Singer Jesy Nelson Breaks Down Over Terrifying Pregnancy Complications- Why Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Is So Dangerous?

Updated Mar 7, 2025 | 01:00 AM IST

SummaryTwin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a rare pregnancy complication in identical twins sharing a placenta, causing uneven blood flow, which can lead to severe health risks or fatal outcomes if untreated.
Singer Jesy Nelson Breaks Down Over Terrifying Pregnancy Complications- Why Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Is So Dangerous

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.

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Stopping Mounjaro & Zepbound May Trigger Hallucinations, Mania & Other Psychiatric Symptoms

Updated Nov 12, 2026 | 10:18 AM IST

SummaryA couple of recent cases describe two elderly men who stopped taking Mounjaro and Zepbound faced unusual psychiatric symptoms like hallucinations, mania and erractic behaviour.
Stopping GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs May Trigger Hallucinations, Mania & Other Psychiatric Symptoms

Credit: AI

Regaining weight is one of common effects of stopping GLP-1 treatment for obesity. But apart from this, users have reported unusual side effects like hair fall, vision loss and even psychiatric symptoms.

According to two case reports published in the Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders, stopping GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may ensue serious psychiatric symptoms in some patients like hallucinations, paranoia, mania and severe depression.

The reports describe two men who developed acute psychiatric symptoms after abruptly discontinuing tirzepatide, sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound. Both patients needed hospitalisation and psychiatric treatment.

The latest findings raise questions about the possible psychiatric effects of stopping GLP-1 medicines on the brain.

What Happened To The Two Patients?

Also read: Semaglutide May Lower Fetal Oxygen Levels During Pregnancy, Sheep Study Finds

The first case involved a 61-year-old man with a history of depression who stopped taking tirzepatide in August 2025 because of nausea.

Around two months later, he was hospitalised with worsening confusion and erratic behaviour. He experienced paranoia, auditory and visual hallucinations, and Cotard's delusion, a rare condition in which a person believes they are dead or no longer exist.

Medical investigations, including brain imaging, an electroencephalogram and tests of cerebrospinal fluid, did not identify a clear explanation for his symptoms. He received antipsychotic medication along with his existing antidepressant treatment.

Although his psychotic symptoms initially improved, he was readmitted weeks later with severe depression and catatonic features, a condition involving symptoms like reduced movement, unresponsiveness and difficulty communicating. He subsequently required electroconvulsive therapy.

The second case involved a 52-year-old man with a history of anxiety who abruptly stopped tirzepatide in September 2025 after losing approximately 100 pounds (45 kg) over six months.

About a month later, he developed significant mood and behavioural changes, including irritability, impulsivity, grandiosity and rapid, disorganised speech. Doctors diagnosed a manic episode. He was treated with an antipsychotic and transferred for psychiatric care.

Can Stopping GLP-1 Drugs Affect Mental Health?

Also read: Stopping Ozempic or Wegovy May Double Your Risk Of Heart Attack, Death

GLP-1 receptors are found not only in the digestive system but also in the brain, including regions involved in appetite, reward processing and mood regulation.

GLP-1 medicines influence these regions, which may partly explain why researchers are investigating their effects on mental health.

The authors of the case reports suggest that abruptly stopping the medication could contribute to sudden changes in mood or behaviour in certain vulnerable individuals. They also point towards dopamine signalling and neuroinflammatory processes.

However, researchers could not establish that withdrawal from tirzepatide was responsible for the psychiatric symptoms.

Both patients had pre-existing mental health conditions, which may have contributed to their symptoms. The second patient also had low vitamin B12 levels and increased marijuana use before developing symptoms.

The authors described the psychiatric symptoms after discontinuation of medication as “an underrecognized clinical phenomenon” and called for further research.

GLP-1 Drugs & Psychiatric Symptoms

The case reports do not mean that GLP-1 medicines cause psychosis, mania or other psychiatric disorders when stopped.

In January 2026, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said its review of 91 clinical trials involving more than 107,000 participants found no increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviour with GLP-1 medicines.

