US researchers have engineered a new ‘smart’ immune cell that when activated by ultrasound can continuously sense and destroy cancer cells for extended periods.

The “EchoBack CAR T-cell,” developed by biomedical engineers at the University of Southern California (USC), could soon be a game changer in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

The study, published in the scientific journal Cell, demonstrates that the powerful new EchoBack-CAR T-cells can attack tumour cells five times longer than regular CAR T-cells, in technology ready for medical applications.

People with heart failure are likely to experience a significant decrease in cognitive abilities like attention and problem-solving, according to a study on Thursday.

Researchers from the University of Michigan, US examined the cognitive abilities of nearly 30,000 adults over time, comparing those who did and did not develop heart failure.

The researchers found heart failure is associated with a significant decrease in cognition at the time of diagnosis.

Global cognition and executive functioning also declined more rapidly over the years after heart failure diagnosis.

Common gut bacteria can metabolise some oral medications potentially rendering these important drugs against migraines, depression, type 2 diabetes, and prostate cancer less effective, according to a study on Thursday.

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Yale University in the US showed that gut bacteria metabolises oral drugs that target cellular receptors called GPCRs.

Drugs that act on GPCRs, or G protein-coupled receptors, include more than 400 medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of many common conditions such as migraines, depression, type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer, and more.

A team of Canadian researchers has identified three novel genes linked to rare childhood diarrhoea.

The rare condition called CODE (congenital diarrhoea and enteropathies) disrupts the function of cells in the intestine, causing diarrhoea. It also prevents infants from absorbing the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.

The team from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) conducted genome sequencing on 129 infants with suspected CODE.

The scientists characterised the function of novel CODE genes using advanced computational methods and zebrafish models

The analysis was remarkably successful, providing a diagnosis for 48 per cent of cases.

Industry experts on Thursday welcomed the exemption of Indian pharmaceutical exports from Trump’s reciprocal tariffs while also stressing the need to strengthen domestic manufacturing.

The experts cited the importance of the cost-effective and life-saving Indian generic medicines as the reason for the exemption.

The White House factsheet issued on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump’s announcement of 26 per cent reciprocal tariffs on imports from India said that pharmaceuticals were exempt.

Indian drugs, especially the generics, help hold down the costs of the US healthcare system, which is already one of the most expensive in the world.

Amid social media debate on Cyanocobalamin, a synthetic form of Vitamin B12, being toxic for humans, experts on Wednesday deemed Cyanocobalamin safe, and stressed the need to not miss the key vitamin linked to the brain, joints, and skin health.

A recent viral post on social media has raised alarm over the use of cyanocobalamin in Vitamin B12 supplements. The post claims that it is harmful due to its breakdown into cyanide -- a toxic substance -- and suggests using Methylcobalam instead. Methylcobalamin is a natural form of vitamin B12 and contains a methyl group.

Even as the post went viral, it raised several concerns, especially as consumption of Vitamin B12 is high in India.

The Ethiopian government has launched a cholera vaccination campaign in the southwestern part of the country, targeting about one million people at risk.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health said the vaccination will be conducted in all zones of the country's Gambella Region and refugee camps during the coming week.

It came as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and various other humanitarian agencies called for concerted efforts to contain the "rapidly spreading" cholera outbreak across the Gambella Region, bordering South Sudan.

Ethiopian Minister of Health Mekdes Daba, addressing the launch event, said that in addition to expanding access to cholera vaccines, maintaining environmental and personal hygiene are essential proactive measures to prevent cholera outbreaks.

A team of researchers in South Korea has developed a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm that uses electrocardiograph (ECG)2 data to predict the risk of cardiovascular events, and heart-related death.

To create the algorithm, the team from Inha University Hospital analysed standard 12-lead electrocardiograph (ECG)2 data taken from almost half a million cases.

The novel algorithm can identify people most at risk of cardiovascular events and mortality by predicting the biological age of the heart, which is based on how the heart functions.

For example, a person who is 50 but has poor heart health could have a biological heart age of 60, while someone aged 50 with optimal heart health could have a biological heart age of 40.

Love to scroll your phone while in bed? Scientists have found that using a screen in bed can drive your risk of insomnia by 59 per cent.

While sleep is critical to mental and physical health, an increasing number of people are accustomed to using screens in bed. The study by researchers from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Norway showed it may be associated with poor sleep.

While social media is seen to be more associated with poorer sleep because of its interactive nature and potential for emotional stimulation, a survey of 45,202 young adults, aged between 18-28 years old, in Norway showed that the type of screen activity did not matter.

"We found no significant differences between social media and other screen activities, suggesting that screen use itself is the key factor in sleep disruption -- likely due to time displacement, where screen use delays sleep by taking up time that would otherwise be spent resting," said lead author Dr. Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland, from the Institute.

The government-imposed deadline for all medical students nationwide to return to classes from mass yearlong leaves of absence is set to expire on Monday, as almost all students at major medical schools in South Korea have already decided to resume their studies.

The March 31 deadline was set by the government early this month, when it announced a conditional decision to place the medical school enrolment quota for 2026 at 3,058, which is equivalent to the figure before the government put forward a plan to increase admissions by 2,000 a year ago to address a chronic shortage of doctors, news agency reported.

The government said the revised quota will be contingent on the return of all medical students who have been boycotting classes and taking collective leaves of absence in protest of the expansion of the medical school quota.