Saturday, October 7, 2017
Post - intubation Cardiac Arrest : possible mechanisms
Early post - intubation Cardiac Arrest ( within 10 minutes ) is a serious major complication of emergency intratracheal intubation associated with high in - hospital mortality, and occurs with approximately 2% frequency in the ED.
Various retrospective and case- control studies have been well designed to establish the connection and factors associated in the causation. One of the studies by Heffner et al. found that a higher pre - intubation shock index ( PISI ), that is defined as heart rate divided by systolic BP, and a higher weight of the patient are independently associated with post - intubation CA.
Systolic hypotension ( BP less than 90 mmHg ) is independently associated with post - intubation CA.
Emergency intubation can cause hypotension potentially as a consequence of actual intubation acting as a sympatholytic stimulus, mechanical ventilation ( positive pressure ventilation with subsequent fall in venous return ), and/ or the induction agents used.
Also important to note is that the association between pre - intubation hypotension and post - intubation progressive decline in BP and subsequently pulseless electrical activity arrest raises the question of whether treatment of hypotension before intubating by fluid resuscitation and vasopressors can decrease the rate of post - intubation CA.
That's all
- Jaskunwar Singh
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Fact of the day : Easier approach shot to the pouch of Douglas
The posterior fornix of the vagina is separated from the peritoneal cavity by a single layer of peritoneum and the posterior vaginal wall. Therefore, vaginal approach from its posterior aspect for evacuation of pus in the pouch of Douglas can be done without much difficulty.
On the other hand, approach to uterovesical pouch ( anterior relation ) is much more difficult from the vaginal route and consists of a series of steps :
- Incise the vagina
- separate bladder from cervix
- Traverse the vesicocervical space ( till the uterovesical fold of peritoneum is reached )
This difference is due to the normal physiological position of the uterus that is anteverted and anteflexed; the direction of external os being downwards and backwards.
That's all
- Jaskunwar Singh
Basic modalities of Transitional Zone
Squamocolumnar junction ( the transitional zone ) is a junction formed by merging of squamous epithelium of the vagina with the columnar epithelium of endocervix.
Squamous non keratinized epithelium lining the vaginal mucosa has three distinct layers -
- Basal layer of cuboidal cells
- Middle layer of prickle cells
- Superficial layer of cornified cells
Embryologically, the junction consists of columnar epithelium that spreads over the external os and only the basal and middle layer of squamous epithelium lining the vaginal mucosa.
After attaining puberty, hormonal effects of oestrogen and progesterone induce metaplastic changes in columnar epithelium. Therefore, the squamous epithelium comes in close vicinity to the external os.
During reproductive age, growth of uterus, hypertrophy of cervical cells and associated hormonal changes and in females exposed to DES in utero, the transitional zone extrudes well out of the external os.
Due to high cellular activity and sensitivity to certain irritants and mutagens, there is high risk of dysplastic changes in the squamocolumnar epithelium and eventually carcinoma cervix. So, scrapings for PAP smear are done without difficulty from this exposed area to screen the patients.
In menopausal women, the atrophy of cervix leads to in drawing of SCJ into the canal. Hence the junction is not easily accessible and this ill exposure is the reason for high rates of false negative findings in PAP smear in older women! Hormonal therapy in such patients improves the positivity of results.
That's all
Jaskunwar Singh
Types of tympanic membrane perforation
Have a great day ahead.
-Upasana Y. :)
Monday, October 2, 2017
Corpus Callosum - Let's connect
Jas here
I am back :)
Let's talk about the largest connective pathway in the brain, the Corpus Callosum that is made up of more than 200 million nerve fibres, connecting our left brain to the right.
Friday, September 29, 2017
Rotator Cuff muscles and their actions (mnemonic)
1- The mnemonic for the muscles is: SITS
2- We will start with ABDuction and finish with ADDuction
3- The vowels in English can be remembered by AEEIou ( shout to remember better :P )
4- Now just match letters from the 2 mnemonics in the same order they are written in
as you can see in the table:
So S goes with A...I goes with E...T goes with E and the last S goes with I.
Never forget the action of Rotator Cuff muscles again :)
-Murad
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Echinocandins: Mechanism of action, side effects and orgranisms affected (mnemonic)
=> EchinoCANdins.
