Medical Mnemonics: Reversible Causes of Dementia

Medical Mnemonic: Dementia: Reversible Causes

http://knowmedge.com/medical_mnemonics/Neurology_mnemonics/Dementia:-Reversible-Causes/1480

Medical Mnemonics: Causes of Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis

http://knowmedge.com/medical_mnemonics/Medicine_mnemonics/Anion-Gap-Metabolic-Acidosis:-Causes/957

"Goldmark" is the new "Mudpiles". Causes of Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis can be remembered by the mnemonic "Goldmark". 

Knowmedge Medical Mnemonics Platform Launches!

Our Medical Mnemonics Platform is finally here! Just a little over a year after we launched the Internal Medicine Question Bank, we are thrilled to be announcing the launch of our second product. An idea that came to us after speaking with subscribers and followers has finally now come to fruition! After many months of design, development, and content review and creation, we’re thrilled to finally introduce the Medical Mnemonics platform.

We detailed the mnemonics screenshots in our last post. Now there’s only one thing left for you to do…. Go and sign up! If you’re already a subscriber on the Knowmedge platform, simply log in to your account and you’ll see a free trial subscription waiting for you! If you like what you see, simply go to the account page, click the store link and upgrade your mnemonics package!

The team spent many early mornings and late nights getting the platform ready and we can’t wait to hear your feedback! In addition to all the features that await, we really think you’ll love the price! The introductory price means you can get access to all 1,500+ mnemonics and 200+ visuals for $50 for an entire year! That’s the cost of one venti chai tea latte from Starbucks a month!

We’ll conclude this by asking a simple question… what’s your favorite medical mnemonic? Share your comments below!

It’s coming! A revolutionary, new medical mnemonics platform!

Today, we are thrilled to announce that will be launching a revolutionary new platform for learning – a medical mnemonics platform featuring over 1,500 high-yield peer-reviewed mnemonics and 200 visuals.

Everything we do here at Knowmedge is to help further medical education through technology and high-yield content. We do this by focusing on tactics that help those in the Knowmedge community learn and retain information for the long run. That’s why we are thrilled to announce Knowmedge Mnemonics, the first and only web-based platform that allows students to discover, annotate, create and share mnemonics with friends. The platform will contain over 200 visual images similar to the ones you’ve seen through our medical mnemonics blog posts. In addition, the platform will also give users the ability to create, save and reference their own mnemonics!

The Knowmedge Mnemonics platform will provide a revolutionary learning platform designed to strengthen memory retention for all students at each stages of their medical career – from medical students to experienced physicians. The mnemonics platform will also be a valuable tool for nurses, physician assistants, and anyone else interested in medical mnemonics.

We will be launching the Knowmedge Mnemonics platform in the next few days. Before we do that, we want to give you a sneak peak at the new platform.

Knowmedge Mnemonics main page - Across the top you’ll notice that students will have the ability to filter and search for medical mnemonics. A little lower, on the left hand side, you’ll see the filter / search results. To the right of that, you’ll see the selected mnemonic. Even lower, you’ll see a section to add comments and save notes. We’ll go through each of these sections in detail below.

Searching / filtering for mnemonics - Here you can filter by disciplines and / or systems. You can also search by mnemonics by keyword. You can also find mnemonics you’ve labeled (I got this, Review later, Ignore), added notes to, or liked. In addition, if you create your own mnemonic, you can filter for those as well. The search results have a total of 36 disciplines and 12 systems.

  

Search results - Once you select the items to filter your search, you’ll find the results listed directly below. Across the top you’ll see how many results match the filter / keyword. Students will also be able to sort by the mnemonics by most liked, discipline or system.

Medical Mnemonics - Once you select the mnemonic you want to review, you’ll see it on the right side of the results. Across the top, you’ll see the title of the mnemonic as well as the discipline and system where that mnemonic resides. We recognize that not every mnemonic will be for every student. There will be certain mnemonics that work well for some while other mnemonics will not be relevant. That’s why we allow students to label their mnemonics so they can be reviewed later. In addition, we have created a “like” button for users to rate each of the mnemonics. Finally, on the bottom right, you’ll see social media buttons which will allow users to share their favorite mnemonics with their friends.

 

Visual images - We think you will all love this new feature! Over 200 of the Knowmedge mnemonics have visual images similar to the one below. These visuals are intended to further enhance your memory retention and help you build your Knowmedge!

 

Comments / Notes - With each mnemonic, you’ll have the ability to make public comments or keep private notes.

 

Create your own mnemonics - In addition to the ability to the other features listed, students will also be able to create, save and share their own mnemonics!

 

Mnemonics integrated with the Internal Medicine Question Bank - In addition to the standalone mnemonics platform, Knowmedge will be launching a new feature integrating mnemonics into its internal medicine question bank. Relevant mnemonics will appear next to each explanation within the internal medicine question bank. This way you’ll see the most relevant mnemonics at the most relevant times.

