hodgkins
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Thats great cool_guy, your library story tells, how determined you are, and taht determination can open all the way possible to your success...wish you all the great success..all the best 
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| cool_guyp4u
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dipti, hodgkins:
ThanQ.
I had got a call from our local doctors that there was a Mumps case earlier this week. We called the pt. and I did n't feel it was Mumps. I 've seen lot of Mumps cases in India both in Hospital and outside. Anyways, respecting this physician's diagnosis, we sent the labs (currently the standard procedure is to check for IgG, IgM antibody titers and Viral culture from Buccal swab - IgG will be positive with prior Immunization but not IgM - why?) to the state division lab and CDC. The results should be out by next week.
We are expecting more cases in our area (I wish not as it will be a hectic work for me to check each school & day care center for immunization records etc) with Mumps hitting 9 states in US with over 1500 confirmed cases. So, guys, expect more Qs on Mumps in USMLE (probably after 2 or 3 months since it takes time for them to set Qs).
MTX: Into 3rd week and today morning my head was in for a spin. I had slight headache. Now, it seems normal to me though.
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| Novak75
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cool_guyp4u , Hello.
I am relatively new to this forum, and I just wanted to tell you that I admire what you are doing, having to take meds, husband, father, and working, congratulations, you are an inspiration, keep it up.
Are you planning for match 2007 or 2008?, Also, after reading your journal, you seem like a very determined, outgoing person, what specialty are you interested in?
Take care, and best of luck.
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| tolito
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glad you got a place to study.
IgG is antibody of secondary response while IgM is produced at time of infection (primary response). the b cells initially produce igm cos that is what they have on their cells and later by 'class switching' they produce igg of same 'specificity' to provoking antigen.
hope that answers your question.
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| cool_guyp4u
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For a few days, there was nothing to write. I dragged Micro for too many days. I started Pathology. With this I entered Mode serious 2. Mode lazy was when I thought of preparing for step 1 but didn't. Mode sluggish was when I started but was slow. Last month was Mode serious 1. Don't know how many modes are there in this prep but hope there is no going to the past modes.
Pathology to complete by the end of this month. I laid down a plan and am determined to stick to it.
Resources: Goljan audio, Goljan rapid review, Pocket Robbins, Robbins review; Too many small books and review books? Huh? Yeah. But, hope Goljan audio will cover all the shorter versions.
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| tolito
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glad you are back. for one moment i thought it was MTX!!!
great collection you have there for path. it is virtually impossible to do teh big robbins (1500 pages). you may want to make reference to it now and then just to clear up a few concepts.
i think your modes are pretty close to what i am going thro but i often revert to mode lazy when i am just sickof the whole thing
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| vallia
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good going, coolguy,  , I'm in the mode sluggish right now. We need to enter rocket mode 
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| 26malik
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Topics: 39
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Good Plan cool guy. now just stick to it. You can do it. As the saying goes:
WHAT MIND OF MAN CAN CONCIEVE, HAND OF MAN CAN ACHIEVE.
well i think in this case it will be both mind .
{what mind of man can concieve, mind of man can achieve.}
Wish u Rocket mode.
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| cool_guyp4u
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Somewhere up, did I say there will be twists and turns? Here is another one. I was reading Goljan rapid review (35 $, 2004 ed.) with Goljan audio but wanted to look at Goljan notes today (in PDF with me). Ah! Goljan notes is better than the textbook I bought. So, I 've decided to print the book and then will start reading Patho again. Hence, I kept Patho aside and started BS. Plan to finish BS by this friday. Should be ready with Goljan notes books by then.
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| tolito
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are you now in rocket mode???
path is a real bomber but interesting all the same. i ask one question. tell me, lack of what factor(s) will reduce the ability of neutrophils to reach source of inflammation?
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| 26malik
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hi do you mean goljan 100 pages. as i have seen them. i didnt think they were that good( to be used instead of some book ). what about brs ?
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| cool_guyp4u
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Tolito,
TY. Is it the chemotactic factors esp. C5a that are required for the neutrophils to reach the source of inflammation?
tolito wrote:
path is a real bomber but interesting all the same. i ask one question. tell me, lack of what factor(s) will reduce the ability of neutrophils to reach source of inflammation?
