USMLEMD pictures for Step 1

usmlemd.blogspot.com to usmlemd.wordpress.com

As you can see we moved the blog to wordpress. There are a lot of nice features and I will continue the website on www.usmlemd.wordpress.com

BACLOFEN

Baclofen is a GabaB receptor agonist (fan of GabaB) that is inhiBitory at synapses in the spinal cord (at the Back).

Baclofen is a muscle relaxer and an antispastic agent.
Baclofen is used to treat muscle symptoms caused by multiple sclerosis, including spasm, pain, and stiffness.

The most common side effects associated with baclophen include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and leg weakness. The incidence of these side effects is reduced by starting with a low dose of baclophen that is gradually increased. However, approximately one tenth of sufferers cannot tolerate baclophen. A rare complication is a confusional state that appears shortly after baclophen is started, but this resolves quickly when therapy is stopped. Baclophen should not be discontinued abruptly after prolonged use because hallucinations or seizures may occur. If these withdrawal symptoms do occur, the previous dose of baclophen is usually re-instituted and then gradually reduced.

Klebsiella

I actually didn't know how currant jelly looks like. So, now I know and by the way I like this picture. One of the buzz words for Klebsiella pneumonia(most likely alcoholics and heavy smokers) is currant jelly like sputum. Despite the fact that Klebsiella pneumonia is very common in the group mansion above and you can see that in a question on the exam, don't get fooled about what is the MC pneumonia. This guy Strep Pneumo always wins.
And don't forget that Klebsiella is associated with indwelling Katheters and UTIs.

Negative Birefringence

Liquid crystals are found to be birefringent, due to their anizotropic nature. That is, they demonstrate double refraction (having two indices of refraction). Light polarized parallel to the director has a different index of refraction (that is to say it travels at a different velocity) than light polarized perpendicular to the director.

Negative birefringence – yellow when is parallel to the light, and blue when is perpendicular.

Extraocular muscles

Interesting link showing the normal and pathological movements of the extraocular muscles:here

LINKS

I will make a list of some of the links to webpages that I found really useful:
Anatomy-->Atlases:
1. http://www.univie.ac.at/anatomie2/plastination.html
2. http://www.anatomyatlases.org/
3. http://www9.biostr.washington.edu/da.html
4. http://www.neuroanatomy.wisc.edu/anatomy.htm
5. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/wnor/
6. http://www.siumed.edu/anatomy/
7. http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072495855/student_view0/

NAC

The use of N-acetylcysteine=NAC:

N-->Nephropathy prevention(when use contrast for CT scan in patients with renal insufficiency)
A-->Acetaminophen toxicity
C-->Cystic Fibrosis (mycolitic agent)

Oxygen Dissociatin Curve

This tool is very helpful to understand better the O2 dissociation curve.

http://www.ventworld.com/resources/oxydisso/oxydisso.html

The full text with explanation of O2Hb dissociation curve here.