February 3, 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

 

CBS News
Busy minds may be better at fighting dementia

Mentally stimulating activities can protect your brain against aging, even if you’re genetically predisposed toward dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, a new study reports. Activities that keep the brain busy -- using a computer, crafting, playing games and participating in social activities -CBS News logo- appear to lower the risk of age-related mental decline in people 70 and older, the Mayo Clinic study found.

Reach: CBSNEWS.com is part of CBS Interactive, a division of CBS Corporation. The CBS web properties have more than 250 million people visit its properties each month.

Additional coverage:
HealthDay, Lexington Herald Leader, Mercury News, Associated Press, Live Science, Medical News Today, MedPage Today, UPI, Pulse Headlines, New York Times, Star Tribune, KTTC, Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionMiami Herald, News-medical.net, Globe and Mail, iTechPost, Kansas City StarFOX NewsIndian Express

Other Alzheimers' coverage:
USA Today, Trying to solve the Alzheimer's puzzle

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

Contact: Julie Janovsky-Mason

 

BuzzFeed
What Even Is Kombucha, Anyway?
by Anthony Rivas

Kombucha starts with a bologna-looking gelatinous thing called a SCOBY, which stands for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast. This can BuzzFeed News Logotake anywhere from 7-14 days, depending on the temperature of the environment, registered dietitian nutritionist Angie Murad, of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, tells BuzzFeed Health. During that time, the yeast and bacteria feed off the sugar — and typically grow into a “daughter” SCOBY — making the tea carbonated and slightly alcoholic (store-bought kombucha should have less than 0.5% unless otherwise noted).

Reach: BuzzFeed receives more than 15.7 million unique visitors each month to its website and targets pop culture and social media enthusiasts.

Context: The Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program is redefining healthy living. It’s a comprehensive, whole-body wellness experience guided by medical research and evidence-based medicine to offer guests trusted solutions to improve quality of life.

Contact: Kelley Luckstein

 

Today.com
5 heart attack warning signs never to ignore
by A. Pawlowski

Almost two-thirds of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms, according to the CDC. “Some people will say it was out of the blue, and that’s probably most people,” said Dr. Sharonne Hayes, director of the Women's Heart Clinic at the Mayo Clinic.  “A substantial minority of patients will have some symptoms that, had they paid attention to them or sought an outpatient evaluation, they might have had a different outcome.”

Reach: Today.com is online site for NBC's Today Show.

Related coverage:
WebMD, SCAD: The Heart Attack That's Striking Young Women Context

Contact: Traci Klein

 

CNN
Former athlete helps truckers get healthy
by Alex Smith

On a chilly winter morning, dozens of truck driver trainees file into a classroom at the headquarters of Prime Inc., a trucking company based in Springfield, Mo. At the front is Siphiwe Baleka, an energetic former swimming champion in his mid-40s…The relatively small lifestyle changesCNN Logo that Baleka promotes could be enough to make a life-changing difference in the health of many truck drivers, says Dr. Clayton Cowl, chief of preventive, occupational and aerospace medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "The drivers themselves -- they don't need to be running marathons, necessarily," Cowl says. "It's finding those times when there is some downtime, where they are able to find several days per week to do activities that they enjoy and find ways to reduce stress."

Reach: Cable News Network (CNN) is a worldwide news and information network providing live, continuous coverage of news from around the globe, 24 hours a day. CNN online received more than 55 million unique visitors to its website each month.

Previous coverage in January 27, 2017 Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights

Context:  Clayton Cowl, M.D. heads Mayo Clinic's preventive, occupational and aerospace medicine. The division consists of 22 physicians who have specialty training in internal medicine or family practice and a team of trained occupational health nurses. Several of our physicians are board-certified in preventive, occupational and/or aerospace medicine. Mayo Clinic's integrated group practice model makes consultation with any other medical specialists readily available.

Contact:  Kelly Reller

Medscape, Jury Still Out on Treating Subclinical Hypothyroid in Pregnancy by Kristin Jenkins — In a Mayo Clinic press statement, coauthor Juan Brito Campana, MBBS, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist, says that the association of levothyroxine (Synthroid, AbbVie) therapy with an increased risk of pregnancy-related adverse outcomes should be seen as a preliminary finding and calls for "additional studies evaluating the safety of levothyroxine therapy in pregnant women with subclinical hypothyroidism."

STAT, Trump wants to blow up the FDA. The drug industry? Not so much by Damian Garde — Such sweeping changes to the FDA’s standards could rattle the biopharma industry’s very foundation. Investors rely on the agency as a watchdog to keep companies honest. Doctors trust it to safeguard their patients from pharmaceutical snake oil…Strip all that away and the business of making, prescribing, and profiting from new drugs could be plunged into uncertainty. “It would be chaotic,” said Dr. David Knopman, a Mayo Clinic neurologist. Speeding up the development of powerful new treatments is a laudable goal, he said, but exposing patients to costly, ineffective, and potentially dangerous drugs could be disastrous. “It would be a terrible thing for our patients and their families,” Knopman said. “There is no intermediate position.” Additional coverage: Becker’s Hospital Review

Reuters, Sleep tied to sexual activity and satisfaction among older women by Andrew Seaman — Older women who sleep well at night are more likely to have satisfying sex lives, a recent study suggests. Postmenopausal women reported less sexual activity and less sexual satisfaction if they also had trouble sleeping through the night, researchers found. Based on the findings, doctors may want to consider an older woman's overall health if she brings up issues like sexual satisfaction, said lead author Dr. Juliana Kling, a women’s health internist at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. "When a patient is asking me about a sexual health concern, it's important for me to look at other aspects of her health and ask about sleep," she told Reuters Health. Additional coverage: TIME, HealthDay, Today.com, CBS News

TIME, Doctors Say Cancer Drug Costs Are Out Of Control by Claire Groden — A group of 118 oncologists put their foot down on the rising costs of cancer medication in an editorial in the Mayo Clinic medical journal, the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, on Thursday. The editorial threw its support behind a grassroots patient effort to push for fairer prices from drug companies. According to the editorial, many cancer patients are bankrupted by the high cost of care. "High cancer drug prices are affecting the care of patients with cancer and our health care system," the lead author, Dr. Ayalew Tefferi, who is a hematologist at Mayo, said. The doctors designed a list of ideas that would make cancer drugs more affordable for the people they treat.

Yahoo! News, AFTD Awards $2 Million to Advance Biomarkers Research Targeting Young-Onset Dementia — Biomarkers will help doctors to diagnose FTD, track its progression, and evaluate potential treatments. These efforts could also benefit research targeting diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and ALS. "Identifying biomarkers will foster greater attention to FTD from the academic research community and the pharmaceutical industry, and enable researchers to direct specific therapies to the right patients," said David S. Knopman, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, a member of AFTD's Medical Advisory Council.

Prevention, 6 Mistakes You're Making With Your Gluten-Free Diet, According To Nutritionists by Maggie Finn Ryan — Keep an eye out for products you might ingest. According to the Mayo Clinic, people who develop dermatitis herpetiformis—a form of celiac disease—may experience an itchy, blistering rash. While it may seem like this reaction is the result of using a topical product, it is still a direct result of ingesting gluten. Call the manufacturer of your products to verify the gluten-free status of products, or check the company website.

WKBT La Crosse, Mayo in La Crosse now offering its patients 'laughing gas' during child birth — Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse is now offering another option for pain relief for women during child birth. Doctors are introducing nitrous oxide, more casually known as laughing gas. Patients will be able to control the amount of gas inhaled through a hand held face mask, easing their pain during labor. Doctors say the gas gives women an alternative to Epidurals.

Managed Care magazine, New Role for Health Insurers: Paying for Lifestyle Coaches — A Mayo Clinic study of 100 people who’ve received wellness coaching found that a majority exercised more, started eating better and lost weight within 12 weeks. At the three-month follow-up exam, however, there had been some slippage. The lead author of the study, Matthew M. Clark, a clinical psychologist at Mayo Clinic, tells the newspaper that, “Many people can implement positive lifestyle changes, but maintaining change over time is extremely difficult. This finding highlights the importance of ongoing strategies and support for positive lifestyle changes.”

News-medical.net, MRE technique detects tumor stiffness to enable non-invasive surgical planning — MRE is a special magnetic resonance imaging technique that captures snapshots of shear waves that move through the tissue and create elastograms—images that show tissue stiffness. John Huston III, M.D., Professor of Radiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and senior author of the study, explains how MRE works. "MRE is similar to a drop of water hitting a still pond to create the ripples that move out in all directions. We generate tiny, harmless ripples, or shear waves, that travel through the brain of the patient."

Chippewa Herald, Knitting group make twiddle muffs for MCHS hospice patients — Hospice patients at Mayo Clinic Health System will receive a special gift this year made by volunteers from Hope Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. The volunteers are knitting twiddle muffs, which are knitted or crocheted colorful bands made from yarn that have objects attached to them for patients to twiddle and keep their hands busy.

La Crosse Tribune, Trempealeau couple set for dragon boat fest in Canada — on ice by Mike Tighe — The Karpinskis will participate in the inaugural Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival Feb. 17 and 18 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — the first ice dragon boat races in North America. “It’s crazy — a bunch of crazies who are passionate about dragon boating will find a way” to participate in their sport during the winter, said Karpinski, health promotion coordinator at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare.

Chippewa Herald, Mayo Clinic honors 520 patients with annual remembrance quilt by Katy Macek — Each year since 1993, Mayo Clinic has had a quilt made featuring the names of deceased loved ones who chose to live the remainder of their days with the support of hospice. The 2015 quilt, which was completed in December, will be on display throughout the year at various Mayo Clinic locations monthly, including the Chippewa Falls location at 611 First St. in May. It features the names of 520 patients and families touched by hospice services.

Healthcare Business News, Mayo Clinic selects Vizient as its performance improvement partner — Vizient, Inc. today announced that the Mayo Clinic will continue its relationship with Vizient, including use of its national contract portfolio. Vizient offers the industry’s largest selection of solutions and offerings, as well as the most comprehensive and affordable contract portfolio. Mayo Clinic is one of the most prestigious health care systems in the nation and is consistently ranked as one of the country’s top hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Each year, more than a million people from all 50 states and nearly 150 countries come to Mayo Clinic for care

Lake News Online, Camdenton boy headed to Mayo Clinic for surgery; family seeking support — After 11 surgeries in 11 years of life, no one can say Montana George has had it easy, yet he is a happy, fun-loving little boy. Born in 2005, doctors knew before he came into this world that he had three congenital heart defects and a cleft lip and cleft palate…Now after seven years of complaining about his right leg hurting, Kristin says a blockage was recently discovered in the artery of that leg. On Feb. 6, he will head to Minnesota for vascular bypass surgery on Feb. 9. Because of his young age, the only place that would do the surgery was the Mayo Clinic.

News4Jax, Wellness RX project seeks to help families get healthier by Ashley Mitchem — A new project that kicked off Saturday in Jacksonville hopes to get you and your whole family healthy. The effort comes after a thorough review of health needs in the city by the Mayo Clinic. The Wellness RX project is an effort between the Mayor Clinic and the New Town Success Zone. Its purpose is to help families who may not have the best access to health care. Specifically, it seeks to help those who live in the New Town area of Jacksonville. Dr. Floyd Willis, with the Mayo Clinic, expressed his support for the New Town Success Zone and said the program could be duplicated in other areas in the future. “This has been an area of focus for us for a number of years,” Willis said. Additional coverage: WOKV Jacksonville

KTTC, Hundreds gather at Peace Plaza to decry President Trump's executive order by Chris Yu — Hundreds gathered in downtown Rochester Sunday to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump's executive order that temporarily prevents people from seven predominately Muslim countries from coming to the U.S. Dr. John Noseworthy, president and CEO of Mayo Clinic, released this statement Sunday afternoon: "Mayo Clinic is a place of compassion, respect and trust, and our collective diversity helps make us the best place to work and receive care. We are actively monitoring the situation, exploring ways to ensure that the needs of our patients and staff are met, and will share new information as it becomes available." Additional coverage: Post-Bulletin, MPR

Post-Bulletin, Medical centers respond to Trump order by Jay Furst — Mayo Clinic put out this statement at 2:45 p.m. today: Statement from Mayo Clinic President and CEO on Middle-East travel ban: "Although questions remain about the order's implementation, Mayo Clinic remains steadfast in supporting our patients, staff, families and community. Each year, we welcome thousands of visitors from across the globe, many of whom receive care from our incredibly talented and diverse team members. We value our international staff and partners, and are privileged to train a broad range of medical personnel from around the world. Mayo Clinic is a place of compassion, respect and trust, and our collective diversity helps make us the best place to work and receive care. We are actively monitoring the situation, exploring ways to ensure that the needs of our patients and staff are met, and will share new information as it becomes available." Additional coverage: MinnPost

HealthLeaders Media, Majority of Neurologists Report Symptoms of Burnout by Alexandria Bachert — High rates of self-reported burnout continue to plague U.S. neurologists, yet many still report being satisfied with their job overall, according to a recent survey from the American Academy of Neurology. Returned surveys from 1,671 U.S. neurologists showed that six out of 10 have experienced some symptom of burnout -- including emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, or low personal accomplishment, Terrence Cascino, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and colleagues reported online in Neurology.

Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, ACA turmoil worries Chippewa Valley Free Clinic boss by Eric Lindquist — Dr. Randall Linton, president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System for northwestern Wisconsin, called for developing a value-based health care system that rewards patient outcomes rather than volume.“ Fixing the Affordable Care Act is going to require a surgical approach with careful assessment, evaluation and action — with more focus on patients and treatments,” Linton said in a statement.

Owatonna People’s Press, HEALTH: Fight heart disease with Mayo Clinic Health System by Allison Miller — Heart disease remains the number one killer of women in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. Studies show that 1 in 3 women die from heart disease. “Because women are at an increased risk for developing heart disease, assessing their risk factors at a younger age can benefit their long-term health and overall wellness,” says Michael Cullen, M.D., a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Health System…Join Mayo Clinic Health System to fight women’s heart disease and wear red Friday, Feb. 3, 2017.

Chicago Tribune, How to become a vegetarian at an older age — Dear Mayo Clinic: I am 58 and considering becoming a vegetarian. I know it will be important to make sure I get enough protein, but are there other nutrients I should focus on, as well? A: Following a vegetarian diet is a healthy way of eating. Multiple studies have linked vegetarian diets to a reduced incidence of chronic disease and cancer. Excluding meat or animal products makes a diet healthier, but there are other factors to consider…

Post-Bulletin, Noseworthy joins medical world critical of travel ban by Brett Boese — A month after a face-to-face meeting with then President-Elect Donald Trump, key players in the medical world — including Mayo Clinic's John Noseworthy — have cried foul over a controversial travel ban targeting Middle East countries. It could prevent life-saving treatment for around 40 patients. Noseworthy released a statement Sunday saying he's "actively monitoring this situation" while noting that Mayo is "a place of compassion, respect and trust, and our collective diversity helps make us the best place to work and receive care." Mayo released another statement on Monday noting that "approximately 20 (Mayo Clinic) patients … may be affected" by the 90-day travel ban. Another "80 staff, physicians or scholars associated with Mayo Clinic" have ties to the seven countries included in the executive order.

KAAL, Mayo Clinic: 20 Patients Affected by President Trump's Travel Ban — Mayo Clinic is assessing the affects on staff and patients from President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning refugee resettlement and immigration from some countries. According to a statement released by Mayo Clinic, the hospital knows of 20 patients who may be affected by the travel ban. Additionally, Mayo Clinic says nearly 80 staff, physicians and scholars have ties to Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Iran, Sudan and Libya, which are the seven countries included in the 90-day immigration ban. "We are not aware of any Mayo Clinic staff traveling for Mayo Clinic business who are currently affected," Ginger Plumbo, spokesperson for Mayo Clinic said in a statement. "We are not aware of any Mayo-sponsored non-immigrant visa holders who have been immediately affected. We are still unsure of how Mayo staff and their families who are traveling for personal reasons may be affected." Additional coverage: STAT

KTTC, Mayo Clinic: Some patients, staff may be affected by President Trump's executive order by Chris Yu — Mayo Clinic says President Trump's executive order on travel and immigration may affect some of its patients and staff. In a statement released Monday, Mayo Clinic says: ““We are currently assessing the situation related to the travel and immigration executive order. "We are aware of approximately 80 staff, physicians, or scholars associated with Mayo Clinic who have ties to the seven countries included in the executive order. We are not aware of any Mayo Clinic staff traveling for Mayo Clinic business who are currently affected. We are not aware of any Mayo-sponsored non-immigrant visa holders who have been immediately affected. We are still unsure of how Mayo staff and their families who are traveling for personal reasons may be affected. Additional coverage: Star Tribune, MinnPost

KROC-AM, Mayo Clinic CEO Reacts to Controversial Trump Order by Kim David — The CEO of Mayo Clinic and members of Minnesota’s Congressional delegation are voicing their thoughts and opinions about the controversial executive order dealing with immigration and refugees signed by President Trump Friday. Mayo CEO Dr. John Noseworthy said “Although questions remain about the order’s implementation, Mayo Clinic remains steadfast in supporting our patients, staff, families and community. We are actively monitoring the situation, exploring ways to ensure that the needs of our patients and staff are met, and will share new information as it becomes available.” Additional coverage: KIMT, Florida Times-Union, WEAU Eau Claire

Florida Times-Union, In Jacksonville, Trump’s travel bans have sparked protests, support and confusion — According to a statement from Dr. Gianrico Farrugia, CEO of Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus, said no patients at the Jacksonville campus are affected by the restrictions. A total of 80 staff from all three campuses, however, have ties to the seven countries in the executive order. “A number of Mayo Clinic staff and trainees have expressed concern about the potential impact this order may have on their future plans, and we are working to more fully assess and advise on these concerns in a rapidly changing legal environment,” Farrugia said. Additional coverage: World News

mHealthIntelligence, Study Proves Telemedicine’s Value in Coma Assessment and Care — Mayo Clinic Researchers are adding to the literature supporting telemedicine in the ICU with a study that indicates digital health can be used to monitor comatose patients as well as having someone at the bedside. A study conducted by researchers at the May Clinic in Arizona and published in the January edition of Telemedicine and e-Health indicates doctors assessing comatose patients by telemedicine performed just as well on two common assessment tests as those at the bedside. "This is good news in many ways," Amelia Adcock, MD, a neurologist the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine at West Virginia University and first author of the study, said in a Mayo Clinic press release. "We use telemedicine frequently when evaluating acute stroke patients. Additional coverage: Healthcare Business News

Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Iowa native tapped to lead Mayo region — On Monday, Richard A. Helmers, M.D., was announced regional vice president, Mayo Clinic Health System northwest Wisconsin. He will succeed current president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System northwest Wisconsin, Randall Linton, M.D. Dr. Linton is retiring this spring after 36 years of service with Mayo Clinic Health System. The news release for this announcement is attached. Additional coverage: WEAU Eau Claire

Chippewa Herald, MCHS patient receives Y90 treatment to manage liver cancer — … “Mayo Clinic Health System is awesome,” he says. “All of the doctors and support staff that I’ve worked with have been very knowledgeable and helpful and genuinely concerned.” Jeremy McBride, M.D., an interventional radiologist with Mayo Clinic Health System, suggested a minimally invasive radiation treatment known as Y-90 to strategically attack the tumors invading Turnbull’s liver. While the procedure won’t cure Turnbull’s cancer, Dr. McBride expects it to prolong his patient’s life expectancy and improve his quality of life

KSTP, Mayo Researchers Study New Way to Diagnose Concussions — In the state of hockey, a group of Mayo Clinic researchers has a different goal in mind. They believe there are better ways to diagnose concussions. With the help of the Rochester Ice Hawks, a junior hockey team, they've set out to prove it. The goal is to come up with an objective way to diagnose concussions, using measures including blood work, the King-Devick eye test, encephalography, and accelerometers which give researchers real-time data. "There's such a discrepancy between what somebody thinks or wants to think and what's truly happening in their body," said Principal Investigator Aynsley M. Smith. "For instance, if there's a scout in the crowd, a player may be hesitant to reveal concussion symptoms for fear of coming out of the game. Additional coverage: WDAY Fargo

WEAU Eau Claire, Fitness Trackers by Judy Clark — Healthy resolutions and fitness trackers may be able to help you stick to your fitness goals. Registered Dietitians Janet McCann and Anne Bauch of Mayo Clinic Health System talk about how fitness trackers can be helpful and what to keep in mind as you set realistic goals for activity and weight loss.

Diabetic Lifestyle, Is Low-Carb Eating Really Better for Blood Sugar? — “Patients can likely follow a version of the low carbohydrate diet for longer than the studies suggest, but we don’t know the health effects of a very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet of less than 20 grams of carbs per day,” says Heather Fields, MD, an author of the study and a doctor of integrative medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. “With so few people adhering to a truly ketogenic diet long term [more than a year], we will likely never be able to study the health effects in a meaningful way.”

MedPage Today, What We Heard This Week — Quotable quotes from MedPage Today's sources…"The association of thyroid hormone treatment with increased risk for gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery should be seen as preliminary findings and should call for additional studies evaluating its safety." -- Spyridoula Maraka, MD, of the Mayo Clinic and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, on her study reporting thyroid hormone treatment in pregnant women with hypothyroidism was associated with less pregnancy loss, but increased risk of other adverse outcomes.

Kenyon Leader, Mayo Clinic Health System in Cannon Falls now offers 24-hour behavioral health services via telemedicine by Mary Phipps — Mayo Clinic Health System in Cannon Falls is now offering behavioral health services to patients in its Emergency Department via telemedicine. These services include assessment, treatment and placement for outpatient or inpatient behavioral health needs. “On any given day, a number of patients who have behavioral health needs but are medically stable come to our local Emergency Department seeking help,” says Bo Madsen, M.D, M.P.H., medical director of Emergency Medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System throughout Southeast Minnesota. “Through the use of technology, we can now connect those patients experiencing a behavioral crisis with the right resources when they’re needed.”

Post-Bulletin, Gastroesophagel reflux can trigger symptoms similar to cardiac problems — DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My dad recently went to the emergency room with terrible chest pain and sweating, and was concerned he was having a heart attack. He was kept overnight for monitoring, but doctors said his heart was fine and that his symptoms were probably due to heartburn. Should I suggest he have more tests to determine if it's something more serious? Are there things he can do to avoid having another episode like this?... In a situation like this, it's important for your father to have a follow-up appointment with his primary care physician to confirm the underlying cause of his symptoms. The physician can do a more thorough evaluation, and refer him for more tests and a consultation with a cardiologist, if needed. — Jeffrey Alexander, M.D., Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester

Modern Healthcare, Hospitals feeling the early effects of Trump immigration ban by Elizabeth Whitman and Steven Ross Johnson — Hospitals and healthcare systems are feeling the effects of President Donald Trump's executive order banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries… Representatives from the Mayo Clinic said they were aware of 20 patients whose travel to or from the clinic for treatment may be affected by the ban. They said roughly 80 staff members, including physicians and scholars associated with the clinics have ties to the seven countries listed on the executive order, but at this point was not aware of anyone who was directly affected in terms of barred entry into the U.S. Additional coverage: MedPage Today

Voice of America, Person of the Week: Tsering Dhondup: Nephrology Fellow at the Mayo Clinic, USA — Born in Dharamsala and educated at TCV, Dr. Tsering Dhondup went on to receive his MBBS degree from Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi and do his residency at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Philadelphia, USA. He is currently in his second year of specialized training and research in kidney related diseases at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Prior to coming to the US, Dr. Dhondup had worked for five years in Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement.

Minneapolis /St. Paul Business Journal, Minnesota's global businesses scramble after Trump order by Mark Reilly — Minnesota's global businesses found their employees caught up in the confusion over the Trump Administration's 90-day order blocking travel from seven majority-Muslim nations…Rochester's Mayo Clinic, which has a worldwide reputation, said that about 20 patients could be affected by the travel ban and another 80 doctors, scholars or staff members also have ties to the seven countries named in Trump's order. The Post-Bulletin reports on the response there by Mayo leaders, including CEO John Noseworthy. Additional coverage: WorldNews Network

Star Tribune, Mayo Clinic officials worry about travel ban's impact — Officials at the Mayo Clinic are worried that President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries could prevent some patients from getting life-saving medical care. Mayo says around 20 of its patients may be affected by the 90-day travel ban, while another 80 staff, physicians or scholars associated with the medical center have ties to the seven countries listed in the executive order. Spokeswoman Ginger Plumbo said in a statement Monday that Mayo is working with patients and staff who have travel concerns. Additional coverage: Washington Times, KIMT, Roanoke Times, KTTC, Pioneer Press

Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Local Mayo successor named — Dr. Rick Helmers, an Iowa native, is trading in the sun of Arizona for Wisconsin’s winters to succeed Dr. Randall Linton as the physician leader for Mayo Clinic’s community practice in northwestern Wisconsin. Linton, president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System, has served in that role for 15 years. The pediatrician will retire this spring after 36 years of service with Mayo Clinic Health System.

Daily Mail, Dr Google gets real: Internet search giant launches doctor-approved responses to the most commonly asked health questions — These days, millions of the people consult Google every day about health issues before they even think about going to a doctor, but the responses may not be reliable. Now, the search engine is launching a service that aims to increase the trustworthiness of the answers to medical questions people ask on the web. From today, searches on around 900 common health complaints will retrieve 'Health Condition Cards' that display information that has been fact-checked by a panel of qualified doctors and the Mayo Clinic.

Florida Times-Union, Conference looks at the medical possibilities of using adult stem cells — In 2014, when Springer Publications published “Stem Cells in Aesthetic Procedures,” the first book ever published on the subject, Jacksonville physician Lewis Obi contributed a chapter, “Specialized Stem Cell Fat Transfer to Face.” At places like the Mayo Clinic, researchers have been looking at the possibilities that stem cells could someday help repair damaged organs. But Obi, a veteran plastic surgeon, already has been using stem cells, harvested from a patient’s own fat, in a number of procedures in recent years…

Psychiatry Advisor, Learning From the Failed Solanezumab Trial: An Interview With Ronald Petersen, MD, PhD — Eli Lilly and Company recently announced that the monoclonal antibody solanezumab failed to meet primary end points in EXPEDITION3, a phase 3 trial in 2100 patients with mild Alzheimer's dementia. As a result, Eli Lilly announced that they would not pursue regulatory submissions for the drug in this particular patient population…To explore the broader implications of these negative trial results, Psychiatry Advisor spoke with Ronald Petersen, MD, PhD, director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging in Rochester, Minnesota.

Wired, Moving Patient Data is Messy, but Blockchain is Here to Help by Megan Molteni — For almost a decade, hospitals have been waiting for EHRs to usher in a shiny new era of standardization and high quality healthcare. But while federal laws and incentive programs have made healthcare data more accessible, the vast majority of hospital systems still can’t easily (or safely) share their data. As a result, doctors are spending more time typing than talking to patients. And it’s wearing on them; physician burnouts jumped from 45 to 54 percent between 2011 and 2014, according to a Mayo Clinic study.

Minnesota Hockey, Mayo Clinic to Host Action on Concussions Summit — The Mayo School of Continuous Professional Development and Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine have announced they will host the Ice Hockey Summit III: Action on Concussions 2017 on September 28-29, 2017. The Ice Hockey Summit III will address advances in concussion diagnosis, treatment and prevention with an emphasis on prioritized action items to improve safety in the sport of ice hockey. All stakeholders in youth sports who play an important role in concussion management, including health care professionals, scientists, coaches, officials, administrators and equipment manufacturers are encouraged to attend.

Twin Cities Business, Geneticure Entrepreneurs Return To Rochester Roots With Mayo Accelerator Spot by Don Jacobson — For the two Rochester-born founders of Eden Prairie-based personalized medicine startup Geneticure LLC, setting up shop in the Mayo Clinic Business Accelerator has been something of eye-opener—they say the return home has revealed how much Rochester’s bio-business “eco-system” has grown.…After launching in 2012, the Snyders added several Mayo Clinic-connected officers and advisors, and so the pull toward Rochester was already there. It became more than a feeling in January when they announced they had established a satellite office at the downtown Accelerator, lured not only by hometown roots and the startup synergy, but also by the access the incubator can provide to Mayo clinicians.

KSTP, Mayo Researchers Study New Way to Diagnose Concussions by Josh Rosenthal — In the state of hockey, a group of Mayo Clinic researchers has a different goal in mind. They believe there are better ways to diagnose concussions. With the help of the Rochester Ice Hawks, a junior hockey team, they've set out to prove it. The goal is to come up with an objective way to diagnose concussions, using measures including blood work, the King-Devick eye test, encephalography, and accelerometers which give researchers real-time data.

Truman Tribune, Curtis Bressler and His Mom, Kirsten, to Appear on “The Doctors” on Friday by Debbie Neitzke — Curtis Bressler’s journey of recovery most recently included a trip to Hollywood in California. He and his mom, Kirsten, boarded a plane at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 to fly to Los Angeles to appear on “The Doctors” television show. Kirsten was first approached about being on the show by staff at Mayo Clinic.  Producers of “The Doctors” had seen the video of Curtis’ miraculous recovery journey on Mayo’s website and then contacted Mayo, who in turn contacted Kirsten.  The episode with Curtis and Kirsten will air on FOX on Friday, February, 3, 2017.  Check your local provider for channel numbers and time.

Twin Cities Business, Mayo Seeks Patent On Non-Invasive Drug Delivery For Brain Cancer, Alzheimer’s by Don Jacobson — Research interest is building over the possibility of using viruses to transport drugs and genes across the “blood-brain barrier” to non-invasively treat brain cancer and other neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases, and a Mayo Clinic research team is staking out an intellectual property position in the field. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a semipermeable blockade of tightly packed cells that is crucial to keep pathogens and potentially harmful chemicals circulating in the blood from entering the brain and spinal cord. Its existence assures that the central nervous system functions property.

Science Daily, Millennial generation's learning preferences in medical education examined — "Millennials are extremely socially minded and inspired to serve patients," says Dr. Wolanskyj, the study's senior author. "Milestone-based assessment is essential for a number of reasons, chiefly for public accountability of how we're training future physicians, and [it] sets a high bar this generation is determined to attain."

Fairmont Sentinel, Rehab renovation gets patients moving by Judy Bryan — A renovation project and addition of state-of-the-art equipment has contributed to a new look for the rehabilitation department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont. More private treatment spaces have been added, and walls have been removed. Former administration areas have been opened up. But the centerpiece of the rejuvenated area is an anti-gravity machine, a $40,000 gift from the Fairmont Community Hospital Foundation. “It was a rare gift. It’s very unusual for a community of this size to have that high-tech advanced technology, and we’re extremely blessed,” said Catherine Johnson, physical medicines and rehabilitation manager.

KTTC, Mayo nurse, former refugee shares message of acceptance and resilience with Rochester students by Jacob Murphey — Learning to accept others while realizing your full potential was the message being shared with students of a Rochester elementary school Wednesday. Students, parents, and teachers gathered at Longfellow Elementary to hear from Habibo Haji, a Mayo Clinic nurse and former Somali refugee.  Haji spent her early childhood as a nomad in Somalia, and spent several years in Kenya at one of the largest refugee camps in the world before moving to the United States 17 years ago.

SpaceCoast Living, Mayo Clinic Redefining Cancer Care at Parrish Medical Center — Parrish Medical Center (PMC) is introducing its newest healing environment to Brevard County cancer patients and their families at the newly opened Parrish Cancer Center. “Parrish Cancer Center patients receive the benefit of an exceptional team of cancer fighting experts who use the latest cancer fighting treatments and technology within a newly and beautifully renovated healing environment,” said George Mikitarian, PMC president and CEO. “Additionally, as a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, Parrish Cancer Center physicians have access to Mayo Clinic’s unsurpassed research and expertise.”

Decorah Newspapers, National Wear Red Day is Friday — One woman dies every minute from heart disease. To raise awareness among local women that heart disease is their No. 1 health threat, Winneshiek Medical Center invites community members to wear red on Friday, February 3, 2017 in recognition of National Wear Red Day®. According to Lisa Zittergruen, M.D., Mayo Clinic Health System family medicine and OB physician at Winneshiek Medical Center, “A common myth suggests women are not at risk for heart disease. In fact, heart disease is just as much of a reality for women as it is for men.”

Barron News-Shield, Mayo Clinic Health System hosts Rock n’ Roll skate party — Lace up your roller skates, and gather your friends for some fast-paced fun and exercise. Mayo Clinic Health System will host a Rock n’ Roller Skating event, Monday, Feb. 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Skate City, 2057 17 ½ Ave. in Rice Lake. “Roller skating is great exercise,” says Tina Tharp, a specialist in Community Engagement & Wellness at Mayo Clinic Health System. “It’s a terrific, low-impact cardio workout that helps you build strength, agility and endurance. Skating to the music with friends can boost your mood and help you beat the winter blues.”

Vox, How Trump’s immigration ban threatens health care, in 3 charts by Julia Belluz and Sarah Frostenson — Besides work at the bedside, the research immigrants do in labs across the country is also under threat. One Syrian medical researcher told Vox he’s afraid that after working in America for more than three years at the Mayo Clinic, his application for permanent residency will now be rejected and he’ll have to leave. Other researchers on visas and green cards from Iran told us they fear leaving the US to visit family or go to conferences should they be barred from coming back home, and that this situation was untenable and had them thinking about alternative places to live.

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