Figure1: The "Instagram" for Medical Professionals

Photo Credit: http://www.wheelessonline.com/images/bennf2.jpg

Do you recognize the image above? Or do you even have the idea of what disease is it?

That's the same for me, before I downloaded this so-called "Instagram for Medical Professionals."

Let me share a story...

It was the second year of my Doctor of Medicine degree when I came across the subject Pathology. Yeah, it came easy for the first few months, going through the basics, however, as it ran long, it became harder and harder. Lab time transformed from rest time to serious time as every slide becomes complicated. A professor is present, however, is not enough to cater all our explanations. I tried to hit the books, however, it gave me additional headaches.

I needed help.

It was then that I read an online article about the "Instagram" for medical professionals. It is called Figure1, which is built by medical professionals for the same, though it is widely open for those medical professional-wannabes as well as students.

Figure1, Photo-sharing App for Medical Professionals!

It showed me Pathology slides which I was not able to appreciate from the laboratory, as well as books. Those diseases which were not taught very well were well-explained. Even those topics concerning dentistry, which I think are important for our medical career are introduced. Rare diseases, which are not even mentioned in school are found there, shown from real patients (with confidentiality matters, of course.)

Real pathologists, internists, radiologists, medical students, nurses, medical technologists, etc., are interacting with me. It's like I am working in a hospital. It's like a meetup with people having the same "language" as me. It's like I found a new family.

I started telling friends, classmates, as well as family about Figure1, and have enjoyed the application ever since. Our knowledge about the diseases we are studying became more vast, and it really supplemented my medical studies.

It definitely is helpful.

And now, I would like to share these benefits with you, my dear readers. For medical professionals and students alike, this application can become helpful. It is available in the Android OS, as well as iOS. The application is highly safe, and is device-friendly. It does not require much resources, which is really nice.

You can download the Figure1 App here.

PS: And, if you're wondering what disease is shown in the X-ray film above, it's a case of Legg-Calves-Perthes disease, one of the rare cases available in Figure1!

GENERIC MEDICINES: Ano nga ba sila?

Kanina, kagagaling ko lang sa palengke dito samin para bumili ng maintenance drugs ng nanay ko. Matagal na kasi syang na-diagnose ng hypertension pati diabetes, at kinailangan na talaga nyang ma-control ang presyon at blood glucose nya.

Pumunta ako sa pinakamalapit na The Generics Pharmacy at Generika, (bawal bang mag-advertise? Hehe) para dun bilhin ang mga gamot nya. Actually nagsimula yan nung magtrabaho ako sa PhilHealth, kasi nag-pledge ako na ako ang bibili ng gamot ng nanay ko, bilang contribution ko na din sa gastusin sa bahay. Nang una, branded pa binibili ng nanay ko, at sabi ko naman, try muna naming bumili ng generics, tignan namin kung parehas lang ang epekto o hindi. Sa ikinabigla namin, parehas lang ang epekto - umayos naman ang blood pressure ng nanay ko, at ang sugar, medyo tumataas, pero ayos pa din naman. Ibig sabihin, effective din naman. Nice. Tipid.

Nung BS Nursing pa ang tine-take ko, palagi nang sinasabi samin ng mga professors namin na ang mga generic drugs naman daw ay effective at safe, nagkaiba lang naman sa excipient (yung powder na nag-huhulma sa tabletas). Simula noon, nung mag-duty kami sa mga hospitals, napakalakas kong advocate ng generic medicines. Talagang pinag-pipilitan ko sa mga pasyente na bumili ng generic medicines, para maka-mura.

Pero pagdating ko sa Medicine course ko, di ko alam kung magbabago ba ang pananaw ko sa generic drugs o hindi.

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CEBU, here I come!

It's been a while since I've posted here in my blog, well hello, blogosphere! Yes, I admit, I was too lazy busy to post here in my blog, nowadays, there are a lot to do in school. Anyway, let's reserve that chit-chat for next time.

To make it short and simple, I would like to talk about the research paper we have created a year ago. It came to different places, and it took me to places which I haven't been into. It took me to Baguio, and the research, upon qualifying in a national research competition, will be taking me to Cebu. Yes, tomorrow, I will board the plane (again, another first time) going to Cebu.

Actually, I don't know what to expect. Many say that Cebu is just a regular place to be, especially that I have lived in an urbanized area for a very long time. Most of the people talking about Cebu say that it's just the same as the metro, with lots of trash and pollution. My friends say it's somewhat a lair of prostitution and drugs.

Setting those preconceptions aside, I really should think positively - it's the first time I will to to Visayas, and first time to ride a plane. Some of my friends are even envious of me - saying that they didn't have a chance to ride a plane yet. I can also ride the taxi for the first time. I can go to beaches and other scenery present in the city. Together with my friends and our professor, we should explore the place and make the most out of it.

Let me talk about a very good song I've listened to. I fell in love in this song the first time I've heard it. This song is entitled "Best Day of My Life by American Authors." It gives me a lot of positivity and energy to move on, even though we're swallowed by stress and anxiety. It reminds me that every day that God gives will be the best days of our lives. Here, take a piece of it.

Well, do you have some tips while riding an airplane? Moreover, if you have something to tell about Cebu, and what is to expect, please tell me below. It would be pretty much appreciated.

Thanks! I'll update you about the details!

Medicine Gone Wrong: Who is to Blame?

The news is spreading - a young woman diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma (a type of cancer involving the lymphatic tissues) succumbs to the said disease. A loss of not only a family, but a loss of mankind. An achiever (cum laude), she could've been the next best news anchor, or one of the most famous writers the world has had. However, due to medicine gone wrong, we just lost that star. And that star, is Kate Tan.

Practice of medicine is a very complex process - you go to school for 5 years to prepare yourself to the practice, pass the board examinations, go to residency, attend additional continuing education to specialize, and go to seminars to continually update yourself with the latest innovations. In order to provide safe care to patients, you have to take all these steps. It's not an overnight course, you can't learn it with a shortcut. 

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PMA (Pahinga Muna, Anak)

Kamakailan, habang kami ay nasa bahay ng aking lola, paglabas ko ng kusina ay narinig ko ang nanay ko kausap ang aking tiya, na sinabi daw ng isa ko pang tiya na "naaawa daw sya sa akin, dahil parang napagkaitan daw ako ng kabataan nang dahil sa pag-aaral."

Siguro, may mga pagkakataon ding nasasabi ko sa isip ko na tama nga ang sinabi ng tita ko. Na napagkaitan ako ng kabataan. Nabuhay ako ng 22 years na puno ng pressure - ako ang kuya ng buong pamilya, na inaasahang posibleng bumuhay sa pamilya sa hinaharap. Ako din ang maituturing na "achiever" sa bahay, dahil maganda naman ang performance ko sa school. Pressure diba? May mga pagkakataon noong grade school ako na grounded ako dahil ayaw kong mag-aral para sa "Spelling Bee" na hindi naman kailangang ireview. Nang high school, napakalaking parusa sa akin nang malipat ako ng second section dahil sa computer games. At nang college, nawalan ako ng "night life" dahil sa pag-aaral ng mabuti. Kung ikaw ang makaranas nito, masasabi mo bang napagkaitan ka ng kabataan?

Ako, napagkaitan ba ako ng kabataan?

Image Credit

Siguro. Siguro dahil kung titignan mo ang "bell curve" at ang standard deviation ko sa mga ka-edad ko, nasa outliers siguro ako, o yung mga nasa lugar na hindi pangkaraniwan (kung sa imahe sa itaas, nasa asul na mga punto siguro ako). Outlier dahil hindi ako nakapaglaro ng tumbang preso kasama ang mga bata sa daan, hindi nakapaglaro ng patintero kasama ang mga pinsan araw-araw. Dahil hindi ko na-enjoy ang rebellious phase ng high school, walang ganoong katinong barkadahan, at hindi nakatikim ng alak o nakapunta man sa mga bar dahil wala akong nightlife nung college. Malungkot siguro ang buhay ko. At nasabi ng isang kaibigan, masayado daw "predictable" ang buhay ko, dahil napaka-plantsado ng buhay ko. Dry. Tuyo. Barren.

Kailangan kong tanggapin ang mapait na katotohanan, na napagkaitan nga ako ng kabataan. Pero kung tutuusin, nang dahil sa pagdadamot sa akin nito, nabigyan naman ako ng masaganang kinabukasan. Ang mga achievements na natanggap ko simula nang bata ako, mga honors, pagpasa ng board exams, at ang ngayong estado ko, bilang studyante ng medisina, at mga nalalaman ko ngayon, ay bunga ng pagdadamot nila nang bata ako. At dahil dito, siguro nama'y may naghihintay sa aking napakagandang kinabukasan, hindi lang para sakin, kundi para sa pamilya ko na din, at para sa mundo. 

