Spoonful of Sugar

Having trouble keeping track of all the different types of lymphoma? Hodgkin’s vs. Non-Hodgkin, B-cell vs. T-cell – it’s complicated and it can get confusing really fast. In this episode, we’ll organize the different types of lymphoma based on their defining characteristics and come up with some creative ways to make key associations which will be important for exams. As always, this review is in a Q&A format, so feel free to answer questions out loud and know that mistakes are part of the learning process!

It’s been a while, but welcome back to Season 2 of Spoonful of Sugar! In this episode, we’ll review the 4 types of leukemia – acute and chronic, lymphoid and myeloid. These can be challenging vignettes but on Step 1 it’s really about identifying some key associations. Get ready to review leukemia in an active, Q&A format. If you’ve already taken Step 1 and want to help out on our team, please contact us through spoonfulofsugar.org.

How hard is it to remember all the germ layers, aortic arches, and branchial arches? In this episode, hosted by DUCOM MS4 Adam Elwood, we try to simplify all of these challenging concepts with quick and easy mnemonics. Tune in to learn about reproductive embryology from a future Ob/Gyn!

Spoonful of Sugar is back with a long but awesome episode on ocular pathologies by future ophthalmologist and DUCOM MS4, Will Foos! Tune in to learn about glaucoma, uveitis, trachoma, retinitis, and more.

Hosted by DUCOM MS4, Will Foos, this episode provides an overview of neuro-ophthalmology. We will cover ocular motility, including the relevant cranial nerves and anatomy, review the optic pathway, and discuss the basics of an ophthalmologic exam. Tune in for an in-depth episode with our future ophthalmologist!

Hosted by DUCOM MS4, Will Foos, this episode features the basics of ophthalmology. We’ll cover the structures of the eye, discuss the autonomic innervation of the eye, and review pathologies including refractive error, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Get ex-eye-ted for some fun facts and questions along the way! And please don’t lash out for that terrible pun.

Common things are common, and the boards love to test on these. In this episode, we’ll hit the most common types of cancer that affect children and adults, and review as many testable topics as we can. This cancer episode is packed with fun facts, so don’t worry if you’re overwhelmed. Cancer is a mighty beast but hopefully together we can start to tackle it!

Who wants to talk about pee? In this episode, we’ll review the different components of urinalysis including dipstick, microscopy, and culture. We’ll hit the different types of casts and stones, trying to understand when and why they form. Get excited to interpret some urine!

We’ll review the lab values used to monitor the status of our kidneys and then dive into the different etiologies of acute kidney injury, including pre-renal, intrinsic renal, and post-renal azotemia. Our goal will be to understand the different ways the kidney can be damaged, and how this is reflected in lab values such as the BUN/Cr ratio and FeNa. Don’t know what these mean? Tune in to find out!

Glomerular disease is generally thought of as nephritic vs. nephrotic. In this episode, we will try to understand the difference between the two, acknowledging that these can occur on a spectrum. We’ll talk about specific diseases that fall under each category and work through several case vignettes, highlighting key features that you should know for each. It’s tough to get a hang of these diseases, but this episode is definitely a step in the right direction!

And this is Part 2 of our 2-part series on Diabetes Mellitus. Here, we’ll venture bravely into the treatment of Types 1 and 2 DM. We’ll discuss the various types of insulin and briefly talk about how they’re utilized. Then get ready for a tour showcasing many of the pharmacological drug classes that are available for the treatment of diabetes. We’ll try to make some silly mnemonics to remember the mechanisms and adverse effects (it’s hard, we know!). Repetition is key when it comes to learning pharm though, so tune in now for some practice recalling the drugs.

Part 1 of a 2-part series. In the first episode on Diabetes Mellitus, we’ll compare and contrast the pathogenesis and presentation of Types 1 and 2 DM. We’ll also talk about the diagnosis of DM and discuss mechanisms of the damage caused by hyperglycemia. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a series of cases to review the complications of DM. Spoiler alert: some of the complications we hit are DKA, HHS, neuropathy, and infections. You don’t want to miss our discussion on diabetes and its complications.

Adult and neonatal respiratory distress syndromes aren’t exactly related to each other, but they do present with the same CXR finding. They can also make difficult exam questions that require making the diagnosis based on a complicated vignette, and then knowing more details about the pathophysiology of each disease. We’ll try to strengthen our foundational knowledge of ARDS & NRDS, and then understand how they present so we’re not intimidated by the tough vignettes.

There are myriad pathogens that cause pneumonia, but fortunately, those that are most frequently tested are associated with certain classic presentations and diagnostic findings. In this episode, we’ll talk about the different patterns of pneumonia (e.g. lobar, interstitial) and then talk about presentation of typical vs. atypical pneumonia. We’ll talk about classic pathogens acquired in community vs. hospital settings, review some classic vignettes, talk about diagnosis of pneumonia, and get into a little treatment as well. If pneumonia overwhelms you, hopefully by the end of this episode it’ll get easier!

D-dimer? Hampton’s hump? Westermark’s sign? Listen to this episode to hear about the causes, presentation, diagnosis, and management of PE. And hopefully we’ll clarify all these random buzzwords. If you stay tuned until the end you’ll even get a review of some drugs used for anticoagulation.

We’ll talk about how to use pulmonary function tests to differentiate between obstructive and restrictive lung diseases, then review the etiologies and presentations of specific diseases within each category. See what you can remember, but don’t panic about the things you miss. That’s what reviews are for!

Hypertension and hyperlipidemia are probably two of the most common conditions that are seen and treated in primary care offices. In this episode, we’ll try to go why they’re treated, when they’re treated, and how they’re treated. Fret not, we’ll make sure to ask about commonly tested mechanisms and side effects of the major pharmacological treatments. Hopefully this episode serves not just as a pharmacology review, but also gives you some insight into the management of these conditions.

We’ll try to cover all the salient points about heart failure in a Q&A format. This includes a discussion on the various types of cardiomyopathy, the difference between systolic and diastolic heart failure, and techniques for diagnosis and management of the disease. We’ll try to throw in as many test-able facts as possible so you get the most of your time.

Questions about shock can be—well, shocking, especially when you’re tested on multiple physiologic parameters based on a complex vignette. In this episode, we’ll break down the different types of shock, and come up with a strategy to tackle tough questions on the subject. We’ll discuss what causes each type of shock and how it affects the body physiologically. Hopefully you’ll walk away with a plan of attack the next time someone asks you about shock.

Myocardial infarction is a widely tested topic on boards because there is just so much they can ask you about. We’ll try and hit all the major points in a Q&A format. We’ll talk about the pathophysiology of MI, presentation, diagnostic steps, approach to management, and complications of MI. Don’t get a heart attack if you don’t know all the answers, mistakes are part of the learning process!

In this episode, we will go over congenital heart defects in a Q&A format, focusing on the presentation and major risk factors of each. The acyanotic heart defects include VSD, ASD, and PDA. The cyanotic heart defects include Truncus Arteriosus, Transposition of the Great Vessels, Tricuspid Atresia, Tetralogy of Fallot, and TAPVR. We’ll also cover a mix of a few other congenital heart defects that don’t fall into the cyanotic/acyontic delineations. We’ll leave these as a surprise for the end!

Spoonful of Sugar is an educational podcast made for medical students by medical students. We review important medical topics at the foundational level of USMLE Step 1 to help students solidify their basics and bridge their knowledge from review books to question banks. We are striving to build a community where medical students can teach each other and grow together. Listen to this first episode to learn more about Spoonful of Sugar, including what we hope to offer and how you can get involved!