Cell Injury, Stress, Nutrition and Infectious Disease Pathology
UNIT 1: Cell Injury and Adaptations
1. Key Factors That Cause Cell Injury and How Injury Occurs
Causes:
Hypoxia/ischemia (most common): loss of blood supply, anemia, carbon monoxide, respiratory failure.
Physical agents: trauma, extreme heat/cold, radiation, electric shock, pressure changes.
Chemical agents and drugs: alcohol, acetaminophen overdose, carbon tetrachloride, heavy metals, poisons.
Infectious agents: bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites (direct damage or toxins).
Immunologic reactions: hypersensitivity,
Read MoreContraception and Emergency Contraception Clinical Reference
Contraception and UKMEC Guidelines
- COCP – increases the risk of breast and cervical cancers, decreases the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer.
- After giving birth, women need contraception after day 21.
Progestogen-Only Pill (POP)
- The FSRH advises postpartum women (breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding) can start the POP anytime after postpartum.
- After day 21, additional contraception should be used for the first 2 days.
- A small amount of progestogen enters breast milk, but this is not harmful to the
Essential Drug Classifications and Mechanisms of Action
Drugs Acting on the Central Nervous System
Anaesthetic Drugs
Anaesthetics are drugs that produce a reversible loss of sensation, with or without loss of consciousness, thereby allowing surgical or diagnostic procedures to be performed without pain.
Mode of Action: General anaesthetics produce CNS depression by enhancing inhibitory neurotransmission, mainly through GABA-A and glycine receptors, and/or reducing excitatory neurotransmission through NMDA and other receptors. Local anaesthetics block voltage-
Read MoreClinical Nursing Protocols for Insulin Resistance Research
CLEAR Study Objectives
The study is trying to determine why skeletal muscle becomes insulin resistant in obesity.
Researchers compare three groups:
- Lean insulin-sensitive
- Obese insulin-sensitive
- Obese insulin-resistant
The key study procedures are:
- ✅ OGTT
- ✅ DEXA
- ✅ VO2 Max
- ✅ Hyperinsulinemic-Euglycemic Clamp
- ✅ Muscle Biopsies
- ✅ Blood/urine collection
The clamp and biopsies are the most important nurse-related procedures.
Essential Nursing Knowledge
Screening Eligibility Criteria
Know these key criteria:
Infectious Disease OSCE: Clinical Presentation and Management
1. Malaria: Fever and Travel
Key History Clues
- Recent travel to sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia
- Mosquito exposure
- Fever with chills and rigors
- Cyclical fever patterns
- Headache and myalgia
- Possible confusion (indicative of severe malaria)
Investigations
- Thick and thin blood film (gold standard)
- Malaria rapid antigen test
- FBC (thrombocytopenia is common)
- U&Es, LFTs, and glucose (to assess severity)
- Blood cultures (to rule out sepsis)
Management
- Admit if suspected
- IV artesunate for severe malaria
- Oral ACT (artemisinin-
Gastrointestinal Disease Diagnosis and Management
1. Haematemesis Management and Differentials
Differential Diagnoses:
- Oesophageal variceal bleeding secondary to chronic alcohol use
- Mallory-Weiss tear
- Boerhaave syndrome
- Peptic ulcer disease
Investigations
- Bedside: Full set of basic observations, A-E assessment, and ECG.
- Bloods: FBC, baseline U&Es, LFTs, coagulation screen, and group and save.
- Imaging: Endoscopy.
Management
- A-E assessment: Stabilise the patient.
- Keep nil by mouth (NBM).
- Oxygen and IV fluids.
- Group and save.
- IV terlipressin and antibiotics.