We are thrilled to be launching the Knowmedge Medical Mnemonics platform and are so excited to be sharing this with you!

Medical Mnemonics: Tool for assessing CAP severity – SMART COP

It’s Medical Mnemonics Monday! Regardless of whether you’re studying for your ABIM board exam, USMLE Step exams (or any other medical board exam), it’s important to understand Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP). Today we focus on assessing the severity of CAP, which can be remembered by the mnemonic SMART COP.  

Medical Mnemonics – SMART Cop – Assessing Severity of Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)

  

You can see a list of our previous Medical Mnemonics here.

Medical Mnemonics: Recurrent Causes of Miscarriage – “RIB CAGE”

It’s Medical Mnemonics Monday! Regardless of whether you’re studying for your ABIM board exam, USMLE Step exams (or any other medical board exam), it’s important to understand potential recurrent causes of miscarriage. Potential causes of miscarriage can be remembered by the mnemonic RIB CAGE.

Medical Mnemonics: Causes of Miscarriage can be remembered by RIB CAGE

You can see a list of our previous Medical Mnemonics here.

Medical Mnemonics - Cyanosis - Cold Palms

It’s Medical Mnemonics Monday! Regardless of whether you’re studying for your ABIM board exam, USMLE Step exams (or any other medical board exam), it’s important to understand Cyanosis. Differential diagnosis of Cyanosis can be remembered by “COLD PALMS”

You can see a list of our previous Medical Mnemonics here.

Medical Mnemonics: Treatment for Asthma

It’s Medical Mnemonics Monday! Today we focus on potential treatments used for Asthma, which can appropriately enough be remembered by the mnemonic ASTHMA.

You can see a list of our previous Medical Mnemonics here.

Medical Mnemonics – Symptoms of Depression – “A SAD FACES”

Medical Mnemonics: Symptoms of Depression

It’s Medical Mnemonics Monday! Depression is an important topic to understand for any medical board exam, including the ABIM exam or USMLE Step exams. Symptoms of depression can be remembered by the mnemonic “A SAD FACES”

• A = Appetite (Weight Change)
• S = Sleep (Insomnia / Hypersomnia)
• A = Anhedonia
• D = Dysophria
• F = Fatigue
• A = Agitation / Retardation
• C = Concentration Diminished
• E = Esteem (Low) / Guilt
• S = Suicide / Thoughts of Death

You can see a list of our previous Medical Mnemonics here.

Medical Mnemonics: Signs of Hypercalcemia – Bones, Stones, Groans, and Moans

It’s Medical Mnemonics Monday! In a previously Monday Mnemonic, we discussed the causes of Hypercalcemia. Today we discuss the signs of hypercalcemia

• Painful Bones – Painful bone condition (Classically osteitis fibrosa cystica)
• Renal Stones – Kidney Stones (Can ultimately lead to renal failure)
• Abdominal Groans -GI symptoms: Nausea, Vomiting, Constipation, Indigestion
• Psychiatric Moans – Effects on nervous system: lethargy, fatigue, memory loss, psychosis, depression

You can see a list of our previous Medical Mnemonics here.

Medical Mnemonics – Common Signs of Parkinson’s Disease

Medical Mnemonics – Parkinson’s Disease

It’s Medical Mnemonics Monday! Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that, in the early stages, is characterized by mild signs that are often missed. These signs can be remembered by the mnemonic “SMART”

• S = Shuffling-Gait
• M = Mask-like Face
• A = Akinesia
• R = Rigidity
• T = Tremor

You can see a list of our previous Medical Mnemonics here.

Medical Mnemonics: Causes of Hypercalcemia - CHIMPANZEES

Medical Mnemonics: Causes of Hypercalcemia

It’s Medical Mnemonics Monday! Hypercalcemia (Elevated calcium levels) is a commonly tested condition on any medical exam board including the internal medicine boards. Often, in mild hypercalcemia, there are no signs or symptoms on the condition. In more severe cases, you may see symptoms such as nausea / vomiting, muscle weakness, confusion, loss of appetite, excessive thirst, and constipation. Causes of hypercalcemia can be remembered by the mnemonic “CHIMPANZEES”

• C – Calcium supplementation
• H – Hydrochlorothiazide
• I – Iatrogenic, immobilization
• M – Multiple myeloma, milk-alkali syndrome, medication (e.g Lithium)
• P – Parathyroid hyperplasia or adenoma
• A – Alcohol
• N – Neoplasm (e.g breast cancer, lung cancer)
• Z – Zollinger Ellison syndrome
• E – Excessive vitamin D
• E – Excessive vitamin A
• S – Sarcoidosis

Check out the list of the previous Medical Mnemonics here.

