Amaurosis fugax mnemonics

I was studying the causes of Amaurosis fugax today.. so i just made random mnemonics and thought of sharing with you guys :D

Amaurosis fugax is a transient uniocular loss of vision either due to lack of blood supply to the brain or to the retina itself.

Disease modifying therapies for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis - MS treatment mnemonic

Hey!

I was reading treatment for MS today.

Do you want to remember the disease modifying therapies for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis?

Here's a mnemonic! "Ms is Nat (not) glad. All terrified by mighty ox with fuming fungus."

Multiple sclerosis (Ms)
Natalizumab (Nat)
Glatiramer acetate (Glad)
Alemtuzumab (All terrified)
INF beta (By)
Mitoxanthrane (Mighty ox)
Dimethyl fumarate (Fuming)
Fingolimod (Fungus)

Remember, for acute attacks, use Glucocorticoids.

That's all!

-IkaN

Neurofibromatosis type 1 - Another mnemonic

Hey!

So I needed another mnemonic for neurofibromatosis because my first mnemonic wasn't good enough xD

This time, the mnemonic is NODES!

That's all! 

Merry Christmas everyone! 

-IkaN

Neurofibromatosis type 1 old mnemonic: http://www.medicowesome.com/2014/10/neurofibromatosis-1-mnemonic.html

Syndromic Management Of RTI/SRI

*Syndromic Management*📁📗🏳📘📕📒📓

Mnemonic :: *Great Girls Wont Buy Red Yellow Bags*

*Kit 1 - Grey*
*Kit 2 - Green*
*Kit 3 - White*
*Kit 4 - Blue*
*Kit 5 - Red*
*Kit 6 - Yellow*
*Kit 7 - Black*

*Kit 1 is GreaT*
Gonorrhea
C.Trachomatis

*Kit 2 is Green*
_*BV CA Green TV*_
Coz no self respectingan would buy a green TV...he'll buy it out of love for wife😜😜😜

Bacterial Vaginosis
Candida Albicans
Trichomonas Vaginalis

*Kit-3 is ABC*
Azithral
Benzathine penicillin

For Chancre and chancroid

Also notice C is 3rd letter and 3 letters ABC in the mnemonic for Kit 3

*Kit - 4 Remember that if you forget this then its BAD*

Blue
Azithral coz allergy to penicillin
Doxy

*Kit - 5 is Red as in Mnemonic*
Remember that Red is for love and love is *Her* eyes and smile
*Her*petic

*Kit - 6 is Yellow as in Mnemonic*

Yel *low* for *low*er abd pain
PID

*Kit - 7 is Black* coz last colour is the colour palate also BLAC

Bubo
LGV
Azithral
Chancroid

Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis

Hey awesomites!

Since I have written posts regarding the association of vitamin D deficiency with certain neurological disorders previously, I am here again with one more addition into the box (on sincere request of our main author IkaN.. :p ).

Anticholinesterase

Hey here is exclusive classification of anticholinesterase drugs !,hopefully it will be useful.

~Ojas

Hypoglycemia mnemonic

Hypoglycemia may present as a mere symptom of a disease or a life- threatening condition itself. I have made a mnemonic on the common signs and symptoms in a patient of hypoglycemia. Here it is..
METABOLISM

M- Mood swings
E- Excess sweating
T- Tachycardia
A- Adrenal fatigue
B- Blood pressure changes
O- Obesity
L- Lips tingling
I- Increased appetite/ hunger
S- Shakiness (tremors)
M- Muscle pain


That's all
- Jaskunwar Singh

Crispy C.R.I.S.P.R.!

10 years ago,only a few would have thought that a device in our pockets would be good enough to access all the information of the world, would do social networking, calls, would calculate, act as a torch and what not. 

We today are on a similar brink ofrevolution in genetic engineering, where the effects would be so magnificent that they would need to be measured on a Richter scale! 

Enter CRISPR, which is an acronym for 'clustered regularly interspaced shortpalindromic repeats', a  crispy new technology which promises to shrink the costs involved in genetic engineering by 90%, makes the procedure easier andshorter.

*What is it? 
We have managed to hack an antibacteriophage mechanism in bacteria to our advantage. 

