Celebrity Health Awards, Green Tea, and Self Centered Patients

And it all comes down to this.....

I don't know why people sometimes make drastic changes in their appearance....

First I used Prodigy, then AOL, and now I just use high speed internet.

What if a medical student has narcolepsy? Would that affect their clerkships?

Standardized Tests. Are they really standardized?

Extreme people probably shouldn't be allowed into medical school. Right?!

Recommended Sites
Green Tea
Black Tea
Medical School Resources

News
(klik kwotes)

1. Greater Quality Control Needed For Overseas-trained Doctors
"The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has urged the Federal Government to toughen visa entry requirements for overseas-trained doctors if States and Territories continue to drag their heels on the implementation of national assessment standards."

2. Capitol Hill Press Conference: Statement From The American Medical Student Association President On Student Debt
"The following remarks were delivered by AMSA president Jay Bhatt to members of Congress, the media and collegial and community organization members as a part of the Campaign for College Affordability Day of Action....."

3. Nine secrets to a healthier heart
"Health gathered the latest tricks -- all backed by solid research -- to take care of your heart."

4. Are Today's Students Too Self-Centered?
"Today's college students are more narcissistic and self-centered than their predecessors, according to a comprehensive new study by five psychologists who worry that the trend could be harmful to personal relationships and American society."

5. Dr. Manny's Good Health Awards: Celebrities Who Live Healthy Lives
"Take away the glitz, the glamour, the television cameras, the after parties with their certainly taxable, obviously extravagant goodie bags, the highly paid comedian to host the ceremony; subtract Joan Rivers and her couture commentary since there's no red carpet in cyberspace... and you've got The First Annual Dr. Manny Awards."

HIV, Circumcision, Hotter Sex, and Tamponade

Tamponade
1. Tamponade is a condition of blood flow stoppage either by insertion of a tampon (a wadded cotton plug) into a blood vessel or by a constriction of the vessel by an outside force.
2. Collection of fluid between the heart muscle and the pericardial sac
3. A yummy drink that tastes good on a hot, sunny day.


In the Hospital

In the Hospital, the mighty Hospital,
Patients sleep tonight.

In the Hospital the mighty Hospital,
Patients sleep tonight.

Drugs and plugs, and docs in scrubs,
Drugs and plugs, and docs in scrubs.

Drugs and plugs, and docs in scrubs,
Drugs and plugs, and docs in scrubs.

To be continued........

Websites of Note
American Medical Students Association
Medical Notes From BBC
Genpets
Med School Ready

News Stories of Note
(click quotes)

1. The Grassroots Abortion War
"Wood is the CEO of Asheville Pregnancy Support Services in Asheville, North Carolina, one of the thousands of crisis pregnancy centers in the U.S. that are working to end abortion. Hers is the new face of an old movement: kind, calm, nonjudgmental, a special-forces soldier in the abortion wars who is fighting her battles one conscience at a time....."

2. Assembly Gives 14-Year-Olds A Say on Key Medical Care
"Virginia lawmakers passed a bill called "Abraham's Law" yesterday after agreeing that 14 is the appropriate age for a teenager with a life-threatening condition to have a hand in making medical decisions."

3. Walgreens-based medical centers offer limited care at fixed prices
"Take Care Health Systems LLC, based in a Philadelphia suburb, plans to open five clinics in Walgreens drugstores this spring."

4. Circumcision cuts HIV risk more than thought
"In an “extraordinary development” in the fight against AIDS, a medical journal article published Friday says that conclusive data shows there is no question circumcision reduces men’s chances of catching HIV by up to 60 percent."

5. One preacher's message: Have hotter sex
".... I have come here expecting exactly this scene. The occasion is a seminar called “Love, Sex and Marriage,” being given by Joe Beam, a Southern preacher out of the old school, a self-described “book-chapter-and-verse guy,” who runs an outfit based in Franklin, Tenn., called Family Dynamics. So I’m anticipating condemnation of American culture — especially America’s sexual culture — that has made conservative Christians feel besieged."

The Model That Smells Like Dead Fish

Birthday Cake Tastes Good Any Time During The day.

Ice Cream Sandwiches Are Loaded With FAT.

Rice Wine From Laos Tastes Interesting.

I Wonder How Many New Foods/Snacks Are Introduced to Consumers Each Day?!

Functionality is Functional.

I HAVE HEARD RUMORS OF DOCTORS AND MEDICAL STUDENTS USING IV'S TO CURE HANGOVERS. IS THIS FACT OR FICTION? ANY THOUGHTS?


Newsie News
(click quotes)

1. The Model Who Smells Like Dead Fish
"No matter what she does, Camille says she can't cover the smell. Neither showers nor perfume helps. Camille has a medical mystery that she's struggled to understand for nearly 30 years. It took her self-esteem and was taking her profession. She says she was often in a state of panic."
2. Line between overeating and binge disorder is a thin one
"While many of us overeat but never reach this extreme, doctors are becoming alarmed at the number of Americans who are becoming binge eaters. Binge eating has now become America's most common eating disorder, affecting one in 35 women, making it three times as common as anorexia nervosa, according to new research."

