Imagine this. A young teenager, 17, years old, who is fully developed. Now imagine this, the same teenager has a fully developed extra set of limbs and a pelvis. That extra set of pair is attached with chest artery. But, how can this happen?

While it is extremely rare, and has a chance of less than one case occurring per 100,000 births. Such things do happen. This is called parasitic twin.

What Is A Parasitic Twin?

It is an extremely rare type of cojoined twin where a baby is born with an underdeveloped twin attached to its body. This condition is also known as vestigial twins. The condition is very closely related to conjoined twins, where babies are connected at birth and share organs. However, the main difference is that in conjoined twins, there are two developed babies, whereas in parasitic twins, only one is fully developed, other one is underdeveloped and non functional.

In such a case, the twin who is developed is medically known as the autositic or the dominant twin. The dominant twin is healthy in most aspect but may have extra tissue, organs, or limbs from the parasitic twin.

The parasitic twin may be attached with the dominant twin through several places. The common joints are at the head, torso, chest, pelvis, buttocks, or back. In these cases, the parasitic twin is not alive and they die either in the womb or during the childbirth.

Doctors Remove Parasitic Twin

Now, let's go back to the case we referred to, where a young teenager had an extra pair of limbs attached to chest. The teenager who has not been named is from Uttar Pradesh's Unnao neighbourhood, and was treated in AIIMS, Delhi. The team of doctors successfully removed the extra set of limbs from his body.

Dr Asuri Krishna, who led the team of specialist who surgically removed the extra limbs told the BBC that only 40 to 50 cases of parasitic twins have been documented in world medical literature, and in those cases, the surgery had been attempted on children. The doctor said that without much medical literature to guide them, the team of doctors depended on "intuition, skill and knowledge".

The doctor shared that the child had two fully formed legs, buttocks and external genitalia, which weighed around 15kg "protruding from his abdomen".

How Was The Surgery Performed?

The doctor shared that first they identified how interconnected the parasitic and host twins were. The doctors took scans and found that parasitic twin was attached to the teen's breastbone. The blood was being supplied from a vessel in his chest. However, "there wasn't much connection with other main organs like the liver or kidneys," said Dr Krishna. The team also found a large cyst in the teen's abdomen.

Then the surgery was performed in two stages. In the first stage, the parasitic twin was removed. Then the cystic mass was extracted from the surrounded area. The entire surgery was completed in two and a half hours and the team of doctors included radiologists, anaesthetists, and plastic surgeons.

The biggest challenge was when the teen's blood pressure dropped as 30 to 40% of his blood flowed to the parasitic twin, however, the doctors were prepared for it and they stabilized him.

As wildfires have become more frequent and intense in several countries, scientists are looking for hidden health consequences of the smoke that lingers on long after the flames subside.

Beyond respiratory issues and eye irritation, wildfire smoke may also trigger severe migraine attacks.

A recent study in JAMA Network Open found that exposure to wildfire smoke was associated with a significant increase in emergency department visits for migraine and other primary headache disorders.

The finding suggested that that polluted air from wildfires may be a powerful migraine trigger.

What Did The Study Find?

Researchers from Health Canada, the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, and several Canadian universities analysed nearly 998,000 emergency department visits for migraine and other primary headache syndromes in Alberta and Ontario between 2010 and 2023.

They discovered that for every 5 µg/m³ increase in wildfire-related PM2.5 (tiny particulate matter produced by wildfire smoke), emergency department visits for migraine and other primary headache disorders increased by about 6%.

However, the researchers did not observe a similar increase with PM2.5 pollution on days without wildfire smoke, suggesting that wildfire smoke may have unique characteristics that make it more harmful than regular air pollution.

Also read: Global Heatwave Crisis Grows: France Sees Excess Deaths Japan Swelters, Camels Die In Africa

Effects Of Wildfire Smoke On The Brain

Scientists believe these particles may trigger inflammation throughout the body, increase oxidative stress, affect blood vessels and the nervous system, and activate pain pathways involved in migraine.

Previous research has also linked air pollution to headaches, but this study specifically isolates the effects of wildfire-generated smoke.

Emerging evidence also suggests smoke exposure may contribute to difficulty concentrating, memory problems, cognitive decline, and increased inflammation affecting brain function.

Also read: Wildfire Smoke Could Hurt IVF Success; Here's Why Doctors Say You May Want To Delay Your Appointment

Who Is At Risk?

Another important observation was that the association was stronger among people living in moderate and underprivileged neighbourhoods.

The researchers suggest that the differences in housing quality, access to air filtration, healthcare access, or the ability to avoid smoke exposure during wildfire events are valuable factors.

The authors said, “Acute exposure to wildfire-sourced PM2.5 was associated with increased emergency department visits for migraine and other primary headache syndromes.”

They also noted that, “These findings support the need for further research into wildfire smoke and severe headache-related outcomes.”

Also read: What Happens After Wildfires? Long-Term Health Risks To Watch Out For After Exposure

Wildfires Are Escalating Around The World

The study arrives as multiple countries continue to battle severe wildfire incidents. Canada remains in the midst of an active wildfire season, with hundreds of fires burning across the country.

Across France and Spain, massive wildfires have forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents.

Other parts of Europe, including Scotland, have also experienced significant wildfire activity this summer.

Also read: Study Says California Wildfire Can Affect The Heart

Other Hazards Of Wildfire Smoke

Lung And Chronic Respiratory Disease

Prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can have long-term effects on the respiratory system.

