ROCHESTER, Minn. — North Kansas City Hospital and Mayo Clinic Platform announced that the hospital in North Kansas City, Missouri has joined the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

Mayo Clinic Care Network members receive special access to Mayo Clinic's knowledge and expertise, including transformational capabilities and access to digital solutions from Mayo Clinic Platform. Members are carefully vetted, independent healthcare organizations.

"This is a momentous day for our patients, hospital, and the community," says Stephen Reintjes Sr., M.D., president and CEO of North Kansas City Hospital. "Joining Mayo Clinic Care Network enhances our ability to deliver top-quality care and clinical expertise directly to our patients. Our shared values make this collaboration especially meaningful, and we are proud to be part of this exceptional network."

Providers from North Kansas City Hospital can combine their understanding of their patients’ medical needs with Mayo Clinic expertise, so patients get the care they need, close to home.

"We are pleased to welcome North Kansas City Hospital into the Mayo Clinic Care Network," says Mark V. Larson, M.D., medical director, Mayo Clinic Platform. "Our shared mission is to provide exceptional care to patients, and this collaboration will enhance the quality of healthcare in the region."

Through North Kansas City Hospital’s membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network, its providers have access to Mayo Clinic Platform-enabled clinical solutions and services, including the following:

• AskMayoExpert: A point-of-care tool offering concise clinical information on hundreds of medical conditions including medical protocols, treatment recommendations and medical references. The database can be used wherever healthcare is provided.
• eConsults: Connections to Mayo Clinic specialists for second opinions on specific patient cases.
• eBoards: Live, scheduled video conferences that enable medical teams at North Kansas City Hospital to review and discuss complex cases with a Mayo Clinic multidisciplinary panel and other doctors in the Mayo Clinic Care Network.
• Healthcare consulting: Access to Mayo Clinic's extensive experience, knowledge and subspecialty expertise to achieve clinical, operational and business goals.

Staff from North Kansas City Hospital can use Mayo Clinic educational materials designed for patients and access opportunities for professional development and continuous medical education.

North Kansas City Hospital and other Mayo Clinic Care Network members remain independent and join an ecosystem of more than 60 healthcare organizations around the world.

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About North Kansas City Hospital
For more than 67 years, North Kansas City Hospital has been the Northland’s preferred healthcare provider. Our mission is to provide hope and healing to every life we touch.

NKCH is an acute care facility with 451 licensed beds and more than 600 physicians on the medical staff representing 49 medical specialties. From our award-winning cardiovascular and orthopedic programs to our cancer, emergency, neuroscience, spine, women’s and other services, our team of 4,700 employees provide a lifetime of care.

Our mission, vision and values reflect a strong commitment to the health and well-being of our employees, the Northland community and beyond. Explore NKCH’s full range of services at nkch.org.

About Mayo Clinic Platform
Founded on Mayo Clinic's dedication to patient-centered care, Mayo Clinic Platform enables new knowledge, new solutions, and new technologies through collaborations with health technology innovators to create a healthier world. To learn more, visit Mayo Clinic Platform at www.mayoclinicplatform.org.

About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and to providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. 

Media contact:

• Kaitlin Haar, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post North Kansas City Hospital in Missouri joins Mayo Clinic Care Network appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A study published in Brain Communications highlights a new approach to treating drug-resistant epilepsy. Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed an innovative deep brain stimulation (DBS) platform that was used to not only reduce seizures, but also improve memory and sleep — two common challenges for patients with epilepsy.

Epilepsy, a seizure disorder that affects about 50 million people worldwide, often disrupts memory, emotions and sleep. Many cases are drug-resistant, leaving people with limited treatment options. Researchers at Mayo Clinic found that low-frequency DBS not only reduced seizures, but it also improved memory and sleep.

"Using an implanted investigational device, the team continuously monitored brain activity with AI-driven seizure and sleep tracking," says Gregory Worrell, M.D., Ph.D., Mayo Clinic neurologist and co-lead author of the study. "A cloud-based platform simultaneously assessed participants' behavior, memory and mood at home. This real-time data enables precise tuning of stimulation settings, maximizing benefits while minimizing side effects."

"By using an implanted device that continuously monitors brain activity, we can detect seizures more accurately than patient-reported diaries in order to optimize deep brain stimulation in real-time and improve treatment," says Vaclav Kremen, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic researcher and co-lead author of the study.

The researchers monitored five patients with temporal lobe epilepsy throughout their DBS treatment. The system allowed patients to track their brain activity and symptoms remotely, providing doctors with detailed, real-world data to fine-tune treatments. This technology could lead to more effective treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy and could be expanded to treat other neurological and psychiatric disorders.

"Our study demonstrates the potential of emerging neurotechnology to treat human disease," says Jamie Van Gompel, M.D., Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon and co-author of the study.

"Combining neuroscience, engineering and artificial intelligence, our work is paving the way for more personalized and effective treatments for epilepsy and other brain disorders," says Dr. Worrell.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health — National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the CLARA project, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program.  The implanted devices were donated by Medtronic as part of the National Institutes of Health Brain Initiative Public-Private Partnership.

Review the study for a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding. 

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact: 

• Tia Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu 

The post New study in Brain Communications finds personalized deep brain stimulation shows promise for drug-resistant epilepsy appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minnesota — It is a large part of the body that lies deep inside, out of sight and perhaps out of mind: your abdominal core. A new and rapidly developing area of medicine focuses on abdominal core health, including how people can incorporate it into a healthy lifestyle and how to address complex medical problems that arise when it is compromised. Dr. Charlotte Horne, a metabolic and abdominal wall reconstructive surgeon at Mayo Clinic, explains what abdominal core health is, how to protect it and risk factors for problems that may require surgery.

"The abdominal core is the outside muscular container of your abdominal wall," Dr. Horne says. "This starts at the diaphragm and goes all the way down to the pelvic support muscles. Most of the core is muscle and connective tissue. It's a muscular container that holds your internal organs in. Every time you breathe, bend, bear down to have a bowel movement, you're using these muscles."

The abdominal core includes abdominal muscles that people may think of as the "six-pack," and oblique muscles and tissue that wrap all the way around the upper part of the abdomen and connect to the midline of the body, Dr. Horne adds. Many nerves lie between the layers of muscle and tissue, including those that extend to the groin, thighs, back and hips.

Those muscles function as a unit and that unit needs to operate well for you and your body to perform daily activities, Dr. Horne says. One way to strengthen the structural integrity of your abdominal core is to engage it during your normal activities, she explains: You do not have to do thousands of sit-ups or become a bodybuilder.

"One of the things we're realizing is that we need to educate people how to appropriately engage those muscles when they do everything from going from lying to sitting and sitting to standing, lifting objects and other basic movements in their daily lives," she says. "When people do yoga or Pilates, they think about pulling their belly button into their spine. That helps stabilize the deeper muscles of the abdominal wall."

Improving abdominal core health involves conscious engagement of the abdominal muscles, "bringing everything in and holding it in," Dr. Horne says. 

Risk factors for abdominal core problems are wide-ranging. They include cancer treatment; inflammatory bowel disease; chronic or severe coughing; and complications from pregnancy (diastasis recti) and surgery. The most common problems are hernias, when part of an organ or tissue bulges through a weak spot in muscle.

"Coughing can cause large hernias. When you're coughing, you're bearing down and there is a sudden, acute change in intra-abdominal pressure, almost like punching from the outside in or from the inside out," Dr. Horne explains. "When you're doing that all of the time, it causes significant stress to your abdominal wall."

Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can help protect abdominal core health. Smoking increases the risk of chronic coughing, while heavy alcohol consumption to the point of cirrhosis can cause hormonal changes that in turn weaken the abdominal wall, Dr. Horne says. 

As knowledge about abdominal core health grows, approaches to protecting it and healing it are advancing, Dr. Horne says. For example:

• Pregnancy causes muscles to expand to accommodate a baby, and sometimes those muscles do not go back to normal. Exercise regimens during and after pregnancy can help to stabilize them.
• Healthcare experts are realizing that restrictions on movement after surgery may not help and sometimes may be harmful. Rather than telling people not to lift anything, it may be more appropriate to explain how to safely reengage those muscles and tendons, Dr. Horne suggests.
• People with inflammatory bowel disease are likelier to have surgery and therefore are likelier to develop hernias. Surgeons now know that in those patients, mesh should be placed in different anatomic planes to prevent the mesh from touching the bowel and potentially causing problems later, Dr. Horne says.
• Pelvic floor physical therapy can help women experiencing urinary or fecal incontinence after pregnancy or menopause, she says.
• There is growing recognition that mesh used to repair hernias isn't one-size-fits-all. Dr. Horne's research focuses on hernia repair in women, including mesh and mesh techniques.

In her practice, Dr. Horne specializes in complex hernia surgeries.

"Most of the patients that I care for have more of their abdominal contents outside of their abdominal cavity than inside," she explains.

Even with hernias as large as 10 to 15 centimeters, surgeries can be performed with a robot to minimize the incision, or can be done with a mix of robotic surgery and minimal open surgery, Dr. Horne says. She uses 3D-printed models to help plan surgeries. Sometimes Botox is used to lengthen the abdominal wall muscles, she adds.

"The best part is that patients go from a dysfunctional abdominal wall to one that is functional within about a week in the hospital," Dr. Horne says. "Seeing them at their checkup a year later is the best thing because they go from saying `I couldn't do anything' to `I've gone on all these trips, I've done all these things that I've wanted to do for years but haven't been able to.' They are so happy that they can put that whole thing behind them, which is great."

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Sharon Theimer, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Your abdominal core: Expert shares tips for protecting a part of the body you may not think about   appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

For Anthony Maita, 'Buddy' is not just any other dog.

"He's the best thing that's ever happened to me," says Anthony.

It's no wonder, considering Buddy was right by Anthony's side during one of the most challenging times of his life — when Anthony began having epileptic seizures.

Watch: When seizures don't stop: Anthony's battle against drug-resistant epilepsy

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:38) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"I started having the seizures, noticeable seizures, and from there, it just started getting worse and worse," recalls Anthony.

It began after Anthony graduated from high school. He was making plans for his future and looking forward to attending college. That's when the seizures began.

Initially, the seizures were mild but quickly became more severe. "The experience (seizure) is like a loss of time, like a blank spot in your memory — like you're waking up without any recollection of what happened," says Anthony.

"The seizures were several times a week. His lips would be blue. His mouth would be blue," says Patricia Maita, Anthony's mother. "It so hard to see your child go through that and feel so helpless."

Doctors tried to manage Anthony's seizures with medication, but nothing worked. Eventually Anthony was diagnosed with drug-resistant epilepsy, or DRE.

In search of hope, Anthony's family turned to Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

"Up to a third of patients who develop epilepsy during their life will become resistant to medication," explains Jonathon J. Parker, M.D., Ph.D., a neurosurgeon at Mayo Clinic who specializes in treating the most serious and complex cases of epilepsy, including DRE.

"These patients have tried at least two medications, and they're still having seizures. At that point, we know the chances of seizure freedom unfortunately become very low, and that's when we start looking at other options," says Dr. Parker.

A battle for millions worldwide

Anthony is one of approximately 50 million people worldwide diagnosed with epilepsy. It is one of the most common neurological disorders globally. It is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Of those diagnosed with epilepsy, approximately 30%, or 15 million people, are considered medication-resistant. Uncontrolled seizures often rob many people of their ability to live and function independently.

While it is rare, seizures can lead to sudden unexplained death in epilepsy, or SUDEP. "We know that more frequent seizures mean the patient is at higher risk of SUDEP, so that's why we are very aggressive about treating epilepsy with all the tools we have available," says Dr. Parker.

Current treatment options for patients with DRE include surgical procedures such as brain resection to remove a portion of the brain tissue responsible for generating seizures. A less invasive procedure involves laser ablation therapy that pinpoints and destroys abnormal brain tissue. While often effective, these surgical approaches carry the risk of possible side effects, such as memory impairment, motor deficits and speech difficulties. 

Neuromodulation is another surgical approach that uses electrical or magnetic stimulation to interrupt abnormal neural activity without removing brain tissue.

Unlocking new hope for patients

Now, a growing number of scientists across the globe are part of an innovative trend in research, investigating novel ways to treat DRE. It involves the use of regenerative medicine as a "reparative" approach to help the brain heal. 

Dr. Parker is the lead investigator of the first-in-human clinical trial at Mayo Clinic which studies the use of implanted specialized inhibitory brain cells as a potential reparative treatment for DRE. Dr. Parker's clinical trial is underway in Arizona.

Mayo Clinic in Arizona is one of 29 sites nationwide participating in the inhibitory brain cell implant clinical trial for patients with focal epilepsy, where seizures originate in a specific region of the brain. 

Anthony became Mayo Clinic's first patient to undergo the investigational brain cell implant. 

"We use a very minimally invasive technique where we inject the inhibitory cells through a pencil eraser-sized incision in the back of the head. Our hope is that, over time, these cells become part of the brain and help repair the neural circuitry, and reduce or prevent seizures without the side effects," says Dr. Parker. The cells are implanted in a one-time, single-dose procedure.

"Honestly, it was pretty easy," says Anthony. "I had no trouble with it." Anthony was discharged from the hospital the next day.

Doctors say it is still too early to determine whether the brain cell implant was effective, but they are hopeful.

"Anthony has been doing great since the procedure," says Dr. Amy Z. Crepeau, a neurologist at Mayo Clinic. "We have a great deal of optimism in regard to the potential of this brain cell therapy. Developing a safe and effective, minimally invasive treatment that does not carry the possible negative side effects could be a game changer in treating patients with DRE and improving their quality of life."

Tabitha's life-long struggle to control seizures

Tabitha Wilson lives in fear, never knowing when or where the next seizure will strike.

The Florida resident was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 2. She was placed on medication that adequately managed her seizures — until the week before her high school graduation. 

"I was 17 years old sitting in history class when the seizure happened," recalls Tabitha. "They had to load me up in an ambulance in front of the whole school."

Tabitha tried new types of medications, but the seizures only got worse.

"I fell down a flight of stairs, burned myself while cooking. I've completely blacked out and don't know where I am or who you are," says Tabitha. She was eventually diagnosed with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Tabitha underwent three brain surgeries to treat her DRE. Still, the seizures continued.

"I'll have good days and bad days. Some days, I'll have two, three, four seizures, back-to-back," says Tabitha.

Her uncontrolled seizures have robbed Tabitha of the ability to live independently. "I can't drive. I can't cook. I can't go swimming alone. I can't take a bath, only a shower and if someone is home with me," says Tabitha.

Watch: Tabitha Wilson shares what it's like to live with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Tabitha turned to Mayo Clinic in Florida where she learned about a clinical trial also investigating the potential of regenerative medicine as a possible treatment for DRE.

Dr. Sanjeet S. Grewal, director of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic, is leading a team of researchers studying the use of implanted stem cells in conjunction with deep brain stimulation for patients like Tabitha.

Deep brain stimulation is one of the most recent FDA-approved methods of neuromodulation therapy for epilepsy. Studies show that patients who undergo deep brain stimulation experience median seizure reduction up to 70% after five years. However, Dr. Grewal says it is uncommon for patients to become seizure-free. 

"Unfortunately, neuromodulation doesn't give us the seizure freedom we want, and that's why we are trying to combine deep brain stimulation with stem cell therapy to see if we can increase the efficacy of neuromodulation," he says. 

Tabitha became the first patient to undergo the investigational treatment. Dr. Grewal says she is also the first person in the world to undergo surgery for deep brain stimulation and receive stem cell therapy in the thalamus in her brain as a potential treatment for DRE. 

Watch: Dr. Sanjeet Grewal, neurosurgeon, explains how Mayo researchers are leading a new trend in research for treating patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

The clinical trial involves the use of mesenchymal stem cells, a type of adult stem cell that has anti-inflammatory properties. MSCs may also support tissue repair and healing. Further scientific research is needed to confirm their therapeutic potential in the field of regenerative medicine.

The MSCs used in the clinical trial are derived from fat tissue and created at the Human Cell Therapy Laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida under the leadership of Abba Zubair, M.D., Ph.D., a pioneer in cell therapy.

Dr. Zubair's research teams have developed a cost-effective method of producing MSCs for use in potential treatments for conditions such as stroke.

Dr. Zubair has also led innovative research, including sending stem cells to the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity impacts their growth.

"My mission is to discover ways to address problems that patients have been struggling with and find a solution for them.
I believe the future is bright. "

Dr. Abba Zubair, Pioneer in Cell therapy, Mayo Clinic in Florida

Dr. Zubair has several research projects scheduled to launch into space in 2025.

"MSCs are what we call multipotent, meaning they can differentiate into different cell types based on where they're placed. If they are placed near blood vessels, they can become blood vessel types. If they're placed by heart cells, they can become heart cell types," explains Dr. Grewal.

The hope is the MSCs eventually become neural or brain cell types and interact in the part of the brain where the seizures occur. "It's called paracrine signaling, where they're releasing signals to the brain tissue around them and interacting in a way to try to repair that tissue."

Since undergoing the procedure, there has been an improvement in Tabitha's seizure management. However, Dr. Grewal says it is too early to know whether this is due to the deep brain stimulation, stem cells or both. 

Drs. Grewal and Parker say there is still a long road ahead to determine whether these cell therapies are proven safe and effective for patients with DRE. But they agree each day brings them one step closer to a potential treatment or cure for patients like Tabitha and Anthony.

"We've thought about this for generations, we just didn't have these technologies to enable it. Now we do," says Dr. Grewal. "So, whether it's wound healing, neurodegeneration, epilepsy or stroke, there are so many different studies going on investigating the potential of regenerative or reparative therapies."

Related articles

• Mayo Clinic researchers lead transformative shift toward neurorestorative treatment strategies for most severe forms of epilepsy
• Epilepsy Treatment
• Minimally invasive epilepsy treatment
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Demystifying epilepsy
• Epilepsy Surgery
• Laser ablation surgery helps treat young man’s epilepsy

The post (VIDEO) When seizures don’t stop: The battle against drug-resistant epilepsy appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Mayo Clinic is taking epilepsy research in a bold new direction, exploring treatment approaches to help patients living with the most severe and difficult-to-treat forms of epilepsy. About 50 million people worldwide are impacted by epilepsy. Approximately 30% of patients, or about 15 million people, suffer with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). While some patients experience only a few seizures per month, others may endure hundreds each day — ranging from episodes that are mild to life-threatening. 

Current treatment options for patients with DRE include surgical procedures such as brain resection to remove a portion of the brain tissue responsible for generating seizures. A less invasive procedure involves laser ablation therapy that pinpoints and destroys abnormal brain tissue. While often effective, these surgical approaches carry the risk of possible side effects, such as memory impairment, motor deficits and speech difficulties. Neuromodulation is another surgical approach that uses electrical or magnetic stimulation to interrupt abnormal neural activity without removing brain tissue.

Now, a growing number of scientists across the globe are part of an innovative trend in research investigating novel ways to DRE. It involves the use of regenerative medicine as a "reparative" approach to help the brain heal. 

Neurosurgeon Jonathon J. Parker, M.D., Ph.D., is the lead investigator of the first-in-human clinical trial at Mayo Clinic studying the use of implanted specialized inhibitory brain cells as a potential reparative treatment for DRE. The clinical trial is underway at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

"This is an exciting time for regenerative medicine and the potential it may have for millions of people who suffer from the debilitating side effects of DRE," says Dr. Parker. "We use a very minimally invasive technique where we inject the inhibitory cells through a pencil eraser-sized incision in the back of the head. Our hope is that, over time, these cells become part of the brain and help repair the neural circuitry, and reduce or prevent seizures without the side effects," says Dr. Parker.

Mayo Clinic in Arizona is one of 29 sites nationwide participating in the inhibitory brain cell implant clinical trial for patients with focal epilepsy, where seizures originate in a specific region of the brain. 

Arizona resident Anthony Maita was the first person at Mayo Clinic to participate in the clinical trial. He underwent the one-time, single-dose procedure and was discharged from the hospital the next day. "I had no trouble with it," says Anthony. "My biggest hope is that, one day, I don't have to deal with this. My other biggest hope is that other people won't have to either."

It is still too early to determine whether the brain cell implant was effective for Anthony. Doctors are monitoring his progress closely. "Anthony has been doing great since the procedure," says Amy Crepeau, M.D., neurologist at Mayo Clinic. "We have a great deal of optimism in regard to the potential of this brain cell therapy. Developing a safe and effective, minimally invasive treatment that does not carry the possible negative side effects could be a game changer in treating patients with DRE and improving their quality of life."

Another clinical trial is underway at Mayo Clinic in Florida investigating the potential of regenerative medicine as a reparative treatment for DRE. Researchers are exploring the use of implanted stem cells in conjunction with neuromodulation.

One of the most recent FDA-approved methods of neuromodulation therapy for epilepsy is deep brain stimulation. While patients who undergo deep brain stimulation experience median seizure reduction up to 70% after five years, it is uncommon for patients to become seizure-free. Sanjeet Grewal, M.D., director of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic, is hoping to change that. "Unfortunately, neuromodulation doesn't give us the seizure freedom we want, and that's why we are trying to combine deep brain stimulation with stem cell therapy to see if we can increase the efficacy of neuromodulation," says Dr. Grewal. 

Dr. Grewal is the lead investigator of the clinical trial which involves the use of implanted adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as an adjunct to deep brain stimulation for DRE patients. MSCs are a special type of adult stem cell with anti-inflammatory properties that may also have potential for healing.

Many, like Dr. Grewal, hope MSCs will serve a pivotal role in the future of regenerative medicine to treat conditions like epilepsy. "There are some patients whose seizures are just much harder to treat with the technology we have today. Our hope is that by adding stem cells and their regenerative potential, we can increase treatment success," says Dr. Grewal.

The clinical trial is using MSCs derived from fat tissue and produced at the Human Cell Therapy Laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Florida under the leadership of Abba Zubair, M.D., Ph.D. His research teams have developed a cost-effective method of producing MSCs for use in potential treatments for conditions such as stroke and osteoporosis. "My mission is to discover ways to address problems that patients have been struggling with and find a solution for them. I want to give them hope," says Dr. Zubair. "I truly believe the future is bright."

"MSCs are what we call multipotent, meaning they can differentiate into different cell types based on where they're placed. If they are placed near blood vessels, they can become blood vessel types. If they're placed by heart cells, they can become heart cell types," explains Dr. Grewal. It is hoped the MSCs in Dr. Grewal's clinical trial will become neural or brain cell types and interact in the part of the brain where seizures occur. "It's called paracrine signaling, where they're releasing signals to the brain tissue around them and interacting in a way to try to repair that tissue."

Tabitha Wilson began having seizures at the age of 2. The Florida resident says her seizures were well controlled until her mid-20s when her medication stopped working. Tabitha tried numerous other medications and underwent three brain surgeries, none of which provided the relief she needed.

"There are days when I'll have two, three or four seizures, back-to-back," says Tabitha. "I fell down a flight of stairs. I've burned myself while cooking. I've completely blacked out and don’t know where I am." Like many people who have epilepsy, Tabitha says uncontrolled seizures have robbed her ability to live independently. "I can't drive, can't cook or swim alone. I can't take a bath, only a shower and someone has to be in the house," says Tabitha.

Tabitha became the first person to participate in the Florida clinical trial. Dr. Grewal says she is also the first person in the world to undergo surgery for deep brain stimulation and receive stem cell therapy in the thalamus in her brain as a potential treatment for DRE. "I'm willing to try everything and anything to get some sort of control over these seizures because I've been living with this for so long," says Tabitha. "I hope to be a mother someday."

Since the surgery, Dr. Grewal says there has been an improvement in Tabitha's seizure management. However, he says it is too early to know whether this is due to the deep brain stimulation, stem cells or both. 

Drs. Grewal and Parker say there is a long road ahead to determine whether these cell therapies are proven safe and effective for patients with DRE. But they agree each day brings them one step closer to a potential treatment or even a cure for patients like Tabitha and Anthony.

"We've thought about this for generations, we just didn't have these technologies to enable it. Now we do," says Dr. Grewal. "So, whether it's wound healing, neurodegeneration, epilepsy or stroke, there are so many different studies going on investigating the potential of regenerative or reparative therapies."

Press kit, including b-roll, photos and interviews, available here.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Marty Hames, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic researchers lead transformative shift toward neurorestorative treatment strategies for most severe forms of epilepsy appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Today, Mayo Clinic in Florida introduced a five-floor patient tower expansion as part of Mayo Clinic's Bold. Forward. Unbound. investments to revolutionize the healthcare experience for patients and staff. The vertical growth of the tower will enable 166 new patient beds within medical/surgical nursing units, supported by new automation and patient care technology. These new offerings will further unite the physical and digital healthcare environments.

"Mayo Clinic continues to invest in growth and healthcare transformation, including a plan to more than double our space for patient care, biomedical research and education in Florida," says Kent Thielen, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida. "The structures we are creating now will serve the patients of today and the patients we will care for over generations to come."  

The expansion's technology makes the rooms an extension of the care team. Patients can control every aspect of their room experience from an app on their phones. Emerging technology will monitor a sleeping patient's vital signs with fewer interruptions. Family members can drop in virtually from across the city or around the world to participate in patient care consults with Mayo experts.

For staff, the updated technology and spaces create an improved workflow and a more efficient clinical environment. This will allow them to spend more time focused on patient care and less time on administrative tasks. Added automation means that self-guided carts can deliver food and linens on command.

Other features include a top-floor indoor/outdoor lounge for staff and visitors who need respite, a breath of fresh air, nourishment, or the tranquility of coastal views.

"The expansion of our hospital is not just a new building, it is a bold reimagining and blueprint for the future of healthcare delivery, codesigned with the collective wisdom of those who live and breathe it," says Michael Maniaci, M.D., professor of medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. "By weaving together the insights of both our staff and our patients, we've created a space where innovation is not only imagined but also implemented, shaped by the very people it serves."

Throughout the planning and development process, Mayo Clinic staff input has been critical to expansion design. Staff representing different roles and functional areas joined to plan, pilot, evaluate and implement the innovative technologies that will solve unmet patient and staff needs. This collaborative approach demonstrates how Mayo Clinic continues to shape the future of healthcare.

Expansion highlights:

• Technology-enhanced patient, visitor and staff experience.
• Floor-to-ceiling windows that increase natural light by 80% in patient rooms. Studies show that natural light improves patients' moods and speeds healing. Many rooms will also offer scenic views of the coastal environment near Mayo Clinic.
• A modernized patient digital wall that engages patients with clinical information, education, communication, relaxation and entertainment.
• A digital entryway display that pulls real-time data from the electronic health record and delivers information to protect the patient as well as care team members and visitors who are entering the room.
• An ambient clinical intelligence-empowered camera that enables the consolidation of multiple sensors into a single platform, turning patient rooms into an integrated virtual care delivery hub.
• A pass-through drawer that allows staff to stock patient supplies from outside the room, with design considerations that will enable further automation.
• An updated headwall that allows the optimal placement of each clinical connection, increased access to outlets and additional med-gas and oxygen ports to improve patient care efficiency.

Mayo Clinic Hospital opened in April 2008 with six floors and 214 beds. In 2012, two additional floors and 90 beds were added. With the most recent five-floor expansion, the tower's capacity is 419 licensed beds. In addition to new patient rooms and a lounge, the expansion includes one floor for mechanical and electrical support and one floor for future growth.

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About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education, and research, and providing compassion, expertise, and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.  

Media contact: 

• Tia Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic in Florida state-of-the-art hospital expansion to enhance patient care and services appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Liver transplants are becoming a new treatment option for certain colorectal cancer patients whose cancer has spread to their liver and are ineligible for other surgical options. This innovative approach is providing hope to colorectal cancer patients who otherwise are often faced with a grim prognosis.

"Colorectal cancer is the fourth-most-common cancer in the United States, but it's also the second-deadliest cancer. At the time of diagnosis, about 1 in 5 patients will have metastatic disease, meaning the cancer has spread outside of the colon. The most common place we see metastasis is in the liver," says Denise Harnois, D.O., a Mayo Clinic transplant hepatologist.

In roughly a quarter of these cases, the cancer does not spread beyond the liver. Traditionally, surgeons first explore the option of cutting out the cancer in the liver. However, if the cancer has spread to more than one area of the liver, this approach may not be an option. That is when a liver transplant can be considered for patients who meet certain criteria, Dr. Harnois says.

The ideal candidate will have responded well to chemotherapy, and the colorectal cancer will not have spread beyond the liver. They are also not a candidate for surgical removal of the cancer in their liver. Patients also need to be healthy enough to undergo a liver transplant. This new approach is critical for these patients, whose five-year survival rate without a transplant is only about 15%.

"Mayo Clinic is one of very few transplant centers in the U.S. performing liver transplants on patients with colorectal cancer metastasis, in part because it's a relatively new treatment option. It also requires a multidisciplinary team of oncologists, surgeons and transplant experts who work closely together to help these patients," Dr. Harnois says.

Gary Gonzales is among those grateful this new option exists. The 59-year-old from Broomfield, Colorado, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 52. The cancer soon spread to his liver. He was referred to Mayo Clinic after having undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy and two liver resection surgeries at another institution. He had a liver transplant at Mayo Clinic in July of 2024, and says he finally feels like his old self. He is thankful for his care team and his liver donor.

"I am very grateful for that donor," Gary says. "I would definitely like to give the donor's family a hug. The donor is a part of me and my family and gave me a chance to live."

Journalists: Press kit, including b-roll, photos and interviews available here. Dr. Denise Harnois and Gary Gonzales are available for interviews. Please contact newsbureau@mayo.edu to schedule.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Heather Carlson Kehren, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

Additional resources: Mayo Clinic Minute: Liver transplant for patients with advanced colorectal cancer

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ROCHESTER, Minn. and SAN DIEGO — Mayo Clinic Laboratories and Amprion, a global leader advancing diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders through seed amplification testing, today announced a collaboration to expand access to Amprion's SAAmplify–αSYN (CSF) test across the United States. The test (test ID ASYNC) is available today for clients of Mayo Clinic Laboratories through the collaboration that combines the expertise of both organizations to enhance patient care and improve diagnostic accuracy for neurodegenerative diseases.

Learn more here.

The post Mayo Clinic Laboratories and Amprion announce collaboration to advance neurodegenerative disease diagnostics appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Students at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota joined more than 40,000 medical students nationwide as they simultaneously opened envelopes at 11 a.m. CDT to reveal their residency training placements through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education is one of the nation's largest schools of graduate medical education, with a total enrollment of more than 1,900 physicians in training, and has trained half of Mayo's current physicians. This year, the school's 65 programs in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin participated in the National Resident Matching Program and offered 372 residency positions to students nationwide.   

"This Match represents an incredible opportunity to train the surgeons of the future, who will go on to make significant contributions to the field of medicine. Being selected for our program is not only a testament to the applicants' dedication and skill but also a life-changing opportunity that will shape their careers," said Mariela Rivera, M.D., Program Director General Surgery Residency Program, Rochester. "This Match welcomes top physicians from different backgrounds and with varied work experiences and perspectives who will collaborate to enhance our profession, patient outcomes and innovation while fostering an inclusive healthcare community."

Among the 87 students in the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine class of 2025 participating in the Match, 24 will complete their residencies at Mayo Clinic. The others will bring their training in the Mayo Clinic Model of Care to residency programs across 22 states.  

The most popular specialties are surgical and surgical specialties including ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery and OB/GYN. Internal medicine, anesthesiology, radiation oncology and emergency medicine were other top specialties Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine students matched in.

Meet the students who matched.

About Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine 
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine is a national medical school with four-year medical degree programs in Rochester and Arizona. The school also offers a Florida program, enabling students to complete their first two years of medical studies in Arizona or Minnesota, and their final two years of learning in Florida. For more information, visit Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. 

About Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education  
Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education (MCSGME) was established by the Mayo brothers in 1915 to provide specialty training to graduate physicians. The school has since grown to become one of the largest in the country, sponsoring more than 250 residency and fellowship training programs located on the Mayo Clinic campuses in Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona. Graduate medical education is an essential part of the spirit and legacy of Mayo Clinic, and it is a critical investment in Mayo's future. For more information visit Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. 

About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. 

The post Envelope please: Match Day 2025 appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A new study by Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers found that the presence of a specific genetic mutation — KRAS circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) — strongly indicates a higher risk of cancer spread and worse survival rates for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The mutation was identified using a readily available and clinically approved blood and abdominal fluid test.

PDAC is an aggressive form of cancer that is often difficult to diagnose. Most patients already have cancer spread to other parts of their body when initially diagnosed, and current tests often miss this hidden spread. This makes it challenging to determine the best treatment strategy. The findings, published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, may help identify patients who are more likely to have cancer spread to other parts of the body, therefore providing doctors and patients with the right information to make informed decisions about treatment.

"This is a major advancement for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma," says Mark Truty, M.D., hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgical oncologist within Mayo Clinic's Department of Surgery. Dr. Truty is senior author of the study. "We've had this genetic testing available for a number of years, however, we did not know the significance of the results or how to interpret them. Having the KRAS status will allow the patient and their provider to make better decisions about their individual cancer treatment."

The prospective cohort study, involving nearly 800 patients — the largest patient series to date in the literature using ctDNA — found that 20%-30% of patients with PDAC have detectable mutant KRAS ctDNA in the blood and/or peritoneum, and that those without any previous treatment, such as chemotherapy, had the highest incidence. Thus, the study suggests that ctDNA assays should be performed prior to treatment to have the highest yield.

The researchers examined data between 2018 and 2022. Blood sample tests revealed that 104 patients (14%) had KRAS ctDNA mutation. These patients were more likely to develop advanced, spreading cancer and had a lower survival rate. Further testing of fluid from around the abdominal cavity in 419 patients showed similar results: 123 (29%) had the marker, and these patients also experienced worse outcomes. The presence of this marker, whether in blood or abdominal fluid, indicated a poorer prognosis.

The study highlights that while surgery is the only known cure, most patients experience cancer spread after surgery. The test helps identify patients less likely to benefit from surgery alone, guiding treatment decisions towards chemotherapy and/or radiation before surgery. For patients without the KRAS mutation (approximately 10% of cases), the test is less conclusive and other tests are needed.

"Historically, we've known that KRAS mutations are associated with a more biologically aggressive pancreatic cancer," says Jennifer Leiting, M.D., hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeon within Mayo Clinic's Department of Surgery. Dr. Leiting is first author of the study. "But this large study gives us a much clearer understanding of how to interpret the test results and use them to improve patient care. It allows for more accurate staging at diagnosis, leading to better treatment decisions."

The researchers suggest that this test should become a standard part of the initial diagnosis for PDAC, enabling more personalized risk stratification and effective treatment plans.

"This improved diagnostic capability offers hope for patients and their families facing this challenging disease," says Dr. Truty. "It's optimistic to see how advances in genetic testing are directly helping our patients."

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About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. 

About Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center 
Designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center is defining the cancer center of the future, focused on delivering the world's most exceptional patient-centered cancer care for everyone. At Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, a culture of innovation and collaboration is driving research breakthroughs in cancer detection, prevention and treatment to change lives.

Media contact:

• Kelley Luckstein, Mayo Clinic Communications, newbureau@mayo.edu

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