Gayathri Kallukaran is a Junior Journalist with Eastern Eye. She has a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Paul’s College, Bengaluru, and brings over five years of experience in content creation, including two years in digital journalism. She covers stories across culture, lifestyle, travel, health, and technology, with a creative yet fact-driven approach to reporting. Known for her sensitivity towards human interest narratives, Gayathri’s storytelling often aims to inform, inspire, and empower. Her journey began as a layout designer and reporter for her college’s daily newsletter, where she also contributed short films and editorial features. Since then, she has worked with platforms like FWD Media, Pepper Content, and Petrons.com, where several of her interviews and features have gained spotlight recognition. Fluent in English, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi, she writes in English and Malayalam, continuing to explore inclusive, people-focused storytelling in the digital space.
New Elizabeth Taylor Chocolate Martini debuts at Tryst Puerto Vallarta.
£0.80 ($1) from each sale goes to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF).
Inspired by a drink created by Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson during the filming of Giant in 1955.
Part of a wider Tryst Hospitality initiative across multiple venues to honour Taylor’s legacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Tryst Hospitality has introduced The Elizabeth Taylor Chocolate Martini at select venues, including Tryst Puerto Vallarta, with proceeds supporting The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation’s (ETAF) mission to achieve an AIDS-free world. This indulgent cocktail, inspired by a drink Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson created in 1955 while filming Giant, is the latest step in Tryst’s long-standing partnership with ETAF, continuing Taylor’s enduring advocacy for HIV/AIDS awareness and fundraising.
A cocktail with Hollywood history
The Elizabeth Taylor Chocolate Martini blends Tito’s Vodka, Kahlua, and chocolate syrup, shaken over ice and served straight up. Its creation pays homage to Taylor’s iconic Hollywood career and her friendship with Rock Hudson, forged during the making of Giant.
Partnership with The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation
In collaboration with ETAF, £0.80 ($1) from each martini sold will go towards the charity’s global mission. The Abbey Food & Bar in West Hollywood — a venue Taylor herself visited — has been central to Tryst Hospitality’s relationship with ETAF, hosting events such as The Abbey’s World AIDS Day Tree Lighting.
Expansion across venues
Tryst Hospitality will now extend this fundraising initiative to:
The Abbey and The Chapel at The Abbey (West Hollywood)
The Tryst Puerto Vallarta
The Tryst Fire Island (opening 2026)
The Tryst San Juan (under renovation)
Circo San Juan (opening Autumn 2025)
The Blue Whale and Pavilion (Fire Island Pines)
Each venue will make a guaranteed annual donation to ETAF, regardless of cocktail sales, with matching contributions from featured spirit brands encouraged.
Honouring a legacy
“This cocktail is more than just a toast, it’s a tribute,” said Tristan Schukraft, Founder of Tryst Hospitality. “Elizabeth Taylor talked about AIDS publicly before anyone else would… This is our way of honouring her legacy and continuing the fight to end HIV in America.”
Cathy Brown, Executive Director of ETAF, added: “Elizabeth believed in using every platform to raise awareness and funds for the fight against HIV. This initiative brings her spirit into spaces where community thrives.”
The Elizabeth Taylor Chocolate Martini is now available at participating venues. For more information about ETAF’s work, visitwww.etaf.org.
Nine-time Grand Slam winner Monica Seles diagnosed with myasthenia gravis three years ago
The 51-year-old revealed her condition ahead of this month’s US Open to raise awareness
Disease causes muscle weakness and has no known cure
Former world number one Monica Seles has revealed she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a rare neuromuscular autoimmune disease, three years ago. The 51-year-old, who won nine Grand Slam singles titles, went public ahead of the US Open to raise awareness of the condition, which causes muscle weakness and can affect multiple parts of the body.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Seles first began noticing symptoms around five years ago when she experienced double vision and struggled with coordination. “I would be playing [tennis] with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball. I was like, ‘Yeah, I see two balls,’” she told the Associated Press. These symptoms eventually led to her diagnosis, which took time for her to come to terms with.
