Let me count...

The possible headlines for this article. (BTW we also had a devious character in the Hotel who was leaving piles in trash cans.)

1. Poo on you, I didn't doo it.

2. If he didn't sh$t, you must acquit.

3. You want me to do WHAT?

4. Am I in the hospital?

5. What rights do you have? Obviously not s...

It seems like this is made up, but it's not. It's a true story about genetics and DNA.

Just because you can do something doesn't always mean you should.

Stay tuned!

Genetic material

It's becoming more and more important nowadays, to know if one is predisposed to something genetically. Genetics and genomics have always fascinated me, especially with the patterns that show up in families.

There are some famous families for gene issues: Queen Victoria, the Walsh family for stomach cancer, etc.

Today I read this article about genetics and Iceland. It was pretty darned good. Hope you enjoy. It will be something to see who is predisposed to certain disorders we see in rehab, like pressure ulcers.

As they say, it really is all in the genes.

Stay tuned!

Can fat really kill you?

I had a patient ask me that very question in the hallway the other day. Yes, indeed, Mr. XYZ, it can.

You could get any of the following diseases:

1. Fatty liver disease is becoming a growing cause of liver transplants.

2. Yes, cholesterol can get you too.

3.  And let's not forget diabetes, either.

Being fat and or predisposed to keeping fat on your body (some of this can be genetic, as noted in the article in #1) is dangerous.

And I made sure I documented my education note as soon as I got back to my desk.

There is never enough nursing education.

TGIF!

On my list...

I enjoyed this article recently on Francis S. Collins.

Doc, you'd be on my chat list!

And probably Aunt Susie's list too. Happy Birthday to my favorite aunt today. Hope you enjoy the book I got signed at MegaConference by this guy.

More to come...

A helluva story

Maybe it just take someone who became Lara Croft onscreen to tackle an issue like prophylactic mastectomy. Angelina Jolie  lit up the internet today with an op-ed about her experience having the BRCA-1 gene, a mother with cancer and her own double mastectomy.

I enjoyed reading it. While both my parents had cancer (one died from it), I am constantly reminded of my own risks. Modern medicine can now present the tests to see if the genie really is in the bottle (inside us.)

Sometimes, it just takes a lot of fortitude to be able to open it.

More to come...

Nuggets for October 20

Here are a few of the interesting items I've found lately. Enjoy!

Think pushing someone in a wheelchair is hard? Imagine running a half marathon with your favorite patient? This nurse in Michigan will be running with hers and he wants to win! (from the Detroit Free Press)

There's a new type of bariatric surgery out there--TOGA--which eliminates all of those incisions. (from www.nytimes.com)

Is this opening a Pandora's box? The DNA Age-Taking a Peek at the Experts' Genetic Secrets (from www.nytimes.com) may not be for these folks who have lots of resources, but it could be for you.

And now for something completely different....

If you missed it, check out the Palin rap sketch from SNL this weekend. It's not Tina Fey, but it's funny.