Health
New Jersey twins receive matching heart surgeries after Marfan syndrome diagnosis: 'A better life'
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.”
Left to right, Pablo Delcid and Julio Delcid celebrate Christmas with some of their family members. (Pablo and Julio Delcid)
“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.’”
What is Marfan syndrome?
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.
Van Boxtel holds up a “tube-shaped graft” model used during a valve sparing root operation, in which the surgeon “replaces the aortic root and then hand-sews leaflet by leaflet inside that graft.” (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)
“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.”
Left to right, Julio Delcid, the twins’ mother, Betulia Miranda, and Pablo Delcid snap a selfie. (Pablo and Julio Delcid)
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.”
Surgery on the same day
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.
Julio Delcid, left, and Pablo Delcid underwent heart surgery on Jan. 5, 2024. (Pablo and Julio Delcid)
“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.”
“Aneurysm disease is silent, it’s asymptomatic — which can be really dangerous.”
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.”
More about Marfan
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.
Julio Delcid said that those at risk of Marfan syndrome should “take the time to get yourself checked out.” (Pablo and Julio Delcid)
“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.”
Looking ahead with new hope
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.”
“It’s a very serious problem … but there’s prevention available, and if you get it at the right time, it can be very successful.”
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.”
Dr. Benjamin Van Boxtel is a cardiovascular surgeon and the surgical director of the Atlantic Aortic Center at Morristown Medical Center. (Atlantic Health System)
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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Creatine, the common muscle-building supplement, may help improve depression symptoms, new research suggests.
A systematic review, published in Genomic Press’ Brain Medicine, found that creatine monohydrate may be beneficial as an add-on treatment for major depressive disorder, although the evidence remains preliminary.
The Canada-based researchers analyzed data from five randomized controlled trials, evaluating the impact of creatine monohydrate intake on mental health.
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Four of the trials studied major depressive disorder, and another looked at bipolar disorder with a current depressive episode.
In one trial of women with depression who took 5 grams of creatine per day, plus the antidepressant escitalopram, there was greater improvement after eight weeks. Another study revealed benefit when creatine was added to cognitive behavioral therapy.
One study saw benefit when creatine was added to cognitive behavioral therapy. (iStock)
Other studies involving teen girls found no benefit from a variety of creatine dosages after eight weeks. The bipolar depression study also found no significant improvements when 6 grams of creatine was added to medication after six weeks.
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In a press release, the researchers said previous studies have found that people with mood disorders process creatine differently in the brain. Because creatine helps produce energy, some scientists believe disruptions in this process may contribute to depression.
Although creatine has also been associated with boosting dopamine and serotonin, which most antidepressants target, the authors stressed that the link between brain creatine and mood “remains correlational,” as depression has “many moving parts.”
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Lead study author Bassam Jeryous Fares, a student in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa, commented in a statement that the signal is “interesting, but not a verdict.”
“Two trials pointed one way and three pointed another,” he said. “That is not the kind of evidence on which you change clinical practice. It is the kind that tells you the question is worth further exploration.”
Although creatine has also been associated with boosting dopamine and serotonin, which most antidepressants target, the authors stressed that the link between brain creatine and mood “remains correlational.” (iStock)
Nicholas Fabiano, corresponding author and a psychiatry resident at the University of Ottawa, added in the same press release that creatine “appears to be a safe intervention,” noting that side effects were limited to mild stomach pain.
“We cannot yet reliably say that creatine helps with depressive symptoms or if the findings are generalizable to everyone,” he added as a caveat.
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Dr. Thea Gallagher, psychologist and director of wellness programs at NYU Langone, said that although creatine is best known for supporting muscle performance, it also helps the brain produce and use energy.
“Researchers believe that some people with depression may have alterations in brain energy metabolism, and creatine could help support these energy-producing pathways,” Gallagher, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “There is also emerging evidence that it may influence neurotransmitters and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, although these mechanisms are still being investigated.”
