Unflasking Cattleya walkeriana Part I - the break up.

A method for skyrise people with LOS (lack of space).

Bought this flask from Ching Hua Orchids (Taiwan) during the Singapore Orchid Show in conjunction with the Singapore Garden Festival 2006. Gao peh peh helped me reserve this flask which I made pre-orders ^^.

Here is one of the methods I use for unflasking these babies

Lay newspaper around to capture any glass shards or splinters that result. Also to keep any falling potting / mounting media from spilling around.





Wrap flask in newspaper and use a striking tool - some people use hammers, I prefer a pair of convenient and versatile pliers:






Remember to lift the flask when you strike at about 2 cm above the base - if you press the flask down onto the surface of the table top, you may cause the top of the flask to collapse onto the seedlings. There will be cause increased mortality. To decrease the chances of this happening, lift the flask up before striking. Hold the flask wrapped in newspaper firmly around the rim of the flask and give a quick hard strike. The base of the flask should drop down.



The rest is the base coming off and acting as a plate for to hold the seedlings.



Tip out the seedlings into a basin of water - you may wish to add pesticide or fungcide or an antiseptic if required or if you wish to. This is to wash off any of the fine glass splinters. The pesticides is for prophylatic treatment against pests that are interested in the tender shoots. The fungicide and antiseptics can be use for prophlaxis or to treat the seedlings whenever there is contamination in the flask.



After rinising and soaking, sort the seedlings accordance to size - make your own judgement. You may want to grow the smaller ones in a community setting and the bigger ones individually.



3

For me, the bigger seedlings are those with visible pseudobulbs - the young ones usually consist of just a bunch of leaves.

NUS OPEN HOUSE

COME COME COME

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Saturday and Sunday 10th March - 11th march 2007.

Pharmacy specialities

Pharmacy Specialties

BPS has recognized five specialty practice areas: nuclear pharmacy (1978), nutrition support pharmacy (1988), pharmacotherapy (1988), psychiatric pharmacy (1992), and oncology pharmacy (1996). The table accompanying this package illustrates the growth in numbers of BPS-certified specialists in each specialty.

Nuclear Pharmacy seeks to improve and promote public health through the safe and effective use of radioactive drugs for diagnosis and therapy. A nuclear pharmacist, as a member of the nuclear medicine team, specializes in procurement, compounding, quality assurance, dispensing, distribution, and development of radiopharmaceuticals. In addition, the nuclear pharmacist monitors patient outcomes and provides information and consultation regarding health and safety issues.

Nutrition Support Pharmacy addresses the care of patients who receive specialized parenteral or enteral nutrition. The nutrition support pharmacist has responsibility for promoting maintenance and/or restoration of optimal nutritional status, designing and modifying treatment according to the needs of the patient. These specialists have responsibility for direct patient care and often function as members of a multidisciplinary nutrition support team.

Oncology Pharmacy addresses the pharmaceutical care of patients with cancer. The oncology pharmacist specialist promotes optimal care of patients with various malignant diseases and their complications. These specialists are closely involved in: recognition, management, and prevention of unique morbidities associated with cancer and cancer treatment; recognition of the balance between improved survival and quality of life as primary outcome indicators; and provision of safeguards against drug misadventures in a treatment area where novel and experimental drug therapies are frequently employed.

Pharmacotherapy is that area of pharmacy responsible for ensuring the safe, appropriate and economical use of drugs in patient care. The pharmacotherapy specialist has responsibility for direct patient care, often functions as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team, may conduct clinical research, and is frequently a primary source of drug information for other health care professionals.

Psychiatric Pharmacy addresses the pharmaceutical care of patients with psychiatric disorders. As a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team, the psychiatric pharmacist specialist is often responsible for optimizing drug treatment and patient care by conducting patient assessments, recommending appropriate treatment plans, monitoring patient response, and recognizing drug-induced problems.

Read more

I wonder when they will have PK specialist for those who are renally and hepatically impaired as well as those from extreme age groups.

Sophronitis cernua

All the palm-sized beauties:











The small one is var. minerva. Very sianz - all my Brazilian imports still hibernating. Zzzz



















Bud Bud - like peas in a half opened pod hor?

Reminder to self

"We are not out there just to tell patients ji zgi sa bai, sa liap ji bai, as pharmacists we supposed to do more" - wise words of the only local male BCPP (Board Certified Pyschiatric Pharmacist) in Singapore.

Today was counselling session - pharmacist do not just blapper the name and instructions for meds to patients - if like that, our training can just pour down the drain. Given the opportunity we should do more. Opportunity begets opportunities - more you value-add to the patients' drug therapy, more would they want to seek help and advice from you. Got to let the doctor rest hor =p.

