July 14, 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

 

Bloomberg
Mayo Clinic CEO Says Trump's Budget Is Probably D.O.A.

John Noseworthy, Mayo Clinic president and chief executive officer, discusses the health-care legislation currently before the U.S. Congress and the state of the health-care industry with Bloomberg's David Gura at the Allen & Company Media Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho.Bloomberg News logo

Reach: Bloomberg News is an international wire service, including print, television, radio and Internet, that provides news, data and analysis to business and media professionals around the world. Bloomberg publishes over 6,000 stories on an average day, syndicating to over 450 newspapers worldwide with a combined circulation of 80 million people.

Context: John Noseworthy, M.Dis Mayo Clinic President and CEO.

Contact: Duska Anastasijevic

 

Arizona PBS
Mayo Medical School

Classes will start for the first time at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Scottsdale. We'll hear more from Dr. Michele Halyard, dean of the new school.

Reach: Eight, Arizona PBS is a PBS station that has focused on educating children, reporting in-depth on public affairs, fostering lifelong learning and celebrating arts and culture. Its signal reaches 86 percent ofArizona PBS the homes in Arizona. With more than 1 million viewers weekly, Eight consistently ranks among the most-viewed public television stations per capita in the country. Eight is a member-supported service of Arizona State University.

Context: This July, Mayo Clinic's campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona, will become the third campus of Mayo Medical School. Students will join about 5,700 Mayo Clinic employees who care for more than 100,000 patients every year. It's a close-knit (but not too small) Mayo Clinic campus in one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the country.

Contact: Jim McVeigh

 

First Coast News
Robot performs first knee surgery at Mayo Clinic
by Janny Rodriguez

For the first time, doctors at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville are using a robot to help perform full knee replacement surgeries on patients. "I was playing tennis, I was hitting a forehand and I heard something pop," said native Texan, Mini Kincaid. She said First Coast News Logoshe tore her meniscus and since skiing, hiking and even walking became painful. Eventually she was told she would need a full knee replacement. A robot at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville came to her rescue. "All of a sudden I'm walking, and I'm biking and I'm almost normal," she said. Her surgery at Mayo Clinic was a success and the first in the region to be performed with the help of the robotic arm. "I do the surgery, I'm holding an instrument, but it guides my hand," said Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Cedric Ortiguera. He said he never dreamed of having that kind of partner in surgery.

Reach: First Coast News refers to two television stations in Jacksonville, Florida. WJXX, the ABC affiliate and WTLV, the NBC affiliate.

Context: Cedric Ortiguera, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon.

Contact: Kevin Punsky

 

HealthDay
Parkinson's Disease and Melanoma May Occur Together, Study Finds
by Robert Preidt

People with Parkinson's disease are about four times more likely to develop melanoma skin cancer, and conversely, people with melanoma have a fourfold higher risk of getting Parkinson's, researchers report. Although doctors have known about theHealth Day Logo connection between these diseases, they still don't know why having one increases the risk of the other. "Future research should focus on identifying common genes, immune responses and environmental exposures that may link these two diseases," said study first author Dr. Lauren Dalvin, who's with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "If we can pinpoint the cause of the association between Parkinson's disease and melanoma, we will be better able to counsel patients and families about their risk of developing one disease in the setting of the other," she said in a Mayo news release.

Reach: HealthDay distributes its health news to media outlets several times each day and also posts its news on its website, which receives nearly 398,000 unique visitors each month.

Additional coverage: Philly.com, Parkinson’s News Today, UPI.com, Doctors Lounge

Context: People with the movement disorder Parkinson’s disease have a much higher risk of the skin cancer melanoma, and vice versa, a Mayo Clinic study finds. While further research is needed into the connection, physicians treating one disease should be vigilant for signs of the other and counsel those patients about risk, the authors say. The findings are published in Mayo Clinic ProceedingsOverall, patients with Parkinson’s were roughly four times likelier to have had a history of melanoma than those without Parkinson’s, and people with melanoma had a fourfold higher risk of developing Parkinson’s, the research found. More information about the study can be found on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Contact: Sharon Theimer

 

ABC News
Trying to keep brain sharp doesn't have to be costly
by Linda A. Johnson

While there's nothing you can do or take to ABC News logoensure you won't get Alzheimer's disease, experts say there are some strategies that might help keep your brain sharp. And you don't need to dole out a lot of money to do it. "Does one have to spend their life savings on computer games? I don't think so," said Dr. Yonas Geda, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, who's looked at some alternatives.

Reach: ABCNews.com is the official website for ABC News. Its website receives more than 24.1 million unique visitors each month.

