Simply Photo: Saint Louis Church - Lucban Quezon

Playing Plants VS Zombies – Free Online Game

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Like the game Angry Birds, Plants VS Zombies is also one of the most popular games loved and enjoyed by most people, young and old. While its full version is down-loadable, interested individuals tend to pay 99 pesos, about two dollars for this game. Of course, we can also play Plants VS Zombies for free.

Read more here

Life Quotation # 4

 

Source

Drug Dispensing Error: Glibenclamide for Loperamide

The case

A 33 year old male had been admitted to a hospital because of psychiatric illness which was later assessed as sensorial changes because of drug induced-hypoglycemia.

This man was suffering from diarrhea a day ago. He was searching for Loperamide (Diatabs) in their medicine cabinet, but accidentally took six tablets of his father-in-law’s Glibenclamide (Diatab).

The patient went crazy. He had accidentally hurt his daughter and almost killed his wife. When he was brought to the hospital for treatment, his blood sugar was detected at 40mg/dl (normal value is from 90 to 120mg/dl) and was corrected with IV glucose and fluids. Because of his unusual behavior, he was confined in a psychiatric ward.

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 He became clear the following day and was able relate his intake of some medicine but did not get well as he was still having diarrhea. The wife then suspected that he had taken the wrong medicine when she saw the package had been move from its usual location at home.

Read more here

Wednesday Thought: Let's Make Things Happen

A poem, Make It Happen

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I believe God helps those who help themselves. So, Let us not hide from our own shadows, walk forward and strive.

Life Quotation # 3

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The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
 

~Winston Churchill~

Simply Photo: Bathing A Cat

Friday Question: How Can Antibiotics Interefere with Contraceptives?

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Antibiotics are said to affect birth control pills and injectable contraceptives. How?

Related articles:

•  On Hormonal Contraceptive Use: Antibiotic Interactions
•  Drug Interactions: Amoxicillin and Oral Contraceptive Pills

Drug Issue: Birth control Pills VS Depot Contraceptives

The use of chemical contraceptives has their own conveniences. Unfortunately, some unlikable side-effects can also be seen with their use. Oral contraceptive pills and injectable contraceptives are two popular chemical contraceptives. Both have their own handiness and untoward reactions but which method is better?

The oral contraceptive pill

Estrogen and progestin are the active elements of an oral contraceptive pill. While estrogen alone can cause the thromboembolism - a clotting of blood inside the blood vessel that may lead to stroke or heart attack, progestin alone may result to spotting or bleeding. Hence to minimize the untoward effect, estrogen is always used in combination with progestin.

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Progestin on the other hand can be recognized alone. As its natural form - progesterone, it can only be effective in injection form. With the half-life of five minutes, progesterone is metabolized quickly making it useless if taken orally. However as a synthesized progestin as lynesterol ( Exluton, Daphne) for example, researchers had found their way in making them orally active.

Read more here

How to Get More Views with Your Poems

Like most Triond user, I started my way here as a creative writer, submitting my content in the short-story category. While there had been one to three views a day, it had been frustrating for me to discover zero views all the time. I often ask myself, how can readers find me?

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So, like any other newbie, I was spammed by other users checking this, reading that, commenting his or her article just to have someone read my work in return. After learning slowly the ways here in the net, I discovered that most writers do not read stories especially if it’s 3 or more pages long. They just give the ‘nice article’, ‘awesome read’, then after some time they do not check your work anymore.

Shifting from creative writings to solid facts material was a struggle for me. Over time, I did succeed in publishing articles that earn. I didn’t stop writing fiction though. But instead of creating short stories, I decided to write poems.

With poems, we get to have views as soon as they are published, especially when we have many friends and we are active in the community. The problem with poems is they do not have constant views compared to non-fiction posts like medical, health, celebrities and other searchable articles in the net. Fortunately, we may still have continuous views with our poems.

Read more here

Issue: The Jack-O-Lantern Story

While vampires, witches, ghouls and other nocturnal creatures are the usual symbols for Halloween, pumpkins – specifically Jack-o-lanterns are always visible too.

