December 20, 2013

Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights

By Karl Oestreich

December 20, 2013

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.

This is our last news summary of 2013. Please watch for our return on Friday, Jan. 10, 2014.  Happy holidays.

Thank you.

Karl Oestreich, manager enterprise media relations

 

USA TODAY
Holiday stress calls for an attitude adjustment
by Nanci Hellmich

The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but for many people they're also the most stressful. People get stressed out because of over-scheduling, not getting enough sleep, expecting too much USA Today NEWofthe season and being perfectionists about gifts, decorating and entertaining, says Amit Sood a stress-reduction expert and author of a new book, The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living, coming out Jan. 1.  Additional coverage:KARE11, Lohud NY

Reach: USA TODAY  has the highest daily circulation of any U.S. newspaper with a daily average circulation of 2.9 million, which includes print and various digital editions.

Context: Amit Sood, M.D., Mayo Clinic General Internal Medicine, is author of The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living. Dr. Sood is a stress-reduction expert. Here is a video clip of Dr. Sood discussing stress in the context of the holiday season.

Public Affairs Contact: Ginger Plumbo

 

NY Times
Plan Would Ban Fighting in Top US Amateur Hockey Leagues
by Jeff Klein

USA Hockey’s board of directors will consider a proposal next month to ban fighting from all levels of amateur hockey in the United States. Junior A hockey, for 16- to 20-year-olds, is the last remaining level of the game under NYTUSA Hockey’s jurisdiction that still tolerates fighting. The push to outlaw fighting is being spurred by a recent spate of serious injuries resulting from fights and concern over the prospect of lawsuits. “We need to take a firm stand to preserve our sport, prevent catastrophic injury and avoid financial repercussions,” said Dr. Michael J. Stuart, the chief medical officer for USA Hockey, who has been a leader in the effort to ban fighting.

Reach: The New York Times has a daily circulation of more than 735,000. Its website receives more than 16.2 million unique visitors each month.

Additional coverage: Pioneer Press (NY Times), Globe and Mail

Context: Mayo Clinic’s Sports Medicine Center held Ice Hockey Summit II: Action on Concussion on Oct. 8–9, 2013. The summit brought together top scientists, trainers, coaches, officials, retired professional players and manufacturers from across the United States, Canada and Europe to discuss concussion-related issues, including the science of concussion, impact on youth athletes and hockey community response. Michael Stuart, M.D. is co-director, Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center.

Public Affairs Contact: Bryan Anderson

 

Hospitals & Health Networks
Mayo Med School Works to Transform Doc Education
By Paul Barr

Mayo Medical School Dean Sherine Gabriel, M.D., describes the future for medical education in a video interview with Paul Barr.Hospitals and Health Networks

Reach: H&HN is the flagship publication of the American Hospital Association with more than 77,000 readers each month. The publication targets health care executives and clinical leaders in hospitals and health systems. Its website receives more than 14,500 unique visitors each month.

Context: Sherine Gabriel, M.D., Mayo Clinic Rheumatology, is dean of Mayo Medical school.

Public Affairs Contact: Sharon Theimer

 

MPR
New technology can help an ALS patient breathe easier
by Cathy Wurzer

This month marks the third year since Bruce Kramer of Minneapolis received a medical diagnosis that changed his life in an instant. Kramer, who was 54 at the time, had noticed his left foot feeling heavy and a little floppy. MPR-News-300x45His ordinarily muscular thighs would tremble noticeably, and he had taken a couple of falls and found it tough to get back up…Dr. Jeffrey Strommen, the Mayo Clinic physician overseeing Kramer's use of the DPS, says, "he's more energetic. He feels stronger and we do have some evidence, albeit, limited that this may actually prolong survival."

Reach: Minnesota Public Radio operates 43 stations and serves virtually all of Minnesota and parts of the surrounding states. MPR has more than 100,000 members and more than 900,000 listeners each week, which is the largest audience of any regional public radio network.

Context: Jeffrey Strommen, M.D., is a Mayo Clinic Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist.

Public Affairs Contact: Nick Hanson

 

Florida Times-Union
Mayo cell therapy researcher plans to grow stem cells in space, where he thinks they will grow faster than on Earth
by Charlie Patton

Abba Zubair, medical and scientific director of the Cell Therapy Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, wants to test the feasibility of growing Florida Times Unionstem cells in outer space, cells that could be used to generate new tissue and even new organs in human beings.