Other reminders - Anti-coag can take with Anti-platelet (according to guidelines) since there are 2 different mechanisms of action. But then antiplatelet's order (safety considerations and patient's profile withstanding) should be aspirin, clopidogrel then ticlopidine.
The following format is advisable for medical hamper scripts:

1. Explain every drug in detail
2. Ask if there are any questions
3. Summarise and simplify dosage and regime

Classic signs and symptoms of metabolic syndrome:
1. Obese
2. high LDL and TG
3. Low HDL
4. Poor glucose control
5. HTN

H2 blockers also given to prevent GI bleeding during anticoag therapy

Q1W dosing of alendronate 70mg produces less GI effects than QD dosing alendronate 10mg
It is advisable to bring the patient down to the shop floor to explain supplements (e.g. calcium supplements) in detail so that the patient understands better when needed.
Vit D supplement needed for those people who are housebound, do not see much of the sun - since cannot auto synthesis.
Alendronate to be taken 2 hours after last intake of med or food. Best method is as follows:
Take alendronate first thing when you wake up with a full glass of water (nothing else- the rest will interfere with alendronate absorption). Stay upright for 30min before you take anything else - in the mean time can go walk walk, etc.


Remember to write in full as possible e.g. supp = supplement or suppository - calcium suppository anyone?

Digoxin increases ejection fraction not ejeculation fraction.

Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomitting (CINV) comes in 3 types - anticipatory, acute and delayed.
Acute use a sedative, e.g. lorazepam. Loarazepam can also cause amnesia which may help forget the previous noxious effects leading to vomitting.
Acute CINV is usually given prophylaxis or just before the chemo itself.
Delayed CINV is treated for 5-7 days post chemotherapy
Aprepitant is only approved for cisplatin -containing regimes. (120mg, 80mg, 80 mg)

My wishlist list ^^

Pharmacy Books:

Aulton's Pharmaceutics: The Design and Manufacture of Medicines (Paperback)
by Michael E. Aulton (Author)

Theory and Practice of Contemporary Pharmaceutics (Hardcover) by Tapash K. Ghosh (Editor), Bhaskara R. Jasti (Editor)

Modern Pharmaceutics (Drugs & the Pharmaceutical Sciences, 121) (Hardcover) by Gilbert S. Banker (Editor), Christopher Rhodes (Editor)

Compounding Sterile Preparations (Paperback) by Phillip S. Schneider (Author)

Pharmaceutical Compounding And Dispensing (Includes video clips CD-ROM) (Paperback) by John F. Marriott (Author), Keith A. Wilson (Author), Christopher A. Langley (Author), Dawn Belcher (Author)

Orchid Books

BIRK, Lance Paphiopedilum Grower's Manual 2nd ed

BEAMAN, Teofila E.; WOOD, Jeffrey J.; BEAMAN, Reed S. and BEAMAN, John .H. Orchids of Sarawak

BRAEM, Dr. Guido and CHIRON, Guy Paphiopedilum

CHEEK, M. and JEBB, M. Flora Malesiana - Nepenthaceae

CRIBB, Phillip The Genus Paphiopedilum (2nd edition)

DIXON, Kingsley; KELL,Shelagh; BARRETT,Russel; CRIBB,Phillip (Eds) Orchid Conservation

HÁGSATER, Eric; SOTO, Miguel; SALAZAR, Gerardo; JIMÉNEZ, Rolando; LÓPEZ, Marco and DRESSLER, Robert L. Orchids of Mexico

KYTE, Lydiane & KLEYN, John Plants from Test Tubes

Orquídeas Planalto Central Brasileiro / Orchids of the Brazilian Central Plateau

STEWART, Joyce; HERMANS, Johan and CAMPBELL, Bob Angraecoid Orchids - Species form the African Region

Masdevallias : Gems of the Orchid World by GERRITSEN, Mary E. and PARSONS, Ron

Some SSs

He think priestess can settle everything ar?!

Puppy found his friend friend

The GMs seriously need spell check. Imagine kids in school say, "it's spelt ' dyas' because GM say one." *pengz*

ZZZ she/he seriously rich to mega every waking hour (ps. 1 mega = $2.10) or she/he cash hack? Dunno.

The piece la resistancé >.<

DOC 1

While driving her son to school, Martha realised she missed out something she wanted to tell her husband. At the traffic light junction when the red light was on, she fumbled through the front compartment and managed to pull out a sticky pad and she further ruffled through her pocket to draw out a pen. In red ink, she scribbled something on the pad against time before the green light comes on and she plastered the message on her child's shirt.

"Mark, when Daddy fetches you later, remember to pass this to him. I only want whatever I wrote there from the supermarket and nothing else. I'll be in the O T later in another one of those marathons and my handphone will be off later. Also, I'll be late, so don't wait up."

"'k Mom," the little boy replied while folding the yellow paper and pushing it into his pants pocket.

When they reached the school, the little boy opened the door and leaped off to the ground to join the horde of primary school children making a dash for the assembly ground before the ringing of the bell.

"Bye Mom," he said and closed the door behind.

As Martha made a dash for the hospital, Mark stood in the midst of the children and reached for the paper. He gradually unfolded to paper to see what was written. A lady accidentally bumped into him while he was doing so and dropped the paper onto the ground. The lady then bent down to retrieve the paper.

