Gorakhpur: The ongoing Construction at AYUSH University has faced significant delays and lapses, prompting the Uttar Pradesh government to place the project under special supervision.     Following complaints from stakeholders, senior officials have carried out inspections, and major actions are being planned against those responsible to ensure the timely completion of all pending work.    Also Read:Medicine distribution delay triggers uproar at Gorakhpur AYUSH University The construction of the university auditorium is running far behind schedule, reports Dainik Bhaskar. Several other works, including the kitchen and associated facilities, also remain incomplete. Despite previous inspections by the Commissioner and District Magistrate, the construction company has continued to display negligence, preventing the auditorium from progressing at the expected pace.     Recently, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) Himanshu Verma, along with Public Works Department (PWD) officials, inspected the ongoing work. Expressing dissatisfaction over the slow pace, he directed that all pending work be completed within the stipulated timeline. Vice-Chancellor Dr K. Ramachandra Reddy and XEN Manish Singh from the PWD also reviewed the progress of the administrative building construction.  During the inspection, officials questioned the Project Manager regarding the slow pace in the auditorium and the reduced workforce. They also instructed that pits dug in the garden near the cottages be filled immediately to ensure the safety and site hygiene.     Last week, Commissioner Anil Kumar Dhingra and District Magistrate Deepak Meena had also visited the site and expressed concern over the delays. They had directed that all pending works be completed within the prescribed timeframe. Despite these instructions, limited progress has been observed, leading officials to reprimand the responsible parties.       Project Manager Muneshwar assured that manpower would be increased and all necessary measures taken to complete the remaining work on time, reports The Daily.   Also Read:Haryana To Get First Shri Krishna Ayush University at cost of Rs 500 crore    

Chennai: In a tragic incident, a second year MBBS student from a private medical college near Tiruvallur died after allegedly jumping from the fifth floor of his hostel building on campus. The deceased has been identified as a 20-year-old student from the Thoothukudi district. He was staying in the college hostel located in Pandur village while pursuing his medical studies. According to police officials, the incident took place on Wednesday after classes. The student reportedly fell from the fifth floor of the hostel building and suffered serious injuries. Also read- VIMSAR 1st year Paediatrics medico attempts suicide by overdose, excessive work pressure, harassment suspected He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. However, despite efforts by doctors, he could not be saved and was declared dead, reports DT Next.  The Tiruvallur Taluk Police have registered a case in connection with the incident. Further investigation is currently underway to find out the exact circumstances leading to his death. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a medical student allegedly committed suicide by jumping from the 12th floor of an apartment building. The incident was reported on Friday in Attavar, Karnataka. The deceased has been identified as a student at Kasturba Medical College (KMC). The incident occurred at an apartment complex located in Attavar. It is reported that the medico had gone there to meet a friend. After signing the visitor register at the security desk, he directly proceeded to the 12th floor of the building. Before jumping, he placed his mobile phone on the ground. Also read- Kasturba medical college student allegedly commits suicide

The burden of T2DM is increasing worldwide, with enormous implications for morbidity and mortality. Early and effective intervention is essential to ensure durable glycemic control and prevent long-term complications. In the Indian population, marked by higher insulin resistance, reduced beta-cell function, abdominal obesity, and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors, the case for early combination therapy is particularly important. This article reviews five recent data points relevant to clinicians considering the Dapagliflozin (SGLT2 inhibitor) and Sitagliptin (DPP-4 inhibitor) combination in T2DM management.[1] 1. Dapagliflozin & Sitagliptin Combination – Experienced Beta-Cell Independent complementary citing agents coming together: The dapagliflozin (SGLT2i) & sitagliptin (DPP4i) combination targets complementary and mechanistically distinct pathways involved in glucose regulation (Figure 1). Sitagliptin enhances incretin-mediated, glucose-dependent insulin secretion by DPP-4, thereby increasing endogenous incretin hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). Dapagliflozin lowers plasma glucose by selectively inhibiting SGLT2 in the proximal renal tubule, promoting urinary glucose excretion independent of insulin secretion and without the hypo-glycaemia or weight gain associated with conventional therapies.[2]   Figure 1. Complementary mechanisms of action of SGLT2 inhibitors and DPP-4 inhibitors in glucose regulation. Adapted from: Chadha M, Das AK, Deb P, et al. Expert Opinion: Optimum Clinical Approach to Combination-Use of SGLT2i + DPP4i in the Indian Diabetes Setting. Diabetes Therapy. 