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 approved Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide), typically used to control Type 2 diabetes, to also reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke, the American drug maker said.

Mounjaro is already approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar in adults and children aged 10 and older with Type 2 diabetes. It targets the GLP-1 protein and is also used for weight loss. In the US, the obesity version is sold under the brand name Zepbound.

Mounjaro: What Cardiovascular Risks Can It Reduce?

The FDA approved Mounjaro to lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including:

• Cardiovascular death
• Non-fatal heart attack
• Non-fatal stroke

Also read: UK Woman Dies After Sudden Abdominal Pain Following Increase In Her Mounjaro Dose

The approval applies to adults with Type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for these events.

“For people with Type 2 diabetes, heart disease is the leading cause of death, and Mounjaro – the number 1 most prescribed branded Type 2 diabetes medicine for adults in the US – now gives them a proven way to lower that risk, adding to the strong foundation it has already built in A1C and weight,” said Kenneth Custer, executive vice president and president, Lilly Cardiometabolic Health.

How Was Mounjaro Approved?

The FDA approval was based on results from a trial that showed Mounjaro outperformed Trulicity, Lilly’s older diabetes drug, in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke in a large, head-to-head study.

The trial showed that Mounjaro reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 8% more than Trulicity.

It was the largest and longest tirzepatide study to date, enrolling more than 13,000 participants across 30 countries over more than four and a half years.

The most commonly reported adverse events in SURPASS-CVOT for Mounjaro were gastrointestinal-related, generally mild to moderate in severity, and occurred primarily during the dose-escalation period.

What About Novo Nordisk’s Drugs?

Read More: GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro Tied To Over 60 Reported Deaths In Australia

“Mounjaro is the first and only GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist proven to lower heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death risk in adults with Type 2 diabetes at high risk for these events – in addition to its established A1C and weight loss benefits,” according to Lilly.

However, Danish rival Novo Nordisk secured FDA approval for its weight-loss drug Wegovy to lower heart risks in 2024 in overweight or obese adults without diabetes.

In 2025, the FDA also approved its older diabetes drug, Rybelsus, to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in diabetic patients.

What Is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is a brand name for tirzepatide, an injectable weekly treatment first approved by the US FDA for the control of Type 2 diabetes.

Unlike older weight-loss drugs that act on metabolism or suppress appetite as their primary mechanism, Mounjaro acts on two key hormones: GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). These control the release of insulin and sensations of fullness.

By mimicking their action, Mounjaro decreases hunger and enhances blood sugar control — two key obstacles in successful weight maintenance.

How Does Mounjaro Work?

The key to Mounjaro’s success is tirzepatide, a dual-acting peptide that acts on receptors in the brain and stomach. When taken, it sets in motion a chain reaction of signals that tell the brain that you are full, helping reduce cravings and overeating.

Mounjaro also makes the body more responsive to insulin. In people with obesity, insulin resistance is frequent and can make weight loss more difficult. By enhancing insulin action, Mounjaro helps the body better control blood sugar and store less fat. In a sense, Mounjaro doesn’t simply allow you to eat less — it allows your body to use what you eat more efficiently.

A team of Australian scientists has developed cyborg cockroaches for medical missions. Researchers from the University of Queensland fitted Giant Burrowing Cockroaches with a removable navigation system that enables them to be remotely piloted through complex terrain and rubble.

The cockroaches are equipped with cameras and miniature medical injectors to deliver supervised emergency care to people trapped in collapsed buildings or caves.

What's The Purpose?

Called ‘Paraborgs’, the cyborg insects go beyond searching for survivors to actively assisting them. In the paper, published in Advanced Science, the researchers said the long-term vision is to deploy swarms of specialized cyborg insects at disaster sites, with each performing a complementary role.

“The vision is not to replace first responders, but to give them another way to see, reach and potentially help people when direct access is impossible,” said Dr Vo-Doan from the UQ Biorobotics Lab.

Director of the UNSW Medical Robotics Lab Associate Professor Thanh Nho Do said the Paraborg technology could extend the reach of emergency medicine.

“From a biomedical perspective, the opportunity is to bring treatment to a patient when the patient cannot yet be brought to treatment,” Associate Professor Do said.

