imasmallboat reblogged
is it just me or does the way people treat like "dopamine" and "serotonin" in modern pop psych context read exactly like balancing the humors
Ah the four humors: dopamine, serotonin, cortisol, and adrenaline
imasmallboat reblogged
I’m so mad that a t4 bacteriophage actually looks like that and that it’s appearance isn’t made up
handsomejackofficial
this is how they look in all the models
this is how they actually look
like they really fucking look like that. in real life
grimtiger
viruses are literally such bullshit they have the nerve to look like this and they aren’t even ALIVE
I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE SHITTY AND ARBITRARY DEFINITION OF LIFE THAT MAKES VIRUSES NOT ALIVE. FUCK YOU THEY ARE ALIVE
Things are heating up in the virus fandom
thats called a fever
imasmallboat reblogged
We had a patient last night who was a textbook case of electrolytes imbalance as a result of nausea and vomiting. And I didn’t say this to the patient because I didn’t think they’d appreciate it, but it’s kinda great when the way you are so so sick is like exactly like the textbooks say it’ll be. Like not good that you’re having sudden new onset muscle weakness and tingling, but buddy this is gonna get sorted out with an efficiency you won’t believe. We fixed like 85% of the stuff wrong with this patient by midnight and we marveled the whole time about how this patient was seemingly concocted in a lab so I could walk my trainee through a highly manageable crisis
imasmallboat reblogged
Understanding study material 📚 Effective strategies 🤔
Here are some research-backed tips to help you navigate difficulties in understanding study material effectively 💪🏼
1️⃣ Break down complex concepts
Research suggests that breaking down complex concepts into smaller, more digestible parts can aid in understanding. Divide the material into manageable sections and focus on understanding each component before moving on to the next.
2️⃣ Engage in active learning
Active learning techniques, such as summarizing, teaching others, and practicing with flashcards, can improve understanding and retention. Engage actively with the material by explaining it to a study partner or testing yourself with practice questions.
3️⃣ Seek clarification
Don't hesitate to seek clarification from your instructors, peers, or online resources when you encounter difficulties. Research indicates that asking questions and seeking feedback can enhance understanding and fill in knowledge gaps.
4️⃣ Utilize visual aids
Visual aids, such as diagrams, charts, and graphs, can help simplify complex information and improve comprehension. Create visual representations of the material or use existing visual resources to enhance your understanding of challenging concepts.
5️⃣ Connect new material to prior knowledge
Research in cognitive psychology emphasizes the importance of connecting new information to existing knowledge for better understanding. Relate new concepts to familiar ideas or experiences to establish meaningful connections and improve retention.
6️⃣ Practice retrieval techniques
Research studies suggest that practicing retrieval techniques, such as self-testing and quizzing, can strengthen memory and understanding. Test yourself regularly on the material to reinforce learning and identify areas that require further review.
7️⃣ Collaborate with peers
Collaborative learning has been shown to enhance understanding and retention of study material. Engage in group study sessions with peers to discuss challenging concepts, share insights, and benefit from diverse perspectives.
8️⃣ Take breaks and manage stress
Take regular breaks during study sessions, practice relaxation techniques, and prioritize self-care to manage stress levels and optimize your cognitive performance. Read posts about mental and physical health to find more useful information.
imasmallboat reblogged
the most "fucking, fair enough i guess" response ive ever gotten to something i said was in the ER
me: hi, i need a rabies shot triage nurse: oh? why's that? me: i got bitten by a bat triage nurse: what were you doing that you got bitten by a bat at 3 in the morning? me: removing a bat from my bedroom
im given to understand that it generally takes a lot to leave ER staff speechless, but it sure was a good 5 seconds before she thought of anything to say to that
#prev u say sol but u see. i have reblogged this post at least 3 times at different points in the past#bC PEOPLE KEEP SENDING IT TO ME!!!#i will reblog as usual.
