NBC News, Everything you ever wanted to know about coffee and your health by Vivian Manning-Schaffel — Caffeine is readily consumed by about 85 percent of Americans one way or another every single day, according to a study published in Food and Beverage Toxicology. That’s quite a buzz! Coffee — caffeine’s most popular vehicle of delivery — has been closely examined by scientists and researchers for years to determine whether or not it’s healthy. Lately, science is tipping the scales toward healthy — a new study revealed even the heaviest coffee drinkers are less likely to die earlier than people who won’t touch the stuff. “Studies associate coffee drinking with a decreased risk of depression, Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, liver disease and liver cancer,” says Trevor Rich, M.D., Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. “Some of these associations are seen even in drinkers of decaffeinated coffee and may be related to the antioxidants contained in coffee.” Yet, Rich also mentions a study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings that found moderate caffeine intake — not just from coffee — was also associated with living longer.

New York Times, He Had Insomnia, No Appetite and Started Conversing With Dead People. What Was Going On? by Lisa Sanders, M.D. — In the emergency room of the Yale New Haven Hospital, the patient’s cubicle swirled with activity as IVs were placed, blood was drawn and information confirmed. Doctors came through, asking questions and examining the man. When all was finally quiet, a young physician introduced himself as Dr. Clark Fisher, a resident in his first year of training and the doctor assigned to the man’s care…Fisher was excited by his find but knew that his team would be skeptical. He recalled that neurology was consulted about the patient’s muscle twitches when he was last in the hospital. Fisher reviewed the consultants’ note. They, too, had thought of a thymoma-triggered disorder. They’d sent blood to the Mayo Clinic to look for proof. Fisher called the Mayo Clinic lab and found that the tests were positive for the antibodies linked to Morvan. Positive results were so unusual that they had to double-check them before the answer could be officially reported.

New York Times, He Got Schizophrenia. He Got Cancer. And Then He Got Cured. by Moises Velasquez-Manoff — …Dr. Andrew McKeon, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., a center of autoimmune neurology, points out that he could have suffered from a condition called paraneoplastic syndrome. That’s when a cancer patient’s immune system attacks a tumor — in this case, the leukemia — but because some molecule in the central nervous system happens to resemble one on the tumor, the immune system also attacks the brain, causing psychiatric or neurological problems. This condition was important historically because it pushed researchers to consider the immune system as a cause of neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Eventually they discovered that the immune system alone, unprompted by malignancy, could cause psychiatric symptoms.

Washington Post, Neiron Ball, ex-Raiders linebacker, is in medically induced coma after brain aneurysm ruptures by Cindy Boren — Neiron Ball, a former Oakland Raiders linebacker, is in a medically induced coma after a brain aneurysm ruptured Sept. 16. Ball, 26, missed all of the 2011 season at Florida because of an arteriovascular malformation, a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in the brain. According to the Mayo Clinic, these are extremely rare and often present no symptoms until they rupture. Most people are born with them, but they can develop later in life.

The Guardian, Five breakthroughs in restoring mobility by Anna Paul — Epidural stimulation: This week, two paraplegic patients were able to take steps again after researchers implanted an electrical device in their lower backs. Teams from the University of Louisville and the Minnesota Mayo Clinic used electrical stimulation to excite the spinal cord, helping signals from the brain reach the affected muscles.

CNN, Standing desk recommendations based on weak science by Beth Squires — The average American spends half their day sitting, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Much of our sitting time takes place at work, where we are glued to our computers as cogs in the post-farming, post-factory economy. That can have major health impacts. According to the Mayo Clinic, those who sit for eight hours a day with no physical activity have a similar risk of dying as smokers.

