Upcoming Exams!

This is a combination of pointers and general information. It may seem funny to think that last years questions are worth looking at, but the med school don’t tend to change their questions much, at least that was our expeiriance last year.

Some things to remember-

MIC and PPD- I know, its silly, but these lectures are worth shifting through. Look for any key words or things that come up more than once. There will probably be few ethics questions and there is usually one on the ‘role of the doctor’ ie. Gatekeeper, which will have been covered in one of your lectures? dont loose these easy marks!

The questions on the LSE, at the bottom of each case, tend to come up in the exam, and give you a good idea of what they are looking for. Some of these don’t have answers online, so if you would like to check something then give us an email or wikipedia it!

For example, this ethics question: https://mbbs.ncl.ac.uk/secure/coursematerials/doc/section/n09y1ppd1/ar01s01s06.html was in our christmas exam. Here is the answer! 

(http://www.ethics-network.org.uk/ethical-issues/ethical-frameworks/the-four-principles-approach) 

Make sure you understand-

Blood saturation graphs (anaemia case). These are the S shaped graphs that show O2 saturation.

ECGS- learn the patterns for arythmias, heart block etc. be able to calculate beats per minute. There is a good tutorial on the LSE, and the website in the links section.

LSE tutorial: http://mbbs-tutorials.ncl.ac.uk/secure/content/ECG/index.html

Genetic code: We had a particular question that tripped a few people up. You had to translate a set of codons into mRNA from DNA. All you do is change uracil.

Osmolarity graphs with 2 solutes. Make sure you look at MTC31:membrane transport and water distribution. Make sure you get to grips with osmolarity calculations.

Here is a link to a self study guide on osmolarity-

http://edtech.clas.pdx.edu/osmosis_tutorial/default.html

http://www.rcs.rome.ga.us/hargett/biology/osmosis/osmotutc.htm

If your feeling brave you can attempt this question and email prof. Bradley (p.m.bradley@ncl.ac.uk)  to see if you get the answer right-

Study box

Attempt this problem to see if you understand the basis of membrane transport.

If lymphocytes are placed in an isotonic medium (150mM NaCl) they will maintain a constant volume. If the bathing medium is then made hypertonic by being increased to 250mM NaCl the cells will initially lose water due to osmosis and begin to shrink. However it is observed that after a while the cells  regain their original volume despite being in an hypertonic solution. This is achieved because as cell pH drops there is an activation of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase which generates H+ and HCO3- from gaseous CO2. In addition two antiports are activated.

1.   Why should cell shrinkage affect cytoplasmic pH?

2.   Which antiports would be activated and what would be the consequence?

Pedigrees. Practise how to work out the chance of traits being passed on. we will hopefully have something on this soon! keep checking back.

Embryology: Know the names and causes of all the abnormalities of gut formation

Know the development of the heart  and all the ‘holes’ like the ductus foramen

Look at all the labour and peurperim lectures, know the stages of labour and the position of the baby as it passes through each stage- in lectures LC 1.24- LC 1.27 https://mbbs.ncl.ac.uk/secure/coursematerials/doc/section/n09y1lc1/ar01s01s02.html

 There are no stupid questions, only stupid people.

And from that we can conclude that some of the people writing our exams are stupid. Just learn these answers...

The ratio of drug reps to doctors, is 1:7.5

There was a vitamin question, makes sure you know these-

Rickets- Vit D deficiency

Beriberi- thiamine deficiency

Xerophlamnia- vit A deficiency

Macroaneamia- folic acid

Liver/bone damage- vit A deficiency

Learn vaccine ages-

            Polio 12-16 years

            Tuberculosis? 12-16 years

            Rubella? 4-6 years

            Pneumonia? 75 years

            Meningitis C? 2 years

The responcibility of getting the HP vaccine lies with you, the student!

We got asked how many units of alcohol a woman is allowed a week? 14

How many units in a can of strong lager? 2.5 units

It is helpful to know how to calculate this- 

The percentage alcohol by volume (% abv) of a drink equals the number of units in one litre of that drink. For example:

Strong beer at 6% abv has six units in one litre. If you drink half a litre (500ml) - just under a pint - then you have had three units.

Wine at 14% abv has 14 units in one litre. If you drink a quarter of a litre (250ml) - two small glasses - then you have had three and a half units.