судебная медицина

It was Autopsy day today.  The 2nd class of Forensics Medicine. It was an eye opener. Something pretty new to us 5th year Medical students. It was a sudden death for the 27 year old Russian male. No significant injuries on the external except for the injection wound on his left cubital fossa. A few self-made tattoos can be seen scattered all over his body. He is of stout build approximately 6' tall and 180lbs. Rigor mortis. Our teacher opened up his skull, his trunk and we examined the organs one by one. The stench was bearable much to our surprise. He was dead less than 12 hours based on our findings. The body was cold. His liver was 3 times the normal size and weight. So is the spleen. The lungs black due to smoking. Massive bleeding of internal organs.We pre-diagnosed him to have died due to Intoxication. Diagnosis can only be confirmed with the results of blood and urine samples as well as tiny slices of important organs such as the liver, spleen and stomach for microscopic examinations.

Cheers to the coming freezing days.

A disease I came across during Pediatrics. A very interesting one indeed.


Adreno-genital Syndrome

An 8-year-old male child presented with fever. On routine examination it was observed
that there was bilateral cryptorchidism and presence of pubic hair corresponding to SMR
stage 3. The scrotum was well developed and the penis was small (with no prepuce) with an urethral opening at its tip (Fig. 1). There was generalized hyper-pigmentation and presence
of acne. These findings prompted investigation for ambiguous genitalia. Abdominal CT
scan revealed presence of uterus and its adenexa and bilateral adrenal enlargement.
Karotyping revealed 46-XX genotype. The serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP)
level was 2.8 ng/mL (normal: 0.2-0.5 ng/mL) and urinary 17-ketosteroids was 18 mg/d
(normal: 1-4 mg/d). The clinical findings and investigations suggested the diagnosis
of a female pseudohermaphrodite due to congenital adrenal hyperplasia resulting
in adreno-genital syndrome. The family preferred to continue to rear the child as a
male and therefore no treatment was offered. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is the most
common cause of female pseudohermaphroditism. It can rarely be a result of
virilizing adrenocortical tumors. 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the commonest cause of
congenital adrenal hyperplasia, followed by 11b-hydroxylase deficiency. The clitoris may
be enlarged to resemble a penis and labial fusion can resemble a scrotum, as the present
case. The severity of virilization is greatest in salt losers. These children have premature
development of pubic and axillary hair, acne, masculine voice and build. Children with 11bhydroxylase deficiency in addition are often hypertensive and may have gynecomastia.
Female pseudohermaphrodites due to CAH can be distinguished from those due to other
causes by the elevated levels of serum 17- OHP and urinary 17-ketosteroids. Antenatal
diagnosis is possible by detecting elevated 17-OHP in the amniotic fluid. The sex of rearing
depends on the extent of virilization. If the family wishes to rear as females then
appropriate surgical and endocrinal therapywill have to instituted.

***

Winter has finally showed its true colors. Temperature down to -10celcius most of the time. Freezing cold. That's why I decided to warm myself up with some tropical pictures I took over last summer. Lol. You guys are probably sick and tired of them, but not me! =P

♥

Suntanning

I looked back, and I saw nothing.

 

 Hands in pockets.

Culture.

 

Spectators.

 

An auspicious event that brings 2 souls together.

 

White and pure.

 

Into the sea I go.

 

Let's fly kite.

 

Batik.

 

Playing sand.

Is brain necessary?

Do we really think with our brain? Is brain vital for mind processing? Or not?

British Neurologist, John Lorber conducted case studies involving victims with hydrocephalus, more commonly known as water in the brain. The condition results from an abnormal build up of (cerebrospinal fluid) CSF and can cause severe retardation and death if not treated.

Two young children with hydrocephalus referred to Lorber presented with normal mental development for their age. In both children, there was no evidence of a cerebral cortex. One of the children died at age 3 months, the second at 12 months. He was still following a normal development profile with the exception of the apparent lack of cerebral tissue shown by repeated medical testing.

Later, a colleague at Sheffield University became aware of a young man with a larger than normal head. He was referred to Lorber even though it had not caused him any difficulty. Although the boy had an IQ of 126 and had a first class honours degree in mathematics, he had "virtually no brain". A noninvasive measurement of radio density known as CAT scan showed the boy's skull was lined with a thin layer of brain cells to a millimeter in thickness. The rest of his skull was filled with CSF. The young man continues a normal life with the exception of his knowledge that he has no brain.

