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#GPnews: 12-minute heart attack test could soon hit the market

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14:45 A new blood test could provide answers much sooner to doctors assessing potential heart attack patients.

Whereas currently multiple tests are necessary for a definitive diagnosis, which can take up to 24 hours, the blood test developed by British researchers means doctors could give lifesaving treatment hours earlier, reports the Mirror.

The scientists found that cardiac myosin-binding protein C is more sensitive at detecting damage to the heart muscle than current markers, and could give an answer in just 12 minutes.

Dr Tom Kaier, specialist registrar in cardiology at King’s College London, who led the work, said: ‘This has the potential to transform the way we diagnose heart attacks in the 21st century.

‘We know there has not been a reduction in the number of overnight admissions of patients despite using the best blood tests currently available.

‘We are looking at improving the experience of patients by developing new and more sensitive blood tests that could help doctors assess the amount of damage quickly and avoid patients being admitted overnight, unless truly necessary.’

The new test could be in the market within six months if the industry agree to develop it, the article added.

11:40 British babies cry more than others, it has been suggested.  

A study found they were on a par only with babies in Italy and Canada.

The study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, and highlighted by the Guardian, found that newborns in Denmark, German and Japan cried the least.

The aim of the work was to establish the prevalence of colic in infants around the world.

They speculated that reasons could be social inequality, caregiving styles, soothing techniques and feeding patterns.

Lead researcher Professor Dieter Wolke, from University of Warwick’s department of psychology, said: ‘Babies are already very different in how much they cry in the first weeks of life – there are large but normal variations.

‘We may learn more from looking at cultures where there is less crying and whether this may be due to parenting or other factors relating to pregnancy experiences or genetics.’

09:35 There may be a reason for everyone to love Marmite, if researchers at York University are correct.

Their studies have found that the yeast extract helped boost brain power and suggested it could even help stave off dementia, reports the Telegraph.

Just one teaspoon a day was enough to change electric activity in the brain, they said, pointing to Marmite’s high level of the vitamin B12.