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

 

Wall Street Journal
Mayo Clinic’s Unusual Challenge: Overhaul a Business That’s Working
by Ron Winslow

Change is hard. It is especially hard when the organization in question is among the top in its field. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic, the 153-year-old institution that pioneered the concept of patient-centered care, considered it an ideal place to practice, one that wasn’t in much need of fixing. It is renowned for diagnosing and treating medicine’s most complex patients. Dr. John Noseworthy, Mayo’s chief executive officer, had a different view about the need for change. He saw declining revenue, he says, from accelerating efforts by government health programs, private insurers and employers to rein in health-care costs as a looming threat to the clinic’s health.

Reach: The Wall Street Journal has a daily circulation of more than 1.3 million readers; its website has more than 43.5 million unique visitors each month and is one of the top national newspapers in the United States ranked by circulation.

Additional coverage:
Post-Bulletin,  Furst Draft: Noseworthy says, 'The storm is still coming'
Fierce Healthcare,  Regulatory pressures force Mayo Clinic to rethink how it does business, cut costs
Advisory Board,  How Mayo Clinic overhauled its world-renowned care—and saved $900 million
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Mayo Clinic's pretty great — and that's a problem if you're trying to fix it

Context: Mayo Clinic is recognized for high-quality patient care more often than any other academic medical center in the nation. These endorsements reinforce our century-old commitment to provide the highest quality care to each patient every day. John Noseworthy, M.D. is Mayo Clinic president and CEO.

Contact: Traci Klein

 

Washington Post
Much shorter chemo works for many colon cancer patients, study says
by Laurie McGinley

Many colon cancer patients can cut their chemotherapy regimen in half, improving their quality of life and reducing their chances of having debilitating side effects, according to a major international study released Sunday. “It's really good news,” said senior author Axel Grothey, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Rochester, Minn. “Our goal is to help patients have lower toxicity, while not reducing its efficacy.”

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: KMSP, Cancer Network, Cure, Medscape, MedPage Today, Star Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, Post-Bulletin, Healio, Chicago Tribune, BioWorld

Context: Axel Grothey, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic oncologist.

Contact: Joe Dangor

 

WCCO
Mayo Clinic’s High-Tech Analysis Helps Improve Your Golf Swing & Prevent Injuries

Some golfers are getting help to play it safe before they ever set foot on a course, Angela Davis reports.

Reach: WCCO 4 News is the most-watched newscast in the Twin Cities, in 5 out of 7 newscasts.

Context: Whatever your age or current skill level, Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine golf specialists deliver a comprehensive and individualized approach to improve every aspect of your game. It starts with a thorough assessment of your golf skills, as well as analysis of your flexibility, strength and balance, and how they impact your performance.

Contact: Rhoda Fukushima Madson

 

ActionNewsJax
Thyroid medication incorrectly dosed
by Kaitlyn Chana

Thyroid medication is the most commonly prescribed drug in the U.S. also may be one of the most overprescribed for older individuals. Mayo Clinic Endocrinologist Dr. Robert Smallridge told us about 40% of patients on thyroid medication in the United States are not taking the right dose. He says roughly 25 million individuals are taking one form or another of thyroid medication. “The thyroid controls almost every system in our body,” said Smallridge. Doctors explained its important patient’s alert their physician if there are no changes after taking this medication. This way there is a plan to try and figure out the root of the reoccurring symptoms. “I look at the average patient list and they are on 10 different medications and you look at the side effects of those medications,” said Smallridge.

Reach: WAWS-TV/30 is the Fox affiliate. WTEV-TV/47 is the CBS affiliate in Jacksonville, Florida.

Context: Robert Smallridge, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist.

Contact: Paul Scotti

HuffPost, Building Authentic Connections: Professional Moms Come Out More Resilient by Denise Millstine, M.D. and Cynthia Stonnington, M.D. — It’s no secret: health care professionals have higher rates of burnout than the rest of the population – some estimates being at 30-40% of US physicians. Perhaps you’ve seen one of them in their office? You know, the harried, rushed, perhaps abrupt provider who listens to ½ your story, clicks through a prescription for the appropriate diagnosis, and whisks you out the door. What about female health care providers? Perhaps you seek them out? If so, you have good reason! Studies have shown better health outcomes in the care of physicians who are women.

HuffPost, The Growing Costs Of A Sedentary Lifestyle by Alan Kohll — One of the worst things you can do to your body is doing nothing at all and unfortunately, a sedentary lifestyle has become the norm in our culture. Sitting all day and leading an inactive lifestyle can have harmful, long-term effects to your employees’ health. According to Mayo Clinic, 50-70 percent of people sit at least six hours per day, and 20-35 percent of people spend over four hours every day watching TV.

HuffPost, Female Athletes And Their Periods — Does a woman’s menstrual cycle affect her performance as an athlete? It’s not always talked about publicly, but it’s certainly discussed privately among female athletes. It’s also an issue that’s just starting to be studied. Below is the transcript of an interview for the Office of Women’s Health between Mayo Clinic gynecologist Dr. Petra Casey and Mayo Clinic News Network reporter, Vivien Williams.

HuffPost, Women with past adverse childhood experiences more likely to have ovaries removed, study shows — Mayo Clinic researchers report that women who suffered adverse childhood experiences or abuse as an adult are 62 percent more likely to have their ovaries removed before age 46. These removals are for reasons other than the presence of ovarian cancer or a high genetic risk of developing cancer, says the new study published today in BMJ Open. "Our current findings suggest that physical, emotional or sexual abuse predisposes women to seek medical attention for multiple gynecological symptoms, such as abdominal pain or excessive bleeding," says Liliana Gazzuola Rocca, M.D., a Mayo Clinic health sciences researcher and psychiatrist. "These gynecological symptoms may lead the women and their gynecologists to opt for removal of the reproductive organs at a young age—even when these organs are completely normal." Additional coverage: Medical Xpress, Becker’s Hospital Review

Yahoo!, What Does It Really Mean To Be Double-Jointed? by Sarah Jacoby — For the most part, being double-jointed isn't a harmful thing. However, it's not all party tricks: According to Edward R. Laskowski, MD, at the Mayo Clinic, hypermobility can also cause chronic pain and frequent injuries and dislocations for some. In those cases, doctors often recommend physical therapy to strengthen and stabilize the loose joints. In rare instances, though, extreme flexibility can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as Marfan syndrome. However, double-jointedness wont be your only symptom in those cases —Marfan syndrome often comes with severe vision and heart problems.

New York Times, A Dilemma for Diabetes Patients: How Low to Push Blood Sugar, and How to Do It? by Gina Kolata — A particular drug’s effect on blood sugar does not predict its effects on the heart. Even understanding the chemistry at work — the drugs act in very different ways to lower blood sugar — does not predict whether a particular medication will increase heart risk in a particular patient, researchers say ..“It’s a disgrace” that so little is known, said Dr. Victor M. Montori, a diabetes expert at the Mayo Clinic. No one disputes the importance of lowering blood sugar when levels are very high. Doing so may help prevent complications like kidney disease, nerve damage and damage to the eyes, and may alleviate symptoms like fatigue and frequent urination.

Science Friday, Why Are Allergies So Dang Hard To Get Rid Of? — Allergies arise when the immune system attacks allergens, such as pollen, as if they were pathogens, like bacteria. One popular method of treatment—allergy shots—has been around since the early 1900s. With so much collective sniffling, why hasn’t modern medical science discovered a cure for this springtime scourge? The reason, says Matthew Rank, an allergy specialist at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Scottsdale, Arizona, is that we’ve only recently started piecing together exactly why our immune systems turn on us.

Today.com, 17 exceptionally easy ways to relax — from people who know how to chill by Meghan Holohan — 4. Send out good vibes. “I pause and think of a few people who love me and trust my intentions,” said Dr. Amit Sood, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic. “I send silent good wishes to the person in front of me.”

Becker’s Hospital Review, Mayo Clinic and Baxter to collaborate on R&D by Tamara Rosin — Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic and Deerfield, Ill.-based Baxter International, a global medical product company, have established a research and development collaboration aimed at advancing innovation across various therapeutic areas. Under the arrangement, clinicians and researchers from both organizations will work together to advance new technologies and therapies to transform patient care. The collaboration will focus primarily on areas where breakthrough treatment options can be introduced and innovation can drive access to high-quality care. The first project will focus on kidney disease. "We are excited about combining Mayo's clinical and research expertise with Baxter's ability to apply and scale innovation," said Gianrico Farrugia, MD, vice president of Mayo Clinic and CEO of Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., where the collaboration will begin. "We are confident that this collaboration will help accelerate discoveries, development and application of life-changing therapies for patients.".

HealthDay, Are Many A-Fib Patients Getting the Wrong Dose? by Robert Preidt — A-fib is a common condition, marked by an irregular and often rapid heart beat. It's associated with a fivefold increased risk of stroke, but blood thinners reduce that risk. Many a-fib patients also have kidney disease and need a lower medication dose than others, the study authors said. "Dosing errors of these blood-thinning medications in patients with atrial fibrillation are common and have concerning adverse outcomes," said lead author Xiaoxi Yao, a researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Moreover, "the number of patients using these drugs has quickly increased since the introduction of this new class of drugs in 2010," Yao said in a Mayo news release. Additional coverage: US News & World Report, WebMD, Post-Bulletin, Science Times

Shape, BVI: The New Tool That Could Finally Replace the Outdated BMI by Sara Angle — Body mass index (BMI) has been widely used to assess healthy body weights since the formula was first developed in the 19th century. But many doctors and fitness professionals will tell you it's a flawed method since it only considers height and weight, not age, gender, muscle mass, or body shape. Now, the Mayo Clinic has teamed up with technology company Select Research to release a new tool that measures body composition and weight distribution…Mayo Clinic is continuing to conduct clinical trials to validate BVI, with the goal of publishing results in peer-reviewed journals, says Barnes. They hope this will allow BVI to replace BMI by 2020.

Outside magazine, Four Things Top Performers Do Every Day by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness — Michael Joyner, a physician and researcher at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minneapolis, is one of the most productive humans alive. Joyner, an expert on physiology and human performance, has published more than 350 scientific articles, was recently named the distinguished investigator at the Mayo Clinic, and was awarded a grant through the Fulbright Scholar Program. In addition to his research, Joyner, an anesthesiologist by trade, sees patients regularly and is a mentor to countless up-and-comers, informally running what he calls “my own version of a Montessori school.” He writes for Sports Illustrated and is frequently cited as an expert in other leading publications. Joyner, who’s 58 and married with young kids, is also still a dedicated athlete himself, completing near-daily 60-to-75-minute workouts.

Reader’s Digest, Warning: The 16 Everyday Things That Pose Huge Health Risks by Lisa Marie Conklin — OTC vitamins: Most of the over-the-counter vitamins we take are fine when we follow the directions, but beefing up the dosage to fend off an illness can be dangerous… For example, according to the Mayo Clinic, taking 50,000 international units (IU) a day of vitamin D for several months has been shown to cause toxicity.

MedPage Today, How Frequently Do Small Brain Aneurysms Rupture? by Kristin Jenkins — Patients with aneurysms should undergo expert evaluation that includes a review of associated risk factors to "determine both the optimal follow-up plan (if any) and the need for treatment," said Starke, noting that the mortality rate in patients with a ruptured aneurysm is about 50%. This review "should prompt better prospective observational studies," he stated. Robert D. Brown Jr., MD, MPH, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., agreed. Rupture risk prediction, and treatment recommendations should be individualized," he told MedPage Today in an email. Brown, who was not involved in the study, noted that study provides a good summary of available data. "These aneurysms are relatively commonly seen in clinical practice, often detected on brain imaging performed for other, unrelated reasons. The key question after the aneurysm is detected is whether the aneurysm requires interventional treatment, and if not, how should it best be followed," he said.

TechTarget, Effective genomic data analysis not possible without data integration — The potential benefits of genomic data analysis in healthcare are undeniable. The list includes reducing repeat testing, predicting what illnesses someone may experience in the future, providing more personalized care to patients and more. But the list of challenges is, unfortunately, just as long…Keith Stewart, director at the Center for Individualized Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., said at Health Datapalooza in Washington D.C. in April that some of these barriers include patient wariness, a lack of education in this field among physicians, a shortage of genetic counseling and healthcare payers not yet wanting to pay for genetic tests. But improvements to the technology are also needed, Stewart said, especially when it comes to dealing with data. We're talking about handling something like four petabytes of data here.

GenomeWeb, OneOme to Support Mayo-Baylor Clinical PGx Collaboration — Pharmacogenomic informatics company OneOme has been chosen to interpret and package data for the Right 10K study, a collaboration between Mayo Clinic and the Baylor College of Medicine, the Minneapolis-based company said. Right 10K is an effort to sequence 76 pharmacogenes from Mayo Clinic Biobank samples of 10,000 Mayo patients in order to assess the ability of PGx testing to improve long-term health.

KARE 11, Mayo Clinic patients develop unique bond by Adrienne Broaddus — An 11-year-old Minnesota boy and a retired teacher from South Dakota have developed a special bond. Right now, both are at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester waiting for life-saving transplants. Isyriss Yeager, 11, is waiting for a new heart. Yeager has hypoplastic left heart syndrome, or HLHS. He has been on the transplant waiting list since Dec. 1, 2016. The left side of his heart never developed correctly.

KARE 11, Is cleanliness to blame for increased allergies? by Christopher Hrapsky — Doctors at the Mayo Clinic say it's unclear what exactly is causing this disparity and growth of allergies in the world, but they believe it has to do with the way we live. "We also see this in some more controlled studies in humans where if you look at families who use a dishwasher versus those who sort of hand wash their dishes, it turns out that the families . . . sterilizing their dishes, have higher rates of allergic diseases," said Dr. Pritish Tosh who specialized in infectious diseases at Mayo Clinic.

KJZZ, What's Being Done To Curb Opioid Abuse In ERs, Doctor's Offices? by Lauren Gilger — Last year, there were more than 431 million opioid pills prescribed in Arizona. That’s 62 pills for every person in the state, according to the Governor’s Office. So what’s being done to curb this abuse on the front lines where it begins in emergency rooms, doctors offices and clinics? For more on that, I spoke with Dr. Christopher Wei, a pain specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.

MinnPost, Minnesotans spent at least $55 million on unnecessary medical procedures in 2014, MDH says by Susan Perry — “Reducing low-value services requires a culture change for patients and providers to recognize that ‘more’ isn’t always ‘better,’ when it comes to imaging and screening,” said Dr. Rozalina McCoy, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist who helped with the report’s analysis, in the released statement. “In fact, many of these tests and procedures are not just ‘low value’ and therefore a poor use of health care resources, but they can cause real harm to patients who receive them.” Additional coverage: Becker’s Hospital Review, Star Tribune

Twin Cities Business, Mayo-Connected Magnetic Imaging Medtech Firm Completes $13M Financing by Don Jacobson — A small California medtech with close research commercialization ties to Mayo Clinic says it is “firing on all cylinders” on plans to roll out its image-guided surgery tech platform after completing a $13.25 million private placement. MRI Interventions (OTCQB: MRIC) of Irvine announced the fresh equity financing shortly after signing a joint development agreement with Mayo to innovate and commercialize new ways the using magnetic resonance imaging system in combatting an especially deadly type of stroke that currently has no definitive treatment.

13 WMAZ, 'Smartphone thumb' becoming more widespread by Yvonne Thomas — Millions use cell phones to text, talk, check emails, and more, but according to a new study by the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, more people are complaining about sore thumbs or tight wrists. Doctors call this new phenomenon "smartphone thumb." Central Georgia Orthopedics say it's becoming more widespread, even here in Central Georgia. Yvonne Thomas has more.

Post-Bulletin, Mayo Clinic gets high marks — again — on diversity by Brett Boese — Mayo Clinic was honored last month by DiversityInc for its continued commitment to diversity and inclusion. Minnesota's top private employer ranked sixth in DiversityInc's Top Hospitals and Health Systems survey. It's the sixth straight year Mayo has finished among the Top 12. The awards were announced May 3 during an announcement dinner in New York where the featured speakers were Trevor Noah, host of "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, among others. "It was an honor being able to represent Mayo Clinic and its many dedicated employees at the awards ceremony," said Fred Wills, administrator of Mayo's Office of Diversity and Inclusion. "This recognition is really about the Mayo Clinic team living our values, our staff building a welcoming place for each other and patients, where hope and healing are cornerstones."

Post-Bulletin, Minnesota ranks as healthiest state for seniors by Brett Boese — Minnesota has been deemed the healthiest state for senior citizens by a new national survey that examined 20-plus metrics across five categories to determine its list. Nathan LeBrasseur, director of Mayo Clinic's Healthy Living and Independent Living Program, calls the recognition "fantastic," further noting Rochester actually might be the best city in the entire country to be an aging senior. He highlighted extensive trails and green space, in addition to what he calls Mayo's "unknown fact," which tips the scales in his mind. "An unknown fact, I would say, is that Mayo Clinic has approximately 1 percent of all geriatricians in the entire country right here in Rochester," LeBrasseur said. "We're better equipped than anywhere in the world to care for elderly adults." Additional coverage: St Cloud Times

Post-Bulletin, Answer Man — Dear Answer Man, has Mayo Clinic taken a position on climate change and the Paris agreement? You would think that as a major public health issue, the clinic would be out front on this. You would think, but it's not in Mother Mayo's nature to be out front on hot topics, even when it involves the heating up of Mother Earth. To be fair, I can't find many health care giants that have taken a position, though Mayo's privileged position in the medical world, with CEO Dr. John Noseworthy having met a few times with President Trump, gives it an elevated responsibility. But no, according to a clinic spokesman, the clinic has taken no position on climate change or the U.S. dropping out of the Paris climate change agreement.

KIMT, Mayo Clinic Children's Center hosts annual Garden Celebration by DeeDee Stiepan — Friday was a beautiful day to get outside and do some work in the garden. In fact Mayo Clinic had a little help planting some flowers outside of the Mayo Building. Children from the Civic League Day Nursery were invited to the annual Garden Celebration which promotes health and wellness through nature and the arts. Mayo doctors believe it's helpful to learn about health and wellness at a young age. "A lot of our health and wellness; physically, but also mentally and emotionally, are due to factors that you can control and if you learn those habits earlier in life they're easier to sustain into adolescence and adulthood," explains Dr. Dawn Davis, Pediatric Sub-Specialist at Mayo. Davis says even more special than being able to plant flowers was where the kids put them.

KTTC, Rochester celebrates National Cancer Survivors Day by Chris Yu — Hundreds of cancer survivors and their family members gathered in Rochester on Sunday for music, dance and inspiration. The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center hosted the 30th annual National Cancer Survivors Day Celebration at Rochester International Event Center. This year, there was a Chinese New Year theme, and guests enjoyed Chinese-style dance and musical performances. One of the speakers was Dr. Haidong Dong (Immunology and Urology Research at Mayo Clinic), who discussed cancer and the immune system. Additional coverage: KIMT, Post-Bulletin

KTTC, Heart transplant needed for baby girl: 'It's hard to watch her be like this' by Chris Yu — A 4-month-old girl being treated at Mayo Clinic is in urgent need of a heart transplant. Charlotte McChesney was born in February and was diagnosed with Noonan syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by abnormal development in various parts of the body. For Charlotte, her heart muscles are abnormally thick -- a condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy -- that prevents her heart from pumping blood properly…So far, Charlotte has spent her entire life in hospitals. She previously stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. In April, she was transferred to Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus.

KAAL, Mayo Clinic's Peregrine Falcon Program Helps Bring Species Off Endangered List — Thursday morning Mayo Clinic continued a tradition of banding peregrine falcons that went back 30 years. Peregrine Falcons currently live at the top of the Gonda Building at Mayo Clinic, and have been since the early 1990's.The newest chicks were banded with a little metal tracker so that specialists can study them and hopefully help the species thrive. Additional coverage: Post-Bulletin

KAAL, International Doctor Match Day in the Med City — It was a match day celebration for international doctors Thursday in Rochester. "I moved here in 2012,” prospective doctor Robin Chirackal said. “Coming over here was tough because I knew I had to start from scratch." After gaining knowledge of how the system works in America, and a little help from a fellow doctor and friend, Chirackal found his way to Rochester to be a researcher at Mayo Clinic. He also gained the hands-on medical experience through Community Health Services that he needed when applying to residencies.

9 News Colorado, What if I pee a little when I workout or laugh? by Mary Bowerman — Do you pee a little bit when you workout or laugh? It’s an embarrassing question and women may not feel comfortable asking, but it happens much more often than you’d think, according to Emanuel Trabuco, urogynecologist at the Mayo Clinic. “It’s super common, but for a lot of patients it’s not something that becomes bothersome until it progresses and begins to impact their quality of life,” he said.

Fox 17 West Michigan, New study shows increase in skin cancer rates among women by Erica Francis —While you may regularly wear sunscreen at a picnic or during a day at the beach, it's not likely you slather on the sunscreen for a day at work. A new study might convince you to start. Two types of skin cancer are on the rise among women, according to a report published by Mayo Clinic. The rate of new cases of squamous cell carcinoma rose 263 percent among women between 2000 and 2010 and rose 145 percent in the general population.

Economic Times, Another reason to start jogging: It may reduce risk of hip and knee joint pain — Joggers are less likely to experience knee and hip osteoarthritis compared to sedentary individuals and competitive runners, says a study. As such running at a recreational level for up to 15 years - and possibly more - may be safely recommended as a general health exercise, according to the study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. "The principal finding in this study is that, in general, running is not associated with osteoarthritis,” said lead author Eduard Alentorn-Geli from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, US. "The novel finding in our investigation is the increased association between running and arthritis in competitive, but not in recreational runners," Alentorn-Geli said.

Healio, Heart valve disease charity on track to help 1 million underserved people — A charitable initiative backed by Edwards Lifesciences Corp. announced that it has educated, screened and/or treated more than 400,000 underserved individuals for heart valve disease since 2014. The initiative, called Every Heartbeat Matters, is on track to meet its goal of reaching 1 million underserved people by 2020, according to a press release issued by the company. “Millions of people around the world suffer from heart valve disease, yet unbeknown to most, the disease is highly treatable once detected,” Maurice E. Sarano, MD, professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School and director of the Valvular Heart Disease Clinic at Mayo Clinic.

Healio, Diabetes does not affect overall survival in prostate cancer — Among men with prostate cancer, diabetes status did not significantly affect 5-year overall survival, according to findings published in Endocrine Practice. Nina J. Karlin, MD, of the division of hematology and medical oncology at Mayo Clinic Hospital, and colleagues evaluated 276 men (mean age, 72.1 years) with prostate cancer and diabetes newly diagnosed from 2007 to 2014 matched to 276 men (mean age, 72.1 years) with prostate cancer without diabetes to determine how diabetes affects short-term overall survival. “[Diabetes] did no adversely impact survival in patients with prostate cancer,” Karlin told Endocrine Today. “In addition, prostate cancer and its treatment did not affect glycemic control. Providers can be reassured that the concurrent diagnoses do not adversely interact to worse short-term outcomes. Our findings should be confirmed in a larger data set and over a longer period of time.”

La Crosse Tribune, Mayo-Franciscan, UW-L researchers aim to close research gap on dietary supplements for women by Mike Tighe — Research on nutritional supplements for women is thinner than parchment paper, while studies of men’s nutritional needs rival the Encyclopaedia Britannica. In a quest to close that gap, Dr. Jake Erickson of Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare and Andrew Jagim of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, studied 15 recreationally active female UW-L students in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled test of MusclePharm’s MissFit supplements. The pair presented the research at a meeting of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, and it will be published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine.

MIT Technology Review, Grail’s $1 Billion Bet on the Perfect Cancer Test by Antonio Regaldo — Huge and expensive studies will be needed to discover the fingerprints of cancer and then prove a “screening” test really helps. Grail last year began seeking blood from 7,000 cancer patients at Gibbs and other community hospitals, and in April said it would explore whether the company can create a test to compete with or replace mammograms, an x-ray of the breast that women are advised to get annually starting at age 45. To do so, Grail is now seeking 120,000 women to provide blood when they undergo mammograms at centers including the Mayo Clinic.

Daily Mail, Weight loss surgery without cutting? New non-invasive procedure could reduce body weight by 54 percent by Cheyenne Roundtree — The new endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, or accordion procedure, is minimally invasive, has less recovery time, can be performed in 40 minutes and could reduce excess body weight by up to 54 percent…In a smaller study of 25 patients, people lost an average of 54 percent of excess body weight, according to a Mayo Clinic study in January 2016. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty falls under the umbrella of endoscopy – the nonsurgical procedure that gastroenterologists use to examine a person’s digestive tract.

Journal Times, Carpal tunnel syndrome may require surgery — Dear Mayo Clinic: I have carpal tunnel syndrome that used to bother me only at night. Wearing a splint helped, but, now, my symptoms are noticeable throughout the day, as well. Does this mean surgery is inevitable, or are there other things I can do to help lessen the tingling and numbness it’s causing?...A: Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve that’s in the front of your wrist. Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome usually starts with splinting, self-care measures and, if needed, a corticosteroid injection. If that provides only temporary relief, then surgery may be recommended.

Healthcare IT News, Mayo Clinic sets sights on precision decision support at point-of-care by Mike Miliard — In a collaboration meant to develop genomics-based protocols for precision medicine, Mayo Clinic is collaborating with Pittsburgh-based 2bPrecise, licensing its cloud-based platform to bring individualized clinical decision support to the point of care. The platform combines clinical and genomic information, extracting patient-specific and presenting them to clinicians, within the EHR workflow, overlaying other sources of data help enable clinical genomics at point of care, said 2bPrecise officials. The technology will help to make the most of Mayo Clinic's deep knowledge of electronic phenotyping algorithms, enabling them to more easily be incorporated into clinical protocols, and applied to outcomes research. Additional coverage: Healthcare Informatics, HIT Consultant, GenomeWeb

Desert News, How an electric car is making more men care about their health by Jennifer Graham — …Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes, a cardiologist and founder of the Women's Heart Clinic at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, disputes the idea that there is widespread inequality in health care according to gender. "It's not like men are suffering from vast health inequities, but there are differences, and both men's and women's health would be improved if there was more attention both to age- and gender-specific preventive efforts, and making sure the science is there to support appropriate care for men and for women," she said. In childhood, boys and girls see doctors at the same rate, Hayes said. The differences begin in late teens and early adulthood when young women see doctors for birth control, pregnancy and childbirth, and get into a habit of getting regular care, not only for their children but for themselves.

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