Additional coverage: New York Times, Albany Times Union, Columbia Missourian

Context: Mayo Clinic researchers have found that engaging in mentally stimulating activities, even late in life, may protect against new-onset mild cognitive impairment, which is the intermediate stage between normal cognitive aging and dementia. The study found that cognitively normal people 70 or older who engaged in computer use, craft activities, social activities and playing games had a decreased risk of developing  mild cognitive impairment. The results are published in the Jan. 30 edition of JAMA Neurology.  More information on the study can be found on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Contact: Julie Janovsky-Mason

Reuters, Resistance exercise may help stave off heart, diabetes risks by Carolyn Crist — An estimated one-third of U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome, the authors write in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Although previous studies have reported how aerobic exercise, such as running, walking and swimming, reduce metabolic syndrome, few studies have looked at resistance exercise alone…An estimated one-third of U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome, the authors write in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Although previous studies have reported how aerobic exercise, such as running, walking and swimming, reduce metabolic syndrome, few studies have looked at resistance exercise alone.

Reuters, Surgeon moms face special challenges by Ronnie Cohen — Surgeons, anesthesiologists, gastroenterologists and obstetricians were more likely to wish they’d chosen less demanding specialties than physician mothers in primary care and other generally less demanding specialties, according to the report in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons…Dr. Shanda Blackmon, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, believes inappropriate expectations can lead to career dissatisfaction. Blackmon, who was not involved in the new study, stressed the need for a circle of support. “If you survey who has a husband that stays at home and supports the family,” she said in an email, “the results may be different.”  “Those without a village of support will get out of the specialty to save their families,” she said.

Reuters, Heart vessel-clearing procedure can benefit some at age 90 and older by Anne Harding — People in their nineties and older represent a tiny but growing fraction of patients who undergo a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to clear blocked blood vessels in the heart, new research shows…One caution about the study findings, the researcher noted, is that almost all the study participants were male - and the great majority of nonagenarians are female. Another limitation of the study is that the "excellent" results of PCI in this over-90 population were not compared to similar patients who didn't get PCI, writes Dr. David Holmes of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in an editorial accompanying the study. Still, the study provides valuable information for doctors looking to "optimize" longer-term treatment for these patients, he writes.

TIME, How to Cook Your Food for the Biggest Health Benefits by Jacqueline Andriakos — Choosing the right foods is one part of eating healthy—but how you prepare them also plays a role. "Research shows that certain cooking methods may change the makeup of our food in ways that could potentially harm our health," says Dr. Donald Hensrud, medical director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program. For instance, studies have suggested a link between eating excessive amounts of meat cooked at high temperatures and increased risks of colorectal and pancreatic cancers. No need to panic, though: "There's a lot we still don't fully understand, but we do know that some methods are better to use regularly and some are better saved for special occasions," says Hensrud. Keep the following in mind as you fire up your next meal.

HuffPost, Here’s What The Ingredients In Energy Drinks Actually Do To Your Body by Julie R. Thomson — We all know what caffeine is. It’s the reason we’re so obsessed with coffee, and it’s the sole reason many of us get out of bed. It also happens to be the main source of energy in many energy drinks. An 8.4-ounce can of Red Bull contains 80 mg of caffeine, and NOS Energy Drink reportedly used to contain 260 mg, but they lowered their caffeine by 100mg per can to around 160 mg. For comparison’s sake, an 8-ounce Dunkin’ Donuts coffee contains around 100 mg of caffeine, and an 8-ounce Starbucks coffee will rank closer to 160 mg of caffeine. The Mayo Clinic advises not drinking more than 400 mg of caffeine a day.

FOX News, Organic food myths busted: Is it worth paying more for your food? — While the common belief is that organic farming techniques are "safer" than conventional methods, there is no supporting scientific evidence, she said. The Mayo Clinic suggests that studies have shown limited findings in terms of health benefits. However, they said potential benefits could include a small to moderate increase in nutrients, especially types of flavonoids. Flavonoids contain antioxidant properties.

Washington Post, Some food choices (chocolate!) really may help you age better — Diet appears to play a role in free-radical damage (which alters cells’ functioning), inflammation and gut bacteria. Diet also affects the length of telomeres — protective caps at the end of chromosomes. These factors can have an impact on conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, hypertension, respiratory disorders, cognitive decline and infection. “We’re trying to target the biology of aging to delay the onset of age-related diseases and extend the number of healthy, active, productive years,” says Nathan LeBrasseur, director of the Healthy Aging and Independent Living Program at the Mayo Clinic. “Diet can play a major role in that.”

