Taipei

So I've made it to Taipei in one piece. The flight was pretty uneventful with a little bit of turbulence here and there. Every single time there was a little turbulence, the captain would turn on the fasten seat belt sign and one of the air hostesses would instruct us to please make our way back to our seats and buckle up for our safety. Now this wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't for the fact that they pause your movie/game to do this. They must have done this at least 5 times. Oh well, safety first right?

The last few days have been pretty full-on with getting ready to return home for the summer break. Wednesday was pretty much a write off with some post-exam celebrations. Thursday I went into the city to pick up a few things to bring back home and to get some large storage bins. In the end, I had to get six 100L containers to hold all the stuff that I wasn't going to be bringing back home with me and I STILL ran out of room. I can't believe how much stuff I've accumulated over the past 9 months. In the end I ended up forgetting to pack away my pillows. Other tasks of the day included getting my student ID card changed so that my Chinese name read "Cheuk Hung" instead of "CheukHung," getting my passport and foreign currency from my safety deposit box, and having a little left-over dinner party where we helped Susan eat what was left in her fridge.

On Friday, I picked up some spray paint to touch up some paint on the ceiling that I had accidentally peeled off. Also had to sort out some rental stuff and then say goodbye to some people from church. Watched a movie called Facing the Giants, a high school football movie heavily based on Christian themes and values. It was a good reminder that with God, all things are possible. Seeing them play football reminded me of home and how I will soon be able sit in front of the television and enjoy the familiar sports of football and hockey. Later on that evening, we were watching the movie Carrie on TV. Based on a Steven King novel, it was about this high school girl who has telekinetic powers. She goes crazy and ends up killing everyone on prom night.

Saturday was a lot of fun. Rented an SUV for moving and for getting to the airport the following morning. Had an awesome brunch with Albert and some of his housemates and just got some final packing and cleaning in. Had one last Aussie meal of Vietnamese noodles. Definitely not going to miss the food in Brisbane haha.

Still have 4.5 hours to kill in the airport...

A Prayer I Should Say More Often

Due to my screwed up sleeping patterns, I actually woke up super early today and was able to watch the sunrise while studying. It was almost enough to make me want to be a morning person (I'm starting to see the perks). I just don't know if I can handle going to bed at like 9:30-10pm every night to make that possible. If I cut out sleeping (which would probably be the worst decision I could possibly make at this time and potentially negate the last few months of effort), I have just under 25 hrs of study time left. The end is near!

I read these verses this morning and they really impacted me. Immediately I thought, "Wow, this is the kind of prayer that I need to be repeating!" I wonder if I repeated this prayer everyday how much of an impact it would have on my life and those around me...

"Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees;
then I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.
Fulfill your promise to your servant,
so that you may be feared.
Take away the disgrace I dread,
for your laws are good.
How I long for your precepts!
Preserve my life in your righteousness."
- Psalm 119:33-40 (NIV)

More mnemonics!

Who said learning couldn't be fun? Here are some more mnemonics that I've crossed paths with recently or made up myself (if it's super lame, it's probably one I made up...whatever, as long as it helps me remember haha).

Micturition Innvervation:

Point Parasympathetic Pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2-4) - Erection
Shoot Sympathetic Hypogastric nerves (L2) - detrusor + internal sphincter - Emission
Score Somatic Pudendal nerve (S2-4) - external sphincter - Ejaculation

Pathway of sperm:

SEVEN UP!
Seminiferous tubules
Epididimys
Vas deferens
Ejaculatory duct
(nothing)
Urethra (prostatic, membranous, spongy/penile)
Penis

Avoiding polypharmacy in the elderly:

SNaP CRaP!
Simplify meds
Non-pharmacological approaches
a
Prevention (don't prescribe for minor, non-specific, self-limiting complaints)
Communicate with patients and other clinicians responsible for care
Review meds regularly
a
Prioritize drugs

WBC differential from most numerous to least:

Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas!
Neutrophils > Lymphocytes > Monocytes > Eosinophils > Basophils

Categorization of Anemia:

Microcytic Anemia = TICS
- Thalassemia, iron deficiency, chronic disease, sideroblastic anemia
Normocytic Anemia = ABBRA
- Anaemia of chronic disease, bone marrow infiltration, bone marrow failure, renal failure, acute hemorrhage
Macrocytic Anemia = BALD HAIR
- B12/B9 deficiency, alcohol, liver disease, drugs (eg. phenytoin), hypothyroidism, aplastic anemia & myelodysplasia, increased reticulocytes

Platelet events following damage to vascular endothelium:

Albert Allen SAT Inside Eating 1-2-many Flowers

Adherence to ECM
Activation
Shape change
ADP secreted (other granule products as well like ATP, 5-HT, Ca2+, histamine, adrenaline)
TXA2 produced
Intrinsic coagulation pathway phospholipid complexes exposed
Extrinsic coagulation cascade (via exposed tissue factor from injured endothelial cells)
1º hemostatic plug (ADP)
2º hemostatic plug (ADP, thrombin, TXA2)
Fibrin deposition stabilizes and anchors aggregated platelets

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) causes of poor nutrition in the elderly (~60% of deaths in people > 80 yrs are nutrition related!):

It's Mad Not Sad Seniors Die of Malnutrition

Institutionalism - chronic illness, poor food choice, decreased social interaction
Malabsorption - bacterial overgrowth, coeliac disease, post-gastrectomy
Neurological Factors - dementia, depression, Parkinson's disease, stroke, dysphagia, immobility
Sensory factors - poor vision, dentition, impaired taste & smell
Social factors - isolation, poverty, poorly stocked kitchen, absence of fruits/vegetables
Drugs - digoxin, theophylline, levodopa, bromcryptine, alcohol
Medical factors - pneumonia, heart failure, chronic lung disease, chronic infection

Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE): Out of 30 points

RAPTOR CLAWS

Registration - say three objects and ask to repeat. Test memory [point for each correct answer; out of 3].
Attention & Calculation - count backwards from 100 in sevens (eg. 93, 86, 79, 72, 65) or spell a five letter word backwards (eg. spell 'world' backwards) [point for each correct answer; out of 5].
Paper test - ask them to take a piece of paper in R hand, fold it in half, and place it on the floor with L hand [point for each step; out of 3].
Time - year, season, month, date, day of week. Ask for each specifically if necessary [point for each correct answer; out of 5].
Orientation - where are you? Looking for country, state, town, hospital, ward. Ask for each in turn if necessary [point for each correct answer; out of 5].
Recall - repeat the same words used in the registration test [one point for each answer; out of 3].

Copy a design of two overlapping pentagons. Must have all ten angles and must intersect for 1 point.
Language - name two objects that you show them [out of 2].
Action - show them a piece of paper with "Close your eyes" written on it and ask them to do what it says [1 point].
Writing - show them a piece of paper with "Write a sentence" written on it and ask them to do what it says. Must have a subject and object and make sense. Punctuation not important [1 point].
Speech - ask them to repeat the following: "No ifs or buts" [1 point].

Scores 21-29 indicate cognitive impairment.
Scores < 20 indicate more severe impairment; likely due to dementia.

Signs of Depression: SADA FACES

Sleep disturbance
Appetite
Dysphoria (depressed mood)
Anhedonia
Fatigue
Agitation or retardation
Concentration
Esteem or guilt
Suicidal ideation

Suicide Risk Assessment: SAD PERSONS

Sex
Age
Depression
Previous attempt
EtOH
Rational thinking loss
Sickness
Organized plan
No spouse
Support lacking

Coolest Halloween Costumes

So hopefully I'll have time to make it out for this year's Halloween Food Drive when I get back home. How sweet would it be to have a Transformer costume? This is SOOOO COOOOL! If I had the choice, I'd definitely go with the Optimus Prime one first and Starscream second.

