Step 2 studying

Aah..how fast does time fly? This year has been flying by so quickly, and here I am now studying for step 2 already. It truly is a very different experience than step 1 studying (so glad that is over...), since our shelf-exams were basically preparation for this. Anywho, I just wanted to use this time to reinforce some factoids for boards so you and I can remember them! Here are FIVE things I learned from today's studying:

• Mechanisms of Treatment Options for hyperkalemia (high potassium)
• Calcium gluconate -- to stabilize cardiac cell membrane
• Bicarbonate, Insulin, Glucose, beta-agonists--to push K+ intracellularly 
• Kayexalate--to excrete K+ out of the body
• Parkinsonian Tremor
• Tremor seen in elderly at the initial phases of Parkinson's disease
• Characterized as a 4-7 Hz resting tremor that goes away with fine motor movements like reaching for a pen, or writing
• Pediatric Umbilical Hernias!!! 
• These are due to defects in the abdominal wall, and usually spontaneously resolve by the time the child is 1 year old 
• However, if the hernia is still present by age 3-4, enlarging over time, or has become symptomatic (strangulation, etc), the child should be referred for surgical correction
• Somogyi effect
• This is where a diabetic patient has increased fasting glucose levels despite appropriate treatments. 
• Caused by hypoglycemia due to hefty/appropriate doses of insulin or other treatments in the middle of the night (3AM or so) which result in the body to respond with increased levels of epinephrine, norephinephrine and glucagon, which over-compensate for this hypoglycemia with increased glucose levels
• MEN syndromes (i can NEVER keep these straight)
• MEN I (3Ps) -- hyperParathyroidism, Pituitary tumor, Pancreatic tumors (gastrinoma, ZES)
• MEN IIa -- Medullary thyroid cancer, pheochromocytoma, parathyroid adenoma/hyperparathyroidism
• MEN IIb -- Medullary thyroid cancer, pheochromocytoma, mucocutaneous neuroma, marfanoid habitus

Well...these are the 5 things to learn today! I think I'll try and do this over the next few weeks to help keep things in the brain. Wish me luck for studying :)