Washington Post, Is your surgeon double-booked? by Sandra G. Boodman — Proponents say that overlapping operations can improve efficiency and better utilize a surgeon’s valuable time. “Much of surgery is team-based,” said David Hoyt, executive director of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), which last year issued guidelines governing concurrent surgery. Largely similar to Medicare rules, the guidelines state that surgeons should inform patients of overlapping operations. Robert Cima, a colorectal surgeon and medical director of surgical outcomes research at the Mayo Clinic, agrees. Overlapping surgery has been used safely since Mayo’s inception more than 100 years ago, he said. A recent study he co-authored found that 11,000 overlapping operations at Mayo did not have a higher death rate than non-overlapping surgeries. Additional coverage: HuffPost,  Becker’s Hospital Review

USA Today, Eating placenta pills could harm your baby, CDC warns by Ashley May — Advocates of eating the placenta (like many animals do) say it can prevent postpartum mood disorders, boost the immune system and milk supply. But, there isn't enough research to show if that's true. Plus, Margaret Long, an assistant professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Mayo Clinic, points out, it’s not natural to process the placenta: “Animals do not encapsulate it and eat it.” The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists doesn't condone the practice, telling USA TODAY "there is no evidence or data to support eating the placenta." Additional coverage: KARE 11STAT

CNBC, Investing in education pays for itself: Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton — The success of Minnesota's economy is thanks in large part to our innovative businesses and the world-class workforce that powers them. For example, the Destination Medical Center effort in Rochester is bringing together the Mayo Clinic, private enterprise, and state and local support to grow the next generation of medical innovation here in our state, creating good jobs and great opportunities for businesses and families in Southern Minnesota.

US News & World Report, 8 Foods for Healthy Hair by Lisa Esposito — Salmon: Hair needs protein and salmon is an excellent source, says Dianne Dressel, a registered dietitian nutritionist and program coordinator for weight-management services at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. “It’s relatively low-calorie and it has omega-3 fatty acids, which are very important.” Other types of fish and shellfish, like shrimp, help prevent protein deficiency, which can lead to brittle hair and temporary hair loss.

Globe and Mail, Stomach problems? It may not be the last thing you ate — What’s going on in your head has an enormous impact on your gut and vice versa. “The human brain and nervous system is very intimately mixed with another nervous system that is present in the walls of the intestine,” said Dr. Santhi Swaroop Vege, a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic. “These nerve fibres, nerves and plexuses are located continuously in the wall of intestine from the esophagus to rectum.”

CBC TV, FDA halts cancer immunotherapy trial after increase in deaths — Merck announced this week that the U.S. FDA has suspended two of its immunotherapy trials in multiple myeloma patients because of an increase in deaths among people receiving the drug. A third trial has been partially suspended…"It's sobering how complex the immune system is," said Dr. Vincent Rajkumar, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "When you combine two or three of these new immunotherapy type approaches, you are revving up the immune system and so you could get a result which could be lethal." "There's a lot of promise, but it comes with a lot of caution as well."

GQ Magazine, Go Work Out on a Boat This Summer by Jay Willis — …Canoeing and kayaking are respectable forms of cardio, too. Gliding through the water doesn't involve a whole lot of impact, so there is much less wear and tear on your joints. The Mayo Clinic estimates that a 200-pound person burns a bit over 300 calories per hour canoeing, and the American Council on Exercise pins that number closer to 450 for kayakers.

Outside, The 5 Most Basic Rules of Health and Fitness by Brad Stulberg — Here at Outside, we write about the foundational principles of health and fitness all the time. In a world rife with nonsense hacks and cleanses, doing so is more important than ever. In an attempt to further cut through the noise, we spoke with Michael Joyner, a physician, researcher, and expert on health and human performance at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to come up with the most essential basics: seemingly obvious principles to abide by whether you’re trying to set a marathon PR or simply live a long and healthy life.

HealthDay, Seniors' Lungs Can Tackle Exercise — If seniors want to start a vigorous exercise program, there's a good chance their lungs can keep up with the extra demand, a new study finds. Researchers assessed younger and older adults to determine their lungs' capacity to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide (lung-diffusing capacity) during physical activity. This exchange between the lungs and blood delivers oxygen throughout the body, but typically decreases with age...The study team was led by Kirsten Coffman, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. The results were published recently in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Romper, 7 Signs Your Pregnancy Dizziness Is A Much Bigger Issue by Kristina Johnson — If a dizzy spell strikes, the Mayo Clinic suggested immediately laying down on your side until the feeling passes. You should also avoid standing up for long periods of time if you can and drink plenty of water to prevent them from happening. If none of those things are helping you feel better, it may be time to talk to your doctor.

