March 31, 2017

Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights

By Karl Oestreich

Mayo Clinic in the News is a weekly highlights summary of major media coverage. If you would like to be added to the weekly distribution list, send a note to Emily Blahnik with this subject line: SUBSCRIBE to Mayo Clinic in the News.

Editor, Karl Oestreich;  Assistant Editor: Emily Blahnik

 

NY Times
How to Follow the News in a Political Age of Anxiety
by Lesley Alderman

Another day and, for many, another worrisome news alert out of Washington — or two, or three. Travel bans. Policy reversals. Wire taps. In October, during the buildup to Election Day, we heard from therapists about how their patients were feeling fearful, angry and distrustful in reaction to the contentious presidential race. Now, these same therapists report that many of their patients are even more upset as they struggleThe New York Times newspaper logo to make sense of the direction in which the country is heading. And many can’t tear themselves away from the news. … “Many of my patients are frightened and on edge. They wonder, Could the next news alert report that missiles are flying through the air?” said Dr. Robert Bright, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. “Almost all my patients report having insomnia.” He tells clients who are feeling overwhelmed to turn off news alerts on their phones and instead tune into the news just once a day. If social media feels as if it’s making your blood pressure rise, limit the number of times per week you log on.

Reach: The New York Times has a daily circulation of nearly 649,000 and a Sunday circulation of 1.18 million.

Context: Robert Bright, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist.

Contacts: Jim McVeigh, Traci Klein

 

Today.com
'Black Insomnia' may be the strongest coffee in the world
by Emi Boscamp

A couple years ago, scientists unveiled the world's blackest black, called Vantablack, which absorbs 99.965% of visible light. Well, now there may be a coffee equivalent to Vantablack, called Black Insomnia. It debuted in South Africa last year and just arrived in the United States. No word yet on how much light it absorbs. … But what would happen if you drank more than that? We're jittery just thinking about it. "It depends how sensitive you are to caffeine, Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes, M.D., cardiologist at Mayo Clinic and professor of cardiovascular diseases, explained to TODAY Food over the phone. "It may not cause a serious medical issue, but it may be uncomfortable. For example, people with arrhythmias are triggered by caffeine and may experience palpitations."

Reach: Today.com is online site for NBC's Today Show.

Context:  Sharonne Hayes, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic cardiologist. Dr. Hayes studies cardiovascular disease and prevention, with a focus on sex and gender differences and conditions that uniquely or predominantly affect women. With a clinical base in the Women's Heart Clinic, Dr. Hayes and her research team utilize novel recruitment methods, social media and online communities, DNA profiling, and sex-specific evaluations to better understand several cardiovascular conditions. A major area of focus is spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), an uncommon and under-recognized cause of acute coronary syndrome (heart attack) that occurs predominantly in young women.

Contact: Traci Klein

 

Star Tribune
With almost $300 million in private funds, Mayo's Rochester project set to get $585M in public money
by Matt McKinney

Millions of dollars in state aid for expansion of the Mayo Clinic should start to arrive in Rochester this fall, it was announced Thursday. The public dollars were pledged for the Destination Medical Center (DMC) project in 2013, but the Legislature said they wouldn’t come until the Star Tribune newspaper logoclinic and private investors first put up their own money. Now that has happened, with almost $300 million in private investment. The figures released Thursday by the DMC board put private investment totals so far at $297.7 million, a figure that covers everything from a new sign at a private business to a $68 million Mayo project at its Saint Marys Campus.

Reach: The Star Tribune Sunday circulation is 518,745 copies and weekday circulation is 300,277. The Star Tribune is the state’s largest newspaper and ranks 16th nationally in circulation.

Additional coverage: KTTCBecker’s Hospital Review, U.S. News & World Report, KDLT News, Kansas City Star, Post-Bulletin, Santa Cruz Sentinel, LMT Online, Post-Bulletin, ABC News, Wichita Eagle, Las Vegas Sun

Related coverage:

Star Tribune, Destination Medical Center by Lisa Clarke

Post-Bulletin (special report table of contents)

Post-Bulletin, Special Report- DMC: Transforming Rochester

Post-Bulletin, The hustle is over; the show’s about to begin

Post-Bulletin, Where in Discovery Square will Mortenson build first? 

Post-Bulletin, Saint Marys area prepares for dramatic change

Post-Bulletin, Developers discover Discovery Square 

Post-Bulletin, Hammes doubles down on Rochester investment

Post-Bulletin, Where health care meets hospitality 

Post-Bulletin, Staver: As DMC unfolds, we must protect city’s values

Post-Bulletin, DMC will be a draw for millennials 

Post-Bulletin, Powers: History should repeat itself, with DMC

Post-Bulletin, Will DMC create 'Silicon Valley of Medicine'? 