Creatine should be considered a “promising addition” to depression treatments, a doctor said. (iStock)
The research suggests that creatine may be most helpful when combined with established depression treatments rather than as a replacement, Gallagher emphasized.
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“This research is encouraging because it adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that supporting brain energy metabolism may be another pathway for improving depression symptoms,” she said.
“It’s exciting whenever we identify another potential tool that could complement existing treatments, particularly one that is relatively inexpensive and widely available.”
Limitations and caveats
The new study is a review of prior research rather than a new clinical trial, which can pose a limitation, the researchers acknowledged, adding that “larger, well-controlled trials are still needed.”
Gallagher noted that creatine should be considered as a potentially promising addition to treatment, rather than a substitute for psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, regular exercise or healthy sleep habits.
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“While creatine has a strong safety profile for most healthy adults, it’s still important to talk with your healthcare provider before starting any supplement — particularly if you have kidney disease, are pregnant or have other medical conditions,” she advised.
For those experiencing signs of depression, Gallagher recommends seeking evidence-based mental healthcare.
“While creatine has a strong safety profile for most healthy adults, it’s still important to talk with your healthcare provider before starting any supplement – particularly if you have kidney disease, are pregnant or have other medical conditions,” a doctor advised. (iStock)
The doctor noted that depression is a “highly heterogeneous condition, so we still don’t know which patients are most likely to benefit or what the optimal treatment approach looks like.”
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Gallagher also cautioned that supplements have been known to generate “early enthusiasm” before larger studies have revealed “more modest effects.”
“Right now, I’d describe creatine as promising but not definitive,” she concluded. “It’s an area that deserves continued research, but it’s not something people should view as a standalone treatment for depression.”
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A decades-long effort to develop a vaccine against one of the world’s leading causes of severe digestive illness has reached a milestone, according to new research.
Scientists recently developed a technology targeting enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), a bacterium responsible for millions of diarrheal illnesses each year.
The technology has now been licensed to French vaccine manufacturer Valneva for further development.
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The findings come after decades of research led by scientists at the University of Bergen and the Norwegian Research Center (NORCE).
One of the most common bacterial causes of severe diarrhea worldwide, ETEC is known to disproportionately affect children in low- and middle-income countries. Despite years of research, there is currently no broadly effective vaccine to prevent the infection, according to the study.
Researchers have made a major breakthrough in the decades-long effort to develop a vaccine against ETEC, a leading cause of diarrheal disease worldwide. (iStock)
The researchers focused on a toxin produced by ETEC that has long been considered one of the biggest obstacles to vaccine development.
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James Fleckenstein, MD, a professor of medicine and molecular microbiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, said the findings represent a promising step.
“We still have a lot of work to do to translate these findings to an actual vaccine,” Fleckenstein, who was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital. “But the approach does look promising in the sense that the proteins elicit strong antibody responses that appear to offer protection against diarrheal illness after the first infection in children in developing countries.”
ETEC is a leading bacterial cause of severe diarrhea worldwide, especially among children in low- and middle-income countries. (iStock)
If the vaccine eventually reaches patients, researchers hope it could help protect children against some of the most severe forms of diarrheal disease caused by ETEC.
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In the meantime, Fleckenstein said travelers can take steps to reduce their risk of diarrheal illnesses. He recommends avoiding high-risk foods — including meals from street vendors in areas where sanitation may be poor — drinking bottled water in higher-risk regions, and practicing good hand hygiene.
While a vaccine is still years away, experts recommend avoiding high-risk foods, drinking bottled water and washing your hands to reduce the risk of ETEC. (iStock)
Fleckenstein also noted that vaccines are available to protect against typhoid fever, and said travelers should consult their physician before traveling internationally.
The research did have some limitations, the researchers noted.
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The technology is still in development and has not yet been tested as an approved vaccine among the public.
While the licensing agreement allows Valneva to continue advancing the research, additional laboratory studies, clinical trials and regulatory review will be required before the vaccine becomes available.