Romper, How Back-To-Back Pregnancies Affect You Later In Life by Olivia Youngs — According to the Mayo Clinic there are different risks associated with having pregnancies close together as opposed to spacing them further apart. The risks, however, typically pass after you give birth. As far as long-term effects of having back-to-back babies go, Piedmont Healthcare noted that they're typically minor changes to your body that may or may not disappear with time.

Science Daily, Diabetes complications are a risk factor for repeat hospitalizations, study shows — Understanding what causes readmissions can lead toward improved patient outcomes and quality of care, and lower costs. New interventions can improve outcomes for patients, resulting in less readmissions. Rozalina McCoy, M.D., an internal medicine physician and endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic and study lead author, researches ways to improve care and outcomes for patients with diabetes. "We already knew that adults with diabetes carry a high risk for hospitalization and unplanned readmission," she says. "But the big question was why? And what role did episodes of very high and very low blood sugar play in this risk? Because if we knew what the problem was, and ultimately why it might be happening, we could then try to prevent it." Additional coverage: AJMC

Next Avenue, Heat Stroke Is Especially Dangerous, Even Deadly, in Older Adults by Fried Wiley — Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition where the body fails to cool itself properly and your core temperature exceeds 104 degrees Fahrenheit. “In our body, our pump is our heart, and our radiator is our skin,” says Dr. David Claypool, department of emergency medicine at Mayo Clinic Rochester. “As we age, the heart doesn’t pump as well, and you don’t sweat as easily.”

Next Avenue, 6 Reasons You’re Still Having Trouble Losing Weight by Maureen Callahan — You are not sleeping enough “The bottom line is that not getting enough sleep can lead to weight gain,” say Dr. Donald Hensrud, medical director for the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program. “One explanation might be that sleep duration affects hormones regulating hunger — ghrelin and leptin — and stimulates the appetite.” Hormones are probably one of many factors though, he adds. Take behavioral issues, for example. When sleep proves elusive that can loosen inhibitions and lead to unhealthy middle-of-the-night snacking or overeating the following day.

GenomeWeb, Bionano Genomics, Genoptix Aim to Develop Hematology Diagnostics to Replace Karyotyping, FISH Assays by Monica Heger — At least one group is looking to develop clinical NGS assays to analyze structural variants. The Mayo Clinic has been developing an NGS assay based on mate pair sequencing for detecting rearrangements over the last several years, and in May it launched the technology for blood cancers, some congenital diseases, and other oncological cases. The Mayo researchers said that they anticipate that a second version of the test would ultimately replace FISH panels for hematologic malignancies.

Live Science, Sandbox Sickness: Diarrhea-Causing Bacteria Found in Playgrounds by Sara G. Miller — In the study, the researchers tested sand from 40 sandboxes in public parks in Madrid, including 20 that were designated for kids and 20 that were for dogs. They found C. diff in nine of the sandboxes for kids and 12 of the sandboxes for dogs. When the researchers analyzed the C. diff samples, they found that two samples from the kids' sandboxes and six samples from the dogs' sandboxes had strains of the bacteria that were "toxigenic," meaning they produced toxins. Toxins from C. diff bacteria can damage the lining of the intestine, causing diarrhea, the Mayo Clinic says. Certain strains of C. diff produce more toxins than others.

MedPage Today, Tau Blood Levels May Tell of Cognitive Decline by Judy George — In cognitively normal individuals, high levels of plasma total tau were associated with a risk of mild cognitive impairment. In people with mild cognitive impairment, however, plasma total tau levels were not associated with risk of dementia. Associations between total tau levels and cognition appeared to be independent of elevated brain amyloid beta, Michelle Mielke, PhD, of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, and colleagues found. "A few other studies have looked at plasma total tau in Alzheimer's, but other studies have looked at it, too, with regard to head trauma -- traumatic brain injuries and sports-related concussions," Mielke told MedPage Today.

Health, I Was Fit, Ate Healthy, and Still Had a Stroke at 41. Here’s What I Wish I Had Known by Dina Piersawl — I don’t want others to go through what I did. So, in addition to my full-time job, I am also a trained advocate for women’s heart health through an organization called WomenHeart. There are nearly 800 advocates like me across the country. We've all been through a one-week training at the Mayo Clinic on heart conditions, diagnosis, treatments, public speaking, and advocacy. After we leave the Mayo Clinic we go back to our communities and we raise awareness.