@solipseismic i am FASCINATED to discover that you are a real person and not a fictional character because this has been tagged about you often enough that i assumed it was a fandom thing. is your story any more interesting than mine or did it just make a disproportionately massive impression on your fiend group?
i had to take a moment to compose myself this (fandom thing) is possibly the funniest thing anyone's ever said about me. probably not more interesting but like 200% more stupid and so accordingly has made a bit of an impression on most of the people who know me
>be me (freshman living in college dorm)
>go for a walk in the beautiful spring weather
>there is a bat on the sidewalk in the middle of the day
>sidebar to note that at this point in life my bat knowledge solely consists of "usually flying" and "only comes out at night"
>how terrible this bat must be disoriented by the bright sunlight (middle of the day) and fell from where it was ........................... roosting (on the sidewalk)
>if i put this bat in a box with some water and then bring it back out at night maybe it will have recovered enough from the. sun
>text my roommate asking him to put a towel in a box
>i pick up the bat (on the sidewalk) (middle of the day) (no gloves)
>one bat in a box later i log onto tumblr dot com and post something along the lines of: does anyone know what to do in case of accidental bat acquisition
>mutual from area with many bats: you need to get rabies shots IMMEDIATELY
>i have no car (freshman in college dorms)
>surely it isn't that serious
>thanks to google i now have 200% more bat knowledge and Boy I Fucked Up
>me to my mutual: it only bit me a few times and its teeth are so tiny it didn't even break the skin i'm sure i'll be fine :)
>i am of a curious nature so i google rabies symptoms
>oh! i need to get rabies shots!
so my ER experience was actually something pretty similar
me: hi, i need a rabies shot
triage nurse: oh? why's that?
me: i got bitten by a bat
triage nurse: what were you doing that you got bitten by a bat in the middle of the day?
me: picking up a bat off the sidewalk
triage nurse:
HEY, HOLY SHIT
So, I know this is probably decently known and I'm sure others have mentioned it on this post, but...
If you ever wake up with a bat in your room, you should consider yourself potentially exposed to rabies.
As @solipseismic mentioned, the bites didn't even break the skin. It's possible the bat bit or scratched you somewhere while you were asleep, and you didn't feel it and can't see it. Ideally, the bat could be captured and tested for rabies, but if not you may need to get "the rabies shot" even without a visible bite. ("the rabies shot" in quotes bc it's a little oversimplified). And fun fact! Not all doctors or nurses seem to always know this about bats, so you may be unlucky enough to have to explain it to them. Here is a CDC article I've seen referenced on this topic before. Also, remember, there is no "wait to see if you get symptoms," if you get symptoms you are already dead. (I'm not an expert by any means, I just know how shocked I was the first time I learned this about bats and rabies and wanna do my part to share the information)
imasmallboat reblogged
Re: blorbo from my research, here is my favorite ever case study. I'm obsessed with it.
Summary:
- Guy presents to neurology with muscle issues, very clearly has something going on but diagnostic tests are inconclusive
- History is mostly unremarkable. Key word, mostly. He drinks four liters of plain Earl Grey tea per day. For context this is nearly twice the recommended daily fluid intake. All fluids, to be clear, not just tea. He only drinks tea tho
- Bergamot is known to be phototoxic in high doses (reacts badly on your skin with sunlight)
- APPARENTLY nobody previously has consumed enough of it for it to be widely known that it is also, apparently, mildly toxic to ingest in high doses
- Guy starts drinking plain black tea again. Only 2 liters this time (he didn't have a medical reason to drink that much tea, he just liked it) and so now he's fully recovered
house md ass case
imasmallboat reblogged
Me during my residency interviews🙃
Me during any conversation with a senior pathologist
"I know the answer is in there somewhere just give me a sec"
^ Person who is not, in fact, going to remember the answer
imasmallboat reblogged
Entamoeba Histolytica
Moving on from Disseminated infections.
and back to parasites, we have this amoeba.
Courtesy of wikipaedia.
One complication is liver abscess.
Ring enhancing cysts were seen on CT (requested after the authors noted deranged liver function tests) and on percutaneous drainage (which radiology can do), they had brown cloudy fluid. Under the microscope they noted the pseudopods (leg like extensions).
Classically though, entamoeba causes amoebic dysentery or bloody diarrhoea that develops over 1-4 weeks. However, 90% are asymptomatic. Given the complications/extra-GI manifestations, it can be fatal in a very small minority.
Severe disease/Complications - toxic megacolon (always makes me think of heavy metal bands, in sad actuality it's inflammation that affects more layers and causes the colon to wide. resembling balloon animals) - fulminant colitis + perforation (from inflammation, ulceration etc. that the trophozoites induce, high mortality) - liver abscess (more common, fevers/RUQ/hepatomegaly, transamnitis and jaundice, maybe months before this develops) - rarely: pericarditis + tamponade (from liver rupture, rare but high mortality), pleural effusion & brain abscess (exceedingly rare - but acute confusion + fevers, rapid deterioration) risk factors for severe diseases/complications: malignancy, pregnancy, immunosuppression in general.
