10 unbelievable facts of Human Brain

1. Nerve impulses to and from the brain travel as fast as 170 miles per hour. Ever wonder how you can react so fast to things around you or why that stubbed toe hurts right away? It’s due to the super-speedy movement of nerve impulses from your brain to the rest of your body and vice versa, bringing reactions at the speed of a high powered luxury sports car.
2. The brain operates on the same amount of power as 10-watt light bulb. The cartoon image of a light bulb over your head when a great thought occurs isn’t too far off the mark. Your brain generates as much energy as a small light bulb even when you’re sleeping.
3. The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica. Or any other encyclopedia for that matter. Scientists have yet to settle on a definitive amount, but the storage capacity of the brain in electronic terms is thought to be between 3 or even 1,000 terabytes. The National Archives of Britain, containing over 900 years of history, only takes up 70 terabytes, making your brain’s memory power pretty darn impressive.
4. Your brain uses 20% of the oxygen that enters your bloodstream.The brain only makes up about 2% of our body mass, yet consumes more oxygen than any other organ in the body, making it extremely susceptible to damage related to oxygen deprivation. So breathe deep to keep your brain happy and swimming in oxygenated cells.
5. The brain is much more active at night than during the day.Logically, you would think that all the moving around, complicated calculations and tasks and general interaction we do on a daily basis during our working hours would take a lot more brain power than, say, lying in bed. Turns out, the opposite is true. When you turn off your brain turns on. Scientists don’t yet know why this is but you can thank the hard work of your brain while you sleep for all those pleasant dreams.
6. Scientists say the higher your I.Q. the more you dream. While this may be true, don’t take it as a sign you’re mentally lacking if you can’t recall your dreams. Most of us don’t remember many of our dreams and the average length of most dreams is only 2-3 seconds–barely long enough to register.
7. Neurons continue to grow throughout human life. For years scientists and doctors thought that brain and neural tissue couldn’t grow or regenerate. While it doesn’t act in the same manner as tissues in many other parts of the body, neurons can and do grow throughout your life, adding a whole new dimension to the study of the brain and the illnesses that affect it.
8. Information travels at different speeds within different types of neurons. Not all neurons are the same. There are a few different types within the body and transmission along these different kinds can be as slow as 0.5 meters/sec or as fast as 120 meters/sec.
9. The brain itself cannot feel pain. While the brain might be the pain center when you cut your finger or burn yourself, the brain itself does not have pain receptors and cannot feel pain. That doesn’t mean your head can’t hurt. The brain is surrounded by loads of tissues, nerves and blood vessels that are plenty receptive to pain and can give you a pounding headache.
10. 80% of the brain is water. Your brain isn’t the firm, gray mass you’ve seen on TV. Living brain tissue is a squishy, pink and jelly-like organ thanks to the loads of blood and high water content of the tissue. So the next time you’re feeling dehydrated get a drink to keep your brain hydrated.

OPPURTUNITIES OF PHARM.D IN USA AND INDIA AN INTERVIEW

Interview with Dr. Padma Sundareshan

Dr. Padma Sundareshan completed her M.Sc. in Biochemistry from Bangalore University. Later
she joined Indian Institute of Science for PhD program after passing preliminary exam she left
for USA due to marriage. In USA she joined the PhD program in Anatomy & cell biology
studied at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis for a year & moved to university of Arizona,
Tucson where she completed her PhD in Anatomy & cell biology. Currently she is doing her
PharmD at Arizona University. She came for internship at Accunova, Manipal, India during this
ACPI has conducted her brief interview regarding style and status of pharmacy practice in USA

Q. what qualification required to work as pharmacist?

In USA presently PharmD is only program after which one can work as pharmacist. PharmD
degree has replaced the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, which is no longer being awarded.
Previous Bachelor of Pharmacy degree holders are converted their qualification to PharmD with
one year additional program, which is ran by government for certain period of time.

Q. What are the job opportunities after PharmD?

After PharmD one can join as hospital pharmacist or community pharmacist. Some can also
involve in research for pharmaceutical manufacturers, developing new drugs and testing their
effects. Others work in marketing or sales, providing clients with expertise on the use,effectiveness, and possible side effects of drugs. Some pharmacists work for health insurance
companies, developing pharmacy benefit packages and carrying out cost-benefit analyses on
certain drugs. Other pharmacists work for the government, managed care organizations, public
health care services, the armed services, or pharmacy associations.

Q. What about the remuneration & rewards for the pharmacist.

Pharmacist usually works as employee in chain drug home or group of chain pharmacies. The
remuneration for pharmacist is twice a month on hourly basis. Most of the pharmacist work
around 40 hours per week & few works more than 50 hour. Some Pharmacist also works part
time. Average annual pay for community pharmacist is around 100,000 -120,000 US dollar
where as for hospital pharmacist is 70,000-80,000 US dollars. Pharmacist can earn double salary
working on holidays they also have provision of overtime allowance.

Q. what are the regulatory requirement for register pharmacist?

In US license is require to practice pharmacy. All States, U.S. territories and the District of
Columbia require the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX), which tests
pharmacy skills and knowledge. Forty-four States and the District of Columbia also require the
Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE), which tests pharmacy law. Both exams are
administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). Each of the eight
States and territories that do not require the MJPE has its own pharmacy law exam. In addition to
the NAPLEX and MPJE, some States and territories require additional exams that are unique to
their jurisdiction.

Q. How community pharmacist access patient’s history?

In USA there are mostly chain pharmacies or group of pharmacies along with this they have
good computer database system. When patients come in pharmacy every prescription is scanned
before filling. Along with softcopy hard copy of prescription is also saved at pharmacy according
to rules for few years. When same patients come for refilling of the prescription computer
immediately shows the history of patients. If patient collected his/ her medication from different
unit of pharmacy even from different city or state that also recorded and updated so it’s easy for
any working pharmacist during working hours to provide good care and prevent mischief.

Q what is social status of pharmacist in USA?

Pharmacists are highly trusted and value very high for the services they provide. They are one of
the important and respectable professions in USA

Q. What is your opinion on PharmD in India?

Since India started PharmD this year it’s difficult to talk now but as per the observation and
discussion with PharmD students at Manipal, India is doing well. Syllabus for PharmD is also structured well. Surely these people will open new doors in clinical practice in Indian health care
system.

Q. what advice you want to give to Indian PharmD students?

The PharmD students should develop leadership and communication skills. For this they should
participate and take active role in different pharmacy association works. Pharmacists should have
scientific aptitude, good interpersonal skills, and a desire to help others. Also student can take
part in IPSF student exchange program so that student can get chance to learn at different
university along with the culture of country.