Kaplan's November Live Online Event Schedule

In November, Kaplan will be focusing on showcasing their faculty by giving international medical graduates and students an opportunity to watch sample lectures in Pharmacology and Internal Medicine, two of the highest yield subjects in USMLE on Step 1 and Step 2 respectively with strong presenters.

1) Getting the Most Out of Pharmacology for School and the USMLE

Listen as Dr. Harris gives valuable tips that will help you succeed in your Pharmacology classes and then shows how this content appears on the USMLE.

Date : Thursday, November 3rd 2011

Time : 8.00pm (MALAYSIA)
Speaker : Dr Steven Harris
Register at least 36 hours in advance at https://liveonline.kaptest.com/e39416590/event/registration.html

2) Sample USMLE Step 2 CK Internal Medicine Lecture with Dr. Levy

Did you know Internal Medicine is the highest yield topic on the Step 2 CK exam? Attend this event and learn as Dr. Levy helps you pick up points on this important subject.

Date : Wednesday, November 9th 2011

Time : 9:00 PM (MALAYSIA)

Speaker : Dr. Levy
Register at least 36 hours in advance at https://liveonline.kaptest.com/e46539632/event/registration.html

And the third and final question is……….HERE! You could win an iPod Touch!

Can you diagnose acute back pain? Read on to test your knowledge.

You see a 30 year old man who developed acute pain in the left buttock two days ago. He tells you that the pain started when he was stretching before playing football. The pain has now moved down his leg and he also has some tingling in the left foot. He has no symptoms of saddle anaesthesia (reduced sensation or numbness over the thighs, buttocks, and groin areas) and there are no red flags. On examination, there is tenderness of the left buttock. The straight leg raise test is positive on the left side. The tone, power, reflexes, and sensation are normal in the lower limbs.

What is the most likely diagnosis?

a.	Non-specific low back pain
b.	Mechanical back pain
c.	Nerve root pain

To find out the answer of the competition - click Acute back pain: an up to date guide .

Complete the module and pass, then send your answer to contest.apac@bmjgroup.com.

If you have trouble with the link above – you can search for the module on the website instead:

www.learning.bmj.com/international

REMEMBER! You need to register with a Malaysian Medical Association Voucher code to enter this contest. To request for a code, email cpd@mma.org.my.

Closing Date: 30 June 2011

We will be sending out the winners name shortly. Thank you for your participation!!!

Good Luck!

SMMAMS - BMJ Learning 2nd Question!!! You could win an iPod Touch!

Are you up to speed on diagnosing picture tests? If you are not then this module may help you improve.

Here is the second question…

A 40 year old man comes to see you as he is worried about his mouth. You examine his mouth.

What is the most likely diagnosis?

a.	Syphilitic chancre
b.	Chronic gingivostomatitis
c.	Kaposi's sarcoma

To help you find out the answer - click HIV Infection: diagnostic picture tests to learn more. Complete the module and pass, then send your answer to contest.apac@bmjgroup.com.

If you have trouble with the link above – you can search for the module on the website instead:

www.learning.bmj.com/international

REMEMBER! You need to register with a Malaysian Medical Association Voucher code to enter this contest. To request for a code, email cpd@mma.org.my.

Closing Date: 30 June 2011

Watch out for the third question!

GOOD LUCK!

SMMAMS - BMJ Learning Competition - First Question!!!! You could win an iPod Touch!

Can you interpret a chest Radiograph?

Have a go at the first question below to test your knowledge, and then complete the module.
Our first BMJ Learning question is….

A 77 year old man presents with fever, a productive cough, dyspnoea, and pleuritic chest pain over two days. He is a heavy smoker. On examination his respiratory rate is 35 breaths per minute, his temperature is 38°C, his pulse is 110 beats per minute, and his blood pressure is 100/55 mm Hg. He was orientated in time and place. He has coarse crackles anteriorly on the right.

Results of investigations are:
• Arterial pO2: 7.3 kPa on room air
• pCO2: 7.0 kPa on room air
• Blood urea: 10.2 mmol/l• C reactive protein: 480 mg/dl
• White cell count: 18 x 109/l
• His chest radiograph is shown below.

