“I'm not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?”

This is what ‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry’s character Chandler Bing was known for. He was known for being funny. However, he had his own struggles in his personal life and those struggles were acute depression. He was treating it with ketamine infusion therapy which is legal in the US and the UK.

What is Ketamine infusion therapy?

Ketamine is an anaesthetic used to treat depression, anxiety and pain under supervised and controlled medical settings. However, it does have its side effects, which can lead to distortion of sight, sound and time. It can also produce calming and relaxing effects.

Ketamine increases a person’s heart rate and blood pressure. If overdosed, it can leave users confused and agitated and can cause them to hurt themselves without even realising it. It can also lead to liver damage and bladder problems.

However, when used in moderation and under the supervision of medical doctors, it can treat depression where traditional antidepressants have failed.

Prof Rupert McShane, a University of Oxford psychiatrist who runs an NHS ketamine treatment clinic told BBC that ketamine “probably turns off the area of the brain that is involved in disappointment.”

Can Ketamine Infusion Therapy Kill Someone?

In simple terms, it cannot, be if the dosage is given in a controlled setting and as prescribed. Ketamine infusion therapy uses drugs in small doses than those used for anaesthesia. It acts faster than traditional anti-depressants, but the effects also wear off way quickly. Which is why it is important to monitor patients’ mental state for relapsing back into depression and discouraging them from overdosing on it.

There are ways of giving people ketamine. One of the ways is through “infusing”, which means to use an IV drip. However, injections, nasal sprays and capsules are also methods used to give people ketamine.

Since the dosage of ketamine used in the infusion treatment is small, it being the reason of actor Perry’s death was ruled out. The medical examiner also noted that Perry’s last ketamine infusion therapy session happened more than a week before his death, which means by the time he had died, it must have worn off.

So, What Happened To Perry?

Though Perry’s last session was more than a week before, his post-mortem showed that his blood contained a high concentration of ketamine. He had died of the “acute effects” of ketamine.

If it was not his session, then how did he get ketamine?

Prosecutors alleged that his assistant gave him at least 27 shots of ketamine in four days before his death, reported BBC.

Perry has been open about his personal struggles and this is what the doctors and dealers used against him. Martin Estrada, the US attorney for California’s Central District told the BBC that people took advantage of his condition. They charged him 165 times more than what vials of ketamine cost.

Names that have come up include Dr Salvador Plasencia, drug dealers “Ketamine Queen” aka Jasveen Sangha and Eric Fleming, and Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa.

Who Are These Names And What Did They Do?

Ketamine Queen or Sangha supplied drugs that led to Perry’s death. Her home was a “drug-selling emporium,” said Estrada. More than 80 vials of ketamine, and thousands of pills including methamphetamine, cocaine and Xanax were allegedly found in her house known as the “Sangha Stash House.”

Sangha is known to deal with high-end celebs and was a “major source of supply for ketamine to others as well as Perry,” said Estrada.

Dr Plasencia called Perry a “moron” while charging him $2,000 for vials that cost only $12. He sold Perry 20 vials of ketamine between September and October 2023, costing $55,000.

He was the one who taught Iwamasa, who had no medical knowledge to inject the drug. This is after he knew that “Perry’s ketamine addiction was spiralling out of control,” as per what the investigators told the BBC.

Another dealer Fleming was told by Sangha to “delete all our messages.” While Fleming pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute drugs unlawfully, he also allegedly messaged Sangha: “Please call...Got more info and want to bounce ideas off you. I’m 90% sure everyone is protected. I never dealt with [Perry] only his assistant. So the assistant was the enabler.”

The court documents also revealed that he asked Sangha on whether the ketamine stays in your system or “is it immediately flushed out.”

Dr Pepper, Bots, Cans

The people who allegedly exploited Perry used coded language for ketamine and called it “Dr Pepper”, “bots”, or “cans.”

Selling overpriced drugs, taking advantage of Perry’s mental condition and falsifying medical records to make the drugs given to him look legitimate by Dr Plasencia is what took Perry’s life.

Iwamasa is said to have administered more than 20 shots of ketamine and three on the day Perry died. Whereas ketamine is only administered by a physician. Authorities also found that weeks before Perry’s death, Dr Plasencia allegedly bought 10 vials of ketamine and intended to sell to Perry.

He also injected Perry with a large dose, two days later. This caused him to “freeze up” and spiked his blood pressure.

