Human genes patented?

No. It is a curiosity why anyone would want to patent the human DNA, the building blocks of every living thing in the planet. Who owns Nature? Why would anyone want to have the exclusive rights to it? While the judge's ruling is clear cut, it would be interesting to know the pharmaceutical company's rationale behind it. What do they have in mind? What are their arguments? Share your thoughts on this.


Judge Invalidates Human Gene Patent
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 29 Mar 2010
In a ruling with potentially far-reaching implications for the patenting of human genes, a judge on Monday struck down a company’s patents on two genes linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Ovarian newgrowth (Bukol sa Obaryo)

Tanong (T): Helo Dok Gino. Nkita q poh forum o blog nyu tru searching ovary cyst sa Google. Sa totoo lng poh nddepress poh aq my dermoid cyst sa right ovary. Gusto poh ng Dok operahan aq. Pero di naman poh madalian kaya lng maz maaga daw poh maz mganda. Pero ayoko poh mg pa opera takot poh kc aq. may pg aza poh b mawala un cyst q.

Payo ni Doktor (PD): Maraming salamat sa iyong liham. Ang dermoid cyst ay dapat na operahan sapagka't maaaring magkaroon ng komplikasyon tulad ng paglaki, pagkapilipit o di kaya ay pagputok nito. Kung magkaganoon, magiging emergency ang sitwasyon at maaaring manganib ang buhay. Sa isang banda, mas mainam kung maoperahan agad upang maiwasan ang mga nabanggit na komplikasyon at malaman ng maaga kung magiging kanser ito. Sa kasalukuyan ay walang naiinom na gamot upang mawala ang dermoid cyst.

T: Mazaya umaga poh Doc Gino. Mazaya po aq at sinagot nyo ang liham q. Sa totoo lng poh. Ayaw poh ng isip at katawan q mg paopera. Pkiramdam q kc di dun natatapos ang lahat. 2 taon po ang nkalipaz.ang una UTV exam q poh ovarian mass. Next day poh nun ng pa UTV po ule aq Benign keratoma 5.6 X 5.2 X 4.4 cm poh diagnos ng doctor. Ang sbi dapt poh tanggalin. Pero di q po iniisip seryoso un. Ngayon buwan poh ng marso 5.2008 search q po sa internet kung anu po un cyst q. Pkiramadam q matapos q malaman ang detalye mdyo seryoso poh yata ang csyt q. Ngpa uTV PO ULe aq dermoid cyst 5.7 X 5.1 X 4.9 cm. Nanghihina at natatakot po ako. Sana  magkaron nang himala. Salamat poh ng marami sa inyo pgsagot...pagpalain poh kau ng Dios. Salamat poh talaga.

PD: Ang dermoid cyst o ‘’teratoma’’ ay karaniwang hindi naman nagiging kanser. Umaabot sa 1-3% ng mga ganitong uri ng bukol ay maaring maging kanser. Ito ang uri ng bukol na kung saan may nakikitang ngipin, balat, buhok, buto, at nana. Makikita ang mga ito sa pamamagitan ng x-ray o CT scan. Ipagdasal natin na maging maayos ang iyong operasyon. Balitaan mo na lamang ako.

T: Helo mganda umaga poh Doc Gino. Ingat poh kau lage. Zobrang zaya q kc sinagot nyu email q. Ako po ay 31f taga Sta.Maria Bulacan Pilipinas. My 4 na poh aq anak. Tc. Poh.

Dermoid cyst: Ito ang itsura ng malaking dermoid cyst kapag binuksan. May laman itong buhok, ngipin, balat, buto, at nana.

Reposted from here

Dysmenorrhea (Masakit na pagreregla)

Tanong: Dok, kamusta po kau..ako 34yrs old may anak na po. Dok, itanung ku lng bkt tuwing rigla ko bkt masakit ang puson ko parang malalaglag nasa subrang sakt. Kya pag hnd ko na tlga kaya uminom nlng po ako ng gamot, at saka may malalaking mga dugo lumalabas po sya. Dok, bkt kaya ganun? Dok, anu po dapat kung gawin po? Dok, more power sa inyo. Maraming salamat po.

Sabi ni Nanay: Iha, ako muna ang sasagot sa iyo bago si Doktor, okay lang ba? Para que pa at kasama ako sa kolum na ito? Naririto ang mga pwede mong gawin sa bahay upang mabawasan ang pananakit ng iyong puson tuwing may buwanang dalaw.

