A 10-year-old girl in Pennsylvania is in dire need of a bone marrow transplant — and her mother is on a mission to find the perfect match.

Lani Walter suffers from a disease called DOCK8 deficiency (dedicator of cytokinesis 8 deficiency), an immunodeficiency syndrome that can cause recurrent, life-threatening infections. 

DOCK8 is very rare, with only 250 people worldwide currently diagnosed, statistics show. The only cure for DOCK8 is a bone marrow transplant — also known as a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).

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Ashleigh Walter, a kindergarten teacher, is pleading for people to join the bone marrow/blood stem cell registry to help her daughter find a donor by summer.

"Time is of the essence," she told Fox News Digital.

Walter’s daughter was diagnosed with DOCK8 when she was 7½ years old, the culmination of a long series of symptoms and illnesses.

"Lani’s health issues started at just a couple of months old," Walter told Fox News Digital during an interview. "As a baby, she had full-body eczema from head to toe and continuous ear infections."

At 11 months old, she was diagnosed with severe allergies to eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts and many other foods. She's also experienced continuous skin infections and staph infections.

In Jan. 2021, the family was invited to a clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where Walter’s daughter was able to see specialists from immunology, allergy and dermatology together in one appointment.

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"They all came together to try and figure out what might be going on," Walter said. "Each of the specialties ran their own special bloodwork to see what was going on with Lani."

The results showed some abnormalities in the immune system, and doctors recommended doing genetic testing.

A few months later, the family received the news that Walter’s daughter has two variants of the DOCK8 gene.

"If you have issues on both sides of the gene, that's when you present with the disorder," Walter said. "Testing showed that both my husband and I are recessive carriers to the DOCK8 variant, which we passed down to Lani."

She added, "So that was when we found out that all of the health issues Lani has experienced throughout her entire life were not unrelated."

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, was not involved in Lani Walter’s care but commented on the condition.

"DOCK 8 is a rare immune condition where the bone marrow doesn't make enough immune cells and the immune cells that are made have trouble penetrating into dense tissue, like skin," he told Fox News Digital.

After the diagnosis, Walter’s daughter was invited to visit the National Institute of Health in Maryland, where researchers are studying DOCK8 deficiency. 

"We go there about every six months to see how Lani is doing, and what they recommend as she gets older," Walter said.

The symptoms of DOCK8 deficiency tend to get more severe as the child grows into late adolescence and early adulthood, doctors have said.

Some of the biggest concerns are respiratory difficulties and a higher risk of various cancers, along with the ongoing risk of infections.

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To help manage her condition, Walter’s daughter has been getting weekly intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) infusions, which add human antibodies to help fight off infections.

She also takes daily antibiotics to help prevent pneumonia, uses an inhaler to help her respiratory system and takes other medications to treat different illnesses she experiences as a result of her DOCK8 deficiency.

"That's probably one of the least favorite parts of her day, when I tell her that she needs to take her medicine," Walter said.

Since the only cure for her condition is a bone marrow transplant, "her doctors recommend that Lani has [the] transplant to help cure the DOCK8 before she gets older."

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert at Senolytix, described HSCT as a "transformative reset button" for patients suffering from DOCK8 deficiency.

Osborn is not involved in Lani Walter’s care.

"Imagine your immune system as a computer plagued by a virus," he told Fox News Digital.

"HSCT removes the compromised ‘software’ and installs new, functional cells. For individuals with DOCK8 deficiency — who typically face frequent infections, severe allergies and increased cancer risk — HSCT can mean a dramatic shift toward immunologic normalcy, providing a new lease on life."

Siegel also emphasized the procedure’s importance, calling it a "crucial life-saving procedure."

The average wait for a transplant is about three months, according to Siegel.

"They are very expensive — about $190,000," he said. "Insurance generally covers the procedure, but not the cost of finding a donor."

There is around a 25% chance that a sibling will be a match. In Lani Walter’s case, her 14-year-old sister was not a match.

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"The overall chance of finding a match in the world is 1/3 to 2/3," Siegel said.

The organization known as NMDP, formerly the National Marrow Donor Program/Be the Match, maintains a registry of people who are willing to donate. The Walter family found a 90% match on the registry, but the optimal situation would be to find a 100% match.

"There's much less risk with the bone marrow transplant if you can find that perfect match," Walter told Fox News Digital. 

Lani Walter’s doctors recommend that she receives the donation before she starts middle school. Next year, she will start fifth grade.

"Ideally, we would do it before Lani sees significant issues with other organs in her body," said Ashleigh Walter. 

If the family does not find a perfect match, Walter said she will donate to her daughter, as parents are always half-matches.

"Obviously, we would still love for her to be able to find a full match on the donor registry, which is much less of a risk," she said. "But if that's not possible, we can move forward with a half match."

With partial matches, there is a higher risk of "graft versus host disease," which is a complication that occurs when donor bone marrow or stem cells attack the recipient.

"It can cause different issues throughout the body, similar to an organ transplant rejection," Walter said.

If her daughter receives a successful bone marrow transplant, Walter said — she will be cured of DOCK8.

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"She won't have an immune deficiency anymore," she said. "She'll adopt the immune system of the donor, and we won't have to worry about any of those increased risks at all."

Walter is hopeful that her daughter — whom she describes as "a little kid at heart" — will soon be healthy and able to return to the activities she loves, including swimming.

"Lani has been on a swim team since kindergarten, and this will be her first summer not doing it," Walter said. 

She also enjoys bike-riding, crafting, and spending time with her friends and pets.

