Hey Awesomites
You must have tried solving brain teasers at some point of time.. right? Ok so how many of you tried to solve it right at that instant ( sensing your gut reaction ), but guessed it wrong? If so, you might be having loads of testosterone in your veins!
Friday, May 12, 2017
X-Linked Dominant Disorders.
Hello everybody!
Let's learn a quick way to remember a few important X-linked Dominant Disorders.
The mnemonic goes like:
All Hypo Pigmented Rats Have Resistant Rickets.
All - Alport Syndrome.
Hypo - Familial Hypophosphatemia.
Pigmented - Incontinentia Pigmenti.
Rats - Rett Syndrome.
Resistant Rickets - Vit.D Resistant Rickets.
X linked dominant disorders are rare pattern of inheritance.
All affected males will transmit it to all their daughters and all affected females will transmit the disease to 50% of her sons/daughters.
If you have another mnemonic on the same do share.
Let's learn Together!
-Medha.
Marfan syndrome - High Yield Information.
Hello everybody,
lets today briefly revise all the high yield points on Marfan syndrome.
Marfan syndrome is an example of structural protein disorder and with autosomal dominant inheritance, lets see what exactly goes wrong in this condition.
Etiopathogenesis:
There is a missense mutation seen in the fibrillin-1 gene located on the chromosome no.15.
So to understand the condition better, lets understand a bit about fibrillin.
Fibrillin forms the glycoprotein component of cellular microfibrils and also provides a scaffold for the elastin deposition.
Abundant fibrillin is found in the connective tissues of the aorta,ligaments and the eye, these are the structures predominantly affected in the disorder too.
The defective fibrillin leads to defective microfibril assembly intracellularly and reduced elasticity in connective tissues.
Defective fibrillin also leads to decreased TGF-beta(Transforming growth factor ) sequestration, and excess of TGF-B hampers normal vascular smooth muscle development and matrix production.
Morphological Features:
1) Skeletal changes:
Tall stature with long extremities.
Long tapering fingers and toes.(Arachnodactyly)
Hyperextensibility.
Dolicocephaly.
Kyphosis ans scoliosis.
Pectus excavatum or Pigeon breast deformity.
2) Cardiovascular changes:
Aortic regurgitation: Due to aortic cystic medial degeneration leading to valvular ring dilatation & valvular incompetence. Most threatening valvular lesion.
Mitral valve prolapse : Most common valvular lesion.
Aortic Dissections are the most common cause of death in these patients.
3) Occular changes:
Ectopia Lentis: bilateral superotemporal dislocation of lenses.
Retinal Detachment : due to increased axial length of the globe.
Diagnosis:
Currently Revised Ghent Criteria is used for the diagnosis of Marfan syndrome.
It considers:
Family history,
Cardinal Clinical Signs in absence of family history,
Presence or absence of Fibrillin Mutation.
so that's all on marfans syndrome.
Fun Fact:
We all have been hearing about some famous personalities with Marfan syndrome like Abraham Lincon and Michael Phelps, but Tutankhamen the 11th pharoh of 18th Egyptian Dynasty was diagnosed to be suffering from Marfan's Syndrome by a series of CT scans and DNA tests carried out on his MUMMY!
Do post any other interesting facts you know about Marfan's Syndrome.
Let's Learn Together!
-Medha!
lets today briefly revise all the high yield points on Marfan syndrome.
Marfan syndrome is an example of structural protein disorder and with autosomal dominant inheritance, lets see what exactly goes wrong in this condition.
Etiopathogenesis:
There is a missense mutation seen in the fibrillin-1 gene located on the chromosome no.15.
So to understand the condition better, lets understand a bit about fibrillin.
Fibrillin forms the glycoprotein component of cellular microfibrils and also provides a scaffold for the elastin deposition.
Abundant fibrillin is found in the connective tissues of the aorta,ligaments and the eye, these are the structures predominantly affected in the disorder too.
The defective fibrillin leads to defective microfibril assembly intracellularly and reduced elasticity in connective tissues.
Defective fibrillin also leads to decreased TGF-beta(Transforming growth factor ) sequestration, and excess of TGF-B hampers normal vascular smooth muscle development and matrix production.
Morphological Features:
1) Skeletal changes:
Tall stature with long extremities.
Long tapering fingers and toes.(Arachnodactyly)
Hyperextensibility.
Dolicocephaly.
Kyphosis ans scoliosis.
Pectus excavatum or Pigeon breast deformity.