Circulation: The Florida Times-Union reaches more than 120,000 daily and 173,000 readers Sunday.

Additional coverage: Stem Cells FreakGizMagKROC AMSpace KSCDaily Maven TorontoLyra NaraPhysOrg

Context: Abba Zubair, M.D., Ph.D., believes that cells grown in the International Space Station (ISS) could help patients recover from a stroke, and that it may even be possible to generate human tissues and organs in space. He just needs a chance to demonstrate the possibility.

He now has it. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), a nonprofit organization that promotes research aboard the ISS, has awarded Dr. Zubair a $300,000 grant to send human stem cells into space to see if they grow more rapidly than stem cells grown on Earth.

Dr. Zubair, medical and scientific director of the Cell Therapy Laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Florida, says the experiment will be the first one Mayo Clinic has conducted in space and the first to use these human stem cells, which are found in bone marrow.

Public Affairs Contact: Kevin Punsky

 

Additional Mayo Clinic News Highlights This Week:

Kuwait Times, Living with diabetes…Controlling diabetes – Treatment is effective and important … Researchers from the Mayo Clinic Arizona in Scottsdale showed that gastric bypass surgery can reverse type 2 diabetes in a high proportion of patients. They added that within three to five years the disease recurs in approximately 21 percent of them. Yessica Ramos, MD, said “The recurrence rate was mainly influenced by a longstanding history of Type 2 diabetes before the surgery. This suggests that early surgical intervention in the obese, diabetic population will improve the durability of remission of Type 2 diabetes.”

USA TODAY, '3rd Rock' star Kristen Johnston diagnosed with lupus by Ann Oldenburg, Kristen Johnston has revealed on her Facebook page that she finally has an explanation for why she's been feeling so sick. She has been diagnosed with "a rare form of lupus called lupus myelitis.".… Johnston says it took four months, 17 doctors and "two-fun filled weeks in November partying at the Mayo Clinic" before doctors finally figured out the cause of her ailments. Additional coverage: People Magazine, KSAZ Ariz., Huffington PostTV Guide

KEYC Mankato, Switching Health Plans: Questions to Ask Your New Doctor by Joel Runck, If you're planning to switch doctors, experts say you should also be prepared to ask a number of questions.… "When seeing a healthcare provider for the first time, I encourage people to bring all their medications with them, not only prescription medications, but any over-the-counter supplements, vitamins, etc.," said Stephen Campbell, M.D. of Mayo Clinic Health System.

KTTC, Caring Canine carolers visit Rochester Methodist Hospital by Courtney Sturgeon…Volunteers with Caring Canines sang Christmas carols in the halls of Rochester Methodist while their beloved pets paraded by their side.  Fido and friends were dressed in festive attire to bring some holiday cheer to patients.  Like the Olsen family who welcomed a baby girl to their family this week. "With the dogs and everything people really respond to that a lot," said Christopher Olson of Ellendale.  "We come from a farm and it's just nice to see animals in a setting that you don't normally see. I think it's a very good cause."

EHS Today, Mayo Clinic Expert: Avoid Holiday Stress by Setting Realistic Expectations by Sandy Smith… “The holiday season should be a time of joy and celebrations with family, friends and loved ones,” says Amit Sood, M.D., a Mayo Clinic physician and stress management expert. “But sometimes, we lose sight of that and become overwhelmed.” Other coverage: Waseca County News

KPTM Neb., Holiday Depression And How To Cope With It by Franque Thompson, There are ways to prioritize your holiday to prevent depression. Mayo Clinic said it all starts with acknowledging your feelings. Having a support system, setting a budget, lowering expectations and planning ahead can also help eliminate the holiday stress.

Post-Bulletin Santa spreads holiday cheer at Saint Marys' NICU by Heather Carlson, As soon as 4-year-old Tonch Cohenotti heard the sound of bells jingling on Wednesday he started jumping up and down. Then more jingling. "I heard that noise again," Tonch told his parents. "That's Santa!"…Every year, Dr. Jonathan Johnson, a Mayo Clinic pediatric cardiologist, dons the red suit to visit the hospital's youngest patients, along with their siblings and families. It's an annual part of his job that Johnson has come to relish. "In pediatrics, we take care of the kids, but we also take care of the families," he said. "Some of the best parts are seeing the families, particularly of the NICU babies, just absolutely smile when they realize their kids are going to get a picture with Santa." Additional coverage: KTTC, KAAL

KAAL, Holly Trolley Visits Rochester, They call themselves the Holly Trolley. It's an all girls acapella choir that spreads holiday cheer to those in need. Sunday night, the Bella Voce Choir made a special trip to the Double Tree Hotel in Rochester. They sang Christmas carols to two Mayo Clinic patients. Rachel Healy is one of those patients. She's been receiving treatment at Mayo for more than 30 years.

