Thursday, May 27, 2021

Immunofluorescence patterns in glomerular diseases notes and mnemonics

Immunopathologic patterns of immunoglobulins (Igs) and/or complement components deposited in glomerular diseases notes and mnemonics

Linear deposition:
Anti-GBM disease (mainly IgG)
unspecifically IgG in diabetes mellitus

Granular deposition: 
membranoproliferative GN
post-infectious GN
membranous GN
IgA, IgM, C1q, C3

Pauci immune deposition:
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener) PR3-ANCA/c-ANCA
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss)
Microscopic polyangiitis MPO-ANCA/p-ANCA

Love,
IkaN 

Treatment options for latent tuberculosis mnemonic

Treatment options for latent tuberculosis 

6 or 9 months of isoniazid 

3 months of isoniazid plus rifapentine, given once weekly

4 months of rifampin, given daily

3 months of isoniazid plus rifampin, given daily


That's all!
IkaN 

Fact of the day - hypercalcemia in sarcoidosis

 Hi!


Hypercalcemia and hypervitaminosis-D is seen in patients with sarcoidosis and other granulomatous inflammatory conditions. This is because the granulomatous macrophages have high 1-alpha hydroxylase activity --> high levels of 1,25-OH2 vitamin D (calcitriol), produced in addition to this enzyme's normal activity in the kidneys.


That's all

- Jaskunwar Singh

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Salter-Harris classification of fractures


Salter Harris classification is used for fractures involving the physis ( growth plates) of long bones. These fractures are common in children as their skeletal growth is not fully complete.

Depending on the extent and the structures involved, there are 5 types as follows: 


Here is a mnemonic to remember the different types, which actually goes by the name of the classification itself!

S - Separation through growth plate or physis
A - Above the physis
L - Lower to physis
T - Through the physis, metaphysis, epiphysis
ER-ERasure of physis ( as it is a compression fracture of growth plate)

Hope this helps!
-Padma Sri Katikaneni







 

Basal Ganglia Circuit

Hello everyone!  Confusing loop has now simplified look! 👀 

First of all, Basal ganglia receives cortical input, provides negative feedback to cortex to modulate movement.

3 things must be remembered. 

  • SNc (Substantia nigra) input to the striatum via the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway releases GABA.
  • Dopamine binds to D1 , stimulating the excitatory pathway, and to D2 , inhibiting the inhibitory pathway. 
  • Pathways from Thalamus to Motor cortex & from Motor cortex to Basal ganglia - “Stimulatory” 

That’s why this circuit is important in voluntary movements and adjusting posture. 

Here is my attempt to simplify this circuit through a drawing. By understanding that you’ll never forget it! 



  • I-N-hibitory pathway goes through Gp-I & N-ucleus(Subthalamic)!
  • If BG output = +, then increased motor activity
  • If BG output = -, then decreased motor activity 

In PARKINSON’S DISEASE, SNc degenerates = lose dopaminergic input to BG
Less stimulation of direct pathway (⬇️gas) and less Inhibition of Indirect pathway (⬆️ brake) = overall indirect wins =less motor activity. This explains bradykinesia and rigidity of PD but not tremor. 

STN and GPi are targets of Deep Brain Stimulation in PD. 
Deep brain Stimulation INHIBITS activity in these structures—inhibiting either would lead to decreased inhibitory output of BG = increased motor activity-> improve PD symptoms. 

Lesion of STN -HEMIBALLISMUS= uncontrolled erratic large amplitude movements on one side.  Why INCREASED movement with STN lesion? 
By decreasing STN excitation of GPi we essentially ‘remove’ indirect pathway from equation, and direct pathway becomes unchecked -> ⬆️ movement      

Thank you! 🩺

Sunday, May 23, 2021

Ehler-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) - High yield only

Hi! So let's learn EDS together. I've tabled a list of high-yield points of all the types of EDS. It requires little bit of revision but once you get a pictorial familiarity you should be able to recall them all. 

Have fun!

So, how to remember?

Step 1. Divide the table into 2 halves. Sl no. 1,2,3 have in common a lot of features:
  • They are all Autosomal Dominant. 
  • They have common Clinical features - skin HYPERelasticity, joint HYPERmobility and HYPER (easy) bruising. 
  • Go serially, Classical has the first 2, Type I and II and HYPERmobile is III and lastly Vascular is type I
  • Vascular type has additionally - arterial & uterine rupture.
Step 2. Now the second section Sl no. 4,5,6
  • EDS types with enzyme defects are Autosomal Recessive. So, 4 and 6 are AR. 
  • Kyphoscoliotic EDS is Type VI (K rearranged is a V and I)
  • For the last 2, mnemonic is ABCD😛 Arthrochalasia VII a, b and VII c is Dermatosparaxis.
  • KyphoSCOLIOTIC EDS - defective lysyl hydroxylase (=> abnormal cross linking of collagen or KOLLAGEN => think of bones 🦴 => congenital SCOLIOSIS)
  • ARTHROchalasia is COL IA (1st letter is A) and hence presents with severe JOINT hyper mobility.
  • DERMATospARaxis is AR and a defective Procollagen-N-peptidase and presents with CUTIS laxa. (Cuties are Pros ;)

Step 2. For the Gene types, come down in descending order: 5 4 3 2 1


Step 3. Remember Type V - DOEST NOT EXIST. 