Neurology Advisor, Growing Old Without Alzheimer's Pathology: What's the Secret? — It may be possible to grow old without developing Alzheimer's disease pathology (ADP), although a wide range of very different types of protective factors are involved. A study published in JAMA Neurology looked at the differences in patterns of amyloid deposition and neurodegeneration that comprise ADP and found that, although challenging, "exceptional aging" without ADP is achievable. The main objective of the study, conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, was to identify and test the effectiveness of the full range of protective factors across a natural lifespan that prevent the development of amyloid deposits in the brain or neurodegeneration, or both. The investigators assembled a cohort of 942 individuals (519 men, 423 women) enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging.

Alzheimer’s News Today, Can Vitamin D Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease? by Wendy Henderson — According to the Mayo Clinic, people who are deficient in vitamin D are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia later in life. However, it’s not yet clear whether taking vitamin D supplements or spending more time in the sun could lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Cancer Therapy Advisor, Q&A With Dr Shaji Kumar: Ameliorating Bortezomib-induced Peripheral Neuropathy — Peripheral neuropathy is the most troublesome side effect of bortezomib, the first proteasome inhibitor approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Such neuropathy “is predominantly sensory and reversible in most patients,” Shaji K. Kumar, MD, of the division of hematology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues reported in the British Journal of Haematology. The researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of 32 studies that included 2697 patients with treatment-naive multiple myeloma to determine whether dexamethasone dosing schedule affected rates of peripheral neuropathy.

KARE 11, Motivation Monday: Researchers study 'Smartphone Thumb’ — “Smartphone thumb is something that researchers have been looking at,” said Jamie Martin, Editor-in-Chief of Experience Life Magazine. “It’s basically how we hold our phones and use the repetitive motion. Experience Life Magazine published an article in its June edition, citing research from the Mayo Clinic.  “What they’re finding is that the joint down here that connects between the thumb and the wrist is becoming loose and lax and it’s changing the way that our bones move in that range of motion,” Martin explained.

Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Optum’s MedExpress headed for Mayo’s backyard by Katharine Grayson — MedExpress, a chain of urgent-care clinics owned by UnitedHealth Group Inc.’s Optum unit, has purchased land for a location in Rochester, Minn. MedExpress spent $836,000 to acquire a site near Villa Road N.W. and 55th Street N.W., the Rochester Post Bulletin reports. The seller was Chateau Circle LLC. MedExpress will build a 5,000-square-foot clinic on the land. The new facility will compete against established providers of walk-in care in Rochester, including Mayo Clinic, which runs two Express Care clinics in the city. In addition, Olmsted Medical Center has two walk-in clinics. Additional coverage: Becker’s Hospital Review

Twin Cities Business, Mayo Confirms First Tenants at Discovery Square Project by Don Jacobson — Mayo Clinic has confirmed that researchers from its regenerative medicine and genomics/individualized medicine programs will be among the first tenants of the initial Discovery Square medical office building in downtown Rochester. Last June, Mayo Business Development Chairman Jim Rogers told TCB that medical specialists from the clinic’s three “transformational centers” were among the likeliest early occupants of Discovery Square’s first-phase building, which is seen as a key component in jump-starting Mayo’s ambitious Destination Medical Center effort.

ActionNewsJax, New report: Shingles increases risks for heart attack and strokes by Letisha Bereola — Risk for a heart attack or a stroke jumps in the first year after you’ve had shingles, according to researchers. “And not just by a little bit. The risk of heart attack was 59 percent greater in individuals that have had shingles," Mayo Clinic Cardiologist Dr. Amy Pollack said. "The risk of stroke was 35 percent greater ... What was surprising is that there seems to be a higher rate for younger…so people under the age of 40 are having shingles and then going on to have higher risk of heart attack or stroke."

South Florida Reporter, Do You Make These Sunscreen Errors? — Although using sunscreen is smart, many people who apply the protective lotion make errors that leave them less protected than they expect. If a shot glass full of sunscreen sounds like a lot of the lotion, you might not be used to applying enough of it. “The average person, in studies, only applies approximately one-third of the sunscreen that is recommended by volume,” says Dr. Dawn Davis, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist. “So, if you’re wearing an SPF 15, unfortunately, you’re only getting an SPF of 5 because of the way that you apply it.” And, she says, that a shot glass of protection mentioned earlier isn’t enough to cover your whole body.

