Methylene blue is a chemical that is used in treating methemoglobinemia, a rare disease in which hemoglobin in red blood cells has a reduced capacity to carry oxygen to the various parts of the body. It is also used in treating malaria with Plasmodium falciparum, drug-induced encephalopathy (a brain inflammation due to taking ifosfamide, a cancer treatment drug), and for diagnostic purposes, such as in examining the lymph nodes near the breast and parathyroid glands during their removal. It is also used as an antidote for nitrite or aniline poisoning.

Tattoos have become quite prevalent, especially in the younger generation. Tattoos include the administration of exogenous pigments into the deep layer of the skin (dermis) to create a permanent design. Tattoos have been administered for over 5000 years, and at present are a common cosmetic practice all over the world.

Late last month, Brooke L. Rollins, the Trump administration’s incoming secretary of agriculture, unveiled her plan to combat the growing threat of avian flu to animal and human populations. In a commentary published Feb. 27 in the Wall Street Journal, Rollins laid out a five-step strategy to fight the virus. But the title of the piece was not “How we will prevent a new pandemic” or “Five steps to prevent the avian flu virus from infecting millions of Americans.”

The world celebrated World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, 2025, with the theme of “Yes, We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.” According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2023, approximately 10.8 million people were affected by TB globally, including 6.0 million males, 3.6 million women, and 1.3 million children. No country or age group has been spared by TB. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, 9,633 cases of TB were reported which was an increase of 15.6% over the previous year. It needs to be noted that TB is preventable and curable. Can we eradicate TB like we did smallpox?

Dr. Manoj Sharma, Professor of Social and Behavioral Health and Internal Medicine, answers queries on the ‘empty nest syndrome’.

One of the twentieth-century public health achievements that was touted was the prevention of dental caries through fluoridation of water. But the recent political climate has challenged this, and the debate is on. What are the pros and cons of fluoridation of public water?