Mayo Clinic Health Matters

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Real world effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines May 12, 2021

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Children 12–15 are now eligible to receive Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use approval. And there is other COVID-19 news.

"This is the first week we have not had an increase in COVID-19 cases in any U.S. state, and in 33 of those states, there was a decrease last week," says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "This has not happened on any consistent basis for every U.S. state since the start of this pandemic."

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland explains the real world effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines, talks about the approval process for these vaccines and answers a number of listener questions.
Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland.

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Know the warning signs of stroke May 10, 2021

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On average, someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, depriving the brain of oxygen. It's important to recognize the warning signs of stroke, because prompt treatment can minimize brain damage. Every moment is crucial.

"Strokes commonly occur in people of all ages," says Dr. Robert Brown, Jr., chair of Mayo Clinic's Division of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases. "And, so, it's very important that people know what is a stroke, what are the symptoms and what are the risk factors for stroke?"

May is National stroke Awareness Month. In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Brown explains the importance of remembering the F.A.S.T. acronym to recognize a stroke: face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call 911.

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Signs of depression in teens and how to help May 07, 2021

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Depression is a serious mental health problem that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities. Although depression can occur at any time in life, symptoms may differ between teens and adults.

Issues such as peer pressure, academic expectations and changing bodies can bring a lot of ups and downs for teens. But for some teens, the lows are more than just temporary feelings. They are a symptom of depression.

Treatment for depression depends on the type and severity of the symptoms. A combination of talk therapy and medication can be effective for most teens with depression.

Friday, May 7, is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and highlight how positive mental health is essential to development for children and adolescents.

This edition of the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast features an #AskMayoMom episode hosted by Dr. Angela Mattke, a pediatrician at Mayo Clinic Children's Center. Joining Dr. Mattke to discuss teens and depression are Dr. Paige Partain, a Mayo Clinic pediatrician, and Hannah Mulholland, a Mayo Clinic pediatric social worker.

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Ramping up COVID-19 vaccination rate in race against virus May 05, 2021

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COVID-19 cases are falling in the U.S. because 245 million doses of one of the available COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, according to Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "But at the same time, there are still people who need more information about the safety and the value of getting a COVID-19 vaccine," says Dr. Poland.

While still hopeful, Dr. Poland says he's concerned herd immunity won't be reached in the U.S. through vaccination. And that will mean more tragic deaths due to COVID-19 infection.

"My guess is, because we're such an interconnected global community until everybody's safe, none of us are safe. And we're going to likely see continued circulation of the virus, and that virus will seek out whoever is not immune," says Dr. Poland.

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland also addresses when we will need COVID-19 vaccine boosters will be needed and the latest on masking guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Plus, he will provide an update on COVID-19 treatments and how to handle those who want to visit a newborn baby.
Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland.

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Brain Tumor Awareness Month May 03, 2021

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Primary brain tumors originate in the brain or tissues close to the brain, such as in brain-covering membranes, cranial nerves, or the pituitary or pineal glands. There are many types of primary brain tumors, and over 84,000 people will receive a primary brain tumor diagnosis in 2021, according to the National Brain Tumor Society. The median age for these diagnoses is 60.

The most common cancerous, or malignant, brain tumor is the glioblastoma, a type of glioma that begins in the brain or spinal cord. The most common primary noncancerous, or benign, brain tumor is the meningioma, which arises from the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Alyx Porter, co-chair of the Central Nervous System Tumor Disease Group at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, discusses the various types of brain tumors and how they are diagnosed and treated.

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Breast cancer radiotherapy and treatment innovations Apr 30, 2021

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The type of breast cancer a person has and how far it has spread determine the appropriate treatment. Previously, a patient with breast cancer might have received five to six weeks of radiation therapy.

But the approach is changing.

"For many years, we had the understanding that giving a little bit of radiation each day, and spreading that treatment out over multiple weeks was the gentlest on the normal tissues, and that would lead to the least side effects," says Dr. Robert Mutter, a Mayo Clinic radiation oncologist. "But over the last decade, or two, there's been a lot of research. We found we might be better off giving bigger doses each day and finishing in a shorter period of time. And that might be better at destroying the cancer cells, while limiting sides effects of the normal tissue."

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Mutter expands on the research at Mayo Clinic's research and the development of new therapies to minimize patient side effects from radiation, including the increased use of proton therapy. Dr. Mutter also talks about the patient concerns about relapses and how Mayo is using medicines in combination with radiation to reduce relapse risks.

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COVID-19 vaccine confidence and the importance of that second dose Apr 28, 2021

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While the number of people being vaccinated for COVID-19 is dropping, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other medical experts continue to strongly encourage people to get vaccinated for COVID-19. And that means that those who are being vaccinated with the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine should get their first and second doses on schedule.

“About 8% of people who got their first dose have not returned for the second dose and this is concerning when you're getting close to 1 in 10," says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "When you measure in the short term, one dose in a healthy person offers about 80% protection. But that's not 95% protection, like you get after two doses."

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland expands on why people need that second COVID-19 vaccine dose and he talks about whether people should mix and match the different COVID-19 vaccines for their second dose. He also speaks about the status of COVID-19 vaccines for young people, and he addresses listener questions about traveling, being together after vaccination, and the latest rise of additional COVID-19 variants.
Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland.

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Reducing rejection by reversing order of heart-liver transplant Apr 27, 2021

Show notes

For heart-liver transplants, the liver and heart must come from the same donor, and some patients wait years to receive both organs. Also, antibodies from the donor can increase chances of the receiving patient rejecting the heart.

But Dr. Sudhir Kushwaha, a Mayo Clinic cardiovascular transplant surgeon, says when a liver transplant is also involved, it sort of gives the heart protection. Now, he says, Mayo is introducing an innovative approach by transplanting the liver before the heart.

"When we looked back, at our experience with our combined heart-liver patients, we made the observation that those patients really have zero rejection," says Dr. Kushwaha. "Wiith that in mind, we thought, well, what's going on here? There must be some biological process."

“The antibodies seem to bind in the liver in a way that doesn't harm it — the same as it does in other organs — and it really does sort of sponge up the antibodies against that specific donor,” says Dr. Richard Daly, a Mayo Clinic cardiovascular transplant surgeon.

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Drs. Kushwaha and Daly discuss in detail this reverse transplant protocol and the research learning process of the past decade. They also discuss why some patients need this double organ transplant and they describe how the surgeries are closely choreographed with Mayo Clinic's liver transplant teams.

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Avoid preventable vision loss Apr 26, 2021

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Has your eyesight become blurry? Do you have glaucoma, but you haven't been in for an exam or treatment? Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many people may have delayed eye appointments.

Dr. Cheryl Khanna, a Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist, says it's important to catch eye diseases early.

"I think the main take-home message is that if you have decreased vision, if you have an ocular disease, it is safe to come to Mayo Clinic and receive care," says Dr. Khanna. "And if you postpone treatment, there may be irreversible vision loss."

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Khanna expands on the importance of eye care and how artificial intelligence is helping develop individual treatments for patients. She also talks about minimally invasive glaucoma procedures and newly emerging cataract technologies. And she describes several clinical trials that are underway — such as gene therapy trials for macular degeneration and retinal dystrophies.

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Managing chronic pain in children Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

Chronic pain is experienced by about one-quarter to one-third of children, with about 1 in 20 experiencing debilitating pain, according to the World Health Organization. Chronic pain is defined as recurrent or continuous pain lasting more than three months. For children and adolescents, adjusting to and living with pain can be overwhelming.

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, a special edition of "Ask the Mayo Mom" focuses on managing chronic pain in children. Dr. Angela Mattke, a Mayo Clinic pediatrician, is joined by Mayo Clinic Children’s Center experts Dr. Tracy Harrison, medical director of the Mayo Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Center, and Dr. Cynthia Harbeck-Weber, a Mayo Clinic child and adolescent psychologist.

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