Medical Mnemonics - Causes of Papillary Necrosis - "POSTCARDS"

Mnemonic for causes of Papillary Necrosis _ “POSTCARDS”

It’s Medical Mnemonics Monday!

Renal Papillary Necrosis is a form of nephropathy characterized by coagulative necrosis of the renal medullary pyramids and papillae.  Causes of Papillary Necrosis can be remembered by the mnemonic “POSTCARDS”.

• Pyelonephritis
• Obstruction of the urogenital tract
• Sickle cell disease
• Tuberculosis
• Chronic liver disease,
• Analgesia/alcohol abuse,
• Renal transplant rejection
• Diabetes mellitus
• Systemic vasculitis

Check out the list of the previous Medical Mnemonics here.

Internal Medicine Board Review: Causes of Microcytic Anemia (“TICS”)

MARCH 17, 2014 / RAVI BHATIA

Medical Mnemonics – Causes of Microcytic Anemia – “TICS”

It’s Medical Mnemonics Monday!

Microcytic anemia is defined as “the presence of small, often hypochromic, red blood cells in a peripheral blood smear and is usually characterized by a low MCV.” One of the most popular and well known medical mnemonics is “TICS” – used to remember the causes of microcytic anemia.

• T – Thalassemia
• I – Iron Deficiency
• C – Chronic Disease
• S – Sideroblastic anemia

Check out the list of the previous Medical Mnemonics here.

Medical Mnemonics: Antiobiotics contraindicated during Pregnancy

Medical Mnemonics: Antibiotics Contraindicated in Pregnancy

Antibiotics contraindicated in pregnancy are important to know and understand. They can be remembered by a simple mnemonic “MCAT”

• M – Metronidazole
• C – Chloramphenicol
• A – Aminoglycoside
• T – Tetracyclines

Check out the list of the previous Medical Mnemonics here.

Medical Mnemonics - Recognizing Features of Melanoma - "ABCDE"

Medical Mnemonics – Features of Melanoma

Medical mnemonic for the recognizing features of Melanoma It is important to recognize the moles and growths that might cancerous early in the process. A mole exhibiting the following ABCDE features should be at least suspected for Melanoma.

• A: Asymmetry – Asymmetric moles are particularly suspicious
• B: Border – Irregular borders are more likely to be cancerous
• C: Color – Different colors within a mole are suspicious
• D: Diameter – Moles with a diameter > 6mm are especially suspicious
• E: Evolving – A mole that is enlarging or begins to feel itchy is another suspicious sign

A special distinction is made for Nodular Melanoma, which is often smaller in size and symmetrical. It is also often even in color. The mnemonic EFG is often used for the recognizing features of Nodular Melanoma.

• E: Elevated
• F: Firm to touch
• G: Growing progressively for more than a month

Check out the list of the previous Medical Mnemonics here.

Medical Mnemonics: Causes of Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis – “GOLD MARK”

Medical Mnemonics – Anion Gap Acidosis – “GOLD MARK”

The classic mnemonic often used to remember the causes of anion gap metabolic acidosis is “MUDPILES”

• M – Methanol
• U – Uremia
• D – Diabetic ketoacidosis
• P – Propylene Glycol
• I – Isoniazid
• L – Lactic Acidosis
• E – Ethylene Glycol
• S – Salicylates

More recently a new mnemonic has been suggested to update new our understanding of anion-gap generating acids. The updated mnemonic “GOLD MARK” was proposed in a 2008 article in The Lancet.

• G – Glycols (ethylene glycol and propylene glycol)
• O – Oxoproline
• L – L-Lactate
• D – D-Lactate
• M – Methanol
• A – Aspirin
• R – Renal Failure
• K – Ketoacidosis

As medicine evolves, so do our Mnemonics. This is the fifth medical mnemonic in our series of Monday Mnemonics.

Medical Mnemonics: Features of Horner's Syndrome

Medical Mnemonics: Features of Horner’s Syndrome – “SAMPLE”

Medical Mnemonics
Horner’s Syndrome (Oculosympathetic paresis) is a rare neurologic condition whose symptoms and signs include:

• Ptosis (drooping eyelid)
• Anhidrosis (inability to sweat).
• Miosis (pupil constriction)

Horner’s syndrome can be caused by any set of sympathetic nerve fiber injuries. Horner’s syndrome is generally classified into Central and Peripheral.

• Central: Sympathetic nerves start in the brain and then travel down to the spinal cord and into the chest.
• Peripheral: Sympathetic nerves start from the chest to the neck, arteries, head, and into the eyes.

