October 14, 2016

Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights

By Karl Oestreich

Mayo Clinic in the News LogoMayo 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. Thank you.

Editor, Karl Oestreich;  Assistant Editor: Emily Blahnik

 

MPR
Your genes can affect how medications work in your body

Doctors are learning about a new tool that can help them determine what the best treatment option is for each individual patient. It's called individualized medicine and it's the topic of a conference happening this week at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. MPR's Phil Picardi spoke with Dr.MPR News logo Keith Stewart, who is the director of the Mayo Clinic's Center for Individualized Medicine.

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: Keith Stewart, M.B., Ch.B is a Mayo Clinic hematologist and director of Mayo's Center for Individualized Medicine.  Individualized medicine, also known as personalized medicine or precision medicine, means tailoring diagnosis and treatment to each patient to optimize care. Patients have experienced this kind of care for a century and a half at Mayo Clinic, where teams of specialists have always worked together to find answers.

Contact: Susan Buckles

 

TIME
The Case for Being Messy
by Tim Harford

Messy disruptions will be most powerful when combined with creative skill. The disruption puts an artist, scientist or engineer in unpromising Time magazine logoterritory—a deep valley rather than a familiar hilltop…We’re often told that good work comes from the ability to focus, to shut out distractions. To choose from a plethora of self-help tips along these lines, a Mayo Clinic psychologist, Dr Amit Sood, advises us to focus more effectively by turning off the TV, logging out of email and taking up “attention training” to “train your brain.”

Reach: Time magazine covers national and international news and provides analysis and perspective of these events. The weekly magazine has a circulation of 3.2 million readers and its website has 4.6 million unique visitors each month.

Context: Amit Sood, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic physician in General Internal Medicine and the Cancer Center. Dr. Sood is editor of the  Mayo Clinic Handbook for Happiness and The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living.

Contact: Traci Klein

 

Wall Street Journal
Can New Smartphone Apps Help Migraine Sufferers?
by Laura Johannes

David Dodick, a professor of neurology and director of headache medicine at Mayo Clinic, in Phoenix, says some migraine sufferers may not need the apps if they have obvious triggers, such as alcohol use or menstruation. More likely to benefit are people whose migraine attacks occur whenWSJ Banner several triggers “stack” on top of each other. “For example, you’re an accountant and it’s tax time, you’re stressed, sleep-deprived and you have a glass of wine to unwind. All those factors together have pushed you over the edge,” suggests Dr. Dodick, who is president of the International Headache Society.

Reach: The Wall Street Journal, a US-based newspaper published by Dow Jones & Company, has an average circulation of 2.3 million daily which includes print and digital versions.

Context: David Dodick, M.D. is a neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Contact: Jim McVeigh

 

Huffington Post
What Your Body Type Can Reveal About Your Health
by Deborah Long

It’s important to know which body type you are, because your health risks vary accordingly. A quick look in the mirror should tell you whether you’re an apple or a pear, but if you’re not sure, you can ask your doctor next time you have a physical. Michael Jensen, M.D., an endocrinologist Huffington Post Logowith the Mayo Clinic, is an expert on the health risks associated with excess weight. He has spent fully three decades studying the risks overweight patients face and is considered a pioneer of correlating how body type – or where excess weight is carried – relates to the likelihood of developing various diseases. His research has led him to conclude that there is no question that one body type is especially at risk for life-threatening conditions.

Reach: The Huffington Post attracts over 38.7 million monthly unique visitors.

Context:  Michael Jensen, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist. Dr. Jensen and his lab study the effects of obesity and how body fat (adipose tissue) and body fat distribution influence health. The regulated uptake, storage and release of fatty acids from adipose tissue play a major role in determining its health effects.

Contact: Bob Nellis

 

Florida Times-Union
Mayo Clinic hits 30th year in Jacksonville by Mayo Clinic hits 30th year in Jacksonville
by Charlie Patton

The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville opened to patients 30 years ago, including 2,700 people from 30 states who already made appointments. By today’s standards, the facility was a small scale operation: One medical building, 37 physicians, 158 other employees. Contrast that to what MayoFlorida Times-Union newspaper logo is today — a medical center today that sprawls over 18 buildings and a parking garage on the campus located off San Pablo Road. Four-hundred-ninety-five physicians and scientists — many researchers with doctorates — and 4,664 other employees work there.

