10 QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE NOBEL PRIZE IN MEDICINE

I. It has been awarded 109 times to 216 Nobel laureates between 1901 and 2018.

II. 39 prizes were awarded to one laureate

III. 33 prizes  were shared by 2 two laureates

IV. 37 prizes  were shared by 3 laureate

V. The nobel prize amount for 2018 was set at 9 million SEK about $986K Per full Nobel Prize.

VI. The youngest Nobel prize laureate in medicine is Frederick Banting (Age: 32/Nationality: Canadian/ year of award:1923)"for the discovery of insulin."

VII. The oldest Nobel prize laureate in medicine is Peyton Rous (Age: 87 /Nationality: American/ Year of award:1966)"for his discovery of tumour-inducing viruses."

VIII. The Nobel Prize and Prize in Medicine have been awarded to women 12 times between 1901 and 2018

USA:7

Germany:1
Italy: 1 

France:1

Norway:1
China:1

  1947: Gerty Theresa Cori, née Radnitz( American)
“for their discovery of the course of the catalytic conversion of glycogen”
  1977: Rosalyn Yalow (American)
“for the development of radioimmunoassays of peptide hormones”
  1983: Barbara McClintock (American) the only one who has received an unshared Nobel Prize.
  1986: Rita Levi-Montalcini (Italian)
“for their discoveries of growth factors”
  1988: Gertrude B. Elion(American)
“for their discoveries of important principles for drug treatment”
  1995: Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard(German)
“for their discoveries concerning the genetic control of early embryonic development”
 2004: Linda B. Buck(American)
“for their discoveries of odorant receptors and the organization of the olfactory system”
 2008: Françoise Barré-Sinoussi(French)
“for their discovery of human immunodeficiency virus”
 2009: Carol W. Greider(American) & Elizabeth H. Blackburn(American)
“for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase”
 2014: May-Britt Moser(Norwegian)
“for their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain”
 2015: Tu Youyou(Chinese)
“for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria”

9. Top 10 nationalities with the most Nobel Laureates In Medicine:

USA(~100)
UK(39)
Germany(16)
France(11)
Sweden(8)
Switzerland (7)
Australia(6)
Austria(5)
Denmark(5)
Japan(5)

10. Top 8 institutions with the most Nobel laureates in medicine:

 Havard (University and Medical School combined ; :12 ‍:0)
 Rockefeller University(:10‍:0)
 Pasteur institute(:6 ‍:1)
 Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( :5 ‍:0)
 California Institute of Technology( :5 ‍:0)
 University College London(:5 ‍:0)
Oxford University(:5 ‍: 0)
Max Plank Institute( :4 ‍:1)

Source: data.nobelprize.org

Russian Government Scholarships for International Students

Russia is one of the few countries in the world that offers foreign citizens the opportunity to pursue their studies without paying tuition fees.

• This country is well known for its high academic standards, especially in the field of mathematics, natural sciences, and physics.
• Russia is recognized worldwide for training mathematicians, chemists, physicists, engineers, geologists, physicians, programmers, and specialists in natural sciences.

 Scholarship Overview

• The Russian Government awards several thousand scholarships or quotas to international students every year.
• These scholarships were established with the sole purpose of strengthening ties between Russia and international students.
• In 2018, Russian universities were allocated 18,000 quotas.

 Host School(s)

• Russian Universities

 Fields of Study

• Scholarships are available for all fields offered at the universities, at all levels.
• Courses available include Medicine, Pharmacy, Agriculture, IT, Forestry, Fishing, Management, Applied Geology, Economics, Mining, etc...

What does the scholarship cover?

Recipients of this scholarship are entitled to:

• Free tuition for the duration of the study program
• A maintenance allowance of approximately 1630 rubles per month for the entire study period
• Dormitory accommodation, if available

 How many scholarships are given?

• 18,000 scholarships were granted in 2018

 Which countries are targeted?

• International students

Am I Eligible to Apply?

