Surgeons keep man alive without lungs, paving new path to transplant

Surgeons at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago were able to keep a critically ill patient alive for 48 hours after removing both of his lungs, the hospital reported last week.

The patient, a 33-year-old Missouri resident whose name was not shared, was originally flown to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with lung failure linked to a flu infection in spring 2023.

When his condition escalated to severe pneumonia and sepsis, his heart stopped and the team performed CPR, according to a press release on the case.

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"He had developed an infection of his lungs that just could not be treated with any antibiotics because it was resistant to everything," said Ankit Bharat, M.D., chief of thoracic surgery and executive director of the Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute. "That infection caused his lungs to liquify and then continued to progress to the rest of his body."

The lungs needed to be removed to stop the spread of infection, but there was a dangerous risk of immediate heart failure.

"The lungs act as a ‘shock absorber’ for the right side of the heart; when you remove them, the heart pumps against high resistance and can fail instantly," Bharat told Fox News Digital. 

"Another critical danger is that without blood flowing from the lungs to the left heart, the left heart chambers can collapse or form deadly clots."

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While the man remained on life support, the medical team designed a "total artificial lung system" (TAL) that took over gas exchange (oxygenation and CO₂ removal) and maintained blood flow to the heart in hopes that it could keep the patient alive after both of his diseased lungs were removed.

"A key innovation here is that we maintained the heart's natural physiology. By using a ‘flow-adaptive’ design, we allowed the patient's own heart to regulate blood flow, rather than forcing it with a machine," Bharat said.

"Just one day after we took out the lungs, his body started to get better because the infection was gone."

After 48 hours, the patient was stable enough to proceed with a double-lung transplant. Two years later, he is back to his regular routine.

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"The patient is doing remarkably well," Dr. Bharat said. "He has excellent lung function, his heart function is preserved and he is completely functionally independent."

This was the first successful application of this specific type of system, according to the medical team.

"While the concept of removing lungs and bridging to transplant has been attempted in rare cases historically, those prior attempts faced significant limitations regarding blood flow management and the risk of clots," Bharat told Fox News Digital. 

"Our system is novel because it includes a self-regulating ‘shunt’ that mimics the natural physics of the lung to protect the heart, and it uses dual return tubes to maintain normal blood flow through the left heart chambers."

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In a case study, which was published last week in the Cell Press journal Med, experts revealed a "molecular analysis" of the removed lungs, showing extensive scarring and damage. This supports the idea that in some severe cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome, transplantation may be the only viable option.

Researchers hope that the TAL system could eventually be a viable strategy for patients who are waiting for donor lungs — specifically, those with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) along with necrotizing pneumonia or septic shock.

"These patients have a mortality rate exceeding 80% and are often turned down for transplant because they are too infected," Dr. Bharat said. "This technology allows us to ‘clean the slate’ by removing the infection, stabilizing the patient and bridging them to a successful transplant."

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In the future, he added, they hope to develop durable, implantable artificial lungs that patients can live with long-term, not just as a bridge to transplant.

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New Mexico newborn dies from Listeria infection after mother drank raw milk while pregnant: state officials

A newborn baby in New Mexico died from a Listeria infection likely tied to the mother drinking raw milk while pregnant, according to state health officials.

The New Mexico Department of Health issued a warning Tuesday urging people to avoid consuming raw dairy products following the newborn’s death. Health officials believe the "most likely" source of infection was the mother drinking unpasteurized milk during pregnancy.

While investigators said they could not determine the exact cause, they said the "tragic death underscores the serious risks raw dairy poses to pregnant women, young children, elderly New Mexicans and anyone with a weakened immune system."

Raw milk has seen a surge in popularity amid the Make America Healthy Again movement led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a regulation decades ago prohibiting the interstate sale of raw milk, but the drink is not federally banned, leaving individual states to decide whether it's safe for human consumption.

"Individuals who are pregnant should only consume pasteurized milk products to help prevent illnesses and deaths in newborns," Dr. Chad Smelser, deputy state epidemiologist for the New Mexico Department of Health said in a statement.

Raw milk has not been pasteurized — a process that heats milk to remove disease-causing germs.