2) Cardiovascular changes:
Aortic regurgitation: Due to aortic cystic medial degeneration leading to valvular ring dilatation & valvular incompetence. Most threatening valvular lesion.
Mitral valve prolapse : Most common valvular lesion.
Aortic Dissections are the most common cause of death in these patients.
3) Occular changes:
Ectopia Lentis: bilateral superotemporal dislocation of lenses.
Retinal Detachment : due to increased axial length of the globe.
Diagnosis:
Currently Revised Ghent Criteria is used for the diagnosis of Marfan syndrome.
It considers:
Family history,
Cardinal Clinical Signs in absence of family history,
Presence or absence of Fibrillin Mutation.
so that's all on marfans syndrome.
Fun Fact:
We all have been hearing about some famous personalities with Marfan syndrome like Abraham Lincon and Michael Phelps, but Tutankhamen the 11th pharoh of 18th Egyptian Dynasty was diagnosed to be suffering from Marfan's Syndrome by a series of CT scans and DNA tests carried out on his MUMMY!
Do post any other interesting facts you know about Marfan's Syndrome.
Let's Learn Together!
-Medha!
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Fact of the day: Psychiatric effects of steroids
Did you know corticosteroid therapy can cause depression, mania, psychosis, and delirium?
Why?
The mechanism by which the corticosteroid induces symptoms such as mania, depression, and psychosis is not clear.
The administration of prednisone is associated with decreased levels of corticotrophin, norepinephrine, and beta-endorphin in the cerebrospinal fluid. Furthermore, corticosteroids induce an increased release of glutamate that induces neuronal toxicity due to accumulation effect.
-IkaN
Light's criteria for exudative pleural effusion
Here's a mnemonic on Light's criteria for exudative pleural effusion.
Mnemonico diagnostico : Direct laryngoscopy in Laryngomalacia
Hey awesomites
Laryngomalacia is the most common congenital anomaly of the larynx characterised by excessive flaccidity of supraglottic larynx which results in inspiratory stridor and cyanosis.
Mnemonic for Direct laryngoscopy findings : FlOP
Fl - Floppy aryepiglottic folds
O - Omega- shaped epiglottis
P - Prominent arytenoids
- The short bands ( aryepiglottic folds ) cause the epiglottis to curl upon itself.
- Epiglottis is elongated and folded longitudinally to form an omega.
- Arytenoids are situated posteriorly and show prominence.
Also check out the mnemonic for differentiating laryngomalacia from tracheomalacia Here .
Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh
Laryngomalacia is the most common congenital anomaly of the larynx characterised by excessive flaccidity of supraglottic larynx which results in inspiratory stridor and cyanosis.
Mnemonic for Direct laryngoscopy findings : FlOP
Fl - Floppy aryepiglottic folds
O - Omega- shaped epiglottis
P - Prominent arytenoids
- The short bands ( aryepiglottic folds ) cause the epiglottis to curl upon itself.
- Epiglottis is elongated and folded longitudinally to form an omega.
- Arytenoids are situated posteriorly and show prominence.
Also check out the mnemonic for differentiating laryngomalacia from tracheomalacia Here .
Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Painful and painless genital ulcers mnemonic
Hey!
Today's post is about sexually transmitted pathogens that cause (painful and painless) genital ulcers.
Causes of painless genital ulcers:
Today's post is about sexually transmitted pathogens that cause (painful and painless) genital ulcers.
Causes of painful genital ulcers:
Haemophilus ducreyi (the causative agent of chancroid)
Herpes simplex virus types I and II (HSV-1 and HSV-2)
Herpes simplex virus types I and II (HSV-1 and HSV-2)
Causes of painless genital ulcers:
Treponema pallidum (the causative agent of syphilis)
Klebsiella granulomatis (the causative agent of granuloma inguinale; also known as "Donovanosis")
Klebsiella granulomatis (the causative agent of granuloma inguinale; also known as "Donovanosis")
Chlamydia trachomatis serovars L1-3 (the causative agents of lymphogranuloma venereum; LGV)
And now, mnemonics for everybody! Wohhooo!
Fact of the day : Blood pressure should be measured in both arms
Hello
Measuring the blood pressure offers an important glimpse into the patient's health. In general practice, the readings are taken from left arm in right - handed patients and vice - versa.
But some healthy people can have slightly different numbers between arms - a huge difference signals a blockade or an abnormality !! The difference in systolic pressure between arms should not be greater than 5 points. ( Not one, but at least three recordings must be taken at three minute intervals and the one with lowest numbers is taken as the final reading. )
If the recordings in one arm are higher than the other, then that arm should be used for future measurements.
