Mother and daughter doctor-heroes: Hawa Abdi + Deqo Mohamed

Lets give it a try guys!...Come joining us in this exciting MED MAYHEM

RULES: 

A) 3 people in 1 group.

B) 3rd year medical student and below

C) Open to RCSI, UCD, TRINITY

Prizes: 

1st prize – 60 Euro

2nd prize – 30 Euro

3rd prize‐ 15 Euro

Deadline for registration : 1st of March 2011 

Format: 3 rounds

1st round 

Date: 5th March 2011

Time :8.00pm to ­8.15pm

Venue: Online Quiz

2nd and 3rd round  

Date: 12th March 2011

Time: 10.00 am to ­12.00pm

Venue: RCSI

The details of format, will be given to those that register!

Let's have fun, while we test our pre-clinical knowledge!!

CCC3!!

ARE YOU READY TO CREATE HISTORY??

REGISTER NOW!!

IMAM, PMCSA and UKEC proudly present to you:

 CLINICAL CASE COMPETITION 3

Where the Questions are still worth more than the Answers!

So, what is CCC3?

Clinical Case Competition 3 is a competition for Malaysian medical students (clinical years) to show off their talents and perfected their skills in presenting clinical cases that they encountered during their daily hospital rotation.

How?

Each contestant will present his/her case in 10 minutes in front of the judges followed by 5 minutes of Q&A session. To put it simply, those who possessed the most awesome clinical case, present it awesomely and answered the judges' questions with utmost awesomeness, we will gladly declare you the winner :) 

Simple.

Who?
Malaysian 3^rd, 4^th & 5^th Meds from UK or Ireland

So, what can you gain from CCC3?

1^st winner - 150 euro cash! 

There will also be cash prizes for runner-up and second runner up and consolation prizes for ALL participants.

*Rumours* this year we are looking for the best presenter as well !!!
More importantly... certificate of participation which will be invaluable for your CV!!

On top of these; Experience!!!

WHERE AND WHEN?
Royal college of surgeons Ireland, (RCSI not RSCI) 
 12^th March 2011

9.00 a.m.

It’s hundreds of Euros!!! But it’s not just the money; it’s the priceless experience you will gain.

To register, please click the link on the side bar

SPREAD THE WORDS AND ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO JOIN 

Raw Cocoa: A Super Nutrition. It's Purist Form for Maximum Benefits

The chocolate evolution is gaining speed. Cocoa is making its way through the world of nutrition. Yes, cocoa is chocolate but in its purest form. It is un-roasted and only a few subdued ingredients like sea salt.

Cocoa has been used for thousands of years. Research has recently  shown us that dark chocolate has the ability to reduce blood pressure, that is provided it has at least 70% and above of cocoa. Now enters cocoa with its wondrous health benefits.

Native Americans have acclaimed the wonders of cocoa  through pottery, stone work and stories handed down from one generation to the next.

What makes Cacao a Medical Asset ?

Cocoa  has been demonstrated in science that its Cocoa Flavonols(CF) can improve cognitive function. In a double blind study consisting of 30 healthy adults. The adults had consumed either 520mg or 994mg of CF mixed into a beverage. Both groups of the adults had shown improved cognitive function,and  mental fatigue reduction was found only in those who had consumed 520mg. Those who consumed 994 mg of CF showed increased visual information processing but produced more errors in one of the cognitive tests.This suggests taking flavanols in moderation is much better than taking it in excess.

Cacao also contains potassium, phosphorus, copper, iron, zinc and magnesium, that aids cardiovascular health.It helps lower blood pressure and lowers risks of death from heart disease.

Raw cacao ranks first for nutritional content in comparison to other chocolates. Raw chocolate keeps almost all of its nutritional value due to low processing temperatures than chocolate which is roasted.

Cacao also contains all those nutrients in high doses for health such as vitamin C and omega 6 fatty acids. Studies published in 1996 showed that chocolate contains anandamides that act at the same site in the brain as cannabis. But later studies concluded that these constituents are too low in chocolate to produce any pharmacological effect.The most likely reason for its role in elevating mood and the chocolate craving phenomenon is that it stimulates the release of endorphins.

The Chocolate Information Center has the following facts:

An average size dark chocolate bar contains between ten to sixty milligrams of caffeine. The normal cup of coffee has 175 milligrams.

Dark chocolate weighing forty grams is equal in caffeine to one cup of decaffeinated coffee.

A cup of hot chocolate contains four to five milligrams of caffeine.

Cacao is a great source for antioxidants if it is certified organic raw cacao according to the ORAC scale.

The ORAC scale was developed by USDA researchers. It is a test in which measures the oxygen radical absorption capacity in different foods. It is called the ORAC scale and is one of the most sensitive and reliable methods in measuring antioxidant capacity. The higher the score the higher the level of antioxidants.

"Mind your HEALTH" Dr. C. S. Foo

THERE is a curious little abstract area in the head that determines whether an individual soars with excellence or flaps the wings of mediocrity in life.

This is the trigger zone for many of the decisions we make on a daily basis. It houses passion, determination, commitment, and greatness, but also shares seats with negative emotions, insecurity, fear, prejudice, etc.

It’s in the mind

That non-anatomical entity we call the mind is the conscious part of the brain.