Jack-o-lanterns have always been a part Halloween for centuries. This tradition has originated from an Irish legend Stingy Jack. 

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As the story goes, Jack’s stinginess had given him his dark faith. While with a devil in a bar, Jack had managed to trick the devil to turning into a coin that they can have drinks. But, instead of paying for the drinks, Jack cunningly put the devil  inside his pocket. The devil was not able to regain his true form because Jack had placed a silver cross with the devil. But after a while Jack did let go of the devil under the oath that this devil won’t bother him for a year and if Jack would die during that period, the devil won’t claim his soul. 

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However, the next year, Jack had tricked the devil once more. This time he made the devil promise that he won’t bother him for ten years and if Jack should die, the devil won’t claim his soul.

Eventually, Jack did die. He was not welcomed by the heaven because of his misdeed. And hell wouldn’t have him either because of the devil’s oath.

So, Jack was set off to wander the dark earth with only a burning coal to light his way.

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The Irish had recognized the ghostly figure as ‘Jack of the Lantern’ and soon enough they began carving off scary faces in pumpkins, then placing them into the windows and doors to drive away ‘Stingy Jack’ and other wandering evil spirits.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Life Quotation # 2

 

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If you chase two rabbits, you will lose them both.

~American saying~

Simply Photo: Pharmacy Seminar 2011

Friday Question: What Are the Active Constituents Found in Snakes?

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Snakes particularly the venomous types have been known as sources for snake-bite antidotes. But interestingly, these snakes are also foundations of many chemical constituents for many diseases and conditions. What can be these chemical constituents?

Related articles:

•   Popular Venomous Snakes with Anticoagulant Properties
•   Medicinal Properties in Venomous Snakes

Issue: Red-eared Slider Turtle and Salmonella Infection

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that causes food-borne illness. This illness (salmonella infection or salmonellosis) usually includes the symptoms of diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

Salmonella are transmitted via consumption of contaminated food usually of animal origin like poultry, eggs and meat. Reptiles as turtles are also said to cause salmonella infection.

With a red-eared turtle, such infection is attained mostly by children through improper handling and hygienic reasons.

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Salmonella from Red-eared sliders prevention

• Keep the area of the turtle clean

 Salmonella bacteria tend to linger to a Red-eared Sliders surroundings. By keeping the area clean, risks of Salmonella infection can be lessen.

• Wash your hands thoroughly after handling a Red-eared Slider

 Washing the hands is the number one rule in keeping oneself sanitary. However, do not wash merely with water. Wash your hands with soap, scrubbing vigorously from the wrists down to your finger tips for about 20 seconds.

• Talk to your kids about salmonella infection

 Give your kids a warning about the salmonella infection and its consequences. Inform them on how to handle a red-eared the proper way (not putting them in the mouth, kissing them or cuddling them) and more importantly; be responsible in reminding them to wash their hands all the time.

Read more here

Life Quotation # 1

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My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.  

~Maya Angelou~

Simply Photo: Ice Cream at Kamay Ni Hesus De Lucban

Is a Red-eared Slider Turtle Advisable For Pet?

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Red-eared Sliders can be very cute and entertaining. But, is it really OK for kids to have them as pets?

Related article:

•   Avoiding Salmonella Infection with a Red-eared Slider Turtle

Drug Issue: Chloramphenicol and Other Antibiotic Dangers

Chloramphenicol is one of the most widely abused antibiotic in the Philippines. It is popular with the trade names Biomycetin, Chloromycetin, C – Phenicol, Clocef, Harvox, Kemicetine and  Pediachlor.

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Chloramphenicol is seldom indicated for urinary tract infection. It has been known as a drug of choice for typhoid fever and meningitis. However, as a broad spectrum antibiotic, Chloramphenicol is being abused as a cure for colds and fever. Sadly, this medicine can cause fatal blood dyscrasias and gray syndrome for babies.

