Friday, March 17, 2017
Facts and Fallacies: Vitamin D link to cancer
Vitamin D has been shown beneficial for a variety of disorders and diseases. Recent studies now suggest that those deficient in vitamin D are at a higher risk of developing cancer compared to those with adequate levels.
Brainstem Syndromes!
•Impaired upgaze as centre for upward gaze is affected
convergence retraction nystagmus;
Argyll Robertson pupil :dilated pupils with light near dissociation.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
How I remember the duration of symptoms for Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) required for diagnosis
I remember G6PD, and say G6AD instead!
For those who don't know what GAD is here is the DSM V criteria for diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder...
Transposition of Great Arteries!
Buzz words for congenital syphilis!
Following are some important signs and buzzwords that are testable ...And high yeild for entrances.
Olympian Brow: Bony prominence of the forehead caused by persistent or recurrent periostitis
Clavicular or Higoumenakia sign:Unilateral or bilateral thickening of the sternoclavicular third of the clavicle
Saber shins :Anterior bowing of the midportion of the tibia
Scaphoid scapula :Convexity along the medial border of the scapula
Hutchinson teeth:Peg-shaped upper central incisors; they erupt during 6th yr of life with abnormal enamel, resulting in a notch along the biting surface
Mulberry molars :Abnormal 1st lower (6 yr) molars characterized by small biting surface and excessive number of cusps
Saddle nose :Depression of the nasal root, a result of syphilitic rhinitis destroying adjacent bone and cartilage
Rhagades:Linear scars that extend in a spoke-like pattern from previous mucocutaneous fissures of the mouth, anus, and genitalia
Juvenile paresis :Latent meningovascular infection; it is rare and typically occurs during adolescence with behavioral changes, focal seizures, or loss of intellectual function
Juvenile tabes : Rare spinal cord involvement and cardiovascular involvement with aortitis
Hutchinson triad :Hutchinson teeth, interstitial keratitis, and 8th nerve deafness
Clutton joint :Unilateral or bilateral painless joint swelling (usually involving knees) from synovitis with sterile synovial fluid; spontaneous remission usually occurs after several weeks
Interstitial keratitis: Manifests with intense photophobia and lacrimation, followed within weeks or months by corneal opacification and complete blindness
8th nerve deafness: May be unilateral or bilateral, appears at any age, manifests initially as vertigo and high-tone hearing loss, and progresses to permanent deafness.
Well all these are late manifestations of congenital syphilis occuring after 2 years of life.
It is important to recognise these signs clinically and also on the exams...
-Medha.
Pathophysiology of myopathy caused during hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
Abnormal glycogenolysis and triglyceride storage: Less glucose is released and utilised because of this. The body starts using more proteins usually derived from muscles leading to myopathy.
Stay cool :)
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Fact of the day: Regulate brain activity with your type of music
Which genre or type of music do you like the most? Well, it surely has to do a lot with the functioning of our brain. Some of you may like slow music while others like to rock n roll on the floor while listening to their favourite beats. I am more of the latter type too, depending on the mood. ;p
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Pediatric drawing milestones mnemonic
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) - MOA and side effects
This is a fun and concise post on the pharmacology of TCAs. Excited? :D
Monday, March 13, 2017
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Fact of the day: Paradoxical undressing in fatal hypothermia
This typically occurs during moderate to severe hypothermia, as the person becomes disoriented, confused, and combative. They may begin discarding their clothing, which, in turn, increases the rate of heat loss. It is estimated that twenty to fifty percent of hypothermia related deaths are due to paradoxical undressing.
Why does this happen?
Friday, March 10, 2017
Fact of the day: Psychosomatic symptoms love to travel
Hey Awesomites
Yes, you read it right. The symptoms of psychosomatic disorders flit from one body part to another, and just too easily and quickly ( they love to travel a lot ;p ) . Just as one symptom is discovered, it disappears and another one emerges in some other part of the body.
The psychosomatic symptoms have been linked to a chameleon. Every time a medicine tries to pin them down, they become something different.
