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Funtabulously Frivolous Friday Five 159

Just when you thought your brain could unwind on a Friday, you realise that it would rather be challenged with some good old fashioned medical trivia FFFF, introducing the Funtabulously Frivolous Friday Five 159

Question 1

What is Metamorphopsia?

Reveal the funtabulous answer

Metamorphopsia is a type of distorted vision in which a grid of straight lines appears wavy and parts of the grid may appear blank. People with this condition often first notice this when looking at mini-blinds in their home.

It is associated with macular degeneration [Reference]

metamorphopsia

Question 2

What is Ashman Phenomenon?

Reveal the funtabulous answer

Ashman phenomenon (1947) describes an aberrant ventricular conduction, usually of RBBB morphology, which follows a short RR interval and is preceded by a relatively prolonged RR interval.

Ashman phenomenon is typically seen with atrial fibrillation but can also occur with other supraventricular arrhythmias. Clinically, Ashman phenomenon by itself is asymptomatic and does not require any specific treatment.


Question 3

Although we still do not know why we cry for emotional reasons (the only species to do so) what is the difference in timing between a female and a more manly cry?

Reveal the funtabulous answer

On average when a woman cries it’s likely to be for five or six minutes, compared with two or three minutes for a manly weep.

Women cry on average 5.3 times a month, whereas men in all their manliness only allow eye leakage 1.3 times a month. [Reference]


Question 4

You notice that your patient, who had a sigmoidoscopy yesterday, now has two black eyes. What is going on?

Reveal the funtabulous answer

Suspect amyloidosis.

Periorbital purpura (‘black eye syndrome’) is a rare sign of amyloidosis. [Reference]


Question 5

What is Hofstadter’s law?

Reveal the funtabulous answer

It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law.

Douglas Hofstadter, 1979

The self-referential adage describes the difficulty of accurately estimating the time it will take to complete tasks of substantial complexity


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Funtabulously Frivolous Friday Five

Dr Neil Long BMBS FACEM FRCEM FRCPC. Emergency Physician at Kelowna hospital, British Columbia. Loves the misery of alpine climbing and working in austere environments (namely tertiary trauma centres). Supporter of FOAMed, lifelong education and trying to find that elusive peak performance.

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