Pope Francis injured his right arm after suffering a fall earlier this week. According to the Vatican, while the 88-year-old pontiff did not break his arm, a sling was put on as a precaution. This incident comes just weeks after another fall on December 7, where he hit his chin on a nightstand, resulting in another, visible bruise. The pope's health has been a topic of ongoing speculation due to his age and medical history, which includes long bouts of bronchitis and mobility challenges. Often seen using a wheelchair or a cane, Francis also uses a walker within the Vatican's Santa Marta hotel, where he resides. Notably, his frailty has brought renewed attention to the risks of falls among elderly individuals and the steps one must follow to mitigate such falls.

Preventive Measures For Bone Health

A study published in Frontiers in Aging Neurosciences people get older, the bone density in the lower back and thigh bone decreases significantly. This raises the risk of osteoporosis (OP). Therefore it becomes pivotal to pay early attention to nutrition, exercise ability, vitamin D levels, and uric acid levels in older individuals to prevent Ostreopsis and mitigate fall risks. The risk of falls and bone injuries among elderly individuals underscores the importance of preventive measures for maintaining bone health and minimizing fall risks.

Elderly, particularly menopausal women, require a daily calcium intake of 1,200 mg, divided into two or more doses. This can be achieved through dietary sources such as dairy and non-dairy products or through supplements like calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. However, total daily calcium intake should not exceed 2,500 mg to avoid potential health risks.

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone mineralization. While sunlight exposure helps synthesize vitamin D, older individuals often require supplements due to reduced skin synthesis and the limited availability of foods. Fortified milk and supplements containing 200–600 IU of vitamin D daily are recommended, with higher doses required for those with deficiencies. Severe cases may necessitate high-dose treatments, such as 50,000 IU weekly for up to three months, along with regular monitoring of calcium and vitamin D levels.

Regular exercise is vital for preserving bone mass and reducing fall risk. Weight-bearing activities, strength training, and balance exercises like brisk walking or skipping can enhance bone density and improve coordination. Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week, supplemented by strength training twice weekly. For individuals unable to engage in standard exercise routines, alternatives like vibrating platforms may help maintain bone health.

Falls remain a leading cause of fractures among individuals over 60. Addressing contributing factors such as balance issues, vision problems, and environmental hazards can significantly reduce risks. Preventive measures include regular vision checks, minimizing medications causing dizziness, improving home safety (e.g., installing railings and removing loose rugs), and wearing rubber-soled footwear. Hip protectors may also help mitigate the impact of falls.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has flagged misleading claims by food business operators (FBOs) on products including coconut oil, energy drinks and baby food.

The claims include “100%” on coconut oil and “Energy Drink” on a caffeinated beverage, as well as claims around immunity, growth, digestion and nutrition in baby food. The regulator also flagged health and nutrient-comparison claims.

Companies Take Corrective Action

In a social media post, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said that “major food business operators (FBOs) have taken prompt corrective action” following notices issued by the regulator.

The corrective measures include withdrawing misleading label claims and revising product packaging.

Companies Flagged

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Mondelez India

Mondelez India Foods Pvt Ltd was flagged over misleading health and nutrient-comparative claims. It subsequently withdrew the claims and advertisements from e-commerce platforms.

Sapiens Labs

Sapiens Labs was flagged over a misleading claim and, after submitting its response, withdrew the claim and advertisements.

Vichi Agro

Vichi Agro Products Pvt Ltd, along with the concerned packer, was flagged over a misleading trade name and deleted the product from its platform.

Amway India

Amway India Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Delhi, was flagged over the use of “100%” in the name “100% Pure Coconut Oil”. The company said it had voluntarily removed the term from packaging and promotional material and discontinued old stock from sales channels.

Revised packaging without the claim has been finalized and is being rolled out progressively from September to October 2026.

Amway India was also flagged separately over the use of the term “Energy Drink” on a caffeinated beverage.

The company accepted the observation and removed the term from its product range, website and promotional material. Updated packaging is to be introduced from the production cycle beginning August 2026.

Juza Foods

Kerala-based Juza Foods was flagged over multiple claims for its baby food products. These included claims relating to nutrition, immunity, growth, digestion and nutrient content, besides comparisons with other milk powders.

The company acknowledged the violations and agreed to remove the misleading claims.

It also said its selling website had been shut and rectification completed, while steps were being taken for license-related changes and an e-commerce license.

FSSAI Issues More Than 150 Notices

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The action is part of a wider drive in which FSSAI has issued more than 150 notices to food companies over misleading advertisements, false claims and labelling violations.

Nestlé India, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola India, Abbott India, Red Bull India, Danone India, Monster Energy India, Ferrero India and Kenvue are among the companies named by the regulator.

FSSAI has also widened enforcement to e-commerce platforms and food-service establishments, issuing 12 notices to e-commerce companies and more than 30 to food-service establishments, including major restaurant chains.

The regulator’s latest action underlines its focus on ensuring that food claims are substantiated and do not mislead consumers. The challenge, however, will be to ensure sustained compliance after companies withdraw or modify the claims.

Particulate matter sized under 2.5 microns or 0.0025 millimeters (PM2.5) accounted for the largest share of air pollution-induced cancer cases worldwide, according to a new study.

The study, published in the journal Nature Health, showed that PM2.5 was attributable to 8.82 million of the 109 million cancer cases identified between 2000 and 2020. PM2.5 exposure was the dominant contributor to cancers of the respiratory, reproductive and endocrine systems.

What Did The Study Find?