Phoenix Business Journal, Here are the top bioscience firms in Phoenix by Dale Brown — As it has been for more than a decade, Mayo Clinic was ranked No. 1 when the Phoenix Business Journal today published the 2017 edition of its Bioscience Firms List. The list was ranked by number of local employees. Mayo Clinic reported 6,800 while runner-up Dignity Health, like the Mayo Clinic a health care provider with extensive research and education activities, was second with 5,000. Third on the list was Sonora Quest Laboratories with 2,767 employees.

Central Valley Business Journal, Pets, owners providing therapeutic relief for Central Valley patients — Man’s best friend may also be one of his best medicines. Animal therapy is becoming increasingly recognized by health experts. Research shows that interaction with animals provides significant health benefits, especially to those suffering from illness. The Mayo Clinic reports that animal-assisted therapy can help to reduce pain, anxiety and depression in patients with a range of illnesses, including chronic heart disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and those undergoing cancer treatment.

KAAL, Rochester Doctor Drives Back into History with Jeep Restorations — One Mayo Clinic doctor spends his free time driving back into history. By day, Dr. Guri Sandhu is a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, and directs the catheterization lab. However, by night, he restores old Jeeps from World War II. "You can see Jeeps and remember the contributions of the soldiers," Sandu said. Sandu has enjoyed working and learning about cars since he was young. It took him 18 months to completely restore his fully operating World War II Jeep. Additional coverageKTTC

Post-Bulletin, Is the civic center name on the way out? by Randy Petersen — Following up on its expansion, a new name is being suggested for the Mayo Civic Center. The Mayo Civic Center Commission voted unanimously to recommend changing the name to Rochester Convention and Event Center, with plans to include "MN" when the name is used outside the region…Mason said the Mayo name, which has been attached to the building since it opened as Mayo Civic Auditorium in 1938, frequently causes some confusion. "People get it a little crossed up with the Mayo Clinic," he said, noting the confusion affects Mayo Clinic patients and convention attendees. Fuseideas did recommend keeping the Mayo name attached to some portion of the facility, but no specific suggestion was made.

KTTC, Mayo Clinic launches eleven cancer researchers with money from Eagles Cancer Telethon on KTTC by Noel Sederstrom — Mayo Clinic Cancer Center's leadership team took time Monday evening to thank the hundreds of volunteers who raised money for cancer research the past year as part of the Eagles Cancer Telethon on KTTC and the CW Rochester in January. And the Clinic honored eleven cancer researchers, launching their work with telethon donation funds. – Too many of us seem to have a smartphone welded to our dominant hand- ready to tap, swipe or click on the latest thing that demands our attention.

Post-Bulletin, Diet and lifestyle changes should ease symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux — DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My husband had a cough for months and eventually was diagnosed with laryngopharyngeal reflux. What is the best option for treatment? He is still constantly coughing and clearing his throat despite regularly taking omeprazole and antacids…The medications you mention are standard treatment options often recommended for adults who have laryngopharyngeal reflux, or LPR. But, along with taking medications, if he hasn't already done so, your husband also should consider making diet and lifestyle changes to ease his laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms. Several complimentary therapies may help, too. Amy Rutt, D.O., Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla.

Post-Bulletin, 'That's the story of the American Dream, right?' by Brett Boese — As a poor youngster staring at a dead-end future in Mexico, Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa would often lay on the roof of his ramshackle home to dream of a brighter future. Not even he dared dream his life would become this compelling. Affectionately known as "Dr. Q," Quinones-Hinojosa recently was hired to be Mayo Clinic's chairman of neurologic surgery at its expanding Florida campus while leading federal research to cure brain cancer.

Post-Bulletin, 'I love watching the kids engage' by Claire Colby — Forty high school students from across Minnesota came to Mayo Clinic this week to participate in the second annual Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Career Immersion Program. The program gave participants hands-on experience in careers in non-physician, non-nursing health-care fields. The weeklong program was sponsored by Mayo Education, and various professionals volunteered their time. There was no cost for participants. Students rotated through tours of several career options each day. Additional coverage: KTTC

Post-Bulletin, She lost her dad. And found her purpose. By Renee Berg — Rochester native Kristina Hesby strolls into the People’s Food Co-Op on a sunny day in May listening to, of all things, the Trolls soundtrack. “#momlife” she writes of her musical selection. “It’s actually really good!” she continues via Facebook Messenger. “And it’s really upbeat, which helps on Mondays.” Upbeat is a good word to describe Hesby, too. The 32-year-old, along with being a Mayo Clinic nurse, is a mother of two, wife to one, and founder of nonprofit organization Med City Foundation—which supports patients receiving treatment for blood cancers—and it takes an upbeat personality to manage it all.