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Consuming food or beverages made from raw milk can expose people to Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Listeria, Brucella and Salmonella, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S., infecting about 1,250 people and causing roughly 172 deaths each year, according to the CDC.

The CDC notes that certain groups of people, including children under the age of 5, adults over 65, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, have a higher risk of serious illness.

"New Mexico’s dairy producers work hard to provide safe, wholesome products and pasteurization is a vital part of that process," Jeff M. Witte, New Mexico secretary of agriculture, said in a statement. "Consumers, particularly those at higher risk, are encouraged to choose pasteurized dairy products to reduce the risk of serious foodborne illness."

Last August, an outbreak of E. coli and Campylobacter linked to raw milk from a Florida farm sickened 21 people, including six children.

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Dangerous TikTok trend leaves boy badly burned as doctors issue warning

A 9-year-old boy is recovering after a popular toy caused second-degree burns to his face and hands.

Caleb Chabolla, a fourth-grader in Illinois, was injured after heating up a NeeDoh in the microwave late last month.

The NeeDoh, a sensory toy similar to a stress ball, is described on the company’s website as a "gratifying super soft, super stretchy dough filled groovy glob."

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After microwaving the toy to soften it, Chabolla removed it and began squeezing it when it exploded in his face.

"I heard him screaming loudly and saw him take off running toward the bathroom, and he just kept yelling, ‘it burns, it burns,’" Whitney Grubb, the boy’s mother, told Fox News Digital.

Grubb saw that the right side of Chabolla’s face was covered in a thick gel, with bright red skin underneath. She initially tried to wash off the substance, but it was too painful, so she drove her son to the emergency room.

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Chabolla was ultimately transferred via ambulance to the Loyola Burn Center, where he stayed overnight. Doctors "debrided" the burn, which involves cleaning burn wounds by removing dead, damaged or infected skin and debris.

"Because his eye ended up swelling all the way closed, they also brought in ophthalmology to make sure he didn't have any injury to his eye," Grubb said.

The doctors at Loyola informed Grubb that they had recently treated four other children who had been burned by heating up NeeDohs, stemming from a viral trend on TikTok.

"Caleb had heard about it through word of mouth through friends at school," Grubb said.

After two weeks of recovery and daily wound cleanings, Chabolla was released to return to school on Wednesday.

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"His face is looking a lot better," Grubb said. "There are a few spots that are still healing, but the majority of his face is pretty healed over."

He will continue to need vitamin E lotion as well as sunscreen to keep the skin protected from burns, she added.

"For the most part, Caleb is just happy to be back at school to see his friends, so he's in better spirits now."

Grubb wants to spread the word to warn other parents about the potential dangers of putting these types of toys in the microwave.

"It’s hard to micromanage every little thing your kid does, and unfortunately, kids are going to experiment and try things — they don't know the risks of these kinds of things, and they don’t know how hot things can get in a short amount of time."

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Fox News Digital reached out to the manufacturer of NeeDoh and to the Loyola Burn Center requesting comment.

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Marijuana compound may help prevent dementia when paired with common drug

As marijuana's potential health benefits are under debate, new research has found that THC could have a powerful and positive effect on the brain.

Researchers at the University of Texas (UT) at San Antonio, Long School of Medicine, recently discovered that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana) could prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease – but only when paired with an anti-inflammatory drug called celecoxib.

Celecoxib is a selective COX-2 inhibitor that is commonly prescribed for arthritis and pain.

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While THC has previously been shown to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, it’s also been linked to negative effects on the brain, particularly in learning and memory, according to a UT Health press release.

Combining THC with an anti-inflammatory drug, however, could provide the same benefits with fewer negative side effects.

The study, which was published in the journal Aging and Disease, paired low-dose THC extract with celecoxib, which was administered to mice daily for 30 days.

The mice received the treatments before the development of memory symptoms to measure the impact on preventing or delaying Alzheimer’s.

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The results showed improved cognition, learning and memory, as well as decreased markers of neuroinflammation and reduced Alzheimer’s-related brain pathology, the release stated.

Although THC alone had the same results, it also increased inflammatory signals, while the combination dosage did not.

"What really mattered was behavior. If cognition is not improved, then the treatment doesn’t matter. And that’s where the combination clearly worked better than THC alone," noted lead study author Chu Chen, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology.