That's all
- Jaskunwar Singh
The colours of a chameleon are not more numerous and inconstant than the varieties of the hypochondriac and hysteric disease.
- Robert Whytt
NYHA Classification Mnemonic
Hey guys, this post will help you to remember the definitions of the four NYHA classes.
So first just remember two phrases-
"Patient with a heart disease" and "in ordinary or accustomed activities". For convenience I will use letters A and B to refer to these phrases respectively. Now I will just fill in the gap between them.
1. NYHA Class I:
A--- will not get dyspnea ---B.
2. NYHA Class II:
A--- will get dyspnea ---B.
3. NYHA Class III:
A--- will get dyspnea in less than ---B.
4. NYHA Class IV:
A--- will get dyspnea at rest.
This system of classification has its flaws since the definition of "ordinary and accustomed activities" is entirely subjective. Like for example if a rich businessman gets breathless after walking 1 km, you may label him as NYHA Class II, but the same case in a hard working labourer will have to be labelled as NYHA Class III.
And another thing that NYHA has recently clarified NYHA Class III a bit further, it has included self-care activities in it's spectrum. As a supposition, if a 56 year old male person gets breathless while shaving or bathing then it is NYHA Class III.
-VM
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Grave's ophthalmopathy features mnemonic
Grave's disease, a common cause of primary hyperthyroidism causes some epic features of ophthalmopathy apart from lid retraction and lid lag. Mnemonic: EPIC
E- Exophthalmos
P- Periorbital Edema
I- Involvement of ocular muscles (diplopia)
C- Conjunctival irritation and chemosis
- Jaskunwar Singh
Amiodarone- induced thyroid dysfunctions
Amiodarone, a potent class III anti- arrhythmic drug is contraindicated in thyroid patients or those with subclinical disease. The reason lies in the pharmacokinetic profile of this drug.
The drug has a structural resemblance to triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). In the body, it is metabolized by dealkylation to Desethylamiodarone (DEA), the intrathyroidal concentration of which is higher than the parent drug.
Normal daily recommended intake of iodine for adults is approx. 0.15mg (150mcg). Each 200mg tablet of amiodarone contains about 74.4mg of iodine with 7.4mg (10%) being released as free form. This is roughly 50- fold higher than the normal. Therefore, total body stores may remain increased for upto 9 months after stopping the drug.
High iodine content of this drug inhibits local type-1 5'- deiodinase activity (blocking conversion of T4 to T3) and type- II 5'- deiodinase activity in the pituitary. As a result, TSH is increased initially (mild elevation) and then return to normal or may even decrease in euthyroid patients after weeks, while T4 is normal or raised, and T3 levels decrease.
The increased delivery and uptake of iodine by the thyroid gland may cause increase in hormone production and release, a condition called type-1 Amiodarone- induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) . In other cases, excessive thyroid tissue destruction due to destructive thyroiditis may lead to type-2 Amiodarone- induced thyrotoxicosis. These are hyperthyroid states!!
Discontinuation of the drug is recommended, if not, then high doses of thioamides and corticosteroids may work in AITs.
Amiodarone may also cause hypothyroidism (AIH) in patients depending upon the iodine status of individuals and prior thyroid disease. Wolff- chaikoff effect is shown by thyroid cells due to failure of thyroid hormonogenesis. Levothyroxine is the drug of choice.
Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Fact of the day: Burning the heart to ashes
An interesting fact about heart I read today:
The heart is resilient, literally. When a body is burnt, the heart is the last organ to oxidize. While the rest of the body can catch flame like a polyester sheet on campfire, it takes hours to burn the heart to ash because it's deep inside!
That's all!
Did you know? According to Hindu mythology, when Arjuna cremated the body of Lord Krishna, his whole body turned into ashes, except his heart which was still burning. Arjuna washed the ashes and burning heart into the river.
- Jaskunwar Singh
Munchausen's syndrome
"Psychosomatic disorders are conditions in which a person suffers from significant physical symptoms (causing real distress and disability), that is out of proportion to that which can be explained by medical tests and physical examinations."
Karl Friedrich Von Munchausen, the "Baron of Lies" gave his name to the syndrome. Munchausen's syndrome (now more correctly called factitious disorder in DSM- 5 classification of somatic symptom and related disorders ) refers to patients who imitate illness (may be in an exaggerated form ) for medical attention and care and may even expose themselves to life- threatening operations, amputations, unnecessary medications and toxic treatments.
Lets take an example: A woman presents to hospital with a headache and a dilated pupil. On investigations, scans were normal and no other systemic abnormality seen. Then, a nurse walks into her room and finds the patient self- administering dilating eye drops into the affected eye.
The person has an awareness of the lies they are telling but they surely do it to seek medical care and attention, being unaware of their own motivation and uncontrolled behavior.
Upto one- third of patients in neurology ward suffer from psychosomatic illness and most often, an emotional cause is suspected.
Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh
Is it okay to wish a man "Happy Women's Day"?
Happy women's day to everyone - Male and female!
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Study group discussion: PGE and congenital heart diseases
PGE causes clinical worsening in an infant with?
A. PS without VSD
B. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
C. Obstructive TAPVC
D. Obstruction in Aorta
Let's work this out - choice by choice!
Asbestosis and Silicosis mnemonics
Monday, March 6, 2017
Hyperthermia in Pontine Haemorrhage
Hey guys!
This post will be focused on the pathophysiology of Hyperthermia in Pontine Haemorrhage( which may manifest as the Locked-in Syndrome, remember that super-awesome House episode? <3 )
1. First try the easy simple reason. Hypothalamus has been basically cut off from the body below pons and there has been Haemorrhage. Therefore, there will be a Sympathetic outflow causing peripheral vasoconstriction. Meanwhile the internal visceral organs are still functioning and consequently producing heat. So without hypothalamus, the body's ability to produce heat has transcended it's ability to lose heat.
2. The next reason is a bit "cooler", literally. Our body hates Hypothermia more than Hyperthermia, thanks to evolution. (Ice Age!!!) Now there is no central thermoregulation but peripheral one is still intact. And the peripheral thermoreceptors are much more sensitive to lower temperatures or basically cold environment. Once again, without the Hypothalamus, the body is defending itself too vigorously against Hypothermia as to contribute ironically to Hyperthermia.
3. This reason is the only one which you should know since this will explain how Baclofen, a GABA-B Agonist works to treat this Hyperthermia. Remember the Medial Forebrain Bundle, it connects Hypothalamus to a lot of structures, one of them being Nucleus Raphe in the Pontine reticular formation. This is a very crucial portal in control of Sympathetic nervous system outflow by Hypothalamus. Simply speaking, if the body is hot, Hypothalamus will send inhibitory (GABAergic and Dopaminergic) signals to this nucleus and if the body is cold, it will send excitatory (Glutaminergic and Serotonergic) signals. And apparently this connection is lost in Pontine Haemorrhage, so we substitute it with a drug.
P.S. Now you can guess how Bromocriptine and Apomorphine cause Hypothermia. :)
-VM
Fact of the day: Blood coagulopathies in Familial Hypercholesterolemia
It is known since long that familial hypercholesterolemia is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease as a consequence of atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels. But Its NOT due to high cholesterol levels in blood !!
The cause of such consequences lies in genetics. Genetic aberrations in patients with FH include variations in Prothrombin gene which increases coagulation and clot formation. This ultimately blocks the arteries by forming plaques!
Heart patients with FH also have higher concentrations of Fibrinogen and Factor VIII in their blood in addition to other factors, compared to healthy ones.
People with familial hypercholesterolemia tend to live a longer life than those with low cholesterol levels, suggesting a minor role of high cholesterol in pathogenesis of the disease.
However, cholesterol is still associated with other systemic diseases, though recently LDL has been considered 'good' too!
That's all
- Jaskunwar Singh
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Fact of the day: Proton pump inhibitors and osteoporosis
Chronic PPI usage is associated with an increase occurrence of bone fractures, at present, the likely mechanism of this affect, is not at all clear.
The assumed mechanism is that long-term PPI use leads to decreased intestinal absorption of calcium resulting in negative calcium balance, increased osteoporosis, development of secondary hyperparathyroidism, increased bone loss and increased fractures.
An acidic environment in the stomach facilitates the release of ionzed calcium from insoluble calcium salts, and the calcium solubilization is thought to be important for calcium absorption.
That's all!
Happy studying!
-IkaN
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Facts and Fallacies: Almonds for Migraine
Some people who suffer from migraine are found to be deficient in magnesium and certain vitamins. This proves to be one of the factor for causing such attacks!
Almonds are rich in magnesium and vitamin B2 ( riboflavin ) and contain salicin, an anti- inflammatory agent and ingredient in aspirin. So 10- 12 almonds a day, equivalent to 2 aspirins helps in preventing acute attacks of migraine.
However, for those who are allergic to salicin, almonds may even trigger migraine attacks! Therefore prior testing is important in such cases.
Many recent updates and drugs have become available to treat the attacks but no single one is effective in long- term. For those deficient in magnesium and allergic to salicin, infuse magnesium sulfate solution i.v. over 3- 5 minutes.
That's all
- Jaskunwar Singh
Thursday, March 2, 2017
The story of Medicowesome (With Q&A)
How did Medicowesome start? How do you manage blogging and studying? etc etc.
Fact of the day: Multi- vitamin supplements beneficial for schizophrenics
Recent studies suggest that high- doses of vitamin B help in reducing the symptoms of schizophrenic patients and those with other neuropsychological disorders, when added to the normal treatment in early stages. (Source)
- Jaskunwar Singh
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Glasgow coma scale mnemonic video
This video on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was made by Shilika :)
Monday, February 27, 2017
Dealing with psm
Hello.
This was a question from one of our readers..as to how to deal with psm.
Personally I too have dealt with a lot of trauma related to it. So I will share you my own tips and tricks.
Just keep this basic funda in your head while dealing psm. YOU DONT HAVE TO READ EVERYTHING.
Never start reading psm chapters from the very first page. You will be lost in a whirlpool so huge and exhaust yourself to the limits in a matter of hours..and you are bound to never touch the book again.
Now how to approach it..if say your professor is teaching a chapter on contraceptives. Just go through ONLY last three year worth questions..and mark out all the questions just for contraceptives. Never do the whole ten years or five years questions together. Cause you will end up marking the whole book..and that depresses you. So first start last three years.
Once you have done the marking. Psm has one lovely plus point..that apart from the humongous text..it also has charts and diagrams. READ the diagrams first..the flow charts those should be the ones you should learn first. And for answers who don't have flow charts..and have things like components and sub headings of this and that and shit..I suggest just mugg up the names of the sub topics. Just the names only. Make mnemonics, make weird stories..do whatever but you need to learn them.
This trick is important cause think of your examiner. He is tired of reading the same old answers over and over again. So if you go ahead and make beautiful flow charts..or if you just emphasise on the various components and sub headings itself..your job is half done.
And regarding the actual reading of the text. Do it later when you feel more confident..and that time also just stick to the specific answers from previous yr papers.
psm is crazy huge..I have learnt that during exams it was more easy to make up matter to write for psm..but what I didn't remember was that one word of the sub headings or details of the flow chart.
And that's where you go wrong.
Let me know if it helped you and also if any other doubts.
-sakkan
Fish oil for treatment of asthma
Asthma is a chronic, exaggerated and allergic inflammatory response in the respiratory airways to certain allergens that vary according to seasons.
Omega- 3 fatty acids in high- quality fish oils and other products reduce the inflammation by regulating B- cell function. IgE production is reduced, which otherwise acts to cause asthma symptoms and allergic reactions in patients with mild form of asthma.
The fatty acids are used up by the cells in the lining of respiratory passages to produce hormones that tend to "turn- off" certain factors responsible for attracting white blood cells to the site of inflammation such as leukotrienes, interleukins, and other cytokines.
