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.

COVID-19 is seeing a renewed uptick in India, with 339 infections reported between July 1 and July 16, according to the Andhra Pradesh Health Department.

Andhra Pradesh has reported four COVID-related deaths and 19 active cases, prompting heightened surveillance after officials identified the Omicron RF.5 sublineage in infected patients in the state.

The presence of RF.5 sublineage in Andhra was confirmed through genome sequencing of patient samples from YSR Kadapa district at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.

COVID-19 Cases Reported

According to the Andhra Pradesh Health Department states that reported COVID infections fromJuly 1-16 include:

• Kerala: 115
• Karnataka: 64
• Maharashtra: 43
• Tamil Nadu: 39
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 18
• Delhi: 18
• Rajasthan: 12
• Other states: Remaining cases

What Is Omicron RF.5?

RF.5 is an Omicron sublineage identified through genome sequencing. The World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring the variant after it was reported in higher numbers in Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia, prompting Indian health authorities to closely track its spread.

According to the Andhra Pradesh government, RF.5 evolved naturally from the Omicron JN.1 lineage through the LF.7 and PY.1.1.1 sublineages.

Officials said it is not a recombinant variant, meaning it evolved within a single genetic lineage rather than through the combination of two different variants.

Is RF.5 Dangerous? What Are The Key Symptoms?

Based on current evidence, Dr. Vishnuvardhan said there is no indication that RF.5 causes more severe disease than other Omicron subvariants currently in circulation, although continued surveillance remains important.

The symptoms of RF.5 are similar to those seen with other Omicron variants and include:

• Sore throat
• Cough
• Fever
• Headache
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Fatigue
• Body aches

Key Spike Mutations In RF.5

In a post on X, Dr. Vipin M. Vashishtha, Member of the WHO Vaccine Safety Net (VSN), said RF.5 carries several spike mutations that may influence how the virus behaves:

• K478E and Q485E: May affect antibody binding.
• V152I and Q79E: May contribute to immune evasion.
• N501Y: May increase ACE2 receptor binding.
• D614G: May increase infectivity.

However, Dr. Vashishtha said these mutations alone should not be considered reliable predictors of disease severity. RF.5 continues to be monitored through WHO genomic surveillance.

Should You Be Concerned?

According to health officials, there is currently no cause for alarm.

• RF.5 is a naturally evolved descendant of the JN.1 lineage.
• There is no evidence that it causes more severe illness than other circulating Omicron variants.
• Its symptoms are similar to those of recent Omicron subvariants.
• Health authorities will continue genomic surveillance to monitor its spread.

How to Stay Safe

Health officials advise people to:

• Wear a mask in crowded indoor settings.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Ensure good indoor ventilation.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination.

Amid the ongoing Cyclospora parasite outbreak linked to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, the produce company has recalled shredded iceberg lettuce distributed across 27 US states over possible contamination concerns.

The outbreak, which has been under investigation for more than a month, has sickened over 5,000 people across at least 34 states, causing widespread cases of diarrhea.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initially linked the outbreak to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms to Taco Bell restaurants in five states earlier this week. However, a recall notice issued by the company late last week indicated that the potentially contaminated lettuce had a much wider distribution.

Taylor Farms said it is "actively removing" the affected products, has suspended distribution of iceberg lettuce imported from Central Mexico to the United States, and is no longer receiving products from the implicated lot.

"Consumers who have purchased the recalled iceberg lettuce should discard it immediately and not consume it," the company said.

States Where Taylor Farms Recalled Lettuce

Also read: Cyclospora Parasite Outbreak: Why You Should Avoid Packaged Salads and Go For Loose Greens

According to Taylor Farms, the recalled shredded iceberg lettuce was distributed between June 29 and July 16 in:

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The recall notice includes product descriptions, brand abbreviations and use-by dates but does not identify specific retailers, restaurants or product names.

"At this time, Taylor Fresh Foods has not publicly provided distribution information or a list of customers who received the product that was voluntarily removed from the market," the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.