Living with the condition
The former tennis star described the impact of the disease on her daily life as “significant” and said it was initially difficult to discuss openly. Myasthenia gravis currently has no cure, but treatments can help manage its effects. By sharing her experience, Seles hopes to use her platform to educate others.
Career highlights
Seles rose to prominence as a teenager, winning her first Grand Slam at the 1990 French Open aged 16 and claiming eight majors by 19. Her career was interrupted in 1993 when she was stabbed by a spectator during a match in Hamburg. She returned to the sport and won one more Grand Slam before retiring in 2003, having spent 178 weeks as world number one and capturing 53 career titles.
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NexGen knee implant linked to high failure rates was used in over 10,000 UK operations.
Concerns flagged as early as 2014; withdrawn from UK market in 2022.
Hundreds of patients required corrective surgery, with costs running into millions.
Manufacturer Zimmer Biomet says patient safety is its “top priority” but will not cover revision costs up front.
Implant used despite early warnings
A knee replacement implant used in thousands of NHS operations was known to have a concerning failure rate eight years before it was withdrawn, a BBC File on 4 Investigates report has found.
The NexGen implant, made by US manufacturer Zimmer Biomet, was fitted in more than 10,000 patients between 2012 and 2022. Concerns were first raised by the National Joint Registry (NJR) in 2014, though insufficient data at the time made it difficult to draw firm conclusions.
The model in question included a modified “stemmed option tibial component” or “tibial tray”, lacking a layer of plastic found in earlier versions. It was marketed as a cheaper alternative for the NHS.
Patients left in pain and needing further surgery
Patients have reported severe complications after their implants slipped out of place, damaging bone and causing lasting mobility issues.
Debbie Booker, from Southampton, experienced severe pain a year after her 2016 surgery, eventually requiring a second knee replacement. She says the failed implant left her addicted to strong painkillers and caused long-term health problems, including the need for a hip replacement.
Another patient, “Diana”, had her implant fitted in 2021. When it slipped and began wearing away her shin bone, her consultant told her she was “standing on a broken leg”.
Surgeons raised repeated concerns
Irish knee surgeon Prof Eric Masterson reported a surge in corrective surgeries after switching to the NexGen implant in 2012. He says his concerns were dismissed by Zimmer Biomet representatives, a view echoed by NHS surgeons.
UK knee specialist Prof Leila Biant said she and colleagues raised warnings as early as 2017, but the company was slow to engage in evaluating affected patients.
Recall and high revision costs
By 2022, NJR data suggested patients with the NexGen implant were almost twice as likely to require corrective surgery compared with the average knee replacement. Zimmer Biomet recalled unused units from the UK market that year.
Studies have estimated failure rates for the tibial tray component between 6% and 19%. Hundreds of patients have undergone revision surgery, with more expected.
Each corrective procedure costs between £10,000 and £30,000, according to Southampton University’s Prof David Barrett, meaning the total bill is likely to run into millions. Zimmer Biomet has told sales staff it will not cover diagnostic, follow-up, or revision costs up front.
Official responses
Zimmer Biomet says it is “committed to the highest standards of patient safety, quality, and transparency” and acts in line with regulations when new data becomes available.
NHS England has confirmed it is “currently reviewing the case involving Zimmer Biomet NexGen knee implants”.
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A 34-year-old woman developed 43 aggressive skin cancer lesions triggered by HPV
HPV, a common STI, is now potentially linked to a deadly form of skin cancer
A 34-year-old woman developed 43 aggressive skin cancer lesions triggered by HPV
Researchers say this discovery could shift the approach to diagnosing and treating some skin cancers
Protection measures include vaccination, safe sex practices, and regular screening
Human papillomavirus (HPV), one of the most widespread sexually transmitted infections in the UK, is already associated with several serious cancers — cervical, throat, penile, anal, and head and neck cancers among them. Now, researchers in the US have raised concerns that it may also contribute to certain forms of skin cancer, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
Scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found signs of beta-HPV triggering squamous cell carcinoma in a young woman who had no major history of sun damage or other typical causes.