What is the most striking abnormality on the chest radiograph?

a. Right upper lobe consolidation

b. Right middle lobe consolidation

c. Right pleural effusion

d. Right lower lobe consolidation

Don’t worry if you don’t know the answer straight away…Click on the learning module Chest radiographs: a guide to interpretation to learn more. Complete the module and pass, then send your answer to contest.apac@bmjgroup.com.

If you have trouble with the link above – you can search for the module on the website instead: www.learning.bmj.com/international

REMEMBER! You need to register with a Malaysian Medical Association Voucher code to enter this contest. To request for a code, email smmams1011@gmail.com.

Closing Date: 27 May 2011

GOOD LUCK!!!

BMJ Learning Contest Updates

Some colleagues approached me today and apparently there are some miscommunication between us and MMA.

Ok, we have sorted out with BMJ Learning, and those who are interested to participate, can send us an email to request for the voucher code. Email us at smmams1011@gmail.com or send us a message via Facebook.

Please kindly specify your:

a) NAME

b) INSTITUTION

c) YEAR OF STUDY

d) MMA MEMBERSHIP NUMBER

e) EXPIRY DATE

First questions will be sent out on 23rd May 2011. Please register now to win an iPod Touch from BMJ Learning.

Thank you.

Regards,

SMMAMS Committee

BMJ Learning Contest for MMA Medical Students Members

SUBJECT:

EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND PLAY FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN AN IPOD TOUCH

Dear Students,

We have been working with Malaysian Medical Association to bring you an exciting opportunity to win an iPod Touch whilst making the most out of the BMJ Learning resource provided to you as part of your membership with the association.

Over the next 6 weeks (23 May to 30 June) we will be sending out three questions relevant to your medical studies. The answers to these 3 questions will be hidden in 3 BMJ Learning modules which you must complete and pass.

You will send your answer each week to contest.apac@bmjgroup.com with your FULL NAME, EMAIL and TELEPHONE NUMBER.

BMJ Learning is an e-learning platform, which offers a wide range of learning resources which deal with everyday issues in primary care and hospital medicine.

• BMJ Learning is accessed via registration with a voucher code (Please request this code from cpd@mma.org.my)
• Go to http://learning.bmj.com/international. You will need to register on the site by clicking the Redeem Voucher Code button on the top right hand corner of the page, but once you have completed the registration you are free to access the website from any location.

A quick note about the Rules:

Each participant must complete each module successfully. The BMJ will check the completion of modules and we will select the winning student who has clearly understood and completed each module, and has submitted their answers by the given deadline.

Look out for the first question coming soon!

From,

SMMAMS Committee

AIMST 1st Preclinical Medical Quiz 2011

A Preclinical Medical Quiz was recently held at AIMST University on 8th and 9th April 2011. This event was organized by the Faculty of Medicine, AIMST University in collaboration with AIMST University Medical Students' Association (MedSA) and Society of MMA Medical Students (SMMAMS).

A total of 9 teams participated for this event including a home team (AIMST University), followed by representatives from, International Medical University (IMU), University Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Allianze University College of Medical Sciences (AUCMS), University Tunku Abdul Rahmah (UTAR), Taylor's University College, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) and neighbouring country National University of Singapore (NUS).

The participants were brought for a tour to the Anatomy Museum and Clinical Skills Centre (3rd floor of medical building) whereby they were given a briefing on the various METI simulation facilities present in AIMST.

The event was then inaugurated by the welcoming speech by Deputy VC Student Affairs, Prof. Harcharan Singh whereby announced that he would donate a Challenge Trophy in the next Preclinical Medical Quiz. Participants were also reminded to take this quiz as an opportunity to know each other better instead of focusing the sole purpose of winning the quiz.

This was followed by the Preliminary Round 1 whereby all the teams were given a 45 minutes time span to complete 30 MCQs. From there, a total of 6 teams proceeded to the next round which included AIMST, NUS, IMU, AUCMS, USM and USIM.

These teams proceeded into the verbal round of Preliminary Round 2 on the same day and the Preliminary Round 3 on the following day. For each of the rounds the top team was allowed to choose their quiz table. Only 4 teams proceeded from the Preliminary Round 3 which was the team from AIMST, NUS, IMU and USM. Here, the finalists were tested at different stages which included the Leeuwenhoek Round, R.V.RAASH Round and the Laennec Round. These rounds not only tested cognitive knowledge but also psychomotor skills of interpreting histology, microbiology, pathology slides and also radiographs.