Kung matapos ko man ang kursong ito, dadagdag ako sa mga doktor na kasalukuyang nagkukulang sa Pilipinas. May isang doktor na sasama sa mga medical mission na kung saan maraming mga tao ang nangangailangan. Isang doktor na posibleng makagamot sa isang hindi pa magamot na sakit. At higit sa lahat, isang doktor na may takot sa Diyos.

At dahil sa mga bagay na naghihintay na 'yon, siguro, hindi muna ako magpapahinga. Sabi sa amin ng mentor ko sa school, in Medicine, you learn continuously, even after you graduate. Kaya siguro, hindi na talaga ako magpapahinga sa pag-aaral. At kung yung duktor sa taas ang kapupuntahan ko, ay wag na talaga akong magpahinga. Dahil yun ang kailangan sa kasalukuyan, at may tsansa akong mapunan ang pagkukulang.

Kung sigurong magkaka-anak ako, at mayroon silang mga pangarap na mukhang napakaimposible, itutulak ko pa din siguro sila. Dahil minsan, ang mga bagay na napakaimposible ay nasa ganoong estado dahil sila ang pinaka-kailangan ng lipunan. Sabi nga ng isa pang blogger, "Be Unrealistic and Dream the Unattainable." Ipe-pressure ko sila ng naaakma sa kapasidad at sa mga pangarap nila, tulad ng ginawa ng ina ko, dahil darating at darating din naman ang araw na maiintindihan din nila kung bakit ko ginawa yun.

Ngayon, outlier na kung outlier. Tulad ng isang napakasikat na quotation na "because being normal is too mainstream." Di ko man naenjoy ang kahapon, eh siguro maeenjoy ko ang kinabukasan. Nang dahil sa pressure, naging masaya din naman ako kahit papaano, dahil maraming nalalaman, at nagbubunga din naman lahat ng paghihirap. Siguro, passion ko na talaga ang learning. Kaya, thanks, 'ma! :)

Image Credit

...pero joke lang ang sabi ko sa itaas. Uminom din naman ako ng alak nung college. Pero konti lang, siguro dalawang bote lang ng RH simula first year hanggang graduation. Honesto, pramis!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, mga kaibigan!

How to ACE the NMAT (The Not-so-haggard Way) - PART 3

Now, you have had a background on NMAT, on what to do, and what to expect per subject. You've done your review, and you think you're confident enough to get your target score. So, what now? You're planning to pass the NMAT, right?

Let's imagine yourself a day before the exams. Cramming, reviewing, reading, searching for NMAT forums online to see what others are doing, searching Twitter with hashtag #NMAT to read others' statements about their anxiety. And you, what are you going to do?

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How to ACE the NMAT (The Not-so-haggard Way) - PART 2

Now that you have grasp of the whole course of the NMAT, then you are now ready to tackle the subject matters inside NMAT one-by-one. If you reach this part of the article without reading the part I, then you can click here to read it. If you already have, then you may continue.

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How to ACE the NMAT (The Not-so-haggard Way) - PART 1

Before we start this blogpost, let's take a quick review of what NMAT is.

NMAT, or the National Medical Admission Test, is an examination administered by the Center for Educational Measurement, Inc. This is an exam that tests your skills and knowledge on different fields, which will become your cornerstones in studying Medicine here in the Philippines. Well, these fields are not that tackled once you enter Med School, but still, they are being incorporated in different fields of medicine that you're (we're) going to study once we enter.

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It's Been Ages!

Habang nagkaklase:

Medyo matagal na din akong hindi nakakapagpost sa blog na 'to. Bakit kaya? Clue, maraming ginagawa. Boriiiiiiiing. Actually, habang ginagawa ko 'to, may klase kami. Wahahaha. *insert evil laugh here*

May 2013 pa ang last post ko. Approximately, almost 4 months na akong hindi nakakapagpost. Every month, may isang araw na naiiisip kong magpost ako, at i-share ang mga ideas ko. Kaso, darating at darating din ang panahon na tatamarin ako, minsan maraming ginagawa, at eventually, hindi na ako nakakapagsulat. Reasons.

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Ha-ha-ha-ha-HI!

"I'm stuttering, Oh oh oh oh oh."- Stuttering, Mario

Stuttering, or alalia literalis or anarthria literalis is a disorder in which the person affected has a speech difficulty, usually repetition of the beginning of words (to-to-to-to-toilet!), some make their words longer (mmmmmmmmoney!), or others, have blocked speech.

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Is reviving a patient a SIN?

"Our life is God's property. We have no right to take it, when it is not being taken by God.. and you have no right to prolong it if God already takes it.

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