Another feature of Horner’s syndrome is loss of ciliospinal reflex (pupil dilates when pressure / pain applied to neck or face. Patients with Horner’s syndrome also experience Enophthalmos (posterior displacement of the eyeball). These features can all be remembered by the mnemonic “SAMPLE”

• S: Sympathetic Nerve Fiber Injury
• A: Anhidrosis
• M: Miosis
• P: Ptosis
• L: Loss of ciliospinal reflex
• E: Enophthalmos

Medical Mnemonics: Symptoms of Kawasaki Disease

Medical Mnemonic for Kawasaki Disease – “CREAM”

Kawasaki disease (mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome) is a rare childhood disease that causes inflammation in the walls of small-sized and medium sized arteries. It is most often seen in children under the age of 5 of Asian descent (primarily Japanese of Korean). It is somewhat more common in boys than girls.

There is no known cause for this disease and it is not contagious.

There is no single test for Kawasaki disease and in order to diagnose it, you must look for symptoms. The symptoms and criteria for diagnosis can be remembered by the mnemonic “CREAM”. The criteria defined for diagnosis is that the child must have fever for greater than 5 days and must show four of the following five symptoms.

• C: Conjunctivitis (non-exudative)
• R: Rash (polymorphous non-vesicular)
• E: Edema (or erythema of hands or feet)
• A: Adenopathy (cervical, often unilateral)
• M: Mucosal involvement (erythema or fissures or crusting)

This is the fourth in our series of Medical Mnemonics Monday posts. You can all previous Knowmedge medical mnemonics posts.

Medical Mnemonics: Types of Hypersensitivity Reactions

Medical Mnemonics / Internal Medicine Board Review: 

There are four types of hypersensitivity reactions.

• Type I is IgE-mediated and occurs very quickly after exposure. It is associated with allergens such as bee stings, peanuts, and certain medications, to name a few. This can lead to a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis.
• Type II hypersensitivity reactions are cytotoxic/antibody-mediated. Some examples in this category are hemolytic reactions, goodpasture syndrome and hyperacute graft rejection.
• Type III is known as immune complex/IgG/IgM mediated and includes certain diagnoses like hypersensitivity pneumonitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, polyarteritis nodosa and serum sickness.
• Type IV is known as delayed or cell-mediated hypersensitivity reaction. Examples include chronic graft rejections, purified protein derivative (PPD), latex, nickel and poison ivy.

A quick mnemonic to use to remember these is ACID:

• Type I – Allergic
• Type II – Cytotoxic
• Type III – Immune complex deposition
• Type IV – Delayed

You can view all previous and future medical mnemonics here.

Medical Mnemonics: Symptoms of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Medical Mnemonic: “Wacky, Wobbly, Wet”

Patients who present with the triad of urinary incontinence, wide-based gait and dementia are likely to have normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Symptoms for these patients are often remembered by the mnemonic “wacky, wobbly, and wet.”

• Wacky: Dementia and mental impairment
• Wobbly: Wide based gait (Difficulty walking)
• Wet: Urinary Incontinence

NPH is a condition where excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has slowly built up in the ventricles. Patients with NPH are generally older (over the age of 60). CT or MRI of the brain would reveal dilated ventricles without dilatation of sulci.

This is the second in our series of Medical Mnemonics Monday posts. You can all previous and future medical mnemonics here.

Medical Mnemonics: Major and Minor Criteria for Rheumatic Fever

Medical Mnemonic ("Jones Cafe Pal"): 

Rheumatic fever occurs after a streptococcal infection (usually caused by Group A Beta-Hemolytic Strep (GABHS)). It is an inflammatory condition that affects the joints, skin, heart and brain. Major criteria are referred to as Jones criteria and can be remembered by the mnemonic of the same name.

J – Joint involvement which is usually migratory and inflammatory joint involvement that starts in the lower joints and ascends to upper joints

O – (“O” Looks like heart shape) – indicating that patients can develop myocarditis or inflammation of the heart

N – Nodules that are subcutaneous

E – Erythema marginatum which is a rash of ring-like lesions that can start in the trunk or arms. When joined with other rings, it can create a snake-like appearance

S – Sydenham chorea is a late feature which is characterized by jerky, uncontrollable, and purposeless movements resembling twitches

Minor criteria include

C – CRP Increased

A – Arthralgia

F – Fever

E – Elevated ESR

P – Prolonged PR Interval

A – Anamesis

L – Leukocytosis

Diagnosis of rheumatic fever is made after a strep infection (indicated by either throat cultures growing GABHS OR elevated anti-streptolysin O titers in the blood) and:

Two major criteria OR

One major criterion and two minor criteria

Mnemonics by themselves are not the answer to remembering everything. However, if you know the basics and underlying issues, then a mnemonic can serve to help you recall the exam details that can easily get lost.

This is the first in our series of Medical Mnemonics Monday posts. You can all previous and future medical mnemonics here.