Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of internal organs or other soft tissues. Unlike X-rays, ultrasound imaging does not use any radiation and thus it is a safer way for healthcare providers to see what is going on inside your body.

How Does It Work?

A device called a transducer or probe is used where it is placed over the area being examined or sometimes within a body cavity. To help the ultrasound waves travel efficiently from the probe to the body, a thin layer of gel is applied to the skin.

The probe emits high-frequency sound waves that bounce off internal structures and return to the probe. These sound waves then get converted into electrical signals, which allows a computer to display real-time images on a nearby screen.

What Are The Different Types Of Ultrasounds?

There are mainly three categories:

• Pregnancy ultrasound or prenatal ultrasound
• Diagnostic ultrasound
• Ultrasound guidance for procedures

Pregnancy Ultrasound

It is used to monitor the mother and fetus throughout pregnancy. It an confirm pregnancy and estimate gestational age, monitor fetal growth, position, and movement, check fetal heart rate, screen for congenital conditions, such as those affecting the brain, spinal cord, or heart, and it can also measure the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus.

It is usually performed at around 20 weeks to track fetal development.

• Diagnostic Ultrasound: It helps the healthcare provider examine specific areas of the body to know for any symptoms like unexplained pain, lumps, or unusual blood test results. In most cases, the technician places the probe on the skin, but sometimes internal ultrasounds, such as transvaginal or transrectal.
• Abdominal ultrasound: helps identify causes of abdominal pain
• Kidney (renal) ultrasound: evaluates kidneys for cysts or tumours
• Breast ultrasound: identifies any lumps or cysts in the breast, in case they are undetected in a mammogram
• Doppler ultrasound: measures blood flow through arteries and veins
• Pelvic ultrasound: assesses pelvic organs like bladder, prostate, and reproductive structures
• Thyroid ultrasound: measures the size of the thyroid and checks for nodules
• Transrectal ultrasound: used to examine the prostate and nearby tissues

A common stomach bug, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), could be responsible for millions of preventable cancer cases in the coming years, top researchers have warned.

Scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), estimate that H. pylori infection causes 76% of all stomach cancer cases globally. Despite its serious implications, the infection is often silent, producing no noticeable symptoms beyond common digestive complaints.

No Obvious Signs Until It Is Too Late

The bacteria, which lives in the lining of the stomach, is usually acquired through contaminated food, water, or close contact with infected individuals. It causes tissue damage over time that can eventually lead to stomach cancer.

What makes it dangerous is that most people don't realize they're infected. “The vast majority—between 80 to 90 per cent—of infected individuals show no symptoms,” the researchers noted. In some cases, H. pylori may cause painful stomach ulcers, which is when it’s typically detected.

Symptoms of stomach cancer are often subtle in the beginning:

• persistent indigestion
• bloating
• heartburn
• difficulty swallowing
• feeling full quickly
• unexplained weight loss
• fatigue

These can easily be mistaken for common gastrointestinal issues, which delays diagnosis and treatment.

Screening could save lives

The IARC team is now calling for more widespread screening for H. pylori, using simple blood, breath or stool tests. Writing in the journal Nature Medicine, they warn that if current trends continue unchecked, nearly 12 million people born between 2008 and 2017 will go on to develop stomach cancer due to the bacteria.

“We found that about three-quarters of all stomach cancer cases globally could be prevented with proper screening and treatment,” said Dr Jin Young Park, lead author of the study and head of IARC’s gastric cancer prevention programme. “It is essential that health authorities make gastric cancer prevention a priority and accelerate efforts to control it.”

Asia Is Most Affected, But The Risk Is Global

While the highest number of predicted cases is expected in Asia, around 2 million are projected to develop in the Americas and 1.2 million in Europe.

In the UK, data from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) shows that H. pylori is responsible for roughly 41 per cent of the 6,500 stomach cancer cases diagnosed annually—about 2,700 cases a year.

Historically, about 40% of the British population has tested positive for H. pylori, although rates are now believed to be declining. However, the risk persists, especially among older generations or those born in areas where the bacteria is still widespread.

