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!!!

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.

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.

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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 !!!

Productive Cough, Hemoptysis and Evening Rise of Temperature

A 34 years old male consults you because of cough, sputum production and mild hemoptysis. He has had evening rise of temperature for the past one month and claims to have lost 12 kg over 3 months period. On examination, he appeared to be chronically ill and cachexic. Carvenous breath sounds are heard over the right apex.

Chest X-Ray shows fluffy infiltrates and some amount of contraction of the right upper lobe. There is cavity in the superior segment of the right upper lobe. A working diagnosis of tuberculosis is made.

QUESTIONS:

1. Which spontaneously expectorated sputum would be adequate for the mycobacteriology lab? - A.M. sputum or 24 hours pooled specimen?

Fluorescent staining is positive for organism. ZN stain shows Acid Fast bacilli.

2. Is ZN stain specific for tuberculosis?

3. If the smear is positive, is there a need to send for culture?

He is a school teacher for standard 1, and the physician decided to admit him for hospital care. An intermediate strength of PPD was applied. There is 12mm induration in 48 hours.

4. How do you intepret the result? Does he has TB infection or disease?

We always ask about "Evening Rise in Temperature", as we know that it somehow point towards Tuberculosis infection.

5. What is the basis and reasons behind "EVENING RISE OF TEMPERATURE in TB"?

Source: www.meddean.luc.edu

A Neonate with Dysmorphic Facial Features

BACKGROUND:

A boy is born with a distinctive dysmorphic facial appearance to a mother with known epilepsy, who has been treated throughout the pregnancy with Valproic Acid.

WHAT IS THE DIAGNOSIS?

HINT: Note the characteristic physical appearance.