Cigarettes with ultralow nicotine levels are now being called the game-changer in the fight against smoking. If you are having trouble in quitting smoking, then, it is for you, that soon the Biden White House is expected to formally propose a plan that will order cigarette nicotine levels to be reduced, reports The Washington Post. For now though, it has been a failure, as these cigarettes, also known as VLN cigarettes that stands for very low nicotine are only available in 5,100 stores in 26 states. This is a very small fraction of the overall market for cigarettes. The company that makes it, 22nd Century, is struggling not because of the low supply, but also from the advocates who have long believed slashing nicotine levels altogether.

The Advent and ideation

Nicotine is a chemical that is produced naturally from tobacco that makes the cigarette and also keeps people hooked. While it is believed that it makes people alert, and get the "hit" to keep them going, it exposes the users to harmful substances, carcinogens, and increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and other illness.

Ultralow-nicotine cigarettes, like the VLN brand, contain about 95% less nicotine than the regular cigarettes. The idea is quite simple: without the addictive grip of nicotine, smokers will find it easier to quit. Research too has shown some promise. For instance, the studies funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse revealed that very low nicotine cigarettes reduced addiction potential significantly without having users to increase their smoking frequency. However, the problem is, why would anyone choose for a low-nicotine that does not make them feel the same way, when the high-nicotine cigarette is right next to it, making them feel the same way, with the same alertness, sold at the same price.

“It’s very hard to imagine someone actively choosing to continue to use a low-nicotine product for the same price when a high-nicotine product is right next to it,” said Eric Donny, a Wake Forest University School of Medicine nicotine researcher.

No wonder, the experiment with low nicotine product by Philip Morris' Next cigarettes in the 1980s and Vector Tobacco's Quest brand in the early 2000s, flopped.

FDA's Role in the Push

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has supported the development of such products, even allowing VLN cigarettes to be marketed as lower-risk options. However, these products remain a niche market, available in only a fraction of U.S. stores.

Recently, the Biden administration has considered a bold step—mandating a dramatic reduction in nicotine levels for all cigarettes sold in the United States. Supporters believe this move could save millions of lives, while critics, including tobacco companies, warn of potential unintended consequences.

What Could Be The Challenges?

Resistance from Big Tobacco Companies: They could argue that slashing nicotine levels could backfire. Their claim is, smokers will turn to black markets or smoke more to satisfy their cravings, which may lead to greater exposure to harmful substances.

Consumer Reluctance: History is proof to the instances of smokers being hesitant to embrace the low-nicotine products.

Political Hurdle: It may face political roadblocks, as under the Trump administration, plans to cut nicotine were shelved.

Could Low-Nicotine Cigarettes Be The Solution?

Advocates believe that ultralow-nicotine cigarettes could be a game-changer, comparing them to decaf coffee or non-alcoholic beer—products that reduce harm while offering a similar experience.

Some experts warn that a black market for traditional cigarettes could undermine these efforts. They also stress the need for safer alternatives, such as vaping products, to support smokers transitioning away from traditional cigarettes.

34-year-old ABC News correspondent Will Reeve, the son of late actor Christopher Reeve, recently revealed his testicular cancer diagnosis. He said that first noticed a tender lump that seemed like nothing but it turned out to be the first sign of cancer.

Reeve recently opened up about his diagnosis and treatment journey, revealing that he first noticed something unusual in his left testicle while showering in April. He initially thought it would go away.

“I assumed it was nothing or would go away,” He told People.

But his wife, Amanda Dubin Reeve, encouraged him to get it checked. He got an ultrasound and found out later that it was a mass. “It’s probably nothing,” she told him, “but what if it’s something?”

Reeve's story highlights the importance of catching signs of testicular cancer. Any change that seems minor should not automatically be dismissed, particularly if it persists.

Will Reeve's Testicular Cancer Diagnosis

After the ultrasound showed a mass, Reeve underwent surgery to remove the affected testicle, a procedure called an orchiectomy.

Testing showed that most of his cancer was embryonal carcinoma, an aggressive type of testicular cancer. Doctors subsequently found cancer in three lymph nodes in his abdomen, leading to another surgery and two rounds of chemotherapy.

“I hadn’t had surgery since I got my tonsils out at 5,” said Reeve. “So I was more nervous about the unknown of the surgery rather than the overwhelming realization that I would be losing an essential part of my body forever.”

He took a few days off work to recover and was declared cancer-free on September 8.

Also read: H. pylori, HPV Among Five Infections Behind 1 In 8 Cancers Worldwide: Lancet

Early Signs Of Testicular Cancer

A lump on the testicle is one of the most common first signs of testicular cancer. The lump may or may not always be painful. Other possible changes include:

• Swelling or enlargement of a testicle
• A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• An ache or discomfort in the testicle or lower abdomen
• A change in the size or consistency of a testicle
• Breast enlargement or tenderness in some cases

The American Cancer Society notes that many of these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions that are not cancer, including infections or injuries. However, any unexplained lump or persistent change should be evaluated by a doctor.

This is one reason a new lump can be easy to overlook. Most testicular cancers do not cause pain, although some tumours can cause aching or discomfort. In Reeve's case, the lump was tender, but he initially assumed it was nothing serious.

Also read: IARC Says Low-Dose CT Can Cut Lung Cancer Deaths: AIIMS Expert Explains Why India Needs Its Own Screening Evidence

Who Is At Risk?

Testicular cancer is generally uncommon overall, but it is the most common cancer in young men, particularly those in their teens and 20s.

Certain factors can increase risk, including having had an undescended testicle, a previous testicular tumour or a family history of testicular cancer.

