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.

Wondering when you are most at risk of having a heart attack?

Dr Srihari Naidu, a triple board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology and cardiology professor at New York Medical College says that the winter season is when we're most susceptible to attacks.

He told HealthandMe: "Major cardiovascular studies have shown a link between cold exposure, including the drop in temperature during the winter months, and risk of heart attack. While it’s hard to pin point the exact reason, it is clear that cold exposure does make the heart work harder."

Heart attacks are one of the leading causes of death in the country. Four Indians experience a heart attack every minute, with one in four dying of the cause.

Experts have also noticed a rising trend of nearly 50 percent of heart attack patients being under the age of 40, with half of all heart attacks in Indian men occurring under 50.

Why Are Your More Likely To Have Attack In Winters?

According to Dr Naidu, falling temperatures can cause arteries to narrow, reduce oxygen flow and force the heart to work harder. This can lead to the thickening of blood and with time, cause a heart attack.

"For one thing, cold causes all the arteries in the body to constrict, so that more blood flow is in the central parts of the body like the gut and less on the surface where heat can be lost through the air. While this prevents hypothermia, it makes the heart work harder and need more oxygen itself. In addition, cold causes blood to be thicker, a phenomenon that could increase the risk of blood clots.

"This combination of the heart working harder, needing more oxygen and the blood being more prone to clotting results in a higher rate of heart attacks. In addition to this, people who already have blockages will experience more chest pain (angina) in the cold due to the heart working harder, and if this is tied to extra exertion, that risk could skyrocket."

Additionally, Dr Tamil Selvan Muthusamy, Consultant Cardiologist at Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur (CVSKL) told HealthandMe: "Extreme pollution, winter illnesses like the flu can cause inflammation that can trigger heart problems and holidays activities can put extra strain on the heart when it's already working overtime from the cold."

Apart from this, Dr Y. Vijayachandra Reddy, Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road Chennai, also noted that hypertension, chest infections and excessive holiday drinking as well as smoking can worsen the risk of heart attack during this season.

He shared with the publication: "Chest infections and throat infections are quite common in the winter season. Intercurrent flu or other chest infections can cause an inflammatory milieu, which can lead to more ruptures of the cholesterol or atherosclerotic plaques in the blood vessels of the heart, leading to sudden precipitation of heart attacks.

"The holiday syndrome, wherein in the winter season, many holidays, weekends and people can take recourse to excessive recreational use of alcohol or smoking, which can lead to trouble."

Who Is Most At Risk?

Dr Naidu warns people who have a history of heart disease and other chronic conditions may be most at risk of having a heart attack and should attempt to maintain their body temperature to keep their heart safe and functioning.

"Taken together, people should understand that their baseline risk of a heart attack goes up significantly in the cold weather, especially if they have risk factors for heart disease such as smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes or hypertension, and should take precautions or simply avoid exercise or exertion in the cold weather.

"If any exertion is needed, dressing warmly to make sure the heart doesn’t have to work so hard to maintain body temperature should reduce risk. Most importantly, though, listen to your body, especially in the cold weather, as just being in the cold is a significant stress especially as we get older," he explained to the publication.

To prevent infection-caused heart attacks, Dr Reddy advises: "One of the protective mechanisms is for the vulnerable population to take annual flu vaccine and a lifetime pneumococcal vaccine."

Coronary Artery Disease: The Silent Killer

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most common illnesses that can cause a heart attack in people. It develops over years and has no clear signs and symptoms apart from a heart attack.

The illness begins due to a buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances known as plaque in and on the artery walls.

Over time, this can cause narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries and block the supply of oxygen-rich blood to heart which can lead chest pain (angina), shortness of breath and ultimately, heart attacks.

Typically, those above the age of 45, having a biological family member with heart disease, lack of sleep, smoking, consuming saturated fats along with other autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of developing CAD.

Nearly one in 10 Indian adults suffer from CAD and about two million people die from the disease annually. Apart from this, about 18 to 20 million American adults aged 20 and older are also affected about the disease.

Simple changes to school lunches may help reduce junk food intake by at least 1,000 calories in children each day, a study shows.

Researchers from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, have discovered that reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) that are rich in salt and sugar among adolescents can prevent future lifestyle diseases.

Ultra-processed foods are defined in four categories, ranging from least to most processed:

• Unprocessed or minimally processed foods like fruit, vegetables, milk or fish.
• Processed culinary ingredients like salt, sugar, olive oil and butter.
• Processed foods, such as jam, pickles or canned fruit.
• Ultra-processed foods, like energy drinks, sodas, sugary cereals, packaged chips, cookies and instant noodles

What Did The Research Find?