Read more about other Antibiotic Dangers here

How to Bathe a Siamese Cat

Cats seem to dislike water.  They usually panic with the sound of it, especially when the source is near them. Unfortunately, cats particularly those having thick or long coatings, need to take a bath occasionally when their furs become oily. Short- haired cats are required to take a bath too when they become really dirty and in cases of wounds. While bathing help cats in keeping themselves sanitary, those with wounds or skin diseases can be prevented from having infections.

In my part, I give my short-haired Siamese cat a bath once a week to keep his fur clean and smelling nice. Bathing may sound disagreeable and I had my share of scary thoughts that my cat will bite and fight his way out of it, but there are techniques in bathing a cat.

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Siamese cats are the gentlest breed of cats. While two people are usually recommended to wash a cat Siamese cats can only be bathed by one individual.

My steps are really simple and enjoyable.

Necessities:

• Lukewarm water in a basin
• Plastic cup
• Cat shampoo or soap
• Moist cloth
• Towel

The best place to wash your cat is in the bathroom.  Just make sure that everything is in place and accessible. The warm water should be ready that there is no need for additional water. The soap, moist cloth and towel should be available for use. The idea here is to do things gently yet fast.

Read more here

Facts about the Philippine Scops Owl - Handling and Diet

On handling a Philippine Scops Owl

Being an owlet, as young as 1 month is the most tamable period for a Philippine Scops owl. While, uncultivated Philippine Scops owls are better kept locked in cages or best left alone in the wild, tamed types can be held in a perch even without a ring for support.  Cultivated Philippines Scops owls can be even hand fed. Owners wear gloves until their pet owls become accustomed to the process. Philippine Scops owls can also be as loyal and intelligent. They can acknowledge an owner through a master’s call or whistle.

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While a baby owl or owlet can be kept for awhile in a dark and big box, like most owls, a Philippine Scops owl is best held in a confined place where he can move freely. Whether you will keep an owl in an aviary or inside your house, just make sure that there aren’t any cats and other hostile animals in the area.

Philippine Scops owls can be messy and destructive though. They can push and drop things onto floors from cabinets or spots they chose to land. Like other types, they tend leave feathers and defecate all the time and anywhere. If left alone for a long time ‘owl droppings’ tend to hardened like cement that his place area or your house should be inspected and cleaned all the time.

A Philippine Scops owl can be kept in a cage. However, cages should be big enough for exercise. And most owls confined to cages are apt to become aggressive than those left alone in perches.

For health and diet read more here

Facts and Myths: Woman Natural Hair Color Issues

Brunettes and dark-haired women are not likely to smoke

But they are apt to be dependent on cigarettes. The melanin which gives hair its brown or dark color also slows the liver’s ability to metabolize nicotine. With this, nicotine stays in the system longer, making a dark haired or brunette female to become dependent on cigarettes.

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Are women with brown hair prone to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)?

In a study made involving Scandinavian women in 2010, women with brown hair had been cited as the increased risk of NHL compared to the other females with dark, red or blond hair. Interestingly, the results have been claimed no support between the association between the UV radiation and NHL.

Read more here

Mucus Diagnosis: Conditions, Causes and Treatment

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Mucus pertains to the slippery secretions produced by the mucous membrane. The primary role of mucus is to protect the body against infectious causes. In the human, mucus serves to defend the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, visual, and auditory systems. Mucus traps microbes then expel these from the body through coughing, sneezing or by defecating. If the mucus is ingested, digestive juices kill the germs.

The mucus is usually secreted by the cervix, the intestines, the mouth, the paranasal tissue (nose) and the stomach.

Excessive phlegm secretion in the lungs, greenish jelly like mucus in the feces and foul smelling, odd like discharge in a woman’s genitalia are some symptoms of infection. While medical experts are accustomed to mucus symptoms in coughs, in vaginal infections, in eye or ear infections, mucus in stools are examined by medical technologist or pathologist through fecalysis – a stool analysis. Phlegm on the other hand is analyzed through sputum examination and swab test.

