People with an underactive thyroid may have an increased risk of developing small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a risk that may be reduced with thyroid hormone treatment, according to a study being presented Saturday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.
We now know that people with hypothyroidism, especially those with autoimmune thyroiditis, are more likely to develop SIBO, but this risk appear to be mitigated in those taking thyroid medications.”
Ruchi Mathur, M.D., Director of the Diabetes Outpatient Treatment and Education Center and Director of Clinical Operations of Medically Associated Science and Technology, at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Calif.
Mathur said their research also suggests there may be a microbiological mechanism driving this association, which could lead to more personalized treatments.
The researchers investigated the relationship between SIBO and hypothyroidism in people older than 18 who previously underwent upper endoscopy without colon prep and reported living with hypothyroidism as well as controls. Subjects were recruited through their flagship REIMAGINE study.
They analyzed small bowel fluid samples from 49 people with hypothyroidism and 323 without the condition and performed DNA sequencing to identify microbial species. The results showed that people with hypothyroidism had a significantly higher prevalence of SIBO compared to controls (33% vs. 15%).
Mathur and colleagues then further evaluated four groups: SIBO-positive with hypothyroidism, SIBO-negative with hypothyroidism, SIBO-positive without thyroid disease, and SIBO-negative without thyroid disease.
The analysis showed different patterns of bacteria in the gut depending on a person’s thyroid status and co-occurrence of SIBO.
Separately, they performed a large-scale analysis of medical records from the TriNetX database, which looked at the 10-year risks of developing SIBO in people with hypothyroidism or autoimmune thyroiditis compared to matched controls. The risks were also mitigated in people taking levothyroxine.
“Results showed the risk of developing SIBO in subjects with hypothyroidism is 2.2 times more than the risk in a matched control cohort and was 2.4 times higher in those with autoimmune thyroiditis compared to a matched control group. This echoes our findings in the REIMAGINE cohort,” noted the study’s presenting author, Margaret Wei, M.D., of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Endocrine Fellowship Program.
“These findings open the door to new screening and prevention strategies. For example, doctors may begin to monitor thyroid health more closely in patients with SIBO, and vice versa. It also supports the idea that improving gut health could have far-reaching effects beyond digestion, possibly even helping to prevent autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto’s,” Mathur said. “As research continues, this could lead to more personalized care and earlier interventions for at-risk individuals.”
As Pakistan unveils its long-awaited New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Policy 2025-30, aimed at reducing emissions and fuel dependence, voices from within the auto industry are calling for a shift in how new technologies are priced and positioned in the market.
In a recent interaction with media in Lahore, Syed Asif Ahmed, General Manager Marketing Division at MG Motors, said that while the policy is a step in the right direction, the local Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) market remains largely unaffordable and does not pass on the benefits of technological advancements to the average Pakistani consumer. “HEVs in Pakistan have become a luxury for a niche market,” Ahmed remarked. “Despite policy support, the real advantages have not trickled down to car buyers.”
He noted that the most expensive HEV SUV in Pakistan – a seven-seater – carries an ex-factory price tag of Rs16 million while five-seater variants range from Rs9.6 to Rs12 million. “The industry must think seriously about affordability,” he added, “and consider shifting towards Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), which are better suited for urban use and offer real electric range.”
Unveiled by the Ministry of Industries, the NEV Policy 2025-30 introduces the official classification for EVs, PHEVs and hydrogen-powered vehicles as “New Energy Vehicles”, in line with global standards.
Ahmed was also critical of how earlier tax incentives were structured, allowing traditional hybrids to be labelled as NEVs, primarily to benefit large automotive players.
“Unfortunately, these subsidies neither helped the environment nor the people. They only benefited the principal companies and their local partners.”
In contrast, PHEVs offer a more meaningful alternative, with pure EV driving capabilities for daily urban commutes and hybrid flexibility for long routes, helping tackle the range anxiety often associated with EVs.
MG Motors has introduced Pakistan’s first locally assembled Plug-in Hybrid SUV – the MG HS PHEV. It features a 16.6 kWh lithium-ion battery offering over 52 km of electric-only range, combined with a 1.5L turbocharged engine to deliver 260 HP and 370 Nm of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in just 7.1 seconds. Priced under Rs10 million, Ahmed described the MG HS PHEV as “the best value-for-money vehicle in its class,” offering advanced tech, performance and fuel economy. He informed the media that MG has sold more than 16,000 vehicles in Pakistani market so far out of which approximately 2,000 were PHEVs.
• Download the NBA App • Summer League: Complete Coverage
• Spurs 76, Mavericks 69: Box Score | Game Detail
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 76-69, in the NBA 2K26 Summer League at Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday.
Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper were the top two picks in the draft, and they put on a show in this matchup. A 21-11 first quarter carried San Antonio to this easy win, maintaining the lead for all but a few minutes. Dallas fought back with a 21-12 second quarter, but the Spurs took control after a 26-17 third quarter, maintaining the lead for the entirety of the second half. The Spurs shot 42% from the field, 35% from 3-point range and 93% from the free throw line while holding the Mavericks to 37% from the field, 23% from long range and 65% from the charity stripe. San Antonio also out-rebounded Dallas, 37-31, while outscoring them in the paint, 38-26.
The Mavericks (1-1) were led by Flagg, collecting 31 points and four rebounds. Miles Kelly was the only other Mavs starter with more than two points, compiling 11 points, two rebounds and two steals. Maxwell Cleveland led the bench with eight points and four boards.
The Spurs’ (2-0) only starter in double figures was Harper, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. David Jones Garcia led the way with 21 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench. Osayi Osifo had 12 points and four boards on 6-of-7 shooting.
Both teams return to action on Monday, with San Antonio facing the Utah Jazz and Dallas taking on the Charlotte Hornets.
England scraped a consolation five-wicket win in the final T20 at Edgbaston on Saturday evening, chasing down their 168-run target off the final ball.
England needed six runs off the final over, but Tammy Beaumont was bowled playing across the line to the first ball of Arundhati Reddy’s 20th over, before Amy Jones fell to a spectacular flying catch by Radha Yadav at deep midwicket.
But with five runs needed from three balls, Sophie Ecclestone sprinted three after an Indian fumble in the deep, Paige Scholfield managed a single out into the off side, and the Indian shy at the stumps went wide and allowed Ecclestone to make her ground for the necessary single.
The platform had been set after Danni Wyatt-Hodge celebrated becoming only the second woman (after Charlotte Edwards) to claim 300 caps for England by scoring 56 from 37 balls and sharing another century partnership with Sophia Dunkley.
Off-spinner Charlie Dean claimed the player of the match award for her three wickets, which helped England peg India back after a dominant opening 10 overs. “It was a pretty tense game,” Dean said. “It’s a good way to show our character and what we’re about as a team.
“I took my shoes off pretty early [in the chase], three overs in, and I was like, ‘Oh, brilliant. We’ve got this.’ And then as the overs ticked down and runs were still there, I was like, ‘Oh, I might have to stay in kit here.’ But chases are tricky and sometimes it doesn’t matter how you get there, it matters that you get over the line.”
But the narrow margin, and the 3-2 series loss, has revealed the scale of the task facing the head coach, Charlotte Edwards, if she is to change her team’s fortunes in time for the home World Cup next summer.
Radha Yadav dismisses Amy Jones with a stunning catch off the bowling of Arundhati Reddy. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters
England’s middle order once again wobbled perilously in pursuit of their target, replicating the panic of the third T20, as what should have been an easy run chase turned into a desperate one and was only successful thanks to some lethargic Indian fielding.
This time it was India who shelled crucial catches, putting Wyatt-Hodge down at short fine leg on five. Then, after the opener miscued Deepti Sharma to midwicket in the 12th over, Shree Charani dropped a sitter at short third off Jones at a crunch point in the run chase.
Earlier, with Lauren Filer and Lauren Bell rested before the ODIs, Warwickshire’s Em Arlott and Issy Wong were tasked with opening the bowling on their home ground but both took a hammering, conceding more than 40 runs apiece as India reached 167 for seven after being put in to bat.
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Wong suffered particularly at the hands of Shafali Verma, who smashed 20 of her 75 runs off one over by the seamer. For Verma, it was a welcome comeback: her first international half-century since being dropped by India last year.
England were grateful to have Maia Bouchier back in the fold: she has always been one of their best outfielders, and showed it here, clasping on to a brilliant running catch at wide long-on to see off Verma in the 13th over, and another in the 19th which got rid of Richa Ghosh.
But Bouchier’s inclusion came at the expense of Alice Capsey, who now faces an uncertain path back to the England T20 side. England have no official T20 internationals in the calendar until May of next year – a feat of scheduling which seems both bizarre and counterproductive, given the yawning gap between their current output and their desire to feature in a home final at Lord’s next July.
Dean described the schedule as “a bit weird”. “Our winter calendar feels a little sparse,” she said. “We’re playing a lot of cricket at the moment – the girls can go and play in the WBBL, the WPL. [But] it would be good for us to play as many games as possible as a team.”
