Journey of a Biomedical Science Student

[her-muses]

06/11 - a latte run in between studying and work

[i-break-the-chain-deactivated20]

15.12

Nice to fall in love again! Statistics’s done and Anatomy is back 🌼 and it’s super intricate aaaand of course super interesting.

[a-young-doctors-journey]

I made a spontaneous trip to IKEA on Tuesday and bought this desk lamp. I’m in complete love; it’s adjustable and stable, meaning that when I’m studying late at night, I can ensure that my eyes are protected from the bright glare. 10/10, highly recommend. 

[studydiaryofamedstudent]

[medemedemed]

“Failure is just practice for success” • Every misstep, every obstacle, every time I’m feeling down are all just opportunities for me to get up and stand up even taller than I was. They’re opportunities to build a thicker, stronger armour, and to sharpen my weapons so I can be ready to face bigger things. 💪🏻

Taken from my studygram

[thepowerwithin]

“If it means a lot to you, then make the time to do it. If it’s something that lies close to your heart, then allow for yourself to feel it. Make space in your life for what matters, for these are aspects that are meant to be held close to you.”

— Nicole Addison @thepowerwithin

[joolshallie]

18.07.18 • Working through some summer reading on immunology ☕️

[biomedicool]

Thyroid function tests

Standard Tests

TSH levels

Free T4 (fT4) levels

Measurements of total T4 + T3 used to be common however detects both bound and free T3 + T4

Elevated total T4 may occur in healthy individuals if there is an increase in binding protein concentrations

Reliable tests now exist for free T4 + T3

T3 = 3.9-6.7 pmol/L

T4 = 12-22 pmol/L

Thyroid-stimulating hormone

Produced by the pituitary gland, not the thyroid, however:

TSH levels are controlled by negative feedback – can be indication of thyroid function (changes in T3+T4 will result in changes in TSH to try compesate)

TSH levels greatly elevated in hypothyroidism – >10 fold increase over reference values

More sensitive marker than decreased fT4 - increased TSH occurs before fT4 decreases

TSH levels greatly supressed in hyperthyroidism

Low concentrations can also occur in non-thyroidal illness

TSH measurement is the first-line test of thyroid function.

Free T4 + T3 Measurements

Desirable as free hormone is clinically relevant

Total levels can change under conditions that alter thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) levels e.g. pregnancy

Large changes in TBG may still affect fT4 + fT3 levels

fT3 levels often normal in hypothyroidism

fT3 levels usually raised more than fT4 levels in hyperthyroidism

Unless complicated by an illness effecting conversion of T4 to T3

Therefore: – fT4 levels are a better indication of hypothyroidism

fT3 levels are a better indication of hyperthyroidism

[heartbeatstudies]

Fill in the blank: when your physio prof explains why it's MIT, DIT, T3 and not MIT, DIT, _______. 😂

[biomedicool]

Atherosclerosis

Accumulation of fatty material in the artery walls resulting in a narrowing or blocking

Affects mainly medium-large arteries

Only occurs in arteries with high pressure

Does not occur in veins unless exposed to systemic arterial pressures

Atheroma Formation 

disease of the tunica intima but can impact on the tunica media

accumulation of lipid rich material to for plaques

ONE

Endothelial damage occurs allowing entry to LDLs (low-density lipoproteins) into the tunica intima

TWO

Lipid taken up by macrophages in the intima

Accumulates to form a visible white bulge - fatty streak

THREE

Continued accumulation of lipids

cytokines from macrophages stimulate proliferation of intima cells with features of myofibroblasts

these secrete collagen - plaque starts to become fibrotic

lesions are more raised and yellower

as the lesion develops there is a pressure atrophy of the tunica media and the elastic lamina is disrupted

Four

Increased collagen secretion forms a dense, fibrous cap (fibrolipid cap) which is hard and white

this advanced plaque shows free lipid as well as the lipid in macrophages

collagen build up also weakens the arterial wall

endothelium is fragile and often ulcerates, allowing platelet aggregation and formation of a thrombus (clot) (thrombosis)

[emerysnotebook]

2017.09.26     (reposting from my previous blog)

Officially moved in!  So my desk is relatively empty right now, but I guarantee that by Week 2 or 3, it will be covered in papers, pens, and post-its.

Book: Anatomical Atlas (Maud Jepson)

Music: Never Gonna Die - Abstract ft. Aspen Dawn

[doc-in-progress]

Best demonstration ever 👍 #studyblr #medblr

[biomedicool]

What even is the spleen?

Function

Similar in structure to a large lymph node

Acts primarily as a blood filter. 

Removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood, which can be valuable in case of hemorrhagic shock

recycles iron 

as a part of the mononuclear phagocyte system, it metabolizes haemoglobin removed from senescent red blood cells (erythrocytes). 

 synthesizes antibodies in its white pulp and removes antibody-coated bacteria and antibody-coated blood cells by way of blood and lymph node circulation. 

Structure

The spleen contains two main regions of tissue called white pulp and red pulp.

Red pulp: Contains venous sinuses (cavities filled with blood), and splenic cords (connective tissues containing red blood cells and white blood cells).

White pulp: Mostly consists of immune cells (T cells and B cells).

Pathology

Enlarged Spleen (Splenomegaly): caused by eg viral mononucleosis (“mono”), liver disease, blood cancers (lymphoma and leukemia), etc

Ruptured spleen: can cause life-threatening internal bleeding 

Sickle cell disease:  inherited anaemia, abnormal red blood cells block the flow of blood through vessels and can lead to organ damage, including damage to the spleen. 

Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count): enlarged spleen sometimes stores excessive numbers of the body’s platelets. 

Accessory spleen: About 10% of people have a small extra spleen. This causes no problems and is considered normal.

It is possible to live without a spleen, but the individual will be more susceptible to various pathologies including infection. 

[blatantwritings]

“I guess what I’m trying to say is, If I never see you again, I hope you at least think of me from time to time When that song comes on in the car, Or the sun breaks through the windows a certain way I hope it makes you smile, And somewhere, I hope you are grateful too”

— “Untitled” by Meredith Grace @blatantwritings

[studyfreaksdiary-deactivated202]

Late night studying with spotify and a cup of hot chocolate.

[uni-med]

Top to bottom. MADE IT EASY PEASY!!

[its-made-line-deactivated201805]

[septemberstudiesblog]

What are you guys currently studying?🧐 today I’ll be going over some head and neck anatomy! ✎ Coloring Book: Netter’s Anatomy ✎ Planner + sticky notes: @stationerypal (get 10% off all products using code SEPTEMBER.STUDIES10) ✎ Highlighters: Zebra Mildliners (at East Hampton, New York)