3. FDA approves ADHD drug Vyvanse
"A new amphetamine-based drug to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder won federal approval Friday. It's harder to abuse than older stimulants, the manufacturer says."

4. Energy drink banned at Colorado school
"A high school banned a caffeine-packed energy drink after students complained that it made them sick and shaky and caused their hearts to race."

5. Nearly Half of Indian Women Have Not Heard of AIDS
"More than 40 percent of women in India have not heard of AIDS, according to a government survey that has alarmed activists."

Poetry For The Soul, Med School Romance, and Pot

I'm just a student, what do I know?
I have no answers and my brain works too slow.

Please don't pimp me,
I hate how it feels,

Show me the light,
Teach me to heal.

Give me a chance,
Guide me along,

I want to learn stuff to help people and things of the similar also know to show people feel nice and good.


I am a medical student. This is a scenario that happened to me at clinic yesterday:
A patient came to the office because she was "pregnant". She had 4 positive home pregnancy tests in November and last week she had a serum pregnancy test. She was at the office for follow-up and to hear the results of the serum pregnancy test. My preceptor gave me the results. They were negative for HCG. So, the patient really wasn't pregnant. But, she actually thought she was, since November. I HAD TO DELIVER THIS NEWS ON MY OWN. NOT FUN.

Sites of Note
http://www.wholefoods.com
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com
http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/medical-student.html
http://www.peets.com

Medical School Romances

News
(click quotes)

1. Gay men seek 'female cancer' jab
"Homosexual men are requesting a controversial "sex disease" vaccine designed to prevent a female cancer. Gardasil protects against the most common of sexually transmitted infections, human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer. But HPV also causes genital warts and anal and penile cancer, and men argue the jab would guard against these."

2. Expert says ban all alcohol ads
"A leading doctor says all advertising of alcohol must be banned in a bid to curb Britain's growing drink problem."

3. 10 years after Dolly: Clones, crooks and crazies
"Ten years ago today, the birth of the first cloned mammal — a sweet-faced sheep named Dolly — was announced to the world. Her creators, a team of veterinary scientists at Scotland’s Roslin Institute, approached their landmark scientific achievement with a sense of humor: They named the lamb after Dolly Parton. (The DNA they used to clone her came from a breast cell.) Much of the rest of the world, however, was not amused....."

4. Group sues feds over medical marijuana claim
"Armed with a new study showing the drug can ease pain in some HIV patients, medical-marijuana advocates sued the federal government Wednesday over its claim that pot has no accepted medical uses."

5. Eat Smart: Five important goals to improve your diet
"You can make a fresh start with a few easily attainable nutrition goals of your own. Pick one, two, or all five that we suggest, and make an effort to incorporate the changes into your eating routine. We'll give you everyday ideas for ways to meet these goals -- and keep in mind that even incremental improvements count toward your overall goal."

Squash, Flatus, and Pre-Eclampsia

Power Point has ruined the current state of higher education. It also makes the presenter look like they don't really know their material.

Why do beans cause flatus? Any thoughts?

Squash is both a sport and a food.

Many medical terms have no valid roots and as a result, are difficult to memorize.

The automated maps on www.weather.com really make you feel like a weatherman.


Sites of Note
Medical School Rankings
Virtual Autopsy
Medical Palm Pilot Programs


News
(click quotes)

1. Birth weight pre-eclampsia 'link'
"Women who were underweight when they were born are at greater risk of severe pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, a Swedish study involving 6,000 women suggests."

2. ADHD drugs to carry new guides on heart, mental risks
"The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that it directed the manufacturers of Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera and all other drugs for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, to develop the guides. In May 2006, the agency told manufacturers to revise the labels of the drugs to reflect concerns about the cardiovascular and psychiatric problems."

3. Child's trauma may affect parents' health
"The stress of having a child go through a life-threatening event may have long-term health consequences for parents, a new study suggests."

4. Herpes treatment may help HIV patients
"Treating genital herpes may slow the progression of the AIDS virus in those infected with both viruses, researchers reported on Wednesday."

5. Do Libras Live Longer?
"Peter Austin wasn't a bit surprised when he found evidence of what appears to be a strong link between specific astrological signs and life-threatening medical problems. Is it possible that our health is really determined by the zodiac, or the sign under which each of us was born?"

Britney Spears, BEEF, Foot Massage, and Size Zero Pants

To the AnonymousLawStudent:
a) Who are you and where do you hail from?
b) I don't discuss "Race", for I believe we are all multiracial.

Yesterday I was working with an OB/GYN attending who was 6 months out of residency. While working with her, she told me, "I hate my patients. I hate my practice. I hate my life."
Any thoughts on this??

Going to class isn't always beneficial for me. However, I feel guilty not going because I am paying about $50,000/year to attend these said classes. NOT COOL.

