Puzzle to Clues on What Health Means to Me

In essence, my measurement on my health status is on how my body and mind is able to rise to meet challenges and to sail through it all coming out a satisfied victor. Between the missing texts are clues for the cross-word puzzle on what I think health means to me.

Lub-dub, lub-dub! Yes, that’s the beat of a normal heart. BP check! Pulse check! Good to note that __(1)__ signs are at optimum, thanks to regular work-outs and __(2)__. Stretching, being able to touch the toes without effort, that’s being __(3)__. To maintain the desired waist circumference to hip ratio, not obese with a healthy body __(4)__ index within range; staying away from the silent killers, obesity, heart diseases, stroke, __(5)__ and cancer that’s a sign of good __(6)__ of life.

The ability to handle __(7)__ without getting overwhelmed and not hearing voices in your head, shows that you are mentally __(8)__. Not living in the past, all slumped and gloomy that’s a sign that you are keeping __(9)__ at bay. Mental health also means the ability to recognise annoyance and controlling anger before it becomes a full-fledged __(10)__. A person with balanced mental health accepts each and everyone as an equal without __(11)__. To __(12)__, is also a sign that the person is mentally able to put thoughts across verbally.

A person with a healthy system will confidently say, bring on those nuts, as there are no __(13)__, bring in the milk as there is no __(14)__ issues with me! A health conscious person will maintain good __(15)__ habits by managing meals proportionately. Puff-puff! Cough-cough! I don’t want any __(16)__, give that to the Malboro man. No metformin, no statin, no amilodipine, no long term __(17)__! With all this taken care of, how not to call it a day with regular, uninterrupted __(18)__?
 

ANSWERS:
(1) VITAL              (2) EXERCISE          (3) FLEXIBLE        (4) MASS                  (5) DIABETES  
(6) QUALITY        (7) STRESS               (8) SOUND             (9) DEPRESSION    (10) RAGE      
(11) PREJUDICE   (12) COMMUNICATE          (13) ALLERGIES              (14) INTOLERANCE  
(15) EATING          (16) NICOTINE                     (17) MEDICATION          (18) SLEEP

by Jagdish K. Chahil,

Wellness instead of Health

They say - Health is Wealth, but in reality Wellness is what you want to be rich with.
If Health is your Bank account then Wellness is the Bank itself.
 
Wellness is a Concept:
Every person must take personal responsibility for his or her own state of Health.
 
Wellness is a Preventive Plan:
Every person must make an effort to recognize conditions, situations and practices that may be threatening or may have the potential to be detrimental to his or her own health. Moreover, you must take steps to change or eliminate these process in order to live a healthier, wealthier and longer life.

Wellness involves taking an active role in being healthy:
It’s as simple as adopting practices that enhance health such as-
•    A low-fat, high-fiber based diet
•    Exercise
•    Maintaining a good work-life balance
•    Having a positive mental & spiritual attitude
Wellness also includes reducing health risks and also eliminating practices that can add stressful dangers to your lifestyle.

Wellness takes into consideration more than just our state of physical health:
How do you define wellness? Look at the figure below-

A wellness-orientated person will always strive to achieve a healthy balance between the three- Body, Mind & Spirit.

To look at it in a different perspective, let’s compare the wellness model to an iceberg. As we all know, 90% of an iceberg remains below the surface of water while only a measly 10% is visible. 
Look at the figure below and you will see that your state of health only makes up 10% of overall wellness.

Of course, wellness goes beyond physical manifestations. Look into your genetic component and then the scenario changes. Life suddenly becomes fair and unfair. However, regardless of what your genes tell you one thing is for sure, use the wellness model in your life and the glass will start looking half full rather than half empty.

by Utprabh Mohan, Marketing Executive

Digital Autopsy

Autopsy or post mortem is defined as medical examination of the death by cutting (or dissecting) the body, usually to determine the cause of death. It involves thorough external and internal examination of the body. The term ‘Autopsy’ is a combination of the Greek term ‘autos’ (self) and ‘opsomei’ (I will see). Thus, ‘Autopsy’ means ‘to see with one’s own eyes’. Autopsies are performed by forensic pathologists, known as medical doctors, who have received specialty training in the diagnosis of diseases by the examination of body fluids and tissues.

In forensic cases, the autopsy can provide key information and guide the criminal investigation. However, over the years the frequency of autopsies has decreased and this has become a serious issue. This mainly occurs in cultures and situations where autopsy is not tolerated by religious bias. Moreover, conducting autopsy to the deceased increases the family’s misery.