He has documented over 600 scans of people with hydrocephalus and has broken them into four groups:

a. those with nearly normal brains
b. those with 50-70% of the cranium filled with CSF
c. those with 70-90% of the cranium filled with CSF
d. and the most severe group with 95% of the cranial cavity filled with CSF

Many neurologists feel that this is a tribute to the brain's redundancy and its ability to reassign functions. Others, however, are not so sure. Patrick Wall, professor of anatomy at University College, London states "To talk of redundancy is a cop-out to get around something you don't understand."

Norman Geschwind, a neurologist at Boston's Beth Israel Hospital agrees: "Certainly the brain has a remarkable capacity for reassigning functions following trauma, but you can usually pick up some kind of deficit with the right tests, even after apparently full recovery."

***
What is your opinion guys? Or is it more towards inner cognitive thinking? *an opinion from a fellow friend*

***

Rufflesia Futsal League Finale 2008/2009

yay! Pebbles, 1st runner up :)

Proud.

While waiting for the prize giving ceremony.

Can you spot me? LOL. fun fun fun.

***

2nd jamming session


Busu, lead guitarist. Head of the band.


Zul, Electric guitarist.


Chai, bassist.
Take note of his cool 'fret-less' bass guitar.

Sam, drummer.

Last but not least, your blogger.

Playing a fool. Exchanging roles.

Nice electric guitar.


Jamming with Chai's bass. Or not :P

Woohoo.

Compulsory camwhore session. LOL

Presenting to you, Mi Corazón.

My perspective

We visited a patient diagnosed with Bacterial Endocarditis. Interesting facts?

27 year old Russian guy. Drug addict. Diagnosed with B.E induced by narcotics. Severe damage to the trikuspid valve. Other complications: TB of lung, low Hg (hemoglobin) hence the pale complexion, splenomegaly, thrombosis of the legs causing smelly pustules forming on the legs.

We were instructed to perform inspection on the patient. We did not know that he was suspected of having HIV until we were done with the inspection. All of us touched his body and auscultated his heart. 

When we knew he was suspected with HIV we were all in shock. I mean this is the first time in my life dealing with a HIV patient up close. I suddenly felt my stethoscope and my hands were extremely dirty and disgusting. Probably it's how we are brought up and thought about the ugliness and consequences of the disease. Even we as a medical student can't help but to feel jitters when we come across this term. Call me 'inexperienced' then. How will you react if you have to deal with HIV people? With the same respect and attitude just like a normal person or vice versa?

**********************************************************

*EDITED*

Tag : 15 Little Things About You

Rule: List 15 weird things/habits/little known facts about yourself.Then tag 8 other people.

-Thanks Kim for tagging me-

1. Although I can be considered a socialite =P, I tend avoid people at times. Just don't feel like talking. I am not 'sombong'!

2. I am a huge fan of green tea. I have to drink at least 6 sachets of them on a daily basis. Sort of like a compensation for my huge craving for food :P.

3. I hate being labelled as a 'clubber'. Although I do fancy going to clubs, it's not like I pay them a visit every alternate days. So far I've only went for less than 10 times this year of 2008! So stop 'stereotyping' me, referring to those who got nothing better to do!

4. I love dressing up and looking good, but one of the oddest things is that I don't have to 'urge' or 'will' to dress up in Moscow. Guess its the people and the environment that hindered me from doing so. *Wish I am studying in London*

5. I have short attention span! I day dream most of the time especially during lectures!

6. I laugh like a man. I wish I can laugh like a lady though. HOHO

7. *edited* I am 'adventure' junkie! Reverse Bungee,mountain climbing, rapid shooting, flying fox, camping, night forest hiking, and my most proud record ever, FINISHING THE PENANG BRIDGE 10KM MARATHON AND GOT THE FINISHING MEDAL :D :D Anyone who's an adventurist, kindly contact me :P haha

8. I love swimming, that's how I got my extremely broad shoulders from! Love to sun-tan as well.

9. I used to think wearing specs is cool,until now that I need to wear it, I don't think it's cool anymore!

10. I can stay the whole day in my room in Moscow without moving an inch but I can't stand being home in Malaysia for day! I just need to go out!

11. Detest guys that swear and curse with vulgar words. Can't they realize they are embarrassing themselves?

12. I am a BANANA. I can't read Chinese :( :( It is one of my regrets in life!

13. I secretly wish I am  stick thin, but I can't stop eating!

14. *edited* I nearly flew to Aussie for a Marine Biology degree before finally settled for Medicine.

15. I nearly had an accident driving KD back to his car! Talk about being a 'nervous wreck'! It was totally embarrasing!

Tagging:

Adam Chooi

Tcheng

Mei Hui

Soo Ann

Jia Wei

Ee-Kim

Pei Fei

Jen-Surf