Experimental treatment eases knee arthritis pain without surgery or pills

Researchers are testing low-dose radiation to treat the painful symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knee.

The study, published by researchers in Korea and presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting in September, suggests that a single course of radiation can be a "safe and effective" treatment option.

Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease causing pain, swelling and stiffness in the knees that worsens over time.

MORE PEOPLE TURN TO ACUPUNCTURE FOR BACK PAIN AS STUDY SHOWS RELIEF

The randomized clinical trial enrolled 114 patients with moderate-to-mild knee osteoarthritis who were each assigned a very low dose of radiation, a low dose or a placebo. The only other pain relief used during the study was acetaminophen.

The participants went through six sessions, as researchers assessed "meaningful improvement" in at least two of the following markers — pain, physical function and overall assessment of condition.

The patients also completed a questionnaire to report pain, stiffness and function. None of them recorded any treatment-related side effects.

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After four months of treatment, 70% of the low-dose participants met the criteria, in comparison to 42% in the placebo. Those in the very low-dose group saw a 58.3% improvement.

These findings suggest the low-dose regimen "drove relief beyond placebo effects," experts noted in a press release.

In the low-dose group, 56.8% recorded meaningful improvements in pain, stiffness and physical function scores, compared to 30.6% in placebo.

The study concluded that low-dose radiation led to significant reductions in pain and improved function after four months — a "small fraction" of what is typically used to treat cancer.

Byoung Hyuck Kim, M.D., Ph.D., principal investigator on the trial and an assistant professor of radiation oncology at Seoul National University College of Medicine, Boramae Medical Center, noted that people with painful knee osteoarthritis "often face a difficult choice" between the risk of side effects from pain medications and the risks of joint replacement surgery.

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"There’s a clinical need for moderate interventions between weak pain medications and aggressive surgery, and we think radiation may be a suitable option for those patients, especially when drugs and injections are poorly tolerated," he said in a statement.

Radiation therapy may be a better fit for patients with underlying inflammation and preserved joint structure, Kim added.

"For severe osteoarthritis, where the joint is physically destroyed and cartilage is already gone, radiation will not regenerate tissue," he said. "But for people with mild to moderate disease, this approach could delay the need for joint replacement."

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This treatment should also be considered alongside other lifestyle factors, including weight loss, physiotherapy and medications, as responses could be "even stronger when radiation is properly combined with other treatments," Kim said.

"And patient satisfaction may be higher than with current options alone."

The study did have some limitations, the researchers confirmed, including the relatively short follow-up period.

The researchers are planning for larger trials to evaluate the outcomes in specific groups of people, comparing low-dose radiation injections with medication regimens.

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How one man dodged Alzheimer's, plus 'trans trend' plunges at colleges

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Deadly drug mix drives staggering rise in overdose deaths among seniors

America’s seniors aren't immune to the ongoing opioid epidemic.

Among adults 65 and older, overdose deaths from fentanyl mixed with stimulants — like cocaine and methamphetamines — have surged 9,000% in the last eight years, which matches rates among younger adults.

That's according to research from the American Society of Anesthesiologists, which was presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 annual meeting this week in San Antonio. 

DEADLY DRUG STRONGER THAN FENTANYL SPREADS RAPIDLY ACROSS THE AMERICAS, EXPERTS WARN

Using CDC data, the researchers analyzed 404,964 death certificates that listed fentanyl as a cause of death between 1999 and 2023.

Older adults represented 17,040 of the individuals, while younger adults, aged 25 to 64, represented 387,924.

Fentanyl-related deaths increased from 264 to 4,144 in older adults between 2015 and 2023 — a 1,470% increase. Younger adults saw a 660% increase.

Among those 65 and older, fentanyl-stimulant deaths rose from 8.7% in 2015 to 49.9% in 2023, marking a 9,000% increase.