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Bryan Johnson, a biohacker and longevity guru who has claimed “we may be the first generation who won’t die,” revealed he has an autoimmune condition causing his stomach to “eat itself.”
The Los Angeles-based tech entrepreneur, 48, has previously shared publicly that he is hoping to live until the year 2140, when he would in theory be 160 years old.
Now, Johnson says he has been diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis (AIG), a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the stomach’s acid-producing parietal cells, reducing stomach acid and impairing vitamin B12 absorption, according to Nature Reviews Disease Primers.
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“My stomach is eating itself,” he wrote in an Instagram post. Johnson also shared that anywhere from 2% to 5% of people likely have this disease.
“I’m going to try to solve it,” Johnson went on. “Will share all.”
Bryan Johnson, a biohacker and longevity guru who has claimed “we may be the first generation who won’t die,” revealed he has an autoimmune condition causing his stomach to “eat itself.” (Getty Images)
The biohacker shared that as a child, he ate sugary cereal, drank sugary soda and “gobbled down fast food.”
“I became a young father of three and began building a business,” Johnson went on. “Juggling that stress and grind, I let my health slip and gained 40 lbs. Within a few years I’d fallen into a deep, chronic depression.”
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“Somewhere in that timeline, my body began developing an autoimmune process affecting my thyroid and then my stomach lining,” he added.
Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson for comment.
AIG can remain hidden and can be challenging to diagnose, Johnson noted, often surfacing years after damage has already occurred to the stomach. It can cause iron deficiency, B12 deficiency and anemia, and can also increase the risk of stomach cancer, the expert warned.
“Low iron stores get normalized and rarely investigated at all when anemia hasn’t shown up yet,” Johnson wrote. “That blind spot is what hid mine for a decade.”
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He also shared that for 11 years, he has had low levels of ferritin, a protein that stores iron inside the body’s cells. Ferritin releases iron when the body needs it, supports muscle function and carries out other essential processes.
“We continually tried to raise my iron levels with food and supplementation, but nothing would work,” he said.
The Los Angeles-based tech entrepreneur, 48, has previously shared publicly that he is hoping to live until the year 2140. (Getty Images)
Johnson acknowledged that some common biohacking techniques — including hard training, sauna and hyperbaric oxygen — all raise the body’s demand for iron.
“But none of them explained the core failure: Despite me taking iron orally, trailing every formulation and using every timing trick, none of the iron would stick.”
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Johnson underwent a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy, which examined his entire intestinal tract. Five biopsies were also taken from his stomach, which found “clear signs of early autoimmune gastritis: early atrophy confined to the acid-producing lining.”
In January 2026, the biohacker stated in a post on his website that “by 2039, my goal is immortality.”
“In the age of AI, multiomics, and custom-built DNA, proteins and cells, no condition should be presumed incurable simply because no one has yet tried to cure it with today’s stack,” Johnson said in his post. (Getty Images)
He detailed his strategy for defying aging, which includes embracing a strict regimen to slow or stop biological aging, using AI to accelerate longevity research, testing new treatments in lab-grown cells and organs, and reaching “longevity escape velocity” — in which medical advances would eventually extend lifespan faster than he ages.
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“I may fail at this task, but my team and I will try our best,” he wrote at the time.
There is currently no cure for AIG, which Johnson said he wants to change.
Johnson acknowledged that some common biohacking techniques — including hard training, sauna and hyperbaric oxygen — all raise the body’s demand for iron. (iStock)
“In the age of AI, multiomics, and custom-built DNA, proteins and cells, no condition should be presumed incurable simply because no one has yet tried to cure it with today’s stack.”
Johnson ended his post by urging others to prioritize their health.
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“Care for yourself, care for others, care for the planet and care for our animal friends. Care for life, as it’s the most precious gift there is.”
The longevity guru also shared an image showing the detailed findings of his five stomach biopsies.
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