Case study reveals viral link to aggressive skin cancer
The patient, a 34-year-old woman, was referred to NIH after developing 43 lesions of squamous cell carcinoma on her face, legs, and hands. Despite undergoing surgery and immunotherapy, the cancer repeatedly returned.
Initial suspicions pointed to sun exposure and immune deficiency, but further investigation revealed that beta-HPV had inserted its genetic material into her skin cells’ DNA, enabling the virus to take over and fuel cancer growth.
Dr Andrea Lisco, a virologist and lead author of the study, said:
"This discovery could completely change how we think about the development, and consequently the treatment, of [skin cancer] in people who have a health condition that compromises immune function."
The woman was eventually diagnosed with a genetic immune disorder that left her T-cells – vital immune system fighters – impaired. After receiving a stem cell transplant to restore immune function, her skin cancer disappeared and other HPV-related symptoms, including growths on her tongue and skin, also resolved.
The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. While they are preliminary, the research adds to the growing concern about HPV’s role in cancer development beyond the cervix or throat.
3 ways to reduce the risk of HPV-linked conditions
1. Get the HPV vaccine
The HPV vaccine is the most effective protection available. In the UK, it is routinely offered to all children aged 12 to 13, but those who missed it – particularly individuals at higher risk – can still get vaccinated. It is most beneficial before sexual activity begins, but remains helpful afterward.
2. Practise safer sex
Using condoms or dental dams during vaginal, anal and oral sex can significantly reduce the risk of transmission, although not entirely, as HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact. Maintaining a mutually monogamous relationship can also help lower exposure risk.
3. Undergo regular screenings
Routine screening, especially for women, is crucial. Pap tests and HPV tests help detect abnormal changes in the cervix early, reducing the chance of progression to cervical cancer. Current guidelines recommend starting screening at age 21 and continuing up to age 65.
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The approach aims to reduce pain, shorten hospital stays, and improve patient outcomes
Glasgow-based CardioPrecision completes first clinical cases of robotic aortic valve replacement (AVR) through a small neck incision.
The procedure was carried out at Cleveland Clinic in the United States.
It uses the company’s CoreVista® Robot Enabling Platform to perform minimally invasive surgery.
The approach aims to reduce pain, shorten hospital stays, and improve patient outcomes.
Early results presented at major international conferences show clinical promise.
Glasgow medtech firm CardioPrecision has successfully performed the world’s first clinical cases of robot-assisted aortic valve replacement (AVR) using a small transcervical incision. This breakthrough could significantly reduce the need for traditional open-heart surgery.
The pioneering operations were carried out at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States, a centre globally recognised for its cardiovascular care. The procedures used CardioPrecision’s proprietary CoreVista® Robot Enabling Platform, offering a new route for accessing the heart valve via the neck rather than the chest.
Building on previous cadaver-based demonstrations of the AVATAR (Advanced Videoscopic Aortic Surgery by Transcervical Approach using Robot-assisted) concept, this marks the company’s transition from proof of concept to successful human application.
A move from concept to clinical reality
In 2023, CardioPrecision demonstrated its AVATAR technique in a series of cadaveric cases in Chicago. The procedures confirmed the feasibility of robot-assisted AVR using the CoreVista® platform. The company, spun out from the NHS with support from InnoScot Health, has since refined the technology for use in live patients.
This vision became a clinical reality in 2025, when a team led by Dr Marijan Koprivanac at Cleveland Clinic completed a small series of successful robot-assisted AVR procedures. The CoreVista® platform allowed surgeons to implant either conventional sutured or newer sutureless heart valves through a small neck incision.
Dr Koprivanac presented early data at the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery meetings in May, noting significant advantages for patients.
He stated:
“Combining the artificial heart valve with this new surgical technology means patients should experience less pain and less time in the hospital. In fact, we believe this may be one of the least invasive surgical heart valve replacement options available.”
Scotland’s role in cardiac surgery innovation
The successful clinical deployment of the CoreVista® system marks a milestone for Scotland’s life sciences sector. CardioPrecision’s long-term vision has been to enable totally endoscopic heart surgery through a neck incision — an ambition now beginning to show tangible patient benefits.
