Does dopamine cause vasoconstriction or vasodilation?

Is dopamine a vasoconstrictor or a vasodilator?

Both! It depends on the rate of infusion.

At low rates of infusion (0.5 to 2 mcg/kg/min), dopamine causes vasodilation that is presumed to be due to a specific agonist action on dopamine receptors in the renal, mesenteric, coronary and intracerebral vascular beds.

At higher rates of infusion (10-20 mcg/kg/min), there is some effect on alpha- adrenoceptors, with consequent vasoconstrictor effects and a rise in blood pressure. The vasoconstrictor effects are first seen in the skeletal muscle vascular beds, but with increasing doses, they are also evident in the renal and mesenteric vessels.

Immunology emoticon game answers

Here are the answers!

Immunology emoticon game

And it's back again! Except, it is more tougher conceptually.

We figured guessing words out of emoticons is too lame and easy for you medicos and thought we'd add questions to make it more fun!

Immunology emoticon game

Study group experience #17

Pathophysiology of liquefactive and coagulative necrosis in hypoxia

Leucine, tryptophan and niacin
CPS 1 and CPS 2

T4 level
Tonsils and pharynx review questions

Food, pain and ulcers
Refsums disease
Kimmelstiel-Wilson in medicine
Pheochromocytoma and eleven  

Kochs contact
Questions on tuberculosis  

Differentials of wasting of small muscles of the hand

We did a massive change in all 4 groups, we clubbed Asians in two groups and Non Asians in two groups. Now the groups are segregated time zone wise, leading to better fruitful discussions! Though we do a bit of a mix and match here and there.

Also, we recently made group 5. It's a lot of discussions to take it for people who are in all 5 groups!

Study group discussion: T4 level

Studying the anatomy of the thorax.. Does anyone know the events occurring at T4 level?

At t4 level:
- Arch of aorta starts and ends at this level
- Azygous vein ends here to join SVC
- Trachea divides into primary bronchi

Study group discussion: Food, pain and ulcers

How does food relieve pain in duodenal ulcer and aggravate pain in stomach ulcer?

Food reaching stomach causes acid secretion. Therefore, pain increases.

In case of duodenal ulcer, eating causes pyloric spincter contraction, acid is prevented from reaching the duodenum
Therefore, pain is relieved.

Beckwith-wiedemann syndrome mnemonic

"Becky is big."
Beckwith-wiedemann syndrome mnemonic

"Big body"
Macrosomia

"Big tongue"
Macroglossia

"Big abdomen"
Omphalocele

"Big pancreas"
Hyperinsulinemia -> Hypoglycemia

"Big organs"
Visceromegaly

"Likes to get bigger"
Associated with Wilms tumor, gonadoblastoma and neuroblastoma


That's all!

-IkaN

Study group discussion: Pheochromocytoma and eleven

What is rule of 11 for pheochromocytoma?

11% are extra-adrenal
11% are bilateral
11% are malignant
11% are found in children
11% are familial
11% are not associated with hypertension
11% contain calcification

Fallopian tube facts and mnemonics

Hello! I read some facts about the fallopian tube so I'll be sharing it with you today!

What part of the fallopian tube does fertilization occur?
Ampulla of the fallopian tube is the most common site for fertilization.

Sometimes, the embryo isn't transported to the uterus by the cilia, causing ectopic pregnancy. This is why, ampulla of the fallopian tube is the most common site of ectopic pregnancy.

How do I remember this? Mnemonic!

FAME
Fertilization
AMpulla
Ectopic

Another random fact to remember is, isthmus is most common site of rupture of ectopic pregnancies because it is inflexible and has a thick muscularis.

Mnemonic: ISTHMUS
Inflexible
Stiff
THick
MUScularis

That's all!
-IkaN

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection

Meckel Gruber syndrome mnemonic

Hello everyone!

We are going to learn about Meckel Gruber syndrome today!

It's an autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by GRUBEP!

G: ambiguous Genitalia
R: Renal dysplasia
U: Ureteric hypoplasia
B: Bladder hypoplasia
E: Encephalocele
P: Polydactyly
Pancreatic dysplasia

That's all!

There is nothing free except the grace of God.

-IkaN

Remembering Apgar scoring.

Hello awesomites, finding it difficult to remember the components of Apgar score? Well, I think grouping them makes it easy-

1. The heart and lungs lie close hence,  you can group 'heart rate' and 'respiratory effort' together.

2. Reflexes are carried out none other than muscles, hence 'muscle tone' and 'reflex irritability' or 'reflex response' go into the second group.

3. Color, now it is easy to remember.

That's all!

Study group discussion: CPS 1 and CPS 2

Today's discussion is about Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase!

What are differences between CPS 1 and CPS 2?

CPS 1 works in the urea cycle.
CPS 2 in pyramidine synthesis.

CPS 1 is mitochondrial.
CPS 2 is cytosolic.

(Medicowesome mnemonic: Two is cys-two-lic)

The source of nitrogen for CPS 1 is ammonia.
For CPS 2, it is the amide group of glutamine.

N acetyl glutamate is activator for CPS 1.
ATP is activator for CPS 2.

Woah that's a lot of points I didn't know about!