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.

Blockbuster GLP-1 drugs, with semaglutide as the key ingredient, have shown promise in treating conditions ranging from diabetes and obesity to certain cancers.

Now, US researchers are set to test whether semaglutide can also help treat alcohol use disorder (AUD), particularly among veterans. AUD affects an estimated 400 million people worldwide, or about 7% of people aged 15 years and older.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a new clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of semaglutide in treating AUD and is aimed directly at benefiting Veterans.

"By exploring emerging treatment options like the use of a GLP-1 for AUD, we aim to expand the tools available to help Veterans take control of their health and recovery," said VA Secretary Doug Collins.

Currently, more than 400,000 US veterans have been diagnosed with AUD, while an estimated 11% of US adults are affected by the condition.

What Does the Trial Aim to Find?

Also read: GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs Show Promise for 17 Million With Binge Eating Disorder, Suggests Study

The study, called the Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans (CRACV) trial, will enroll more than 600 veterans across 18 VA medical centers in the US.

Participants aged 18 to 80 with moderate or severe AUD will receive weekly injections of either semaglutide or a placebo for 24 weeks, followed by a safety follow-up period.

Researchers will assess changes in alcohol consumption, overall health, and quality of life to determine whether semaglutide could become a new treatment option for alcohol use disorder.

Oral Semaglutide May Help Reduce Heavy Drinking

Evidence is also emerging that GLP-1 medications may influence alcohol consumption. A Phase 2 clinical trial published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in July suggests that oral semaglutide may help reduce heavy and harmful drinking, even among people who are not trying to quit alcohol completely.

The trial included 50 adults with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder who wanted to reduce or stop drinking. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either daily oral semaglutide or a placebo for eight weeks.

The semaglutide dose increased from 3 mg per day during the first four weeks to 7 mg per day during the remaining four weeks.

Read More: GLP-1 Microdosing: People Are Experimenting With Weight Loss Drugs & What Do Experts Have To Say About It?

While semaglutide did not significantly reduce laboratory-assessed craving or the average number of drinks per day compared with placebo, it significantly reduced heavy drinking days.

Compared with participants receiving placebo, those taking semaglutide had fewer heavy drinking days during the final four weeks of treatment. They also consumed fewer drinks on drinking days and reported greater reductions in everyday alcohol cravings and alcohol-related negative consequences.

"It could represent a new treatment option for alcohol use disorder, particularly for those who have not benefited from existing medications, and may reduce alcohol-related health and social harms. Importantly, even reducing heavy drinking can lead to meaningful improvements for patients and families," said Joseph Schacht, PhD, professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine.

As many as 23 cases of young women aged below 35 suffering from heart-related problems in only a month (reported by the Indian Medical Association) have left cardiologists concerned. What were earlier considered symptoms of stress, anxiety, and hormonal imbalances such as chest pain, breathing difficulty, palpitations, unexplained fatigue, and giddiness are now not being taken lightly when they occur for a prolonged time or recur. They are being increasingly identified as cardiac-related problems even in young adults.

Lack of physical activity, improper diet, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, and continuous stress have been labeled responsible for these problems. Some women's conditions like PCOD and autoimmune diseases can also put them at a higher cardiovascular risk. Regular check-ups, monitoring of blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and timely check-ups for the heart whenever these conditions occur can help in detecting the problems at the earliest, thus initiating treatment and recovery effectively.

In today's times, management of complicated heart diseases in India has dramatically improved and achieved outcomes at par with global standards. Today, the management of very severe heart valve disease offers much in terms of percutaneous catheter-based solutions, which, alongside conventional surgery (performed according to a person's age, general health, and clinical profile), give improved outcomes. Early detection and management of heart diseases prevent major complications and restore an individual's quality of life.

Increased knowledge about heart health, early identification of symptoms, and immediate medical attention are very important to achieve successful results. The observance of preventive measures such as engaging in regular exercise, a healthy diet, sleep, managing stress, and conducting regular medical checkups helps in the prevention of heart problems. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment form the key factors for achieving the best heart health.

By Dr. Nagendra Singh Chouhan, Interventional Cardiologist at Medanta Hospitals, Gurugram

Feeling breathless after climbing several flights of stairs or a session of strenuous exercise is usually considered normal.