When I Die, I Want Helping Others To Be The First Thing That’s Mentioned

Perry had always been open about his drug addictions, struggles with alcohol and his depression. He said that his openness would help others who are also struggling and wanted to be remembered by his quote which also is on the homepage of the Mattew Perry Foundation that helps others struggling with the disease of addiction: “When I die, I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned.”

Five arrests have been made in the case so far.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have uncovered how an experimental vaccine booster molecule activates the body's immune system, a breakthrough that could help researchers develop safer and more effective vaccines in the future.

The study, published this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), provides the first detailed structural view of how a synthetic molecule called EP67 binds to and activates an important immune receptor known as C5aR1. The findings offer researchers a molecular blueprint for improving vaccine adjuvants, the ingredients added to vaccines to strengthen and prolong immune protection.

Unlike vaccines, which train the immune system to recognize a specific pathogen, adjuvants help amplify the body's immune response, making vaccines more effective.

Inspired By The Body's Natural Immune System

Also read: US Reports 2,260 Measles Cases In Just Over Six Months Of 2026: CDC

The researchers developed EP67 by taking inspiration from C5a, a naturally occurring immune protein released during bacterial and viral infections. While C5a helps activate immune cells to fight infections, prolonged activation can trigger harmful inflammation and damage healthy tissues.

To overcome this challenge, the IIT Kanpur team engineered EP67, a much smaller version consisting of just 10 amino acids.

The molecule retains the beneficial immune-stimulating properties of C5a while limiting the inflammatory effects. According to the researchers, EP67 selectively activates dendritic cells and macrophages, two immune cells that play a central role in generating long-lasting immunity, while largely avoiding activation of neutrophils, immune cells that are often responsible for excessive inflammatory responses.

This selective activation makes EP67 a promising candidate as a vaccine adjuvant capable of producing stronger immune protection without triggering inflammation.

Earlier Studies

Previous animal studies have shown the potential of EP67 in boosting vaccine responses.

When incorporated into experimental vaccines against multiple viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, mice developed stronger immune responses than those receiving vaccines alone. Researchers also observed faster recovery in infected animals.

Beyond vaccines, EP67 has also shown promise against bacterial infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a major antibiotic-resistant pathogen.

However, the molecule has not yet entered clinical use in humans, and additional preclinical research will be required before human trials can begin.

Although scientists had previously observed EP67's immune-boosting effects, precisely how the molecule worked remained vague for a long time.

The IIT Kanpur researchers found that EP67 binds to C5aR1, a receptor located on the surface of immune cells. C5aR1 belongs to the large family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are involved in transmitting signals into cells and are among the most common targets for modern medicines.

Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), the team captured near-atomic-resolution images showing EP67 adopting a hook-like shape that fits into the centre of the receptor, switching it on and initiating immune activation.

The structural insights have already enabled researchers to redesign EP67 by modifying its amino acid sequence to improve its stability and receptor binding. The next steps would be refining the formulation and introducing it in pre-clinical tests.

People living with Type 2 diabetes may be significantly more vulnerable to severe, potentially life-threatening complications from dengue, according to a new review by diabetes specialists.

The paper, presented in July 2026 and slated for publication in the International Journal of Diabetes & Technology (IJDT), also recommends combining dengue vaccination into routine diabetes care in dengue-endemic regions to better protect patients who are at high risk.

The review comes as many countries, including India, continue to witness surges in dengue cases during the monsoon months.

Can Type 2 Diabetes Make Dengue More Severe?

Also read: Will Waterborne Diseases Rise In The Future? New Study Says Climate Change Could Be A Major Driver

According to the researchers, chronic high blood sugar weakens the immune system and damages blood vessels, making it harder for the body to fight dengue infection.

It increases the risk of vascular leakage, severe bleeding, organ damage, and other complications associated with severe dengue.

The review notes that diabetes contributes to chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and impaired immune responses, all of which may worsen the course of dengue infection.

The researchers argue that dengue prevention should become part of routine diabetes management in countries where dengue is endemic. Lead author Dr. Jothydev Kesavadev, diabetologist, said, "People with Type 2 diabetes represent a particularly vulnerable group during dengue outbreaks.

Preventive strategies, including vaccination where appropriate, should become an integral part of diabetes care to reduce severe illness and deaths."

The review was co-authored by several diabetes specialists from across India, including Dr. Niti Pall, President-Elect of the International Diabetes Federation Europe.

It was presented during the 14th Jothydev's Professional Education Forum Annual Global Diabetes Convention in Kovalam, Kerala, and its publication was formally released by Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan.

