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.

Food safety has become a serious concern in the US in recent months, with a large number of products recalled over contamination, bacterial infections, and other health risks.

The latest recalls involve rice over potential foreign material contamination and mini doughnuts over undeclared milk that may trigger allergic reactions.

Mini Donuts Recalled Over Undeclared Milk

Packages of mini donuts sold nationwide are being recalled after a consumer reported an allergic reaction linked to the product, USA Today reported.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Better Bakehouse Snack Company is recalling certain lots of Donutful Chocolate Dipped Vanilla Cake Donuts because they may contain undeclared milk.

People with a milk allergy or severe sensitivity to milk could face a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the affected product, the FDA said.

The food regulator noted that the consumer who suffered the allergic reaction has fully recovered. The manufacturer has identified the cause of the mislabeling and taken corrective measures.

Also read: From Dog Food To Fruit Bars: Over 10 Products Recalled In US Over Contamination

Which Doughnuts Are Being Recalled?

The recalled doughnuts are limited to a specific lot manufactured and distributed in March 2026. The product was shipped to retailers nationwide and sold through Amazon.

Consumers should check the following details to determine whether they have the recalled product:

• Product: Donutful Chocolate Dipped Vanilla Cake Donuts, 10 Mini Donuts
• Package: 7.05-ounce carton containing five 1.41-ounce (40g) pouches
• UPC: 3 50041 39210 3
• Best If Used By: September 15, 2026
• Lot Code: 26078

The FDA advises consumers to dispose of the affected product and obtain a refund from the point of purchase with a receipt, or return the product for a refund.

54,648 Pounds of Rice Recalled Over Foreign Material

An FDA update on August 25 provides more details about an April 2026 rice recall involving Lundberg Family Farms.

The company's Jasmine white rice was recalled because of potential contamination with foreign materials.

According to the FDA, 27,324 packages of 32-ounce rice were recalled, totaling 54,648 pounds. Lundberg-branded rice was also part of the recall initiated by the FDA in April this year.

The recalled rice was distributed in:

• California
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Illinois
• North Carolina
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Washington
• Wisconsin

Consumers can identify the affected products using these details:

• UPC: 073416040281
• Lot/Best Before: 260201MA, 01FEB2027; 260202MA, 02FEB2027

The expiration dates are February 1 and February 2, 2027. Consumers who were unaware of the earlier recall announcements may still have the affected product at home.

What Is the Risk From the Recalled Rice?

The recall follows the FDA's May 7 Class II classification.

According to the FDA, a Class II recall involves a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or where the likelihood of serious adverse health consequences is remote.

Belgium has been hit by a Salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated eggs, with more than 300 people falling ill, according to the country’s food safety agency. The outbreak comes after similar Salmonella outbreaks linked to contaminated eggs were reported in the US and UK.

Eggs Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

According to the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC), the outbreak has been linked to eggs produced by Laerco, a company based in Geel in northern Belgium.

“Salmonella is relatively common in Belgium, but we never had such a broad cluster with so many people hit,” an AFSCA spokesperson said.

No deaths have been reported in connection with the Belgian outbreak. However, officials warned that the actual number of cases could be higher, as some people may have experienced mild or no symptoms and did not seek medical testing, BOL News reported.

Eggs Recalled Across Europe

Also read: UK Food Agency Warns Vulnerable Groups to Avoid Runny Eggs: Who Is At Risk And Which Foods To Avoid

Salmonella was first detected at Laerco’s Geel facility at the end of April. In May, a large-scale recall was launched, with all eggs from the site withdrawn from the market.

The affected products were distributed through several major supermarket chains, including Colruyt, Delhaize, Aldi and Carrefour.

The precautionary recall was also extended to Luxembourg. FASFC notified several other European countries that may have received the eggs, including the Netherlands, France, Italy and Portugal.

As many as 2 million potentially contaminated eggs may have been sold, according to authorities.

Poultry Farm Closed

AFSCA first discovered the contamination in May and responded by recalling the affected eggs and closing one henhouse at the farm in Flanders.

