November 17, 2017

Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights for November 17, 2017

By Karl Oestreich

 

 

 


USA Today,
 
Once paralyzed, Chris Norton vows to walk his fiancee down the aisle by Daniel P. Finney — Chris Norton's long lifetime walk began in earnest on Oct. 16, 2010 — seven years ago Monday. He lay face down on the Luther College football field; his neck broken from a hard hit while covering a kickoff for the Norse. Doctors gave him a 3 percent chance of ever having feeling or movement below the neck. The long odds terrified the then-18-year-old… Within a few days of his injury, Norton discovered he could twitch one of his shoulders. After a year, he could stand with assistance. His sister, Alex Norton McManus, a registered nurse, moved to Decorah to help him recover and shuttle him to therapy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Washington Post, Chopin wanted his heart cut out and preserved. Now it may have resolved the mystery of his death. by Travis M. Andrews — Chopin had been chronically ill. But the cause of Chopin’s death, while widely attributed to tuberculosis, was actually a mystery and remained that way for more than 150 years. For decades, scientists thought that if they could examine his heart, they could finally determine the cause of his death. In 2014, a group of scientists finally got their chance, and they recently published the results in the American Journal of Medicine. The study claims Chopin died of pericarditis, a rare complication of tuberculosis that causes swelling of the membrane surrounding the heart, according to the Mayo Clinic.

New York Times, You’re Sick, Stay Away From Work. If You Can’t, Here Is What Doctors Advise. by Daniel Victor — It’s clear on which side doctors come down: They say workers with the flu or a cold should use sick days far more often than they do. Though millions of Americans don’t get paid time off when they’re sick, those who do have the option often don’t take it. “If it’s bad enough that you’re wondering if you should stay home, you should probably stay home,” said Dr. Pritish K. Tosh, an infectious diseases researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

New York Times, Amish Mutation Protects Against Diabetes and May Extend Life by Anahad O’Connor — Amish people living in a rural part of Indiana have a rare genetic mutation that protects them from Type 2 diabetes and appears to significantly extend their life spans, according to a new study…Jan M. van Deursen, a molecular biologist and expert on aging at the Mayo Clinic, who was not involved in the new research, said the study was impressive and yielded intriguing insights. “I think it’s nice work, you don’t see these types of studies that often,” he said. “The Amish are quite reserved, and it’s not that easy to get them to participate in a study like this. My hat’s off to them and to the researchers.”

CNN, Sex rarely causes hearts to stop, research says by Susan Scutti — It's a familiar scene in TV melodramas: Mid-intercourse, an older man collapses, clutching his heart. Yet sex and sudden cardiac arrest rarely happen together, according to preliminary research presented Sunday at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2017…Overall, the question of whether having sex might be dangerous to heart patients is one that "needed to be answered," said Dr. Michael J. Ackerman, a professor of medicine, pediatrics and pharmacology at the Mayo Clinic who was not involved in the study. " Additional coverage: KTLA, Express Newsline

HuffPost, Sustaining Engagement and Finding Fulfillment as a Physician by Bruce L. Gewertz, M.D. — The only real solutions lie within the fabric of our institutions. There are substantial limitations to self-improvement strategies as noted by Tait Shanafelt, MD, and John Noseworthy, MD. Writing in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, these researchers argue that maintenance of an engaged and emotionally balanced physician staff requires meaningful organizational changes. To this end, they strongly suggest regular assessment of physician wellbeing, the careful weighing of incentives to avoid overwork and, most important, strengthening the leadership skills in these areas.

HuffPost, Cardiology Nurse, Heart Attack Survivor Has Message For Women: ‘Listen To Your Body’ — Kristin O’Meara’s story, she says, is one of denial. It began with searing chest pain, a serious symptom Kristin understands well from three decades as a cardiology nurse at Mayo Clinic. But when that pain was in her own chest, Kristin had a hard time recognizing it for what it was. “The brain works in funny ways,” she says. “I was in good shape. My numbers were all good. I told myself there is no possible way this could be a heart attack.” A visit to the doctor proved her wrong. Despite the fact that she was active and fit, doctors at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus discovered Kristin was having a heart attack that day as a result of a condition called spontaneous coronary artery dissection, or SCAD. Before she could get to the diagnosis, Kristin had to overcome her impulse to dismiss her symptoms as something minor.

BuzzFeed, 27 Skin-Soothing Tips And Products People With Eczema Swear By by Caroline Kee — Eczema is a sensitivity disease between the skin, immune system, and environment, says Dawn Davis, dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. "There's an immune overstimulation which causes inflammation and breaks the skin's barriers down, so you get red, irritated, itchy skin," Davis says. Eczema can be an uncomfortable and painful condition — skin can crack and weep or become infected. "Common triggers include very dry environments, hot and humid environments or sweating, irritants like chemicals or friction on the skin, and when the body is put under medical or psychological stress," says Davis.