FOX Rochester, How scoliosis can affect adults — Scoliosis is the most common deformity of the spine and leads to excessive sideways or forward curves. For adults, the curve may be a remnant of scoliosis that developed during childhood. But most commonly, adult scoliosis is a result of the spinal wear and tear that comes with aging. Dr. Mark Pichelmann from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida joined us on Good Day Rochester with information on how to ease scoliosis systems. Additional coverage: KGUN 9

St. James Plaindealer, Mayo Clinic Health System in St. James maintains level 4 trauma designation — The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently designated Mayo Clinic Health System in St. James as a level 4 trauma hospital. Mayo Clinic Health System in St. James and its staff voluntarily participated in the intense designation process to become part of Minnesota’s Statewide Trauma System. The process included an outside review of the hospital’s resources and capabilities to care for trauma patients. Mayo Clinic Health System in St. James met standards of commitment, clinical and equipment resources, and staff training. The hospital also participates in a continuous performance improvement process.

WQOW Eau Claire, First class begins work in new Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program in Eau Claire by Jesse Yang — A local hospital is welcoming its first class for its new residency program in Eau Claire. Out of 999 applicants from medical schools across the U.S., only five people were selected to begin work in the new Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program in Eau Claire. The program will train new family medicine doctors, especially in rural areas, over the three-year residency. In 2014, the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program received a $750,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Dr. Terri Nordin, the residency program director, said residents will work alongside faculty physicians to provide patient care.

KCHA News, Faust to Retire After 23 Years with the Floyd County Medical Center — Mayo Clinic and the Floyd County Medical Center have announced that Bill Faust, administrator of Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City, will retire after 23 years of service. Faust will be succeeded by Rod Nordeng, Operations Administrator for Mayo Clinic Health Systems Southeast Minnesota Region. Nordeng will begin his new position in early August. Faust oversaw a first floor Specialty Clinic in 2000 and also facilitated the 2008-2009 conversion of all hospital rooms to single patient rooms. Mark Koch, Vice Chair for Administration of Mayo Clinic, noted that Faust has been an effective leader who created a team of individuals who have worked well together to provide patients and the community with outstanding care.

Muskego-New Berlin NOW, A good kind of growth: Even Mayo Clinic relies on Muskego's BioSource, which has a worldwide reach by Jane Ford-Stewart — If you want to know where the cutting edge of bio science is, look no farther than Janesville Road in Muskego. In an unassuming building, BioSource Cultures and Flavors researchers are developing strains of bacteria that they hope will eventually combat the harmful bacteria that cause deadly salmonella and listeria that can cause meningitis and encephalitis, a brain infection….Even now, BioSource research is showing results. For example, every day the Mayo Clinic uses cultures developed at BioSource to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. "We're doing cutting edge work here," Suresh said. "It's next generation probiotics.".

WXOW La Crosse, 5th Annual Big Blue Dragon Boat races to take place by Tianna Vanderhei — The waterway along Copeland Park is about to get a whole lot brighter this weekend. Organizers, community members, and race participants are gearing up for the 5th Annual Big Blue Dragon Boat Races put on by Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse. Heidi Odegaard, Community Event Organizer for Mayo Clinic Health System, said they really focused in on ramping up their family activities this year. "We're going to have the opening ceremony. We'll additionally have some food trucks and kids inflatables, we'll be painting faces. There's also lots of kids activities in our little dragon station and then the youth will race from six until eight," said Odegaard.

Clearfield Progress, Mayo Clinic Minute: How much vitamin D do you need? — Studies show most Americans do not get enough vitamin, while a growing portion of people are now on the opposite end of the spectrum getting too much. Finding a happy medium does not have to be tricky.

MedCity News, Forget antimicrobials, Evelo just raised $50M for its pro-microbial approach by Juliet Preston — Evelo Biosciences is doing pretty well for a preclinical company in an exploratory field. The 2014 startup has already executed a merger and raised $100 million in venture financing. The latest installment, announced Tuesday, came as a $50 million Series B courtesy of its founding and principal investor, Flagship Pioneering. GV (formerly Google Ventures), Celgene, Mayo Clinic, and Alexandria Venture Investments also chipped in.