Toxic megacolon: Can actually rupture eventually. Courtesy of wiki
Transmission: faecal oral routes (contaminated food/water sources) and it's widely distributed across the world. As with many infectious diseases, it has a higher prevalence in lower socioeconomic groups and regions of the world. Africa & South/Central AMerica have higher rates than other countries (poor sanitation areas, water sources like rivers have multiple purposes for households etc.). Generally, in western countries, it develops in returned travellers who went to endemic areas or immigrants.
Detection: EIA assay for entamoeba antigen in stool, serology (relies on antibodies, so undetectable the first week and last a life time, does not differentiate acute vs past infection), stool MCS for cysts and ova, PCR and colonoscopy (ulcer/erosions, biopsy will reveal cysts and trophozoites)
Treatment: metronidazole in active/acute disease, increased doses in severe/complicated disease or invasive. depending on where you are, also paromycin if asymptomatic or following active treatment to remove cysts.
Consider this in returned travellers with high fevers, abdo pain and bloody diarrhoea lasting > 2 weeks.
Avoids while travelling to endemic areas - uncooked foods, unbottled water/ice cubes, street vendors (what a shame), just anything raw. Practice good hand hygiene.
Sources: StatPearls ON PubMed Amoebiasis on CDC
imasmallboat reblogged
turboalienjesus
Still a good precaution. And definitely necessary for everyone for when life has returned to normal in like three years just in case you meet the love of your life and they’re positive.
Couldn’t share this fast enough.
Rebloging this to add a little more info because it’s very important:
Antiretroviral therapy when used correctly can cause the user’s “viral load” (your viral load is how much of the virus is in your bloodstream), to drop because the medicine prevents HIV from creating copies of itself.
Regular blood tests are done to monitor your viral load, and after taking the medication long enough, it can drop so low that it becomes “durably undetectable”. This means that the HIV virus in you has become so miniscule that it can’t be detected, and by extension can’t be transmitted either. It’s important to note that in order to be considered durable undetectable, you MUST test as undetectable for at least 6 months after testing as undetectable for the first time.
Also very important, being durably undetectable does NOT mean that you’re cured or that the virus is gone, not by a longshot. The HIV virus is still very much there, but instead of being active, it’s gone dormant in a small number of cells called “viral reservoirs”. This why it’s EXTREMELY important that even after achieving durably undetectable status, you continue to take your Antiretroviral medications correctly. Because if you stop, the HIV virus will reemerge from the viral reservoirs and pick up right where it left off in creating copies of itself, and you will have to start all over again if you want to become durably undetectable again.
This is great advice for people struggling with or know someone who has HIV.
imasmallboat reblogged
Eukaryotic cell gang!! We love women in STEM.
The organelles of the cells have been translated into human anatomy, so the nucleus is the brain, the vacuole function as the lungs, and the mitochondria is the heart since it’s the… you already know, I don’t have to say it ;)
imasmallboat reblogged
I was actually just reading about this in Caste: The Origins of our Discontent. The author talks about how one’s body goes into stress or anxiety or defense mode when the person knows they’re being followed, watched, or otherwise scrutinized. She brought race into it. A Nigerian man, who was just a person in his country, was healthy as anything. He got to the U.S. and within a year, his doctor told him he was suddenly pre-diabetic and had high blood pressure. He never had those things in his country. He learned that being Black in the U.S. is a very different experience than being Black in a Black-centric country. The author elaborated more about those in poverty, women, and being a minority in general. Having that “fight or flight” triggered in the body, sometimes for hours or days or weeks at a time, degrades the body’s natural defenses, making them more vulnerable to disease.
being poor can cut about 15-30 years from your life
if anyone wants to look more into this the academic term for it is “the social/structural determinants of health”
imasmallboat reblogged
Hiiii!!
Could you guys please vote for my agar art in this contest? 🌿🌸
It would mean the world to me 🥹
imasmallboat reblogged
It’s insane how many organs will just Make Rocks if left up to their own devices. Kidneys. Gall bladder. Pancreas. Tonsils, what’s that about???
imasmallboat reblogged
Rabbits Rabbits Rabbits
Reblog this on the first of the month for good luck all month long!
lunaesteria
imasmallboat reblogged
I have trouble taking care of my teeth because everything that involves doing that is a sensory nightmare. I decide to do some research to see if there's anything I can do about this. The results?