There are millions of potential donors on the bone marrow registry — with more than 300,000 Americans joining just last year — but Walter noted that the likelihood of someone finding a perfect match is very low. 

"The more people who join the registry, the more likely that a perfect match will be there for you," she said.

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As a neurosurgical trauma surgeon, Osborn of Florida said he can attest to the dire need for blood and bone marrow donors.

"There is a critical shortage of both," he said. "In emergency and surgical settings, the availability of blood products can be the difference between life and death."

It’s "vital" to have diversity in the bone marrow registry, Osborn noted.

"A closely matched donor reduces complications and improves outcomes," he said.

"This emphasizes why everyone should consider joining the registry. We can all manufacture these potentially life-saving blood products, and by donating, we fulfill a crucial societal need."

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While some have the misconception that donation is difficult, Osborn said that’s not the case.

"Donating bone marrow is a low-risk, outpatient procedure associated with only minor discomfort. It’s a great way to pay it forward."

People can join the bone marrow registry by visiting the NMDP’s website to order a test kit.

"It’s a really simple cheek swab kit that they'll send to your house and then you send it back," Walter said. "You don't have to pay any money for anything."

"The more people that join, the more people who can find their perfect match."

"For conditions like DOCK8 deficiency, a bone marrow transplant can offer a chance at a healthier life," Osborn added.

"Joining the bone marrow registry could be your most profound gift, potentially saving a life with your healthy cells."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

One in five women between ages 55 and 75 will experience a stroke in their lifetime, according to the American Heart Association.

There are two main types of strokes.

With an ischemic stroke, a blockage prevents blood from flowing properly to the brain. With a hemorrhagic stroke, a blood vessel bursts in the brain and causes bleeding, which damages brain cells.

While some risk factors such as age, race and family history can’t be changed, others can be mitigated through healthy lifestyle choices.

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Parag Shah, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist who practices at Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville, Florida, shared some specific tips about how women can reduce their risk.

Here are five tips.

Research has shown that air pollution tends to impact women more than men in terms of inflammation, infection and heart disease.

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"According to a recent review, elevated levels of ambient air pollution — even just short-term exposure — can increase the likelihood of strokes," said Shah, who specializes in stroke rehabilitation.

"Health experts recommend checking the air quality in your area and, on high-pollution days, limiting time outside, turning on exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms, and using an air purifier in the home," he also said.

The Mediterranean diet — a plant-based nutrition plan that mimics the regional cuisines of the countries along the Mediterranean Sea, such as Italy and Greece — can reduce the health risks associated with strokes, according to Shah.

"Current research on preventing strokes is exploring an array of lifestyle factors," he told Fox News Digital. 

"This includes the Mediterranean diet, which highlights the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, olive oil and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseed." 

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Practicing exercises that promote heart health and lessen stress can help reduce the possibility of stroke, Shah suggested. 

"Participating in physical activities like yoga, tai chi and strength training, while also giving importance to mindfulness techniques such as meditation and deep breathing exercises, could provide additional advantages in lowering the risk of strokes," he told Fox News Digital.

Sudden confusion, difficulty understanding, slurred speech, double vision, and numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body, are often overlooked signs of strokes, Shah warned.

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"Recognizing these signs is crucial, because quick identification and immediate medical attention greatly enhance the chances of recovery for stroke patients," he said.

Beyond the more obvious "textbook" stroke symptoms, there are some warning signs that tend to be overlooked until it’s too late.

"Factors like pregnancy, giving birth and hormonal changes such as menopause can heighten the likelihood of having a stroke," Shah told Fox News Digital. 

The use of oral contraceptives and hormone therapy can also raise this risk, the doctor added, as can hidden biological factors that make women more susceptible. 

"Scheduling regular health check-ups and staying knowledgeable about stroke symptoms and prevention methods are essential for maintaining good health," Shah said.

"Preventing most strokes is similar to the prevention of heart attacks," Dr. Laxmi Mehta, a cardiologist and director of preventative cardiology and women's cardiovascular health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Fox News Digital.

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In her practice, Mehta typically recommends following the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8, which provides steps to improve or maintain cardiovascular health.  

These include four healthy behaviors and four health factors, as listed below.

1. Quit tobacco. Avoid cigarettes, vaping and other nicotine products, which have been proven to increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

2. Eat better. Following a healthy eating pattern that includes plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean protein, nuts and seeds can reduce stroke risk.

3. Be more active. Experts recommend participating in 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity weekly.

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4. Get healthy sleep. Adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night to reduce stroke risk, according to experts.

5. Manage blood pressure. A "normal" blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure of less than 120 and a diastolic pressure of less than 80, according to the National Institutes of Health.

6. Manage cholesterol. High cholesterol levels have a proven link to stroke risk. A healthy range for LDL ("bad") cholesterol is 100 mg/dL or lower, as published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

7. Manage blood sugar. Excessive levels of glucose in the blood can increase the risk of fatty deposits or clots, which are a factor in strokes.

8. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese is one of the biggest risk factors and is linked to nearly one in five strokes, according to the World Stroke Organization.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an official health alert advisory on Tuesday warning about reports of fake Botox injections that have landed some patients in the hospital.

Along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state and local health officials, the CDC said it is investigating a total of 22 cases across 11 states starting in Nov. 2023 through March 2024.

Cases have so far been reported in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York City, Tennessee, Texas and Washington — all affecting women between 25 and 59 years of age. 

WHAT EXACTLY IS BOTOX?

The women have experienced "adverse effects" after being injected with "counterfeit botulinum toxin," the alert said.

