Podcasts – Dr Gary Lum, AM

Xanthochromia Hello and welcome to the Medical Fun Facts Podcast. It’s Monday 08 January 2018. Who would have thought I’d get to episode 100. I’d like to thank listeners, readers and viewers for your support. Despite some criticism and an unusual amount of spam that hits the show notes every week, the majority of feedback has been … Continue reading "MFF0100 Xanthochromia in Cerebrospinal fluid"

Warts Hello and welcome to the Medical Fun Facts Podcast. It’s Monday 01 January 2018. It’s New Year’s Day as this show drops. My name is Gary and the Medical Fun Facts Podcast is a weekly show with a few facts and hopefully one or two funny lines. Don’t expect too much and everything will be okay. … Continue reading "MFF0099: Warts both genital and non-genital"

Merry Christmas Hello and welcome to the Medical Fun Facts Podcast. Last week, in episode 97 I spoke about “V is for Vagus nerve”. Tonight, I’m doing a special Christmas show. What are the health hazards associated with Christmas? The December–January holiday season brings with it many hazards. Alcohol If you consume alcohol, drink it in moderation and … Continue reading "MFF0098: The Medical Fun Facts Podcast Christmas Special"

What is the Vagus nerve? If the software is working as hoped, this show will drop as I’m recovering from a flight from Lyon via Paris, Abu Dhabi, and Sydney to Canberra. I was attending a World Health Organization meeting in Lyon, France last week. Last week, in episode 96 I spoke about “U is for … Continue reading "MFF0097: What is the Vagus nerve and what does it do?"

What is the uvea? If the software is working as hoped, this show will drop as I’m flying between Sydney and Abu Dhabi. I’m attending a World Health Organization meeting in Lyon, France this week. Last week, in episode 95 I spoke about “T is for Tetanus”. What is the uvea? The uvea is the middle … Continue reading "MFF0096: What is the uvea and what is uveitis?"

What is Tetanus? Clinical presentations Clinically, tetanus is an acute intoxication caused by an exotoxin from Clostridium tetani. The bacterium usually enters through an injury like standing on a nail on the ground. That said, history of an injury may be lacking. Four types of disease manifestation are described, viz., generalised, localised, cephalic, and neonatal. Generalised tetanus … Continue reading "MFF0095: What is tetanus?"

You can find scabies all over the world and it's assumed scabies outbreaks occur due to overcrowding, poverty and poor sanitation. I know when I did some sexual health as a trainee I saw patients with new infestations who had been staying in backpacker hostels. They told me they had been enjoying sexual activities with other guests of the hostels, and doing quite a bit of bed hopping. I suppose it's one way for a parasite to travel the world.

This brings back fond memories for me. When I was 16 years old and in grade twelve I embarked on a high school science project which involved immunising mice to rubella and then testing them for antibodies using an enzyme immunoassay, hæmagglutination inhibition and a fluorescent antibody assay.

At the time, no one wanted a negative connotation associated with the state of Queensland which for readers of my other blogs know is the greatest state in the federation of the Commonwealth of Australia. Whereas the greatest territory is the Northern Territory of Australia which has the friendliest people and the Top End has the best weather and climatic conditions of any place in the world.

Pathology is the heart and soul of medicine. You don't order a test, you refer a patient to a pathologist so that diagnostic tests best suited for the patient can be undertaken.