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| zenith
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hi cool guy,
i've been following your posts for a while and seems like i'm sailing in exactly the same boat as you, except that i'm not studying half as diligently as u are........good going man.......keep up the pace. i'm also an IMG who came here to do an MPH and had no plans of taking USMLE until a couple of mths ago - bought all my books (Kaplan) + DVD's + Goljan for Path - started studying and still haven't progressed from SUPER SLUGGISH MODE to SERIOUS MODE. i started with Physio and am still stuck with it - should hopefully finish it this week. I used to keep blaming my slow speed on my full-time work schedule (I work as a Biostatistician in a cancer hospital), but after reading your posts, i feel so ashamed of myself - i have no excuse not to study harder.......i'm married (no kids yet) and my husband is adorable - he's so helpful around the house, its unbelievable (knock on wood!!) - he had relieved me from all house hold responsibilities and if i still don't study well - woe to me!!!!
well, how do you manage to read 30-40 pages in a day while working full-time? for me, its going very slowly because it takes me forever to listen to the videos - they are very helpful but very time-consuming - i tend to pause a lot and jot down everything. and then reading the notes after listening to the lectures takes another hour or so. what do i do? i'm sure i'm not studying the right way. do u have any suggestions for speeding up my study schedule?
good luck to you!!!! maintain the tempo and keep on trucking as tolito would say........i love that phrase of hers.......
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| zenith
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Cool guy: Thank you for your PM - I replied to it - check it out!
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| tolito
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 119
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yes the chemotactic factors are important. there is lack of the complement factors, and lack of beta integrins.
how is path going? i am loving it but it is such a wide topic. i try to keep in focus the 'why' and 'how' rather than the 'what' so that it becomes pathophysiology which is said by everyone to be heavily tested.
keep on trucking
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| cool_guyp4u
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Tolito,
I am studying BS and not pathology. Anyway thanks.
I just logged into monster.com, careerbuilder.com and found out that there are lot of jobs that offer as much as double the pay that I get working in my current job. But, sadly, that is against the rules of USMLE. Rule of USMLE: Don' t move out of your current job. Current job is easy, less tiring, nobody cares about you if work is done, takes a lot of time to get accomodated in a new job, new job may be hectic, almost takes one month for new job change, etc etc. Life sucks! But, move on to complete USMLE when it does it is like this!
Last night was tough on me. I slept at 11:00 but my son wriggled on the bed throughout night, sometimes crying in between and sometimes my wife trying to feed him on bed. I got up early to read. I had to train our nurses and environmentalists on foodborne illness today! Morning, I've decided that I will go home and sleep in the evening. Now, I've decided that I will go to the hospital lib and read for as much time as possible and then go home to sleep. Sounds good!
Edited by cool_guyp4u on 05/17/06 - 02:01 PM
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| yolanda
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Topics: 18
Posts: 247
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Hi cool_guyp4u, I understand exactly what you wrote about the usmle rule for not changing jobs, right now I am working at a place where I earn almost nothing, I can't afford a lot of things, but the schedule is good, and I can not go one day a week so that I can assist grand rounds at a teaching hospital. Everyone including my family and closest friends and colleagues, tell me that I should change my job, but I feel that adapting and beginning a new job will take time on my prep, the problem is that I can't seem to be able to stick to a timeline of study timeline for more than a few days.
Good luck to you!
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| tolito
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hey guys, i never knew that rule!! thanks for mentioning that. i am also working where i am not being paid and i danced around with the thought of changing but at the end, the deciding factor was same thing. new job, 'big money' = big work, little time!!! so i am staying put.
yolanda, i wonder if anyone actually sticks to a timeline or study schedule. you are surely not alone.
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| Bartek
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Hi cool_guyp4u,
I like the idea : not to change job now. Some days ago I analyzed pros and cons of changing job. And I agree that it would be very absorbing. Too absorbing. It would disturb my schedule. So as long as I don't necessarily need new job, I do what I have to do just where I am. This is the right place for me now. Money? Sometimes I think I have to earn more right now. It is so difficult to find money for exams and books. But for me it is enough to look at http://www.studentdoc.com/salaries.html to change my mind. And really, there is no better investment than to win this usmle battle.
And I am impressed by the way you are fighting
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| zenith
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cool guy: i cannot begin to tell you how fortunate you are for having the kind of job you have - here i am trying to reduce my work hours (which is = a substantial pay-cut) just because i have such a hectic and demanding work schedule and therefore, i'm not able to study for MLE, because i'm usually so tired when i get back home.
its a trade-off: less money=less work=less stress=less expectation from boss=more studying for USMLE.
more money=more work=more stress=more expectation from boss=less studying for USMLE.
in fact, i've been looking around for a job that wouldn't be so demanding, even though that would mean not making enough money, but like bartek said: look at the money that we would make as a physician - this temporary sacrifice would be well worth it, my friend! if your long-term goal is MLE, trust me, you want to stay put where you are!!