Mucus symptoms have many conditions. The following are some mucus conditions, the usual underlying diseases and treatment.

Read more here

When Child Labor is Accepted as a Chore

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The two boys are Carlo and Cesar (not their real names). They are twins both eight years old and I usually see them with their improvised cart as they sell sandok- a kitchen utensil made of wood and some bamboo alkansya- a coin chest.

I sympathize with these types of children and who wouldn’t? The two boys should be in school- studying and playing. They should be enjoying the benefits of being a child, not on the street- basking under the heat of the sun while asking everyone to buy their merchandize.

As an initial reaction, like most people would have, I thought of the boys’ parents as irresponsible. Then again, there are acceptable reasons like the two boys could already be orphans or that their parents are incapable for work.

My boss had taken interest in buying some sandok, so I took the liberty of making some inquiries.

Image by the author

The boys’ parents are still living and in good health. While the father is a farmer, the mother is normally at home, taking care of their little siblings. They are nine brothers and sisters in the family. Their eldest is about sixteen, already working in the field with the father.  The twins told me that the eldest is in his second year in high school but because of financial problems, their parents decided to stop his education for a while. Three of their sisters are also in high school; three of them (the twins included) are in elementary school. They have a toddler and the youngest is still two months old.

Child labor defined

We normally understand child labor as kids doing harsh job in unlikely places. We hear this harassment in news – children working in mines or those in factories manufacturing firecrackers, some unforgivable acts, especially when their health and their very lives had already been affected or worst, taken.

Household chores are exempted from child labor but when kids are involved in family business – their education and others privileges affected, this becomes child labor.

An act of survival

Over population and poverty are some challenges in every country. People tend to find other source of income just to survive. The sad thing about it is their children becoming involved and affected.

Cesar and Carlo are some of the kids who have seen peddling as a chore. Normally, children are given errands as washing the dishes, doing beds or watering plants but these two, they have to roam the street everyday to help their parents support the rest of the family. They are usually deprived of playtime and more alarmingly, they have lost interest in going to school.

Children are the future. Chores shape them into responsible people. But child labor is a different thing. It robs them of their youth and gives them a responsibility that they wouldn’t handle. Children are to take care of and they should live their life as they should. After all being a child is not forever, best that they enjoy it.

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However considering poverty and some different sad cases, children cannot have the said opportunities. The two boys are still lucky though. They have their parents love and we see worse cases of child labor everyday from all around the globe. I think involving kids with the family’s financial problem is a tough option for the parents. But as the mother of these two boys’ reasoned, ‘It’s just being practical! It is matter of survival- no toil, no food.’

The boys’ so called chore is not a choice.

Sources: 

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_labou
2. http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_childlabour. 
3. htmlhttp://www.childprotection.org.ph/whatshappening/whtbits7_decjanfeb04.html 
4. http://www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/iclp/Advancing1/html/philippines.html

'Child Labor Seen As A Chore'

Original article published at Triond (August 8, 2010)

Facts About Anti-Emetics

One typical discomfort in traveling is motion-sickness.  Also known as kinetosis or travel sickness, motion sickness is characterized by symptoms of nausea, dizziness and fatigue. It is a condition when a disagreement exist between the eyes and the ears- the visually perceived movement and the vestibular system sense of movement. Travelers use inhalants or embrocations to relieve dizziness but taking an anti-emetic as a preventive measure is the most common practice.

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There are the usual drugs for motion sickness, but in cases of unavailability, medical professionals use other alternative drugs. The following are information about the commonly used anti-emetics and the substitute medicine for motion sickness relief.

Common Anti-Emetic Drugs

• Meclizine
  

Meclizine HCl is an effective anti-histamine or an anti-allergy drug but most widely used as an anti-emetic. Not only that it is indicated for the treatment of nausea, vomiting and dizziness associated with motion sickness, Meclizine is also used in nausea due to pregnancy (except for the first trimester) and vertigo associated with diseases affecting vestibular system. Since it is an over the counter drug, Meclizine is the most popular drug for motion- sickness.