Possible health effects may include persistent cough, poor lung function, worsening asthma symptoms and more.

Heart Disease

The tiny particles in wildfire smoke don't just stay confined to the lungs. Once they enter the bloodstream, they can affect the cardiovascular system.

In the long run, wildfire smoke exposure can lead to heart attacks, stroke, irregular heart rhythms, elevated blood pressure, increased inflammation in blood vessels

Mental Health Effects

Besides the stress of evacuation and property loss, smoke exposure itself may contribute to mental health problems directly.

They can cause anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disturbances, among other conditions.

Possible Cancer Risk

Growing evidence suggests that long-term exposure to wildfire smoke may increase the risk of several cancers.

Studies have reported possible associations with lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, and certain blood cancers.

Pregnancy And Infant Health

Research suggests exposure during pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and other pregnancy complications.

Healthcare providers recommend minimizing outdoor exposure whenever air quality deteriorates.

The IVF laboratory is a critical place where science and precision come together to help create embryos. Here, the expert explains the careful measures that take place inside the lab and the important role of the embryologist in helping couples achieve parenthood.

Many couples are battling infertility and are advised to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) to conceive. The couples tend to focus on various factors such as doctor consultations, hormone injections, and embryo transfer.

However, one of the most important parts of the treatment happens in the IVF laboratory. Couples are often unaware of what happens behind the closed doors in the IVF lab.

The IVF Lab: A Highly Controlled Environment

Did you know? Highly trained embryologists work with advanced technology when it comes to handling the eggs, sperm, and embryos in the IVF laboratory.

They are the ones who are responsible for planning and carrying out every step with accuracy to be able to give embryos the best possible environment for healthy development.

The lab is a controlled and sterile space wherein the temperature, humidity, air quality, and lighting are strictly monitored to be able to protect the delicate eggs and embryos.

Even small changes in the environment tend to impact embryo development, so strict quality standards are followed every day by the expert.

Also read: From Hope To Parenthood: How IVF And Embryology Are Changing The Fertility Journey For Couples

From Egg Retrieval to Fertilisation

The process commences after the woman's eggs are collected during a minor procedure. On the same day, the male partner will also provide a semen sample, or previously frozen sperm, if needed. The embryologist will examine both the eggs and sperm under a microscope to check the quality.

Then the healthiest sperm are selected to fertilise the eggs.

Fertilisation will occur after the egg and the sperm are placed together in a special culture dish or via a procedure known as Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), wherein a single healthy sperm is directly injected into the egg.

The expert will decide the method after knowing the couple's fertility condition.

Also read: Delhi's Poor AQI, Monsoon Conditions Put Children's Lungs at Risk: Ways to Keep Kids Safe

Monitoring Embryo Development

When fertilisation happens, the embryos are placed in special incubators that closely mimic the conditions inside the human body.

Over the next few days, embryologists monitor their growth and development, and some embryos may undergo genetic testing to identify certain inherited or chromosomal conditions before they are transferred.

The Embryologist's Role in Ensuring Safety and Success

Understand that the embryologist maintains detailed records and follows strict identification protocols to ensure every egg, sperm, and embryo is accurately matched with the correct patient.

Hence, the embryologist plays a vital role in every successful IVF journey.

Ravi is 34 years old. He goes to the gym three times a week, weighs a healthy 68 kg, and has never been diagnosed with diabetes or high blood pressure. During his company's annual health check-up, an ultrasound revealed four unexpected words: Grade 1 Fatty Liver.

Like many people, Ravi was shocked. "How is that possible?" he asked. "I'm not overweight."

The answer reflects a growing reality that is changing how liver specialists understand one of India's fastest-growing liver diseases.

The Old Story Vs The New Reality

For years, fatty liver—now medically known as Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)—was considered a condition affecting people who were overweight, had diabetes, or consumed excessive alcohol.

That understanding is no longer complete.

Today, we increasingly diagnose fatty liver in individuals who are lean, appear metabolically healthy, and do not consume alcohol. This condition, often referred to as lean MASLD, accounts for nearly 10–20% of fatty liver cases in Asia. Given the unique genetic and metabolic profile of South Asians, the true burden in India may be even higher.

So, What Is Actually Going On? The reasons are more complex than body weight alone—and many are hiding in plain sight.

Also read: Do People With Type 2 Diabetes Face A Higher Risk of Severe Dengue? New Review Says Yes

Your Genes May Be Working Against You

Certain genetic variants, particularly PNPLA3, make the liver more likely to store fat even when the rest of the body appears healthy. This genetic predisposition is significantly more common among South Asians than Western populations.

In other words, you may be lean, eat reasonably well, and still develop fatty liver because of your inherited biology.

Hidden Metabolic Dysfunction

A normal body weight does not always mean a healthy metabolism.

Many lean Indians carry excess visceral fat—fat stored around internal organs rather than under the skin. This "skinny fat" phenomenon is especially common in our population and is strongly linked to liver fat accumulation and inflammation, despite a normal BMI.

Also read: Subtle Warning Signs Of Serious Health Conditions That Only Your Partner Can Notice

It's Not Just How Much You Eat — It's What You Eat

A diet rich in refined carbohydrates and added sugars can overwhelm the liver.

Frequent consumption of foods such as white rice, refined flour (maida), packaged snacks, biscuits, sugary beverages, and fruit juices provides excess fructose, which the liver converts directly into fat.

Over time, this process promotes fatty liver—even in individuals who never become overweight.

By Dr. Chetan Kalal, DM Hepatology, Liver Transplant Specialist, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai