September 1, 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

 

Star Tribune
Gut bacteria may play role in fighting MS, Mayo researcher says
by Jeremy Olson

Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Rochester haven’t reached their goal of proving that a bacteria in the human gut causes celiac disease. In a report earlier this month, Dr. Joseph Murray and colleagues from Mayo and the University of Iowa detailed theirStar Tribune newspaper logo unexpected finding — that one of a series of poorly understood gut microbes known as Prevotella bacteria might inhibit the immune system’s role in causing multiple sclerosis. “There are bugs that work within the gut but affect parts of the body way beyond the gut,” said Murray, a gastroenterologist. “One in particular seems to suppress the inflammatory response in the immune system.”

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.

Context: Mayo Clinic researchers, along with colleagues at the University of Iowa, report that a human gut microbe discovered at Mayo Clinic may help treat autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. The findings appear in Cell ReportsWhile probiotics have been used for millennia, there are little data showing how a bacterium can provide benefit against a disease outside the gut. This research team tested gut microbial samples from patients on a mouse model of MS. Of three bacterial strains, they discovered that one microbe, Prevotella histicola, effectively suppressed immune disease in the preclinical model of MS. “This is an early discovery but an avenue that bears further study,” says Joseph Murray, M.D., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and senior author of the article. “If we can use the microbes already in the human body to treat human disease beyond the gut itself, we may be onto a new era of medicine. We are talking about bugs as drugs.” Dr. Murray coined the term “brug” to refer to this approach. More information about the study can be found on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Contacts:  Joe Dangor, Bob Nellis

 

KTAR Phoenix
Study shows more than 75,000 people in Arizona have epilepsy
by Kathy Cline

Joseph Sirven, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, said he was unsure what had caused the nationwide increase. He theorized that an increase in population could be the reason more cases were found. Epilepsy, depending on its severity, can deeply affect someone’s quality of life. Sirven said, if an Arizonan has an episode of impaired consciousness, they cannot drive for three months afterward. If seizures continue, that may effectively mean someone will never drive again. “If you can’t drive, you can’t work, you can’t go to school, you have to rely on mass transportation,” he said. “Uber and Lyft have helped, but that can be expensive pretty quickly.

Reach: KTAR-FM 92.3 is a commercial News/Sports/Talk station in the Phoenix, Ariz. area. Its signal reaches parts of California and Nevada.

Additional coverage:
KJZZ, Study Finds Epilepsy Cases Rising Across U.S.

Context: Joseph Sirven, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic neurologist. Dr. Sirven has published extensively on epilepsy and its treatment. His interests in epilepsy include status epilepticus, surgical therapy, and epilepsy in older adults and psychosocial issues, particularly those involving Hispanic populations and transportation. Youn can find out more information about his medical research here.

Contact: Jim McVeigh

 

HuffPost
When and Why You May Need A Second Opinion
by Shanice J. Douglas

A research team of health care policy experts at the Mayo Clinic conducted analysis of 286 records of patients who have been referred to the Mayo Clinic’s General Internal Medicine Division over a 2-year period. Findings from this study indicated thatHuff Post Logo when patients pursued a second opinion, the original diagnosis was confirmed merely 12% of the time. Among those with updated diagnoses, 66% received a more refined diagnosis relating to the original, while 21% of the new diagnoses were in complete contrast to the original diagnosis of the initial medical professional.

Reach: Huff Post attracts over 38.7 million monthly unique viewers.

Previous coverage in April 28, 2017 Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights
Previous coverage in April 7, 2017 Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights

Context: Many patients come to Mayo Clinic for a second opinion or diagnosis confirmation before treatment for a complex condition. In a new study, Mayo Clinic reports that as many as 88 percent of those patients go home with a new or refined diagnosis – changing their care plan and potentially their lives.  Conversely, only 12 percent receive confirmation that the original diagnosis was complete and correct. These findings were published earlier this year in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. The research team was led by James Naessens, Sc.D., a health care policy researcher at Mayo Clinic. More information about the study can be found on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Contact: Elizabeth Zimmerman Young

 

First Coast News
Hi-Tech table a game changer for surgeries at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
by Jeff Valin

Imagine if you needed surgery. Now imagine your doctor can map out that strategy using a virtual projection of your body in First Coast News Logothree dimensions. It not something out of the latest Sci-Fi film, but real technology at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, thanks to a high-tech table called Anatomage, a contraction of the words "anatomy" and "image". "It takes two-dimensional images, compiles them, and gives us a three-dimensionality," Dr. John Casler tells First Coast News, explaining that the images are derived from conventional MRIs or CT scans, but leveraged to strategize surgeries with unprecedented flexibility.

