The Medical Media Review

Category: Internal Medicine

  • How to Spot a Falsely Normal Anion Gap

    Introduction A high anion gap metabolic acidosis can be a very dangerous acid-base abnormality. The “gap” itself is just a number – it isn’t harmful per se. Rather, the danger is from the acidosis and from the process that is generating the abnormal and excessive organic acid load. The most common screening test for high anion gap…

  • How to Fix Common Glucose Problems in Diabetics

    Below is a list of common glucose problems, which commonly occur in diabetics, along with their solutions: Hyperglycemia Fasting  – increase basal insulin Pre-lunch  – increase breakfast rapid acting insulin or increase morning NPH (intermediate acting) Pre-dinner  – increase lunchtime rapid acting insulin or increase morning NPH Hypoglycemia Fasting or nocturnal – decrease basal insulin at bedtime…

  • Hypermineralocorticoidism Explained

    Introduction Aldosterone is the most important mineralocorticoid in the human body, although various other hormones, such as cortisol, display mineralocorticoid activity as well, namely they cause hypertension, hypokalemia, and chloride resistant metabolic alkalosis (urine chloride > 20). In addition, mineralocorticoids can also cause hypernatremia and hypervolemia. The triad of hypertension, and hypokalemia and chloride resistant metabolic alkalosis should…

  • How to Become a Superstar Diagnostician Within the Span of One Lifetime or Less

    How to Become a Superstar Diagnostician Within the Span of One Lifetime or Less

    To become a great diagnostician, you need to excel in six different diagnostic modalities: (1) history-taking, (2) physical examination, (3) laboratory medicine, (4) medical imaging (including point-of-care ultrasonography), (5) electrocardiography, and (6) bedside diagnostic procedures. History-taking The two most important components of history-taking are knowing what to ask and how to ask questions. Prepare and perfect scripted questions for…

  • Acid-Base Abnormalities and Their Causes

    Introduction Acid-Base pathophysiology plays an important role in every aspect of medical practice, including psychiatry. Doctors and medical students need to know, both for real life and for examinations, the predicted acid base disorder of various diseases. It is much easier to interpret ABGs when you know ahead of time what to expect: So let’s start…

  • Book Review: Acing the Hepatology Questions on the GI Board Exam

    Book Review: Acing the Hepatology Questions on the GI Board Exam

    Acing the Hepatology Questions on the GI Board Exam, the Ultimate Crunch-Time Resource by Brennan M.R. Spiegel (2012)  is an excellent choice for anyone who is looking for a solid understanding of hepatic pathology, diagnostics and therapeutics. The book is vignette-driven and features most of the important and high-yield hepatic conditions including acetaminophen overdose, viral hepatitides, and dozens…

  • Book Review: 2013 EMRA Antibiotic Guide by Brian J. Levine MD

    Book Review: 2013 EMRA Antibiotic Guide by Brian J. Levine MD

    My overall favorable impression of the 2013 EMRA Antibiotic Guide is similar to that of the 2011 edition, about which I wrote: For almost any infectious disease, the text advises you about which antibiotic to use, along with the appropriate dose, route, frequency and duration. In addition, the text provides you with various alternatives and contingency antibiotic…