PQ PLUS 2
ISSUE
3 DECEMBER
2017 |
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Deck the Halls with BetaBlockers
A Pharmacy Parody by Jonathon Thomson & Ethos Ho Deck the halls with beta blockers Ol-ol-ol-ol-ol ol-ol-ol-ol
On the FIRST day of Christmas Santa gave to me‌ 1 pharmacy Christmas carol
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Targets adrenergic receptors Ol-ol-ol-ol-ol ol-ol-ol-ol
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Treat your migraines and heart failure Ol-ol-ol-ol-ol ol-ol-ol-ol Slowing down heart rate is their nature Ol-ol-ol-ol-ol ol-ol-ol-ol They can make you dizzy and tired Ol-ol-ol-ol-ol ol-ol-ol-ol Taking them with Ventolin is undesired Ol-ol-ol-ol-ol ol-ol-ol-ol Cardioselective blockers are new found members Ol-ol-ol-ol-ol ol-ol-ol-ol Keeps your heart beating throughout December Ol-ol-ol-ol-ol ol-ol-ol-ol
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On the SECOND day of Christmas Santa gave to me… 7 heart warming messages
Season’s Greetings You have all worked so very hard this semester. I hope everyone has a great winter break filled with wonderful time spent with friends and family. Rest up and we’ll see you again next year! Hey pharmily! The crazy semester’s coming to an end as we are nearing the impending doom of finals. Good luck and study hard! You will all do great! I wish you all happy holidays and will
Just hang in there everyone! Just a few more weeks and Christmas break will be just around the corner. Make sure to always take a break now and then during your study sessions. Otherweise, all the best on your exams and hope you have a fabulous Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2018! Hello Pham! Congrats on surviving (and hopefully passing) this semester! I hope you have a nice and relaxing break with your loved ones over the Holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and I look forward to seeing you all again in January! Safe travels and stay warm. Hey pham, you made it! With fall semester behind us in a mere few weeks, we hope you get a chance to catch up with your other fam and other friends. The ones you might have forgot while cramming for finals. Most of all, rest up and we’ll see you next year! December is a month of mixed feelings - you are glad that it’s almost Christmas but also dreading the exams that are looming in the weeks prior. I would encourage you to treat the holidays as a reward for your hard work this term. Work hard and play hard! Merry Christmas everyone! I am sending you and your loved ones my best wishes for a joyous and peaceful holiday. For those of you who are travelling back home for the winter break, I hope you have a safe flight or drive home. Cheers to the coming new year! | 3 |
On the THIRD day of Christmas Santa gave to me‌ 1 important message to consider
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Exams. Stress. Expectations. Finals season is one of the toughest times of the year for students. Another semester is coming to an end and grades are undoubtedly on everyone's mind. With the expectation to do well, there is a great deal of stress placed upon us. Sometimes the amount of stress and anxiety can become overwhelming, but please remember this. You are all brilliant and talented individuals. You have made it this far because of your determination and intellect. Sometimes it is easy to lose sight of this because of the nature of being in a program filled with other hardworking and smart individuals. Nonetheless, you are unique. You are special and one of kind. There simply isn’t anyone else like you on this planet. You mean the world to your loved ones. Exams and grades are important, but they do not define who you are as a pharmacy student, nor should it define who you are as an individual. If you are feeling overwhelmed or sad, take a break, talk to someone or do something that will cheer you up. Studying is may be important, but so is your mental health. We are in an excellent faculty with many resources and support system. Reach out to someone if you are struggling. You are not alone, you are part of the Pharmily. | 5 |
On the FOURTH day of Christmas Santa gave to me… 4 delicious pumpkin recipes
Spice up Your Holidays with Pumpkins! By: Sandy Xu
The entire fall and winter season highlights the importance of pumpkins. Whether it’s pumpkin carving, pumpkin spiced lattes, pumpkin pies and more, we savour the king of squashes not only for its bright colors, delicious pulp but also for its nutrient content. Pumpkin is a specially cultivated member of the gourd family that is abundant in vitamins, minerals and plant sugars. Whereas the skyrocketing obesity rates can be traced to the movement toward greater consumption of processed sugars, pumpkins and other traditional starchy plants helps control blood glucose (Kwan et al., 2007). So how can you incorporate this delicious superfood into your daily meals? We’ve scouted out some simple recipes that a busy pharmacy student like yourself could use.