WKBT La Crosse, Mayo Clinic Health System makes switch to new records system by Jaymes Langrehr — Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse is one of Mayo's first locations to switch over to a new electronic records system. As News 8 first reported in June, the entire Mayo system is undergoing technology upgrades, which includes changing the software they use to keep track of medical records. With the switchover to Epic Systems, officials say doctors will have access to the same records and medical histories of their patients, whether they're in La Crosse, Rochester or a different Mayo location. "When we are all on one electronic health record, it's much more efficient, every practitioner in the Mayo practice knows what every other practitioner is doing, our patients will be better cared for, and they will be more safely cared for." Additional coverage: La Crosse Tribune

Mankato Free Press, A pedal per day may help keep Parkinson’s symptoms away by Brian Arola — The Mankato Family YMCA is starting a new program for people with Parkinson’s. The Pedaling for Parkinson’s class will be similar to a spin stationary bike class, but with closer monitoring. Members will pedal away in the studio twice per week for 12 weeks at an 80 to 90 revolutions per minute pace, which organizers say is the ideal exertion level for this special population… Bicycling is by no means a cure for Parkinson’s, but the benefits of that type of exercise are certainly real, said Dr. Andrew Reeves, neurologist at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato. “There’s been increased interest in getting people with Parkinson’s to do exercises that do more rapid but safe movements to keep the circuits going as well as possible for as long as possible,” he said.

WXOW La Crosse, Plans for new recovery facility deepen community partnerships by Mackenzie Amundsen — Coulee Council on Addictions unveiled design plans in May for a new recovery center. On Wednesday, the organization with the help of Mayo Clinic Health System announced the location of the Coulee Recovery Center…Mayo Clinic Health System heard about the need for land and decided to step in. "We just really felt strongly that we wanted to help them find a new home in this neighborhood," said Joe Kruse, Regional Chair of Administration with Mayo Clinic Health System.

Healio, Study: Falls can be costly for amputees — According to a press release from the Mayo Clinic, 25% to 30% of new amputees receive a prosthetic leg and knee. Although newer technology has been shown to reduce falls and improve physical capabilities, only high-functioning patients are eligible for knees with microprocessor technology. According to Benjamin Mundell, PhD, the lead author of the study, such knees are designed to improve balance and reduce the risk of falls. “We want to help provide the best quality of life and prosthesis for each individual,” Mundell, who is a health economist and a medical student at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, said in the release. “It is important to look beyond the initial cost differences of a microprocessor knee compared to a mechanical knee and understand what downstream costs might be avoided with a better prosthesis.” Additional coverage: OrthoSpineNewsHealthLeaders Media

West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Researchers are Trying to Find out Why Diabetes Patients are Hospitalized Frequently by Kara Leigh Lofton — Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have tried to figure out why patients with diabetes have higher rates of hospitalization and readmission than the rest of the population and what can be done to prevent it. They examined data from more than 340,000 patients over a nearly six-year period. The authors found that patients with diabetes are initially admitted to the hospital for pretty much the same wide range of reasons that everyone else is, but after the initial condition had been stabilized, almost 11 percent of diabetes patients would be back in the hospital within 30 days. Of those, about 3 percent were being treated for high or low blood sugar – regardless of the initial condition.

Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News, Signs of Celiac Disease May Be Evident in Infancy — Joseph A. Murray, MD, professor of medicine and director of the celiac disease program at Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn., noted that the observation that height velocity and later weight were impaired well before diagnosis of celiac disease in children is concerning. “While it has been long recognized that celiac disease can result in growth retardation and indeed failure to thrive, those manifestations were often thought in the past to be related to severe, often symptomatic malabsorption,” Dr. Murray said.

Williston Daily Herald, Mayo Clinic Minute: Fast-track breast cancer treatment — Less than 10 days. That's all it takes for some early-stage breast cancer patients to complete their entire treatment, including surgery and a full course of radiation. "For those patients who have small tumors that are completely removed with a lumpectomy and have no evidence of [cancer] in the lymph node, it's an outpatient procedure," says Dr. Tina Hieken, a Mayo Clinic surgeon. Patients leave the operating room the same day as surgery with a catheter in place, which is used to administer a type of radiation therapy called brachytherapy. "Treatments are delivered over five weekdays, twice a day, approximately six hours apart, for a total of 10 treatments," says Dr. Sean Park, a Mayo Clinic radiation oncologist.

Telemundo, Indocumentado mexicano se convirtió en prestigioso neurocirujano de EEUU — El Dr Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, conocido como Dr Q., es toda una personalidad en el mundo de los cirujanos neurológicos de Estados Unidos. Pocos saben, sin embargo, que antes de ser una celebridad médica, Quiñones fue un indocumentado que trabajó de sol a sol y ni siquiera hablaba inglés. Ahora es el investigador principal en el laboratorio de células madre para los tumores cerebrales de la Clínica Mayo en Florida y preside la cátedra de cirugía neurológica.

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