Associated Press, Trippy depression treatment? Hopes and hype for ketamine by Lindsey Tanner — It was launched decades ago as an anesthetic for animals and people, became a potent battlefield pain reliever in Vietnam and morphed into the trippy club drug Special K. Now the chameleon drug ketamine is finding new life as an unapproved treatment for depression and suicidal behavior… Ketamine’s potential for almost immediate if temporary relief is what makes it so exciting, said Dr. Jennifer Vande Voort, a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist who has used ketamine to treat depression patients since February. “We don’t have a lot of things that provide that kind of effect. What I worry about is that it gets so hyped up,” she said. Additional coverage: Medical Xpress, San Antonio Express-News, Telegraph India, New York Times, Washington Post, ABC News

New York Times, Caroline Wozniacki Reveals That She Has Rheumatoid Arthritis by Christopher Clarey — Caroline Wozniacki, her tennis season over after a loss at the WTA Finals on Thursday, revealed that she had recently received a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain and stiffness and problems with mobility. “In the beginning, it was a shock,” Wozniacki, 28, said at a news conference in Singapore, the site of the WTA Finals. “Just, you feel like you’re the fittest athlete out there — or that’s in my head, that’s what I’m known for — and all of a sudden you have this to work with.”… John M. Davis III, a rheumatologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., provided background on rheumatoid arthritis in a telephone interview. He emphasized that he was speaking in general terms because he was not familiar with Wozniacki’s case. “It can occur in children, and the risk goes up with age, but the peak age of onset is mid-50s,” Dr. Davis said. “So 28 is definitely on the young side to be getting it…Inflammatory, or rheumatoid, arthritis is a condition in which the immune system is basically attacking the joints of the body and other tissues,” Dr. Davis said. “So the cause is very, very different, and the treatments are very, very different.”

Forbes, Harrowing Halloween Injuries And How To Avoid Them This Spooky Season by Victoria Forster — Pumpkins were responsible for 41% of injuries in the CPSC 2017 stats and the vegetable is somewhat notorious this time of year amongst orthopedic surgeons. "Interestingly, it's the fourth busiest holiday for hand injuries," says Dr. Sanj Kakar, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic hand and wrist surgeon. Kakar says almost one-third of those Halloween hand injuries are among kids 10 to 14. And most of them happen when people are carving pumpkins. "A lot of people might just go to the kitchen and grab a sharp knife. But there's good studies out there showing that actual pumpkin-specific carving knives (are safer), (because) actually the force needed to injure yourself, is higher if you use one of those than if you use a standard knife," says Kakar.

ABC News, New mom who survived cancer creates 'no breastfeeding zone' sign for delivery room staff by Nicole Pelletiere — …Elizabeth LaFleur, a registered nurse and lactation consultant, at Mayo Clinic, St. Mary's Campus in Rochester, Minnesota, said she's seen similar situations where a mother was not capable of breastfeeding. "It's also the mother's decision," LaFleur told "GMA." "If a mother has all the information that she feels she needs to make the decision, that's when she'll feel the most secure."

SELF, What’s the Difference Between Normal Age-Related Memory Decline and Signs of Dementia? by Korin Miller — Dementia actually isn’t a health condition. It’s a group of symptoms that affect functions related to your memory, cognition, and social skills, according to the Mayo Clinic…That’s not all. Dementia can lead to difficulty communicating, trouble with problem solving, difficulty handling complex tasks, trouble planning and organizing things, issues with coordination, and overall confusion and disorientation, according to the Mayo Clinic. People with dementia can also experience psychological changes like shifts in personality, depression, anxiety, inappropriate behavior, paranoia, agitation, and hallucinations.

Reader’s Digest, Right Side Abdominal Pain: What It Could Mean by Jessica Migala — It could be… an ovarian cyst: Women have an ovary on each side of the uterus. Sometimes cysts—fluid-filled sacs—can form on an ovary. Most of the time these cysts clear up on their own and women barely notice them, according to The Mayo Clinic. However, cysts can be large enough to cause pain, and if the cyst is on your right ovary, that’s where you’ll feel the ache. See your doctor if the pain is sudden or severe or if you experience fever or vomiting.

Post-Bulletin, The Answer Man: The truth of the Gonda stones is uncovered — Dear Answer Man: I have a quarry query for you: I heard years ago that when Mayo built the first 19 stories of the Gonda Building, they bought the marble stone for the exterior of the next 11 floors too. The extra stones are supposedly in a field so that they are exposed to the weather in order to match when the additional stories are added. Now that Mayo is planning to add to the Gonda Building, I want to know: is this urban legend, or rock-solid truth? — Looking for a rock (star) answer…Dear Rocky: While the $190 million addition driven by Singapore-based Pontiac Land Group isn’t expected to be complete until 2022, I can deliver a carefully sculpted answer to your question today. “Mayo Clinic purchased additional white Brazilian granite, the same granite on the original building, knowing it would be incorporated into the long-planned expansion of the Gonda Building,” wrote Mayo’s Kelley Luckstein in response to Rock Star’s question.”

Post-Bulletin, Japanese doctor walks 2,000 miles to fight cancer by Anne Halliwell — For Tadao Kakizoe, the journey of 2,175 miles began with a single step. On Thursday, Kakizoe, the president of Japan’s Cancer Society, addressed Mayo Clinic staff hosted by the hospital’s Nicotine Dependence Center. One in every two people in Japan will be diagnosed with cancer during the course of their lives, Kakizoe said, making it an extremely common disease with a more than 60 percent recovery rate…Of the 1 million people who are diagnosed every year, many still believe that a cancer diagnosis probably will lead to death within five or so years, he said. “Still, many people suffer from isolation and fear,” Kakizoe said. “Even though cancer is becoming a curing disease.”

KIMT, Pint for Preemies Challenge Helps Mayo’s Tiniest Patients by Annalise Johnson — The Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program is having a 'Pints for Preemies' blood donation challenge, a push for people to donate blood for Mayo's smallest and youngest patients…Premature babies are often recipients of blood transfusions, explains Mayo's Blood Donor Program's medical director Dr. Justin Kreuter. "Because they need a little extra help as they get started in like as they're premature, and others there's a medical condition that causes the, to need transfusions... if somebody doesn't come and donate, we don't have blood products on the shelf, we don't have them when these babies need them," he says.

KIMT, Mayo Clinic testing new bike racks downtown by Annalisa Pardo — More bike racks are in downtown Rochester, bright blue and with Mayo Clinic branding, they’re hard to miss. Mayo Clinic is installing 200 of the racks on its campuses and downtown from this fall to next Spring to encourage more people to get pedaling. Depending on if people use them, Mayo will add more racks to further increase bicycle commuting. According to Mayo Clinic the design of the branded bike racks was specifically selected to make locking a bike more secure. “Older style racks do not support the recommended dual-locking and will therefore be removed and recycled as they are replaced with the new racks in more strategic locations more supportive of bicycle commuting,” Mayo Clinic said via email.

KTTC, Mayo Clinic Children’s Center hosts reverse trick-or-treating event — Not every child gets to experience Halloween – walking in their costumes from house to house to collect candy. But children undergoing treatment at Mayo Clinic-Saint Marys Hospital did not miss out on the experience Wednesday. Hospitalized children at Mayo Clinic Children’s Center got to have “reverse trick-or-treating,” while still getting treatment. That’s when staff visit children in their rooms and give them candy, toys and prizes. “This is a great day for everybody to get dressed up, and we’re here to celebrate and share happiness and smiles,” said Jill Hunchis, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. “And it’s just great to let the kids, you know, being in a situation of being in the hospital for them to get to have a normal Halloween and dress up and trick or treat.” Additional coverage: Post-Bulletin, KIMT, KAAL

KAAL, Low Obesity Rate Among MN Teens — Good news and bad news about childhood obesity in Minnesota. Researchers at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation studied national survey data from 2016 and 2017. They found the obesity rate for Minnesota kids between the ages of 10 and 17 was 10.4%. It's one of the lowest rates in the country, but health experts say it's still too high. Dr. Francesca McCutcheon, a Pediatrician with Mayo Clinic Health System Austin, said parents and providers need to make conscious choices to offer kids healthier, high-nutrition, low-calorie food, and beverages as well as encouraging them to be more active.

KAAL, Sumner Kids Roll Up Their Sleeves — If you’ve been putting off rolling up your sleeves, this might be a good time. Thursday, some kids in Austin were doing just that…"We are giving flu shots for children. this is one of many days we're going out to schools to deliver flu vaccine directly to the kids" said Kathryn Hutchins, a registered nurse, and primary care nurse manager for Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Austin.

Star Tribune, Looking for a long life? Try tennis by Erica Pearson — Researchers say that social aspect may be more important to a long, healthy life than most people realize. A recent, observational study published in the Mayo Clinic’s Proceedings journal found that the social facet of the sport may give it an edge over other sports in promoting longevity. The international research team took a Danish population study, which tracked thousands of men’s and women’s sports and exercise habits over 25 years, and compared it with death records. They found that playing tennis created the biggest gain in life expectancy: 9.7 years compared with folks who said they were sedentary. That gain is even more striking when compared with other active but less social activities, such as swimming (3.4 years) and jogging (3.2 years).

Star Tribune, Readers Write: Lung cancer screening — As a pulmonologist, I have seen firsthand the impact that this terrible disease has on residents of Minnesota and their families. Although smoking is the most common cause, I have never met anyone who deserved lung cancer. Treatment for advanced-stage disease has improved dramatically, but deaths from lung cancer are best avoided by primary prevention and early detection. More needs to be done to raise awareness of lung cancer and the availability of lifesaving lung-cancer screening. That’s why I encourage local residents who smoked or still smoke to visit SavedByTheScan.org to take an easy lung-cancer screening eligibility quiz and learn if they may be eligible for screening with a low-dose CT scan of the chest… David Midthun, Rochester. The writer is pulmonologist at the Mayo Clinic and a local leadership board member for the American Lung Association in Minnesota.

Action News Jax, Action News Jax Investigates: Gadgets that promise to help you sleep — More than 50 million Americans have trouble falling asleep. A growing number of gadgets promise to help you have a more restful night, but Action News Jax is looking at whether technology is helping or hindering your efforts to fall and stay asleep…Dr. Brynn K. Dredla is a Neurologist specializing in Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.  “The average adult needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep,” she says, adding “When it comes to REM sleep each human cycle through REM and non-REM, we usually cycle 4 to 6 times.  REM is about a quarter of your sleep."

Action News Jax, Navy vet wants to create space medicine hub in Northeast Florida by Jenna Bourne — A retired Navy pilot from Orange Park is spearheading an effort to create a space medicine hub in Northeast Florida. Larry Harvey, co-founder of the Center for Applied Space Technology, or CAST, recently helped a Jacksonville Mayo Clinic project get on board an EXOS Aerospace Systems & Technologies rocket launch. Husband-and-wife team Dr. Michelle Freeman and Dr. David Freeman helped create technology that can monitor astronauts’ vital signs without them having to wear cumbersome medical equipment. “People ask: How does this help us on Earth?” said Dr. David Freeman, who is the medical director of the neurology intensive care unit at the Mayo Clinic. “If you can do that in space, you can monitor people in their own home -- their health monitoring in home, like Alexa or Siri.”

Pensacola News Journal, Pine Forest's Clausell undergoes heart transplant surgery at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville by Brian Achatz — Nearly seven months after suffering cardiac arrest playing basketball and spending six days on a life-support system, Pine Forest two-sport star Jaylen Clausell was the recipient of a heart transplant at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. The transplant began shortly after 6 a.m. and is estimated to be an eight-hour procedure. “This team has been behind him all year,” Pine Forest football head coach Jason McDonald said. “Things have looked up for him since he’s been at Mayo Clinic. He’s a tough, strong kid. Of course he has a long way to go, but things are looking up.” Clausell was medially cleared to lift weights in June, but weeks later his condition worsened and he was transported to Mayo Clinic where he has been since the summer.

Winona Daily News, Applications now being accepted to Saint Mary’s for 3+2 Mayo Clinic PA program — Students interested in becoming a physician assistant (PA) are invited to apply for a new 3+2 PA Program, a collaborative effort between Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences. Beginning in fall 2019, select students chosen for this program will spend three years studying at Saint Mary’s University’s Winona campus (or the University of Minnesota Rochester, which is also offering this program) followed by two years with Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, with most graduate courses being held at Saint Mary’s Cascade Meadow facility in Rochester.

Mason City Globe Gazette, ‘How do you thank somebody for that?’: Mason City man donates kidney to mother-in-law by Ashley Stewart — Jon Prebeck’s parents raised him to help others at whatever length necessary. And his most recent act of generosity — or rather, his largest — has given his mother-in-law, Tarla Hoover of Fort Dodge, new life…Prebeck went to the Mayo Clinic Transplant Center website and began the process after several other family members weren’t a match to donate. Prebeck underwent weeks of evaluation, including tests and scans, that required regular trips to Mayo Clinic in Rochester. “They literally do every possible test you can think of,” he said. After being notified that Prebeck was a suitable kidney donor, Mayo Clinic conducted a month-long nationwide search to determine if there was someone who’d be a 100-percent match, but he was Hoover’s best option.

WEAU Eau Claire, Hope in the Valley by Judy Clark — Megan Meyers, M.D., and Renelle Laffe of Hope in the Valley join WEAU 13 News 5pm News anchor Judy Clark to discuss the impact of breast cancer and the upcoming Hope in the Valley Primp, Pamper and Prevent retreat, raising awareness and funds for all cancers, November 3rd at Metropolis Resort.

WXOW La Crosse, Alliance to HEAL setting up long range plan to tackle opioid addiction — A group of local organizations are revamping their efforts to end opioid addiction in La Crosse. The Alliance to Heal launched last month.The group includes experts from both Mayo Clinic Health System and Gundersen Health System along with the La Crosse County Health Department. The group is the biggest one yet to tackle drug addiction locally. Other major players are the La Crosse Community Foundation, local schools, and law enforcement. The Alliance has four main goals: education, identifying high risk people, providing a medical detox center and stopping over-distribution of drugs.

WKBT La Crosse, A local doctor has advice on creating healthy habits at a young age by Alex Fischer — "Everything is kind of a mix of . . . nature and nurture. Genetics are definitely a big part of it, but that's not the only part of it," said Kayla Heidinger M.D., a resident physician with Mayo Clinic Health System. Heidinger said other contributors to obesity include too many calories from things like sugary drinks and fatty foods and not getting enough activity. "Ways to decrease that intake [include] eating as a family: not in front of the T.V., kind of avoiding distractions while you're eating. So, then you kind of realize when you body is full and stop when you're full and teaching your kids those habits at a young age," said Heidinger. She recommends 60 minutes of activity a day for children and less that two hours of screen time per day. Heidinger said that by teaching kids healthy habits at a young age parents not only set them up for a healthy lifestyle, but also the parents may pick up some of those healthy habits themselves.

Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Psychiatrist shortage hits home in northwest Wisconsin by Eric Lindquist — Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire has five psychiatrists on staff but also faces challenges in recruiting new doctors. “It is not always possible to replace retiring psychiatrists, despite strenuous recruitment efforts,” said Dr. Robert Peck, chief medical officer for Mayo Clinic Health System in northwest Wisconsin. Peck acknowledged that the Chippewa Valley could have twice as many psychiatrists and they still would all be busy. He also noted that some psychiatrists don’t have the capacity to take on any new patients.

MedPage Today, Lowering Radiation Dose Could Improve QoL, Cut Costs in Oral Ca by Elizabeth Hlavinka — Radiation de-intensification was tied to a quicker rebound in a number of quality of life (QoL) measures and reduced costs for patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer, a pair of studies found…And more aggressive de-intensification led to a 22% cost reduction for treatment overall ($45,884 versus $57,845 with standard care), with 33% lower costs for RT itself and 50% lower costs for post-treatment care (P=0.01), according to findings presented by Mark Waddle, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida…"Several studies have or are investigating de-escalation of treatment to reduce toxicity while maintaining outcomes," Waddle said during his presentation. "However, those studies haven't investigated the cost of care that may be associated with de-escalation of treatment."

Cardiovascular Business, Eko Collaborates with Mayo Clinic on a Machine Learning-Based Algorithm to Help Physicians Better Screen for Potentially Dangerous Heart Diseases — Eko, creators of a heart and lung monitoring platform that combines non-invasive cardiac sensors with machine learning, has announced a collaboration with Mayo Clinic to develop a data-driven technology — using machine learning and a smart digital stethoscope — to help physicians detect patients with potentially dangerous heart diseases that may otherwise be missed. Eko and Mayo Clinic will work together to develop and commercialize a machine learning-based algorithm that screens patients for the presence of a low ejection fraction – a weak heart pump. Once identified, evidence-based treatments are available that prolong life and reduce the risk of symptoms. The technology leverages the Mayo Clinic’s vast cardiovascular database and their expertise in medical AI and heart disease screening, and combines it with Eko’s cardiac monitoring platform. Additional coverage: HIT Consultant, MobiHealth News, Clinical Innovation + Technology, Health Data Management, Becker’s Hospital Review

Science News, Why some people may be more susceptible to deadly C. difficile infections by Tina Hesman Saey — Gastroenterologist Purna Kashyap of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and colleagues conducted experiments transplanting feces from people with normal or disturbed gut microbes into mice. Mice that got transplants from people with normal gut microbiomes were able to fight off or control C. difficile infections better than mice that got transplants from people with disturbed mixes…Fecal transplants were even more effective in keeping the mice’s C. difficile levels under control, says Kashyap. That suggests that probiotics containing other proline-eating bacteria might outcompete C. difficile and help restore the balance of gut microbes, he says.

Creaky Joints, These 15 Myths About Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Be Downright Dangerous to Believe by Marissa Laliberte — Myth: Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are basically the same thing: “Rheumatoid arthritis is not just an arthritis — it has a systemic effect,” says John Davis III, MD, a rheumatologist with Mayo Clinic. Because RA creates an inflammatory state in your body, it can affect everything from your heart disease risk to your lung health. Leaving RA untreated or undertreated can take a serious, or even life-threatening, toll on the rest of your body. This myth is partly why it’s so frustrating to people with RA—or other inflammatory arthritis, such as psoriatic arthritis or spondylitis—when others say things like, “but you’re too young to have arthritis!” Here are more things to never say to someone with RA.

Creaky Joints, You Can Ease Inflammatory Arthritis Brain Fog with These 12 Tips for a Sharper Mind by Marissa Laliberte — ...The chronic pain of these diseases makes your entire nervous system extra sensitive, says John Davis III, MD, a rheumatologist with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Especially when your arthritis is extra active, it can cause a domino effect that affects your whole body. “Inflammation levels may be high, and that may contribute to pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance — and that might contribute to the fog,” says Dr. Davis… Set a sleep routine (and stick to it): One of the best ways to prep your body for sleep is to stick to the same schedule every day. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day — including weekends —recommends Dr. Davis. “That way you’ll have a regular rhythm about when the body gets sleepy,” he says.

Talk Business & Politics, Northwest Health says Mayo Clinic partnership is a success by Kim Souza — For more than 150 years the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., has been a destination for healthcare. While Northwest Arkansas continues to work toward being a destination for healthcare excellence as well, Springdale-based Northwest Health said its partnership with the Mayo Clinic is bridging that gap. In April, Northwest Health announced joining the Mayo Clinic Care Network. The partnership gives local doctors access to specialty consults and second opinions from more than 3,300 doctors at Mayo, as well the expertise from any of the other 43 member partners around the globe.

NewsOK, Out of the valley: Mayo Clinic shares development philosophy with Oklahoma Innovation Model by Jim Stafford — As keynote speaker at last week's Oklahoma Center for Science and Technology (OCAST) Health Research Conference, James A. Rogers III, with Mayo Clinic, delivered a sobering forecast for scientists seeking to commercialize discoveries made in their laboratories. “It's a bit of a roller coaster to be involved in this activity to take research to commercialization,” said Rogers, who is chairman of the Mayo Clinic's Department of Business Development. “It's absolutely worth it. It's something that can touch people's lives in a very significant way, but it's an absolute roller coaster.” Rogers leads the Business Development department for a world-renowned hospital that has developed a model to help health research-based ventures overcome obstacles to commercial success.

Elite Daily, Here's How To Deal With Migraines At Night When All You Want To Do Is Get Some Sleep by Jordan Bissell — According to Jerry Swanson, M.D., a board-certified neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, headaches that happen only during sleep are called hypnic headaches. "Hypnic headaches usually awaken a person at the same time every night, but it's also possible to have daytime naps interrupted by hypnic headaches," he wrote in a 2016 article for the medical center. And while these types of headaches tend to be most common in people who are over 50 years old, Swanson explained, it's possible to suffer from this discomfort at a younger age, too. So if you get regular migraines throughout the night, be sure to talk to your doctor about what's going on.

MobiHealthNews, Surgical training startup FundamentalVR inks deal with Mayo Clinic, raises additional $1.4M by Laura Lovett — This morning FundamentalVR, maker of a virtual reality surgical training platform, landed $1.4 million in new funding from investment company Tern Plc. This latest investment brings the company’s total funding to $2.6 million. It also furthers return investor Tern Plc stake in the company, bringing its investments to 34.5 percent of the startup’s holdings. This announcement comes on the heels of a new three-year deal the London-based startup inked with Mayo Clinic to develop new simulations and validate its technology. The pair plan on zeroing in on general surgery before moving on to new areas such as patient-specific simulations from digital imaging resources, according to a statement. The new partnership will give FundamentalVR access to experts in the field and 3D modeling resources. Additional coverage: AV Magazine, MedCity News, Road to VR, Becker’s Orthopedic & Spine

Medscape, A Paraplegic Doc's Inspiring Comeback After Spinal Injury — Robert Glatter, MD: Thank you for joining us today. We have an incredible journey and story to tell of Dr Daniel Grossman. He's an emergency physician [at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota] who suffered a devastating spinal cord injury at T7 and T8 in September 2017. He was treated at Mayo Clinic and his care was impeccable. He has since returned to working in the emergency department, and his story should inspire all of us. It's a journey of struggle but also a journey of positivity. Daniel B. Grossman, MD, MBA: Nice to be here. Thank you.

Diagnostics World, Mayo App Helps Consumers Interpret Genetic Test Results by Deborah Borfitz — The Mayo Clinic is seeking to raise the “genomic literacy” of consumers with an education app built in cooperation with sequencing warehouse Helix. Healthy individuals can use Mayo Clinic GeneGuide both to get their DNA sequenced and to better understand the benefits and limitations of genetic testing, says Matthew Ferber, a Mayo Clinic clinical molecular geneticist who led the development of the app. Unlike traditional direct-to-consumer testing companies, including market leader 23andMe, Mayo Clinic GeneGuide requires a physician’s order and doesn’t leave the test-taker marooned on an “island” with the results.

Vida en el Valle, Mayo Clinic Minute: Can you prevent breast cancer? — Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, according to CDC. Karthik Ghosh, M.D. General Internal Medicine with Mayo Clinic says, no matter what your personal risk is, there are ways that may help lower your chances of getting the disease.

AMA, Student SOS: 6 ways to avoid “distress” in medical school — If unattended, factors of distress can produce serious personal and professional ramifications for physicians in training, according to Lotte Dyrbye, MD, professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, who has studied burnout in medical students since 2004. Mayo also is a member of the AMA’s Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium. At an AMA meeting at Oregon Health & Science University, Dr. Dyrbye discussed ways that medical schools can help students overcome key drivers of distress.

Managed Care, Acute Kidney Injury: Increasingly Common, Often Insidious, Possibly Deadly. But Worth Testing For? by Deborah Borfitz — So far, the evidence linking use of AKI biomarkers to improve patient outcomes is limited, according to John C. Lieske, MD, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. “A couple of papers have been published very recently, suggesting they may have a niche for directing the postoperative management strategy of patients undergoing major operative procedures,” he says. Lieske said findings published in the November 2017 issue of Intensive Care Medicine showed improved hemodynamic parameters and reduced rates of moderate to severe AKI among high-risk cardiac patients whose AKI was monitored with the two urinary biomarkers that NephroCheck tests for. A second study, published June 2018 in the Annals of Surgery, showed good results for patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Nursing Times, Rose geranium oil helps tackle unpleasant nasal side effect of chemo by Jo Stephenson — Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, looked at whether rose geranium oil might help with nasal vestibulitis by assessing the impact on 40 women who had chemotherapy for breast cancer between 2007 and 2017. More than half – 58% – were being treated with taxanes, with the rest on a range of broad spectrum and targeted cancer drugs. The most common nasal symptoms experienced by the group were bleeding reported by nearly two thirds – 65% – and discomfort at 63%. Other symptoms included dryness – affecting 30% – followed by scabbing and sores.

Popular Science, Will wearing glasses make my vision worse? by Whitson Gordon — …Some people fear that wearing an incorrect or outdated prescription can cause their eyesight to get worse. This is also a myth, at least in the case of adults—two studies found that incorrect prescriptions did slightly increase the progression of myopia, or nearsightedness, in children. In addition, the special glasses given to children with crossed eyes or a lazy eye can actually change them—but in a good way. These aids help straighten the eye. The real harm comes from not using them, according to the Opthamology Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin: “Not wearing such glasses may lead to permanently defective vision.”

Medical News Bulletin, Liver transplant with weight loss surgery may prevent post-operative weight gain by Nicola Crib — To address the challenges in treating this group of patients, liver transplant surgeons at the Mayo Clinic in the United States developed a new protocol in 2006. If patients remained above a critical BMI at the time they were at the top of the waitlist and a liver was available for them, then the transplant would still go ahead but a weight loss surgery would be done at the same time. The weight loss surgery consisted of reducing the size of the stomach, in a procedure known as sleeve gastrectomy. The long-term outcome from the new protocol was recently reviewed and compared with patients who had managed to lose weight pre-operatively and had undergone liver transplant alone. The findings were published in Hepatology.

GenomeWeb, Colorectal Cancer Microbiomes May Differ With Mismatch Repair Status — The microbial communities found in and around colorectal cancer (CRC) tumors may differ depending on the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) status of the CRC involved, new research suggests. As they reported online yesterday in Genome Medicine, researchers from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester and elsewhere used 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to assess tumor and matched normal colon tissue and mucosa samples from dozens of individuals with CRC, bolstering the microbiome data with metabolic modeling based on metabolomic measurements for a subset of participants. "Integrating tumor biology and microbial ecology highlighted distinct microbial, metabolic, and ecological properties unique to dMMR and pMMR CRC," senior author Nicholas Chia, a microbiome and surgery researcher at the Mayo Clinic, and his colleagues wrote, adding that their approach "could critically improve our ability to define, predict, prevent, and treat colorectal cancers."

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.

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Tags: acute kidney injury, bike racks, blood donation, Breast Cancer, breast cancer vaccine, breastfeeding, C. Difficile, Caroline Wozniacki, dementia, depression, Dr. Brynn Dredla, Dr. Daniel Grossman, Dr. David Midthun, Dr. Francesca McCutcheon, Dr. Jason Siegel, Dr. Jennifer Vande Voort, Dr. Jerry Swanson, Dr. John Davis, Dr. John Lieske, Dr. Justin Kreuter, Dr. Karthik Ghosh, Dr. Kayla Heidinger, Dr. Lotte Dyrbye, Dr. Maisha Robinson, Dr. Mark Waddle, Dr. Megan Meyers, Dr. Nicholas Chia, Dr. Purna Kashyap, Dr. Robert Peck, Dr. Sanj Kakar, Dr. Steven Porter, Eko, Elizabeth LaFleur, EXOS, FundamentalVR, GeneGuide, Halloween, HEAL, Jaylen Clausell, Jim Rogers, John Rosheim, Jon Prebeck, ketamine, liver transplant, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, mental health, microbiomes, migraines, national drug take-back day, Northwest Health, Obesity, opioid addiction, oropharyngeal cancer, Ovarian Cysts, physician burnout, rheumatoid arthritis, Rose geranium oil, sleep medicine, space medicine, Tadao Kakizoe, Uncategorized