Tuesday 26 April 2011

Phase I Revision Week (Part 2)

EXAM TERMS

SEQ = Short Essay Question (10 min)
MCQ = Multiple-Choice Question (5 responses; answer each response True or False)
OSPE = Objective-Skills Practical Exam


Revision Session: Tuesday, 26 April 2011, 12pm-1pm, Prof Faridah

QUESTIONS FROM STUDENTS
  1. Will question come out on purine & pyrimidine synthesis as well as DNA regulation?
  2. Is purine & pyrimidine synthesis important?
  3. In GIT Block, what question will be likely to be asked?
  4. Should we concentrate on GIT amino acids?
  5. Which pathway do we need to remember? All the enzymes need to be included?
  6. Regarding enzymes, what should we focus on?
  7. Will gluconeogenesis, glycogen, and ketogenesis come out in SEQ?
  8. Is triacylglycerol (triglyceride) synthesis pathway important?
  9. Last year there was a question about endogenous pathway. Is there a possibility that it comes this year?
  10. Do endogenous & exogenous pathways of lipoprotein metabolism have high potential to be asked in SEQ?
  11. In Respiratory Block and Renal Block, what type of Biochemistry questions should we focus on?
  12. For Endocrine Block, which pathway should we focus on? Which of the pathway will most probably come out in SEQ?
  13. Dalam Block Pharmacology, topik apa yang kami kena fokus untuk exam ini?
  14. Do we need to focus on free radical & oxidant regulation & metabolism?
  15. What is your blog? http://medicinenewbie.blogspot.com/
 TQ ;)

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Dear Year 1 Medic students,

Thank you for asking questions about your Professional 1 exam (2 May 2011). I will just reorganise your questions into outlines which may be of help for you to revise for your exam. Remember, not all that we discuss here will necessarily come out in Professional 1.

SEQ GUIDE

Generally, you wish to know for all the blocks with Biochemistry inputs, which of the many pathways will most probably come out in SEQ, and whether you will need to remember all the associated enzymes of each pathway. The 5 blocks that have Biochemistry inputs are GI, Respiratory, Renal, Endocrine and Pharmacology. I have given some guides for each of the 5 blocks.

HOW TO STUDY BIOCHEMICAL PATHWAYS

You must know when, why & where each pathway occurs. Which organ? In the cytosol, mitochondrial matrix or other? For each pathway, must know the precursor(s), the first substrate(s), the end product(s), the rate-limiting enzyme  and how the rate-limiting enzyme is regulated. How the entire pathway is regulated. How each pathway is connected to the next pathway. What substance(s) regulate each pathway?

You can try work on these pathways:
  1. Glycolysis (breakdown of glucose; aerobic oxidation of glucose; anaerobic oxidation of glucose)
  2. Gluconeogenesis (making glucose from non glucose substances)
  3. Glycogenesis (synthesis of glycogen)
  4. Glycogenolysis (breakdown of glycogen)
  5. TCA cycle (Krebs cycle, citric acid cycle; reducing equivalents - NADH & FADH2 reactions, substrate-level phosphorylation)
  6. Electron Transport Chain (structure of the components, where NADH & FADH2 enters the ETC, how ATP is formed, Chemiosmotic theory).
RE-ORGANISED QUESTIONS FROM STUDENTS
  1. GI Block: (i) Amino acid metabolism. (ii) Regulation of Enzymes - enzyme inhibition curves/plots. (iii) Gluconeogenesis. (iv) Glycogen metabolism. (v) Ketogenesis. (vi) Triacylglycerol (triglyceride) synthesis. (vi) Endogenous pathway of lipoprotein metabolism (2010, 2011?). (vii) Exogenous pathway of lipoprotein metabolism. (viii) Reverse cholesterol transport.
  2. Respiratory Block - (i) Acid-base - Respiratory acidosis/alkalosis [no other topics]
  3. Renal Block - (i) Acid-base - Metabolic acidosis/alkalosis. (ii) Metabolic role of kidneys
  4. Endocrine Block -  Please refer to the SGD questions on Diabetes mellitus (DM) or Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Integration of metabolism includes knowing all the pathways and under what conditions each occurs. (i) If Normal: Glycolysis + TCA + ETC. (ii) If Exercising:  + Gluconeogenesis + Glycogen metabolism. (iii) If fasting/starvation, + Fat mobilization + Ketogenesis
  5. Pharmacology Block: (i) Free radicals & oxidant regulation & metabolism - link this up to mutation over time (in the long run) and how diseases occur as a result of low antioxidant levesl. (ii) Purine & pyrimidine synthesis and how they are important in DNA structure. (iii) DNA regulation
REMINDERS
  1. A reminder to all students, if you think you will pass, then you will pass Professional I, insyaAllah, and vice versa otherwise. It is important that you think positive at this stage. Do not be intimidated if you have done your revision. Many have passed Professional I before you and you can too, insyaAllah.
  2. Another reminder is please seek your parents' forgiveness before you take Professional I exam. They have looked after you for 19-20 years and now you are on a long path to your largely unknown future. Request your parents to make doa for you and that you will take the exam with much ease and also pass. Doa by your parents will never be rejected by Allah, insyaAllah. Always remember that.
  3. DO NOT USE PENCIL FOR ANSWERING ON EXAM!! PLEASE REMEMBER!! 
  4. PLEASE DO NOT USE RED PEN!!!
  5. PLEASE DRAW A DIAGRAM WHERE REQUIRED AND THEN LABEL YOUR DIAGRAM. PUT A TITLE AND UNDERLINE IT.
  6. YOU CAN USE COMMON ABBREVIATIONS - NADH, FADH2, ETC, ATP, ADP
  7. TRY TO ANSWER ALL SEQ.
Thank you.

Prof Faridah

DON'T FORGET TO READ THE COMMENTS (below) FOR THIS POST.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Prof, will there be a lot biochem question in SEQ? How about for anatomy and phsio? Are question in SEQ more inclined towards SGD materials?

Unknown said...

Prof, is it a must for a question to come out from either nitrogen balance and nitrogen metabolism? Thank you prof.

Faridah said...

Yes, most Biochem SEQ are taken from Biochem SGD esp Integration of Metabolism, Diabetes, Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), Urine dipstick and Metabolic acidosis.

Nitrogen metabolism & Nitrogen balance will most likely come out this Pro because it hasn't come out for so long now. Please study!