Perry Shumway

Genetic Testing There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in every cell. Those chromosomes have genes that determine things like your body’s hair and eye color. Therefore, those genes can also help identify the need to take steps to prevent diseases like breast cancer or obesity.  23andMe, a personal genomics company, shared the following genetic testing story about one of their customers: “Growing up, Sarah didn’t have the benefit of thinking about Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease in a abstract way. She had a personal connection to both diseases — her grandfather’s battle with Parkinson’s and her grandmother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. Sarah turned to 23andMe to explore her own genetic risk for these conditions. She discovered that she did not have the variants associated with Parkinson’s disease. However, she did test positive for dispositions of Late-Onset Alzheimer’s disease.” As we can learn from Sarah’s experience, genetic testing can help identify mutations that...

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Kevin is the CNO at Madison Memorial Hospital. He received his Doctor of Nursing Practice from Boise State and was elected to the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) National Board of Directors to serve a three-year term.  What is AONE AONE is a national professional organization for nurse leaders, CNOs, vice presidents, etc., with an overall objective to provide leadership, professional development, advocacy and research to advance nursing practice and patient care, promote nursing leadership excellence and shape public policy for healthcare nationwide. The AONE board of directors is made up of 19 nurse leaders from all levels of healthcare practice, academic environments and practicing clinical nurse leader. His Goals Madison Memorial Hospital & AONE As a board member and CNO, I hope to add to the discussion of developing frontline clinical nurse leaders that lead our teams in healthcare every day,” said McEwan. “I hope to be the...

Hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature, is a dangerous condition that can occur when a person is exposed to extremely cold temperatures. Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposures to very cold temperatures. When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it’s produced. Lengthy exposures will eventually use up your body’s stored energy, which leads to lower body temperature. Warnings signs of hypothermia: Adults: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech drowsiness Infants:  bright red, cold skin, very low energy **If you notice any of these signs, take the person’s temperature. If it is below 95° F, the situation is an emergency — get medical attention immediately. A body temperature that’s too low can affect the brain, which makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because the victim may not know it is happening. Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at merely cool temperatures...

For women contemplating having a baby, new research adds to the evidence suggesting that starting a pregnancy at a normal weight is best. The study found that too much or even too little weight increases an expectant mom’s risk for severe illnesses and death. “Not only for baby’s sake, but also for your own sake, have a healthy diet and get regular exercise before pregnancy,” said study lead author Dr. Sarka Lisonkova. She’s an assistant professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of British Columbia and the Children’s and Women’s Health Centre in Vancouver. “It’s never too late, even if you’re already pregnant,” Lisonkova said, adding that weight gain during pregnancy can also increase the risk for severe illnesses and even death in expectant mothers. The study, published Nov. 14 in Journal of the American Medical Association, included information on nearly three-quarters of a million women from...

Thanksgiving is a holiday in which Americans gorge themselves with food. The following are ways to help you stay healthy during this holiday season. Listen to yourself With so many friends and family members around, it can be easy to allow opinions about what foods should be eaten and how much to creep in. Listen only to yourself during Thanksgiving dinner. If you feel moments of stress or loss of control, slow down and try to remind yourself about the true importance of this holiday—not food, but thankfulness. Try for Lower Calories It’s challenging to keep the pounds off during the holidays. The temptation to eat high-calorie food is everywhere. Here are some suggestions for cutting your calories: Enjoy your holiday comfort foods, but try a lower-calorie version. Use lower-calorie ingredients or prepare meals differently. For example, if your macaroni and cheese recipe uses whole milk, butter, and full-fat cheese, try...

New research from scientists at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah and collaborators at University of Utah Health (U of U Health) sheds light on the complex process that occurs in the development of human sperm stem cells. This is the first study to characterize the changes human sperm stem cells undergo as they mature. The results have implications for understanding male infertility as well as cancer development and were published today in the journal Cell Stem Cell. Previous studies of sperm stem cells have been limited to model systems, including mice. But this first study of developing human sperm stem cells revealed this process was much more complex in humans than had been previously understood. Using genome analysis tools, scientists outlined the multistage process that sperm stem cells undergo during their normal development. “This information yields new insights into how sperm stem cells function and develop...