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

Context: John Casler, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic ENT specialist. Dr. Casler treats head, neck and thyroid cancer. The Anatomage table takes two-dimensional images, compiles them, and gives surgeons a three-dimensionality image. The Anatomage has been particularly helpful with about three-dozen surgeries, especially for tumor removals. Mayo Clinic's Jacksonville campus the first facility worldwide to take the table's use beyond anatomical training to actual surgeries.

Contact: Kevin Punsky

New York Times, Not a Single W.N.B.A. Star Has a Shoe Line to Call Her Own by Kelly Whiteside — …Nate’ Burley walked through the corridors of Madison Square Garden wearing a Moore jersey. Burley, 13, of Middletown, N.Y., cheers for the Liberty but idolizes Moore, a former Connecticut star.“When I wear my jersey at school, boys will ask me, ‘Who is Moore, and what is the Mayo Clinic?’” she said. (Like other teams in the league, the Lynx feature their marquee sponsor — in their case, the Mayo Clinic — on their jerseys instead of the team name.)

Today.com, Tragedy turns to healing after mom welcomes baby on late daughter's birthday by Chloe Aiello — Every year on August 4, Aleece Geist honors the birth of her late daughter, Zentaviah West. The 5-month-old, affectionately referred to as Zen, died suddenly on January 1, 2014, after being hospitalized with an ear infection. In celebration of the baby's short life, Geist’s family and loved ones gather yearly at Riverside Park in Menomenie, Wisconsin, to light paper lanterns and release candlelit boats into the river.  But this year, on what would have been Zen's fourth birthday, Geist, 29, never made it to Riverside Park. Geist’s boyfriend, 24-year-old Cassidy Rector, took her to the hospital shortly before the memorial.  She’d been suffering from extreme fatigue and abdominal pain throughout the day. Several hours later, they emerged from Mayo Clinic Health System-Red Cedar hospital with an extra bundle in tow. After a pregnancy that went unnoticed both by Geist and Rector, the couple welcomed 6-pound, 7-ounce baby Mira Rector into the world.

NBC News, How to Treat a Bug Bite at Home (and When to Head to the Hospital) by Margaret O’Malley — According to the Mayo Clinic, bites from mosquitoes carrying certain viruses, like West Nile or Zika, or parasites can cause severe illness. If you experience fever, body aches, headaches, please contact your doctor immediately or head to your local emergency room.

PBS, Concussion Test — Dr. Amaal Starling is interviewed. Interview starts at 19-minute mark.

USA Today, Women who've had babies look different. Here's how pregnancy can permanently change a body by Ashley May — Weight gain, larger nose, sensitive boobs. There are plenty of temporary changes a woman experiences during pregnancy, and in the days following birth. Yvonne Butler Tobah, obstetrician and gynecologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said a year postpartum usually resets body back to normal, but there are a few changes that can be permanent.

HuffPost, Imaging The Effects Of Menopausal Hormone Therapy On The Brain — Imaging provides a window into brain changes due to dementia decades before someone begins to show clinical symptoms of the disease. Volume of the brain gradually declines with advancing age, but this decline takes a faster course in people who experience more cognitive decline than is expected for their age and go on to develop dementia… — Kejal Kantarci, MD, MS, Mayo Clinic-Rochester, Society for Women’s Health Research Interdisciplinary Network on Alzheimer’s Disease Member

STAT, Why a growing number of women with breast cancer are choosing double mastectomy by Catherine Caruso — Three years ago, Crystal Collum was 37 years old with three kids at home, “kind of just trucking through life” in Columbia, S.C., when she felt a lump on her breast while showering. She didn’t hesitate — she’d watched her best friend go through breast cancer years earlier, and she knew what to do. Within three weeks she was starting chemotherapy But soon after, she was confronted with a choice that even she was unprepared for: have a lumpectomy, a targeted surgery that removes only the tumor, or have a double mastectomy — surgery to completely remove both breasts...“From a medical standpoint there’s no data that removing the other breast improves your survival,” said Dr. Judy Boughey, a breast cancer surgeon at Mayo Clinic and one of Collum’s surgeons. “I always make it very clear to patients, I am not medically recommending that you need to have the other breast removed.”

NPR, Holistic Therapy Programs May Help Pain Sufferers Ditch Opioids by Michelle Andrews — Each year, more than 300 patients with chronic pain take part in a three-week program at the Pain Rehabilitation Center at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Their complaints range widely, from specific problems such as intractable lower-back pain to systemic issues such as fibromyalgia. By the time patients enroll, many have tried just about everything to get their chronic pain under control. Half are taking opioids. But in this 40-year-old program, they can't stay on them. Participants must agree to taper off pain medications during their time at Mayo. Still, more than 80 percent of the patients who enroll remain through the entire program, says Wesley Gilliam, the center's clinical director. Additional coverage: Kaiser Health News, Becker’s Hospital Review, Fierce Healthcare, MedPage Today

Reader’s Digest, Americans Tend to Burn out Faster Than Other Countries’ Workers—Here’s Why by Sam Benson Smith — When it comes to job burnout, Americans across the board experience it “between 40 and 50 percent.” As defined by the Mayo Clinic, job burnout is “special type of job stress—a state of physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion combined with doubts about your competence and the value of your work.” Causes of work burnout, clinically, include lack of control, unclear job expectations, dysfunctional workplace dynamic, mismatches in values, poor job fit, extremes of activity, lack of social support, and a poor work-life balance.

Forbes, Surf Your Way To Better Health At Work, Says This Startup by Esha Chhabra —Surfing at your office desk could be the best alternative to sitting or standing at your desk -- both of which put strain on your feet, legs, and joints, says Joel Heath of FluidStance. A new study by Mayo Clinic backs up the entrepreneur’s claims. FluidStance’s surf-inspired boards take up less space than a treadmill, but allow much more movement than a standard sitting desk or standing all day…The Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, put FluidStance’s signature product, The Level, to the test. The study found 30 subjects who used the Level, FluidStance’s flagship product, increased their energy expenditure by 19.2% compared to sitting. Given that the FluidStance deck increases energy expenditure over sitting by more than 10%, it passed rigorous NEAT certification criteria for standing (Note: NEAT stands for the science of Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis, developed by Mayo Clinic.)

NBC Chicago, 'Early Detection Can Save Your Life': Rob Stafford Talks Diagnosis, Return to NBC 5 Anchor Desk by Allison Rosati —Rob Stafford is such a big part of our family here at NBC 5. Like you, we have missed seeing him here every day. Rob has been away, battling a serious illness. …“My diagnosis is amyloidosis," he said, "which is a blood disease that is not curable, but it is treatable. It is treated a lot like cancer is.” Six weeks later, Rob shared with everyone on-air the challenge he faced. What no one knew then was just how long and how hard the journey back would be. His first step was a stem cell transplant at Mayo Clinic. Additional coverage: Chicago Tribune

San Francisco Chronicle, Transplant recipient gives donor family heartbeat recording — A southern Minnesota heart transplant recipient has given a teddy bear with a recording of her heartbeat to her organ donor's family. Alyssa Sandeen received Kate Leekley's heart in a transplant after Leekley died in a car crash involving a drunk driver in 2013. The Mankato Free Press reports that Sandeen recorded her heartbeat at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato on Friday. Staff used a specialized stethoscope, speaker and recording device to capture the sound of an amplified heartbeat. Additional coverage: MPR, US News & World Report, Star Tribune, Fresno BeeMankato Free PressKTTC

BSN Denver, After surgeries on both hips and a year off, Jared Cowen “really anxious” to re-start NHL career with Avalanche by Adrian Dater — So how did Cowen, 26, wind up on the Avalanche’s pre-camp roster eight years later, with nothing but a Professional Try Out contract as a form of security for his NHL future? Because injuries to the hip joints are some of the most common to hockey players, and in Cowen’s case he required surgery on both hips and it was the major reason why he played no hockey at all in the 2016-17 season. But after surgery performed by Dr. Aaron Krych at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., Cowen’s agent told BSN Denver Tuesday his client is feeling better than he has in “three or four years” and is ready to prove to the world he can be an effective NHL player again, which is why he agreed to the PTO with the Avs.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5 signs you should ask your doctor about depression by Mary Caldwell — You have unexplained pain: The Mayo Clinic says that unexplained pain such as back pain or headaches can sometimes be the first or only sign of depression. In fact, pain and depression can create a vicious cycle. If your depression is causing pain, this can make you further depressed, which increases your pain. In addition, depression-related pain that continues over time can create additional problems such as stress, low self-esteem and difficulty sleeping. Some forms of treatment can help with both pain and depression, while others treat only one condition, so you and your doctor can talk about what's best in your particular case.

WREG Memphis, Low-dose hormone therapy improves sleep for newly menopausal women by Eryn Taylor — Mayo Clinic researchers say women just entering menopause can get better sleep with the help of low-dose hormone therapy. The study, published in Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society suggests 40 to 60 percent of women have issues with sleep and experiences hot flashes and night sweats. This could ultimately lead to further health related problems down the road. “Poor sleep quality over time affects more than just mood,” says Virginia Miller, Ph.D., director of Mayo Clinic’s Women’s Health Research Center and the study’s corresponding author. “Sleep deprivation can lead to cardiovascular disease, among other health risks. There can be serious consequences — mental and physical — if you’re not getting quality sleep over a long period of time.”

Daily Mail, Women who suffer pre-eclampsia during pregnancy have high risk of deadly heart disease decades after giving birth, new study shows by Abigail Miller — Researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that women with a history of the condition are more likely to face atherosclerosis - hardening and narrowing of the arteries - years after giving birth...We've found that pre-eclampsia continues to follow mothers long after the birth of their child,' Dr Vensa Garovic, who works in the division of Nephrology, and Hypertension explained. 'The good news is that we can use these findings to apply earlier interventions for risk factors before cardiovascular disease presents.' Additional coverage: Science Daily, Pharmacy Daily, News-medical.net, Gears of Biz, The Statesman

CBC News, 9-year wait: POTS diagnosis comes after hundreds of tests for Regina woman by Sharon Gerein — Katherine Kay has spent nearly nine years waiting to find out what was making her sick.Finally, in 2016, Kay was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS — a disorder of the nervous system…According to the Mayo Clinic website, POTS was first described during the American Civil War. Soldiers that complained about dizziness and fainting were said to have Civil War Syndrome. Many believed soldiers were simply anxious and frightened about fighting. Additional coverage: Yahoo! News

Newsweek, Infectious Diseases Could Sweep Across Texas as Harvey Floods Houston by Jessica Firger —Stagnant water is a breeding ground for all sorts of microscopic pathogens. Pritish Tosh, an infectious diseases physician and researcher at the Mayo Clinic, says hurricane floodwaters may be contaminated with pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria that can cause serious gastrointestinal illness. Other bacterium found in floodwaters include  Shigella, which can also cause gastrointestinal illness in the form of diarrhea, vomiting, fever, stomach pain and dehydration…Tosh also cautions the public about the risk of Legionnaires’ disease, which is caused by  Legionella, bacteria found in in freshwater that easily spreads to human-made water systems during floods. Exposure to the bacteria occurs through inhalation of airborne moisture droplets. Legionnaires’ disease causes pneumonia-type symptoms as well as gastrointestinal illness and headaches. Additional coverage: Mother Jones

SELF, Whitney Port Opens Up About 'Tongue Tie' and the Painful Side of Breastfeeding by Korin Miller — Tongue tie is a condition that occurs when the tissue that tethers the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth (the frenulum) is unusually short, thick, or tight, the Mayo Clinic says…As with many medical conditions, there’s a range of severity with tongue tie, Rebekah Huppert, R.N., B.S.N., a lactation consultant at the Mayo Clinic, tells SELF. For instance, the tongue may not be able to extend out over the lower lip or it might appear heart-shaped when baby cries, she says. Depending on the severity of the condition, the baby may or may not need a procedure called a frenotomy to cut the frenulum free.

Business Insider, We should never have told people to start taking vitamins, and new research linking one type to cancer shows why by Erin Brodwin — According to the Mayo Clinic, vitamin B6 — one of the supplements involved in the latest study — is "likely safe" in the recommended daily intake amount: 1.3 milligrams for people ages 19-50. But taking too much of the supplement has been linked with abnormal heart rhythms, decreased muscle tone, and worsened asthma. High doses of B6 can also cause drops in blood pressure, the Mayo Clinic notes, and can interact with drugs prescribed for anxiety and Alzheimer's, as well as Advil and Motrin. According to the Mayo Clinic, vitamin B6 — one of the supplements involved in the latest study — is "likely safe" in the recommended daily intake amount: 1.3 milligrams for people ages 19-50. But taking too much of the supplement has  been linked with abnormal heart rhythms, decreased muscle tone, and worsened asthma. High doses of B6 can also cause drops in blood pressure, the Mayo Clinic notes, and can interact with drugs prescribed for anxiety and Alzheimer's, as well as Advil and Motrin.

Advisory Board, How Mayo Clinic's neonatology telehealth program avoids transfers and saves lives — Mayo Clinic four years ago launched a tele-neonatology program to increase regional access to high-acuity neonatology care, successfully providing expertise to community hospitals that otherwise lack such specialization and curbing the need for patient transfers, Bill Siwicki writes for Healthcare IT News.

Modern Healthcare, Only one-third of heart attack patients use cardiac rehab despite the health benefits by Steven Ross Johnson — Dr. Randal Thomas, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, suggests another option; setting up an automatic referral system at the point of clinical care. Thomas said also having a liaison or coach to help patients with problems such as costs or transportation can help increase patient participation. He said the combination of automatic referral and a liaison has been show to increase participation rates to as high as 70% in programs. Experts say clinicians are very influential in their patients decisions.

Health, The Dangers of Altitude Sickness—What to Know About the Condition That Killed a 20-Year-Old Colorado Hiker by Amanda MacMillan — We’ve all heard of altitude sickness—but how often does it turn deadly? To learn more about the risks, Health spoke with Jan Stepanek, MD, who sees patients at the Mayo Clinic’s High Altitude and Harsh Environments Medical Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. (He was not involved in DeForest's case.) Here’s what he wants everyone traveling to high elevations to know.

HealthDay, Undiagnosed Heart Condition 'AFib' May Be Common, Study Suggests by Dennis Thompson — Nearly 1 out of 3 patients in the study had undetected atrial fibrillation that was caught only through the use of long-term cardiac monitor implants, researchers say. Based on these results, it's likely there's probably a lot more undetected atrial fibrillation among seniors, said lead researcher Dr. James Reiffel. He's a cardiologist and professor at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City…Dr. Samuel Asirvatham is a professor of in the division of cardiovascular diseases at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "Reiffel and colleagues have now reported important information that clearly demonstrates a very high incidence of atrial fibrillation in this high-risk population, and the incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation will likely be even higher with longer-term monitoring," he said.  Asirvatham added the findings suggest a need for a large study to determine if all patients with stroke of unknown origin should receive blood thinners in the way they would if atrial fibrillation had been recognized. Additional coverage: US News & World ReportKTTC

Everyday Health, How to Stretch When You're in Pain by Meryl Davids Landau — Move Even When Joints Flare: “It’s important to move your joints to maintain your range of motion even during flares,” says Scott Haak, a physical therapist at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, who notes you either move it or lose it. If you let joint pain keep you from moving the joint, he explains, it can atrophy surrounding muscles.

Romper, What Is The Difference Between Prenatal Yoga & Regular Yoga? A Professional Yogi Explains by Abi Berwager Schreier — Modifications and props that support your “new limitations” as a pregnant woman support in “keeping your body in a safe place for movement, stillness, and the fine line of using isometrics to strengthen and relax your body at the same time,” Loggins explains…According to Mayo Clinic, isometrics are “contractions of a particular muscle or group of muscles. During isometric exercises, the muscle doesn’t noticeably change length and the affected joint doesn’t move.” They don’t necessarily build strength, but they maintain your muscle strength, the Mayo Clinic noted. The exercises are done in one position without moving. “They can be useful in enhancing stabilization," which seems like a good thing to have before you go into labor.

Healio, VIVA: Screening for PAD, AAA, hypertension reduces mortality in older men — In a related editorial, Chadi Ayoub, MD, and M. Hassan Murad, MD, MPH, both from the Mayo Clinic Evidence-based Practice Center, Rochester, Minnesota, wrote that more research on this issue is needed in women, people of nonwhite race, younger people and people from low- and middle-income countries, and that more data are needed on the effects of interventions such as smoking cessation, lifestyle changes, AAA repair and the effects of surveillance. “The VIVA trial presents thought-provoking findings. However, implementation of this screening intervention requires more proof than presented in this study,” they wrote.

MedPage Today, A Second Opinion on NOACs in Stable CVD by Crystal Phend — In this exclusive video, Gibbons, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., who spoke from the European Society of Cardiology meeting where the findings were presented, projected a substantial cost to patients in terms of bleeding risk and to society economically. "By my analysis, one would have to treat 140 patients for 3 years with rivaroxaban -- 400 patient-years of the drug -- to save one life," he said. "If I estimate the cost of the drug at $3,000 a year, that is more than $1.2 million for one life saved. That's why I think cost-effectiveness analysis needs to be done."

WebMD, What's Next for Gene Therapy to Treat Cancer by Matt Smith —The FDA’s approval of a treatment that uses genetically modified immune cells to fight a type of childhood leukemia has opened the door to a new way of fighting cancer. The treatment, known as CAR T-cell therapy, is approved for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common type of childhood leukemia. To find out more about the significance of this decision and its implications for future treatments, WebMD talked to two doctors involved in immunotherapy research: Li Yin, MD, who treats blood cancers at the Mayo Clinic and has led several trials of a similar process; and Stephan Grupp, MD, a pediatric oncologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Star Tribune, Editorial counterpoint: Indeed, the Mayo Clinic is listening by Annie Sadosty — The Star Tribune Editorial Board recently questioned Mayo Clinic Health System’s stewardship in the communities we serve (“Is Mayo living up to Minnesota mission?” Aug. 26). As the leader for the health system in the southeast Minnesota region, I speak on behalf of more than 4,000 physicians and allied health staff when I say that we recognize and treasure the trust our patients and communities place in us. They count on us every day for compassionate and high-quality care. But more than that, they count on us to understand the complex health care environment and to take the necessary steps to preserve the availability of that care for current and future generations in the face of a changing landscape. It’s a privilege and responsibility we take very seriously.

First Coast News, Champions For Hope raises money for Mayo for Mayo Clinic by Lindsey Boetsch — The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville received a big donation Wednesday. Champions For Hope handed over a check for $250,000. That money was raised locally from a golf tournament in June. The money will go to help pancreatic cancer early detection research. Mayo Clinic CEO Dr. Gianrico Farrugia says it's always great to have money raised locally for the clinic… "All money is important, but there's something very special about when people raise money locally. There's a connection. You feel it. What that means for us is an increased responsibility. You have a connection to a person that has been outside raising the money and you have an obligation to use it," said Dr. Farrugia.

Florida Times-Union, Those waging war on cancer stress clinical trials for patients critical by Charlie Patton —“Clinical trials provide access to promising new treatments for our patients and are essential to reduce the cancer burden in our state,” said Tushar Patel, dean for research at Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus. “Events like this one, which includes researchers from the leading cancer institutes across our state, help to remind all of us that improving access to clinical trials must be a priority.”

ActionNewsJax, Study: More young adults dying from colon cancer by Letisha Bereola — More young people are dying of colon cancer than ever before, according to a new study from the American Cancer Society. Now, doctors are trying to figure out why...Dr. Michael Wallace, the director of digestive diseases at the Mayo Clinic, said he has even seen cases that mirror that finding in Jacksonville. “Although relatively rare, it stands out because it tells us that something unusual is going on. Most people who get cancer get them at older ages for different reasons,” Wallace said. Wallace said even though there is a shift to younger patients, there is still one big unanswered question. “It has not yet answered the question why is that happening. There is speculation and good hypothesis,” Wallace said.

KJZZ, Study Finds Epilepsy Cases Rising Across U.S. by Heather van Blokland — The CDC has released new estimates of epilepsy cases nationwide. One million more people have now been diagnosed with the disease. The study, released last week, said 77,000 people in Arizona have epilepsy. This is the first time state-level data was gathered, according to Dr. Amy Crepeau of the Mayo Clinic, who also said the numbers are rising nationwide. “Epilepsy is actually incredibly common within the population. So, even though some people may feel they don’t want to admit to having it or are concerned about stigma, it’s quite common,” Crepeau said.

Alzforum, Longitudinal Data Say: Nope, CSF Markers Do Not Track Progression — Richard Caselli of the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, reported on longitudinal changes in ApoE4 carriers. They tend to accumulate amyloid in the brain faster than noncarriers, and some studies have shown that they can have subtle metabolic or functional deficits in their 30s or even younger (Apr 2009 news; Oct 2015 news). Despite these early signs, neurodegeneration in ApoE4 carriers begins late in life, just as in noncarriers, Caselli said. He selected 36 cognitively healthy ApoE4 carriers and 10 noncarriers from a larger cohort who attended clinics in the Phoenix area. All were over 50 and had a first-degree relative with dementia. Although the study was not specifically designed to study ApoE4 carriers, it was highly enriched for people with this risk factor, Caselli noted.

Eastern Arizona Courier, Mayo Clinic Minute: Tips for family heart health — Many people don't think about heart disease as a childhood issue. Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says a child's eating and exercise habits can influence heart health in the future. He offers tips on how families can develop a lifetime of better heart health by integrating fun choices into their daily routines.

KTTC, Mayo Clinic releases report about its contribution to economy — Mayo Clinic released a report Monday, detailing its impact on society. The report said the organization has contributed $28 billion to the U.S. economy. The report said Mayo also directly and indirectly supports 167,000 jobs across the country including 92,000 in Minnesota. In addition, Mayo Clinic provided nearly $1 billion to the community in 2015 through charity care, donations, research, and education.

KAAL, As 4-Year-Old Celebrates Birthday, Family Clings to Hope for a New Heart by Laura Lee — Thousands of people come to the Med City for life-saving operations every year. One of those people is 4-year-old Ava Lengsavath. On Thursday ABC 6 was invited to Mayo Clinic as Ava turned 4 years old with her family, friends and her medical team. Like a typical birthday party, you need streamers, balloons, and of course, you have to have cake. While the nurses at Mayo Clinic know their guest of honor loves Moana-themed everything for decorations, what they're most excited about is the fact that Ava will be walking to her surprise party.

Post-Bulletin, Family Time: Camp helps grieving kids find healing in each other's stories by Lindy Lange — Make friends and share your story at Healing Adventures Camp. Sponsored by Mayo Clinic Hospice and open to kids who have experienced the death of a loved one, the one-day camp is built around the themes of experiencing grief, acknowledging feelings, developing healthy coping strategies and having fun. "Every camper's story is a little different, but the common theme is that they are all grieving," said Amy Stelpflug, volunteer coordinator Mayo Clinic Hospice. "They've lost someone and it hurts — and we understand that it hurts. But we also understand that there are positive ways to deal with that hurt, positive ways to handle that grief."

Post-Bulletin, Want a better marriage? Share a sport by Craig Swalboski — You're busy with work, home, house and other responsibilities. You need time together, to relax and renew your bonds. "Date night" is good for that. But did you know that sharing the same physical activity can be very good for your relationship?...Choosing what to do can be complicated, though, says Dan Gaz. He is Physical Activity & Assessment Program Manager in the Mayo Clinic's Healthy Living Program, and also Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine. "If I'm a fast runner and she's slow, we can't have fun together," Gaz said. "If I'm a little faster and she wants to be faster, we can close that gap."

Post-Bulletin, Rochester students win national computer competition by Taylor Nachtigal —Rochester Public School students took first place at the National High School Computer Competition in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the end of July. The two-day competition included a seven-hour rogramming project, followed by a written portion, which included about 130 questions on web technologies, programming languages, number conversion from decimal to hexadecimal, the history of Black Data Processing Associates, cyber security and more…The team was sponsored by Mayo Clinic, IBM, Rochester Public Schools, BDPA Southeast Minnesota Board of Directors, community businesses, community members and parents.

Filipino Reporter, Fil-Am doctor performs first Robotic Surgery at Mayo Clinic — Cedric J. Ortiguera recently performed the first Robotic Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. The procedure was also the first to be done in all of Northern Florida. Dr. Ortiguera was born and grew up on Long Island, N.Y. in June 1968. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in Biochemistry at Stony Brook University of the the State University of New York (SUNY); and his Medical Degree at New York University, also with honors.

Red Wing Republican Eagle, Drill prepares OB team for emergencies — Forty-five staff members from Mayo Clinic Health System in Red Wing, including an obstetrician/gynecologist, certified registered nurse anesthesiologists, and nursing and laboratory staff, participated in an obstetrics simulation at the medical center in July. The OB simulation, part of the Community Simulation project headed by Mayo Clinic in Rochester, is designed to prepare medical staff across multiple departments for key emergencies by conducting mock emergency drills. Staff would be able to recognize any medical threat to mother or baby and quickly assemble a high-functioning team to manage the emergency.

