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.

Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson is expanding his horizons in longevity health experiments to female physiology, including monitoring his girlfriend Kate Tolo’s nighttime clitoral engorgement.

The purpose is to understand how genital blood flow may give clues about female sexual function and cardiovascular health.

The experiment is part of his extensive effort to collate data on women’s health that could be channeled into useful biomarkers.

But while research suggests a connection between genital blood flow, sexual arousal and cardiometabolic health, tracking these changes during sleep may not be an established way to screen heart disease.

Bryan Johnson Is Tracking His Girlfriend's Clitoral Blood Flow

Bryan Johnson and Kate Tolo are in the process of creating a detailed health-monitoring program through their company, Immortals. Their aim is to improve in-depth understanding of female physiology.

The process is partly inspired by research on erectile dysfunction in men. As erections depend on healthy blood vessels, erectile dysfunction can sometimes help in the detection of cardiovascular disease.

In an interview discussing the project, Tolo explained the reasoning behind investigating genital blood flow in women. “Because the penis has smaller blood vessels than the rest of the body, and so it's the first thing to show up when problems happen. So it's all about blood flow. That's why it should work for women just as well as it works for men, because we have blood vessels too,” she said. Johnson also highlighted nighttime erections as a physiological measure worth studying.

However, the evidence linking male erectile dysfunction with cardiovascular risk is more established than the evidence for using female genital blood flow measurements as a cardiovascular monitoring tool.

Also read: Bryan Johnson Blames Sugary Cereals, Soda and Stress for His Autoimmune Disease; Shares Treatment Plan

What Does Clitoral Engorgement Reveal About Sexual Health?

The clitoris contains erectile tissue supplied by blood vessels. During sexual arousal, increased blood flow contributes to genital engorgement and physiological changes associated with sexual response.

Blood circulation is therefore one component of sexual function. Reduced genital blood flow or increased vascular resistance may be associated with difficulties involving arousal, lubrication or orgasm.

A small pilot study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research examined 27 women and found that clitoral tissue perfusion was linked with scores measuring sexual function, including arousal, lubrication, orgasm and satisfaction.

The findings indicate that genital blood supply may be relevant to understanding female sexual health. However, the study was small and did not establish that nighttime clitoral blood-flow monitoring can diagnose sexual dysfunction.

Sexual function is also influenced by hormones, medications, neurological health, psychological factors, relationships and underlying medical conditions. Blood flow alone cannot explain every aspect of sexual wellbeing.

Also read: Bryan Johnson's 90-Day Experiment Claims That Oxygen Therapy Could Beat Aging

Can Clitoral Blood Flow Reveal Cardiovascular Risk?

The endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels, helps regulate circulation. Metabolic conditions like diabetes, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, and hypertension can affect vascular function, including genital tissues.

A 2024 review published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, which included 54 studies and nearly 149,000 participants, also found that women with cardiovascular disease had a higher risk of female sexual dysfunction.

This supports a relationship between cardiovascular and sexual health, but it does not validate Johnson’s tracking method.

Nocturnal genital responses may provide useful information about physiology, but researchers would need to establish what constitutes a normal pattern, how measurements vary with sleep and hormonal cycles, and whether particular changes reliably predict disease. The approach would also need to be tested in larger populations.

Pope Leo XIV has announced that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to have a nodule removed that was discovered in his lung recently. The 71-year-old pontiff said it was detected early and was well contained, which is why the doctors recommended a removal procedure.

The Vatican has not disclosed whether the nodule is benign or cancerous. The procedure has nevertheless sparked attention to lung nodules, a common medical finding that can sometimes warrant further clinical investigation to rule out cancer and other serious diseases.

“Recently, during some medical examinations, doctors found a localized nodule in my lung,” the pope said during his Sunday address in St. Peter’s Square on October 11. “It was detected at a very early stage and is well contained.”

He added, “The doctors believe it is advisable to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled for the next few days.” The Vatican said the pope’s recovery may take about a week.

What Is A Lung Nodule?

Also read: Lung Nodule on CT Scan? Doctors Explain When You Should Worry

Dr. Vinayak Maka, Senior Oncologist, Department of Oncology, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital told HealthandMe, "A lung nodule is a small, round or oval-shaped growth in the lung, typically less than 3 cm in size, most often discovered incidentally during a chest X-ray or CT scan done for an unrelated reason."

According to the American Thoracic Society, lung nodules may develop because of scar tissue, a previous lung infection or irritation. In a few cases, however, a nodule may be an early sign of lung cancer. Most lung nodules are benign.

"A lung nodule finding on a CT scan often triggers panic, but the reality is reassuring. Over 95% of lung nodules are benign, arising from old infections, scars, or inflammation. Still, understanding when a nodule warrants concern can be lifesaving." Dr. Vinayak Maka added.

When Does A Lung Nodule Need To Be Removed?

Also read: Sharmila Tagore’s Stage Zero Lung Cancer: Can Surgery Prevent Progression?

Doctors assess the nodule's size, shape, location, and appearance on imaging, along with the patient’s medical history and other risk factors.

Not every lung nodule requires surgery. Many are monitored through repeat CT scans to determine whether they remain stable or grow over time. Doctors may recommend additional testing or removal when:

• The nodule grows: An increase in size on follow-up scans can raise suspicion of cancer and prompt further investigation. Doctors say nodules smaller than 6 mm have a very low cancer risk (under 1%) and usually only need routine follow-up. Those measuring 6–8 mm carry a slightly higher risk (1–2.5%) and are typically monitored with a repeat CT scan after 6–12 months.

• Its appearance is concerning: Certain shapes, edges or other imaging features may make a nodule more suspicious.

• Risk factors: Older age, history of smoking, family history of lung cancer, and past exposure to substances like asbestos may be considered.

• Imaging is inconclusive: When the possibility of cancer remains significant, obtaining tissue for examination may be necessary.

• The nodule is considered sufficiently suspicious for cancer: If the risk is high, doctors may recommend surgical removal rather than relying on monitoring or a less invasive biopsy.

The decision also depends on the nodule’s location, whether it can be reached safely for a biopsy and the patient’s overall health. Surgery may provide both a confirmed diagnosis and treatment if the growth proves to be an early-stage cancer.

Stephen Liu, a lung cancer specialist at Georgetown University in Washington and division chief of haematology-oncology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, explained the role of surgery in such cases.

“When there is sufficient concern, and when it is safe to do so, based on the location of the nodule and the overall health of the patient, surgical removal can provide a definitive diagnosis,” he said.

Pope Leo said his lung nodule was detected at a very early stage. His planned surgery is therefore a decision made by his treating doctors based on information that has not been made public.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed support for the pontiff, saying, “I would like to express to the Holy Father my personal support, and that of the Italian government, as he faces this challenge in the coming days.”

She added, “The serenity and composure with which he spoke about it during today’s Angelus are reassuring."

Scrub typhus has claimed 15 lives at Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital between July and September, raising concerns about the fatal infection that can be mistaken as common illnesses like dengue, malaria and typhoid.

According to reports, the hospital recorded more than 323 admissions from January to September. September alone accounted for 213 cases and nine deaths. According to the doctors, many of the deaths are attributed to organ failure, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

What Is Scrub Typhus And How Is It Transmitted?

Scrub typhus is a bacterial infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. It spreads through the bite of infected larval mites, commonly called chiggers, which are found in grassy areas, fields, bushes and vegetation.

Humans can become infected while working in agricultural fields or getting exposed in areas where these mites thrive. Scrub typhus does not ordinarily spread directly from one person to another. Symptoms usually develop around one to three weeks after exposure but the period of incubation can vary.

Also read: Plague Treatable, CDC Monitoring US Arrivals From Russia After Worker’s Death, Says Director Erica Schwartz

Symptoms Of Scrub Typhus

Early symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from other infections. They may include:

• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Body aches and fatigue
• Skin rash
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Burning sensation in eyes
• Dry cough

Another important symptom is an eschar, a dark, scab-like mark that may develop at the site of a mite bite. It can resemble a small burn or black crust, which is often surrounded by redness. However, not every infected person develops this mark, so its absence does not rule out the infection.

Dr Vishal Gupta, a professor in the Department of Medicine at SMS Hospital, said that people should be alert if they develop any of the aforementioned symptoms of scrub typhus.

The disease is transmitted through bites from mites or fleas. It is therefore important to wear full-sleeved clothing while working in fields and use an insect-repellent cream.

Also read: Russia Plague Scare: WHO Reiterates Biosafety Rules Despite No Confirmed Lab Accident

When Can Scrub Typhus Become Fatal?

If treatment is delayed, the infection can progress towards serious complications, including inflammation of the lungs, liver and brain, kidney injury, bleeding and multiple-organ failure.

As its early symptoms may overlap with those of dengue, malaria and other febrile illnesses, diagnosis may be delayed. People with persistent fever, especially after exposure to fields or dense vegetation, should seek medical assessment and mention the relevant exposure to their doctor.

Scrub typhus is treatable with antibiotics. Doxycycline is the preferred treatment in many cases, and early treatment can reduce the risk of severe complications. Doctors may choose alternative antibiotics depending on factors like pregnancy, age and the patient's clinical history.

Treatment should be prescribed by a healthcare professional. Patients should not self-medicate with antibiotics or wait for symptoms to become severe before seeking care.

How Can You Prevent Scrub Typhus?

There is currently no widely available vaccine for scrub typhus, making exposure prevention important.

• Wear long sleeves, long trousers and covered footwear when visiting fields or areas with dense vegetation.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent according to its label.
• Avoid sitting or lying directly on grass or scrub vegetation.
• Shower and change clothes after spending time in potentially infested areas.
• Seek prompt medical care if fever develops after possible exposure.