The finance ministry has disclosed in a report that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) last year incurred a net loss of Rs4.6 billion and one-off accounting profit of Rs26 billion due to treating past losses as future assets “should not be misinterpreted as a sign of operational profitability”.
The biannual report on federal state-owned enterprises (SOEs) has again highlighted the inefficiencies of PIA, though it has been freed from legacy debt and liabilities.
The Central Monitoring Unit (CMU) of the Ministry of Finance released the report on Friday, which gave an in-depth understanding of the accounts of PIA Corporation Limited (PIACL) after its restructuring in which Rs660 billion worth of debt was taken out of the company books.
“Despite the overhaul, PIACL Core still reported a pre-tax loss of Rs4.6 billion for the full year and Rs2.3 billion over six months,” said the Ministry of Finance.
Three months ago, every high-up from Defence Minister Khawaja Asif to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif showed satisfaction with PIA’s profit of Rs26 billion without knowing that it was a mere “accounting profit”. The finance ministry’s report stated that a one-off deferred tax asset (DTA) recognition of approximately Rs30 billion was booked as part of the restructuring. While this resulted in an “accounting profit”, it is important to recognise that this is a non-cash adjustment, stated the ministry while correcting the record.
The report stated “excluding the DTA, the airline’s net loss before tax stands at Rs4.58 billion for 12 months,” ending December. This DTA reflects the company’s expectation of future taxable profits, which is itself a vote of confidence in the potential recovery path, but it should not be misinterpreted as a sign of operational profitability, said the ministry. “The CMU has, therefore, highlighted this so that future valuations consider these items”.
Accounting rules permit the DTA recognition where sufficient future taxable profits are probable, enabling to offset the accumulated tax losses.
“The deferred tax asset of Rs30 billion represents a future tax shield and should not be considered part of core profitability,” said CMU Director General Majid Soofi.
But the CMU has plainly said that “the profit figures are essentially impacted by deferred tax reversals, impacting the effective tax rate and earnings quality”.
The report stated that a significant outcome of the restructuring was the dramatic reduction in long-term financing liabilities, from over Rs295 billion to just Rs13 billion, including lease obligations. Consequently, the finance cost plunged from Rs79 billion to Rs10 billion. The cost of services remains elevated and total operational costs reached Rs106.6 billion. “To mitigate these pressures, PIACL must aggressively pursue fleet modernisation, enter fuel hedging contracts and renegotiate existing supply agreements,” the CMU recommended.
It added that Rs8.3 billion in administrative cost and another Rs8.2 billion in distribution cost were high. PIACL also incurred exchange losses of Rs2.3 billion, reflecting unhedged exposure to foreign currencies that is a structural vulnerability for any international airline.
The finance ministry said that following delisting from the Pakistan Stock Exchange and full government ownership of PIA via Holding Company, PIACL “is now free from short-term market pressures”.
But it said that a performance-based human resources model must be introduced, along with international productivity benchmarks and merit-based promotions.
The ministry stated that PIA and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) also posed major risks. PIA’s heavy debt despite debt being carved out increases insolvency risks, requiring urgent restructuring and potential strategic partnerships. “Rapid privatisation should be ensured,” it said. After the failure of the first attempt, for the second attempt to privatise PIA, the Privatisation Commission has pre-qualified four parties and three of them are cement makers.
The finance ministry said that PIA and PTCL face market pressures and operational inefficiencies. Debt restructuring, operational improvements and reduced leverage through asset sales are key measures to regain financial health and reduce their dependence on the government, it recommended. PIA is among the entities that face undue interference. It has also been placed among the entities that have low compliance with the SOEs Act, falling even below 60% threshold.
To address these challenges, strategic mandates of SOEs must be clearly recalibrated and aligned with national economic goals and fiscal discipline. Long-term business plans that incorporate measurable stakeholder-aligned objectives must be institutionalised, particularly for high loss-making entities like power distribution companies, Railways, and PIA, stated the report. It added that the restructuring of PIACL marks a turning point in the airline’s decades-long struggle with debt and inefficiency.
Through the successful implementation of the Scheme of Arrangement (SOA), the airline has shed legacy debt and non-core assets, emerging as a streamlined, aviation-focused entity. This strategic realignment allows the company to shift from financial firefighting to operational revitalisation. The government has parked Rs660 billion worth of PIA debt in a new holding company along with non-core real estate assets, which substantially cleaned up the balance sheet.
With this separation, PIACL now operates as a focused airline business, while PIA Holding Company takes on the responsibility of settling historical obligations through budgetary support and asset monetisation. This structure enables clearer financial reporting and makes future privatisation or partnerships more feasible. Post-restructuring, PIACL’s total assets are recorded at Rs187 billion after accounting adjustments.