=> Inhibit synthesis of B-gluCAN.
=> Used in CANdida and a thing that CAN invade your body (invasive aspergillosis).
=> CAN make you flush ( due to histamine release).
-Murad
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Joll's triangle in thyroidectomy
Hello friends,
This post is about the importance of Joll's triangle in thyroidectomy.
Joll's triangle is used to identify external laryngeal nerve during thyroidectomy.
Boundaries of this triangle are :
Laterally: Upper pole of thyroid gland and superior thyroid vessels.
Superiorly: Attachment of strap muscles and deep investing layer of fascia to hyoid.
Medially: Midline of neck.
Floor: Cricothyroid muscle.
This triangle contains superior laryngeal nerve which gives rise to external laryngeal nerve.
Given below is the diagram of this triangle:
Mnemonics for Modified Jones Criteria
Modified Jones Criteria is used for diagnosis of Acute Rheumatic Fever.
Mnemonic - "JONES CAFE PAL"
MAJOR CRITERIA :-
Joint involvement (polyarthritis)
O 'O' looks like a heart - myocarditis
Nodules subcutaneous
Erythema Marginatum
Sydenham Chorea
MINOR CRITERIA :-
CRP elevated
Arthalgia
Fever
ESR elevated
Prolong PR interval
Anamnesia of Rheumatism
L eukocytosis
Presence of either
- 2 major criterias or
- 1 major criteria + 2 minor criteria
Is considered to diagnose patient positive.
Written by,
Pratheek Prabhu
Monday, September 25, 2017
SIADH vs Diabetes Insipidus, Osmolarity and Sodium levels in urine and serum in both (mnemonic)
Serum and urine findings in SIADH and Diabetes Insipidus can really mess up our brains :S
A nice mnemonic to memorize SIADH is to recall the letters as :
"S"odium "I"s "A"lways "D"own "H"ere (by here: I mean serum) =>
so in SIADH:
=> low Na in serum
=> high Na in Urine & high Urine Osmolarity
Now ...just think of the opposite and you ll get Diabetes Insipidus
so in DI:
=> high Na in serum /high serum osmolarity
=> low Na in Urine
-Murad
Chronic Renal Failure : Indications for dialysis.
Hello guys!
In this post I am going to list down the Indications for dialysis in patients of Chronic Renal Failure.
Absolute Indications :
1. Volume overload not responding to medication.
2. Refractory hypertension.
3. Hyperkalemia unresponsive to medications.
4. Severe metabolic acidosis unresponsive to medications.
5. Uremic pericarditis
6. Neurological signs and symptoms of Uremia.
7. Plasma creatinine more than 1060 umol/l or BUN more than 36 mmol/l
Relative Indications :
1. Anorexia
2. Severe anemia unresponsive to erythropoietin.
3. Persistent severe pruritus.
4. Restless legs syndrome.
That's all.
Thank you
MD Mobarak Hussain (Maahii)
Some thalamic nuclei and their function (mnemonic)
The following mnemonics may be used to associate the nuclei with their functions:
1- Ventral Postero-Lateral nuclues (VPL) => Very Painful Leg
This nucleus has input (pain, temperature, pressure, touch, vibration and proprioception) from Spinothalamic and dorsal columns/medial lemniscus ( Lower Limbs and Upper Limbs).
2- Ventral Postero-Medial nucleus (VPM) => Very Painful Mouth
This nucleus has input (face sensastion and taste) from trigeminal and gustatory pathway).
3- Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN) => Looking Good Naked :O
This nucleus has input (part of the visual pathway) from the optic nerve.
4- Medial Geniculate Nucleus (MGN) => Making Good Noise
This nucleus has input (part of the hearing pathway) from superior olive and inferior colliculus of tectum.
& that's it! :)
-Murad
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Relation between Type I, Type II errors and Null hypothesis (mnemonic)
One of the things that always confused me was when to accept and when to reject the null hypothesis.
Since mnemonics are one of the best things ever, here you go:
Type ONE error:
You use a verb with ONE consonant => reJect => so you reJect Null hypothesis
Type TWO error:
You use a verb with TWO consonants => aCCept => so you aCCept Null hypothesis
& that's it! :)
-Murad
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Bacterial exotoxins that work via overactivating Adenylate Cyclase, a mnemonic
=> the bugs are:
Cholera (Vibrio Cholera)
Anthrax (Bacillus Anthracis)
Moctezuma's revenge (a fancy name of heat labile entertotoxigenic E.coli, ETEC)
Pertussis (Bordetella Pertussis)
-Murad
Chromosomes affected in syndromes that sound similar, a mnemonic
Wilson's disease: (for Dr. House fans)
Remember Dr. House, Wilson and Thirteen?
William syndrome:
If you read the 2nd part of the word William, it is: I AM. When you re-arrange it: I AM WILL.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Trinucleotide repeats mnemonics
so the trinucleotide repeat is: GAA
In Fragile X syndrome, patients have problems in their testicles (large testes among other things) so they "Can't Get it Going" :P => the trinucleotide repeat is: CGG
-Murad
Renal stones and pH of urine mnemonic
Hello!
Here's a post on the association between renal stones and pH of urine.
Which stones form in acidic urine?
Mnemonic: It's pretty simple, stones which have "weak acids" as a component.
Uric ACID
Calcium oxalate (Oxalic ACID)
Cysteine (Which is an Amino ACID)
PS: This is just a mnemonic.
Which stones form in alkaline urine?
Calcium Phosphate
Magnesium Ammonium Phosphate
That's all!
-IkaN
Thursday, September 21, 2017
SERM for vulvovaginal atrophy mnemonic
A.) Bazedoxifene
B.) Raloxifene
C.) Phentermine
D.) Lasofoxifene
E.) Ospemifene
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Atherosclerosis location mnemonic
Atherosclerosis location mnemonic
"A Cholesterol Plaque In Circles"
Most commonly involved vessels in decreasing order is:
Abdominal Aorta (especially around ostia - openings of major branches)
Coronary Artery
Popliteal Artery
Internal Carotid (especially at carotid sinus)
- Submitted by Murad
Monday, September 18, 2017
Ocular toxoplasmosis and HIV
Here are some fun facts about Ocular Toxoplasmosis and HIV!
Ocular toxoplasmosis usually causes a retinal lesion with inflammation, giving the classical "headlight in the fog" appearance.
Headlight is the lesion and the fog is due to the inflammation (WBCs).
HIV being an immunodeficient condition, there are lesser number of WBCs and hence there's no fog - Just the headlight.
The drug of choice for treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis is pyrimethamine.
However, it is contraindicated in pregnancy and HIV due to the risk of megaloblastic anemia and neural tube defects, respectively.
In pregnancy, spiramycin is preferred.
In HIV, the preferred drugs are clindamycin, azithromycin or quinolones.
- Written by Dr²
Thursday, September 14, 2017
AAMC ERAS: How to assign LoRs quickly to 100+ programs
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Enucleation, Evisceration & Exenteration
Saturday, September 9, 2017
Cytochrome P450 3A4
A-Amiodarone
*C-Cisapride
N-Navirs (protease inhibitors)
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Drug interaction
Definition:-
Modification of response to one drug by another drug or non drug (like food ,beverages like alcohol,smoking) when they are administered simultaneously or in quick succession .
Factors for drug interactions:-
1.Multiple drugs for same disease.
2.Multiple prescribers.
3.Multiple diseases.
4.Poor patient compliance .
5. Drug factors like it is not palatable or too many in frequency .
6.Multiple unknown action of drugs.
7. Most imp is patients age .
Effects of drug interaction:-
1.Quantitative i.e Increase or decrease the response intensity.
2. Qualitative:- abnormal /different type of response.
Mechanism of drug interaction :-
A.Pharmacokinetic interactions include,
1.Absorption (either complex formation ,pH change ,or alteration in motility of GIT.)
2. Distribution:- (displacement from plasma protein binding site + inhibition of metabolism /or excretion)
3. Metabolism:- ( induction of enzymes or inhibition of enzymes or hepatic blood flow)
4.Excretion:- ( alteration in urine pH, Competition for active secretion ,renal blood flow)
B. Pharmacodynamic drug interactions include,
1.Antagonism
2. Summation
3.synergism
C.Drug interaction before administration:-
Either mixing before administration.
Or, exposure to light in some cases. (Like sodium nitroprusside).
-Upasana Y.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Immunology question
Hola awesomites!!
So, this is answer of our previous question. Lets have a look into it.
Q1)Which of the following features is not shared between T cells and B cells
a)Antigen specific Receptors
b)Class 1 MHC expression
c)Positive selection during development
d)All of the above
Answer is
C) Positive selection during development
Explanation:
Positive selection:
Site is thymic cortex.
-T cells having affinity for MHC molecules are selected since T cells having affinity for MHC molecules can interect with APC and one who don't have recognisation is killed
Negative selection:
Site:Thymic medulla
Selected T cells are sent to medulla,where there affinity for self antigens are tested.If the have affinity they are programmed to death.
Incase of B cells,if they recognize self antigens they do not undergo death instead there receptors are changed by the process called as "Receptor editing" .If receptor editing dose not take place,then apoptosis takes place.This is negative selection of immature B cells. B cells negative selection occurs in the bone marrow
Both T-cell and B-cell have TCRs and BCRs respectively.
Class I MHC is expressed on both T cells and B cells..
Stay awesome:)
~Ojas
Opioids analgesics classification + NEET notes
Lets begin.
Chemicals derived from opium or related to morphine chemically are called opiates.
1) Natural opium alkaloids
- Morphine, Codeine.
A) Acts on Mu(Causes dependency-Euphoria) , kappa(Dysphoria - Psychomimetic) and delta receptors as agonist. Hence used as supraspinal and Spinal analgesic.
B) Treatment of poisoning: Naloxone 0.4-0.8 mg i.v. repeatedly for 2-3 minutes.
C) Can be administered through oral, rectal, i.m, i.v, intrathecal, epidural routes. Used as preanaesthetic medications
D) Useful in MI and acute pulmonary edema(Both by i.v. route)
E) Contraindicated in head injury, hypothyroidism patient, pregnancy.
A) Partial agonist at mu receptor.
B) 1/10th analgesic of morphine and less efficacious.
Diacetyl morphine(Heroine), Pholcodine, Ethylmorphine.
Dextromethopran is devoid of constipating action.
A) To control shivering after anesthesia
B) Used during labour as analgesic
C) Safer in asthma.
D) Pethidine and pentazosin both are anticholinergics. Hence they causes tachycardia. Perhaps, they are contraindicated in MI but useful in biliary colic
A) Causes truncal rigidity due action on mu receptor.
B) Can be given as transdermal patch and as well as buccal transmucosal
A) Agonist action on mu receptor + blocks NMDA reuptake of monoamines and hence useful in neuropathic and cancer pain (Not controlled by morphine)
B) Can be given by oral, rectal, i.v, s.c, routes.
C) Long plasma half-life hence less dependency and tolerance. Therefore used as maintenance therapy in opioid dependency
A) It is a weak mu receptor agonist and decrease reuptake of NA and 5-HT hence used as analgesia. This is abolished by Ondasteron.
Friday, August 25, 2017
MIL: Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Right Eye
Introducing Medicowesome Image Library (MIL)
I wish to create a visual learning experience by adding images and videos along with what we write.
But since most images on Google have copyright issues, the Medicowesome authors can't use them :(
That is why, I'm asking medical students, residents and acquaintances to send me images of what they see to help create the Medicowesome Image Library (MIL).
It can be anything - a histology slide, a microbiology agar, a pathology specimen, a rash, an instrument, an x-ray - anything!
Treatment of streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis: Important points for USMLE
Here's a quick post of treatment of "strep throat" (my slang for "Tonsillopharyngitis due to Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as group A Streptococcus.")
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Question on sedative-hypnotics
Hello awesomites! Let us discuss about our previous question.
Question) Which of the following statement(s) is/are true regarding benzodiazepines?
A) It acts as GABA agonist
B) Diazepam is a short acting benzodiazepine
C) Diazepam causes lesser respiratory depression than midazolam
D) Nitrazepam is metabolized in liver
E) Diazepam has higher abuse potential than midazolam
#Pharmacology
#Medicowesome
So here is answer of our previous pharmacology question
Correct answer is C and D.
C) Diazepam causes lesser respiratory depression than midazolam
D) Nitrazepam is metabolized in liver.
Explanation:
BZDs has facilitatory action. They are not a GABA agonist.
Diazepam has rapid onset of action but prolonged action due to formation of active metabolite.
BZDs like nitrazepam, flurazepam etc are metabolised in liver by dealkylation and hydroxylation.
The dependence producing liability of BZD is low. They are Infrequently used now.
-Ojas
Classification of sedatives & hypnotics + notes for NEET
a) No antidote.Poisoning treated by gastric lavage, symptomatic treatment and forced alkaline diuresis
b) Steep curve dose.
c) Inhibits all areas of CNS. Most sensitive is reticular system
d) It inhibits all areas of CNS. Mostly reticular system which leads to inability to maintain wakefullness.
e) May cause "Hyperalgesia".
f) Duration of REM sleep and stage 3, 4 of sleep cycle decreases
g) Contraindictated in acute intermittent porphyria
i) Hangover is common
Barbiturates are further classified into three types.
A) Long acting
Phenobarbitone.
Butobarbitone
Pentobarbitone.
Thiopentone.
Methohexitone.
a) Antidote:Flumazenil is competitive antagonist. It takes 30-60 minutes for its action.
b) Flat dose curve.
c) Duration of REM sleep decreases but frequency increases.
d) Hangover less common
They are further classified into three categories
-Flurazepam :Paradoxical simulation and increase nightmare
-Nitrazepam:Increase REM sleep (Rest decreases)
-Temazepam
-Flunitrazepam : Tasteless BZD called as "
" Date rape drug"
-Midazolam:Causes blackouts and ataxia.
-Alprazolam
-Triazolam:Responsible for paranoia and other psychiatric disturbances.
-Lorazepam:Absorption from intramuscular site is regular for other drugs its irregular.
-Alprazolam
-Chlordiazepoxide.
-Diazepam.
-Lorazepam
-Clonazepam
-Clobazam
E=Estazolam
T=Temazepam
L=Lorazepam
O=Oxazepam
T=Triazolam
c) Less rebound insomnia and hangover.
b) Active metabolite is eszopiclone.
a) Lacks anti-anxiety, muscle relaxants, and anti-convulsants actions.
b) Use in short term treatment of insomnia.
c) No rebound insomnia and hangover.
a) Decreases sleep latency without affecting sleep time.
a) Its is Orexin antagonist. Orexin is wake-fullness receptor.
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Image Based MCQ on Instruments
Hello awesomites!
Yesterday we posted an Image based MCQ on Instruments and here is the answer to the question.
#Image_based
#Instruments
Q. What is the inner diameter of the device shown in the picture if it is to be used in adults?
B. 8-9 mm
C. 12-15 mm
D. 21-23 mm
The correct answer is B. 8-9 mm. The image given shows an Endotracheal tube that is available in different sizes for different age groups.
Internal diameter 3mm - 6mm is used for Paediatric cases.
Typically, an 8.0 or 8.5 mm for adult men and 7.5 to 8.0 mm for adult women is an ideal choice.
Monday, August 21, 2017
Cushing Vs Curling Ulcer
Hello!
Its time to differentiate between two confusing ulcers - Cushing and Curling.
What is Cushing Reflex?
It is a triad of Bradycardia, Hypertension and altered respiration following Head injury.
What is Cushing Ulcer?
Stress Ulcer following Head injury.
Most common site - Acid producing area of Stomach.
What is Curling Ulcer?
Stress Ulcer following Burn.
Thomas Blizzard Curling.
Reduced plasma volume leads to ischemia and cell necrosis of the mucosa.
Most common site - 1st part of Duodenum.
cURling = bURn
This may help you to remember the difference between these two.
Thanks
MD Mobarak Hussain (Maahii)
Latanoprost and Pilocarpine never go together
Latanoprost increases the uveoscleral outflow of the aqueous humor. Pilocarpine has a constrictive effect on the ciliary body as a whole. Hence, when the two are used together, their effects end up getting nullified with the physician bungling to achieve the target IOP.
That's all!
-Sushrut Dongargaonkar