Appreciation programme to all volunteers -- BEetle Link

BEetle Link…

Your link to healthy lifestyle!

* BEetle Link is an appreciation programme for your voluntary participation in clinical research.
* This programme commences from 1st January 2008.
* Volunteers who have joined studies starting from 1st Jan 2008 will automatically become BEetle Link members.
* Catch the nannakolas when you have joined study or successfully referred friends.
* The nannakolas collected entitle you to exchange for gifts.

* Nannakolas have a lifespan of 2 years, and must be used prior to their expiry date.

More gifts and privileges are coming up…don’t miss it!

Check it out at..
BEetle links…..
016-4125760
volunteer@info-kinetics.com
friendster
http://beetlelink.blogspot.com

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. With Type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. With Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood.

Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious problems. It can damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke and even the need to remove a limb. Pregnant women can also get diabetes, called gestational diabetes.

Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes may include fatigue, thirst, weight loss, blurred vision and frequent urination. Some people have no symptoms. A blood test can show if you have diabetes. Exercise, weight control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes. You should also monitor your glucose level and take medicine if prescribed.

Old Penang...

Try it!

A man wanted to get into his work building, but he had forgotten his code.
However, he did remember five clues.

These are what those clues were:
The fifth number plus the third number equals fourteen.

The fourth number is one more than the second number.

The first number is one less than twice the second number.

The second number plus the third number equals ten.

The sum of all five numbers is 30.

What were the five numbers and in what order?

Just for laugh ;p

No crack?


How do you do?


I wouldn't dare...


Falling should be planned...

Mistakes on a resume ^_^

These are from actual resumes:

"Personal: I'm married with 9 children. I don't require prescription drugs.

"I am extremely loyal to my present firm, so please don't let them know of my immediate availability."

"Qualifications: I am a man filled with passion and integrity, and I can act on short notice. I'm a class act and do not come cheap."

"I intentionally omitted my salary history. I've made money and lost money. I've been rich and I've been poor. I prefer being rich."

"Note: Please don't misconstrue my 14 jobs as 'job-hopping'. I have never quit a job."
"Marital Status: Often. Children: Various."

REASONS FOR LEAVING THE LAST JOB:
"Responsibility makes me nervous."

"They insisted that all employees get to work by 8:45 every morning. Couldn't work under those conditions."

REASONS FOR LEAVING MY LAST JOB:
"Was met with a string of broken promises and lies, as well as cockroaches."

"I was working for my mom until she decided to move."

"The company made me a scapegoat - just like my three previous employers."

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

"While I am open to the initial nature of an assignment, I am decidedly disposed that it be so oriented as to at least partially incorporate the experience enjoyed heretofore and that it be configured so as to ultimately lead to the application of more rarefied facets of financial management as the major sphere of responsibility."

"I was proud to win the Gregg Typting Award."

SPECIAL REQUESTS & JOB OBJECTIVES:

"Please call me after 5:30 because I am self-employed and my employer does not know I am looking for another job."

"My goal is to be a meteorologist. But since I have no training in meteorology, I suppose I should try stock brokerage."

"I procrastinate - especially when the task is unpleasant."

PHYSICAL DISABILITIES:
"Minor allergies to house cats and Mongolian sheep."

PERSONAL INTERESTS:
"Donating blood. 14 gallons so far."

SMALL TYPOS THAT CAN CHANGE THE MEANING:
"Education: College, August 1880-May 1984."
"Work Experience: Dealing with customers' conflicts that arouse."
"Develop and recommend an annual operating expense fudget."
"I'm a rabid typist."
"Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain operation."

KNOW YOUR MEDICINES

1. What is medicine?

* Medicines are chemical substances that are used for treatment, prevention and diagnosing diseases. There are medicines that you can buy "over-the-counter" at the pharmacy or supermarkets as well as those you get from your doctor. If used properly medicine will help you to overcome or control your medical problem. Repeated studies have shown that as many as 50% of patients do not take their medicine properly.It is important to know what your medicine is called and what it looks like. Some medicine may look the same although they have different names and uses. Medicine can be prescribed by its brand name or chemical name. If you are doubtful, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

2. Before using your medicine:

a. Giving information.
Everyone is different and the pharmacist will need to know some facts about you before he/she can give the right advice. Therefore, before you obtain any medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist the following information:

- What are the symptoms that you have and how long they have occurred.
- If you have seen any health care provider
- All the medicines and dietary supplements you are taking or have taken recently, including prescription and non-prescription medicine.
- Any allergies and sensitivities to medicine, food or other substances.
- Your smoking, drinking and exercise habits.
- Any special diet you are on: low sugar, low-salt or a diet to lose or gain weight
- If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or if you are breast feeding
- Family history of illness(es).

b. Read the label:
The label on your medicine envelope or bottle contains important information. Your label may look different but it will show:
i. Your name
ii. The name of the medicine and its strength
iii. Instructions on how to take your medicine
example:
- the amount and frequency to be taken
- before, with or after food
- other special precautions for example, do not take any alcohol with this medicine.