The company’s current liabilities have declined from Rs482 billion to Rs142 billion and non-current liabilities from Rs366 billion to Rs41 billion. These carve-outs have eliminated the suffocating debt overhang and improved solvency metrics, offering much-needed breathing space for strategic decision-making, according to the report.
Replacement scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet scored a try in the final minute as England claimed a 22-17 victory over hosts Argentina at the Estadio Bicentenario in San Juan on Saturday to take the series 2-0.
Argentina led 17-14 at halftime and despite heavy England pressure in their 22, George Ford’s penalty was the only points scored in the first 39 minutes of the second period until Van Poortvliet scampered over from a fine break by Guy Pepper.
Centre Seb Atkinson and fullback Freddie Steward scored tries as England, without a host of regular players who are on tour with the British & Irish Lions in Australia, completed a memorable series win.
England had lost hooker and co-captain Jamie George on the morning of the game after he was called into the Lions squad.
“We found a way in the end. We had a lot of opportunities in the 22 but couldn’t get over the line, I’m proud of the boys,” Ford said.
“I like our fight, our togetherness, showing how much we care. There was some great stuff, we should have scored more tries but the attitude of the group is great.”
Centre Lucio Cinti and wing Ignacio Mendy crossed for scores for Argentina, who had to weather heavy England pressure in the second half and could not see the game out for at least a draw.
“We were not good enough, we have to be honest with ourselves. I am sorry we couldn’t get the win, we gave away too many penalties,” Argentina captain Julian Montoya said.
Argentina number eight Pablo Matera did become the most capped player in his country’s history in his 111th appearance, though it was marked with a second half yellow card.
The tourists made a fast start and had a try inside four minutes as Ford’s pinpoint cross field kick allowed Atkinson to score.
England were reduced to 14 players when Ben Curry was penalised for a high tackle and while he was off the field, scrum-half Simon Benitez Cruz managed to hold on to a loose ball and release Cinti to dot down.
England showed excellent handling skills to score their second try as they pulled Argentina defenders into a narrow formation that allowing Steward to canter over in the corner.
Argentina scored their second try on the stroke of halftime as Steward failed to deal with a chip over the England backline as the ball nicked the post and fell kindly for Mendy to dot down for a 17-14 lead.
Ford’s penalty was reward for heavy English pressure early in the second half as he levelled the score.
Argentina were having difficulty with their exits from their own 22, which meant they were constantly under pressure, and it tolled as Pepper broke and fed Van Poortvliet to snatch victory at the death.
Differentiating between bipolar depression and unipolar depression is essential, explained Gerald Maguire, MD, at the Southern California Psychiatry Conference in Huntington Beach, California.1
Maguire noted the differential diagnosis can be tricky,2 but an investigatory approach can often be helpful. “I wish in psychiatry we had blood tests or biomarkers, but it wouldn’t be as much fun,” Maguire said in an interview with Psychiatric Times.
“The best way we differentiate [between the diagnoses] is by history,’ he explained. “And sometimes not just from the patient, but from the family members or others around them.” Maguire advocates for a deep look longitudinally back to determine if the patient had a history of mania. If so, then he would consider bipolar I depression. However, if there is any history of hypomanic episodes, then the depressive episode may be bipolar II disorder.
Maguire looks for certain clues that might also enlighten the differential diagnosis. “If a patient has had a, let’s say, ‘a misadventure’ on an antidepressant, if they’ve been prescribed an antidepressant and they got worse—they got more agitated, they got more revved up—that may be a clue that what you’re dealing with is a bipolar depression,” he explained.
Family histories can also support the differential diagnosis, he said. For instance, if there is a family history of suicides, that may be a clue, he explained. Similarly, because patients with bipolar disorder often self-medicate, looking for a family history of substance abuse can be helpful. “iI’s important to look into these other coexisting factors that may give us clues that this is a bipolar depression as opposed to a major depressive episode of major depressive disorder, he told Psychiatric Times.
“One thing I’ve always tried to teach my residents: if your known treatments aren’t working, is the diagnosis correct?” Maguire said. “[If you’re] going three or four antidepressants and patients aren’t responding or they’re getting worse, is it really major depressive disorder?”
Once the correct diagnosis has been made, treatment options can be considered. “Most of our agents that we talk about as mood stabilizers may be effective in preventing a manic episode or treating mania or mixed states,” Maguire said. “Our options are more limited when it comes to bipolar depression, and we do have some agents that are FDA approved specifically for bipolar depression.”