I ate some soup today for lunch. It had chicken, rice, celery, carrots, and LOVE in it. I knew it was going to be good the second it touched my lips.

I feel like the world should leave Britney Spears alone. She is going through some tough times and just wants to be alone with her babies and maybe K-Fed.

Cubicles are really welcoming if you are tired. Other than that, they can be a little bit anti-stimulatory.

HOW COME BEEF IS NO LONGER WHAT'S FOR DINNER, LIKE THE COMMERCIALS USED TO SAY?


Foot Massage Lesson by Health-Choices Holistic Massage School



Foive Pieces of Nehws
(klick quoties for stories)

1. Natural contraception 'effective'
I BEG TO DIFFER.
"A natural family planning method is as effective as the contraceptive pill, German research suggests. The symptothermal method (STM) assesses fertility levels during the monthly cycle by measuring body temperature, and observing cervical secretions."

2. 'Size zero means clothes now fit me'
SWEET!
"Half of young women say they are unhappy with their bodies, but naturally slim women find the "size zero" debate focuses all eyes on what they eat, says Rebecca Hedges in our Readers' Column."

3. Sexualisation 'harms' young girls
AGREED.
"The media's portrayal of young women as sex objects harms girls' mental and physical health, US experts warn. Magazines, television, video games and music videos all have a detrimental effect, a task force from the American Psychological Association reported."

4. Executions on Hold in Some States
DOCTORS SHOULD NOT PARTICIPATE.
"A legal and ethical bind has brought executions to a halt in North Carolina: A federal judge ruled that a doctor must monitor the condemned for signs of pain. But the state's medical board has threatened to punish any doctor who takes part in an execution."

5. University provides low-calorie cafe to students
FINALLY!
"These days Mean Green means more than the green-jerseyed football team at the University of North Texas. The campus also has a hot new cafeteria called Mean Greens. And as you might suspect, it serves up a lot of green, and otherwise healthy, food."

Cat Fecal Coffee, Better Sex, Depressed and Obese America

Question by Blog Reader: "The obesity problem of the United States sounds pretty disgusting...can you confirm that exists? I'm Canadian..."

Answer by Blog Writer: Yes. It exists. It is gross, actually. However, I have been to Ontario and British Columbia and there seems to be obese people there too, just not as many.


Question by Blog Reader: I heard a rumor about a coffee shop in San Francisco that sells a certain coffee bean for $40 per pound. The reason that this particular bean is so expensive is apparently because it is harvested from the fecal matter of some type of mammal. Can anyone confirm or deny this rumor? And either way, can anyone with medical knowledge explain the health benefits or detriments to drinking poop-coffee?

Answer by Blog Reader: First of all, I like rumors. I like spreading them, starting them, and whatevering them. Regarding this said "poop-coffee", please see the following articles:
1. Article about coffee from Cat Feces
2. Article about the most expensive coffee one can buy

I like fishes 'cause they're so delicious!
Pork, the other white meat.
Drink Water, Be Free.
Why eat apples when you can eat applesauce?
Tea has anti-oxidants in it.
I eat food because I am a hungry person.

News
(click quotes)

1. How Depressed Is Your Country?
"Picture the countries battling the highest rates of depression, and you probably think of those that are developing or poor. Think again. The U.S. tops the list, with 9.6% of the population experiencing bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder or chronic minor depression over the course of a year. That's compared with a .8% rate documented in Nigeria."

2. Doctors Who Deliver
"Have back-to-back meetings but just came down with a nasty sore throat? Don't worry about a time-consuming trip to the ER or finding a local doctor who can't fit you in. Call a doctor that will come to you--whether you're in the airport, office or hotel room."

3. All dressed up — in latex and dog collars
"This bus is full of people going to a party at a club here called The Chambers, after spending the day at the Hyatt Regency for "FetishCon," an annual convention that is part trade show, part classroom, part nighttime scene for fetish aficionados and the merely curious."

4. From pills to vacuums: In pursuit of better sex
"Perhaps because nearly one in five men in the U.S. suffer from erectile dysfunction, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Medicine. Some researchers have estimated that as many as 40 percent of U.S. women have low libido or inability to reach orgasm. Most quick fixes simply don't work, and some, like Spanish Fly — a supposed aphrodisiac derived from beetles that can cause kidney damage — are harmful."

5. Cocoa may improve brain blood flow
"A nice cup of the right kind of cocoa could hold the promise of promoting brain function as people age. In an increasingly aging world, medical researchers are seeing more cases of dementia and are looking for ways to make brains work better."

Trix, Emotions, and OTC Viagra

If Life Was A Highway, like the song says, I don't think I'd want to ride it all night long because I'd probably get tired.

Although Trix Are For Kids, adults like me like them as well.

They now make Energy Water, aka Water plus Caffeine.

Being Tired on Monday is normal for me, but, it's not cool, at all.

Some say love is like a river, but, I think it is more like an ocean of emotion.

