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.

Aspirin has long been studied for its role in colorectal cancer prevention. But a new trial suggests that when aspirin is started may be of more importance compared to whether it is used at all.

In the latest study, researchers discovered that aspirin did not prevent cancer recurrence or improve survival in people whose colorectal cancer had already spread to the liver.

The study, published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, is based on 428 patients who were treated for colorectal cancer liver metastases at 14 hospitals across Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 160 mg of aspirin or a placebo every day for up to three years.

Aspirin Did Not Help After Cancer Had Spread

After treatment for their liver metastases, patients taking aspirin did not have better results than others who took placebo.

In fact, after three years, 76% of people in the aspirin group were alive compared to 85% in the placebo group. Researchers say that the overall survival was a secondary outcome. They also said that the trial was not designed to provide a definitive answer about that measure.

Serious adverse events were also more common with aspirin, occurring in 8% of the aspirin group compared with 2% of the placebo group. Reported complications included heart attacks, nosebleeds, duodenal ulcers and cerebral haemorrhage.

“Although aspirin has been shown to reduce recurrence rates in patients who have undergone surgery for a primary tumour in the colon or rectum, its effects still need to be evaluated in the specific patient group for which it is intended, in this case patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver. We found no clear benefit in this group, while serious adverse events were more common,” said Ernesto Sparrelid, adjunct professor at Karolinska Institutet.

Also read: Why Someone Days Away From Death May Start To See Loved Ones: End-Of-Life Doctor & Neurologist Explain

Aspirin Works In Earlier-Stage Cancer

The new findings contrast with results from the ALASCCA trial, which found that low-dose aspirin reduced colorectal cancer recurrence in patients whose tumours had alterations in genes related to PI3K.

In that trial, the three-year recurrence rate was 7.7% with aspirin versus 14.1% with placebo among patients with specific PIK3CA alterations.

This suggests that aspirin may not be a universal anti-cancer drug. Its benefit may largely depend on the biology of the tumour and how advanced the cancer stage is.

“The anticancer effects of aspirin may depend on the biological and clinical context,” said co-principal investigator Kjetil Taskén of the University of Oslo.

Another possible explanation is that aspirin's anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet effects may interfere with some of the biological processes involved in early tumour growth and recurrence. But once cancer has already spread, particularly to the liver, the biology becomes more complex.

“Aspirin is a well-established, inexpensive and widely available drug, and there is considerable interest in whether it can also reduce the risk of cancer recurrence,” said lead author Sheraz Yaqub of the University of Oslo. “Our findings demonstrate why such treatments must be tested in rigorous randomized trials before being adopted for new patient populations.”

Also read: Trump Says He ‘Psychologically’ Needs To Pop Aspirin Every Day: But Is It Actually Safe?

Trump’s Recent Comments About Aspirin

The findings come just days after President Donald Trump disclosed that he takes aspirin every day, adding that prefers a full-strength tablet.

At an October 3 rally in Ohio, Trump said, “I take an aspirin a day. I don't know if it works, but psychologically I need it.” He also said doctors had wanted him to switch to a lower dose, but that he preferred the larger tablet.

Trump's comments have reignited discussion about daily aspirin use, but they should not be interpreted as medical advice.

Aspirin may reduce clot formation, but it can also increase the risk of serious bleeding. The American Heart Association says routine daily aspirin is generally not recommended for healthy adults without cardiovascular disease unless advised by a healthcare professional.

And the new cancer findings add another reason not to assume that taking aspirin routinely will prevent cancer or improve outcomes after a diagnosis.

The suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia has revived memories of the Black Death and the 1979 Sverdlovsk anthrax outbreak.

While Russia has denied any plague outbreak, the death of a young laboratory worker and reports of nearly 200 people being placed under medical observation have raised questions about laboratory safety and what may have happened.

Moscow told the World Health Organization (WHO) that no plague cases have been detected in Irkutsk and that the deceased woman’s contacts tested negative for dangerous pathogens. COVID-19 and rhinovirus were detected in some people under observation.

Russia Says No Plague Cases Detected

Russian authorities told the WHO that there was “no case of this dangerous disease” in Irkutsk, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said at a Geneva briefing.

Russia also said contacts of the deceased tested negative for dangerous infectious pathogens.

The circumstances of the death have nevertheless raised questions about laboratory safety and possible pathogen exposure.

Also read: Russia Plague Scare: Could It Trigger A New Pandemic? Experts Explain

From Black Death to Pneumonic Plague

The Black Death swept across Eurasia and North Africa between 1346 and 1353, killing an estimated 30% to 60% of Europe’s population.

It was caused by Yersinia pestis, the same bacterium responsible for plague today. The pandemic was primarily associated with bubonic plague, although pneumonic plague also occurred.

Bubonic plague is mainly spread through infected flea bites, while pneumonic plague affects the lungs and can spread between people through respiratory droplets during close contact. Modern antibiotics can treat plague, particularly when given early.

The 1979 Sverdlovsk Anthrax Outbreak

The circumstances surrounding the Russian lab worker’s death have also revived memories of the anthrax outbreak in Sverdlovsk, then part of the Soviet Union, in April and May 1979.

Soviet authorities initially blamed contaminated meat, while US officials attributed the outbreak to anthrax spores accidentally released from a military microbiology facility.

The distribution of human and animal cases along a path extending from the facility was consistent with an airborne release.