 To qualify for this scholarship, you must:

• Be an international student and a foreign citizen
• Possess the necessary English language requirements for the chosen course. Applicants opting for study in French or English will have an interview to assess their language proficiency. Results for any language tests taken must be presented.
• Have finished secondary school or vocational school (technical school, lyceum, high school, etc.) if applying for a Bachelor’s program. Your educational level on completion of secondary/vocational education should match that of a secondary school graduate in Russia.
• Have completed a Bachelor’s degree if applying for a Master’s program
• Have passed any competitive selection for the scholarship in your home country
• Have documentation proving completion of secondary education if applying for a Bachelor’s degree
• Have documentation proving completion of a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent if applying for a master’s program

 NB: Depending on the course selected, a Russian language course may be a compulsory part of the study program.

 How Do I Apply – Next Steps

1. Look for information on the selection of international applicants on the Study in Russia website. The scholarship announcement is also published on the Rossotrudnichestvo representation website and the website of the Russian embassy in your country.

2. Contact the Russian embassy nearest to you, preferably in your home country for information on the available scholarships and the fields of study.

3. Register on the Study in Russia website, fill in the electronic form and submit your application. You can choose up to 6 universities, in order of preference, from those listed on the quota. The following documents should be attached to the application.

• A copy of your passport, valid for at least 18 months from the date of your planned arrival in Russia, or a copy of your birth certificate
• Copies of your certificates or documents indicating your current level of education and qualifications received
• These documents can be submitted as hard copies to the Russian Embassy.

4. Wait for an invitation to participate in the selection process – interviews, tests, and examinations. The schedule may be posted on the embassy website, or you may get a direct email.

5. Look for your name in the list of successful candidates (based on the results of the selection process)

6. If you appear on the list of successful candidates, prepare the following additional documents.

• A medical/doctor’s certificate confirming that there are no medical reasons that will prevent your admission into a Russian university, including the results of an HIV test.
• Copies of documents (including a birth certificate and one colored passport size photo) listed on the Rossotrudnichestvo website. These documents must be notarized and translated into Russian.
• You can attach these documents to your electronic form and submit them online or deliver the hard copies to the Russian Embassy.

7. Wait for a notification/letter that confirms your enrolment in the university and contains information on the next steps.

NOTE:

• Allocation of state-funded spots is carried out by Rossotrudnichestvo (The Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation) through its international network of offices, as well as through embassies of Russia abroad.
• Applicants who do not know enough Russian for study in their chosen subject are enrolled in a preparatory department where they spend a year studying Russian and other general education disciplines relating to the field of study.
• Any applicant who is interested in enrolment in Arts and Humanities must take part in creative contests (additional exams) at the universities. The applicant will, therefore, need to enter Russia on a tourist visa for this purpose. Acceptance into the program is pegged on the outcome of this creative contest.

 Deadline

• 30 March 2019

 How do I get more information?

• Website: https://studyinrussia.ru/en/study-in-russia/scholarships/

CASE OF THE DAY

A 35-year-old man presented to the neurology clinic complaining of persistent  headache for the past 5 years. No other associated disease was found. Neurologic examination was intact. Serum biochemistry panel revealed no abnormality. Contrast enhanced MRI Imaging was ordered and the mass above was seen.

The neurosurgery and Radiation Oncology departments were consulted and a decision was made to excize the mass followed by radiotherapy depending on the pathology result. 

Surgery was done and intraoperative sample was sent to pathology. 

Pathology result will most likely reveal a:

A. Glioblastoma

B. Ependymoma

C. Cordoma

D. Menengioma

E. Craniopharyngioma

Answer is: D pathology revealed a grade 1 menengioma

What is schwannoma?

Head lice: things you need to know

                                               

 What are head lice?

Head lice are tiny wingless insects that infest the hair on your head, as well as the eyebrows and eyelashes. Tiny louse eggs called nits are tightly attached to individual hairs. Lice are easier to see in bright light and by partying the hair to see close to the scalp.

How do you know you have head lice?

Lice may make your scalp extremely itchy. You may notice small red bumps on the scalp or neck, tiny white nits on the hair close to the scalp that are difficult to remove and a crawling sensation on the head.

Are lice contagious?

Yes. Head lice are extremely contagious especially among school-aged children. Lice cannot jump or fly but are spread by direct head-to-head physical contact, sharing clothing, such as hats or bedding, and sharing combs or brushes with someone who has head lice. Having head lice does not mean you have poor cleanliness. Head lice do not carry diseases.

How is head lice treated?

Treatment for head lice is recommended for people with an active infestation. All household members and other close contacts should be checked. Anyone who has an active infestation should be treated. All infested people and their bedmates should be treated at the same time.