As a general rule, take your medicine immediately after food. This helps you to remember when to take your medicine and to avoid getting an upset stomach. Some medicine, e.g. PENICILLIN need to be taken on an empty stomach as food interferes with their absorption. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist.
The instruction on the label are not just a rough guide but must be followed carefully.
For example:

i. TAKE BEFORE MEALS:
This means about one hour before a meal and NOT two minutes before. Some medicines need to be absorbed into your system quickly so that they can act at full strength. Some of the effects of the medicine could be lost or delayed with presence of food. If you forget to take it at this time, it is probably better to take it after meal than rather not at all.

ii. TAKE AFTER MEALS
Some medicine can upset or irritate your stomach. To minimize this, the label may tell you to take your medicines within five to ten minutes after meals.

iii. TAKE WITH WATER
Instructions to take with water means a full glass of water. This will prevent tablets or capsules sticking into your throat. Do not substitute with other fluids without checking with your pharmacist or doctor.

iv. TO BE SWALLOWED WHOLE, NOT CHEWED
Some tablets or capsules have special coating that stay in place as they travel through your stomach. The coating then dissolves in the intestine to release the medicine where it can best be absorbed without irritating your stomach. Other type of coating allow medicines to be released gradually throughout the day. Chewing would destroy these features.

v. TAKE WITH OR AFTER FOOD
Some medicine can irritate the stomach lining. To protect the stomach these medicine should be taken with or after food.

vi. TAKE AT REGULAR INTERVALS, COMPLETE THE COURSE
When you are taking antibiotics for an infection , you often feel better after just a day or two. However, the germs could still be there, ready to multiply if you stop the medicine. By taking regular doses and finishing the course, you maintain the antibiotic levels in your system to make sure none of the germs get away. Otherwise the germs could become resistant to the medicine and make you ill again.

vii. MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS. IF AFFECTED DO NOT DRIVE OR OPERATE MACHINERY
Some medicine can make you feel too tired to drive or use machines safely.Check with the pharmacist if you are not sure whether the medicine you are taking can cause this problem.

viii. NEVER TAKE YOUR MEDICINE IN THE DARK EVEN IF YOU BELIEVE YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO FIND THEM

Quality Use of Medicine

As a consumer/patient, you are responsible to:

1. Ask for and use information, resources and services.
2. Be aware of the risks and benefits of medicines, non drug options and healthy lifestyle.
3. Develop skills and seek help to solve problems related to the use of medicines.
4. Be aware of the place of the medicines in your health
5. Tell your doctor/pharmacist all medicines taken and your current health condition (including pregnancy, plan to become pregnant and nursing status).

Q: Is it necessary for me to take the medicine?

A: There must be an appropriate reason for you to take any medicines. This is because there may be better ways than medicine to manage many disorders. Medicines should be used to cure or arrest disease, relieve symptoms, ease pain, correct deficiency diseases and provide other benefits.
Other management options (treatment with or without medicine) should be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist.

Q: How do I take the medicine?

A: Follow the instruction that has been written on the label or as instructed by your doctor/pharmacist.

Q: Where can I get the medicine?

A: You can get your medicines from the hospital, pharmacy, health centre and clinic. Do not get your medicine from unauthorized personnel.
You need to be cautious when buying medicines and supplements online or from non-pharmacy sources as it put you at risk of getting the wrong, contaminated and counterfeit product.

Q: What should I know about the medicine?
A: - The name of the medicine
- Active ingredients
- The purpose of the medicine
- How much, how often and how long to take it
- How the medicine should be used or taken
- Possible side effects and what to do if you have them
- Special warnings or instructions about the medicine (take before bedtime or with meals, etc)
- Expiry date
- Storage conditions

Q: How to store the medicine?

A: Proper storage is important to assure the quality and therapeutic properties of the medicines are maintained. Here are some guides on how to store your medicines:
Store all of your medications in a designated location in your house.
Do not mix different medicines together in one container.
Medicines should be stored in a cool, dry area.
Medicines stored in refrigerator should be separated from other items in the refrigerator and label as medicines.
Oral medicines should be kept separate from other items that are for external use only.
Expired medicines and any medicine that your doctor has discontinued should be discarded.
Never share or give your medicines to another person.
Make sure your medicines are stored out of children's reach.
If a drug is not stored in its original container, make sure that it is labeled properly i.e. for whom, drug name, dosage, frequency and expiry date.
Do not leave your medicine in an automobile for long period of time.