The FDA also noted that an earlier lettuce sample from Taylor Farms initially tested positive for Cyclospora but later determined the result "should be considered a false positive."

"FDA and state partners continue to collect and analyze product samples," the agency said, adding that no confirmed positive samples have been identified so far.

Taylor Farms also said on social media that none of its Taylor Farms-branded salad kits are associated with the outbreak. Most of the recalled lettuce was sold in large bags to food-service operations, including restaurants, with many products blended with romaine lettuce.

Further, media reports stated that several companies have begun removing affected products from stores and supply chains.

The list includes

• Walmart,
• Sysco,
• US Foods,
• Jack in the Box,
• Taco Bell.

Food Safety Concerns

Food safety experts said that additional distributors and restaurants may also have received the recalled lettuce, even if they have not publicly disclosed it.

The FDA said Taylor Farms "has not publicly provided distribution information or a list of customers who received the product that was voluntarily removed from the market." Current FDA regulations do not require companies to disclose that information.

Sandra B. Eskin, chief executive of Stop Foodborne Illness, said the lack of transparency can limit the effectiveness of recalls. She added, "The whole point is to quickly identify the product and make sure no one else eats it."

How To Reduce Your Risk?

Health officials recommend:

• Avoid eating shredded iceberg lettuce
• Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly under clean running water, even if they are labeled pre-washed.
• Follow safe food-handling practices.
• Stay updated on food recalls and outbreak alerts.
• Contact a healthcare provider if symptoms develop.

Experts also recommend choosing whole heads of lettuce instead of bagged greens. Remove the outer leaves, wash the inner leaves thoroughly under running water, and cook produce whenever possible, as heat is the most effective way to kill Cyclospora.

Watching television for long hours can do more than contributing to a sedentary lifestyle. It could also leave a significant impact on the brain.

According to a new study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, people who watched television very often during midlife later showed smaller brain volumes in regions involved in memory and thinking, along with greater signs of damage linked to dementia and stroke.

Researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) found that the negative brain changes were unique to passive television viewing and were not simply the result of spending long hours sitting.

Passive TV Watching Could Negatively Alter Brain Structures

The researchers studied data from approximately 1,700 adults enrolled in the long-running Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

Participants, whose average age was 53 when their television habits were assessed between 1987 and 1989, reported how frequently they watched television and how much of their workday they spent sitting.

More than two decades later, participants underwent MRI brain scans.

Compared with people who said they "never" or "seldom" watched television, those who watched TV "very often" had:

• Smaller brain volumes in regions associated with memory formation and early Alzheimer's disease.
• Reduced frontal and occipital lobe volumes.
• Greater white matter hyperintensity volumes, a marker of small blood vessel disease in the brain that is linked to cognitive decline, stroke and dementia.

These findings were observed even after researchers accounted for physical activity levels, body mass index, diabetes, smoking and alcohol consumption.

Also read: 10,000 Brain Scans Reveal Why Memory Declines With Age, Challenging Long-Held Theory

More Harmful Than Just Sitting

One of the study's most striking findings was that just sitting for long periods did not produce the same harmful results.

People who spent long periods sitting at work actually showed larger frontal and occipital brain regions and lower white matter damage, suggesting that mentally engaging sedentary activities may affect the brain differently from passive leisure activities like television viewing.

Researchers also observed that the associations were observed more in men, although further studies are needed to understand the reason behind.

"For years we've focused on how much people sit. Our findings suggest we should also pay attention to what they're doing while they're sitting," said David Raichlen, professor of biological sciences and anthropology at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and senior author of the study.

Study corresponding author Natan Feter, a postdoctoral scholar in USC Dornsife's Human and Evolutionary Biology program, said the findings could eventually reshape public health advice.

He said, "We frequently encourage the public not to spend too much time sitting down, but experts may want to expand that recommendation to encompass the activities done while sitting, since those seem to have distinct impacts on brain health."

The researchers cautioned that the study on television viewing was based on self-reported questionnaires, which may be less accurate than objective tracking. In addition, participants did not undergo brain scans at the beginning of the study, making it difficult to directly measure changes over time.