The injections were all given by "unlicensed or untrained individuals" or in "non-health care settings, such as homes or spas."

The women's reported symptoms included blurred vision, drooping eyelids, dry mouth, fatigue, slurred speech, generalized weakness and shortness of breath.

Of the 22 cases, 11 women were hospitalized. 

None of the instances met the "case definition for botulism," the CDC noted.

No deaths have been reported.

Botulism is a "serious and sometimes fatal" illness that occurs when a toxin attacks the body’s nerves, according to the CDC.

Initial symptoms usually include muscle weakness around the eyes, face, mouth and throat — which could also spread to the neck, arms, torso and legs. 

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Other symptoms can include blurred or double vision, difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, drooping eyelids, slurred speech and difficulty moving the eyes.

It is possible for people to experience some of these symptoms without having botulism.

Dr. Anne Truitt, a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego, California, said that doctors or clinicians injecting Botox or other injectables should ensure that the products come from a reputable source.  

"Injecting an unknown product at unknown concentrations into your body is really dangerous and potentially fatal," she told Fox News Digital.

Dr. Craig Lehrman, director of aesthetic surgery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, noted that fake Botox has been an issue since the early 2000s.

"Unfortunately, I treat several patients a year who have received non-approved injectables of things they are told to be safe — which ends up having serious consequences," he told Fox News Digital.

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"It has mostly been linked to injections in settings such as someone's home or a poorly regulated med spa."

Botox is made from a specific type of Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that produces paralysis in the muscles where it is injected, he said.

"The people receiving the presumed counterfeit Botox are suffering from an illness that is similar to botulism, caused by the same bacteria," he said.

There are strict safety criteria for the use and storage of Botox, and serious risks come with the injection of fraudulent or poorly managed products, Lehrman warned. 

"Botulism can carry detrimental effects ranging from infection, to permanent deformity, to serious wound formation."

"​​Cosmetic injections should be an FDA-approved product, administered by licensed providers and in licensed settings," the CDC stated. 

There has been a large increase in the number of people offering these services who are not board-certified in the fields of plastic surgery, dermatology or ENT, according to Lehrman. 

"I would advise potential patients to do their research on the person who will be injecting them — and not just search for the cheapest option," he said. 

"I would recommend going to a center that has rigorous standards of education and a track record of safety."

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In most cases, when administered properly, Botox injections are safe, according to experts.

"Botox has been well-tested and researched for many years," Truitt told Fox News Digital. "Used appropriately, it is safe and one of the best tools to reduce the effects of aging."

"Laboratory-confirmed cases of systemic botulism occurring after cosmetic or therapeutic injections of botulinum toxin are rare," the CDC said in its statement.

To ensure safety, Truitt said it's important to go to a licensed provider, and to avoid "Botox parties" and "pop-up" med spas.

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"The bottom line is that if it sounds too good to be true, then chances are it probably isn't true — or safe," she added.

Anyone who experiences botulism-like symptoms following an injection should seek medical attention, according to health officials.

Fox News Digital reached out to Abbvie (manufacturer of Botox) and the FDA requesting additional comment.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

A chemotherapy alternative called immunotherapy is showing promise in treating cancer — and a new artificial intelligence tool could help ensure that patients have the best possible experience.

Immunotherapy, first approved in 2011, uses the cancer patient’s own immune system to target and fight cancer. 

While it doesn’t work for everyone, for the 15% to 20% who do see results, it can be life-saving.

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Like any medication, immunotherapy has the potential for adverse side effects — which can be severe for some. 

Studies show that some 10% to 15% of patients develop "significant toxicities."

Headquartered in Chicago, GE HealthCare — working in tandem with Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville, Tennessee — has created an AI model that's designed to help remove some of the uncertainties surrounding immunotherapy.

Over the five years it’s been in development, the AI model was trained on thousands of patients’ electronic health records (EHRs) to recognize patterns in how they responded to immunotherapy, focusing on safety and effectiveness.

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"The model predicts which patients are likely to derive the benefit from immunotherapy versus those patients who may not," said Jan Wolber, global digital product leader at GE HealthCare’s pharmaceutical diagnostics segment, in an interview with Fox News Digital.

"It also predicts which patients have a likelihood of developing one or more significant toxicities."

When pulling data from the patient’s health record, the model looks at demographic information, preexisting diagnoses, lifestyle habits (such as smoking), medication history and more.

"All of these data are already being collected by the patient’s oncologist, or they’re filling out a form in the waiting room ahead of time," said Travis Osterman, a medical oncologist and associate chief medical information officer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in an interview with Fox News Digital.

(Osterman is working with Wolber on the development of the AI model.)

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"We're not asking for additional blood samples or complex imaging. These are all data points that we're already collecting — vital signs, diagnoses, lab values, those sorts of things."

In a study, the AI model showed 70% to 80% accuracy in predicting patients’ responses to immunotherapies, according to an article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Clinical Cancer Informatics.

"While the models are not perfect, this is actually a very good result," Wolber said. "We can implement those models with very little additional effort because there are no additional measurements required in the clinic."

This type of technology is "a natural progression of what we've been doing in medicine for a very long time," Osterman said.

"The only difference is, instead of surveying patients, we're taking the entirety of the medical record and looking for risk factors that contribute to an outcome," he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

With immunotherapy, there is generally a lower response rate than with chemotherapy, Osterman noted — but some patients have "incredible responses" and ultimately become cancer-free.

"I would be horrified to know that one of my patients that I didn't give immunotherapy to could have been one of the tremendous responders," he told Fox News Digital. 