2022;13:1097–1114. Abbreviations: SGLT2i -Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor, DPP-4i – Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, GLP-1 – Glucagon-like peptide-1, GIP – Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, SBP – Systolic blood pressure 2. Dapagliflozin & Sitagliptin Combination in Indian T2D: Evidence of Gluco-Cardio-Metabolic Benefits: An Indian multi-center real-world study (N=328; 111 centers) evaluated the dapagliflozin–sitagliptin fixed-dose combination (FDC) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), many of whom had cardiometabolic comorbidities, including hypertension (71.65%) and dyslipidemia (42.38%). Treatment with the FDC significantly improved glycemic parameters, with HbA1c decreasing by 1.05% (from 8.36% to 7.31%, p<0.0001) over 12 weeks. Fasting plasma glucose declined by 41.70 mg/dL (from 165.52 to 123.82 mg/dL, p<0.0001), while postprandial blood glucose decreased by 71.91 mg/dL (from 242.15 to 170.24 mg/dL, p<0.0001) during follow-up. In addition to glycemic control, the combination demonstrated favorable cardiometabolic effects, with systolic blood pressure decreasing by 14.61 mmHg (from 147.00 to 132.40 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure by 7.80 mmHg (from 90.32 to 82.52 mmHg). LDL-cholesterol also declined by 18.14 mg/dL (from 121.40 to 103.20 mg/dL, p<0.0001). These findings provide evidence supporting the glycemic and cardiometabolic benefits of the dapagliflozin–sitagliptin FDC in a comorbidity-burdened T2DM population.[3] 3. Dapagliflozin’s Cardiorenal Benefits Maintained When Combined with a DPP-4 Inhibitor: A trial-level meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcome trials (up to 37,687 participants) found that the cardiorenal benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors — including 3-point MACE (N=32,418), cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization (N=37,687), heart failure hospitalization alone (N=27,545), cardiovascular death (N=34,565), and renal outcomes (N=25,406) were statistically similar regardless of background DPP-4 inhibitor therapy (P heterogeneity = 0.71, 0.07, 0.87, 0.72, and 0.25, respectively).[4] For clinicians prescribing the dapagliflozin–sitagliptin combination, this provides reassurance that dapagliflozin’s established cardiorenal profile, demonstrated in DECLARE-TIMI 58, DAPA-HF, and DAPA-CKD is not attenuated by the addition of sitagliptin.[5] The TECOS trial has also confirmed the cardiovascular safety of sitagliptin, demonstrating no increase in major adverse cardiovascular events or hospitalization for heart failure when added to standard care in patients with T2D and established CVD.[6] 4. Real-World Indian Clinical Utilization Data Affirm Dapagliflozin & Sitagliptin Combination Adoption Across Diverse T2D Patient Profiles: A recently published multicenter cross-sectional study across 100 Indian clinics analyzed records of 873 T2DM patients prescribed the sitagliptin 100 mg + dapagliflozin 10 mg FDC (mean age 55.26 ± 11.46 years; diabetes duration 7.02 ± 5.86 years). About 36.8% were treatment-naïve, while 62.8% were switched from prior oral therapy due to inadequate glycemic control or comorbidities. Obesity (44.9%), cardiovascular disease (44.8%), and dyslipidemia (33.6%) were prevalent comorbidities, with concomitant antihypertensives (47.8%) and lipid-lowering/antiplatelet agents (32.3%) commonly co-prescribed. These prescribing patterns indicate that Indian clinicians are deploying the dapagliflozin–sitagliptin FDC across a broad cardiometabolic risk spectrum.[1] 5. Dapagliflozin and Sitagliptin Combination: Where Does Combination Therapy Sit in Latest Guidelines? The updated February 2026 NICE NG28 guideline highlighted that SGLT2 inhibitors are now recommended as first-line therapy for newly diagnosed T2DM, and when eGFR declines below 45 mL/min/1.73 m², the guideline advises continuing the SGLT2 inhibitor for cardiorenal protection while adding a DPP-4 inhibitor to maintain glycemic control.[7] The ADA Standards of Care 2026 recommends considering combination therapy as initial treatment to shorten time to glycemic goal attainment, and advises consideration of SGLT2 inhibitors for patients with established or high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure (with reduced or preserved ejection fraction), and for comprehensive cardiorenal risk reduction, irrespective of HbA1c. DPP-4 inhibitors are recognized as weight-neutral add-on agents. [8] Taken together, these findings highlight the clinical relevance of the dapagliflozin sitagliptin FDC in the management of T2DM, particularly in the Indian population marked by needs for beta-cell preservation, and addressing a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors to mitigate the risk of diabetes related complications. Early combination therapy targeting complementary pathways may help ensure durable glycemic control and support use of the dapagliflozin sitagliptin FDC across a broad cardiometabolic risk spectrum in routine Indian T2DM care continuum. Abbreviations: ADA, American Diabetes Association; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DAPA-CKD, Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease; DAPA-HF, Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; DECLARE-TIMI 58, Dapagliflozin Effect on Cardiovascular Events–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 58; DPP-4, dipeptidyl peptidase-4; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; FDC, fixed-dose combination; FPG, fasting plasma glucose; GLP-1, glucagon-like peptide-1; HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MACE, major adverse cardiovascular events; NICE, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; NG28, NICE Guideline 28; PPBG, postprandial blood glucose; SBP, systolic blood pressure; SGLT2, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2; SIDAXA, Safety, Clinical Utilization, and Effectiveness of Sitagliptin and Dapagliflozin Combination Therapy in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes for Extra Glycaemic Advantages; T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus.

