What did you learn at school today?

PhysiologyRocks

I'm studying and came up with an idea for a thread. If you come across any interesting, useful or bizarre bits of information, please share.

I'm learning about renal syndromes. In membranous nephropathy, 20% of patients don't change, 30% remit and 50% go into CRF.

It is associated with infections (hep B, malaria, syphilis), some malignancies and drugs (captopril, gold, penicillamine).

On microscopy, there'll be thickening of the glomerular capillary walls. Silver stain will show up BM spikes. Immunofluorescence is positive for IgG + C in a granular pattern along the capillaries. Electron microscopy shows up subepithelial deposits.

mardybumbum

With regards to your own post PhysRocks, I learned recently that FSGS has now overtaken MG as the commonest cause of the nephrotic syndrome in adults.
I would have been taught the opposite when I studied path and I wouldn't be surprised if the current 3rd years are being taught the same.

May be of interest to you.

Tree

Today I learned how hard it is to match spots on two D gels and immunoblots.... (it's hard)

GradMed

mardybumbum wrote: »

With regards to your own post PhysRocks, I learned recently that FSGS has now overtaken MG as the commonest cause of the nephrotic syndrome in adults.
I would have been taught the opposite when I studied path and I wouldn't be surprised if the current 3rd years are being taught the same.

May be of interest to you.

it's not just 3rd years being taught it, final year too.

foreverandever

LOL at this thread.

mardybumbum

foreverandever wrote: »

LOL at this thread.

Today I learned there will always be naysayers.

foreverandever

mardybumbum wrote: »

Today I learned there will always be naysayers.

LOL you must have had a very sheltered upbringing to only discover that now!

sam34

post on-topic folks or don't post at all

Tree

Further to the previous learning, I can say that it takes about three days for a n00b to match proteomics spots using teh computer, and after all that, I'll probably end up doing it by eye anyway.

(We prepare protein samples, and separate them into two dimensions so you end up with a gel with an array of spots, and these different samples on their different gels need to be aligned so you can make comparisons between different protein spots. Computer software helps to make the alignment and analysis a little more objective, but it's still pretty painstaking to carry out. On the plus side, I have some nice data to carry on to the next experiment )

(Most of my learning is by experience now rather than by lecture, so the information comes in bursts and tends to be a bit more technical)

Biologic

Methylmalonic acid levels can be used to distinguish between folate and B12 deficiencies in macrocytic anemia. It's normal with folate def but raised with B12 def. This is because B12 is a cofactor in methylmalonic acid metabolisation to succinyl CoA. No B12 means raised methylmalonic acid.
To add some clinical context to this seemingly unimportant piece of information; methylmalonic acid accumulation in B12 deficiency causes decreased myelinisation of the spinal cord and results in dorsal column and lateral spinothalamic tract degeneration (manifesting with poor proprioception, vibratory sensation and spastic paresis).

A Neurotic

mardybumbum wrote: »

With regards to your own post PhysRocks, I learned recently that FSGS has now overtaken MG as the commonest cause of the nephrotic syndrome in adults.
I would have been taught the opposite when I studied path and I wouldn't be surprised if the current 3rd years are being taught the same.

May be of interest to you.

Uncannily, I'm studying the very lecture we were taught this in as I read this thread.

"Membranous Glomerulonephritis
•Commonest primary glomerular cause of proteinuria / nephrotic syndrome: adults 30-50 yrs"

locum-motion

A Neurotic wrote: »

Uncannily, I'm studying the very lecture we were taught this in as I read this thread...

No you're not. If you're reading threads on an internet forum, you're not studying!

A Neurotic

locum-motion wrote: »

No you're not. If you're reading threads on an internet forum, you're not studying!

Too true. I need to review my study practices... "a quick google" leads to blatant procrastinating/internet trawling.

[I'm still on the same lecture ]

kingofkong

cluster headaches are most common in young male smokers

*renews VHI*

IMightKnow

Cluster headaches: Bouts of this unilateral pain last 30-120 minutes each day for between 4 and 16 weeks. During attacks the patient is usually crying

Piste

Most drugs used to treat dementia (Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors;NMDA receptor antagonists) actually only have a slight benefit

A Neurotic

As well as depression and anxiety, the SNRI duloxetine is licensed for diabetic neuropathy and stress incontinence in women.

mardybumbum

A Neurotic wrote: »

As well as depression and anxiety, the SNRI duloxetine is licensed for diabetic neuropathy and stress incontinence in women.

Keeping in line with the antidepressant theme.....

Trazodone is aka trazoBONE due to its male specific side effects.

Jessibelle

Today I learnt that fornication is a usual cause of unwanted pregnancy. And in actual school stuff I learnt most of the thorax and some of the abdominal structures, but thats pure textbook stuff so not too new for many of ye.

