Monday, August 11, 2014

Why is Lasix NOT prescribed at night?

This was asked by my professor in a clinic today.

The answer is simple.. Why would you prescribe Furosemide in the morning or afternoon but not at night? Think! Think! Think!

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Evaluating axis from ECG (Mnemonic)

Hi everyone! We are going to learn how to determine the axis from an electrocardiogram =D

First of all, do you know which two leads should be looked at to determine whether axis is in the normal quadrant or if it is Left Axis Deviation (LAD) or Right Axis Deviation (RAD)?

Look at lead I and lead II. Sounds simple! ^__^

An upright (positive) QRS in leads I and II is normal (–30 degrees to +105 degrees).
In left-axis deviation, there is an upright QRS in lead I and a downward (negative) QRS in lead II (< –30 degrees).
In right-axis deviation, there is a downward QRS in lead I and an upright QRS in lead II (> +105 degrees).

How do I remember this? @_@

Thumbs up method: Lead I = Left thumb, Lead II = Right thumb.

Wait, why lead I is left thumb and lead II is the right thumb?
Because left is a smaller word and it gets the smaller number, that is, one!
Right has more alphabets and it gets the bigger number, that is, two.

Left thumb up (I) + Right thumb up (II) = Normal.
Left thumb up (I) + Right thumb down (II) = LAD.
Left thumb down (I) + Right thumb up (II) = RAD.

Mnemonic method:
Left leaves, right returns.

That's all!
Have a splendid week everyone < 3
-IkaN


Saturday, August 9, 2014

Why are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents avoided in myoardial infarction?

Good question!

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, with the exception of aspirin, are avoided in the setting of myocaridal infarction.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Minimum number of antenatal visits recommended by WHO mnemonic

WHO recommends at least 4 visits:

1st visit around 16 weeks
2nd visit between 24-28 weeks
3rd visit at 32 weeks
4th visit at 36 weeks

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Why do we feel temperature with the back of our hand and why not the front?

The answer to this question goes back to Anatomy.

The front of our hand is innervated by the Median and Ulnar nerves which come from the lateral and medial cords of the brachial plexus.
However, the back of the hand is innervated mostly by the Radial nerve which comes from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus. The posterior cord carries the maximum number of nerve roots, that is, C5, C6, C7, C8 & T1.

The radial nerve provides cutaneous sensory innervation to most of the back of the hand so I guess it's better to check temperature with a nerve with maximum representative nerve roots. I assume if one or two roots are not working properly, say C8 & T1, the other roots from the same nerve will compensate for it.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Postpartum hemorrhage causes mnemonic

Remember the 4 T's for causes -
Tone [Atony]
Trauma [Episiotomy wound, laceration]
Tissue [Retained placenta, blood clots]
Thrombin [Blood coagulation disorders, acquired or congenital]

That's all!
-IkaN

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Normal arterial blood gas values and serum electrolytes mnemonic

Know the normal pH of blood 7.35 - 7.45.. That's all you need to remember I promise!

Take the numbers after the decimal, 35 - 45; and that's your pCO2.

Divide 45 by 2, approx 22; and that's your bicarbonate levels.

Multiply 45 by 2, that is, 90; and that's your pO2.

So in summary -
pH: 7.35 - 7.45
PCO2: 33 - 45 mm Hg
PO2: 75 - 105 mm Hg
Serum bicarbonate: 22 - 28 mEq/L

That's all!

Eid mubarak to everyone :)

-IkaN

Updated on 11th June, 2016: Illustration

Normal arterial blood gas value mnemonic
Related posts:
Wanna memorize more numbers?

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Engagement, synclitism and asynclitism

My first obstetrics video!
I talk on what is engagement & what do you mean by anterior and posterior asynclitism in this video!
Have fun learning :D


Sunday, July 20, 2014

An artery is always palapated against a bone

Did you know when you palpate the popliteal artery in the supine position, with the knee flexed, you palpate it against the proximal part of tibia but if you palpate the same in the prone position, with the knee flexed, you are palpating against the distal part of the femur?

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Intrinsic tyrosine kinase and receptor-associated tyrosine kinase mnemonic

Hello, how is everything going? ^__^
We'll be learning on how to remember some signaling pathways of endocrine hormones =D
Let's get started!

MAP kinase pathway mnemonic:
"I intrinsically try to map growth"
Intrinsic tyrosine kinase - Insulin & growth factors (IGF-1, FGF, PDGF, EGF) - MAP kinase pathway!

JAK-STAT signaling pathway mnemonic:
JAK reminds me of a jack ass. I imagine a jack pig instead =P
Prolactin, Immunomodulators (e.g., cytokines, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IFN), Growth hormone.