New Delhi: The Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) has refused to issue a completion no objection certificate (NOC) for the new super speciality block at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital, over concerns regarding lack of parking facilities and “discrepancies” in the project.  The commission denied issuing a completion NOC, saying that while a multi-level car parking (MLCP) design scheme had been formally approved by the commission in view of existing and future parking requirements within the hospital campus for doctors, visitors, and other users, it has neither been reflected nor included in the current submission. “Overall, the current submission, received at the completion stage, lacks clarity and has discrepancies. The architect is advised to adhere to all the above and furnish a point-by-point incorporation and response,” the DUAC said, news agency PTI reported. Also Read:Fire safety violations at RML Hospital trauma building, NOC rejected According to the proposal, the building plans for the project were initially approved in September 2015. The new super speciality block at RML hospital has three basements, ground plus 11 floors.    A revised proposal for the super speciality block, along with the proposal for MLCP, was later approved on July 16, 2021, with specific observations. The DUAC further said during the deliberations, the architect informed that “the MLCP has not yet been constructed and is proposed to be taken up at a later stage; however, this assertion has not been substantiated with appropriate documentation.” The commission, therefore, advised the architect to furnish relevant correspondence, reports PTI.   Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Delhi High Court has directed the medical superintendent of Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital to submit an affidavit in response to a petition highlighting the issue of non-availability of proper medical facilities at the institute.  Also Read:HC seeks RML Hospital’s response on plea alleging lack of medical facilities

Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court has directed the state government to submit a supplementary affidavit detailing the progress of the investigation and the actions taken so far in connection with the alleged transfusion of HIV-infected blood to five minor thalassemia children at Chaibasa Sadar Hospital. The High Court has taken strong exception to the alleged transfusion of HIV-infected blood to minor children at the blood bank of Chaibasa Sadar Hospital, terming the matter ”extremely serious”.  The court sought a comprehensive status report from the state government on the matter. According to an IANS report, hearing the case on Wednesday, a bench led by Justice Rongan Mukhopadhyay expressed dissatisfaction with the state’s response, observing that merely registering an FIR is not enough in a case of such grave consequences. The court stressed that accountability must be fixed and those responsible for the lapse must be brought to justice. Also Read:Five Children Test HIV-Positive After Blood Transfusion, Jharkhand HC Orders FIR The petition, filed by Deepika Hembram and others, had sought the registration of an FIR and the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged lapse. The court was informed that FIR No. 18/2026 had already been lodged on February 6 this year. However, the state government failed to provide clarity on the progress of the investigation, drawing sharp criticism from the court. Making stern observations, the court stated that the transfusion of HIV-infected blood to young children has had a devastating impact on their lives and future and must not be treated lightly. The court also noted that the affidavit submitted by the state government was limited to confirming the FIR, with no substantive details on the progress of the investigation or steps taken so far. Taking serious cognisance of the lapse, the High Court directed the state government to file a supplementary affidavit detailing the entire course of the investigation and actions taken to date, reports IANS. The case came to light in 2025 after five minor thalassemia patients at Chaibasa Sadar Hospital were allegedly administered HIV-contaminated blood during transfusions. The victims’ families subsequently moved to the High Court seeking justice. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 21. Also Read:Jharkhand HC orders FIR after five children test HIV-positive following blood transfusions