Medspo - Blog Posts

Causes of drug-induced lupus

SHIP

Sulfasalazine & Sulfonamide Hydralazine Isoniazid Procainamide & Phenytoin

This is by no means a definitive list (they are many!) but these are some of the most common causes.

Common ototoxic medications

"FAV Q&A"

Furosemide (and other loop diuretics) Aminoglycosides Vancomycin Quinine Aspirin

Hypokalaemia ECG changes

U have no pot and you have no T but you have a long PR and a long QT

Low potassium causes:

U waves (small deflection immediately after T wave)

Flattened/inverted T waves

Prolonged PR interval

Apparent prolonged QT interval (due to fusion of T and U waves)

Also:

Increased P wave amplitude

Widespread ST depression

Oedema - pitting vs non-pitting

Oedema is swelling due to excess fluids in tissues.

In pitting oedema, pressing on the affected area leaves an indentation (that persists after removing the pressure). In non-pitting oedema, the area feels firm to touch and does not form indentations.

Pitting oedema:

The excess fluid is mainly composed of water

Commonly caused by heart failure, venous insufficiency, or nephrotic syndrome

Non-pitting oedema:

The excess fluid consists of water WITH protein and salts

Usually indicates a condition of the thyroid / lymphatic system

Different types:

Lymphoedema is due to a build-up of lymphatic fluid (e.g. due to a tumour blocking lymphatic flow / after removal of lymph nodes).

Myxoedema occurs in hypothyroidism and often affected the pretibial or periorbital area.

Angioedema is localised swelling of the skin and is usually due to allergic reactions. It typically affects the face, tongue, larynx, abdomen, arms, and legs. When the larynx is affected, it may affect breathing, which is an emergency!

Lipoedema is when fat accumulates in subcutaneous tissues - it usually affects the legs/buttocks and almost exclusively occurs in postpubertal females (not the same as cellulite!)

If patients present with oedema, it's always important to test if it's pitting or non-pitting as this helps to determine the cause and correct treatment!

Causes of Acute Pancreatitis

In the UK and US, the main causes are gallstones and alcohol.

Use the mnemonic 'I GET SMASHED':

Idiopathic

Gallstones

Ethanol

Trauma

Steroids

Mumps / Malignancy

Autoimmune

Scorpion stings

Hypercalcaemia / Hypertriglyceridaemia / Hypothermia

ERCP

Drugs (including azathioprine, mesalazine, bendroflumethiazide, furosemide, steroids, sodium valproate)

Branches of external carotid artery

Some Anatomists Like F*cking, Others Prefer S & M

Superior thyroid artery

Ascending pharyngeal artery

Lingual artery

Facial artery

Occipital artery

Posterior auricular artery

Superficial temporal artery

Maxillary artery

The superior thyroid, ascending pharyngeal, lingual and facial arteries are ANTERIOR branches.

The occipital and posterior auricular arteries are POSTERIOR branches.

The superficial temporal and maxillary arteries are TERMINAL branches.

“Some Anatomists Like F*cking, Others Prefer S & M” 

is a mnemonic my professor just mentioned in class for the branches of the external carotid artery askjvb;askjbv;

Distribution of calcium in the body

Bone calcium (99%)

Ca^2+ and PO4^3+ form hydroxyapatite

Plasma calcium

Diffusible pool

~50% of plasma calcium is free/unbound ionic Ca2+ (physiologically important form)

~10% of plasma calcium is complexed with small molecular weight compounds (citrate, phosphate)

Non-diffusible pool

~40% of plasma calcium is bound to calcium-binding proteins and plasma proteins (albumin)

The body utilises plasma albumin-bound calcium as a circulating reserve

Management of acute MI

Reduce anginal pain

Morphine (+ anti-emetic)

Oxygen

Nitrate

Initiate reperfusion

Anti-platelet (aspirin, clopidogrel)

Thrombolytic (rtPA)

Primary angioplasty (PTCA)

Anticoagulant (heparin)

Protect myocardium

Beta-blocker

ACE inhibitor

Secondary prevention

Aspirin

Lipid-lowering (statin)

Lifestyle

Helpful mnemonic foe MI treatment.

Carpal bones mnemonic

So Long Till Pinky, Here Comes The Thumb

Scaphoid

Lunate

Triquetrum

Pisiform

Hamate

Capitate

Trapezoid

Trapezium

(going anti-clockwise in this diagram)

Can - Citrate

I - Isocitrate

Keep - α-Ketoglutarate

Selling - Succinyl-CoA

Sex - Succinate

For - Fumarate

Money - Malate

Officer - Oxaloacetate

oh we are starting my favorite topic in biochemistry the tca cycle because whenever someone’s like :( it’s so hard to remember the intermediates :( i get to tell them about Can I Keep Selling Sex For Money Officer

🎓A-level Results!🎓

I didn’t update yesterday because I was so busy and overwhelmed and ahhh.

But, I got…

A*AA!

I’m so unbelievably happy! I’ve got into medical school!

The breakdown:

Biology - A

Chemistry - A

Physics - A*

I can’t believe I got an A* in physics. I cried so much in that exam and afterwards I genuinely thought I wouldn’t scrape an A.

I’m so so so happy!

How did you do?

And to anyone with GCSE results next week, best of luck! Remember, wherever you end up is where you were meant to be!