POPULAR MEDICATIONS COULD CHANGE YOUR GUT HEALTH FOR YEARS, EXPERTS WARN

In younger adults, these deaths increased from 21.3% in 2015 to 59.3% in 2023, which is a 2,115% increase.

The year 2015 marked the onset of the fourth wave of the opioid crisis, when fentanyl-stimulants began to drive the increase in overdose deaths, data shows.

Deaths in older adults began to rise sharply in 2020, the researchers highlighted. Among stimulants paired with fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamines were the most common, surpassing alcohol, heroin and benzodiazepines.

Seniors are especially susceptible to these overdoses, as many live with chronic health conditions, take several medications, and process drugs "more slowly due to age," the researchers stated.

It's a common misconception that opioid overdoses primarily affect younger people, according to Gab Pasia, lead study author and a medical student at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.

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"Our analysis shows that older adults are also impacted by fentanyl-related deaths, and that stimulant involvement has become much more common in this group," he said in a statement. "This suggests that older adults are affected by the current fourth wave of the opioid crisis, following similar patterns seen in younger populations."

The researchers could not determine the underlying reasons for these overdoses, as the analysis was a cross-sectional study on patterns over time, Pasia noted.

"However, the findings underscore that fentanyl overdoses in older adults are often multi-substance deaths — not due to fentanyl alone — and the importance of sharing drug misuse prevention strategies to older patients," he said.

The study authors advised anesthesiologists and other pain medicine specialists to recognize that polysubstance use can occur in all age groups, and to be cautious when prescribing opioids to adults over 65.

Study co-author Richard Wang, M.D., an anesthesiology resident at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, added that older adults prescribed opioids, or their caregivers, should be informed about overdose prevention strategies, such as having naloxone available and knowing the signs of an overdose.

Risk can also be reduced by simplifying medication routines, and using clear labeling and safe storage instructions.

"With these trends in mind, it is more important than ever to minimize opioid use in this vulnerable group and use other pain control methods when appropriate," Wang said in the press release. "Proper patient education and regularly reviewing medication lists could help to flatten this terrible trend."

Dr. Larissa K. Laskowski, an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist at NYU Langone Health, told Fox News Digital that the findings of this study are "not surprising," since illicit-made fentanyl is "one of the deadliest substances known to man." 

"In recent years, it has proliferated throughout the illegal drug market," said Laskowski, who was not involved in the study. "Fentanyl is regularly found in supplies of cocaine and methamphetamine."

Laskowski, an educator in fentanyl risk at schools, stressed that everyone, not just seniors, should be aware of the drug's potential harms.

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"Just a small amount (the equivalent of a few grains of salt) can stop breathing and cause overdose death," she warned. "Any substance that is sold illegally (not from a dispensary, pharmacy or licensed retail store) could have anything in it."

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"There is no quality control. Many drugs today are laced with fentanyl."

The expert reiterated that doctors should speak with patients and caregivers about reversal agents, like over-the-counter Narcan, which is often available for free at health departments, clinics and hospitals.

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Popular medications could change your gut health for years, experts warn

Some everyday medications could be impacting your gut health in the long term.

A large study from Estonia has found that the gut microbiome — or the ecosystem that lives in the intestines — can be reshaped by antibiotics, according to new research published in ASM Journals.

Other medicines — like antidepressants and cold medications — can also change the bacteria in your gut. These effects can build up over time and may even last for years after taking the drugs.

GROWING ANTIBIOTIC CRISIS COULD TURN BACTERIAL INFECTIONS DEADLY, EXPERTS WARN

The study analyzed stool samples from 2,509 individuals, linking their microbiome data with electronic health records containing up to five years of prescription history. A second stool sample was collected from a sub-cohort of 328 individuals about 4.4 years later.

The researchers investigated which drugs were associated with microbiome changes, whether the amount or duration of use strengthened these impacts, and what happened to a patient when a drug was started or discontinued.

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Of 186 drugs that were tested, 167, or 89.8%, were linked to at least one microbial effect.