Q: Can I stop taking the medication when I feel healthy?

A: No, you have to discuss this matter with your doctor/pharmacist. Compliance towards your medication is very important in order to get full benefit from it. Noncompliance may result in treatment failure.

Q: What if I missed my medications?

A: Many people forget to take their medications. Whether to take a missed dose depends on the medicine. In some cases, it may be appropriate to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. In other cases, it may be too close to the time you need to take your next dose. If you are not sure what to do, get advice from your doctor/pharmacist.
Memory aids such as pillbox and marking on a daily calendar can help you to remember when to take the medicines.

Q: What if I feel uncomfortable after taking the medicines?

A: Consult with your doctor/pharmacist. You may experience side effects or you are allergic to the medicines. Drug interaction may also contribute to this condition.

Q: Where can I get more information about my medicines?

A: Consult with your doctor/pharmacist. You can get a lot of information from various websites on the internet but you must verify the information with your doctor/pharmacist.

Q: If I have trouble to swallow, is there any alternatives to take the medicines?

A: You should tell your doctor/pharmacist of your problem. Dosage forms of medicine can be changed if available (eg. tablet to liquid formulation, gel, suppository or patch).
There are various types of dosage forms of medicines. The difference between each dosage form depend on where it works in our body, how fast it acts, for whom it is designed (eg. children may need liquid formulation or chewable tablets), how frequent it should be taken and specific disease states.

Q: Is there a possibility that I may be taking the same medicine from different clinics / hospital?

A: Yes. Medicines may be prescribed by its brand or generic name. That is why it is very important for you to know the active ingredient in that medicine. This will be referred to as the generic name by healthcare providers. It also helps to know the dose of medicine to be taken, as to avoid overdosing or toxicity.
You can ask your doctor/pharmacist the generic name of your medicine when in doubt.

Q: Is it safe to take other herbal medicines and other dietary supplements together with the prescribed medicines?

A: Many herbals and dietary supplements are made from natural ingredient, and many people think that they are safer than medicines. However, not many of these supplements have been tested when taken together with other prescribed medicines. Therefore, any side effects or drug interaction may not be documented and safety data cannot be established.
There are two myths that need to be addressed. First, once the natural or herbal ingredient has been made into tablets or capsules, it is no longer natural because other ingredients such as lactose or starch are added to make the final product. Second, herbs may contain very potent substance such as opium, curare and ephedrine. And they can kill!
Consult with your doctor/pharmacist before taking any herbals and supplementary medicines.

Q: How should I take my medicines during fasting month (Ramadhan)?

A: In some cases, the new dosage regimen to be used during Ramadhan needs to be established beforehand. Dosage regimen of medicine can be changed to suite your need (eg. once daily dose is more suitable than three times daily dose as it can be taken anytime).
Discuss with your doctor/pharmacist your medicines regimen during Ramadhan as they can advice you when to take your medicines (before, during or after food intake).

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that can lead to acquire immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections.

Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk. Within these bodily fluids, HIV is present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells. The four major routes of transmission are unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated needles, breast milk, and transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth.

Many HIV-positive people are unaware that they are infected with the virus. HIV-1 testing consists of initial screening with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect antibodies to HIV-1. Specimens with a nonreactive result from the initial ELISA are considered HIV-negative unless new exposure to an infected partner or partner of unknown HIV status has occurred. Specimens with a reactive ELISA result are retested in duplicate. If the result of either duplicate test is reactive, the specimen is reported as repeatedly reactive and undergoes confirmatory testing with a more specific supplemental test (e.g., Western blot or, less commonly, an immunofluorescence assay (IFA)). Only specimens that are repeatedly reactive by ELISA and positive by IFA or reactive by Western blot are considered HIV-positive and indicative of HIV infection.

There is currently no vaccine or cure for HIV or AIDS. The only known method of prevention is avoiding exposure to the virus. However, an antiretroviral treatment, known as post-exposure prophylaxis, is believed to reduce the risk of infection if begun directly after exposure.

HIV is thought to have originated in non-human primates in sub-Saharan Africa and transferred to humans during the 20th century. The epidemic officially began on 5 June 1981.
Two species of HIV infect humans: HIV-1 and HIV-2. Both species of the virus are believed to have originated in West-Central Africa and jumped species (zoonosis) from a non-human primate to humans.

HIV-1 is thought to have originated in southern Cameroon after jumping from wild chimpanzees to humans during the twentieth century. It evolved from a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIVcpz)
HIV-2, on the other hand, may have originated from the Sooty Mangabey (Cercocebus atys), an Old World monkey of Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, and Cameroon.