Common brand names:Bonamine, Dizitab, Nodiz and Postadozine.

•  Dimenhydrinate
  

Being a prescription medicine, Dimenhydrinate falls second to Meclizine. It is also categorized as an anti-vertigo and can be used as a sleep-aid. Its sedation property is more powerful than Meclizine.

 Common brand names: Emes and Gravol.

• Cinnarizine
  

Cinnarizine is a prescription drug categorized as  antivertigo and as cerebral and peripheral dilators. It is used in prophylaxis and as a maintenance therapy for symptoms of cerebrovascular spasms and arteriosclerotic disorders due to aging, Meniere’s disease and labyrinthine disturbances.

Common brand names: Stugeron, Cinamin, Cinarin, Cinabloc, Vertisin.

Alternative Anti-Emetics

• Dipenhydramine

Diphenhydramine falls in the same group of dimenhydrinate as aminoalkyl esters. This drug is usually used for its anti- allergic effect for hay fever, utricaria and other skin allergies and also as an antitussive. It has an antispasmodic and a sedative property that this can also be used as an anti-emetic.

Common brand names: Allerin AH, Benadryl

• Hyoscine-N-Butylbromide

Hyoscine is an anti-spasmodic medicine, indicated for smooth muscle spasm in the GIT including biliary and renal colic. Parenterally or through injection, it is used as an aid in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures like  gastroduodenal endoscopy and radiology. Hyoscine is not normally used as an anti-emetic because of its other popular uses, but it can also be an effective remedy for motion-sickness.

Common brand names: Buscopan, Ascopen,Buscomed, Busopin.

• Domperidone

Domperidone is commonly used for its  prokinetic action in the gastro intestinal motility. It is considered as an anti-emetic but not suitable for chronic nausea and vomiting.

Common brand names: Motilium, Andiogan, Domphenyl, Domper, Gasidone, Gilax.

Notes:

• The drugs mentioned above should be taken  thirty minutes before departure.

• The common side-effect is drowsiness, therefore drugs like CNS depressant and alcohol should not be taken.

• There are the hazards of the adverse reactions like the thightening of chest in dimenhydrinate, hypersensitivity reactions in metoclopramide and hyoscine or the diarrhea in Domperidone. It is always best to consult a physician regarding with these medications.

Sources:

1. MIMS Online
2. Wilson and Gisvold Textbook of Inorganic Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry 9th edition

'On Motion-sickness Medication'

Original article published at Triond (July 19, 2010)

Basic Tutorials On Improving Your Stumble Upon Blog

Stumble Upon is the most popular bookmarking site in the net for most writers. Same as most sites, the greatest challenge here is to increase subscribers and friends.

A writer-friend of mine once advised me to put some pictures on my SU blog to gain subscribers. I didn’t get what he meant at first that I paid him a visit at his site.

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His site was indeed better than mine. Same as me, he has various interests but the pictures have been enjoyable. Actually, I didn’t know how he did it. I think he did explain it to me but I ended up making trial and errors instead. I have been successful though- thinking if others can do it, maybe I can too.

From 18 friends, I have acquired 50 more within a month without sending a friend request. I owe my friend big time!

So here it is. He gave me the idea and here I am sharing some basic steps to you!

• Putting pictures on your blog

You must first set your settings to blog mode. You can find it at your account settings, under 'customize profile'. Look for the default view- there are two choices, the 'All' and 'Reviews'. Click the 'Reviews'. Save your preferences. Then you are ready to put pictures on your blog. The following are the steps:

1. Click the picture you like then right click.
2. Look for the ‘StumbleUpon PhotoBlog It’ and click.
3. The syntax of the image will appear on your comment box. Just click ‘save’ and the picture will appear on your blog page.

Note 1: If you want to make a comment. You can write the comment below or above the syntax of the image then ‘save’.

Note2: PhotoBlogging can also be done with your profile page.

