Singer Jesy Nelson recently shared an emotional update regarding the complications she is experiencing in her pregnancy with twin babies. Former Little Mix singer Jesy, who is having twins with partner Zion Foster, announced that she has been diagnosed with pre-twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (pre-TTTS). The condition, which is present in pregnancies involving twins with a shared placenta, has serious risks involved and needs intense medical supervision. As Nelson embarks on this difficult journey, her story enlightens us about a rare but dangerous condition many expectant parents may not know much about.

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is a rare but dangerous condition that arises in monochorionic twin pregnancies, in which identical twins share a single placenta. The placenta supplies the developing babies with oxygen, nutrients, and blood flow, but in TTTS, there is an imbalance of blood vessels that interconnect the twins, and thus the vital resources are not evenly distributed. One twin, or the donor twin, shares excess blood with the other, referred to as the recipient twin. This leads to one baby becoming malnourished and possibly anemic, and the other in danger of heart problems due to too much blood.

Nelson described her diagnosis in a heartfelt Instagram video, explaining that she is currently in the pre-stage of TTTS and undergoing frequent monitoring. "I am being scanned twice a week, and each time, things have gotten a little worse," she shared, expressing her fears and hopes for the health of her babies.

Potential Risks of TTTS

If left untreated, TTTS can have devastating consequences. Medical research indicates that:

• 90% of the cases of untreated TTTS lead to loss of one or both twins.
• Despite treatment, only a 70% survival rate for both twins is assured.
• Severe forms can result in preterm labor, cardiac failure in the recipient twin, and organ failure in the donor twin.
• Complications in long-term survivors include neurological damage and developmental delay in surviving infants.

TTTS usually advances in stages, beginning with minimal changes in fluid levels and worsening as one twin continues to get an unequal share of blood. In extreme cases, fetal laser surgery, referred to as the Solomon technique, can be employed to divide the blood vessels and balance the twins.

Why Identical Twin Pregnancies Are More Complicated

Identical twins may develop differently, and their own unique form of placental sharing can have a dramatic effect on pregnancy risk. Jesy Nelson's twins are considered monochorionic diamniotic (mono/di), which means they share a placenta but have two amniotic sacs. This is the type of pregnancy in about 70% of identical twin pregnancies and carries an increased risk of complications like TTTS, umbilical cord entanglement, and growth restriction.

Conversely, dichorionic diamniotic (di/di) twins both have a separate placenta and amniotic sac, which greatly diminishes the threat of TTTS. Twin pregnancy type is normally identified by early ultrasound, with physicians being able to track future complications from inception.

Other Twin Pregnancy Health Risks

Twin pregnancies, even without the presence of TTTS, entail a variety of health risks to the mother as well as infants:

1. Premature Birth

Over 60% of twin pregnancies end in premature delivery, with birth usually taking place before 37 weeks. Premature infants can have immature organs and need neonatal intensive care (NICU) assistance to assist with breathing, feeding, and infection fighting.

2. Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia

Pregnant women with multiples are at increased risk of having high blood pressure during pregnancy. This, if left untreated, can result in preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy that can result in damage to organs, preterm labor, and in some cases, maternal or fetal death.

3. Anemia

Pregnant women carrying multiples are twice as likely to experience anemia, a condition where the body does not produce enough healthy red blood cells. This can lead to fatigue, dizziness, and complications during delivery.

4. Birth Defects

According to John Hopkins Medicine, multiple birth babies are twice as likely to have congenital abnormalities compared to single births. These can include heart defects, neural tube defects, and gastrointestinal issues.

5. Amniotic Fluid Imbalances

When twins have to share a placenta, they are more likely to have polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid) or oligohydramnios (not enough amniotic fluid). Both result in distress to the babies during fetal development and can result in premature labor.

6. Postpartum Hemorrhage

Twins are at increased risk of excessive postpartum hemorrhage because their uterus is larger and there are greater blood supply needs.

Jesy Nelson's openness about her challenging experience is raising awareness for TTTS, a condition that few individuals—let alone expectant mothers and fathers—might be aware of. Through her tearful video, Nelson stressed the significance of knowing about twin pregnancies aside from the thrill of having multiples. "We had no idea that this type of thing occurs when you're having twins. We just desperately want to make people aware of this because there are so many people who aren't aware."

Her case reminds us of the intricacies involved in twin pregnancy and the significance of early identification and medical management. For mothers carrying twins, frequent ultrasounds and vigilance can become a life-and-death issue for early detection and better outcomes of both babies.

Through constant medical attention and care, she and her partner Zion Foster remain positive and get ready for their babies to be born. In other parents whose situations are no different, the story of Nelson highlights awareness, medical progress, and emotional encouragement in handling complicated pregnancies.

