Med School News, Cannabis, Sex, and Bubble Wrap

Good Morning People.

At Washington University in St. Louis, the Medical Students put on an art show! Check it out at this link: ART SHOW

Several Georgetown University School of Medicine staff members have launched a Web site that provides no-cost continuing medical education programs for physicians seeking alternatives to pharmaceutical company-sponsored CME. Check it out at: PharmedOut!

That's all I got for today......

News
(click quotes for stories)

1. Drugmaker to test fat-fighting marijuana drug
"Cannabis is commonly associated with stimulating hunger. Several other companies, including Sanofi-Aventis with Acomplia, are working on new drugs that try to switch off the brain circuits that make people hungry when they smoke it."

2. Chinese shrub gives best cure for deadly malaria
"If it wasn't for the fresh, sharp scent, you could easily mistake Sweet Wormwood for any other kind of shrub. But this shrub, also called the Artemisia annua, is widely regarded by medical experts as the best cure for malaria, one of the world's leading killer diseases."

3. Teen uses Bubble Wrap to aid amputees
"Grayson Rosenberger often marveled at his parents' work with prosthetic patients in Africa and wondered how he could contribute to their effort. The 15-year-old from Nashville finally found a way, and it was recognized Monday as the grand prize winner in Sealed Air Corp.'s inaugural Bubble Wrap Competition for Young Inventors."

4. McDonald’s finally picks trans-fat-free oil
NOW THIS FOOD IS REALLY HEALTHY!
"McDonald’s Corp. has finally selected a new trans-fat-free oil for cooking its famous french fries after years of testing, the fast-food chain said Monday. While it has developed a healthier new oil, the company is still not saying when it will be used in all 13,700 U.S. restaurants. It already trails competitors in committing to a zero-trans fat oil."

5. Study: Low sodium levels in preemies linked to food preferences
"In a study of 41 children and teenagers who’d been born prematurely, researchers found that those who’d had low sodium levels in their blood at birth had a particular fondness for salty food."

6. Sex does the body good
"The best that modern science can say for abstinence is that it's harmless when practiced in moderation. "Saving yourself" before the big game, the big business deal, the big hoe-down or the big bakeoff may indeed confer some moral advantage; but physiologically it does zip. Having regular and enthusiastic sex, by contrast, confers a host of measurable physiological advantages, be you male or female. (This assumes that you are engaging in sex without contracting a sexually transmitted disease.)

Millionaire, Caffeine Doughnuts, and a Lying Old Mom

My eyes feel tired today. It's Monday, and I've got a lot to do.

I found a really amazing story on the internet about a medical school professor who was accidentally pricked with an AIDS positive needle and who contracted HIV. Click on this link to read more:
MAHLON JOHNSON: Searching for an HIV "loophole" by dosing himself with highly toxic AIDS drugs

I wish that Sundays really had Sun.

I would be a millionaire if I had $1 for every time I was psyched.

Mr. Will This Be On The Exam Asker

News For The People
(click quote for story)

1. 'Buzz Donut' offers sweet caffeine fix
"Dr. Robert Bohannon wants you in his world. It's fast, upbeat, jovial and driven by caffeine -- lots of it. But four to six cups of coffee a day aren't enough for Bohannon. And he believes others share his need for more options when it comes time to pursue that caffeine buzz. So the molecular scientist who moonlights as a café owner developed a way to add caffeine to baked goods, one that eliminates the natural, bitter taste of caffeine."

2. Burger battle brewing between Texas, Connecticut
"A burger battle is brewing between a Texas state legislator and the owners of a restaurant who claim the hamburger was invented in New Haven, Connecticut."

3. Hospital costs for birth defects estimated at $2.5 billion a year
"Birth defects lead to more than $2.5 billion a year in hospital costs alone, according to the first national studies to estimate their financial burden on U.S. families."

4. Report: World’s oldest new mom lied about age
"A 67-year-old woman who is believed to be the world’s oldest new mother told a British Sunday newspaper she lied to a U.S. fertility clinic — saying she was 55 — to get treatment."

5. Dolly on the dinner table? Don't worry about it
"The Food and Drug Administration has declared that meat and milk from cloned animals is safe to eat, paving the way for cloned products to show up in grocery stores across the land, likely without any special labels or warnings."

The Clintons, Orgasmic Migraines, and NYC Condoms

Hillary Clinton wants Universal Healthcare.
Bill Clinton wants__________.
Chelsea Clinton wants her mom to become president.

What is the deal with Gunners?

Do people wear surgical caps outside of the OR to show that they were in the OR or because their hair would be messy if they took it off?

Sometimes when people compare things, they compare with the difference between "Apples and Oranges". But, Apples and Oranges are both fruit, which makes them the same. You know?


I take food an go places: a video about medical students hwo go to lunch meetings just for the food.




News
(click quotes for stories)

1. America's healthy living habits: How do you compare?
"Making healthful changes in your life is the best thing you can do for both your physical and emotional well-being. In order to understand more about what motivates the people who successfully take action day-by-day to improve their health, we polled 1,072 adults across the country......."

2. Migraine meds could treat orgasmic headaches
"A type of migraine drug can be helpful for patients who suffer from orgasmic headaches, researchers report. But anyone who experiences a severe headache upon orgasm for the first time must seek medical attention to ensure that it is not due to a type of bleeding on the brain called subarachnoid hemorrhage."

3. Faithful challenge newborn blood test laws
"Ray and Louise Spiering wanted to observe a period of silence after their daughter Melynda’s birth, but what they got was an uproar. To the Spierings, Nebraska’s requirement that newborn babies undergo blood screening within 48 hours of birth is an infringement on their religious beliefs and their right to decide what’s best for their four children. The couple attend a fundamental Christian church and follow some teachings of the Church of Scientology. Louise Spiering said they wanted “that balance of our beliefs included into the births of our children.”

4. Available soon: The official condom of NYC
"Arriving soon from City Hall: an official New York condom in a jazzy wrapper, perhaps one printed with a colorful subway map or some other city theme. New York City hands out 1.5 million free condoms a month in ordinary wrappers, and health officials figure people would be more likely to actually use them if the packaging were more distinctive."


5. Shopping voucher plan for addicts
"Drug addicts receiving treatment should be given shopping vouchers to encourage them to kick their habit, an NHS body has suggested......."

Obesity News, Medical School Application Video, Thoughts

In some parts of the country it is sunny, in other parts it is icing or snowing, and in my part of the country, being inside of my head, it is foggy. As I attempt to shove more information into my skull, I have a hard time visualizing the other stuff that is already in there.

What percentage of medical students these days go into the field because of the money?
It's not why I am here.

In the United States, we have to go through 4 years of college/university prior to entering medical school. Abroad, such as Brazil or UK, you go straight to medical school from high school/secondary school. Here, medical school is 4 years. There, medical school is 8 years. Which system is better? Any thoughts?
My thought is that I am not using my college degree/concentration in medical school, but I think it did make me into a more "well-rounded" person.


A GREAT VIDEO ABOUT APPLYING FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL IN THE US




News Stohries of Nowte dedicated to obesity........
(click quotes for stories)

1. West Virginia to offer free Weight Watchers plan
"Facing more than $100 million in annual costs linked to obesity, the Medicaid program in one of the country's most overweight states is turning to a familiar name to help residents slim down."

2. UK schools "must tell parents" if children are obese
"Primary schools should inform parents if their children are overweight or obese, an influential group of MPs said on Thursday."

3. Obesity may complicate surgery in children
"A new study suggests that nearly one-third of children undergoing surgery are overweight or obese, placing them at increased risk of experiencing complications associated with the surgery."

4. Diet, exercise take off equal pounds, study finds
"Eating less and exercising more are equally good at helping take off the pounds, U.S. researchers said Friday in a study that challenges many of the popular tenets of the multibillion dollar diet and fitness industry."

5. From 500 pounds to a new and rewarding life
"On October 2, 2005, I weighed 500 pounds. I was 34 and had always struggled with my weight, but for 15 years, I had allowed it to get out of control. I ate as if it were my hobby. I was unable to do the simplest physical activity. I made excuses to avoid having to go out in public, for fear of being ridiculed. I tried to hide myself, as if someone so large could actually hide...."

Med School Soccer Video, Marijuana, and Vehicle Fumes

It is obnoxious when people sit in class or in small group sessions and use their computers for IM, Mail, News, or other things instead of using them to take notes. You are in class to pay attention. If you are going to inappropriately use your computer during class, then don't come at all.

The war on drugs is not a war against all drugs, it is a war against marijuana. Just look at the commercials on TV. They are not geared toward decreasing the increasing Cocaine use among adolescents, or towards Crystal Meth users; they're geared toward people who smoke marijuana, because Marijuana is the "Gateway Drug".

All medical students, and higher education students for that matter, should be forced to volunteer time to causes of their choice. Giving back to the community and helping those in need is very important, yet the majority of students don't volunteer. NOT COOL. Especially if you are going into medicine, you are choosing a life of helping others, thus, you should want to volunteer and serve those in need.


COOL MEDICAL SCHOOL SOCCER VIDEO




News
(click quotes for stories)

1. Speaking of Marijuana.....Chocolate drugs trio spared jail
"Three people have each been given a nine-month suspended jail term for supplying cannabis-laced chocolate bars to multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers."

2. Vehicle fumes 'stunt lung growth'
"Living too near a busy road could stunt a child's lung development, US research involving 3,677 children suggests."

3. Kenya's 'cursed' teen mum village
"Mtondia, a small village in Kilifi district on the Kenyan coast is now considered a cursed village as so many of its young girls are either pregnant or have children......."

4. Study Finds Brain Injury Can Permanenly Kill Urge To Smoke
"A study in the journal Science has revealed that "an injury to a specific part of the brain, near the ear, can instantly and permanently break a smoking habit." People who had the injury simply "forgot the urge to smoke."

5. Flesh-Eating Disease Is Making A Comeback
"A virtually eradicated disease that eats through people's skin, cartilage and bones is reappearing in Africa, Asia and South America, the World Health Organization warned Thursday. Yaws, which is triggered by a bacterial infection and can cause debilitating deformations, particularly in children under 15, once affected 50 million people worldwide before a massive treatment program in the 1950s almost succeeded in wiping it out."

Poem, Designer Babies, and Grocery Clinics

There is an organ donor deficit.
In order to fix this problem, something needs to be done.
I suggest two things:
1. Those who are willing to accept an organ over their lifetime, for whatever reason, must be forced to donate their organs if they decease with viable organs.
2. Economically speaking, an organ market makes sense. Ethically? I don't know. But if people were offered money for organs, they would be more likely to donate as it could benefit them and/or their families. The world runs on incentives.

Time passes you by,
Like a marching band in a parade.
You hear the sounds,
And you see the faces.

Once they are out of your view,
They are out of sight and out of mind.
Don't let your life be like that,
Listen Carefully. Inspect with Precision. Remember.

News.
(click quotes for stories)

1. Cancer therapy 'shortens penises'
"Men who have hormone and radiation therapy for prostate cancer can experience penile shortening, a study has suggested."

2. Microwave 'sterilisers' warning
"Firefighters have warned of the dangers of zapping sponges and cloths in the microwave despite a study showing it could kill harmful bacteria."

3. Bread, milk -- and a diagnosis
"As the nation's healthcare system struggles to provide affordable care to all who need it, store-based health clinics -- like those operated by Lindora Inc. -- are springing up around the country. By using mostly nurse practitioners instead of doctors, and operating in a corner of an existing business, the clinics are able to provide some basic health services for around $40 to $70 per visit — in less time than it takes to eat lunch. Most are even open evenings and weekends, when the lights are out in private doctors' offices."

4. Idea of 'designer' babies with defective genes stirs ethics questions
"The power to create "perfect" designer babies looms over the world of prenatal testing. But what if doctors started doing the opposite? Creating made-to-order babies with genetic defects would seem to be an ethical minefield, but to some parents with disabilities -- say, deafness or dwarfism -- it just means making babies like them."

Fat Athletes, Odors and Alzheimers, and Disease via Weather

Right this second, a professor is lecturing and reading his presentation directly from the power point slides. Now, what is the point of that? Why do I even bother coming to class? I ask myself this every day..........

The best thing you can tell your patients: Stop Smoking. I really think that cigarettes should be illegal. They end up costing our healthcare system so much money. It's really unbelievable.

When there is so much suffering going on in the world, it's kind of crazy to consider the amount of money that professional athletes get paid. I'm not going to lie, I definitely watch professional sports, so I am just as much to blame as the next guy/girl. I just started thinking about this randomly though....... Do you think there should be a cap on how much athletes can make? Or should they be forced to give 40% of their income to charity? Maybe we could pay teachers and pediatricians more, or give help to those who really need it....

So today I found this website with REALLY WEIRD TOWN NAMES. CHECK IT OUT!!
Here are a few examples: Blueballs, Pennsylvania, Roachtown, Illinois, Hooker, Oklahoma, and Love Ladies, New Jersey.
Here is the website: http://www.floydpinkerton.net/fun/citynames.html

And Some Medicahl Newsie
(click quotes for stories)

1. More On Athletes..... 1 in 10 prep football players obese, study says
"Heavy tackles and 300-pound nose guards are common in pro and college football. Now a study shows the trend toward beefier, overweight linemen is emerging at the high school level."

2. Trouble identifying odors points to Alzheimer’s
"An inability to correctly identify familiar odors may be an early indication of the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers report."

3. Experts use weather to predict disease
"Doctors hoping to predict disease outbreaks may want to tune into more weather forecasts. Weather patterns can often be a key factor in finding out when an epidemic is imminent because they determine the conditions for germs and their carriers to breed."

4. Safety fears over 'wheelie shoes'
"An accident and emergency consultant has warned of the dangers of the kids' footwear craze Heelys. Almost a dozen children have turned up with injuries at a Belfast hospital after falling while using the trainers, which have wheels in the heel."

5. Drug firm Pfizer cuts 10,000 jobs
"Pfizer is to cut 10,000 jobs, or about 10% of its workforce, as it seeks to trim annual costs by up to $2bn (£1bn). The shake-up comes as the world's biggest drugs firm faces rising competition from generic drugmakers."

CAM, AMSA, SUPERMODEL, AFRICA, VIAGRA

I apologize for some of the news links not going directly to the stories yesterday. I know that some of them went to the New York Times and made you register....for FREE. At least it was FREE though right? Sorries.

Something to consider going to: AMSA's 57th National Convention
Speakers Include: Dr. Paul Farmer, Dr. Jack Geiger, Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Convention Website: http://www.amsa.org/conv

For those interested in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM):
Check out this site!
http://www.alternativemedicine.com


Newsies for the People
(click quotes for stories)

1. Should women be paid for eggs for stem cell research?
"Say you're a woman who wants to have fertility treatment but can't afford the $5,000 to $6,000 cost. What if you could get it for half-price, by agreeing to donate half the eggs you produce for stem cell research? Interested?"

2. AIDS group alleges Viagra promoted as a "party drug"
I don't know about you, but I would feel a little awkward if I used Viagra as a party drug. Besides that, what if you had an erection at the party and it wouldn't go away..........
"An AIDS organization sued Pfizer Inc. on Monday over ads the group says encourage use of Viagra as a party drug. The nonprofit group said such recreational use furthers the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases."

3. Alzheimer's vaccine 'in a patch'
"University of South Florida researchers reported the patch was able to clear brain-damaging plaques from mice. They say it may be a simpler way of protecting people against the disease than a conventional injected vaccine."

4. Heartening News in Pediatric Surgery
"The death rate for heart surgeries on kids has plummeted 24 percent in New York state hospitals, with New York Presbyterian's two Manhattan branches having the best outcomes."

5. Supermodel Speaks Out On Anorexia
And I partially agree with her........
"Gisele Bundchen has entered Brazil's growing debate over anorexia, saying families are to blame — not the fashion industry."

6. Gender Matters in Plasma Transfusions
"The plasma transfused into victims of burns, car crashes and other serious conditions soon will come almost completely from men. Make no mistake: Women need to donate blood now more than ever as blood supplies become more precarious each year."

7. South Africa TB Patients May Be Detained
"Doctors have recommended forcibly detaining people in South Africa who refuse treatment for a drug-resistant form of tuberculosis, an extreme measure meant to keep the infected away from others to curb the spread of the disease, according to a paper published Monday in an international medical journal."

Porn, Good Bacteria, Abortion, and Africa

Holler. It's your boy Anonymous writing at you with some good material today.

1. "Level 2, Trauma Alert, Level 2 Trauma Alert" just played over the loudspeaker in the library, which is where I am sitting right this second.

2. I saw a patient today who looked the color of a yellow highlighter. She was jaundiced due to a pancreatic tumor.

3. SIERRA LEONE REFUGEE ALLSTARS IS A GREAT BAND THAT WAS FORMED IN REFUGEE CAMPS IN AFRICA. CLICK ON THE CD BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS!



4. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT DARFUR?
http://darfurdarfur.org/


SOME NEHWZ.......
(click on quotes for stories)

1. "Altruistic Brain Region Found"
"Altruism - the tendency to help others without obvious benefit to oneself - appears to be linked to an area called the posterior superior temporal sulcus."

2. "I Got Elephantiasis In The UK"
"Overwhelmingly, elephantiasis affects people in tropical countries, but Trudy Lapinskis is a rare example of somebody who has never been to a tropical clime, and yet is afflicted by the condition."

3. "In Raw World of Sex Movies, High Definition Could Be a View Too Real"
"Pornography has long helped drive the adoption of new technology, from the printing press to the videocassette. Now pornographic movie studios are staying ahead of the curve by releasing high-definition DVDs. They have discovered that the technology is sometimes not so sexy. The high-definition format is accentuating imperfections in the actors — from a little extra cellulite on a leg to wrinkles around the eyes."

4. Is There a Post-Abortion Syndrome?
"Because of this knowledge, she is now equally certain, she slipped into years of depression, drinking and freebasing cocaine. One night when she was in her early 30s, she got as high as she could, lay down in the dark in a bathtub filled with water and slit her wrists. In her mind, all of her troubles — the drugs, the suicide attempt, the third and fourth abortions she went on to have, the wrestling match of a marriage she eventually entered — are the aftermath of her own original sin, the 1973 abortion."

5. Clinton Opens Her Campaign With Health Insurance Plan
"With a 4-year-old girl clutching her hand, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton began her newborn presidential campaign yesterday at a Manhattan health care clinic, announcing legislation that would significantly expand federal health insurance for Americans under age 18."

6. In Live Bacteria, Food Makers See a Bonanza
"In the year since the Dannon Company introduced Activia, a line of yogurt with special live bacteria that are marketed as aiding regularity, sales in United States stores have soared well past the $100 million mark, a milestone that only a small percentage of new foods reaches each year."

Viagra Decreases Ability to Smell. Brussel Sprouts.

I think that weekends should be 3 full days long.

Extreme bowling, which involves music, strobe lights, and black lights, is amazing.

Brussel Sprouts are underrated.

Wars for oil can be both good and bad.

I have a stomach ache from the morning coffee. Shit. Literally.

Curry powder on french fries tastes good. Try it. Now!


A few quick weekend stories to get your mouth watering for the upcoming week's blogs:
(click links for stories....foo)

1. Viagra may decrease ability to smell
"Higher doses of Viagra (sildenafil) may impair the ability to smell, which is possibly related to an increase in nasal congestion, German researchers report in The Journal of Urology."

2. Dog-owners "lead healthier lives"
"The companionship offered by many pets is thought to be good for you, but the benefits of owning a dog outstrip those of cat owners, the study says."

3. Why is too much water dangerous?
"We are regularly advised to drink more water: it clears skin, reduces tiredness and aids concentration. But the death of a woman in the US after taking part in a water-drinking contest shows you can have too much of a good thing."

4. Talk of universal health care grows
"Health care for all - an elusive goal that has tantalized presidents and governors for decades - is roaring back this year with ambitious proposals in a handful of prominent states. The promise: Cover millions of uninsured adults and children. Improve the quality of care at hospitals and doctor's offices. Rein in rising costs that are eating up workers' wages, company profits and state budgets."

5. Smart kids = more agile adults
"A lack of intelligence can really hurt you. Adults who were smart children apparently are less likely to be hospitalized for accidental injuries than those who did not do as well on childhood intelligence tests, according to a study in the February issue of the American Journal of Public Health."

Condoms Are Too Big in India and Tequila as Medication

Okay, in all seriousness, how come most medical schools here in the United States don't teach the students about the healthcare system that we practice in? I mean, really. That's like putting a person off the street in an OR to do a surgery. I can guarantee you that nothing "magical" happens between MS4 and intern year where all of a sudden you learn the system. Seriously.

What is the deal with medical students not having people skills?

What is the deal with Snow and Ice in Texas? I mean, does that make anyone else a little nervous? Stop burning gas and start walking to school.

Has anyone been to a website where you can meet people and donate your kidneys to them?

Check out this website: www.matchingdonors.com


Tequila Medication Commercial



And some news.....
(click links for stories)

1. Folic Acid: For Women AND The Elderly!
"Folic acid supplements can improve the memory and brain power of ageing brains, research shows."

2. Chinese "Cancer Villages"
"The small hamlet of Shangba is a tiny jumbled collection of houses sitting in the lush green paddy fields and hills of southern China. It sounds idyllic, but many of the locals are dying after drinking polluted water. Shangba has become one of the country's growing number of what have been called "cancer villages"".

3. Fast food easier to find than healthful fare, study says. OBVIOUSLY.
"In California, people are more than four times as likely to find a fast-food restaurant or convenience store than a grocery or produce store, according to a study released today by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy."

4. Condoms a big problem for men in India. WOW.
"Condoms designed to meet international size specifications are too big for many Indian men as their penises fall short of what manufacturers had anticipated, an Indian study has found."

5. Senior women turn to basketball for fitness, fun.
"...It's one of dozens of basketball leagues for women over 50 that have sprung up across the country. For some, it's an opportunity to exercise and socialize; for others, it's a once-denied chance to compete."

To Drink or Not To Drink? That is the Question.

Booyakasha.

See the movie Crash. Great Movie.

See the movie Happy Feet. Great Movie.

See the movie Blood Diamond. Great Movie.

"Real Med Student of Genius" Video



My thoughts on life as we know it: "We're all in this together".

My thoughts on ghosts: "I can't say whether they are true or false".

My thoughts on medical school: Priceless.

And some news.....
(click links for stories)

1. Over 1,000 Children Infected With HIV Daily
"Despite progress in preventing HIV transmission from pregnant mothers to their babies, more than 1,000 children around the world were infected with the disease each day in 2006, according to a U.N. report."

2. How Women Pick Mates vs. Fings
"Science might be able to explain our fascination with Brad Pitt's chiseled jaw and George Clooney's smoldering eyes. Women seem to judge potential mates by how masculine their features are, new research shows. Men with square jaws and well-defined brow ridges are seen as good short-term partners, while those with more feminine traits such as a rounder face and fuller lips are perceived as better long-term mates."

3. And In Bad Gums.....
"Gum disease might raise a person’s risk of pancreatic cancer by causing general inflammation through the body, U.S. researchers said Tuesday."

4. Daily Drink May Help Men's High Blood Pressure
"Men with high blood pressure are usually advised to avoid alcohol, but U.S. and Dutch researchers said on Tuesday that a drink or two every day may reduce their chances of a heart attack."

5. Bingeing Youth of Educated Women
"Educated women are far more likely to binge-drink in their 20s than those with few qualifications, a study shows."

70's Protein Synthesis Video and Selling Kidneys

I appologize for not writing an unbelievable post yesterday....my computer has entered the cemetary. Now, I type on the virgin keys of a Apple computer. I have again seen the light of Macintosh after 10 years on the dark side.

Recently I had a lecture from a Urologist who appeared to be wearing some sort of Ugz/Moonboots combination. He came straight out of the OR I guess..... That's extremely unsanitary.

They serve fried chicken in the hospital cafeteria. That is not healthy.

It is frozen everywhere across the nation. I left my bike outside at school yesterday and it was completely frozen when I tried to ride it today. That was the opposite of cool.

MLK deserves more than one day.

Most people should probably eat more bran than they actually eat.

Which is better for your body, sky diving or bungee jumping?

A joke for you.

Doctor: I have some bad news and some very bad news.
Patient: Well, might as well give me the bad news first.
Doctor: The lab called with your test results. They said you have 24 hours to live.
Patient: 24 HOURS! That's terrible!! WHAT could be WORSE? What's the very bad news?
Doctor: I've been trying to reach you since yesterday.

A protein synthesis video (it's slow in the first three minutes, then it becomes out of this world!):




And some news for the party people....
(click links for stories)

1. Tsunami victims 'selling kidneys'
"The government in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu has launched an inquiry into reports of the sale of kidneys by the families of poor fishermen."

2. 'obesity-busting gum'
"Scientists are looking at whether an appetite-suppressing chewing gum could be used to tackle obesity."

3. Cloudy' apple juice packs more antioxidants
"In a head-to-head comparison of apple juices, Polish researchers found that pulpy, non-clarified juice carried a greater antioxidant punch than clear juice. Antioxidants are compounds that neutralize free radicals, molecules that can damage body cells and contribute to disease."

4. Starbucks milk not doing a body good
"Starbucks Corp. said Tuesday it is aiming to make the milk and other dairy products it serves in its U.S. coffee houses free of a controversial artificial growth hormone used in dairies to increase milk production."

Living With a Hernia, China Has No Women,and Bilingual Procrastination

This is why your patients should stop smoking......

20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.

12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.

1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.

1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.

5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.

10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.

15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's.


What it's like to live with a hernia.....



And some newsy news....
(click quotes for stories)

1. Coffee may help relieve gym pain
"Drinking coffee could help reduce the post-workout pain that puts many people off exercise, a small study suggests. The study found moderate doses of caffeine, roughly equivalent to two cups of coffee, can cut muscle pain by up to 48%."

2. Being bilingual can delay onset of dementia
"People who are fully bilingual and speak both languages every day for most of their lives can delay the onset of dementia by up to four years compared with those who only know one language, Canadian scientists said Friday."

3. Why Do We Procrastinate?
"The reason we procrastinate may be more about confidence than perfectionism, a new study says. Contrary to popular belief, procrastinators generally aren't perfectionists; instead, they're more likely to delay tasks they're not confident about, says researchers."

4. China Running Out Of Women
"China will have 30 million more men of marriageable age than women in less than 15 years as a gender imbalance resulting from the country's tough one-child policy becomes more pronounced, state media reported Friday."

5. Surgeon Uses Dog in Sales Demonstration
"A neurosurgeon used a dog with an induced brain aneurysm to demonstrate a medical device to salespeople, a hospital said Thursday. The dog was anesthetized during the demonstration and euthanized afterward, according to a statement released by the Cleveland Clinic, a renowned academic medical center."

Weekend, Syphilis, Obesity, and Procrastination

I appologize for the no-post friday, but, some of us have to volunteer, some of us have other commitments, and some of us are celebrating the weekend. With that being said, I think that the people deserve a joke...........right?

Joke:

An elderly woman went into the doctor's office. When the doctor asked why she was there, she replied, "I'd like to have some birth control pills."

Taken aback, the doctor thought for a minute and then said, "Excuse me, Mrs. Smith, but you're 75 years old. What possible use could you have for birth control pills?"
The woman responded, "They help me sleep better."

The doctor thought some more and continued, "How in the world do birth control pills help you to sleep?"

The woman said, "I put them in my granddaughter's orange juice and I sleep better at night."

Surgeons in general......
So, has anyone come across any surgeon "professors" who have either been preceptors in your clerkship, been lecturers, or who have been professionals whom you have randomly interacted with during medical school who have also been complete ___holes? That's all I have to say about that. Any thoughts? Let me know, because, I'm not gonna lie.....I've definitely not-not seen that.

Da News vs. Da Bears
(click for links...you know da drill)

1. Going to college may be bad for your brain
Well......whaddya think? I am going to go with no......
"Participants in a new study, all more than 70 years old, were tested up to four times between 1993 and 2000 on their ability to recall 10 common words read aloud to them. Those with more education were found to have a steeper decline over the years in their ability to remember the list, according to a new study detailed in the current issue of the journal Research on Aging."

2.If you procrastinate, don't put off reading this
"After 10 years of research on a project that was only supposed to take five years, a Canadian industrial psychologist found in a giant study that not only is procrastination on the rise, it makes people poorer, fatter and unhappier."

3. As Obesity Fight Hits Cafeteria, Many Fear a Note From School
"The practice of reporting students’ body mass scores to parents originated a few years ago as just one tactic in a war on childhood obesity that would be fought with fresh, low-fat cafeteria offerings and expanded physical education. Now, inspired by impressive results in a few well-financed programs, states including Delaware, South Carolina and Tennessee have jumped on the B.M.I. bandwagon, turning the reports — in casual parlance, obesity report cards — into a new rite of childhood."

4. Syphilis rates 'soaring in China'
"The Lancet reports that China - which virtually eliminated syphilis in the 1960s and 70s - is now seeing the disease return with alarming intensity."

Now is the time.
It is the weekend.
The Sun is Shining and is raying you.
Ask for it's warmth,
And,
It Shall Provide.

Booyah. yah. yah. yahnah.

Joke. Stem Cells. Spicy Food. Drugs.

A Joke To Start Off With.......
An elderly woman from the deepest, most southern part of Alabama goes into the local newspaper office to see that the obituary for her recently deceased husband is written.
The obit editor informs her that the fee for the obituary is 50 cents a word. She pauses, reflects and then says, "Well, then, let it read, "Billy Bob died."
Amused at the woman's thrift, the editor says, "Sorry ma'am there is a 7 word minimum on all obituaries." Only a little flustered, she thinks things over and in a few seconds says, "In that case, let it read, "Billy Bob died - 1983 pickup for sale."

My Thought Of The Day
I am curious as to why some medical schools claim they have a "pass-fail" system when they really don't. Talk with a friend at another school and ask them, "Tell me about the pass-fail system at your school".
They'll respond with, "We have High Honors, Honors, Pass, and Fail".
What does that even mean!? Aren't those grades?! Your guess is as good as mine.

Joining the AMA as a medical student only so I could get a free Stedman's was the worst idea ever. I get shitty e-mails from them, countless mailings, and a JAMA that I rarely have the time to read. What a waste of money on their part. Instead, they should start a free clinic somewhere in Africa instead of wasting money on paper.

And for some news............
(click links for stories)

1. US House backs stem cell research
Thank the good lord that the Democrats have taken the power back......finally a separation of church and state!
"The US House of Representatives has passed a bill backing embryonic stem cell research, marking a major challenge to President George W Bush. The stem cell bill was among the top priorities for the Democrats, who took control of Congress last week, but Mr Bush has vowed to veto it."

2. How spicy foods can kill cancers
You love to eat it, It'll help you kill, and it's Hot, Hot, Hot.
"They found capsaicin, an ingredient of jalapeno peppers, triggers cancer cell death by attacking mitochondria - the cells' energy-generating boiler rooms. The research raises the possibility that other cancer drugs could be developed to target mitochondria."

3. Government to list hospitals that falter in heart attack care
Good or Bad for the Healthcare System? You Tell Me!
"In a dramatic bid to improve hospital performance, the government plans to post a consumer-friendly comparison of hospitals' heart attack and heart failure death rates on the Internet."

4. San Francisco area is No. 1 for regular drug use, study says
Any UCSF Students out there? What's the dilly-o?
"The San Francisco metropolitan area has a higher percentage of people who are regular drug users than any other major metropolitan area in the USA, a study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found."

5. The Claim: Hot Leftovers Should Cool at Room Temperature
"The reasoning behind the claim varies. One theory is that allowing food to cool at a slower rate reduces the likelihood that it will spoil. Another suggests that hot food can somehow interfere with the circulation of cold air in the refrigerator. The notion may have originated back when food was stored in iceboxes, and thus could not be too hot when put away."

Weird Action, Healthcare Reform, and Primary Care to the People

I just drank some Green Tea because it is good for you. It helps you lose weight, lower your cholesterol, and can reduce your risk of cancer. Just ask the East Side.....of the world.

Did you ever wonder why people smoke cigarettes with their children in the car?
I do.

Did you ever wonder why people buy alcohol for their kids?
I do.

Did you ever wonder why people let their six year old babysit their three year old?
I do.

Weird Shit I Tell Ya.

Anywhooo.....

Here is some news:

(Click on quotes for the stories)

1. Schwarzenegger Wants Universal Health Care for California
Finally, people are coming to their senses! "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a bold new plan Monday to give every person in California health insurance coverage — and other states are already joining in."

2. Heavenly Bodies: Fitness Meets Faith at the Gym
"For Susie Neubaur, part of being a good Christian means trying to be physically fit. She works out at the Lord's Gym in Clermont, Fla., beginning her day with Bible study and a program called "Body by God. For christians, your body is the Holy Spirit's temple, you want it to look good and be healthy" she says.

3. Red Bull Not the Best Mixer
"That midnight kiss on New Year's Eve may not have been the only thing that took your breath away. Those who celebrated the night with a few drinks may, next time, think twice about what they order once they hear about the health risks associated with mixing alcoholic beverages with energy drinks."

4. America's Appetite For Olive Oil Ripens
"Travel to the Mediterranean and a resulting enthusiasm for its cuisine created a buzz for olive oil in the last few decades. Food celebrities proclaimed the virtues of EVO — extra-virgin olive oil, the finest, most flavorful oil produced entirely by physical means (now in centrifuges, not presses), without the use of chemicals or excess heat."

5. Bangor Makes It Illegal to Smoke in Cars
"The Bangor City Council approved a measure Monday that prohibits people from smoking in vehicles when children are present."

6. Taking primary care to the patient
"A new BBC series follows family doctors as they take to the streets to offer primary care to patients on their home ground. Among the intrepid team was Dr Ayan Panja, who describes the benefits - and disadvantages - of the project."

Amazon Ants, Aphrodisiacs, and Prostate Cancer

To fulfill a request by a foreign medical student, I am going to start today by telling you, the readers, what my day was like.

8-10am: Laboratory Session about Renal Pathology
10-12am: Lectures about the Renal System
12-1pm: The eating of a salad and boiled eggs
1pm-4pm: OB/GYN Small Group Sessions where we learned about Bimanual exams, rectovaginal exams, GYN Pathology, and about pregnancy in general, followed by visiting patients.
4pm-5pm: Blogging
5pm-11pm: Studying, Doing Research, Eating, Interneting
11pm-12am: Trying to Fall Asleep
12am-7am: Sleeping
7am-8am: Showering and Transit Time


A Poem About My Life

It was warm where I was,
And It's Cold Where I am,
I was studying before break,
And I'm studying again, goddamn,

I'd rather still be relaxing,
But the facts are that I can't,
I chose to be a doctor,
Not an amazon ant.


