e-SQUARE, January 2026

Features

Sorbitol !

Opioids receptors !

Influenza !

Gut bacteria!

GLP-1 agonist !

Dementia !

Products of SQUARE Pharmaceuticals PLC.

EDITORIAL TEAM

A S M Shawkat Ali

MBBS, M. Phil

Rezaul Hasan Khan

MBBS, MPH, MSc, Fellow IPM

Rubyeat Adnan

MBBS, MPH

Mushfiqur Rahman

MBBS

Sm Fuad Hasan

MBBS

EDITORIAL

Dear Doctor,

Welcome to our online healthcare bulletin e- SQUARE !

In this issue, we focused on some interesting features like -
"Sorbitol!", "Opioids receptors!", "Influenza !", "Gut bacteria !", " GLP-1 agonist !", "Dementia !".

In our regular feature, we have some products information of SQUARE Pharmaceuticals PLC. as well.

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On behalf of the management of SQUARE, we wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous life.

Yours sincerely,

Editorial Team

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The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of its editor or SQUARE Pharmaceuticals PLC.

Sorbitol !
Hepatic Effects of Sorbitol as a Sugar-Free Sweetener
Sugar-free sweeteners are often seen as a healthier choice than regular sugar. However, new research suggests that one common sweetener, sorbitol, may still harm the liver. A study published in Science Signaling shows that sorbitol can act in the body in ways similar to sugar, especially fructose. Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol found in many “sugar-free” products. It is also naturally present in some fruits. Researchers found that sorbitol can be made inside the gut after eating, even in people without diabetes. When blood sugar levels rise after a meal, the gut can produce sorbitol, which then travels to the liver. In the liver, sorbitol is converted into fructose or similar substances, which can stress liver cells. Gut bacteria play an important protective role. Some bacteria can break down sorbitol into harmless substances before it reaches the liver. However, if a person eats too much sorbitol or sugar, these bacteria may not be able to keep up. When this happens, more sorbitol reaches the liver and may increase the risk of fatty liver disease. In conclusion, “sugar-free” does not always mean risk-free. Excess use of sugar substitutes like sorbitol may still affect liver health. Moderation and a balanced diet remain important for protecting the liver.
SOURCE: January, 2026 , Science Daily	Return to top

Opioids receptors !
A New Way of How Opioids Receptors Work has been Discovered
Scientists are making major progress in understanding how new opioid compounds interact with the body to relieve pain. Their work is raising optimism that future pain medications could deliver relief without the life-threatening side effects associated with current opioids. The studies focus on a group of experimental pain-relieving compounds that act on mu opioid receptors. These receptors are proteins found on nerve cells that reduce pain signals when activated by opioids such as morphine. However, activating these receptors also triggers serious side effects. Drugs like morphine can slow breathing, a dangerous effect that contributes to overdose deaths. Although the research is not expected to produce a new medication right away, it significantly improves scientific understanding of how receptors function. When opioids bind to a receptor, they trigger a sequence of events inside the cell that leads to pain relief and side effects. Long-term use of drugs such as morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl often results in tolerance and dangerous breathing suppression. The researchers discovered that the earliest step in this signaling process can move in reverse. Some compounds appear to favor this backward reaction instead of pushing the process forward. The newly studied molecules are not considered drug candidates. At higher doses, they still suppress breathing and have not undergone testing for toxicity or other opioid-related side effects. Even so, they provide valuable guidance for future drug design. The research could influence drug development beyond opioids. Other receptors, including the serotonin 1A receptor, may also be activated in a reverse direction.
SOURCE: January, 2026 , Science Daily	Return to top

Influenza !
Influenza, not the antiviral medication, is linked to serious neuropsychiatric events
For many years, doctors questioned whether a commonly prescribed antiviral drug for children with the flu was responsible for serious neuropsychiatric symptoms, or whether those effects were actually caused by the infection itself. Reports of seizures, confusion, and hallucinations fueled uncertainty among medical professionals and families alike. New research challenges that long-held concern about oseltamivir. The study, published in JAMA Neurology, found that children who received oseltamivir during a flu illness were less likely to experience serious neuropsychiatric events. These included conditions such as seizures, altered mental status, and hallucination. The study identified three key findings that together point to influenza as the main driver of these complications. Influenza infection itself was linked to a higher rate of neuropsychiatric events when compared with children who did not have the flu, regardless of whether oseltamivir was used. Among children who did have influenza, those treated with oseltamivir experienced roughly a 50% reduction in neuropsychiatric events. Children without influenza who received oseltamivir as a preventive measure showed the same rate of events as children with no flu exposure. The findings will help reassure caregivers and healthcare providers about the safety of oseltamivir and its role in reducing flu-related complications in children.
SOURCE: January, 2026 , Science Daily	Return to top

