Awesome.

Each of you [visitors] will be getting a different "fact" about me...feel free to refresh to get another one lol

Last Friday and Saturday were two of the best days of medical school I have had so far. Friday was the first Cycle of MD4003 - Applied Medical Sciences. Besides our dissertation, it is the only class we have, taking up an entire Friday (9-4) once every fortnight. Hopefully I will find time to elaborate later (although I seem to find plenty of time to find meme's online...hmm). Friday I and 29 of my colleagues became ILS (Immediate Life Support) certified by the Resuscitation Council of the UK. It was basically a refresher of what I did back in the summer when I became an ACLS Provider back home in the states. It was still great fun, and luckily no one killed anyone with the defibs (they were live). The instructors were pretty laid back and funny, too, which always helps. Although after one of them gave the lecture on the ALS Algorith, I went up and asked him about a couple discrepancies between the UK algorith and the USA/AHA algorithm. He sort of laughed when I said I was American (I get that a lot), and then seemed to pick on me a bit for the rest of the day. Or maybe I was imagining it. At one point though when we were practicing, a put my stethoscope around my neck (y'know, because its the simplest place to put it), but then he came up to me and asked if I was a doctor and if not then why my scope was around my neck. I guess in Tayside they don't allow anyone but Consultants to wear them. Weirdos.

-AMiB

SNP SNP

So I had another meeting with my dissertation adviser today, and I think we've changed my project completely. It's ok though, because this one doesn't go completely over my head like the last one.

From what I understand, I'm meant to analyze patterns in 4 biopsies of breast cancers, look for DNA amplicons, and try and match them to known gene transcription regions in the human genome. For example, on chromosome 17, there is a large area of DNA amplification on the "q" segment (lol don't I sound fancy - I barely even understand what I'm saying!), and when you match that to the human genome, you see that this is the are in which the HERB B2 binding site is. This is the major site of action of the relatively new anti-breast cancer drug, herceptin. So basically I'm supposed to spend the next few days or so looking at different amplification regions, and looking for patterns of areas of genomic transcription. Or something like that. Maybe I've completely misunderstood, or am just spewing complete BS to look smart.

Probably that last one. lol.

-AMiB

Dissertations

So it looks like I'll be doing some type of research about p53 transcription factor binding sites for my dissertation. If that went over your head when you read it, don't worry - it went straight over mine too, especially when my advisor was trying to explain it to me. All I know is that p53 is a protein that regulates the cell cycle, and it's very important in cancer.

From what I understand about the project, which he said was origianlly supposed to be a PhD project for a Bioinformatics PhD (WTF?!), he wants me to use some random online genome browsers etc to search for p53 transcription factor binding sites, and find all the ones that have to do with cancer. Or something like that. I'm still not completely sure yet. We'll see how that goes lol.

In other news, the Deans of the Manchester Hospitals are coming for their annual visit next Wednesday, if I have time/remember, maybe I'll make a post about how it went. I tend to neglect this blog, even when I don't have a lot of stuff to do. However with this new, semi-empty schedule of this semester, I've had to schedule my own life (Outlook(r) runs my life!) and I tend to leave out things like "blogging" and "relaxing" times lol.

Also, USMLE revision has slowly begun. Some colleagues and I have set up a small weekly study group, and while our first meeting was somewhat of a bust, I think it should get better. Hopefully I (and everyone else) will actually do the work before the session this time.

On the fitness front, I am trying to use this open schedule to my advantage. I wrote a 3-day workout plan for me and my 2 gym buddies, and it's pretty hardcore, if I do say so myself. I've also started taking some new supplements (including a ridiculous 11-tablet multivitamin that turns your piss bright yellow [but don't worry, those are just the B-vitamins]), but I won't really talk about them on here until they work (or not). I am also going on morning walk-jog intervals (I hate calling them runs/jogs because a majority of the time is spent walking, with intermittent jogging) with one of my gym buddies (the other won't wake up that early). All this combined with a 1300-calorie-a-day deficit is keeping me on track with my new short-term weight/body fat loss goals.

So, while I realize this is quite the random post about everything, I'll summarize by saying everything, all in all, seems to be going quite well (and of course the moment I post this something will go horribly wrong).

Until next time,

-AMiB

Happy Superbowl Sunday!

In my eyes, the #1 SuperBowl commerical of ALL TIME:


and yes, I DO consider today a holiday. lol.

Enjoy the game, everyone!

B-52, eh?

Stolen from AD

What military aircraft are you? B-52 Stratofortress You're a B-52. You are old and wise, and you absolutely love destruction. You believe in the principle of "peace through deterrence" and aren`t afraid to throw your weight around.