The NUS team emerged as the champion, followed closely by AIMST at 2nd place and IMU at 3rd place. The team were given a trophy, medals and winning certificates. Other teams involved were given the Certificate of Participation.

The event also boasted a special segment called the Quiz King or Queen whereby each team was requested to norminate a king/queen whom was tested by various questions probing into their opinions on Medical Ethics, Reasoning Skills, and also Communication skills. A representative from USIM won the Quiz Queen award for this segment.

The prize giving ceremony commenced with the speech from Prof. Dr. Sethuraman (Dean of Faculty of Medicine) and Deputy VC Academic and International Affairs. He thanked the organizing committee for making this a huge event a great success and especially congratulated Dr. P.K. Rajesh (Deputy Dean for Preclinical and Organizing Chairperson of the quiz ) for making his brainchild (the quiz) a memorable event. The Preclinical Medical Quiz 2011 was officially closed with a vote of thanks from Mr. N. Naga Bharathi Nesan, the President of MedSA and student organizing committee.

The participants congratulated the University for the outstanding efforts placed in organizing this Quiz and was greatly impressed by the excellent modern facilities used and it's management throughout by the Preclinical Medical Quiz 2011. In the feedback collected from the participants they expressed their gratitude to the organizing committee for putting together a meaningful and exciting event and assured that they will return the following year.

Reported by,

INDERPREET KAUR

Secretary of Student Organizing Committee

9th Inter-Medical School Physiology Quiz on 22nd and 23rd July 2011

The annual Inter-Medical Schools Physiology Quiz is back now! This year, the Physiology quiz will be held on 22 and 23 July 2011 at Universiti Malaya.

Prepare to take over the champion trophy from UM? (UM was the champion in the 8th IMSPQ). Find your team mates, and register your team now. Challenge the previous champion and take back to the trophy and make your medical school proud!

Deadline for registration is 30th April 2011. You can always contact Professor Dr. Cheng (details shown in the poster) for more information on the registration.

Download : [Registration Form in 4shared]

See you in July !!!

Saturday Teach-In : Hepatology on 23 April 2011

The College of Physician, Academy of Medicine Malaysia is organizing the next "Saturday Teach-In" with the topic on HEPATOLOGY on the 23rd April 2011.

The program of the day includes:

(a) 1000 - 1050 -

Management of common complications of liver cirrhosis (ascites, hepatic encephalopathy and variceal bleeding) - by Dr. Syed Redha

(b) 1050 - 1140 -

Current Management of Chronic Hepatitis B - by Dr. Tan Seok Siam

(c) 1140 - 1230 -

Current Management of Chronic Hepatitis C - by Dr. Haniza Omar

(d) 1330 - 1530 - Concurrent Workshops:

(i) Approach to Jaundiced Patient - by Dr. Chan Yee Ming

(ii) Approach to abnormal liver function tests - by Dr. Mohd. Shamsul

(iii) Approach to Fatty Liver especially Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases

- by Dr. Dennise Khoo

Registration Fee is RM 20 if registered before 15 April 2011; and RM 30 if registered after 15 April 2011.

For more information, please visit the College of Physician website; and register individually.

Clinical Hypnotherapy Workshop - Invitation by London College of Clinical Hypnosis

Greetings from the London College of Clinical Hypnosis - LCCH (Asia).

The LCCH in collaboration with the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia will be organizing an AFPM Pre-AGM Workshop on Clinical Hypnotherapy - Approaches in Healthcare and Medicine on 15 April 2011 at the Legend Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

For more details, please refer to the attached flyer. Please feel free to contact us if you have further queries.

Thank you.

------Secretariat
on behalf of Sheila Menon
Principal & Director
London College of Clinical Hypnosis (Asia)
207, Block G, Phileo Damansara 1
No 9, Jalan 16/11, Off Jalan Damansara
Seksyen 16 Petaling Jaya
46350 Selangor
Tel : 03-7960 6439
Fax : 03-7960 6449

Introducing SMMAMS to your friends ONLINE and Add us at Facebook

Saturday Teach-In on "DERMATOLOGY" by College of Physicians, AMM

Dear fellow colleagues,

The College of Physician under the Academy of Medicine Malaysia, has been conducting "Saturday Teach-In" program regularly for MOs, HOs, GPs and also for senior medical students.

On January 2011, a one-day course on Haematology was conducted, and there were strong support from medical students (especially from Melaka-Manipal, Universiti Malaya, UKM etc). On the coming 12 March 2011, they will be conducting another Saturday Teach-In, with the topic on Dermatology.

Program:

0900 - 1000 hrs: Registration/ Coffee

1000 - 1100 hrs: Common Skin Disorders (Eczema, Psoriasis, Tinea etc)

1100 - 1200 hrs: Adverse Cutaneous Drug Reaction

1200 - 1300 hrs: Dermatological Emergencies (TEN/ Pemphigus/ Acute Erythroderma)

1300 - 1400 hrs: Lunch

1400 - 1430 hrs: Workshop on Topical Application of Creams

1430 - 1500 hrs: Workshop on Wet Dressing/ Soaks

1500 - 1530 hrs: Workshop on Scalp Treatment / Scabies Treatment

Course Fee for Medical Student: RM 20

As place are limited, for advance booking, please contact:

Secretariat, College of Physicians, AMM

G-1, Medical Academies of Malaysia,

210, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: (603) 4023 4700 ; 4025 4700; 4025 3700

Fax: (603) 4023 8100 [Email: acadmed@po.jaring.my]

Website for Saturday Teach-In: http://www.acadmed.org.my/newsmaster.cfm?&action=news&menuid=80&parentid=39

AIMST University is Organizing a Pre-Clinical Medical Quiz on 8th and 9th April 2011

Dear fellow colleagues,

The Faculty of Medicine, AIMST University is organizing a Pre-clinical Medical Quiz on 8th and 9th April 2011. They are inviting medical students from other institutions to participate in this quiz.

Registration Fee is RM 200 per team. Each participating team will be composed of 4 regular members and 1 optional (staff/ spare member). Minimum of 2 students should be currently in preclinical phase of training. An early bird fee of RM150 if registration done before 14 March 2011.

Entries are accepted until the 28th March 2011.

For further information, you are welcome to contact AIMST Medical Student Association's President Mr. Naga on vostok_nbn@hotmail.com.

1st National Symposium on the Art of History Taking

Dear fellow colleagues,

History taking, an important skill acquired during our medical school training. Professors in med school always emphasize to us that with good history taking, in 80% of cases you will arrive at the diagnosis. The cornerstone of good clinical practice continues to be history-taking and skills in clinical examination. Good doctors will continue to be admired for their ability to distill the important information from the history, for their clinical skills and of course not to forget, for their attitude towards patients, and for their knowledge of diseases, disorders and behaviour problems.

I am not sure whether you wonder History taking is actually an art? Just like Medicine!!! It is like an art, not something fixed like a guideline. Many friends I know take history taking like a template you can use universally for all patients, for which I feel it is wrong. Every patient has their own story to tell; they have their history to tell us, to arrive at the diagnosis.

USM Medical Students make the initiative, to organize the 1st National Symposium on the Art of History Taking.

Further information can be downloaded here: [Accommodation], [Registration Instructions], [Registration Form], [Invitation Letter], [Pre-symposium booklet], [Travelling Information].

On behalf of the organizing committee, I would like to call upon all dedicated and passionate good future doctors, to participate in this symposium. Kelantan, where USM is located at, is a very nice place to visit too. Take this opportunity to learn the art of medicine and history taking, and also take your time to visit around Kelantan, which will be organized by USM colleagues.

Organizing a good and meaningful activities as medical students are not easy. I really hope that all of us can show our full support towards these motivated and passionate colleagues from USM.

*Apologies to the organizing committee for putting up the notice late, as I was very busy with my assignments and exams this few weeks. Please kindly allows more participants even after the deadline, so that we can all benefited from the above program. ~SMMAMS Webmaster, Vincent.

Calling for Abstract Submission on 3rd MIMSC 2011 at Historical City Malacca

The SMMAMS's very own medical student conference, the 3rd Malaysian International Medical Student Conference (MIMSC) 2011 is going to be held from 2nd to 5th June 2011, at the Historical City of Malacca.

The 3rd MIMSC 2011 is hosted and organized by Melaka-Manipal Medical College, in collaboration with Society of MMA Medical Students.