Grand Forks Herald, Holiday blues: How to counteract seasonal sadness by Pamela Knudson, Sometimes, the very things people love about the holidays — the anticipation, the hustle and bustle, the celebrations — can leave some of us with a sense of sadness, emptiness and even depression. When such feelings arise, being aware and “doing the opposite” of our natural tendencies may be among the best ways to combat them, according to a behavioral health provider at Mayo Clinic. It doesn’t help that, at this time of year, people’s expectations about Christmas “are through the roof,” said Margaret Stump, licensed family and marriage counselor with Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato, Minn.

Health News Digest, Plan Ahead for Holiday Travel to Avoid Health Concerns, Such As Sleepiness and Stiffness, Traveling long distances during the holidays - whether by car, plane or train - is a common custom for many Americans, but taking health precautions for the journey isn't often at the top of to-do lists. Taking some simple steps to stay healthy while traveling can make the holidays more enjoyable and safe, according to a Mayo Clinic expert. "One health risk to consider when traveling is simply sitting for too long," says Clayton Cowl, M.D., an expert in transportation medicine at Mayo Clinic.

St. Peter Herald, Local family medicine provider shares five ways to have a stress-free holiday, tress comes in all shapes and sizes, and is triggered by many different situations. The holidays, although meant to be enjoyable, often evoke high stress levels in many people. So how can you keep your cool over the next few weeks? Dr. Stephanie Kivi, a family physician at Mayo Clinic Health System in Belle Plaine, shares five strategies to help you send stress packing so that you can focus on the joys of the season.

Global News, 5 tips to help you to a healthy holiday by Eva Kovacs… And every year I head into the season with hopes of minimizing the stress, undoubtedly placed on myself. Stress that I am determined to minimize using tips I came across on the Mayo Clinic’s website thanks to Nancy Parker, director of crisis response services for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

KTTC, Mayo Clinic patient receives the surprise of a lifetime by Ali Killam, One Mayo Clinic patient received a Christmas surprise Sunday she won't soon forget-- the gift of song by a group of local girls. The room hums with the sound of the angelic voices of the Bella Voce and Bella Fiore choirs, as the harmonies silence their audience. All were brought to tears by the very special gift that unwrapped before Rachel Healy's eyes…The choir has girls aged from 6th to 11th grades, and following the performance, each singer gave Healy an embrace. After spending months at Mayo Clinic fighting for her life, for Healy, moments like this are what keep her dreaming.

Chicago Tribune, Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of factors, including family history, can raise risk for DVT by John Heit, M.D, Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My mother has had deep vein thrombosis twice. I've heard this condition can run in families. I'm a 38-year-old woman in good health. I exercise regularly and eat well. What can I do to lower my risk of developing DVT?

Chicago Tribune, Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Palliative care helps ease the symptoms, pain and stress of serious illness by Jacob Strand, M.D., Palliative Care Clinic, Mayo Clinic, DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My husband was diagnosed with cancer six months ago and just completed chemotherapy treatments. He's not feeling great right now and may need more cancer treatments at some point. We've been told his long-term outlook is good. At a recent appointment, though, his oncologist suggested he consider palliative care. Why would he need that? Isn't this similar to hospice care?

Chicago Tribune, Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: MRI not intended to be used in place of a mammogram by Stephanie Hines, M.D., Breast Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla., DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Why is a mammogram the standard screening tool used to look for breast cancer? Wouldn't MRI catch the disease earlier?

CNN, California high school to be tested for tuberculosis by Michael Martinez, All 1,800 students and staff at a southern California high school will be screened for tuberculosis Friday after 45 students tested positive for possible exposure, authorities said… Treatment of TB requires antibiotics for at least six to nine months, the Mayo Clinic says on its website.

