Happy International Polar Day!!

photo: Livia Monami

As some of you may know, the Arctic and Antarctic regions occupy a huge space in my happy heart. Find out more about International Polar Day here!: http://www.ipy.org.

Important learning point: the Arctic is more than just polar bears, ice shelves, global warming, and hot hunky Scandinavian men! (e.g. Kimi Raikkonen, who is going to dominate at this weekend's F1 race...) Did you know that there's a special sub-field of research called Arctic Health? Not only are most Arctic populations exposed to the brunt of anthropogenic pollution and UV radiation (resulting in a specific subset of illnesses that have typically been less-researched), a lot of indigenous minorities of the North have their own very basic and effective forms of traditional medicine that we can all learn a lot from. Since I know all of us enthusiastic, motivated, TGMS-loving physician-scientists-to-be are always eager to learn more about medically-related things, here is an online database resource where you can find articles and websites about health and healthcare in the Polar Regions: http://www.arctichealth.org. Just thought I'd put it out there. ;)

Happy Thursday too! xoxo

one more week!!!

the last week of molecules and cells!!! whoopeee!


‘Tis the end of molecules and cells
I will no longer want to pitch myself into a well
To bash my brain and crush my spine
Only to find out that my blood clots fine
Maybe a little CNS nerve damage anyone?
Number of nerves regenerated: None.
Perhaps an AMI or a stroke
Since I kept chugging them cokes.

One weekend of fun and rest we get
Oh wait! A test on Tuesday morning’s set
Ruining the appreciation of the pace
Of Singapore’s first ever night race
But for now, care not of all to come
And let’s get together and have some fun.

why bone cells are better people than us

have you ever wished that human beings were more like osteocytes? osteocytes are incredibly selfless and they really understand the value of working together for the good of everybody.

i mean, how brave do you have to be to volunteer yourself to just get trapped , away from all your osteoblast sisters and brothers, in the advancing bone matrix. it takes a lot of guts to be like, " okay so I will never get married or see any of you again but this bone needs osteocytes and it's gonna be me."

let's not even get into how generous you have to be to the the one of the lucky bone cells that are close to the edge and still have access to nutrients. you could just say " screw everyone , i 'm keeping my nutrients to myself " and let the brothers who are sacrifcing themslevs in the depths of bone matrix just die. But they don't do that; they share their brotherly love via gap junctions. it's touching really...

Nasogastric tubing pics

:)

riddle

Two grandmothers, with their two granddaughters,
Two husbands, with their two wives,
Two fathers, with their two daughters,
Two mothers, with their two sons,
Two maidens, with their two mothers,
Two sisters, with their two brothers,
Yet only six in all lie buried here,
All born legitimate, from incest clear.

Explain how this may be.

awww...i wove this wallpaper...its so cute! i approve