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

Context: Mayo Clinic’s campus in Florida is celebrating 30 years of providing high-quality medical care in Northeast Florida. Since the clinic opened in 1986, more than 600,000 unique patients from all 50 states and 143 countries have come to the Florida campus for Mayo’s unique, patient-centered approach to medical care. “Innovation is in our DNA at Mayo Clinic,” says Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., CEO, Mayo Clinic in Florida. “Through three decades of growth, Mayo Clinic’s campus in Florida has invested in people, space and technology to carry forward the vision of our founders and meet the needs of patients, today and into the future.” More information can be found on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Contact: Paul Scotti

Reuters, Underactive thyroid may be overdiagnosed, overtreated in the elderly by Kathryn Doyle — A recent case study provides a snapshot of the larger problem, the authors write in JAMA Internal Medicine. Just 1 percent to 2 percent of people have hypothyroidism, in which their thyroid gland is underactive and requires treatment, coauthor Dr. Juan P. Brito of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, told Reuters Health. But about 15 percent of people have “subclinical hypothyroidism”- hormone levels that are between the healthy range and the diagnostic cutoff for hypothyroidism and that cause few or no symptoms…“There is some evidence linking subclinical hypothyroidism to cardiovascular events,” Brito told Reuters Health. “But there’s no really good argument or data to support treatment.”

New York Times, Think Like a Doctor: A Terrible Stomachache by Lisa Sanders, M.D. — Every month the Diagnosis column of The New York Times Magazine asks Well readers to sift through a difficult real-life medical case and solve a diagnostic riddle. This month’s case concerns a previously healthy middle-age woman who goes to doctor after doctor with abdominal pain so terrible that she can barely eat or sleep. … Now frantic with worry, the patient’s husband called the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. It was Friday afternoon. After a brief conversation the appointment was set. Could they be there first thing on Monday? They could. The doctor at the Mayo Clinic was warm in demeanor and tidy in appearance. He quickly reviewed the records they brought and then just wanted to hear their experience…

Washington Post, Woman who has baby with mom’s womb: it’s “science fiction” by Maria Cheng — Her operation was performed by Mats Brannstrom, a Swedish doctor who is the only person in the world to deliver babies — five so far — from women with donated wombs. Brannstom believes the operation will one day be common, and he is working with doctors elsewhere, including at Harvard Medical School and the Mayo Clinic in the U.S., to perfect the procedure.

US News & World Report, When Is a Muscle Twitch Cause for Concern? by Michael O. Schroeder — “If someone’s worried their muscle twitching might be an early sign of ALS, it doesn’t hurt at all to see somebody,” says Dr. Anthony Windebank, a neurologist at Mayo Clinic and professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. Experts recommend starting with a primary care doctor, who can do an initial assessment and refer the patient to a neurologist as necessary. Tell your doctor if you have a family history of ALS or other neurological disorders.

Reuters, Unclear if sports raise later arthritis risk by Carolyn CristPlaying team sports, especially soccer, at the elite level may lead to a higher risk for osteoarthritis, but the existing research is of such low quality it’s hard to say for sure, according to a recent review…. “People often question whether participating in sports increases their risk of injury or long-term joint damage,” said Edward Laskowski, co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center in Rochester, Minnesota, who was not involved with the study. “However, we are in the midst of a global epidemic of obesity and sedentary lifestyle,” he told Reuters Health by email. “The benefits of exercise have been well documented, and there is a great need to incorporate movement and activity into our lives.” Additional coverage: FOX News

TIME, 7 Natural Cures for IBS by Amanda MacMillan — Medications are available to ease the symptoms of IBS, but some patients feel better trying natural remedies instead of (or in addition to) conventional drugs. The problem is, says Yuri Saito-Loftus, MD, a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic, there’s not nearly as much scientific research on these “treatments” to show how well they really work. “There’s usually not a big pharmaceutical company with billions of dollars to sponsor a randomized clinical trial for these alternative remedies,” says Dr. Saito-Loftus. “A lot of what we rely on to make recommendations to our patients are the rare cases when either the government or a large supplement company has enough interest to fund a study.”

The Atlantic, When Genetic Autopsies Go Awry by Sarah Zhang — Doctors call it “sudden unexpected death,” but that doesn’t give a grieving family any answers. But that might be changing, thanks to the power of genetic tests. Mayo Clinic doctor Michael Ackerman pioneered the so-called molecular autopsy in 1999, using a DNA test to explain the sudden death of a 19-year-old woman with a previously-undiagnosed inherited heart condition. Since then, sequencing DNA has become orders of magnitude cheaper and more sophisticated. With medical examiners considering DNA tests as part of autopsy reports, the molecular autopsy has raised new ethical concerns.

Reader’s Digest, 6 Clear Signs You Should Switch from Birth Control Pills to an IUD by Colette House — An IUD, or intrauterine device—which your ob-gyn can insert into your uterus in about five minutes—blocks contraception for many years.…“The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends long-acting reversible contraception, such as IUDs and implants, as a first line contraceptive option of women of all ages, even women who haven’t had babies, adolescents, and women over 40, because they are so safe, effective, and convenient,” says Petra Casey, MD, director of the Complex Contraception Clinic at Mayo Clinic. “But if you want to get pregnant in the next six to 12 months, an IUD is not a good option for you.”

Reader’s Digest, 7 Clear Signs You Might Need Sleep Meds by Colette House — You snore like a chain saw: Snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea. When we’re awake, muscles hold the back of the throat open; when we sleep, those muscles relax. Sometimes that muscle relaxation obstructs air from getting from the mouth or nose to the lungs, says Michel H. Silber, MD, professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and co-director of the Center for Sleep medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “In some people who snore, that obstruction gets severe enough that the throat shuts altogether,” Dr. Silber explains.

Medscape, Physician Burnout Can Be Reduced by Targeted Interventions by Diana Phillips — In a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating the effect of physician burnout interventions, investigators identify multiple individual and organizational-based programs that produced significant improvements in the prevalence and severity of overall burnout, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization. If applied to 2014 national data for US physicians, the effects of the pooled improvement data in this analysis "would return burnout in each domain to levels near or even below those previously reported from 2011 national data," Colin P. West, MD, PhD, from the Division of General Internal Medicine and Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues report in an article published online September 28 in the Lancet.

HealthDay, Drug Trio Shows Major Promise Against Myeloma by Amy Norton — "It is very likely that (this regimen) will be rapidly adopted by practicing physicians," said lead researcher Dr. Meletios Dimopoulos, a professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in Greece. Dr. Vincent Rajkumar, a cancer specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said he is one of them. The three-drug combo will be his "first choice" for myeloma patients who suffer a first-time relapse, Rajkumar said. He wrote an editorial published with the findings in the Oct. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

SELF, What Are Canker Sores And How Do You Get Rid Of Them? by Amy Marturana — Overzealous brushing, harsh mouthwashes, spicy or acidic foods, hormonal changes, and stress can all trigger canker sores, according to the Mayo Clinic. Coxsackie viruses, or “hand, foot, and mouth disease,” which is common in kids and not normally serious, can cause these little sores.

Business Insider, A 4-year-old who overdosed on vitamins reveals why we should never have told people to start taking them by Erin Brodwin — After tests revealed the boy had extraordinarily high calcium and vitamin D levels, one of the boy's parents told doctors that they'd been feeding him 12 different dietary supplements, including a mixture of vitamins, oils, and minerals…These vitamin levels can be dangerous and toxic. Most children don't need to be given supplements (if you're considering feeding them to your child, talk with your doctor first). "Multivitamins aren't necessary for most healthy children who are growing normally," Dr. Jay Hoecker, an emeritus member of the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, writes on the Mayo Clinic website.

Healthcare Business News, Mayo Clinic added to Wal-Mart’s Centers of Excellence network for spine surgery — Mayo Clinic recently was added to Wal-Mart’s Centers of Excellence network for spine care. Wal-Mart associates will receive a benefit that provides them with access to high-quality, cost-effective care from Mayo Clinic providers — experts in treating complex and rare conditions, including spine problems. Wal-Mart’s Center of Excellence program provides associates enrolled in the benefits program access to Mayo Clinic and covers the full costs of care, including surgery. Additional coverage: Becker’s Orthopedic & Spine

Twin Cities Business, Mayo, MIT Awarded $9.7M Grant To Improve Brain Tumor Drug Delivery by Sam Schaust — The National Cancer Institute awarded a $9.7 million grant to Mayo Clinic and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Wednesday. “The most common types of malignant brain tumors—brain metastases origination from cancers outside of the brain, and glioblastoma—have regions that are protected from most drugs,” said Jann Sarkaria, a co-principal investigator at Mayo. “Low-level drug exposure in these regions can promote drug resistance and that may be why there have been no new effective drug treatments for brain tumors in more than a decade.” The money will be distributed across a five-year span and go toward supporting an NCI-affiliated Physical Sciences-Oncology Center.

Twin Cities Business, Mayo Researchers Win Patent For Sophisticated New ALS, Dementia Gene Test by Don Jacobson — A Mayo Clinic research team that recently announced a breakthrough in ways to research amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and an increasingly frequent type of dementia has won a patent on a powerful new genetic test for those neurodegenerative diseases. The U.S. Patent Office in late September approved an application by Mayo for a novel immunoassay targeting ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), invented by members of its Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, led by Leonard Petrucelli, chairman of the clinic’s neurology department in Jacksonville, Florida. Mayo says that not only will the new mouse model be useful for testing new drugs, but that the study findings also suggest that a drug now used to alleviate the toxicity associated with foci can prevent TDP-43 pathology as well.

Post-Bulletin, Will DMC be moving dirt next fall? by Jeff Kiger — The developer building Mayo Clinic's Discovery Square project hopes to be "moving dirt" by next fall. "We have a conceptual timeline in place, and that shows us in the ground by next fall," said Jeremy Jacobs, a development executive at Minneapolis M.A. Mortenson Co. "So, by say Oct. 1, 2017, we would hope to be moving dirt as they say." He added that the Destination Medical Center project is in the very early stages and there are many factors that could change it.

Star Tribune, Former North Stars player joins the push to find kidney donors by Shannon Prather — Professional hockey cost retired North Star Pat Micheletti a knee and a hip. But it was the ibuprofen he took daily to manage aches and pains that nearly cost him his life. At age 50, Micheletti was diagnosed with kidney failure that was likely triggered by daily use of the over-the-counter medicine. A kidney transplant in 2015 saved his life…The kidney waitlist “has the highest number of people on it and it has the longest wait times,” said Dr. Patrick Dean, the Mayo Clinic transplant surgeon who treated Micheletti. “In Minnesota, the wait time is three to five years for a deceased donor.”

Star Tribune, Alzheimer's researchers at University of Minnesota reverse memory loss in mice by Maura Lerner — Karen Ashe, a world-renowned expert on Alzheimer’s disease, said the research shows that it may be possible for the brain to repair itself, even after the signs of memory loss have appeared…Many scientists have been skeptical about the chances of reversing dementia, saying that they’re more like to have better luck preventing it than curing the disease. “The idea of reversal of memory loss, quite frankly, is wishful thinking at the present time,” said Dr. David Knopman, an Alzheimer’s specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Knopman, who describes himself as a friend and admirer of Ashe’s, said that at this point, scientists “would be happy if we could forestall or slow down memory loss.”

Star Tribune, Health plan limits could pinch Minnesota insurance shoppers by Christopher Snowbeck — The state Commerce Department is letting most insurers cap their enrollment for 2017 so the carriers aren’t overwhelmed. As a result, consumers who don’t shop quickly might not have a chance at the health insurance policy they would prefer. In addition, all plans in the market this year feature limits on networks, so patients might not find a plan with low-cost access to the doctors and hospitals they want. The Mayo Clinic is a case in point, since health plans outside southern Minnesota won’t include the famed Rochester-based clinic as an in-network provider.

Star Tribune, Medical spending is up 5.6% in Minnesota, but clinic costs vary widely by Jeremy Olson — Medical spending in Minnesota climbed 5.6 percent in 2015, to $474 per person, according to the third annual Total Cost of Care report by a nonprofit watchdog group, but costs varied dramatically from one clinic to another. Privately insured patients at the Synergy clinic in White Bear Lake had the lowest costs — $365 in 2015 — while those using the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for primary care cost the most on average, at $914. Mayo officials have long supported the MNCM effort while questioning the methodology, which often makes their world-renowned facilities look expensive. Among their concerns: Whether patients traveling to Rochester for treatment of complex diseases get artificially assigned to Mayo as their source of primary care. “Until measurement tools are able to resolve issues, such as attributing each patient the right level of care, they will not have the desired effect of providing actionable information for health care consumers,” said Mayo spokesman Bryan Anderson. Additional coverage: Duluth News Tribune

Mankato Free Press, Cost of health care in area on rise by Brian Arola — Medical care costs for insured patients in Minnesota rose by more than 5 percent last year, according to new data analysis. In a statement, Mayo Clinic Health System spokesman Micah Dorfner said measuring costs for care at destination centers such as Mayo Clinic can be complicated. While the clinic supports efforts to transparently measure costs for care, distinctions should be made in the data to reflect the difference between complex care and community care. As a health system, Dorfner said steps are being taken to mitigate costs.

KTTC, Mayo Clinic family mourns the passing of Sister Generose Gervais by Noel Sederstrom — A towering figure in the growth and evolution of Saint Marys Hospital and Mayo Clinic passed away peacefully Friday evening. Sister Generose Gervais was 97. Sister Generose was the administrator of Saint Marys Hospital from 1971 to 1985, and was in charge during the construction of the Mary Brigh Building with its 40 operating rooms, 130 beds, two new intensive care units and larger Emergency/Trauma Unit.  She was the fifth and last Franciscan Sister to hold that role in the hospital built by the Sisters of Saint Francis in 1889 to help Dr. W. W. Mayo bring medical care to Rochester. “Sister Generose was known for her faith, her quiet leadership, her wise counsel, her dedication to patients and staff, her sense of humor and the example of service that she lived every day,” says John Noseworthy, M.D., president and CEO, Mayo Clinic. “Mayo Clinic was blessed by her presence for more than 60 years.” Additional coverage: KAAL, Post-Bulletin

KEYC Mankato, Helping Kids Who Fear The Flu Shot by Shawn Loging — With the flu mist determined to be ineffective, it means flu shot clinics will be delivering a few more pinches. With flu season coming, many people are getting ready by sitting down to receive a vaccination. Mayo Clinic Social Worker Kate Cox said, "The flu shot is extremely important because it's our best defense right now against the flu season." While no one enjoys the discomfort of a needle's pinch, for some people, having that injection pushed into their arm can be scary, especially for kids. To make it a better experience for their young patient, doctors and nurses work to ease some of that fear with distraction and relaxation techniques.

KTTC, From Valentine's Day dinner to ER: How individualized medicine saved woman's life by Chris Yu — Hundreds of researchers from around the world are attending a conference at Mayo Civic Center -- to discuss advances in individualized medicine. Individualized medicine is a practice in which doctors match the diagnosis and treatment to an individual based on his or her genetics, environment and lifestyle. Essentially, it's a way to really personalize care. The conference, called Individualizing Medicine 2016: Advancing Care Through Genomics, will run through Friday. In addition to researchers, one of the attendees is Karen Daggett, who credits individualized medicine for saving her life.

KIMT, Cuddle Cot helps parents of stillborn babies grieve by Hannah Funk — Lynne Port is a volunteer photographer for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep where she photographs stillborn babies. She has donated a Cuddle Cot to Mayo Clinic Health Systems – Albert Lea to help families with stillborns have more time with their loved one. It’s a medical cooling system that goes in a bassinet and the purpose of a cuddle cot is to postpone changes in a stillborn child…It costs a little more than $2,500 and Port is hoping to donate at least one more cuddle cot to Mayo Clinic. If you’re interested if donating money you can on her GOFUNDME page.

WQOW Eau Claire, Mayo Clinic Health System's Breast Cancer Awareness events by Samantha Wensel — Terri Soley, Mayo Clinic Health System HERS Breast Center supervisor, and Renelle Laffe-Oldenburg, founder of Hope in the Valley, discuss Breast Cancer Awareness Month events on WQOW Daybreak.

Finance & Commerce, Mortenson sets timeline for Mayo project in Rochester by Matt M. Johnson — M.A. Mortenson Co. expects to break ground by October 2017 on the first Destination Medical Center building ordered by Mayo Clinic for downtown Rochester. The project cements the company’s role as both a builder and developer in the first stage of the 20-year redevelopment project. In September, Mayo picked Golden Valley-based Mortenson as the developer for Discovery Square, one of six sub-districts to be redeveloped in the $6 billion buildout plan… Mortenson expects to pick an architect for its Discovery Square work in the next 60 days, he said. Mayo has control of a “significant portion” of the eight-block Discovery Square, Jacobs said. Mortenson is working with Mayo to find the right site for the first new building.

Post-Bulletin, WomenHeart 'gives them a new purpose in life' by Taylor Nachtigal — At 51, DeArra Foster had double bypass surgery after a heart attack. A year later, in 2002, Foster traveled to Rochester to take part in a WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic. For the first time that year, the national volunteer training organization brought together women from around the country — it also was the first time Foster realized she wasn't alone and that many other women throughout the country were struggling with the same chronic illness… The goal is that when they return to their communities, they can start support groups to educate their communities about heart disease, said Dr. Sharonne Hayes, founder of the women's heart clinic and professor of medicine and cardiovascular disease at Mayo, which has been involved with the organization since 1999.

KIMT, Teens learn how to use mindfulness by Adam Sallet — The daily grind of going to school can make any student stressed, but one class in southern Minnesota is looking at ways to relax. Mr. Andy Johnsrud’s class at John Marshall High School in Rochester are taking a five-week course on the use of mindfulness. If you didn’t know, this type of therapy is focused on being in the moment — not worrying about the future. To do this, they are getting help from a Mayo Clinic fitness instructor named Stephanie Sutherland. The teacher and Sutherland both say they are excited to see the students open up to new ways of thinking and are happy to be doing this program.

Healio, Mindfulness, stress management reduce physician burnout — Mindfulness, stress management training and small group discussions demonstrated benefits in physicians combating burnout, Colin P. West, MD, of the division of general internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic, and colleagues reported. "Physician burnout, a work-related syndrome involving emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a sense of reduced personal accomplishment, has reached epidemic levels, with prevalences near or exceeding 50%, as documented in national studies of both physicians in training and practicing physicians," West and colleagues wrote.

KAAL, Song, Dance, Super Heroes for Kids Battling Rare Heart Disease by Megan Stewart — For many families from all over the country, Saturday wasn't a regular trip to Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Mayo clinic hosted its third annual Feel the Beat event, bringing together many children battling hypoplastic left heart syndrome, or HLHS, a rare form of congenital heart disease… Pediatric cardiologist Muhammad Quresh says treatment includes three extremely complicated open heart surgeries. "These are the most complex open-heart surgery you can possibly think of,” Quresh said. "The beauty of pediatric cardiology: the children actually have a lot of capacity to regenerate, to fix themselves. We can not even imagine doing these kinds of surgeries on adults."

Fierce Healthcare, Anti-phishing training must be ongoing, relevant by Susan D. Hall — Training healthcare staff about the dangers of phishing can’t just be a one-time thing. It must be routine, relevant and consistent, according to Mark Parkulo, associate dean of clinical practices at the Mayo Clinic. As part of its security efforts, Mayo's staff routinely creates fake emails with real-life scenarios that can trick users into clicking on them, one of the primary ways ransomware or other malicious code is introduced into healthcare networks. “You can do that education, but there is so much turnover in your staff and other security issues that arise, so if you do not consistently do the education and continually monitor what is happening, you will not be successful,” Parkulo tells Healthcare IT News.

Faribault Daily News, EEG testing available at Mayo Clinic Health System in Faribault by Renee Brown — Mayo Clinic Health System in Faribault now offers Electroencephalogram (EEG) testing locally at the Crossroads Professional Building. An EEG can determine changes in brain activity that may be used in diagnosing brain disorders, such as epilepsy. Mayo Clinic Health System Neurologist Layne Moore, M.D., administers and interprets the test locally. Patients will have their tests done in Faribault and then meet with Moore for diagnosis and treatment.

KCRG Washington, Washington man copes with trigeminal neuralgia by Jordee Kalk — A man in the town of Washington says it's a challenge for him to go out in daylight or even listen to music…Nearly a year later, and after a slew of medications, Techau says doctors at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, diagnosed him with trigeminal neuralgia, or TN. Mayo staff say the disease is triggered by a disruption in one of the core brain nerves.  "I basically had shingles inside the brain."

Jerusalem Post, A time to forgive by Hadassah Fidler — There is an old saying which goes, “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Scientific studies are proving just how true this saying can be. Amit Sood, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester explained that the effects on one’s health from bottled-up anger and resentment can range from anxiety and depression to higher blood pressure and increased risk of heart attacks.

KFDX Texas, Health Cast: New Heart Checks — It used to be that the best way to test your heart health was with an echocardiogram, a stress test or an x-ray, but doctors say in women those tests reveal false positives 35 percent of the time. But researchers are developing better ways of detecting heart disease and they only require a drop of blood…And the Mayo Clinic has just released a first-of-its-kind blood test that may be able to predict a heart attack five years before it happens. The test measures a class of lipids that researchers found are highly associated with chronic heart failure. Mayo Clinic researchers say their test is especially useful for identifying at-risk patients and starting them on a treatment of lipid-lowering drugs.

MassLive, Lab Tests by Jim Kinney — Baystate is considering sending certain specialized and infrequently performed lab tests, including prenatal genetic work, out to Mayo Medical Laboratories, part of the famous Mayo Clinic. Baystate already works with Mayo. Shendell-Falik said it makes sense to farm out some of this specialized work to a larger reference lab.

WEAU Eau Claire, Getting enough sleep? — Psychotherapist Jennifer Wickham discusses the effects of sleep deprivation on children with “Hello, Wisconsin” anchor Tyler Mickelson.

OverAge.com, What Your Body Type Can Reveal About Your Health — Michael Jensen, M.D., an endocrinologist with the Mayo Clinic, is an expert on the health risks associated with excess weight. He has spent fully three decades studying the risks overweight patients face and is considered a pioneer of correlating how body type – or where excess weight is carried – relates to the likelihood of developing various diseases. His research has led him to conclude that there is no question that one body type is especially at risk for life-threatening conditions… “The bigger your waist in relation to your hips,” says Dr. Jensen, “the higher your risk. It’s not a subtle correlation at all.” Waist fat in particular is associated with all-around mortality, and this puts apples at higher risk for a host of serious illnesses”

Fillmore County Journal, Emergency cardiac arrest research presented to county by Karen Reisner — Dr. Jacob Jentzer, M.D., Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, described PEARL, a national research study to learn when best to perform coronary angiogram (heart catheterization) after cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops suddenly. Mayo Clinic will participate in the study and expect patients will be involved from surrounding communities. Cardiac arrest is a major cause of death in the United States. Jentzer defined a heart attack as the sudden closing of an artery that feeds blood to the heart, which can cause cardiac arrest. A heart attack is not always identified after cardiac arrest.

WXOW La Crosse, Flu shot season is here by Alex Wasilenko — The flu vaccine is recommended for ages 6 months or older. The vaccine protects you from the most common strains of the flu and also any complications that accompany the sickness. No need to worry about footing the bill because there are plenty of programs that help with the financial aspect. Kellee Dixon, an Infection Preventionist at the Mayo Clinic says "There are a boatload...I know that Walgreen's just to name one, but I'm not necessarily endorsing them. They have a great program. The county can help you out, although it is my understanding that if you have any insurance at all it will be covered. There is definitely financial help out there if you need it."

WEAU Eau Claire, Medical Career Exploring by Tyler Mickelson — Have you ever thought of entering the medical field, but you're too young to decide? An upcoming exploring event is giving you a chance to experience what it takes to land a job in the industry. Exploring Executive Alyssa Kellagher and Joe Larson with Mayo Clinic Health System sat down with Tyler Mickelson to talk about “Medical Career Exploring”. Alyssa says it’s your chance to check out various careers and experience hands-on opportunities in areas such as Surgery, Nursing Services, Radiology, Orthopedics, Rehab Services, NP/PA, and Pathology. The program is hosted by Mayo Clinic Health System (MCHS) in partnership with Career Exploring! Larson says the partnership has been outstanding.

Heavy Duty Trucking, ATRI Still Seeking Carrier and Driver Input for Mayo Clinic Survey — The American Transportation Research Instituted is still looking for carrier and driver participation in a set of surveys it launched with the Mayo Clinic on the impact tjhat the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners has had on the DOT medical exam process. ATRI and the Mayo Clinic initatiated the set of surveys last month on NRCME and the surveys will remain open to carriers and drivers through Oct. 21, 2016. The research collaboration between ATRI and the Mayo Clinic will quantify how effective the NRCME process is in improving the DOT physical exam process and ensuring that medical examiners understand FMCSA regulations and guidance for issuing medical certificates.

Prostate Cancer News Today, PET, MRI Combination Helps Map Prostate Cancer Relapses by Joana Fernandes, Ph.D. — “This study has important implications for men who have a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, also known as biochemical recurrence, after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer,” Dr. Jeffrey Karnes, from Mayo Clinic, said in a news release. “In men with biochemical recurrence, determining where the disease has recurred is quite challenging, especially when the PSA level is low.” According to Karnes, nearly 30 percent of men who undergo surgery to remove prostate cancer in the U.S. experience a recurrence and seek treatment.

Post-Bulletin, Rochester stages magical night for the arts by Tom Weber — There was some sleight of hand Tuesday night at The Fete, Rochester's annual salute to the arts. Peter Gloviczki, a Mayo Clinic surgeon, who also happens to be an award-winning magician, performed a series of magic tricks for the audience of 200 gathered in the Mayo Civic Center auditorium. As a physician, Gloviczki said, "I believe that medicine is science and art. Science is absolutely needed. But in fact, with individual patients, what we practice is the art of medicine."

KAAL, Memorial Events Planned for Sister Generose — Several memorials are planned to honor the life of sister Generose who passed away peacefully on Friday at the age of 97. According to Mayo Clinic, visitation will be held Monday, October 17 at Assisi Heights from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. followed by a vigil. Her funeral is scheduled for the next day at 11:00 a.m., also at Assisi Heights. Later Tuesday, Mayo Clinic will hold a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. at Saint Marys followed by the closing of the Plummer Building doors immediately after. The building will be lit on October 17 and 18 as a tribute to Sister Generose. Additional coverage: Post-Bulletin

WEAU Eau Claire, Healthy Halloween Treats - Oct.12th by Courtney Everett — Pumpkin and apple are definitely the flavors of the fall season. On Hello Wisconsin, Nutrition Educator Kristin Johnson of Mayo Clinic Health System joined the show to discuss festive fall-themed recipes, including one Halloween treat – one we think little goblins are sure to enjoy.

WXOW La Crosse, Advanced form of cancer treatment presented at La Crosse forum by Alex Wasilenko — A medical forum was held today at the Radisson Hotel in downtown La Crosse. The speaker was Dr. Robert Foote who is the Chair of Radiation Oncology and also the Medical Director of Proton Beam Therapy at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester adopted this therapy program in 2015. It is located in a brand new facility specifically for proton beam therapy. Dr. Foote discussed the therapy treatment as a more precise way to treat cancer. The protons go directly to the cancer, release the energy, and go no further. Additional coverage: WKBT La Crosse

Renal & Urology News, Surgical Debridement Improves Survival in Calciphylaxis Patients — “We recommend that aggressive wound debridement be used in all patients,” James T. McCarthy, MD, of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues wrote in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. “In patients with stage 5/5D CKD with PTH level of more than 400 pg/mL, we would urge consideration of subtotal parathyroidectomy for rapid treatment of hyperparathyroidism.” Since no patient received long-term cinacalcet or bisphosphonate therapy, the investigators could not assess the efficacy of these drugs.

El Confidencial, Las diez mejores formas de quemar muchas calorías en una hora — Recientemente, la Clínica Mayo ha publicado una relación de 36 populares actividades y las calorías que se pueden llegar consumir practicando cada una de ellas tan solo durante sesenta minutos de tu jornada. Entre estos ejercicios hemos seleccionado diez que te serán particularmente asequibles ya que no necesitarás gastar mucho dinero en costosos equipamientos y puedes llevarlos a cabo sin tener que desplazarte a lugares o instalaciones que se encuentren fuera de tu ciudad.

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