A new study has found that a combination of two drugs could enhance the immune system to treat one of the most common types of cancer in the world, bowel cancer. Also known as colorectal cancer, despite its widespread presence, the treatment options for this condition are limited. What the study specifically found was that this procedure could shrink the tumours caused by this condition by around 60%.

What Are The Drugs Involved

The trial involved the use of two immunotherapy drugs, botancilimab and balstilumab. It is a monoclonal antibody that works to stimulate the body's immune system to attack cancer. The study is a rather significant find, as it’s the first time that a consistent and durable response to immunotherapy has been reported in patients with solid MSS mCRC tumours.

The study was divided into several phases for more than 6 months. In the US trial, around around 101 patients with microsatile stable metastatic colorectal (MSS-mCRC) tumours showed a decrease . Around 61% of the patients experienced tumour shrinkage or stabilization after combined treatment with votancilumab and balstilumab. When it comes to downsides, diarrhea and fatigue were found to be the most common side effects or side effects of this drug.

These results are interesting and open to exploration. To date, immunotherapy has not been effective in patients with CNS-mCRC tumors. This study demonstrates the potential of the combination of botenlimab and balstilimab in the treatment of CNS mCRC, providing new hope for people diagnosed with colon cancer.

What Could This Mean For Bowel Cancer Treatment In The Future

The study is currently in the final stages of clinical trials, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hopes to quickly gain approval for its use because of the importance of this area that affects many people. The efficiency shown demonstrates the potential of botansilimab to contribute to broad antitumor immunity.

All in all, the combination of botensilimab and balstilimab represents a promising new direction in the treatment of colorectal cancer. This breakthrough could improve conditions for many patients worldwide and lights a new hope in the fight against this common disease. The results of this study show the effectiveness of immunotherapy in this field and how its potential to transform cancer treatment can only grow in the years to come.

India's neighbor in the east, Bangladesh, is facing the worst of a crisis in the form of a massive measles outbreak. As per media reports, measles in Bangladesh has taken 545 lives. Facing this growing challenge, the authorities are in complete disarray.

The nation has been struggling with the disease almost from the beginning of the year, but as of now, the situation has worsened and appears as one of the worst outbreaks of measles since the inception of the country in 1971.

According to the local media, the country has a total of 458 suspected deaths and 87 confirmed deaths linked to measles since mid-March of this year. On the other hand, Bangladesh has seen 64,940 suspected measles cases and 8,719 confirmed infections in the same period.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of Bangladesh has said that since the 15th of March, the number of admitted patients with measles was 51,585. This information was directly released by the Health Emergency Operations Center and Control Room, which is under the authority of DGHS.

Why The Measles Cases Are On The Rise In Bangladesh?

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that gaps in immunization worsened during and after the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled the government, leaving large numbers of children unprotected. UNICEF emphasized the need to boost vaccination programmes and provide more funding for health facilities in the future.

Why The Situation Can Go South From Here?

Bakrid or Eid al-Adha is an occasion that is widely celebrated in Bangladesh. This Eid usually sees massive gatherings and festivities. As measles is a highly contagious disease, the chances of spreading the disease during the festivities are very likely. The public health experts and doctors are warning against attending mass gatherings. Other than that, usual long-distance travel and family visits during Eid holidays could spread the disease at an exorbitant pace.

What Is Measles?

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through direct contact or through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is a vaccine-preventable disease that can cause devastating complications, including blindness, pneumonia, encephalitis, and long-term immune dysfunction.

Symptoms usually appear in 7 to 14 days after exposure and may include:

• high fever,
• cough,
• runny nose,
• red eyes,
• rashes across the body.

How To Stay Safe From Measles?

• Maintaining good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing and covering the mouth while coughing or sneezing, helps reduce transmission.

• Avoiding close contact with infected individuals and ensuring proper nutrition to boost immunity are also important.

• Public awareness and community health programs play a crucial role in prevention.

When it comes to weight loss, many try their own ways to drop the extra kilos. While portion control is advised, there are many who turn to starvation just to drop the extra kilos. In 2016, Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize for his findings on autophagy. These findings facilitated a better understanding of conditions like dementia and Parkinson's disease. Autophagy refers to natural regeneration, which occurs at a cellular level. It reduces the chances of contracting diseases while also increasing lifespan.

Since then, drugmakers have been working towards coming up with a drug that can stimulate the process; wellness and diet experts have been willing to find a way to naturally induce the process by restricting carbs, fasting, and engaging in high-intensity exercise.

What do scientists have to say?