Context: The Destination Medical Center Corporation (DMCC) Executive Committee announced today that the DMC economic development initiative exceeded the $200 million private development investment threshold –needed to trigger the release of state DMC dollars to be used for public infrastructure improvements – by $97.7 million, totaling $297.7 million in private investment. “Reaching this important milestone reaffirms that we are on the right track, and Rochester is already experiencing growth and new opportunities,” said Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, DMCC Board Chair. “With the $200 million threshold met, I look forward to working with the State of Minnesota, Rochester community and Mayo Clinic to invest in transportation, world-class amenities, and other public infrastructure that supports opportunity for everyone.” More information can be found on the Destination Medical Center website.

Contacts:  Kelley Luckstein, Bob Nellis

 

ActionNewsJax
Mayo Clinic study: High-intensity interval training can reverse aging process
by Danielle Avitable

A new study by the Mayo Clinic found that certain workouts can reverse the aging process. The study found that a high-intensity interval training workout, combined with resistance training, can turn back time. "You're essentially slowing down that aging process, what I think is amazing, because we didn't have those things before," Dr. Vandana Bhide, of the Mayo Clinic, said.

Reach: WAWS-TV/30 is the Fox affiliate. WTEV-TV/47 is the CBS affiliate in Jacksonville, Florida.

Additional coverage: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Previous coverage in March 24, 2017 Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights

Previous coverage in March 17, 2017 Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights

Previous coverage in March 1o, 2017 Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights

Context: Everyone knows that exercise is good for you, but what type of training helps most, especially when you’re older - say over 65? A Mayo Clinic study says it’s high-intensity aerobic exercise, which can reverse some cellular aspects of aging. The findings appear in Cell MetabolismMayo researchers compared high-intensity interval training, resistance training and combined training. All training types improved lean body mass and insulin sensitivity, but only high-intensity and combined training improved aerobic capacity and mitochondrial function for skeletal muscle. Decline in mitochondrial content and function are common in older adults. More information can be found on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Contact:  Kevin Punsky, Bob Nellis

Becker’s Hospital Review, 103 great healthcare leaders to know | 2017 by Laura Dyrda and Mary Rechtoris — John Noseworthy, MD. President and CEO of Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.). Noseworthy is responsible for Mayo Clinic's research, clinical and educational operations across five states as president and CEO, positions he has held since 2009. A neurologist specializing in multiple sclerosis, he is the author of more than 150 research papers, chapters and editorials as well as several books. Dr. Noseworthy has advocated for telemedicine reform, publishing an op-ed in the Pioneer Press in June 2016, saying telemedicine's growth is being stifled by regulatory barriers and that failure to update the regulations will impede patient access to affordable care.

Becker’s Hospital Review, 10 prominent health system CEOs: Physician burnout is a public health crisis here are 11 things we commit to do about it by Tamara Rosin — The CEOs of the nation's most prominent health systems authored an article in Health Affairs examining the widespread issue of physician burnout, its main contributors, leaders' role in responding to burnout and an 11-item call to action. The authors of the article include: John Noseworthy, MD, president and CEO of Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic … Burnout is the experience of three interrelated components: exhaustion, cynicism and inefficacy. More than half of U.S. physicians reported experiencing at least one symptom of burnout, according to a Mayo Clinic study cited by the authors. To mitigate the effects of burnout and help prevent it in the future, health system leaders must address the root causes of what many have deemed a health crisis of epidemic proportions.

CNN, Can anger rooms be used to relieve stress? By Robert Jimison — Let's be honest with ourselves - it sometimes feels good to be bad. … Well instead of destroying - and repairing or replacing - stuff at home or working to find the answer, there are businesses where, for a fee, you can wreak as much havoc as you want with no consequences. Anger rooms - as they're called - have become all the rage for the high-strung person who needs a "safe space" to blow off some steam. … Is a controlled temper tantrum enough to provide real relief? Skeptical of how much help a 20-minute session can provide in reducing stress, Dr. Amit Sood, a medical professor at the Mayo Clinic says, "well, it's better to break a TV than a nose, that's for sure." Additional coverage: News4Jax

Forbes, How Apps And AI Technologies Can Improve Communication In The Healthcare Industry — As the population becomes more connected, people value being able to address their medical concerns using apps. Confidence in apps has certainly grown by leaps and bounds in the retail sector, with nearly 50% of all purchases being made on a mobile device. If we take a cue from the Mayo Clinic, we can see how powerful apps can be in regard to healthcare.The Mayo Clinic provides an app to patients that: Offers healthy living advice; provides appointment requests; delivers lab and X-ray results; and supports doctor office-patient messaging.

Reuters, Universal celiac testing lacks evidence - U.S. panel by Andrew Seaman — In an editorial, Drs. Rok Seon Choung and Joseph Murray from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota agree there is a lack of evidence supporting universal testing for celiac disease in people without symptoms. "Recognizing that most celiac disease is undetected and may present with diverse symptoms, it is reasonable that clinicians should have a low threshold for testing for celiac disease, especially in high-risk populations such as those with an affected family member or type 1 diabetes mellitus," they add.