In this study, the scientists conducted a controlled trial across 12 government schools in Chandigarh, focusing on students of Class 8 and their parents. Over a six-month period, adolescents attended 11 structured sessions on nutrition awareness, food choices and behavior change and parents were given one focused educational session to encourage healthier food environments at home.

Additionally, the researchers also assessed dietary patterns in children using two non-consecutive 24-hour food recalls at the beginning and end of the intervention.

The scientists found that students who completed the six month program were consuming over 1,000 calories merely from junk food such as packaged snacks, sugary beverages and fast food and only 270 calories from other processed foods, signaling a broader shift away from unhealthy diets.

They noted: "This suggests that reducing unhealthy consumption is easier than building healthy eating habits, and both require different strategies."

Does Parental Involvement Make Any Difference?

Researchers also found that despite parental intervention, eating patterns showed little change, highlighting the role schools can play as frontline institutions in preventing lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

“Low-cost, scalable education and behavior-change strategies in schools could have a long-term impact on public health,” the team said, adding that such programs are particularly relevant in countries where healthcare systems face increasing pressure from non-communicable diseases.

Moreover, the study showed that students did not significantly increase fruit or home-cooked food intake even when junk food consumption fell, indicating that cutting unhealthy food is easier than building healthy habits.

Why Are UPFs Bad For You?

Apart from being linked to higher risks of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart issues, UPFs have also been found to worsen cognitive function, attention issues, anxiety and depression in children as additives and inflammation may disrupt brain pathways.

Furthermore, additives, emulsifiers, and nanoparticles and low fiber content can disrupt the gut microbiome, affecting digestion and immunity as well as overall growth.

UPFs also reduce satiety, because industrial processing alters their structure, making them softer and easier to eat and digest. This leads to a faster rate of consumption, which can override natural fullness signals and cause people to overeat.

The scientists concluded that schools could become frontline institutions for preventing future lifestyle diseases, using low-cost education and behaviour strategies, the team said.

A newly developed “smart pill” that can confirm whether a medication has actually been swallowed could one day change how doctors track prescription use. Created by researchers at MIT along with partner institutions, the technology was described in a study published in Nature Communications. These electronic capsules are designed to send out a wireless signal once ingested and then safely dissolve inside the stomach over the course of about a week.

While the idea sounds straightforward, the implications are significant. Research shows that nearly half of Americans living with chronic illnesses do not take long-term medications exactly as prescribed. Below is what you need to know about how this smart pill works and why it matters.

What Is The New Smart Pill Designed By MIT Researchers?

In a development aimed at improving medication adherence, engineers at MIT have created a pill that can confirm when it has been swallowed. The reporting mechanism can be built into standard pill capsules and includes a biodegradable radio frequency antenna. After transmitting a signal to confirm ingestion, most of the pill’s components dissolve in the stomach. A tiny radio frequency chip then passes naturally through the digestive system and exits the body.

According to MIT News, researchers believe this technology could be particularly helpful for transplant recipients who rely on immunosuppressive drugs, as well as patients being treated long term for infections such as HIV or tuberculosis.

“The idea is to make sure this helps people receive the treatment they need so they can achieve the best possible health outcomes,” Giovanni Traverso, associate professor of medical engineering and senior author of the study, told MIT News.

The New Smart Pill Can Communicate

Not taking medication as prescribed remains a major public health problem, contributing to hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths and adding billions of dollars to healthcare costs every year. To address this, Traverso’s team has previously developed capsules that can stay in the digestive system for days or even weeks, releasing medicine at scheduled intervals. However, not every drug can be delivered in this way.

“We know that systems designed to stay in the body longer can improve adherence,” Traverso explained. “But for some medications, altering the pill isn’t an option. So the question is what else we can do to support patients and help healthcare providers ensure medications are actually being taken.”

In this latest study, the researchers shifted their focus toward better tracking of medication use. They turned to radio frequency technology, which is safe for humans and easy to detect from outside the body. This allowed them to design a capsule that sends a signal once it has been swallowed, giving doctors a clearer picture of whether patients are taking their medicine.

The Smart Pill Will Be Using Radio Frequency

The capsule is designed to keep its signal blocked until it reaches the stomach. After ingestion, stomach fluids dissolve the outer coating, activating the radio frequency signal that confirms the pill has been swallowed. The remaining materials then break down safely inside the body.

To test the system, researchers conducted experiments in pigs, whose digestive systems are similar to those of humans. The study found that the capsules consistently transmitted signals after ingestion and dissolved without leaving behind harmful chemical residue, according to MIT News.

Looking ahead, researchers told the New York Post that they hope to develop a wearable device for humans that could receive the signal and automatically share the information with healthcare providers. Still, widespread use is not imminent. Despite encouraging early findings, the smart pills will need thorough testing in human trials to confirm both safety and effectiveness before they can receive approval.