Antigenic Drift Nature of antigenic variation: Minor Mechanism: Gradual accumulation of amino acid substitutions due to point mutation in the hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N)…
Explore more Antigenic Shift and DriftBedside Cold Agglutinin Test for Mycoplasma
Definition of Cold Agglutinin Cold agglutinins are polyclonal IgM that have specificity against the I-antigen on red cells, and often there is light chain restriction,…
Explore more Bedside Cold Agglutinin Test for MycoplasmaRickettsial Diseases Made Easy
Important features of Rickettsia and Rickettsial Diseases Obligate intracellular parasites like Chlamydia – can survive only in host cells Cannot produce their own ATP, so…
Explore more Rickettsial Diseases Made EasyEthambutol Induced Optic Neuropathy
Mechanism of Ethambutol induced optic neuropathy Ethambutol is metabolized to a chelating agent. The chelating agent formed then may impair the function of metal-containing mitochondiral…
Explore more Ethambutol Induced Optic NeuropathyHuman Growth Hormone – Elixir of youth?
Human Growth Hormone (HGH) also known as somatotropin is synthesized and secreted by the acidophilic cells of pituitary gland in response to Growth hormone releasing…
Explore more Human Growth Hormone – Elixir of youth?Thoracocentesis : Practical Essentials
Absolute contraindications of thoracocentesis There are no absolute contraindications to diagnostic thoracocentesis. If clinical judgement dictates that the information gained from the pleural fluid analysis…
Explore more Thoracocentesis : Practical EssentialsGastrinoma (Passaro’s) triangle
Boundaries of Gastrinoma Triangle It is an imaginary triangle formed by 3 points in upper abdomen: Apex: Cystic duct-CBD junction Inferior point: 2nd part duodenum-3rd…
Explore more Gastrinoma (Passaro’s) triangleMEN syndrome Mnemonics
MEN syndrome is an autosomal dominant (AD) predisposition to developing multiple endocrine tumors. Points to remember: Parathyroid hyperplasia is common to Men I and Men…
Explore more MEN syndrome Mnemonics