Low-dose CT chest scans could help detect pneumonia in at-risk patients while exposing them to only small amounts of radiation, a new study has found. The research, published in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging, shows that ultra-low-dose scans can effectively detect pneumonia in patients with compromised immune systems, enabling doctors to treat the infection before it becomes life-threatening. According to the researchers, these scans expose patients to just 2% of the radiation dose used in a standard CT scan.

"This study paves the way for safer, AI-driven imaging that reduces radiation exposure while preserving diagnostic accuracy,” lead researcher Dr Maximiliano Klug, a radiologist with the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, said in a news release. He added that CT scans are the gold standard for detecting pneumonia but there are concerns regarding the risk posed by repeated exposure to radiation. There is a solution- ultra-low-dose CT scan. However, the problem is that these scans can be grainy and hard to read, researchers said.

Study Gives Solution To This

To overcome that, Klug's team developed an AI program that could help "de-noise" low-dose scans, making them sharper and easier to read. Between September 2020 and December 2022, 54 patients with compromised immune systems who had fevers underwent a pair of chest CT scans -- a normal dose scan and an ultra-low-dose scan. The AI program cleaned up the low-dose scan, and then both sets of images were given to a pair of radiologists for assessment. Radiologists had 100% accuracy in detecting pneumonia and other lung problems with the AI-cleaned low-dose scans, but 91% to 98% accuracy in examining the scans that hadn’t been improved through AI, results show.

"This pilot study identified infection with a fraction of the radiation dose," Klug said. "This approach could drive larger studies and ultimately reshape clinical guidelines, making denoised ultra-low dose CT the new standard for young immunocompromised patients.

How Can You Detect Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes the air sacs in the lungs to fill with fluid or pus and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The symptoms can range from milk to severe, which includes:

Coughing with or without cough

Fever

Chills

Trouble breathing

Chest pain, especially when breathing deeply or coughing

Sweating or chills

Rapid heart rate

Loss of appetite

Bluish skin, lips, and nails

Confusion.

How to detect Pneumonia in coughing newborns and toddlers?

Pneumonia can severely affect newborns and young children as their lungs are comparatively more sensitive. As per Dr Goyal, young children can cough for various reasons including seasonal infections and tonsillitis, which is very common in this age group. But if they look visibly irritable and have poor sleep patterns, then parents must reach out to an expert. "I am not saying that parents must visit a hospital but any local paediatrician would be able to detect pneumonia in your kid.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to Replimune's Tudriqev for the treatment of advanced refractory melanoma—a deadly form of skin cancer that continues to grow or spread despite treatment with standard immunotherapy drugs such as PD-1 inhibitors.

The approval comes after the FDA rejected the therapy twice over concerns related to the quality of clinical data.

The latest decision was supported by clinical trial results showing that 24% of patients responded to treatment, with responses lasting a median of 14.1 months. The FDA also considered input from clinical experts and patient advocates, who highlighted the urgent need for new treatment options for patients with refractory melanoma.

What Is Tudriqev?

Tudriqev is an oncolytic viral immunotherapy based on a genetically modified herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The virus is engineered to selectively infect and destroy cancer cells while stimulating the body's immune system to recognize and attack the tumour.

The therapy is approved in combination with nivolumab for adults with unresectable melanoma that:

• Has spread or cannot be safely removed through surgery.
• Has progressed after treatment with a PD-1-blocking antibody-based regimen.

"For patients with advanced melanoma that has stopped responding to PD-1 blocking therapy, the prognosis is often devastating, and options have been far too limited. Clinicians managing these patients know this urgency firsthand," said Karim Mikhail, Acting Director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER).

Also read: Narcolepsy: US FDA Approves First-Ever Pill That Targets Root Cause of Rare Sleep Disorder

How Does Tudriqev Work?

Tudriqev is injected directly into tumours, where the modified virus replicates inside cancer cells, causing them to rupture. At the same time, it activates the immune system to identify and attack cancer cells throughout the body.

When combined with nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, Tudriqev may help restore an anti-tumour immune response in patients whose melanoma no longer responds to checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

How Is The Treatment Given?

Tudriqev is administered once every two weeks for eight consecutive doses.

• The dose is determined by tumour size.
• A lower concentration is used for the first injection, followed by a higher concentration for the remaining doses.
• Nivolumab is administered intravenously starting in week three of treatment.

Replimune has announced a list price of $450,000 per course of therapy, before rebates and discounts.

Clinical trial results

The FDA based its approval on an open-label, multiregional, single-arm trial involving 140 adults with Stage IIIB, IIIC, or IV unresectable melanoma whose disease progressed after at least eight consecutive weeks of prior anti-PD-1 therapy.

Among the 91 evaluable patients:

• 24% achieved an objective response.
• The median duration of response was 14.1 months.

A confirmatory Phase III study is currently underway to verify the drug's clinical benefit. Replimune expects results in 2030.

Safety and Side Effects

The most common side effects reported in more than 10% of patients included:

• Fatigue
• Fever (pyrexia)
• Infections
• Chills
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Injection-site reactions
• Headache
• Cough
• Influenza-like illness
• Rash
• Shortness of breath (dyspnoea)
• Bleeding (haemorrhage)
• Oedema
• Abdominal pain

The FDA also warned of:

• The risk of accidental transmission of herpes infection to close contacts.
• Development or reactivation of herpes infection in treated patients.
• Injection-related complications.

