March 8, 2019

Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights for March 8, 2019

By Emily Blahnik

NBC News, Was there something 'I missed': Kentucky cheerleader's sudden death leaves dad agonized by Farnoush Amiri — The sudden death of a 13-year-old Kentucky cheerleader on the day of a competition has shocked her community and left her father agonizing over whether he could have done more…Her father, Dan Schalck, said his daughter's hands felt cold and she complained about tingling in her limbs. The next thing he remembers is being in an emergency room while Lilliana's condition quickly deteriorated. Within less than two hours, she was dead…Dr. Michael Ackerman, a genetic cardiologist at Mayo Clinic whose clinical practice and research specializes in sudden deaths involving both athletes and nonathletes, describes this case as very unusual.

New York Times, Drug Companies and Doctors Battle Over the Future of Fecal Transplants by Andrew Jacobs — There’s a new war raging in health care, with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake and thousands of lives in the balance. The battle, pitting drug companies against doctors and patient advocates, is being fought over the unlikeliest of substances: human excrement. The clash is over the future of fecal microbiota transplants, or F.M.T., a revolutionary treatment that has proved remarkably effective in treating Clostridioides difficile, a debilitating bacterial infection that strikes 500,000 Americans a year and kills 30,000… “The first principle of medicine is do no harm, and at the moment we don’t have a long-term track record of F.M.T.’s adverse effects,” said Dr. Sahil Khanna, an associate professor of gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic who has conducted industry-funded clinical trials on fecal transplants. “We also need to move away from transferring poo from one person to another.”

New York Post, Snoring, sleep apnea linked to Alzheimer's disease, study claims by Rob Bailey-Millado — Maybe it’s time to cut your buzzsaw spouse a break. Heavy snorers may have higher accumulations of the toxic protein tau — a bio-hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease — in the part of the brain that manages memory, navigation and perception of time, according to a new study released Sunday by the Mayo Clinic… “Our research results raise the possibility that sleep apnea affects tau accumulation,” says lead study author Dr. Diego Z. Carvalho, a neurology fellow at Mayo, in a statement. Additional coverage: MedPage Today, Healio, HealthDay, WebMD, News-medical.netWBZChiang Rai Times, Physcian’s Weekly, Sleep Review, MedscapeEveryday Health

USA Today, Daylight saving time starts this weekend: Who observes it, will it affect health? by Scott Craven, Ashley May, Doyle Rice — On Sunday, the vast majority of Americans will lose an hour of sleep as clocks are set ahead for daylight saving time… Gaining or losing an hour probably will affect sleep patterns, often for about five to seven days, said Timothy Morgenthaler, Mayo Clinic's co-director of the Center for Sleep Medicine. The most notable changes are in those who regularly do not get enough sleep. People who are sleep-deprived might struggle with memory, learning, social interactions and overall cognitive performance.

Reuters, Yoga linked to lowered blood pressure with regular practice by Lisa Rapaport — Adults who practice yoga with breathing and relaxation exercises at least three times a week may have lower blood pressure than people who don’t, a research review suggests… One limitation of the study is that researchers lacked data on the intensity of yoga practices, including how long people held poses and how rapidly participants transitioned from one position to the next, the study authors note in Mayo Clinic Proceedings… “In general, yoga improves balance, strength and flexibility, but trying to be extremely flexible with fragile joints can cause problems,” said senior study author Dr. Mehrsheed Sinaki, a rehabilitation specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “Also, if a person is 70 or 80 and does too many hip-opening movements or hyper extensions, they may develop hip pain,” Sinaki said by email. While most people can practice yoga safely, older people with osteoporosis (thinning, brittle bones) should be careful, agreed Dr. Edward Laskowski, coauthor of an accompanying editorial and co-director of Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine.

Shape, Pregnancy Sleep Tips to Help You Finally Get a Solid Night's Rest by Cassie Shortsleeve — As your belly grows during pregnancy, sleep becomes more and more elusive. Just about *everything* seems to impair your ability to catch some much-needed zzz's: being incredibly uncomfortable (hi, kicking baby/belly/other bodily and hormonal changes), having to go pee 24/7, nighttime acid reflux (ugh), stress, even a new snoring habit… Waking up all the time to pee in the middle of the night? "Many moms are awakened due to vigorous fetal movement during the night. This often includes small hands or feet poking into the bladder, causing the urge to urinate," says Regan Theiler, M.D., Ph.D., an ob-gyn at the Mayo Clinic. "Given that the bladder is already squeezed by the uterus and baby, many women wake to urinate every hour in the third trimester." While there's not much you can do about that, there are some diet changes you can make that can help. Avoiding bladder irritants such as caffeine, carbonation, citrus, and spicy foods can stretch out the time between bathroom trips overnight, says Dr. Theiler. Skip sugary foods and beverages before bed, too (a good idea for everyone trying to improve their sleep)—it could decrease how much your baby moves when you're trying to fall asleep, she says.

InStyle, Time’s Up Takes on Sexual Abuse and Discrimination in Healthcare by Laura Norkin — From experiencing assault in dark corridors of the ER, to feeling like “the operating room is the locker room,” women in medicine are speaking out as part of Time’s Up — and demanding safe, equitable workplaces, now. … Esther Choo, MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) … and a group of 50 of her colleagues and peers have come together to form Time’s Up Healthcare, the organization’s next industry-specific offshoot. … As Sharonne N. Hayes, MD, cardiologist, founder of the Women’s Heart Clinic, and Medical Director for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, explains, “There’s a little bit of magical thinking going on, or ‘it doesn’t happen in my backyard.’”… Others [signatories] include the Mayo Clinic, which has 65,000 employees across the country, and medical schools at Brown, Drexel, and the University of Wisconsin. Additional coverage: Healthcare Finance

Kaiser Health News, Listening To Older Patients Who Want To Stop Dialysis by Judith Graham — Dr. Susan Wong sat down with an 84-year-old patient in the hospital, where he’d been admitted with a flare-up of a serious autoimmune condition and deteriorating kidney function…He didn’t want aggressive care — including dialysis — having witnessed his wife and son die painfully in intensive care years ago…Wong, an assistant professor of nephrology at the University of Washington, was prepared to follow the man’s wishes, but other physicians, eager to pursue tests and treatments, disagreed…Older adults with advanced kidney disease who want to forgo dialysis often encounter similar resistance from physicians, according to a new study in JAMA Internal Medicine by Wong and colleagues... “We shouldn’t limit access to dialysis based on age, but we should have meaningful conversations about goals of care and make it clear that dialysis is a choice and that patients have alternatives,” said Dr. Bjorg Thorsteinsdottir, an assistant professor of internal medicine and bioethics at the Mayo Clinic.

Post-Bulletin, Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes and Vaccinations - Mayo Clinic — Dr. Michael Ackerman, genetic cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, discusses vaccinations and SADS conditions. The benefits of being vaccinated far exceed the low risk the vaccination or potential fever could have on a SAD condition.

Post-Bulletin, Mayo Clinic Minute: What you need to know about polyps in your colon — It’s one of the most dreaded parts of turning 50: having to get colonoscopies. Dr. John Kisiel, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist, says you might be surprised how often colonoscopies uncover polyps lurking in your colon. Dr. Kisiel says even though 1 in 20 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetimes, having polyps does not necessarily mean you will get cancer.

Post-Bulletin, Measles outbreak and flu update: Mayo Clinic Radio — Dr. Pritish Tosh, a Mayo Clinic infectious disease expert, gives an update on the measles outbreak and flu season.

Post-Bulletin, Your Style: Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez — “During the cold and very cold months,” says Mayo Clinic Cardiologist Dr. Francisco Jimenez-Lopez, “I watch movies with my wife, read, enjoy the snow with my fat bike and Choco, my dog, and spend countless hours sitting and enjoying the fire in our wood-burning fireplace. This is the best mindfulness and meditation technique I know!” Dr. Jimenez-Lopez serves as chairman of the Division of Preventive Cardiology, professor at Mayo Medical School, director of research at the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center and co-director of Artificial Intelligence in Cardiology.

Post Bulletin, Council approves next step for transit hubs by Randy Petersen — The Rochester City Council wants first say on any property deals to create a pair of planned transit hubs… Without specific terms for obtaining land, two potential sites have been chosen for the hubs, which have also been referred to as “transit villages,” since they will likely include housing and retail spaces. The potential properties are owned by Mayo Clinic and Olmsted County. The Mayo property is a parking lot at 2804 Second St. SW. The exact county location hasn’t been determined.

Post-Bulletin, Walz: 'You have the model in community schools'by Brian Todd — Touting Rochester Public Schools' Alternative Learning Center as a model for the state, Gov. Tim Walz was on hand Monday to talk about education and laud the restart of a health clinic at the school. The health clinic for students, which has been closed for several months due to lack of resources, was reopened thanks to a commitment from Mayo Clinic to staff it… Dr. Sarah Crane, who spearheaded the project for Mayo, said the health care provider would staff the clinic four hours per day, providing care, testing and some basic lab work for students. The goal is to remove one more barrier that prevents students from focusing on school work. Additional coverage: KIMT, KAALKROC-Radio, KTTC

Post-Bulletin, Friends share breast cancer journey: Mayo Clinic Radio — Two Mayo Clinic staff members and friends — Melanie Peterson and Lindsay Stromback — share their story of supporting each other through breast cancer treatment.

MinnPost, Small towns near Rochester hope — and plan — for DMC-fueled growth by Gregg Aamot — In 2015, residents of Chatfield approved a levy request from the local school district, which was seeking more money to cover its operating expenses. The next year, voters approved another request – this time for $10.8 million for improvement projects at the high school. The city got into the act in 2017, asking for $4.4 million for the construction of a pool. That, too, won approval from the voters. It was an impressive trifecta and, in some observers’ eyes, a promising reflection of the public mood in this town of 2,900 in the southeast corner of Minnesota. “People don’t vote for those things without confidence in their future,” said Joel Young, Chatfield’s city clerk for the past 28 years. While it’s difficult to pinpoint the source of such civic pride, one plausible mood-booster in this region of Minnesota is a multibillion-dollar economic development initiative under way in Rochester – an ambitious plan that aims to make that city’s famed Mayo Clinic an even bigger draw than it already is. Destination Medical Center, as the plan is called, claims it could generate as many as 30,000 new jobs in Rochester alone over the next 20 years – jobs in high-tech industries as well as in hospitality and other sectors.

MedCity Beat, Meals on Wheels is a 'linchpin for independence' for many in Rochester — Seven days a week, 365 days a year, an army of volunteers assemble for a singular purpose — to ensure every member of our community, regardless of age or income, has access to a warm, nutritious meal. “For a lot of people, it is a linchpin for independence — for staying in their homes,” said April Sutor, director of community collaboration for Family Service Rochester, which oversees the Meals on Wheels program… To ensure everyone who needs a meal has access to the service, Meals on Wheels relies on the generous support of not only their volunteers, but also local partners, including Mayo Clinic. The financial contributions allow the program to offer a sliding scale payment system for those in need. “Meals on Wheels plays an integral role in ensuring adequate nutrition, quality of life, as well as independence for a number of local citizens,” said Erin Sexton, director of community engagement for Mayo Clinic.

KAAL, Byron Boy Celebrates Last Chemo Appointment by Hannah Tiede — This year, an estimated 15,780 children between birth and 19-years-old will be diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. That’s according to the National Cancer Institute. It’s something no family should have to go through, but so many do. The good news is, survival rates for most cancers have gone up in recent decades. On Monday, there was more good news. This time, coming from a Byron boy battling Acute Lymphoblast Leukemia. ABC 6 News has been following Gabe Carranza’s story since he was diagnosed in 2015. Surrounded by friends and family, Gabe became the first child to ring a special bell at Mayo Clinic.

KAAL, Strollin' Colon Kicks Off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month — Mayo Clinic held its annual "Strollin' Colon" educational event Monday to kick off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. While also called the most fatal yet preventable cancer in the United States, Dr. John Kisiel, Gastroenterologist at Mayo said everyone over the age of 50 and those who are at higher risk of having colon cancer should be screened. "We want people to get screened for colon cancer before they have any symptoms. So at the point that someone develops symptoms like abdominal pain, bleeding, anemia, unintentional weight loss, change in their bowel habit, those could actually be signs that they have the disease," said Kisiel. Additional coverage: FOX 47, KTTC

KIMT, Mayo Clinic doctor cross-country skied to work during blizzard — Take a look at how Mayo Clinic resident Tucker Coston got to work. He cross country skied in the blizzard in order to make it in to see his patients earlier this week...I caught up with Dr. Coston who tells me after looking at the conditions outside he knew skiing in would be the fastest way to "so many of my patients they don't have the option of whether or not they're going to be at the hospital so I had an obligation to get to them and get to the hospital and provide the care they needed and continue our plans from the prior days and weeks."

KIMT, Mayo opening Saturday clinics in Austin and Albert Lea — Mayo Clinic Health System is temporarily opening Saturday clinics in Albert Lea and Austin. The move is intended to deal with the many appointments that had to be cancelled due to severe winter weather in February. “Those who missed appointments during the winter storms will be contacted directly to see if these extended hours will work for them to come in and be seen,” says Dr. Deepi Goyal, regional chair of clinical practice for Mayo’s Southeast Minnesota Region. “Our staff is working diligently to make this happen. They are enthusiastic about the chance to offer care to these patients as quickly as possible.” Additional coverage: Albert Lea Tribune, Fox 47, Austin Daily Herald

KIMT, UMR connects current health care leaders with future ones allin the name of women’s history month by Brooke McKivergan — The University of Minnesota Rochester is celebrating Women's History Month by connecting current female health care leaders with future ones. A panel of successful women who are leaders in the health care industry at the Mayo Clinic sat upon a room of other eager women to share experiences and stories of their industry with one another. The Chancellor tells KIMT she hopes the event will provide students with some inspiration, and perhaps a new role model to look up to as they make their way through school.

KIMT, Death of Luke Perry Shines Light on Awareness of Stroke Symptoms by Calyn Thompson — Dr. Robert Brown is a professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic, and says timing is critical. “Just by knowing the symptoms of stroke. If you see that either in yourself or your coworker or loved one. If you recognize that and call for emergency medical care, we may be able to treat it that much more quickly and lessen the likelihood that they would have a disabling stroke or even one that results in death,” Brown said.

KARE 11, 'Jeopardy' host Alex Trebek reveals stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis by Andrew Weil — Alex Trebek, longtime host of “Jeopardy!,” revealed Wednesday afternoon that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. In a video message first posted on the show's YouTube page, Trebek said he was sharing the news to keep with his policy of being open and transparent with the show's fan base… Alex Trebek, longtime host of “Jeopardy!,” revealed Wednesday afternoon that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. In a video message first posted on the show's YouTube page, Trebek said he was sharing the news to keep with his policy of being open and transparent with the show's fan base. Additional coverage: Yahoo!, USA Today, FOX News, Forbes

Star Tribune, Mayo's outlying hospitals, clinics see earnings jump by Christopher Snowbeck — More specialty services and tighter expense control helped boost earnings last year at Mayo Clinic Health System, the network of clinics and hospitals in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa minus Mayo's flagship medical center in Rochester. The margin across the health system remained significantly lower than at Mayo Clinic Rochester, as well as the clinic's large hospitals in Arizona and Florida, according to a filing last month with bondholders. But operating income more than tripled last year across the health system, which includes 17 hospitals in communities such as Austin, Mankato and the Wisconsin cities of Eau Claire and La Crosse. "The most significant year-over-year change in operating performance was the material improvement in the Mayo Clinic Health System," the clinic said in its filing. "Continued turnaround efforts produced net operating income of $69 million, $50 million more than 2017."

StarTribune, Twins' Miguel Sano has heel procedure, will be out until May by La Velle E. Neal III — Miguel Sano had a debridement procedure Tuesday to repair a wound above his right heel and will not play for the Twins until May. The All-Star third baseman was treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for a laceration on his lower right Achilles area, the team said…Dr. Nho V. Tran performed the procedure at Mayo Clinic. The wound was cleaned, and two sutures were attached, Leo said. Additional coverage: KARE11, KSTP, KMSP, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Pioneer Press, Winona Daily News, ESPN Deportes, The Athletic, CBSSports.com, Fantasy Pros, FanSided, Herald Bulletin, South Bend Tribune, El Caribe

StarTribune, Minneapolis to open more than 100 buildings to the public for civic celebration by Andy Mannix — On May 18 and 19, city leaders will invite visitors into more than 110 buildings across Minneapolis — from the well-known places such as the Basilica of St. Mary to the more obscure, like the Minneapolis police K-9 kennel. They say it’s a civic celebration designed to let the public get to know the city’s architecture by exploring it behind the scenes. Frey announced the weekend-long “Doors Open Minneapolis” Tuesday afternoon…List of venues: Includes Mayo Clinic Square and Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine which is offering free movement assessment.

Star Tribune, What women can do to fight 'menopause belly' by Connie Nelson — Dr. Ekta Kapoor describes what she does in simple terms: “I take care of midlife women,” she said. Her approach is multifaceted. An endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Kapoor also is an assistant professor of medicine at the Women’s Health Clinic with special interest in menopause, obesity and menopausal hormone therapy. When she began her practice, she was sometimes frustrated by how little emphasis was placed on menopause, especially since, given increasing longevity, women can now spend more than a third of their lives in menopause. But while women’s health in general and menopause in particular were once ignored and understudied, “That’s changing now,” she said. “And I’m so glad to be a part of it.” We talked to Kapoor about treating hot flashes, the return of hormone replacement therapy and the dreaded menopause belly.

Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, After biggest funding round yet, StemoniX isn't slowing down by Alex Wittenberg — After surviving Hodgkin's lymphoma and intense chemotherapy six years ago, Ping Yeh asked himself how he could use his nanotechnology background to improve the life sciences. He ended up founding StemoniX Inc., a biotech company that uses stem cells to create micro-organs for drug testing and development. StemoniX closed on $14.4 million in Series B funding last week that will allow the company to expand its commercial operations and fund the development of new products... With notable investors like Mayo Clinic and Brightstone Venture Capital participating in the round and global pharmaceutical companies expressing interest, StemoniX's success can only continue, Yeh says. Additional coverage: Fierce Biotech, Minneinno

MPR, Last Iditarod hurrah for 67-year-old Minnesota musher by Bob Collins — Cindy Gallea, of Wykoff, Minn., is currently in last place in the Iditarod sleg dog race in Alaska pulling into the Rohn checkpoint on Tuesday. If you’re prone to chuckle about her standing, answer this: “What are you accomplishing today?” Gallea is 67 years old, and this is her last hurrah, her 15th Iditarod, in which she began competing in 1998, the year she finished in 48th place. Each year she’s competed — her top finish was 33rd in 2003 — she gets the minimum $1,049 in prize money. A nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic, she didn’t start dog sledding until she was in her 40s when she lived in Grand Marais and finished her first Iditarod at 47.

MPR, Health Department: Medical errors on the rise in Minnesota by Marianne Combs — Medical errors are on the rise in Minnesota, according to a report out Friday from the Minnesota Department of Health. This past year, the numbers were the highest since hospitals began tracking 15 years ago…Brianna Skrukrud, a nurse practitioner with Mayo Clinic, said 60 percent of pressure ulcers show up at the very base of the back, at the top of the buttocks, in acutely ill patients who are too sick to move. "And so basically it makes us wonder if any patient that's going to the ICU or becoming acutely ill that we place a certain dressing — a five-foam-layer dressing — to that region to help prevent it," said Skrukrud. Additional coverage: Mankato Free PressPost-Bulletin, KROC-Radio, Pioneer Press

MPR, Coping and living with Alzheimer's disease by Angela Davis, Karen Zamora — This weekend, hundreds of people will gather in St. Paul to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and dementia at a conference called Meeting of the Minds. More than 94,000 Minnesotans are living with Alzheimer's disease, with an estimated 254,000 people involved in their care. Nationwide, the disease is the sixth-leading cause of death…Angela Davis sat down with Dr. Ron Petersen, director of Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, and Michael Horvich, an author and the primary caregiver during his partner's illness…

News4Jax, Hospitality at The Players — Where to eat, drink, chill out at The Players: Fan Bleachers presented by Mayo Clinic, offers shaded viewing in two places: on 16th tee, with views of 10th tee, or behind No. 17 green that features a covered deck. Concessions are available at each location.

Orlando Sentinel, Women more likely to dismiss potential signs of heart disease, be misdiagnosed by Naseem S. Miller — Orlando high school science teacher Gloria Boisvert was at work when she felt an incredible tightness in her chest. “I felt like I couldn’t breathe,” she recalled recently, almost 11 years later. She waited a week before going to her primary care doctor, who said it was only an anxiety attack. But as she was about to walk out of the exam room, an astute nurse practitioner saved her life by asking a simple question: did she have a family history of heart disease? The answer was yes… Women, in general, tend to develop heart disease later than men, a phenomenon that’s linked to the protective actions of the hormone estrogen, said Dr. DeLisa Fairweather, director of translational research for the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.“As soon as women go past menopause, this changes,” said Fairweather.

South Florida Reporter, 3 Things You Might Not Know About Sunscreen (Video) — Most people know that slathering on the sunscreen before heading outside decreases your risk of sun damage and skin cancer. Dr. Dawn Davis, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist, says there are three other things many people don’t know about sunscreen. “No 1: Expiration dates on sunscreen bottles are legitimate. It’s just like looking for produce at the grocery store. Always try to find the produce that looks the best and has the farthest away expiration date,” says Dr. Davis.

Red Wing Republican Eagle,  Watch this face-to-screen reunion: Doctor assisted premature delivery from 50 miles away by Michael Brun — Expecting parents Holly and Ryan Nardinger attended a class on labor and delivery Thursday night, Jan. 3, in Red Wing... By the next morning, the Lake City couple had to drive back to Red Wing to give birth to their daughter, eight weeks ahead of schedule… nurses wheeled in a computer screen."They brought in the screen and were hooking it up, and I said, 'What's that for?'" Holly Nardinger said of the whirlwind delivery. On the monitor was the face of Dr. William Carey, who had called in remotely from Rochester through a teleneonatology system.  Additional coverage: Inforum

KEYC Mankato, Mayo Clinic Health System Awards Grant To Camp Sweet Life by Sarah Meilner — Mayo Clinic Health System awards a grant to a camp whose mission is to help connect and empower kids with type 1 diabetes. The $10,000 grant will be used for Camp Sweet Life and for the organization's Glow Run in September. For five days campers ranging in age from 5 to 15 enjoy outdoor activities surrounded by peers whose lives and challenges mirror their own.

KEYC Mankato, Stroke Awareness Up After Actor's Tragic Death by Ryan Sjoberg — Ever since 52–year–old actor Luke Perry died Monday after suffering a massive stroke last week, health officials say more patients have been asking questions about strokes. When it comes to preventing it from happening to you, officials say the best thing we can do is make lifestyle modifications. "So hyper tension, lowering our blood pressure, lowering our cholesterol, eating a healthy diet and having an active lifestyle are really things that are important to lower your risk to having a stroke," explained Katie Pace from Mayo Clinic Heath System Mankato.

KEYC Mankato, ACS: For Colorectal Cancer At-Home Screening Could Be Key — Aside from skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. When it comes to this type of cancer, prevention is paramount. With March being National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, Mayo Clinic Health System is reminding people to be screened routinely.

Mankato Free Press, Robotic surgery options expand in Mankato by Brian Arola — As an active runner, John Tanke wanted a speedy recovery following his hernia surgery last August… Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato had recently expanded its robotic options to general surgical procedures. Tanke, 47, was one of the first patients to undergo robotic surgery for a hernia locally. Dr. Tara Krosch, one of two Mayo in Mankato surgeons now offering the surgical option, said robot-assisted procedures grew increasingly common over the past five years for minimally invasive surgeries. Mankato's was the first hospital within the Mayo Clinic Health System network to roll out robotics for general surgery.

Albert Lea Tribune, Mayo staff host job fair for high school students — On Feb. 22, Mayo Clinic Health System campus in Albert Lea hosted a mini job fair for students from Albert Lea High School interested in medical careers. The students heard about a wide variety of careers, including nursing, radiologist, sonographer, physical therapist, administration, surgeon, nurse anesthetist and physician’s assistant. After hearing about these careers, the students went on a guided tour of the radiology, ultrasound, CT and imaging areas as well as the hyperbaric wound care area.

Albert Lea Tribune, ‘Good bonding for us’ by Sam Wilmes — On Saturday, Jennifer Ignaszewski and Nadean Thoms did something veteran medical professionals at Mayo Clinic Health System say they have never seen: The two sisters gave birth on the same day next door to each other at The Baby Place. OB-GYN Heidi Gaston, who delivered Marie Ignaszewski, said she has not seen a similar situation in her 3 1/2 years at the hospital and four-year residency at a Grand Blanc, Michigan, hospital that has approximately 2,000 births per year.

Austin Daily Herald, Bus route between Austin, Albert Lea hospitals off to slow start, but organizers remain positive by Sarah Kocher — The bus was warm, but not from body heat as it chugged its empty Ford body out of the Mayo Clinic Health System drive-up loop in Albert Lea at 3:15 p.m. on a Monday in January. SMART Transit began its inter-city service between Austin and Albert Lea Mayo Clinic Health System campuses Jan. 2 thanks in part to a Minnesota Department of Transportation grant to Cedar Valley Services. The shuttle runs weekdays, with Albert Lea departure times between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. depending on the day. The trip is $3 one-way… looking ahead, the service is considering how to be helpful for Mayo Clinic employees by adding earlier and later work runs.

WXOW La Crosse, Joe Kruse: Chamber Community Leadership Award by Dave Solie — The La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce takes time each March to review the past year and look forward to the next… the recipient of the Community Leadership Award… Mayo Clinic Health System administrator Joe Kruse…

La Crosse Tribune, Slaggie family donates $5 million to Cancer Center expansion at Mayo-Franciscan in La Crosse by Mike Tighe — Stephen and Barbara Slaggie have donated $5 million for the expansion of the Cancer Center at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse, and the building will be named in honor of the longtime Winona residents and philanthropists. In donating virtually the entire cost of the project, the Slaggies continued their largesse toward the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and dozens of Winona-area facilities and organizations. Additional coverage: WIZM-Radio, WXOW La Crosse, WKBT La CrosseKWNO-Radio

WEAU Eau Claire, Doctors see an increase in winter injuries as cold weather drags on by Jessica Bringe — As winter continues to drag on area hospitals are seeing a rise in weather-related accidents and injuries. HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital and Mayo Clinic Health System say the most common winter injuries doctors are seeing are slips and falls. Dr. Paul Horvath with Mayo Clinic said, “Our number of leg fractures, tibia/fibia lower leg fractures, are up really high.”

WebMD, Danger Abounds When Meds and Your Genes Don’t Mix by Sonya Collins — This month, Karen Daggett celebrated 10 years of life she didn’t think she’d have. On Valentine’s Day 2009, she didn’t feel well enough to go out to a couple’s dinner with her friends in Marco Island, FL. But her husband insisted she go with him, and for that, Daggett is thankful. “If I had stayed home [alone] that night, I probably would have died,” she said. Daggett hadn’t been herself since a heart procedure for atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, a few months earlier. The procedure went as planned, but afterward, she just got sicker and sicker. Her blood pressure was out of control -- always too high or too low. She was nauseated. Her vision was sometimes blurred. And her usually soft, rosy complexion was ashen, scaly, and leathery… After 8 more days of tests at Mayo, Daggett heard the words she’d been waiting to hear for months. “My doctor hugged me and said, ‘We know what’s wrong with you,’ ” she recalls. A genetic test showed that she had a variation in one of her genes -- CYP2D6 -- that made her body unable to process the medications she received after her heart procedure.

Forbes, Americans Sit More Than Anytime In History And It's Literally Killing Us by Nicole Fisher — Everyone knows that being sedentary is bad for your health. It’s not the act of sitting itself that will kill you, but the repercussions of moving too little. But, few individuals know just how bad it can really be, or the cascade of problems that happen to your body from head to toe when we live a sedentary lifestyle – whether at a desk, in a car or tv binging on the couch. According to the Mayo Clinic, analysis of 13 studies concluded that, “sitting time and activity levels found in those who sat for more than 8 hours a day with no physical activity had a risk of dying similar to the risks of dying posed by obesity and smoking.”

Chicago Tribune, Column: Be kind to the perimenopausal women in your life by Jackie Pilossoph — According to the Mayo Clinic website, perimenopause typically begins when a woman is in her 40s, but can occur earlier for some women. Symptoms include: irregular periods, hot flashes, sleep problems, mood changes, vaginal and bladder problems, decreasing fertility, a decrease in sex drive, loss of bone, or a change in cholesterol levels.

Psychology Today, HIIT Workouts May Be Best Way to Optimize Body Composition by Christopher Bergland — Recent research from the Mayo Clinic monitored the outcome of 120 cardiac rehabilitation patients who did HIIT workouts compared to a control group that only performed moderate-intensity continuous training without intervals. The researchers found that HIIT workouts resulted in building more lean muscle mass, losing more body fat, and trimming about an inch more from waistline measurements… "A considerable amount of research on HIIT has been done in athletes to demonstrate its ability to improve total exercise capacity and sports performance," the study's lead author, Yaoshan Dun, said in a statement. "Scientists and clinicians are just beginning to recognize the power that HIIT may have in clinical populations to prevent a second heart attack in patients who've already had one." Dun is a cardiac rehabilitation specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and is also affiliated with the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in Changsha, China. Additional coverage: Medical Xpress

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Are child multivitamins misleading? Scientists concerned about vitamin D dosage by Fiza Pirani — New research from the United Kingdom suggests few children’s multivitamins actually offer the recommended daily dose of vitamin D. According to the Mayo Clinic, the recommended daily amount of the vitamin is 400 international units for children up to 12 months, 600 IU for ages 1 to 70 years and 800 IU for folks older than 70. Too much vitamin D, on the other hand, can lead to significant kidney problems. Additional coverage: WOKV

Daily Beast, Why I Don't Miss My Breasts by Michelle Cottle — …To be clear: the usual course of treatment for DCIS, the earliest form of breast cancer, is not a bilateral mastectomy. DCIS is, by definition, a noninvasive malignancy confined to the milk ducts. The Mayo Clinic’s website notes that it generally “isn’t life threatening”—so long as you purge the bastard cells before they break free and start running amok. As pretty much every doctor and medical site will tell you, targeted lumpectomies are the preferred course of action for most women.

Travel Weekly, Cannabidiol blooming in hotel food and beverage options by Johanna Jainchill — One night last month at the James New York Nomad hotel, I ordered a room service meal of meatballs, Tater Tots, butter lettuce pear salad, olive tapenade and ice cream topped with caramel. I then enjoyed a really deep sleep. That might have been due to the James' very comfortable bed. But it also could have been because all the things I ate had been prepared with cannabidiol (CBD)… It all adds up to what Brent Bauer, director of the Mayo Clinic's Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program calls "the schizophrenic realm" in which the U.S. currently find itself with regard to cannabis. Owing to its different classifications at federal and state levels, no meaningful clinical studies on CBD are being done. "That explains why it's very hard to get a clear-cut answer on: Is CBD good? Is it safe? Does it work?" he said. "If we could get past all of this legal hoopla and find some funding to do big studies, we'd have a much more directed way of saying use it or don't use it."

MedPage Today, 'Eye-Popping' pCR Rate With SABR Alone in Early Lung Cancer by Pam Harrison — Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) yielded a surprisingly low pathologic complete response (pCR) rate in a phase II trial of operable, early-stage lung cancer patients, raising questions about SABR alone in this setting. In the first study to examine neoadjuvant SABR prior to surgery in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), SABR yielded a 60% pCR rate at 10 weeks post-radiation (95% CI 44%-76%), a rate far lower than hypothesized when the trial was designed, reported David Palma, MD, PhD, of the London Health Sciences Centre in London, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues, in JAMA Oncology….Commenting on the findings, Dennis Wigle, MD, PhD, chair of thoracic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, told MedPage Today that the "big raging debate" about SABR now is where does it fit into the overall algorithm for the treatment of stage I lung cancer.

Healthcare IT News, Mayo Clinic, MIT, Harvard join forces on Medical Genome Initiative by Nathan Eddy — A consortium of eight health care and research organizations in the U.S. and Canada, including the Mayo Clinic and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard announced the launch of the Medical Genome Initiative. The initiative will work to expand access to clinical whole genome sequencing (cWGS) for the diagnosis of genetic diseases, with a focus on the publication of common laboratory and clinical best practices for the application of cWGS.

CURE Today, Administration of Darzalex in Myeloma Therapy by Kristie Kahl — Outcomes associated with subcutaneous injections of Darzalex (daratumumab) appeared similar to intravenous (IV) administration among patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma, supporting the idea that this is a more convenient option, according to topline results from the phase 3 COLUMBA trial…Researchers started exploring the possibility of reformulating IV medications as subcutaneous injections to reduce the toxicity of the drugs and to improve convenience for patients, Stephen Ansell, M.D., Ph.D., a hematologist at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, told CURE. Although the peak levels of the drug may vary with these two forms of administration, studies suggest that both methods are equally effective.

Oncology Times, Recommendations for New Plasma Cell Leukemia Diagnostic Criteria by Brandon May — Recommendations for New Plasma Cell Leukemia Diagnostic Criteria… According to one of the study's researcher, S. Vincent Rajkumar, MD, the findings presented by the Mayo Clinic confirm results from two previously published studies on the diagnostic criteria for PCL.

Columbus Dispatch, Memory screenings can diagnose dementia or allay fears by Kevin Stankiewicz — There isn’t a cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease yet, but early detection is vital for proper treatment. Doctors say memory screenings can help diagnose dementia — or provide peace of mind for people who don’t have the disease… “If you do all that and don’t find something reversible, then you ask whether this might be a sign of something more,” said Dr. Ronald Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

Mind Body Green, The Gut Health/Blood Sugar Connection You Need To Know About by William Cole — Half of the people walking around today have a serious blood sugar problem, and many of them don't even know it. Yes, you read that correctly: 50 percent of adults living in the United States today have diabetes or prediabetes, and even more are suffering from other forms of insulin-resistance-driven blood sugar problems like PCOS and metabolic syndrome. And sadly, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates that up to 50 percent of those people with insulin resistance and prediabetes will end up with full-blown type 2 diabetes if they don't make important changes to their lifestyle… Another study from the Center for Individualized Medicine at the Mayo Clinic followed a group of 300 people over the course of six days. The researchers looked at their glycemic responses and found that when taking into account the foods they ate and number of calories they consumed, they could only accurately predict blood sugar between 32 and 40 percent of the time. But when they looked at the specific bacteria in the microbiomes of each individual, they were able to accurately predict blood sugar response 62 percent of the time.

Healthcare Dive, UPMC operating revenue up 20% to $19B in 2018 as it preps for legal bout by Meg Bryant — The report is a spot of good news as UPMC kicked off 2019 with legal pressures stemming from a contract dispute with rival health system Highmark… Mayo Clinic tallied $12.6 billion in revenue in 2018, up 5.1% from $11.09 billion the prior year. Net operating income was basically flat at $706 million versus $707 million in 2017. The results came despite a $1 billion investment to implement a systemwide Epic EHR and $50 million in revenue lost during the transition.

WZZM Grand Rapids, 'There's definitely hope,' Muskegon man receives rare stem cell therapy by Emma Nicolas — Nobody knows exactly what happened on New Year's Eve 2017 that caused a 29-year-old Muskegon man to lose all feeling in his body. "Just jumped in and that was kind of it," said Geoffrey Craigie. He was celebrating the holiday up in Traverse City with friends and family when he dove into the pool… Last year, Craigie found out he had been selected to be one of 10 people nationwide to take part in the Mayo Clinic's first ever stem cell therapy for people with a traumatic spinal cord injury. Craigie said they took cells from his abdomen in November and reduced them to stem cells. He received the injection just three weeks ago and said he can already feel a change. "I can feel to like the middle of my chest," Craigie said. "So far so good, it's pretty exciting." The hope is that the stem cells will create neurological pathways so the brain can communicate with the muscles again. The Mayo Clinic will continue monitoring Craigie's progression over the next four years.

KTOE-Radio, Remember FAST With Stroke Symptoms by Ashley Hanley — In the wake of popular actor Luke Perry passing away from a stroke at age 52, the warning signs and symptoms of stroke have been brought into the spotlight. Katie Pace, the Southwest Minnesota Regional Stroke Coordinator with Mayo Clinic, says they want people to remember the FAST acronym. She says to ask your provider about your risk factors for stroke.

WIBW Topeka, Stormont Vail and the Mayo Clinic celebrate five year partnership — Stormont Vail celebrated its fifth year anniversary with the Mayo Clinic Care Network Wednesday afternoon.

Coeur d’Alene Press, Praise or pressure? by Brian Walker — Intended praise from the sideline can cause pressure on the field or court. Max Trenerry, a sports psychologist at the Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, spoke to roughly 80 parents and other athlete supporters about "Mind Games" on Tuesday night at the Hagadone Event Center. The name of the game was learning how to support the goals of athletes while managing the stress that comes with competition on and off the field. "There's pressure to perform — and that comes from a lot of sources," Trenerry said, referring to sources such as parents, coaches, teammates and themselves. "They are in that athletic setting to train and go perform. Even at the recreation level, they are there to perform and put something on the line."

Bustle, Why Should You Care About BPA? The Chemical May Carry These Health Risks by Brandi Neal — If you pay attention to what's in the products you use in your home, then you've probably heard that it's best to use BPA-free plastic and food packaging… "Some research has shown that BPA can seep into food or beverages from containers that are made with BPA. Exposure to BPA is a concern because of possible health effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children. Additional research suggests a possible link between BPA and increased blood pressure," Dr. Brent A. Bauer wrote for the Mayo Clinic.

SELF, Luke Perry Dies at 52 After 'Massive' Stroke by Sarah Jacoby — Fans of Riverdale and Beverly Hills 90210 are mourning the loss of actor Luke Perry today, who died age 52, according to People. Perry experienced a "massive" stroke last week, which required him to stay at the hospital "under observation," TMZ reports. Unfortunately, the damage was too severe and Perry passed away on Monday. No other details are available at this time… If you think you or someone you know is experiencing a stroke, the Mayo Clinic says you can give them the FAST test: Face: Monitor the person's face for signs of drooping by asking them to smile. Arms: See if the person's arms behave the same way. Ask them to raise both of their arms and see if they both rise or if one tilts downward. Speech: Check if the person's speech is slurred by asking them to repeat a simple phrase back to you. Time: Know that it's important to act quickly and call 911 immediately if you notice any of these signs of a stroke. Additional coverage: Good Housekeeping

SELF, Here's What It Means if You Got a Skin Reaction From Your Makeup by Jessica Toscano — Your skin can’t talk, but it can still express displeasure. If you’ve ever gotten a red, itchy rash on your face after applying makeup, then you know as much from experience. This unnerving reaction is called contact dermatitis… Not to be confused with atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema), contact dermatitis is a red, itchy rash that can emerge when a substance aggravates your skin in some way, according to the Mayo Clinic. Contact dermatitis can be either irritant or allergic. Irritant contact dermatitis occurs when you touch something that harms the top layer of your skin. As the Mayo Clinic notes, this is the more common type of contact dermatitis.

SELF, Here’s When to See a Doctor About Period Clots by Korin Miller — Having a period means that your vagina might unleash clots of blood that look nothing like the tidy little splashes of fluid you see in most tampon commercials. While period clots can be part and parcel of menstruation, sometimes they can be a sign that something isn’t quite right in your body. Here’s how to know the difference. First, a mini-primer on blood clots in general. When you think about clots of blood, you might imagine the kind that come together when you have a cut. Your body springs into action, combining enough platelets (blood cells that adhere to each other) and proteins from plasma (the liquid part of your blood) to plug the injured blood vessel, the Mayo Clinic says. This is how clots help to stop bleeding.

El Comercio, Alfredo Quiñones: el neurocirujano que Disney busca llevar al cine by Diego Suárez Bosleman — Google translation: The Mexican Alfredo Quiñones Hinojosa has worked in more than 400 specialized publications and is the author of more than seven books. In 2014 he was elected the neurosurgeon of the year in the USA. and in 2015 the magazine "Forbes" considered him one of the most brilliant Mexican minds in the world. But those hands that now remove tumors before worked the earth to survive. At age 19, Quiñones was forced to cross the US border. for a better future. It's an amazing personal story that even Disney is looking to take to the big screen. However, Quiñones, current head of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic (Florida), is more fascinated by one thing in particular: understanding the functioning of the brain. The specialist was in the country to treat patients of limited resources in the clinic Delgado. El Comercio was able to converse with him.

Centro Tampa, Mellizos: Sanó estaría fuera hasta mayo por corte en talon — El tercera base Miguel Sanó se perderá al parecer el primer mes de la temporada regular con los Mellizos, luego de someterse a otro procedimiento para reparar un corte severo arriba del talón de su pie derecho. Sanó fue enviado con un cirujano plástico en la Clínica Mayo en Minnesota, donde se sometió a una operación llamada un desbridamiento, que elimina el tejido dañado u objetos extraños en una herida, dijo el martes el jefe de béisbol de los Mellizos, Derek Falver.

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.

Editors: Emily Blahnik, Kelley Luckstein

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