Bloomberg, What You Need to Know About So-Hot-Right-Now Infrared Spa Therapy by Hannah Elliott — Infrared saunas are the next model boxing. It’s the latest new-old thing that has received attention from fashion types, celebrities, and social media influencers. If you are a physician or longtime wellness nut, it’s likely you already know about them. For decades, hospitals and medical treatment centers have used them to foster growth for premature babies and expedite healing for athletes and the elderly. … “The appeal of saunas in general is that they cause reactions, such as vigorous sweating and increased heart rate, similar to those elicited by moderate exercise,” Brent Bauer, the director of the Department of Internal Medicine's complementary and integrative medicine program at the Mayo Clinic, wrote in a Mayo Clinic report.

Bloomberg, The $100,000 Anti-Burnout Program for CEOs by Rebecca Greenfield — Johnson & Johnson thinks it has the answer to executive burnout. All it takes is a physiologist, a dietitian, an executive coach, and $100,000 in special services. J&J is launching an intensive program today to make sure its senior executives stay in top physical, mental, and emotional form. The program, which the health and personal care company is calling Premier Executive Leadership, will surround its leadership class with specialists like the medical crew around an astronaut after splashdown. A battery of services will include abdominal ultrasounds at the Mayo Clinic and home visits by a dietitian for cupboard inspections.

NPR, No Need To Get Screened For Celiac Unless You Have Symptoms, Panel Says — Dr. Joseph Murray, a celiac specialist and researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., warns that recognizing symptoms can be difficult for patients. "There are a lot of people out there who might have symptoms but they don't associate them with celiac disease," he says. "They might be living with symptoms without knowing it. Maybe they move their bowels and it stinks so bad, you'd think something died up there. Or they have chronic fatigue, but maybe they attribute it to something else." For that reason, Murray thinks doctors need to increase their level of suspicion when it comes to diagnosing celiac disease.

Huffington Post, The Doctor Who Brings People Back to Life — Brett Berhoff introduces us to another Legend of Medicine. Dr. Roger White of the Mayo Clinic. He is the Co-Medical Director of the Mayo Clinic Medical Transport System and overall medical game-changer. Dr. White is re-writing history with the countless lives he saves and cutting edge changes to the medical community. While on vacation in Italy, White received a phone call in the midst of dinner. It was emergency medical services calling from Rochester Minn., about a patient in cardiac arrest. Without hesitation, White leapt into action and began directing the paramedics on what to do next. (Something he does anytime his “Bat phone” rings)

Huffington Post, What Birth Control Is Right For You? — There are many different options available to help prevent pregnancy. The most commonly known methods include condoms, birth control pills, and getting your tubes tied.  However, several other choices are available.  Each option has differences that can make it either the right or wrong choice for you. In order to help decide what method is best for you, consider what your plans are for having children in the future, if you will remember to take a pill at the same time every day, or if you are ok with having a birth control device within your body. — Megan Wasson, gynecologist on Mayo Clinic’s Arizona campus.

CNN, Lupus: What you need to know by Sandee LaMotte — Actor Kristen Johnston, best known for "3rd Rock from the Sun" told her fans on Facebook that it took 17 doctors and "two fun-filled weeks in November partying at the Mayo Clinic" before she was diagnosed in 2013 with lupus myelitis. That's a rare form of the disease that attacks the spinal cord. Actor Kristen Johnston, best known for "3rd Rock from the Sun" told her fans on Facebook that it took 17 doctors and "two fun-filled weeks in November partying at the Mayo Clinic" before she was diagnosed in 2013 with lupus myelitis. That's a rare form of the disease that attacks the spinal cord.

USA Today, Women’s Health Supplement: 5 Things You Need to Know About Early Menopause by Stephanie Faubion — So you missed a period. Or two. You think to yourself, “I’m too young for menopause. Right? Not necessarily. Early menopause (between the ages of 40 and 45) affects about five percent of women. Premature menopause, before age 40, affects about one percent of women. Without a big neon billboard saying, “Welcome to Menopause,” what should you do? Here are five things you should know.

ABC News, What to know about cyclic vomiting syndrome that affects Chandra Wilson's daughter by Gillian Mohney — This week, "Grey's Anatomy" star Chandra Wilson is shining on a light on a rare condition that has affected her daughter called cyclic vomiting syndrome, or CVS…The Mayo Clinic estimates that 2 percent of school-age children may be affected and cases are increasing in adults according to research.

FOX News, Woman diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's at age 32 uses love of shoes to inspire others by Melinda Carstensen … That’s why when Walker was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease at age 32, losing the ability to wear her top wardrobe staple was one of the most heartbreaking hardships she faced during her ongoing battle with the disease, which causes balance and coordination issues. “That was just one more thing Parkinson’s had taken away from me,” said Walker, who lives in Orlando, Florida. Parkinson’s is marked by abnormal loops in the brain circuitry, whereby some nerves are overstimulated and others are not stimulated enough, Charles Adler, MD, PhD, professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Arizona, told Fox News.