Owatonna’s People’s Press Owatonna clinic continues '12 Families of Christmas' donations by Al Strain…The staff at Mayo Clinic Health System-Owatonna banded together for the fourth straight year for the “12 Families of Christmas” event, which is a partnership between the clinic and Steele County Transitional Housing. Lesa Anderson, a registered nurse who brought the concept of the event from her previous employer in Wisconsin, said providing the presents is important so that everyone, especially children, has a gift on Christmas.

News-Medical, Joint initiative aims to eradicate health disparities among communities of color in the U.S., The world's first and largest group medical practice and one of the nation's premier volunteer service organizations of professional African American women are joining forces to eradicate health disparities among communities of color in the United States. Mayo Clinic and The Links, Incorporated have established a formal collaboration that aims to develop a more diverse health care workforce. Additional coverage: PysOrg,

Medscape, New Agent May Be Disease-Modifying in Myelofibrosis by Zosia Chustecka, Early results with an investigational new agent suggest it may have disease-modifying activity in myelofibrosis, which would be a first in this condition…The new results in myelofibrosis come from 22 patients treated with imetelstat with a follow-up of at least 6 months, and were reported by Ayalew Tefferi, MD, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, here at the American Society of Hematology 55th Annual Meeting.

Le Center Leader, Director of Mayo Clinic Health System’s Fitness Center in New Prague shares 11 tips to stay fit this winter by Debbie Zimmerman, The doldrums of winter make staying in bed with a plate of comfort food sound like a good idea more often than not. Unfortunately, that type of habit isn’t good for your pocketbook or your physical well-being. But finding the motivation to be active and engaged with limited sunlight, snow-covered roads and holiday activities isn’t exactly easy. Jill Rohloff, director of Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague’s The Fitness Center, has 11 tips to help you fight the urge for inactivity this winter.

Medline Plus, Type of Surgical Anesthesia Might Influence Prostate Cancer's Return, For men having prostate cancer surgery, the type of anesthesia doctors use might make a difference in the odds of the cancer returning, a new study suggests..."We can't conclude from this that it's cause-and-effect," said senior researcher Dr. Juraj Sprung, an anesthesiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Additional coverage: Healthfinder.gov, Loma Linda University Health Library

HealthDay, Type of Surgical Anesthesia Might Influence Prostate Cancer's Return, For men having prostate cancer surgery, the type of anesthesia doctors use might make a difference in the odds of the cancer returning, a new study suggests… "We can't conclude from this that it's cause-and-effect," said senior researcher Dr. Juraj Sprung, an anesthesiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Additional coverage: Newsday, Philadelphia Inquirer, MSN, Cancer Compass

Science Codex, Pain drugs used in prostate gland removal linked to cancer outcome, Mayo Clinic-led study finds, The methods used to anesthetize prostate cancer patients and control pain when their prostate glands are surgically removed for adenocarcinoma may affect their long-term cancer outcomes, a study led by Mayo Clinic has found…"We found a significant association between this opioid-sparing technique, reduced progression of the prostate tumor and overall mortality," says senior author Juraj Sprung, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist.

Wisconsin Public Radio, For Those With Memory Loss, Music Can Provide A Connection With The Past…That is, until a nurse gives him an iPod and a pair of headphones, and turns on his favorite music. He suddenly comes to life. His hands and feet sway. His head bobs, and for a fleeting moment in time he’s the man he used to be.…The national Music and Memory Project is embraced by the Mayo Clinic Health System and the Wisconsin DHS, among others. But it’s a fairly new initiative, and while the short-term results are compelling, any long-term benefits for people with memory loss is still a mystery.

Medscape, Lifetime Risk for Adult Strabismus Is 4% by Linda Roach, White adults in the United States have a 4% risk of developing strabismus at some time in their lives, a Minnesota research group estimates. However, most of the risk occurred in the last decades of life, Jennifer M. Martinez-Thompson, MD, from the Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues write report in an article published online December 9 in Ophthalmology.

WJXT Fla., Antibacterial soap, You probably have antibacterial soap in your house and use it on a regular basis. It's long been recommended for its germ-killing power, but a new study shows it may do more harm than good. Dr. Vandana Bhide with the Mayo Clinic talks more about antibacterial soap.

Modern Healthcare, FDA challenging safety of anti-bacterial soaps by Steven Ross Johnson… According to the agency, some studies have suggested long-term exposure to certain chemicals within anti-bacterial products such as triclosan, which is used in liquid soaps, and triclocarban, an ingredient mostly found in bar soaps, could pose a number of health risks, including hormone alteration, and that they help develop antibiotic-resistant germs. “I think this is a valuable step forward by the FDA,” said Dr. Pritish Tosh, an infectious diseases physician and researcher at the Mayo Clinic.

