Dinner is Served

A sudden inspiration to cook today.. for a reason I know not..

What's Cookin' Doc?

Steak, Brocolli and Tomato-Basil Brown Rice Risotto

Phase I Experimental Ice Cream Cake is currently in 1st layer freezing in fridge..

Fat

I'm starting to begin to doubt the BMI is a real indicator of ideal based on these calculations obtained at my Army Medical:

Height: 168cm [bloody hell i'm a shortie :( ]
Weight: 75kg [blood hell i'm fat.. :(]
BMI [(weight in kg)/ (height in m) ^2) = 26.6

if BMI= 25 is ideal, then (25 x 1.68^2) is the ideal weight which = 70.56kg
Thus to achieve ideal weight, I need to lose ~5kg

Fat impedence test [based on electrical resistance- fat is a good electrical insulator]
Impedence: 400 ohm
Fat mass: 16.8kg
Fat percent: 22.0%
Ideal= 14-20% fat
if Fat %= 20% is maximum tolerable fat, then 16.8/22 x20 which = 15.27kg
Thus to achieve ideal fat % i need to lose 1.53kg of fat

But taking the median of the fat % ie. median of 14 and 20 is 17 and recalculate,
Median fat % range = 12.98kg
Thus to achieve median fat% range, i need to lose 3.82kg of fat.

Argh heck it.. I give up calculating.. losing weight is still so difficult.. losing fat is even more difficult :( Hopefully the Army will whip me into shape..

Athlete

"Citius, Altius, Fortius" , "Higher, Faster, Stronger"

- Olympic motto

It has been my lifelong ambition to be considered an athlete.. I don't know if I've earned myself the right to be one.. I try at best.. and somehow I'm very thankful for people who run with me and encourage me down this journey..

I begin to realise its not abt how far I run or what I can do.. its not to impress people- I've known people who do much better than me and I gain inspiration from the resolve.. somehow I find that it trains the mind.. and hopefully it'll toughen and discipline me. I realise its not about me.. its about others.. Its often easy to fall into the trap of a glory hound.. but if I could just inspire others that if a fat and simple person like me could do it- they could to- sort of gives them hope that they can make a difference to themselves..

Maybe an athlete doesn't necessarily need to compete in events to be one.. maybe an athlete is a state of mind? the continual striving for improvement- the best is yet to be.. maybe its more of a mental journey just using the physical world to passage the way.. maybe an athlete isnt a single person.. but a team in conjunction with others that he can help and inspire.. and moreover.. others that inspire him and impart wisdom.. maybe an athlete isn't about pride.. "that I can run so far or so fast" but rather about humility.. "there are many others are better and I should learn from them"..

So I guess this serves to me as a reminder of what an athlete is- and how I should strive to live like one- disciplined, humble and always striving for excellence. Hopefully one day I can live up to being an athlete not only physically, but a athlete in my heart also.

With that said, I really do want to thank Zhi and Sharman who've really made running outdoors so enjoyable.. I really miss running with them in this 1+ wk break.. I mean.. as emo as it may sound, it helps to know that u'll never run alone..(pun to liverpool).. its the inspiration and synergy when people run together.. no matter how fast or slow, but encouraging each other along the way.. :) running with Zhi and Shar is like fast paced, fellowship-on-the-go. Imagine 2 tall people with long legs running with 1 shortie.. hahaa anyway I'll leave this post here..

Live out the athlete from the heart :)

Hormesis

Hormesis

- from greek hormaein
- The use of stimuli that is beneficial in low amounts but otherwise lethal in high amounts, to induce a beneficial, protective response

Thoughts

Some thoughts of the day:

1. A common question that everyone asks "How does cancer come about?"
-Despite studying biochemistry, no one can CLEARLY DEFINE how cancer comes about- there's a Generalized view that it occurs by mutations. But if we clearly knew how cancer occurs, we'd definitely be able to cure it.

