necessary legal formalities.
As per the National Institutes of Health (NIH), US and a study by the Yeungnam University Journal of Medicine (YUJM), drugs for deep sedation or general anesthesia for pediatric MRI are:
The study notes that the recommended dose of chloral hydrate is 50 to 100 mg/kg, or up to a maximum of 2g. The success rate of chloral hydrate sedation for pediatric MRI varies from 78% to 100%.
The United Kingdom (UK) National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) also recommends the use of oral chloral hydrate with a wide margin of safety in children under 15 kg.
The study also notes that children "may be encouraged to take at least clear fluids 2 hours before the procedure for successful sedation without breaking institutional fasting protocols for chloral hydrate sedation".
As per the study, this can be administered via an oral or intravenous or IV route. The oral dose is administered between 4 to 8mg per kg and IV dose of 2 to 3 mg per kg.
It is administered through various routes, but IV is preferred. When administered through IV, it is given at the dose of 0.1mg per kg.
Anesthetic agents include propofol and sevoflurane.
Note: This article is not a substitute for medical consultation or prescription. The information is based on reports and research articles available online for public.

(Credit - The White House/X)
President Donald Trump’s slurred speech at a recent event has sparked renewed concerns for his health. During a White House ceremony, where President Trump was being crowned the “Undisputed Champion of Coal”, his speech briefly slurred and he mispronounced the word, “undisputed.”
A video clip of him saying “And I'm proud to officially name the undithpuut... When did this come out, Mr speaker.” has been making rounds on social media platforms like X. Speculations about President Trump’s dementia and memory loss have been taking over the internet. People are also drawing between the supposed email mentioned in the Epstein files that also mentioned Trump’s supposed memory loss and the continued rumors about his dementia.
Also read: Epstein Files Raise Questions About Trump’s Memory Decline
According to Harvard Health, yes, slurred speech can be a sign of dementia, more specifically vascular dementia. While many people associate dementia primarily with memory loss seen in Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia has a different cause and set of symptoms.
Vascular dementia is the second most common form of the condition. It is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often due to cholesterol-clogged vessels or a series of "silent" mini-strokes.
Harvard health also explains that slurred speech typically appears in two scenarios
A significant blockage can cause an abrupt mental shift, often paired with physical symptoms like paralysis or slurred speech.
Because symptoms depend on which specific area of the brain is damaged, some individuals may experience slurred speech and confusion even if their memory remains relatively intact.
Also Read: Donald Trump Alzheimer’s Speculation Rises After Niece Notices Worrying Sign
With the influx in conversation surrounding the health of President Donald Trump, it is important to remember that these are not proven claims. On social media, people often point to these "fumbles" as evidence of the president’s cognitive decline or dementia. However, we must understand that the situation is much more complex than that
The White House maintains that the President is in "excellent overall health" and has even released MRI results to back that up. Trump himself often pushes back aggressively against the media for questioning his fitness.
While the public is quick to speculate, experts like neurologists and specialists in aging, say we should be careful. They argue it is impossible, and unprofessional, to diagnose someone just by watching them on TV.
In 2025, public debate frequently centered on President Trump’s physical health, sparked by visible signs like hand bruising and swollen ankles.
Health doubts had been sparked when a bruise on Trump’s hand was highlighted. However, the White House clarified that the bruising on his right hand was a common side effect of daily Aspirin use for heart health, potentially worsened by frequent handshaking.
Similarly, his swollen ankles during the ASEAN summit were attributed to Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), a condition where leg veins struggle to pump blood back to the heart, in an official report from the White House.
Official MRI results of President Trump also described his cardiovascular and abdominal health as "excellent,". This was shared by Dr. Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, who said that the scans were routine checkups for a 79-year-old and were exceptional for his age.
Trump claimed he "aced" an IQ test, but experts identified it as the MoCA dementia screening. This basic 10-minute exam checks for cognitive impairment rather than measuring a person's general intelligence.
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Nipah virus Outbreak In India: After two cases of Nipah virus were confirmed in Kolkata, one of the nurses who has recovered from Nipah virus died of a cardiac arrest. Health and Me previously reported on the male nurse being discharged.
The 25-year-old nurse who recovered from Nipah virus infection died of cardiac arrest on Thursday. As per the official statement given to news agency PTI, "She died of cardiac arrest this afternoon. Though she had recovered from Nipah infection, she was suffering from multiple complications."
The reports show that she also developed a lung infection and contracted a hospital-acquired infection during treatment. The official said, "She was trying to regain consciousness, move her limbs, and speak before her condition suddenly deteriorated. She died at around 4.20pm."
The nurse fell ill in early January after returning home on December 31 for the New Year holidays and was initially admitted to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital before being shifted to the private hospital in Barasat.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals, and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person to person.
In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.
Although Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people.
Dr Krutika Kupalli, a Texas-based expert who formerly also worked with the World Health Organization (WHO), told The Daily Mail that the possibility of Nipah virus outbreak is 'absolutely' something the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) should be 'closely monitoring'.
Read: Experts Reveal Risks Of Nipah Virus Outbreak In The US, CDC On Alert
“Nipah virus is a high-consequence pathogen, and even small, apparently contained outbreaks warrant careful surveillance, information sharing, and preparedness. Outbreaks like this also underscore the importance of strong relationships with global partners, particularly the WHO, [which] plays a central role in coordinating outbreak response and sharing timely, on-the-ground information," she said.
A CDC spokesperson told The Daily Mail that the agency is in 'close contact' with authorities in India. "CDC is monitoring the situation and stands ready to assist as needed."
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