Here I am after another exam session. As usual, I would like to share with you my study method to help someone who is struggling with the same exams. Also, I would appreciate it if you gave me your feedback and advice to improve my approach.
So, let’s start.
Microbiology is a unique subject, and many students have difficulties with it. It might seem all about mnemonics, but it is fundamental to understand the mechanisms at the base of infection, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and therapies of viruses, bacteria and parasitics.
First of all, I thinkattending lessonsis vital. Books are full of notions that might be confusing and having an idea of what to focus on can help, at least at the beginning. I went to classes, took notes, and tried to understand the basics of microbiology.
After classes, I made mind maps trying to organize notions: a branch for microorganism’s structure, one for the cycle of replication, one for symptoms and pathogenesis, one for diagnosis and one for prophylaxis and therapies. I used X Mind for my digital maps, and I find this app extremely efficient (and also, it is free).
Behind having assimilated these basic notions, I read the book and inserted more details on my map. Integrating with the book was fundamental to understanding the mechanisms of pathogenesis and infection. Also, adding information can make it easier to remember the essential ones.
When classes were over, I started reading all the material again and used my mnemonics techniques. I think it is useless to memorize notions at the beginning of the study because, sometimes, understanding the concept makes it easier to learn it. For example, knowing the mechanisms of action of an antibiotic will help to remember which bacteria can defeat. Anyways, some notions (such as the name of some antibiotics or antiviral) need to be learnt by heart. For this purpose, mnemonic techniques (acronyms, short stories, etc.) are a great help.
Next, I started recalling all the topics many times. Trying to explain the matters out loud helped me comprehend whether I had learnt them or not.
Last, I recalled all the subjects with my usual studybuddy. This part is essential because she always knows something that I do not and vice versa.
Also, we do all the previous exams together. It may be unfair, but the best way to get a high score on the test is to understand what the professor focuses on.
I have to confess that I studied the day before the exam. By the way, it was a complex situation. Generally speaking, I advise resting before an exam to be relaxed and stress-free during the test.
And, that’s it! Let me know whether you agree with my study method or you would change something. Also, good luck with your studies
Stirps verbi ἀρτύειν est ἀρτυ-etR2-D2 est droides astromechanicus qui calculationes saltuum hyperspatialium parare potest, meminerimus ergo verbum ἀρτύειν significare Latine “parare,” Anglice “to prepare.”
Poeta uruguayo, Mauricio Saravia. Photo from www.lukeford.net posted on Wikimedia Commons in 2008. Another notabe case in a teenager from Haiti.
The three words of McCune-Albright disease:
The most famous (mouthfull) words of the condition: Polyostotic Fibrous Dysplasia. What that means is that the bone will grow tumor-like fibrous (scar) tissue instead of the normal medullary (bone marrow) bone tissue. Irregular Bony trabeculae That will cause the deformities that make the disease famous. It’s caused by mutation in the gene GNAS1 and affects mostly the extremities.Not cancerous. Mosaic G protein signaling mutation
Premature puberty in girls. It can affect boys as well, but the question stem in exams tend to report female cases, like a 2-year-old with menstrual bleeding. Early puberty is one of the many endocrine problems of these patients and a favorite to put in exams. Other problems include over-reactivity of the thyroid, pituitary and adrenal glands (hyperthyroidism, acromegally and hypercortisolism).
And, of course, Café-au-lait spots. The interesting feature is the tendency for the lesions to not cross the body’s midline.
McCuneAlBright C = Cafe au lait spots E = Early puberty AB = Abnormal Bones (Fibrous Dysplasia)
* 3°G Cephalosporines: all cross BBB except Cefoperazone bc is highly highly lipid soluble, so is protein bound in plasma, therefore it doesn’t cross BBB.
* Cephalosporines are "LAME“ bc they do not cover this organisms
* Aminoglycosides: decrease release of ACh in synapse and act as a Neuromuscular blocker, this is why it enhances effects of muscle relaxants.
* DEMECLOCYCLINE: tetracycline that’s not used as an AB, it is used as tx of SIADH to cause Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus (inhibits the V2 receptor in collecting ducts)
Today, I’ll be sharing a few facts and mnemonics on hemoglobin and erythropoiesis. Let’s get started!
Do you know the order in which hemoglobin appear from early embryo to infancy? It’sembryonic hemoglobin first (Gower 1, Gower 2, Portland) then fetal and after that, adult.
Mnemonic: Gowergoes,fetalfollows,adultafterwards.
(Also, notice the reverse alphabetical order - G, F, e, d, c, B, A)
The alphabets also pair the chains with their respective hemoglobin! GF-GammaFetal BA-BetaAdult
Gammagoes,becomesbeta, is also a good way to remember the switch from fetal hemoglobin to adult hemoglobin. Alphaalways <3
Why fetal hemoglobin? Because the gamma fraction allows fetal Hb to have higher affinity of it for oxygen which allows it to extract oxygen from maternal blood.
Mnemonic: FetalFetches oxygen Fast.
Did you know the switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin occurs at 38 weeks of gestation in utero? Because I didn’t! I always assumed it was 6 months of life, but that’s when the switch is completed, it is initiated waaay before!
What else? Oh yes, the site of hematopoiesis!
Yolk sac (3-8 weeks) Liver (6 weeks-birth) Spleen and lymphatics (10-28 weeks) Bone marrow (18 weeks to adult)
Mnemonic: YoungLifeSynthesizesBlood.
That’s all!
“Noodles, don’t noodles. You’re too concerned with what was and what will be.”