Earlier Research

Also read: DengiAll, India's First Dengue Vaccine Clears Phase III Trials, May Soon Enter Markets

While the current paper is a review rather than a new clinical trial, it is supported by a growing body of evidence. A 2024 review published in Health Science Reports found that diabetes is significantly associated with severe dengue, death, elevated liver enzymes, and thrombocytopenia.

Similarly, a 2025 review in the International Health journal concluded that accumulating evidence increasingly supports diabetes as an important comorbidity contributing to poor dengue outcomes.

Should People With Diabetes Receive The Recently Approved Dengue Vaccine?

Also read: India’s First Approved Dengue Vaccine: Takeda’s QDENGA Protects Against All Four Virus Serotypes

The findings come as India recently approved its first dengue vaccine, QDENGA (TAK-003). The vaccination should follow national guidelines and individual medical advice. Experts emphasize that vaccination complements, rather than replaces, mosquito bite prevention measures.

QDENGA (TAK-003) is a live-attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine designed to protect against all four dengue virus serotypes.

It is administered as two 0.5 mL subcutaneous doses, given three months apart.

The vaccine is built on a DENV-2 backbone, incorporating structural proteins from DENV-1, DENV-3 and DENV-4 to provide broad immune protection.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends QDENGA for use in dengue-endemic settings without the need for pre-vaccination screening. The vaccine is also included in the WHO List of Prequalified Vaccines, allowing procurement through agencies such as UNICEF and PAHO.

Precautions

Experts recommend that people with diabetes:

• Maintain good blood sugar control.
• Avoid mosquito bites by using repellents, long-sleeved clothing, and eliminating stagnant water around homes.
• Seek medical attention immediately if dengue symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, bleeding, or rash develop.
• Discuss dengue vaccination with their healthcare provider if they live in an endemic region and are eligible under national recommendations.

A common antidepressant may help millions of people living with long COVID, according to a major international clinical trial that found the medication significantly reduced persistent fatigue, one of the condition's most debilitating symptoms.

The findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggest that fluvoxamine, an selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), could become one of the first evidence-backed treatments specifically targeting long COVID-related fatigue.

Fatigue Due To Long COVID

Even after completely recovering from COVID-19 infection, millions continue to experience long COVID, a condition that causes symptoms that last for months or even years.

Fatigue is among the most common complaints, often accompanied by brain fog, poor concentration, sleep disturbances and reduced quality of life.

Despite the growing burden, there are currently no widely accepted drug treatments for long COVID fatigue, making the new findings particularly significant.

Also read: COVID-19 In India: Omicron RF.5 Primarily Affects Throat, Unlikely To Trigger Pneumonia In Healthy People, Say Experts

What Did The Study Find?

Researchers conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 399 adults in Brazil who had experienced long COVID symptoms for at least 90 days after their initial infection. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either:

• Fluvoxamine
• Metformin
• Placebo

After treatment and follow-up, patients taking fluvoxamine reported significantly lower fatigue scores compared with those receiving placebo. Improvements were observed within the first month and became more pronounced after 60 days. Participants also reported having a better quality of life.

On the other hand, Metformin did not show a meaningful benefit for long COVID fatigue in this trial. Serious adverse events were rare, and fluvoxamine was generally well tolerated.

Also read: India Logs 339 COVID-19 Cases In First Half Of July: What To Know About The RF.5 Omicron Subvariant

About Fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine is commonly used to treat depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Scientists believe its benefits in long COVID may extend beyond its antidepressant effects.

The drug is thought to reduce inflammation and influence immune signaling through activation of the sigma-1 receptor, a protein involved in regulating inflammatory responses and cellular stress. These mechanisms have also made fluvoxamine a subject of previous COVID-19 treatment research.

Researchers caution, however, that the exact biological mechanism behind its effect on long COVID fatigue remains under investigation.

Lead investigator Dr. Gilmar Reis of Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais said the findings represent an important step toward treating one of long COVID's most persistent symptoms. "This trial gives clinicians their first strong evidence for a medication that helps reduce long COVID fatigue."

Senior author Dr. Edward Mills, professor at McMaster University, said, "This is an important step forward for patients who have been desperate for evidence-based options."

While researchers describe the results as encouraging, they stress that fluvoxamine should not be started without medical supervision.

Long COVID Affects Millions

Because fluvoxamine is already widely available, inexpensive and familiar to physicians, experts say positive findings from this trial could help future research and influence treatment strategies if it fairs well in larger studies.

Researchers describe the study as one of the strongest pieces of evidence that a medication can effectively reduce long COVID fatigue, offering hope for patients who have been struggling.