Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Medicine & Health

Comprehensive Glossary of Terms

Absorb

To interest someone a great deal and take up all their attention and energy.

Bite One's Lips

To press the soft parts of the front of the mouth between the teeth.

Bite One's Nails

To press the hard parts on the end of one's fingers between the teeth.

Bond

A legal written agreement or promise.

Box Office Hit

A film's success in terms of the number of tickets sold.

Breathe New Life Into Something

To refresh something old.

Bring About

To cause something to happen.

Bring the House Down

To make the audience laugh, clap, or cheer loudly for a long time because they liked the performance.

Conductor

Someone that directs the orchestra.

Content

Fairly happy and satisfied.

Counsellor

Someone who gives advice on a specified subject.

Current

Advanced English Grammar Exercises: Tenses and Conditionals

1. Perfect Simple and Continuous Tenses in Context

Instruction: Complete the blog extract using a suitable Perfect Simple or Perfect Continuous tense.

1. Hello and welcome to my first post from sunny Bangkok, the starting destination on my tour of South East Asia! Actually, I have been here for two days already, but I have not slept because of jet lag — so sorry if you have been waiting to hear from me!
2. Since we arrived, we have been staying on the world-famous Khao San Road, a must if you’re backpacking in Thailand and a great introduction to the country. We had considered booking into a three-star hotel, but in the end we have settled on Buddy Lodge, which saved us quite a bit.

2. Conditionals

Hospital Infection Control

Hospital Infection Control refers to measures taken to prevent and control infections within a hospital setting. These measures ensure patient safety, protect healthcare workers, and limit the spread of pathogens.

Key Points:

1. Hand Hygiene:
   Washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rubs is the most effective way to prevent infection.
2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
   Use of gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection to prevent transmission of microorganisms.
3. Sterilization and Disinfection:
   Instruments, medical devices, and surfaces are cleaned, disinfected, or sterilized as per protocol.
4. Isolation of Infected Patients:
   Isolation precautions (standard, contact, droplet, and airborne) are implemented to prevent

Laboratory Diagnosis of COVID-19

Accurate and timely diagnosis of COVID-19 is crucial for effective patient management and public health control. Various laboratory methods are employed to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 or the body's immune response to it.

Specimen Collection for COVID-19 Testing

• Preferred Samples: Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs are the primary specimens for viral detection.
• Other Specimens: In severe cases, sputum, lower respiratory tract secretions, and saliva may also be collected.

Molecular Tests: RT-PCR

• Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is considered the gold standard test for detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
• This method identifies viral RNA by amplifying specific genetic regions of the virus, such

Understanding Diabetes Insipidus and Renal Calculi

1. What is a Clinical Biomarker? Name Biomarkers Used to Diagnose DI & Renal Calculi.

A clinical biomarker is a measurable indicator of a biological state or condition.

For Diabetes Insipidus (DI):

• Serum sodium
• Osmolality
• ADH levels
• Urine osmolality

For Renal Calculi (Kidney Stones):

• Serum calcium
• Uric acid
• Oxalate levels
• Urine pH

2. What Does a Low Level of ADH Indicate?

A low level of Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) indicates Diabetes Insipidus (DI) or pituitary gland dysfunction.

3. Explain the Role of Vasopressin in DI.

Vasopressin regulates water reabsorption in the kidneys. In DI, either vasopressin is deficient (central DI) or the kidneys do not respond to it (nephrogenic DI).

4. Explain the Role of Vasopressin

Modal Verbs Exercises

Exercise 1: Rewrite the sentences using modal verbs.

1. It's forbidden to drive without fastening your seatbelt. You mustn't drive without fastening your seatbelt.
2. Perhaps they told John about the party. They might have told John about the party.
3. It isn't necessary for us to book a table. We needn't book a table.
4. It isn't necessary for her to phone me back. She needn't phone me back.
5. It was a mistake to sell the house. I wish I hadn't. I shouldn't have sold the house.
6. I'm sure he didn't lock the door. He couldn't have locked the door.
7. Perhaps John knew about the trip. He could have known about the trip.
8. You cannot smoke in the underground. You mustn't smoke in the underground.
9. I'm sure Ann didn't send that letter. Ann couldn't have

Foundational Concepts in Healthcare

Goals of Healthcare

• Prevent morbidity
• Prevent disability
• Prevent mortality

WHO Definition of Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as: "complete physical, mental, and social well-being.”

Top Causes of Death

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases
• Accidents
• Stroke

Quality of Life Metrics

Where q represents quality and g represents time discount.

Medical Triaging Levels

Triaging categorizes patients based on immediate need and resource requirements:

1. Immediate Risk of Death: Highest priority.
2. Serious Immediate Medical Need: High priority.
3. Levels 3, 4, 5: Priority is dependent on the number of resources needed (more resources required generally means a lower numerical level).

Types of Healthcare

Passive Voice

• Active: The secretary types the letter.
• Passive: The letters are typed by the secretary.

• Future Simple: Will type / Will be typed
• Past Simple: Typed / Were typed
• Modal: Can type / Can be typed
• Present Continuous: Am/is/are being + past participle
• Present Perfect Simple: Have / has been + past participle

Impersonal Voice

1. It is thought/said/believed + that...
2. Subject + is considered/thought/said + to be...

The Causative (get/have + object + verb 3rd form)

Often associated with professions. Changes depending on the verbal tenses.

Ex: The painters painted my house / I had my house painted by the painters.

Wish Clauses

1. Wish + subject + past simple (about the future): Not reality, but you want it to happen. Ej: I wish I were a rich man.
2. Wish + could

Cultural Considerations in Drug Therapy

• Ethnopharmacology studies how genetic and cultural factors influence drug metabolism and responses.
• Cultural beliefs can affect medication adherence and acceptance of alternative therapies.
• Language barriers may hinder effective communication about medications; strategies include using interpreters and clear labeling.

Age-Specific Medication Considerations

• Pediatric patients may require dosing adjustments due to immature organ function and higher risk of toxicity.
• Geriatric patients often experience polypharmacy, necessitating careful monitoring for drug interactions and side effects.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding considerations include avoiding teratogenic drugs and understanding drug transfer into breast milk.