nuradh's blog

opinion: Our Lady of Madhu and the Bishop of Mannar

Posted Mon, 04/14/2008 - 23:31 by nuradh

Background

There has been much controversy over the shifting of the miraculous and highly venerated statue of Our Lady of Madhu to a "safer" location, further deep in Tiger Territory. With it questions have again been raised about the conduct of the Bishop of Mannar Rt.Rev.Dr. Rayappu Joseph.

medicine: Snake Bites

Posted Thu, 03/13/2008 - 01:43 by nuradh
“Reptiles are abhorrent because of their cold body, pale color, cartilaginous skeleton, filthy skin, fierce aspect, calculating eye, offensive smell, harsh voice, squalid habitation, and terrible venom; wherefore their Creator has not exerted his powers to make many of them.”
–Linnaeus, 1797; Also the opening quote in Jurassic Park.

Much controversy has surrounded the recent death of a young child following a snake bite. My brother wants me to add my two cents to the story - hence this post.

opinion: The Null Hypothesis

Posted Wed, 03/12/2008 - 23:12 by nuradh

Science aims at rationally explaining observed phenomena. The first step in the process is the framing of a hypothesis. For example if you observe that heart patients tend to have high blood pressure, you would form the hypothesis that hypertension is associated with heart disease and proceed to establish its veracity.

medicine: No aspirin, insulin at the National Hospital !!!!

Posted Tue, 01/29/2008 - 17:00 by nuradh

For the past month the following essential drugs are not available for out-patients at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) -

  • aspirin [Prevention of heart attacks, strokes etc]
  • atorvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin [Lipid lowering drugs]
  • iso-sorbite mononitrate (ISMN) [Symptomatic Relief of Ischaemic Heart Disease]
  • beclamethasone inhaler capsules [Preventive therapy of Asthma]
  • salbutamol inhaler capsules [Symptomatic relief of Asthma]
  • ciprofloxacin [A widely used effective antibiotic]