Even when taken years before the study, many drugs still had an association with microbiome variation, including antibiotics, psycholeptics, antidepressants, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), beta blockers and benzodiazepine derivatives, the researchers found.

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For some drugs, more frequent or longer past use was associated with a stronger disturbance in the microbiome, suggesting that these effects accumulate over time.

The study also found that starting and stopping certain medications — particularly PPIs, SSRIs and some antibiotics — could cause microbiome shifts.

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel shared with Fox News Digital the old saying, "You are what you eat."

"It may turn out that you are what medications you take, too," he said in regard to the new study.

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Siegel noted that these findings are "not surprising," since the gut flora is fragile and can be "easily altered by active chemicals."

"It can have short- and long-term implications for metabolic processes — and not only the health of the gastrointestinal system, but also the brain, because of direct links between the gut and brain via the vagus nerve," he said.

The doctor added, "This is a study with important implications that should lead to a lot more research, especially connecting altered gut flora from various medications to various diseases."

The study authors pointed out a few limitations in their research, including the fact that it only focused on prescription-based drugs and did not consider the effects of over-the-counter medications.

There was also the possibility that some people taking antibiotics had underlying health conditions that could have also affected gut health. Diet, lifestyle and other factors could have also played a role.

Additionally, electronic health record data could have been incomplete or unclear in some cases.

The researchers also only analyzed stool samples, which means microbial changes in some gut regions could have been missed.

"We highlight the importance of accounting for the history of drug usage when assessing disease-microbiome associations," the authors stated in the journal publication. 

"Taken together, our results expand the understanding of drug effects on the microbiome, and we encourage researchers to focus on the long-term drug effects whenever feasible."

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After Diane Keaton's pneumonia death, what to know about the respiratory virus

Diane Keaton's death on Saturday has sparked reminders of the risks of pneumonia.

The iconic actress, director and producer was 79 when she succumbed to the respiratory infection in California. 

Keaton's family confirmed her cause of death to People magazine on Wednesday. Fox News Digital has reached out to her rep for comment. 

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Pneumonia is defined by Cleveland Clinic as an infection in the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi.

This can cause the lung tissue to swell and create a buildup of fluid or pus in the lungs.

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News' senior medical analyst, previously said the risk of pneumonia depends on the underlying health conditions of the patient and the strength of the person's immune system. 

Most cases of community-acquired pneumonia are bacterial or viral.

Bacterial pneumonia is normally more severe than viral pneumonia, according to Cleveland Clinic. 

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It can be caused by an infection of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, also called pneumococcal disease. 

Other bacteria that can cause the respiratory condition include mycoplasma pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Legionella (Legionnaires’ disease), per the above source.

"Pneumococcus is a major cause of pneumonia — it can be deadly," Siegel said. "Invasive pneumococcal disease can have a death rate of up to 20% in adults."

The risk of bacterial pneumonia increases with age and with chronic illness, the doctor added.

Viral pneumonia can sometimes stem from viruses that include the flu, common cold, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to Cleveland Clinic.

This type of pneumonia typically improves on its own.

In less common cases, some fungi (molds) or protozoa can cause pneumonia.

"The biggest concern is that it could spread into the bloodstream and cause sepsis, which is definitely life-threatening," Siegel cautioned. 

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Atypical pneumonias are caused by mycoplasma, legionella and kinds of chlamydia (not STD) and pertussis, the doctor added.

Early diagnosis and treatment is key to recovery, especially in patients at risk, Siegel said.

High-risk groups include the very young, very old, immunocompromised people, those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and people who smoke.

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For those over age 50, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the pneumococcal vaccine.

"The effective version, known as Prevnar, can work against 20 different strains," Siegel added.

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Simple diet change may support gut healing for cancer survivors, researchers say

An amino acid found in everyday foods such as meat, cheese, nuts and beans could help the gut heal after cancer treatments, according to new research.

