So this summer, I'll be doing a summer research internship with a physician/research in the urology department of my school. I'm really excited about this internship because I'll be able to see how a real, practicing physician/surgeon also balances research.
His specialty is female urology, in particular vaginal prolapse. His week is half surgery, half research.
This week, I was able to observe some of his surgeries and part of a hysterectomy. I wasn't able to observe the full surgery treating prolapse because part of my job is to take the tissue from the anterior vaginal wall which he removes for the procedure then test the tensile strength of it using this big, fancy Instron machine. I, and the research student before me, aren't really enthusiastic about this study. First, the measurements are pretty crude and very prone to human error and variance between testers. My second task is to help my PI take elasticity measurement of the prolapsed tissue in vivo. This is pretty neat. The one problem, though, is that the machine is so bulky that the elasticity measurement can ONLY be taken for a prolapsed vagina - it's too large to take measurements for normal vaginal tissue. This unfortunately means that he has no control measurements. However, fortunately, there is a new model of machine coming out that is much smaller and thus hopefully will allow for in vivo measurements to be take in a non-prolapsed vagina.
What I really would like to try and start this summer with my PI is to see if there are other ways we can use the vaginal tissues that we collect. For example, are there any biochemical assays we can do (mRNA assays, microchip analyses, etc.). I mean, we have FRESH, HUMAN tissue! There must be something more we can do than just obtaining its tensile strength. We can even use one side of the vaginal wall for physical measurements and then the other side of more biochemical measurements? The problem is, those tests cost money... I don't know what his budget is like.
I worked for a year at a pretty well-established, large laboratory (the PI has been recently elected into the National Academy of Sciences and he will also run a major research administrative position at the university). This lab... had a lot of money. I could basically order kits and procedures that costs in the hundreds of dollars.. even thousands.. range, and it was completely acceptable. So I guess in a way, I'm fairly spoiled in terms of freedom to pursue any random research interest. BUT, let me tell you, my work with him did open another field for him to pursue... a phenotype he's never seen in his knock-out mice involved weight loss. That's pretty good, right? for a recently undergrad graduate to do in a year. Anyways, enough about myself, more about research.
But yea, those are my aspirations for the summer.
And I'm really glad I'll be able to work with him throughout the year. I hope I can produce good, productive results for both my PI and myself.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
SAGE Session: Senior Mentors
We just had the most incredible - absolutely inspirational - college session.
Last week, we interviewed/played with infants, children, and their parents to gain experience on the type of interaction and questions we should ask this age-specific patient group.
This week, we met our senior mentor, Ernest 'Bud' Mantz, a 90-year old man who really is.... a super man. I came out of the session so moved, so inspired, so excited about life and the future. I felt so honored to meet this man, to hear his stories, to receive his life advice...
So Bud, the superman. He has hiked, traveled, kayaked -- any physical activity ever possible -- all over the world. He starts his sentences nonchalantly like, "When I was on my last five miles of the Tour de France..." or "While I was hiking across the Sahara Desert..." He lives his life driven by what he described as a sincere, natural energy and passion to really.. be alive. He doesn't do what he does because it's "good for you" or "healthy" or "recommended" by physicians, philosophers, educators, whatever. Every day he lives, each moment is to fulfill his passions and to do what he loves with the people he loves. He embodies passion, raw energy, and love.
He gave us several pieces of advice which really.. made me teary-eyed.
One is to find the things that we would love to do... and just save the money and time to go do each and every one of them. It doesn't matter what a particular goal is - doesn't have to be some crazy adventure half-way across the world. Whatever draws us in like a natural magnet.
He told us that all of the regrets he has in life is not what he has done but what he has not done. I know we've all heard that before, but it vibrates so differently within when you hear it from this amazing person who truly lived life following that personal mantra.