Fraser Sutherland, Chief Medical Officer of CardioPrecision, said:
“The journey to realise our vision – to enable heart surgery to be performed through a small incision in the neck – began over a decade ago. Initially developed as a totally endoscopic procedure, we incorporated robot assistance to harness the dexterity of surgical robotics.”
Chief Executive Officer Ying Sutherland added:
“We are delighted to introduce this groundbreaking procedure to the medical community. Our unwavering commitment to advancing cardiovascular care has driven us to develop this innovative product, which we believe could revolutionise the approach to cardiac surgery.”
Support from InnoScot Health
CardioPrecision was originally formed through support from InnoScot Health, which works with NHS Scotland to bring new healthcare innovations to market. The organisation continues to play a role in the company’s governance and strategic direction.
Graham Watson, Executive Chair of InnoScot Health, commented:
“We congratulate CardioPrecision on its landmark breakthrough in robotic-assisted aortic valve replacement. It represents a vital step in producing improved outcomes through minimally invasive techniques. We are proud to continue supporting its world-leading capabilities.”
Over 7,000 chikungunya cases reported in southern China, mainly Guangdong province
Virus spread rapidly after an imported case was detected in Foshan on 8 July
Authorities enforcing hospital quarantine and door-to-door inspections
Chikungunya is mosquito-borne and not transmitted person to person
CDC issues travel alert; UK yet to release guidance
A mosquito-borne virus is spreading rapidly in China, with more than 7,000 people infected across at least 13 cities in Guangdong province. Authorities are introducing containment measures reminiscent of the Covid pandemic in an effort to stop the virus’s spread—even though chikungunya cannot be transmitted between people.
The outbreak began in Foshan, north of Hong Kong, where an imported case was confirmed on 8 July. The city has since recorded nearly 3,000 cases in just one week, according to Chinese media and international reporting.
What is chikungunya?
Chikungunya is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. It is rarely fatal but can cause high fever, rash, fatigue, nausea, and intense joint pain that may last for months or even years. The World Health Organization describes it as a “debilitating” illness due to the prolonged joint pain it can cause.
The disease was first recorded in southern Tanzania in the 1950s. The name “chikungunya” comes from the Kimakonde language and translates as “that which bends up,” describing the posture of sufferers experiencing severe pain.
How does it spread?
Chikungunya is not contagious between people. It spreads only via mosquito bites. A mosquito becomes infected by biting a person who already has the virus, and then passes it on to others through subsequent bites.
What measures are being taken in China?
In Guangdong, authorities have mandated hospital quarantine for confirmed cases, requiring patients to remain under mosquito nets until they test negative.
Additional actions include:
Door-to-door inspections to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds
Penalties, including fines or charges, for residents who refuse access
Release of mosquito-eating fish into ponds
Use of large “elephant mosquitoes” whose larvae prey on disease-carrying species
Drone surveillance and widespread pesticide spraying
In one district, five households reportedly had their electricity cut off after failing to cooperate with inspections, according to The New York Times.
Is there a vaccine?
Yes. Two vaccines are approved in the United States:
IXCHIQ – a live-attenuated vaccine for adults aged 18 and over
VIMKUNYA – a virus-like particle vaccine for people aged 12 and older
The US CDC recommends the vaccine only for people travelling to outbreak zones.
Is chikungunya present in the UK or US?
Chikungunya is not currently circulating in the UK. In the US, most cases are linked to international travel. No locally acquired infections have been reported since 2019, though travel-related cases are rising. In 2024, 199 cases were reported in the US, and 46 have been recorded so far this year.
Where is the virus most commonly found?
The CDC lists Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines as higher-risk countries. Foshan has been placed under a Level 2 travel alert, with advice to be vaccinated before travel and to take mosquito precautions such as using insect repellent and wearing long clothing.
Pregnant women are advised to avoid travelling to affected areas.
What to expect next
Infections are expected to continue rising in southern China. On Monday, Hong Kong reported its first case—a 12-year-old boy who had recently travelled from mainland China.
Health authorities globally are monitoring the situation, although the UK government has not issued any formal warning so far.