The expecting parents of twin siblings are advised to discuss TTTS screening and possible interventions with their physicians to give their babies the best chance.

Scientists have discovered an Achilles' heel that helps some of the most aggressive cancers escape treatment. The discovery that could pave the way for new targeted therapies against specific drug-resistant tumours.

Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore, identified a protein called TEX264 that enables cancer cells to escape the therapeutic effects of a widely used class of targeted cancer drugs known as PARP inhibitors. The study is published in Nature Cell Biology.

What Does This Mean For Drug-Resistant Cancers?

The findings could have positive implications for patients with triple-negative breast cancer, as well as ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers that are treated with PARP inhibitors. These cancers eventually become resistant to the drugs.

"Our findings have identified a new biological process involving TEX264 as a key mechanism of drug resistance in an aggressive form of cancer," said Professor Kristijan Ramadan, who led the research. "We coined this new biological mechanism 'autophagy of DNA lesions', or simply 'nucleophagy'. This makes TEX264 a potential target for future cancer therapies."

Also read: Don't Fear The Biopsy, Fear The Delay

How Do Some Cancers Escape Treatment?

PARP inhibitors work by blocking PARP1, a protein that repairs damaged DNA inside cancer cells. Without this repair system, tumour cells accumulate DNA damage and die. However, many cancers eventually become resistant to this treatment.

The researchers discovered that TEX264 helps remove trapped PARP1 proteins from damaged DNA through a newly identified clean-up process called nucleophagy, allowing cancer cells to continue repairing themselves and escape the treatment. This is the cellular recycling system that makes cancer resistant to treatments.

When scientists blocked TEX264 in experiments, PARP1 remained stuck on DNA, DNA damage accumulated, and the cancer cells became far more vulnerable to therapy.

Also read: US FDA Approves New Blood Test To Screen For Colorectal Cancer

What Are PARP Inhibitors?

They are approved for several cancers, including ovarian, breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancer.

While many patients initially respond well, resistance develops in an estimated 40% to 70% of breast and ovarian cancer cases.

Also read: Scientists Find Rare Contagious Skin Cancer In Fish From US, Canada: Should Humans Worry?

Importance Of This Study

Instead of targeting the DNA repair machinery directly, the new study targets an entirely different weak spot, the cellular cycle that cancer cells exploit to discard damaged repair proteins.

Researchers believe drugs that inhibit TEX264 or block nucleophagy could potentially restore the effectiveness of existing PARP inhibitors, offering a new targeted treatment strategy for patients whose cancers no longer respond to therapy.

The researchers caution that the findings are currently based on laboratory studies, and more research, including clinical trials, will be needed before therapies targeting TEX264 can reach patients.

The promising results adds to growing efforts worldwide to overcome one of oncology's biggest challenges: preventing cancers from evolving resistance to life-saving treatments.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its treatment guidelines for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), commonly known as kala-azar, and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL).

Through this update, WHO is recommending shorter, safer and more patient-friendly treatments that could improve outcomes for thousands of patients across eastern Africa and South-East Asia.

The revised guidance marks the first major update in nearly two decades for these forms of leishmaniasis.

It introduces new treatment options, including the use of oral miltefosine in combination therapies, reducing the need for long courses of painful daily injections.

What Is PKDL?

Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a skin condition that appears months or years after a patient recovers from visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar or black fever, is a life-threatening parasitic disease caused by Leishmania. It is spread by infected female sandflies. It attacks internal organs like the spleen and liver and is almost always fatal if left untreated.

In post-kala-azar, while patients usually feel well, they develop patches, papules or nodules on the skin that harbour the parasite. This allows sandflies to transmit the infection to others.

Early diagnosis and effective treatment of PKDL are therefore considered essential for interrupting transmission and elimination of kala-azar.

Also read: Uganda Declared Ebola-Free As Congo Outbreak Grows To 3,262 Cases, 1,437 Deaths

About The New Treatment Guidelines

WHO now recommends a 14-day regimen combining oral miltefosine with once-daily paromomycin injections for patients with primary visceral leishmaniasis in eastern Africa.

The new approach replaces older sodium stibogluconate-based regimens that required 17 days of treatment, 34 injections, which were often associated with toxicity.

The guidelines also introduce shorter treatment options for PKDL. For patients in eastern Africa and South-East Asia, WHO recommends new combination treatments that substantially shorten duration. It also allows part of the therapy to be completed at home.

Dr Daniel Ngamije Madandi, WHO Director of Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, "For too long, patients suffering from leishmaniasis have endured treatments nearly as punishing as the disease itself. By recommending safer, shorter and more patient-friendly regimens, we are not just improving care; we are accelerating our fight to eliminate this devastating disease and offering renewed hope to communities across Africa and Asia."