Experiments were also conducted on mice, and it was found that the ones who were put on genetic tools, fasting, or drugs had a tendency to live longer and remain in better overall shape. However, it is still unclear how the same effect can be replicated in humans. In mice, for instance, the effects of fasting on the brain are evident within 24 hours. In other body parts, such as the liver, the effects occur more quickly. Despite knowing that fasting is good for health, experts are unsure about the ideal duration of fasting for maximum health benefits. Researchers say that fasting does not induce autophagy, but it does have other health benefits.

What is autophagy?

Autophagy is derived from "self" and "phagein," which means "to eat." The process involves cells degrading and recycling their components. It provides fuel for energy and building blocks for cell renewal. Post-infection, it can destroy viruses and bacteria. Cells use the process to get rid of damaged organelles and proteins, and it helps counteract the adverse effects of ageing.

Autophagy was discovered in the 1960s, but its importance was recognised after Yoshinori Ohsumi's research. Researchers said that what they discovered protected against diseases like Huntington's, Parkinson's, and some forms of dementia. It also seemed beneficial in the context of infection control, along with protecting against excessive inflammation. New lifestyle books now suggest that the process can be switched on by making changes to diet and lifestyle or by observing a fast.

The impact on muscle mass

A book titled Glow 15 by Naomi Whittel shares a 15-day programme including 16-hour fasts three times a week. It shares a plan that reduces protein intake on some days, involves eating carbs later, and combines all this with high-intensity exercise. In the basic tests themselves, volunteers at Jacksonville University in Florida experienced several health benefits. Some of the participants lost about 3.5 kilos in 15 days. Others saw improvements in lean muscle mass, blood pressure, and a reduction in fine lines. Researchers said that none of these changes could cause harm to health.

Is fasting safe for all?

Researchers note that fasting too much is not a good idea for anyone. Before making drastic or major changes to lifestyle or diet, it is advised to check with a doctor first. Experts look at autophagy with optimism, and studies show that proteins together form clumps in the nerve cells of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients.

US President Donald Trump is expected to undergo his annual medical check-up today – his third in his second term as the oldest American President.

Trump, who turns 80 next month, will see his doctors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on May 26, the White House had said in a brief statement.

The White House added that the visit will involve “routine annual dental and medical assessments as part of his regular preventive health care” but did not offer additional details on the medical exam.

His previous annual check-up was in April 2025. In October, he underwent another check-up.

“You have five doctors sitting there and … the questions are very easy at the beginning, then pretty easy, then pretty hard by the time you get to the end, there are not a lot of people in the room who can get them, believe me,” Trump informed the crowd at a rally in New York state last week, about the impending test, The Times reported.

“So the first question was, you have a bear, a snake, an elephant, and a horse. Name the horse. That’s the horse. The second question is a little tougher,” he said.

“Toward the end, they had a question like, pick a number, sir, any number. OK. 203. Multiply times nine, divided by two, add 1324, subtract 1292. Sir, multiply it out one more time by 19. What is the answer, sir? I got it right … and the one doctor said, I’ve been doing this test for 20 years, I’ve never seen anybody ace it. … So I’ve taken it, and I’ve aced it all three times, I’ll tell you, because it is a positive thing.”

Trump’s Health Checkups

Also read: ‘Sea Or See?’ Donald Trump's Remark Sparks Fresh Cognitive Health Speculation

The first visit was reported last April, when Trump had a check-up after noticing what the White House described as “mild swelling” in his lower legs. Tests by the White House medical unit found that Trump had chronic venous insufficiency, a condition common in older adults that causes blood to pool in the veins.

During the medical exam in October, which the White House called a “semiannual physical,” he also received his yearly flu shot and a COVID-19 booster vaccine. He later told The Wall Street Journal that he underwent advanced imaging on his heart and abdomen in October as preventive screening.

The upcoming evaluation follows two other recent visits to a local dentist near his estate in Florida, where Trump often spends his weekends.

Trump In 'Excellent Health'

The president’s health has been the subject of intense scrutiny — ranging from his mental state to visible bruising around his hands.

Trump — who has frequently criticized former President Joe Biden over age-related health and fitness issues — has recently remarked on how good he feels despite his age.

Read More: Vanessa Trump Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Trump said he feels the same as he did 50 years ago. “I feel literally the same,” he said at an Oval Office event. “I don’t know why. It’s not because I eat the best foods,” AP reported.

He also joked about his exercise regimen, saying that he works out “like about one minute a day, max.”

According to a White House summary of his previous annual medical examination in April last year, Trump was found to be in “excellent cognitive and physical health”.

“A comprehensive neurological examination revealed no abnormalities in his mental status, cranial nerves, motor and sensory functions, reflexes, gait, and balance. Cognitive function, assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), was normal with a score of 30 out of 30,” his White House physician, Captain Sean Barbabella, wrote.

There were tests for depression and anxiety, and Trump recorded a score “within the normal range for both,” although numbers were not given.

Scans in October also demonstrated that Trump is in “excellent overall health”.