Ongoing research into the impact of landfill foraging on white stork populations has revealed interesting preliminary results that suggest a trade-off between year-round reliable food availability and increased risks from stress and DNA damage. These results provide insights into how human urbanisation is rapidly altering the feeding behaviours of wildlife with possible long-term consequences for their health and fitness.

Noma, a deadly, rapidly progressing, non-contagious infection that destroys the soft tissues and bones of the mouth and face, remains one of the world’s most neglected diseases. With a mortality rate of 80 to 90% if left untreated, the disease mainly affects young children living in extreme poverty and was only added to the World Health Organization’s list of neglected tropical diseases in 2023.

Researchers from the LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) have found that using a commonly used pain killer (paracetamol or acetaminophen) during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention‑deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. This represents the first study in Hong Kong to apply a rigorous sibling-matched approach to compare siblings from the same mother to effectively account for shared genetic and environmental influences. The findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, offer timely reassurance for expectant mothers and clinicians in Hong Kong and globally regarding the safety of paracetamol use during pregnancy.