January 25, 2019

Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights for January 25, 2019

By Emily Blahnik

New York Times, Spinal Fractures Can Be Terribly Painful. A Common Treatment Isn’t Helping by Gina Kolata — Scientists warned osteoporosis patients on Thursday to avoid two common procedures used to shore up painful fractures in crumbling spines. The treatments, which involve injecting bone cement into broken vertebrae, relieve pain no better than a placebo does, according to an expert task force convened by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research…Dr. David Kallmes, a radiologist at the Mayo Clinic and one of the first doctors to cast doubt on vertebroplasty, said he understands the appeal. “I have seen miracles with vertebroplasty,” he said. “But the data are the data.” He tries to talk patients out of the treatment, describing the risks, which are small but real, including bleeding, infections, leakage of the cement, and new fractures from the procedures. He explains the lack of benefit. But if a patient insists, he sometimes performs the procedure anyway. “If it’s not done by me, it will get done by Joe down the road,” he said.

Washington Post, JAMA opinion piece slams our addiction to ‘unnecessary’ MRIs, CT scans by Erin Blakemore — When the Food and Drug Administration approved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners in 1984, the machines seemed incredible. They offered an inside view of the human body, making it easier to diagnose disease, injuries and physical abnormalities. Today, they’re part of a multibillion-dollar industry: In 2016, 118 out of every 1,000 Americans got an MRI. The use of CT scans was even higher: 245 per 1,000 people in 2016. But was all of that testing actually necessary? No way, say physicians from the Mayo Clinic and Stanford University. In a viewpoint article in JAMA, they argue that it’s time to put the brakes on unnecessary and wasted diagnostic imaging. Additional coverage: Star Tribune

Washington Post, Women seem to need more cooling during and after exercise by Marlene Cimons — When it comes to men and women, it appears that not all thermal behavior is the same, during exercise or after, in cooling down. Women seem to need more cooling than men, according to a study, which is “the first to highlight sex differences in thermal behavior,” said author Nicole Vargas, a postdoctoral fellow in exercise and nutrition sciences at the University at Buffalo’s school of public health… Edward Laskowski, co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine, who also was not involved in the study, said he found the results surprising. “I would have thought that women would be making themselves warmer instead of cooler — for example, guys always want to lower the air conditioner, and women raise it,” he said. Because the study sample was small, Laskowski said it would be difficult to extrapolate the findings to a larger population. Nevertheless, he said, “it points out some interesting trends, and, as the authors point out, it can provide the foundation for future studies that look at thermal response in disease states, such as multiple sclerosis.”

CNN, Marie Kondo's tidying isn't just about appearances. There's a psychological and spiritual upside, too by Jessica Ravitz — Marie Kondo was likely just out of diapers and making a mess when Regina Leeds got into this work. Organizing was Leeds' "side hustle" starting in January 1988, what she did to get by while hoping to become a full-time actress. People at Los Angeles parties raised their eyebrows or looked confused when Leeds told them what she was doing. But that newfangled business idea became a successful career. Ten books later, including her 2008 New York Times bestseller, "One Year to an Organized Life," Leeds knows as well as anyone the power of decluttering…The tolerance for clutter varies from person to person, said Tompkins. A pile that makes one person's skin crawl can be completely overlooked by another. There's also a continuum when it comes to our propensity for acquiring and holding onto stuff, said Craig Sawchuk, a Mayo Clinic psychologist and co-chair of the Division of Integrated Behavioral Health.

Harvard Business Week, These 4 CEOs Created a New Standard of Leadership by Bill George — Four titans who defined a new era in business during the past decade recently concluded their terms: PepsiCo’s Indra Nooyi, Unilever’s Paul Polman, Mayo Clinic’s John Noseworthy, and US Bancorp’s Richard Davis. When they became CEOs, the Great Recession of 2008 was consuming the world’s attention. Many speculated about the possibility of a new depression, a collapsing stock market, and extreme unemployment. Some observers even began to question the foundations of capitalism, arguing it needed to change in order to endure….The Healer: John Noseworthy. When John Noseworthy became CEO of Mayo Clinic in 2009, the world-famous medical center was struggling financially. Congress would soon be negotiating the terms of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Obama Administration’s signature health care legislation. From the outset, Noseworthy built on the values of the Mayo brothers and Mayo Clinic’s historic mission of putting patients first. He prioritized Mayo’s focus on the most complex diseases patients faced, using its research to develop new treatments for many diseases.

Financial Times, How to stop a lack of diversity undermining clinical trial data by Adam Green — Race and ethnicity affect how patients respond to drugs, but participants in clinical trials are disproportionately white. This diversity gap weakens efficacy and could be undermining outcomes for minorities suffering from diseases including HIV, hypertension and cancer…Narjust Duma, chief haematology and medical oncology fellow at the Mayo Clinic in the US, says it was a patient’s inquiry that stoked her interest in trial populations.“My research interest includes lung cancer among women and minorities and I recall a patient once asked me: ‘All these numbers you are telling me — about survival and response to this treatment — do they refer to African-American patients like me?’ After that, I went home and searched for trials on lung cancer, to encounter that African Americans included in the trials that determine treatments were close to zero”.

Science, To halt brain diseases, drugs take aim at protein traffic jams that kill neurons by Elie Dolgin — Over the past year, several research teams have shown that components of the nuclear transport machinery—including importers, exporters, and parts of the nuclear pore itself—also can get tangled up in those aggregates. The transportation system falters, and as more TDP-43 and other proteins are added to the stress granules, a feedback loop takes hold that grinds the molecular traffic to a halt. "TDP-43 is not just a victim of nucleo-cytoplasmic transport defects," says Wilfried Rossoll, a neuroscientist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. "It's also a perpetrator."

Post-Bulletin, Mayo Clinic developing a new way to 'transform' health care by Jeff Kiger — Mayo Clinic leaders are looking at creating a "platform" to pave the way to transform health care and help extend the clinic's global reach. Talk of developing a new technology platform to advance health care was one of the topics brought up at this week's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This is Mayo Clinic's eighth year at the prestigious event. This year's theme is globalization. Mayo Clinic CEO Dr. Gianrico Farrugia, Chief Administrative Officer Jeff Bolton and Department of Public Affairs Chairman Chris Gade are attending the annual forum with about 2,500 leaders from around the world "to share ideas and shape agendas that are of global interest."

Post-Bulletin, Program taps Rochester’s underused talent by Matthew Stolle — For six years, Mony Long tried and failed to immigrate to the U.S. Every time her application for a visa through a green card lottery was rejected, Long simply applied again. And again. And again. And again. It wasn’t until her seventh year and 14th try that Long’s dreams were answered. A native of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Long was entranced by stories of America as a place of opportunity, of high-paying jobs... Since then, Long has spent the last three years building up her resume, acquiring the credentials that open doors to employment opportunities. She credits a collaborative program called “Bridges to Healthcare,” a public-private partnership between Hawthorne, Rochester Community and Technical College, Workforce Development, Inc. and Mayo Clinic. Today, Long is a personal care assistant in Mayo Clinic’s rehabilitation unit and is working toward becoming a registered nurse.

Post-Bulletin, App in development could diagnose heart attacks through smartphone by Anne Halliwell — AliveCor, a Silicon Valley startup, wants to help people diagnose heart attacks with their smartphones. An international study involving Mayo Clinic researchers found that a new app by AliveCor is capable of determining whether or not a person is having an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), or heart attack, with nearly the same accuracy as a standard ECG.

KAAL, Major Restoration Project Underway High Above Downtown Rochester — One of the oldest carillons in North America is undergoing a major renovation. In 1928, Rochester's Carillon started ringing atop the Plummer Building at Mayo Clinic. The Rochester Carillon is comprised of 56 bells and is twelfth largest in the United States in the number of bells. The bells are cast in bronze and precisely tuned for harmonious effect by paring the metal surface from inside the bells. On Friday, January 18, ABC 6 News was given a behind-the-scenes look at the Rochester Carillon restoration project. Additional coverage: KTTC, KIMT, Post-Bulletin

KAAL, Rochester Coalition Seeks Funds, Solutions to Affordable Housing Obstacles — Steve Borchardt, with the Rochester Coalition for Affordable Housing, hopes the organization can make a difference for people struggling to afford housing. "We've learned that if a family has an income of roughly less than $65,000 a year, they are going to have a difficult time finding a place to purchase," hesaid. "If they have an income of less than $50,000 a year, it's going to be difficult to find a place to rent." The coalition hopes to raise $6 million to put toward affordable housing. They've raised $4.6 million so far; $4 million from Mayo Clinic. The money will be distributed to projects in the city aimed at helping both renters and homeowners.

KIMT, Essential Oils being used at Mayo Clinic by Jon Bendickson —Those at Mayo Clinic say the oils are not only safe but are commonly used at the major medical facility.

KROC-Radio, Another successful Rochester Eagles Cancer Telethon by Andy Brownell — The 2019 Rochester Eagles Cancer Telethon was a big success. When the 20-hour long marathon broadcast from the Mayo Civic Center ended at 4 PM Sunday, the donation and pledge total was above $1 million. That’s almost $100,000 above the preliminary total reported at the end of the 2018 effort. Dozens of musicians, singers, dancers, and people with other talents volunteered to perform, while dozens of others volunteered their time and services to raise money to fund cancer research at the Mayo Clinic, Hormel Institute and the University of Minnesota. The theme this year was "Together We Can Make a Difference."

Star Tribune, Rochester airport sets record passenger count in 2018 by Matt McKinney — The Rochester airport saw its busiest year ever in 2018 after an expansion, the addition of a third major airline and the launch of a program that encourages local business travelers to use the airport rather than drive 90 minutes to the larger Twin Cities terminals. The airport’s total passenger count, at 366,542 people flying in and out, surpassed the previous record of 344,556 set in 1977 and was a 26 percent bump over 2017, the airport reported…The ramp-up follows a general quickening of the Rochester economy in recent years as the Mayo Clinic’s expansion project, known as Destination Medical Center, enters its sixth year. The massive $5.6 billion, 20-year plan promises to grow the Mayo campus and downtown Rochester and add thousands of new employees to the world-renowned hospital. Additional coverage: Post-Bulletin

Star Tribune, University of Minnesota experts to examine weak links in nation's medicine pipeline by Jeremy Olson — A world where Michael Osterholm is right is a dangerous world. And four years ago, during a conference at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, the renowned University of Minnesota infectious disease expert got one right. He warned that the fragility of the world’s pipeline for prescription medicines would be exposed by something as unsurprising as a hurricane steaming through Puerto Rico. “It’s as predictable as could be,” he recalled saying…Now Osterholm and the U’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy are taking key initial steps to identify other potential medication shortage risks, and to suggest ways for the nation to avoid them. The center this week announced a $5.4 million gift from the Walton Family Foundation — the charitable arm of the family behind the Walmart retain chain — to study weak links in the nation’s prescription drug pipeline.

Star Tribune, Amid debate over safety, Abbott Northwestern backs off use of some stents by Joe Carlson — At Mayo Clinic hospitals, doctors who use paclitaxel-coated stents and medical balloons to reopen blocked blood vessels in the legs are making decisions based on each individual case, after considering other factors like how urgently the device is needed and the underlying health conditions of the patient. "I think you just have to keep going the way you are going, but also fully disclose to the patient that there is a paper that says this," Dr. Sanjay Misra, chairman of the research committee at the Mayo Clinic Gonda Vascular Center in Rochester, said Monday. "If the patient says 'no,' then I think the patient has decided. But I think the thing I would add is to explain that this is one paper that looked at all the trials that were available at that moment in time." Misra said Mayo Clinic staff are in the process of bringing together stakeholders involved in the care of patients with peripheral artery disease to discuss what to do in the use of these devices.

Florida Times-Union, What’s the deal with alkaline water? by Melissa Erickson — Various studies dispute the health claims of alkaline water, and health professionals say more research is needed. The Mayo Clinic reports that for most people regular water is best, although a 2012 study found that alkaline water may have therapeutic benefits for people with acid reflux. A study from China found that people with elevated blood pressure and blood sugar levels who drank alkaline water for three to six months reduced these measurements.

WKBT La Crosse, Cold temps bring frostbite threat this week — Frost bite is going to be a real threat this week as temperatures stay below zero.

Chippewa Herald, How to combat the opioid epidemic: Chippewa Valley providers collaborate to fight deadly scourge by Katie McKy — Mayo Clinic is the top-ranked hospital in the United States and also has the most top rankings in specialties, too, giving it unmatched internal resources. Paul Horvath, M.D., chair of Urgent Care said, “We work with experts throughout the Mayo Clinic enterprise.” However, one way you become number one is tapping every possible source. “We have worked with the Wisconsin Medical Society to encourage education of prescribers. We will continue to collaborate with the state of Wisconsin to develop evidence-based practice guidelines to help prescribers treat pain effectively,” Horvath said. Mayo also collaborates with area academia.

Chippewa Herald, Saving money, saving time and saving lives: Chippewa Valley healthcare providers increase efficiency by proactive interventions by Katie McKy — Mayo Clinic Health System maximizes efficiency through standardization, but standardization also increases patient care. Richard Helmers, M.D., regional vice president, Mayo Clinic Health System, northwest Wisconsin, said: “Our decisions are always patient-focused. For example, Mayo recently converted all sites to one electronic medical record system. This required staff at all sites to learn new processes, but the end result is clearly best for all Mayo patients.” Putting the right provider in front of a patient also improves quality of care and efficiency. “Through the Mayo model of community care, team-based care is maximized so patients are seen by the right provider at the right time to minimize hospitalizations and reduce complications of chronic illness,” he said.

Chippewa Herald, Courting healthcare professionals: Multiple organizations team up to bring best, brightest to Chippewa Valley by Katie McKy — Recruiting can even be a challenge for the nation’s top-ranked hospital system. Richard Helmers, M.D., regional vice president, Mayo Clinic Health System, northwest Wisconsin, said, “The competition for the best health care providers and scientists has never been greater throughout the country, so we continue to make recruitment of top talent one of our highest priorities.” What’s proximate to Mayo Clinic Health System is appealing to millennials, which facilities recruiting. “I think millennials like the exciting growth in downtown Eau Claire, the atmosphere created by the university, and the proximity to major metropolitan areas while still being able to live in a moderate-sized community.”

WQOW Eau Claire, ‘Stop The Bleed’ training prepares school staff for emergencies — In an emergency, you might not always know what to do, but Monday, staff at Regis Schools learned more to help their students before paramedics respond. Regis staff became part of the “Stop The Bleed” campaign, a national call-to-action, encouraging bystanders to learn how to help in an emergency. “Think of it as, like CPR. We want to have these skills be given to anybody because accidents happen anytime, no matter where,” said Jill Albright, a trauma nurse with Mayo Clinic Health System. “Just being able to recognize life-threatening bleeding and being able to know what to do before our emergency response gets there, are key things.” They also hope “Stop The Bleed” kits would become more prevalent. They would contain gauze, tourniquets and other first aid supplies.

Spectrum News 1, La Crosse facility first Mayo Clinic to utilize facility dog by Jeff Dahdah — More than 60,000 people work for Mayo Clinics across the country, but the La Crosse facility has one position that none of the other hospitals or clinics have. A facility dog named Luna started back in November. She trained for two years for the job. “I have learned that I really cannot take for granted the power that she brings and what she brings to people's healing,” said Lisa Morgan, an Occupational Therapy Supervisor with the Mayo Clinic and Luna's handler.

La Crosse Tribune, La Crosse teen Drew Coleman battling Ewing sarcoma for second time in two years; Avalanche Hockey Team rallying behind him by Emily Pyrek — …After 14 rounds of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation on his arm, the Colemans were distressed to learn the cancer had spread to Drew’s lungs. Several months of treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester followed, with Drew approved to be part of a clinical trial for a new drug. Members of the Logan, Central and Aquinas High School volleyball teams banded together to raise around $5,000 for the family with a fundraiser game in Sept. 2016, and classmates and parents offered up help in any way they could.

La Crosse Tribune, Experts advise La Crosse group in fight against opioid epidemic by Mike Tighe —The urgency stems from statistics showing that drug-related hospital admissions to Gundersen Health System and Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare combined have risen from 1,250 in 2013 to 4,000 in 2017 — the most recent date for which data are available. About 1,000 of those cases resulted from opioids, and, although overdoses have occurred throughout the county, there are pockets where they have been more prevalent, notably the North Side and downtown.

Red Wing Republican Eagle, Coffee, if you need it: A brief look at the national and local love of coffee by Rachel Fergus — While coffee might have positive impacts on health, there are some unwanted side effects of the beverage. The Mayo Clinic says that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day should be safe for the majority of adults. This means that, according to the caffeine index in the Harvard article, one 16 oz. coffee from Starbucks is fine and up to three, 8 oz. cups of coffee brewed at home is safe for most adults to drink. However, drinking two cups of coffee from Starbucks or four cups of home brewed coffee goes beyond the 400 milligram threshold. Some adults (especially, it seems, college students) can drink more than that amount and feel fine. However, according to Mayo, the body often informs the coffee-drinker if they need to cut-down through a variety of side effects such as: migraines, the inability to sleep, being nervous or restless, stomach pain or an upset stomach and a fast heartbeat.

KEYC Mankato, Frostbite and Hypothermia Cause Concern in Subzero Weather by Alex Tejada — Winter weather in Minnesota can be a lot of fun. However, cold exposure can cause health problems. "We really want people to get out there and enjoy the weather but when it starts to get really bitter cold like we are looking at in the next few days, that's the time to take those extra precautions." said family medicine physician Jennifer Johnson, "Break up that time outside if you can to minimize that risk."

Fergus Falls Daily Journal, A spoonful of sugar is definitely not allowed by Emily Carlson — At the start of the new year, my family and I decided to start the Mayo Clinic Diet. Hoping to start the new year off focusing on our health and nutrition, we wanted to choose a program that primarily looked at creating healthy eating habits. We are now almost done with the first two weeks of the program and so far, things are looking and feeling good.

US News & World Report, What to Do About Yeast Infections by Michael O. Schroeder — To diagnose a yeast infection, your doctor may ask you questions related to your medical history, perform a pelvic exam and test vaginal discharge, Mayo Clinic notes: “Your doctor may send a sample of vaginal fluid for testing to determine the type of fungus causing the yeast infection. Identifying the fungus can help your doctor prescribe more effective treatment for recurrent yeast infections.”

MSN, Early signs of Alzheimer’s disease by Philippe Michaud — According to the Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease that destroys brain cells, called neurons. It was first described in 1906 by a German doctor named Alois Alzheimer. Alzheimer’s, an illness that mostly affects older people, continues to gain ground. The Alzheimer Society of Canada reports that over 700,000 Canadians are afflicted with the disease. This number is expected to double to 1.4 million by 2031. While a cure for this form of dementia has not yet been found, being aware of certain early signs is important. Several treatments, developed to mitigate these symptoms, are more likely to work if the disease is diagnosed early.

Sports Illustrated, Will Latest Case of Laser Pointer Usage Finally Cause NFL to Take Action? by Michael McCann — …Laser pointers can severely damage a person’s vision and such damage can occur almost instantly. The Mayo Clinic notes that “laser pointers, especially those with short wave lengths such as green laser pointers, can permanently damage the retina and cause visual loss with exposures as short as a few seconds.” Whether a laser pointer impairs a quarterback’s ability to accurately throw a football is a secondary concern to whether the pointer might temporarily, or even permanently, blind the quarterback. The fact that certain types of green-beam laser pointers are flagged by the Mayo Clinic as particularly harmful should concern the NFL: the beam on Brady was green.

Reader’s Digest, 20 Natural Headache Remedies You Can Find in Your Kitchen by Taylor Shea — So many things can make your head ache. Deadlines. Arguments. Irksome bosses. Traffic jams. Even good things can give you a pain in the head—on the Mayo Clinic Web site, “ice cream headaches” has its own category (many of us know it as “brain freeze”). Generally speaking, headaches are your body’s response to physical or emotional stress. That stress can make the muscles in your head and neck contract to create tension headaches. Or it can make blood vessels constrict and later expand to produce migraines or vascular headaches.

Bustle, 11 Things You Do Every Day That Count As Exercise, According To Trainers by Mika Doyle — The Department of Health and Human Services recently updated their guidelines and no longer recommend you need to get 10 minutes of physical activity at a time, Bradly Prigge, wellness exercise specialist for Mayo Clinic, tells Bustle. Prigge says these new guidelines mean that "even small chunks of activity are beneficial, like taking the stairs, walking over to a colleagues desk rather than sending an email, or taking a five-minute stretch break every hour." Prigge tells Bustle the important thing is to focus on what provides you energy and what makes you feel better. Additional coverage: Ten Daily

Medtech Dive, Mayo, Arizona State team up to found medtech startup accelerator by Nick Paul Taylor — Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University think their six-month accelerator can open up investment opportunities for medtech startups. The program is open to early-stage medical device startups that have raised at least $500,000 in seed capital. Companies that meet the criteria and are selected to participate will pay $50,000 and embark on a six-month program that starts with two weeks on Mayo Clinic’s campus in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over the course of the accelerator program, most of which takes place remotely, startups will be given access to investors, Mayo Clinic physicians and other people who can potentially help to finance, refine and validate their technologies.

MedPage Today, Blood Test May Predict Alzheimer’s Progression by Judy George — "These results suggest that in the context of Alzheimer's disease pathology -- currently measured by CSF amyloid or amyloid PET, but potentially in the future by blood amyloid -- serum NfL could prognosticate the rate of disease progression and potentially be utilized in clinical trials as a surrogate endpoint," observed Michelle Mielke, PhD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, who was not involved in the research. "The authors correctly point out that additional studies are needed over the clinical and pathological course of sporadic Alzheimer's patients, especially because sporadic Alzheimer's patients are older and are more likely to have co-existent vascular and other brain pathology which can also impact serum NfL levels," Mielke told MedPage Today.

MedPage Today, Keytruda Extends OS in Advanced Esophageal Cancer — "The efficacy and toxicity results in the [CPS ≥10] group are impressive," said the discussant for the study, Harry H. Yoon, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. "How should we translate these findings to the clinic?" he asked. "For the patient in front of me, I currently order PD-L1 and HER2 at first metastatic diagnosis in gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas. I think it is reasonable to consider a practice change." "That means ordering PD-L1 at first metastatic diagnosis in squamous carcinoma [of the esophagus] patients," he added. "And pathology labs will also need to record a more detailed PD-L1 CPS score, if they don't already." Yoon noted that 80-90% of patients have primary resistance to PD-1/-L1 monotherapy, and going forward, "our biggest need is to increase response rates in the vast majority of patients who don't respond to PD-1 monotherapy."

Healio, Pregabalin effective for treating pain, bloating, diarrhea in IBS — Pregabalin — a calcium channel alpha 2 delta ligand — helped treat visceral hypersensitivity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and reduced symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea, according to research published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Yuri A. Saito, MD, of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues wrote that visceral hypersensitivity is a common symptom of IBS and can be treated with several therapies. However, these treatments do not work for all patients. “Data on pregabalin’s effects on visceral pain and IBS are limited but suggest the drug does reduce gut visceral hypersensitivity,” they wrote. “Because of its known effects on pain, we postulated that pregabalin would decrease bowel symptoms — particularly IBSrelated abdominal pain or discomfort.” Additional coverage: Medscape

Medical Daily, 5 Foods You Should Never Eat Raw by Sadhana Bharanidharan — Pork: Thanks to better pork production laws, the risks associated with undercooked pork have reduced in recent years. Nevertheless, it is possible to find parasites like Trichinella spiralis. If transmitted, the person may experience illness and various side effects ranging in severity. "The most common symptoms include fever, abdominal pain [and] nausea. And, in later stages of infection, it can cause myalgia, swelling of the face or around the eyes, as well," said Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a Mayo Clinic pediatric infectious diseases specialist.

Medical Daily, Cold Prevention Methods: What Works And What Doesn't by Sadhana Bharanidharan — Our exposure to cold viruses is the only thing that leads to an infection, Dr. Pritish Tosh, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases physician told HuffPost. "That’s what you need to get infected. Going out with wet hair is not going to cause an infection." Another one we often hear is about is vitamin C supposedly preventing colds by boosting your immune system. But this only seems to be the case for people under intense physical stress (marathon runners, skiers, soldiers, etc.) in extremely cold weather conditions.

Cincinnati Business Courier, Workplace design impacts employee well-being and creativity — Recently, The Mayo Clinic wanted to find out if different work environments really would affect the productivity of employees. They built a “Well Living Lab” where they could control lighting, temperatures, background noise, etc., and compared the productivity of employees in different environments. They learned that the ideal office space for productivity consists of eight zones…

Clinical Oncology News, Microsatellite Instability Common In Interval Colorectal Cancers — The results come from a population-based study of all Utah residents diagnosed with CRC over a 14-year period. The researchers reported the findings at the 2018 Digestive Disease Week (abstract 729). “The signal for microsatellite instability [MSI] was very strong and is consistent with other studies. I think there are unique biological differences, and MSI-H [MSI-high] status clearly stands out,” said N. Jewel Samadder, MD, of Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., who led the research. “MSI, even in sporadic cancers, may suggest there’s quicker development of tumors.”

Neurology Live, For Patients With Migraine, Are CGRP Inhibitors Worth the Cost? by Matt Hoffman — Some experts have expressed some disagreement with the focus on the CGRP inhibitors’ therapeutic gains—a point in the ICER analysis. David Dodick, MD, the director of the headache and concussion programs at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, noted in a NeurologyLive Peer Exchange program that therapeutic gain is “meaningless in clinical practice,” and that the focus should be on magnitude of response. “Inevitably, what happens is you not only mirror that magnitude of response, but you’re better than it,” he explained. “The reason is you’ve taken placebo off the table. So, the patient’s not wondering, ‘Do I have a 50-50 chance of getting a placebo.’ And number 2, you’re doing more things for the patient. You’re not just writing a prescription, right? I think actually we do better in clinical practice than the results we get in clinical trials. My advice to clinicians is to use the magnitude of the response when you determine clinical benefit and not look at 1.8 or 2.2 or 2.4 days and the difference.”

Nature World News, Paralyzed patients get the chance to walk again with new breakthrough by Naia Carlos — According to Mayo Clinic, 29-year-old Jered Chinnock was paralyzed after damaging his spinal cord in a snowmobile accident in 2013. Due to his injuries, he became unable to move or feel anything below the middle of his torso. In 2016, Chinnock participated in the study that has now been newly published in the journal Nature Medicine. He had an electrode implanted in his spine and then underwent 22 weeks of physical therapy. The long, arduous process paid off, as the paralysis patient was able to walk again with the help of a front-wheeled walker and occasional assistance from trainers. It took 113 rehabilitation visits in a single year, but the study notes that Chinnock was able to travel a total distance of 111 yards or the equivalent of a football field. "What this is teaching us is that those networks of neurons below a spinal cord injury still can function after paralysis," Kendall Lee, M.D., Ph.D., co-principal investigator, neurosurgeon, and director of Mayo Clinic's Neural Engineering Laboratories, says in a statement. Additional coverage: Singularity Hub

Specialty Pharmacy Times, Study Identifies Biomarkers to Stratify Patients for Prostate Cancer Treatment by Jennifer Barrett — A new study has identified biological markers that may distinguish between low-risk and intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer, ultimately helping to guide treatment decisions, according to the Mayo Clinic. The study, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, determined that genetic alterations associated with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer may also be present in some cases of low-risk prostate cancers…“We have discovered new molecular markers that can help guide men in their decisions about the course of their prostate cancer care,” lead study author George Vasmatzis, PhD, co-director of the Center for Individualized Medicine Biomarker Discovery Program, said in a press release. “Overtreatment has been an issue for the group of men that our study targets. We found that the presence of genetic alterations in low-risk cancer can help men decide whether treatment or active surveillance is right for them.”

Global News, C.-made technology changing how we look at concussions — British Columbian researchers have partnered with the Mayo Clinic to study brain injuries in hockey players. As Linda Aylesworth reports their research may impact the way concussions are treated in the future.

America TV, Samir Mardini: el cirujano de los exitosos trasplantes de rostro está en Perú — El doctor estadounidense Samir Mardini llegó a nuestro país para operar a niños con labio leporino en el Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño.

Las Ultimas Noticias, Quiere vivir mas? SIga la dieta del 80% — Dr. Hensrud is interviewed.

El Comercio, Conoce al cirujano que realizó con éxito un trasplante de rostro — “Superó todas mis expectativas”. Andy Sandness todavía no podía hablar, así que escribió esas palabras tras ver en un espejo su nuevo rostro. Por unos 11 años este joven estadounidense vivió con una severa deformidad facial a causa de un disparo en la cara, con el que intentó quitarse la vida. Sin embargo, en el 2016, Samir Mardini, cirujano plástico de la Clínica Mayo (EE.UU.), y un equipo de más de 40 expertos, le dieron una nueva oportunidad a través de un trasplante facial. Actualmente, Mardini se encuentra en el Perú como parte de un proyecto colaborativo con el Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño de San Borja para tratar a menores con labio leporino y paladar hendido.

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Tags: affordable housing, AliveCor, alkaline water, alzheimer's disease, biomarkers, Bradly Prigge, brain disease, carillon, Center for Individualized Medicine, Chippewa Valley, colds, Colorectal Cancer, CT scan, Davos, destination medical center, Diversity, DMC, Dr. Craig Sawchuk, Dr. David Dodick, Dr. David Kallmes, Dr. Edward Laskowski, Dr. George Vasmatzis, Dr. Gianrico Farrugia, Dr. Harry Yoon, Dr. Jennifer Johnson, Dr. John Noseworthy, Dr. Kendall Lee, Dr. Michael Osterholm, Dr. Michelle Mielke, Dr. N. Jewel Samadder, Dr. Narjust Duma, Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, Dr. Paul Horvath, Dr. Pritish Tosh, Dr. Richard Helmers, Dr. Sanjay Misra, Dr. Wilfried Rossoll, Dr. Yuri A. Saito, Eagles Cancer telethon, Essential Oils, exercise, eye floaters, headache, IBS, Jered Chinnock, Jill Albright, Keytruda, laser pointer, Marie Kondo, Mayo Clinic Diet, migraine, MRI, Nutrition, opioids, organizing, paralysis, spinal fractures, Stop the Bleed, therapy dog, Uncategorized, WELL Living Lab, Women's Health, yeast infection

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