Years of research led Chen to connect the dots on how THC can manipulate the brain and why it’s difficult to use safely for neurological conditions, according to UT Health.

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"When THC is given, it unexpectedly increases COX-2 in the brain. That increase is closely associated with learning and memory impairment," Chen said.

Both THC and celecoxib are FDA-approved for use in humans, which could provide a "real advantage" in moving along to clinical trials, according to UT Health.

Future studies will investigate whether the drug combination can slow disease progression or reverse deficits after symptoms have appeared.

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"This work has taken many years. But now we’re at a point where basic neuroscience discoveries are pointing toward something that could realistically move into the clinic," Chen said.

Dr. Paul Saphier, a neurosurgeon and founder of Coaxial Neurosurgical Specialists in New Jersey, called this research an "exciting breakthrough with a huge potential impact for patients and their families."

"Neurocognitive deterioration has been linked to conditions that cause inflammation within the brain — prior brain bleeds, strokes, tumors and infections," he told Fox News Digital. "We also know that the buildup of the plaques related to Alzheimer's [beta-amyloid plaques] are the result of chronic inflammation."

"So, it makes sense that this combination therapy [might] help limit the production of this amyloid and thereby reduce the progression of the disease."

Saphier said the drugs’ FDA approval status is "encouraging," as it may "ultimately ease the availability for patients, if the trial proves successful."

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"I look forward to the results of this trial, as well as any future trials that look at limiting the effects of chronic inflammation within the central nervous system."

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Does cancer reduce Alzheimer's risk? New study explores the connection

Puzzling cancer and Alzheimer's link explored in new study: 'SHORT QUOTE'

A new study may help clarify a long-observed link between cancer history and reduced Alzheimer’s risk.

The research, published in the journal Cell, used mouse models to explore how the biological changes associated with cancer may affect the progression of the most common dementia type.

The findings suggest that certain cancers release a protein called cystatin-C that can travel through the bloodstream and enter the brain, an area that many Alzheimer’s treatments have difficulty reaching.

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Cystatin-C binds to harmful amyloid protein clumps linked to Alzheimer’s and activates a protein called TREM2, which acts like an on-switch for the brain’s immune cells. 

When activated, those cells begin clearing away existing amyloid plaques, a process that was associated with reduced plaque buildup and improved cognitive function, the study found.

Dr. Bob Arnot, a Vermont-based internal medicine physician, told Fox News Digital that the findings help clarify a pattern doctors have observed for years.

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"Scientists have long observed a puzzling statistical pattern known as ‘inverse comorbidity’ — people with a history of cancer are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and people with Alzheimer’s are less likely to develop cancer," said Arnot, who was not involved in the study.

The findings suggest that biological signals tied to certain cancers may slow or reverse key features of Alzheimer’s disease.

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Arnot said the research is notable because it identifies a specific biological pathway that could be targeted for future Alzheimer’s treatments.

"This approach targets existing amyloid plaques, not just early prevention. That distinction could be critical for patients who already have established disease," he said.

Arnot cautioned that the findings do not mean cancer itself is protective.

"This study does not suggest that cancer is protective, desirable or a viable therapy," he said. "Instead, it reveals that biological programs activated during cancer can inadvertently engage protective immune mechanisms in the brain."

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The research suggests that future treatments could focus not just on slowing Alzheimer’s, but also on clearing harmful buildup in the brain, Arnot added.

The results were based on experiments in animal models, and further research is needed to determine whether the same effects occur in humans, the researchers noted.

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Could humans live to be 150 years old? Geneticist shares why it may be possible

Humans are already living longer than in past generations, according to global statistics.

In the U.S., life expectancy rose to 79 years in 2024, marking an all-time high, according to CDC data, with 2025 lifespan numbers expected to improve further.

This is likely the result of a decline in deaths from COVID, unintentional injuries like drug overdoses, heart disease and cancer, the data suggests.

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If this trend continues, one geneticist predicts that humans could someday live as long as 150 years, based on growing research in biological aging and rejuvenation.

Dr. Steve Horvath, a principal investigator at the Altos Labs Cambridge Institute of Science in the U.K., made the prediction in a feature with Time, although he did not offer a timeline on when it might occur.