Artificial human body organs

 Hello readers!

Here is another list of innovations designed to improve human health. It is interesting that my alma mater, Hokkaido University, has invested in this field. I think that those who do not favor cloning may find these inventions agreeable. And for those who only favor natural remedies, sorry to say that Nature is not always kind. Sometimes, we have to resort to artificial means to better serve the human race.

Top 10 artificial technologies ready to create a real human being 

Lazydesis, 26 Mar 2010

Home versus hospital births

Hello readers!


While it is true that hospital birth is safer than home delivery, it may not entirely be the preferred method of the marginalized sector, too. If they were well-informed, had the financial means and accessibility, do you think they will choose to give birth at home?


Working in a government hospital in the Philippines, I found out that the minority group called Mangyan, live in the mountains. It may take a few days to a week going to the nearest hospital or clinic. Besides the fact that they are poor, they are uneducated, too. It is icing on cake to put the blame to them in giving birth at home--if they have one. I also think that it is unfair to single out the traditional birth attendants for the three-digits maternal mortality rate.

Viral infection during pregnancy

Tanong (T): Haler! Ano ang parvovirus? Is it dangerous to pregnant women?

Payo ni Doktor (PD): Hello. Oo masamang viral infection iyan. It could cause pregnancy abnormalities for the mother and/or fetus.

T: The sister-in-law of my boss in Australia is pregnant as was diagnosed positive for parvovirus. Where could she possibly have gotten it? From animals?

PD: Oh I see. It may cause spontaneous abortion for the mom and anemia for the baby. She might have contracted it from somebody with parvovirus infection.

Peri-menopausal bleeding

Tanong (T): Nag-irregular bleeding ako for 2 weeks. 

Payo ni Doktor (PD): Your age, please?

T: 53 yrs old. I have been diagnosed with fibroids, delikado ba yun? Sabi thick daw yung uterus ko pero ok naman daw yung cervix. Kailangan ko raw ng biopsy. May urgency ba yan?

PD: What are the measurements of the fibroids and how thick is the uterine lining?

T: Here is the result of the ultrasound. The uterus measures 7.8 x 4.8 x 5.7 cm. There is a diffuse involvement of the myometrium. Innumerable small fibroids are noted scattered throughout. The endometrial echo complex is abnormally thickened at 1.2 cm with a heterogenous appearance. The left ovary demonstrates a 2.2 cm predominantly simple appearing cyst. The right ovary appears unremarkable. Note is made of a possible subseptate configuration of the uterine fundus.

Allergy

Tanong: Kumosta po kayo? Ako 42 years old, may asawa wala anak. Mayroon po ako naramdaman sa katawan at sa lalamunan ay may butlig-butlig na pula. Nagpa-doctor po ako. Allergy lang daw. Inom ako ng inom ng gamot hindi gumaling pati ilong ang sakit. Ang baba ng dugo ko parang normal nasa akin ang 100. Pero mensa lang ako hihilo. Pate pala ang ilong ko kasama rin tainga at mata. Pwde bang sumakay ng iroplano kahit masakit ang ilong at tainga? Pwde po bang paksagot po nitong tanong ko at pakipayo niyo po sa akin kong dapat kong gawin. isang kaibigan po at more power sa inyo. Maraming salamat.


Payo ni Doktor: Maraming salamat sa iyo. Base sa iyong liham, kailangang masuri ka ng isang ENT (ear-nose-throat) specialist. Ang allergy ay hindi nakukuha sa isang gamutan lamang, bagkus kailangan ding iwasan ang sanhi nito. Sa tuwing sasakay ng eroplano, nagbabago ang pressure sa tainga sa pag-akyat at pagbaba ng sasakyan kung kaya't ipinapayo kong magpakonsulta ka sa isang dalubhasa upang malunasan bago magbyahe.


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Facebooking@Work

Hello readers!


It is easy to understand why some institutions will want to ban social networks during office hours. What many find hard to grasp is that social networks--like Facebook, Twitter, Multiply and others--are a good source of exposure to the blogosphere. It will not only promote their organization but also keep their employees sane while at work.


We have seen the tremendous impact of Facebook and Twitter during natural calamities. And if not for these networks, those who were still in their offices, hospitals, or clinics, may not have known that Metro Manila went under the waters in just a few hours. Regulatory policy instead of total blockade of social networks may be a better choice as the globe becomes smaller in the advent of Information of Age.