2. Is it so simple for a cell to move from a normal state to a malignant (cancerous) state?
-An experiment described inserting 4 genes:
Telomerase Catalytic Subunit (hTERT)
SV40 virus Small and Large T antigen (ST, LT)
H-Ras activated allele (H-RAS)

into a normal breast epithelial cell (HMEC cell line) and transformed it to a malignant, invasive cells. Incredible isn't it? And the advent of siRNA (Silencing RNA) promises great hope- we now have the technology to shut down any gene of choice. Studies in cells have shown that by using siRNA we can kill cancer cells once we know the gene that they're dependant on. Funny how people are willing to embrace such technology to kill cancers by shutting off genes- but shudder at the thought that it could possibly be used in human embryos and save a child from suffering from cystic fibrosis or even the predisposition to cancers (ie. the inheritable types of cancers like Breast and Colorectal). Now I really begin to question if ethics exist to protect us or to limit and compartmentalise the potency of science.

3. Obesity and genetic fitness?
Isn't it strange to think that improved healthcare and our social tolerance to obesity may actually be deletarious to human life? As a medical professional, one is taught to be indifferent to the patient regardless of social status, background, race, whatsoever- but more surprisingly, indifferent to genetic make up? Its quite fascinating how people view obesity- some attempt to combat it.. some know it but resign to their fate.. some embrace it with pride (*smacks head*). Scientific research has shown that obese mothers during pregnancy are far more likely to produce obese and diabetic children.. and conversely, non obese mothers produced children that are fitter. Seeing that obesity is an epidemic of global proportions, how should we as a society respond? it would be ridiculous impose pregnancy restrctions- ban obese women from becoming pregnant (I might get stoned for this in view of mother's day just past..) based on BMI of the expecting mother- or even to make them pay fines.. or stop them from going to McDonalds.. even I cringe at the thought and am quite violently opposed.. yet.. it is undeniable that in their mother's love, they attempt to lavish nutrients to their pre-born child. By doing that they are shaping the child's genes to adapt to a nutrient rich environment.. not only doing more harm to the child, but also to the society.

It is very frustrating to even begin to fathom that our tolerance to obesity (western culture) is actually setting up mankind for evolutionary destruction- fat people produce more fat children and fatter future generations? How is fitting into the age old adage "each passing generation has it better"? Are we as mankind allowing our genetic fitness to be eaten away? I don't know.. what do you think? Isn't the strong media pressure (tho this could be seen as superficial) enough to convince one maintain a lean and well built physique- and to stop people from their erroneous dietary ways?

All that we can probably do (the most ethical thing to do) is to make apparent that obesity is a diease that can be inherited- and the threat of this epidemic is very real. Thus in light of this, parents who intend to have childen should be counseled on even the risk of obesity (looks trivial in the light of down syndrome and other diseases doesnt it?) in their children before conception.

Anyway just as a final rant- DAMM ALL OF YOU WHO CAN EAT LIKE BOTTOMLESS PITS AND KEEP LEAN WITH YOUR ONLY EXERCISE BEING SITTING INFRONT OF THE TV!!!!!! *RAWRR!!* Nevertheless, in view of your genetic blessing, make sure you have lots of children in order to bless the future of mankind to adapt to our dietary hedonism.

You know who you are.. you guys are called lucky..

4. How do I go about my (insert exclamation of choice) assignment?
- Simple.. JUST CHIONG!! BANZAI!

5. I feel like nachos..
- In lieu of option 3 and obesity, I shall opt for a healthier alternative- wholmeal pita bread and skinny tatziki sauce. Thats after my 30 min work out..

1hr 30 min

A typical run with the running gang (Tan, S. and Chua, Z. K.) turned into almost a half marathon.. at the point when "the underpass" was mentioned at our usual track.. being adventurous we took the track and it led us to the Capital City Trail.. which lead to Docklands...

Th running was addictive.. it didnt feel painful at all- more because of the good company.. Zhi and Shar.. they're really my running buddies. We ran for

1Hr 30min approx

It was probably >10km.. and it was really enjoyable.. especially running with 2 very tall people with long legs and me a shortie :P

Nevertheless, my most heartfelt gratitude to them.. they've made running such an addictive and pleasurable torture :) Thanks Zhi and Shar!

JOIN THE OCF RUNNING GROUP!

Mind

They say: "Your mind is your sharpest weapon.."