Step 4. Revise again 😉

That's it! Stay safe 🌸
- Anagha :)

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Types of COVID-19 antibody tests

Hi everyone! 

In this post, I will go over in very short the different types of  COVID-19 antibody tests.

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Cancer Screening - US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines

     As the saying goes - "Awareness is Power in a world where information is everywhere", lets quickly learn the USPSTF recommended guidelines for Cancer screening

CANCER                                                          

SCREENING MODALITY

AGE GROUP   

Breast Cancer

  • Biennial Mammography                                                                                            

Women aged 50 to 74 yrs 

Cervical Cancer    

  • Cervical cytology every 3yrs  


  • Cervical cytology every 3 yrs 

or

  • High risk HPV(hrHPV) testing every 5 yrs

or

  • hrHPV testing in combination with cytology every 5yrs (cotesting) 

                                                                                                               

Women aged 21 to 29 yrs 


Women aged 30 to 65 yrs   

Lung Cancer  

  • Annual Low dose CT chest (who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke/quit within past 15 yrs)



Adults aged 50 to 80 yrs

Colorectal Cancer 

  • Colonoscopy screening every 10 yrs

  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 yrs

  • Computed tomography colonography every 5 yrs

  • High-sensitivity guaiac fecal occult blood test (HSgFOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every yr

  • Stool DNA-FIT every 1 to 3 yrs


Adults aged 45 to 75 yrs


P.S. - USPSTF now recommends screening for Colorectal cancer in adults aged 45 to 75 years


- Padma Sri Katikaneni                                                                                                                       



                  


Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Human herpes viruses (HHV) types mnemonic

Human herpes viruses mnemonic... In case you get them mixed up...


Fact of the day - Athlete's heart

Hi!


Athlete's heart - physiologic eccenteric hypertrophy (cardiac remodeling) - changes include resting bradycardia, higher cardiac output with exercise, dilatation of LV cavity size with hypertrophy of myocytes compared to normal heart.

vs pathologic hypertrophy in case of systolic heart failure, aortic/mitral regurgitation, dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) (volume overload conditions).


LV systolic ejection fraction is normal - low-normal in athletes.

(vs HCM- high, DCM- low)

HCM is a common cause of death in athletes, especially those with family history.


That's all

- Jaskunwar Singh


METABOLIC SYNDROME - MNEMONIC

BE AWARE of THE HIGH SUGARS

(3 or more of the following : diagnosis of Metabolic syndrome)

Blood Pressure >/=130/85mmHg

Abdominal obesity ( waist circumference) > 40 inches in males; >35 inches in females

Triglycerides >/=150 mg/dl

HDL cholesterol < 40mg/dl in males; < 50mg/dl in females

Fasting blood Sugars >/=100mg/dl

Hope this helps:)

- Padma Sri Katikaneni

Megalencephaly mnemonic

Hello friends! 

Here's is the simple mnemonic to remember the important causes of Megalencephaly.
CATS
Canavan's disease
Alexander disease
Tay- Sachs disease
Sandoff disease.

That's all!
Dr.Madhuri Reddy

Monday, May 17, 2021

COMMON METASTASES - MNEMONICS

SITE OF METASTASIS                              PRIMARY TUMOUR 

BRAIN                                                                    Lots of Bad Stuff Kill microGlia
                                                                                 Lung, Breast, Skin (melanoma), Kidney, GI(colon)

LIVER                                                                     Cancer Sometimes Penetrates Big Liver   
                                                                                 Colon, Stomach, Pancreas, Breast, Lung 

BONE                                                                      Permanently Relocated Tumours Like Bones
                                                                                 Prostate, Renal, Thyroid, Lungs, Breast

     

P.S. - FOUR CARCINOMAS ROUTE HEMATOGENOUSLY! 

        (Follicular carcinoma thyroid, Choriocarcinoma, Renal cell carcinoma, Hepatocellular Carcinoma)

Hope these mnemonics help!

Feel free to add any more fun mnemonics :)


- Padma Sri Katikaneni