Kyle Varner’s Blog

posted by Kyle on Oct 22

I don’t know how much presidential campaign garbage you see in the US these days, but here in Antigua every third person I meet tries to convince me to vote for Obama.  Today I received an interesting curse from a vagrant:  “You f***ing white monkey, go and vote for McCain!”

Americans and Antiguans alike believe Obama is going to be some brilliant savior.  They see Bush as the devil (they’re not far off there), and think that their messiah will cleanse the world of all of this evil.

They don’t understand that Bush is just one man, and he’s made the same mistakes that just about every other president in US history has:  he sees government as a solution to problems.  So, he tries to use government to solve those problems.  Surprise, surprise, it didn’t work, and had unintended consequences.

Now, Obama wants to take the reins of government and he wants to try to accomplish things.  What he doesn’t realize is that you can’t accomplish things with government.  Throughout history I can find no example of a government successfully attacking a single problem.  It just doesn’t work.

So, Obama will try to institute new regulations on Wall Street.  More American capital will flow overseas.  He will try to raise taxes on the wealthy, and they’ll put their money in overseas banks.  He’ll try to work out some deal with Iran, and nothing will change.  He might try to wage a war or two (they all do that), and things will only get worse.

No matter what good Obama tries to do, he will fail.  He will leave behind only tears and disaster.  His followers may idolize him long after he has been disgraced, like conservatives idolized Ronald Regan, or they may abandon him in favor of a new messiah.  Whatever the case, there is one thing that Obama will not do:  leave us with a freer and more prosperous America than when he took office.  He’ll try, he’ll fail, and we’ll suffer, because government can never solve America’s problems.

So, Obamaphiles, wear your t-shirts proudly, message all of your friends on facebook, put up signs all over America, and celebrate heartily on election night.  You can hope for good things all day long; the only thing you’re going to get is disappointment.

posted by Kyle on Oct 19

This is the parking lot of the apartments where I live.  Look what that damned hurricane did!

posted by Kyle on Oct 16

We are getting pounded very hard by this hurricane.  Supposedly it wasn’t going to hit us head on, but the latest radar that I see shows that it shifted in our direction, and looking out the window, it makes sense.  The rain is falling parallel to the ground, trees are down, and things are generally nasty outside.  Luckily, I am inside.  For some reason the power is out and the backup generator has not kicked in.  This is likely due to the fact that the wankers in charge didn’t put petrol in it.

In any case, despite the fact that we are getting pummelled like Bin Laden in Tora Bora, I am safe and so is my little dog.  We are having a grand time watching the lightening from indoors.  Who knows how long the internet will work.  In any case, Mom, if you read this, I am totally OK.  I’ll talk to you tommorrow :-).

This is far more severe than what I witnessed during Hurricane Isabel in Maryland.

posted by Kyle on Oct 13

HbC

Deformed Cells

HbC/S

Like Mild Thalassemia

Hb Hyde Park

No one likes Hyde Park due to a lack of Meth

Hb Kempsey

Everyone loves because he is RELAXED

HbE

Mild Thalassemia

Hb Hammersmith

Heme gets hammered out by a blue hammer

Oxyhemoglobin

Reversible Oxidation

Hb Kansas

Everyone hates Kansas because they are uptight

Hb Bart’s

Hydropos Fetalis.  Bart dies because of accumulation of fluid.

Alpha Thalassemia

Asia (buzzword), no Lotus Control Region

posted by Kyle on Oct 13

I have a biochem exam tomorrow, and I need to summarize some of my flashcards in different words.  What better place to do it than my blog?  Maybe some people will find the post through google sometime and maybe it will help them out.  Here’s to hoping!

If you aren’t a doctor or a medical student, you won’t understand most of this.  If you are easily offended, please don’t read this, or at least don’t complain to me, because this contains mnemonics.  To remember things, sometimes your words have to be a bit rough.

One last thing, just so you don’t think I’m a wanker.  This is just my last day’s stuff, so don’t assume this is all I know.  I am like Yoda, or House (or at least I want to be).

What is the Function of CN, Azide and CO?

-They prevent electron transfer through complex four

Think of a four bedroom house (complex four), in it someone is getting poisoned with Cyanide and the propane heater is going to kill everyone else with carbon monoxide!!!!

Antimycin A

Prevents Electron transfer through complex three

AAC3….AAC3  Antimycin A Complex 3….stay in my head please!

Rotenone and Amytal

Inhibits transfer of electrons from complex one to ubiquinone

Amy memorizes things by Rote.  Things can be rather ubiquitous in her mind!

Flourine

Besides brittle teeth, what does it do?

It inhibits enolase, thereby preventing 2PG from becoming PEP

You get no pyruvate or final ATP in Glycolysis (which makes glycolysis useless)

Kind of like the government.  They put flouride in your water.  They are useless.  Flourine makes glycoloysis useless…

Arsenate (Arsenic Poisoning)  How does it work?

It inhibits Glyceraldehyde-3-p-dehydrogenase, thus bypassing the dephosphorylation of 1,3-BPG.  Thus, we are not getting our first ATP in glycolysis.  Glycolysis goes on, but it is ineffective.  Then, the rich husband without a prenup dies!

Just think of a hot woman poisoning a rich man to get his money.  Its the first time that has ever happened!

Malonate

Inhibits succinate dehydrogenase

Thus, it prevents succinate from becoming fumarate.  This sucks.

You could also think of a law forbiding oral sex…inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase.  That would be bad (MALonate).

Cori’s Disease

Debranching Enzyme Deficiency…can only break down linear glycogen chains.

Glycogen accumulates in the heart, liver and skeletal muscles.

It leads to stunted growth, hepatomegaly and hypoglycemia

I think of Cori, who was a manager at my first job.  He was a little man who was an alcoholic who couldn’t afford to eat healthy food (hence the hypoglycemia).  He also couldn’t form complex thoughts (i.e. couldn’t break down little chains).  I hated that little man.  He is probably dead or in jail now.

Fluroacetate (Rat Poison!!!)

Inhibits aconitase, preventing the conversion of citrate to isocitrate in TCA.

Flouracetate Preserves Citrate!  Rats keep an orange grove from being harvested!

GLUT-1

RBCs, Brain…uptake

Brain is the first thing that needs glucose.  RBCs need it because they can’t use anythign else.

GLUT-2

Liver and Beta Cells

It goes both ways.

If it goes both ways, it is obviously taking it up the place typically associated with number two.  Any sugars absorbed there must go to the liver.

GLUT-3

Neurons

We give stuff to neurons for free becuase they are special.

GLUT-4

Muscle and Adipose Tissue

Insulin Dependent Uptake

Yeah, Type II diabetics are usally GLUTons 4 lots of stuff that goes into adipose tissue.

GLUT-5

Fructose

Small intestines

Testes

Imagine sperm having so much energy that they can make five babies in one go!

GLUT-7

Gluconeogenic Tissues

Flux Across ER

Think of a 747 flying into the ER (some kind of 9/11 image there)

Von Griek’s Disease (GSD I)

Glucose-6-Phosphatase Deficiency

Gluconeogenesis is inhibited

SEVERE FASTING HYPOGLYCEMIA (they say this is a buzzword!)

Hepatomegaly

So, we have a guy named Von Griek, and he eats all the time because he always has hypoglycemia.  He gets fat, and so does his liver.

It is inherited as Autosomal Recessive like every other GSD except for Phosphorylase Beta Kinase Deficiencey (which is X linked)

I-Cell Disease (GSD)

Deficiency of the ability to phosphorylate mannose.  Characterized by:  Skeletal abnormalities, restricted joint movement, coarse facial features and death by eight years old (ain’t that nice?)

They can’t phosphorylate mannose on its way to the lysosome

So, some ugly crippled eight year old wants an I-Pod?  Kill him!  He will never be a MAN

Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Deficiency

Congenital Lactic Acidosis.  Brain problems.  Failure to Thrive.  Deprived of Acetyl CoA.

Wow, that just sucks.  I don’t have a way to remember this.  That sucks even more.

Chronic Granulomas

Genetic Defect in NADPH Oxidase

Pyrogenic infections and granulomas

North America Drops Plutonium Hell and its is oxidised into granules.  Yeah, its dumb.  So what, I’ll remember it that way.

Atractylosidase (Plant Toxin)

Disrupts ATP-ADP transport

Prevents proper ATP-ADP transport across membrane

Atractylosidase starts with AT, just like ATP

Glycolytic Enzyme Deficiencies

All of them are autosomal recessive

All of them cause hemolytic anemia

Most common is pyruvate kinase deficiency.

 This is B/C RBCs only do glycolysis, so they die when it doesn’t work.

NADPH-Dependent Xylulose

Defeciency causes “essential pentosuria”.  L-xyulose found in urine.

What is the pH of urine?  It isn’t FIVE!  Xyulose is wierd.  Starts with XY.  Guys are sometimes kind of wierd too.

Pompe’s Disease (GSD II)

Cardiomegaly.  Leads to death.  Can’t break down glycogen.  Lysosomal energy defect.  Normal blood sugar.

Some pompous man has a big heart.  He never dips into his savings, though, and never throws anything away.  He always has a normal amount of cash too.

Glycosyl Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency

This one is X-Recessive!!!!  There is no hexose monophosphate shunt.  There is a defect of NADPH.  Inability to maintain gluthione in RBCs.  Hemolytic anemia.

Womean bleed once per week, and the pH in their vagina is really low.

2,4 Dinitrophenol

Uncouples the ETC.  Makes you BURN UP!

Two nitrus canisters for your car.  Burn baby burn!

