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January 27th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Tuesday Q and A: Alzheimer’s can often be identified in its earliest stages
By lizatorborg 
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: How soon can Alzheimer’s disease be diagnosed? What are the early symptoms to watch for?
ANSWER: There is no one test that can be used to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. But based on an assessment of symptoms, along with a variety of tests and exams, Alzheimer’s can often be identified in its earliest stages. 
Seeking medical attention as soon as Alzheimer’s symptoms become noticeable is key to a prompt diagnosis.
The most common early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is forgetfulness. Distinguishing between memory loss that is due to aging and memory loss due to Alzheimer’s can be tricky, though.
As people get older, the number of cells, or neurons, in the brain goes down. That can make it harder to learn new things or to remember familiar words. Older adults may have difficulty coming up with names of acquaintances, for example, or they may have trouble finding reading glasses or car keys. In most cases, these memory lapses do not signal the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Alzheimer's, Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Petersen, Dr. Ronald Petersen, Tuesday Q and A
January 26th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
New Breast Cancer Risk Prediction Model More Accurate Than Current Model
By Joe Dangor 
ROCHESTER, Minn. — A new breast cancer risk prediction model combining histologic features of biopsied breast tissue from women with benign breast disease and individual patient demographic information more accurately classified breast cancer risk than the current screening standard. Results of a Mayo Clinic study comparing the new model to the current standard, the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT), are published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Tags: Amy Degnim, Benign Breast Disease, Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool, Dr Degnim, Journal of Clinical Oncology, M.D., Minnesota News Releases, news releases, risk prediction model
January 26th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
By Jim McVeigh 
WHAT: Audio news conference about an agreement between Mayo Clinic and King-Devick to bring an objective
concussion screening tool that can be administered on the sidelines by parents, coaches, athletic trainers, school nurses and medical professionals.
WHO: Mayo Clinic and King-Devick
David Dodick, M.D., Mayo Clinic Neurologist, Director, Mayo Clinic Concussion Program
Steve Devick, founder and developer of the King-Devick Test
WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 27 8:30 a.m. (MST)
CALL-IN: Journalists can join the call at: 800-768-2481.
RSVP: Emily Blahnik at blahnik.emily@mayo.edu or 507-538-7404.
INFO: Journalists who are registered members of Mayo Clinic News Network will have access to materials under embargo at http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/. Journalists can register at http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/request-account/. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Arizona News Release, concussion, David Dodick, King Devick, News Release
January 26th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
By Dana Sparks 
THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
Red wine and resveratrol: Good for your heart?
Can a glass of red wine with your meal really help your heart? The substance resveratrol may reduce "bad" cholesterol and more.
Cold remedies: What works, what doesn't, what can't hurt
People have been saying for centuries that chicken soup helps a cold. Does it really work? What about other remedies? Get the facts and feel better soon.
EXPERT ANSWERS
Flat stomach: Can girdles tighten abdominal muscles?
Want a flat stomach? Diet and exercise — not undergarments — are what count.
Benefits of being bilingual: Delay Alzheimer's?
Knowing at least two languages may help protect you against the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Alzheimer's, healthy recipes, Heart Disease, Monday's Housecall, Red Wine
January 26th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Precision Medicine: Mayo Clinic Expert Describes Next Steps to Help More Patients
Rochester, Minn. – “Precision medicine” is becoming a national catchphrase after President Obama highlighted it in his State of the Union address. 
But what exactly is it? Richard Weinshilboum, M.D., acting director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, describes this new, rapidly advancing frontier in medicine and outlines 10 changes that would speed development and help more patients benefit from a personalized approach to health care:
What is precision medicine? In precision medicine, also called individualized medicine or personalized medicine, physicians use knowledge about a person’s personal genetic makeup to help determine the best plan for disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The mapping of the human genome in 2003 by U.S. scientists jump-started medical genomics; the Human Genome Project was an immense international collaboration that took 13 years and cost $3.8 billion. The National Institutes of Health’s National Human Genome Research Institute, which coordinated the project, estimates economic growth from that project at $798 billion.
"We are now poised to apply genomic technologies developed with the findings of the Human Genome Project into everyday patient care,” Dr. Weinshilboum says.
“However, if the U.S. is to remain the world leader in health care innovation and delivery, we need another national genomics effort that will accelerate scientific discovery and clinical implementation while continuing to encourage the rapid technological innovations and entrepreneurialism that have gotten us to this point."
MEDIA CONTACT: To schedule an interview with Dr. Weinshilboum or other Mayo Clinic individualized medicine experts, please contact Sam Smith or Robert Nellis in Mayo Clinic Public Affairs at 507-284-5005 or newsbureau@mayo.edu. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Genetics, genomics, Human Genome, Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota news release, News Release, personalized medicine, precision medicine, Richard Weinshilboum, whole exome sequencing, whole genome sequencing
January 25th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Snowstorm Scheduled to Slam Northeast States This Week
By Dana Sparks
Hospital emergency departments see an influx of weather-related injuries with each snowstorm. Mayo Clinic emergency medicine specialist David Nestler, M.D., says falls are among the most common emergencies. "The snow and ice make it easy to slip and fall. We see many, many broken bones because of that." Weather-related vehicle accidents, heart attacks triggered while shoveling snow and exposure injuries, like frostbite, also send more people to emergency rooms.
Courtesy: The Weather Channel
Click on links below to see previous Mayo Clinic News Network posts:
- Fearful of Frostbite?
- Winter's Severe Cold Snap Calls for Extra Dose of Caution
- Slipping, Sliding and Snow Shoveling Season
- Winter Health: Common Sense Decisions and Smart Preparations
To interview a Mayo Clinic expert about winter safety contact:
Mayo Clinic Public Affairs 507-284-5005 newsbureau@mayo.edu
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Tags: Emergency Department, frostbite, Snowstorm, winter
January 24th, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Weekend Wellness: Gleason score indicates grade of prostate cancer
By lizatorborg
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 73 and just had a prostate biopsy that showed a malignant tumor with a Gleason score of 8. Is this an indication of an aggressive cancer and if so, what are my treatment options?
ANSWER: Gleason score indicates the grade of your prostate cancer. The higher the Gleason score, the more aggressive the cancer is likely to be. 
Of the factors related to prostate cancer that doctors take into consideration when deciding on treatment, Gleason score is probably the most important one. In most cases, treatment with radiation and hormonal therapy or with surgery is recommended based on a Gleason score of 8.
The Gleason score was developed in the 1960s by a pathologist named Donald Gleason. It has stood the test of time, and doctors now rely on it to predict how likely prostate cancer is to grow and spread.
For most kinds of cancer, tumor grade is determined by looking at individual cancer cells through a microscope using a high level of magnification to examine the details of those cells. Gleason score is different. With this method, a pathologist examines prostate tissue samples under a microscope using low magnification to observe the patterns of the cancer cells. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Dr Jeffrey Karnes, Dr Karnes, Gleason score, prostate biopsy, Prostate Cancer, Weekend Wellness
January 23rd, 2015 · Leave a Comment
By Dana Sparks
Does having a cancer biopsy increase the chances your cancer will spread? We’ll explore this topic with cancer surgeon Dr. KMarie Reid Lombardo on the next Mayo Clinic Radio. Also on Mayo Clinic Radio, we’ll talk with OB/GYN specialist Dr. Sean Dowdy about the latest advances in preventing, detecting and treating cervical cancer. Please join us.
Myth or Fact: Having a biopsy of my cancer will cause it to spread.
Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeart Radio.
Click here to listen to the program on Saturday at 9:05 a.m. and follow #MayoClinicRadio.
Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines: News Seg January 24, 2015 (right click MP3)
To find and listen to archived shows, click here.
Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic. The show is taped for rebroadcast by some affiliates.
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Tags: Cancer Biopsy, Cervical Cancer, Dr KMarie Reid Lombardo, Dr. Sean Dowdy, Mayo Clinic Radio
January 23rd, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Measles Can Almost Always be Prevented With a Vaccine
By Dana Sparks
USA Today - "An outbreak of measles that began at Disneyland before Christmas is disrupting lives in six states. Arizona became the latest state to report a case of measles related to Disneyland when a woman in her 50s was diagnosed. The outbreak has spread to Utah, Washington, Colorado, Oregon and across the border to Mexico."
Measles is a childhood infection caused by a virus. Once quite common, measles can now almost always be prevented with a vaccine. Signs and symptoms of measles include cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, sore throat, fever and a red, blotchy skin rash. Also called rubeola, measles can be serious and even fatal for small children. While death rates have been falling worldwide as more children receive the measles vaccine, the disease still kills more than 100,000 people a year, most under the age of 5. Learn more:
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Tags: Infectious Diseases, measles, Vaccination
January 23rd, 2015 · Leave a Comment
By Sam Smith 
Rochester, Minn. — A new breast imaging technique pioneered at Mayo Clinic nearly quadruples detection rates of invasive breast cancers in women with dense breast tissue, according to the results of a major study published this week in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Molecular Breast Imaging (right) detected 3.6 times as many invasive cancers as digital mammography (left) in the latest study of more than 1,500 women with dense breast tissue. About half of screening-age women have dense breast tissue, which digital mammography renders the same whitish shade as tumors. Results are published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) is a supplemental imaging technology designed to find tumors that would otherwise be obscured by surrounding dense breast tissue on a mammogram. Tumors and dense breast tissue can both appear white on a mammogram, making tumors indistinguishable from background tissue in women with dense breasts. About half of all screening-aged women have dense breast tissue, according to Deborah Rhodes, M.D., a Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic physician and the senior author of this study.
MBI increased the detection rate of invasive breast cancers by more than 360 percent when used in addition to regular screening mammography, according to the study. MBI uses small, semiconductor-based gamma cameras to image the breast following injection of a radiotracer that tumors absorb avidly. Unlike conventional breast imaging techniques, such as mammography and ultrasound, MBI exploits the different behavior of tumors relative to background tissue, producing a functional image of the breast that can detect tumors not seen on mammography.
The study, conducted at Mayo Clinic, included 1,585 women with heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts who underwent an MBI exam at the time of their screening mammogram.
MEDIA CONTACT: Joe Dangor or Sam Smith, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Breast Cancer, Dr Amy Conners, Dr Deborah Rhodes, Dr Michael O'Connor, mammogram, MBI, Minnesota news release, Molecular Breast Imaging, News Release, radiology, supplemental screening
January 23rd, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Magic mouthwash: Effective for mouth sores resulting from chemotherapy?
By Dana Sparks
Magic mouthwash: Effective for mouth sores resulting from chemotherapy?
Some forms of chemotherapy and radiation therapy cause painful mouth sores. Magic mouthwash may provide relief.
Research shows higher breast cancer risk for women with atypical hyperplasia
New findings may change screening and prevention recommendations for women with atypical hyperplasia of the breast.
Overview of Mayo Clinic Cancer Research
The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center with a multisite presence. Its three campuses — in Scottsdale, Ariz., Jacksonville, Fla., and Rochester, Minn. — give the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center a broad geographic reach, enabling it to serve diverse patient populations around the world.
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Tags: atypical hyperplasia, Chemotherapy, Living With Cancer Blog, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Mouth Sore
January 23rd, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Treating Sinus Infections Without Antibiotics
By Dana Sparks
Tomah, WI - People often want antibiotics to tackle a sinus infection but that
might not be the best treatment since most infections are caused by viruses. Antibiotics fight bacteria, not viruses.
There are also complications that can develop with dependency on these drugs. The more antibiotics are used the less effective they can become, with possible side effects like dizziness, stomach problems and rashes.
Instead of turning to antibiotics, Alan Conway, M.D., family physician at Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare in Tomah, suggests some alternative methods of treatment. Dr. Conway says, “First of all, you should give yourself enough rest. Your body needs the time to fight the infection with full force, especially in the first few days when symptoms are the most severe.”
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Tags: antibiotics, Dr Alan Conway, Mayo Clinic Health System, sinus infection
January 22nd, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Diabetes: Testing for Early Indicators
Many people first learn they have diabetes through blood tests done for another condition or as part of a routine physical exam. But in some cases, diabetes may not be detected before damage to your eyes, kidneys or other organs has occurred. That’s why the American Diabetes Association recommends adults have a fasting blood glucose test at age 45. If the test results are normal, repeat the test every three years. If your results are borderline, have a fasting blood sugar test every year. Your health care provider may also test for diabetes based on your symptoms or risk factors.
Mayo Clinic Health System family medicine provider Steven Adamson, M.D., says, "Although the amount of sugar in your blood fluctuates, the range is relatively narrow," says . "After fasting all night, most people have levels between 70 and 100 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). That’s the equivalent of about one teaspoon of sugar in a gallon of water. If you consistently have fasting glucose levels above 125 mg/dL, you likely have diabetes."
Dr. Adamson shares tests that can detect diabetes: Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Diabetes, Dr Steven Adamson, Glucose test, Mayo Clinic Health System
January 22nd, 2015 · Leave a Comment
By Dana Sparks
GERD: Can certain medications increase severity?
Center for Congenital Heart Disease
Alzheimer's: Managing sleep problems
Allergy medications and pregnancy: What's safe?
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Tags: Allergy Medications, Alzheimer's, Congenital Heart Disease, GERD, Heart Failure, Sleep, Thursday Consumer Health Tips
January 21st, 2015 · Leave a Comment
Mayo Clinic to host Science Conference for area students on Jan. 27
By Bob Nellis 
Mayo Clinic researchers have invited approximately 200 area eighth grade and high school students to the 16th Biennial Celebration of Research, a daylong conference for students interested in learning about careers in science.
The keynote address, "Harnessing Viruses to Attack Cancer," will be presented by Eva Galanis, M.D., a professor of oncology and chair of the Department of Molecular Medicine at Mayo Clinic. This year's theme, "Going Viral," pertains to Dr. Galanis’ research and clinical efforts on using modified viruses to develop novel therapeutics for cancer treatment.
Students are scheduled to attend from Albert Lea, Altura, Austin, Blooming Prairie, Caledonia, Chatfield, Dover, Elgin, Eyota, Faribault, Grand Meadow, Houston, Kasson, Kenyon, Lanesboro, Lewiston, Lyle, Mantorville, Mazeppa, Millville, Northfield, Owatonna, Peterson, Pine Island, Plainview, Rochester, Rushford, Southland, Stewartville, Winona and Zumbrota. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Celebration of Research, Dr Eva Galanis, High School Science Conference, Minnesota news release, News Release, oncology