In a study conducted on mice, scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that cysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, had the strongest rejuvenating effect on stem cells and early-stage intestinal cells, which are often damaged during radiation therapy for cancer.

If future human studies show similar results, boosting cysteine intake through food or supplements could help cancer patients recover from treatment, according to the researchers.

EATING MEAT COULD PROTECT AGAINST CANCER-RELATED DEATH, STUDY SUGGESTS

"The study suggests that if we give these patients a cysteine-rich diet or cysteine supplementation, perhaps we can dampen some of the chemotherapy or radiation-induced injury," senior study author Omer Yilmaz, director of the MIT Stem Cell Initiative, said in a statement. 

"The beauty here is we’re not using a synthetic molecule; we’re exploiting a natural dietary compound," he added.

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation are known to damage the lining of the gut, killing healthy cells that aid digestion and repair, according to the National Cancer Institute and MIT researchers.

COMMON SWEETENER COULD HOLD UNTAPPED POTENTIAL TO FIGHT AGGRESSIVE CANCER, STUDY FINDS

The study, led by post-doctoral researcher Fangtao Chi, divided mice into groups and fed each a diet rich in one of 20 different amino acids. The team then tracked how each amino acid affected intestinal stem cell regeneration. 

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, helping the body make muscles, hormones and other vital molecules while supporting tissue repair, growth and essential functions, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Cysteine's effects were noted more in the small intestine than any other part of the digestive tract, likely because the small intestine is where most protein is absorbed, the researchers noted.

PROTEIN POWERS MORE THAN WORKOUTS, CAN ALSO PROTECT HAIR, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS

They also discovered that cysteine helps trigger a repair response in the gut by activating immune cells that release signals to regenerate intestinal tissue. 

The findings were published earlier this month in the journal Nature.

Further work conducted by the researchers, which has not yet been published, found that a high-cysteine diet specifically helped the gut recover from treatment with 5-fluorouracil, a chemotherapy drug used to treat colon and pancreatic cancers, according to MIT.

Yilmaz’s lab has previously explored how different diets affect stem cell regeneration, finding that high-fat foods and short periods of fasting can also enhance stem cell activity. The new study, however, is the first to identify a single nutrient that can regenerate intestinal cells.

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The team is also investigating whether cysteine could stimulate hair follicle regeneration, with plans to further explore other amino acids that appear to influence stem cell regeneration.

"I think we’re going to uncover multiple new mechanisms for how these amino acids regulate cell fate decisions and gut health in the small intestine and colon," Yilmaz predicted.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.

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Dr. Amie Hornaman, a certified functional medicine practitioner based in Erie, Pennsylvania, said the recent findings are promising but come with caveats, including the fact that human trials are needed.

"Cysteine is not a magic bullet, but it may become a useful tool," Hornaman told Fox News Digital. "For now, I recommend food-first cysteine with oncology-guided supplementation and a strong foundation of protein, fiber and microbiome support."

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Typical requirements for sulfur amino acids are roughly 13 to 19 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day, which is usually provided by a balanced, whole-foods diet, she noted.

Overall, Hornaman recommends that cancer patients and survivors stay hydrated, prioritize protein and gentle fiber, and avoid high-dose antioxidants during treatments unless cleared by an oncology team.

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Transgender 'trend' sharply declining on American college campuses, new analysis finds

The trans-identification trend among young people appears to be losing momentum.

Recent data taken from college campuses shows a sharp decline in the number of Gen Zers identifying as transgender over the past three years.

Eric Kaufmann, a professor of politics at the University of Buckingham, conducted his own analysis of a large survey of U.S. undergraduates — which included a question asking them to identify their gender.

TRANS SURGERIES INCREASE RISK OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, SUICIDAL IDEATIONS: STUDY

Anything that isn't a man or woman is considered "gender non-conforming," the surveying organization shared with Fox News Digital.

The possible answers are listed below.

