🎬 The Odyssey dominates China box office haul

The Odyssey is performing strongly in the Chinese box office during its third weekend. The film, helmed by Christopher Nolan, is currently ranking at #3 in China’s box office charts. It has reached a cumulative gross of $87.4 million, edging closer to the $100 million milestone. This performance has surpassed the lifetime totals of Jurassic World: Rebirth and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 in China. If this momentum continues, the movie is set to move closer to the top 10 Hollywood grossers post-COVID. 🎬

🔬 GLP-1 drugs might fight infections too

New research suggests that GLP-1 drugs could offer benefits beyond just managing diabetes and obesity. In an international cohort study, diabetic patients on GLP-1 drugs were less likely to develop TB compared to those on other medications. Another real-world study involving over 50,000 U.S. adults found tirzepatide lowered infection-related mortality risks. Experts suggest GLP-1 receptor agonists might boost the immune system directly, not just through blood sugar control. These findings add to evidence showing GLP-1 medications protect against serious infections. 🛡️

🍿 Odyssey needs ₹2.8 Cr to beat Jungle Book

The Odyssey has completed 45 days in Indian theaters, accumulating a total net collection of 185.20 crore. The film, starring Anne Hathaway and Matt Damon, is currently showing in India. It earned 1.58 crore net during its sixth weekend, showing a good hold. Increased IMAX screens, from 68 to 169 shows, are boosting its performance against Yash’s Toxic. The Odyssey needs only 2.8 crore more to surpass The Jungle Book. 🎬

⚛️ Auto-designing quantum circuits with photonics

Researchers developed an algorithm to automatically design photonic quantum gates and circuits using optimization and pruning methods. This work was conducted by Javier Osca and Jiri Vala from institutions in Spain and Ireland. The algorithm successfully generated approximate and exact implementations of the cnot gate and circuits like Deutsch-Jozsa and Grover's. These implementations can then be integrated into larger quantum information protocols for future use. This advancement moves closer to practical quantum computing applications. ⚛️

📉 Khalifa misses 50 Cr mark, facing another flop

Prithviraj Sukumaran’s action thriller, Khalifa, is reportedly heading towards a box-office failure despite a strong start. The film was released in theaters for Onam and currently stands at a worldwide gross of 42.59 crore. After 11 days, the movie earned only 0.93 crore on Day 11, bringing the net total to 19.57 crore. Negative reviews and competition from Bethlehem Kudumba Unit have slowed its momentum significantly. At this rate, Khalifa is expected to miss the 50 crore milestone globally. 😟

🩺 Blood clot risks linked to young stroke cases

Mechanical risk factors for venous thrombosis within 14 days before stroke were linked to cryptogenic ischemic stroke in young adults. The study involved 546 patients aged 18-49 years, including 47.25% women, in a multicenter case-control study. Mechanical VTRFs in the last 14 days were more prevalent in cases (15.4% vs 9.6%) and had an OR of 1.67. This link was stronger in those 18-39 years old and with a patent foramen ovale. Clinicians should assess these factors for young patients lacking conventional stroke risk factors. 🩺

🧠 Evening exercise boosts memory despite less sleep

A trial found that one 30-minute evening exercise session protected long-term memory in young adults facing sleep restriction. Researchers conducted this randomized controlled trial with 88 healthy young adults at Concordia University in Montreal. The study tracked memory performance after sleep restriction versus exercise-plus-restriction during the period of August 26. The results showed that exercise offset memory deficits caused by limited sleep, mediated by slow-wave sleep. This suggests acute exercise could help hippocampal memory in people prone to sleep loss. 🧠

🩺 MASLD now spans three specialties thanks to new drugs

MASLD management has fundamentally shifted as it now crosses primary care, endocrinology, and gastroenterology. Two major FDA approvals, Resmetirom in March 2024 and Semaglutide in August 2025, drove this change. New 2026 guidelines recommend FIB-4 screening for almost all T2D patients every one to two years. Specialists are now reserved for advanced fibrosis or complex cases, not initial screening. The bottleneck remains in second-tier testing capacity for indeterminate results. 🩺

🔬 Tofacitinib solo works just as well as combo therapy

A retrospective study compared treatment persistence for rheumatoid arthritis patients using tofacitinib. Researchers analyzed data from six Dutch cohorts, involving 2684 adults between 2001 and 2022. The findings showed no significant difference in drug survival between tofacitinib monotherapy and combination therapy across ACPA subgroups. However, adalimumab combination therapy showed a lower risk of discontinuation. This suggests solo tofacitinib is a viable option in real-world settings. 🧐

🎬 Hi recovers 28% of budget after slow start

The romance drama 'Hi' has started slow at the box office but is showing growth. Starring Nayanthara and Kavin, the film was released recently in India. Over its opening weekend, it earned a net total of 5.6 crore against a 30 crore budget. The film has recovered 28% of its production cost, driven by positive word-of-mouth. It is expected to slowly become profitable with continued audience support. 🎬

🏥 New guidelines boost sepsis care systems

Hospital-level sepsis interventions across diagnosis and antimicrobial stewardship can significantly improve patient outcomes. This new position paper, from IDSA, suggests focusing beyond initial care for better prevention. It advises using multiplex nucleic acid tests and keeping antibiotic administration times super quick. The recommendations aim to complement existing guidelines by focusing on broader systemic changes. Hospitals are encouraged to adopt expanded performance measures to refine and improve care.