The theme for the previous MIMSC was "Gastroenterology and Nutrition". The theme for 3rd MIMSC 2011 will be "Trauma Medicine". Trauma management, which is an essential and important knowledge for all doctors, are seldom emphasized in medical schools. Exposure to Trauma management is limited until you start practicing medicine in the hospital. So, Trauma Medicine has been chosen as the theme for the coming conference, to further expose the students on the recent development and advances in Trauma care.

Registration will be opened soon on January 2011. Details of the conference (e.g. program, registration procedure and payment details) will be sent to your university's SMMAMS representative and Student Council. All registration will be done through the representative and council members via ONLINE. Details will be announced on the coming January 2011.

International students can Register ONLINE via our official website (to be announced later), or you can directly email us on mimsc2011@gmail.com.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SCIENTIFIC POSTER AND ORAL PRESENTATION COMPETITION -

CALLING FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION !!!

General Rules for Scientific Presentation:

1. Universities are entitled to send as many as possible participants for the competition. Members may be from any local, private or international medical institution.

2. Members who participate should have registered for the conference as delegates and dully paid the conference fee as we are not charging a seperate participation fee for the competition.

3. There will be 2 separate competitions held - Poster Presentation and Oral Presentation.

4. Participant is only allowed to participate in either ONE presentation, NOT BOTH.

5. All participant will be receiving certificate of participation and prizes are awarded for the top 3 winners each for both poster and oral presentation selected by the panel of judges. Judges' decisions are final.

6. Criteria for selection will be based on the following criteria (subject to changes):

- Relevance of the topic

- Method of Research

- Creativity of the poster design

- Presentation performance during oral rounds.

7. Members should email the abstract to the Scientific Committee, MIMSC 2011 by 1st May 2011. You may call the Scientific Committee for further clarifications.

*Rules and Regulations above are subjected to change.

......................................................................................................................................................................

INSTRUCTION FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION:

• All abstract should be submitted in English. Explained abbreviations may be used.
• All authors are required to send their abstracts ONLINE. Please include your details such as your name, contact number, year of study, and your medical institution.
• Any late of inappropriately formatted submission will be rejected.
• Submission must be saved in Microsoft Word document format.
• Email will be sent to selected participants for the competition. Results for selection of your abstract will be notified via email and it will be informed to your head of delegate.
• The deadline for submission of abstract is 1st May 2011. (subject to changes)
• Any abstract received after the dateline will be ONLY considered if the any entries received earlier were unable to participate.

For further clarifications on Scientific Presentation Competition and Abstract Submission, please do not hesitate to contact the following persons:

• Ms. Sheela Josephine - (email: sheelajosephine23@gmail.com) - h/p: 010 2992170

• Mr. S. Naveen Pilai - (email: nguynav@hotmail.com) - 016 9030144

***Details regarding the MIMSC 2011 will be released soon in our official conference website, from January 2011 till June 2011. Make sure you had bookmarked and stay tuned with us !!!

A Gift of life in Emergency: An eBook - "Quick Management GUide in Emergency Medicine"

Dear fellow colleagues,

One of our friend, Mr. Chee Yong Chuan from Monash University Malaysia recently send me an email about an eBook on Emergency Medicine, authored by Dr. Lee Say Fat (Consultant Obsterician and Gynaecologist) and Dr. Wong Yin Onn (MUM Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine).

The eBook titled "Quick Management Guide in Emergency Medicine" can be downloaded here. The eBook can be saved into your PDA or handphone for easy and immediate access.

~Knowledge is best gained by sharing!~

Vincent Khor

SMMAMS Webmaster

Inter Medical Schools Clinical Anatomy Workshops and Quiz, at IMU

AMSA of International Medical University (IMU) is organizing an Inter-Medical School Clinical Workshop and Quiz on 11 December 2010 (Saturday), from 7.30am - 5.30pm at IMU, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur

Guided by expert facilitators,

Dr Nilesh Kumar, Clinical Anatomist and Associate Professor, IMU and

Prof Yushak Wahab, Head and Professor, Division of Surgery, IMU,

it is a student driven workshop that will see students presenting on CLINICAL ANATOMY triggers which will be released 1 week before this event.