Chicago Tribune, Retirement: How your memory changes with age by Kaitlin Pitsker — As you age, physical changes in the brain often affect your memory. The prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus, which both play important roles in learning, memory and planning, shrink in size. The connections that allow brain cells to communicate with one another become weaker, and arteries narrow, reducing blood flow. As a result, you may find that you don't recall information as quickly or as easily as you once did, that it takes longer to learn new things, or that you forget pieces of information and misplace objects more frequently. You'll likely also find that you have more difficulty multitasking and that you need to put more effort into concentrating on each task. "These changes don't mean that the memory machine is broken," says Dr. Ronald Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic's Study of Aging. "But you may have to start putting more emphasis and energy into the process of laying down new memories."

New York Post, Nine ways to not die in your cubicle by Christian Gollayan — It’s well known that being chained to your desk is harmful to your health. But new studies have upped the stakes by finding that sitting hunched over a computer for hours at a time has far more negative consequences than previously thought, with at least two studies suggesting that sitting all day is as bad for your health as smoking. … “While you’ll always face stressors, [you can help prevent] converting [them] into overwhelming stress,” Amit Sood, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic and author of “Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living”, tells The Post. “Choose to gift yourself more positive and uplifting thoughts.”

HealthDay, Study Suggests Heartburn Meds-Superbug Infections Link by Steven Reinberg — Patients who take certain heartburn medications may be more likely to suffer recurrent bouts of a common "superbug" infection, a new study suggests. Proton pump inhibitors, such as Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium, or so-called H2 blockers, such as Zantac, Pepcid and Tagamet, were linked to a 50 percent increased risk of developing multiple Clostridium difficile infections, researchers found. … "Gastric acid suppression medications are commonly prescribed and consumed over-the-counter for gastric reflux disease [GERD], peptic ulcer disease or functional dyspepsia, but they are also sometimes prescribed for unnecessary indications, which leads to overuse of these medications," said study lead researcher Dr. Sahil Khanna. He's an assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic's division of gastroenterology and hematology in Rochester, Minn.

Fortune, This is the No. 1 Thing These CEOs Look For in Job Candidates by Laura Entis — We asked the CEOs of the nation's top employers—every company on Fortune's 2017 100 Best Companies to Work For list—to name the single most important thing they looked for in a potential hire. … John H. Noseworthy, CEO of Mayo Clinic (ranked #84): “At Mayo Clinic, we look for people who share our values, who want to do good and who enjoy being part of a team. Mayo’s hiring philosophy is firmly rooted in the core values of the clinic and our founders. With this focus, it is critical that prospective employees have demonstrated qualities including: respect, compassion, integrity, healing, teamwork, excellence, innovation and stewardship. Mayo rigorously screens candidates for these qualities throughout the hiring process as evidenced by low annual turnover rates and offer acceptance rates commonly above 95 percent.”

Toronto Star, The type of exercise that will slow aging, according to new study by Ana Veciana-Suarez — A new study published in the journal Cell Metabolism noted that any kind of exercise is better than none, but it’s the high-intensity interval training that does best in reversing age-related changes at the cellular level. Though this works for people of all ages, it seems to offer more benefits to older people. … “Based on everything we know, there’s no substitute for these exercise programs when it comes to delaying the aging process,” Dr. Sreekumaran Nair, senior author of the study and a diabetes researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., told Medical News. “These things we are seeing cannot be done by any medicine.”

HealthDay, Exercise: the cellular 'fountain of youth' by Amy Norton — The study findings suggest that interval training can turn back the clock in ways that moderate aerobic exercise and strength training do not, according to lead researcher Dr. K. Sreekumaran Nair. But, he stressed, the findings do not mean older adults should jump into a vigorous exercise regimen. "If you're sedentary, you should talk to your doctor before you start exercising," said Nair. He's an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Additional coverage: KTTC

Healio, Gastric acid suppressants increase risk for recurrent C. difficile —“In our study, we found that use of gastric acid suppression medications are associated with a statistically significant increased risk of development of recurrent [CDI] in patients with a prior episode of [CDI],” Sahil Khanna, MBBS, coauthor of the study also from Mayo Clinic, said in a press release. While patients with gastric acid suppression may be at an increased risk for CDI recurrence, he emphasized that these data should be interpreted with caution because of factors that were not considered in the analysis, including why gastric suppression was needed. “It may be reasonable to reevaluate the need for these medications in patients with [CDI],” Khanna concluded. Additional coverage: Daily Mail, CBS NewsAJMC, Medscape, MedPage Today

Prevention, Top 4 Things Nutritionists Look For On A Food Label by Judy Koutsky — Saturated fat: Unlike trans fats, you need some saturated fat—but you don't need a lot. And while a few recent studies have suggested that saturated fat has been unfairly demonized, most nutrition experts maintain that less is better. "Less than 10% of your total calories should come from saturated fat," says Lisa Dierks, RDN, wellness dietitian manager at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program in Rochester, Minnesota. "Saturated fats should be replaced with mono or polyunsaturated fats, which help to lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce incidence of cardiac events."

