EurekAlert!

Takotsubo syndrome is an acute heart condition that primarily affects postmenopausal women and is often triggered by severe emotional or physical stress. Although it affects about 2 percent of all patients with suspected heart attacks – and as many as one in ten women with acute coronary syndrome – the condition remains difficult to distinguish from a heart attack.

Influenza continues to cause major illness each year in the United States, leading to more than 35,000 deaths annually. Children, older adults, pregnant individuals, people with weakened immune systems, and those with chronic conditions such as heart disease, metabolic disorders, and cancer are especially vulnerable. Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent flu infection, but current vaccines do not always stop the virus from taking hold in the respiratory tract.

video: Brief information video about the main findings of the study. Credit: Vera Weisbecker, CC-BY-SA view more A new study led by Flinders University has flipped the historic narrative about Australia’s thylacine, finding the native apex predator known as the ‘Tasmanian tiger’ was significantly different from the wolves and wild dogs it was likened to before being hunted to extinction.

image: A photo taken during one of the meetings with the communities involved in the study view more Humans have been observing the sky for thousands of years. Our ancestors were undoubtedly fascinated by it, but observing the heavens also had practical uses: it helped people measure time, both over the course of the day and through the changing seasons, and became especially important with the spread of agriculture.

Key takeaways Syncope (fainting) accounts for around 650,000 emergency department visits in the UK every year. The ASPIRED trial compared a wearable ECG heart monitor worn for 14 days with standard care in patients who came to the emergency department after an unexplained syncope episode. Immediate ECG monitoring did not reduce recurrent syncope over one year but did improve the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias and was associated with lower death rates.

Key takeaways Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is used to help the heart’s chambers contract synchronously in patients with heart failure and conduction abnormalities. The DANISH-CRT trial compared targeted placement of the left ventricular pacing lead with standard placement. There was no difference in death or first heart failure hospitalisation with targeted or standard lead placement. The data will be further analysed to investigate which patients derived most benefit from CRT.

image: [Figure 1] Regional distribution of global microbial food companies and production infrastructure, highlighting gaps in manufacturing capacity view more The question is no longer whether microbial foods can be made. The question now is who can turn them into an industry first.

image: The modified Brannock device and measuring tape used in the study. view more Most women in a new RMIT University study wore shoe sizes that differed from the size indicated by their foot length, highlighting the limitations of conventional sizing systems in accounting for differences in foot width and shape. The study of 107 women found 72% wore a different size under US sizing and 65% under EU sizing.

About the study: The findings from this meta-analysis support TTR gene silencing for ATTR-CM. The attenuated benefit observed for patients receiving concomitant TTR stabilizer therapy may reflect residual differences in case mix, disease duration, or magnitude of TTR suppression or a true ceiling on additional benefit of gene silencing in the setting of background TTR stabilization.

Key takeaways Preventing the rising tide of dementia is a public health priority. The China Rural Hypertension Control Program previously showed that a community-delivered intensive blood pressure intervention reduced blood pressure and cardiovascular events. Over seven years, the intensive blood pressure intervention also resulted in a significant 15% reduction in dementia compared with usual care.