Reuters, Doctors vary on willingness to talk about hospice by Andrew Seaman… Researchers found doctors who said they would opt for care aimed at preventing pain and suffering at the end of their own lives were more likely to discuss that type of care with a hypothetical dying patient… In an essay published in the same journal, Dr. Tanya Tajouri and Dr. Timothy Moynihan from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, tell the story of a dying 55-year-old man who was brought to their hospital.

Post-Bulletin, Mayo Clinic joins firm from Belgium in use of stem cells for heart by Jeff Hansel, … "Although biotherapies are increasingly more sophisticated, the tools for delivering regenerative therapies demonstrate a limited capacity in achieving high cell retention in the heart," said Mayo cardiology specialist Dr. Atta Behfar, lead study author of the study. "Retention of cells is, of course, crucial to an effective, practical therapy."… Mayo Clinic cardiology specialist Dr. Andre Terzic, one of the study's co-authors, reached after hours Monday night, said if the Phase III trials are successful, "regenerative medicine is poised to offer new options for renewed heart health."

Talk Radio Europe, Mayo Clinic expert Jennifer K. Nelson to discuss ‘trans fats’.

Boston Globe, Boston surgeon, physician wife campaign against procedure by Chelsea Conaboy, But Dr. Bobbie Gostout, chairwoman of obstetrics and gynecology at the Mayo Clinic, said more women should be given the option of a vaginal hysterectomy, where the uterus can often be taken out intact through the vagina, especially because morcellation “is a questionable practice.” She said morcellating devices are not yet good at capturing tissue or protecting other sensitive organs from rotating blades. “I don’t want to see [morcellation] go away, but I would like to see it kept in perspective and occupy its necessary place,” she said. “Morcellation is still so far off what it ought to be.”

KAAL, Mayo and March of Dimes Stress 40 Week Pregnancy, Forty weeks; that's how long a full-term pregnancy lasts. But many women actually choose to be induced early. And now, Mayo Clinic doctors are saying that needs to stop… "Respiratory difficulties, feeding difficulties, and increased risk of having problems potentially like Cerebral Palsy," said Dr. Jani Jensen, with Mayo Clinic… "Even though you might be miserable, the baby's not miserable and you need to know that you need to do the right thing for your baby, not what's convenient for you," said Sarah. Additional coverage: HealthCanal, ScienceDaily

Jacksonville Business Journal, Mayo, Florida Blue expand bundled option pilot program by Coleen Michele Jones, Florida Blue and Mayo Clinic are expanding their year-old pilot program in which they charge a flat fee for full and partial knee replacements. Sixty patients took advantage of the bundled payment program, which offers a continuum of services at one flat rate and streamlines the paperwork and payment throughout treatment, which can involve a number of different medical services such as anesthesia and imaging. In the past, patients and the insurance company would be billed separately for each item, and surgeries could have wide cost variances. Additional coverage: Sacramento Bee

USA TODAY, Organizational report: Twins revival starts in rotation by John Perrotto…All the speculation in recent years about Joe Mauer possibly switching positions ended in November when the Minnesota Twins announced the face of the franchise would be moving to first base on a full-time basis in 2014. Mauer missed the final 49 games this past season with a concussion, and he was advised by doctors at the Mayo Clinic that he was at risk for more concussion-related problems if he stayed behind the plate.

Denver Post, Legalization's opening of medical pot research is dream and nightmare by Michael Booth… In the scientific and medical worlds, a parent and a doctor claiming to observe success is vastly different from the high standards of a clinical trial. In such stringent, FDA-controlled tests, neither the patients nor their treating doctors know who is given CBD, for example, and who is given a placebo. "Observational data is regarded as fairly low quality in the hierarchy of things," said Dr. J. Michael Bostwick, a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist who has written a survey of research into medical marijuana claims titled "Blurred Boundaries."

KARE11, FDA approves magnetic device to treat migraines…The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of a new magnetic device, called the Cerena Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator (TMS) that will hopefully help fight off the debilitating pain… While the company that makes the device, eNeura, did not have pictures or video of the Cerena TMS on its website, spokesperson Claire Sojda said the Spring TMS…Sojda also said The Mayo Clinic was one of sixteen centers that participated in the study of the Cerena TMS.