But breathlessness that appears suddenly, happens frequently, or occurs during routine activities should never be dismissed as tiredness or lack of fitness.

When Is Breathlessness Concerning?

Breathlessness, clinically known as dyspnoea, can occur due to many reasons. Asthma, allergies, respiratory infections, chronic lung disease, and heart problems are some of the common possibilities. Anxiety, anaemia and obesity could also be driving factors.

In some cases, persistent or unexplained breathing difficulty may also be linked to more serious conditions, including lung cancer. The important thing is to understand when breathlessness needs medical attention.

HealthandMe spoke to lung disease experts - Dr. Sachin Kumar, Director of Pulmonology & Critical Care Medicine, Sakra World Hospital, Bengaluru, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, Director & Unit Head of GI & HPB Surgical Oncology & Clinical Administrator, Surgical Oncology, Max Super Specialty Hospital, Dwarka, Dr. Ruchi Singh, HOD & Senior Consultant, Radiation Oncology, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, and Dr. Ashwin Mallya, Uro-Oncologist and Robotic Surgeon, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Dr. Sanjeev Kumar explains that breathlessness that gets worse during routine activities are major red flags. He also says that other symptoms like chronic cough, coughing up blood, tiredness, and others should not be neglected.

He says, "Pay attention if breathlessness is accompanied by chest pain or pressure, dizziness, fainting, unusual sweating, bluish lips or fingertips, or a feeling that you cannot get enough air. A persistent cough, wheezing, recurring chest infections, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss or prolonged fatigue along with breathlessness also deserves medical assessment. A cough that does not go away or changes in a long-standing smoker’s cough should not be overlooked. Although these symptoms can have several causes, they can occasionally be associated with lung cancer and need appropriate evaluation."

He also said that changes in usual breathing capacity is also a red flag. He said that if you previously walked comfortably for 20–30 minutes but now have to stop frequently because you are breathless, this change should not simply be attributed to age.

Also read: Lung Nodule on CT Scan? Doctors Explain When You Should Worry

Risks Of Delayed Evaluation & Treatment

Dr. Ruchi Singh points to a worrying trend. She said that the initial symptoms of lung cancer are usually dismissed as routine, which leads to delayed evaluation and treatment.

She says, "One of the most concerning things we are tracking is how late many patients present. Because symptoms like persistent cough or breathlessness are so easily mistaken for pollution-related irritation or a lingering infection, people delay getting scanned."

She explains that earlier detection through low-dose CT screening in high-risk groups remains the best tool for improving survival, and awareness needs to catch up with how the patient's profile itself is changing.

Also read: Can Fitness Hide Lung Cancer? Why Even Active People Shouldn't Ignore Symptoms

Importance Of A Multidisciplinary Approach

Talking about how lung cancer could metastasize, Dr Ashwin Mallya explains that along with early evaluation, it is essential to adopt a treatment strategy

Dr Mallya said, "Although primarily a thoracic malignancy, lung cancer frequently extends beyond the chest. Adrenal metastases are among its most common distant manifestations, while renal metastases, though less frequent, are well recognised."

He added, "These patterns underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, often bringing urologists into the care of patients with advanced disease."

Also read: 'I Wish Every Patient Knew This Before Their Lung Cancer Diagnosis'- Lessons From An Oncologist

Lung Cancer Is No Longer A Smoker's Disease

Giving a real-life example of how lung cancer is no longer a smoker's disease, Dr Sachin Kumar said, "A 50-year-old lady went to the clinic seeking a second opinion after being treated for "asthma" for several weeks. She complained of occasional breathlessness and a persistent cough. Despite inhalers, her symptoms continued. A simple chest X-ray revealed something entirely different: a massive pleural effusion (fluid around the lung). Further evaluation confirmed the underlying cause: *lung cancer that had spread to the pleura (the lining surrounding the lungs).

He added, "This case is a reminder that not every cough or episode of breathlessness is asthma. When symptoms persist or do not respond as expected, they deserve a fresh look. Sadly, lung cancer is no longer a disease seen only in older male smokers. In our own practice, we now diagnose around 2–3 new cases of primary lung cancer every three months, and nearly 40% of these patients are either women or people who have never smoked."