September 2003

[Fornix]

Hi,

anyone also preparing for Step 2 approx. Sept 2003?

[Anonymous]

We are here to study. You have 7 more months to go! We can make it!

[Fornix]

Guest,

how far are you and how is it going?

Anyone alse preparing??

[Hanson]

I am done with the USMLE step 1&2. I don't mind to do it over again so we can prepare together!

[Fornix]

Cool , will you be by coach, Hanson?

I think forst off I need some advice with a study plan and materials.

I was thinking of Kaplan Notes and then Q Book questions. Does this sound decent? I want to start with a small friendly subject, like Gyn. Internal Med is so scary ( so much ). Or should I start a certain order??

How shall I make best use of my time? Manymany questions ... but please help me out!

[Hanson]

Cool , will you be by coach, Hanson?

I think forst off I need some advice with a study plan and materials.

I was thinking of Kaplan Notes and then Q Book questions. Does this sound decent? I want to start with a small friendly subject, like Gyn. Internal Med is so scary ( so much ). Or should I start a certain order??

How shall I make best use of my time? Manymany questions ... but please help me out!

Hi Fornix,

Okay, here are my advices. It is not a good idea to start with a friendly subject or the subject that you like first! You will not gain much in term of USMLE scores if you only study what you like. Of course, that is the human nature.

Always start out with the one you don't like. In the beginning you have so much momentum therefore you should use it to smash the subjects that you do not like. Then as momentum decreases with time, that is when you can switch to your favorite subject. The momentum will build up again. At the end you will be ready!

Okay so you you do not like IM. We will start with IM subjects then. Remember more than 60% (more or less) of step 2 is on IM. So do not neglect this subject.

Yes, Qbook and Kaplan notes are excellent review sources.

Okay, lets start studying now. Let me go eat first then we can start okay?

Hanson

[Hanson]

We know that TMP/SMX is a drug of choice for PCP prophylaxic. However, it is also a prophalaxic for which of the following organisms?

A. Candida
B. Aspergillosis
C. Toxoplasmosis
D. Coccidioides immitis
E. Cryptococcus neoformans


This question will last for 3 days. It is an excellent idea to read on HIV and prophylaxics. Stuffs to look for
- At what CD4 counts do you do certain prophylaxic
- What are the side effects of nukes and non nukes and PI
- What are the complications of HIV
- What are the organisms that often come along with HIV
- What are other common asssociations: Kaposi Sarcoma is one.
- What tests do you do to screen and to confirm
- What do you do if you get a needle stick from an HIV patient

I will go and read on them and we can discuss them later.

Good luck

[Fornix]

Dear Hanson,

Yikees, you got me! I ( should have said, I dislike Gyn ). Well I m all excited.

I will go and read about it, too and see you then soon with hopefully the correct answer.

Thanks for your honest and valuable opinion! Let s go for it...

[Fornix]

Good morning Master Hanson,

my humble guess is C for toxoplasmosis.

Thanks this was great! What shall I read about next?

[Hanson]

Yes, that is the correct answer! Good job! You can read about it on this CDC site http://www.thebody.com/cdc/toxo1297.html

Here is another question on the reading lists. This question is very important on when to start prophylaxic therapy. A typical board question would be something like this.


A 27 year-old male with 6 years of HIV infection. His CD4 counts were 200 2 days ago. What should you do next?

A. Initiate TMP/SMX for Toxoplasmosis
B. Initiate TMP/SMX for PCP
C. Initiate diflucan for Candida prophylaxic
D. Initiate gancyclovir for CMV prophylaxic

good luck!