"Sorry Mark," she said as she tried to return the note and realised that it stucked to her finger,"oh. Never knew talismans come in this shape and it has a sticky end."

"No Miss Gwee, it's one of those last minute messages my mom leaves for my dad," he replied as he peeled it off her finger.

"A note? It looks like those Chinese talisman with red ink on yellow paper. Looks very illegible," she said with a puzzled look on her face.

"Let's say my parents are complementary healthcare professionals," sniggered the precocious child before he made his way to join the other children.

Congratz Cecilia

Welcome to the outside world Angus!!!

PS Cecilia, better leak out secret hor - how in the world did you managed to have 3 consecutive boys?!

Tamtam and marathonrunner see see here

Marathonrunner bought one plant recently and was (mis)indentified as Ansellia africana. It is a case where the once common form of the plant gradually becomes uncommon. What he bought was actually a tiger orchid Grammatophyllum scriptum but if he ask why not green green one? Simple - the green one is the albino form and it had been very vigourously cloned and reproduced as it was "rare" then. Now the normal form is rarer =.=

Tamtam got one interesting plant which I had before - Acriopsis javanica. Interesting pseudobulbs. This plant is rather variable in size. The one I have is about 3 x the normal size:





One taxonomist thought it was a new species X_X. This plant attracts a lot of ants and it is related to Grammatophyllum and Cymbidium - anyone tried crossing yet?

Thecostele alata and Thecopus secunda are one of the most commonly mislabelled or misIDed plants. I hope the people in that plant forum where the mistake recent occurred knows what to do =p.

Morning drive on the NS highway

For those sleepyheads who did not get to see the sunrise everyday.

PS this was taken when I went up north to 拜拜年 and visit my grandmother.

6am from Singapore:















The lowland areas were all misted up due to the recent flooding. Curious thing was that the roadside plants too the brunt of the herbicides poured onto the palm trees. You can see the palm trees happy and alive while all the teak trees all kena brown out. Dad pointed out one house that was complete submerge but couldn't take pic on time =.=

Here comes the sun:





The trip home (also 6am):

Camera-less for a fortnight

Very sianz. Today want to take picture of the 4 Laelia purpurata var. carnea BBs given by Peggy but then press to take that time, camera LCD says cannot read SD card. Tried to change SD card, camera tell me there's system error.

Now it's in the hands of the Nikon people - thank goodness for the 2 years extended warrant from Harvey Norman's

Get well soon trusty camera
Shaky hands misses you.

In process of budding:

Mini form of Dendrobium canaliculiatum
Paphiopedilum godefroyae (various first flowering seedlings)

Laelia rubescens - of all colour forms, I've only the oddballs =.=

Lucy had not seen one before and Woon Cheng said he imported a batch that had not sprouted yet. So here's a pic of how Laelia rubescens var. aurea looks like:



Verli chio right *slaps own horse's butt*

I was hoping for a pink or purple though (sorry, not interested in an exchange as yet) Hmmm. should I invest in more with my ang bao $$$? But then this plant does not flower frequently until it reached the humongous (may be sic) size that my see fook has for his var. alba form:

I bought 2 divisions which I paid in instalments (i.e. not cheap hor)



Haven't opened full though =.=. Some sellers will label their var. semi-alba as var. alba thinking that the purple throat is integral of the flower which is not true.

My plants are pathetic because they are small. Most of the mature plants can retain their spikes for the next flowering but mine already browned off =,=. TMDKKJ bleh.

Interesting to know that most long spiked Laeliae sold in their native lands as cut flowers usually comes with a bit of psuedobulb make the flowers last long. EYOF also uses that technique to make their Oncidiinae hybrids last longer.

Today's talk

TY to MMS for angbao for good luck ^^

Also to Plumeria Princess, Portisfish (faster join faster join), Joshy and partner ^^.

Why i dun share certain life-changing recipes:

Last time nong nong ago, i managed to come up with a very nice formula for discus babies. My babies all grow fast and fat. Got this guy ask me to share with him recipes so i passed to him. He fed his bb discus with the recipe (which he himself compounded) and lost $20k worth of babies. After that @#$#@ scolded me in public in the presence of my parents. That even forever haunted me despite it was not me who made the preparation.

For some reason, I get guilt feelings or anxious with I hear a scolding within my vicinity despite it being not involving me. Weird hor?

So to maintain quality, I do give free compounded stuff but then don't ask me for the recipe - I'm not held responsible for poor compounding matters. Don't want people to fault me unnecessarily for poor quality DIY mixes ever again.

So here are the listings of the terms I got for not diverging my recipe for Paph potting mix:
Idiot
Clown
@ss
Unfriendly
Dick
etc etc ....

FYI, granulation, sieving, sorting and sizing of the different components take 1 DVD set (there are 2 DVD sets) of 大長今. and mixing in geometric portion to ensure uniformity is 1 DVD. So only mix it once every 6 months. Very tedious =.=....