Nurses Shouldn’t Be Playing Farmville, but…
Josh McColough, 5 Mar 2010


I learned of our hospital’s plans to block employee access to Facebook rather casually, during a meeting with our department leader.

An Invitation to Contributors

Hello Colleagues!

This blog site will serve as a venue for health news, exchange of medical information, forums, and patient consultation site. You are invited to share and contribute your knowledge. Many people will surely benefit from your expertise.

You may submit your article by commenting on any of the articles, or through this email. This will be an exciting opportunity to be known all over the blogosphere. Thank you very much.

Dugo sa ihi (Bloody urine)

Tanong: I might ask for your advice now. You see, I went to Asian Hospital here in Alabang which is very near to my office. Unfortunately, the urologist is out of the country the other one will come tom pa. So I went to Alabang Medical Hospital which is a 7pesos (present jeepney fare) away from here. Kaso sa Saturday pa raw ng hapon. Waaah! Feeling ko nauubusan na talaga ng health professionals d2. Enwey I have a bad liquid withdrawal this morning, it happened sa last part ng pag ihi ko. I dunno if this something to do with our inuman last night medyo naparami ang San Mig Lights at pulutan. Sisig, inihaw na baboy, buttered chix, tokwa’t pig, saka inihaw na mixed seafoods. Sobrang jingle na jingle ako pag gising ko. So, na pwersa ata at nagkaroon ng blood withdrawal. It seemed I hurt my urinary tract at 6 o’clock location ng bottom ng tube ko. Then I urinated again when I arrived here in the office. Ok na naman uli. Enwey, I took Aspirin muna since yun lang available dito sa table ko and walang gamot sa clinic namin kasi pinagbawal ng safety na. Pero at 10 in the morning meron na naman uli blood. So I went to the hospital wala naman nangyari kasi walang mga doctor. I took antibiotic muna 500 mg Amoxycillin at wala pa rin doktor available upon follow up sa near hospital here. So may I ask for your advice. Tnx.

Sabi ni Nanay: Ang pag-inom ng maraming tubig (mahigit 8 baso sa isang araw) ay makatutulong upang malinis ang iyong pantog. Ang mga tinatawag na natural diuretics ay mga pagkain o mga sangkap na nagtatanggal ng toxins, manas o tubig sa katawan. Ang mga sumusunod ay halimbawa nito: green tea, repolyo, carrot, litsugas, kamatis at sambong.

Magpatingin agad sa manggagamot kapag may dugo sa ihi. Isangguni ang mga sintomas lalo na kung may lagnat, madalas at mainit na pakiramdam tuwing iihi, pagsakit ng tiyan, likod o gilid, o hindi makaihi.

Doctor's Advice: Based on your story, the first thing that I think you are suffering from are urinary stones. This may explain painful and difficulty in urination. Urinalysis and sometimes an ultrasound may be necessary if intractable. Since this may be an on and off event, prescription of antibiotics and pain relievers will afford temporary relief. At best, try to avoid salty foods and alcoholic beverages that may aggravate the situation. You may take ofloxacin and hyoscine-paracetamol for pain (full prescription withheld).

Before taking these medications, it would be good if you would do a urinalysis. This urine test does not need a prescription. You may request it from any laboratory. Please inform me of the results, ok?

Tanong: Here’s the result of my urinalysis conducted at Manila Doctors, and had gone to a urologist. He made a referral for ultrasound. Since I am busy I’ll check within this week para maka undergo ng ultrasound. Tentatively, schedule ko on Thursday. Wala naman siya iba in-advise, just to drink a lot of water, go din siya if ever I drink San Mig Light, and be sexually active din daw. Even though I ask for any medication he just give me for pain kaya I prefer to continue your advised med. Right now, clear naman ang urine ko except once yesterday morning na parang binatak na naman siya after I disposed off my liquid pero me konting konting blood sya. Pero when I continue drinking water fine na naman sya until this morning.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
color: DARK YELLOW
transparency: CLOUDY

MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
leukocytes: 0-2/HPF
RBC: 8-10/HPF

By the way, I read your blog column last night. It’s a great idea. Marami ka matutulungan for sure. Mabuhay ka! God bless and thank you!

Doctor's Advice: The urinalysis result confirmed my initial suspicion of stones. The lack of pus cells in the urine indicates that there is no concomitant infection. Nonetheless, the antibiotics that you are now taking will avoid infection, just in case. As I mentioned before, a scan will localize the stone and will give information on its size and number, should they be visible. Just follow your urologist's advice and I am sure that you will be well. Keep me informed please.


