My low osmolarity ORS notes for MBBS exam and constituents of ORS mnemonic

{Learning is one thing and deciding what will you write in a written test is another. This is what I have decided to write in my MBBS exam if a short answer question SAQ or a long answer question LAQ on low osmolarity ORS is asked! I might actually do a notes label if time permits for most of important questions. But for now, here goes the first one.

Let's get started!}

Defintion: Oral rehydration therapy is an inexpensive glucose and electrolyte solution as promoted by the World Health Organization that has reduced the number of deaths from dehydration due to diarrhea substantially.

Pathophysiology: Oral rehydration takes advantage of glucose-coupled sodium transport, a process for sodium absorption which remains relatively intact in infective diarrheas due to viruses or to enteropathogenic bacteria, whether invasive or enterotoxigenic. Glucose enhances sodium, and secondarily, water transport across the mucosa of the upper intestine.

Why is Lasix NOT prescribed at night?

This was asked by my professor in a clinic today.

The answer is simple.. Why would you prescribe Furosemide in the morning or afternoon but not at night? Think! Think! Think!

Evaluating axis from ECG (Mnemonic)

Hi everyone! We are going to learn how to determine the axis from an electrocardiogram =D

First of all, do you know which two leads should be looked at to determine whether axis is in the normal quadrant or if it is Left Axis Deviation (LAD) or Right Axis Deviation (RAD)?

Look at lead I and lead II. Sounds simple! ^__^

An upright (positive) QRS in leads I and II is normal (–30 degrees to +105 degrees).
In left-axis deviation, there is an upright QRS in lead I and a downward (negative) QRS in lead II (< –30 degrees).
In right-axis deviation, there is a downward QRS in lead I and an upright QRS in lead II (> +105 degrees).

How do I remember this? @_@

Thumbs up method: Lead I = Left thumb, Lead II = Right thumb.

Wait, why lead I is left thumb and lead II is the right thumb?
Because left is a smaller word and it gets the smaller number, that is, one!
Right has more alphabets and it gets the bigger number, that is, two.

Left thumb up (I) + Right thumb up (II) = Normal.
Left thumb up (I) + Right thumb down (II) = LAD.
Left thumb down (I) + Right thumb up (II) = RAD.

Mnemonic method:
Left leaves, right returns.

That's all!
Have a splendid week everyone < 3
-IkaN

Why are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents avoided in myoardial infarction?

Good question!

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, with the exception of aspirin, are avoided in the setting of myocaridal infarction.

Minimum number of antenatal visits recommended by WHO mnemonic

WHO recommends at least 4 visits:

1st visit around 16 weeks
2nd visit between 24-28 weeks
3rd visit at 32 weeks
4th visit at 36 weeks

Why do we feel temperature with the back of our hand and why not the front?

The answer to this question goes back to Anatomy.

The front of our hand is innervated by the Median and Ulnar nerves which come from the lateral and medial cords of the brachial plexus.
However, the back of the hand is innervated mostly by the Radial nerve which comes from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus. The posterior cord carries the maximum number of nerve roots, that is, C5, C6, C7, C8 & T1.

The radial nerve provides cutaneous sensory innervation to most of the back of the hand so I guess it's better to check temperature with a nerve with maximum representative nerve roots. I assume if one or two roots are not working properly, say C8 & T1, the other roots from the same nerve will compensate for it.

Postpartum hemorrhage causes mnemonic

Remember the 4 T's for causes -
Tone [Atony]
Trauma [Episiotomy wound, laceration]
Tissue [Retained placenta, blood clots]
Thrombin [Blood coagulation disorders, acquired or congenital]

That's all!
-IkaN

Normal arterial blood gas values and serum electrolytes mnemonic

Know the normal pH of blood 7.35 - 7.45.. That's all you need to remember I promise!

Take the numbers after the decimal, 35 - 45; and that's your pCO2.

Divide 45 by 2, approx 22; and that's your bicarbonate levels.

Multiply 45 by 2, that is, 90; and that's your pO2.

So in summary -
pH: 7.35 - 7.45
PCO2: 33 - 45 mm Hg
PO2: 75 - 105 mm Hg
Serum bicarbonate: 22 - 28 mEq/L

That's all!

Eid mubarak to everyone :)

-IkaN

Updated on 11th June, 2016: Illustration

Normal arterial blood gas value mnemonic

Related posts:

Metabolic acidosis notes

Metabolic alkalosis notes

Wanna memorize more numbers?

Normal AST, ALT and ALP values mnemonic

Normal sodium, potassium and serum osmolality values mnemonic

Normal values of Calcium, Phosphate, PTH and Alkaline phosphate mnemonic

Kawasaki disease mnemonic

Kawasaki disease mnemonic - Much Kawaii strawberries and hearts. Cute in Japanese.

Engagement, synclitism and asynclitism

My first obstetrics video!
I talk on what is engagement & what do you mean by anterior and posterior asynclitism in this video!
Have fun learning :D

An artery is always palapated against a bone

Did you know when you palpate the popliteal artery in the supine position, with the knee flexed, you palpate it against the proximal part of tibia but if you palpate the same in the prone position, with the knee flexed, you are palpating against the distal part of the femur?

Baclofen and Dantrolene mnemonic

Hey everyone. A very short post today.

Intrinsic tyrosine kinase and receptor-associated tyrosine kinase mnemonic

Hello, how is everything going? ^__^
We'll be learning on how to remember some signaling pathways of endocrine hormones =D
Let's get started!

MAP kinase pathway mnemonic:
"I intrinsically try to map growth"
Intrinsic tyrosine kinase - Insulin & growth factors (IGF-1, FGF, PDGF, EGF) - MAP kinase pathway!

JAK-STAT signaling pathway mnemonic:
JAK reminds me of a jack ass. I imagine a jack pig instead =P
Prolactin, Immunomodulators (e.g., cytokines, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IFN), Growth hormone.

If you can't remember the immunomodulators, just think STAT!
sTaT has two T's which should remind you of "Tins and Ters"
Tins - Erythropoietin, prolactin, thrombopoietin, leptin
Ters - Interferons, Interleukins

And another animal - rat.
This'll help you remember that it is a receptor-associated tyrosine kinase!

So remember 3 animals - Jackass, pig & rat. You should be good :)

That's all!
Hope you're doing well & see you in the next post =D
-IkaN