Memory Aids for Medicine

10 Functions of Skin

2009-02-07T10:28:00.005+08:00

The 10 functions of skin are:
Protection - physical, chemical, immunological, antimicrobial
Appearance
Cushion
Homeostasis
Thermoregulation
Manipulation - nails
Sensation
Nutritional - vitamin D synthesis
Hormonal - testosterone synthesis
Pheromonal

Mnemonic: Psycho ADHD Children Have Terrible Mood Swings 'N' Harass Parents

Source: Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine, 20th ed.

The 1-to-6 of Skin Structure

2009-02-07T08:55:00.008+08:00

Skin & and its appendages have/are
- 1 organ
- 2m-sq in area, 2 structures in subcutis (dermal papilla, subcutaneous vessel)
- 3 layers (epidermis, dermis, subcutis)
- 4kg in weight, 4 layers in epidermis
- 5 layers in basement membrane (basal keratinocyte, basal cell membrane, lamina lucida, lamina densa, sub-lamina densa)
- 6 structures in dermis (sweat gland, sweat duct, sebaceous gland, hair, superficial vascular plexus, deep vascular plexus)

Source: Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine, 20th ed.

Technique: Using the 2x2

2009-01-16T13:50:00.001+08:00

One mental tool I've found very useful is the 2x2 table (or 3x3, or 4x4, for that matter) to work out possible permutations and combinations of clinical signs and symptoms. I remember one from my undergraduate surgery days in approaching RHC pain for instance:

RHC pain is of hepatobiliary or pulmonary origin. And the hepatobiliary causes come either with or without jaundice, or with or without fever. So given these two dichotomous parameters - we have a 2x2 - and its quadrantic (4) subgroups of differentials.

Fever No Fever
Jaundice (1)Cholangitis (2)Choledocholithiasis
CholangioCA, CA head of pancreas
No Jaundice (3)Cholecystitis (4)Biliary stasis
Empyema Mucocele

We can add on more variables as we go along, like palpable lump or no palpable lump. Which should make 2x2x2 = 8 sub-groups. Where L=lump, NL=No lump, we now have:

Fever No Fever
Jandice (1a)NL: Cholangitis (2a)NL: Choledocholithiasis
(1b)L: ? (2b)L: CholangioCA, CA head of pancreas
No Jaundice (3a)NL: Cholecystitis (4a)NL: Biliary stasis
(3b)L: Empyema (4b)L: Mucocele

Looking at the above, there is yet no obvious answer for combination 1b - fever+jaundice+lump. Unless, of course, when we factor in the confounding 'dual-pathology'. In that case we can have four possible combinations that result in fever, jaundice and a lump:
1a + 4b (cholangitis with a mucocele),
2a + 3b (choledocholithiatis with an empyema),
2b + 3a (CA + cholecystitis),
1a + 2b (cholangitis with CA).

Confusing? Let's not even get into triple pathology!

One can do this for everything in medicine; for instance in lung examination , taking into consideration dull/resonant percussion, increased/reduced fremitus, tracheal deviation away/towards lesion, increased/reduced breath sounds, and presence/absence of crepitations. That gives us 2x2x2x2x2 = 32 possible permutations.

In ENT, an easy one is the Rinne and Weber's test. Rinne +ve/-ve, Weber towards/away from the bad ear gives us a nice 2x2 for unilateral ear pathology. Drawing a two by two for the BAD EAR, we get:

Rinne+ Rinne-
Weber towards mild CHL (<10-15dB) CHL (>10-15dB)
Weber away SNHL profound SNHL {the false -ve}

I find working out these permutations very useful to preempt a jaw-drop during an exam (what the heck does this combination suggest?!) and also to think of all the possible presentations of disease.

Rye classification for Hodgkin's lymphoma

2008-12-22T20:11:00.003+08:00

The Rye classification for Hodgkin's lymphoma, in order of frequency
• Nodular Sclerosis
• Mixed cellularity
• lymphocyte Depleted
• lymphocyte Predominant

Lymphocyte-predominant has the best prognosis while lymphocyte-depleted has the worst.

A comparison can be found in Blood: Principles and Practice of Hematology online

Naked Spiders Make Dogs Puke... don't ask me why!

Drug-induced cholestasis

2008-12-22T19:56:00.002+08:00

Drugs that can cause cholestatic jaundice:
• Chlorpromazine
• Antibiotics (flucloxacillin, fusidic acid, co-amoxiclav, nitrofurantoin)
• Prochlorperazine
• Sulfonylureas
• Anabolic steroids
• Gold
• Oral contraceptives

If you're gonna get jaundice, get it from eating CAP SAGO!

Source: Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine

Learning prompted by one of my patients developing jaundice post-op. LFT showed cholestatic picture too! Remitted spontaneously after stopping IV Augmentin (after checking OHCM!).

Antibiotic-induced fever

2008-12-22T17:03:00.002+08:00

Six antibiotics known to cause fever are:
⟐ Procainamide
⟐ Quinidine
⟐ Penicillin
⟐ Isoniazid
⟐ Nitrofurantoin
⟐ Erythromycin

Antibiotic-induced fevers are a thorny issue, together they spell PorQPINE!

Source: Family Practice Notebook.com