APRIL 2006
MT Newsletter
Compiled by
Dr. Rema Valsala 		Thought for the month: Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
        ...Abraham Lincoln
Answers to the previous issue

FAQs

Standards

Questionnaire

     The administration of many drugs at the same time is known as polypharmacy.

     The idiom, "Skin of your teeth" means -- To barely escape from a harrowing situation..

     X-rays showed callus formation at the fracture site.

     Rectal examination was deferred.

     Patients are required to formally consent to a surgery.

     The patient is worried that he might lose his job.

     The incision wound has healed adequately. 



   Wheal:            Smooth, slightly elevated area on the body surface that is redder or paler than the surrounding skin; 

                          often accompanied by severe itching.




   Wheel:             A circular frame with spokes or disc.  




   Descent:          1. A downward slope

                           2. A movement downward

                           3. The descendants of one individual     




   Dissent:            1. A difference of opinion

                           2. The act of protesting

                           3. The difference of one judge's opinion from that of the majority     




   Hemostasis:     1. The arrest of bleeding.

                           2. The arrest of circulation in a part

                           3. Stagnation of blood. 



                                    
   Homeostasis:    The processes through which bodily equilibrium is maintained.  The state of equilibrium in the body 

                            with respect to various functions and to the chemical compositions of the fluids and tissues.




FAQs

Q. What is a hepatitis panel?

A hepatitis panel is a blood test used to find antigens, antibodies, or the genetic material (DNA or RNA) of the viruses that cause hepatitis. Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver.

A hepatitis panel is usually ordered by the doctor if one has symptoms of hepatitis. Symptoms of hepatitis include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, yellowing of eyes or skin (jaundice), dark yellow urine, and feeling very tired. This blood test also may be done if a person was recently exposed to a hepatitis virus, even if he/she does not have symptoms.

There are different hepatitis panels. A common panel checks for:

Hepatitis A IgM antibodies (HA Ab-IgM).
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).
Hepatitis B IgM core antibody (HBcAb-IgM).
Hepatitis C antibodies (HC Ab).

If the term "w/reflex" is listed in the test results, this means that the blood test was repeated to confirm a positive result on a person's first hepatitis blood test. A positive result may mean that he/she has hepatitis antibodies from a recent infection.



Q. What are microaneurysms?

Definition: A focal dilation of the venous end of retinal capillaries occurring in diabetes mellitus, retinal vein obstruction, and absolute glaucoma.

Microaneurysms are small round dark red dots on the retinal surface (not arising from visible vessels) that are by definition less than the diameter of the major optic veins as they cross the optic disc. The earliest clinically recognizable hallmark of diabetic retinopathy is the microaneurysm.

They increase in number as the degree of retinal involvement progresses. Increasing numbers of microaneurysms are associated with capillary occlusion (visible on fluorescein angiography) leading to retinal ischemia (lack of oxygen) and progression of retinopathy.





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Standards

Some rules of punctuation: Comma


Inverted diagnosis:

In an inverted diagnosis, the problem is stated initially, then followed by the area of the body affected. The comma is used to separate the problem from the affected organ, body parts, etc.

Examples:

Rotator cuff tear, left shoulder.

Medial meniscus tear, right knee.

Bullous emphysema, bilateral lungs.

Adjectives:.

Adjectives following a noun instead of preceding a noun are punctuated.

Examples:

Patellar chondromalacia, resolved.

Contusion, left shoulder, healing.

History: Motor vehicle accident, neck pain.

Parenthetical expression:.

It is an interrupting group of words that do not change or contribute to the meaning of a sentence. They may appear at the beginning, middle or end.

Examples:

It is important, as you know, for medical records to be typed accurately.

I do not question the diagnosis; however, the result of his urinalysis and the cultures is negative.

Appositive:

It is a noun or pronoun that closely follows another noun or pronoun to restate, rename, explain or clarify it. It may be essential or nonessential. An appositive can be directly substituted for the noun or pronoun they follow.

Examples:

Dr. Ryan, my employer, prefers to dictate all chart notes.

This 2-month-old male child, an Indian, was admitted via the emergency room with a cough, fever and congestion.






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Questionnaire

Q. An inability to comprehend the meaning of written or printed words and sentences, caused by a cerebral lesion is _____________.

a. alexia
b. aphasia
c. amnesia


Q. A woman who is pregnant and has had one term delivery, one set of twins born at 32 weeks, and two abortions is described as _____________.

a. gravida 6, para 1-2-2-2
b. gravida 5, para 1-1-2-3
c. gravida 5, para 1-1-1-3
d. gravida 6, para 1-2-2-3


Q. Fill in the blanks with the suitable word given in brackets:

1. I will keep you ______ of her progress. (apprised, appraised)

2. Neck is supple with some ______ bilateral anterior cervical adenopathy. (shoddy, shotty)

3. Most normal births involve a combination of ______ presentation with anterior position. (vortex, vertex)

4. Extremities: Notable ______ of left knee, which is nontender to palpation. (effusion, fusion)

5. ______ meatus and urethra are within normal limits. (Ureteral, Urethral)


Q. Find the meaning of these homonyms:

   keratosis and keratitis

   radical and radicle

   dysbasia and dysstasia


See the answers in the next month's issue....
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