Conventional Autopsy Procedures

But now, this can be avoided with the recent addition to the conventional autopsy, which is conducting postmortem in digital 3D volume, known as Digital Autopsy (DA) by reconstructing data from MSCT (Multi Slice CT Scans) or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans of cadavers with 3D volume rendering techniques. DA is a non – invasive, bloodless technique in which cutting of body is reduced to a minimal level. DA basically is a 3D body volume documentation and analysis where a full 3-D visualization of the deceased can be created to examine the condition of bones, tissues, organs and blood vessels for clues to the cause and manner of death. Thus, DA provides the information as if the body is actually being dissected layer by layer although in reality the body remains intact.

In DA, the body can be dissected and examined layer by layer.

The advantage of DA is that it does not destroy key forensic evidence which may be damaged during conventional autopsy. The conventional autopsy happens in a haphazard, subjective, and observer-dependent manner. Any findings that have not been documented are irreparably destroyed when the cadaver is sent to the crematory. The DA techniques can overcome these shortcomings, as they provide datasets of cadavers that contain the findings in real dimensions and are storable for years to be used in the future. The digitally acquired data can be referred to at any time as new questions arise, or may be sent to additional experts for a second opinion via CD or email.

Some findings that are difficult to visualize in a conventional autopsy can easily be seen in a 3D body rendered from CT scanned data, such as air distribution within the body. A 3D digital body can also be invaluable for locating foreign objects such as metal fragments and bullets, which are of great importance for the forensic pathologist. In addition, DA promises to ease the burden of determining identity and cause of death of large number of victims following earthquakes or other natural disasters.

3D air reconstruction of the thoracic CT data

In conclusion, DA is a newly developed procedure that has the ability to provide an additional benefit that will enhance the conventional autopsy procedure as a whole, giving it the capacity to achieve more reliable results.  It is clear that the introduction of this reality based, high-tech method can have a big impact on the forensic medicine, the judicial system, the police and the general medicine in the future.

by Ravinder, Forensic Research Assistant

Digital Autopsy

The term AUTOPSY has already been adapted and is familiar in the world of Forensic Medicine. The CSI affect more or less influences in appreciative of common people in the field of Forensics Application. Autopsy, also known as post-mortem examination is usually performed by specialized medical doctor in order to determine the cause and manner of death. It normally includes surgery and invasive examination to the dead body. It can be done for either legal or medical purposes.

DIGITAL AUTOPSY is a complementary approach to classical autopsy. Instead of cutting the cadaver, the dead body will be sent for scanning first, followed by rendering of the body DICOM data into 3D digital body. Forensic expert can perform digital autopsy on the body using the advanced medical visualization software system. If the result is found to be inconclusive, the body can undergoes autopsy in more targeted and educated manner. Digital Autopsy analyzes the 3D volume data generated from Medical Modern Imaging Modalities such as CT scanner or MRI Scanner with direct volume rendering techniques. The cadaver remains in a sealed body bag throughout the procedure to avoid loss of forensic evidences, or the spread of disease and bacteria.

Digital Autopsy applies special Forensic Workflow. It’s not just a Diagnostic Imaging Technology but has a specific focus in forensic investigation. Examining a dead body might not be as simple as the normal living patient. These are due to few points such as, the posture of body is not in anatomical position; dismembered organ or extremities; the body might undergo decomposition or skeletonization; and in case of exhumation the body will muddle up with soil, rock or sand which can appear as artifact in the 3D visualization. Thus, Forensic Experts need to have specific training in this field.

There are some findings that are difficult to prove and visualize in conventional autopsy but can be easily seen in full body CT, such as air in the lung or within the body, pattern of fracture, detection of metal object, wound or bullet tract, examination of fracture in vertebra or inaccessible area, foreign object in digestive tract, hemorrhage to eye lens etc. 

Digital Autopsy allows expert or forensic pathologist to do autopsy not just once, but they can redo and ask for second opinion. The raw data acquired from the CT modality make it possible as the exact raw data can’t be modified or disturbed. Data can be kept in database with implementation of security measure to be available at any time. This can be kept forever as an archive or for purpose of medical study and research.

Digital Autopsy becomes a complement workflow in autopsy procedure. Forensic Pathologist should practice digital autopsy which can aid them to come out with certain finding in the post mortem. With availability of crime scene data, photograph and reconstruction model, Forensic Expert can simulate and test the hypothesis for the manner of death of that particular case. Last but not least, Digital Autopsy can reduce the autopsy time session and give more descriptive and objective visual report.

by Nur Syazana Jalaludin, Forensic Research Scientist

Are You Healthy, Genetically?