Only a few bacteria survive bacteriophage invasion. To protect themselves from a further invasion, they store a part of the phage DNA into their archives. 

When another attack does occur, an RNA copy of the archived phage DNA is presented to what is known as a CAS 9 protein.

CAS 9 compares the two copies, one from the foreign DNA and the other from the archives, and is very precise at that. 

If it finds a 100% match, it cuts off thenew phage's DNA, thus rendering the attack a big embarrassment for the bacteriophage. :-p 

*What can we do with it? 
Oh, a lot of awesome things! 

-Pissing off viruses
In 2015, scientists armed with CRISPR achieved a significant reduction of HIV load from patiens. 
This year, in mice, they slashed off 51% HIV DNA from mice, just by a couple of shots in their tails! 

*Making cancer re evaluate its careerchoice- 
Malignant cell detection by the immune system can be enhanced. 

*Designer babies- 
A lot of desirable traits- super awesome eyesight, superman esque strength and so on, can be selected from a wide palette during embryogenesis.

*Bidding adieu to genetic diseases

*Making ourselves look hot at 120-

CRISPR holds the potential to slow and even reverse ageing! We can take a leaf off the books of certain aquatic species who already are doing that. 

.. and a lot more. 

*The last word
A few controversies sorround though.
- We don't know if any adverse 
  reactions may triggered, as our 
  knowledge is still just the tip of the
  iceberg.
- Some powers like say dictators
   might use it to gain precedence.
- The fear of genetic pollution.

Anyway, these are just hurdles which we need to plan and overcome for a glorious future for humanity! 

Source- Kurzgesagt. 


  

Symptoms of corneal disorders mnemonic

I was studying corneal disorders and dystrophies, infections, inflammations today and noticed many common symptoms in the patients.

Now since its the matter of the eye, I must tell you how much I love photography and also i used to do some painting stuff long ago. So i made a random mnemonic out of it for the symptoms of corneal disorders.. :p

DSLR Photography and Painting Workshops.

D- Decreased vision

S- Sensations (foreign body)

L- Lacrimation

R- Redness

P- Photophobia

P- Pain

W- white cornea

Thats all

- Jaskunwar Singh

Bullous skin disorders-1 pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid

Pemphigus vulgaris

http://www.medpictures.org/pemphigus-vulgaris-pictures.html

Bullous pemphigoid

http://www.pcds.org.uk/clinical-guidance/bullous-pemphigoid1#!prettyPhoto



these two are the most commonly asked questions within bullous diseases.
the major difference you need to know is
pemphigus vulgaris- bullae are suprabasal. hence these are not tense and rupture easily..not very common in a clinical case for you to find a bulla
bullous pemphigoid- bullae are subepidermal..and hence tense.

a mnemonic..like a bull..bullae in Bullous pemphigoid are tough and stronger

-sakkan

Layers of retina

Retina consists of 10 layers of cells and their nuclei so I tried to make it easier to memorize all layers. A lame one but hope it helps.. :p

There are outer 5 layers. So the outer ones start with 'O' in the first letter. And the inner 5 layers initiate with 'I' in the first letter.

That's all

- Jaskunwar Singh

Symptoms of conjunctival disorders mnemonic

Symptoms of conjunctival disorders:-

RED AF

R- Redness

E- Edema of conjunctiva

D- Discharge

A- (a)ecchymosis

F- Foreign body sensation

That's all

- Jaskunwar Singh

Medipicsowesome: Adams Oliver syndrome

Hey everyone!

Hope you are enjoying Medipicsowesome!

Adams–Oliver syndrome (AOS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by defects of the scalp and cranium (cutis aplasia congenita), transverse defects of the limbs, and mottling of the skin.

The baby has a defect in the frontal and parietal bone and terminal limb defects in the legs.

That's all!

-IkaN

Serological And Viral Markers Of Hepatitis B Infection Made Easy

Hello everyone
This is Shubham Patidar . Today I am posting my notes on Serological  and Viral Markers of Hepatitis B Infection  in concise and simple way. This is very important short note ask in pharmacology, pathology, community medicine, medicine , microbiology, in undergraduate theory exam . and mcq comes in post graduate medical examinations.
Enjoy Learning !
That's all !