US News & World Report, What Are the Types of Radiation Treatment for Breast Cancer? by Elaine K. Howley — Internal beam radiation, also called brachytherapy, involves implantation of a device into the body to deliver highly targeted radiation to the tumor itself or the tumor bed if it has been removed. Although it’s considered an advanced cancer treatment, brachytherapy is not exactly a new procedure, says Dr. Sean Park, a radiation oncology researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “Brachytherapy is tried and true and the earliest way of delivering radiotherapy, even before the external beam came on.”

US News & World Report, Diagnosis: Burnout by Steve Sternberg — Burnout is a syndrome caused by workplace stress. It is characterized by emotional exhaustion, bitter cynicism, a plummeting sense of accomplishment and "a tendency to view people as objects rather than as human beings," according to a landmark study led by Dr. Tait Shanafelt of the Mayo Clinic. The study, involving 7,000 doctors along with other workers, was published late last year in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Reader’s Digest, These Two Exercises Can Keep You Fit for Life, According to a Doctor by Brooke Nelson — Put down the fancy exercise balls and tech-savvy treadmills. To achieve peak physical fitness at any age, Dr. Michael Joyner, a physician and Mayo Clinic researcher, recommends performing burpees and jumping rope. And speaking of adding years to your life, this is the absolute best anti-aging workout, according to science. But why these two exercises, in particular? First of all, once you reach the exact age when it gets harder to lose weight, endurance exercise just isn’t going to cut it anymore.

International Business Times, What Is Legionnaires’ Disease? Disneyland Shuts Down Cooling Towers After Outbreak by Pritha Paul —Disneyland in Anaheim, California, shut down two of its cooling towers Tuesday after Orange County health officials discovered cases of Legionnaires’ disease in several people who had visited the theme park in the last two months…According to Mayo Clinic, "People who have been affected by the disease often show signs and symptoms such as headache, muscle pain, chills, fever that may be 104 F (40 C) or higher, cough (accompanying sometimes by mucus and blood), shortness of breath, chest pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, delusions and other mental disorders etc."

International Business Times, Benefits Of Coffee: Drinking Coffee Might Reduce Risk Of Stroke, Heart Disease by Nina Godlewski — Using a predictive model that factors in blood pressure, age and other health characteristics of participating patients and then adding coffee consumption, the researchers found that the prediction accuracy of the model increased by four percent. Thus, using the machine learning to add in new factors could help make the models more efficient and accurate. Coffee has been said to have other health benefits as well. Coffee might also help protect people from Parkinson’s, diabetes, liver disease and other diseases and ailments, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Miami Herald, He died after his pre-K gave him a grilled cheese. The school knew he was allergic, family says by Josh Magness — Division Chair of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology in the Mayo Clinic Children's Center, Martha Hartz, M.D., explains the connection between food allergies and asthma. Dr. Hartz comments on higher risks for children with asthma, whom should be tested for peanut allergies and how to know when it’s okay to expose children to peanut butter at a very early age to prevent peanut allergies.

Men’s Health, Here's Why You Probably Don't Need to Take Vitamins by Alisa Hrustic — The vitamin section is a lot to take in. What started as a quest for groceries suddenly becomes an hour-long trip down the rabbit hole of colorful bottles, all beckoning you with the promise of better health. … And perhaps more importantly, do you really need to worry about wandering down that aisle to being with? Probably not. “I think there is now, more than ever, a lot of hype with nutritional supplements, whether they be for sports performance, endurance, weight loss, or even cold and flu symptoms and remedies.” Mary Wirtz, R.D.N., wellness dietitian at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program told Men’s Health. “There are a lot of supplements going mainstream with various touted benefits, but it’s important to recognize that if individuals have an overall well-balanced healthy diet, they’re very likely to not have micronutrient deficiencies.”

Boston.com, If you’re sick, stay away from work. If you can’t, here is what doctors advise. — Some people might read her account as a tribute to hard work and selflessness. Others might be aghast that she had risked exposing others to illness. It is clear on which side doctors come down: They say workers with the flu or a cold should use sick days far more often than they do. Though millions of Americans do not get paid time off when they are sick, those who do have the option often do not take it. “If it’s bad enough that you’re wondering if you should stay home, you should probably stay home,” said Dr. Pritish K. Tosh, an infectious diseases researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Romper, Does Pregnancy Make Migraines Worse? It's A Bit Of A Headache To Explain by Candace Ganger — Dr. David Dodick, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Arizona and chair of the American Migraine Foundation, says there is good news. According to Dr. Dodick in the American Migraine Foundation's website, "50 to 80 percent of women who have migraine before pregnancy may notice a reduction in migraine attacks, especially in the second and third trimesters." Dr. Dodick adds that the decrease is likely due to a rise in estrogen levels. There is a downside, though. Expectant moms who've not experienced migraines before could actually get them for the first time during a pregnancy.