In young, it could sign a narrowing of the main artery ( coarctation of aorta ) or other congenital heart defects. In the elderly, it could be a sign of underlying atherosclerotic condition, or may be aortic dissection !! Note that in a woman with breast cancer who has had mastectomy and lymph nodes resection, the measurements are not to be taken in the arm on the side of mastectomy.
When to take the readings in both arms?
Well, not everytime obviously. But every once in a while should be okay.. may be once the patient is in his teens and then in his 40s or 50s.
( Source )
Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh
Measuring the blood pressure offers an important glimpse into the patient's health. In general practice, the readings are taken from left arm in right - handed patients and vice - versa.
But some healthy people can have slightly different numbers between arms - a huge difference signals a blockade or an abnormality !! The difference in systolic pressure between arms should not be greater than 5 points. ( Not one, but at least three recordings must be taken at three minute intervals and the one with lowest numbers is taken as the final reading. )
If the recordings in one arm are higher than the other, then that arm should be used for future measurements.
In young, it could sign a narrowing of the main artery ( coarctation of aorta ) or other congenital heart defects. In the elderly, it could be a sign of underlying atherosclerotic condition, or may be aortic dissection !! Note that in a woman with breast cancer who has had mastectomy and lymph nodes resection, the measurements are not to be taken in the arm on the side of mastectomy.
When to take the readings in both arms?
Well, not everytime obviously. But every once in a while should be okay.. may be once the patient is in his teens and then in his 40s or 50s.
( Source )
Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh
Pathophysiology of hepatojugular reflux
Hello. Let's talk about the HJR today!
What is the hepatojugular reflux?
Distention of the neck veins when pressure is applied over the liver.
Fact of the day: Paradoxical agitation with benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines frequently are administered to patients to induce sedation.
Paradoxical reactions to benzodiazepines, characterized by increased talkativeness, emotional release, excitement, and excessive movement, are relatively uncommon and occur in less than 1% of patients.
The exact mechanism of paradoxical reactions remains unclear.
It is important to be aware of this side effect because increasing the dose of benzodiazepine would worsen the condition.
Acalculous cholecystitis notes
Hello!
Let's learn about Acalculous cholecystitis today. These are my step 2 CK notes, made from UpToDate.
What is acalculous cholecystitis?
Acalculous cholecystitis is an acute necroinflammatory disease of the gallbladder with a multifactorial pathogenesis. It is typically seen in patients who are hospitalized and critically ill.
Clinical features:
In critically ill patients, the appearance of unexplained fever, leukocytosis, or vague abdominal discomfort may be the only sign of acalculous cholecystitis. Patients may also have jaundice or a right upper quadrant mass. Laboratory test abnormalities may include a leukocytosis or abnormal liver tests, but they are nonspecific.
Diagnosis: USG.
Why?
Advantages of ultrasonography are that it is noninvasive, can be done at the bedside, and has good sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing acalculous cholecystitis. In addition, ultrasonography may reveal alternative diagnoses (such as calculous cholecystitis). Thickening of the gallbladder wall is the most reliable feature seen in patients with acalculous cholecystitis.
Ultrasonographic features:
●Absence of gallstones or sludge
●Thickening of the gallbladder wall (>3 mm)
●Pericholecystic fluid
●Striated gallbladder
●A positive Murphy's sign induced by the ultrasound probe (may be absent in patients who are obtunded or sedated)
●Mucosal sloughing
●Gallbladder distension (>5 cm).
Treatment:
In patients with acalculous cholecystitis, we recommend the initiation of broad spectrum antibiotics as soon as blood cultures have been drawn.
Infection with enteric pathogens, including E. coli, E. faecalis, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Proteus species, and Bacteroides is common.
Preferred surgery: Cholecystostomy rather than cholecystectomy.
Why?
Cholecystostomy is effective and is less invasive than cholecystectomy. (especially in critically ill patients.)
However, cholecystectomy should be performed if there are findings suggesting gallbladder necrosis, emphysematous cholecystitis, or perforation. Cholecystectomy is also a reasonable alternative in patients who are good surgical candidates.
That's all!
-IkaN
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Medulla (Fun Mnemonic Diagrams)
Hello Everyone,
Today lets discuss sections of medulla. I remember them as three sisters!
Today lets discuss sections of medulla. I remember them as three sisters!
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