Gut bacteria !
The secret to human intelligence might be linked to our gut
A new study shows that changes in the gut microbiome can directly influence how the brain works, revealing a powerful connection between microbes and brain activity. Humans have the largest brain size relative to body size of any primate, yet scientists still know surprisingly little about how mammals with large brains evolved to meet the enormous energy demands needed to grow and maintain them. Researchers have now provided the first direct experimental evidence that the gut microbiome helps shape differences in brain function across primate species. The new findings showed that gut microbes from larger-brained primates produce more metabolic energy when transferred into mice. This extra energy is essential because brains require a great deal of fuel to develop and operate. In the current study, the researchers went a step further by examining the brain itself. They wanted to know whether gut microbes from primates with different relative brain sizes could actually change how the brains of host mice functioned. In mice given microbes from large-brain primates, scientists found higher activity in genes linked to energy production and synaptic plasticity, the process that allows the brain to learn and adapt. These same pathways were much less active in mice that received microbes from smaller-brained primates. The findings could have important clinical implications, particularly for understanding the origins of certain psychological disorders and viewing brain development through an evolutionary lens.
SOURCE: January, 2026 , Science Daily	Return to top

GLP-1 agonist !
How GLP-1 agonist Weight-Loss Drugs Work in the Brain
Medicines such as Semaglutide & Tirzepatide are becoming very popular for treating diabetes and helping people lose weight. These drugs work by copying a natural hormone in the body called GLP-1, which is released after eating. This hormone sends signals to the brain that reduce hunger and help people feel full for longer. New research shows that GLP-1 drugs affect several important areas of the brain, not just the hunger center. Scientists have found that these medicines also act on brain regions that control nausea, pleasure-based eating, behavior, and even thirst. This explains why many people taking these drugs eat less, crave fewer “junk foods,” and sometimes feel nauseated or less thirsty. One part of the brain called the area postrema, also known as the brain’s vomiting center, appears to be responsible for both weight loss and nausea. This means the same brain pathway may cause helpful effects as well as unwanted side effects. Another brain area, the amygdala, is involved in reducing pleasure-driven eating by lowering dopamine, a chemical linked to reward and cravings. In animal studies, researchers found that combining low doses of a GLP-1 drug with another hormone, oxytocin, led to significant weight loss without causing nausea. This raises hope that future treatments may reduce side effects while keeping the benefits. Overall, these discoveries suggest that GLP-1 drugs work through complex brain networks. Understanding these pathways may lead to safer and more effective treatments for obesity in the future.
SOURCE: January, 2026 , Science Daily	Return to top

Dementia !
Risk of Dementia
New research suggests that our daily body clock, also called the circadian rhythm, may play an important role in brain health as we age. Circadian rhythm controls our regular patterns of sleep, activity, hormone release, and body temperature. When this rhythm is strong, people tend to sleep and wake at consistent times and stay active during the day. A large study published in Neurology followed more than 2,000 older adults who did not have dementia at the start. Participants wore small monitors for about 12 days to track their daily activity and rest. Over the next three years, researchers found that people with weaker or more irregular daily activity patterns were much more likely to develop dementia. The study also showed that timing matters. People whose energy and activity peaked later in the day had a higher risk of dementia compared to those who were most active earlier in the afternoon. A later activity peak was linked to about a 45% higher risk. Researchers believe disrupted body clocks may affect sleep quality, increase inflammation, and interfere with the brain’s ability to clear harmful proteins linked to dementia. Although the study does not prove cause and effect, it suggests that maintaining regular sleep and activity routines may help protect brain health. Future research may explore whether light exposure and lifestyle changes can lower dementia risk.
SOURCE: January, 2026 , Science Daily	Return to top

Products of SQUARE Pharmaceuticals PLC.

	Product	Antiscar^TM
	Generic Name	Extractum Cepae +Heparin +Allantoin
	Strength	100 mg+ 0.278 mg+10 mg
	Dosage form	Gel
	Therapeutic Category	Antiscar
	Product	Nomi^TM
	Generic Name	Zolmitriptan
	Strength	2.5 mg/spray
	Dosage form	Nasal Spray
	Therapeutic Category	Antimigraine
	Product	Magnide^TM
	Generic Name	Magnesium Oxide
	Strength	365 mg
	Dosage form	Tablet
	Therapeutic Category	Mineral

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Healthcare online	Keeping you up-to-date
*VOL. 24 ISSUE: 1 January 2026*	Medical Services Department **SQUARE Pharmaceuticals PLC.**