Myeloma Beacon, SAR650984 Shows Encouraging Early Results For Heavily Pretreated Multiple Myeloma (ASH 2013) by Julie Shilane… SAR650984 is one of several potential new anti-myeloma agents for which clinical results were first presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting last week. The results were presented by Dr. Joseph Mikhael from the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, who told The Beacon, “This drug was hands down the most promising new agent at ASH for myeloma.”

KEYC Mankato, Doctors, City Leaders Grapple With E-CigarettesDr. Stephan Thome an Oncologist with the Mayo Health Clinic System says, "We don't know yet whether second–hand vapor versus second–hand smoke, we don't know yet that it's perfectly safe, while e–cig's appear based on what we know to be less harmful than a smoke tobacco cigarette we don't know for sure if they are completely harmless." Doctors also told us they do not encourage anyone to start using e–cig's. They wanted to remind the public that the long term effects of using e–cigarettes are still unknown.

Las Vegas Review Journal, Progressive aphasia: when words get stuck between mind and mouth…What might also be surprising are the prevalence and dramatically disruptive nature of speech and language problems that worsen with time, says physician David G. Lott, director of the Mayo Clinic Arizona Voice Program…An October Mayo Clinic study found that patients with a speech and language disorder are 3½ times more likely to be teachers than people with Alzheimer’s dementia. Mayo Clinic neurologist Keith Josephs, the study’s senior author, says that because teachers are constantly communicating, they may be more sensitive to the development of speech and language problems.

Post-Bulletin, DMC enlists ambassadors to shape, sell plan in Rochester by Jeff Hansel, Still in the early stages of formation, Destination Medical Center is enlisting a growing group of people to sell the plan and help shape what happens next…At a meeting last week, participants talked about getting more involvement from community members who are not part of Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic employees and local small-business owners.

Post-Bulletin, Our View: Rochester shouldn't have to import skilled workers, The revival of vocational and technical education in Rochester couldn't be happening at a better time. Mayo Clinic's Destination Medical Center initiative will prompt a building boom that will leave the region about 1,500 laborers short of the workforce needed, said Jim Kelly, executive director of the nonprofit Construction Partnership Inc.

Star Tribune, As government goes long, what about the details? By Lori Sturdevant, Want a surefire holiday party conversation starter? Last week’s e-mailbag contained this suggestion: “Over the next 20 years, which of the following will have the most positive impact on the future of Minnesota and its economy: 1) The new Vikings football stadium; 2) Copper nickel mining in northeastern Minnesota; or 3) The multi-billion-dollar expansion of the Mayo Clinic and greater Rochester?

Red Wing Republican-Eagle, The doctor will see you…soon, The Mayo Clinic Health System’s River Region strives to beat even the best times and, according to process improvement manager Vaughn Bartch, does so at every clinic on average. That’s because time isn’t just money, it’s health. "The patient experience is better," he said. "Their outcomes are better."… "Not only do staff members ‘get it,’ we’ve also engaged all of them in reviewing the data: Where can we find waste within our system? Are we doing things right while adhering to national standards, best practices?" he said.

Kansas City Star, Children’s Mercy Hospital offers hope for teens with mysterious, excruciating pain…Other programs exist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.; Boston Children’s Hospital; Stanford in California; the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital; and a few other hospitals…“I’ll tell you about the pain I see and the kids I see,” says Barbara Bruce, director of the Mayo Clinic’s pediatric chronic pain program, which opened in 2010. “There’s a lot of pressures on the kids we see. They’re driven.”

Clinical Oncology, MRI Use Common, But Not Always Evidence-Based… At the Society of Surgical Oncology annual meeting, experts debated the ever-expanding use of MRI in breast cancer management. Sarah McLaughlin, MD, an assistant professor of surgery at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., said MRI use is increasing for many reasons. In addition to screening mammography, MRI is now recognized as an important screening tool in women at high risk for breast cancer, especially those with a genetic mutation predisposing them to breast cancer or an estimated lifetime risk for breast cancer greater than 20%.