If you can't remember the immunomodulators, just think STAT!
sTaT has two T's which should remind you of "Tins and Ters"
Tins - Erythropoietin, prolactin, thrombopoietin, leptin
Ters - Interferons, Interleukins

And another animal - rat.
This'll help you remember that it is a receptor-associated tyrosine kinase!

So remember 3 animals - Jackass, pig & rat. You should be good :)

That's all!
Hope you're doing well & see you in the next post =D
-IkaN

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Abdominal anatomy mnemonics related to hernia

It's pretty easy to remember the Contents Of the Inguinal canal!
Spermatic Cord in males, O looks like a round for round ligament in females and Ilioinguinal nerve.

Contents of the spermatic cord? Try VAN!
V!
Vas deferens
Pampiniform plexus of Veins
Remains of processus Vaginalis
Arteries!
Cremasteric artery
Artery to the vas
Testicular artery! *meow*
Nerves!
Genitofemoral nerve
Sympathetic plexus around artery to the vas

Hey everyone! I have surgery rotations going on. Was studying hernia today & hence the post :D

Did you guys know that the midpoint of the inguinal ligament & mid inguinal point are two completely different locations?

The midpoint of inguinal ligament is halfway between the ASIS (anterior superior iliac spine) and the pubic tubercle. It is the position of femoral nerve, used in femoral nerve blocks.
"Nervous ligament"
(Because the last word is ligament.)

The mid-inguinal point is halfway between ASIS and the pubic symphysis. It is the position of the femoral artery, used in palpation of femoral pulse.
Plain old "Point for pulse"
(The last word is point.)

The mid-inguinal point is more medial than the midpoint of the inguinal ligament. (Liga is lateral xP)

That's all for now!
More stuff coming soon :D

-IkaN

Monday, June 23, 2014

MBBS surgery instruments mnemonic

Surgery instruments mnemonic! Yaay!

Before you start reading, make sure you have (a little) general idea on what they look like & where they are used.. Because otherwise it'll sound completely bonkers! You make ask any doubts in the comments section below :)

Also you are free to contribute any crazy mnemonics you've made while learning these & we'll update this section accordingly! Have fun ^__^

Kocher's forceps mnemonic.
I call it Ko-chew.
You need teeth for chewing.
And that's how I remember that Kocher's looks like an artery forceps except for the apposing tooth in the tip.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Antidotes and chelating agents mnemonic

Hey everyone! Long time, is it not?

We'll be learning about chelating agents today!

The antidote for copper poisoning is pencillamine.
How do I remember that?
"Copper pennies"
Penicillamine - Copper poisoning.

Dimercaprol is also known as British Anti Lewisite.
"BAL GAL" (It rhymes lol) or "British gal" is my mnemonic for remembering for which toxins' treatment it is used!
British Anti Lewisite - Gold, Arsenic, Lead.

Sometimes you find the answer in the word itself!
diMERcaprol - MERcury posioning.

Friday, June 13, 2014

What is extra ovular space?

IkaN: What does extraovular space mean in relationship to medical termination of pregnancy?

Pharmacology study tip - How to remember drugs names and their mechanism of action

Hey everyone!

There are certain drugs which are unique and that is why remembering mechanism of action or their pharmacological property becomes very difficult :/

I talk about how to remember them in this video! ^_^

http://youtu.be/vihwPYNaDAw

The drugs I talk about are - Finasteride, Flutamide, Baclofen, Dantrolene, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol. A mnemonic thingy which helps you not get confused =P

I hope you enjoy the video.
And if you do use this tip to make a merge words memory aid, don't forget to share it with us! :)

That's all!

-IkaN

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Bacterial vaginosis: Difference between Trichomonas vaginalis and Gardenella vaginalis with mnemonic

I talk about the various features of Trichomonas vaginalis and Gardenella vaginalis.. Also added a mnemonic on metronidazole at the end! Hope it helps!


Monday, June 2, 2014

Lecithin–sphingomyelin ratio mnemonic

Hey everyone!

We measure the L:S ratio in the amniotic fluid to check for fetal lung maturity.

The concentration of lecithin and sphingomyelin is equal till 32–33 weeks gestation after which the lecithin concentration begins to increase significantly while sphingomyelin remains nearly the same.

An L:S ratio of 2 or more indicates fetal lung maturity and a relatively low risk of infant respiratory distress syndrome, and an L/S ratio of less than 1.5 is associated with a high risk of infant respiratory distress syndrome.

Not something you forget, but this is how it plays in my head - Phosphatidylcholine Peaks, Sphingomyelin remains the Same.

It also helps you remember that lecithin is made up of phospholipids like phosphatidylcholine.
(Sometimes, examiners may use basic biochemical compounds to test whether you know what they are made of.. That's when you show them what you are made of as well B)

That's all!

-IkaN