Stomach cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the lining of the stomach. Also, known as Gastric cancer, it affects the elderly more than the adult. According to the American Cancer Society, about 6 of every 10 people diagnosed with stomach cancer each year are 65 or older. Also, the lifetime risk of developing stomach cancer is higher in men (about 1 in 101) than in women (about 1 in 155).

A health expert, speaking to a leading media house, emphasized five common symptoms of stomach cancer that should not be ignored:

1. Unexplained weight loss: Losing weight without trying or experiencing an unexplained drop in appetite, which may signal cancer progression.

2. Pain in the upper part of the abdomen: Persistent or occasional pain in the stomach area, often after eating, can become more severe as the condition progresses.

3. Frequent vomiting after meals: Nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, may occur especially after meals and is linked to cancer blocking or irritating the stomach.

4. Vomiting blood, which may appear coffee-colored: This can indicate bleeding in the stomach, often caused by ulcers or tumors, and requires immediate medical attention.

5. Black, tarry stools: This occurs when blood from the stomach is digested and passed through the intestines, signaling potential internal bleeding

There are also other concerning signs that should not be overlooked such as jaundice, unexplained weight loss, early onset of diabetes, dark stools, and loss of appetite. Health experts strongly advise seeking immediate medical attention if you notice any of these symptoms. If you or a loved one experience these signs, it's crucial to visit a physician for a thorough evaluation to rule out serious underlying health conditions.

How Does Stomach Cancer Spread?

Oncologist Dr Pankaj Kumar Pande, Director–Surgical Oncology, Max Super Specialty Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi explained that this form of cancer spreads through three main pathways: Direct spread, lymphatic spread, and bloodstream.

1. Direct Spread: In its early stages, stomach cancer can invade nearby tissues and grow into the deeper layers of the stomach or spread to surrounding organs such as the oesophagus, liver, pancreas, or intestines.

2. Lymphatic Spread: Cancer cells can travel through the lymphatic system. The most common areas affected are the regional lymph nodes near the stomach, particularly those around the liver and diaphragm.

3. Bloodstream: "Cancer cells can enter the bloodstream and travel to distant parts of the body," which is a common route for stomach cancer to metastasize to distant organs.

He further explained that cancerous cells spread from the original tumour to other parts of the body through a process called Metastasis. The most common sites for the spread are the liver, lymph nodes, peritoneum, lungs, bones, and ovaries.

Texas reported more than 3,500 cases of whooping cough or pertussis in this year, revealed the state figures. This is four times the number as last year and the highest since 2013. This is not the first time it is happening in Texas, in fact, last year, Texas had experienced a high number of cases. The state has witnessed high year-over-year increases in reported pertussis cases. Right now, only seven weeks are left in the year, and the numbers are likely to grow.

What Is Whooping Cough?

As per the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whooping cough is a respiratory illness that is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The disease is only found in humans. Whooping cough bacteria attach to the cilia, which are the tiny, hair-like extensions that line part of the upper respiratory system. The bacteria release toxins (poisons), which damage the cilia and cause airways to swell.

What Are The Symptoms Of Whooping Cough?

The CDC notes that it usually takes 5 to 10 days for symptoms to show up after the person is exposed to the bacteria that causes whooping cough. Sometimes, symptoms do not develop for as long as 3 weeks.

Whooping cough appears similar to a common cold early on. Healthcare providers often don't suspect or diagnose it until more severe symptoms appear.

Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually include:

• Runny or stuffed-up nose
• Low-grade fever (less than 100.4°F)
• Mild, occasional cough
• Babies may struggle to breathe: many babies with whooping cough do not even cough at all. This means they have apnea or life-threatening pauses in breathing. This apnea cause cyanosis, or to turn blue or they may struggle to breathe.

Later symptoms of whooping cough

• Make a high-pitched "whoop" when they inhale after a coughing fit
• Vomit during or after coughing fits
• Feel very tired after the fit, but usually seem well in-between fits
• Have difficulty sleeping at night
• Struggle to breathe
• Fracture (break) a rib

What Is Happening In Texas?

Reported cases in Texas and nationwide dropped during and right after the COVID-19 pandemic, but have surged again in recent years.

Texas logged only 340 cases in 2023, but that number jumped to 1,907 last year, with more than half reported in November and December, according to provisional data. It marks the second year in a row that the state’s health agency has issued a health alert.

cases this year have been reported in children, though no deaths have occurred.

The rapid rise in infections coincides with falling vaccination rates in Texas and across the country. Infectious disease specialists stress that immunization remains the most effective way to prevent the disease and curb its spread.

About 92% of kindergarteners nationwide were vaccinated against whooping cough in the 2024–25 school year, down from roughly 95% before the pandemic, according to federal data.

Does Vaccination Help?

Vaccination doesn’t fully prevent infection, but it usually leads to much milder symptoms, the Texas alert notes.

Infants and children receive the DTaP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. The CDC currently recommends five doses: at 2, 4, and 6 months; a fourth dose at 15–18 months; and a fifth between ages 4 and 6.

Adolf Hitler may have lived with a rare genetic disorder known as Kallmann Syndrome, according to researchers and documentary producers who carried out DNA testing on what they say is the Nazi leader’s blood. The Cleveland Clinic notes that this condition can interfere with the start of puberty and may result in traits such as undescended testicles and a micropenis.

The new findings also rule out a long-standing rumor that Hitler had Jewish heritage, the research team said.