MedPage Today, Breast Cancer: Tamoxifen Metabolite Promising by Ed Susman, n the first human experience with a drug that is the main metabolite of tamoxifen, promising responses were observed in woman diagnosed with aromatase inhibitor resistant, metastatic breast cancer, researchers said here. In a dose-ranging Phase 1 trial that included 22 women, two partial responses were observed and nine women achieved disease stabilization on seven different doses of endoxifen, said Matthew Goetz, MD, deputy director of the Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE), Rochester, Minn.

Wall Street Journal, Eating Well on $4.30 a Day by Brett Arends…I discussed the diet with my doctor, who said it was perfectly healthful and probably better than the way most people eat. (She also advised I cut down on the peanut butter.) Later, I reviewed my food intake with Donald Hensrud, M.D., the chair of preventative medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and the editor in chief of "The Mayo Clinic Diet." "Overall, I think this is excellent," Dr. Hensrud said. "It's more nutritious than the way many, if not most, people eat."

KMSP Twin Cities, INVESTIGATORS: America's test tube, Researchers from around the world come to Minnesota to study what ails us and how doctors treat those problems, and that information is leading to some life-saving discoveries…"It's worth billions," Dr. Barbara Yawn, research director at OMC, estimated…One of the things they measure periodically is a person's walking agate…The massive database of health records is called the REP, which stands for Rochester Epidemiology Project. It draws its information from both the Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center, which provide virtually all of the medical care in the region.

Huffington Post, Ask Healthy Living: Do You Really Need To Clean Off Gym Equipment? By Sarah Klein…Turns out, our health-minded community is on to something. Warm, moist environments are where bacteria really like to grow, says Dr. Pritish Tosh, infectious diseases physician at the Mayo Clinic. And if the gym isn't a warm, moist environment, we don't know what is. "There is certainly a potential for transmission of certain kinds of infections," he says.

NY Times, Have a Seat and Start Working Out by Shivani Vora, The Stability Ball as a Way to Exercise at the Office…Research has addressed the negative effects of excessive sitting. Dr. James Levine, director of obesity solutions at the Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University, for example, has found that too much time in a chair can increase the risk of diabetes, hypertension and cancer.

LA Times, Bioethics panel offers guidelines for 'incidental findings' by Melissa Healy, The phrase "we've found something unexpected" is the kind of broadside a patient or research subject should never have to hear for the first time after the discovery is made. That is the overriding message of a report by a presidential panel on the ethics of "incidental findings" in medical treatment, biomedical research and commercial testing aimed at health-conscious consumers…A 2010 study conducted at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota found that nearly 40% of high-tech imaging scans performed in the course of research revealed an unexpected abnormality that could be medically worrisome.

KNXV Ariz., Young Mesa Woman Battles Heart Disease, Transplant recipient beats all the odds, Mayo Clinic patient Mia Welch shares her story.

Star Tribune (AP) Wisconsin state Sen. Cullen recovering from open heart surgery, Wisconsin state Sen. Tim Cullen, of Janesville, is recovering from open heart surgery. Cullen's office said Tuesday that Cullen had valve replacement surgery on Dec. 5 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. The release says Cullen was aware of the problem since April and the surgery was not an emergency.

ABC15 Phoenix, Mayo Clinic on how to know if you're vulnerable for heart disease, Mayo Clinic cardiologist, Steven J. Lester, M.D., joined the cast of Sonoran Living Live to talk about Mayo Clinic's use of imaging in determining patient risk of heart disease. Learn more about cardiac diagnostic and treatment options available at Mayo Clinic by joining ABC15 and Rally for Red, and from Mayo Clinic staff members each month on Sonoran Living Live.

CBC Radio, Organ Donation - The Heart of the Matter, On this weeks show, Brian speaks with Dr. Phil Fischer, a paediatrician at the Mayo Clinic. He was inspired to donate one of his kidneys anonymously. He shares his inspiring story.

ABC News, Kansas Woman’s Kidney Billboard Draws Overwhelming Response by Tatiana Shams-Costa…After languishing on a transplant waiting list, a Salinas, Kan., couple decided to take matters into their own hands. Sharon Nelson, 73, and her husband James, 70, rented a billboard on Interstate 70 in Jewell, Cloud County to advertise Sharon’s plight. Then they went out to the highway, where James climbed up the board to paint their message...Sharon Nelson told ABC News they got the idea from a nurse at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minn. The nurse said she knew a Milwaukee man who had found a donor for himself after renting a billboard, Nelson said. Additional coverage: Huffington Post, WEAR Fla.

