Essentials – Megaloblastic Anemia
Megaloblast. Now there’s a word you don’t hear every day. The root -blast comes from the Greek blastos, meaning “germ” or “bud,” and is familiar from terms like blast cells—very young hematopoietic precursor cells. Megalo- comes from the Greek megas, meaning “large” or “great,” as in splenomegaly. So is a megaloblast simply a large, immature…
Read MoreEssentials – Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndromes
Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) refers to a group of rare inherited syndromes that increase the risk of developing tumors in multiple endocrine organs. MEN affects men and women at roughly equal rates and occurs across geographic, racial, and ethnic groups. These syndromes are caused by genetic mutations inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning an…
Read MoreEssentials – Stimulants and Cognitive-Enhancing Drugs
In this episode, we explore stimulants and cognitive-enhancing drugs, medications used to improve alertness, attention, memory, and cognition. You’ll learn how commonly used agents such as amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, caffeine, donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, and memantine work, along with the conditions they’re used to treat. We’ll also review important adverse effects, contraindications, and serious safety concerns,…
Read MoreEssentials – Physiology of the Renal Tubular System
Why does a patient on furosemide end up needing a potassium supplement? In this episode we walk the length of the nephron— proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, and collecting duct—and trace exactly how each segment reabsorbs and secretes to keep sodium, water, potassium, and acid-base in balance. Along the way we hit…
Read MoreEssentials – Cholelithiasis and Cholecystitis
Gallstones are hardened deposits that form when substances such as cholesterol or unconjugated bilirubin become overly concentrated in bile. They vary greatly in size and often cause no symptoms, but stones that leave the gallbladder can obstruct the biliary tract and cause inflammation or infection. After listening to this AudioBrick, you should be able to:…
Read MoreEssentials – Gastrointestinal Regulatory Substances
Digestion is regulated by a complex network of hormones, peptides, and neural signals. In this episode, we review the major gastrointestinal hormones, introduce several secondary regulatory peptides, and explain how the GI tract senses its luminal contents and integrates multiple signals to control digestive function. After listening to this episode, you should be able to:…
Read MoreRx Question Lab: Neurology
Question Lab: Neuro for Step 1 Think you can spot a subarachnoid hemorrhage from the clues alone? What about localizing a stroke to the exact arterial distribution? In this episode of Question Lab, Dr. Abraham Titus walks through 4 board-style neurology questions, breaking down the clinical clues, teaching the underlying pathophysiology, and walking through the…
Read MoreShock
Looking for more information on this topic? Check out the Shock brick. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the more med students (or future med students) listen to the podcast, the more we can provide to the future physicians of…
Read MoreRx Question Lab: USMLE Step 2 CK Cardiology
Tackle High-Yield Concepts for USMLE Step 2 CK Cardiology This interactive session, led by Dr. Abraham Titus (Hematology/Oncology Fellow, University of South Alabama) and ScholarRx’s Jeff Downing, focuses on challenging USMLE Step 2 CK cardiology questions that will sharpen your clinical decision-making skills and deepen your understanding of cardiovascular medicine. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: In this…
Read MorePhysiology of the Renal Tubular System
Looking for more information on this topic? Check out the Physiology of the Renal Tubular System brick. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the more med students (or future med students) listen to the podcast, the more we can provide…
Read More