However, these oils are less effective in severe forms of the disease and in the majority of patients taking corticosteroids.
According to a study, prenatal exposure to fish oils (mainly in third trimester) reduces the risk of wheeze and asthma in children.
Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Ischaemic Preconditioning
Hey, guys!!
This post is on a very interesting condition. To put it in simple terms, Ischaemic preconditioning is a defensive technique adopted by those cardiac myocytes which have faced ischaemia in the past against future ischaemic episodes. There is another defensive procedure called Collaterals but that occurs in chronic ischaemia while Preconditioning occurs in acute conditions.
It was first observed while monitoring the ECG of a patient undegoing coronary balloon angioplasty. When the coronary artery was occluded by inflated balloon transiently, the ECG showed QRS distortions indicative of ischaemia but when it was occluded once again, ECG showed almost normal QRS waveforms.
Mechanism of Ischaemic preconditioning has something to do with Katp channels, the one blocked by Sulfonylureas like Glibenclamide, and also Adenosine receptors. But how exactly these components are involved, isn't clear yet.
That's all!
-VM
Basics of Coagulase test
1) Clumping factor (Bound to cell).
2) Free Coagulase or Coagulase.
8 types of coagulase have been identified .Most human strain forms coagulase A
It is detected by tube coagulase test.
Stay cool and awesome:)
Saturday, February 25, 2017
Beck's triad mnemonic
Acute cardiac tamponade is an emergency condition in which fluid accumulates within the pericardial sac resulting in inability of heart to pump blood. The Beck's triad of medical signs a/w this condition - (mnemonic: DIM )
D- Decreased arterial and pulse pressure
I- Increased venous pressure (JVD)
M- Muffled heart sounds
- Jaskunwar Singh
Friday, February 24, 2017
Right IJV for assessment of right heart hemodynamics
Internal jugular vein of right side is preferred for right heart hemodynamics. This is because-
Aminoglycoside mnemonic
Hello all, let me slip in a quick mnemonic on Neomycin and Amikacin
1.Highest nephrotoxic drug-
Neomycin
2.Highest auditory toxicity is with-
Amikacin
N for N and A for A. Easy one to remember for the MCQs!
That's all!
-Sushrut
Osteogenesis imperfecta mnemonic
Fact of the day: Milk and acidity
Indications for oestrogen therapy mnemonic
Indications for oestrogen hormonal therapy mnemonic: 8Ds
D- Deficiency states of oestrogen
D- Development of secondary sexual characters
D- Diagnosis of pregnancy ( along with progestogen )
D- Dysmenorrhea
D- Depression ( post- partum and perimenopausal )
D- Diastolic dysfunction ( in postmenopausal women )
D- associated Diseases (dermatologic, neurologic, autoimmune)
D- Decubitus ulcer
That's all
- Jaskunwar Singh
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Differentiating gram positive cocci
Delirium and Dementia mnemonics
Delirium- "It is a transient, usually reversible cause of mental dysfunction that results in a wide range of neuropsychiatric abnormalities, mostly presented by elderly as
- waxing and waning type of acute- confusional state
- fall in attention- span
- decreased awareness of surroundings
- low cognition levels."
Causes of Delirium- (mnemonic: DELIRIUM)
D- Drugs (anti- cholinergics, antipsychotics etc)
E- Encephalopathy (Wernicke's)
L- LSD intoxication
I- Infections
R- Respiratory failure
I- Insomnia
U- (v) visual sphere hallucinations
M- Metabolic disorders
Dementia- "A group of neuropsychiatric disorders characterised by chronic and gradual decrease in the ability of person to think, create memories, express emotions and other mental symptoms that affect the general well being."
Causes of Dementia (mnemonic: DEMENTIA)-
D- Degeneration (Primary cerebral)
E- Endocrinal dysfunction
M- Multiple sclerosis
E- Embolisation (vascular pathology)
N- Normal tension hydrocephalus
T- Tumors
I- Infections
A- Alcohol intoxication
That's all
- Jaskunwar Singh