However, additional cases were reported in the following months. Officials expanded the investigation and closed the entire farm. The poultry were subsequently destroyed after a second egg recall was issued on August 10.

Secondary testing found that the bacteria had spread across multiple sheds despite initial isolation efforts, Euronews reported.

UK, US Report Salmonella Cases

Read More: From Dog Food To Fruit Bars: Over 10 Products Recalled In US Over Contamination

The Belgian outbreak comes after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) linked two deaths and 474 illnesses to three separate Salmonella Enteritidis clusters across the UK.

The US is also experiencing a Salmonella outbreak linked to eggs. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) upgraded the recall to its highest risk level and classified nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs as “Class I”, its most serious category for products that could cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

The multistate Salmonella outbreak has been linked to Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. person.

What Is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a bacterial infection that commonly causes diarrhea and gastrointestinal illness.

Common symptoms include:

• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Vomiting
• Fever

Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria.

Most people recover from Salmonella infection without medical treatment. However, children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems may develop serious illness requiring medical care.

It can spread through contaminated food, including:

• Eggs
• Poultry
• Meat
• Unpasteurized dairy products
• Fresh produce

The bacteria can also spread through contact with contaminated environments or from person to person.

How To Stay Safe

Health officials have advised consumers to follow recall instructions and avoid eating affected eggs. UK officials also urged vulnerable people to avoid undercooked or runny eggs, especially when dining out.

• Refrigerate items promptly
• Cook eggs thoroughly
• Wash your hands
• Sanitize surfaces
• Check for recalls
• Wash before use.

A landmark clinical trial has found that four in five people with early-stage rectal cancer could avoid major surgery after receiving chemoradiotherapy and keep their rectum intact. This means that surgery would be reserved only for patients who really need it.

The findings from the STAR-TREC trial, funded by Cancer Research UK and Stand Up To Cancer, could completely change the way some people with early-stage rectal cancer are treated.

Researchers from University College London, the University of Birmingham and the University of Leeds found that combining chemotherapy and radiotherapy, followed by monitoring closely, allowed 80% of patients to avoid major surgery and keep their rectum.

More About The STAR-TREC Approach

Patients first receive chemoradiotherapy, which combines radiation with chemotherapy to shrink or eliminate the cancer. Doctors then closely monitor to see how the tumour responds or if the cancer grows.

If the cancer disappears or responds satisfactorily, patients can avoid major surgery. Those whose cancer does not respond adequately may still need to undergo surgery.

Also read: Two-Decade Long Study Sees 50% Higher Risk Of Distal Colon Cancer In Men With High Dietary Nitrite Intake

Four In Five Patients Avoided Surgery

The trial found that four out of five patients were able to keep their rectum, avoiding the major operation. This doesn't mean that surgery is no longer necessary for rectal cancer. The findings suggest, instead, that some carefully selected patients can be treated without removing their rectum.

Researchers say this could be particularly important because around 4,100 people in England are diagnosed with early-stage rectal cancer each year.

Also read: PM2.5 Linked To 8.82 Million Global Cancer Cases, Accounts for Largest Share Among Pollutants: Study

Why Could This Be Milestone In Rectal Cancer Treatment?

Removing part or all of the rectum can affect how bowel function even if the cancer treatment is successful.

Some patients experience increased bowel frequency, urgency, leakage or difficulty controlling bowel movements. Others may require a stoma, in which waste leaves the body through an opening in the abdomen into a colostomy bag.

Avoiding major surgery when it is medically safe could therefore not only preserve an organ but also save the person's quality of life.

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, described the findings as potentially “life-changing for thousands of people.”

The non-surgical approach does not mean patients can simply finish treatment and forget about the cancer.

A major concern with preserving the rectum is that cancer could return to the same area. That's why patients following this approach require constant intensive surveillance, including scans, examinations, and other necessary tests.

If cancer returns or fails to respond adequately to the treatment, surgery for rectum removal remains an important treatment option.

The study therefore represents a shift from routinely removing the rectum upon confirmation of cancer diagnosis toward a less invasive approach based on response, where doctors can determine whether surgery is actually necessary for an individual patient.