It also found no increased risk of other psychiatric adverse events, including anxiety, depression, irritability and psychosis, compared to placebo.

However, that assessment primarily examined risks associated with taking the medicines. It does not settle the question of whether abrupt discontinuation could be linked with psychiatric symptoms in a small, vulnerable group.

The findings, however, indicate that patients should not stop GLP-1 treatment without discussing it with their healthcare provider. People may discontinue these medicines because of side effects, cost, access problems or other reasons, but a clinician can help change treatment plans.

Anyone experiencing new symptoms like confusion, hallucinations, extreme mood changes, paranoia or unusual behaviour after stopping a GLP-1 medication should seek urgent medical intervention.

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New Blood Test May Detect Ovarian Cancer Long Before Tumour Develops: How Does It Work?

Updated Nov 12, 2026 | 08:49 AM IST

SummaryA new study led by Hoag Family Cancer Institute in California identified a new blood test that could spot early signs of ovarian cancer by flagging a a certain type of molecule related to cancer.
New Blood Test May Detect Ovarian Cancer Long Before Tumour Develops: How Does It Work?

Credit: AI-generated image

A new blood test may help identify microscopic precancerous changes linked to ovarian cancer before a tumour develops, according to a study published in Nature Medicine. Researchers found that the test could detect a molecular signal associated with an early precursor of high-grade serous ovarian cancer, one of the most common and aggressive forms of the disease.

The study, led by researchers at the Hoag Family Cancer Institute in California, identified elevated levels of an RNA molecule called Tu-Stroma in blood samples from women with a condition known as serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC).

The findings could eventually help identify women at increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, especially those with inherited genetic mutations.

What Is STIC And How Is It Linked To Ovarian Cancer?

High-grade serous ovarian cancer mostly originates in the fallopian tubes rather than directly in the ovaries. It may begin with microscopic changes in the cells lining the fallopian tubes, known as serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma or STIC.

These lesions are precancerous, which means they are not invasive cancer but can lead to the development of high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

STIC is difficult to detect because the abnormal cells are microscopic and cannot be identified through routine imaging. They are often discovered incidentally when women undergo surgery to remove their fallopian tubes or ovaries.

Also read: Can AI End Cancer And Alzheimer’s? Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Predicts ‘Age Of Miracles’ Within A Decade

How Does The New Blood Test Work?

The researchers found that women with STIC had elevated levels of Tu-Stroma, an RNA molecule related to interactions between abnormal cells and surrounding healthy tissue.

The molecule is linked to a process in which cancer cells weaken neighbouring healthy cells, creating an environment that allows abnormal cells to thrive.

By measuring Tu-Stroma in blood samples, researchers investigated whether this molecular signal could identify STIC before invasive cancer develops.

In a separate validation group, the test detected STIC in 92.3% of women who had the precancerous condition and correctly identified 98.2% of healthy women.

Researchers also modelled how the test might perform in a population of women with inherited risk factors for ovarian cancer. They estimated that approximately 72% of positive results would be accurate, while a negative result would be correct nearly 100% of the time.

Also read: Why Lobular Breast Cancer Can Be Difficult To Detect On A Mammogram?

Could The Test Help Women With BRCA1 And BRCA2 Mutations?

The findings may be relevant to women carrying inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which increase the risk of ovarian and breast cancers significantly.

Women with these mutations may be advised to consider surgery to remove of their fallopian tubes and ovaries. While this can reduce ovarian cancer risk, it also has consequences like including the loss of fertility and the possibility of early menopause.

Dr Esha Madan, co-author of the study and a researcher at Hoag Family Cancer Institute, said, “For women at high risk, this could transform how we approach prevention.”

She added, “Today, decisions about preventive surgery are largely guided by inherited risk, without knowing whether precancerous lesions are actually present. Our discovery could eventually provide that missing biological information.”

