Lightning Strkes around the World

Interesting map from Wikipedia showing the average number of lightning strikes per square kilometre per year.  Ipoh is in the hotspot for lightning events.  I had an unfortunate experience last year.  One thunderous lightning some distance away and the following equipment destroyed: a desktop computer,  the alarm system, one LCD TV and the fridge motor.   Fortunately I had an insurance policy to pay for them all.  Remember to take photos of your burnt out equipment showing all the roasted circuits when submitting papers for your claims!!

MCMC Connected Healthcare Workshop

The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission conducted the workshop at KLCC on 24th August 2013.  Our Prime Minister opened the exhibition.  There were 8 winners of the BEE (Broadband Empowered Entrepreneur) awards worth RM 5,000.00 each.

YAB Dato Sri Mohd Najib delivering his speech

Winners of the BEE Awards

A nurse holding a stethoscope used in telemedicine. A patient console on stand.

Back from the workshop at Ipoh Railway Station.  Notice the new dancing fountain.

Two products caught my attention at the exhibition. 

1. Telehealth for all at www.u2Doc.com .  This portal allows anyone in the world to participate in a medical consultation with a doctor.  A patient can make an appointment, pay the fees and have a telemedicine consultation.  Project just started 2 months ago.  There are also gadgets for monitoring:  BP, weight, peak flow, blood glucose, ECG, pulse oximetry. 

2.  Metria is a wearable sensor which can record sleep pattern, physical activity (number of steps, METs, calories burnt).  The device is to be worn for a week.  Data is downloaded to a computer via a micro USB connection.  This device is suitable for lifestyle management, heatlh and wellness assessment, weight management and fitness.

The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang

This movie is about the massacre in Nanking, China by the invading Japanese forces in 1937.  It is also a tribute to Iris Chang who wrote the book "The Rape of Nanking" published in English in 1997. The movie is based on her book.  Iris committed suicide in November 2004 because of depression which was possibly linked to the many horror stories which she had uncovered during her many interviews with the survivors and from the diaries of the deceased.   

I watched this movie to find out why grandpa, Leong Sin Nam, was so engrossed in raising funds for the mainland Chinese.  The letters addressed to him from China must have described the utter hopelessness of the Chinese people then.  The Japanese had already conquered Manchuria and Shanghai before Nanking.  Nanking was the capital city of the Nationalist Government of Chiang Kai Shek. 

You may wish to read more about Iris Chang in Wikipedia.  I admire her courage in bringing out the true story about Nanking which many still have relative amnesia, especially the Japanese. 

Choosing the Ideal Inhaled Corticosteroid

 

Inhaled corticosteroid is much better suited for asthmatics and COPD patients when compared to oral steroid.  There are now many ICS preparations in the market.  The choice can be difficult.   The table below shows some of the factors which need to be considered when choosing the ideal corticosteroid.

Ipoh Lahat Road YMCA

This picture shows the original Lahat Road YMCA building.   It also shows members helping children in the early 1960s.  The Lahat Road YMCA will soon be operating at its new premise opposite the Perak Stadium.  Programmes will be announced shortly when the building is ready for occupation.

Student Exploratory Workshops

A very interesting advertisement for anyone aspiring to become a doctor.  I wonder how the response was. 

Tong Wah Cave, Ipoh

A couple of days ago a patient told me about the contributions of Leong Sin Nam on the development of the Tong Wah Cave in Ipoh.  This is something new to me and a search on the web showed the following results:

"The Tong Wah Cave Temple was founded about 140 years ago by some monks and later financed by philanthropists of the Kinta Valley, which was once well known as the number one producer of tin in the world.  Among the generous individuals who help set up the committee of the temple include Leong Sin Nam, who is an ex-tin miner.

Located about 2 km from the Lost World of Tambun, Ipoh, this cave is visible from the Tambun road after passing the Lost of Tambun and the Banjaran Hotspring. Almost every week, the temple receives a few hundred visitors and worshipers from all over Malaysia as well as from other countries. The temple is also an attraction to many tourist now. No entrance is charged but visitors can make any contribution towards the maintenance and development of the cave."