2 Rooms for Rent in St Lucia, Queensland!!!!!

Interested in finding accommodation in St. Lucia, Queensland?

Both rooms available October 28/07!!

Room 1: Master bedroom with ensuite, balcony, and queen sized bed - $174 pw
Room 2: Bedroom with it's own separate full bath - $163 pw

Located in beautiful Brisbane, Australia, this modern, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3 level townhouse comes fully furnished.

- Both rooms come with beds, mattresses, desks, chairs, bedside tables, and ceiling fans.
- Air conditioning units
- Washer and dryer facilities
- Single car garage (with plenty of street parking as well)
- Modern kitchen with dishwasher (everything like pots, pans, dishes, cutlery and glasses are included!)
- Couches, CD/cassette stereo, television, vacuum cleaner and even a 4-port wireless router are included with the place!
- Balcony with tables and lawn chairs.
- 10 minute walk to the University of Queensland campus in St. Lucia. Perfect for students!
- 5 minute walk to Guyatt Park CityCat stop and even shorter to the 412/402 bus stop to the city (15-20 minute bus ride to the city/South Bank).
- Convenience store and restaurants close by.
- No smoking and no pets.

You won't find anything nicer this close to Uni. Both rooms available to sublet for one month starting on Oct 28/07 to Nov 27/07 (see our listing at RealEstate.com.au).

Call Matt at 04 3038 2862 or e-mail s4131154@student.uq.edu.au for more details.

Currently, there is a queen sized bed instead of two single beds shown above in the master bedroom

Full bath for the second upstairs bedroom

Second upstairs bedroom

Downstairs common area. Remember, couches, stereo, bookshelf, table, chairs, TV all come with the place!

Very nice kitchen with a modern gas stove. Cooking is so much faster with gas!

The view from the main floor balcony. The swimming pool belongs to the neighbours.

Downstairs bedroom that will be available for rent on November 27, 2007. It also has it's own bathroom on the lower level.

The Beauty of Brokenness

Things have been pretty quiet on the blogging front. Not a ton of interesting things to talk about. Just trying not to stress out too much about my upcoming exams. In less than 3 weeks I will be all finished my 1st year in Australia! Looking forward to going back home and seeing my family and friends. Just in time too as it's starting to heat up. Spring just started not too long ago and already I leave my balcony door wide open all night and I've stopped using a blanket to sleep. Can't wait for some snow!

Had an opportunity to do a lot of self reflection. Realized that there are a lot of areas in my life where I'm self-serving. I can get super anxious about all the stuff happening in my own life and effectively shut out everyone else as I try to deal with it on my own. Humility has been brought up so many times - in sermons, in my devotions, in small groups - God must be trying to tell me something eh? The verses of the week for me come from 1 Peter 5:6-7 which state:

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

It was cool because in class this week, we covered anxiety disorders and I've always struggled with worrying too much. To overcome this, I have to start with getting rid of a lot of prideful thinking and replacing it with humility. I was listening to one of my favorite bands, Starfield, who are awesome AND Canadian (no surprise there eh?) and they wrote this song called "Unashamed." The bridge of the song states, "Here I am, at Your feet, in my brokenness complete." Simple words, yes, but to actually become broken before God and just let go of everything else that's holding me back from living 100% for Him is extremely difficult. I need to make this my prayer - to realize that I can't do it all on my own and that I need God to lift me up in my weakness and shortcomings.

Unashamed - Starfield


I have not much
To offer You
Not near what You deserve
But still I come
Because Your cross
Has placed in me my worth

Oh, Christ my King
Of sympathy
Whose wounds secure my peace
Your grace extends
To call me friend
Your mercy sets me free

And I know I'm weak
I know I'm unworthy
To call upon Your name
But because of grace
Because of Your mercy
I stand here unashamed

I can't explain
This kind of love
I'm humbled and amazed
That You'd come down
From heavens heights
And greet me face to face

Here I am at Your feet
In my brokenness complete