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| cool_guyp4u
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Yolanda, Bartek, Tolito, Zenith:
Thank you guys for your support. I won't leave this job till I finish USMLE - 3 steps and observership. Also, I have good friendship with few docs here who are double in both age and experience. I am sure that they would definitely help me - should I need help.
Another thing is this job gives me time. But, there are nosey people around here who try to play. There are stupid rules and regulations in this job. Before I joined this position, this position was there for 2 yrs or so. They have seen 4 people change - 2 resigned and 2 fired. I have got good backing from the people at the state level who actually fund this position. So, my supervisor will be scared to fire me. This is a difficult job in most aspects - not in terms of work but in terms of people with whom I have to work with. I have worked mostly with my head bent, sometimes if I have to face humiliation too. Believe me, I am not a guy who would face humiliation, I am sure I've been a REBEL in my life. The best example is when I fought with my Dean in MPH program. He tried to cut my GA and accomodate someone he knew. He told me that I wasn't working well, which was false. I told him if I did not get what I deserve, I would approach Graduate school and make this an issue. After a few days, the Dean called me and told that he was wrong to tell that I didn't work well. In this job too, there are issues that I would like to take care of, when I am about to leave this job - But, I will wait till then.
Coming to my prep, not much to write about. I realized that BS is not a subject that would move fast if read it alone. I read 75 pages the whole last week. I started to combine BS with Path yesterday. And I printed off Goljan notes (that he gives in class), and I'm reading that. This is better than Goljan rapid review path. If anyone of you wants that, please let me know. I can send the CD to you or teach some new internet stuff to me how I can send. It is a big file and I've tried to upload it to few websites and my internet speed won't allow that. And I don't know how to split a PDF file to send it in e-mail. Anyway, my new target is to finish off 1st reading by June ending - 15 days later than I planned. Let's see.
While reading BS, I found out that Alcoholics have sponsors to reduce their habit of alcoholism. Wish I had a mentor or sponsor to monitor how I am doing with USMLE. I am sure that this definitely will help.
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| zenith
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cool_guy: u have made a good decision to stay where u are - don't get discouraged/disillusioned by the kind of people u work with......believe me, u'll meet such people in every field. in fact, i work with one such woman who did everything in her strength to make my life miserable and i would always swallow my pride and take her BS until i couldn't handle it anymore and i finally went to the HR with my problem - i couldn't believe how quickly my issues were addressed and everything was resolved. that's another issue that she totally ignores me now and has stopped talking to me.........not that i care........but at least, i knew i was right and was not scared to approach higher authorities................so hang in there - if you know that you are right, no one can do any harm to u.
u're doing good as far as your prep goes! i was wondering - what is the difference b/n Goljan Rapid Review Path and Goljan notes? I have some Goljan notes (PDF format) which are about 350 pages - do u know if that is rapid review or complete notes? sorry about the silly question but there is so much Goljan stuff floating around that i'm really confused now.
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| cool_guyp4u
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Posts: 124
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Zenith,
I am glad you asked me this Q. At one point of time, I had 5 different types of Goljan books Goljan rapid review is a textbook published and the latest edition is from 2004. Goljan notes is notes given by Goljan during his lectures. Both contents may be almost the same but the notes (divided into 2 PDF - gen. path 233 p and systemic path about 300 p.) is closer to the way he teaches in his audio lectures. It is easier to follow. I did not figure this out before I started patho. Because I did not listen to his audio! So, I sold rapid review that I bought this month and printed goljan notes.
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| zenith
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thanks cool_guy! now that u mention, i think i do have those 2 PDF files with gen path and syst path , but those files i guess are corrupted and wouldn't open. the other one that i have is about 350 pages - do you think that is sufficient or do i need to get that one with 233 and 300 pgs? also, please let me know as to where you got these notes from? thanks.
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| cool_guyp4u
Forum Elite
Topics: 12
Posts: 124
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Zenith,
The exact # of PDF pages is 233 (gen) and 325 (systemic) PDF pages and says on the front page . I sure don't remember where I downloaded from. I guess from this forum but long time ago like in Jan or so.
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