He talked about how he used to be a hiking guide for this rugged, unmarked terrain somewhere in the US. He told us about this one time, he met this Native American man. During their conversation, the man held intently in front of his face a random piece of nature - a rock or leaf or twig - while gazing directly and deeply into Buds' eyes. Later on, the Native American man, alone in front of his fire, would get out those little amulets? reminders? of the people and places that have marked his memory and would thus no longer be alone. (Bud told us the name of those small trinkets -- but I forgot it at the moment -- managan? something like that.) Bud then told us to have something like that as well. Bud himself keep various notes of all of his important experiences. And, while he was hospitalized after an injury, he was able to look at those notes and be reminded that he is not alone - that his life has been filled with blessings, amazing people, unforgettable memories which are alive and within him each and every day.
AHH... I'm getting a little teary-eyed just thinking back to this afternoon...
I asked him if he has any secrets to a good, long-lasting marriage.
He said that each man and woman has his or her own set of interests and hobbies, but it's nice to be able to share passion and activities and adventures together. When he hiked across the Sahara, his wife followed because she "married him to be with him." However, he also said that spending too much time together can lead to irritation, so it's also nice to spend some time separately. So, for them, after a trip, his wife would go off to some city or country and go explore her own interests. Then, when she returned, "it'll be like honeymoon all over again."
Last week, we interviewed/played with infants, children, and their parents to gain experience on the type of interaction and questions we should ask this age-specific patient group.
This week, we met our senior mentor, Ernest 'Bud' Mantz, a 90-year old man who really is.... a super man. I came out of the session so moved, so inspired, so excited about life and the future. I felt so honored to meet this man, to hear his stories, to receive his life advice...
So Bud, the superman. He has hiked, traveled, kayaked -- any physical activity ever possible -- all over the world. He starts his sentences nonchalantly like, "When I was on my last five miles of the Tour de France..." or "While I was hiking across the Sahara Desert..." He lives his life driven by what he described as a sincere, natural energy and passion to really.. be alive. He doesn't do what he does because it's "good for you" or "healthy" or "recommended" by physicians, philosophers, educators, whatever. Every day he lives, each moment is to fulfill his passions and to do what he loves with the people he loves. He embodies passion, raw energy, and love.
He gave us several pieces of advice which really.. made me teary-eyed.
One is to find the things that we would love to do... and just save the money and time to go do each and every one of them. It doesn't matter what a particular goal is - doesn't have to be some crazy adventure half-way across the world. Whatever draws us in like a natural magnet.
He told us that all of the regrets he has in life is not what he has done but what he has not done. I know we've all heard that before, but it vibrates so differently within when you hear it from this amazing person who truly lived life following that personal mantra.
He talked about how he used to be a hiking guide for this rugged, unmarked terrain somewhere in the US. He told us about this one time, he met this Native American man. During their conversation, the man held intently in front of his face a random piece of nature - a rock or leaf or twig - while gazing directly and deeply into Buds' eyes. Later on, the Native American man, alone in front of his fire, would get out those little amulets? reminders? of the people and places that have marked his memory and would thus no longer be alone. (Bud told us the name of those small trinkets -- but I forgot it at the moment -- managan? something like that.) Bud then told us to have something like that as well. Bud himself keep various notes of all of his important experiences. And, while he was hospitalized after an injury, he was able to look at those notes and be reminded that he is not alone - that his life has been filled with blessings, amazing people, unforgettable memories which are alive and within him each and every day.
AHH... I'm getting a little teary-eyed just thinking back to this afternoon...
I asked him if he has any secrets to a good, long-lasting marriage.
He said that each man and woman has his or her own set of interests and hobbies, but it's nice to be able to share passion and activities and adventures together. When he hiked across the Sahara, his wife followed because she "married him to be with him." However, he also said that spending too much time together can lead to irritation, so it's also nice to spend some time separately. So, for them, after a trip, his wife would go off to some city or country and go explore her own interests. Then, when she returned, "it'll be like honeymoon all over again."
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Beef tendon and tofu braise
In an attempt to entertain myself in the midst of exam studying, I decided to experiment with some beef tendon and tripe.
I ended up creating an assortment of dishes, as usual.
Here's one that was particularly successful.