Also read: National Cancer Awareness Day: Diagnosed With Cancer In Your 20s Or 30s? What To Know About Fertility

Can This Blood Test Be Used For Ovarian Cancer Screening?

The study analysed previously collected blood samples from women whose diagnoses were already known. It did not test the blood marker prospectively in a large population of women undergoing routine screening.

The test performed well in samples from people with confirmed conditions and may not achieve the same accuracy in the general population.

Researchers are now planning prospective studies involving women with and without inherited risk factors. These studies will assess whether Tu-Stroma can identify precancerous changes before they progress and whether the results can shape clinical decisions.

Dr Rajan Gogna, who led the research, said, “We asked a fundamentally different question: What if we could identify the earliest molecular warning signs before invasive cancer even develops?”

The discovery offers a new direction for ovarian cancer detection, shifting the focus from finding an existing tumour to identifying biological changes that may precede it.

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Delhi Air Pollution: PM2.5 Exposure May Raise Type 2 Diabetes Risk By 16%, Study Finds

Updated Nov 12, 2026 | 01:35 PM IST

SummaryLong-term PM2.5 exposure is associated with a 10% to 16% higher risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study finds. Researchers highlight the need to include air quality management in diabetes prevention, particularly in heavily polluted regions such as South and East Asia.
Delhi Air Pollution: PM2.5 Exposure May Raise Type 2 Diabetes Risk By 16%, Study Finds

Credit: AI Image

Long known to be a key risk factor for lungs and heart, a new study now shows that long-term exposure to air pollution and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 16%.

A rise of 10 micrograms per cubic metre in PM2.5 concentration was associated with a 10% to 16% increase in diabetes risk.

The findings come amid rising pollution levels in Delhi, highlighting the potential metabolic health consequences of prolonged exposure to poor air quality.

Published in the Journal of Vascular Diseases, the analysis found that air pollution is not just a cardiopulmonary concern but also a potential contributor to metabolic health problems.

What Did The Study Find?

Also read: PM2.5 Levels 66x WHO Limit In Delhi: How Air Pollution Could Affect Children's Lung Development

The researchers analysed 13 major previous reviews, covering more than 200 million participant observations worldwide.

Reviews examining new diabetes cases consistently found an association between air pollution exposure and a higher risk of developing the disease.

The studies also reported higher diabetes prevalence, elevated blood sugar levels and an increased burden of related health complications.

The association was observed even among populations living in areas classified as having clean air. Since nearly everyone is exposed to outdoor air pollution, even relatively small increases in individual risk could translate into millions of additional diabetes cases worldwide.

South and East Asia are among the regions likely to face a particularly high burden.

Air Pollution Must Be Part Of Diabetes Prevention

Dr. Anoop Misra, Padma Shri, Executive Chairman and Director, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Fortis C-Doc Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences, said air pollution should be recognised as a potential contributor to metabolic disorders, including diabetes, rather than viewed only as a respiratory and environmental concern.

“Air quality management must become a core part of diabetes prevention,” he said.

He also highlighted the growing public health burden in heavily polluted South Asian cities and stressed the need to integrate air quality management into diabetes prevention.

Yashendra Sethi, first author of the study, said India must focus on improving environmental conditions to protect metabolic health.

“If India wants to tackle both diabetes and pollution, we must improve metabolic health and clean up our environment. We cannot fight diabetes while ignoring the air we breathe,” Sethi said.

The researchers emphasised that diabetes prevention should be considered alongside heart and lung health when framing clean-air guidelines.

They recommended strengthening continuous air quality monitoring, tightening emissions standards and incorporating environmental factors into national healthcare policies.

Delhi Air Quality In Very Poor Category

Delhi's air quality slipped into the 'very poor' category on November 11, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) settling at 313. This came a day after stronger winds brought some relief, pushing the AQI into the 'poor' category.

According to the Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations are also expected to rise over the next two days.

Of the 58 monitoring stations that recorded data on Wednesday, one reported 'severe' air quality, 34 were in the 'very poor' category, 22 in the 'poor' category and one in the 'moderate' category.

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