Past Pointing Mnemonic

Hi everyone !
So this is another short post about 'Past pointing'. I hope you don't consider it pointless to discuss this. (I know, play along.)

There are a few tests called 'Finger-Nose-Finger' test and 'Finger-Nose' test. These detect how controlled and precise your movements are.
Say, for example , I ask a patient to touch my finger (which I place directly in front of him), then touch his own nose and touch my finger once again.
A normal person should be able to do this correctly and accurately.
However, in lesions of at least 2 structures of our body , the patient's finger overshoots the examiner's or can't seem to reach it correctly.
This is called 'Past Pointing' , as the patient shoots past the destination point.

2 important lesions where you get this are :
1. Cerebellar
2. Vestibular

So, in a Cerebellar lesion things are very straight forward.
You'd get pastpointing only on the side of the lesion as only that side has become stripped from the cerebellar control. The other side has intact Cerebellar control.
Cerebellum = Same side Past Pointing.
Cerebellum is Single and Lonely

The Vestibular System defects are slightly more complex and also very controversial. So irrespective of which side you try, you'd get Bilateral past pointing in a Vestibular lesion.
However,
Such a pastpointing is generally more prominent on the side of the Slow Component of the nystagmus produced (Whatt?). Yeah. Also, the Slow side of nystagmus and the side of past pointing are also the same as the side to which you'd lose your balance in a Vestibular disorder !
So Remember :
My SLOW Vestibular friend FALLS to pointy end but can Swing BOTH ways .
So Slow Component of nystagmus , and Falling during gait testing would be present and Pointing would be towards the same side too.
But Past Pointing can Bilateral (Swings both ways).

Hope this helps. Let me know how I can improve it!
Happy studying ! :)

~A.P.Burkholderia

Symptomatic variations in cough

Hey Awesomites!

Cough is a common symptom that may be associated with an infection of upper respiratory tract, which if not given attention to can progress to a life- threatening chronic disease! Normally, its just a common reflex that helps clear mucus off from the throat and the upper airways. But there are certain variations in the presence and progression of cough. So what is your cough trying to tell you about your health? Let's know about this...

Vestibular Apparatus Mnemonic

Hi everyone. This is just a short post to help you remember the functions of the Vestibular System. Memorising this always gives me a vertigo. ;)

The Vestibular System has 2 components :
1. Semicircular canals
2. Utricle and Saccule.

So the Vestibular System detects the following :

Angular Acceleration/Rotational movements.
Linear Acceleration.
Gravity.
Position of Head in space.

So the Semi circular canals are concerned with Angular Acceleration. You can remember that as :
Circle = Rotates ; So SCC detect Rotational movements or Angular Acceleration

The rest are functions of Utricle and Saccule.
Remember : GPL - Girls Premiere League.
For : Gravity, Position of Head and Linear acceleration.

Now  remember :
Saccule - NOT Sleeping line. So Vertical movements.
And
Utricle - Horizontal (since sleeping line was not Saccule it will be Utricle)
Another way would be "UHH' Utricle for Horizontal.

Hope this helped you.
Happy studying ! :)

How to apply for USMLE exams: ECFMG certification using IWA in detail

This is a continuation of the main post, How to apply for USMLE exams (http://www.medicowesome.com/2016/12/how-to-apply-for-usmle-exams.html)

Step 3 is elaborated in detail here:

Medipicsowesome: Thanatophoric dysplasia

Hello!

First post of Medipicsowesome. Yaay!

Thanatophoric dysplasia (TD) is a lethal skeletal dysplasia. It is the 2nd most common lethal skeletal dysplasia after osteogenesis imperfecta type II.

It is characterized by extremely short limbs and folds of extra (redundant) skin on the arms and legs.

Other features of this condition include a narrow chest, short ribs, underdeveloped lungs, and an enlarged head with a large forehead and prominent, wide-spaced eyes.

Type I thanatophoric dysplasia is distinguished by the presence of curved thigh bones and flattened bones of the spine (platyspondyly).