PhysiologyRocks

A heliotrope rash on the eyelids is associated with dermatomyositis. It is a violaceous eruption that may be accompanied by periorbital oedema.

Discoid lupus only progresses to SLE in about 5% of cases.

The term "vesicle" does not incorporate pus-containing lesions (pustules).

Tree

By mid 2011 the Sanger institute in the UK had sequenced the equivalent of the human genome more than sixty six thousand times! And the rate of sequencing is only getting faster and faster!

partyatmygaff

Pharmacognosy:
Senecionine (And other pyrrolidizine alkaloids such as those found in honey) are cumulatively hepatotoxic.

mardybumbum

Tree wrote: »

By mid 2011 the Sanger institute in the UK had sequenced the equivalent of the human genome more than sixty six thousand times! And the rate of sequencing is only getting faster and faster!

That's all very interesting but what I really want to know is when you can clone me my very own Eva Longoria?

take everything

A Neurotic wrote: »

Uncannily, I'm studying the very lecture we were taught this in as I read this thread.

"Membranous Glomerulonephritis
•Commonest primary glomerular cause of proteinuria / nephrotic syndrome: adults 30-50 yrs"

God how i remember that glomerulonephritides stuff. It would do your head in :pac::p

A Neurotic

I knew that iodine deficiency caused goitre, but never knew that excess of certain foods could. Goitregenic foods include cabbage, sprouts and kale, just in case anyone needed another reason not to eat them.

Larianne

Never to get pregnant. OMFG!! Eek.

mardybumbum

Larianne wrote: »

Never to get pregnant. OMFG!! Eek.

Wha?

OBS/GYNAE was actually a fairly enjoyable rotation I thought.

Tree

I find even just from an immunological lectures POV, getting pregnant seems pretty dangerous and a terrible idea really.... Glad I havent had to sit through a more blood and guts side of the thing.

Back on topic, today I learned how to use the freeze dryer. (make things reallllllly cold and then put under vaccuum, dont think i'll be treating my coffee like this, inside of the thing isnt too attractive)

Piste

In terms of imaging, CT is better for bone whereas MRI is better for soft tissues.

Cauda Equina syndrome (lower limb nerve palsies, loss of sensation in the "saddle area", incontinence) can be associated with Multiple Myeloma.

kellogscoffey

I'm going to bring the intellectual tone of this convo down slightly, back to first year... :P

I realized that rigor mortis is caused by a lack of new ATP coming in and stopping those myosin cross-bridge thingies from doing there thang.

At least, I think so...

Albection

I learned that referencing is painful.

So bored I might die.

Tree

You need mendeley, and a pint....

I learned that a week off is AWESOME

PhysiologyRocks

Albection wrote: »

I learned that referencing is painful.

So bored I might die.

*Demonstrates Empathy*

I learned communication skills!

SweetCaliber

Nothing, considering it's Sunday :rolleyes:

A Neurotic

I knew teratomas were weird, but I never knew they could contain EYES.

Also they can be highly specialised ("monodermal teratoma") into thyroid tissue ("struma ovarii") and cause hyperthyroidism. Neato!

mardybumbum

A Neurotic wrote: »

I knew teratomas were weird, but I never knew they could contain EYES.

Also they can be highly specialised ("monodermal teratoma") into thyroid tissue ("struma ovarii") and cause hyperthyroidism. Neato!

Was watching a documentary there recently on "fetus in fetu". Check it out.

Biologic

A Neurotic wrote: »

I knew teratomas were weird, but I never knew they could contain EYES.

Also they can be highly specialised ("monodermal teratoma") into thyroid tissue ("struma ovarii") and cause hyperthyroidism. Neato!

I was doing the exact same stuff yesterday. I wouldn't class myself as squeamish, but teratomas freak the crap out of me. The idea of teeth growing inside my private parts doesn't sit well.
What I learned today (so far): SLE patients have an increased risk of both nephrotic and nephritic syndromes. Nephritic is the most common for them, and it's most likely to be diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis (wire-looping capillaries with granular sub-endothelial IC deposition). The most common nephrotic is membranous nephropathy (thickened BM, granular sub-epithelial IC deposition with a spike+dome appearance on EM).

PhysiologyRocks

I also learned that starting threads like this one is a good idea for me.

After the kidney disease discussion, I read up on some of them and it really helped with an exam today.

Piste

I learned that I'm hyper-flexible, putting me at an increased risk of joint dislocation or ligament tear! Also hyperflexibleness (hyperflexia?) is common in redheads (I'm not a red-head though!)

Biologic

Today I learned that approximately 25% of medical students become clinically depressed at some stage in their 3rd and 4th year (of a 4 year course). Not something I really wanted to hear as I enter 3rd year!

MedHead100

I suppose it's the amount of stress and the fact that you spend much of your time being ignored by medical staff....There should be more focus on the area of depression and medical students however few will talk openly about their experience of depression.