"How to make your autistic child brush their teeth"
"Autistic Children and Sensory issues relating to tooth brushing"
"How to get your little shit to brush his fucking teeth"
Like, yeah Google, thanks, that really helps. And like, even if I was a child, some of the advice seemed... unhelpful. Like, doing a dance and singing a song while brushing your teeth? Even for a kid, I don't think that would help distract from a sensory experience as intense as brushing your teeth. Like, the extremely intense and unpleasant flavor, the intense feeling of the brush against your teeth scraping across it, even mouthwash has such an intense and disgusting flavor that I have difficulty keeping it in my mouth for more than a few seconds. I wish there was SOMETHING that could be done.
I actually did research on how to keep your teeth clean if you don't have access to a toothbrush or toothpaste! I needed the info for a story, but thankfully it also has real world applications. Maybe something here will help:
- If the bristles are a sensory nightmare, try a soft cloth instead. Cloth was one of the methods used before toothbrushes were invented, although they used shit like burlap. Don't do burlap. Cotton or linen should do fine.
- You can also buy natural toothbrushes made with bamboo and boar hair. I've never tried them so I'm not sure how different they'd feel compared to synthetic bristles, but they're pretty cheap on Amazon if you want to give them a shot
- If even the "extra soft" bristles are too stiff, you could try soaking them overnight in some mouthwash to soften them further. This is what we did when I was growing up, and it worked like a charm. Bonus points that the alcohol in the mouthwash kills any germs stuck on the brush
- If the toothpaste flavor is horrendous, make a paste with baking soda and water, then flavor it however you want with a sugar-free extract. Heck, look for recipes to make your own toothpaste, and experiment until you get something you can stand to use.
- If the texture of the toothpaste is bad, the baking soda method might work better for you, or you could try scrubbing salt or activated charcoal on your teeth instead—that's what they used before toothpaste was invented. Personally, I'd recommend the baking soda or making your own toothpaste.
- Different brands often have different textures, and some even have different flavors (this is especially true of kids toothpastes, which work just as well for adults), so swapping brands might help, too. I can't stand Crest, it makes my mouth feel all filmy no matter how well I rinse, but Colgate doesn't leave a weird feeling in my mouth. Also Colgate is the only brand my grocery store carries that has cinnamon flavored toothpaste as an option, and I'm a whore for cinnamon
- You're probably using too much toothpaste anyway. Most people do. You really only need a dollop about the size of a pea. I smush it out across the bristles so I don't have to deal with a glob of it in one spot.
- Floss if you can. That's going to do more to stop your teeth from rotting than brushing will. Standard dental floss is obviously an option, but if you're like me and you can't stand putting your hands in your mouth, try disposable floss picks or investing in a water flosser. I still hate the feeling of the floss between my teeth, but it's manageable since I don't have my fingers in my mouth on top of it. Haven't tried the water flosser since the picks work well enough for me
- Try chewing sugarless gum, especially right after you've eaten. It's not perfect, but it'll help. Also it comes in a billion flavors so hopefully there's something you like in there
- If absolutely none of that is helpful, rinsing with water is still better than nothing. You can mix in salt to help kill bacteria if you can handle it, but bare minimum try to do a rinse and spit.
Obviously not all of that is from my pre-modern teeth cleaning research—some is from personal experience! But hopefully something in there is useful to you
It's absolute bullshit that we have to approach these problems sideways because the people actually making "helpful" articles about it are all ableist :| Maybe some day soon we as a society can get over that.
Oh my God you are my hero thank you so much
imasmallboat reblogged
Study tips for people who’ve never had to study before
It recently came to my attention that there are a whole load of ~highly achieving~ students out there who’ve never had to learn to study, but suddenly being naturally gifted just doesn’t work anymore. I’ve been in this exact position & came out of it ok, so here are some important things I picked up along the way/wish I knew back then.
- Habits. If you build good study habits early, before things start getting intense, you’ll be well set for when the stress comes. Maybe always finish your homework before tea, or come home and study for an hour before you change into sweats. Association is helpful - if you have an established routine for something else, like getting a coffee or sports training or practicing an instrument, say you’ll always study directly before or after that. Make it work for you.
- Little and often. People say this about languages but it’s the same for anything. Half an hour every day is so much more effective than 3 hours in a day, once a week, and you won’t feel wiped out afterwards either. This works for long term projects as well - breaking things down into manageable chunks and doing one little bit per day is much less overwhelming than sitting down and telling yourself you’re writing your whole essay today.