About melanoma

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and the fifth most common cancer in the United States. An estimated 105,000 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2025, with the disease causing nearly 8,500 deaths each year.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are the current standard treatment for advanced melanoma, but about half of patients either do not respond or eventually develop resistance, underscoring the need for new treatment options such as Tudriqev.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Orzeyful (oveporexton), the first oral treatment for adults with narcolepsy type 1 that targets the underlying cause of the disorder rather than just managing its symptoms.

Developed by Takeda, Orzeyful is the first approved therapy to act on the orexin system, restoring the signaling lost in people with narcolepsy type 1. Existing treatments primarily help control symptoms such as excessive daytime sleepiness or cataplexy but do not address the disease mechanism.

What Is Narcolepsy Type 1?

Narcolepsy type 1 is a rare, lifelong neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to regulate sleep and wakefulness. It impacts about 1 in 2,000 people in the United States.

The condition occurs when brain cells that produce orexin—a neurotransmitter essential for maintaining wakefulness, regulating sleep, and controlling muscle tone—are lost.

Common symptoms include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Cataplexy (sudden muscle weakness triggered by strong emotions)
• Sleep paralysis
• Hallucinations during the transition between sleep and wakefulness
• Disrupted nighttime sleep

Also read: FDA Approves Moderna's First mRNA Flu Vaccine, Marking A Milestone In Influenza Prevention

How Does Orzeyful Work?

Orzeyful is a twice-daily oral tablet that activates the orexin receptor, helping restore the missing orexin signaling in patients with narcolepsy type 1.

Unlike stimulants or sedatives that only relieve symptoms, the drug targets the biological cause of the disorder.

Clinical Trial Findings

The FDA approval was supported by two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III studies involving 273 adults with narcolepsy type 1 over 12 weeks.

Patients treated with Orzeyful 2 mg experienced:

• Improved ability to stay awake during the day
• Reduced excessive daytime sleepiness
• Fewer cataplexy episodes
• Improvements in sleep paralysis
• Reduced hallucinations during sleep-wake transitions
• Better nighttime sleep quality

Safety And Side Effects

The most commonly reported side effects were:

• Insomnia
• Increased urinary frequency
• Urinary urgency
• Increased saliva production

Read More: Ebola Outbreak: Moderna Begins First Human Trial Of Bundibugyo Vaccine As Cases Rise to 3,748

Few participants discontinued treatment because of side effects.

Orzeyful should not be taken with strong CYP3A inhibitors, and its safety and effectiveness have not been established in patients under 18 years of age.

The FDA has recommended scheduling the drug under the Controlled Substances Act. It can be commercially launched once the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) completes the scheduling process.

Narcolepsy Treatment Landscape

According to an analysis by marketing firm Global Data:

• An estimated 735,082 people were living with diagnosed narcolepsy worldwide in 2024, with cases projected to rise to 761,297 by 2029.
• Generic medicines, with limited innovative therapies available, dominate the current narcolepsy treatment market.
• The development pipeline includes 28 drug candidates, comprising five Phase III and four Phase II assets, with no therapies currently in the pre-registration stage.
• More than 115 clinical trials have been conducted in narcolepsy over the past decade.

Public health officials in Los Angeles have issued a measles exposure alert after an infected visitor spent about 11 hours inside Universal Studios Hollywood, potentially exposing thousands of other parkgoers.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said anyone who visited the theme park on July 26 between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. may have been exposed to the highly contagious viral disease.

“With summer travel underway, the risk of exposure to infectious diseases may increase,” said Muntu Davis, the county’s public health officer.

“We urge everyone to confirm their immunity and get the MMR vaccine if needed, especially before traveling and attending crowded events,” Davis added.

Measles spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. Public health officials say the virus can remain in the air and on surfaces for many hours, even after an infected person has left.

Officials noted that those exposed could develop measles 7 to 21 days after exposure.

“Those who have had measles in the past or received the recommended measles vaccine are likely protected but should still monitor for symptoms,” the department said.

Who Should Monitor for Symptoms?

Anyone who remains symptom-free for more than 21 days after exposure is no longer considered at risk. For those exposed on July 26, the last day to monitor for symptoms is August 16.

People at higher risk of severe illness—including pregnant women, infants younger than 12 months, people with weakened immune systems, and those who are not vaccinated—should contact their healthcare provider if they were at the park during the exposure period.

If symptoms develop, health officials advise people to:

Stay home and avoid school, work, and public gatherings.

Call a healthcare provider before visiting a clinic or hospital.

Inform the provider about the possible measles exposure and describe symptoms.

Measles Cases Rising in California

The latest exposure comes amid a rise in measles cases across California. As of July, the number of reported cases had doubled compared with the same period last year.

State health officials said California has recorded three localized measles outbreaks in 2026, all of which have since ended.

Measles Situation in the US

In just over six months of 2026, the United States has reported 2,260 confirmed measles cases, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

2,245 cases were reported across 44 jurisdictions.

15 cases were identified among international visitors.

The CDC has recorded 34 measles outbreaks so far this year.

93% of all cases (2,108 of 2,260) have been linked to outbreaks.

The US achieved measles elimination status in 2000, but health experts have warned the country could lose that designation if sustained transmission continues.

What Is Measles?

Measles is an extremely contagious viral disease caused by the measles virus, a member of the Morbillivirus genus.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus first infects the respiratory tract before spreading throughout the body. It primarily affects children but can infect people of any age who lack immunity.

Symptoms of Measles

Symptoms usually appear 10 to 14 days after exposure and commonly include:

High fever

Cough

Runny nose

A widespread rash

Why Vaccination Matters

The WHO says vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles and notes that disruptions to immunisation programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to setbacks in measles control worldwide.

The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, given in two doses, remains the most effective protection against measles and its complications.