Over-the-counter lotions and shampoos that contain pyrethrin—a common synthetic chemical used as an insecticide—or one-percent permethrin are often the first choice. The package directions should be followed exactly. These products may continue to kill lice for two weeks after treatment; many clinicians recommend a second treatment seven to nine days after the first.

Side effects of permethrin may include burning or stinging, itching, red skin, or numbness. Prescription-strength five-percent permethrin, malathion lotion, or benzyl alcohol lotion may be needed. Lice are becoming resistant to permethrin, so the other medications may be used.

Is there any natural remedy used to remove head lice?

There is no clear scientific evidence that lice can be suffocated by home remedies, such as mayonnaise or olive oil, but they may be suffocated by Cetaphil cleanser. Tea tree oil is another helpful natural remedy.

It is very important that the nits are removed. This can be difficult because they cling tightly to the hair. Special nit combs are available at drugstores. You should do a second combing seven to 10 days after the first. Nits may live for two weeks.

How to prevent head lice? 

Children should be cautioned not to share hats, combs, or brushes with others.

Hats, scarves, coats, and bedding should be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes.

Combs and brushes should be washed and the room of the infected person should be vacuumed.

You also should not use kerosene or gasoline for head lice; they are dangerous and flammable.

Regular physical exercise and it benefits

Regular physical exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. We have all heard it many times before - regular exercise is good for you, and it can help you lose weight. But if you are like many Americans, you are busy, you have a sedentary job, and you haven't yet changed your exercise habits. The good news is that it's never too late to start. You can start slowly, and find ways to fit more physical activity into your life. To get the most benefit, you should try to get the recommended amount of exercise for your age. If you can do it, the payoff is that you will feel better, help prevent or control many diseases, and likely even live longer.

What are the health benefits of exercise?

Regular exercise and physical activity may

• Help you control your weight. Along with diet, exercise plays an important role in controlling your weight and preventing obesity. To maintain your weight, the calories you eat and drink must equal the energy you burn. To lose weight, you must use more calories than you eat and drink.


• Reduce your risk of heart diseases. Exercise strengthens your heart and improves your circulation. The increased blood flow raises the oxygen levels in your body. This helps lower your risk of heart diseases such as high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, and heart attack. Regular exercise can also lower your blood pressure and triglyceride levels.


• Help your body manage blood sugar and insulin levels. Exercise can lower your blood sugar level and help your insulin work better. This can cut down your risk for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. And if you already have one of those diseases, exercise can help you to manage it.


• Help you quit smoking. Exercise may make it easier to quit smoking by reducing your cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It can also help limit the weight you might gain when you stop smoking.


• Improve your mental health and mood. During exercise, your body releases chemicals that can improve your mood and make you feel more relaxed. This can help you deal with stress and reduce your risk of depression.


• Help keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp as you age. Exercise stimulates your body to release proteins and other chemicals that improve the structure and function of your brain.


• Strengthen your bones and muscles. Regular exercise can help kids and teens build strong bones. Later in life, it can also slow the loss of bone density that comes with age. Doing muscle-strengthening activities can help you increase or maintain your muscle mass and strength.


• Reduce your risk of some cancers, including colon, breast , uterine, and lung cancer.


• Reduce your risk of falls. For older adults, research shows that doing balance and muscle-strengthening activities in addition to moderate-intensity aerobic activity can help reduce your risk of falling.


• Improve your sleep. Exercise can help you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.


• Improve your sexual health. Regular exercise may lower the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. For those who already have ED, exercise may help improve their sexual function. In women, exercise may increase sexual arousal.


• Increase your chances of living longer. Studies show that physical activity can reduce your risk of dying early from the leading causes of death, like heart disease and some cancers.

To get the most benefit, the recommendations for how much exercise you need are:

For adults:

Try to get at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity on most days.

• Aerobic activities include walking fast, jogging, swimming, and biking
• Exercise at a moderate intensity. One way to check this is to make sure that you can say a few words in a row while exercising. But you should not be able to sing - that would mean that you are not exercising hard enough.
• You can break your aerobic exercise into segments of ten minutes or more

Also, do strengthening activities twice per week.