Have you encountered such question before?

Traditionally we define a person as healthy when the person does not exhibit any clinical symptoms of disease(s). There are enormous diagnostics testing methodologies based on molecular biology, biochemical or radiological imaging approach, which cater for detection of clinical symptoms of the diseases.

Nevertheless, there are many silent diseases such as cancers and Cardiovascular diseases, whereby the prominent symptoms usually appear during the later stage of disease. Such diseases do not discriminate, even to the low-risk group, e.g. individuals with healthy lifestyles and those in the younger age groups with negligible symptoms.

 

Why would such cases occur? It’s because of genetics.

Post of Human genome project, many genes were found to be associated with the pathogenesis molecular pathway. The consequent genotype and phenotype profile have been shown to correlate with clinical symptoms that predispose to the manifestation of the diseases. This means, a person’s health status is not defined by clinical risk factors alone, but genetic risk factors as well, which can be inherited from one’s parent in a form of genetic mutation and polymorphisms.

Genetic testing services had emerged over the past few years, claiming to offer predictive screening of inheritable and potent diseases. However, most of the existing genetic testing services are based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing, which appeared to be monogenic assessment.

In INFOVALLEY®, we had identified and compiled a portfolio that captured the multi-factorial characterization (both clinically and molecularly) with the associated diseases. The interdependent relationship of the clinical characteristics and diseases are derived from the common molecular pathways, which cascade and eventually lead to the manifestation of the diseases. Based on this proposition and the leveraging of DNA microarray technology, INFOHaem™ Molecular Screening offers genetic predisposition screening services with two screening packages: INFOHaem Can12TM screens for cancer predisposition in healthy subjects for 12 type of cancers; and INFOHaem FH1536TM screens for subjects at risk of Hypercholesterolemia and diagnostics of clinically suspected Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients.

INFOHaem™ Molecular Screening enables establishment of subject risk profile, which incorporates the clinical risk factors to provide comprehensive assessment, apart from genetic risk profiling. Most importantly, the screening platform has been validated by extensive clinical studies with various public hospitals and universities in Malaysia prior to the launch in 2011. Apart from that, INFOVALLEY’s research findings of a novel LDLR gene mutation among the Asian population has been recognized by British Heart Foundation and included in the UCL LDLR (low-density lipoprotein receptor gene) variant database. Moving forward, additional disease screening will be included into the product portfolio with progressive R&D efforts.

So coming back to the question, Are You Healthy, Genetically?

Undergo INFOHaem™ Molecular Screening today and you will know the answer!

INFOHaem™ Molecular Screening was recognized by Frost and Sullivan’s Malaysian Excellence Award 2012, as best product Innovation. For more information, kindly refer to www.infovalley.net.my.

by Susan Ong, Product Portfolio Manager

Obesity

Comic by Dr Hemanth, Senior Medical Research Scientist

Do What You Love, Love What You Do

15 Health Tips to share with everyone:

1. Refuse stress! Miss the bus rather than run!

2. Learn a relaxation technique and use it once a week at least.
3. Go for a walk every day.
4. Drink lots of water every day. The brain needs it.
5. Eat and drink healthily every day. Special treats only on weekends. If you easily gain weight: eat SMALL portions.
6. Choose an exercise technique that suits you, and practice it once a week at least.
7. Go to a professional massage therapist regularly. Or exchange services with your partner or friend, read a book about massage and practice it.
8. Don't smoke.
9. Sleep enough and well. (The most common reason to sleeping problems is lack of exercise.)
10. Get to know yourself, and realise you are worth a good life.
11. Look around you - what can be changed in your life and your environment to make you feel better?
12. Keep developing - learn new things, try different paths in life.
13. Be good to yourself. Let ambition rest sometimes.
14. Think positively about other people and wish them well!
15. Do things that you love. Enjoy life!

Take a couple of seconds to complete this quick quiz by yourself:

1. Are you doing EXACTLY the kind of work that makes you want to leap out of bed each morning excited to begin a new day?
2. Does your work satisfy a need deep within to express yourself, your talents, your values, your unique and precious gifts?
3. Does your work allow for a balanced life – one that leaves time for family and friends, for exercise or hobbies, for you?
4. Are you doing what you love and loving what you do?

Well, did you get a YES for all?

by Amia Wan, Marketing Executive