Conversely, Osterman noted that in rare cases, immunotherapy can have some serious side effects.

"I would say about half of patients don't have any side effects, but for those who do, some of them are really life-altering," he said. 

"We don't want to miss anyone, but we also don't want to harm anyone."

At the core of the AI project, Osterman said, is the ability to "put all the information into the exam room," so the oncologist can counsel the patient about the risks and benefits of this particular therapy and make the best, most informed decision about their care. 

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, was not involved in the AI model’s development but commented on its potential.

"AI models are emerging that are helping to manage responses to cancer treatments," he told Fox News Digital. 

"These can allow for more treatment options and be more predictive of outcome."

AI models like this one are an example of "the essential future of personalized medicine," Siegel said, "where each patient is approached differently and their cancer is analyzed and treated with precision using genetic and protein analysis."

As long as physicians and scientists remain in charge — "not a computer or robot" — Siegel said that "there is no downside."

The AI model does carry some degree of limitations, the experts acknowledged.

"The models obviously do not return 100% accuracy," Wolber told Fox News Digital. "So there are some so-called false positives or false negatives." 

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The tool is not a "black box" that will provide a surefire answer, he noted. Rather, it's a tool that provides data points to the clinician and informs them as they make patient management decisions.

Osterman pointed out that the AI model uses a "relatively small dataset."

"We would love to be able to refine our predictions by learning on bigger data sets," he said.

The team is currently looking for partnerships that will enable them to test the AI model in new settings and achieve even higher accuracy in its predictions. 

Another challenge, Osterman said, is the need to integrate these AI recommendations into the workflow.

"This is pretty new for us as a health care community, and I think we're all going to be wrestling with that question," he said. 

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Looking ahead, once the AI model has achieved the necessary regulatory approvals, GE HealthCare plans to make the technology available for widespread use by clinicians — perhaps even expanding to other care areas, such as neurology or cardiology.

There is also the potential to incorporate it into drug development.

"One of the things that drug makers struggle with is that some of the agents that may be really useful for some patients could be really toxic for others," Osterman said.

"If they were able to pick which patients could go into a trial and exclude patients with the highest risk of toxicity, that could mean the difference between that drug being made available or not."

He added, "If this means that we're able to help tailor that precision risk to patients, I'm in favor of that."

Ultimately, Osterman said, "it's a really exciting time to be in medicine … I think we're going to look back and regard this as the golden age of AI recommendations. I think they're probably here to stay."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Friday that it is investigating reports of "a few botulism-like illnesses in several states resulting from botulinum toxin injections (commonly called ‘Botox’) administered in non-medical settings," the agency said in a statement.

"We are coordinating a multi-state outbreak investigation," the agency added. 

WHAT EXACTLY IS BOTOX?

Illnesses have been reported to the Tennessee and Illinois health departments, which are working with the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the investigation, the CDC noted.

In Tennessee, four patients sought medical care after experiencing "botulism-like signs and symptoms" after receiving Botox injections for cosmetic purposes, according to an online statement from the Tennessee Department of Health.

Two of the patients were hospitalized.

"Joint investigations have identified concerns about use of counterfeit products or products with unclear origin administered in non-medical settings such as homes or cosmetic spas," the statement said.

The Illinois Department of Public Health issued a similar statement after two patients reported receiving potentially counterfeit Botox injections in LaSalle County.

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The two individuals reported symptoms that included blurred/double vision, droopy face, fatigue, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and hoarse voice, the statement said.

The patients, both of whom were hospitalized, received the injections from a licensed nurse who was "performing work outside her authority."

Additional cases have been reported in Kentucky, Washington and Colorado.

"The sources of these botulinum toxin products are unknown or unverified at this time," the CDC stated. 

"Questions about product regulation and product investigation should be directed to the FDA."

Botulism is a "serious and sometimes fatal" illness that occurs when a toxin attacks the body’s nerves, according to the CDC.

Initial symptoms usually include muscle weakness around the eyes, face, mouth and throat, which could also spread to the neck, arms, torso and legs.

Other symptoms can include blurred or double vision, difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, drooping eyelids, slurred speech and difficulty moving the eyes.

"What’s particularly concerning are the respiratory problems that some are experiencing," Dr. Salar Hazany, a certified dermatologist and reconstructive surgeon at Scar Healing Institute in Beverly Hills, told Fox News Digital.

"If the wrong patient begins having trouble with their breathing, it could be fatal."

Dr. Craig Lehrman, director of aesthetic surgery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, noted that fake Botox has been an issue since the early 2000s.

"Unfortunately, I treat several patients a year who have received non-approved injectables of things they are told to be safe, which ends up having serious consequences," he told Fox News Digital.

"It has mostly been linked to injections in settings such as someone's home or a poorly regulated med spa."

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Botox is made from a specific type of Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that produces paralysis in the muscles where it is injected, he said.

"The people receiving the presumed counterfeit Botox are suffering from an illness that is similar to botulism, caused by the same bacteria," he said.

There are strict safety criteria for the use and storage of Botox, and serious risks come with the injection of fraudulent or poorly managed products, Lehrman warned. 

"Botulism can carry detrimental effects ranging from infection, to permanent deformity, to serious wound formation."

"​​Cosmetic injections should be an FDA-approved product, administered by licensed providers and in licensed settings," the CDC stated. 

There has been a large increase in the number of people offering these services who are not board-certified in the fields of plastic surgery, dermatology or ENT, according to Lehrman. 