Sites of Note
www.harvard.edu
www.yahooligans.com
www.ifmsa.org

News of Note
(click quotes for stories)

1. More young women consider donating eggs
"Human egg donation was a rarity not so long ago. But heightened demand for eggs — and rising compensation for donors — are prompting more young women to consider it."

2. Big gulp: Your Drinks May Be Making You Fat
"New findings are adding to the research suggesting that more than ever before, what and how much we drink may increase calorie intake and weight without our noticing."

3. British pharmacy tests selling Viagra over the counter
"British pharmacy chain Boots will begin a trial program on Valentine’s Day to offer men Viagra without a prescription......"

4. Don't blame him if she can't get no satisfaction
"Right off the bat, Dr. Anita H. Clayton wants to make it clear that “this is not about men.” Well it is a little, at least for heterosexual women, but Clayton exaggerates in the interest of reassuring me. She has a theory that many women are dissatisfied with their sex lives and I’m expecting the usual indictment of insensitive male fumbling, with the words “beer,” “ba-da-bing,” “foreplay,” “seventh-inning stretch” and “torn sweatpants” figuring prominently......"

5. Virtual reality used to treat soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder.
"The immersive system combines realistic street scenes, sounds and odours to allow patients to relive traumatic events in a controlled environment."

Lying Patients, Red Bull Video, and Cocoa Pebbles

The world is spinning, but we appear stationary at times.

If you have never been to a laser light show in a planetarium, you should really consider going.

Cocoa Pebbles are a great snack.

Leisure reading can be easy, but it can also be difficult.

Tarzan was a wild and crazy guy.

A Website worth checking out.....
http://www.ashoka.org/

A non-medical, but neat, video....



News Stories to Consider Reading:
(click quotes for stories)

1. Study: Fish good for pregnant women
"Eating seafood during pregnancy could help your child's development, according to a new study in the British journal Lancet."

2. Should Babies Be Scanned?
"As we were sitting there in the office, we realized we still faced an enormously difficult decision. Whenever you have a medical test, you have to ask yourself, What am I going to do with this new information?".....

3. Tests show morphine eases coughs
"The opiate drug morphine is effective in easing long-standing coughs, as doctors have suspected, a study shows."

4. Patients lie to doctors — and suffer for it
"There’s an open secret in medicine: Patients lie. They lie about how much they smoke and whether they’re taking their medicine. They understate how much they drink and overstate how much they exercise. They feign symptoms to get appointments quicker and ask doctors to hide the truth from insurance companies."

George Bush, Hoochie, Viagra for Babies

Hay May, It's The Hoochie Nay.

A friend just got off of 39 hours straight in the hospital. That's not cool.

Sleeping in class. Acceptable or not acceptable?

Pizza with bacon, cheese, potatoes, and chives? Cool or not cool?

Bunnies or Hamsters for pets? I am going to go with neither.

The Sun is Shining, The Rain is Gone.

Websites of Note
http://www.unicef.org/magic/
http://www.forgeprogram.org
http://www.fic.nih.gov/

People of Note
George W. Bush
Crocodile Hunter
Jim Carrey

News of Note
(click quotes for stories)

1. Viagra used to save baby's life
"Lewis Goodfellow was born at 24 weeks weighing just 1lb 8oz. One of his lungs had failed and not enough oxygen was able to get into his bloodstream. Doctors at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary then tried Sildenafil, also known under the trade name of Viagra, and Lewis is now home with his parents."

2. Most spiking cases 'just drunk'
"Most patients who believe they have had their drinks spiked test negative for drugs, research at Wrexham Maelor Hospital has found."

3. FDA warns consumers of online drug scam
"Consumers who thought they were purchasing sleep aids, antidepressants and other drugs over the Internet instead were shipped a powerful anti-psychotic, sending some unwitting victims to the emergency room, federal health officials warned Friday."

4. China Covers Up Detention of AIDS Doctor
"They gave her flowers. Dr. Gao, 80, squinted toward the camera, surely understanding that pictures can lie. She was under house arrest to prevent her from getting a visa to accept an honor in Washington. Her detention attracted international attention, and the photo op was a sham, apparently intended to say, “Look, she’s fine and free as a bird.”

5. Survey Puts New Focus on Binge Eating as a Diagnosis
"The first nationally representative study of eating disorders in the United States, a nationwide survey of more than 2,900 men and women, was published by Harvard researchers in the Feb. 1 issue of the journal Biological Psychiatry. It found a prevalence in the general population of 0.6 percent for anorexia, 1 percent for bulimia and 2.8 percent for binge-eating disorder."

American Idol, Anna Nicole, Dumb and Dumber

American Idol. I mean, they are not my idol. Are they yours?

The late Anna Nicole Smith. More of an American Idol that most American Idols, for her stunning looks, witty sense of humor, and likable personality. An All-American Lady, in my expert opinion.

"Poodles and Pussies". The name of the pet company in the movie Dumb and Dumber.

Classical music. It's good for puppies and babies.

Love. Boy, was it in the air yesterday.

