Opioid receptors are a group of inhibitory G protein-coupled receptors with opioids as ligands. Mu (µ) Receptor (MOP) Mnemonic: MU CARDS Miosis eUphoria Constipation Analgesia (Supraspinal + Spinal) Respiratory depression Rigidity (truncal) Dependency Sedation µ1 mediates supraspinal analgesia, and most of other effects including spinal analgesia is mediated by µ2. Kappa…
Category: PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS
Medical knowledge in bullet points with understandable language, simplified images and graspable mnemonics.
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS
Antidepressants Made Easy
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA) Mnemonic: -pramine, -triptyline, -pin Secondary amines: predominantly norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors Nor-triptyline Desi-pramine Tertiary amines: Ami-triptyline Imi-pramine Clomi-pramine Doxe-pin Irreversible MAO Inhibitors Mnemonic: TIPS Non-selective MAO inhibitors: Tranylcypromine Isocarboxazid Phenelzine Selective MAO-B inhibitor: Selegiline (transdermal patch) Reversible Inhibitor of MAO-A (RIMA) Moclobemide Tolaxatone Tetracyclic Antidepressants Nonselective inhibitor of…
Emergency Medicine
Supraventricular Tachycardia vs Sinus Tachycardia
Yesterday, I had encountered a tachycardic patient with heart rate 160/min. Somewhere in medical school, I was taught that the sinus tachycardia with heart rate >160/min must be considered as a Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). With such misinformation, it was easier for me to overlook the fact that the patient was…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS
Steroid Induced Leukocytosis
Mechanism of Steroid Induced Leukocytosis There are 3 major mechanisms responsible for corticosteroid induced granulocytosis: 1. Demargination of neutrophils from endothelial cells (60% of the rise): Recall the leukocyte adhesion cascade in the chapter of inflammation. L-selectins are present in leukocytes that mediates their rolling on the endothelial lining of…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS
Drug Resistance TB Management Summary
Antitubercular drug symbols H = Isoniazid R = Rifampicin Z = Pyrazinamide E = Ethambutol S = Streptomycin Km = Kanamycin Cm = Capreomycin Lfx = Levofloxacin Ofx = Ofloxacin Mfx = Moxifloxacin Eto = Ethionamide PAS = Para-aminosalicylic acid Cs = Cycloserine Amx/Clv = Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Bdq = Bedaquiline Lzd…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS
Substance abuse vs Substance dependence
Both of these substance use disorders are maladpative patterns of substance use, leading to clinically significant impairment/distress but defined by separate criteria. Substance abuse ≥1 of the following occurring within a 12 month period: Mnemonic: 4 Rs Role failure: Recurrent use resulting in failure to fulfill role obligation Risky behavior:…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS
Depression Criteria Mnemonic
Mnemonic: DEPRESSION Major symptoms Minor symptoms Alternative mnemonic: SIGECAPS Criteria for Major Depressive Disorder Grading of Depression Unlike in the ICD-10, grading of depression into mild, moderate and severe is not based on the sum of the symptoms, but also takes into account their intensity and the degree of functional…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS
Silhouette and Cervico-thoracic sign
Synonyms: Obscured margin sign, Loss of outline sign Silhouette refers to the shadow and derived it’s origin from shadow papercuts done by Etienne de Silhouette. Principle of Silhouette sign On a normal Chest X-ray the well-defined borders of the heart and the domes of the diaphragm are visualised because the adjacent…