The incident remains an important example of the consequences of an accidental biological-agent release.

Why Has the Russia Case Raised Questions?

Read More: Russia Plague Scare: Is Pneumonic Plague Deadlier Than Bubonic & Septicemic Plague?

The cause of the laboratory worker’s death and the circumstances of any possible exposure remain unclear.

The reported quarantine of nearly 200 people has also raised questions about the scale of the response.

Dr. Ashish Jha, former dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, said the case had raised several “red flags.”

He questioned whether a laboratory worker handling plague would have been vaccinated or received antibiotics promptly after a suspected exposure, and why so many people were placed under quarantine.

Jha also pointed to Russia’s history of biological weapons research and expressed concern about the lack of information from Russian authorities.

There is currently no evidence, however, that the death was linked to a biological weapons programme or that a laboratory leak occurred.

How Safe Are Plague Laboratories?

Javier Pizarro-Cerda, head of the Yersinia Research Unit at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, told CNBC that he was “very surprised” by the reported death because laboratories handling plague generally use strict protective measures.

“You work with a full body suit. You work with masks. You work with gloves. So even if you break a tube, normally you should be protected,” he said.

Pizarro-Cerda also said Russia has a plague vaccine, although he described its protection as low and transient compared with standards elsewhere.

What Could Confirm Plague?

Pizarro-Cerda said plague testing can be performed rapidly and that an autopsy should provide evidence if the woman had pulmonary plague.

The laboratory worker reportedly died on October 2, giving authorities several days to conduct diagnostic tests.

Still, there is no confirmation that pneumonic plague caused her death or that a laboratory accident occurred.

Key questions remain whether Yersinia pestis was detected, whether there was evidence of laboratory exposure, and whether genetic testing can establish the source of any infection.

A deadly fungal infection that can cause brain abscesses has shown a sharp increase in detections in the US, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report flagged a substantial rise in detections of Cladophialophora bantiana, a neurotropic fungus associated with a 60%–70% case-fatality rate, even with aggressive treatment. The fungus can also infect people without known immune problems.

How Were the Cases Detected?

A clinical reference laboratory at the University of Washington identified 48 confirmed cases and one probable case of C. bantiana infection from January 2009 through July 2026.

Annual case counts ranged from one to five between 2009 and 2023 before rising to eight in 2024 and 14 in 2025.

Among the 49 cases, 43 (88%) were detected in intracranial central nervous system (CNS) tissue specimens, while six (12%) were found in lung specimens. The presence of the fungus in lung specimens supports a presumed respiratory route of infection.

The detection rate also increased sharply. Between 2017 and 2023, an average of 8.4 cases were detected per 1,000 CNS specimens submitted for fungal PCR testing at the University of Washington. By 2025, this had increased by 210% to 26 cases per 1,000 specimens.

The cases were reported from 21 US states and the District of Columbia, with the highest numbers coming from California, Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania.

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

Why Is the Fungus Increasing?

The CDC said the reason for the apparent increase is unknown. The agency called for further research into possible epidemiologic risk factors and whether changes in the fungus, including potentially increased virulence, could be contributing to the rise.

The CDC also noted that there is no routine surveillance system for C. bantiana. Available information largely comes from case reports and retrospective studies, making it difficult to assess how widespread the infection is or whether its epidemiology is changing.

The report recommended that clinicians consider C. bantiana in patients with brain abscesses. Prompt antifungal treatment is required, while surgical removal of the abscess may improve outcomes.

What Is Cladophialophora bantiana?

Read More: Russia Plague Scare: Could It Trigger A New Pandemic? Experts Explain

C. bantiana is a highly virulent, neurotropic dematiaceous mold that predominantly causes brain abscesses.

It is a rare and life-threatening collection of pus enclosed in the brain tissue that creates dangerous pressure inside the skull.

It can infect both immunocompromised people and those without known immune problems. About half of reported patients have no preceding immunocompromising condition.

The presumed route of infection is inhalation or direct inoculation following a skin injury. The fungus can then enter the bloodstream and spread to the brain.

Rare pulmonary and skin infections have also been reported, but most cases involve the brain, often without evidence of infection elsewhere in the body or a clear source of exposure.

The fungus has only rarely been isolated from environmental sources, and researchers have not identified consistent exposure histories or risk factors among patients.

What Are the Symptoms?

Symptoms primarily reflect brain involvement, including fungal brain abscesses and increased pressure inside the skull.

Common symptoms include:

• Headache, often progressive or persistent
• Hemiparesis, or weakness on one side of the body
• Seizures
• Confusion, lethargy or altered consciousness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Speech problems, including difficulty speaking
• Visual disturbances and other neurological deficits

Because C. bantiana commonly affects the brain, symptoms can vary depending on the location of the abscess and the extent of inflammation or pressure inside the skull.

How Is the Infection Treated?

Treatment requires prompt antifungal therapy, although there is no established optimal regimen for C. bantiana infection.

The CDC noted that surgical excision or drainage of brain abscesses may improve outcomes. A 2024 study involving 23 patients in France found more favorable outcomes among patients who underwent surgical treatment.

When possible, surgical removal of the abscess may therefore be considered alongside combination antifungal therapy.

The most effective antifungal combination remains uncertain. Treatment approaches have included liposomal amphotericin B, posaconazole or voriconazole, and flucytosine.