“Mind your language” – speak with consciousness. “Mind your step” – be extra wary not to trip. “Mind your head” – avoid decapitation (by an awkwardly low ceiling fan). “Mind your health” – to prevent future turmoil.

Minding involves conscious control. The mind is like a lawn, with flowers and weeds growing side by side, and like any garden, needs tending. We have to mind the mind, plucking out the wild plants; otherwise, we lose control of directions, goals and dreams.

Weeds of carelessness, a “could-not-care-less attitude”, procrastination, and inertia to action breeds poor health, financial turmoil, and much unhappiness.

The appreciation of certain stimuli is represented by specific areas in the brain. Sight is beheld by the rear (of the brain of course). Taste, smell, touch, and hearing are discerned by different areas on the side of this distorted organ.

What lies in front is the complex processing centre for thoughts, emotions, memory, reasoning, abstract thinking, etc, which also houses the centre of consciousness.

Unfortunately, squatting here, there is a prison for the inmates of negativity, fear, insecurity, and hopelessness.

Taste it, feel it

Taste is the only sensation that fires off excitatory signals from the unconscious to the conscious mind, inducing a constant overwhelming inspiration of the highest degree. Most other impulses bypass this area of conscious awareness and evaporate into nothingness, with no drive or reason to change directions, no spark of inspiration for the day.

"Treating Varicose Veins" from The Star

Whether varicose veins is a cosmetic concern or a painful condition, it can be treated.

VARICOSE veins may not be one of the medical terms that is used by the average person, but its signs – the gnarled, enlarged, and sometimes discoloured veins that line many women’s and some men’s legs – are quite well known in an average household.

Just ask any woman above the age of 50, and she will likely tell you that she knows someone who has it. Nevertheless, as varicose veins are mild in many people, what you would also hear is the misconception that it cannot be cured and people just tend to live with it.

“Most patients simply tolerate the heaviness and discomfort in their legs,” says Tropicana Medical Centre consultant vascular surgeon Dr Lee Soon Khai. “However, if left untreated, varicose veins may lead to complications.”

Genetics and age

Varicose veins are not limited to the legs, although they are most commonly found on the back of the calves and on the inside of the thighs.

 

It happens when our veins (blood vessels that channel deoxygenated blood from various parts of the body back to the heart with the help of surrounding muscles) lose their capacity to return blood to the heart due to the weakening of the valves inside. This can be caused by age, prolonged strain due to long hours of standing, obesity, or hormonal changes in pregnancy.

As the one-way valves are there to make sure that blood only flows towards the heart, weakened valves will allow blood to flow back and fill the veins rapidly, causing them to enlarge and become convoluted to accommodate the extra volume.

“Most of the cases are hereditary in nature,” says Dr Lee. Studies have shown that the risk of one having varicose veins is 80% if both parents are affected, and 50% if only one parent has it.

Even if both parents do not have a history of varicose veins, one could still have a 23% chance of developing it, Dr Lee explains.

While it affects both men and women, mostly when they are 50 to 60 years old, women are four times more likely to have it.

Possible complications and treatment

Although the problem is cosmetic for many people (they feel no pain), varicose veins can cause the legs to ache and feel tired easily.

Pain, heaviness, itching, cramping, and swelling of the leg are also common. When left untreated, a small percentage may develop complications.“Besides increasing pain and swelling, skin changes can occur,” says Dr Lee.

The increased pressure on the veins can cause fluid to leak out into the space in between surrounding tissue and result in slow wound healing. By then, even a small scratch or a minor injury may cause bleeding or the development of a chronic ulcer.

According to Prince Court Medical Centre consultant general and vascular surgeon Dr Tan Kong Hean, of the 10 to 15 patients (with varicose veins) he sees a month, there are some who do not need treatment and some who definitely need treatment due to complications. Others seek treatment for cosmetic reasons.

Varicose veins due to pregnancy generally improves without treatment within three months after delivery.

But for the condition brought about by other causes, treatment choices include surgical and non-surgical ones.

Non-surgical treatments include simple self-care methods to reduce discomfort and the use of compression stockings.

Self-care methods like losing weight, avoiding tight clothes, elevating your legs, and trying not to stand or sit for long periods can reduce the strain we put on our legs.The use of compression stockings – elasticised stockings that cover the toe to the knee, or sometimes up to the thigh – can also help improve the flow of blood back to our heart by squeezing our legs.

As for surgical measures, surgeons can either remove one of the veins in the leg with a procedure called vein stripping and litigation, or close it off by burning (radiofrequency heating) or sealing it shut with chemicals (sclerotherapy).Now, surgeons also have the option of closing off the vein by “burning” it shut with lasers in a procedure called endovenous laser surgery. With endovenous laser surgery, patients are able to walk immediately after the procedure and can be back to their usual activities within one week, says Dr Tan.

While patients may sometimes need a repeat procedure, Dr Tan says that it is very uncommon. The chances a person would need a repeat procedure in three years is less than 10% from the results of long term studies currently available, he notes.

Unfortunately, non-surgical measures can only help reduce the symptoms of varicose veins. However, surgery to remove or close off the affected veins is often considered when non-surgical measures fail.

“Non-surgical treatments (compression stockings) may help those with mild reflux (back flow) and symptoms. If symptoms do not improve, or worsen, they need to consider surgical treatments,” says Dr Lee.