PLASTIC SURGERY DEATHS HAVE SPIKED AMONG US PATIENTS WHO TRAVELED TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: CDC REPORT

"I would advise potential patients to do their research on the person who will be injecting them — and not just search for the cheapest option," he said. 

"I would recommend going to a center that has rigorous standards of education and a track record of safety."

In most cases, Botox injections are safe, according to experts.

"Laboratory-confirmed cases of systemic botulism occurring after cosmetic or therapeutic injections of botulinum toxin are rare," the CDC said in its statement.

Millions of injections are performed each year by licensed medical providers and have been shown to be safe when done in the correct manner, Lehrman added.

"Those considering Botox should research the background of the provider and make sure that the practice has not racked up a number of complaints," added Hazany.  

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"Do not go to an unlicensed provider. If the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is."

Anyone who experiences botulism-like symptoms following an injection should seek medical attention, according to health officials.

Fox News Digital reached out to Abbvie (manufacturer of Botox), the FDA, the Tennessee Department of Public Health, and the Illinois Department of Public Health requesting comment.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health. 

The notion that twins do everything together has met a new standard.

Identical twin brothers Pablo and Julio Delcid, 21, underwent matching heart surgeries on the exact same day following their diagnosis of Marfan syndrome.

The duo, of Dover, New Jersey, had been alerted to their risk of Marfan syndrome because a majority of their family members also have it, the twins told Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview.

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"We're a family of five. I have two older sisters who have it," Julio Delcid said. "My older brother doesn't have it as much ... But I also have other family members who have it, too — pretty much through my whole family on my mom’s side."

"It's very genetic," Pablo Delcid added. "When we were younger and were first diagnosed with it, nobody knew what it was." 

He added, "Nobody knew they even had it until tests kept coming in, and they were like, ‘Yeah, it's pretty genetic. Everyone should get tested.'"

Fox News Digital spoke with Dr. Benjamin Van Boxtel, surgical director at the Atlantic Aortic Center at Morristown Medical Center, in a separate interview about the condition; he performed the twins’ surgeries.

The cardiovascular surgeon said that while Marfan syndrome is mostly genetic, it can also occur at random. It's a defect of the gene that creates connective tissues in the human body, he said.

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"Because it's a broad defect in these connective tissues, it can affect many different parts of the body," he said. "So, this could be anywhere from the eyes to the spine and … the heart."

"The most dangerous symptom you could develop with Marfan syndrome is a dilation of the aorta, specifically in the root," he added.

Van Boxtel said the aortic root in Marfan syndrome can become dilated or enlarged, which can cause an "immediately fatal" tear or rupture.

"Or it can cause something called an aortic dissection, which is also potentially very fatal, and becomes a surgical emergency," he said. "That's unfortunately how a lot of people who have Marfan syndrome pass away."

Many of those people don't even know they have the syndrome, Van Boxtel noted.

A valve-sparing root procedure performed before a dilated aorta dissects can be a life-saving operation.

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Marfan syndrome can be difficult to spot, according to Van Boxtel, as it's often marked by common symptoms such as chest pain, poor vision — or being tall and having long limbs.

"When you have an aneurysm [from a] dilated aorta, it's generally asymptomatic, meaning you feel absolutely nothing," he said. "You feel completely fine … Aneurysm disease is silent, it's asymptomatic — which can be really dangerous."

Pablo Delcid, for his part, said there’s "not much you can feel when you're growing into the condition."

He added, "What we didn't know was that our bodies were changing … obviously with height, vision, the length of our arms, feet, legs, even with our chest."

The twins’ mother, Betulia Miranda, had an emergency procedure on Oct. 8, 2023, after experiencing an aortic dissection, which the boys described as "excruciating" for her.

After their mother's surgery was a success, the twins decided to seek preventative surgery performed by Dr. Van Boxtel – but their one request was that they do it together.

"Of course they’re like, ‘Can we go at the same time?’" the doctor said with a laugh.

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Van Boxtel, a father of twins himself, said the double surgery was like "nothing I've ever done before." 

He said, "I've done this procedure hundreds of times. But to do it back-to-back on twin brothers — it was an experience, that's for sure."

It was decided that Pablo Delcid would go first, since he was born five minutes before his brother, followed by Julio Delcid several hours later.

"We always do everything together," Pablo Delcid said. "We live together, go through everything together … We didn't think we could get the operation done together, but everything [was] successful."

The twins agreed that they felt "safer" knowing they were going through the procedure together.

"You kind of feel like you're not going to lose that person," Julio Delcid said. "They're sticking with you, side by side."

Pablo Delcid added, "It’s like your gut’s telling you, ‘All right, if I make it, he's going to make it.’"

On surgery day, Jan. 5, 2024, Van Boxtel and his team distinguished the twins from one another using color-coded ankle bracelets.

The surgeon emphasized the rarity of double heart surgery on twins, especially at such a young age of 21. "This is like the ultimate twin study," he said. 

Van Boxtel said it was "freaky" when he realized that the brothers' hearts were also identical.

"I knew they could be different on the inside, but it ended up that they were the exact same," he said.

Julio Delcid said he was "shocked" that a surgeon like Van Boxtel could take on both surgeries back to back.

"He did the best he could," he said. "He successfully saved our aortic valves, replacing the aneurysm … We were very appreciative."

Marfan syndrome affects about one in 5,000 people, according to Van Boxtel, and impacts men and women equally.

"About 75% of those cases are genetic," he said. "But about 25% of Marfan cases are actually not inherited. They're not from a parent. They're a spontaneous mutation."

