My iPod quit cold in the middle of my run last night. I'm not quite sure yet if it's the Nike+ sports kit that has a problem or if it's the iPod itself. I figured I was not running for the stats anyway. So I continued with my easy 5 km-run and forgot about time and pace.
I found out later on that the Nike + ipod system was still able to record my run. Goody!
In the end though, I was still frustrated with the system. I was not able to sync my run last night. This morning I found out that all my previous runs where deleted :( All records completely gone.
I think I need to start getting used to running without music from now on.
And until I figure out what's wrong, I think I'll be going back to logging runs using pen and paper.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
home
Home again, with so much to do and write. I don't know where to begin.
A. I have new-found respect for a colleague. I have always thought highly of her but this time she is my new role model for good patient care. I need to be reminded that doctors treat patients, not lab results, not side notes on charts.
B. I'm rethinking my choice for residency training. Having been assigned to the pedia department I'm starting to have difficulty managing IM patients. Pediatrics was always an option from the start, it's just that nobody thought I could handle children.
C. I went out one night with other co-residents, none of us on 24-hour duty. When we came back we were greeted by a truck unloading patients from an MVA. Just like that, the bottle of beer I drank disappeared from my system. A co-resident smiled as he waded through the bleeding patients. "This is ER medicine," he retorts. It really was ER medicine.
Head-on collision between a passenger van, an ambulance transferring a patient to our hospital and a ten-wheeler truck = a terrible, terrible accident.
D. These days I keep wondering what people do with money. My salary is pretty basic. I am able to live comfortably within budget. I do believe money offers a lot of opportunities for learning and travel. But just because money is not overflowing from your pockets does not mean you will lack for opportunities. Seriously, what do people do with money?
E. On that note, I have a colleague who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. "More like titanium spoon", another colleague often interjects. He has a job, a 17M condo unit, a 2M SUV, beachfront property and still receives money from his parents. A former chief resident (when he decided to quit his residency training) with a 3.98 GPA in med school. And guess what. He's not happy.
F. Sometimes I think I'm stupid.
A. I have new-found respect for a colleague. I have always thought highly of her but this time she is my new role model for good patient care. I need to be reminded that doctors treat patients, not lab results, not side notes on charts.
B. I'm rethinking my choice for residency training. Having been assigned to the pedia department I'm starting to have difficulty managing IM patients. Pediatrics was always an option from the start, it's just that nobody thought I could handle children.
C. I went out one night with other co-residents, none of us on 24-hour duty. When we came back we were greeted by a truck unloading patients from an MVA. Just like that, the bottle of beer I drank disappeared from my system. A co-resident smiled as he waded through the bleeding patients. "This is ER medicine," he retorts. It really was ER medicine.
Head-on collision between a passenger van, an ambulance transferring a patient to our hospital and a ten-wheeler truck = a terrible, terrible accident.
D. These days I keep wondering what people do with money. My salary is pretty basic. I am able to live comfortably within budget. I do believe money offers a lot of opportunities for learning and travel. But just because money is not overflowing from your pockets does not mean you will lack for opportunities. Seriously, what do people do with money?
E. On that note, I have a colleague who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. "More like titanium spoon", another colleague often interjects. He has a job, a 17M condo unit, a 2M SUV, beachfront property and still receives money from his parents. A former chief resident (when he decided to quit his residency training) with a 3.98 GPA in med school. And guess what. He's not happy.
F. Sometimes I think I'm stupid.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
what is happening
Monday, March 2, 2009
drug for malaria loses potency
Ok. I admit I'm pretty slow on reading up on developments in molecular biology and medicine. There is just too much literature at times that I can't help but feel overwhelmed. I'm so glad I have friends who can point me in the right direction. (Thanks Cat!)
I wish I could do a lot of the pointing myself, too.
In the International Herald Tribune, a month-old article warns about the developing resistance to artemisinin-based drugs. Working in Mindoro has definitely opened my eyes to this disease. I appreciate any new information I can get about treatment and management.
Malaria patients in the intensive care ward of the provincial hospital
in Battambang, Cambodia.(Thomas Fuller/International Herald Tribune)
Artemisinin-based drugs such as artemether are used to treat Plasmodium falciparum-confirmed malaria. Falciparum is one of four types of malaria and is endemic in the Philippines. It is unfortunate that it also happens to be the most virulent.