• Strengthening activities include lifting weights, working with exercise bands, and doing sit-ups and pushups
• Choose activities that work all the different parts of the body - your legs, hips, back, chest, stomach, shoulders, and arms. You should repeat exercises for each muscle group 8 to 12 times per session.

For children and teens:

Get 60 minutes or more of physical activity every day. Most of it should be moderate-intensity aerobic activity.

• Activities should vary and be a good fit for the child's age and physical development
• Moderate-intensity aerobic activities include walking, running, skipping, playing on the playground, playing basketball, and biking

Also, try to get each of these at least 3 days a week: vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, muscle-strengthening activity, and bone-strengthening activity.

• Vigorous-intensity aerobic activities include running, doing jumping jacks, and fast swimming
• Muscle-strengthening exercise includes playing on playground equipment, playing tug-of-war, and doing pushups and pull-ups
• Bone-strengthening activities include hopping, skipping, doing jumping jacks, playing volleyball, and working with resistance bands

Other groups:

Seniors, pregnant women, and people who have special health needs should check with their health care provider on how much exercise they should get and what types of exercises they should do.

People who are trying to lose weight may need to get more exercise. They also need to adjust their diet, so they are burning more calories than they eat and drink.

If you have been inactive, you may need to start slowly. You can keep adding more gradually. The more you can do, the better. But try not to feel overwhelmed, and do what you can. Getting some exercise is always better than getting none.

How can I make exercise a part of my regular routine?

• Make everyday activities more active. Even small changes can help. You can take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk down the hall to a coworker's office instead of sending an email. Wash the car yourself. Park further away from your destination.


• Be active with friends and family. Having a workout partner may make you more likely to enjoy exercise. You can also plan social activities that involve exercise. You might also consider joining an exercise group or class, such as a dance class, hiking club, or volleyball team.


• Keep track of your progress. Keeping a log of your activity or using a fitness tracker may help you set goals and stay motivated.


• Make exercise more fun. Try listening to music or watching TV while you exercise. Also, mix things up a little bit - if you stick with just one type of exercise, you might get bored. Try doing a combination of activities.


• Find activities that you can do even when the weather is bad.You can walk in a mall, climb stairs, or work out in a gym even if the weather stops you from exercising outside.

Everything You Need to Know About Asthma

What is asthma?

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lung. It can occur along the entire airway from the nose to the lung. Once the airway becomes swollen and inflamed, it becomes narrower, and less air gets through to the lung tissue. The exact cause of asthma is not known. Researchers think some genetic and environmental factors interact to cause asthma, usually before the age of 5. Asthma often occurs early in life, but it can also occur for the first time in adulthood. Some patients can also “outgrow” asthma at first, but then develop symptoms again later in life.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing. During an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways tighten up, more mucus is produced, and asthma symptoms become worse.

Are allergies related to asthma?

Yes. Asthma can be triggered by substances in the environment called allergens. Some indoor allergens come from dust mites, cockroaches, dogs, cats, rodents, molds, and fungi. Outdoor allergens include pollen from many trees, weeds, and grass. Even food allergies can cause asthma symptoms.

What about air pollution outside?

Outdoor pollution plays a major role, as does cigarette smoke. Children exposed to pollution are more likely to develop asthma. Asthma patients are more likely to have their asthma flare up when they are exposed to pollution. This is why asthma patients should not exercise outdoors during high-pollution days, for example when there is a code-orange ozone day.

How is asthma treated?

Treatment plans can include taking prescribed medicine and avoiding your asthma triggers. You can breathe in some medicines and take other medicines as a pill. Asthma medicines come in two types—quick-relief and long-term control. Quick-relief medicines control the symptoms of an asthma attack. Long-term control medicines help you have fewer and milder attacks, but they don’t help during an asthma attack.

                       Indoor Allergens & Asthma

What steps can you take to reduce indoor allergens and prevent asthma attacks?

Use HEPA air filtration devices to reduce airborne allergens. Change HVAC filters at least once every quarter, or more frequently if your home has a lot of dust.

Wash sheets and blankets in hot water every week.

Put mattresses, pillows, and box springs in allergen-proof covers.

Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture every week.

Reduce humidity to under 50% and check for leaks/water damage to reduce mold.

Eliminate pest infestations to reduce cockroach or mouse allergen exposure.

Limit dog and cat exposure in the home.