Re: pathology
kingofhearts - 11-27-08 09:27

hi bingousmle .... i just have a query.....i wanted to know how is this northwestern material for preparing for step1 usmle....please give your views ....what are the standard materials that u r referring to .....

Re: pathology
bingousmle - 11-27-08 09:59

hello kingofhearts..
never took an effort to see what this northwestern material is all about, so really cannot give you an opinion..the material i am referring to is kaplan notes for the present , goljan for patho, first aid that is what i have been advised by my colleagues, and i have gathered from the forum..
whatever you choose , take a prompt decision, and do a cost benefit analysis,
frankly, there is nothing great about it, remember that you have already formed a knowledge base in your med school, all you need to do is to do a quick revision , get acquainted with the pattern of the exam vignettes.
THIS IS WHAT I THINK.

Re: pathology
kingofhearts - 11-27-08 10:18

ok thanks for that buddy.....so how many months of practice is needed.....i think doing a lot of questions will be good right.....is it advisable to join kaplan at the cost of 25,000 bucks .....do advise..

Re: pathology
bingousmle - 11-27-08 10:29

is it that much, i heard it was something like 40,000 rs

Re: pathology
kingofhearts - 11-27-08 11:16

yeah ......so tell buddy is it advisable for such an amount .......

Re: pathology
bingousmle - 11-27-08 12:23

its so much a personal decision... kingofhearts you are the best person to judge your strenghts and weaknesses.. so do what your inner voice says... sometimes in moments of dilemma when you just cannot find the way out , just close your eyes and try to listen to your inner voice, its the best guide.. believe me it has worked for me..
whatever you decide , whether you join or not, i think your results should largely deppend upon how much SMART,EFFICIENT ,RELEVANT,REALISTIC, SINCERE, TIMELY ,CONFIDENT EFFORTS YOU PUT !!!

i remember a real lifestory of a blind man who wanted to be a doctor, next to impossible! he told this to his father. his father did not want to demotivate him.. his reply was SON HOW WILL YOU KNOW UNTIL YOU TRY!!
and this man against all the odds of med school( just imagine yourself in his position) managed to become a pschiatrist!

so believe in yourself (but dont be overconfident) and GO FOR YOUR GOAL .

this is my personal opinion ...

Re: pathology
zoah2005 - 11-27-08 12:25

i think calcium phosphate and pth levels all should be increased but not sure

Re: pathology
bingousmle - 11-27-08 13:35

calcium and phosphate levels change in an inverse relationship.. think of the primary disease she is suffering from and the picture would be clear..

Re: pathology
kingofhearts - 11-27-08 14:01

well thats very much motivating......but what i wanted to know is that price reasonable or not from what you know.....so i hope i am not paying 2 much ......

Re: pathology
bingousmle - 11-28-08 00:23

i know one person who had joined and he managed a 99... but he also was inherently intelligent... BTW it also depends on your BANK BALANCE .. :) :)


what do you think about the question i asked in the thread..

Re: pathology
usmlefever3 - 11-28-08 01:00

calcium and PTH would be increased but phosphate will be decreased.......not sure about the condition from which woman in question is suffering from

Re: pathology
bingousmle - 11-28-08 03:13

yes thats true. this female is suffering from osteitis fibrosa cystica, or brown timors due to primary hyperparathyroidism..

can you reason out why is it not secondary hyperparathyroidism , say, for eg. due to chronic renal failure

Re: pathology
usmlefever3 - 11-28-08 14:55

i guess beacuse there is history of passing calcium oxalate stones is there......it means there is hypercalcaemia which is not present in CRF where calcium levels are either decreased or normal .

regarding osteitis fibrosa cystica..i have known it as complication CRF .......wht say

Re: pathology
bingousmle - 11-28-08 23:12

osteitis fibrosa cystica is a rare complication of HYPERPARATHYROIDISM
so it can be seen in both primary and secondary forms.

but then the ques wants us to decide whether it would be primary or secondary, since the levels would differ in the two.

h/o passing calcium stones is the key as it would suggest hypercalcemia and thus primary hyperparathyroidism..

osteitis fibrosa cystica is also known as von recklinghausens disease of bone..

Re: pathology
usmlefever3 - 11-29-08 10:19

thx........good information!

Re: pathology
bingousmle - 11-29-08 11:22

can you give a quick summary for the Calcium, phosphate , alkaline phosphatase levels for hyperparathyroidism,pagets disease of bone, osteoporosis, renal insufficiency and other similar conditions.

Re: pathology
usmlefever3 - 11-29-08 13:07

primary hyperparathyroidism - calcium incrased phosphate decreased alkaline phosphate and PTh increased
secondary hyperparathyroidism- calcium normal or dereased ,phosphate decreased alkaline phosphate and PTh increased
osteoporosis-all above parameters is normal
pagets disease- all are normal except PTH which is exceedingly high
renal failure ,rickets,osteomalacia are secondary hyperparathyroidism

Re: pathology
bingousmle - 11-29-08 23:18

great !!! but are you sure about the phoshate values in secondary hyperparathyroidism, i think they will increase, atleast in renal failure,since hyperphosphatemia is one of the complications of CRF

Re: pathology
usmlefever3 - 11-30-08 06:59

yes you rightly told about secondary hyperparathyroidism in renal failure..............there is hyperphosphatemia but in other causes there will be decrease in phosphate level like rickets

Re: pathology
bingousmle - 11-30-08 22:43

ok...

Re: pathology
bingousmle - 12-01-08 08:50

whats hungry bone syndrome

Re: pathology
usmlefever3 - 12-01-08 12:30

never heard tht.please tell us

Re: pathology
bingousmle - 12-01-08 12:44

its hypocalcemia developing after removal of parathyroid adenoma