Ambient air pollution is known to pose a global threat to public health. Although the carcinogenic potential of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a growing concern, comprehensive global assessments of their cancer risks remain limited.

The study, led by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, evaluated the effects of long-term exposure to PM2.5, O3 and NO2 on cancer incidence and quantified their attributable burdens worldwide, encompassing 109 million cases from 952 locations between 2000 and 2020.

The results identified PM2.5 as the dominant contributor. The researchers found that globally, each 10 microgram per cubic meter increase in PM2.5, ozone and nitrogen dioxide levels was associated with an increased risk of cancer by 16 per cent, 4.23 per cent and 11.7 per cent, respectively.

Exposure to nitrogen dioxide was attributable to 6.67 million incident cases, while exposure to ozone was attributable to about 2.6 million incident cases during the study period. Women were found to be consistently more vulnerable to most malignancies.

PM2.5 Linked to Cancers Beyond the Lungs

The study also showed that PM2.5-related cancer-inducing gene mutations extend beyond the respiratory system, particularly to cancers of the thyroid, esophagus, colon and rectum, and breast.

Further, each 10 microgram per cubic meter increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 17.9 per cent higher risk of kidney cancer and a 21.1 per cent higher risk of bladder cancer.

Biologically, PM2.5 exerts broad cancer-related impacts, possibly due to its small size and its ability to drive multiple processes, including systemic oxidative stress, DNA damage and immune dysregulation, the researchers said.

Study Uses Global Cancer Data

The study uses high-quality, globally representative cancer datasets involving populations from low-, middle- and high-income countries and therefore ensures generalizability of the findings, the researchers said.

"These findings provide critical impetus for public health policy initiatives aimed at mitigating the global cancer burden,” said the researchers in the paper.

Air Pollution and Cancer Risk

According to WHO data, almost all of the global population (99%) breathe air that exceeds WHO guideline limits and contains high levels of pollutants, with low- and middle-income countries suffering from the highest exposures.

In 2016, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified outdoor (ambient) air pollution as a Group 1 carcinogen, primarily linked to lung cancer.

As per an April 2026 study by The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the risks associated with air pollution are similar to those caused by smoking tobacco. Exposure to air pollution can lead to cancer, stroke, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and other health issues.

Beyond lung cancers, air pollution has been linked to breast, colorectal, liver, kidney, brain, cervical and ovarian cancers, as well as childhood leukaemia.

Studies also suggest that long-term exposure to high levels of PM2.5 may be associated with a 21% increase in the risk of dying from cancer, and new evidence suggests that the risk of dying from air pollution exposure is increased for lung, breast, liver, colorectal and kidney cancers.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tivicay PD tablets for oral suspension (dolutegravir) to treat HIV infection in babies.

Developed by ViiV Healthcare, Tivicay and Tivicay PD were previously approved for adults and children older than four weeks.

Now, Tivicay PD has been approved for newborns from birth up to four weeks of age weighing at least 2 kg, in combination with other antiretroviral agents.

How Does Tivicay Work?

Tivicay and Tivicay PD contain dolutegravir, an integrase strand transfer inhibitor used in combination with other antiretroviral agents to treat HIV.

Integrase inhibitors inhibit HIV integrase by binding to the integrase active site and blocking the strand transfer step of retroviral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) integration, which is essential for the HIV replication cycle.

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What’s The Evidence For Tivicay PD In Newborns?

The FDA approval was based on data from the IMPAACT 2023 study, in which 48 newborns exposed to HIV-1 and weighing at least 2 kg received Tivicay PD from birth for up to six weeks, in combination with standard-of-care antiretroviral medications to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission.

The newborns were followed for 16 weeks. Results showed that Tivicay PD drug levels in newborns were similar to those associated with efficacy in adults.

Importantly, the drug’s safety profile in newborns was also similar to that observed in older pediatric and adult patients.

FDA Priority Review

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In June, the FDA accepted a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for Tivicay PD that would extend its use to newborns from birth. The agency granted the application Priority Review with a PDUFA action date of August 25, 2026.

"Early HIV treatment can help shape a child's future, yet newborns have historically had the fewest age-appropriate treatment options," said Jean van Wyk, chief medical officer at ViiV Healthcare, at the time.

Who Should Avoid Tivicay or Tivicay PD?

Patients should not receive Tivicay or Tivicay PD if they have had previous allergic reactions to the drug or if they are also receiving dofetilide.

Serious allergic reactions have been reported. Patients should be monitored for liver damage. Immune reconstitution syndrome has also been reported in patients treated with combination antiretroviral therapy.

Taking Tivicay or Tivicay PD with certain other medications may cause the drug to stop working against HIV or lead to serious side effects. Patients or their caregivers should tell their healthcare provider about all medications they are taking before starting Tivicay or Tivicay PD.

Tivicay tablets and Tivicay PD tablets for oral suspension are not substitutable on a milligram-per-milligram basis.

What Is HIV?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the body's immune system, increasing the chances of developing serious infections or cancer. Without treatment, HIV can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

There is no cure for HIV, but prevention and treatment options are available.

Preventing Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission

Pediatric HIV remains a global issue, with children disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. The latest statistics show there are 1.7 million children living with HIV, and the majority of AIDS-related deaths among children still occur during the first five years of life.

Major obstacles persist for children, such as continued mother-to-child transmission, the availability of HIV testing, slow initiation of treatment, and poor availability of optimized pediatric formulations of antiretrovirals, according to UNAIDS.

An HIV-positive mother can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding, but proper medical care lowers this risk to less than 1%.