1. Choose am image you like- a have a nice day or welcome greeting (you can find a lot of these at PhotoBucket).
2. On the image, right click. Look up at the 'StumbleUponPhotoBlogIt' then click.
3. The syntax will appear on your comment box. Copy it.
4. Go to your settings to your profile box and paste the syntax there.
5. Save.

• Centering your text or image

Here is the code.

Add the code before your text or image.

Save.

• Changing fonts

So far I only know two. Here are the codes.

Add this before your text.

Save.

• Italics and bold letters

The codes.

Same as the above instructions.

• Changing the color of your fonts

Here are the codes.

Same as the above instructions.

For more Stumble Upon advance tutorials. Visit the following site:

• mr- helpful

• echobueno

Below are the most beautiful blogs in SU. Enjoy!

• Cheryl1109

• retrit

• La-Bella-Rosa

• Renius

For the easiest way of centering, changing fonts etc, visit this site:  SUEditor for Greasemonkey

'How To Improve Your Stumble Upon Blog' 

Original article published at Triond (July 4, 2010)

Caring For My Siamese Cat, Logan

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1. Diet

Same as people or most pets, a Siamese cat should be fed at least three times a day with clean water. They are generally carnivorous – cat food and pure tuna products are the most recommended. However, tuna and sardines manufactured for people can be fed too. Siamese cats have varieties of taste, some of them even likes vegetables.

 2. Grooming

Siamese cats need to be bathed once a month and their coats need to be brushed at least twice a month.

3. Play time

Siamese cats enjoy the company of humans. They are very playful and active. They like to be cuddled and they get easily bored. They should not left alone for a significant period of time or else they tend to stray along the house in search of something to play with.

Read more here

I was Trying to Tell a Joke!

 

Cellular phones

Price: 2 dollars

Condition: Brand new with the slimmest model.

Special feature: Comes with two car batteries.

Read More?

Drugstore Cheating Strategies

 These are some warnings, so beware!

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• Unregistered imported and physician sample purchase

This is the most common strategy. Unregistered imported and physician sample can be illegal but they can be bargained for almost half of their selling price and even lesser.

• Near expiration bargains

Most drug products nearing their ‘birthday’, usually three months before are bargained very cheaply. The term illegal would be applied if these celebrants are sold after their expiration dates.

• Expired medicine sold out…Waste not!

Why throw out an expired tablet when you can still sell it to an unsuspecting customer? This strategy works well especially when the owner doesn’t believe in expiry dates.

Read more here

Drug-Drug Interactions with The Cyp3a4 Isozyme

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Enzyme inhibition leads to the slow metabolism of the drugs.  This causes greater serum concentration and toxicity. An example is Ethinyl estradiol (an active constituent in birth control pills) with grape fruit juice. Grape fruit juice is a drug inhibitor of CYP3A4 Isoezyme. With this interaction grapefruit juice tends to increase the incidence of adverse reactions in Ethinyl estradiol as gastric upsets or headaches.

On the other hand, enzyme inducers hasten the biodegration of drugs. With this, efficacy of the medicine is decreased. The rifampicin (drug for tuberculosis) for instance, will lessen the effect of a contraceptive pill.

Read more here

Reasons Not To Buy Old Computers

• Operators or owners won’t admit of on how long they have been keeping these second hand PCs

Malls or surplus computer shops would cite their old PCs as ‘slightly used’ or re-possessed. But they won’t reveal if these PCs had been in the shelves for years. Agents would reason, ‘The owner changed his mind about his laptop and decided to buy another brand. It’s really new, still not over a year since the owner bought it and he hasn’t used it.’

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• No warranties

As a rule, new products as electronic types have warranties. In case something goes wrong with a new PC, you can replace or have it fixed. Old PCs from other people have no warranties. A surplus or a second hand PC from legitimate stores may have warranties but only for some period of time as 6 months.

• Hardware and software incompatibilities

Just like cellular phones and other electronic gadgets, PCs improve over time. And with this, are hardware replacements. While an old PC hardware (Motherboard, processor, video card etc.) is often phased out, new software (Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Windows etc.) could have incompatibility issues with an old hardware.