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Along with a dilated aortic root (enlarged aorta) or narrow dissection (tear in an artery), patients also run the risk of having a leaky valve, which can lead to heart failure symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness and inability to perform normal exertional activity, Van Boxtel said. 

Since Marfan syndrome is often hard to spot on the surface, the Delcid twins emphasized the importance of getting tested, especially for those within the Latin and Hispanic communities.

"It's pretty lethal," Pablo Delcid said. "We almost lost our mother, and that was a traumatic experience."

People with symptoms or with a family history of Marfan syndrome should educate themselves on how best to prevent an aneurysm and connect with a cardiology team, Julio Delcid reiterated.

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"It’s just very important to take the time and the opportunity to get the best treatment that they could possibly get, because if they wait, consequences will happen later," he said.

"Don't fear anything. Just take the time to get yourself checked out and get the help that you need to live a better life."

With the stresses of heart surgery behind them, the twins said they're looking forward to getting outside, playing sports and exercising more than they could before.

"Both their valves were saved," Van Boxtel said. "They weren't leaking at the end. All the things that we look for in a very successful repair they had, and they're going to go on and live normal, healthy lives."

He said he hoped that "these valves last a really, really long time, if not the rest of their lives. They're much better off now than they were walking around with aneurysms."

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Van Boxtel thanked his team for handling the complex, same-day operations on young men with their "whole lives ahead of them."

The Marfan Foundation has various resources for patients at all stages of the condition, the doctor noted.

"I can't underscore how important it is for patients with aneurysms to be seen by a surgeon or a team who is comfortable performing that," he said.

"It's a very, very serious problem … but there's prevention available, and if you get it at the right time, it can be very successful."

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America needs nurses — and some schools are implementing accelerated programs to train them. 

To shorten the process, these programs cut training time from up to four years down to one.

"I really do think this is a win-win for students and local hospitals and facilities," said Elizabeth Mann, assistant clinical professor at the University of New England, in an interview with Fox News. She's based in Maine. 

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Prospective students must have a previous bachelor's degree and need to complete eight prerequisite courses. 

This is dramatically shorter than the typical two- to four-year nursing program. 

"I think the ability to get a second degree in something like a bachelor's in nursing is very appealing to many people," UNE Nursing School's interim director Donna Hyde told Fox News.

"They don't have to have a health care background. We will get them there."

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The new fast-track nursing program at the University of New England is slated to begin in May. 

The goal is to help students get into the workforce sooner, but they’ll have to put in some serious training as well, experts say.

"There's nothing cut back. They do the same amount of clinical hours, so we allow time for that," said Hyde. 

"Their schedule may have to be a little more flexible to include consideration of weekends."

There's a projected shortage of over 78,000 registered nurses next year, according to the National Center of Health Workforce Analysis. 

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The states most in need of nurses are Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan and Georgia.

"As different states are looking at their own options to increase their nursing workforce, this is one of those options," Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, the Oregon-based president of the American Nurses Association, told Fox News. 

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The shortened 12-month program not only appeals to students, but will also benefit local health care facilities, Mann said.

Hyde noted that she speaks to many of the nurse administrators at local health care partners, and "they obviously see the need for more nurses sooner rather than later."

Some have expressed doubt that students can be ready in just a year, Mann pointed out.

​​"They may interpret it as [offering] a lesser quality [of training] or that we are pushing students through, and I do want to emphasize that is truly not the case," she said.

Up to 40 students are expected to start the program in May at the University of New England.

Once students complete the program, they will have to pass a national exam — just like a traditional four-year student — to officially become a nurse. 

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Given Williams’ reported history of alcoholism, experts are speaking out about the potential link between her alcohol abuse and current cognitive issues.

Thursday’s announcement of Williams’ diagnosis came ahead of a new Lifetime documentary — titled "Where Is Wendy Williams?" — that will premiere on Saturday, as her representative aims to "correct inaccurate and hurtful rumors about her health."

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Williams entered a facility in April 2023 to allegedly treat "cognitive issues" reportedly due to alcohol abuse, as her family communicates with her through a court-appointed legal guardian.

"In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)," Williams’ care team stated in a press release.

"Aphasia, a condition affecting language and communication abilities, and frontotemporal dementia, a progressive disorder impacting behavior and cognitive functions, have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy's life."

Fox News Digital reached out to Williams' team requesting additional comment. 

Dr. Suzette Glasner, PhD, a psychologist in Los Angeles, California, has not treated or examined Williams but said heavy drinking and alcoholism can cause damage to both white and gray matter in the brain, and over time can lead to deteriorating cognitive functioning, including dementia.

"These neurocognitive impacts are a result of a combination of alcohol’s direct neurotoxic effects, depletion of nutrients in the body, impacts on liver functioning and disruption of communication between nerve cells in the brain," said Glasner, who works with Pelago, a digital health company focused on substance use management.

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When heavy and chronic alcohol use leads to brain damage, an individual can experience problems with their attention, memory and reasoning, the expert told Fox News Digital.

"In many cases, individuals who misuse or are addicted to alcohol and drugs struggle with overlapping chronic medical and psychiatric conditions, and this can make it very challenging to determine the etiology or cause of neurocognitive symptoms such as those observed in Wendy Williams," Glasner said.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms including cognitive impairment are common in Grave’s Disease, an autoimmune disorder Williams has spoken about battling over the years.

"Those symptoms often improve with treatment; however, like other chronic diseases, alcohol or drug use can complicate or interfere with treatment response, making improvements less likely," noted Glasner. 