If you notice a lump or a tender swelling on your testicles, get evaluated by a medical professional immediately.

A doctor can examine the testicle and may recommend an ultrasound, which can help determine whether a mass is present and whether further evaluation is needed.

Before jumping to conclusions, remember that conditions like infections, fluid accumulation or enlarged veins can also cause swelling or changes in the testicle. But the only way to know what is causing the new change is to get it checked.

Amid rising demand for surgical care, the US is expected to face a significant shortage of surgeons by 2038, according to the first unified assessment of the country’s surgical workforce.

The study, presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2026, projects that the US will face a shortfall of 27,940 surgeons nationally.

This comes as demand for surgeons is projected to increase by 12.8%, while the overall surgeon workforce is expected to decline by 4.2% between 2023 and 2038. The workforce would meet just 84.3% of projected national need.

“Studies usually look at one specialty at a time, so a shortage looks like that specialty’s problem,” said lead author Fernando Ribeiro Duraes, a medical student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

“When you put all 10 specialties together, you can see supply is projected to fall while demand keeps rising, and that the gaps are worse in rural areas. The fixes have to be targeted by specialty and by geography, not incremental.”

Which Specialties Will Face The Biggest Shortages?

Researchers used the Health Workforce Simulation Model (HWSM), a federal model from the US Department of Health and Human Services, to analyze surgeon supply and demand across 10 surgical specialties from 2023 to 2038.

The analysis found that overall surgeon supply is projected to decline 4.2% from 2023 to 2038, while demand is expected to rise 12.8%.

The specialties projected to face the most critical shortages include:

• Vascular surgery — 65.8% of need met
• Ophthalmology — 71.8%
• Thoracic surgery — 73.1%
• Plastic surgery — 74.1%
• Urology — 84.4%
• Otolaryngology — 87.5%
• Orthopedics — 87.9%
• Neurosurgery — 88.7%

Only general surgery, at 91.3% and colorectal surgery, at 98.3%, are projected to remain close to meeting demand.

At the same time, the gaps between surgeon supply and demand are also projected to be greater in rural areas.

What Could This Mean For Patients?

For patients, surgical shortages could mean longer waits for procedures.

Patients may also need to travel farther for medical care, particularly in rural areas where some people may have to drive hours to access treatment.

The researchers said the findings point to the need for targeted workforce policies and geography-focused strategies rather than incremental changes.

Duraes pointed to a proposed bill, H.R. 3890, the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act, as one potential response.

The bill would increase the number of residency positions, which the ACS says has not changed since 1997. It also proposes addressing federal student loan limits and expanding loan-forgiveness programmes to encourage physicians to practise in rural areas.

“The fixes have to be targeted by specialty and by geography” if they are expected to work, Duraes said.

Global Health Workforce Crisis

The US shortage projection comes amid broader concerns about health workforce shortages worldwide.

Nearly one in four doctors globally is older than 55 and could retire within the next decade, according to the World Health Organization’s National Health Workforce Accounts: Health Workforce Levels and Trends 2026.

The report, the first in an annual series providing a global picture of health workforce levels and trends, said ageing among health workers is intensifying shortages in some countries, while population ageing is simultaneously increasing demand for healthcare services.

The global health worker shortage has fallen from 20 million in 2013 to 15 million in 2020. However, newer analysis has revised the projected shortage for 2030 upward to 11.1 million, compared with an earlier estimate of about 10 million.

The Ebola outbreak, declared an emergency in May, continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to the latest update from DRC health authorities, confirmed cases have surpassed 8,000, while the death toll is nearing 4,000.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the outbreak remains large, geographically expanding and marked by sustained transmission.

The DRC “had recorded 8,067 confirmed cases, including 3,901 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 48.4 per cent,” according to the latest government situation report. It has spread to seven health zones.

“The continuously high case fatality ratio, and especially the continuous high rate of deaths occurring in communities, highlights the seriousness of the disease and the persistent challenges in timely case detection and access to early and adequate patient care,” the WHO said in its latest Disease Outbreak News.

However, Dr Janet Diaz of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Program told reporters in Geneva that “we are beginning to see a reduction in transmission in some areas, the number of cases remains high for this outbreak”.

Treatment Delays Remain A Concern

Dr Diaz said that although it is known that “early access to care can significantly improve chances of survival,” “Yet in this outbreak, many people are still dying at home or in their communities because they are unable to reach health facilities on time.”

“Delays in seeking care, together with challenges in access and referral, continue to complicate the response,” she said, adding that WHO and its partners have focused on improving early recognition of illness, rapid referral systems and early supportive care.

“Every patient bed requires a skilled workforce to provide safe, quality care around the clock,” Dr Diaz said.

Oxygen Access A Key Challenge

A key component of supportive care for patients with Ebola, particularly those with severe illness, is oxygen. Yet this life-saving medicine remains “unavailable or unreliable in many health facilities, especially in emergency settings”.

Ensuring access to oxygen requires functioning health systems, reliable infrastructure, trained health workers and sustainable delivery systems “that reach patients wherever they are”.

“Without previous oxygen scale-up efforts in Ebola and Marburg [virus disease] responses, we would not be where we are today in terms of more positive outcomes for patients,” she noted.

Vaccine Trials Underway

While there is currently no approved vaccine against Ebola Bundibugyo virus, vaccine trials are underway.

Clinical trials of specific vaccines and treatments against the Bundibugyo virus are also ongoing. The DRC also received more than 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine last month. Ervebo is approved for protection against the more common Zaire Ebola virus.

DRC’s 17th Ebola Outbreak

The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, was declared by the WHO on May 15. It is the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976.

It is also the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, behind the West African outbreak that lasted from 2014 to 2016.