Trying out the Blogger App

Posting from my iPad.

Blogger app. Kinda cool :) makes things easier I guess?

The consequences of our actions

Since yesterday I was already worried about this. I had some reassurance that it was not about us but in general, pinpointing to everyone. However, this morning I had a different point of view from another person regarding this. -_-

You see, it is quite sad that some people would be dragged into an issue just because of affiliations or of friends. It is very disappointing that those who are quiet and minding their own business are suddenly put in the spotlight for something they had no idea of nor had no hand in... Just because of what others might have done :|

I solve cases for the fact that I get to advance in Pathology, Pharmacology and Medicine, given my irregular status now that I have lots of free time so I'm devoting it to studies. If I'm implicated in this then what sense would there be in solving the cases knowing that Doc might not trust me anymore? Knowing that doc might tell me that it is disappointing that I broke a promise when I did not?

I sound guilty, but I am not. The fact of the matter is that I promised not to teach anyone nor spoonfeed regarding the cases. Allegedly there is a passing of "knowledge" between different sections. And I am not included here but then of course, I might be implicated because I have brods and sisses among the freshies. Not that doc will jump into conclusions or that its my brods and sisses' faults, but then, I'm just paranoid, I guess. Ayoko masira trust ni doc saken :( that is why I kept my promise not to share answers to anyone.

Even with my OWN brods and sisses I did not share the answer. In our fraternity and sorority, we were taught not to go the easy way but to earn everything with sweat, blood and tears. So, you can all imagine the pain now, that is, some of those who are innocent might be implicated. Damay-damay ang lahat.

That is why we were all taught, starting at home, that whatever we do, we should stop and think before acting, because our actions would have consequences, be it good, or bad. Sometimes, we rush forward and regret it in the end.  Regrets come last, in the end, when everything has occurred. Sometimes, we just have to stop and think before acting. We would hurt less people this way, do less/no harm at all.

There is nothing else I can do. All I can do is just to still continue upholding Integrity and being honest. I'll just keep doing the good that I'm doing, like doc told me to...

Just my 2 cents!

/no1!

Adjustment

Adaptation is the key to survival. As a biologist, I should know this by heart, because the fittest and the strongest ones would withstand the forces of Nature trying to wipe them out from the face of the Earth.

Adjustment is like adaptation. You either fit in or you conk out. Adjustment can be akin to trying to move on after a devastating crisis. It may be positive or negative.

Sometimes, people adjust negatively. They tend to shut themselves in. They tend to let their hearts harden and eventually turn them in to a bitter shadow of their former selves. And then, with that, their world slowly shatters...

Why do we adjust negatively? Because we have fear. Fear is something we should be thankful of. Without fear, we can never become stronger. Fear is good but we should not let it consume us; instead we should face it and overcome it. We should become fear itself...

...or maybe, we should adjust positively. There are endless possibilities in every single thing in this world. They usually are triggered at the right moment when we least expect it. Things do happen for a reason. Maybe, if we all took one step at a time and see things in a different light... things will become better. Also, as the cliche saying goes, Time heals everything.

Adjusting is hard. We all hate change, because change is the only permanent thing in this world. Change can be an unforseen delay in Medical School, an opportunity lost because of things one fought for, a lost love, a lost friendship or even things as simple as being left behind and feeling alone. 

But change is good. Change is, more often than not, for the better. In a fast paced world today, a second differs significantly greater from the last or the next. One minute you feel great, the next, you suddenly feel alone.

But that's the point - you adapt. you adjust. The rate of change today grows exponentially. And it is yourself that you pull down, when you decide never to adapt or to just adjust negatively. Never let yourself be caught in the web. You are stronger than that. 

Adjust well, and you will see how bright things actually are. Adjust well, and you will see things differently, for there is always a silver tint on the clouds of doubt.

Just my 2 cents!

/no1! 

Barbiturate Overdose/Barbiturate Poisoning due to use of Barbiturates as Treatment for Seizures/Epilepsy

[Med Stuff Time!]

Seizures/Epilepsies can occur to everyone when the right moment is triggered. Triggering factors may include head injury, trauma, febrile (fever)/illness, CNS damage, Family history, Genetic predisposition or it may even be Idiopathic.

Children (0-12 years) and the elderly (above 50) are the population most at risk for seizures. For the elderly, the usual underlying cause of seizures are Cerebrovascular diseases.