Read more here

Daphne Oral Contraceptive Tablet: A Product Review

Daphne with the generic name Lynestrenol is a progestin only oral contraceptive. It is manufactured by Family Care Ltd and distributed by DKT Philippines Inc.

A Daphne pack consists of 28 white tablets, each containing a 500mcg Lynestrenol. As a contraceptive tablet, Daphne is usually indicated for women whom estrogens are contraindicated and for breast feeding mothers who require contraception.

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However, Lynestrenol containing tablet like Daphne is contraindicated with women with undiagnosed vaginal bleeding or with someone with a history or current high risk of arterial disease. It should be avoided in women with hepatic impairment, especially if severe. And more to these, Daphne should not be given in women with porphyria.

Read more here

On Sex Allergy Issue: How Can a Woman Conceive?

Sex allergy is referred to as semen allergy, also known as human seminal plasma hypersensitivity or sperm allergy. Research shows that certain women can be allergic to a man’s sperm. And interestingly, some men can be allergic to their own semen as well. 

 

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But,  can a woman still conceive with this issue?

Read more here

Documentation: A Multi-organ Dysfunction Case

Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), previously known as multiple organ failure (MOF) is the presence of altered organ function in acutely ill patients such that homeostasis cannot be maintained without intervention. It usually involves two or more organ systems.

The following are dates and sadly, the deterioration of the condition. It started from diabetes, to liver disease, to renal impairment and finally, death.

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July 2009

The patient realized that his skin and eyes turned yellowish, his stomach became enlarge and there was the occasional skin itch. As it turned out, he has acquired liver cirrhosis. Two probable reasons: his history of alcohol intake for almost twenty years and his oral hypoglycemic medications that could have trigger the disease.

Read more here

Men Should Never Fear a Super Woman

The female specie being the weaker sex is considered only as a myth nowadays. Over the years, the women have proven their value not only at home but also in the society as leaders, educators, dedicated employees and even in the field of physical prowess and science. Some men regard them as nuisance competitors, the others think of them as unsuitable, dominating partners. And yet we wonder, can these modern women be that bad?

 

 Definitely a 'No'.

A modern, or a super woman is still a person. 

Read more here.

Take Me I'll Follow you: An Alien Song

Take Me I'll Follow You is actually an alien song and I am not kidding about it. It's originally  from the 1988 movie 'Mac and Me' which was only popularized by the Pinay singer actress Toni Gonzaga.

Take Me I'll Follow you is also one of the songs included in my article Lovable Songs You Would Hate To Sing.

Why?

Read here to know more.

Reading Relaxation: Dark Versions of Our Favorite Children Stories

As a fan of fiction and enlightening tales, I have always enjoyed the stories by the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault, and Hans Christian Anderson.  I have known some funny versions of their pieces too, but the dark ones?

The article Beyond Magic Slippers and Poison Apples: The Dark Truth Behind Our Favorite Disney Fairy tales by James R. Coffey reveals some ugly truths about ten popular classical tales. Enjoy!

Read more here.

More stories?

Innocent Angel

A Tikbalang's Tale

St. Louis High's Witch

Pizotifen an Appetite Stimulant for Migraine?

A year ago we have an expiring drug for migraine headache - a generic sumatriptan. Compared to the branded type, this generic version is cheaper but still expensive to be recommended for migraine headaches. Most our customers usually prefer low-cost OTC analgesics like mefenamic or ibuprofen. Analgesics are not directed at migraine but can relieve the pain associated with it.

Sumatriptan is classified as the newest form of anti-migraine drugs. It helps constrict blood vessels and reduce inflammation. The triptans are used when migraine-headaches do not respond to the pain-relievers and to the vasoconstrictors like ergotamine and isometheptine or if adverse reactions are intolerable in the said two groups.