Internet Addresses of Note
www.medicalstudent.com
www.studentdoc.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_school
"Nontraditionalmedicalstudent"



Tips from a Med School Student - Flu Shot Myths




The News.
(click quotes for stories)

1. Salmonella outbreak linked to 2 peanut butter brands
So, stick to Nutella and Jelly.
"ConAgra Foods Inc. told consumers to discard certain jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter after the spread was linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened almost 300 people nationwide."

2. Study: Office Desks A Bacteria Haven, Especially for Women!
Decide for yourself.
"Your office desk harbors far more bacteria than your workplace restroom, and if you're a woman, chances are your workspace has more germs than your male co-workers', a new research report shows. Women have three to four times the number of bacteria in, on and around their desks, phones, computers, keyboards, drawers and personal items as men do, the study by University of Arizona professor Charles Gerba showed."

3. Loving with all your ... brain
Yeah, Brain!
"Close your eyes for a minute and envision all the romantic parts of the human body. Her beautiful eyes. His strong shoulders. We'll stop there, but you go right ahead and think about all the body parts you want. Bet you didn't think about the caudate and the ventral tegmental areas, did you?"

4. Watercress 'may cut cancer risk'
Interesting......
"Eating watercress regularly could help cut the chances of developing cancer, research suggests. The University of Ulster work suggests it cuts DNA damage to white blood cells - considered to be an important trigger in the development of cancer."

5. Harley St bans abortion clinics
NOT COOL.
"Clinics offering abortions and cosmetic surgery have been banned from opening in the UK's most famous medical district. The move has been made by Howard de Walden Estate, which owns many of the properties in London's Harley Street."

Love

It's the day of Love, which is why it has taken me so long to write and which is why I won't be writing much today. I love loving things. I love food. I love learning. I love the sun. I love the snow. I love the rain. I love being outside. I love sleeping. I love being awake. I love people. I love animals. I love to love things. I love hot sauce. I love clothes. I love biting my nails. I love letting my nails grow. I love shopping until I drop and also dropping until I shop. I love when airlines cancel your flights and don't tell you. I love cartoons but I also love cars. I love world-class activities like golf and sailing. I love weightlifters who eat lots of protein. I love to love things. I love traveling. I love gateways. I love arches. I love roses. I love posies. I love sushi. I love nakedness. I love the US Virgin Islands. I love infants and children. I love foreign nationals. I love Terra Blues. I love breathtaking landscapes. I love water on a cold day and I love hot tea on a warm day. I love distractions from daily life. I love urban sophistication. I love Arizona. I love the weather.com moving radar screens. I love earning miles. I love not earning money. I love stores where people treat you nice. I love waffles with chocolate sauce. I love papyrus. I love luxury. I love low-fares. I love Grays Papaya. I love popularity. I love America. I love the World. I love making memories. I like eating rice cookies. I love the second when soy sauce hits my tongue. I love wiping. I love winning. I love sprinting. I love shooting baskets. I love being on hold and listening to automated messages. I love the smell of a puppy. I love the smell of circulating airplane air. I love the little bags people carry dogs in. I love.

Pot, Menstrual Pain, and Food Link

Question of the Day: Why do many Chinese restaurants serve Pizza on their to-go menus?

Thought of the Day: People who think they know everything are fooling themselves, but also fooling other people at times too.

Notable Websites:
Partners in Health, an organization providing care for those in need. Click here.
Food Link (UK), a guide to food safety. Click here.

Three Notable News Stories
(click quotes for stories)

1. Menstrual cycle injury risk link
"London's Portland Hospital surveyed 1,000 osteopaths, and studied 17 women with a regular menstrual cycle. The study suggests the risk of injury is linked to fluctuating hormone levels which affect the muscles and ligaments."

2. Plastic, but not fantastic
"According to all media, so it must be true, plastic surgery is a growth industry world wide. People who've had face-lifts are having their face-lifts lifted. The Taiwanese are having New Year face-lifts to bring them luck."

3. Pot-smoking eases foot pain, HIV patients report
"Smoking marijuana eased HIV-related pain in some patients in a small study that nevertheless represented one of the few rigorous attempts to find out whether the drug has medicinal benefits. The Bush administration's Office of National Drug Control Policy quickly sought to shoot holes in the experiment."

The Real Hamburger, Earthfoot, and Fake Patients

Over the weekend I had a lot of time to think about a lot of different things. Here are a few unanswered questions that remain.
1. Can dogs be gay?
2. Who would score higher on the SAT's? Justin Timberlake or Cameron Diaz?
3. Do the people who play medical identities on TV shows feel like they are doctors in real life?
4. Who really invented the hamburger? Connecticut or Texas?
5. Why are the words pilates and pirates not pronounced with a similar pronunciation?