La Crosse Tribune, Mayo-Franciscan parenting series includes social media safety, other skills by Mike Tighe — Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare has scheduled several free programs in its Raising Healthy Kids series for parents, including one on social media safety tips at 6 p.m. Sept. 12 in Marycrest Auditorium on the second floor of the Hospital Building at 700 West Ave. S. in La Crosse. Clinical therapist Karen Wagner will review the safety and privacy for popular social media websites. She also will provide tips on how parents can give their teenagers privacy on the internet while still ensuring safety.

Fairmont Sentinel, New policy greatly improves patient care by Judy Bryan — After six months of planning followed by six months of practice, a new protocol has resulted in an astounding 71 percent drop in hospital readmission rates for congestive heart failure (CHF) patients at Fairmont nursing home. The program was developed by Adria Whiting, a nurse practitioner, who is the lead of Mayo Clinic Health Care System’s nursing home program. She collaborated with Bryon Nelsen, director of nursing at Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont, to implement the new program with Mayo patients who are residents at Lakeview.

Health Thoroughfare, Esophageal Treatment – Better Responses for Female Patients — A new study showed that female patients who suffer from advanced esophageal cancer and receive treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy before surgery are more likely to have a favorable response to the treatment than the male patients. According to the study that was published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, women experience a less of a risk for cancer reoccurrence than males. The senior author of the study, K. Robert Shen, MD, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester stated that the esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest and dangerous cancer types in the world and that it can affect men and women differently: women tend to respond better to the treatments, while men are more at risk to develop this kind of cancer.

Land Line magazine, Do you suffer from ‘trucker’s leg’? — Peripheral arterial disease refers to any blockage or reduction in flow in blood vessels outside of the heart. A similar condition in the veins is called peripheral veinous disease. Some doctors also refer to the whole group as peripheral vascular disease. But the terms are most often used when talking about blood flow in the legs and disease in the arteries of the legs, according to information from the Mayo Clinic. The disease affects about 10 million people in the United States, half of who have no symptoms. For truckers, extended periods sitting can also reduce blood flow and cause the symptoms. But for many others, Mayo Clinic doctors say, it is clogged arteries – atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis – that bring on the illness.

American Medical Association, Much to learn when med students leave classroom, enter boardroom by Brendan Murphy — To keep up with changes in medicine—changes medical school curriculum struggles to reflect—a group of students at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine is forming connections with private companies to learn about entrepreneurialism and the cutting edge in health care innovation. Editt Nikoyan and Elias Saba, students at Mayo Clinic who are members of the Entrepreneurship in Medicine (EIM) Interest Group, showcased its activities during a presentation at the Accelerating Change in Medical Education Student-Led Conference on Leadership at the University of Michigan. “We believe that while a curriculum is very important, and this is a very integral part of the experience, the curriculum is uniform,” Saba said. “It’s slow to change. It’s not very reactive to the times. And that’s why an interest group or an organization run by students, led by students, that can respond to those changes is really important.”

Star2.com, Measles vaccine warning — Measles cases would triple if there were a 5% decline in measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage in the United States for children ages two to 11, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics. “We as physicians have very successfully reduced what used to be four million cases of measles a year in the US down to so few that a recent outbreak that numbered about 86 in Minnesota this year sticks out like a strange anomaly in the 21st century,” says Dr Robert Jacobson, a Mayo Clinic paediatrician not involved with the study. “In fact, the reason that that epidemic was not thousands, or tens of thousands or worse, was because so many of us are so well-vaccinated.”

Woodbury Bulletin, A humble victory: Magee beats pancreatic cancer by William Loeffler — The Rev. John Magee is now a member of the pancreatic cancer survivors club. He hopes it's a lifetime membership. "I'm humbled," Magee said. "Some may call it a miracle, I call it a blessing. I'm just grateful." Last year, the pastor of Light the Way Church in Cottage Grove was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, the most common form of pancreatic cancer…After eight rounds of chemotherapy at Minnesota Oncology, Magee had surgery at the Mayo Clinic. His son James said the surgeons told him that they were able to peel the tumor off of his father's artery, thus avoiding a highly invasive procedure known as arterial resection.

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