Jacksonville Business Journal, Jax company starts trial on cancer-fighting therapy by Will Robinson — TapImmune is testing the cancer-fighting abilities of TPIV200 in multiple ongoing trials for ovarian and breast cancers, including a 280-patient study sponsored by Mayo Clinic and funded by a $13.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense. “Triple-negative breast cancer is a difficult-to-treat condition, but one where patients may stand to benefit significantly from immunotherapies that are effective at continually fighting off disease progression long after initial cancer therapy," CEO Peter Hoang said in a released statement.

KARE 11, VERIFY: Does walking burn as many calories as running? by Jeremiah Jacobsen — While exact calories burned depends on many factors for each person, this estimate from Mayo Clinic provides a good example: A 160-pound person walking for an hour at two miles-per-hour would burn about 204 calories. That same person running for an hour at five miles-per-hour would burn 606 calories.

WCCO, 90-Year-Old Pilot Gives His 300th ‘Angel Flight’ — A Twin Cities veteran is being recognized for his commitment to helping others. Angel Flight provides free flights to people in need. Volunteer pilot Gordy Lewis, 90, has taken that responsibility to a whole-new level. Lewis got his wings later in life. His son gave him flying lessons for his 67th birthday. Lewis started volunteering with Angel Flight Central two decades ago. The nonprofit helped this veteran marry his passion for giving back with his love of flying. “It’s a thrill to be able to do both together,” Lewis said. He transports patients and caregivers to doctor’s appointments, often flying from the Dakotas to the Mayo Clinic. “For the most part, they would have had no other way to obtain medical help without somebody volunteering to transport them,” Lewis said.

WCCO, Mayo Clinic Announces $4.9M Expansion To La Crosse Cancer Facility — The expansion of a La Crosse Wisconsin area hospital will allow more cancer patients to receive treatment close to home. Mayo Clinic Health System announced a $4.9 million renovation to its Cancer Center. The expansion will double the amount of exam rooms and treatment bays. Since the center opened in 2004, the number of patients has doubled to more than 2,000 — but the center has run out of space. The expansion will allow more patients to be seen locally instead of travelling to Rochester.

WCCO, Best Weekend Events In Minnesota: What To Do Once Turkey Day Is Done by Amy Rea — In Rochester, the historic Mayowood Mansion is decorated for the holidays and open for tours. This was the home of Dr. Charles Mayo, co-founder of the Mayo Clinic. Reservations required.

MinnPost, Add to the list of people hit by the opioid epidemic in Minnesota: medical examiners by Greta Kaul — In addition the cost of hiring more staff to cope with the increased workload, each drug overdose investigation costs a more to investigate than many other types of deaths. Dr. Ross Reichard, chief medical examiner of the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, located at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, puts it this way: “Even if you have a relatively small increase in cases, the complexity of the testing that has to be done to rule in or rule out these drugs is increasing, and that’s an additional cost — and work. [Synthetic opioids] have evolved very quickly, so keeping ahead of the testing needs has been a challenge on laboratories in general. Again, that’s additional cost and time and resources.”

Twin Cities Business, Mayo Clinic Bumps Up Contribution to DMC Operating Budget by 36 Percent by Don Jacobson — As it celebrated the groundbreaking of a new medical official building in Rochester, the Destination Medical Center initiative revealed in documents filed with the city that Mayo Clinic’s contribution to the initiative is jumping by 36 percent in 2018. With attention focused last week on the kick-off of Mortenson Construction’s new Phase I medical office building at Discovery Square—one of the first concrete signs of the effort’s progress—the DMC’s Economic Development Agency submitted its 2018 operating budget in support of its annual funding request from the Rochester City Council.

Becker’s Hospital Review, Mayo rolls out second phase of Epic install by Julie Spitzer — Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic began the second phase of its $1.5 billion transition to the Epic EHR, rolling the system out Nov. 4 at Mayo Clinic Health System sites in Minnesota. Epic went live at Mayo sites in Wisconsin July 8. For part two of the EHR launch, 11 hospitals and 40 clinics went live on the platform Nov. 4, Steve Peters, MD, chief medical information officer at Mayo told Becker's Hospital Review. Dr. Peters added that Mayo's Minnesota sites learned valuable lessons observing their Wisconsin counterparts transition earlier this year, including adjusting the amount and type of training as well as the availability of support staff.  Epic replaces three EHRs Mayo currently uses in a move toward a single, integrated patient record. Once Epic is in place across the Mayo system, patients and healthcare providers will be able to access information on medications, allergies, immunizations, lab results and health histories in the same place. Additional coverage: Health Data Management