HealthDay, Turning Back the Aging Clock -- in Mice by Dennis Thompson — Aging occurs when the body starts to accumulate broken-down cells that interfere with the body's ability to heal and renew itself, de Keizer said. These are called senescent cells. According to Nathan LeBrasseur, an associate professor of physical medicine and physiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., damaged senescent cells "no longer function properly and can actually wreak havoc on neighboring cells that are otherwise healthy." In the new therapy, a peptide signals these damaged cells to destroy themselves. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that help regulate cellular activity. The senescent cells remain in the body and accumulate, essentially becoming "the rotten apple that spoils the cart," explained LeBrasseur, who wasn't involved in the research.

Tech Times, SpaceX's Dragon Cargo Ship Brings To Earth Science Experiments From Space Station by Allan Adamson — For the Microgravity Expanded Stem Cells investigation, astronauts who are stationed at the ISS observed cell characteristics such as growth in zero-gravity to better understand how cancers start and spread after exposure to microgravity. "What is unique about this investigation is that we are not only looking at the biology of the cells and how they grow, but focusing on application, how we can use them to treat patients," said Abba Zubair from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville in Florida, who is also the principal investigator for the study. Additional coverage: Salon

KMSP, Baby with rare case of Noonan's in need of heart transplant by Iris Perez — Charlotte McChesney was welcomed into the world on Feb. 3 at Children’s Hospital and was immediately diagnosed with a rare form of Noonan’s disease. Doctors told the McChesneys that Charlotte’s case is so rare it’s only the 11th reported case in the world…“Usually in an average person when the heart squeezes to pump blood out there’s a little bit of blood left over, in her situation when her heart squeezes, it’s so thick that when her heart squeezes there’s no cavity left over, it just completely obliterates it,” Dr. Johnathan Johnson, the medical director of the pediatric heart transplant program at Mayo Clinic told Fox 9.

KTTC, Rochester gets new Distinguished Eagle Scout by Francisco Almenara-Dumur — Rochester Boy Scouts have a new Distinguished Eagle Scout in their midst. This is the highest attainable honor in the National Eagle Scout Association. The Distinguished Eagle Award is given to those who are nationally renowned distinguished service in their profession at least 25 years after earning Eagle Scout Rank. Thursday's recipient, Dr. Toby Weingarten, joins the likes of former President Gerald Ford with this achievement.

KAAL, Rochester Sees Effect of U.S. Healthcare Provider Shortage — “We also need to try and get a designation of more residency slots, especially for primary care. This is really a federal government decision,” said Dr. Douglas Wood, Chair of the Minnesota Medical Association. “So both the University of Minnesota School of Medicine and the Mayo Medical School will be working hard to make sure there are enough training slots for residents who are interested in those types of careers."

Ebony, Study Shows African-Americans Prone to Late Onset Alzheimer’s Disease by Danielle Pointdujour — A study from researchers at the Mayo Clinic, published in the February issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, may show some insights into the genetics of the disease in Black Americans who develop the disease after age 65. According to senior investigator, Dr. Nilufer Ertekin-Taner, M.D., Ph.D., a neurogeneticist and neurologist at the Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus who worked on the study, while the reasons for these high rates of Alzheimer’s in the Black community remains unknown, she cites “higher vascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, as well as differences in genetics and/or differences in socioeconomic factors” as some of the many possible reasons for the disease’s significant impact, according to NBC News.

KTTC, Boy battling bone cancer at Mayo Clinic celebrates milestone by Chris Yu — A 7-year-old boy battling bone cancer reached a major milestone at Mayo Clinic Thursday morning. In front of dozens of family members and friends, Hunter Gifford rang the bell at the Jacobson Building to signal the end of his proton beam treatment. Hunter was diagnosed with bone cancer on Nov. 1, 2016.

KAAL, Little Boy Battling Cancer Reunited with Teddy Bear Lost at Mayo Clinic — A 5-year-old little boy has been reunited with his beloved teddy bear thanks to the power of social media and the kindness of strangers. Aiden Remme was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2015 at the age of 3. Aiden’s Mom Tracy tells ABC 6 News that Teddy was there the day Aiden was diagnosed, and has been there with him ever since. It was this past Friday at his last visit to Mayo Clinic for his 60th round of chemotherapy, the teddy bear somehow got left behind. Additional coverage: Post-Bulletin

WQOW La Crosse, Katharine's Wish brings smiles to patients across the Midwest by Jack Hajewski — Chippewa Valley teen's charity, founded nearly a decade ago, continues to bring smiles to pediatric patients across the Midwest. Katharine's Wish began in 2008 when Katharine's Rhoten was hospitalized and diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes during a family vacation. Since her diagnosis, Katharine has donated more than 22,000 new toys, stuffed animals and books to dozens of hospitals and clinics throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. Today, Katharine and her family donated toys at Mayo Clinic, HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital, HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital and Marshfield Clinic. Additional coverage: WEAU Eau Claire

Atlanta Constitutional-Journal, Tips to allergy-proof your home by Jenn Nelson Jones — Allergy sufferers just so happen to have plenty to sneeze about indoors as well as out. Fortunately, it's not impossible to create a relatively allergen-free zone within your home. It just takes a little diligence and the help of some easily available products…The Mayo Clinic recommends ditching all feathered bedding in favor of something made from synthetic fabrics. Consider using rolling-style blinds in place of those horizontal shades displaying rows of dust.