Type II thanatophoric dysplasia is characterized by straight thigh bones and a moderate to severe skull abnormality called a cloverleaf skull.

This baby seems to have type II thanatophoric dysplasia.

The condition is uniformly fatal within a few hours of birth either from respiratory failure or from brainstem compression from a narrow foramen magnum.

This baby died a few hours after birth.

Cool fact: The term thanatophoric derives from the Greek words "thanatos" meaning "death" and "foros" meaning "bearing/carrying/bringing".

That's all!
-IkaN

Medipicsowesome: An introduction

Hello!

The Medicowesome family has decided to create a library of medical pictures. Excited? =)

We are going to label all these posts as Medipicsowesome.

It'll contain pictures of specimens, diseases, instruments, etc.

Since we wish to avoid copyright issues, we will be taking permission for most pictures / giving credits from which they're taken. If a picture belongs to you and you do not wish to see it uploaded on the site, email us at medicowesome@gmail.com and we will take it down immediately.

I have taken permission from the patients for pictures clicked in my wards, explaining they'll be uploaded on the blog for medical students to learn. Only after their permission, I have uploaded the pictures. To maintain confidentiality, I will blur eyes / faces too.

If you want to share cases you've seen on Medipicsowesome, we'll be happy to upload it. Just email us the picture with a description and make sure you have the permission of the patient!
Email: medicowesome@gmail.com
Subject: Medipicsowesome submission

That's all!
The idea was come up by all authors, especially, Sakkan. Thanks for the encouragement everyone else! < 3
-IkaN

Median nerve

Median nerve
Root value :C5-T1
IMP points
1)Median nerve is most medial content of Cubital fossa
In Cubital fossa it gives 3
Branches to flexor muscles
Remember this mnemonics
Feel Climate (in) Rajasthan,Days (in) Singapore (in) PLs
Flexor carpi radialis  .(FELL CLIMATE -Rajasthan)
Flexor digitorum superficials(Days
in -Singapore) 
Palmaris Longus (PLs) .
In forearm it gives Anterior interosseous branch which supplies:-
1)Lateral half of flexor digitorum profundus (Well,medial half is supplies by ulnar nerve)
2)Pronator quadratus(my Fav!)
3)Flexor policies Longus(Extensor policies Longus and brevis both supplied by radial  nerve)
In palm ,median nerve supplies 5 muscles !
3 thenar muscles ,(Abductor pollicis brevis ,flexor pollicies brevis  ,opponens pollicis )
Lateral 2 lumbricals!
Clinical anatomy:
1)Known as labourers nerve /eye of hand
2)Pointing index finger occurs due to paralysis of long flexors of digit .
3)Ape or monkey thumb deformity if thenar muscles are paralysed
4)Must know carpal tunnel syndrome(Happens when median nerve is trapped )REMEMBER Skin over the thenar eminence is not affected as the branch of median nerve supplying it arises from forearm
5)FROMENT's.sign/Book holding test &paper holding test is done to test median nerve .
6) Complete claw hand when Ulnar and median nerves are paralysed.

~Ojas

Hyperplasia - Physiologic or Pathologic?

Hyperplasia means increase in the cell number.

It tends to occur only in organs where the cells retain the ability to divide. It can be physiologic or pathologic.

The morphology of the organ on gross or the cells on microscopy does not differ in physiologic or pathologic hyperplasia. What differentiates the two is the inciting stimulus.

for eg- Breast/ Endometrial hyperplasia is a feature of pregnancy as well as in certain hormone producing tumors of the ovary. The tissue microscopically, only shows increased number of mature cells. However, the hyperplasia that occurs due to pregnancy (physiologic) process is labelled as "Physiologic" while that which occurs due to ANY pathologic process is labelled as
"Pathologic" hyperplasia.
 

An AIDS patient with abnormal CT scan

Hey! Here's a case kinda thingy that I made up.

An HIV positive male presents with loss of recent memory and left sided paralysis. A CT scan is done. What are the differentials based on the CT findings given below?

1. Multiple ring enhancing lesions
2. Single, periventricular ring enhancing lesion
3. Cerebral atrophy with secondary ventricular involvement
4. Multiple non enhancing white matter lesions

Answers given below
.
.
.
.
.

1. Multiple ring enhancing lesions - Toxoplasmosis. TMP SMX for prevention!

2. Single, periventricular ring enhancing lesion - CNS lymphoma. Usually, positive for EBV.

3. Cerebral atrophy with secondary ventricular involvement - AIDS dementia complex. Though paralysis would not be a feature. Only defects in short term memory and executive function is seen.

4. Multiple non enhancing white matter lesions - Demyelination of subcortical white matter suggestive of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is caused by JC virus.

That's all!
-IkaN

ALS and Riluzole mnemonic

Riluzole is a glutamate inhibitor which is used in Amyotrophic laterla sclerosis.

How to remember this?

Unnecessary mnemonic #521

Rilu glues all.
Rilu - Riluzole
Glues - Glutamate inhibitor
Al - ALS

That's all!

I'm sorry, that was a terrible mnemonic. Forget ice bucket, I'd win the pathetic mnemonic bucket challenge :P

-IkaN

CSF rhinorrhea and meningitis treatment

Today I was asked a question in ENT viva that- in a patient of CSF rhinorrhea due to traumatic aetiology, what measures will you take to prevent the onset of meningitis and how will you manage the condition?

Cyber knife

This new technique in radiotherapy is revolutionising the world of treatment in oncology. The technique is largely unheard and my intention of writing the post is to share it with a maximum number of people.

Invented by John R Adler, Peter and Russell Schönberg in 1990, 'CK' is about targetting radiation with a high accuracy to neoplastic tissues.

A linear accelerator of 6MV delivers X ray radiation of 6-800cGy while a  robotic arm maneuvers the 'linac' around the body of the patient so that most of the neoplastic cells are irradiated. An accuracy of 0.5 mm is maintained during the process.

For ensuring such level of accuracy, tissue tracking is needed. There are different methods of tracking for bones, lungs and viscera. For soft tissues like pancreas, gold fiducials(hair like implants) are inserted so that the movement of the tissues as the patient breathes can be identified accurately.

About 1-5 sessions are needed depending upon the pathology. There's no anaesthesia and long treatment hours involved, unlike surgery. Plus, the procedure is significantly cheaper than say, Whipple's pancreaticoduodenectomy!

-Thats all!

Causes of Acute Pancreatitis

Hi guys,

I have an exam soon and I was struggling with this, so, I made this up!

To remember causes of Acute Pancreatitis, you need to think of none other than your nursery school days! :P

So, here we go- ABCDEFGHI, (oh wait did I just say "HI" :P)

Now going a little off track, but, when I was small I used to do a lot of gardening, so I remember rest of the causes as Me POT.

Alcohol ingestion  (acute or chronic)
Biliary calculus
Connective tissue diseases- SLE, TTP,  PAN
Drugs- diuretics- frusemide, thiazide. (Others are anti retroviral drugs, sulphomamides, tetracycline, tamoxifen, etc)
Endoscopic procedures
Familial/ Genetic
Hereditary Pancreatitis/ Hyperparathyroidism/ hypercalcemia/ Hypertrigylceridemia
Infections- viral

Metabolic conditions - renal failure,
Penetrating Peptic Ulcer
OPC poisoning
Trauma to abdomen

Phew, a long list. Isn't it?

Hope it helps!!
That's it!

-Rippie

Head transplant

Recently during surfing on net ,i came across very interesting topic of surgery -Head transplant ,would like to share with you all people
World's 1st attempt to transplant a human head was launched in year 2015 at a surgical conference in united states.
Procedure was 1st put forward by Sergio canavero -an Italian neurosurgeon.
The actual procedure will be as followed :

Two teams will work in concert making deep incisions on patient's neck exposing vital arteries, veins and nerves ,next step is the most crucial step of cutting spinal cord using $200,000 diamond nanoblade !.
Head is than moved on to donors body and spinal cord can be fused together using polyethylene glycol to encourage the fat in cell membrane to mesh out once the neck is transplanted
and then patient would then be placed into a coma for about a month to prevent movement and to allow healing procedure
while implanted electrodes provide regular electrical stimulation to spinal cord finally when patients wakes up from coma he will be able to see his face and speak !!!! But will need a physiotherapy for 1 year to begin walking .
Dr sergio canavero said that surgery would be ready in 2017 probably .
A computer scientist Spiridonov with Werdnig-Hoffman disease has volunteered to offer his head to study as he is suffering from incurable spinal muscular atrophy and has decided to give one final shot to have a new body !

