Friday, February 26, 2010

My pre-occupation is over: ASEAN Students Career Fair 2011

I'm back to being a regular medical student again, sigh..

~ASEAN Students Career Fair 2011~ (the sweet weepy orbituary-like version)

members of the Career Fair team (missing Binh); From Bookshelf for my thoughts

ASEAN Students Career Fair has passed away, on the 20th Feb 2011. The event has brought upon us many sweet memories, throughout the 4-months of its preparation and especially on the final days of its being. The impact of its presence has not only left its mark on the Career Fair team, who has raised it since its wee early life that was an Idea, but also on the many visitors who have visited the event on its final day. We hope they may benefit and find a lot of good from the event.

It is indeed sad for us to say goodbye to you our dearest ASEAN Students Career Fair 2011. However, let us not say that this is the end; instead let us all mark this eventful day as the beginning of a new journey :)

Shal, 2010

Today's vocabulary list

Gregarious: from Dictionary.com
1. seeking and enjoying the company of others
2. tending to form a group with others of the same kind

Antipyretic 解熱剤 Antitussive 鎮咳薬


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[taken from First Aid for USMLE part 2]
A 45-year-old patient presents with altered mental status. His wife states that over the last week her husband has been taking acetaminophen for some abdominal discomfort. He uses no illicit drugs but drinks 4-5 beers daily. Over the last 24 hours, the patient has become progressively lethargic. Vital signs reveal temp. 97°F, BP 100/70, HR 120, RR 26. The patient is jaundiced with RUQ abdominak tenderness on palpation. He has no rebound tenderness or splenomegaly but has an enlarged liver. There is no ascites or peripheral edema. Heart and lung examinations are normal. Patient responds to painful stimuli and has asterixis. He has no neurologi deficit. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
a. Alcohol intoxication
b. Alcohol withdrawal
c. Delirium tremens
d. Acetaminophen toxicity
e. Wilson's disease __________answer: d. acetaminophen toxicity


[Signs of alcohol intoxication]
include euphoria, dysarthris, ataxia, labile mood, lethargy, coma, respiratory depression, and death

[Signs of alcohol withdrawal] hyperexcitable state (e.g., hypertension, tachycardia, flushing, sweating, and mydriasis) and have tremors. disordered perceptions, seizures, and delirium tremens (DTs)

[Delirium tremens]
occur 2-4 days after alcohol abstinence
characterized by hallucinations (which may be dangerous, combative, and/or destructive)

[Acetaminophen toxicity] taken from e-medicine
> maximum recommended daily dose of acetaminophen:
adults: 4 g and children: 90 mg/kg
> amount of toxicity may be lower in the settings of chronic ethanol use, malnourishment,
or diminished nutritional status, fasting, or viral illness with dehydration, or certain medications
> when dosing recommendations are followed, the risk of hepatotoxicity is extremely small
> antidote for acetaminophen poisoning is N -acetylcysteine (NAC)
> one of the most common pharmaceutical agents involved in overdose,
as reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers
> most common cause of hepatic failure requiring liver transplantation in the UK
> replaced viral hepatitis as the most common cause of acute hepatic failure in US
> second most common cause of liver failure requiring transplantation in the US