Science Magazine, Molecule kills elderly cells, reduces signs of aging in mice by Mitch Leslie — Even if you aren’t elderly, your body is home to agents of senility—frail and damaged cells that age us and promote disease. Now, researchers have developed a molecule that selectively destroys these so-called senescent cells. The compound makes old mice act and appear more youthful, providing hope that it may do the same for us. … “The paper adds a potentially new way to target senescent cells,” says diabetes researcher James Kirkland of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He cautions, however, that peptides like the one De Keizer and colleagues developed have their own limitations. The digestive system destroys them, so they can only be delivered through inhalation or an injection–you can’t just swallow a pill, he notes.

Star Tribune, Industry study finds income lags for Minnesota’s rural hospitals by Christopher Snowbeck — It can be a tough business running an independent hospital in rural Minnesota. A new report from the Minnesota Hospital Association shows that rural hospitals repeatedly lagged those in urban areas in terms of median operating income from 2012 to 2015. … "Why do hospital systems like Sanford or Mayo invest in operating these small hospitals?" Baumgarten asked. "Part of it is, they want them to be feeders to their hub hospitals." Rochester-based Mayo Clinic posted 2015 operating income of $534 million — the biggest sum on the hospital association's list. South Dakota-based Sanford Health posted operating income of $195 million.

Albert Lea Tribune, Council to consider $2M plan for Mayo’s Gold Cross facility by Sam Wilmes — The Albert Lea City Council on Monday will consider Mayo Clinic’s plan for a more than $2 million facility for Albert Lea Gold Cross. The 8,100-square foot facility would be at 109 West Ave. on the campus of Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea near Central Park and would house office and training space, crew quarters and ambulance space. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said Gold Cross has made adjustments since its plan was unanimously approved by the Albert Lea Planning Commission earlier this month, including adding additional bricks and revising garage doors to increase the facility’s aesthetics on the building’s east side. Light fixtures and brick with medallion work are planned on the south side of the facility to make it more appealing to people who drive, park or live in the area, Adams said.

WCNC – NBC Charlotte, Boy with brain cancer loses teddy, social media to the rescue — After his story went viral on social media, a 5-year-old boy battling cancer is reunited with his beloved teddy bear that he had lost at Mayo Clinic. "Thank you for helping me find him," Aiden Remme said in a video message Wednesday afternoon. Aiden, who just turned 5 years old on Tuesday, received his bear from his great-grandparents during his first Christmas. But when Aiden was just 3, he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Because the tumor is located on the thalamus, doctors said it was inoperable. But incredibly, they later removed a part of the tumor during surgery. Additional coverage: CBS Minnesota, FOX 21, Hot967 FM, Albert Lea Tribune, Star Tribune

JAX Daily Record, Site work to start at Mayo: Lung restoration center to be built by Karen Brune Mathis — Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and United Therapeutics Corp. are another step closer to opening their proposed lung-restoration center at Mayo’s Southside campus. The city is reviewing a permit application for Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. to handle a $6.2 million project for soil improvements, foundations and structural concrete work at 14221 Kendall Hinch Circle for a three-story, 75,000-square-foot building on three acres. That is next to the Birdsall Medical Research and Griffin Cancer Research buildings on the Mayo campus at 4500 San Pablo Road, just off Butler Boulevard. Mayo Public Affairs Manager Kevin Punsky said Thursday site work is scheduled to start May 1, and the completion of construction is estimated for the first quarter of 2019.

Diabetes, Stem cells grown in space could benefit type 1 diabetes by Camille Bienvenu — Stem cells cultivated in low-Earth orbit at a US national lab aboard the International Space Station (ISS) could advance therapies aimed at regenerating insulin-producing cells in type 1 diabetes. Researchers are looking at two main ways of using stem cells for treating type 1 diabetes: as beta cell producing factories or as cells that support beta cell repair. In both cases, the goal is to cultivate stem cells that are best suited for the job. To that aim, Dr Abba Zubbair, a researcher from the Mayo Clinic in Florida, is testing a new way of growing stem cells to improve their quality: sending them to outer space. Zubbair's experiment consisted of shooting into space a bio-engineering tool, ordinarily used to cultivate stem cells, inside a satellite womb-like capsule so the cells experience the absence of gravity.

KEYC Mankato, Building A Stronger Bond With Newborns and Mothers by Shawn Loging — For parents of a newborn, it can be hard to be separated for a long period of time, so Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato has moved to keep mom and child together as much as possible right after birth. For new parents, it can be a stressful time welcoming a newborn into the world. But Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato is taking steps to help build that relationship between child and mother immediately following the birth to make it all goes a bit easier. Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato OB-GYN Dr. Jason DeWitt, M.D. said, "We know that throughout their initial postpartum stay that the closer moms and babies are together, particularly when both are healthy, the better it is for both of them." MCHS made the move from a nursery about two years ago, setting up a place for the baby within arms–reach of mom.