Other groups of delegates will also present other triggers, all of
which have a common theme, diseases or clinical conditions which have an anatomical basis either in managing it or the understanding the pathophysiology of it

Price: RM 20 including Souvenir, Certificate of Attendance or Presentation, Lunch and Tea

Instructions:

For non-AMSA University members:

Send email to kchiayew_133@hotmail.com including your name, university, HP No. so that we can send you the workshop booklet and registration form and further details.

For AMSA University members:

Contact your university Rep now!

Dateline for PRESENTER's REGISTRATION: 2nd DECEMBER 2010.

Download: 1. Workshops Booklet, 2. Registration Form

Click here to confirm your attendance at our Facebook Event Page.

A MORNING WITH DR. PATCH ADAMS, for Medical Profession In Malaysia

Dear fellow colleagues,

We are honored to be invited to spend a morning with Dr. Patch Adams, at MAP KL, on 26 November 2010 (Friday), from 9.00am - 12.30pm.

About Dr Patch Adams

Dr Patch Adams, of the Gesundheit Institute, will be in Kuala Lumpur November 26, 2010 and is having a talk exclusively for the medical industry.


Patch Adams is best known for his work as a medical doctor and a clown, and a social activist who has devoted 30 years to changing America's health care system. He believes that laughter, joy and creativity are an integral part of the healing process. His work was brought to light from the 1999 movie, where Robin Williams played Dr. Patch Adams.

Graduating from medical school with a loving heart full of play, Patch Adams began the Gesundheit Institute with a group of twenty friends, including three doctors, who moved into a six‐bedroom home in West Virginia and opened it as a free hospital.

Patch says,
“ We can’t promise to cure, but we can promise to care!”

The Gesundheit! Institute is now a not‐for‐profit health care organization chartered under the Nonprofit Corporation Act of the District of Columbia, is a project in holistic medical care based on the belief that one cannot separate the health of the individual from the health of the family, the community, the world, and the health care system itself. Members of the Institute are health practitioners and health educators. Gesundheit’s intention is to model creative problem solving and to spark each medical facility to design their own ideal ‐ to deliver health care in a context that is our ideal design, and educate other health care practitioners to design their ideal models for care. In its 40‐year history, Gesundheit has offered care to tens of thousands, given workshops and lectures in over 65 countries, built and supported clinics, schools, and orphanages from El Salvador to Cambodia, and brought the joy of clowning to parts of the world damaged by violence and injustice.

http://www.patchdams.org/

Details :

Day/Date : Friday, November 26th 2010,

Venue : MAP, Level G2‐01,
Block A5, Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1,
Off Jalan Duta
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Time : 9am to 1230pm

Fee : RM300

Attendees : Medical professionals and associates only

For those who are interested to attend this morning session, you can download the Invitation Letter and Registration form. Please drop us a message or email us if you are attending as a medical student. We would like know who is attending as this session is upon invitation only.

P/S: You will have to register under the Society of MMA Medical Students.

For further information, please do not hesitate to sms or contact me on 010-3785380.

Please drop us a message at FACEBOOK or email us at smmams1011@gmail.com, if you are interested to attend this function. Please kindly register before Wednesday. Thank you.

In case some might not know who this great physician is, you can watch the below video clips about Dr. Patch Adams, played by Robin Williams.

Warmest regards,

Vincent Khor

SMMAMS Webmaster

"Doctor in the Pocket" aim to reduce obesity in youth!

November 11, 2010 (Washington, DC) — An innovative mobile technology program called KNOWME Networks that shows promise in combating childhood obesity is being tested by Donna Spruijt-Metz, MFA, PhD, from the University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles.

Her revolution involves technology, specifically mobile technology, and includes a set of wearable wireless sensors that measure physical activity, stress, location in time and space, body fat, and a number of other factors. Data are transmitted in real time to a secure server for storage and analyses. The focus of the technology — called KNOWME because it really knows the child — for these first studies is to develop a Mobile Body Area network that monitors obesity indicators in minority youth.

In the study, kids wear the equipment for most of the day. If they are sitting for too long, they get a tailored and specific message to get up and engage in physical activity. A pilot study of the device showed that kids could handle wearing it for 11waking hours. Now, the device will go into to a randomized trial in which control subjects will wear the same device but won't get any messages about behavioral changes.

[Source: Medscape for Medical Student News]

More Information on KNOWME Networks.