References
1. Maguire G. Bipolar II Depression: Clinical Differentiation from MDD and an FDA-Approved Treatment.Presented at: Southern California Psychiatry Conference; July 11-12, 2025; Huntington Beach, California.
2. Duerr HA. To BD or Not to Diagnose BD: That’s the Question. Psychiatric Times. October 22, 2023. Accessed July 12, 2025. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/to-bd-or-not-to-diagnose-bd-that-s-the-question
Jeremy Renner reveals he refused to die after life-threatening accident
Jeremy Renner opened up about the accident that nearly killed him.
In January 2023, he was run over by a snowplough while trying to help a family member during a snowstorm. The machine crushed him and left him with 38 broken bones.
He said his body wanted to give up, but he didn’t let it.
Jeremy shared with The Guardian newspaper: “I was bullying my body into thinking it wasn’t that bad and my mind was overcoming the greatest odds it’s ever come up against. My mind was saying, ‘Nah!’, it’s part stubbornness. ‘I don’t want to lose this battle, this game’, but the deeper part, the zoomed-out part, is I had so much to live for. I had a bunch of people waiting for me to go skiing!
“I didn’t want to let them down. That became such a big thing.”
The Hawkeye actor couldn’t walk for two months after the accident but said he was lucky to come out of it with just a few scars from surgery.
Renner added: ” I have a bunch of little scars, but only from the surgery to save my body. The whole leg is titanium from the knee down to the ankle.”
The star continued explaining that his mouth started to be in considerable pain.
He said: “My mouth is complete chaos.
“It looks fine, but when I bite down it feels as if I’m going to break all my teeth.”
Jeremy said people talk to him differently now and feel more connected to him after the accident.
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device.
Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors.
Rumors
Faster Wi-Fi Support
The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple’s own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports Wi-Fi 6E, which would be an upgrade over the current Apple TV’s standard Wi-Fi 6 support. Wi-Fi 6E extends the capabilities of Wi-Fi 6 to the 6 GHz band with a compatible router. This can contribute to faster Wi-Fi speeds and lower latency compared to Wi-Fi 6.
The chip might even support Wi-Fi 7 instead, which can provide peak theoretical speeds of over 40 Gbps, a 4× increase over Wi-Fi 6E.
Newer Chip
The current Apple TV is powered by the A15 Bionic chip, which debuted in all iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro models in 2022. It is very likely that the next Apple TV will have a newer chip, such as an A18 or A19 chip, and this would result in faster overall performance and potentially even Apple Intelligence support on tvOS.
FaceTime Camera and Gesture Controls
tvOS 17 added a FaceTime app to the Apple TV, allowing for video calls with the rear camera on a connected iPhone or iPad. If the Apple TV gained a built-in camera, users would no longer need to rely on an external device for video calls on the TV.
In April 2024, Gurman said Apple had “discussed” offering an Apple TV with a built-in camera for FaceTime and gesture-based controls, but it is unclear if Apple is moving forward with that plan for the next model in particular. He did not elaborate on the gesture aspect, but it sounds like the next Apple TV would recognize various hand movements.
Apple says tvOS 26 enhances FaceTime in several ways — fitting for an Apple TV with a camera:
With tvOS 26, users can enjoy a more personalized FaceTime experience that’s consistent with iOS. Contact Posters on Apple TV make it easier and more personal by displaying a contact’s customized photo and name when starting a FaceTime call on Apple TV. Live Captions expand to include French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish, enabling Apple TV to use on-device intelligence to display Live Captions for FaceTime conversations, so users can follow what’s being said in even more languages. Additionally, FaceTime audio and phone call notifications will appear onscreen for the active profile, allowing users to answer on connected HomePod speakers or their iPhone, and ensuring that communication with loved ones remains at the forefront.
Lower Price
On the same day as the current Apple TV was announced in October 2022, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that he expected the next Apple TV to be “more affordable.” He said that a sub-$100 price would be the “sweet spot” for the Apple TV, but he did not say if Apple will actually achieve that price point.
Both the 2010 and 2012 versions of the Apple TV were priced at $99 in the U.S. at launch, and Apple eventually lowered the price of the 2012 model to $69, so there is precedent for a sub-$100 Apple TV. Other companies like Amazon and Roku offer low-priced streaming sticks, with sale prices going as low as $19.99.
In the U.S., the current Apple TV starts at $129 with 64GB of storage, and a 128GB model with an Ethernet port for wired internet is priced at $149.
Timing
The next Apple TV will be released “toward the end of the year,” according to Gurman. If so, it is likely that the device will launch in September or October, but November or December cannot be entirely ruled out at this point.
Here is when the previous four Apple TV models were announced:
