January 20, 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

 

CNBC
Important not to lose ground on ACA

Dr. John Noseworthy, Mayo Clinic president & CEO, and Bernard Tyson, Kaiser Permanente CEO, talks about implementing reforms in the health care system.

Reach: CNBC is a 24-hour cable television station offers business news and financial information. The channel provides real-time financialCNBC logo market coverage to an estimated 175 million homes worldwide. CNBC online receives more than 26 million unique visitors each month.

Additional CNBC coverage:
CNBC, Drug pricing and regulations: Mayo Clinic CEO — Dr. John Noseworthy, Mayo Clinic president & CEO, and Bernard Tyson, Kaiser Permanente CEO, talk about the rising cost of drugs.

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

Contact: Duska Anastasijevic

 

New York Times
Getting Older, Sleeping Less
by Jane E. Brody

Nonmedical causes of insomnia are often successfully treated by practicing “good sleep hygiene,” a concept developed by the late Peter J. Hauri, a sleep specialist at the Mayo Clinic. That means limiting naps to less than 30 minutes a day, preferably early in the afternoon; avoiding stimulants and sedatives; avoiding heavy meals and minimizing liquids within two to three hours of bedtime; getting moderate exercise daily, The New York Times newspaper logopreferably in the morning or early afternoon; maximizing exposure to bright light during the day and minimizing it at night; creating comfortable sleep conditions; and going to bed only when you feel sleepy.

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

Context: The Mayo Center for Sleep Medicine (CSM) is a multidisciplinary enterprise comprised of pulmonologists, neurologists, psychiatrists and pediatricians who — with the support of a physician assistant, nurses and polysomnographic technologists — are engaged in a vibrant array of clinical, educational and research activities. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in sleep disorders evaluate and treat adults and children in the Center for Sleep Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. The Center for Sleep Medicine is one of the largest sleep medicine facilities in the United States. Staff in the center treats about 6,500 new people who have sleep disorders each year. The Center for Sleep Medicine is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Contact: Traci Klein

 

Washington Post
Why the ‘gluten-free movement’ is less of a fad than we thought
by Caitlin Dewey

There’s growing evidence that severe gluten sensitivities exist outside the realm of celiac disease. And researchers simply don’t know how many of the people following a gluten-free diet may actually have a legitimate health complaint — as opposed to a baseless fear of all things gluten, or a misplaced desire to lose weight. “We have no real inkling from our results,” said Joseph Murray, a celiac researcher at the MayoWashington Post newspaper logo Clinic and one of the authors of the new research. “We didn’t think to ask why people avoid gluten. When we designed this study 10 years ago, no one avoided gluten without a celiac diagnosis.”

Reach: Weekday circulation of The Washington Post is more than 356,000. The Post's website receives more than 32.7 million unique visitors each month.

Additional coverage: Chicago Tribune, News Herald

Other recent coverage regarding celiac disease and Dr. Joseph Murray:
January 6, 2017 edition of Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights
November 4, 2016 edition of Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights

Context: Joseph Murray, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist. Dr. Murray's research interests focus in two distinct areas: celiac disease and esophageal disorders. To learn more about celiac disease, check out this Mayo Clinic radio interview with Dr. Murray.

Contact: Joe Dangor

 

Bloomberg
The Two-Day, $5,000 C-Suite Physical
by Sam Grobart

I am in good health. I am out of shape. These two facts—one I hoped to be true, and one I absolutely knew to be true—were delivered to me at the end of a thorough two-day medical exam in early November at the Bloomberg Business LogoMayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. I underwent this battery of tests not because I was at risk for any major illness, nor because I’m a hypochondriac (I mean, no more of one than any unfit 42-year-old man has a right to be), but because the renowned medical center offers something called the Executive Health Program, which sounded exceedingly fancy.

Reach: Bloomberg BusinessWeek has a weekly circulation of more than 990,000 and has more than six million unique visitors to its online site each month.

Context: For more than 40 years, the Mayo Clinic Executive Health Program has been leveraging our nationally recognized expertise to help executives, business owners and entrepreneurs maintain good health.

Contact:  Kelley Luckstein

 

 

KJZZ
Summit Features Experts Making Sense Of Health-Care Payments
by Steve Goldstein

Paying for health care is complicated and confusing. Does a provider accept your health plan? How many bills can you expect to receive after the fact? What about catastrophic care? Mayo Clinic and ASU’s School for the Science of Health Care Delivery have teamed up to host a Payment Reform Summit featuring a number of experts trying to figure out what makes sense in the realm of health-care payments. We talked aboutKJZZ NPR -AZ Logo some possible reforms with Dr. Lois Krahn of the Mayo Clinic and Dr. Victor Trastek, director of ASU’s School of Science and Health Care Delivery.

Reach: KJZZ-FM is a commercial station owned by Maricopa Community Colleges in Tempe, AZ. The format of the station is news and jazz. KJZZ-FM's target audience is news and jazz music listeners, ages 18 to 64, in the Tempe, AZ area.

Additional coverage: Fierce Healthcare

Context: The Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University Alliance for Health Care Payment Reform Summit convened subject matter experts from around the country, including the voice of patients, to inform the development of alternative payment models. With a focus on the needs of patients, the expert participants examined data drawn from a variety of sources to assess the impact of various payment models on patient access and patterns of health care use. More information can be found on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Contact:  Jim McVeigh

 

WOKV Jacksonville
Mayo Clinic receives $1.6 million to fund Alzheimer’s research in Jacksonville
by John Engel

Eight programs at Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus are receiving a total of $1.6 million in grants to fund Alzheimer’s research in Jacksonville. Kevin Bieniek, a post-doctoral research fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, will benefit from this most recent round of grant funding from the state. His study examines the relationship between brain trauma and Alzheimer’s disease. “There are so many people that get Alzheimer’s disease that have no family history of this disorder,” Bieniek told WOKV. “It’s really a complex interaction of your genetics; the environment; your lifestyle; there are so many factors that come into play.”

Reach: WOKV-FM is Jacksonville's 24 hour news station.

Additional coverage: Healthcare Business News

Context: Researchers at Mayo Clinic’s campus in Florida were awarded eight grants from the Florida Department of Health to investigate the prevention or cure of Alzheimer’s disease. These awards followed a peer-reviewed and competitive grant application process, where the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Grant Advisory Board reviewed applications and selected 27 studies statewide. “Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus is home to international leaders in neuroscience research who are focused on addressing the unmet needs of patients,” says Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., vice president, Mayo Clinic, and CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida. “We integrate basic and clinical research and immediately translate our findings into better patient care. We very much appreciate the state’s investment in finding solutions for Alzheimer’s disease.” More information about the grants can be found on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Contact:  Kevin Punsky

USA Today, Amid concerns, why do we even have baby powder anymore? by Mary Bowerman — The American Pediatric Association recommends against using baby powder, initially over concerns that talc, which was used in some products but has been largely phased out, could be inhaled and harm babies' lungs. But despite the alternative powders, the overall message is that the potential of inhaling any powder could be harmful, especially for premature babies or those with heart disease and asthma, says David Soma, a Pediatrician with the Mayo Clinic Children’s Hospital. “The talc powder is more concerning than cornstarch based powder, but the big take home message is that we don’t recommend powders,” Soma said.

CNN, Colic study stirs prickly debate on acupuncture by Jacqueline Howard — Excessive crying is known as infantile colic, and a new study suggests that acupuncture may reduce colicky crying when other treatments don't help. Dr. Jason Homme, a pediatrician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, who was not involved in the new study, also said more research is needed in the efficacy of baby acupuncture. "I don't intend to change my current practice or recommendations based on this study," Homme said. "The finding that acupuncture is superior to the gold standard may be supported by the statistics provided but, to a practicing clinician, seems overstated." Additional coverage: News4Jax

Huffington Post, Breast-Fed Babies Aren’t Getting Enough Vitamin D, Study Suggests — The survey included 140 mothers who exclusively breast-fed their infants and 44 mothers who gave their infants both breast milk and formula. All of the participants received care at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where the study was conducted. Some mothers who fed their infants formula said they thought the formula had all the vitamin D that their baby would need. However, a baby needs to be drinking at least 32 ounces (about 1 liter) of vitamin-D-fortified formula daily in order to receive an adequate amount of vitamin D, according to the Mayo Clinic. Additional coverage: Health Aim

Huffington Post, 6 Tips To Age Better, According To Science by Emma Haak — Take Your Breakfast Sandwich Without the Sausage: You know that processed meat is not the healthiest thing you can eat, but here’s another reason to eat it less it often. A large review of studies by the Mayo Clinic found that daily red-meat consumption was linked to a higher risk of death—particularly processed meats, like bacon, sausage and salami. Specifically, eating lots of these meats was linked to higher rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer among Western populations.

Finance & Commerce, Mortenson picks designers for Mayo project in Rochester by Matt M. Johnson — M.A. Mortenson Co. said Thursday it has selected RSP Architects of Minneapolis and St. Louis-based HOK as the design team for the redevelopment of Discovery Square, one of six sub-districts in Rochester’s Destination Medical Center project. Discovery Square is the first phase of the 20-year Destination Medical Center project, which is centered on the Mayo Clinic and its facilities in and near downtown Rochester. Mayo picked Golden Valley-based Mortenson in September as the master developer for Discovery Square. Additional coverage: Post-Bulletin, Yahoo! News, Star Tribune

HealthDay, U.S. Report Cites the Good and Bad on Marijuana by Dennis Thompson — Current medical science has proven there are legitimate medical uses for marijuana and cannabis-derived drugs, a new report from the National Academy of Sciences states.One bright spot -- the report said smoking pot doesn't increase the risk for cancers often associated with tobacco use, such as lung cancer. Dr. Michael Bostwick, a psychiatrist with the Mayo Clinic, said that's likely because pot isn't smoked as often as tobacco. "Part of what's dangerous about cigarette smoke is that you get exposed to so much of it for such a long time," Bostwick said. "People don't smoke two packs a day of marijuana."

NBC News, Study Finds New Way to Pinpoint Dangerous Prostate Cancer by Maggie Fox — Researchers say they've found a new way to tell if a man's prostate cancer will come back and kill him after treatment. If a blood test called a PSA doesn't fall to low enough levels after treatment, it means the cancer's not all gone and will likely come back and spread, the team at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School reported…Radiologist Val J. Lowe, director of the cancer imaging program at the Mayo Clinic cancer center, looks at a PET scan of a patient with recurrent prostate cancer.

Star Tribune, Cancer: Can we cure it, or just keep up? by Ron Way — While the mechanics and effects of cancer are understood, there’s far less known about underlying causes of the disease and how to effectively treat it. “Doctors still have much to learn about what triggers a cell to become cancerous and why some people do better than others,” says cancer specialist Dr. Timothy Moynihan at Rochester’s Mayo Clinic. “We can make generalizations about cancer, but the disease is always unique to each individual.”

Twin Cities Business, Rebiotix, Mayo Team Up To Test Orally-Administered Gut Microbe Transplant by Don Jacobson — Rebiotix Inc., the closely held Roseville microbiome company, has teamed with a Mayo Clinic expert on hospital-acquired infections to begin the clinical trial process for a new, orally-delivered microbe transplant therapy to combat recurrent Clostridium difficile (C. diff.) This month it announced it has partnered with Mayo gastroenterologist Dr. Sahil Khanna on a Phase I dosing study of the orally-administered version at the Rochester clinic, with the first patient already undergoing the therapy. Dr. Khanna, one of the leading voices in warning that C. diff. infections have reached epidemic proportions in and out of the nation’s hospitals, staffs a clinic devoted to the problem that opened within Mayo in 2013.infection.

Twin Cities Business, Mayo Clinic Partners With Companies In Emerging ‘Liquid Biopsies’ Market by Don Jacobson — The Mayo Clinic and its deep research expertise in genomics is at the forefront of what some estimate could ultimately be a $200 billion liquid biopsy market partly through its close ties with a pair of companies: San Diego-based Illumina Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) and Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: EXAS) of Madison, Wisconsin. Among Grail’s scientific advisers is Dr. Minetta C. Liu, a Mayo associate professor of oncology, whose expertise is in isolating and analyzing circulating tumor cells, cell-free DNA (cfDNA), and other blood components measured in liquid biopsies. Grail claims that if the detection of such circulating tumor DNA indeed becomes the definitive way of sniffing out stage 1 cancers, it could translate into a liquid biopsy market of between $100 billion and $200 billion.

KARE11, Life, death and organ donation by Adrienne Broaddus — For Greg McFarlane, his heart's deepest cry would later become a joyful rhythm. "This may sound morbid, but I am not sure how long I will be here. After all, I didn't know I would be here now." That's because 11 months ago, Greg faced his toughest challenge. Renal Kidney failure…McFarlane's deepest cry turned to praise the day his niece, Angela, donated her kidney.

KXLY Spokane, Mayo Clinic News Network: Your hearing at risk? Protect your ears — Hearing loss is a natural part of the aging process. But, noise-induced hearing loss is on the rise, leading to May being recognized as Better Hearing Month. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, approximately 15 percent of adults in the U.S. from 20 to 69 and 5 percent of children over 6 are affected by noise-induced hearing loss. "The two most common reasons for hearing loss are aging and noise-induced hearing loss," says Dr. Greta Stamper, an audiologist at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida

iTech Post, Mayo Clinic Called On By Trump To Help VA by Alan Alforte — President-elect Donald Trump had called on Mayo Clinic to help provide support to VA during a press conference. He spoke about the current state of the VA health care system, saying that veterans are "treated horribly." Trump then explained his plan to reform VA health care, which would involve setting up a group of, "some of the great hospitals of the world." He then mentioned the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic.

Travelers Today, Best Healthcare Institutions; Have Your Health Checked & Visit The Best Hospitals by Jezreel Smith — On August 2, 2016, U.S. News and World Report released its 27th annual best hospital rankings. The rankings came out comparing almost 5,000 medical centers in and 25 specialty hospitals nationwide. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota tops the list delivering safe and effective treatment in all areas of health.

Dunn County News, Winters don’t have to bring dry skin — With a drop off in the level of moisture in the air, as well as humidity, the winter months are prime time for our skin to become drier and lead to further skin issues. In order to combat dry skin and save yourself from itchy or painful skin that is prone to infection, here are some preventive self-care tips for you to use… — Peter Reisner, M.D., is a family medicine physician with Mayo Clinic Health System–Northland in Chetek.

Healio, Mayo Clinic Diet ties with Weight Watchers as Best Commercial Diet by U.S. News & World Report — The Mayo Clinic Diet has been named the best commercial diet and tied with Weight Watchers, according to the U.S. News & World Report 2017 best diet rankings. “We are honored to be recognized for a weight-loss method that offers lasting results,” Donald Hensrud, MD, medical editor of the Mayo Clinic Diet and director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, said in a press release. “With two-thirds of Americans overweight or obese, we know that managing a healthy weight can be challenging, but when people see results quickly, they feel empowered to continue on their journey to a healthier weight.”

MedPage Today, Neurocognitive Tests for Concussion: Wave of the Past? by Ryan Basen — A group of Mayo Clinic researchers argued in a new review that sports concussions -- at least in ice hockey -- can be diagnosed more accurately with objective tests, such as encephalography and the King-Devick eye test, than with the neurocognitive exams favored by many leagues at all levels of play. The researchers, including USA Hockey medical director Michael Stuart, MD, examined current and emerging methods of diagnosing concussions in ice hockey in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine.

Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Red Cross starts collecting platelets by Christena O’Brien — Every 30 seconds someone in the United States needs platelets, and because platelets must be used within five days, new donors are needed every day. That is why the American Red Cross began collecting platelets on Jan. 7 at the Chippewa Valley Blood Donation Center, 3485 E. Hamilton Ave. Kaye Holt, a nurse practitioner in the hematology and oncology department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, is pleased donors will be able to donate platelets here.“The Chippewa Valley holds a group of very generous citizens, and their donations will be well utilized through the region,” said Holt, who estimated Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire uses 40 to 50 units of platelets per month.

Arizona Republic, Ask a Doc: What should parents make of the latest peanut allergy prevention guidelines? by Dr. Benjamin Wrigth — Question: I have been reading about reducing risks for developing peanut allergies in the news. What can I do to help prevent them for my child? Answer: Peanut allergy has become increasingly common and recent efforts have focused on ways to prevent it.  The latest guidelines incorporate new recommendations based on recent findings that early introduction of peanut during infancy may prevent peanut allergy… — Benjamin Wright is a Mayo Clinic allergist and researcher.

Post-Bulletin, Mayo provides grant to Zumbro Valley Health Center by Brett Boese — Mayo Clinic on Thursday announced a $70,000 grant to Zumbro Valley Health Center to support its integrated care delivery model. Zumbro Valley CEO Dave Cook said the funding will be used to purchase key equipment and cover operational expenses, supporting the delivery of mental and chemical health services and medical and care coordination services to under-insured and uninsured populations in Southeast Minnesota. "Mayo Clinic has been, and continues to be, a major supporter of our efforts to enhance services and care delivery to people in Southeast Minnesota," Cook said. Additional coverage: Kansas City Star

Post-Bulletin, Lack of sleep can do a number on blood pressure by Tom Jargo — DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I've heard that having sleep apnea can increase your blood pressure. What if you don't sleep well but don't have sleep apnea. Does that raise your blood pressure, too?...Research suggests that sleeping five hours or less a night can, over time, increase your risk of developing — or worsening — high blood pressure. Sleeping between five and six hours a night also may increase high blood pressure risk. This can occur with or without obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep disorder in which you repeatedly stop and start breathing during sleep. — Naima Covassin, Ph.D., Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester.

Post-Bulletin, Becoming the 'Silicon Valley of Medicine' won't be easy — The Destination Medical Center project wants to give Rochester a reputation for something it's never been: a magnet for tech startups and entrepreneurs. But, turning the city into what DMC calls the "Silicon Valley of Medicine" won't be easy. The DMC is a multibillion-dollar, 20-year economic development effort to remake Rochester so Mayo can better compete for both patients and top talent. It's also meant to help diversify the region's economy by attracting new businesses.

WEAU Eau Claire, Beat the Winter Blues by Tyler Mickelson — With the holidays past us, we’re in the stretch of the year that can be challenging for many. Cold weather and dark days can take a toll on our mood and energy, leading some of us to want to hibernate, isolate and live on comfort food. Joni Gilles, Wellness Coordinator with Mayo Clinic Health System joined Tyler Mickelson to talk about how to “bust out of our funk” – enjoy the season and move it, move it, move it!

Health Imaging, Mayo radiology shows how to boost efficiency, cut costs the ‘TDABC’ way by Dave Pearson — An exemplary radiology department has demonstrated how to apply the innovative business-management technique called “time-driven activity-based costing,” or TDABC, to fix some common and costly workflow inefficiencies in radiology. Using TDABC to address previously vexatious problems managing, in this case, their MR enterography service line, Mayo Clinic radiology staffers in Rochester, Minnesota, identified and cut unnecessary steps and costs to the tune of 13 percent while reducing staff time by 16 percent and patient process time by 17 percent. They report their success in an article posted online Jan. 13 in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

Le Center Leader, Local doctor named officer-in-charge of the 7405th Troop Medical Unit by Suzy Rook — Robert Taylor, D.O., a family physician at Mayo Clinic Health System in Montgomery and a major in the U.S. Army, was named officer-in-charge of the U.S. Army Reserve’s new 35-soldier medical unit in Rochester. A ceremony was held Jan. 8. “When I joined the Army, I wanted to serve and use my medical skills to help others,” says Taylor. “I never expected to be in this type of leadership position, but I feel truly honored.”

KTTC, Liberian boy begins medical journey in Rochester — Liberian boy who made the journey to Rochester for treatment at Mayo Clinic has begun his medical journey in the Med City.  Sampson made the flight to Rochester from Liberia with the help of Samaritan's Purse and a $150,000 GoFundMe campaign last week. He suffers from a deformity that completely covers one eye and part of another. According to reports from Samaritan's Purse, Sampson had his first Mayo Clinic appointment Monday and is undergoing a medical evaluation Tuesday.

KTTC, 63rd Annual Eagles Cancer Telethon begins Saturday — Twenty straight hours of local talent will begin Saturday to support the fight against cancer with the 63rd Annual Eagles Cancer Telethon. For 63 years, the telethon has been a joint effort between KTTC and the Rochester Eagles Club. All funds raised throughout the weekend will go toward local research at Mayo Clinic, the Hormel Institute and the University of Minnesota.

KTTC, Project aims to boost technology start-ups in Rochester — A multibillion, 20-year economic development project in Rochester has begun an effort to help the world-renowned Mayo Clinic compete for both patients and entrepreneurial talent. Minnesota Public Radio reports that the goal of Destination Medical Center is to make the city a magnet for technology start-ups and entrepreneurs. It also aims to diversify the region's economy by attracting new businesses. Jamie Sundsbak, an entrepreneur and former Mayo Clinic researcher, says the city's risk-averse culture has held it back. To adapt, Mayo Clinic is making some changes, including lifting policies that blocked employees from owning or holding an executive position with a medical company.

KTTC, Mayo Clinic makes donation to Rochester's Hope Lodge — The Sandra J. Schulze American Cancer Society Hope Lodge is celebrating a major grant from Mayo Clinic. The Hope Lodge provides a home-like environment for cancer patients and their caregivers to stay at while receiving medical treatment in Rochester. Housing at Hope Lodge is provided free of cost. The unspecified amount of funds recently donated by Mayo Clinic will help with operating expenses so Hope Lodge can continue helping patients in the future.

KIMT, Staying ahead of the ice by DeeDee Stiepan — We talked to the Mayo Clinic Head of Facilities Operations Tom Behrens about their efforts to keep sidewalks clear for patients, visitors and staff. Between the downtown campus and St. Mary’s campus Behrens says there’s around 14 miles of sidewalks that have to be cleared and salted, and that work is done around the clock by both Mayo staff and local contractors. “I would say on a big snow event with ice like this, between Mayo staff and contractors there’s probably 75 people out there trying to keep things safe.”

Times of OmanHow do you get the best from a senior-friendly workout? — Natural movement is universal, and it’s about bringing movement back to the basics, says Bradly Prigge, wellness exercise specialist with the Mayo Clinic’s Healthy Living Programme in the US. “It’s not about following the latest fitness craze or learning the newest secret to weight loss. Natural movement is about connecting with your body and cultivating an awareness of your full abilities.” Rather than engaging in strenuous activity for its own sake alone, natural movement training emphasises improving the efficiency of practical movements which can include rising from a seated to a standing position, getting up off the floor, crawling, stepping under or over objects, and more.

Mankato Free Press, Our View: Lawmakers should support improving palliative care access — Everyone deserves a chance to minimize suffering in trying times of illness. The former CEO and president of the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, Dr. Greg Kutcher is now medical director of the system’s hospice and palliative care program. He says getting to know people in their own environments is key to the care. The husband of a patient who recently died said the program helped him as much as his wife, providing the support and care for them both. Kutcher said he thinks this type of care is underutilized. He said even the terms associated with it are negative — “putting” people in hospice. In reality, Kutcher said, it’s a decision they and their loved ones make, approved by their doctor and often covered by Medicaid or Medicare.

News3 Las Vegas, 16-year-old Juliana Likourino, fighting POTS disease, dreams of becoming a meteorologist by June Likourinou — In December of 2015, we decided to get a second opinion appointment from Dr. Sheikh, Las Vegas Pediatric Gastroenterologist. He explained that Juliana needed expert medical care out of state from Mayo Clinic for a proper diagnosis of possible POTS---due to lack of medical technology and no physicians that specialize in POTS in Las Vegas. My health insurance denied Juliana's care initially, then approved a GI Consult at Mayo Clinic, only to deny out-of-state network benefits again, after giving the initial approval for Juliana's care at Mayo Clinic. In March of 2016, after being at Mayo Clinic for only one week, Juliana was diagnosed with an autonomic nervous system dysfunction disorder known as POTS, short for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

MSN, 15 of the most simple ways to relax, according to science — Tense and relax your toes: One of the Mayo Clinic's many relaxation techniques involves gradually tensing up different muscle groups, starting with your toes. They advise holding the tension for five seconds, and then slowly relaxing the muscles. This is called "progressive muscle relaxation" and researchers think it may help boost our awareness of the physical sensations associated with relaxation.

La Crosse Tribune, Mayo-Franciscan doctor: Circumcision switch can save millions of dollars by Mike Tighe — Amid the universal demand to cut health care costs, a La Crosse pediatrician advocates a baby step that would trim more than $1 million a year: train nurse practitioners to do circumcisions. The change wouldn’t lower patient bills immediately but would improve efficiency in other hospital departments as well, said Dr. Dennis Costakos, neonatology chairman at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare. “This is a free-market solution,” Costakos said in an interview. “When we increase the numbers doing it, the costs accelerate slower.” Additional coverage: Becker’s Hospital Review

La Crosse Tribune, Icy slips and falls slam ERs with concussions, broken bones by Mike Tighe — Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare’s ER department had treated more than 30 people for injuries, ranging from concussions to fractured lower legs to broken ribs and bruised sides, arms and hands by mid-afternoon Tuesday. “A lot are falling on their sides, so they are getting bruises on their chest, side, arms and hands,” said Melanie Young, a physician’s assistant in Mayo-Franciscan’s emergency unit. “Some fell backward onto their head and got concussions.” Additional coverage: WKBT-TV La Crosse

WEAU Eau Claire, New Year Diet Resolutions - Back to the Basics by Courtney Everett — As we begin the new year, many people are resolving to get back on track with healthy eating habits. Health educator Katie Johnson with Mayo Clinic Health System, talks with Courtney Everett on “Hello Wisconsin” about taking small steps towards success and the importance of getting “back to the basics.”

White Mountain Independent, Economic development group: Summit Healthcare now employs 1,100, forest industries report sufficient inventories by Nolan Madden — Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center ranked as Navajo County’s top-earning regional enterprise of 2016, according to a report at the REAL AZ Corridor meeting last week. The regional medical center in December capped the year with an exclusive collaboration with the Mayo Clinic Care Network as the newest of five Mayo network hospitals in the state, joining 45 of such hospitals nationwide.  Looking forward, Summit plans an expanded rollout of outpatient services within the next five years to include imaging, administrative and surgical functions, board member Paul Watson said.

SELF, Peta Murgatroyd Of 'DWTS' Showed The Reality Of Postpartum Bodies by Korin Miller — Peta Murgatroyd gave birth to her first child, Shai, in early January. And now, the Dancing with the Stars pro, who's engaged to fellow DWTS powerhouse Maksim Chmerkovskiy, is giving fans a glimpse at how she looks postpartum in a lovely photo on Instagram… Women who gain the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy (25 to 35 pounds is considered normal, according to the Mayo Clinic) don’t have much to lose after the baby is born.

Toronto Star, Mayo Clinic News Network: Watch for hidden sodium in your diet — Most sodium in the North American diet comes from processed foods, prepackaged foods and restaurant food. The rest comes from adding sodium in cooking or in seasoning at the table. Sodium is a mineral that naturally occurs in foods. However, a celery stalk might contain 30 to 50 milligrams of sodium — much lower than a serving of canned soup exceeding 1,000 milligrams of sodium. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with food companies and restaurants to decrease the amount of sodium in our diet. If you are ready to make changes in your diet to reduce your sodium intake, here are some tips to get you started…

Romper, 9 Early Signs Of Postpartum Depression So You Can Seek Treatment Earlier by Yvette Manes — Postpartum depression is a severe, long-lasting form of depression that comes as a result of giving birth, according to the experts at the Mayo Clinic. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that one in nine women experience depression before, during, or after their pregnancy. Additionally, the Illinois Department of Public Health, suggested that the number of women could be even greater.

New Atlas, Cancer researchers stumble onto drugs' fat-blasting powers by Michael Franco —While the scientific inquiry process is generally linear and highly regimented, every once in a while, happenstance works its way in. That's just what happened when researchers at the Mayo Clinic were studying the influence obesity has over cancer treatments and found, instead, that two popular cancer-fighting drugs melted fat off the bodies of morbidly obese mice. "We were surprised to observe that when morbidly obese mice were treated with certain cancer-fighting drugs, the drugs not only targeted their cancers, but also tended to spontaneously resolve their obesity – even with undiminished gorging on a high-fat diet," said Mayo Clinic cancer immunotherapist Peter Cohen who co-led the study.

WQOW Eau Claire, Eau Claire's Wellness Shack moves to a new location by Andrea Albers — Eau Claire's peer-run mental health recovery center has a new home. The Wellness Shack has moved to a suite at 505 South Dewey Street. News 18 reported in September 2016 when the non-profit learned it would have to leave its former location on Barstow Street by the end of 2016.  A 'Save the Shack' campaign on GoFundMe helped fund a lease and remodeling, as did matching five-year grants that totaled $20,000 from Mayo Clinic Health System and HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital.

South Coast Today, Mayo Clinic News Network: Influenza approaching epidemic status — Influenza in the U.S. is approaching peak levels, says Mayo Clinic infectious diseases specialist Dr. Pritish Tosh. "We are seeing a fairly dramatic increase in the amount of influenza in parts of the country, and likely will be hitting epidemic levels soon," Tosh says. "Already in the U. S., we are above the baseline for influenza-like illness." Tosh says it's not too late to get your influenza vaccine - even if you've already the flu - because there are more influenza strains circulating.

OncLive, Expert Discusses Role of Vaginal Microbes in Endometrial Cancer Detection — “These findings provide important insights into the etiology or manifestation of the disease with broad implications for biomarker development in the early detection of, and screening for, endometrial cancer,” Marina R.S. Walther-António, PhD, assistant professor of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, and lead author of the study, said in a statement.

Romper, The Harmful Effects Of Pitocin To Be Aware Of by Lindsay Mack — First, it's helpful to know a little about Pitocin and its uses. According to the Mayo Clinic, Pitocin is the brand name of a synthetic drug used to mimic the effects of the hormone oxytocin. In many cases, it's a great way to induce or augment (speed up) labor, as further noted by the Mayo Clinic.

Teen Vogue, Mental Health Treatment Associated With Fewer Depressive Symptoms for Teens by Brittney McNamara — According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of depression include feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in hobbies or things that previously made you happy, a change in sleeping patterns, a lack of energy, a change in appetite, feelings of worthlessness, and even physical pain. Treatment for depression can be varied from person to person, but often include psychotherapy and anti-depressants, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Salud180, Cosas que jamás debes hacer cuando tienes una infección urinaria — De acuerdo a Vandana Bhidé, experta de la Clínica Mayo, la deshidratación puede ocasionar que las bacterias presentes en el tracto urinario se descompongan, además la falta de agua impide que el antibiótico llegue a su objetivo, y que los riñones y vejiga se limpien…

El Clasifacado, La mejor dieta para bajar de peso — Una de las resoluciones más populares de la gente en cada año que comienza es perder peso, por eso viene como anillo al dedo la clasificación de U.S. News & World Report respecto a las mejores dietas para el 2017. La dieta de Mayo Clinic se ubicó en el primer puesto en la categoría de las mejores dietas comerciales dentro de esta clasificación. El libro de la dieta de Mayo Clinic empieza con un plan de arranque llamado la fase de ¡Piérdalo!, diseñado para ayudar a los participantes a perder entre 6 y 10 libras durante las primeras dos semanas.

Prensa Libre, Por qué ocurren los abortos espontáneos — Si bien hay algunas medidas que las mujeres pueden tomar para reducir el riesgo de otro aborto espontáneo, en la mayoría de los casos eso no tiene relación con nada que ellas hayan hecho o dejado de hacer, afirma Yvonne Butler Tobah, ginecóloga y obstetra de  Mayo Clinic en Rochester, Minnesota.

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