Prevention Lies In Lifestyle Changes

Despite the global warning, CRUK has urged Britons not to panic. Dr Rachel Orritt, the charity’s health information manager, stressed that lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor diet, alcohol consumption and obesity remain more significant contributors to cancer risk in the UK, as reported by DailyMail.

“Although this is an important issue worldwide, in the UK other preventable factors cause more cancer cases,” she said. “Ways to reduce your cancer risk include stopping smoking, keeping a healthy weight, cutting down on alcohol and eating a healthy, balanced diet.”

CRUK also highlighted that over half of all stomach cancers in the UK are preventable, and that incidence rates have fallen by more than 25% in the past decade—a trend that is expected to continue.

Early Signs You Should Not Miss

Doctors advise that persistent symptoms like indigestion, nausea, weight loss, or discomfort in the upper stomach lasting more than three weeks should prompt a visit to a GP.

Around 18 people in the UK and 83 in the US are diagnosed with stomach cancer every day. The disease remains difficult to treat once advanced, with only 17 per cent of UK patients surviving beyond 10 years post-diagnosis.

With screening and treatment, H. pylori infection can be managed—and lives saved. The challenge lies in catching it before it silently progresses to something far more dangerous.

Type 1 diabetes is a condition that cannot be treated clinically and people with diabetes receive lifelong treatment to manage symptoms and keep their blood sugar under control. However, with the joint efforts of researchers all over the world and countless studies, trials for a new drug have begun in the UK.

Right now, about 4.6 million people in the UK have diabetes, and over 270,000 of them have Type 1. Since there isn't a cure for Type 1 diabetes yet, most people need to take insulin every day to keep their blood sugar levels normal and avoid serious health problems. As you may know, insulin is a hormone responsible for turning food into energy by essentially breaking down the sugar to make it glucose.

This new drug, Teplizumab, can change the way we deal with type 1 diabetes. Instead of taking long-term treatment measures, the success of this trial could mean potentially finding a cure in the future. This treatment is happening at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and it's getting help from a group called the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR). This is a big step forward because it might help people put off getting full-blown Type 1 diabetes.

Hannah Robinson: The First Adult Patient in the UK

Hannah Robinson, who is a dentist and a mom of two from Devon, is the first adult in the UK to try this new treatment. She found out during her pregnancy that she was starting to develop Type 1 diabetes. Familiar with the challenges of living with diabetes, Hannah hopes that taking this drug could mean she won't need to take daily insulin shots for up to three years longer than she would have otherwise. This would give her more freedom and control over her health.

Hannah, who is 36, said: "I've learned a lot about Type 1 diabetes since I was diagnosed and what it means for my future. For me, this new drug gives me more freedom and a chance to focus on my health before I have to change my life and manage things as someone who needs daily insulin. It's not just about what I eat or checking my sugar; it's also about feeling more in control and not letting my condition define me. This treatment could even lead to a cure for Type 1 diabetes, which is amazing. I feel very lucky to be part of this."

What is Type 1 Diabetes and How Teplizumab Helps

With Type 1 diabetes, your body's immune system attacks and destroys special cells in your pancreas called beta cells. These beta cells are very important because they make insulin, which helps control your blood sugar. If your blood sugar is too high or too low, it can cause serious health problems.

The new drug, Teplizumab, works by teaching your immune system to stop attacking these beta cells. By doing this, it can delay you needing insulin by up to three years. But it's very important that the drug is given very early on, before the disease has gotten too far along. Teplizumab is already approved in the USA. Hannah is the first adult in the UK to get this treatment, though a small number of children and young people here have already received it in its early stages.

Early Intervention is Key

Experts are saying that Teplizumab works best when it's given very early on, even before someone officially gets diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes based on high blood sugar. Dr. Nick Thomas, a top diabetes specialist at the University of Exeter, explained that this new treatment is a huge step forward. It allows doctors to step in early and change what the immune system is doing. The goal is to slow down how quickly people will need to start taking insulin.