Fairmont Sentinel, New test is out for colon cancer by Judy Bryan — March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a subject nobody wants to talk about, but colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women. About 135,000 colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed each year in the United States, and it claims about 50,000 lives annually. Like many other illnesses and cancers, it is often treatable with early diagnosis. “One in 20 people will have colon cancer. The great thing is, we can easily screen for it,” said Dr. Tim Slama, family medical physician at Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont.

KIMT, Comfort Cart: ‘They laid it on him and he passed away with the American flag, and it meant so much to him’ by DeeDee Stiepan — A veteran in the final moments of his life at St. Mary's Hospital was able to find some comfort thanks to a determined group of nurses. Ashley Lang, an R.N. works in the Medical Intensive Care Unit, says around 5 a.m. that three nurses on the floor brought a Comfort Cart into the veteran's room. The carts are full of items that patients and their families may want during difficult times but don't think to bring them to the hospital. Things like: personal-care items, blankets, prayer shawls and other religious items for comfort, music, and more.

Arizona Republic, Roberts: Sarah wants her life back (UnitedHealthcare refuses to give it to her) by Laurie Roberts — Sarah would tell you it’s a miserable way to live. Especially when the chance to get better is dangled right before your eyes, just beyond your grasp. “I’m not taking any classes. I had to stop,” she tells me, from her hospital bed at Mayo Clinic. “When I feel so terrible, it’s hard to do anything but get through the day.” POTS is a condition that affects about 500,000 Americans, most of them young women. … Dr. Brent Goodman, a neurologist at Mayo Clinic, believes that Sarah’s best hope lies in a treatment called intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG). Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter what Sarah’s doctor thinks. Her insurance company, UnitedHealthcare, is calling the shots. Goodman has explained to the insurance company why IVIG is Sarah’s best hope, based, among other things, on his experience as director of Mayo’s Autonomic Clinic. Additional coverage: USA Today

WKBT La Crosse, Viral video of choking incident shows importance of knowing Heimlich — A recent choking incident is a good reminder of the importance of knowing the Heimlich maneuver. La Crosse Central freshman Ian Brown jumped into action Wednesday to help classmate Will Olson when Olson was choking on a piece of food during lunch. The video has since gone viral and made national news. Health educators say the incident shows lives can be saved if you know what to do in that situation. "Probably the biggest important reason why everyone should know is because we never know when someone's going to have a choking episode, and it's the difference between life and death, plain and simple," said Mayo Clinic Health System's Joy Erbmoser.

WEAU, Wellness Before, During and After Cancer — A simple cheek swab, with what looks like a Q-tip mean the difference between life or death for someone needing a bone marrow transplant. If you want to sign up for the National Bone Marrow Registry to potentially save a life - there's a great event coming on Saturday. Sarah Lewis, Cancer Guide of Mayo Clinic Health System and Shannara Faupl, R.N joined the show to talk more about a Mayo Clinic Health System event called "Wellness Before, During and After Cancer."

WFXT Boston, Mayo Clinic study: High-intensity interval training can reverse aging process by Danielle Avitable com — A new study by the Mayo Clinicfound that certain workouts can reverse the aging process. The study found that a high-intensity interval training workout, combined with resistance training, can turn back time. "You're essentially slowing down that aging process, (which) I think is amazing, because we didn't have those things before," said Dr. Vandana Bhide, of the Mayo Clinic.  The study was conducted by researchers in Rochester, Minnesota, and targeted two age groups -- 18 to 30-year-olds and 65 to 85-year-olds. Additional coverage: Austin American-Statesman, icFlorida.com

The Villages Daily Sun, High drug costs offer little relief for patients by Lurvin Fernandez — High prescription prices are pushing the limits of Medicare drug coverage. In 2015, federal payments for prescription medications exceeded $33 billion, which is more than triple the amount paid in 2010, according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services…. High costs aside, these medications are potentially cost-effective, despite the high price, said Dr. Andrew Keaveny, a consulting hepatologist and the medical director of the Mayo Clinic Florida Liver Transplant program in Jacksonville. One group particularly hard-hit by drug costs are patients with hepatitis C, a disease that impacts an estimated 3.2 million people in the United States, which makes up about 8 percent of all Americans enrolled in Medicare’s prescription program.

Inforum, 'It's nice to be working': Halverson returns to the stage after bout with cancer by John Lamb — Peter Halverson is a busy man. The end of the school year is about a month away at Concordia College where Halverson is an associate professor of voice, so he has a full slate of school work and student recitals coming up. … On top of all that, Halverson is gearing up for his performance this weekend with the Fargo-Moorhead Opera's "Pirates of Penzance." The show marks his return to the stage for the first time in two years following bouts with cancer. … Chemo treatment seemed to work, but in December the cancer came back and Halverson went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for a stem cell transplant for nine weeks.