Prevention:
Someone can eliminate or reduce their risk of becoming infected with HIV during sex by choosing to:
- Abstain from sex or delay first sex
- Be faithful to one partner or have fewer partners
- Condomise, which means using male or female condoms consistently and correctly

People who share equipment to inject recreational drugs risk becoming infected with HIV from other drug users. Methadone maintenance and other drug treatment programmes are effective ways to help people eliminate this risk by giving up injected drugs altogether.
Needle exchange programmes have been shown to reduce the number of new HIV infections without encouraging drug use. These programmes distribute clean needles and safely dispose of used ones, and also offer related services such as referrals to drug treatment centres and HIV counselling and testing.

Transfusion of infected blood or blood products is the most efficient of all ways to transmit HIV. However, the chances of this happening can be greatly reduced by screening all blood supplies for the virus, and by heat-treating blood products where possible. In addition, because screening is not quite 100% accurate, it is sensible to place some restrictions on who is eligible to donate, provided that these are justified by epidemiological evidence, and don’t unnecessarily limit supply or fuel prejudice. Reducing the number of unnecessary transfusions also helps to minimise risk.

The safety of medical procedures and other activities that involve contact with blood, such as tattooing and circumcision, can be improved by routinely sterilising equipment. An even better option is to dispose of equipment after each use, and this is highly recommended if at all possible.
Health care workers themselves run a risk of HIV infection through contact with infected blood. The most effective way for staff to limit this risk is to practise universal precautions, which means acting as though every patient is potentially infected. Universal precautions include washing hands and using protective barriers for direct contact with blood and other body fluids.

HIV can be transmitted from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, labour and delivery, and later through breastfeeding. The first step towards reducing the number of babies infected in this way is to prevent HIV infection in women, and to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

BRILLIANT 3 MINUTE MANAGEMENT COURSE

Lesson 1:
A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing her shower, when the doorbell rings. The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbour.
Before she says a word, Bob says, "I'll give you R 800 to drop that towel."
After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob.
After a few seconds, Bob hands her R 800 and leaves.The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.
When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, "Who was that?""It was Bob the next door neighbour," she replies.
"Great!" the husband says, "did he say anything about the R 800 he owes me?"
*Moral of the story* :
If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.

Lesson 2:
A priest offered a Nun a lift.She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg. The priest nearly had an accident.After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.
The nun said, "Father, remember Psalm 129?"The priest removed his hand.
But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again.
The nun once again said, "Father, remember Psalm 129?"
The priest apologised "Sorry sister but the flesh is weak."Arriving at the convent, the nun went on her way. On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129.
It said, "Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory."
*Moral of the story* :
If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.

Lesson 3:
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a Genie comes out.
The Genie says, "I'll give each of you just one wish."
"Me first! Me first!" says the admin clerk. "I want to be in the Bahamas , driving a speedboat, without a care in the world."Puff! She's gone.
"Me next! Me next!" says the sales rep. "I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life."Puff! He's gone.
"OK, you're up," the Genie says to the manager. The manager says, "I want those two back in the office after lunch."
*Moral of the story* :
Always let your boss have the first say.

Lesson 4:
An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing?"
The eagle answered: "Sure, why not."So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.
*Moral of the story* :
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up!!!!!!!!!!!!

5th grade Math problem

This is a 5th grade math problem. If you can't stand word math problems, just delete now.
This is not a trick question. This is a real math problem so don't say that a bus has no legs.

There are 7 girls in a bus.
Each girl has 7 backpacks.
In each backpack, there are 7 big cats.
For every big cat there are 7 little cats.
Question: How many legs are there in the bus?

What are beetles?

Beetles are a group of insects which have the largest number of species. 40% of all described insect species are beetles (about 350,000 species), and new species are frequently discovered. Estimates put the total number of species, described and undescribed, at between 5 and 8 million. Beetles can be found in almost all habitats . They often feed on plants and fungi, break down animal and plant debris.

Ladybird (also known as ladybug, lady beetle) is a family of beetles. It is a small insect, ranging from 1mm to 10mm ,and are commonly yellow, orange, or scarlet with small black spots on their wing covers, with black legs, head and antennae.

Ladybirds are generally considered useful insects as many species feed on aphids or scale insects, which are pests in gardens, agricultural fields, orchards, and similar places. Some people consider seeing them or having them land on one's body to be a sign of good luck to come, and that killing them presages bad luck. A few species are pests in North America and Europe.

In Malta, the ladybird is called nannakola.
In Irish, the insect is called bóín Dé — or "God's little cow".
In France it is known as bête à bon Dieu, "the Good Lord's animal".
In Russia, Божья коровка, or Корова бога ("God's cow").
In Yiddish, it is called "Moshe Rabbenu's little cow" or "Moshe Rabbenu's little horse".
In Greece, ladybirds are called πασχαλίτσα (paschalitsa).

Beetle family