中菜配葡萄酒

An informative and interesting persentation on wine and its paring with Chinese food (at 2010 WYKAAO Spring Banquet) by John Kan

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Prostate tests may cause more harm than good?

Q: I’ve just read this article titled ‘Prostate tests may cause more harm than good’. What’s your opinion on this? Thanks.

A: Good question. 

To test or not to test, it is up to the patient to decide. If a male patient wants PSA , digital rectal exam, transrectal ultrasound or a prastate biopsy(if the first 3 are abnormal), any normal professional doctor would comply with an added caveat that no lab test or tests is/are 100% accurate.
 
Dr Neil Fleshner’s opinion is that of the current Canadian MD thinking:
 
“Canadians physicians know screening for prostate cancer saves lives, he said. The preferred approach in Canada is to find the cancer but not necessarily treat it, an approach called “active surveillance,” 
 
It is the treatment like radical prostatectomy, orchidectomy (surgical castration), or estrogen therapy (chemical castration) which can do more harm than good.
 
If the doctor explains the test results and options to the patient well, it is highly unlikely that the patient would be harmed.
 
As the saying goes: “Ignorance is the worst cardinal sin!”
 
Here is additional reading for those who might be interested:
 
 
www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com .  As well  search under “Prostate”
 
or Stay Active to Reduce Your Risk of Prostate Cancer in the same Johns Hopkins’ website.

Enlarged Heart

Q: A recent Xray (chest) shows that my heart is larger than normal. Pl give possible explanation and what practical steps to take. I am in Hong Kong and wonder if any wynites is a heart specialist here that I could see. I am retired and 76 years old. Thank you

A: A heart is enlarged because it has to do more work.  This is akin to body building.  Muscles “enlarge” when body builders pump iron.
 
Without knowing your background training & past medical history, I’ll try to list some general etiologies using as many laymen’s terms as possible.
 
What might be the causes?
 
1.  High blood pressure.
2.  Structural damage: leaking heart valves,(rheumatic heart disease, calcification/stiffness), damage by infections/poisons/medications, etc.
3.  Anemia.
4.  Hormonal: eg. hypothyroidism.
5.  Rarely, hereditary (cardiomyopathy).
 
You can also check internet search engines for: cardiomegaly” , “cardiac hypertrophy” or simply “enlarged heart”.
 
I don’t know any cardiologist in HK, but I’ll check with Mr. Anthony Ho & see if he knows any WYK alumni who are practicing cardiologist in HK.

蟹与红酒非好友

Crab and Red Wine

在我的圈子里,有些人只喝红酒,不喝白酒。
这跟只吃牛排,不吃龙虾差不多,有点儿执著。
香港浸会大学国际学院副总监暨食品安全及环境健康
课程统筹刘信信表示:每种食物均拥有不同的化学元素,
有些食物并不適宜混合进食;否则影响身体健康。此即所谓
“食物相冲”

如果食物内含有大量鞣质(单宁或tannin)如以葡萄釀製的
红酒,会与蟹肉内的蛋白质凝固,成为一种难以分解的化合物,
引致肠道痉挛,更可能出现腹痛肚泻等情况。其他常与蟹相冲
的包括绿茶和柿子。

WYKwinos Report No.1

                     WYKwinos Report No.1   

Date/Time: Sat. Nov. 14, 2009; 2:00 – 5:ish pm

Place: Family Dining Rm; Mon Sheong Court

1st Bottle 1999 Riesling Kabinett, Schloss Schonborn        

1999 Riesling Kabinett, Schloss Schonborn

Varietal: Riesling Winery/Producer: Schloss Schonborn
Type: White Wine Year: 1999
Cost: $17.95 Region: Germany Rheingau
Food to match: 時菜班球  
Remarks:
2nd Bottle 2006 Pinot Noir, Domaine Carneros                

2006 Pinot Noir, Domaine Carneros

Varietal: Pinot Noir Winery/Producer: Domaine Carneros
Type: Red Wine Year: 2006
Cost: $34.95 Region: USA, California, Sonoma
Food to match: 燒鴨  
Remarks:
3rd Bottle 2006 Domaine Debray Bourgogne Hautes Cote De Beaune                  

2006 Domaine Debray Bourgogne Hautes Cote De Beaune

Varietal: Pinot Noir Winery/Producer: Domaine Debray
Type: Red Wine Year: 2006
Cost: $17.95 Region: France, Burgundy, Bourgogne
Food to match: 卤水墨鱼  
Remarks:

 

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