AccuWeather, How to safely remove ticks from skin by Jennifer Fabiano — Some have grown up learning that the best way to remove a tick found on one’s skin is with matches, nail polish or tape. But in fact the only tool needed to safely remove a tick is a clean pair of fine-tip tweezers. If you find a tick on your skin, it is first important not to panic, according to Dr. Bobbi Pritt, the director of Clinical Parasitology laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “You want to grasp the tick as close as you can to the skin and then pull it out in a single, continuous motion,” said Pritt.

Teen Vogue, Beauty Queen Shows Scar to Raise Invisible Illness Awareness by Brittney McNamara — When Victoria Graham takes the stage during a beauty pageant, her scars are on full display — and that's on purpose. Victoria has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which the Mayo Clinic defines as "a group of inherited disorders that affect your connective tissues — primarily your skin, joints and blood vessel walls." When she competes in pageants, Victoria bares her scars to show that invisible illnesses are real.

ABC2 Baltimore, Can you handle the "World's Strongest Coffee?" — A new coffee claims it's the most potent in the world. "Black Insomnia Coffee" has 702 mg of caffeine inside a 12 oz cup. Researchers with the Mayo Clinic say the coffee may not be safe. They recommend most healthy adults can't consume more than 400 mg a day. Previously, "Death Wish Coffee" held the title as the most potent with around 660 mg in a 12 oz cup.

Healio Ocular Surgery News, AMA, Mayo Clinic working to create ‘medical school of the future’ — The AMA and the Mayo Clinic recently convened its 32-school Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium to develop innovative ideas regarding physician training, according to an AMA press release … “Transforming medical education in our country is critical if we want future patients to receive the highest value and quality of care,” Michele Halyard, MD, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine – Arizona campus dean, said in the release. “Our work with the AMA Consortium brings the brightest minds together from medical schools around the country to build innovative solutions that can then be disseminated broadly to change medical education for the better.”

Mankato Free Press, Mayo VP talks future of health care by Brian Arola — In the first speaker event in a three-part series between VINE and Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato Tuesday, Dr. James Hebl spoke about health care's changing landscape and the shifts clinics and hospitals make to keep up. The shift involves a greater focus on population health, the health system’s regional vice president told the room full of seniors. Population health has become a buzzword in the industry, but Hebl said it needs to be a priority as health care costs continue to rise.

KEYC Mankato, MCHS Mankato Raises Awareness For Colon Cancer by Elizabeth Bateson — Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato is raising awareness of colon cancer Thursday by giving people a closer look inside a colon. A 20-foot-inflatable colon caught the attention of many walking through the hospital, in an effort to educate people about the disease. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Doctors say one in twenty people are at risk of colon cancer, but it can be preventable. "Having a colonoscopy when you turn 50 can actually help detect the polyps sooner before they turn into cancer. Diet has a role in the development of colon cancer, so modifying your diet. Get rid of foods rich in saturated fats and red meats, which have been linked to colon cancer," said Gastroenterologist Dr. Khadija Chaudrey.

KAAL, Project Search: Mayo Clinic Giving Students with Disabilities Experience in the Lab — Local students with disabilities are getting a chance at attaining career goals through a program at Mayo Clinic. 21-year-old Alex Streffl is one of those students, and he’s already a full-time Mayo lab assistant. He was introduced to the international program called “Project Search” in high school. "One of my teachers from high school, they just thought I was a good person to do this," Streffl told us.

Post-Bulletin, We're a healthy corner of Minnesota by Brett Boese — Olmsted County ranked eighth in Health Outcomes and first in Health Factors for the fourth straight year. Mayo Clinic's presence in Rochester plays a big role in claiming the top spot, which factors in clinical care (1st), social and economic factors (12th), social behaviors (6th) and the physical environment (22nd).

KEYC Mankato, This MN Farmer Would Have To Pay $42,000 Before His Health Insurance Kicks In by Ryan Gustafson — Put together by the Minnesota Farmer's Union, Rural Issues Discussions takes state leaders in all aspects of government and brings them out to listen to the concerns of farmers, including one held at South Central College Wednesday. The high cost comes down to a lack of options, as the Mayo Clinic Health System dominates the market in southeast Minnesota, and the sicker population that makes up the individual market. "Southern Minnesota actually does have to pay more for health insurance than the rest of Minnesota. We see that the rates are much higher here," Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Emily Johnson Piper said.

Univision MN, Roberto Benzo de la Clinica Mayo — Dr. Roberto Benzo de la Clinica Mayo el poder de la meditacion y como lidiar con el estres.

Univision, Estudio médico revela que el zika afecta al corazón by Joanreik Alvarez — VIDEO: De acuerdo con una investigación de la Clínica Mayo, el zika provoca severas afectaciones al corazón de los pacientes infectados. Featuring Dr. Karina Gonzalez Carta.

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