Working with “digital twins” of patients’ hearts, doctors have improved cardiac ablation outcomes for patients with life-threatening arrhythmias. In the first clinical trials for cardiac digital twins technology, researchers at Johns Hopkins University created digital replicas of patients’ hearts, then tested procedures on those twins before performing them on the real thing. Working with digital twins resulted in faster and significantly more accurate procedures that reduced recurrences of arrhythmias for patients, compared to traditional methods.

Getting past the barrier surrounding the eye is a difficult but necessary part of treating retinoblastoma (RB)—a form of eye cancer that is more common in children. Once the barrier is penetrated, RB responds well to treatment. However, current methods, such as injections, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, are painful and often cause vision loss and other serious side effects. But, a new method, described in a study published in Science Advances, might offer a safer, more effective way to treat RB.

An acute pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot blocks one or more vessels in the lung. In patients at moderate or high risk, the blockage can impair the heart’s ability to pump blood through the lungs to such an extent that it becomes life-threatening. About 15% of those affected die as a result of acute pulmonary embolism. Blood-clot-dissolving medications, known as thrombolytics, can effectively dissolve vascular blockages. However, they increase the risk of severe bleeding, particularly in the brain. For this reason, they are generally used only in the most severe cases.

“It is one of the few treatments that specifically targets movement-evoked pain and fatigue, which are major barriers to participation in daily activities,” says Sluka, UI professor of physical therapy and rehabilitation science.