Healio, Radiotherapy does not reduce mortality, local recurrence in resected sacral chordoma — Preoperative radiotherapy did not reduce risk for mortality, local tumor recurrence or metastasis among patients who underwent surgical treatment for sacral chordoma, according to study results presented at Connective Tissue Oncology Society Annual Meeting. “However, preoperative radiotherapy was associated with a significantly increased risk for wound complications and sacral stress fractures,” Matthew T. Houdek, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said during a presentation. Tumor size and the ability to achieve a negative margin appeared more predictive than other factors for local recurrence and mortality, Houdek added.

Runner’s World, Determined to Defy Her Condition, Runner Completes New York City Marathon Backward by Cindy Kuzma — Runner’s dystonia occurs because of a problem with muscle control, said Jeremy Cutsforth-Gregory, M.D., a movement disorders specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, who has treated and studied it. For reasons scientists haven’t yet discerned, the brain can’t activate the muscles needed for running without also firing up surrounding muscles. The extra activation leaves runners in odd postures that interfere with proper movement. There’s currently no known cure, but some medications or injections can help manage symptoms. Changing up the motor patterns—like running on less-stable surfaces or in different directions—also seems to trick a runner’s brain into firing properly, Cutsforth-Gregory said.

KQED, New Trials Aim to Stop Alzheimer’s Before It Starts by Li Miao Lovett — A group of clinical trials just underway or currently recruiting subjects will test this approach. If they fail, it could prove to be the nail in the coffin for the amyloid hypothesis — the idea that eradicating amyloid plaque will prevent or cure the disease. Multiple trials targeting the protein after symptoms have already begun have shown disappointing results, including Eli Lilly’s high-profile flop last year with the drug solanezumab. Dr. David Knopman, a researcher in cognitive disorders at the Mayo Clinic, thinks looking for drugs outside of amyloid targets “is critically important for the field.” He mentions targeting the tau protein as an approach researchers are excited about. “Even if an anti-amyloid agent did work,” he says, “there must be other processes downstream that could be more easily targeted or effective than amyloid.”

MyTwinTiers.com, Using metallic assistants to increase surgical efficiency by Julio Avila — For years, doctors have performed surgeries by hand. Then at the turn of the 21st-century, doctors welcomed new assistants-- robots. The robot's goal, making operations more precise and to continue making what was once complicated even less complicated. "The robots have become better from the standpoint of their maneuverability," Dr. Matthew Gettman, a professor of urology at the Mayo Clinic, said. "The robotic arms are becoming smaller, we're trying to use new technologies such as bringing in imagining, trying to understand extra-sensory information so we can do safer operations for patients."

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, HOK designs biosciences building near Mayo Clinic — HOK and RSP Architects have designed the first of several new buildings being constructed as part of the 16-block Destination Medical Center Discovery Square subdistrict near the Mayo Clinic campus in Rochester, Minn. Designed to support life-science research and innovation, the four-story, 90,000-square-foot building will house tenants working to create health-related therapies and technologies. The building will feature flexible, open workspaces and central common spaces to encourage collaboration. The Mayo Clinic will occupy 30,000 square feet across three floors of the building when it opens in 2019.

Becker’s Hospital Review, 1-in-50 burnt out physicians plan to leave medicine within next 2 years, survey says by Eric Oliver — A survey, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, attempted to better understand burnout through studying EHR satisfaction, work-life balance and the career path of U.S. physicians. Researchers contacted 35,922 physicians between Aug. 28, 2014 and Oct. 6, 2014. They received 6,452 responses. Physicians were surveyed about reducing clinical hours in the next 12 months and the likelihood of leaving their current practice in the next 24 months.

AMA, 9 organizational changes that lead to physician satisfaction by Sara Berg — Strengthen local leadership. The relationship between physicians and their direct supervisors has a powerful impact on well-being. A study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that every one-point increase in the leadership score of a physician’s immediate supervisor was associated with a 3.3 percent decrease in the likelihood of burnout and a 9 percent rise in physician satisfaction. It is important to assess leadership performance to ensure physician satisfaction.

Genome Web, BGI's MGI Tech Launches New Sequencing Platforms, Broadens Scope with Diagnostic Ultrasound System by Julia Karow — MGI Tech initially tested the new platforms with 10 early-access users who sent the company samples for sequencing analysis, among them eight in China and two in other countries. More recently, MGI Tech has installed the platforms in three early-access laboratories in China. One early-access user is David Smith, director of the technology assessment group at the Mayo Clinic's Center for Individualized Medicine, whose group tested both the BGISEQ-500 and the MGISEQ-2000 for whole-genome sequencing. The platforms delivered comparable data, with the MGISEQ-2000 having double the output of the BGISEQ-500, "and both were just as good as Illumina-based sequencing," Smith said.

