Chloride shift) is a process which occurs in the cardiovascular system and refers to the exchange of bicarbonate (HCO3-) and chloride (Cl-) across the membrane of red blood cells. Carbon dioxide (CO2) generated in tissues enters the blood and dissolves in water in the red blood cells to…
Pancoast tumour - a primary lung cancer that arises in the lung apex and invades soft tissues such as the brachial plexus. Although classically these tumours present with Pancoast syndrome (shoulder pain, C8 to T1 radiculopathy, Horner’s syndrome) this only occurs in approximately 25% of cases. The lung apex is an important check area on chest radiographs. Any density difference between the left and right is suspicious. CT in this case confirms a lung mass invading adjacent soft tissues and destroying the second rib.
New England Journal of Medicine Interactive Medical Case: A Complex Cause of Pleuritic Chest Pain
(Source: ermedicine)
A friend of ours sent a recent X-ray of his cervical ribs. He is also a medical student and decided to share his experience.
He wrote:”you can see them as bone structures above clavicles. They are not symmetrical (in most of cases they arenot). In the middle of right rib and in the distal part of left rib you can see additional joints. Both ribs start at C7 (i think so) and end with joints at 1st thoracic rib. It is quite rare condition (0,2 % of population) and may lead to thoracic outlet syndrome. Cervical rib may be resected if thoracic outlet syndrome occurs. Also you can see crooked 8th tooth and a earring :).”
We are so grateful for having someone willing to share his experience so we can all learn together!! THANK YOU! :)
(via anaestheticroom)
In The Wards: ECG - Conduction Problems
1st Degree Heart Block
* PR interval is prolonged, ~ 360ms (normal PR interval is 120 - 200ms or 3 - 5 small squares)
Causes of 1st degree heart block include:
- Coronary artery disease
- Acute rheumatic carditis
- Digoxin toxicity
- Electrolyte disturbances
2nd Degree Heart Block
* …
(via mynotes4usmle)
Transpyloric Plane (L1)
This is such a significant CT plane as it contains the following important structures:
- Fundus of gall bladder
- Superior mesenteric artery origin
- End of the spinal cord
- Pylorus of stomach
- Neck of pancreas
- Origin of portal vein
- 2nd part of the duodenum / sphincter of Oddi
- Hilum of kidneys
- Duodenal-jejunal flexure
- Hepatic / splenic flexure of large bowel
Adenosine deaminase deficiency, in three words:
- Second most common for of SCID
- Ribonucleotide reductase Inhibited by excess dATP, which prevents DNA synthesis and thus decreases lymphocyte count (lymphocytes are some of the more mitotically active cells in the body)
- Very early infections. Candidiasis, diarrhea, respiratory. Distinguish from Wiskott-Aldrich’s in that the platelet count is normal.
(via mynotes4usmle)
Medical State of Mind: I GET SMASHED for Acute Pancreatitis
Idiopathic: Hypertensive sphincter or microlithiasis
Gallstones (45%)
Ethanol (35%)
Tumours: Pancreas. Ampulla. CholedochoceleScorpion stings
Microbiological
- Bacteria: Mycoplasma. Campylobacter. TB. M. avium intracellular. Legionella. Leptospirosis
- Viral: Mumps. Rubella. Varicella….
Biomedical Ephemera, or: A Frog for Your Boils: Vesalius and modern anatomy
Vesalius the person:
Andreas Vesalius was born in Brussels in 1514, on the morning of December 31. His given name was André Wesele (Witing) Crabbe, and Andreas Vesalius was a name taken on after deciding to pursue medicine, at age 17. He came from a line of…
In The Wards: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Type II Diabetes
Pathophysiology
1. Target cell insulin resistance
There is no evidence of immune involvement in Type II. Binding of insulin to cells’ receptors is mostly normal, but there is a defect in the signalling within the target cell producing insulin resistance.