New York Daily News, Being thin doesn't negate need for healthy diet — DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My friends who carry extra weight worry about following a healthy diet, especially as we get older. But I've been thin my whole life and usually can eat anything without gaining weight. Should I worry about my diet? ANSWER: It's true that obesity is a risk factor for many health problems, including high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids, Type 2 diabetes , coronary artery disease, stroke, most cancers, obstructive sleep apnea and many others. However, being thin doesn't negate the need for a healthy diet. Diet influences health risks separate from body weight. Whether you're thin or not, diets high in saturated and transfats, red and processed meat, sodium, and refined carbohydrates -- such as the sugars in soda, baked goods and other foods -- can raise the risk of many health conditions.— Donald Hensrud, M.D., M.P.H., Preventive Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Chicago Tribune, Column: Who doesn’t want to be healthier and happier? by Jackie Pilossoph — I feel like most people enjoy and appreciate tips on how to be healthier and happier. That includes me. So, when I stumbled upon a new NBC show called “Health + Happiness With Mayo Clinic,” I was intrigued. The name alone made me want to watch it. What’s so funny is, I watched an episode, and it turns out, one of the show’s co-hosts and executive producers is an old friend of mine named Vivien Williams, who was the main news anchor for the Minnesota television station where I worked as a reporter over two decades ago. I reached out to Vivien (who I call Viv) to talk about the show, and to gain some tips on how to live a happier and healthier life, particularly when it comes to relationships. “ ‘Health + Happiness With Mayo Clinic’ is a health, wellness and lifestyle show geared towards families and teens to help people make small changes to live a healthier, happier life,” said Viv, a 20-year veteran reporter for the Mayo Clinic who co-hosts and co-produces the show with nutrition expert and frequent Today contributor Joy Bauer.

Chicago Daily Herald, Baxter and Mayo Clinic announce collaboration — Baxter International Inc., a global innovator in renal care, and Mayo Clinic Tuesday announced a new collaboration to develop a renal care center of excellence in the U.S. The center will serve patients across the continuum of renal care -- from chronic kidney disease management through transplant -- and drive better patient outcomes. The center is being established at the Mayo Clinic Dialysis Center at the campus in Jacksonville, Florida, where Mayo Clinic's recognized excellence in care will be integrated with Baxter Renal Care Services' proven clinical service model and CKD management program. The Mayo Clinic Dialysis Center in Jacksonville provides state-of-the-art dialysis services in a homelike facility. The collaboration will also allow for the trial of potentially new, codeveloped products and services. Additional coverage: Fierce Healthcare, KSL Utah, MedTech Dive, Mass Device, Nasdaq

Post-Bulletin, Jen's World: A Monday night at Mayo inspires gratitude by Jennifer Koski — I walked out of the Mayo Clinic at about 7:30 the other night after getting an MRI. Until that day, I had no idea you could even get an MRI, or any test, after dinner. And, of course, it’s not like I wanted to be in the position of having to get an MRI at all. But my family has what you’d call a pretty rich history of aneurysm and stroke. And I’d been having some symptoms that could — maybe, possibly — indicate aneurysm or cardiovascular issues. Now, those symptoms might also indicate someone who doesn’t get up from her desk and move nearly enough, too… And, yeah, I know. Rochester’s not perfect. The Mayo Clinic isn’t perfect. But I would rather live in this imperfect city that beats with a heart of hope and possibility and community and philanthropy than just about anywhere else on earth.

Post-Bulletin, Moody's gives Mayo's $200 million in bonds a good rating by Jeff Kiger — Another prominent financial rating service is giving top marks to the sale of $200 million in bonds to support Mayo Clinic. Moody’s Investor Service recently gave an Aa2 rating to the $200 million series of tax-free bonds being issued by the City of Rochester in October to fund Mayo Clinic’s expansion and upgrade of Mayo Clinic Hospital — Saint Marys. It also reaffirmed Aa2 and Aa2/VMIG 1 ratings on approximately $3 billion of outstanding Mayo Clinic debt. The rating “reflects several core strengths at Mayo Clinic, including: the organization’s large size and meaningful revenue diversification across multiple locations, states and types of hospitals; its excellent clinical reputation and strong draw of national and international patients; and its strong track record of fundraising which has allowed the organization to build a balance sheet that generates investment returns which support the research and education aspects of the organization’s mission, in addition to providing support for current operations,” according to Moody’s.

KIMT, Preparing for a disaster situation by Annalisa Pardo — When in a crisis situation, how do you respond? In a simulation, about 260 volunteers got the chance to find out.  It's all part of the 8th annual Bounce Day which creates a mock disaster scenario. This year's was a bus crash and zombies spreading diseases.  "We can still be devastated by an unexpected event. We're looking for this resiliency mindset and that they have skills that they can use to help respond. And if we can get everyone in that resiliency mindset then we've accomplished a huge thing," Dr. Robin Molella, organizer of the event, said… The event is a collaboration between Mayo Clinic, Olmsted County Zumbro Valley Medical Society, Rochester disaster preparedness experts, local businesses and service organizations.

KIMT, Mayo Clinic's Transform conference explores future of healthcare by Calyn Thompson — Mayo Clinic is hosting their Transform conference this week. It’s an annual event where medical professionals gather to learn about the future of healthcare. One of the topics regarding the future is augmented human intelligence, or artificial intelligence. “They're computer programs and computer systems that look at large amounts of information and look for similarity and patterns,” Dr. Andrew Limper, who directs the Science of Healthcare Delivery at Mayo Clinic, said, “and then they keep learning by going through the data again and again. And that allows you to come up with discoveries that you wouldn't have dreamed of otherwise.” Limper said it’s a fairly new concept at just three years old. “Over the next 3, 5, 10 years it will be a major part of what we do in everything. It already is in sales and it already is in many businesses,” Limper said. “We have to bring it into healthcare to make the care of patients more efficient, better, and friendlier.”

KROC-Radio, Mayo Clinic Tissue Warehouse Expansion Plans Advance by Andy Brownell — The Rochester Planning and Zoning Commission has approved the preliminary plans for a major expansion of another Mayo Clinic facility in the city. Mayo is proposing adding almost 70,000 square feet of space to its existing tissue archives warehouse just off Civic Center Drive Northwest. Additional coverage: KIMT

MPR, $2.5M grant awarded to project helping injured employees get back to work by Gabriel Kwan — The Minnesota Department of Labor has awarded a $2.5 million grant to a project that helps injured employees get back to work faster. The grant was awarded to the Minnesota RETAIN project, a group of organizations and government departments serving Minnesota residents with work-related disabilities. Mayo Clinic is a participant in the RETAIN project, and eligible to receive part of the grant. Dr. Laura Breeher, a senior occupational medicine physician at Mayo Clinic, describes their contributions to the project as threefold: keeping employees at work if they can, getting them back to work if they cannot and educating employers to tell the difference. Breeher described a proactive approach to helping employees suffering from injury or illness. "One of the things that we do is we focus on what they can do instead of what they can't do," she said. "Just because this person had an injury, or just because they had an illness doesn't mean they can't do anything at all."

Star Tribune, Worthington's free clinic for undocumented immigrants draws doctors and volunteers from across Minnesota by Jennifer Brooks — The immigrant mother limped into the basement of St. Mary's Church, where a doctor was waiting. She'd walked her feet bloody trying to reach America. Through the pain, she tried to focus on the little girl, maybe 2 or 3 years old, who was zooming in delighted circles around her and the man who came limping downstairs to join her. Mamá! Papá! the little girl called out, hugging their legs. "She hadn't seen her parents in a year or so. They had just crossed the border and they had just arrived in Worthington," said Dr. David Plevak, a Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist who made the long drive here at the request of an old friend, the Rev. Jim Callahan, St. Mary's pastor, who was worried about the health of the undocumented and uninsured families of his parish. Draining the blood blisters under the mother's toenails was an easy fix for Plevak, who has a background in emergency medicine. As the pain eased, the relieved woman scooped up her child and "was able to participate in the joy of the arrival," he said.

KIMT, 2 generations of healthcare providers at Mayo Clinic Health System by Annalise Johnson — It's not very common for parents and child to end up as doctors at the same hospital, but that's what happened to the Lombardi family at Mayo Clinic Health System. "It just happened. The starts aligned beautifully and it just so happened that a position opened up in the home where I have roots," says Dr. Nathaniel Lombardi, PhD, a psychologist. He just started his first week at the hospital. He's joining his mother Dr. Beverly Lombardi, MD, who works in internal medicine, and his father Dr. Joseph Lombardi, MD, who works in obstetrics and gynecology. They've worked at the Albert Lea campus for 28 years. "When I heard it was going to happen, it was awesome. I couldn't get the smile off my face for about a week," says Dr. Joseph Lombardi.

St. Cloud Times, On the wings of paper cranes, 11-year-old pianist rebounds from brain hemorrhage by Jenny Berg — Don’t underestimate Eliana Szabo. While lying in a bed last winter at Mayo Clinic in Rochester — unable to speak or walk — the gifted pianist communicated with her parents by pointing to letters on a piece of paper… Now 11, Eliana has relearned how to walk and talk. She lives at home in Avon and attends physical therapy and occupational therapy four days a week. And she's undergoing lessons to regain strength in her voice. Meanwhile, a fellow pianist is trying to raise $10,000 through selling handmade paper cranes.

Owatonna People’s Press, Mayo Clinic Health System offers Women’s Health and Well-Being Symposium by Allison Miller — Mayo Clinic Health System will host a Women’s Health and Well-Being Symposium on how resiliency can positively impact mental and physical health. The symposium, which will be held in replace of the Women’s Health Day event, is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 27 at Owatonna County Club, 1991 Lemond Road, in Owatonna from 9-11:30 a.m. Mayo Clinic experts will inspire, invigorate, and educate on topics related to work-life balance, gratitude, compassion and self-care.

Owatonna People’s Press, Virginia Peterson to present book “Women of Mayo Clinic” to Woman's Club of Owatonna by Virginia Miller — Virginia Wright Peterson, author of the “Women of Mayo Clinic,” will be the featured speaker at the Thursday, Oct. 4 meeting of the Woman’s Club of Owatonna (WCO). The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, 1301 Lincoln Ave… Although the history of the Mayo Clinic’s founding brothers is well-documented, the story about the women who were instrumental in the formation of the hospital and clinic had not been widely known until Mrs. Peterson’s book was researched and published several years ago.

Mankato Free Press, Opioid summit highlights personalized recovery model by Brian Arola — An opioid summit drawing hundreds who work in addiction and recovery related fields to Mankato Wednesday highlighted existing area resources and what more can be done. The all-day event at Minnesota State University featured panels, presentations, trainings, a resource fair and a candlelight vigil recognizing lives lost to addictions. Mankato nonprofit House of Hope helped organize the regional summit with the university and the Minnesota Association of Resources for Recovery and Chemical Health, or MARRCH…Dr. Jason Dauffenbach, a pain medicine specialist with Mayo Clinic Health System, led a presentation on non-opioid management of pain. Medical professionals featured prominently at the conference, with opioid expert Dr. Chris Johnson serving as keynote speaker.

Mankato Free Press, Study: ADHD rates spike in recent decades by Brian Arola — A recent study found childhood rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, have risen significantly over the past two decades…While medical professionals in Mankato say the results suggest more children are appropriately being diagnosed, they caution parents against conflating inattentiveness in their children for ADHD. “Inattentiveness has gotten worse in our society because of phones and electronics and multiple demands for our attention, so you really need to have a good, solid diagnosis,” said Lisa Hardesty, a clinical psychologist at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato. The initial step for parents should be determining whether a child’s ADHD symptoms are present across different settings, said Travis Hansen, child and adolescent psychiatrist at Mankato Clinic.

KSMQ via YouTube, Health Connections — "Urinary Tract Care" Guest: Dr. Aaron Potretzke, Urologist.

La Crosse Tribune, Broad-based La Crosse initiative aims for national model vs. addiction by Mike Tighe — La Crosse County is destined to become the national model of a community that has erased addiction to opiates and other drugs and created a prototype for successful recovery under a broad-based initiative announced Thursday… The coordinated effort, intended to get upstream to attack the crisis at the source as well as deal with it effectively downstream, is being launched with funding from the La Crosse Community Foundation, Gundersen Health System, Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare and the La Crosse County Health Department… The coordinated effort, intended to get upstream to attack the crisis at the source as well as deal with it effectively downstream, is being launched with funding from the La Crosse Community Foundation, Gundersen Health System, Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare and the La Crosse County Health Department. Additional coverage: WKBT La Crosse, WXOW La Crosse

WQOW Eau Claire, Physicians recommend regular breast cancer screening — October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but local health professionals want to remind you cancer screenings are important no matter the time of year. Medical experts at May Clinic Health System told News 18 it’s important for all women to get breast cancer screenings, especially those age 40 and older. Megan Meyers, a radiologist at Mayo, said no matter your risk, you should consider regular exams. “One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and most breast cancers are actually not hereditary and not in people that have a family history of breast cancer. So, it is really important with patients without a family history to come in and screen,” Meyers said.

WQOW Eau Claire, 5 Tips to fight seasonal depression — Kyja Stygar, M.D., discusses Seasonal Affective Disorder symptoms and treatments.

Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Beat the bug: Public health experts warn now is the time to get flu shots by Lauren French — Last year was a “severe” season for the flu nationwide — U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics estimate the death toll to be somewhere around 80,000 — and Wisconsin was no different, health officials say. A panel of medical experts gathered Thursday in Eau Claire to discuss the influenza season and stress the importance of getting vaccinated ahead of the winter months when the disease is strongest… Flu vaccines are a safe procedure despite some common misconceptions that it causes the flu or other medical complications, said Teri Stevenson, a pediatrician at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire.

WEAU-Eau Claire, Heroin Task Force in La Crosse takes on question of legalizing marijuana by Zach Prelutsky — Thursday the Heroin Task Force in La Crosse took on a controversial topic. In front of a packed room, the task force discussed the legalization of marijuana. The discussion comes weeks before an advisory referendum in La Crosse County will ask voters if they think the state should legalize recreational marijuana. Speakers from both the medical world and the county board spoke on the pros and cons. "Marijuana is not a harmless drug number one, and number two the states that have legalized it for recreational purposes are not having a very good experience so far and people just need to be aware of that," said Mayo Clinic Health System Franciscan Healthcare Medical Director of Addictive Service Dr. David Onsrud.

Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, Breast density: Know your score for earlier detection by Meta Hemenway-Forbes — Bridge Pargulski “was the gal who had a mammogram every year without fail.” Yet, in February 2012, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer that had spread to seven lymph nodes. “My chance of survival had just plummeted,” she said. Seeking treatment and answers, the Johnston woman stumbled upon a TED Talk by Dr. Deborah Rhodes of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Rhodes’ talk was on how dense breast tissue can mask cancer on mammograms. Pargulski made an appointment with Rhodes, who explained that Pargulski had dense breasts and, “judging by the size of the tumors, the cancer had likely been there for five years. I could not believe it had taken getting in to an oncologist’s office for someone to tell me that,” Pargulski said.

WKBT La Crosse, Local health experts recommend getting flu vaccine as soon as, possible by Jordan Fremstad — The flu season is almost here and local health experts are recommending people get vaccinated. Local health experts are preparing for another flu season after more than 700,000 people were hospitalized last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "It was one of the worst flu seasons we have had in close to 20 years now," said Dr. Charles Peters, a consultant pediatrician with Mayo Clinic Health System in Onalaska. The CDC control shows 180 children died from the virus last year, and 80 percent of those children did not receive a flu vaccine.

WKBT La Crosse, No major change to Oktoberfest behavior by Greg White — Oktoberfest is over and it appears festers behaved the same as in previous years…Gundersen Health System saw 30 people in their Emergency Room from Friday to Sunday. Mayo Clinic Health System did not provide specific numbers, but said they did see patients with alcohol related issues, but nothing out of line for a typical weekend.

Reader’s Digest, 20 Companies with the Nicest Customer Service by Corey Whelan — A tasty sandwich, cute top, or cheap produce is what gets you in the door, good customer service is what keeps you coming back. Here are the 20 companies that are getting it right… Mayo Clinic Whether they’re for-profits or nonprofits, hospitals today have got to keep their clients (aka patients) happy, in order to keep their doors open, in a highly competitive climate. Revered for its high standards in research, the Mayo Clinic is also known for treating patients like people and putting compassion ahead of the bottom line. Laurie Richards, who teaches customer service courses, gives the Clinic five stars for helpful personal service at every level—and she would know, her father was a patient there, off and on, for two years. “Any time we asked an employee where something was, (Mayo consists of a maze of tunnels and walkways covering several blocks) the employee, be it a nurse, phlebotomist, or a candy striper, would walk us directly to the place—whether it was a coffee shop or the labs. And never a complaint, sigh of frustration, or lack of a smile,” she recalls. “Our entire experience was filled with wonderful customer service, surrounding a terrible health experience,” she explains.

Reader’s Digest, 21 Natural Remedies for Colds and Flu That Really Work by Rachel Kessler — Gargling: Gargling with salt water reduces swelling in your throat when you’re sick and loosens germ-packed mucus, according to the Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies. But gargling daily when you’re healthy—with simple water—may help keep you from getting sick in the first place.

Allure, Pretty Pills: How Beauty Supplements Changed the Way We View Wellness by Jancee Dunn — Safety concerns aside, a steady drumbeat of research over the past decade has concluded that even “safe” vitamin supplements have little effect on improving health. A now-famous 2013 Johns Hopkins study, bluntly titled “Enough Is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements,” reviewed 27 trials of vitamins and supplements and found no clear evidence that taking them prevents any major chronic disease. Coauthor Eliseo Guallar, an epidemiologist and professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, says that since then, no evidence has emerged to change his mind. That includes anything on omega-3s (“The most recent meta-analysis was basically a wash”) and collagen powders (“Research is scant that collagen improves your skin if taken orally”). Adds internist Donald Hensrud, the director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program and author of The Mayo Clinic Diet, “The evidence supporting diet is magnitudes greater than supplements — and we now have access to more nutrient-rich whole foods than ever.”

HealthDay, Health Tip: Recovering from Cesarean Section — A Cesarean section is major surgery, and it's normal to be tired and have pain and discomfort after the procedure, the Mayo Clinic says. Mayo offers this advice about recovery after a C-section: Rest as often as you can. Avoid lifting anything heavier than your newborn. Take pain medication as needed and use a heating pad to help ease discomfort. Inspect the incision for signs of infection, including redness, oozing or swelling.

Men’s Health, Do Any of These 12 Hangover Cures Work? We Asked the Experts by Brittany Risher and Mario Abad — Water: During a night of heavy drinking, H2O is a must. That's because alcohol is a diuretic and can cause dehydration, which can lead to the telltale symptoms of a hangover (headaches, nausea, etc.). So before you fall into bed, down 16 to 20 ounces of water, says Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D., a consultant in addiction psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic. And the next time you go out, he recommends ordering a glass of water with every beer. Alternate between the two to replace lost fluids as you go.

Business Insider, Fall risk may increase after heart attack patients leave hospital by Lisa Rapaport — Three in five patients hospitalized for heart attacks or other serious cardiovascular problems have at least a moderate risk of falling after they go home, and this risk is tied to higher odds of premature death, a U.S. study suggests… "Increased risk of falling can be conceptualized as a proxy for frailty, or increased vulnerability to stressors," said senior study author Dr. Veronique Roger of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. "The most important factor in reducing the risk of falls is to preserve muscle mass and equilibrium," Roger said by email. "This can be achieved by regular physical activity in a safe environment."

Design News, Engineering Plays a Big Role at the Mayo Clinic by Kevin Clemens — Building specialized medical equipment for one of the nation’s premiere health centers presents certain challenges. Steve Nowakowski, principal engineer II at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, will detail some of his experiences and insights at a talk titled, “System Design Trade-offs Beyond the Device” at the Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) on October 31 in Minneapolis, MN. Steve Nowakowski spoke with Design News about the difficulties in designing for the medical profession. “I am an engineer, part of an engineering division at the Mayo Clinic, and our mission is to build things that can’t be purchased,” explained Nowakowski. “The Mayo Clinic is a really big place—we have a lot of folks on site in Rochester and at our other sites around the system, so we can justify having an engineering area that makes unique systems to support our three shields. They are education, practice, and research,” he explained.

Augusta Chronicle, Stay in shape with these fitness reads by Scott Strawn — It’s that time of the year when it seems that all of us are spending less time running around outdoors and more time sitting indoors at desks. Whether adults, teens or children, we might need more attention to fitness, especially as we face the holidays with all the candies, cookies and other high-calorie concoctions. Here are four books to help… Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, by Scott C. Litin M. D. Though fitness plans should be heavy in exercise and good eating habits, they also need to take into account medical issues. What we needed is a good volume on those issues - issues to watch for and solutions if and when they arrive - in other words, a good family medical guide. Mayo provides the best. From the early months of pregnancy through the years of adolescence, this covers a plethora of ailments, conditions and developments.

Becker’s Hospital Review, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, 18 other hospitals hiring nurses by Megan Knowles — Here are 20 hospitals and health systems that have posted job listings seeking nurses in the last week: Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Job listings were compiled from job seeker websites. 1. Mayo Clinic Hospital (Jacksonville, Fla.) seeks registered nurse for neurosurgical unit.

Open Minds, Mayo Clinic & Medica To Launch Joint Insurance Plans — On September 13, 2018, Mayo Clinic and Medica launched an agreement to jointly develop health insurance products and services for consumers across the country. The new health insurance products focus on access to complex care, and will combine each organization's experience with clinical service, administration, and customer service. The new product offerings include partnerships with local health care systems to assure easy consumer access to care. If rare or complex care is required, clinical professionals have the option to send consumers to Mayo Clinic. No information regarding where the plans would be offered, or the exact type of plans …

Future of Personal Health, Meet the Women Championing Women’s Heart Health — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, accounting for approximately one of every four female deaths. What’s more, 64 percent of women who die from coronary heart disease have no prior symptoms. “Heart disease isn’t even on their radar,” says Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes, cardiologist and founder of the Women’s Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic. She adds that, for years, the common thought was that heart disease only affected men. That mindset has only recently started to change.

Fierce Biotech, Mayo Clinic, Helix launch at-home DNA testing program by Conor Hale — The Mayo Clinic, in collaboration with Helix, has released a new personal genomics product in collaboration with Helix aimed at providing healthy individuals with DNA testing and a focus on education. The GeneGuide consists of an app and a saliva collection kit provided through the mail. The process begins with a Mayo-affiliated physician reviewing the person’s medical history and ordering the test, which is then evaluated by Helix’s clinical lab. Additional coverage: Medical Xpress

SELF, 10 Facts About Alzheimer's Disease You Should Know by Korin Miller — This disease is the most common cause of dementia, which describes a group of brain disorders that erode a person’s cognitive abilities and communication skills, according to the Mayo Clinic. If someone has Alzheimer’s, they typically experience mild confusion and difficulty remembering things to start, but eventually they may forget important people in their lives; undergo dramatic personality changes; have trouble planning, communicating, and making safe decisions;y and need full-time care.

HuffPost, How To Talk To Your Kid About Periods by Taylor Pittman — Don’t be afraid of the phrase “age-appropriate”: According to the Mayo Clinic, “menstruation typically begins at about age 12, but periods are possible as early as age 8.” Ideally, parents will talk to kids about periods before they or their friends start having them, but many think, “How early is too early?”

Healthcare Finance News, Mayo Clinic leads among the biggest hospital construction projects that kicked off in September by Jeff Lagasse — Mayo Clinic Health System in Rochester, Minnesota is planning a $648 million expansion project that will nearly double the size of its Phoenix campus within the next five years. The project will increase the square footage by over a million square feet, increase the bed count from 280 to 374, and add close to 200 physicians.  Mayo has also begun to renovate it's cancer center, The $4.9 million project will add 3,900 square feet, which includes nine exam rooms and nine treatment chairs. Construction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2019.

Phys.org, A free electronic management repository for zebrafish — Effective and efficient electronic systems for managing zebrafish colony operations are available but expensive. Researchers now offer an open-source electronic husbandry repository based on free Google applications that is cloud-based and can be managed using an everyday smartphone, making it accessible to all lab members. This new electronic system is described in Zebrafish…"The move to improve reproducibility in science is going to require some new tools for data capture and organization. This paper provides an innovative option for our zebrafish husbandry work that is accessible to any laboratory," says Stephen Ekker, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief of Zebrafish and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Science Codex, Mayo researchers develop new genetics-based prognostic tool for myelodysplastic syndrome — Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed a new genetics-based prognostic tool for myelodysplastic syndrome. Their findings are published in the October print issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. "Myelodysplastic syndrome is one of the most frequent blood cancers affecting the elderly with annual incidence exceeding 50 cases per 100,000 in people 65 years or older," says Ayalew Tefferi, M.D., a Mayo Clinic hematologist who is the principal investigator and lead author. Dr. Tefferi says the average survival for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome is estimated at 2½ years, and survival rates have not improved over the past several decades.

WLNS Lansing, This Morning: Local leaders team up for Drug Disposal Day by Veronica Gabriel — Sparrow and the Ingham County Sheriff's Office are sponsoring a community wide Drug Disposal Day. The goal is for community members to dispose of unused or expired medications, including opioids. The event is part of an effort to address the opioid crisis. Participants may drop unused or expired medications in disposal containers monitored by the Sheriff's Office. This is an outgrowth of Sparrow's collaboration with the Mayo Clinic and demonstrates the local benefits of Sparrow's relationship with Mayo.

Healio, Corticosteroid escalation predicts colon surgery in IBD patients with CDI — Escalating corticosteroid therapy for inflammatory bowel disease during a Clostridium difficile infection was linked with a higher risk for colon surgery, according to research published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Sahil Khanna, MBBS, of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues wrote that managing patients with IBD and CDI can be difficult because CDI cannot be distinguished clinically from an IBD exacerbation.

Healio, Family history tied to nearly eightfold increased CRC risk for IBD patients — Patients with inflammatory bowel disease who have a first-degree relative with a history of colorectal cancer have a higher risk for also being diagnosed with that cancer, according to research published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. N. Jewel Samadder, MD, MSc, of the division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, and colleagues wrote that although risk for CRC among patients with IBD is already high, estimates of lifetime risk have varied. They sought to determine risk factors to help guide screening and surveillance strategies going forward. “Family history of CRC in a first-degree relative is an important risk factor amongst those in the general healthy population, nearly doubling their risk of developing the disease,” they wrote. “Although there are increasing data to support the role of genetic susceptibility in the pathogenesis of IBD, little is known about the impact of family cancer history on development of CRC in IBD.”

Albuquerque Journal, Treating restless legs syndrome — Dear Mayo Clinic: Is restless legs syndrome hereditary? Is there an effective treatment, or does a diagnosis mean I will have it for life? A: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is not always hereditary, but it does run in some families and several genetic links have been found. While restless legs syndrome is most often a chronic condition, treatment is available that often can effectively control its symptoms. RLS is characterized by an unpleasant or uncomfortable urge to move your legs. The sensation is temporarily relieved when you get up and move around, especially by walking, or when you shift or stretch your legs.

SELF, 7 Reasons You Might Wake Up Gasping for Air by Korin Miller — If you experience intense gastroesophageal reflux at least once a week, you might have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the more serious form of the condition, according to the Mayo Clinic. This can cause additional symptoms such as chest pain, a persistent cough, laryngitis, and (obviously) disrupted sleep, the Mayo Clinic says. Weirdly enough, it can also lead to new or worsening asthma, which is another reason you might wake up gasping for air that we’ll get to in just a sec. If you know you have gastroesophageal reflux and you’re often waking up at night with difficulty breathing, talk to your doctor. They may recommend dietary changes, like avoiding certain acidic foods or waiting at least three hours after eating to lie down, or medications such as antacids to neutralize stomach acid, the Mayo Clinic says.

Federal News Radio, Rapid Equipping Force gives Army objective measure for head traumas by Scott Maucione — Head trauma is an area where DoD is playing a bit of catch up. Last December, civilian and military medical professionals told Congress that the force from shooting heavy guns and other military specific work had the potential to cause brain injury. Dr. David W. Dodick, sports neurology and concussion program director at the Mayo Clinic said there are many times when a brain injury simply isn’t apparent. “A lot of times the visible signs may not be present even for those of us who have been examining patients for over 20 years. The signs can be so subtle that they are not picked up on the routine bedside examination,” Dodick said. Dodick said the military needs objective, widely available and cost effective tests that rapidly identifies when a concussion has occurred, allowing for the removal of the individual from activities that place them at risk.

Health Data Management, Mayo Clinic to develop Limb Loss and Preservation Registry by Greg Slabodkin — The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has awarded the Mayo Clinic a $5 million contract to develop and launch a Limb Loss and Preservation Registry. Supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense, the database will be the first national registry of people who have lost limbs and will include the electronic health records of U.S. adults and children. The goal of this data collection effort is to establish the number of Americans living with limb loss and to improve prevention, treatment and rehabilitation activities for this population.

Atlanta Journal Constitution, Artificial sweeteners, supplements are toxic to your gut, study finds by Fiza Pirani — Oftentimes, people will flock to sugar substitutes in hopes of reducing the sugar or calories in their diet. And the National Cancer Institute and other agencies believe there’s no widely accepted scientific evidence that the six FDA-approved sweeteners cause cancer or other serious problems. According to the Mayo Clinic, “numerous studies confirm that artificial sweeteners are generally safe in limited quantities, even for pregnant women.”

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. Thank you.

Editor, Karl Oestreich;  Assistant Editor: Emily Blahnik

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