A bizarre Craigslist posting: Klick here to see
(This is why they call it "Dirty Jersey or Dirty Jerz")

A cool Eco-tour company/network called "Earthfoot". Klick here to see

The website for the Association for Clinicians for the Underserved.
Klick here to see

Some Really Great News
(Klick quotes for stories)

1.Blacks Less Likely To Receive Certain Diagnostic Tests in ED, Study Finds
Healthcare At Its Best! Hooray!
"Blacks, women and the uninsured who seek treatment for chest pain in emergency departments are less likely than others to be given certain diagnostic tests, according to a study published in the February issue of Academic Emergency Medicine"

2. 1 in 5 women with lung cancer never smoked
Yikes! Stripes! Fruit Stripe Gum!
"Up to 20 percent of women who develop lung cancer have never smoked, U.S. researchers found in a study that suggests secondhand smoke may be to blame."

3. Fake patients help break in newbie doctors
They have standardized patients at my school......how about yours?
"Most women want to put off that dreaded once-a-year pelvic exam. Imagine volunteering to have one four times a week — by a trembling novice doctor. That's what Kat Wentworth does. She works as a stand-in patient to help train medical students how to give below-the-waist exams."

4. Beauticians cut, curl, offer stroke-prevention info
Guerilla.
"Two women in Cincinnati had better leave big tips the next time they get their hair done. They survived strokes thanks to fast action by their beauticians, who were taking part in a novel program to raise stroke awareness as they clipped, straightened and braided their customers' hair."

5. New cancer scanner could be a sun-lover's lifesaver
When is this gadget coming to America?
"For sun-loving Australians, a changing mole can mean an anxious wait followed by the possibility of sometimes unnecessary surgery. But a simple scanner that can detect skin cancer at an early stage could help save lives and stop thousands of Australians needlessly going under the knife."

Global Doctors, Fashion, and Women Who Like Sweat

My sickness is on the upswing, so that's cool. I figured since I slept more last night, I should get a puppy that would keep me up all night.

I wish my school was in Upstate NY, I heard that they got almost 100 inches of snow! That is insane and I bet they've canceled classes there.

High heels. I don't get them. Besides fashion and helping to increase calf size, what's the point of them? I mean, your toes can't go to the end of them, they are hard (not easy) to walk in, and they aren't more comfortable than say, clogs or rounded-toed shoes. You know?

Sweater vests. Another interesting fashion statement. They keep your chest and back warm but not the rest of your upper body. I mean, at least wear a turtleneck-sweater vest, right?

DOCTORS FOR GLOBAL HEALTH: check out the site (click here)

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS: check out the site (click here)


And some news......
(click on quotes for links)

1. Mmm, sweaty! Women aroused by male scent
"Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley said women who sniffed a chemical found in male sweat experienced elevated levels of an important hormone, along with higher sexual arousal, faster heart rate and other effects."

2. Brutal Case Studies
"When Harriet Washington, a med-school graduate and former fellow in ethics at Harvard Medical School, decided to research medical crimes against African-Americans, she feared she'd turn up much more than the Tuskegee experiment. She was right."


3. Opposites attract: Compatibility's in the genes
"A new study reveals that a cluster of genes, involved in immune function among other things, could predict how sexually attracted a person is to a partner and how likely a woman is be faithful to her mate. Couples in which the individuals had dissimilar versions of so-called major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes had the greatest sexual compatibility."

4. Want a foot massage with your Novocain shot?
"So it seems odd to see “dental spa” written across the clear glass doors of a dentist’s office in Chicago’s tony Water Tower building, and to hear soothing classical music as you lie on a cushy massaging reclining chair while the hygienist readies her tooth scraper."

5. Accidental drug-poisoning deaths on the rise
"Unintentional deaths due to drug poisoning — primarily with prescription drugs — increased by 68 percent between 1999 and 2004, and is second only to motor vehicle crashes as a cause of death from unintentional injury in the U.S., investigators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report."

My Interview w/ Tiromed.com

This is the beginning of my Interview w/ Tiromed.com. If you like it and/or you want to learn more about Tiromed.com, PLEASE go to their site and check it out! It's a great site for physicians, medical students, premeds, and anyone in the medical field! If you like "student doctor" aka SDN, then you will LOVE this site. If you don't like SDN, you will also probably like this site. It has something for everyone......

Interview with Anonymous, a Med Student Blogger

“The Anonymous Medical Student” is a blog kept by an anonymous medical student somewhere in the world. In terms of blog-life, it is still a baby in age, but is growing fast in the community of blog readers; it received just about 2000 hits in its first month of life! It’s a great blog that offers a potpourri of information, from the personal thoughts of the writer, to interesting website links, to weird and current medical news available from a plethora of different news sites!

TM: What is blogging and why do you blog? What is the future of blogging, in particular, in the medical community?

ANONYMOUS: A blog is essentially an ongoing narrative or monologue. It’s a forum for personal expression, free-writing, art exhibiting, or really whatever the “blog-owner” decides should exist on it. I decided my blog would include my internal monologue, med school videos, random medical news stories, and sometimes my own writings of poetry and the otherwise.

I blog because I like to share what is going on inside of my head. I blog anonymously because it makes things more fun for the readers, for they don’t know where I am, what school I go to, whether I am male or female, what color my hair is, or whether I am right handed or left handed. By being anonymous, it allows the reader to interpret and guess.

TM: Why do you prefer to remain anonymous as a blogger? What precautions do you take, if any, off the web? Do you worry about identity "exposure'? Why?

ANONYMOUS: To be honest, I don’t take enough precautions. I tell some of the same stories I tell on my blog to people at school, but, luckily, only two friends who have sworn to secrecy are the only people at my school who read my blog. Other students at my school don’t read my blog yet because I don’t want them too. You see, I have developed a strategy and formula for how I want to introduce my blog to the people. The formula is a cross between guerilla marketing and P=MD.

TM: Who is your ideal reader, and what are you looking for from them?

ANONYMOUS: My ideal reader is alive. That’s it. He/She/It doesn’t necessarily need to be associated with the medical profession because my blog is very easy to relate to and very easy to read. I like to say that my blog is “for the people”.


tiromed.com - - - - - CHECK IT OUT!

I am moving closer to being famous that further from it.

I am on my way to becoming a celebrity in the field of "Medical Blogging". My first feature interview at Tiromed.com! CLICK THIS LINK

A Poem about My Health

Those goddamn hives,
Hives here, hives gone,

"They're not so bad",
You've got them wrong!

Remember that,
They're not like grass,

You kill them once,
They WILL come back.

I had them Tuesday
And Wednesday too,

Si, estan aqui Manana?
I'm suing the makers of Benadryl or doing something else drastic.


Mr. Falls Asleep During Everything Guy




News worthy of Thursday
(click quotes for stories)

1. FDA approves first nonprescription sale of diet pill
GET PSYCHED AMERICA! NOW YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO WORK OUT
"Dieters got a new tool Wednesday to help them take off the extra pounds -- the first government-approved nonprescription diet pill."

2. Ibuprofen beats acetaminophen for period pain
Good news for the ladies.
"Although both ibuprofen and acetaminophen reduce menstrual pain, ibuprofen appears to have more potent effects, according to investigators from the West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown."

3. Study: Moral Beliefs May Sway Docs' Care
It's true, I've seen it. Sooooo, that's cool.
"A disturbing number of doctors do not feel obligated to tell patients about medical options they oppose morally, such as abortion and teen birth control, and believe they have no duty to refer people elsewhere for such treatments, researchers say."

4. Koreans Share Their Secret for Chicken With a Crunch
Mmmmmm. Fried Chicken. See, it's not just us Americanos.
"When Joe McPherson moved to Seoul in 2002, he thought he was leaving fried chicken behind. “I grew up watching Popeyes training videos,” Mr. McPherson said. His father managed a Popeyes franchise near Atlanta and fried chicken was a constant presence in his life".

5. Brain 'cannabis' Parkinson's hope
Cannabis is making news recently (and endocannabanoids).
"Boosting levels of the brain's natural cannabis-like chemicals could improve the treatment of Parkinson's disease, a US study suggests."

Vomit at NY Fashion Week and Integrative Medicine

Sinus Pressure - check.
Hives - check.
Fever - check.
Muscle Aches - check.

I have a hole in the pocket of a pair of my dress pants. I know this because yesterday, while I was working with a Gynecologist, a bunch of coins fell through the hole, down my leg and landed (and rolled) on the floor, making a bunch of klink-klank noises, just when the Dr. was talking to the patient about how her post-menopausal bleeding might be because of Endometrial Cancer. That was awkward.

If you are interested in Integrative Medicine, The University of Arizona now offers a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine. Click Here For More.

Click here for a good resource on Clinical Medicine....


Mr. Always prepared for Everything Guy.



News Stories
(click quotes for stories)

1. Medical Student Tries to Attack Family with Meat Cleaver
"Members of an Albany family say they don't feel safe in their own home after a man came to their door, forced his way into the house and tried to attack them with a meat cleaver."

2. Sleep pillow plus exercise best for neck pain
"Sleeping with a neck support pillow and doing neck exercises can help ease chronic neck pain, Canadian researchers report"

3. Connecticut AG investigates Enviga drink
"Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Monday his office was launching an investigation into a new soft drink, which claims to contain "calorie-burning" ingredients. The green tea drink Enviga, which is launching nationwide this month, claims that a consumer can burn calories by drinking 3 cans of the caffeinated beverage daily."

4. Satisfaction guaranteed: How certain foods help you feel full
"It's a complex sequence of events that starts with the eyes, the mouth, the stomach, and the gut," says Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., professor of nutritional sciences at Pennsylvania State University and author of "The Volumetrics Eating Plan." "But hunger and satiety, the scientific term for that full feeling that comes after eating, are also influenced by our environment."