Healio, IBD notes from UEGW include treat-to-target, JAK-1 inhibitors — In this exclusive video from Advances in IBD 2017, Edward V. Loftus, MD, of the Mayo Clinic, recaps important inflammatory bowel disease research shared recently at UEG Week in Barcelona. First, he discussed the results of the CALM study, which showed a treat-to-target strategy using “tight control” of inflammatory biomarkers improved outcomes in patients with Crohn’s disease being treated with Humira. You can read more about that study here. “Also, a cost-effectiveness analysis suggested that employing a treat-to-target strategy would be within the realm of cost-effectiveness,” Loftus told Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease.

Jordan Times, KHCC launches regional summit on tobacco dependence by Ahmed Bani Mustafa — King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC) on Sunday launched the 1st East Mediterranean Summit on Tobacco Dependence Treatment (TDT) in Amman. Some 300 healthcare providers from 15 countries from across the region are taking part in the two-day event, a KHCC statement said. Taylor Hays, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, told The Jordan Times that the policies implemented to help populations reduce their smoking are “effective” and make people more likely to want to quit, referring to the high prices and interdiction to smoke indoors as an example. “If the government applies these policies, then we also need to provide smokers with health treatment to help them quit smoking through TDT,” Hays said.

AZ Big Media, Innovation in education looks to cure doctor shortage by Erica Apodaca — Mayo Clinic welcomed its first class of about 50 students to the Valley this year, making Arizona the third state to receive a Mayo Medical school, behind Minnesota and Florida. The Mayo Clinic School of Medicine has created a curriculum that is designed to not only teach students how to do certain medical procedures, but also teach them the ins and outs of the healthcare delivery system. “We want to prepare physicians to meet the needs and challenges of the healthcare system,” says Michele Halyard, MD, dean of the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine’s Arizona campus. “We are hoping that many of the students will wind up staying in Arizona for their residency and ultimately becoming a physician within the Arizona community.”

KPNX Arizona, Used underwear for sale: How buying lingerie on the cheap may pose a health risk by Tram Mai — You're used to seeing used clothing like pants, tops, skirts, dresses and all sorts of other stuff for sale. But what about used undergarments like underwear, bras, even lingerie? It got us thinking after one of our producers spotted a Facebook post advertising lingerie that was “barely used.” The big question we had: Are there any health risks? We asked Dr. Megan Wasson with the Department of Medical and Surgical Gynecology at Mayo Clinic. “It’s not something I would personally want to use,” she said. Scabies, pubic lice, that would still be on any potential lingerie and that's why it's important to clean it prior to potentially wearing that material,” Dr. Wasson said.

Fierce Healthcare, The hidden consequence of the opioid crisis: Hospitals overrun with cases of diseases from IV drug use by Ilene MacDonald — Overall infections in IV drug users cost Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami more than $11 million in one year, according to the report. "The addiction issue is causing the endocarditis, so if you're not treating the addiction, they're going to be coming back," Ulas Camsari, a Mayo Clinic addiction psychiatrist, told the newspaper. But one drug user told USA Today that people who suffer with addiction often avoid hospitals because they fear withdrawal symptoms or having no access to heroin.

Healio, Burnout, dissatisfaction drive 1 in 5 physicians to plan on reducing work hours — Survey results published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings reveal a significant level of discontent among physicians, with many considering scaling back or leaving practice altogether. The primary sources of frustration are the burden of practicing medicine and dissatisfaction with electronic health records, according to the researchers.

HealthDay, Commitment Is Key for Online Quit-Smoking Groups by Robert Preidt —An online social network designed to help you quit smoking can do just that, a new study finds. But the odds of quitting rise along with the level of active involvement, the researchers said. They examined the impact of BecomeAnEX.org, a social network site created by the nonprofit anti-tobacco group Truth Initiative, in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic. Network users can share information and support through blogs, forums and messages. More than 800,000 people have registered since the network was launched in 2008. Additional coverage: US News & World Report

MSN, Ever wake up to a numb, dead arm? Here’s what’s happening. by Brian Resnick — This phenomenon is really common, says James Dyck, a neurology researcher with the Mayo Clinic. And it's actually a cool example of how the body can protect itself even during the paralysis of sleep. Dyck explained there's a common misconception that pins and needles and numbness are caused by a lack of blood flow to the nerves. 'The more likely thing is nerve compression — nerves are being pushed on and squashed, and that causes these symptoms,' he says.