Breakfast Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Cookies If you only have 5 minutes for breakfast, this is the perfect breakfast for you! For those rushed mornings before finals, these will come in handy and give you enough nutrients to last until your next fill. • 1 cup of pumpkin puree (homemade or canned) • 1 egg • 1/2 cup of ground flax seeds • 1/3 cup of vegetable oil • 1/4 cup of honey • 1 tablespoon of cinnamon • 2 cups of old-fashioned oats • 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds Add all ingredients into a large bowl and mix completely with a wooden spoon. Give approximately 15 minutes for the mixture to thicken. In the meantime read over some notes, quiz yourself with some flashcards, and return to the kitchen to divide the mixture into ping pong-ball sized | 6 |
dough and press gently onto a parchment paper. Through the mixture into the oven at 350° F for 15 minutes and you have your breakfast prepared for the week.
Lunch Roasted Pumpkin and garlic: roasted pumpkins can be an effortless addition to your lunch. Besides the minor preparation needed, the oven will take care of the rest which means more time for your part-time job and studying for that final exam. • 2 kg of peeled, cubed pumpkin pieces • 4 garlic cloves • Pinch of salt and pepper to taste • 2 tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil First, preheat the oven to 200° F. In the meantime, toss your pumpkin cubes with seasoning and oil and pack them onto a parchment paper. Place the parchment paper on a baking tray and bake for around 40 minutes or until a soft “mashed” texture is achieved.
Dinner Pumpkin Chili: Meal prep can be boring if you’re not willing to try something new. Pumpkin chili will not only be a taste-bud pleaser but can be a dinner party sensation as well. They’re simple to make and add a blast of flavor into the traditional chili. Here’s how you make them with fresh ingredients (alternatively you can use canned chilli to add to fresh pumpkins). • • • • • • • • •
2 lb ground beef 1 large onion diced 1 green bell pepper diced 2 cans of kidney beans 1 can of tomato juice 1 kg pumpkin diced Pumpkin spice to taste 1 tablespoon of chilli powder ¼ cup of white sugar
Snacks Rosemary Pumpkin seeds: Pumpkin seeds are a great way to convert your typical kitchen scraps into healthy study snacks. I like to add my favorite herbs to spice my baked seeds and use them for dessert toppings such as yogurt parfaits. Pumpkin seeds are so versatile that you can’t go wrong with filling an entire mason jar with them.
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In a large pot over medium heat, cook beef until brown, drain stir in onion, peppers, beans and pumpkin. Season with spices and simmer for 1 hour. Alternatively, if you’re in a time crunch like me, toss the ingredients into a slow cooker for up to five hours and serve.
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1.5 cups of raw pumpkin seeds 2 tsp of butter 1 pinch of salt 1 pinch of your favorite herbs
First, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. In the meantime, toss the seeds with butter, salt and herbs into a bowl to mix thoroughly. Then, spread the seasoned seeds in a single layer over a baking sheet and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown.
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On the FIFTH day of Christmas Santa gave to me… 1 warm and comforting bowl of pho
A Phobulous Review By: Ziqi Wang
Mother Pho – served with rare steak, flank, tendon, beef balls, and tripe for $13.95 Mother Pho is a well-rounded introduction to pho if you are a newbie or have a hard time deciding what to order. It has a little bit of everything which will surely keep you curious even after the first few bites. You will not find this many parts and cuts of beef in a single bowl of pho unless you order Mother Pho. The portion size is moderate to large with a 1:2 ratio of the feature beef components to rice noodles. Most people will be full after one bowl so you should only order extra noodles if you are starving. The optional add-ins including bean sprouts, basil and lime are served on a separate plate. For your first time trying pho, I would recommend refraining from incorporating the add-ins until you taste the broth. The pho broth is certainly one of the better pho broths that I have tried: it is sweet and sour but also light. There are also options that don’t include as many components such as Pho Real, which only includes rare steak and rice noodles. There are also many options on the menu that do not include meat and a nice selection of cold beverages including Vietnamese coffee, slushes and shakes. APSA student perks • Come between 2-4pm or 8pm-close and get 10% off • Get take out anytime and get 10% off
Location: 8701 109 Street • Phobulous is a 10 minute walk from Medical Sciences • Parking is limited so walking from campus is the best way to get to Phobulous •
Other Tips • Nights, weekends and colder days are usually more busy • Try not to order takeout unless absolutely necessary! The broth will cool down and although its flavour is still the same, it will not be as satisfying as having warm broth. • When the place is packed, the staff will likely give you the bill almost immediately after you finish your food so it may not be the best place to be carefree and chat with friends Ziqi’s rating: 4/5 | 8 |
On the SIXTH day of Christmas Santa gave to me… 10 reasons to escape Edmonton’s winter
reasons why you should travel this winter break By: Ziqi Wang
Travelling is such a broad definition and is not limited to trips that break the bank. Regardless of where you want to go, you need to travel to get there. Financial burdens or the daunting process of planning a trip may seem like too much to handle, especially in the upcoming exam season. However, don’t forget that even road trips or a trip to visit family members in other towns or cities would allow you to reap the benefits of travelling. 1. You can escape the stress of school and refresh your mind, body and spirit before winter term. 2. There any too places in this world to not travel, from the town in Alberta you’ve never heard of to a new continent. 3. Rotations during summer break, summer student positions and the high season means that summer may not necessarily be the best time to travel. 4. The Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences at UofA is world renowned because it is comprised of people from across Canada, from every province and the territories, as well as the rest of the world. Travelling is a way of connecting with your classmates and faculty members. 5. Student loans, savings, work money and some help from your parents will likely be enough to finance a trip. 6. Instead of constantly binge-watching Netflix or sleeping in past noon, travelling will make you more likely to stay alert and active which will help you when you transition back to school. 7. You will have opportunities to stretch your mind and improve your problem-solving skills. 8. Travelling is always a great conversation starter (keep that in mind for PDW). 9. You will get to reflect on life and your journey in life so far. 10. You will never forget your travel experiences and what you learned from them.