In the 2025 survey of 68,000 students, only 3.6% of respondents identified as a gender other than male or female. 

GENDER DYSPHORIA TREATMENTS POSE ‘SIGNIFICANT RISKS’ TO KIDS AND TEENS, HHS REPORT REVEALS

"By comparison, the figure was 5.2% in 2024 and 6.8% in both 2022 and 2023," Kaufmann wrote in his analysis, which was published on UnHerd.com. 

"In other words, the share of trans-identified students has effectively halved in just two years."

The report also found that "non-conforming sexual identity" has sharply declined, according to Kaufmann. Those identifying as gay or lesbian remained "stable," although heterosexuality has risen 10 points since 2023.

Additionally, in 2024-2025, fewer college first-year students identified as "trans or queer" compared to seniors — which is the opposite of what occurred in the 2022-2023 year.

"This suggests that gender/sexual non-conformity will continue to fall," Kaufmann wrote in an X post sharing the data.

The annual survey — College Free Speech Rankings — is conducted by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

The aim is to gather students' opinions on freedom of speech, along with demographic information like gender.

Kaufmann conducted his analyses using six years of demographic data from the survey, FIRE confirmed to Fox News Digital. 

'GENDER-AFFIRMING' BREAST REMOVAL SURGERIES MAY HAVE BEEN PERFORMED ON HUNDREDS OF YOUNG GIRLS SINCE 2017

His independent report, "The Decline of Trans and Queer Identity among Young Americans," was published by the Centre of Heterodox Social Science and has not been peer-reviewed.

"Our survey looks at student attitudes for free expression and is conducted for that purpose," FIRE told Fox News Digital. "As a side effect of asking demographic questions of so many respondents, one can glean trends in demographics, as Professor Kaufmann has done here."

Kaufmann said he believes that improved mental health likely played a part in the shift.

"Less anxious and, especially, depressed students are linked with a smaller share identifying as trans, queer or bisexual," he wrote.

The decline could also signal the fizzling out of a trend, Kaufmann added.

"The fall of trans and queer seems most similar to the fading of a fashion or trend," he wrote. "It happened largely independently of shifts in political beliefs and social media use, though improved mental health played a role."

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, noted that the study is "very interesting," but doesn’t pinpoint the cause of the decline.

"It brings up more questions than it answers," the doctor, who was not involved in the survey, told Fox News Digital. "Could the change be due to a changing cultural climate? Less political pressure from parents and society? Could it be due to the idea that gender dysphoria resolves in many cases?"

Siegel also wondered whether the attempt to "normalize" these choices and to "overcome stigmatization" could have been an overreaction in some cases, which is now being dialed back.

"Or is the stigmatization now increasing again, making students reluctant to declare themselves as non-binary now?" he asked. "This needs to be studied further."

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Dr. Jonathan Alpert, a New York City psychotherapist, said this shift likely marks a "natural correction."

"For a while, we taught young people to over-interpret every feeling. Therapy culture told them that every discomfort needed a label or diagnosis," Alpert, who also was not part of the analysis or the survey, told Fox News Digital. "For some, that label became ‘nonbinary’ — not identifying with a gender."

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According to Alpert, these results don’t necessarily mean that fewer people are identifying as transgender — "it’s mostly about fewer identifying as nonbinary, which is something very different."

Rather than rejecting who they are, Alpert said, young people may simply be tired of feeling pressured to define every emotion or difference with a new identity. 

"So, in essence, it's the performance that's slowing down — at least in what this study showed," he said. "A few years ago, identity was treated almost like a social badge. Now, perhaps young people are realizing they don’t have to announce or label everything about themselves to be valid."

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Alpert said he sees this same pattern in his own therapy practice.

"Once people become more comfortable in who they are, they stop needing to define themselves so rigidly. To me, that’s a sign of growing self-assurance, not intolerance."

Fox News Digital reached out to Kaufmann for additional comment.

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