And For Some News....
(Click Links/Comments For Stories)

1. Weight gain linked to prostate cancer death
To Be Fat, or not to be fat? That is the question.....because although Obese men are less likely to get the disease, they are more likely to die of it, a study says.

2. Does it pay to fight stress with your wallet?
"Items and services aimed at calming us are at the core of what's becoming a booming business — the "stress industry." Americans will spend an estimated $14 billion fighting stress next year, according to Market Data. That’s up from the $11 billion a year we’re currently spending."

3. Having a kid in the house makes you fatter
"Adults living with young children eat significantly more fat than grown-ups with no kids at home, up to a whole pizza a week!, a new study shows.

4. Nine healthy foods that may surprise you
"These include_________, ____________,__________,______, and chocolate."

5. Ten Aphrodisiacs That Work
"For as long as humans have been having sex, they've been trying to get in the mood--or get their partners in the mood. And if necessity is the mother of invention, it's no surprise that humans have developed a wide variety of creative solutions for the old "I've-got-a-headache" problem. Most of those solutions don't work, however, and some can even hurt. Here are ten tricks that might actually boost your partners libido--or your own."

SAD, Smelly NYC, Sexsational 2007, and Raccoons

Yesterday I met a pediatrician who had 4 dogs, 2 skunks, 3 birds, 12 cats, a pig, a horse, 2 emu, and over 100 raccoons as pets. Can I get a "wow" from anyone?!

I just returned from the tropics, and might I say, it would be GREAT to live there an be a physician. Any input anyone?

Today I learned about male and female sexual dysfunction. In discussion, it came up that when a patient tells you that they masturbate to magazines, it can be considered "odd/abnormal" or "normal", depending on how often and the types of magazines being used. Would it be weird if a patient was masturbating daily to SkyMall Magazine? Has anyone seen that magazine on the planes? They have some AMAZING stuff in there!

Medical Students should try to live as cheaply as possible and use their extra loans to invest.

Medical School is both fun and not fun simultaneously. How often can you say that about your life?

And some news.........
(click on the quotes/thoughts for the stories)

1. For those who practice or learn in the northeast......you and your patients don't get enough sun, which is why you get Seasonal Affective Disorder. See how you can turn the tables on mother nature.
"A simulator that mimics the atmosphere of dawn may reduce depression linked to lack of winter sun, say scientists."

2. Experts warn against organ trade
Listen, if you want a better way to fix the organ shortage problem, maybe we should require that if a patient is willing to accept an organ transplant, they should also be required to offer their organs if they were to die!

3. Mystery smell settles over Manhattan
"In New Jersey, seven people went to hospitals complaining of symptoms they said were related to the odor, but none were admitted, said Nathan Rudy, spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services."

4. More than 20,000 Rhode Island students who missed classes last week because of a health scare returned to school Monday to a basic lesson they've heard before: Keep your hands clean.
"Schools in Warwick, West Warwick and Coventry, Rhode Island, had been closed Thursday and Friday while health officials investigated several cases of encephalitis and meningitis."

5. Seven resolutions for sensational sex in '07
"Here is a menu of seven resolutions for 2007 that will go at least a little way toward making us the high rpm love machines we know we would be if only our partners were magically turned into Eva Longoria or that guy from "Grey’s Anatomy."

5 Stories to Bring in the New Year: Impressions, Sexsomniacs, Measles, Syphilis, and Two Wombs

As the new year comes to us, I provide you, the medical school people, with some things to think about as you party it up wherever you may be. Whatever you do tonight, make sure to keep it real, drink safely, and always wear two socks instead of just one.

Enjoy and happy new year......

1. Four Keys to Making a Good Impression
In your clerkships, or if you're just going out, you should make sure to look good. Here's an article on how to do that.
"If you present yourself as if you expect to be found attractive, and show pride in your body through the way you hold your posture, being stylish, and showing interest in other people will make you seem more attractive."

2. 1 traveler tied to more than half '05 U.S. measles cases
Okay people, we neeed to start VACINATING!
"The biggest U.S. measles outbreak in a decade -- 34 people stricken in Indiana and Illinois last year -- was traced back to a 17-year-old girl who had traveled to Romania without first getting vaccinated, government health officials said Thursday."

3. Cartoon Penises Have Their Say on Syphilis
"An advertising campaign featuring cartoon characters shaped like male genitalia encouraged more men to get tested for syphilis in San Francisco, according to a new study."

4. Triplets Born to Woman With Two Wombs: Yessir, Yessir, Three Bags Full.
"A woman with two wombs has given birth to triplets, in what is believed to the first case of its kind, a hospital official said Friday."

5. ‘Sexsomniacs’ puzzle medical researchers
"Researchers are struggling to understand a rare medical condition where sufferers unknowingly demand, or actually have, sex while asleep, New Scientist magazine reported on Wednesday."