~Ojas

Tongue depressor and bipod stand

Boyle- davis tongue depressor

This instrument is used to lower down the tongue and hold it while the Davis mouth gag serves to hold the mouth open during tonsillectomy and other oral procedures. it comes in various sizes and used depending upon the age of patient.

The mouth gag is held in position by using the Draffin bipod stand which consists of two rods.

Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh

Tonsil holding forceps

Denis Browne's tonsil holding forceps

Used in tonsillectomy to grasp the tonsils and pull medially. (dissection method)

The shaft is bent at an angle towards the handle. Ends of this instrument are cup- shaped with holes.



Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh

Killian's nasal speculum

Killian's long bladed self- retaining nasal speculum

Used in Submucous resection (SMR) and septoplasty procedures.

It helps keep mucoperichondrial flaps away to make space for proper access and vision to the interior of nose and perform surgery efficiently.

IMPORTANT: In septoplasty, the flap is raised only on one side while in SMR, both sides flaps are raised. So due to cosmetic reasons and high risk of septal complications, septoplasty is preferred over the submucous resection.


Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh

Direct Laryngoscope

As the name suggests, this instrument is used for direct visualization of larynx and hypopharynx. 

Diamond blackfan anemia notes and mnemonic

Diamond blackfan anemia

It is congenital pure red cell aplasia.

A 7 year old with hyperextensible joints

A 7 year old boy is brought to you. He is intellectually disabled. On examination, you notice hyperextensible joints. Large hands, large feet, protruding ears, elongated face are also seen. The patients testes are large in size compared to his age. Diagnosis?

Marfans syndrome
Ehler Danlos syndrome
Fragile X syndrome
Friedreichs Ataxia
Homocystinuria

Answer below
.
.
.
.
.
It's Fragile X syndrome. Why isn't it's Marfans? Because Marfans has normal IQ.

Here are my notes + mnemonic for Fragile X syndrome.

Did you know?
Fragile X is the most common cause of inherited mental retardation.
It was the first trinucleotide repeat disorder to be recognized.

That's all!
-IkaN

Walsham's forceps

Walsham's forceps

Uses: to correct lateral deviation of fractured nose and disimpaction

and repositioning of bony fragments.

Most students get confused between Walsham's forceps and Asch's forceps. The difference is in the structure of the instruments itself.

Walsham's forceps: paired instrument used for reduction of nasal bone fractures. One nasal blade is placed externally while the other blade goes into the nose and supports the nasal bone.
Also, the blades are not elevated in walsham's forceps as in the case of asch's.

Asch's forceps: unpaired instrument used for reduction of nasal septum and vomer fractures. It is used along with Walsham's forceps for the reduction procedures. The blades are elevated. (ASCh = Ascending)


Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh

Trousseau's tracheal dilator

Trousseau's tracheal dilator

Used to widen the tracheal incision to aid in the insertion of

 tracheostomy tube.

Remember: It is curved at its ends so that it doesn't block the field of vision of the surgeon while making the incision and insertion of the tube.

Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh

Toynbee's ear speculum

Toynbee's ear speculum

Uses: Examination of external ear and tympanic membrane

In operative procedures like myringoplasty, myringotomy.
Removal of wax, foreign body, otomycosis, ear discharge.

Different sizes for patients according to age.

Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh

Tonsil artery forceps

This instrument is of two types: straight and curved.

Straight forceps (Birkitt's tonsil artery forceps) used to catch the bleeding point. (in tonsillar fossa) following tonsillectomy.

Birkitt's first tonsillar artery forceps

Wilson's second artery forceps

Curved forceps used as replacement forceps before tying a ligature to the bleeding points following tonsillectomy. (also called Second tonsillar artery forceps)


Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh

Asch's forceps

Asch's septum forceps

Used for reducing procedures in cases of nasal septum fractures. (Reduction Rhinoplasty) 

The septum is grasped with the blades of this instrument and straightened to make proper alignment.