In the Philippines, artemether is commonly used in combination with lumefantrine. Drug combinations allow for faster treatment and may slow transmission of the disease. It may also decrease the rate of developing drug resistance.
Read on the evidence of Artemisinin-resistant malaria in the The New England Journal of Medicine. Other articles on malaria are also in the same issue of NEJM (Dec 11, 2008).
I wish I could do a lot of the pointing myself, too.
* * *
In the International Herald Tribune, a month-old article warns about the developing resistance to artemisinin-based drugs. Working in Mindoro has definitely opened my eyes to this disease. I appreciate any new information I can get about treatment and management.
Malaria patients in the intensive care ward of the provincial hospitalin Battambang, Cambodia.
Although this has only been noted in Tasanh located near the Thai border of Cambodia, it certainly heralds things to come. Malaria must be eradicated, eliminated before drug resistance spreads.
The recent studies show that artemisinin-based drugs are becoming less effective in removing the parasite from the bloodstream. While a few years ago it took the drugs 48 hours to clear the bloodstream of parasites, it now can take 120 hours.
Artemisinin-based drugs such as artemether are used to treat Plasmodium falciparum-confirmed malaria. Falciparum is one of four types of malaria and is endemic in the Philippines. It is unfortunate that it also happens to be the most virulent.
In the Philippines, artemether is commonly used in combination with lumefantrine. Drug combinations allow for faster treatment and may slow transmission of the disease. It may also decrease the rate of developing drug resistance.
Read on the evidence of Artemisinin-resistant malaria in the The New England Journal of Medicine. Other articles on malaria are also in the same issue of NEJM (Dec 11, 2008).
Sunday, March 1, 2009
more distractions
Taking a peek at the list of books I've read so far (2009 Distractions on the side panel) I can't help but smile at the variety of the books. On any other day I would probably only read one out of the seven on the list (and that would be Douglas Coupland's JPod). Ever since I've tried reading different genres I find that I can pick up any book and just read. Reading may not always be as enjoyable as I would like. But I rest assured that after reading each book I've learned something new.
Having said that, the last batch of newly acquired books are a little up my alley this time.
China Syndrome:
The True Story of The 21st Century's First Great Epidemic
Karl Taro Greenfeld
Deep down I still want to be an epidemiologist. Plus, this hits closer to home than all the books on Ebola I've read.
From National Bookstore bargain bin - P200
The Principles of Running:
Practical Lessons from My First 100,000 Miles
Amby Burfoot
I do want to be a runner. But before I hit the ground running I would like to know more about what I'm getting myself into. I'm not as fit as I was a decade ago. I want to do running right and avoid injuries.
From Booksale - P 145
Piled Higher and Deeper: A Graduate Student Comic Strip Collection
Jorge Cham
The first of the grad student comic strip collection. It can be laugh-out-loud funny as it pokes fun at the trials and tribulations of being a grad student. At the same time it leaves you hopeful knowing that you are not alone :)
From Booksale - P70
The Poe Shadow
Matthew Pearl
His first book The Dante Club got me hooked. Although I was a bit disappointed at how it ended I'm willing to give Matthew Pearl another chance with The Poe Shadow.
National Bookstore - P150 (hardcover)
Having said that, the last batch of newly acquired books are a little up my alley this time.
China Syndrome:
The True Story of The 21st Century's First Great Epidemic
Karl Taro Greenfeld
Deep down I still want to be an epidemiologist. Plus, this hits closer to home than all the books on Ebola I've read.
From National Bookstore bargain bin - P200
The Principles of Running:
Practical Lessons from My First 100,000 Miles
Amby Burfoot
I do want to be a runner. But before I hit the ground running I would like to know more about what I'm getting myself into. I'm not as fit as I was a decade ago. I want to do running right and avoid injuries.
From Booksale - P 145
Piled Higher and Deeper: A Graduate Student Comic Strip Collection
Jorge Cham
The first of the grad student comic strip collection. It can be laugh-out-loud funny as it pokes fun at the trials and tribulations of being a grad student. At the same time it leaves you hopeful knowing that you are not alone :)
From Booksale - P70
The Poe Shadow
Matthew Pearl
His first book The Dante Club got me hooked. Although I was a bit disappointed at how it ended I'm willing to give Matthew Pearl another chance with The Poe Shadow.
National Bookstore - P150 (hardcover)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
