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.

A US Senate committee has voted to hold former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress.

What Does the Vote Mean?

Also read: Lab Leak 'More Likely' Origin of COVID-19, Says Former Biden Adviser Dr. Ashish Jha

The committee voted along party lines to refer Fauci to the US Justice Department, which will decide whether to investigate or pursue contempt charges over his refusal to answer questions after being directed to do so under a congressional subpoena, The Washington Post reported.

The referral does not automatically result in prosecution. It is now up to the Justice Department to determine whether to pursue the case.

Ahead of the vote, Senator Rand Paul said the issue before lawmakers was Fauci's refusal to answer questions—not his views or his handling of the pandemic.

"The chair directed Anthony Fauci to answer. He refused. That is what we are voting on today—not his opinions, not his policies, not anything he said from the podium six years ago," Paul said.

"We are voting on whether a witness who has received the benefit of a federal pardon can be ordered by this committee to answer questions and then defy that order without consequence," he added.

Fauci, 85, said the decision not to answer questions "pained" him but that he was following the advice of his legal counsel. The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from being compelled to incriminate themselves under most circumstances.

Senate Committee Obtains Fauci's Phone Records

Read More: Severe COVID-19 Can Reactivate Dormant Viruses, May Fuel Long COVID Symptoms: Study

As the contempt proceedings moved forward, the Senate committee said it had obtained a backup copy of Fauci's government-issued iPhone, which he used during his tenure as NIAID director, including while leading the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said the phone records could provide additional information.

"Hopefully, this device will address many of the questions he refused to answer at last week's hearing."

Long-Running Debate Over COVID Origins

The hearing is the latest development in the long-running political debate over the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fauci's legal team noted that he had appeared before congressional committees at least 20 times since the COVID-19 pandemic began and had continued testifying even after retiring in mid-2024. They argued there had been no major COVID-19 developments since then that warranted further testimony.

For years, Fauci has been accused of attempting to conceal the virus's origins and of supporting research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, where some believe the pandemic may have begun through a laboratory leak.

In June, former US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released previously undisclosed communications and documents alleging that Fauci funded research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology that contributed to the pandemic.

Most scientists, however, continue to believe that transmission from an infected animal remains the more likely origin of the virus.

Recently, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, in a media interview, said that he believes the COVID-19 pandemic was "more likely" caused by an accidental lab leak than by natural transmission.

"My view on COVID origins isn't new — I've held it since my time at the White House," Jha, who also served as an adviser to former President Joe Biden, wrote on social media platform X.

"Here's the truth: no one in America knows for sure. Anyone telling you they do is selling you something. Based on strong circumstantial evidence I've seen, I think a lab leak is much more likely," he wrote while sharing a clip of his CNN interview.

TikTok creator Sydney Towle has died at the age of 26 after a three-year battle with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer.

Her family announced her death on social media on Wednesday (Aug. 5), sharing a photo of Towle standing on a mountain peak alongside the message: "Rest in Peace Sydney Elizabeth Towle. An endless ray of sunshine. A daughter, a sister and friend to so many."

"We will always love you so much, Sydney. I am so proud of how hard you fought. I love you," read the caption.

Her older brother, Austin Towle, also shared the tribute on his TikTok account, calling her the "best sister ever."

Sydney Towle: Entered Hospice Days Before Her Death

A day before announcing her death, Austin revealed that Sydney had entered hospice care. The post showed family and friends gathered around her hospital bed.

"Sydney has been moved to hospice and is surrounded by her friends and family. Thank you all for your love and support❤️," he wrote.

Sydney Towle: Rare Bile Duct Cancer at 23

Also read: Candida auris: US CDC Reports 3,437 Cases of Deadly Superbug In 27 States

Towle was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma at the age of 23, a rare cancer that develops in the bile ducts and is most commonly diagnosed in people over 50.

Her diagnosis followed a lump and a burning sensation in her abdomen in 2023. Initially believed to be a hernia, it was later confirmed to be bile duct cancer.

Sydney Towle Documented Cancer Journey Online

Following her diagnosis, Towle documented her cancer journey on social media, saying that sharing her experience gave her a "purpose." She built a community of more than one million followers across TikTok and Instagram. Over the course of her illness, she underwent several surgeries, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and participated in clinical trials.