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” - Gustav Flaubert
Left – a flower shop in Provence, France; Middle – the Canadian embassy in London, UK; Right – a dog in Paris, France (photo credit: Ziqi Wang)
The rest is up to you to discover. Bon Voyage!
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On the SEVENTH day of Christmas Santa gave to me… more than 1 Christmas craft ideas
‘Tis the Season to Get Creative! By: Grace Ting Are you looking for a fun project to start on this holiday? What about something fun you can do for your Christmas gatherings or gift exchange parties? Look no further, you can make your own polymer clay keychains, tree ornaments, pendants, or earrings. For this article I made a little gingerbread man keychain. However, there are so many other possibilities with polymer clays. If you don’t like gingerbread, you can always make a snowman, Santa, or an alpaca.
Draw your design and plan out where you will put your clay.
Open the package of clay and cut out a piece with your modeling tool. You can use the roller in the kit to soften the clay.
Now, onto the icing. Cut and roll a piece of white clay between your hands until it is long and stringy. Gently shape the clay onto the gingerbread man (tap on it and it should stick). Also, don’t be afraid to blend clay to get a different colour.
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Tools required: - Polymer clay—Sculpey ® (sold individually for $3.39) - Modeling tools ~$12-14 - Lobster clasp, jump ring and eye pin (~$5 / pack)
- Aluminium foil and parchment paper - Gloss glaze Scupley ® - Oven / toaster oven - Acrylic paint—Americana ® - $1.49/ bottle - Paint brush
Tear off small pieces of the clay and mold it into the shape of a head, arms and legs. Use a tool to help blend the pieces together. This can get tricky. Try to keep the thickness of the clay to at least 6mm so you can bake it according to the clay package instructions. Give the cookie some texture with a modeling tool. Add the eye pin by skewering the cookie through the head. Make sure the little loop sticks out.
Place your design on top of parchment paper and in between two sheets of alumiunium foil (don’t forget to seal it!). This will allow your clay to bake more evenly and prevent it from burning. Bake it in the oven according to the instructions. Depending on your clay it may differ from mine. (130 °C for 30min/ 6mm). After baking let it cool. Paint any details you want to add with acrylic paint. Add the jump ring through the eye pin and connect it to the lobster clasp.
Apply a thin layer of glaze with a paint brush. Once the glaze is dry, you are done! You can give it away as a gift or exchange it with your friends. Have fun!
me know if you want to see more polymer clay ideas! I’d love to hear back from you!
On the EIGHTH day of Christmas Santa gave to me… 6 holiday gifts
GIFT IDEAS Are you struggling to find the perfect gift? Do you always end up giving away gift cards because you don’t know what to get? Here are some gift suggestions! Hot Water Bottle $12-15 (Amazon)
Power Bank $20-40 (Amazon)
Humidifier $25+ (Bed Bath & Beyond)
Protect your friend’s skin from the dry winter’s in Alberta. There are small humidifiers that are portable like the one shown in the picture. They are great for small spaces and offices.
This is perfect for that friend who is always cold. Simply pour in hot water and seal with the screw cap. It will be warm for hours.
We all know that one person who is always on their phone. Whether they are swiping left or right on Tinder, or finding their next shiny Pokémon, this handy gadget will aid them in finding the right catch!
Google Home Mini $40 (Best Buy)
S’well Water Bottle $45+ (Indigo)
Mermaid Blanket $26 (Amazon)
This is perfect for that friend who has a million questions. Google really does have all the answers and will be answering your drug information questions! Just kidding. Maybe.
Keep your water cold all day long for those 8 hour school days starting at 8 AM. You can also feel better that you are helping the environment by not using plastic water bottles.
We got a really unique one for you! This is what all the cool kids are talking about this Christmas. Why use a normal blanket, when you can get all cozy in this one of a kind mermaid blanket!
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On the NINTH day of Christmas Santa gave to me… 15 words to find
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