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Pagkabingi (Hearing Loss)

Tanong: Una sa lahat nais ko pong magpasalamat sa inyo. Ako’y nagagalak sa inyo dahil nakita ko po ang inyong email add at nakita ko po ang inyong payo . Mayroon po akong tanong sa inyo tungkol sa aking ama na may sakit sa tainga na kung minsan lumalabas ang dugo kaya natatakot ako. Ang pagkakaalam ko po noong siya ay binata pa sumisid siya sa dagat at sa pagkakataon na iyon ay bigla na lamang daw pong pumutok ang kanyang tainga at lumabas ang dugo. Pinakonsulta niya po iyon sa kanilang bayan pero hindi pa rin nalunasan at sa bandang huli ay unti-unting hindi na siya nakarinig ng malapitan. Kaya nag-isip na lang po kami na magkapatid ipagamot na lang namin sa malapit na pagamutan. Kagaya ng sakit ng tatay ko, may pag-asa pang bumalik? Ang paglipas po ba ng pagkain ay may kinalaman sa pagkabingi ng tao? Sana bigyan ninyo po ako ng payo sa sulat kung eto para malalaman namin kung anong dapat gawin ...Maraming salamat po...

Sabi ni Doktor: Maraming salamat sa iyong liham. Marahil dahil sa mataas na pressure sa ilalim ng tubig, pumutok ang ear drum ng iyong ama. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit dumugo ang kanyang tainga at hindi na makarinig. Sa ganitong kaso, isang espesyalista sa tainga [otolaryngologist o ear-nose-throat (ENT)] o audiologist ang makakatulong sa kanya. Dahil sa hindi na maibabalik ang pandinig, mangailangan siya ng hearing aid o ibang kagamitan upang malunasan ito. Walang kinalaman ang hindi pagkain sa pagkabingi.


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Missed Periods or Amenorrhea

Tanong: I was operated on two months ago. Di ko alam I had period pala after the surgery. Then, inoperahan ulit ako four days after the first surgery. Since then, di pa ako ulit nagka period. Sinalinan ako ng dugo sa second surgery ko kasi bumaba ang hemoglobin ko. Regular lagi ang period ko, pero till now wala pa ko. 44 years pa lang ako but I had my period at the age of 12. Me possibility ba na menopause na ako? Please enlighten me about this. Thanks very much. God bless!

Doctor's Advice: Thank you for your letter. A woman is not considered to have secondary amenorrhea (absence of periods in a previously menstruating woman) until she has missed three periods in a row. In your case, it seems that you have one or two missed periods. If you are sure that you are not pregnant, the stress of surgery might have caused a hormonal imbalance in your body system that resulted in missed periods. In this case, I think you have to seek a gynecologic evaluation. Most probably, the physician will prescribe hormonal pills to balance the hormones so that menstruation will ensue. Usually, menopause can happen anytime from 30’s to mid-50s or even later.

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Pamumutla (Anemia)

Tanong: Ako po ay 25 taong gulang. Madalas po ako makaranas ng pagkahilo tatlong buwan na ang nakakaraan. Sabi ng aking mga kaibigan, maputla raw ako. Napansin ko rin po na lumakas ang aking regla anim na buwan na ang nakaraan. Alam ko pong hindi ako buntis dahil wala naman akong nobyo. Ano po ang maipapayo ninyo sa akin? Maraming salamat.

Sabi ni Nanay: Ang salabat ay maaaring inumin para sa sakit ng puson tuwing may buwanang dalaw at upang huminto ang malakas na pagdaloy nito. Dikdikin ang isang pirasong luya at pakuluan sa isang tasang tubig. Dagdagan ng asukal ayon sa iyong panlasa at inumin tatlong beses araw-araw makatapos kumain.

Welcome to Doctor Online

Welcome to Doctors Online blog.

This blog was created site for those who are seeking medical opinions. I shall give you the best medical advice that I can. In the end, you as the patient have the last say with what to do. After all, it is for your own personal good that you decide what is best. Medical doctors like me, can only help clients as much.

From time to time, this blog may feature guest physicians who will give advices and articles with regard their own specialty. It will be an opportunity to all the readers as well. A Google account will be necessary for those who will ask for medical advice in the comment box.

Enjoy reading the articles. Cheers to better health!