... just like a katana, repeatedly folded, tampered and forged in my undergraduate years..

now, Honours 2008, the moment of testing .. Started off razor sharp.. and now in the heat of a fight with the woes of Honours year.. from razor sharp precision cuts, each successive strike seems to dull its edge.. it feels like its getting worn out.. my sword feels heavy.. more often than other, it feels like i'm just using brute hacking force to overcome my figurative adversaries. What is driving me? I know I can't give up... but for what cause?

Whatever it is, there's no time to think now. All I can do is sharpen the dull edge and galvanize my sword with a coating of steel resolve and pray that it'll last for awhile more.. grip it tightly in my hands and make sure I put up a good fight.. no surrender..God help me outlast and outfight this year.

Graduation '08

In lieu of running out of posts, I've saved an old post for this day! Graduation '08

B.Sc!

Which camera?!

3 musketeers

Looks like Bsc., LLB, P-I-M-P...

A day to celebrate- with the friends that have stood by me

Caffiene

Introduction

Caffiene belongs to the methylxanthine class of compounds and is found in ubiquitous amounts particularly in coffee, tea and chocolate. It is well known and socially accepted drug which falls under the category of stimulants. Cellularly, caffiene is a Phosphodiesterase(PDE1) inhibitor and increases stress signal (in the form of Cyclic Adenosine MonoPhosphate cAMP) levels by inhibiting its breakdown by PDE1.

This effect is observed primarily via Adrenaline Signalling in the context of exercise. The adrenaline released causes the production of cAMP. This activates Protein Kinase A and exerts a multitude of dowstream actions:

Molecular Effect of cAMP:

Immediate Effects:

1. Increased Calcium influx and increased muscle contractility

2. Enhanced Glycogen breakdown via Oxidative Metabolism

Late Effects:

1. Gene transcription by cAMP Response Enhancer Binding (CREB) protein causing possible cell growth

The Physiological Effect of Adrenaline Signalling during Exercise

Alpha1 Receptors(Endothelial-): Blood Vessel Vasoconstriction ( increased total peripheral resistance)

Beta1 Receptors (Cardiac): Increased Cardiac Output (cardiac muscle contractility force)

Beta2 Receptors(Airways): Bronchodilation (Increased airway diameter for increased air flow)

Beta3 Receptors(Adipose): Lipolysis (Fat metabolism via Beta-Oxidation) YAYYNESS!!!!!!

It should also be noted that Adrenaline Signalling causes the release of small, pain killing opioid (opium like) compounds- Enkephalins and Endorphins which promote a sense of well being.

It is critical to remember that caffiene enhances all these effects physiologically. Thus in lieu of all these effects, it can be established that caffiene has an effect on exercise physiology- creating the RAAWWRRR!!! effect- a temporally enhanced physical ability accompanied by a mild sense of euphoria. This experiment serves to validate the RAAWRRRR!!! effect in an in vivo model- a biochem honours student.

Materials and Methods:

1x stupid biochem honours student (Ken Chin)

1x NAPFA test coming up soon which getting Gold/Silver will knock off 2 months of NS

300mL of 3x concentrated Nescafe Blend 43 and 2x Maltodextrose tablets (artificial sweetners)

1x College Square Gym Treadmil

2 separate experiments were done- one with caffiene and one without. The caffiene was taken 30min to it to attain peak plasma concentration before exercise was commenced. Exercise consisted of 1x 2.4km run.

Results:

No Caffiene Timing for 2.4km: 10.51min

Caffiene Timing for 2.4km: 10.30min

Improvement factor: 21sec

Discussion:

Caffiene was able to effect a significant improvement in 2.4km timing (relatively) and moreover, a reduced sense of fatigue accompanied the improvement. This experiment would then suggest strong evidence for the caffiene induced RAWRRRRRR!!! Effect (minus the beastly noises) in vivo.

Further studies would involve consuming cheese in adjunct with caffiene. Cheese is well known to contain Tyramine- an adrenaline precursor. Thus it can be postulated that cheese consumption will increase endogenous adrenaline levels- and when coupled in with caffiene- will enhance physical performance via Adrenaline Signalling Pathways. (It should be noted that Vegemite is another rich source of Tyramine)