The blades are elevated. Remember ASCh- Ascending.

The instrument is often confused with Walsham's fracture. Both are used in reduction procedures of fractures of nasal septum.
To know about differentiating features, click here.

Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh

Thudicum's nasal speculum

Used to examine external nose.

Light is focused at different sites to examine antero- inferior part of nasal septum, roof, floor, and lateral wall by tilting patient's head in various directions.

There's a specific technique to hold this instrument during examination of the patient. Its really simple but if you don't practice to hold it, you will forget it for sure.
 Keep your ring finger beneath one arm of the speculum and index finger in between the two arms. Press the other arm with middle finger such that the two lower ends meet. 

Here's the picture of the right way to hold it.-

Luc's forceps

Lets start with instruments used in surgical procedures of Otorhinolaryngology..

Firstly, lets talk about Luc's forceps.

This instrument has a fenestrated tip with sharp blades to hold

and grasp a tissue and cut it. So basically it is used for cutting.

Uses:

1. As the name suggests, it is used in Caldwell- Luc's operation (Anterior antrostomy) for removing antral mucosa. 

2. Submucosal Resection of nasal septum. (to remove bone or cartilage from the septum required for a graft)

3. Polypectomy  

4. Turbinectomy

Thats all

- Jaskunwar Singh

A tip for confusing things

many of us have this tendency and inner hunger to know everything, but not all of us are prodigies now are we?

hence a typical example.

types of thyroplasty

type1- medialization of cord

type2- lateralization

type3- shortening

type4- lengthening

no many how many times i have read it, i am bound to get confused. i will remember that type 1 and type 2 had to do with changing the position of the cord from midline, but i am totally going to forget whether medialization was first or not. 

The examiners exploit this very weakness. some sadist i tell you! 

anyways not always will you be able to get your hands on mnemonics that will save your neck..and yes sometimes it is even really tough to remember the mnemonics themselves during exams -_-

my tip is 

just remember

type1- medialization

type3- shortening

hell with everything else..this attitude will save your neck more than you can imagine. use this with eveything confusing. 

just dont give your brain the chance to be confused..read and have a visual image of only the very core of the answer. and trust yourself that when push comes to shove you will be able to answer the question correctly 

-sakkan

Primary Health Care

Hey Awesomites

Today its a short post ( a mnemonic actually ;p )  on the principles and elements of primary health care. (I was asked in SPM viva a few days back. ;p )
As a rule, always find a mnemonic in the name itself, I took care of it and made it in the easiest way possible. So here it is ..

C- Community participation
A- Approach (multi- sectorial)
R- Right technology (appropriate)
E- Equitable distribution of health services.

Elements of primary health care: MI NEEDS
- MCH and family planning
- Immunization
- Nutrition
- Education
- Endemic and common diseases
- Drugs provision
- Sanitation.

Thats all
Happy Medicowesome :)

- Jaskunwar Singh

Caput v/s Cephalhematoma - Ways to remember.

Though simple, takes time in the exam if confused.

So here's a way to save the time meanwhile being sure of the answer for the topic.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis notes and mnemonic

Hey!

I'm clearly doing a lot of notes + mnemonic posts. Here's another one on Langerhans cell histiocytosis!

Langerhans lingers
L - Lytic lesion of bones
I - Diabetes Insipidus
N - Nil
G - Eosinophilic Granulomas
E - Exophthalmos
R - Rrrrr.... :P
S - Skin rash

From study group:

Any mnemonic for Hand Schuller Christian disease?

Mnemonic by IkaN: Hands LIE
Lytic bone lesions
Insipidus (Diabetes Insipidus)
Exophthalmos

Mnemonic by Dev: CDE
Calavarial skull defect
Diabetes insipidus
Exophthalmos

Disclaimer: It's a morbid mnemonic. If you are sensitive and religious, don't read it.
Mnemonic by Vinayak: Jesus CHRIST was killed by hammering nails into his HAND, he DIed, his hands' bone got LYSED and we celebrate EXmas:
For calvarial skull defects, you know, wood was also hammered into his head. DI is diabetes insipidus. EX is exophthalmos.