“The long-term goal is targeted, human-supervised intervention in places conventional medical technologies cannot access.”

Why Cockroaches?

Dr Vo-Doan said the research demonstrates how cyborg technology can be adapted across different insect platforms.

“Rather than building one robot to do everything, we can harness the natural strengths of different insects and equip them for different missions,” Dr Vo-Doan said.

The larger cockroaches provide greater capacity to carry specialized rescue and medical equipment.

The cockroaches, like the team’s previous cyborg insect models, are anaesthetized during electrode and microchip fitting. They live for as long as other cockroaches once the harnesses are removed.

What About Cyborg Beetles?

The team has previously demonstrated cyborg beetles capable of controlled climbing. They have shown they can remotely guide the movement of common darkling beetles using a video game controller.

The beetles are fitted with removable microchip backpacks that use electrodes to stimulate the insect's antenna or hardened forewings.

The programmable controls allow for precise directional guidance without affecting the lifespan of the beetle.

How Can The Cyborg Cockroaches Aid In Rescue?

Superintendent Tim Hassiotis, Manager Natural Disaster and Humanitarian at Fire and Rescue NSW, said the technology could extend the reach of rescue teams.

“If cyborg insects can safely enter spaces we can’t, locate casualties and ultimately help deliver emergency care, they could become another valuable tool in the future of urban search and rescue,” Superintendent Hassiotis said.

What Could The Future Hold?

Dr Vo-Doan said the longer-term vision was to deploy swarms of specialized cyborg insects, with individuals performing complementary roles.

“Some could carry cameras and environmental sensors, while others could carry specialized emergency or medical equipment,” he said.

“Hopefully, within the next 5 to 10 years, we could see cyborg insect rescue teams deployed to help people in real emergencies, provided we have the resources to accelerate the research and field testing.”

A North Carolina teen is reportedly critically ill after being infected with a rare “brain-eating” amoeba called Naegleria fowleri, according to health officials.

The case comes barely a week after an 8-year-old Louisiana girl died after contracting the infection.

North Carolina Teen Critically Ill

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced on August 27 that a teen resident had been infected with the rare amoeba, which is commonly found in freshwater. The teen is critically ill and receiving medical care.

The department said it is not releasing further information to protect the family’s privacy. The source of the infection is under investigation.

“While these infections are very rare, this is an important reminder that this amoeba is present in our state and across the US,” North Carolina State Epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore said in a statement.

What Happened To The Louisiana Girl?

Eight-year-old Lillian Smart of Ruston died on August 22, just one day after her eighth birthday. She had been hospitalised since August 15 after developing the infection, which was believed to have been acquired while swimming in Lake Claiborne.

The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed the case on August 19 but did not publicly identify the child.

One of the biggest challenges is the speed at which the infection progresses. According to recent CDC data cited in coverage of the Louisiana case, 173 Naegleria fowleri infections were documented in the US between 1937 and 2025, with only four known survivors. This puts the fatality rate at roughly 97%.

What Is Naegleria fowleri?

Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba naturally present in warm freshwater such as ponds, lakes and rivers. It is not found in salt water or properly maintained and chlorinated pools.

The amoeba does not cause illness if swallowed. However, it can be fatal if water containing the amoeba is forced up the nose and reaches the brain. This can happen during activities such as jumping into water, diving and water-skiing.

Symptoms Of Naegleria fowleri Infection

The infection caused by N. fowleri, also called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), starts with symptoms including:

• Severe headache
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting

The infection can then progress to:

• Stiff neck
• Seizures
• Coma

These rare infections usually occur when it is hot for prolonged periods, leading to higher water temperatures and lower water levels. Naegleria fowleri grows best at higher temperatures, up to 115°F.

How To Stay Safe?

While there is no way to eliminate the amoeba from the environment, some safety measures can reduce the risk:

• Prevent water from going up your nose by holding your nose shut, using nose clips or keeping your head above water during warm freshwater activities.
• Avoid putting your head underwater in hot springs and thermal waters.
• Avoid jumping or diving into warm freshwater during periods of high water temperatures and low water levels.
• Avoid digging in or stirring up sediment while taking part in water-related activities in shallow.