5. Health guidelines ignored at N.Y. Fashion Week
"The models were ‘doing a lot of vomiting,’ one janitor claims"

Refugee Children, Green Tea, Sex Allergy, and Some

I have a temperature of 99.1. That is normal.
My head feels stuffy. That is not normal.
I will be going to drink Green Tea in a minute, because it is good for you.
Aches and Pains.

Refugee Children....click here for more


The Evolution of Medicine

I have an earache ...

2000 BC - Here, eat this root.
1000 AD - That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer.
1850 AD - That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion.
1940 AD - That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill.
1985 AD - That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic.
2000 AD - That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root.


5 Pieces of Interesting News
(click quotes for stories)

1. Face blindness not just skin deep
"Imagine an entire day of seeing faces -- friends, co-workers, even family -- but not being able to retain those images in your mind. For 48-year-old Kiki Latimer, each time she sees someone is often like the first time. She has face blindness."

2. Study: Sex of any kind can harm teens emotionally
"Teenagers often suffer emotional consequences from having sex, even when it's "only" oral sex, a study published Monday suggests."

3. Loneliness link with Alzheimer's
"People who are lonely are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, a large US study has suggested."

4. Anti-MRSA silver pajamas trialled
"Pajamas and bed linen made with silver cloth are being trialled in a hospital to help combat the MRSA superbug."

5. Are You Allergic To Sex?
"Believe it or not, there are women who literally break out whenever they have intercourse. And as most of them will tell you, abstinence is clearly not an acceptable option."

Vitamin Water In My Mouth and Saving The World

In My News.....

I have a stuffy nose and scratchy throat.
I am drinking Vitamin Water.
I am looking forward to another week of studying.
I am in the library, again.

In Med School News....

In New York City, aka the Big Cheese, Global Health Luminaries Gathered at Weill Cornell in a Push for Action on Neglected Diseases in Developing World. Click here for more.

At the University of California at San Francisco, one woman is attempting to save the World, one Ethiopian child at a time. Click here for more.


In Medical News...
(click quotes for stories)

1. Braces improve smiles, not self-esteem
"In a 20-year study that followed more than 300 British children into adulthood, researchers found that those who'd had their imperfect smiles corrected with braces were not happier or psychologically healthier than their peers who went without braces."

2. Erectile dysfunction affects 18 percent of U.S. men
"A study published Thursday found that about 18 percent of U.S. men age 20 and up suffer from erectile dysfunction -- and the condition is strongly linked to a sedentary lifestyle of little physical exercise, poor diet and lots of television."

3. More kids having weight-loss surgery
"For decades, the number of kids trying weight-loss surgery has been tiny. The operations themselves were risky, with a death rate of about 1 in 50. Children rarely got that fat, and when they did, pediatricians hesitated to put the developing bodies under the knife. Only 350 U.S. kids had such an operation in 2004, according to federal statistics."

4. Chance meeting solves baby mix-up
"A Malaysian Chinese couple are considering taking legal action against a hospital for sending them home with the wrong baby nearly 30 years ago. The couple, who had always suspected a mix-up, were reunited with their biological son after a chance meeting in a shopping centre."

5. Could Drug Ads Be Bad for Your Health?
"A study published in the current issue of the journal Annals of Family Medicine examined 38 different pharmaceutical advertisements that ran during peak television viewing times. Researchers found that while the overwhelming majority of the ads made arguments for the use of drugs, only about a quarter of them described the causes of the medical conditions the drugs are designed to treat."

Naked Working Out, PBL Video, and Sex.

If you listen to a lot of music, you will know that a lot of lyrics don’t make any sense at all. With that being said, how come it is cool if you are a musician and you say things that don’t make sense, but it’s not cool if you are, let’s say, a medical student, and you say lots of random things that don’t make sense??!!?

1 9 2 9 1 2 3 0 8 6 72 27 633 7 1 6 46 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 7 0 9 56 3 3

What I just wrote is code for: I am really psyched.

Is the AMA a good organization/corporation? Sometimes I just can’t tell.

Many people wear UGZ. I don’t. They are soooo expensive!

My great uncle once told me that Salmon tasted good. I agreed with him.

A video about what it is like learning in the Problem Based Learning format that many medical school incorporate into their curriculum.....



News from the weekend!
(click quotes for stories)

1. Car drivers 'risking skin cancer'
"Drivers who spend a lot of time behind the wheel increase their risk of skin cancer, a US study suggests."

2. Getting buff in the buff
"Self-conscious about what you wear while working out? A Dutch gym plans to introduce “Naked Sunday” for people who like to huff and puff in the buff."

3. Men's testicles 'HIV hiding spot'
"The French work in the American Journal of Pathology suggests the gonads provide an ideal environment for the Aids virus to replicate itself."

4. No #4 today.

5. Sex troubles can point to serious health issues
"Doctors shouldn’t shy away from asking patients about their sex lives, a new research paper advises. Researchers say problems in the bedroom can translate into serious medical conditions, and ignoring sexual dysfunction may mean missing early indicators for heart failure, depression or other ailments, according to a paper published in Friday’s issue of The Lancet."