That's all!
-IkaN

Study group discussion: Skeletal resistance to PTH in CRF

Hi guys! So the question that was asked in the study group is- Why is there skeletal resistance to PTH in Chronic Kidney Disease?

Answer-

Skeletal Resistance to PTH has a multifaceted pathogenesis; the most imp factor being uraemia which screws with the PTH receptor's intracellular G-protein signaling mechanism in the Osteoblasts.

Dialysis in these patients increase the levels of Osteoprotegerin, which is a decoy molecule antagonizing the action of RANKL in promoting osteoclastogenesis; further intereference with the action of PTH.

Hyperphosphatemia and Hypocalcemia in CKD patients cause excessive release of PTH which leads to downregulation of its receptors on osteoblasts. 

Decreased levels of calcitriol screws in a special way, it makes the parathyroid gland think that the normal calcium level range is above the actual normal value, making the gland work overtime. For this we use calcimimetics like cinacalcet to decrease the set point back to the real normal value. And also without Calcitriol to assist, PTH's job becomes a lot more difficult. 

Earlier the most common CKD-related osteodystrophy was osteitis fibrosa cystica which was due to very high PTH levels causing pathologically increased bone turnover.

But now since we have developed drugs to tackle increased PTH levels, Adynamic Bone Disease has become the most common osteodystrophy because in the body of a CKD patient, it is already very difficult for PTH to carry out its function and if we are pharmacologically decreasing its values, we are ensuring that it works negligibly. 

That's enough Nephrology for one day! :)

  

-VM

ECG basics

So basically, ECG is  an electrical representation of heart activity on ECG paper. 

Here are some important postulates of ECG paper:

The needle of galvanometer travels 300 big squares in 1 minute or 60 seconds. 

That makes 0.2 seconds for each big square. 

In turn each big square is divided into 5 small boxes /squares.

So we get each small box counting about
0.04 seconds. 

So let's review all calculations:

1 Big square = 0.2 seconds.
1 small square = 0.04 seconds. 

Each P wave travels about 2 and 1/2 small  squares making upto 0.1 second.

The segment PQ (Sometimes we use PR) again takes 2 and 1/2 small squares making upto 0.1 second.

QRS complex used another 2 and 1/2  small squares making another 0.1 second. 

While S-T segments uses 10 small squares forming using 0.4 seconds.

Note: We normally consider 2 and 1/2 small squares but there can be 2 or 3 small squares. 

~Ojas

Pentavalent vaccines

Hey Awesomites!

Let's discuss something about the pentavalent vaccines and what advantage they have in the immunization of newborns..

Friedreichs Ataxia notes and mnemonic

Here's another notes + mnemonic post on Friedreichs Ataxia

Genetic stuff:
- Due to mutated frataxin gene
- GAA trinucleotide repeats
- Autosomal recessive
- Mitochondrial iron accumulation due to loss of iron transporter coded by frataxin gene results in oxidized intramitochondrial iron accumulation.

Clinical stuff:
- Cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of death in FA. Cardiomegaly, conduction defects, murmurs, fibrosis are seen.
- Musculoskeletal abnormalities like foot deformities (Hammer toe, pes cavus, pes equinovarus) and scoliosis is seen.
- Diabetes mellitus is seen in 20% of patients

Neurologic stuff:
- Nystagmus
- Titubation
- Dysarthria
- Dysmetria
- Ataxia of trunk and limb movements.
- Loss of proprioception and vibratory sense.
- Extensor plantar response, absence of deep tendon reflexes and weakness is found.

That's all!
Stuff.
-IkaN

Mnemonic: Friedreichs FRIEDS! 

Duodenal atresia notes and mnemonic

Duodenal atresia

Hey!

In this post, I wanted to emphasize duodenal atresia is associated with double bubble sign.

It's common in Downs syndrome and polyhydramnios maybe seen in utero.

Bilious vomiting is seen because the obstruction is after the ampulla of Vater.

Because the child is vomiting, abdominal distension is not seen.

That's all!
I need sleep right now.
-IkaN