Prof. Barry Marshall and Helicobacter Pylori

Prof. Barry Marshall (left) and Prof. Robin Warren - Nobel Laureate 2005 for Physiology and Medicine - "for their discovery of Helicobacter Pylori and its role on gastritis and Peptic Ulcer Disease"

When we first study about the pathology of Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD), we always came across "Helicobacter Pylori" in the etiology column. We all know that this is a Gram Negative spiral bacteria living in the stomach and duodenum, which causes inflammation in the stomach and duodenum and eventually causes Gastric Ulcer and Duodenal Ulcer respectively.

However, how many of you know about the history behind the discovery of H. Pylori 26 years ago? Who are the people discovered this bacteria? Unless you are interested in medical history and read constantly, I bet you don't know the answer.

Last Monday (2/8/2010), I have the honor to meet with the scientist cum gastroenterologist who discover the H.Pylori bacteria back in 1984. He is also the Nobel Laureate 2005 for Physiology and Medicine --> Prof. Dr. Barry Marshall.

Prof. Barry Marshall, together with 2 other scientists from University of Western Australia (UWA) were invited by Sunway University College, to deliver their inspiring talk and experience sharing to the students and faculty members there. And of course, I pay more attention on the talk by Prof. Barry Marshall.

First of all, let us go briefly about how Prof. Barry Marshall discover this bacteria and then won the Nobel Prize. Prof. Barry Marshall was invited by Prof. Robin Warren study on the cases where the stomach was found red in colour during autopsy and also spiral shaped bacteria was found during the histopathological studies. They then conduct a 100 persons research study, which according to him, it is easier to count the percentage!! (I think it was a joke!) One day, they successfully cultured the bacteria, and they were trying to infect in the animal models. Unfortunately, the human bacteria doesn't infect the animals. So, Prof. Barry Marshall took up the courages to drink the bacteria culture, and he ended up vomiting for 5 days. After that, his colleagues put an endoscope on him and found his gastric mucosa to be severely inflammed.

Prof. Barry Marshall and Prof. Robin attempted to publish their first paper on 1983, but was rejected for some commercial reasons behind (Gastric medication were huge income for pharmaceutical firm on that time). On 1994, they successfully proved that H. Pylori bacteria is the culprit behind the pathogenesis of gastritis and PUD, which fullfilled the criterias of Koch's Postulates. Then on 2005, both of these great physicians were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine.

First rejection letter from Journal Editorial (an encouragement for him to keep moving forward and keen on his research study) "the fruit of never giving up"

Prof Barry Marshall as the "Guinea-pig-doctor" who drink the H.Pylori culture and found the cause of PUD.

Prof. Barry Marshall felt ill and vomited for about 5 days after he drank the bacteria culture.

Repeated troublesome endoscopies motivate him to develop a simple non-invasive test which is available today - Urea Breath Test

During the sharing session titled "Before and After Nobel Prize", he encouraged us to put our passion and interest in science. He said, there are thousand times of failure and rejection behind a great success, just as his achievement for example, which he had face multiple criticism and rejections from colleagues and other parties. He even showed us his rejection letter from the Journal Editorial for his first attempt to publish the study.

Well, how does Helicobacter Pylori gets it's name? According to Prof. Barry Marshall, it was because there were times where he travelled with Helicopter quite frequently, so that "Helico" came his mind when he named the spiral shaped Gram Negative bacteria. (Although the meaning we learned in Microbiology, it is the helical and spiral shape of H.Pylori, so I think it was just a joke from him.)

One of the interesting thing he had said was that he compared himself with Prof. Robert Koch. Both of them seems to have some coincidence:

Prof. Robert Koch - successfully cultured the Koch Bacillus (tubercle bacillus) on 1884

successfully proved the Koch's Postulates on 1894

Awarded Nobel Prize on 1905

Prof. Barry Marshall - successfully cultured H. Pylori on 1984

successfully proved the etiological role of H. Pylori in PUD using the Koch's postulates on 1994.

Awarded Nobel Prize on 2005

During the sessions, he also shared with us about his current study on Oral H. Pylori Vaccines and harmless H.pylori as vector to deliver other vaccines into the gut of human beings.

It was a great day I ever had and it was a great honor to meet and listen to him. Meeting with wise men is better than 10 years study of books.

For more information, you can visit the Helicobacter Foundation and Prof. Barry Marshall on Nobel Laureate website.