Group 3 Splicing Mutations of simple Beta Thalassemias

Exon mutations that affect splice site.  HbE, exon 1, residue 26, GLU–> LYS

Decrease in normal beta globin

Three rhymes with HbE

Digenic Retinitis Pigmentosa

2 mutations on 2 different UNLINKED genes.  Peripherin and Rom1, found it photoreceptor.  You must be HETEROZYGOS for BOTH defects to have the disease.

This one is just…memorable.  Its like I can see it in my head.  Hah!  Folks with Ritinitis Pigmentosa see lots of stuff in their heads!

Enzymes Unique to Gluconeogenesis

Pyruvate Carboxylase, Fl6 Phosphorylase, G6 Phosphatase

Yeah, ok.  Can I have a USB port put into my head so I can remember this???

Congenital Fructose Intolerence “Fructose Poisoning”

Autosomal Recessive.  Aldose B deficiency.  F1P builds up in tissues.  Inhibits glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.  Severe Hypoglycemia.

Fructose Poisioning=Aldose B

FPAB

“Frank Porked A Bitch”

Heinz Bodies

In erythrocytes of patients with G6PD deficiency

Impaired ability of RBC to form NADPH.

Heinz….ketchup…contains lots of sodium so it makes you swell, kind of like the RBCs do in this case.

Oxidative drugs and FAVA beans (BUZZWORD), Neonatal Jaundice, Italian People.

posted by Kyle on Oct 12

Dr. Paul has been fond of saying that he has never seen a medical case in which he would advise abortion.

What about anencephaly?  One of the, um,  joys of medical school is learning almost every possible horrendous disorder that can take place in babies.  Next to nasty professors and even nastier colleagues, this is what I dislike most about medical school.  I digress.

Anencephaly results from a neural tube defect whereby the forebrain, overlying meninges,  vault of the skull and skin are all absent.  Most of these cases result in stillbirths, and those that result in live births lead to the death of the baby usually within hours.  This is a unique case because the forebrain is the part of the brain that deals with consciousness.  These babies essentially lack the part of the brain that has to do with being human, and there is no chance, whatsoever, that they will survive.

This condition can be diagnosed with both ultrasound (half of the baby’s head is missing) and by detection of high levels of alpha-fetoprotein in the amniotic fluid and serum of the mother.

What I am asking is not a political question, but a moral question:  If you believe that abortion is immoral in all cases, why?  Why should this pregnancy, which is certain to result in death and is marked by the absence of a forebrain, be carried to term?

I am posting this because I am genuinely curious, so please, post your thoughts.

posted by Kyle on Oct 11

I just noticed this article on the Yahoo! homepage.  Connecticut’s Supreme Court ruled that the equal protection clause of their constitution requires that gays be allowed to marry.  Being a modern, educated guy, I see no problem with this.  The only reason someone would get up in arms about such a thing is if they are ignorant, prejudiced or a religious zealot.

I wouldn’t have posted about this except for two passages that I found particularly revealing about this whole issue, and in turn, about the role of government in general:

The first comes from the dissenting opinion.  Three dissenting justices said that it is the legitimate role of state government, somehow, to “privilege and regulate procreative conduct.”  They proceed to argue,

The ancient definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman has its basis in biology, not bigotry. If the state no longer has an interest in the regulation of procreation, then that is a decision for the legislature or the people of the state and not this court.

Thank you, gentlemen, for your honesty.  You have hit the nail on the head.  This isn’t a question of individual morality, or any other such nonsense.  It is a question of whether it is the legitimate role of government to regulate procreative conduct.  Think of that for a moment:  regulate procreative conduct?  I don’t know if it is possible for a state to do something more intrusive and dehumanizing than to tell individuals what they may or may not do with regards to procreation.  Such legislative behavior is contrary to the very foundation not only of a free society, but of the existence of man qua man.

Turning our attention to another quip, Peter Wolfgang, some guy from some right wing anti-human organization says,

“Even the legislature, as liberal as ours, decided that marriage is between a man and a woman…this is about our right to govern ourselves. It is bigger than gay marriage.”

Mr. Wolfgang is also correct…sort of.  This issue is about our right to govern ourselves.  He simply forgets that men can only have rights as individuals.  A group of men only has rights insofar as each individual member of that group has rights.  Does any individual member of the state legislature have the right to dictate to another man how he may live his life?  If the answer is no, the answer has to be no for the group, no matter how large it may be.

Mr. Wolfgang shows true intellectual potential.  If he were to avail himself of a rigorous education, he would likely learn to clarify his thought process and avoid mistake such as the one he made today.  He may one day become something other than a religious hebetudinous robot.

posted by Kyle on Oct 8

posted by Kyle on Oct 8

Yep.  People falling in love with a politician.  This is dangerous!

posted by Kyle on Oct 6

Yes, Obama…gotta love him….