In an interview with TODAY.com in November 2024, Towle said five months of chemotherapy and immunotherapy had reduced the size of her tumor, allowing surgeons to remove most of it. However, some cancer remained lining her liver, and doctors planned regular scans to monitor it.

A later MRI revealed a lesion that doubled in size within a month.

She later moved to New York City, where she began working with a new medical team to develop another treatment plan.

Cancer Continued to Progress

Read More: Severe COVID-19 Can Reactivate Dormant Viruses, May Fuel Long COVID Symptoms: Study

In a TikTok video posted on May 17, 2026, Towle revealed that the cancer had spread to her peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdomen and pelvis.

Two days later, she said her oncologist recommended stopping active treatment and transitioning to end-of-life care.

"I said, 'No.' So, we are switching hospitals," Towle said. "We're not at the point where we're giving up."

On June 8, she shared that doctors had found tumors in her lungs. Despite undergoing further surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy over the following weeks, her health continued to decline. On July 21, she revealed she had been hospitalized for about a month while waiting to learn whether her treatments were working.

Her social media accounts fell silent soon after. On Aug. 4, her brother announced she had been moved to hospice care. A day later, her family confirmed that she had died, surrounded by loved ones.

What Is Cholangiocarcinoma?

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer that develops in the bile ducts—the slender tubes that carry bile, a digestive fluid, from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease occurs most often in people over the age of 50, although it can develop at any age. It is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage, making treatment more challenging.

Signs and Symptoms include

• Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• Intense itching
• White- or clay-colored stools
• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fever
• Night sweats

The US has reported 3,437 cases of the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris across 27 states so far this year, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The figure is about 1,000 fewer than the 4,290 cases reported during the same period last year.

The states reporting the highest number of cases this year are:

• California: 873
• Texas: 433
• Tennessee: 283

The CDC clarified that an increase in reported cases does not necessarily mean the fungus is spreading more rapidly than usual.

"An increasing number of cases does not mean the fungus is transmitting at a more rapid pace than usual," the CDC said.

The agency added that while C. auris cases continue to rise every year, the rate of increase has slowed since 2022.

Most Strains Resistant to Common Antifungal Drugs

A CDC analysis published earlier this year, based on 8,033 C. auris samples collected in 2022 and 2023, found:

• More than 95% were resistant to fluconazole, a first-line antifungal drug.
• 15% were resistant to amphotericin B.
• 1% were resistant to echinocandins.
• Fewer than 1% were resistant to all three major antifungal drug classes.

Why Is Candida auris a Concern?

Candida auris is a type of fungus that can cause serious infections in the human body. It was first identified in 2009.

The CDC said that the drug-resistant fungus continues to pose a major challenge for hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities because it is difficult to treat and control.

"Candida auris is an emerging yeast that is frequently resistant to antifungal drugs. C. auris can cause invasive infections associated with high mortality and can colonize patients asymptomatically, which facilitates transmission in health care settings," the CDC said.

"Since it was first reported in the United States in 2016, C. auris has been identified in multiple states, with increasing numbers of cases reported annually. Monitoring national trends in cases identified through clinical testing and screening for colonization is critical to guide infection prevention and control efforts," it added.

Why Is Candida auris So Difficult to Control?

Unlike many other infections, Candida auris spreads easily through contaminated medical equipment and direct person-to-person contact. It can also survive for long periods on surfaces and is resistant to many commonly used disinfectants, making outbreaks difficult to contain once the fungus enters a healthcare facility.

Health officials say the steady rise in cases each year points to ongoing transmission in healthcare settings.

Symptoms and Health Risks

Candida auris can infect:

• The bloodstream
• Wounds
• Ears
• Other parts of the body

Symptoms vary depending on the site and severity of the infection. Some people may carry the fungus without showing any symptoms.

The CDC noted that most people who develop Candida auris infections are already seriously ill, making it difficult to determine how much the fungus contributes to death compared with their underlying medical conditions.

The fungus is particularly concerning in hospitals and nursing homes because it can survive on surfaces such as doorknobs, counters, and bed rails. Its resistance to multiple antifungal drugs makes infections difficult to treat and eliminate.