Just when you thought your brain could unwind on a Friday, you realise that it would rather be challenged with some good old fashioned medical trivia. The format is starting to take shape – we will be trying to post questions on:
- Rare or eponymous syndromes
- Medical history or biography
- Bizarre and ‘out there’ medical trivia to baffle your colleagues
Feeling Fabulous this Friday
Question 1
- Vitamin A and other fat soluble vitamins are absorbed by Ito cells resident in which region of the liver?
- Space of Disse
- Finger-like projections of the liver cells extend into the space of Disse to absorb substances from the plasma.
- The space may be obliterated by disease, reducing the liver’s ability to absorb toxins or store fat-soluble vitamins.
Question 2
- What is Mills’ maneuver?
- A manipulative procedure used to treat lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
- The examiner fully pronates the affected forearm, flexes the wrist, and then forcibly extends the elbow.
Question 3
- What is Typhlitis?
- Inflammation and/or necrosis of the cecum, appendix, and/or ileum
- In 1960, Bierman and Amronin first coined the term ileocecal syndrome to describe inflammation and/or necrosis of the cecum, appendix, and/or ileum in patients with leukemia. [Reference: Bierman HR, Amronin G. The ileocecal syndrome in the leukopathic conditions. Clin Res. 1960;8:134.]
- Typhlitis subsequently has been associated with aplastic anemia, lymphoma, AIDS, and immunosuppression following renal transplantation or during treatment of malignancy [Reference: Abu-Hilal MA, Jones JM. Typhlitis; is it just in immunocompromised patients?. Med Sci Monit. Aug 2008;14(8):CS67-70]
Question 4
- What is the more common name for ephelides?
- Freckles
- Ephelides (freckles) are multiple tanned macules found on the skin and are usually associated with fair skin and red or blonde hair.
- They are predominantly benign, but may be seen in association with systemic disease. [Reference: Azizi E, Lusky A, Kushelevsky AP, Schewach-Millet M. Skin type, hair color, and freckles are predictors of decreased minimal erythema ultraviolet radiation dose. J Am Acad Dermatol. Jul 1988;19(1 Pt 1):32-8]
- In contrast to solar lentigines, ephelides are not strongly associated with age
Question 5
- What animal was the source of the most cases of rabies in the USA since 1980?
- The Bat
About Tharsa Thillainadesan