HealthDay, Light Exercise Might Reduce Risk of Kidney Stones, Just a little exercise each week -- jogging for an hour or walking for about three hours -- can reduce the risk of developing kidney stones by up to 31 percent, according to a new study…Dr. John Lieske, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said the study, which included only postmenopausal women, must be replicated in a larger, more diverse population. Women who engage in regular physical activity also likely have other healthy habits that help lower their risk for kidney stones, he added.

Medscape Renal Denervation...the Clues are in the Kidney by Robert Simari M.D., and Rajive Gulati, M.D., Ph.D., Robert D Simari MD: Greetings, I'm Rob Simari of the division of cardiovascular diseases at the Mayo Clinic. Today I'm pleased to be joined by Dr Rajiv Gulati, one of the leading interventionalists at the Mayo Clinic, to talk about a topic that has been very exciting over the past few years, and that is the topic of renovascular denervation.

FOX News, 4 ways to fight seasonal depression naturally by Jacqueline Silvestri Banks, The shorter days of winter can give you the blues, and for some people, it may even lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), or seasonal depression.…Symptoms of SAD include depression, anxiety, loss of energy, social withdrawal, loss of interest in normal activities, weight gain and appetite changes, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Occupational Health and Safety, COPD Linked with Memory Loss by Mayo Clinic, A new study reported by the Mayo Clinic study found that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are about twice as likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, and it is likely to include memory loss. The study was published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

WQOW Eau Claire, Colored salt can be mistaken for sweet treat, We all know not to eat yellow snow but what about other colors? You may have come across blue salt on sidewalks and parking lots. The salt is colored to better show where it's been spread…"If you swallow it, especially the calcium salts can irritate your stomach and your intestines," said Dr. Paul Horrath and emergency physician with Mayo Clinic Health System.

La Crosse Tribune Extra Effort: BRF senior wins battle against painful disease by Patrick Anderson, Carah Bunnell lives with pain. Ignoring it, along with nausea and dizziness, the 17-year-old depends on daily routines and careful maneuvers to avoid any serious complications from a medical condition that took over her life when she was a freshman. Carah missed months of school after being diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, but not anymore, even though she still lives with the disease…She hasn’t missed a school day due to POTS since leaving the Mayo program, though she still missed significant time in her junior year after contracting mononucleosis and pneumonia in the same month.

MedPage Today, AHA’s 2013 Clinical Research Prize: Thomas G. Brott, MD, Mayo Clinic, The winners of the American Heart Association's 2013 awards discuss their careers and accomplishments in these exclusive MedPage Today interviews.

Post-Bulletin, Mayor chooses members for new Mayo Civic Center commission by Edie Grossfield, As part of a new oversight strategy for Mayo Civic Center, Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede has submitted a list of seven people to serve on a newly created Mayo Civic Center Commission…He chose Marv Mitchell, division chair of media support at Mayo Clinic and president of the Riverside Concerts Advisory Board, because of his connection to the arts community.

NBC Latino, What you need to know about mononucleosis, Infectious mononucleosis, also known as mono or “the kissing disease,” is caused by a virus that is transmitted through saliva. NBC Latino contributor Dr. Joseph Sirven shares the facts you need to know about mono. Dr. Joseph Sirven is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurology and was past Director of Education for Mayo Clinic Arizona.

Bien Star Salud180, ¿Cómo daña la obesidad a tu estructura ósea? La obesidad es una enfermedad que se detona en mayor medida por tener un estilo de vida poco activo y nutritivo. La ciencia confirma que los factores genéticos sí influyen, pero son más importantes las elecciones que haces en tu día a día. En entrevista con Salud180.com, el médico Joaquín Sánchez Sotelo, consultor de Mayo Clinic, revela que las secuelas del sobrepeso y obesidad no se centran sólo en tener más riesgo de diabetes tipo 2, cáncer, hipertensión o infartos, sino también se confirma que la obesidad daña las articulaciones de las personas. Additional coverage: TV Mas, Yahoo! Noticias

El Comentario, Obesidad y sobrepeso aumentan implantes en rodilla y cadera… El especialista de la Clínica Mayo, Joaquín Sánchez Sotelo, resaltó que en personas con obesidad el impacto en la estructura ósea es severo e irreversible, sobre todo en rodillas, y que en Estados Unidos representa 50 por ciento de las prótesis que se implantan, situación que podría replicarse en México de no atenderse.

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