Also read: Ebola Scare In The UK After Humanitarian Worker Monitored In London Hospital; Here's what Happened

Milestone In PKDL Treatment

The updated recommendations also revise the safety guidance for miltefosine in line with advice from the WHO Advisory Committee on the Safety of Medicinal Products and introduce allometric dosing to help optimise treatment across different body weights.

Kala-azar is one of the world's deadliest parasitic diseases after malaria. According to WHO, eastern Africa accounted for nearly 79% of global visceral leishmaniasis cases in 2024, with around half of patients being children under the age of 15.

Transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies, it causes prolonged fever, weight loss, anaemia and enlargement of the spleen and liver. If left untreated, the disease is fatal in up to 95% of cases.

Maharashtra Food And Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a significant step towards promoting healthy eating habits in children. On Wednesday, FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe announced that foods and drinks high in fat, sugar, and salt should not be sold within 50 metres of school premises.

"Within school premises and up to 50 metres from the school compound, the sale, advertisement and free distribution of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) food items is completely banned by the FDA. It will be implemented strictly," Mundhe said.

Why Did Maharashtra FDA Ban The Sale Of HFSS Food Items?

HFSS food items could neither be sold, advertised, nor distributed free of cost within the prescribed limits around schools in Maharashtra anymore.

The recent ban covers popular junk food items like vada pav, samosas, deep-fried snacks, chips, cold drinks, sugary beverages, chocolates and ice cream.

Mundhe said the state government had issued a compliance order on July 27 to enforce food safety and nutritional standards across educational institutions.

He also said that the move would affect nearly two crore students studying in around 1.08 lakh schools in Maharashtra.

The guidelines would apply to all government, government-aided and private schools affiliated to any education board, meaning that no educational institution would be exempt from the ban.

Also read: No More 'Buy 1 Get 1 Free': After UK, Northern Ireland Restricts Promotion Of Unhealthy Foods To Tackle Obesity

He also said that canteens, midday meal kitchens, food suppliers and hostel kitchens catering to schools must obtain mandatory registration and licenses under food safety regulations.

He added, "No organisation or institution can prepare or supply food to schools, hostels or under the midday meal scheme without registration and a valid license to operate."

He said school principals, headmasters and local authorities would play a key role in implementing the restrictions.

According to the guidelines, the move is applicable for children from 22 months of age up to students studying in Class 12.

Experts React

Also read: Nearly 1.6 Million Dozen Eggs Recalled in US Over Potential Salmonella Contamination: FDA

HealthandMe spoke to Dr Rahul Verma, Director of Paediatrics and Neonatology at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, about the impact this move would have on children's health.

Dr Verma says that rather than viewing the decision only as a ban on junk food, it should be seen as an attempt to reshape children's food environment.

He says, "When healthier choices become the default in schools, children are more likely to develop better eating habits that can continue into adulthood. Reaching over 1.08 lakh schools and nearly 2 crore students from preschool to Class 12 gives this initiative the potential to influence an entire generation at a stage when lifelong dietary preferences are still being formed."

He also said that the policy also goes beyond simply removing HFSS foods. By making FSSAI licensing mandatory for school canteens, introducing regular compliance checks, and encouraging the inclusion of nutritious foods such as fruits, pulses, and whole grains, it creates a structured system that supports healthier eating rather than relying on restrictions alone.

In an X post, Dr. Sivaranjini, a pediatrician, suggested a different approach which seems to be a much simpler way of differentiating between healthy and unhealthy foods.

She wrote, " Front-of-pack label (FOPL) warnings are the simplest and most effective way to help people make better food choices in India. A clear “High in Sugar” or “High in Salt” or "High in Fat" warning takes seconds to understand. No calculations. No nutrition knowledge. Just a simple signal that says, 'Think twice'".

The doctor says that unhealthy, processed foods are often marketed as healthy due to misleading labels and claims on their packaging.

She added, "The problem with systems like Nutri-Score or Health Star Ratings is that they average everything into one score. A product loaded with sugar can still look “healthy” because it has added protein, fiber, or vitamins."

Providing real-life examples, she informed, "A sugary breakfast cereal still gets HIGH IN SUGAR, even if fibre and vitamins are added to it. An instant noodle high in sodium still gets HIGH IN SODIUM even if protein and vitamins are added to it. A packaged fruit juice with excessive free sugars still gets HIGH IN SUGAR, though it's directly from the fruit."

Although the move is a positive step towards protecting children's health, sustained success will depend on whether healthy food remains accessible, affordable, and appealing to children. If children continue to consume highly processed foods outside school or at home, the long-term benefits may be limited.