Anyway, to put the near expiry sumatriptan to good use, my boss decided to give ten tablets of these to a friend of hers who was delighted with the free anti-migraine drug. However the next day, the friend had to return the nine unused tablets because of an untoward reaction.  She complained of heaviness as if she was going to die. At first my boss thought of it because of the sumatriptan being an expiry candidate, however checking the possible adverse reactions, we found out that heaviness is actually a side effect of sumatriptan.

Pizotifen an appetite stimulant for migraine? 

Renal failure and stomach upsets are the most common complaint in anti-migraine drugs particularly with the NSAIDS (mefenamic, diclofenac, ibuprofen etc.). While vasoconstrictors as ergotamine can cause heart attack or stroke, triptans like sumatriptan and zolmitriptan can have an intolerable unpleasant effect of pressure or heaviness.

Migraine-headaches can be a burden. There are natural ways to counteract or prevent migraine attacks. However, most people still rely on drugs. Analgesics, vasoconstrictors and the triptans are typically the common drugs for migraine. An anti-nausea drug like flunarizine is also indicated with migraines associated with dizziness.

There are also preventive or prophylactic drugs for migraine. Interestingly, pizotifen, a popular appetite stimulant is one of these.  

Read more here.

Emptiness Lyrics: Over 6,133 Searches

My poem Emptiness Lyrics was a trial and error article. I got interested in the title and played with the tags. However, it was not included in the most searched 'emptiness lyrics'. Probably, because the searchers are still smart not to open the 'lyrics' they are not looking for :P

Anyway, I find my effort not wasted for I had been motivated to write poems again. It's been awhile since I last wrote a good one.

My poem Emptiness Lyrics with the original title 'Emptiness'. And of course... nothing personal :D

Chinese BL is NOT a Skin Whitening Cream!

In the Philippines Chinese BL cream is categorized as a counterfeit drug – not that it is fake or ineffective, but simply it is an imported drug unregistered in the country’s Food and Drug Authority. Naturally, these products are banned in drugstores and other drug outlets. However, a Chinese BL cream can also be bought in cosmetic stores, in market places and in the internet. Its price ranges from 15 pesos to 50 pesos – really cheap compared to other topical anti-fungal medications.

Interestingly BL cream is used as a remedy for psoriasis,

as an anti-acne,

and as a skin BLEACHING cream? 

Read more here

So I Love Carrie Underwood

For me she is the sweetest and the most talented music artist. If she would have a concert here. Definitely, I am going to see her show.

 Could've Been is my favorite of all her song performances. Although, it is originally by Tiffany, Carrie embraced the song very well as her own. Check out my compilation of Carrie Underwood's unforgettable song performances.... ever, at least for me.

Setting Aside Who's The Boss Around Here

 I am one of those lazy pharmacists who refuse to attend seminars or conventions. For one reason, these are costly for I don't usually get some drug representative to sponsor for me. And another thing, I find the topics irrelevant. But last March 5, I had to attend a seminar at Queen Margaret hotel, Lucena city for some licensing issues.

Mercifully, the seminar became worth-while. Not to mention, I also enjoyed the company of dear colleagues.

 The subject focused mainly on professional relations involving doctors, nurses and pharmacists. I had to agree, having an experience in working with a doctor. Sometimes, it is really difficult to tell them when  they have the wrong idea on some things. Doctors are like bosses. It is so awkward to made an inquiry when they wrote an instruction of taking a cotrimoxazole 4 times a day when they should have written it twice a day only. It could be a common mistake but sometimes doctors have their own reasons in giving a medicine based on the severity of the disease. They could have written an Rx right... or wrong.

Patients would believe physicians more instead of listening to pharmacists or nurses. Naturally,a patient's  safety is in their hands.

The thing is (at least for me and my colleagues coz most people consider us as shy lol) we must be assertive in telling a doctor or  a fellow health professional  on a certain health care matter.This may offend them or probably will not matter at all ,but  we must remember that the patient's health is  always at stake.

Article readings?

• Is Loratadine Really non-Drowsy?

• Appetite Stimulant Facts

• OTC Medicine Alerts