Post-Bulletin, Mayo gift to fund YMCA program for teens by Anne Halliwell — The Mayo Clinic has given $45,000 to the YMCA to support new programming. The one-time gift will fund the new Teen Thrive program, which targets life skills and opportunities for Rochester youths. "Funding will primarily be used to expand staffing resources, services and supplies so that more teens in our community can experience enriching programs at the Y," Joan Schimml, senior director of communications and marketing for the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities, said in an email. The Rochester Area Family YMCA joined the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities in August. Additional coverage: KIMT

Post-Bulletin, Heard on the Street: Treatment facility near Saint Marys on track to open in May by Jeff Kiger — A 16-bed residential treatment complex under construction on 14th Avenue Southwest, across from the Mayo Clinic Hospital - Saint Marys Campus, is on track to open in the spring. Mayo Clinic is collaborating with ClearView Communities, a Maryland non-profit organization, to build and manage the John E. Herman Home and Treatment Facility, which will offer mental illness recovery care. Neighbors and commuters in Southwest Rochester have been watching Benike Construction work on the sprawling, gable-roofed project for months. Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Dr. Brian Palmer, who will serve as the facility's medical director, said they expect the facility to be ready for patients in May 2018.

Post-Bulletin, Pharmacogenomics: how individualized medicine is spreading to opioid prescription by Anne Halliwell — Pharmacogenomics is a field of study that uses DNA testing to determine which medicines are most compatible with a person's genes. Tim Curry, the director of education for Mayo Clinic's Center of Individualized Medicine, said pharmacogenomics helps researchers better fit many aspects of drug transcription to the patient. "Sometimes (pharmacogenomics is) how fast it builds up in your system, or how fast it's broken down," he said. "Sometimes it talks about how easy it is for a drug that needs to be activated by the body. "Sometimes it talks about the receptors within the body that the drug actually binds to, to have its effect. Sometimes it talks about the transporters that transport it into the cells that it needs to be there. And in other cases, it's regarding some really severe adverse effects that you might have a genetic predisposition to.

KIMT, Researchers are one step closer to helping advanced prostate cancer patients by Annalisa Pardo — Researchers at Mayo Clinic are one step closer to individualizing treatment for advanced prostate cancer patients. They tried to answer this question: “Which are the genes which we can identify in advanced prostate cancer patients which will tell us that a particular drug will work,” Manish Kohli, M.D., the study’s principal investigator, said. Researchers found genetic clues that suggest whether a patient’s body will accept or resist a certain treatment. “We are going to find the genetic make-up of each patient’s cancer in their blood, and based on the information of which… genes we now have to look for, which we didn’t know before, now we will target it to those genes,” Kohli said.

KIMT, "C. Difficile Infection Awareness Month" brings light to hospital infections by Calyn Thompson — Doctors at Mayo Clinic want people to know that they can get the infection even outside of hospitals. They also say once you get it, it’s easier to get it each time. Sahil Khanna said ways to prevent C. Diff is to wash hands and avoid unnecessary antibiotics. He said Mayo Clinic is also studying whether or not there could be a vaccination for C. Diff.  “So there's a large multi-center study that's going on right now in people who may be at risk for C. Diff infection,” Khanna said. “So if you've been to the hospital, if you've received antibiotics, those patients can be enrolled in a vaccine study to see if this vaccine would prevent C. Diff from happening.”

Modern Healthcare, Redesigning hospitals with patient experience in mind by Rachel Z. Arndt — While screens may be handy for patients, they can also send the wrong message when they're in providers hands, keeping doctors' gazes directed downward, rather than toward patients. "If you were to go to the Mayo Clinic and walk around, you wouldn't see any personnel walking around using their smartphones," said Dr. Thomas Lee, chief medical officer for patient-satisfaction measurement firm Press Ganey. There's a cultural norm there, he said, that providers don't look at their phones anywhere patients might be.

The Medium, Coping with SAD during winter months by Haley West — The Mayo Clinic reminds anyone who believes they may be struggling with seasonal affective disorder not to dismiss their emotional and mental state as the “winter blues.” If you are concerned, seek medical help and “take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year,” says the Mayo Clinic. If left untreated, seasonal affective disorder can lead to additional problems.

Healthcare IT News, 8 reasons why telehealth is gaining momentum right now — 5. Critical care for premature infants — Mayo Clinic is using telemedicine to provide remote consultations to pre-term infants, newborns with respiratory distress and babies who require advanced resuscitation located in community hospitals get the specialty care they need through video to avoid transfers.

Medical Xpress, What is Hashimoto's disease? — Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ on the front of your neck. Its main function is to produce a thyroid hormone that regulates your metabolism. Hypothyroidism occurs when a person's thyroid function decreases. Hashimoto thyroditis, also known as Hashimoto's disease, is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the U.S. "Hashimoto's disease causes chronic inflammation of the thyroid, as antibodies form attacking your thyroid cells due to the changes to your immune mechanisms," says Dr. Sakine Sever, a Mayo Clinic Health System endocrinologist.

