What to do when your patient has acidosis 1. Calculate the Anion Gap: Obtained by subtracting the values of bicarbonate and chloride from the sodium. Anion gap = HCO3 - (Na-Cl).  Normal value for Anion Gap is 12 (8-16 is acceptable). If anion gap is eleveated the following can be the cause: Causes: Elevated Anion Gap (Mnemonic: “MUD PILERS”) Methanol Uremia Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) or starvation ketosis Paraldehyde, Phenformin Isopropyl Alcohol, Isoniazid Lactic Acid... Read Full Story

February 1, 2008 Chris Mack, a Silver Association founder and former News Correspondent for the Free Market News Network has launched an investment Newsletter, entitled the Mack Report, which focuses on the energy, gold, silver, agriculture and emerging markets. Mack commented, “Given today’s challenging market conditions, it’s important for investors to consider both macro-economic trends and specific company research. My goal is to create value by enabling readers to fin... Read Full Story

You have a patient that is a 50 year old female with a past medical history of sever asthma.  She has been hospitalized and intubated for a severe asthma attack.  On her 4th hospital day she develops a fever spike overnight.  Physical exam reveals a well-circumscribed erythematous patch measuring 4 cm x 9 cm on the lower abdomen. 24 hours later, a hemorrhagic bulla develops in the center of this patch, and within hours the bulla evolves into a black necrotic ulcer with an erythematous rim. T... Read Full Story

A 6-year-old boy complaining of an earache was brought by his mother to your clinic four days ago. According to his mother, the child has had a cold for a seven days, fever for 24 hours, and pain in the left ear for eight hours. The boy was extremely irritable and difficult to examine during that visit. His temperature was 38.8C (102F). On otoscopy, you observed a bulging, red, tympanic membrane (TM), which did not move with insufflation. The right TM and the rest of the physical examinatio... Read Full Story

If your like me then when you hear dermatologists speak to one another it sounds like a foreign language — “emacerated papillomatous-like macule based lesion with further appearance of microcomedomes and striae”  What?  So the next time you run into a dermatologist impress them with your knowledge of thier lingo. Types of Lesions: Macule — flat spot on the skin usually less than 1 cm (non-palpable). An example is freckles or “liver spots” Patch — fla... Read Full Story

Diesel Progress (December 21, 2007) - Eaton Corp. has announced its participation in a project in which its digital hydraulic hybrid drive system technology will be adapted for U.S. Army vehicles. The goal of the project, which is being done in conjunction with Western Michigan University (WMU), is to develop smaller and lighter drivetrain components, [...] Read Full Story

Japan’s Corporate News Network (December 28, 2007) - Kubota Corp. plans to export low-priced tractors manufactured at its new plant in Thailand, which is scheduled to start operation in 2009, to neighboring countries, the United States and Europe, according to President Daisuke Hatakake. Read Full Story

RIA Novosti (December 28, 2007) - The growth in direct investment into Russia in 2007 amounted to 3.3% of the country’s GDP, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. Read Full Story

Bloomberg (December 27, 2007) - Japan’s shipments of construction equipment rose 10.4 percent in November from a year earlier as increased spending on building and mining projects drove demand for excavators and tractors at Komatsu Ltd. and its rivals. Read Full Story

IndustryWeek (December 27, 2007) - On the heels of the five-billion-dollar investment in Morgan Stanley, China’s cashed-up government is set to go shopping for more bargains as it takes advantage of the financial turmoil in the United States. One analyst predicts China will invest $200 billion a year overseas. Read Full Story