- Time management. Parkinson’s law is real. Set yourself a limit, say you’re going to write this essay before tea, or you’re going to do this maths for no more than 2 hours. Things will drag on and fill as much time as you allow them to, especially bigger projects, so stick to a schedule. If at all possible, aim to have bigger assignments complete at least a week before they’re due, so you have time for printer problems, formatting disasters, etc etc. This ties in with organisation, which is equally important. I don’t mean perfectly drawn schedules and bullet journals (even if thats what studyblr wants us to believe) but get a diary, I use a page per day diary but you can use a notebook, wall planner, whatever. Put deadlines and classes and exams and everything in there asap, and then day to day you can make a to-do list of smaller tasks. These should be flexible, so if something comes up or a task is unexpectedly complicated, you can adapt and just add it to the next day. Don’t set your expectations too high - its better to set out to work for 4 hours and achieve that than to say you’ll do 8, only manage 4 and feel like a failure.
- Your environment is important! Your desk does not have to be all white minimalism and pastel highlighters to be a good study space, but try make it as clear as possible, well lit, and free from distractions. The bigger the better. Make sure you have everything you need within reach, including a plug for a charger, if you use a laptop. Quiet is ideal but not always possible, so make yourself a playlist of background music (or try one of mine, here.) Libraries are great, because they’re literally designed for reading in and having people working around you can be really motivating. Avoid procrastination at all costs. Leave your phone somewhere far away, turn it off, or use the forest app. And try not to work where you sleep, because that won’t help with your work or your sleep (bedroom is fine, in bed is not.)
- Test yourself. Repeated retrieval is the best form of learning, so if you have past papers or quizzes thats great, use them! If not, writing your own questions or getting some study buddies and writing questions for each other is a good way of studying, because it forces you to think about the material in a different way.
- Teach others. It’s great if you have a friend or two to revise with, but if not, try writing presentations, talking to yourself, a pet, a plant… anyone who’ll listen. Break down concepts into simpler language, as if you were explaining it to someone younger. Use flow charts and clear diagrams, and be concise. This will not only consolidate your understanding, but you’ll get some great notes out of it (and presentation practice.)
- Your notes do not have to be beautiful! I love looking at these aesthetic studyblr notes as much as the next person but realistically that takes hours and calligraphy is not an efficient use of your precious time. Try to keep them as concise as possible - bullet points are good - and use no more than 3 colours per page or they’ll lose meaning. Don’t go too hard with the highlighters. Arrows and annotations and post it note additions are all excellent - don’t rewrite what you’ve already got! That is not good revision. I’m sorry. Try using a whiteboard. For short answer questions, calculations, quick diagrams - anything you’d use scrap paper for - a mini white board is great. I mean something like this which is cheap and also better for the rainforests than using a whole bunch of paper that you’re just going to throw out.
I *borrowed* mine from school which I do not condone but may be an option. - Take regular breaks. A good rule of thumb is that your break should be around 25% of your study time, so if you study for an hour - 15 minutes off. Study for 8 hours - 2 hours off. And take your breaks properly - get up, leave the room if you can. Get some fresh air, even if thats just opening a window, drink some
coffeewater, have a snack if you need it. Try not to fuel yourself on junk food - biscuits are essential but have some fruit or nuts or something as well - they actually help your brain work and you’ll feel better for it. - Don’t compare. I know this is easier said than done, but study for yourself. Find your own method, whether that’s what everyone around you does or not. Try not to compare grades, either. A little bit of competition can be healthy, but (especially around exams) don’t listen to the people who “only did 12 hours last night.” Equally, ignore the people who say they haven’t studied at all and don’t let either of them get to you. You know how hard you’re working, and who know how efficient they are?
- It’s never too late. This is maybe the most important thing to take away from this. You may have weeks, even days until your final/assessment/essay, but it is not too late to start studying. I’ll make a post about how to cram later, but even though its not ideal, it can definitely be the difference between a pass and a fail or an A and an A*. So if you think you’ve left it too late - you haven’t.
Good luck, and feel free to message me if you want more tips/details/a sympathetic shoulder to cry on about how hard all this is <3
imasmallboat reblogged
Some very humbling information here that I have not actually heretofore seen.
Spread the word.
Spread the word.
And wear your damn masks.
Source: twitter.com
imasmallboat reblogged
THIS!!
THIS IS AN AMAZING WAY TO THINK OF CHRONIC PAIN
I wanted to point out that Nurse Hadley, the woman in this video, is a hospice nurse. This is what people say to and about patients who don't have long left to live. The fear of addiction and dependence on pain medication is so strong that people deny their literally dying family members proper pain management. You're never going to please the "but what about addiction" people, ignore them and take the meds you need to function.
Medblrs - make this analogy part of your vocabulary for understanding chronic pain and developing management plans. 👆