Seizures occur when the predisposing factors cause a possible decrease in inhibitory flags in the brain, leading to activation of Calcium channels, influx of Sodium into the cell and therefore causing a lot of action potentials. When these action potentials trigger other neurons (normally this won't happen but in patients with triggering factors, neurons CAN and WILL FIRE synchronously) and they all fire synchronously, a seizure wave begins and the patient then exhibits the signs and symptoms of a seizure. 

Barbiturates are used to treat seizures. One example is Phenobarbital, which is a known anti-seizure drug. Barbiturates bind to the GABA receptors in order to  increase the GABA mediated inhibitory factors so as to prevent abnormal excitation of many neurons.

Barbiturates, in a normal dosage, can be cleared via hepatic metabolism and renal excretion. However, in overdose, barbiturates can in fact cause further CNS depression because of the longer time it would take to clear the drug from the body (also, consider the large amount of it in a patient overdosed with this!). 

CNS depression symptoms include hypotonia, hypoventilation, hypotension, drowsiness, occasional apnea and many others. 

Treatment should be done quickly in order to prevent worsening of symptoms that may lead to brain death, cardiac arrest and of course, whole body death. Treatment schemes include supportive (giving of Oxygen, Activated charcoal) and hemodialysis (in order to increase rate of clearance.

Here is a sample conceptual map made by yours truly:

Concept map done by yours truly, JV Aclan :)

Alternative treatment/drugs for seizures are benzodiazephenes, diazepam, among others.

SOURCES:

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 18th Ed

Katzung Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 11th Ed

Lots of journals from NEJM, PubMed, Science Direct

Just my 2 cents!

/no1! 

Time...

One week more... 

...and it's the shifting exams again. First shifting exam. 

Two weeks more... 

...and it's the acquiantance party for 2013. Wow.

2-3 months more... 

...and it'll be the second semester for 2013-2014.

5 months more...

...and it's another year.

10 months more...

...and it's summer again.

A year later...

...It'll be another year in Medical School.

The numbers seem to be quite overwhelming, don't they? But time flows by without us noticing anything, especially during our busiest moments. We would always wish for more time, but it isn't possible.

Every fleeting moment is important, for it is part of our lives. Time is of the essence.

Just my 2 cents!

/no1! 

Red Tape

Red tape everywhere. In offices, in the government, even in the schools.

It is an obvious fact that this happens everywhere in our country. But the fact that it begins at the level of the school is too much. This is why people resort to fixers and other illegal ways of obtaining things because of precious time wasted thanks to Red Tape.

Red Tape is about excessive rigidity to "rules" to the point that it becomes redundant and begins to hinder proper decision making and actions. Understandable that people are just "following policies", but then how do you explain "following policies" when these people themselves are not even updated with the latest changes in their policies? Inayos na nga para di mahirapan mga students at mga tao pero sunod sunod pa din sila sa lumang policiya. Too stubborn to submit to change, I guess?

Change is inevitable. Accept it. We can't tell them to "do their jobs properly" because they know their jobs well enough, but that's the point, they know it well and we don't and they can fool us and/or play around with us just because they can.

But we can't allow this. We must rise up and be vigilant against this type of oppression. We are a democratic country, so they say, thus we should exercise our rights as citizens to suppress the oppression. 

It is never wrong to voice out one's thoughts, opinions or suggestions; let us just do it in a proper and civil way.

Just my 2 cents!

/no1!

2013-A

This was exactly one year ago.

The first exam results came; I felt elated. And then when the next results were shown, I felt down. I began to wonder whether it was going to be an unending cycle of ups and downs here in Med School. I always wanted it to be full of ups, no downs.

It was after my first year in Medicine when I realized and confirmed that indeed, life is a wheel. Sometimes you're on top, then suddenly you'll find yourself way below. It isn't a cruel cycle; it is a fact of life that we have to live and deal with. I'm irreg now, but that doesn't mean I have to give up, does it? Fate can be cruel, but it's all up to one to adjust and deal with it.

It is indeed quite difficult to adjust to changes. One month in, and you'll begin to thank your classmates for the little things they do for you, be it simple or grand. You have your classmates who are experiencing what you are going through. You have your parents, your family, who will support you no matter what (kahit minsan, hindi mo ramdam). You have your brods and sisses, who share your joys and tears, through thick and thin, who'll never leave your side when you need them the most.

They always say that the beginning is always the hardest. But it doesn't mean that you'll just have to give up just because you think you can't make it through. Perseverance is the key. Add that to Faith and you'll find yourselves breezing through the hardships.

Remember that we are all in this together. Walang iwanan.

 /no1!