GenomeWeb, Prostate Cancer Fusion Details May Inform Progression Risk — Researchers from the Mayo Clinic used whole-genome mate-pair sequencing to characterize TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusions in 133 tumor samples from individuals with prostate cancer classified as very low-, low-, intermediate- or high-risk based on Gleason scores. As they reported online today in Cancer Research, nearly half of the tumors contained fusions involving the chromosome 21 genes TMPRSS2 and ERG. Consistent with past reports, "the presence or absence of a TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion was not predictive of outcome," senior author John Cheville, a biomarker discovery, laboratory medicine, and pathology researcher at the Mayo Clinic, said in a statement.

Live Science, Trying to Stand More at Work? Here's How Many More Calories You'll Burn by Rachael Rettner — The results show that standing burned an extra 0.15 calories per minute, on average, compared with sitting… The findings mean that, for a person who weighs about 140 lbs. (65 kilograms), substituting sitting with standing for 6 hours a day would burn an extra 54 calories per day, the researchers said. [5 Tips for Sitting Less During Your Workday] This amount of calories is likely not enough to help people lose weight, but it could help prevent weight gain, said study lead author Dr. Farzane Saeidifard, a research fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota, who presented the findings here on Monday (Nov. 13) at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions meeting. Standing is "better than sitting, but you need more activity" for weight loss and for overall health, Saeidifard said. On a calorie-burning scale of 0 to 100, where sitting is 0 and activities like swimming and running are 100, standing would be about a 5 to 10, Saeidifard said.

WEAU Eau Claire, Barron's Josh Balts returns to serve community by Bob Gallagher — A former Barron High School three-sport athlete and Wisconsin Badgers football player is back in northwest Wisconsin giving back to the community he grew up in. And it's safe to say, the folks throughout Barron County are thrilled to have Josh Balts, M.D. back in town. Dr. Josh Balts says, "Great opportunity to come back to the area that you grew up, help to take care of people that helped you when I was growing up, taught you, coached you." Josh Balts, M.D., Mayo ClinIc Health System- Northland says, "Being in football and being a student-athlete in college really prepared me for the medical field. Residency is demanding, 80 hours a week, and I was kind of used to that with football."

Mankato Times, Hospitals strained by ailing mental health system by Brian Arola — With capacity at a minimum in psychiatric units, the hospital argued the civilly committed patients were taking up beds that could be used for other patients. Hospitals in southern Minnesota have reported similar challenges, although none has gone as far as to divert certain patients in favor of others. Bruce Sutor, clinical practice chair for psychiatry and psychology for Mayo Clinic, said even hospitals without psychiatric units are impacted by a mental health system that isn’t keeping up with the needs. “It's the case really statewide,” he said. “So it's Rochester, it's Mankato, in fact it's every hospital that has an emergency department whether they have a psychiatric unit or not.”

KEYC Mankato, MCHS Launches Electronic Medical System by Samantha Huot — Mayo Clinic Health Systems across the state rolled out a new medical record system November 4 to combine all of its electronic health records into a single upgraded database. "An electronic health record is that central source of information. It's where all of our documentation is done by clinicians, physicians and nurses. Where we order all our medications, where we see lab results and radiology results. It's a way of communication not only internally but externally as well," Dr. James Hebl, vice president of Mayo Clinic Health System in southwest Minnesota says.

Owatonna People’s Press, Mayo Clinic Health System participates in United Way’s Acts of Kindness by Allison Miller — “United Way’s Act of Kindness invitation was an opportunity to reflect on how we deliver kindness to our patients and colleagues every day,” says Dena Keilman, director of nursing, Mayo Clinic Health System in Owatonna. “It was an honor to pause during a busy day focus on serving our community. It provided a tangible reminder of our purpose and function as health care leaders.”

KEYC Mankato, Exercise Medicine — Interview with Chip Gay, exercise physiologist, Mayo Clinic Health System.

La Crosse Tribune, Mayo-Franciscan plans $4.6 million cancer center project as patients double by Mike Tighe — A $4.6 million expansion and renovation project is expected to enable the Cancer Center at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse to accommodate its more than doubling of cancer patients since the facility opened in 2004. The project, to be announced Tuesday, will add 3,900 square feet, including nine exam rooms and nine treatment chairs to the center, which is on the lower level of the Center for Advanced Medicine and Surgery on West Avenue, Mayo-Franciscan officials said. It will include renovation of other areas to improve patient care, they said.

La Crosse Tribune, Mayo-Franciscan plans $4.9 million cancer center project in La Crosse as patients double by Mike Tighe — A $4.9 million expansion and renovation project is expected to enable the Cancer Center at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse to accommodate its more than doubling of cancer patients since the facility opened in 2004. The project, to be announced Tuesday, will add 3,900 square feet, including nine exam rooms and nine treatment chairs to the center, which is on the lower level of the Center for Advanced Medicine and Surgery on West Avenue, Mayo-Franciscan officials said. It will include renovation of other areas to improve patient care, they said. Additional coverage: WXOW La Crosse

KEYC Mankato, Testicular Cancer Survivor Presents Play on Battle with Disease by Temi Adeleye — Max Wojtanowicz is performing his creation Ball: A Musical Tribute to My Lost Testicle.  The show was inspired after Wojtanowicz's battle with Stage 3 Testicular cancer… Mankato Clinic Urologist Dr. Gary Goldberg is looking forward to the play.  "Often time people or men don't like to talk about cancer let alone testicular cancer and it seems like a light–hearted play that maybe can bring levity to an otherwise difficult situation," said Goldberg.

Fairmont Sentinel, Family coping with sudden loss by Jason Sorensen — Losing someone close to us is a difficult thing to go through. When it is sudden and unexpected, life can just feel overwhelming. Fortunately, family and friends are often available and willing to help pick up the pieces and give us the comfort we need. Such is the case for Stephanie Burdorf, whose husband Joe passed away suddenly Aug. 24 at the age of 41.Stephanie just recently has gone back to work at Mayo in Fairmont, where she has worked for 20 years as an X-ray tech. Dana Timm, one of Stephanie’s co-workers and organizer of the event, said she has known Stephanie for a while and is glad to be able to help in this way. “I’ve worked with Steph for 18-plus years and it’s been great” Timm said. “The auction will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church. We have over 100 donations so far, and we have more coming in that we haven’t received yet, but we know they’re coming so that’s exciting.”

WKBT La Crosse, Cancer center expansion to keep more patients close to home by Madalyn O’Neill — As Baby Boomers age, more people are seeking care for cancer -- many who would prefer to be treated locally. That's part of the reason why Mayo Clinic Health System's Cancer Center in La Crosse has seen its number of patients double since opening in 2004, but its facilitates are no longer big enough. Mayo announced a $4.9 million cancer center expansion Tuesday, doubling the space and amount of exam rooms to treat patients…Dr. Paula Gill, chairperson of medical oncology, said more cancer patients are opting to be treated locally. "If we can keep people closer to their support network, that's better for everyone,” Gill said.

WKBT La Crosse, Meals in minutes- healthy chili toppings by Nick Adams — Chef Heather Vanhorn of Mayo Clinic Health System joins us with some healthier chili topping options! The chili recipe will also be used by the 'Farm2School' program this week. The 'Farm2School' program is sponsored by Mayo, Gundersen, the La Crosse County Health Department, and the five La Crosse County Schools.  This chili will be served on friday at area schools and businesses to promote healthy eating habits.

WEAU Eau Claire, World Diabetes Day — Registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator Anne Bauch discusses diabetes risk factors, symptoms and prevention on World Diabetes Day with WEAU 4 p.m. News anchor Judy Clark.

WQOW Eau Claire, Health Impact Assessment recommends safe Cannery District development by Emma Wheeler — It takes more than just an apple a day to keep the doctor away these days. Eau Claire city staff said it can also take some planning. Over the last two years city staff members have been working with health officials at the Eau Claire City-County Health Department and Mayo Clinic Health System, as well as members of the community to put together what is called a Health Impact Assessment. Focusing on the Cannery District, it looks at how the area's development can be done in ways that keep the community healthy.

Jackson Progress Argus, WellStar Sylvan Grove Hospital joins Mayo Clinic Care Network — WellStar Health System is expanding its collaboration with Mayo Clinic, giving physicians at WellStar Sylvan Grove Hospital access to the resources of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.. “At WellStar, we are focused on finding innovative ways to improve patient care,” said Dr. John A. Brennan, executive vice president and chief clinical integration officer for WellStar. “WellStar is home to some of the most accomplished and preeminent physicians in the Southeast. By collaborating with Mayo Clinic, we are giving our physicians and patients another resource that can improve the health of our community.”

Metro, Sorry, standing doesn't burn many more calories than sitting — Opting to stand instead of sit during your workday provides plenty of health benefits, but higher calorie burn isn’t one of them. For the study, researchers from the Mayo Clinic analyzed data from nearly 50 previous studies on sitting that included more than 1,100 people. The results of the meta-analysis found that standing burns an average of 0.15 more calories per minute than sitting. Men burn two times what women do by standing — 0.20 calories per minute vs. 0.10 calories for women — thanks to extra muscle mass.

 

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