Hitler Likely Had Kallmann Syndrome, New DNA Investigation Suggests

For decades, wartime songs and jokes poked fun at Hitler’s genitalia, though none of those claims had scientific support. Now, an international group of historians and scientists believes their results strengthen theories about abnormalities in his sexual development.

Alex Kay of the University of Potsdam said the diagnosis could help explain Hitler’s lifelong distance from women and his probable lack of intimate relationships. “No one has really been able to account for his discomfort with women,” Kay noted, as per CBS News, “If he had Kallmann Syndrome, this may offer the explanation that has been missing.”

The full findings appear in an upcoming documentary titled Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator.

What Is Kallmann Syndrome?

Kallmann syndrome is an inherited condition in which puberty is either greatly delayed or does not begin at all, and the affected person also has a reduced or absent sense of smell. It stems from a shortfall of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a key hormone that signals the body to start puberty and develop sexual characteristics.

In this disorder, certain neurons that should move from the nasal region to the brain during early development do not reach their destination. As a result, the sense of smell is impaired and the olfactory bulbs remain poorly formed. The syndrome may appear alongside other birth defects and is seen far more often in males.

How Researchers Obtained Hitler’s DNA

As per The Guardian, according to the team, the genetic material was taken from a fragment of fabric believed to come from the sofa where Hitler killed himself. Their analysis pointed to a high likelihood of Kallmann Syndrome.

Britain’s Guardian, which reviewed the documentary, cautioned that the researchers were unable to collect new DNA from any of Hitler’s surviving relatives in Austria or the United States. Those family members, the newspaper said, declined participation because they wished to avoid publicity.

Claims And Criticism Around Psychological Predispositions

Producers at Blink Films, which created the documentary, reported that the DNA sample showed unusually high polygenic risk scores for autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The Guardian highlighted that many experts remain skeptical of using these scores to comment on an individual’s mental health risk.

David Curtis, an honorary professor at University College London’s Genetics Institute, told the newspaper that such scores speak to trends in large groups, not to precise predictions about one person. Even someone in the highest percentile may still face only a small actual chance of developing a condition.

The research team added that even if Hitler had these predispositions, they could not excuse or rationalize his political decisions or the atrocities carried out under his command. World War II claimed more than 50 million lives, including six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.

Geneticist Turi King, known for identifying the remains of King Richard III and who contributed to this project, remarked that the results place Hitler among the groups targeted by his own eugenics policies. “If he had been able to examine his own DNA,” she said, “he almost certainly would have condemned himself.”

DNA Findings Reject Myth of Jewish Ancestry

The study also challenges the rumor that Hitler’s paternal grandmother became pregnant by a Jewish employer. According to the production team, Y chromosome evidence matches that of Hitler’s known male-line relative, which would not have been possible if the pregnancy had resulted from an unrelated man.

The myth resurfaced in 2022 when Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, invoked it while defending the invasion of Ukraine and repeating the Kremlin’s claim that its goal was to “denazify” a country led by Jewish president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Most people use tinned food at least once a week. The products are easy to store, last a long time and usually cost less than fresh items. Even so, a medical expert is asking shoppers to avoid eating food from a can in certain situations.

Now, a doctor has shared a serious warning about the risks linked to opening a dented tin. These damaged cans often show up in shops after being dropped or knocked during transport, then placed back on the shelf. An environmental medicine specialist strongly advises leaving them behind.

In a video, Dr Ashley Ennedy, who specialises in environmental medicine explained that dents may look harmless but can lead to severe illness. She added that a person could even become paralysed after eating food from a damaged can.

When a can is dented near the seams, the seal can weaken and allow clostridium botulinum to grow inside. This bacterium creates toxins that affect the nervous system.

Size Of Dent On The Tin Can Matters

The size and position of the dent play the biggest role, according to Toby Amidor, M.S., RD, a dietitian, food safety specialist and cookbook writer. She explained that dents often come from cans being dropped or struck. If the damage lies along the seam, bacteria can enter and place someone at risk. In that case, it is safer to throw the can away.

If the dent is tiny and the rest of the can looks sound, the contents are usually fine to eat. A small bend in a safe spot on a tuna tin, for example, can be inspected and used if everything inside appears normal.

Larger dents are another matter. A deep dent is one you can press a finger into, Amidor said. Cans with deep dents or dents on the seam should always be discarded.

What Is Botulism?

Botulism is a rare yet dangerous illness caused by a toxin released by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The toxin attacks the nerves and may lead to muscle weakness, paralysis, and trouble breathing. The infection can appear in several forms, including foodborne, infant, and wound botulism. Treatment usually involves an antitoxin that helps stop the toxin from causing more harm.

Symptoms of Botulism

The CDC notes that all types of botulism can be fatal and require immediate medical care. Symptoms linked to the toxin may include:

• Drooping eyelids
• Double or blurred vision
• A dry mouth
• Slurred speech
• Difficulty swallowing
• Trouble breathing
• Weakness or paralysis of the arms and legs
• Nausea and vomiting

Why Botulism Is Found in Canned Foods?

Clostridium botulinum produces the toxin responsible for botulism as part of its anaerobic growth process. This means it multiplies in places where oxygen is absent, such as the inside of a sealed can.

In the past, home-canning mistakes were a major cause of illness. People sometimes skipped steps or did not heat the jars enough to destroy spores. Once sealed, the bacteria could grow and release the toxin.

Better commercial canning methods and stronger food safety rules have made canned food outbreaks uncommon today. Even so, people are still encouraged to avoid dented tins as a precaution.