Latest news with #PCD
Metro
23 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Pussycat Dolls icon reveals startling details of drug addiction for first time
Ashley Roberts, best known as one-fifth of the Pussycat Dolls, has revealed for the first time the details of her decades-long battle with prescription drug dependence. The hidden struggle that began in her teenage years and shadowed her rise to global pop fame. Now 42, the pop star described how her addiction to the anti-anxiety medication Xanax began during high school, part of a long trajectory of self-soothing with substances. Even as a child, she turned to over-the-counter sleep aids like NyQuil. In adulthood, Lexapro followed, and then Xanax became a near-daily crutch. 'I was so young and I didn't have the knowledge I have now,' Roberts reflected in a new interview with The Times. 'Xanax is addictive. For me, for decades I was just leaning on what I could get to help me crash out. My brain just wouldn't shut off and my anxiety was too intense.' Discovered in Los Angeles by Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin, she joined the group in 2003 at just 22. Their 2005 debut album PCD became a multi-platinum global hit, propelling them onto a relentless international tour schedule. 'There were no discussions around, 'How is your mental health?'' Roberts said. 'I remember once we were in three countries in one day. Eventually, my body just got to the point of shutdown. I was really, really sick.' The breaking point came in London, nearly five years after the band's meteoric rise. Roberts was admitted to hospital with suspected neurological damage and medics feared she'd suffered a brain aneurysm. It was later diagnosed as extreme stress, exhaustion, and burnout, worsened by chronic sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, and unmanaged anxiety. Despite the crisis, she remained locked into performance-mode: 'I remember saying [in the hospital], 'I need to get on a flight to Germany. I've got a show to do. You gotta give me something.' That was the mentality.' When she finally left the group in 2010, Roberts's body was in turmoil: she had shingles across her face, eczema covering her legs, a stomach ulcer, and a collapsed immune system. More Trending 'An acupuncturist told me then, 'If you don't scream, your body's gonna scream for you,'' she recalled. While Roberts avoids placing blame directly on the male-dominated music industry, her story lays bare the punishing realities of commercial pop at the time – a culture that encouraged silence, competition, and constant productivity. 'There was also this feeling that we could be replaced in some way,' she said, 'But also there was my own drive, growing up as a dance competitor. So it was a combination of the two.' Now living a more grounded life, Roberts credits breathwork (a therapeutic practice of conscious breathing) with helping her finally break free from dependency and reconnect with her body. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Mekong River Commission detects heavy metal contamination along the Mekong
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat is warning about a "moderately serious" situation following the detection of heavy metal contamination in the Mekong River, believed to have originated from poorly regulated mining operations in a self-administered region of Myanmar. In remarks on Thursday, the MRC said recent water quality assessments identified elevated levels of arsenic at multiple locations along the river. The testing, which focused on the Kok River and parts of the Mekong, showed that arsenic concentrations at four out of five sampling sites exceeded the standard limit of 0.01 mg/L. The assessments showed upstream sites at the upper Myanmar–Laos border as well as the downstream site at Luang Prabang of Lao PDR had arsenic levels below the threshold. However, higher levels of arsenic were detected in the section between a point slightly north of the Golden Triangle at the Myanmar–Laos border and Thailand's Chiang Khong district at the Thailand–Laos border. The MRC said no lead contamination was detected in the Mekong stretch within Lao PDR. This suggests the contamination may stem from transboundary sources. It also cited comparative data from the Thai Pollution Control Department (PCD) in May which showed arsenic levels at around 0.025 mg/L on average. Based on these findings, the MRC has classified the situation as "moderately serious" under its Technical Guidelines for Water Quality Emergency Response and Management. In response, the MRC Secretariat is arranging joint assessments to strengthen cross-border water quality monitoring. A key meeting and field visit is planned for July 21 in Chiang Rai. The session aims to secure agreement among Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Thailand on a monitoring plan and to outline a long-term roadmap for regional cooperation. This latest effort by MRC comes in response to a growing transboundary water pollution crisis, largely attributed to substandard mining practices in Myanmar. Heavy metals such as arsenic have been detected in the Kok and Sai Rivers, which flow through northern Thailand before merging with the Mekong. Meanwhile, the Thai PCD said it is monitoring the situation closely, noting that contamination levels typically worsen during the rainy season. Officials have advised the public in affected areas to avoid using river water for household or agricultural purposes due to potential health risks. In parallel, the government is also preparing to engage in direct negotiations with Myanmar in pursuit of a lasting resolution to the issue.