The research happening at the Royal Devon and the University of Exeter are using things like genetics and other tests to find people who are at a high risk of getting Type 1 diabetes. This smart approach means that more people could potentially get the drug early and delay the start of the disease.

Insulin Free Future for Type-1 Diabetes Patients

Researchers involved in the study explain that trials like these can lead to many patients having some extra insulin free years. Their ultimate goal is a future where these types of immune-system treatments become the first line of defense against Type 1 diabetes, tackling the root cause of the problem. Hopefully, in the future, early treatment could even stop some people from ever needing insulin at all.

Ever wondered what makes someone "cool"? A new international study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology suggests that no matter where you live, "cool" people often act in similar ways.

Researchers from universities in Chile, the United States, and other countries found that people considered "cool" share six key personality traits. These traits were consistent across all 12 countries included in the study, which surveyed nearly 6,000 people from 2018 to 2022. Countries included Australia, Chile, China, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, and the United States.

Six Common Traits of "Cool" People

These traits were found to be consistent regardless of a person's age, gender, or education level. The study, identified the following traits in people seen as cool:

• Extroverted
• Pleasure-seekers (hedonistic)
• Powerful
• Adventurous
• Open to new experiences
• Independent

Coolness vs. Goodness

Interestingly, being a "good" person was linked to different traits, such as being calm, kind, warm, traditional, and secure. People who were seen as capable often had qualities that made them seem both cool and good.

Researchers explained that these "cool" traits are likely part of someone's core personality and aren't easily taught. Another lead researcher noted that while cool people are usually somewhat likable, their traits don't always mean they are morally "good," especially when considering being hedonistic and powerful.

Deeper Meaning of "Cool"

Reviewing the study's findings, researchers noted that "coolness" can have both positive and negative meanings in real life. They suggested that future research could explore the differences between "good coolness" and "bad coolness."

Researchers also pointed out that their study only included people who already understood the term "cool." It's not clear if people in very traditional or isolated cultures would view the same traits as admirable.

They emphasized that "cool" is a deeply embedded part of our social language. It acts as a quick way to understand someone's status, connections, and identity, especially in today's social media and influencer culture. Understanding "coolness" helps us see how quick judgments about traits influence behavior and social interactions.

Many of these personality traits have also been found to be genetic, so the question arises, are we born with these traits?

Is Human Personality Genetic?

In a 2020 study published in the Genes, Brain, and Behavior journal, researchers explained that our personality traits are simply the lasting ways we tend to think, feel, and act in different situations. Studies of twins and families show that our personality traits are partly inherited from our parents.

This means our genes play a role in shaping who we become. These traits can even give clues about future mental health conditions. What these genetic studies of personality have shown is that personality, like many brain-related diseases, is influenced by many genes working together (this is called being polygenic).

Five-Personality Traits That Are Connected To Genes

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) published a study in 2024 Nature Human Behavior where they found several DNA spots linked to specific personality traits. Researchers used information from a large program called the Million Veteran Program. They looked at people's genes to find tiny differences, called "loci," that are connected to the "Big Five" personality traits

Extraversion: How outgoing you are.

Openness: How open you are to new experiences.

Agreeableness: How well you get along with others.

Neuroticism: How prone you are to negative feelings like worry or sadness.

Conscientiousness: How organized and disciplined you are.

The "Big Five" traits are a common way scientists measure personality. In this study, participants answered questions about their personality and also gave a blood sample for genetic testing.

By comparing their answers to their DNA, the team found 62 new genetic spots linked to neuroticism. They also found genetic spots for agreeableness for the very first time. When they combined all their results, they identified over 200 genetic spots across all five personality traits.

The team also looked at the genetic connections between personality traits and various mental health conditions. They found a strong overlap between neuroticism (a personality trait with a lot of negative feelings) and depression and anxiety.

On the other hand, people who scored high in agreeableness (meaning they tend to get along well with others) were less likely to experience these conditions. These links were already known, but this study provides new genetic proof.

With each research on such topics, we come one step forward to finding better answers and treatments for mental health conditions.