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Elizabeth Landsverk, M.D., a geriatric and dementia expert in San Francisco, also has not treated Williams but said that substance misuse has been previously linked to cognitive decline. She also noted that the extent of its impact isn’t clear.

"Not enough research has been conducted on the matter to give us precise data," she told Fox News Digital.  

"What has been noted is that alcohol abuse — as well as taking a number of other medications — does increase the risk of developing dementia." 

Brain damage and neurocognitive impacts can occur with heavy drinking in individuals with moderate or severe alcohol use disorders, Grasner said — "so there is a wide variation between individuals in the quantity of alcohol that leads to these neurotoxic effects."

"The specific reasons that some individuals develop alcohol-related dementia whereas others do not are not well understood, so we don't currently have guidelines specifying that if you drink a certain amount, you are likely to experience cognitive impairments," she added. 

Women are generally more vulnerable to the damaging effects of alcohol on the brain and body, Glasner noted, which means the onset can occur at a younger age than it would in men.

"Expert evaluation of the contribution of substance use and other underlying medical conditions such as Grave’s Disease to cognitive symptoms would be very important for Williams to ensure that she receives the right treatments at the right time," Glasner recommended.

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"Often involving a family very closely to evaluate the symptoms and the timing of their emergence relative to alcohol or other substance use can be helpful as part of determining an accurate diagnosis and plan of care," she added.

Abstinence from alcohol is a crucial part of treatment for alcohol-related neurological deficits, noted Glasner.

If the condition is caught in time, abstaining from alcohol can at least partially, if not fully, reverse the symptoms, according to the expert.

While symptoms of FTD can vary depending on what part of the brain is affected, most people with the condition experience some common symptoms, as listed on the Johns Hopkins Medicine website. 

Behavior or personality changes are often the most obvious indicators. These may include public outbursts or socially inappropriate actions.

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People with FTD also tend to have impaired judgment, a lack of empathy and lower self-awareness, Johns Hopkins states. 

This type of dementia is also marked by a reduced ability to understand or formulate language.

People may struggle to remember the names of objects, string words into sentences or even recall the meanings of words they used to know. 

The condition can also lead to agitation, irritability and drastic mood swings.

There is no treatment for FTD other than managing symptoms and educating family members and caregivers, according to Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute in New Jersey.

Some aphasia symptoms can be managed with speech therapy.

"Treatment focuses a great deal on family education," said Reena Gottesman, M.D., a behavioral neurologist at the Center for Brain Loss and Memory Health at Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute, in a press release.

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Approximately 50,000-60,000 people may have FTD, per data from the Alzheimer’s Association, a nonprofit group based in Chicago.

Recently, actor Bruce Willis’ FTD diagnosis brought new attention to the rare condition.

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be common, but it’s also sometimes hard to spot.

ADHD is usually first diagnosed in childhood and is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Symptoms of ADHD in kids can include trouble paying attention, difficulty controlling impulsive behaviors and displaying periods of hyperactivity.

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But how these symptoms show up in boys versus girls, and eventually in men versus women, can make a big difference in diagnosis.

Sabrina Nasta, a licensed mental health counselor with Grow Therapy in Orange Park, Florida, told Fox News Digital that ADHD can show up in three different ways: through inattention, hyperactivity and a combination of the two.

In women, ADHD most commonly manifests as inattention, which includes an inability to pay attention, distractibility and lack of compliance, according to Nasta.

In men, ADHD occurs in a hyperactive way, causing issues with sitting still or wanting to be constantly "doing something," said the expert.

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McCall Letterle, head of U.S. commercial operations for ADHD assessment company Qbtech, also commented on these differences in a conversation with Fox News Digital.

Athough many of the symptoms, including hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity, are the same, it’s how the symptoms "manifest themselves" that causes a variation between males and females, the Atlanta-based expert noted.

A struggle with discipline seems to be a commonality of ADHD in men and women based on their lifestyle and age, Nasta added.

In young boys, for example, ADHD shows up as "unnecessary" hyperactive energy; they "don’t have the capacity to not do anything," the expert said.

In girls, the same inattentiveness may arise, but it's most likely internalized.

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"They may be sitting in the classroom, they may be sitting still, but they're not paying attention," Nasta said.

"It's tough because for a girl, it looks like they're rebelling or being disobedient, [but] for a boy, [it seems that] they're just being ridiculous and hyper."

The differences in ADHD presentation have led to a "massive amount of underdiagnosed women," according to Letterle.

"This [disorder] was first researched in males, and the criteria developed around symptoms most commonly seen in boys," she told Fox News Digital. 

"These are also the most overtly obvious symptoms — like hyperactivity, inability to sit still, disruption and difficulty focusing, often in the classroom — that lead to associated behavioral issues," Letterle added.

While some women do experience these hyperactive symptoms, they are not the most prevalent symptoms and they look different when they do occur, according to Letterle.

"Women tend to exhibit symptoms that are more internalized," she said. 

"For instance, their inattention is much harder to recognize than boys, as it can be displayed as daydreaming or inward distraction."

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Letterle pointed out the "external fallout" of these ADHD symptoms in girls — which results in "high rates of anxiety" due to missed information at school.

In many cases, girls have to work twice as hard to retain information and meet academic standards as their peers, and they experience low levels of confidence stemming from these difficulties, she added.

"That is subjectively a lot harder to identify than distracted boys, who are poking the individual next to them as they struggle to maintain focus."

These variants lead to a "massive difference in diagnostic rates" between young girls and boys, Letterle said.

Boys are often diagnosed and treated faster than girls because their symptoms are easier to identify, she added.

