December 21, 2018

Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights for December 21, 2018

By Emily Blahnik

Happy holidays!  Mayo Clinic in the News will be taking a week off.  We'll be back on January 4, 2019.

Wall Street JournalHow pilates helps fight atrophy by Jen Murphy — Pilates can be particularly helpful for people with stability and motor-related issues, says Jane Hein, a physical therapist and lead Pilates instructor at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program in Rochester, Minn. “As our muscles deteriorate, our postural stabilizers that support our spine and trunk become weaker and suddenly, gravity poses a challenge,” she says. “Everyday activities like standing up straight and walking can become difficult. The risk of falls increases.” She says a Pilates apparatus such as the reformer, which looks like a bed frame with a sliding carriage and adjustable springs, eliminates gravity, allowing people to perform strengthening exercises on their back, stomach and sides. Having your feet and hands attached to the reformer machine’s straps and pulleys while doing exercises provides proprioceptive feedback to the body’s neuromuscular system. “The person feels more safe and supported,” she says. “It opens up the entire body, so much so that people frequently say they feel taller after a session,” she says.

Washington Post, Which flu shot should you get? Here’s what you need to know. by Emily Sohn — The number of choices available for getting immunized against influenza is unrivaled in the vaccine world. There are 10 varieties of flu vaccine made by multiple companies approved for use in the United States…As for where to go, some doctors prefer their patients come to their primary-care clinic, because that makes it easier to keep track of who has been vaccinated, says Gregory Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group in Rochester, Minn. Others don’t care. Most agree that it’s better to get the shot somewhere than not at all. Additional coverage: Pittsburg Morning Sun, Watertown Daily Times

Washington Post, Lives lost, organs wasted by Kimberly Kindy, Lenny Bernstein and Dan Keating — …Some transplant centers are working hard to persuade patients to accept less-than-perfect organs. The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., for example, is taking part in a four-year-old trial using a new technology that rehabilitates lungs that have lost some function during the deaths of their original owners. So far, the rehabilitated lungs have been transplanted successfully into 66 patients at eight transplant centers. Among them is Jennilyn Green, 34, a cystic fibrosis patient from Leesburg, Fla. “My biggest question was, What if the lungs fail? Would I be a candidate to get other lungs?” she recalled. Yes, her surgeon assured her, she would. So she packed her bag and set her cellphone to play Pink’s “Get the Party Started” when the clinic called.

New York Times, Suicide, Quarterbacks and the Hilinski Family by Mike Piellucci — Tyler Hilinski shot himself in a closet inside his Pullman, Wash., apartment on Jan. 16. He was 21. Four months earlier he had been carried off the field after leading the Washington State Cougars to an electric triple-overtime victory over Boise State. His parents last saw him alive a few weeks before his death, on a family vacation in Mexico. He seemed happy and healthy, which only haunts them further. Where were the warning signs that their middle son wanted to take his own life?...The biggest window into Tyler’s mind arrived posthumously, via a brain autopsy conducted by the Mayo Clinic. It revealed that he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease brought on by repeated head trauma.

New York Times, Dixon, Simmer, Wimbush Win Comeback Player of Year Honors — Kent State receiver Antwan Dixon, Dartmouth defensive lineman Seth Simmer and Carson-Newman running back Antonio Wimbush are the first recipients of the Mayo Clinic college football Comeback Player of the Year Award. The new award recognizes college football players from FBS, FCS and lower divisions who overcome injury, illness or other challenges to return to the field. The winners were chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America in association with The Associated Press. Mayo Clinic will donate $5,000 each to the general scholarship funds at Kent State, Dartmouth and Carson-Newman in the names of the winners…Simmer had his surgery done at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Additional coverage: USA Today, Star Tribune, ABC News, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Forbes, Making Space For Yoga At Home by Jamie Gold — Yoga is increasing dramatically in popularity, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, especially among women. This 5,000-year-old practice offers some potential wellness benefits to modern users of both sexes, according to the Mayo Clinic… “Anybody can benefit from yoga,” declares Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program’s mind and body instructor Colleen Pelkey in an instructional video on yoga’s benefits. “Through poses and meditation, yoga helps you focus on your body, breathing and relaxing. So you can tune out the demands of our busy world, and find balance,” she adds.

Chicago Tribune, Caramels, bath bombs, oils: CBD products are filling store shelves. Here's why cannabis items are suddenly trendy. by Ally Marotti — …The receptors are part of the body’s endocannabinoid system and are found throughout the digestive tract, central nervous, cardiovascular, immune and other systems, according to an article from Dr. J. Michael Bostwick, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic. When marijuana, CBD or another cannabinoid is ingested, it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system. For example, weed smokers likely get the munchies because THC — the psychoactive compound that gets users high — is interacting with cannabinoid receptors that govern food intake, according to Bostwick’s research.

US News & World Report, Technology Changes Outlook for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery by Jack Hughes — …A founding pioneer of modern day spinal cord research, Dr. Reggie Edgerton, along with researchers from the Mayo Clinic and UCLA, unveiled new research in the scientific journal Nature Medicine. Through the application of epidural stimulation in combination with task-specific training, a young man living with chronic complete paraplegia recovered the ability to step over ground while using a front-wheeled walker with trainers providing only sporadic assistance. Additionally, he was able to take bilateral steps on a treadmill. Not only is this discovery unprecedented, it was deemed impossible only a few years ago by many prominent leaders in the field.

HealthDay, 3 in 4 Americans Struggle With Loneliness by Dennis Thompson — According to Craig Sawchuk, chair of Integrated Behavioral Health at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., loneliness and its accompanying emotional turmoil can harm a person's physical health. People who are lonely can tend to become homebodies, Sawchuk said. He was not involved with the study but was familiar with the findings. "If we're finding loneliness increases, you might see an increase in sedentary lifestyle as well," which can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems, Sawchuk said. "These mental effects do have a wear and tear on us physically." Additional coverage: US News & World Report

Becker’s Hospital Review, Cost containment, the CFO evolution and more: Q&A with Mayo Clinic CFO Dennis Dahlen by Leo Vartorella — A rapidly changing healthcare industry has left many CFOs struggling to balance their traditional responsibilities with a new set of strategic expectations, and few people understand this balance better than Dennis Dahlen. Mr. Dahlen became CFO of the Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic in November 2017 after serving for 11 years as senior vice president of finance and CFO of Phoenix-based Banner Health. He earned a master's degree in finance from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a bachelor's degree from the Grand Forks-based University of North Dakota. Mr. Dahlen spoke with Becker's about some of the most pressing issues facing CFO's today.

Advisory Board, The striking rise of yoga and meditation (and what it means for providers) — While yoga and meditation fall out of the purview of traditional medicine, some providers have started incorporating them into their treatments. For example, the Mayo Clinic runs a pain treatment program that incorporates deep breathing exercises, meditation, and relaxation techniques to help patients understand and reduce their pain.

SELF, What Exactly Is Altitude Sickness? by Carolyn L. Todd — ...You can think of the Earth’s atmosphere as a blanket of air with elevation measured starting at sea level and increasing from there, Jan Stepanek, M.D., M.P.H., chair of the Aerospace Medicine Program, director of the Altitude & Austere Medicine Clinic and co-director of the Aerospace Medicine & Vestibular Research Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, tells SELF. Your body becomes accustomed to the level of elevation you usually maintain in this atmosphere—so, where you live most of the time. As you go to higher elevations, the amount of atmosphere pushing down on you from above decreases, and so does the oxygen content of the air.

Post-Bulletin, 12 receive Mayor’s Medal of Honor by Randy Petersen — Mayor’s Award — Richard Brubaker: Presented nearly two months after his death, the day’s top honor was presented to Brubaker to honor his distinguished 30-year career as a Mayo Clinic physician, as well as his skill as a metal sculpture artist. Having created more than 100 metal sculptures, he has four displayed along Rochester trails as part of the Art4Trails program. Brede said he considered Brubaker a “brilliant doctor, artist and friend.”

Post-Bulletin, Mayo Clinic will double your donation — Donors in Olmsted County can double their giving power for the Salvation Army this weekend while wrapping up their holiday shopping. Mayo Clinic announced it will match all donations made to the Salvation Army’s Red Kettles in Olmsted County up to $20,000 on Friday and Saturday.

KIMTMax match for Red Kettles in Albert Lea and Austin by Mike Bunge — Mayo Clinic Health Systems says its employees in Albert Lea and Austin helped raise $2,000 for the Salvation Army. The employees rang the bells for 20 hours at the Hy-Vee in Albert Lea and the Shopko in Austin last week, collecting $1,000 in their Red Kettles and Mayo then matched that amount. “In honor of our staff who volunteered their time and the many who showed their support for the much needed services provided by The Salvation Army,” says Kris Johnson, Associate Administrator at Mayo Clinic Health System – Albert Lea and Austin. “Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin is happy to contribute the full $1000 match to the Red Kettle Campaign this year.”

KIMT, Mayo doc named HPV vaccination champion by Mike Bunge — A Mayo Clinic pediatrician is named Minnesota’s 2018 HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention Champion. The award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Association of American Cancer Institutes, and the American Cancer Society recognizes Dr. Robert M. Jacobson’s efforts to promote vaccination for human papillomavirus. “Dr. Jacobson’s dedication and results can’t be ignored,” said Kris Ehresmann, director of the infectious disease division at the Minnesota Department of Health. “He is showing that there are effective strategies for improving HPV vaccination rates and protecting young people from dangerous cancers that can develop later in life.”

KIMT, Mayo recreates historic Christmas decorations by Annalisa Pardo — You can't miss the beautiful holiday star when you walk into Mayo's Plummer building in Rochester. This is the first time the holiday decoration is up after being recreated this year. Anna Beth Morgan is the Executive Director of Libraries and Historical Units at all the Mayo campuses. She is also the one who decided to bring back the star after seeing it in a photo from 1949 while doing research for the Ken Burn's documentary about the hospital. "I looked at it and thought that needs to come to the Plummer building," she said. But it is the bigger, real-life picture that shines to Morgan.  "One of the things that's fabulous is you come through this entrance, you see a beautiful star on the floor but this one is high above," she said.

KIMT, Noisy Christmas Toys — Audiologist Gayla Poling is interviewed.

KAAL, The Most Wonderful Time? It Can Be, With Help — The song calls it "the most wonderful time of the year." If it's not that wonderful for you, you might have to give it a nudge. "When we get anxious, when we get stressed, we're either worrying about the past or we're worrying about the future," said Anita Bissinger, an integrated behavior health therapist for Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea. So if the Christmas season has you saying "humbug," it doesn't have to be like that. There are several things that can reduce stress, Bissinger said. "One of those is doing mindful moments, which is ... finding some way, even every hour, where you take a break. Whether it's going for a short walk, just doing some nice breathing, counting the things you're grateful for," she said. Additional coverage: Albert Lea Tribune

KTTC, One-year-old celebrates birthday at Mayo Clinic with staff who helped save her life by Shannon Rousseau — If you could pick where to spend your birthday, where would you go? For the family of a one-year-old Wisconsin girl, it’s the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. The Davis family chose the hospital so they could be with the care team that gave their daughter, Amelia, a chance at life more than a year ago. “She’s very smart, look at her!” said Dr. Rodrigo Ruano, who saw Amelia for the first time since she was born. Amelia is a miracle baby; one who almost didn’t survive in utero. The birthday celebration proved to be a powerful one for Valarie Davis, Amelia’s mom. “It’s very emotional. [We’re] overjoyed. It brings it all together of how close we were to her not being her,” she said.

KTTC, Mayo Hospice Volunteers hold Cookie Bake for those in need — Mayo Hospice Volunteers worked to bring holiday cheer to those who were in need. 280 dozen cookies were baked and brought to current hospice patients and caregivers who simply do not have the time to bake themselves…“Well I think everybody here are just really kind hearted people to do the volunteer work that they do even outside of the cookie bake,” said Mayo Clinic Hospice Volunteer and Nurse Kathy Dale. “I think when somebody receives a gift like that, they are apt to pass it on in another way. There’s nothing more heart-warming to see a great big smile when you show up at the door with a plate of beautiful cookies that they can share with their family over the holidays.” Additional coverage: Post-Bulletin

Rochester RisingFive Local Biotech Student-Led Teams Advance to Walleye Tank — Last Thursday local student-led innovation stole the limelight at the Entrepreneurial Student Showcase + Walleye Tank Student Qualifying Round, a collaboration between Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, Collider Coworking, and the Mayo Clinic Office of Entrepreneurship…Nanodropper, presented by Mayo Clinic Medical Student Allisa Song, is addressing wasted eyedrop medications from unnecessary overflow during application of meds; the normal amount of liquid dispensed from eye drop bottles is five times that which can be absorbed by the human eye, according the Nanodropper team. Additional coverage: Rochester RisingSaint Mary’s University

Star Tribune, The Nonprofit 100 — The Star Tribune's 23rd annual look at Minnesota's nonprofit businesses shows again the sector's economic force. Some of these organizations are big competitors in their fields, with CEOs making high six-figure or seven-figure salaries. Revenue for the 100 largest nonprofits rose 10.5 percent last year to $58.1 billion, with health care and educational organizations making up nearly three-quarters of the list. They also employ 313,407 people, a slight decrease from last year…. Mayo Clinic: $12B in revenue.

AZ Big MediaAlzheimer’s upends finances, lives for those diagnosed and caregivers — Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can be expensive – not necessarily because of medical treatments, but because people with the disease eventually need round-the-clock supervision and assistance with such things as getting dressed and eating. “The actual direct reimbursable medical care – seeing the doctor, having a blood test, stuff like that – is really a small fragment of all the care a patient needs,” said Dr. Richard Casselli, a neurologist at Mayo Clinic who works with Alzheimer’s patients. “Really, it’s that third-party care that costs a lot.”

WKBT La CrosseMayo Clinic Health System Donates $10,000 to Family Promise of Monroe County by Jordan Fremstad — Homelessness affects many families in our community and Mayo Clinic Health System is helping out. The organization is donating $10,000 to the organization 'Family Promise of Monroe County.'  Family Promise is an nationwide organization that focuses on providing resources to homeless families. Additional coverage: WEAU Eau ClaireLa Crosse Tribune, WI Proud

WKBT La Crosse, Local hospitals have precautions in place to stop a Legionnaires' disease outbreak by Troy Neumann — Three people in Wisconsin are dead after an outbreak of a water-borne illness. A Legionnaires' disease outbreak linked to UW Hospital's water system in Madison has infected 14 people, and 3 of those people died…“We are following all of those standards and expectations to mitigate and eliminate the potential growth of bacteria in our water systems in the hospitals,” said Mayo Clinic Health System Southwest Wisconsin Facilities Director Wade Rudolph.

WKBT La Crosse, Mayo supports mental health initiative during Red Kettle Campaign by Deb Brazil — Mayo Clinic Health System is partnering with The Salvation Army to help raise awareness and funding for mental health programming in the La Crosse area. On Saturday, December 22, Mayo Clinic Health System will match up to $15,000 raised at all kettle sites in La Crosse County. All monies raised will go toward funding The Salvation Army of La Crosse County's psychiatric and mental health services. The Salvation Army has paid for a contracted psychiatrist to work with emergency shelter residents. The appointments offer a diagnosis, possible prescription recommendations, along with referrals to long term care facilities when needed.

WQOW Eau ClaireTips to keep your kids safe this Christmas — ‘Tis the season for fun and games, until someone gets hurt. Eau Claire health experts are sharing some tips to make sure your kids stay safe for Christmas. Mayo Clinic Health System officials said common injuries can come from holiday decorations. Keep your kids away from sharp objects, which includes tree ornaments, and keep your Christmas tree watered, because the difference between a watered tree and a dry one can be disastrous.

WQOW Eau Claire, List: Most popular baby names in northwest Wisconsin for 2018 — Henry, Evelyn, Jackson and Madeline top the list of the most popular baby names in northwest Wisconsin for 2018. Both HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s Hospitals, along with Mayo Clinic Health System released their lists of the most popular names given to the newest little members of the Chippewa Valley…

WEAU Eau Claire, Mayo Clinic Health System's newest employee capturing hearts of patients, staff by Zach Prelutsky — The newest employee for Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare has only been on the job for five weeks, but she's already become a patient and staff favorite. Luna started at the beginning of November. The two-year-old Lab is from "Canine Companions for Independence". Luna works with patients at Mayo Clinics in the Coulee Region, whether it be to brighten their mood or to help during physical therapy. Luna's handler, Lisa Morgan, says so far the response has been overwhelming. "Gets them talking about their own story, their own pets. A lot of times it starts tears of either sadness or joy, or memories. It just kind of, just when you think you've got holistic care wrapped up, you bring a dog in and it just takes it to a whole new level," said Morgan. Additional coverage: WSAWWIZM-Radio

WQOW Eau Claire, Tips to keep your kids safe this Chirstmas — The holiday season is often a fun, busy and exciting time for many people. Despite the festivities, it’s important to remain vigilant in keeping children safe. Paul Horvath, M.D., emergency physician at Mayo Clinic Health System, shares some seasonal safety tips.

La Crosse TribuneExtra Effort: Westby High School student is a fighter by Sahnje McGonigle — Westby High School senior Josie Hofslien has battled cancer, but she maintains a positive outlook. “She’s a fighter and can be awfully stubborn at times,” Josie’s mother, Laura Hofslien, said. Josie is the recipient of the La Crosse Tribune Extra Effort Award for the Westby Area School District.,, Josie was diagnosed with stage 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma in the summer of 2011. A tumor was found in her spinal cord that had spread to the lining of her brain. She began having extremely bad headaches in the summer before her fifth-grade year. To remedy the pain, she had to have multiple spinal taps to eliminate high spinal fluid pressure. After the discovery of a tumor in her spinal cord, she was referred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

KWNO-Radio, All Abilities Trane Project by Greg Taylor — Recognizing the health benefits of play for the young and old alike, Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare is pleased to announce a $125,000 donation to the All Abilities Trane Park project. The park will allow people of all ages and abilities to play together in a safe environment without limitations. Once completed the park, which began construction this fall in La Crosse, will be the first of its kind in the Midwest. While an increasing number of playgrounds accommodate individuals with physical disabilities, few across the country accommodate individuals with cognitive, sensory and physical challenges.

WIZM-Radio, Mayo nurse reacts to surgeon general report on student vaping by Drew Kelly — One in five high school students are vaping now, and one in 20 middle schoolers. The new Surgeon General’s report recently released those findings on the fad that really isn’t healthy. “They found levels of metals in them,” Mayo Health System’ nurse Jenny Prinsen said. “The electrical part that heats up the liquid, so they’re actually inhaling those metals. And they’re not small levels of metals. It may lead to neurological problems down the road.” There’s more, according to Prinsen. “The thing that I think a lot of kids may not realize is there’s a lot of nicotine in those Juuls,” she said.

KEYC MankatoMayo Clinic Health System Donates $25,000 to Lakeview Methodist in Fairmont — Two years ago, the governing board of Lakeview Methodist Health Services decided to remodel its facility. Due to the closure of Mayo Clinic - Fairmont's nursing home and the closure of a childcare center in town, Lakeview Methodist took in those patients and children as part of their services. It was later decided that a new facility rather than a remodel would make more sense to compensate for the increased amount of patients. Now, Mayo is returning the generosity with a $25,000 donation toward building a brand new facility which is expected to usher in an improved quality of care.

KEYC MankatoAudio-Centered Toys and Their Effect on Young Children by Temi Adeleye — Mayo Clinic Health System Audiologist Dr. Katie Kendhammer stooped by KEYC News 12 on Monday to discuss the effect audio-centric toys have on young children. Kendhammer also gives tips for parents looking to buy toys and tech that could alter the hearing of their children.

Mankato Free Press, Report: Patient costs vary clinic to clinic by Brian Arola — Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato’s risk-adjusted cost of care came in at $611. Its inpatient admissions were right around what was expected, but emergency room usage was higher than the projected figure. Cost differences in the report were evident between Mayo in Mankato and other south-central Minnesota clinics in the health system. Mayo Clinic Health System in Waseca had the highest risk-adjusted cost of care in the region at $674 per patient per month. St. James and New Prague were less expensive. The latter’s $571 cost of care figure shows how big of a range can exist between even nearby facilities. “Mayo Clinic Health System continues to take significant steps to manage cost of care, including improving access by connecting patients with the right level of care, when and where they need it, and reducing costs with careful management of resources and by identifying the best person on the care team to serve the patient’s needs,” the health system commented in a statement.

Waseca County News, Mayo donates $1,000 to Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center by Dana Melius — Mayo Clinic Health Systems donated $1,000 to the Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center to help improve access to healthy foods.

Fairmont Sentinel, Mayo gives Lakeview $25K by Brooke Wohlrabe — Mayo Clinic Health System-Fairmont has granted $25,000 to Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont to support its capital campaign. “This was collaborative and agreed upon by several Mayo leaders, including our regional leadership team out of southwest Minnesota,” said Mayo-Fairmont administrator Amy Long. Lakeview administrator Deb Barnes shared more about the big project at Lakeview. “We are in the middle of a capital campaign to build a new skilled care center and this $25,000 will go a long way to help us achieve that goal,” she said. “We are going throughout the community asking for donations and support.”

Albert Lea Tribune, Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea makes donation — Mayo Clinic Health System employees in Albert Lea and Austin volunteered last week to ring bells to help raise funds for the Salvation Army red kettle campaign. According to a press release, the employees rang bells for a total of 20 hours at Hy-Vee in Albert Lea and Shopko in Austin. Mayo Clinic Health System pledged to match donations collected up to $1,000. “In honor of our staff who volunteered their time and the many who showed their support for the much needed services provided by The Salvation Army,” said Associate Administrator at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin Kris Johnson. “Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin is happy to contribute the full $1,000 match to the Red Kettle Campaign this year.”

New York Post, Woman warns how her heart attack symptoms were different than men’s by Madeline Farber — Symptoms of a heart attack can differ between sexes and, according to the Mayo Clinic, women are “more likely than men to have heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain,” which is a common sign of a heart attack. Neck, jaw, shoulder and upper back pain can be a sign of a heart attack in women, as can abdominal discomfort, the Mayo Clinic says. Shortness of breath, pain in one or both arms, nausea or vomiting, sweating and “unusual” or extreme fatigue are additional signs.

WebMD, Aromatherapy: Can You Smell Relief? by Sonya Collins — Aromatherapy is believed to date back more than 3,500 years to ancient Egypt. The practices use fragrant essential oils, which are pure plant extracts, to remedy numerous ailments. Different oils are recommended for different symptoms. “If they’re very anxious and just can’t relax, we would give them lavender. If it’s nausea, it would be ginger or spearmint,” says Nancy Rodgers, a certified aromatherapist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN… At Mayo, patients get a few drops of the prescribed essential oil on a cotton ball sealed in a zip-top bag. “They just waft it under their nose for about 3 to 5 minutes, then put it away and try it again in about a half-hour,” says Rodgers. “Otherwise they become desensitized to the scent and think it’s not working.”

Sleep Review, How Does Cataplexy Change Over Time by Lisa Spear — Since cataplexy is triggered by strong emotions, some patients can be taught how to block out their feelings through meditation techniques or by avoiding triggers, says Lois E. Krahn, MD, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic. So while it may appear like their symptoms are improving with age, they might just be learning to cope better with time…The loss of muscle tone in cataplexy looks similar to the paralysis that happens during normal rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, so it’s thought that cataplexy could be caused by REM cropping up during the day when the patient is awake. “Cataplexy is probably a fragment of REM sleep that is showing up where it doesn’t belong during the day,” says Krahn.

Neurology Live, Biology of Migraine — Physicians discuss the role of heredity and genetic mutations in patients with chronic migraine, who predominantly report a family history of the disease. Panel includes Dr. David Dodick, professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Scottsdale.

Express UK, Best supplements for the heart - the 3p a day capsules to avoid ‘sudden cardiac death’ by Matt Atherton — Coronary heart disease is one of the major causes of death in the UK, and around the world. But omega-3 supplements could help to prevent high blood pressure, heart failure, and blood clots, according to the Mayo Clinic. They work by reducing inflammation throughout the body, which left untreated, can damage blood vessels, it said. “Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of unsaturated fatty acid that may reduce inflammation throughout the body,” said the Mayo Clinic.

SELF, So Your Doctor Says You Have Dry Eye? Here Are 8 Treatment Options to Know by Korin Miller — Prescription treatments can target different causes of dry eye. For example, if you’re dealing with eyelid inflammation that’s keeping those Meibomian glands from secreting oil into your tears, your doctor may recommend that you take antibiotics, according to the Mayo Clinic. Or, if your eyes aren’t making enough tears overall, drugs called cholinergics can help increase tear production through pills, gels, or eyedrops, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Becker’s Hospital Review, Financial updates from Banner, Kaiser, Mayo + 3 other health systems by Ayla Ellison — Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic ended the first nine months of 2018 with revenue of $9.5 billion, compared to $8.8 billion in the same period of 2017. The system reported operating income of $601 million in the nine months ended Sept. 30, up 32 percent from the same period of 2017.

Futurism, Scientists Have Found a Way to Reverse the Signs of Aging by June Javelosa — As we get older our cells lose their ability to generate energy effectively, which leads to the physical changes we associate with aging. Research led by Sreekumaran Nair at the Mayo Clinic reveals that high intensity interval training (HIIT) can help reverse those effects. The study included volunteers from two age groups, one between 18 and 30, and the other between 65 to 80. These groups were then divided into three: one received HIIT, another received weight training, and the third group was given a combination of both. All volunteers had to engage in the regimen for three months, and muscle biopsies were taken before and after for comparison… “After three months of interval training, everything converged towards what we saw in young people,” says Nair.

Healthline, Thin or Thick Sole: What’s the Best Type of Shoe for Running? — …Should you be concerned if you just went shopping for cushioned running shoes? Michael J. Joyner, a physiologist and anesthesiologist at Mayo Clinic, says “not so fast.” He explained that every so often, studies like this will emerge looking at whether or not one type of shoe could lead to more injuries than another when running. Joyner said that, from his experience, there is “no concrete evidence that one type of shoe over another reduces chance of injury.”  “This kind of debate goes in and out. I remember the old Nike LDVs, which make the current maximum-size shoes look like Boy Scouts. They were like moon boots in the ’70s and early ’80s,” Joyner told Healthline. “This kind of thing is more about what is in and out of fashion, and there isn’t much evidence out there. My best advice for someone looking for running shoes would be to actually go and try some shoes on and find what is most comfortable for them.”

Health Leaders, Employer Health System Networks to Become More Exclusive by Bruce Japsen — Walmart won't disclose exactly how many of the procedures and surgeries are being taken from community hospitals and sent to Walmart's health system partners, but it's clear there are some winners and losers. One winner is Mayo Clinic, which gets about 80 to 100 transplant patients a year from Walmart employees at Mayo locations in Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; and Phoenix, Mayo executives say. Mayo has had a relationship with Walmart to do transplant procedures of the retailer's workers for more than 20 years. But in the last two years, the relationship has expanded from transplants and cancer care to hips, knees, and spine surgeries. "They trust us to get the diagnosis right," Dr. Charles Rosen, medical director of Mayo's contracting and payer relations group. "That value of getting that diagnosis right is incredibly high."

Alzforum, Autopsy Study Confirms Flortaucipir PET Lights Up Tau Pathology — “This is a brilliant study that shows us just how well flortaucipir PET matches neuropathologically mapped tau,” wrote Val Lowe, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, to Alzforum…The new study suggests that the total PET signal results from binding to both tangles and neuropil threads (Braak and Braak, 1995). However, a precise distinction between detection of neuropil threads and tangles by flortaucipir in vivo is hard to make with the techniques at hand, Lowe wrote. To nail that down, researchers should compare the PET signal in regions with predominantly neuritic or somal pathology, but that is difficult given that such areas are small and fall below the spatial resolution of PET.

MedPage Today, Clinical Challenges: Managing DLBCL After Richter's Transformation by Ian Ingram — While diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) occurs in the vast majority of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients who develop Richter's transformation, the treatment approach depends on a number of factors, but in most cases there exists no standard of care and outcomes are poor, even in the era of novel agents. "The evidence to support use of one therapy vs the other is not very strong at all, especially for the clonal-related Richter's, and I believe the majority are clonal related," said Wei Ding, MD, PhD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, during a presentation at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting.

Medscape, Choosing Wisely Champions Cut Blood RBC Transfusions, HIT testing by Roxanne Nelson — Prakash Vishnu, MD, of the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, described his work on reducing inappropriate blood transfusions. For the larger Choosing Wisely initiative, the American Association of Blood Banks has stated that decisions regarding transfusions should be influenced by symptoms and hemoglobin concentration, he explained. Single-unit red cell transfusions, Vishnu emphasized, should be the standard for nonbleeding, hospitalized patients, and additional units should only be prescribed after reassessment of the patient and his or her hemoglobin value. However, he pointed out that "the use of single-unit [transfusions] is not well established or used in some subsets of hospitalized patients, such as those undergoing transplant or chemotherapy, or those with hematologic malignances who do have significant anemia."

HealioVIDEO: Physicians must be aware of hepatobiliary manifestations in IBD — In this exclusive video perspective from Advances in IBD 2018, Edward V. Loftus Jr., MD, professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and chief medical editor of Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, discusses his presentation on hepatobiliary manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease. “This would include generic things like fatty liver, cholelithiasis,” he said. “We know that these occur more commonly in IBD patients, and specifically with cholelithiasis, in Crohn’s disease patients.”

MD Magazine, Predicting C Difficile with 5 Key Factors by Rachel Lutz — Five key risk factors can be used to predict the patients most susceptible to Clostridium difficile (C difficile) infection, according to recent findings. Investigators from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, examined the altered microbial community (known as dysbiosis) in C difficile patients and mice models in order to determine the risk factors for infection onset. The study authors noted that while some C difficile patients displayed dysbiosis, that is not the case for all C difficile patients. To further evaluate dysbiotic conditions, mice models were used in similar research projects. Using germ-free mice is another alternative, which researchers believe can more faithfully replicate the structure and function of human gut microbial communities.

MD LinxMigraines can cause altered speech by Liz Meszaros — Almost 50% of patients with migraines experienced changes in speech during attacks, most commonly comprised of slowed speaking and decreases in the precision of articulation, according to results from a study in Cephalalgia. “Difficulties with speech and language have been documented during the aura phase of migraine. Although changes in speech during other phases of the migraine attack are reported by patients, objectively measured changes in speech associated with migraine have been inadequately investigated during the non-aura phases of the migraine attack,” noted researchers led by Todd J. Schwedt, MD, neurologist, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ.

Becker’s Hospital Review, 25 largest gifts to healthcare organizations in 2018 by Alia Paavola — Here are the top 25 gifts and pledges to hospitals or healthcare organizations to date in 2018. The Chronicle of Philanthropy maintains a database of gifts of $1 million or more made by individuals to various charitable institutions. This list includes gifts under "health" and "medical research" by The Chronicle of Philanthropy and those reported by Becker's Hospital Review. Please note that many of the gifts are of equal value. $200 million to Mayo Clinic School of Medicine (Rochester, Minn.) Donor: Jay Alix, founder of AlixPartners, a global consulting firm best known for its work in the turnarounds. Details: The donation will help expand scholarship opportunities and establish a professorship and further innovation in the school's curriculum.

Refinery 29, Why Your Ponytail Sometimes Gives You A Headache by Cory Stieg — A "ponytail headache" might sound dramatic, but it is technically a thing. Some people with migraines also experience something called "allodynia" during an attack, which is pain or discomfort to a stimulus that's normally not painful, says David Dodick, MD, neurologist at Mayo Clinic and chair of the American Migraine Foundation. "With migraine, people may experience allodynia over the head," he says. Any light touch, like having glasses on your nose, wearing a hair clip or ponytail, or brushing your hair, may become painful, he says.

WRVO-Radio, What is health? — …Another thing you may have had to endure in grade school was the state physical fitness test. You were probably measured on your ability to run a mile, your flexibility, maybe your balance and – or course – your BMI. Body mass index is a measure of obesity that’s been around for a long time (the mid 1800s). While it’s our official measure of obesity, some see problems with using it without any kind of supplemental measurements. Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, division chair of preventive cardiology at the Mayo Clinic is with us to discuss the benefits and limitations of BMI.

Philly Voice, Beat the blues this season: 5 tips for fending off holiday depression by Bailey King — Try out new traditions: The holidays don't have to be perfect or “just like last year.” The Mayo Clinic reminds that “as families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well.” You might want to choose a few traditions to hold on to, and be open to embracing new ones. “For example, if your adult children can't come to your house, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing pictures, emails or videos,” Mayo Clinic explains. Volunteering is a great solo or family tradition to add into the mix this year.

ASCO PostRoberto A. Leon-Ferre, MD, on Decreasing Hot Flashes: Results From an ACCRU Trial — Roberto A. Leon-Ferre, MD, of the Mayo Clinic, discusses study findings on the effectiveness of oxybutynin in decreasing the frequency and severity of hot flashes.

ASCO PostKathryn J. Ruddy, MD, MPH, on Breast Cancer and Quality of Life: Expert Perspective — Kathryn J. Ruddy, MD, MPH, of the Mayo Clinic, summarizes a special spotlight session that included discussion of interventions to improve quality of life and the importance of lifestyle in the prevention of cancer and cancer recurrence.

OncLive, Proton Beam RT in Breast Cancer Provides Benefit, But More Research Required by Brandon Scalea — There are clear advantages to using proton beam radiation instead of standard radiation in certain patients with breast cancer, said Kimberly S. Corbin, MD; however, there is still work to be done before this practice becomes more widespread. As it is more precise, proton therapy would be an optimal approach, said Corbin, who is a radiation oncologist at the Mayo Clinic. Standard radiation can be particularly risky in select patients, she added.

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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