March 1, 2019

Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights for March 1, 2019

By Emily Blahnik

CNN, Tech platforms, stop enabling the anti-vaxers by Megan Garcia — Anti-vaccine groups with subtle names like The National Vaccine Information Center and less subtle names like Rage Against Vaccines have, for decades, used debunked research to fuel parents' fears of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, generating a surge in unvaccinated children in the United States… The Guardian unleashed a furor of activity around vaccines with an investigation into how anti-vaxer content is ranked and spread online. The Guardian found that neutral searches of the word "vaccine" by a new user with no friends or likes yielded overwhelmingly anti-vaccine content, unsupported by science, on both Facebook and YouTube. The two companies' algorithms steer users toward anti-vax pages and videos, even when users initially consume authoritative medical resources, such as a video uploaded by the Mayo Clinic about the MMR vaccine.

CNN, Cancer patient's treatment leaves radiation contamination in crematory by Susan Scutti — Radioactivity was detected on the oven, vacuum filter and bone crusher of an Arizona crematory where a deceased man who'd received radiation therapy was incinerated, according to a new case report. Worse still, a radioactive compound unrelated to the dead man was detected in the urine of an employee there. "It is plausible that the crematory operator was exposed while cremating other human remains," Dr. Nathan Yu of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and his co-authors wrote in the case report, published Tuesday in JAMA. Additional coverage: Verge, BuzzFeed, HealthDay, Daily Mail, Yahoo!, WeeklyWall

New York Times, Pinterest Restricts Vaccine Search Results to Curb Spread of Misinformation by Christina Caron — Pinterest, a digital platform popular with parents, took an unusual step to crack down on the proliferation of anti-vaccination propaganda: It purposefully hobbled its search box.… The World Health Organization identified “vaccine hesitancy” as one of this year’s 10 notable threats to global health. “I think this is stunning,” said Dr. Gregory A. Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group in Rochester, Minn. “It shows the magnitude of the problem.”

Washington Post, Sorry, ER patients. People with elective procedures get the hospital beds first. by Richard Klasco — In a medical emergency, you may have a surprisingly difficult time finding a bed in a hospital. This is because elective admissions — that is, patients whose hospital stays have been scheduled in advance — take priority over emergencies. … An alternative is to increase efficiency by a process known as “smoothing.” Smoothing reorients schedules to distribute surgical cases uniformly across the workweek, mitigating the bottleneck to emergency admissions. At the Mayo Clinic, smoothing resulted in “improvement in operating room operational and financial performance.” At Massachusetts General Hospital, which performs more than 36,000 operations a year, smoothing decreased congestion and improved effective operating room capacity.

AMA, New survey shows decline in physician burnout by Sara Berg — For the first time since 2011, the physician burnout rate has dropped below 50 percent among doctors in the U.S., according to a new triennial study. However, while the decrease in the physician burnout rate might suggest that health systems are on the right track, more work still needs to be done… Published in Mayo Clinical Proceedings,… “The tide has not yet turned on the physician burnout crisis,” said AMA President Barbara L. McAneny, MD…Additional coverage: Becker’s Hospital Review, U.S. News & World ReportBecker’s ASC Review, MedscapeUPIHealth LeadersHealio

JAMA, Addressing Medicine’s Bias Against Patients Who Are Overweight by Rita Rubin — While a number of studies have suggested that many health care professionals are biased against patients with obesity, evidence about how that bias plays out in terms of patient care and outcomes “is pretty preliminary,” said Mayo Clinic researcher Sean Phelan, PhD, who focuses on the effects of health care professionals’ attitudes toward patients with obesity. Phelan was a coauthor of the 2015 review article. “There is some evidence showing that physicians tend to spend less time in appointments with patients at a higher body weight,” Puhl said. “Primary care providers have also reported less respect for patients with obesity than those without.”

Advisory Board, Why Mayo, Weill Cornell, and other medical schools want young doctors to talk to healthy seniors — Some of the country's largest medical schools have launched senior mentoring programs that seek to combat ageism in the health care industry and educate future doctors about the generation that makes up a large portion of today's patient population, Paula Span writes for the New York Times… With patients like Levine mind, as many as 20 medical schools in the United States have introduced senior mentoring programs, according to Amit Shah, a geriatrician who helps direct the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine's Senior Sages program.

Forbes, Despite New Research, Scientists Want More Proof That Hyperbaric Oxygen Treats Alzheimer's by Robin Seaton Jefferson — Researchers at two medical schools in the United States are reporting what they say is the first PET scan-documented case of improvement in brain metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease in a patient treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Though they say their results suggest the possibility of a long-term Alzheimer’s treatment, some experts say they still need to see more studies… The Mayo Clinic lists hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a well-established treatment for some conditions, though holds its ground that more research is needed before declaring HBOT a long-term treatment for Alzheimer’s and a host of other diseases. And according to a spokesperson for Mayo, the clinic won’t be changing its position that "the evidence is insufficient to support claims that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can effectively treat" Alzheimer's disease, any time soon.

Post-Bulletin, How SE Minn. offered shelter from the storm by John Molseed — Gil Pettett was within 130 miles of his Cashton, Wis., destination with freight from Hood River, Wash., when state troopers directed him off U.S. Highway 52 Sunday. “I’m still 130 miles away until the road opens,” he said Monday in Mazeppa, where he was waiting out the storm and its aftermath. Dozens of travelers like Petett who were directed off Highway 52 and off of U.S. Highway 63 found themselves between two closed highways and nowhere to go… Some responders in Dodge Center and Kasson had to wait for plows to clear paths for rescuers to get through to their destinations, Maas said. Crews transferred the patient to transport that came from the north. Mayo Clinic faced similar obstacles. Mayo responded to 59 requests for service from the end of Sunday through early Monday evening. In some cases, Mayo teamed with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Rochester Fire Department or city and county plows to clear paths for ambulances.

Post-Bulletin, High school students dip their toe into biomedical research — High school students from 31 Minnesota schools will spend Tuesday meeting with scientists and physicians at Mayo Clinic. The 18th Celebration of Research allows nearly 185 students in their sophomore, junior or senior year of high school to learn about biomedical science and research careers. The theme for 2019 is “Fishing for Cures,” based on the role of zebra fish in researching human genetic conditions.

Post-Bulletin, Refurbished carillon chimes once again by Emily Cutts — After months of silence, the bells of the Rochester Carillon rang out once again on Friday. “It’s the biggest restoration project in the carillon’s 90-year history,” said Matt Dacy, museum director at Mayo Clinic. “This was by far the largest project of the carillon since it was installed and the intention is, if you are going to make that effort, we plan that this will last for decades and generations to come. It is that level of a commitment.” Additional coverage: KIMT

Post-Bulletin, From viral video to the wedding of a Lifetime by Jeff Pieters — Probably the most personal moment in their lives so far — that moment you probably recall, when she, wide-eyed, took her first breaths with her newly transplanted, healthy lungs — was shared more than 100 million times online. Now for the big encore. Tuesday night on live television, Jennifer Jones and Rob Ronnenberg, of Byron, will be married on a nationwide reality show, Lifetime’s “My Great Big Live Wedding with David Tutera.”… Jennifer, 41, and Rob, 39, were contacted by the producers after they had posted a series of internet videos, starting with one in October 2017, showing Jennifer taking her first breaths following lung transplant surgery at Mayo Clinic.

Post-Bulletin, Colon cancer recurrence can't be eliminated, but steps can be taken to reduce risk — DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Are there things that I can do to help prevent a recurrence of colon cancer? The rate of colorectal cancer survival five years after initial diagnosis has been on the rise. But with survival comes a new risk — that of recurrence. Colorectal cancer recurrence within five years after treatment ends is in the range of 7 to 42 percent, depending on the stage of the cancer.

KAAL, Hundreds of Students Take Part in the Annual Gateway Science Fair — It was a sea of Science at Mayo Clinic's Gonda Building Saturday afternoon. Before the storm entered our region, hundreds of families made it out to the 30th Annual Gateway Science Fair. More than two hundred students from 27 schools from across Southeast Minnesota, between 3rd and 6th grades, showed all sorts of science experiments. Additional coverage: FOX 47, KTTC

KAAL, Exhibit Reveals Rochester's Racial History — The Olmsted County History Center is giving people a new way to celebrate Black History month by showing what life was like for people of color in Rochester in the 40s, 50s and 60s…there was a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in the city and for black people coming to Mayo Clinic for treatment, finding a place to stay was difficult.

KIMT, A news crisis center coming to Rochester by Jeremiah Wilcox — A regional crisis center is coming to Rochester. A partnership between Mayo clinic, Olmsted Medical Center and other neighboring counties are looking to treat people with behavioral health needs in the area…It is an effort to help people with mental health concerns find the treatment instead of crowding emergency rooms and jails.

KIMT, A new store entirely dedicated to CBD products just opened in Rochester by Annalisa Pardo — If you’re looking for it, it’s everywhere. That’s cannabidiol, or CBD, that is. What is it? CBD is a chemical that comes from cannabis. But unlike THC, it doesn’t give you the effect of feeling ‘high.’ From vape shops to grocery stores, you can find the chemical in oils, brownies, and even soap. People use for medical reasons, using it to treat chronic pain, anxiety, or depression… According to that Mayo Clinic article, in a recent study 84 CBD products were purchased online. Of the 84 products, more than a quarter of them contained less CBD than advertised. It also found THC was in 18 of the purchased products.

KIMT, Beating the winter blues by Jeremiah Wilcox — The winter weather can provoke a wide spectrum of feelings from excitement to go sledding and play to dread and even depression… Mayo Clinic says if you feel continue to feel down or your sleeping and eating patterns have changed you should see a doctor. For those suffering from seasonal affective disorder, Mayo says you can get relief through light therapy, medications or psychotherapy. They urge you to consult your doctor to find out what can best help.

KIMT, People throughout the region digging out of snow by Jeremiah Wilcox — Mother nature dumped nearly a foot of snow on Albert Lea. In Mason City got 8 inches, while Austin and Rochester got nearly 11. The major blizzard over the weekend closed roads throughout our area. In Rochester cars were buried… For those who are still trying to dig themselves out, Mayo Clinic suggests you stretch your body first and take frequent breaks.

KTTC, With blizzard howling outside, Mayo Clinic Hospital employees sleep in the cafeterias — The cafeterias of Mayo Clinic-Saint Marys and Methodist were a lot more crowded over the weekend than usual, and you can blame it on the Blizzard of 2019. For many hospital employees this past weekend, camping out at Mayo was all in a day’s work. And, of course, the next day. Without a safe way to get employees home, or confidence that they’d be able to make it back in to work, a little Minnesota ingenuity and practicality kicked in.  In its own calculated and thorough way, Mayo realized what was coming and “activated its Emergency Staffing Plan.” Simply put, a lot of people slept overnight in the cafeterias, and other unusual places. “Due to staff not being able to travel after their shift, Mayo provided sleep spaces to staff throughout the campus, including the staff cafeterias,” explained Kelley Luckstein, a Mayo spokesperson. “This service allowed staff a safe option for sleeping, along with ensuring that we had adequate staffing to provide quality patient care during the storm.”

FOX 47, Local high schoolers explore the research side of Mayo Clinic by Sarah Gannon — It’s not often high school students are invited into the research side at Mayo Clinic, but that’s exactly what happened Tuesday. Local 10th through 12th grade students traded backpacks for lab coats as part of the experience to learn more about bio-medical science and research careers….“In each laboratory they’ll learn something different,” said Jim Maher, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Science Dean. “Some laboratories will show them an animal that they might study, others might show them a chemical or biological system they work on.” Additional coverage: KIMT, KAAL

Star Tribune, Can exercise combat dementia? Minnesota researchers aim to find out by Jeremy Olson — Since he was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease four years ago, Phil Echert has found himself frustrated by some of the solutions he and his wife have tried to slow or manage his dementia. The 62-year-old Champlin man tried brain puzzles, but found them exasperating. His wife, Heather, put a GPS locator on his bicycle in case he got lost, but on long trail rides he can forget how to use it. … The results, published in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, suggest that exercise and healthy choices are important early in life because they can reduce chronic inflammation, said Dr. Dave Knopman, a neurologist who became involved in the study at the U before moving to the Mayo Clinic.

Star Tribune, Here’s how to move forward — and feel good about it — after the Sugar-Free Challenge. by Erica Pearson — We have all won this challenge — no matter how much added sugar passed through our lips this month. The whole point of the Star Tribune’s 28-Day Sugar-Free Challenge was to take stock, be more mindful of the amount of added sugar in the food we eat and learn about the current research and best recommendations on the health impacts of the sweet stuff… Dr. Donald Hensrud, who runs the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, said that a dramatic change can help some people feel empowered. Others are much better able to tackle making improvement in their diets one small increment at a time. If that’s you, it’s never too late for baby steps.

Star Tribune, Medtronic Mazor X robotic surgery system enters medical mainstream by Joe Carlson — Following years of work, Medtronic is launching the newest Mazor X spinal surgery system with robotic navigation in the United States, with two systems already sold in Minnesota. Spine surgeon Dr. Eiman Shafa demonstrated at Abbott Northwestern Hospital on Tuesday how the new system uses robotics and in-room navigation to precisely position traditional surgical tools, making routine spine cases more efficient and complex cases more exacting. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester also has such a system.

KJZZ, Sex And Medicine, Part 2: Sex Differences, Federal Standards, Drive Culture Shift In Biomedical Research by Nicholas Gerbis — Biomedical research is undergoing a sea change, driven in part by federal funding requirements that studies consider biological sex as a factor. Part two of this two-part Arizona Science Desk series explores this cultural shift… To make matters murkier, researchers often did not record the sexes of their test subjects, male or female. "A huge swath of our molecular biology understanding of anything is in databases from cell lines that we don't know what sex the cell lines were," said Kristin Swanson, co-director of the Precision NeuroTherapeutics Innovation Program at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.

Mankato Free Press, People falling like snowflakes this winter by Edie Schmierbach — … Typically, people who've fallen or lifted too much snow suffer for a few days before they make an appointment to see Rebecca Thorston at her Mayo Clinic Health System office in Lake Crystal. She is a nurse practitioner with a focus in family medicine. "One of the biggest concerns when I see a patient is whether there is a fracture or acute injuries," Thorston said.

Albert Lea Tribune, 72 high school seniors shadow local businesses — Every job site has different requirements for the students. Some students may have to fill out paperwork and may spend the whole day on the job site, while others are there to just interview the business expert due to privacy issues and time restraints.  Students interested in the health care industry spend a morning at Mayo Clinic Health System in a mini job fair, with a variety of  medical professionals speaking to the group.

Albert Lea Tribune, The silver lining of a debilitating injury by Sam Wilmes — On Jan. 14, John Tenneson’s left leg was severely injured after being crushed between his truck and house. The injuries Tenneson suffered were numerous: The left side of his pelvis and hip socket were crushed, his knee and ACL torn, his fibula fractured, and muscle, ligament and tendon spots in the area of his calf muscle damaged. Over the next 1 1/2 weeks, he underwent three major surgeries at Mayo Clinic in Rochester — one nearly causing him to bleed to death — and numerous procedures. Today, Tenneson is working toward a full recovery at his home with the help of his family and community.

WKBT La Crosse, New store specializing in hemp and CBD oil coming to La Crosse by Scott Behrens — Local entrepreneurs are opening a new store in La Crosse specializing in hemp and cannabidiol oil, better known as CBD oil… Medical experts say there is still a lot of research that needs to be done on the effectiveness of CBD oil. The Mayo Clinic says CBD oil can cause a variety of side effects, such as drowsiness and fatigue, and it may interact with other medications, so they recommend talking with your doctor before using products that contain CBD.

WXOW La Crosse, Alliance to HEAL seeks treatment system by Scott Hackworth — Josh Court, Practice Operations Director at Mayo Clinic Health System says, “There are a couple of residential facilities in town right now. But there are barriers to that. Sometimes the person is on the street, sometimes they’re in jail. The best options are not available to them right now.” Gundersen Health System Behavioral Health Clinical Manager Tammy Anderson says, “Even though there are resources out there at both health care facilities and out in the community, we really need that one place that people can go in crisis and get that immediate help because that’s really what we’re lacking right now.” Both Gundersen and Mayo Clinic Health System have contributed $75,000 to the project.

Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Regional lawmakers open to medical marijuana by Eric Lindquist — Tony Evers’ proposal last week to legalize medical marijuana received a healthy dose of support from Chippewa Valley lawmakers. … Dr. Pravesh Sharma, a psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, expressed concern about marijuana use by teens and young adults in a column he wrote in December.

Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Lawmakers view UW-EC science building deficiencies by Eric Lindquist — When giving a tour to visiting dignitaries, most people like to put their best foot forward. That was definitely not the case Tuesday when UW-Eau Claire officials guided regional lawmakers and two members of the state Building Commission around 56-year-old Phillips Science Hall on campus. The visitors saw a pan collecting water dripping through a leaking roof, homemade dust barriers held together with duct tape and evidence of infiltration by mice, bats and insects because of the aging structure’s many deficiencies… State Sen. Jeff Smith, D-town of Brunswick, said he and Rep. Jodi Emerson, D-Eau Claire, also have toured Phillips and pledged to work with lawmakers from both parties to push for the project’s approval. He highlighted a commitment from Mayo Clinic Health System to financially support the project, which would strengthen the organization’s research agreement with UW-Eau Claire. “This is just a huge opportunity, not just for Eau Claire but for the Chippewa Valley and all of Wisconsin, that Mayo Clinic wants to plant their research and development right there on this campus,” Smith said. Additional coverage: WEAU Eau Claire

WEAU Eau Claire, "Stories from the Heart" shares challenges & triumphs of heart disease by Jesse Horne — Heart health was the topic of an event Thursday at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. "Stories from the Heart" featured a panel of community members talking about the challenges and triumphs in dealing with heart disease. Experts were also on-hand to discuss the medical advances made against it. "February is Heart Month. It's a time when we talk with our community about the importance of heart health. Heart disease is the leading killer of Americans and yet is extremely preventable. So we want to talk to people in the community about how they can live happier, healthier, more-fuller lives," said Dr. Andrew Calvin with Mayo Clinic Health System.

WEAU Eau Claire, Dragon Boat Team Registration — Registration for the 5th Annual Half Moon Dragon Boat Festival opens Friday, March 1st. Sara Carstens, director of Community Engagement and Wellness, and Hope in the Valley founder Renelle Laffe join WEAU 13 News 5 pm News anchor Judy Clark to discuss how this fun event will support local cancer programs.

WiscNews, Making drugs more effective: Madison startup Dianomi Therapeutics draws a $3 million investment by Judy Newman — Dianomi Therapeutics says it has a new way to make prescription medications pack a bigger punch — to help not only humans but injured pets or racehorses, as well. … There are also hydrogels currently available that can attach to drugs and control their release, said Dr. Mark Spangehl, an orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. But if Dianomi succeeds in reducing cartilage damage, “that would be new,” Spangehl said.

Becker’s Hospital Review, Mayo Clinic adds Mexico hospital to care network by Leo Vartorella — Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic has added Centro Médico Puerta de Hierro in Guadalajara, Mexico to the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a group of independent health systems that work closely with Mayo to improve quality standards. Centro Médico Puerta de Hierro operates five hospitals and other facilities in the Guadalajara metropolitan area. As part of the network, the system will have access to a database for medical information created by Mayo Clinic specialists that offers medical protocols and treatment recommendations, electronic consultations and second opinions with Mayo physicians and live video conferences with Mayo specialists to discuss complex cases. Additional coverage: KROC-RadioInformador mx, Axopolis, El Financiero, El Sol de Nayarit, Todo Noticias

Business Insider, US health systems closed out 2018 with strong financial performance by Nicky Lineaweaver — Several large US health systems published their 2018 financial performance last week, reporting mixed results amid ongoing drops in patient admissions… Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic posted a 5% YoY increase to reach $12.6 billion in 2018, up from $12 billion in 2017. Mayo Clinic only reported its full-year performance and didn't break out its Q4 2018 revenue. Mayo Clinic's strong financial performance comes despite implementing a  $1.5 billion project to overhaul its electronic health record (EHR) software under one system from EHR vendor Epic. Like Mayo Clinic, 35% of the US provider market  intends to switch EHR vendors by 2021, likely due to the high rates of physician  burnout and poor  interoperability linked to existing offerings.

Medical Daily, Leprosy Is Still A Health Problem Today, Especially In The US by Sarah Tejares — Leprosy is a long-term infection by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis, which causes severe, disfiguring skin sores and nerve damage in the arms, legs and skin areas around the body. It is also called Hansen's disease (HD) and is considered as an ancient malady that has been declared eliminated as a global public health problem in 2000. Although scientists have found its cure, why is this disease still a major health concern, especially in the United States?... In the US, leprosy is not a common skin disease. Due to its rarity, it is often missed, said Dr. Abinash Virk, infectious disease specialist and author of the new study. “The physician in India who is familiar with leprosy would see a patch and quickly do a test for a loss of sensation. Here, you wouldn't even test for loss of sensation, because it's not that common to see,” said Virk.

Medical News Today, Osteoporosis: Some yoga poses may cause bone injuries by Maria Cohut — Although anecdotal sources and academic studies show that yoga can boost a person's well-being, some may need to use caution. A new study suggests that certain yoga poses can lead to bone injuries in people with osteoporosis or osteopenia… Now, research conducted by a team from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, warns that people who already have this bone condition may be putting themselves at risk by practicing yoga indiscriminately. The new study's findings — featured in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings — indicate that certain yoga poses may harm people with osteopenia or osteoporosis, leading to further soft tissue and bone injury. Additional coverage: WILX, Post-BulletinScience DailyKnowridge

Caffney Gazette, Opioid crackdown said to leave out chronic pain patients by Jill Kemp — … Other proposed ways to improve pain management options involve better embracing alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, behavioral therapy, or medical marijuana. However, these treatments can be inaccessible or too costly. Dr. Halena Gazelka, an anesthesiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, said that Medicare and Medicaid should expand coverage for non-opioid pain treatments.

Woman’s Day, The 6 Best Home Remedies for a Cough by Colleen Stinchcombe — If your mom’s been brewing you a cup of tea with honey and lemon since you were a kid, tell her science backs her up. People seem to find the drink calming for a cough, says Dr. Roach. Honey itself may actually be a decent cough suppressant, according to the Mayo Clinic. One 2007 study of 100 children published in the Archives of Pediatric Medicine found honey to be more effective than the common cough suppressant dextromethorphan (which didn’t prove to be any more effective than no treatment.)

ESPN, Juan Martin del Potro not ready for the next chapter of his life, not yet anyway by Sandra Harwitt — Athletes are often confused as to what direction life will take when their sports careers come to a conclusion, but that's not the case for Juan Martin del Potro. The 30-year-old knows exactly where his future leads, but that destiny, despite many serious injuries the past decade, remains in the distance. In his heart, the 2009 US Open champion believes it's not yet time to become a full-time farmer, because there's more tennis to play… He spent a few years as a regular patient at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where he endured multiple wrist surgeries. His right wrist was repaired in 2010 and he had three left wrist surgeries between 2014 and 2015. During this time period, he contemplated retirement but never could give up the dream of playing top-level tennis again.

Coeur d’Alene Press, For the best health, does the intensity of your workout matter? — Jog for long enough or engage in just about any physical activity that gets the heart pumping – and the result can be a feeling of euphoria commonly known as a runner's high. Sure, it feels good, but does higher-intensity exercise lead to better health? It can. Recently released federal physical activity guidelines emphasize the importance of any movement, but optimal health benefits require a little more effort. For adults, that means at least 75 to 150 minutes per week of vigorous activity, or 150 to 300 minutes per week of moderate-level physical activity… Research suggests exercise is both healthy and safe for the vast of majority of people, said Dr. Michael Joyner, a researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, who studies how stress impacts the nervous system and its impact on blood pressure, heart rate and metabolism. "Most people can find an activity that they can enjoy no matter what coexisting medical conditions they have," Joyner said. "There are very few exceptions."

Gastroenterology Consultant, 5 Questions on Bile Acids as a Biomarker for IBS — Dr. Michael Camilleri  from Mayo Clinic discusses his study on fecal bile acids and fecal fat as potential biomarkers for irritable bowel syndrome, the importance of individualized treatment, and more.

KTVF Fairbanks, HEALTH REPORT: Study Shows Cancer Rates Dropping in US by Julie Swisher — Studies have shown fewer people are dying of cancer in the US, according to a recent report from the American Cancer Society. "We are winning the war, but we're not quite ready to declare a victory just yet," said Jan Bruckner, M.D. Medical Oncology Mayo Clinic. Bruckner says there are two primary reasons for the reduced Cancer rate. "One is increased screening and prevention of cancer. And the other is continually better treatments after a patient is diagnosed," Bruckner explained.

Daily Herald, Ask an expert: Why stress management strategies work by Dave Schramm — Stress is a universally experienced phenomenon. Although there are many causes, the methods of managing it are generally the same. Research from varying professionals helps explain how coping strategies work, broken into three categories – physical, mental and social… Think positively – According to Mayo Clinic research, positive thinking allows you to “approach unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way.”… Talk to a friend – Knowing that you are not alone facing your stressors can empower you. The Mayo Clinic asserts that people with strong social support networks are healthier and live longer…. Learn to say no – The Mayo Clinic proposes that saying no to one thing means you are saying yes to another priority.

Healthcare IT News, Patrick Luetmer reveals secrets of success behind the Plummer project by Dean Koh — Professor of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Chair of Clinical Systems Oversight Subcommittee, Mayo Clinic, Dr. Patrick H. Luetmer shared in an email interview with Healthcare IT News some key takeaways behind the success of the Plummer project. The massive EHR rollout project at Mayo Clinic was named in honour of Dr. Henry Plummer who developed a patient-centred health record at Mayo in 1907.

Healio, Cytotoxic chemotherapy for testicular cancer linked to increased body fat by Jennifer Byrne — Young men with metastatic testicular cancer who underwent cytotoxic chemotherapy experienced increases in body adipose mass with decreased muscle density, according to a retrospective study presented at Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. However, these patients maintained stable lean muscularity following first-line treatment. “Exposure to cytotoxic chemotherapy has been observed to be associated with significant changes in body composition, namely marked lean muscle mass losses, with implications for treatment-related toxicity and oncologic outcomes,” Karan Kumar Arora, MD, resident and member of the department of urology at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, and colleagues wrote.

OncLive, Kumar on Utility of ASCT in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma — Shaji Kumar, MD, a consultant in hematology at the Mayo Clinic, advises physicians on the use of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Cancer Network, Is Indoor Tanning Linked to Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers? by Naveed Selah, MD — About 5% to 8% of all melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers diagnosed in Canada in 2015—or approximately 5,000 cases—are attributable to indoor tanning bed use, according to a recent study published in Cancer Epidemiology… In a separate interview with Cancer Network, Jerry D. Brewer, MD, MS, a professor of dermatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, stressed the definitiveness of the study. “Tanning beds are known to cause cancer, and not just the common forms of skin cancer—basal and squamous cell carcinoma—but melanoma as well,” he said. “The evidence is now overwhelming.”

Cancer Network, Trends in the Management of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers by Naveed Saleh, MD — Various trends in the prevention and treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer—from new chemoprevention agents to the role of telemedicine—were highlighted in a recent review published in the journal Current Opinion in Pharmacology… Jerry D. Brewer, MD, MS, a professor of dermatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said the article does a good job of spreading important messages about non-melanoma skin cancer. “The field of dermatology is very aware of the trends, and this paper does not have a paradigm-shifting effect on those who are already skin cancer experts. However, it may have an impact on other fields of medicine that are less aware of the health implications associated with non-melanoma skin cancer,” Brewer said in a separate interview with Cancer Network.

Bustle, I Tried Facial Acupuncture For 30 Days To Attempt To Cure My Migraines by Rosanne Salvatore — I've seen numerous doctors and neurologists for my headaches in my life. I've been prescribed different types of medications to try to treat those headaches and migraines. And while some of these have worked for a short period of time, every "cure" has felt only temporary, and often came with negative side effects. (For example: One pill I took made my legs literally feel like they were made of lead.) After a recent (and especially brutal) two-week stretch of near constant headaches and migraines, I knew I had to try something different. At the recommendation of friends and colleagues, I started looking into acupuncture which, in some studies, has been shown to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of migraines in patients… I also spoke with Dr. Rashmi Halker Singh, Assistant Professor of Neurology and the Headache Fellowship Program Director at the Mayo Clinic, about migraine treatments and acupuncture. Halker Singh does believe that acupuncture can make a difference for headache patients, but there's "no hard and fast rule" that acupuncture, or any treatment, will work for everyone. She has prescribed acupuncture in conjunction with medication, and sometimes recommends acupuncture as the only treatment for migraines in patients. “Other patients don’t want to be on any medication at all. They want to try something more natural first, and we’ll send them for acupuncture," she says.

InStyle, Selma Blair Stepped out with a Cane for the First Time Since MS Diagnosis by Christopher Lu … Blair revealed her MS diagnosis last October. Since then, she's spoken out about her difficulties, saying that even though she's surrounded by love and support, nobody can really feel what she goes through. "Going out, being sociable holds a heavy price," she wrote. "My brain is on fire. I am freezing. We feel alone with it even though the loving support has been a godsend and appreciated." There is no known cure for MS. Currently, the Mayo Clinic reports that the only thing that patients can do is manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. Additional coverage: People

SELF, 11 Frostbite Symptoms to Remember Every Winter by Korin Miller — … Here’s what you need to know about frostbite, including the major signs of this condition—and how to take action if you notice them. Frostbite happens when your skin literally freezes. In some cases the underlying tissues can freeze too. Your skin and everything inside of it aren’t meant to freeze, so as you might imagine, severe frostbite has the potential to cause a lot of damage to your body, according to the Mayo Clinic… Here’s the full list of frostbite symptoms to look out for, according to the Mayo Clinic:….

SELF, Jameela Jamil Confirms She Has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome by Claire Gillespie — The "classic" presentation of EDS, the Mayo Clinic explains, usually includes overly flexible joints, stretchy skin, and fragile skin that doesn't heal or scar over well. The severity of those symptoms may vary from person to person.

El Comercio, Qué es la "depresión sonriente" y por qué es más peligrosa que los otros tipos … Para tratarla, la Clínica Mayo afirma que suele necesitarse medicación, terapia conversacional (psicoterapia), y cambios en el estilo de vida. Remes añade realizar ejercicio regularmente y practicar meditación porque, asegura, ha dado buenos resultados en la práctica clínica.

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Editors: Emily BlahnikKarl Oestreich

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