Beef tendon and tofu braise
1) Prepare the tendon
Ingredients:
Beef tendon (can be frozen)
Lots of salt/other flavorings
- wash wish warm water
- place in a big tub with water and plenty of salt/other flavors you would like to tendon to absorb. I think it's really important to not go lightly with the seasoning here, as you want your tendon to taste of something
- bring to boil then reduce to simmer, getting rid of the scum and oil that rise.
- keep simmering for 3-4 hours or until the edges of the tendon are tender enough. Inside may still be a bit firm, but it'll finish cooking in the stew
2) The Braise!
Ingredients:
Minced garlic and ginger
oil
stock/water
dark miso
soy sauce, mirin, rice wine
sugar or kepap manis (optional, if you like the sauce a little sweeter.)
XO sauce, to taste. I used about 2-3 teaspoons
tofu
tendon
Fish or meat balls, the frozen kind you can find in Asian grocery stores, often used for Oden (ใใงใ）
cilantro or green onion
- Stir-fry some minced garlic and ginger in oil in a big wok or pot for a few seconds
- Add some cut tofu, letting it warm through and brown a little bit (I personally like that color on my tofu)
- Add some water or salt-less beef stock. I actually used the stock from the tripe that I'd been cooking in my slow cooker.
- Let things come to a boil
- Add a table spoon of dark miso and mix well
- Add a good glug of sake, soy sauce, mirin. I honestly don't know how much I put... I just make sure there's some color, then taste, and add according to what I think tastes good.
- Add some XO sauce. This really is key - takes the dish from tasting really Japanese to a nice Chinese/Japanese fusion dish
- Cut the tendon up into nice chunks and throw into the soup
- Throw your fish/meat balls into the pot. These are really added for extra depth of flavor in the sauce.
- Let everything simmer for a while until you tendon is almost melting away. Really, the tendon in this dish should melt in your mouth.
- In the end, add some cilantro or scallion for some freshness
Delicious~~
I ended up creating an assortment of dishes, as usual.
Here's one that was particularly successful.
Beef tendon and tofu braise
1) Prepare the tendon
Ingredients:
Beef tendon (can be frozen)
Lots of salt/other flavorings
- wash wish warm water
- place in a big tub with water and plenty of salt/other flavors you would like to tendon to absorb. I think it's really important to not go lightly with the seasoning here, as you want your tendon to taste of something
- bring to boil then reduce to simmer, getting rid of the scum and oil that rise.
- keep simmering for 3-4 hours or until the edges of the tendon are tender enough. Inside may still be a bit firm, but it'll finish cooking in the stew
2) The Braise!
Ingredients:
Minced garlic and ginger
oil
stock/water
dark miso
soy sauce, mirin, rice wine
sugar or kepap manis (optional, if you like the sauce a little sweeter.)
XO sauce, to taste. I used about 2-3 teaspoons
tofu
tendon
Fish or meat balls, the frozen kind you can find in Asian grocery stores, often used for Oden (ใใงใ）
cilantro or green onion
- Stir-fry some minced garlic and ginger in oil in a big wok or pot for a few seconds
- Add some cut tofu, letting it warm through and brown a little bit (I personally like that color on my tofu)
- Add some water or salt-less beef stock. I actually used the stock from the tripe that I'd been cooking in my slow cooker.
- Let things come to a boil
- Add a table spoon of dark miso and mix well
- Add a good glug of sake, soy sauce, mirin. I honestly don't know how much I put... I just make sure there's some color, then taste, and add according to what I think tastes good.
- Add some XO sauce. This really is key - takes the dish from tasting really Japanese to a nice Chinese/Japanese fusion dish
- Cut the tendon up into nice chunks and throw into the soup
- Throw your fish/meat balls into the pot. These are really added for extra depth of flavor in the sauce.
- Let everything simmer for a while until you tendon is almost melting away. Really, the tendon in this dish should melt in your mouth.
- In the end, add some cilantro or scallion for some freshness
Delicious~~
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