One of the best ways to cope with ADHD is to educate yourself, or your child, on the best way to function in different environments, said Nasta.

Some of the strategies she recommended include practicing mindfulness and self-awareness, and coming up with the best game plan in any given situation.

Stress management is another great coping tool, especially for boys, added Nasta.

For kids, stress management can mean participating in leisure activities or hobbies like playing video games or hanging out with friends.

"It's about allowing them to let that energy go in a more supportive way," Nasta said.

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ADHD in boys and girls can be difficult for caretakers — parents, guardians and even teachers — to identify when they lack the "appropriate tools" to make "more accurate referrals," Letterle noted.

To overcome that challenge, Nasta encouraged caretakers to "listen more."

"If you’re really paying attention and your kid’s trying, this could be a neurological or neurodevelopmental concern versus them just struggling with emotions," she said.

It might be helpful for parents to "be more curious" and ask their children questions about their feelings when they are overwhelmed, Nasta suggested.

"What do you experience when you're overwhelmed? Are you able to focus or pay attention to your teacher? Do you notice what your thoughts are doing?" she listed as example questions.

"If it sounds really concerning and intrusive, I would say that's the point of … seeing a professional."

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Early ADHD intervention is "critical for reducing suicide rates, job instability and substance abuse in those left untreated," Letterle said.

"The diagnostic process has been left largely to subjective rating scales, creating a desperate need for clinicians to start adopting a more data-driven approach to symptom measurement," she added.

"Objective data compares performance in the three core symptom areas against age- and sex-matched controls without ADHD — meaning women are compared to other women to improve the ability to accurately identify their diagnosis," the expert said.

While the term "ADHD" is often tossed around to describe when someone is feeling unfocused, Nasta listed a few warning signs that could point to an actual diagnosis.

The expert said to monitor daily responsibilities such as hygiene, finances, academics and even basic social skills such as listening and communication.

"If you notice impairments and deficits in any of those, I would say that would be the time to talk to somebody," she advised.

For people who are unsure of their symptoms, Letterle recommended seeking out a provider who uses objective data in a comprehensive evaluation.

"[This] would help to better ensure not only a more accurate diagnosis, but also one that helps eliminate the bias that often leads to high rates of underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis in women," she said.

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Some drugs may seem like they were named by throwing darts at the alphabet – but the process of drug naming is actually very intentional.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Dave Latshaw, CEO of the AI health care company BioPhy, revealed how medicines are labeled.

The Philadelphia-based doctor, formerly the AI drug development lead at Johnson & Johnson, said that he, too, at first questioned, "How do they even come up with these [names]?"

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Naming drugs can be viewed as a "staged process," based on drug advancement, which begins with the chemical name, Latshaw said.

"If you're talking about a small molecule, which is the most prevalent type of drug in development, that's usually a combination of chemical-type names that you've probably seen mashed into a single line," he said.

"If it's a biologic molecule, its chemical name is typically whatever sequence it happens to be, so that’s the actual chemical composition of the drug itself."

Once a drug program is picked up by a company, Latshaw said, it is given an "internal code name."

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That code is generally "less complicated" than the chemical name.

"And it usually reflects something about the name of the company and potentially what number in the pipeline it is," he said.

For example, the rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis drug Humira, which is developed by AbbVie (formerly Abbott), is referred to by its drug code, "ABT-D2E7."

As the drug progresses, it is given a more formal yet generic name for its introduction to the public, Latshaw said.

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These evolved names are chosen through collaboration among a few different organizations, including the United States Adopted Names Council (USAN), which is part of the American Medical Association (AMA).

Since the 1960s, the USAN program has assigned generic names to all active drug ingredients in the U.S., in partnership with the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), according to the AMA Journal of Ethics.

"With few exceptions – [such as] prophylactic vaccines and mixtures not named by the USAN Council – a drug cannot be marketed in the United States without a USAN," the publication wrote.

A drug’s generic name involves nomenclature that "tells you what the drug is," Latshaw said, but in words rather than chemical structure.

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The doctor used the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra as an example, noting its formal name of Sildenafil.

The generic name uses a prefix and a suffix – the suffix, or "stem," identifies the drug family, and the prefix serves as the drug’s "unique identifier."

"You have the suffix that is supposed to tell you what type of drug it is, and then they try to make the prefix as different as possible, relative to the other drugs within that family, so there's minimal confusion when it comes to prescriptions … to minimize error," Latshaw told Fox News Digital.

The prefix is most likely one or two syllables, according to the AMA.

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Once the drug is fully developed and ready for consumers, its brand name is used for commercial marketing, such as Humira or Viagra.

Humira’s generic name is "adalimumab," with the "-mab" suffix identifying that the type of molecule in the drug is a monoclonal antibody.

The AMA offered the cancer drug "imatinib" as another example on its website, noting how the stem "-tinib" refers to the drug’s function as a tyrosine kinase (TYK) inhibitor.

Latshaw shared that involved parties "do an incredible amount of research" when coming up with brand names to best differentiate them.

The USAN Council is "aware of the importance of coining names that will not be confused with other drug names, compromise patient safety, or mislead health care professionals and patients about the action or use of a new drug substance," as stated in the AMA Journal of Ethics.

"Once you know this information, if you start seeing the names of drugs referenced, at least you can sort of understand it … and know there’s a relationship there," Latshaw said.

"If somebody's talking about a particular drug that might be beneficial to them, that might help them understand, at least at face value, that there are other alternatives … within the same drug family that they might consider or at least bring up with their doctor."

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