"150 is a very fashionable number now," the doctor said. "I have no doubt it will happen. No question."

As a longevity expert and former professor of human genetics and biostatistics at the University of California, Los Angeles, Horvath has devoted his research to understanding age-related biological markers in the body.

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In the early 2010s, he created the first widely used "aging clock," a method for estimating biological age by measuring molecular changes in cells, according to Time. While the clock incorporated saliva data, it proved reliable across multiple tissues, including blood, skin and other organs.

The aging expert later developed other biological aging clocks, including models shown in studies to be strong predictors of mortality risk.

"I felt that it was important to develop [an aging] clock to advance scientific inquiry in the field of longevity," he told Time. "I felt we needed exact measurements of aging before we could really study it, and then hopefully one day find interventions that can reverse aging."

While Horvath said he doesn't think humans will ever live for 1,000 years, as he once hoped as a child, he shared his optimism for "drastic extensions of lifespan" in the future.

"Imagine we have 100 more years of biomedical innovations — what will that do for health?" he asked. "Of course, we would expect major breakthroughs."

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"So, in an abstract sense … if we can avoid wars and pandemics, I think our species at some point will find ways to extend lifespan drastically."

Fox News Digital reached out to Horvath and Altos Labs for comment.

Dr. Eve Henry, chief medical officer at the personalized health platform Hundred Health, told Fox News Digital that Horvath's prediction is "not an impossible take," adding that the research is "very optimistic."

"The research is correct. The first step in this process is to accurately measure biological age and the speed of aging in real time," said the California-based doctor.

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"This will allow us to test interventions for improved longevity quickly, rather than set up aging experiments that would take decades to complete," she went on. "In science, once you can truly measure something, it gives you new power to study it."

However, achieving longevity to the degree that Horvath suggests would require "game-changing intervention that resets a lot of our physiology," according to Henry.

"While I haven’t seen that intervention yet, I’m excited to be alive in an era when this kind of research is possible."

Henry noted that if humans do eventually live 50 to 70 years longer, the risks would largely depend on the quality of life made possible by available interventions.

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"There’s a key difference in living 50 to 70 years longer if independence can be sustained with the longevity tools and care available, compared to the idea of even living 10 years beyond the average life span today, which requires extensive health and community assistance," she said.

"This research is certainly promising, but the reality is that only time can tell what the future of human lifespan could really look like."

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Measles exposure risk identified at major airport and theme park, health officials warn

Health officials are warning the public of potential measles exposure after an international traveler visited several high-traffic locations in Southern California, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the Disneyland Resort.

The traveler arrived Jan. 26 on Viva Aerobus Flight 518 at Tom Bradley International Terminal B, Gate 201A, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH).

The department stated that individuals who were in Terminal B between 10:45 p.m. Jan. 26 and 1 a.m. Jan. 27 may have been exposed.

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Following the arrival, the individual traveled to Orange County. The Orange County Health Care Agency shared the following exposure windows for Jan. 28.

A subsequent exposure was identified on Jan. 30 at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Woodland Hills, according to the LADPH.

"People who were at these locations during these times may be at risk of developing measles from seven to 21 days after exposure," the Orange County Health Care Agency said in a statement.

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Health officials advise anyone who visited these locations during the specified windows to check their immunization status and monitor for symptoms for 21 days following exposure.

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Public health departments in both Los Angeles and Orange County will continue to track potential exposure sites and notify individuals at high risk.

People should contact a healthcare provider by phone before visiting a clinic if symptoms develop to prevent further spread, experts recommend.

Fox News Digital reached out to county officials for a statement.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. If one person is infected, up to 90% of nearby people who are not immune will also become infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Measles doesn’t only affect people who travel internationally — everyone is at risk if they’re not protected," said Dr. Anissa Davis, deputy county health officer for Long Beach, California. "The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get vaccinated before exposure occurs."

Symptoms of measles typically include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a characteristic rash that begins on the face and spreads downward, per the CDC. An infected person is contagious for four days before and four days after the rash appears.

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As of Jan. 30, there have been 588 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S. so far in 2026, the agency reports. This follows a significant surge in 2025, which saw 2,267 cases — the highest annual count in more than three decades.

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