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.

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to a new study published in the BMJ. Researchers say the figure may be a conservative estimate, raising concerns about the long-term effects of repeated head impacts in American football.

The study examined 878 former NFL players who died during the six-year period. Of them, 235 had donated their brains for research, and 215, or 91.5%, were found to have CTE.

As brain donation was not available for everyone who died, researchers calculated that at least 24.5% of the entire group had CTE. Researchers say the actual number could be substantially higher.

What Is CTE?

Repeated head impacts can cause abnormal accumulation of tau protein in the brain. Over time, these changes can damage and kill brain cells, particularly in areas involved in memory, thinking, mood and behaviour.

The damage is not always caused by one dramatic concussion. Researchers focus on the cumulative burden of repeated head impacts, including hits that may not cause obvious concussion symptoms.

Also read: US Measles Outbreak: Pennsylvania Reports First Deaths Of 2026 As Trump Pushes Back On Vaccines

Brain Damage Can Build Up Over Years

CTE can be associated with symptoms including memory problems, confusion, impaired judgement, depression, anxiety, aggression and difficulties controlling impulses.

The new study also found a strong relationship between more advanced CTE and dementia. Among players with the most severe, Stage IV disease, dementia was particularly common.

Dr Daniel Daneshvar, a neurologist at Mass General Brigham and lead author of the study, said, "Former NFL players had about a fourfold higher risk of dying from neurodegenerative disease compared with the general population."

Also read: Delhi H1N1 Cases Cross 2,300: No New Strain, Flu Mostly Self-Limiting, Says ICMR Chief

The Risk May Begin Before The NFL

One important finding is that the brain injury associated with CTE does not necessarily begin during an NFL career.

Players may accumulate thousands of head impacts during childhood, high school and college football, before ever reaching the professional level.

Researchers therefore say prevention needs to focus on reducing repetitive head impacts throughout a player's sporting career, rather than concentrating only on professional football.

This also explains why researchers distinguish between concussions and repetitive head impacts. A player can experience numerous hits without being diagnosed with a concussion, yet the cumulative exposure may still have a lasting impact in long term.

Can CTE Be Detected Or Treated While Someone Is Alive?

One of the biggest challenges is detecting CTE while someone is alive. There is currently no definitive test that can diagnose CTE during life and no cure that can reverse the underlying brain changes.

Researchers are studying biomarkers and brain-imaging techniques that could eventually make diagnosis possible without an autopsy. The treatment focuses on managing symptoms like depression, sleep problems, headaches, cognitive difficulties and behavioural changes.

Country music legend Dolly Parton died at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives confirmed on Tuesday, revealing that the singer had been dealing with the disease before her death. The type of cancer has not been disclosed.

According to a statement from her representatives, Parton died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death earlier on Tuesday.

Her representatives said she had “bravely” faced the illness but did not provide further details about when she was diagnosed or what treatment she received.

About Dolly Parton’s Cancer

Not much has been publicly revealed about Dolly Parton’s cancer. Her representatives have only described it as a brief battle with cancer, and no specific cancer type, stage or treatment has been announced. It would therefore be premature to speculate about what type of cancer she had or what caused her death.

Reports in recent months had indicated that Parton was dealing with several health problems and had withdrawn herself from some public appearances. She had also cancelled a planned Las Vegas residency earlier this year because of health concerns. Despite those health struggles, Parton continued to speak publicly about wanting to work and pursue new projects.

Also read: US Measles Outbreak: Pennsylvania Reports First Deaths Of 2026 As Trump Pushes Back On Vaccines

Parton Was Vocal About Some Health Issues

Parton had previously spoken about health challenges, although her representatives' latest statement provides the first confirmation of a cancer diagnosis.

Recent reports said she had experienced immune and digestive problems and kidney stones, while she also acknowledged that she had neglected some aspects of her health while caring for her late husband, Carl Dean, who died in 2025.

Her death has now brought renewed attention to the importance of recognising persistent health changes, particularly in older adults.

Some Cancers May Progress Rapidly

Also read: Florida Sees 23 Locally Acquired Dengue Cases This Year: Why A Tropical Virus Is Spreading In The US?

More than 100 types of cancer can develop in different organs, and their behaviour can vary dramatically.

Some cancers grow slowly and may remain manageable for years, while others can progress rapidly or spread to other parts of the body before they are detected.

The symptoms of some cancers may also be subtle. Depending on the cancer, warning signs may include unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, unusual bleeding, a lasting change in bowel or bladder habits, persistent pain, a new lump or changes in the skin.

However, these symptoms can also be caused by many non-cancerous conditions. Their presence does not automatically mean someone has cancer. Therefore, it is important to seek medical help if someone is facing any of these symptoms.

Philanthropic Work

Parton's connection with healthcare extended well beyond her personal health. In 2020, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to support COVID-19 research. Her contribution helped fund research that became part of the work leading to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine.

She also supported healthcare and community initiatives in her native Tennessee. Parton died after a career spanning nearly six decades, leaving behind an extraordinary musical and philanthropic legacy. Her representatives said she spent her life bringing “joy, laughter, hope and integrity” to others.

Amid a record-high measles outbreak in the US, Pennsylvania has reported the first measles deaths of 2026, involving two unvaccinated individuals.

According to a statement by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), the confirmed deaths “mark the first deaths related to measles within the Commonwealth in 35 years.”

Both people were unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County, according to the DOH, which did not release additional details, citing privacy concerns.

“Because measles was largely eliminated in the Commonwealth for more than three decades, people are not familiar with this disease and don't fully understand the potential severity of the illness,” said Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen.

Pennsylvania has been one of the hardest-hit states this year. So far, 393 cases of the contagious virus has been reported across 28 counties. Lancaster County, in the southeastern part of the state, has recorded 185 cases.

MMR Vaccine Offers Strong Protection

The best protection against measles is getting fully vaccinated. The MMR vaccine, administered over two doses, boosts a person’s immune system and provides 97% lifetime protection.

However, vaccination rates and policies under the President Donald Trump, along with long-term vaccine skeptic Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have led to a severe decline in immunization rates.

As per the latest figures from the US CDC, the country has recorded 2,777 confirmed measles cases this year, a disease that had been largely eradicated in the country.

Notably, the increase in cases also means that the US is set to lose its status for having eradicated measles.

Trump, Kennedy Push for Vaccine Changes

Moreover, Kennedy and President Donald Trump, earlier this month, issued an executive order calling for a reduction in recommended childhood vaccines and also promoted a long-debunked link between vaccines and autism, contrary to established scientific evidence.

“We all thought the Texas outbreak and the deaths there last year would be a wake-up call. Then we had the outbreaks in South Carolina and Utah,” said Dr. Angela Dunn, former Utah state epidemiologist and previously a CDC division director in infectious disease response, Reuters reported.

In 2025, three people died in an outbreak that began in West Texas and spread to New Mexico.

How Does Measles Spread?

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious short- and long-term health problems, including pneumonia and brain swelling. Nearly 20% of people who contract measles are hospitalized. Death related to measles, though rare, occurs in one to three patients per 1,000 cases.

Measles spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The virus remains infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after the person with the infection leaves the area.

Measles Symptoms

Early symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis). The measles rash follows a few days later, starting on the head and spreading downward.

Because early symptoms can look similar to other respiratory viral infections, it is important to contact a healthcare provider early if someone has these symptoms or may have been exposed to measles.

Symptoms can start 7 to 21 days after exposure. Without proper protection or supportive care, measles can be deadly.