private touche
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
hmm, i sometimes wonder
how private my blog really is.
it irks me
when i think about
people to whom, this blog isnt intended for.
how honestly can i voice my thoughts?
how limited can my feelings be expressed?
perhaps.
it is time
for a change?
anticipate it.
Labels: deep thoughts, short-post
the global crazies
Saturday, January 22, 2011
raining in this desert of a place?
it's not as odd as it sounds.
for the 3 winters that ive been in doha, it has rained a few times.
i remember the thunderstorm we had in december 2008.
it gave such a beautiful scenery - reflective sand complete with rays of sunlight piercing through the fluffy clouds.
i dont have any photos portraying the 2009 doha rain, but from this photo, you can see the gray behind our bright smiles. gray skies loomed behind us, evidencing the downpour that year.
2010/2011 has seen more global crazies - personal experience of mine started with the extremely cold weather in london, to the extent of my flight cancellation as a consequence of heavy snowfall.
hearing about floods in australia, brazil, sri lanka and the phillipines in the course of 2-3 days was a shock to me. the countless of lives affected by these floods, it's really sad to think about.
then the rain in doha.
a place with no sewage system.
if the rain continued for 2 or 3 more days. perhaps it would flood here too. scary isnt it.
just a day of rain has muddied up all the small roads, and flooded the main roads.
global crazies.
because of global warming?
what should we do then?
Labels: deep thoughts, holiday, rain, world
Hope is a dream that never sleeps
Sunday, January 16, 2011
this is what i have been up to for the past 2 weeks.
been watching a couple of episodes a day and been crying everyday since.
it is such a touching drama with hidden messages and great life guidance.
enjoy! this is my favourite ost!
Labels: drama, holiday, OST
numbered days of 2011
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
1 week.
then 2 weeks.
then 1 more week.
ahh.. so short. what a short holiday we will be having.
a time to unwind.
a time to reflect
and a time to have fun before the stressful period begins again.
perhaps as he said, we should head out somewhere for a relaxing trip.
perhaps 4 rides would be enough.
but will such a big group prove to be efficient in terms of relationship building?
well, for now. let me worry about tonight's dreams.
no more future predicting.
save these thoughts for more useful things...
but i can't think of anything at the moment.
sad.
Labels: deep thoughts, friends, random, short-post
my version of skitzo
Sunday, January 02, 2011
I would go through all this paintake a bullet straight through my brain
yes I'd die for you baby
but you wouldn't do the same
Today's issue I'd like to discuss is... just a thought that popped up after a short sentence was written. "a random piece of info that i thought i'd share with you"
funny how seriously im taking it.
remember that time when you were feeling conflicted?
when you have to think of what is right and what you really want to do.
omgsh i cant believe i am thinking like this. No No No.
*erasing thoughts*
Hi. It's the 2nd day of the year.
Im quite speechless right now.
I'd like to update to a new template.
But it is taking me ages and none of the templates seem to fit my current thinking style.
Man.
This will take a lot of work.
Labels: random, short-post
MMXI
Saturday, January 01, 2011
372 Posts, last published on Oct 3, 2010
How embarrassing.
3 months of inactivity.
Perhaps this new year shall bring new adventures, new inspirations and new rants.
Sudden burst of excitement, being back to blogging. It feels good.
Even now, it feels as though I have many things to share, yet to find the words for these feelings.. it's like hmm... ah! finding a needle in a haystack. abit exaggerated though.
yes. 2011.
many things to look forward to.
many things to reflect on.
especially the latest trip to London. Yes. many thoughts on that.
I'll end this by wishing myself good luck for keeping up the blogging this year.
Happy New Year Everyone
Labels: holiday, new year, Qatar
I am pharmacolising this post!
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Okay. I planned to study/cram/revise all of the GI module tonight.
1) Microbiology
2) Pharmacology
3) Pathology (this will take AGES)
4) Physiology
5) Anatomy
Microbio done. Anatomy ongoing.. therefore, considered done.
But as I am trying to revise Pharmacology now.. it is not really going into my brain :(
so i came up with the genius plan of blogging about it!!
I'll try my best to do it from memory first.. then i shall refer to the flashcards/notes!
Basically in the pharmacology vertical module of GI module, we have to learn about drugs that can target GUT MOTILITY and GUT SECRETION.
[1] GUT MOTILITY
- gut movement.. which can cause vomiting, obstruction within bowel (eg constipation) or diarrhoea. therefore! we need - ANTIEMETICS, PURGATIVES and ANTIDIARRHOEAL.
(a) ANTIEMETICS
- there are 6 kinds.
= H1 antagonists eg PROMETHAZINE
-> target the vestibular nuclei, treat vomiting that arose from motion sickness. can cause drowsiness and sedation as side effects, also slight effect at mACh receptors
= mACh antagonists eg HYOSCINE
-> target vestibular nuclei and vomiting centre - principally for prophylaxis and treatment of motion sickness. ADRs include dry mouth and -ve effect on mental alertness
= 5HT3 antagonists eg ONDANSETRON
-> target visceral afferents and CTZ thus useful for treating or preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting which are drug-induced. also treat against nausea caused by toxins eg radiation therapy or cytotoxic drug like cisplatin
= D2 antagonists eg METACLOPRAMIDE
-> target CTZ but also has peripheral action on the GI tract, which increases motility... unwanted effects like fatigue and movement disorders can occur due to blockage of dopamine receptors in CNS, will also cause prolactin release
= Nabilone
-> treat vomiting that is resistant to antiemetics! opioid receptors are involved because effects can be blocked by naloxone - can cause drowsiness, dizziness, mood changes!
= high dose dexamethasone
-> treat vomit that is caused by cytotoxics
- alter GI motility!!! but abusive use can lead to constipation
- there are 4 kinds:
= Bulk Laxatives eg METHYLCELLULOSE
-> form hydrated mass by attracting water, therefore promoting peristalsis, take several days to work though!!
= Osmotic Laxatives eg LACTULOSE
-> poorly absorbed solutes trap water in the lumen, accelerating emptying of bowel by distention and purgation. can cause diarrhoea and cramps :(
= Faecal Softener eg DOCUSATE
-> help water to penetrate feces, making it softer and easier to pass! :p
= Stimulant Laxatives eg SENNA or BISACODYL
-> increase electrolyte and water secretion and hence increase peristalsis (through the myenteric plexus!) hence lead to defecation... ooooh....
(c) ANTIDIARRHOEAL
- there are 2 types!
= Morphine/Codeine
-> need a lower dose for antidiarrhoeal effect than for analgesic effect! :) this decreases stomach emptying and contractions, overall increase in fluid and electrolyte absorption :D so therefore no diarrhoea!
= Loperamide
-> this is the drug of choice for travellers, so you out there, if you are scared of diarrhoea, bring this along! :D it is an opioid but doesnt cross BBB, so theres no CNS systemic effect - ie it selectively targets the GIT, decrease abdominal cramps and passage of feces :)
Man this is taking so long :(
[2] GUT SECRETION
- most importantly, the acid in stomach can cause problems!!
- there are 4 types:
= Antacids
->buffer gastric and esophageal contents but only short term relief :( they dont prevent overproduction of acid! includes salts like Mg, Ca, Al and Na. ADRs: Mg can cause diarrhoea, Ca and Al can cause constipation and CaCO3 can cause belching and fan pi! HAHA
Excessive use can result in metabolic alkalosis
= H2 Receptor Antagonists eg CIMETIDINE, FAMOTIDINE
->inhibits histamine action hohoho - this is good at decreasing basal rate of acid production, so this is good for nocturnal use, so its quite ineffective at daytime. some ADR that i think i will remember... all excreted in breast milk. ew.. ur baby will get a lot of it :O
= Proton Pump Inhibitor eg OMEPRAZOLE, LANSOPRAZOLE
-> AHA! this is the one i had to take when my tummy was hurting due to oversecretion of acid in my tummy as correctly diagnosed by the doctor at student health. this inhibits the H+K+ ATPase pump by binding to it covalently, so that H+ is not secreted from parietal cells. this is a prodrug though, it needs to be activated by acidic environment, so take it 30mins before meal. since it is bound covalently, this means it is irreversible, thus acid secretion can only resume when new pumps are made. hence this is prolonged suppression of acid! over 24 to 48 hours le! ADRs include headache, abdominal pain and nausea.
= Prostaglandins eg PROSTACYCLIN (PGI2)
->binds to the parietal EP3 receptor which is linked to a Gi subunit and this inhibits the adenyly cyclase, decrease cAMP and so decrease acid secretion!! eh easy la! like the GPCR ma!
some extra info: use MISOPROSTOL which is a PGE analogue to prevent gastric mucosal injury that is caused by NSAIDS that inhibits COX1, which decreases PG formation :(
ADRs include abdominal pains lo.. and also 30% ppl have diarrhoea
KAY LA FINI LIAO :(
dont feel like doing pathology now though.... aiyo
Labels: pharmacology, study, uni
Chiiicaaago!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Okay.
Blogging.
I
am
Back.
well.. just to post some photos. About the Pharm/Physio ball. It was indeed a great night: Med ball was more elegant, but the dancing environment in the pharm ball was awesome. [I recommend Shots by LMFAO] I enjoyed myself a lot, despite hardly talking to the people that I don't know so well, as they were all angie's group of friends. Friendly but slightly awkward. haha
The dance floor (stage)
I am trying to write my Genetics essay. But I just sent some research papers to my tutor for approval, so now I have to wait.
so many things to do ... so little time.
but again, im panicking for no reason.
study one thing at a time.
then it will all fall into place.
right?
:)
todays post is on a superficial level. i will probably write deeper stuff once the academic year is over. these days, my mind is constantly "i need to study this and that, i need to do this i need to do that" blaaaah
Labels: ball, friends, short-post, study
The heart of Atlantis lies in the eyes of her king.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Atlantis.
OUMSA Med Ball. 2010.
It was an awesome night :)
It started off with 3 of us flatmates getting ready around 4pm, I underestimated the time needed to get ready, thinking 2 hours would be enough but when 6pm came and we had to go for dinner at Saigon (Viet Restaurant), all of us havent had our make up done and my hair was still undone.
Nevertheless, we managed to get to Saigon in time as Calvin came to pick us up, along with Jie Qi and gang.
the whole gang at preball dinner:
calvin, su, caroline, sebastian, me, jie qi, liz, jasmine and angie
jami, angie and i
jie qi and i :)
Then, calvin sent us 3 home and we put on the final touches, jami did my hair (which was awesome, and got complimented throughout the night) and stephanie came to our place. at 8.30pm, we walked to the museum and the rest of the night was filled with photos, laughter, dancing and more crazy laughters...
angie, jami, jie ning, me and jie qi. i love this photo!!
me, jie qi and su!
i didnt bring my camera to the ball itself, so i dont have a lot of the photos.. im still waiting for more photos to turn up on facebook! it was a great great night :)
now i shall have to do a bit of revision for the MCQ coming up.. regular breaks from study today wouldnt hurt. hahaha
Labels: ball, friends, gathering
premature anxiety
Monday, June 21, 2010
oh no..
i am having an anxiety attack.
not because i did some lecture reviews on anxiety today, as part of revision of the Behavioural Medicine module.
but somehow..
i feel like there's overwhelmingly lots to do for exams at the end of the year.
i reviewed some stuff last week.
and the week before..
but why cant i remember anything now?!
hmm.. this feeling is scary.
september and october are going to be months of pure torture!
*breathes*
i need to calm down.
it's only june.
i still have 6 days of holidays.
this isn't helping me ... rah rah.
one thing at a time right?
but i still worry....
Labels: holiday, panic, study, uni
First Father's Day in 2010...
Sunday, June 20, 2010
According to UK system.. it is Father's Day today!! :)
Happy Father's Day, Daddy!...
[i'm following NZ's system though.. which is in September.. ]
so we will celebrate more then.. hehe
Labels: daddy, dedication, short-post
i auscultate you!
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Got my stethoscope today! It is Burgundy in colour! :)
We got to use the stethoscopes to listen to the heartbeat in the clinical skills session today. we had to palpate and listen to the apex beat.
Last year I wasn't that keen because when we tried to listen to the
Korotkoff sounds while taking someone's blood pressure, I could not hear a single thing! And the earpieces of the stethoscope hurt my ears quite bad..
maybe the fact that the stethoscope is actually mine, that wearing it feels different.
It didnt hurt my ears!
Hahaha
i could tell how excited my med friends were, as they hung it around their necks, or started reading the manuals, as well as updating all their facebook statuses about their stethoscopes...
Labels: med, uni
this is what i have been up to for the past 2 weeks.
Got my stethoscope today! It is Burgundy in colour! :) 