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
MRC detects heavy metal contamination along the Mekong
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat is warning about a "moderately serious" situation following the detection of heavy metal contamination in the Mekong River, believed to have originated from poorly regulated mining operations in a self-administered region of Myanmar. In remarks on Thursday, the MRC said recent water quality assessments identified elevated levels of arsenic at multiple locations along the river. The testing, which focused on the Kok River and parts of the Mekong, showed that arsenic concentrations at four out of five sampling sites exceeded the standard limit of 0.01 mg/L. The assessments showed upstream sites at the upper Myanmar–Laos border as well as the downstream site at Luang Prabang of Lao PDR had arsenic levels below the threshold. However, higher levels of arsenic were detected in the section between a point slightly north of the Golden Triangle at the Myanmar–Laos border and Thailand's Chiang Khong district at the Thailand–Laos border. The MRC said no lead contamination was detected in the Mekong stretch within Lao PDR. This suggests the contamination may stem from transboundary sources. It also cited comparative data from the Thai Pollution Control Department (PCD) in May which showed arsenic levels at around 0.025 mg/L on average. Based on these findings, the MRC has classified the situation as "moderately serious" under its Technical Guidelines for Water Quality Emergency Response and Management. In response, the MRC Secretariat is arranging joint assessments to strengthen cross-border water quality monitoring. A key meeting and field visit is planned for July 21 in Chiang Rai. The session aims to secure agreement among Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Thailand on a monitoring plan and to outline a long-term roadmap for regional cooperation. This latest effort by MRC comes in response to a growing transboundary water pollution crisis, largely attributed to substandard mining practices in Myanmar. Heavy metals such as arsenic have been detected in the Kok and Sai Rivers, which flow through northern Thailand before merging with the Mekong. Meanwhile, the Thai PCD said it is monitoring the situation closely, noting that contamination levels typically worsen during the rainy season. Officials have advised the public in affected areas to avoid using river water for household or agricultural purposes due to potential health risks. In parallel, the government is also preparing to engage in direct negotiations with Myanmar in pursuit of a lasting resolution to the issue.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
AIIMS researchers pioneer breakthrough diagnostic tool for rare genetic disorders
New Delhi: Researchers at the AIIMS-Delhi have developed a powerful new method to diagnose Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia , or PCD, a rare and often misdiagnosed genetic disorder affecting the respiratory system. The innovative technique, built around transmission electron microscopy , or TEM, stands to revolutionise the way ciliary disorders are detected and understood. The breakthrough, led by Dr Subhash Chandra Yadav, Electron Microscope Facility, Department of Anatomy, and Professor Kana Ram Jat, Department of Paediatrics, was published recently in the journal Microscopy and Microanalysis (University of Oxford). Published under the title 'An Innovative TEM-Based Ultrastructural Imaging Methodology for the Diagnosis of Respiratory Ciliary Disorders,' the study detailed the method that improves diagnostic accuracy dramatically by identifying structural defects in motile cilia in nearly 70 per cent of suspected cases -- an achievement unmatched even by cutting-edge whole-genome sequencing. The method was used on 200 patients with suspected ciliary disorders, and confirmed diagnoses in 135 cases. The scope of the technique extends far beyond PCD, researchers claimed. It can accurately detect a range of rare ciliary disorders related conditions, including respiratory anomalies, renal cystic disease, blindness, neural tube defects, intellectual disability, skeletal abnormalities (such as polydactyly and abnormally short limbs), ectodermal defects, situs inversus (a condition where internal organs are mirrored), and infertility. What sets this methodology apart is its comprehensive and refined workflow, researchers said. From meticulous sample collection and fixation to ultra-thin sectioning and advanced TEM imaging, every step is optimised to enhance the visibility of tiny defects - boosting detection capability by nearly 640 times compared to conventional methods, they said. Medical experts hail this innovation as a game-changer in genetic diagnostics. It promises faster and more accurate diagnoses and lays the groundwork for tailored therapies, improved patient care, and deeper insights into the mechanisms of ciliary disorders, said one of the authors.
The Print
04-05-2025
- Health
- The Print
AIIMS researchers pioneer breakthrough diagnostic tool for rare genetic disorders
The breakthrough, led by Dr Subhash Chandra Yadav, Electron Microscope Facility, Department of Anatomy, and Professor Kana Ram Jat, Department of Paediatrics, was published recently in the journal Microscopy and Microanalysis (University of Oxford). The innovative technique, built around transmission electron microscopy, or TEM, stands to revolutionise the way ciliary disorders are detected and understood. New Delhi, May 4 (PTI) Researchers at the AIIMS-Delhi have developed a powerful new method to diagnose Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, or PCD, a rare and often misdiagnosed genetic disorder affecting the respiratory system. Published under the title 'An Innovative TEM-Based Ultrastructural Imaging Methodology for the Diagnosis of Respiratory Ciliary Disorders,' the study detailed the method that improves diagnostic accuracy dramatically by identifying structural defects in motile cilia in nearly 70 per cent of suspected cases — an achievement unmatched even by cutting-edge whole-genome sequencing. The method was used on 200 patients with suspected ciliary disorders, and confirmed diagnoses in 135 cases. The scope of the technique extends far beyond PCD, researchers claimed. It can accurately detect a range of rare ciliary disorders related conditions, including respiratory anomalies, renal cystic disease, blindness, neural tube defects, intellectual disability, skeletal abnormalities (such as polydactyly and abnormally short limbs), ectodermal defects, situs inversus (a condition where internal organs are mirrored), and infertility. What sets this methodology apart is its comprehensive and refined workflow, researchers said. From meticulous sample collection and fixation to ultra-thin sectioning and advanced TEM imaging, every step is optimised to enhance the visibility of tiny defects — boosting detection capability by nearly 640 times compared to conventional methods, they said. Medical experts hail this innovation as a game-changer in genetic diagnostics. It promises faster and more accurate diagnoses and lays the groundwork for tailored therapies, improved patient care, and deeper insights into the mechanisms of ciliary disorders, said one of the authors. PTI PLB VN VN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
