S2 week 17: Ultrasound Lab, Ozone Therapy, and the 75th Anniversary BBQ!
This week started off with a lecture on gastrointestinal pharmacology focusing on anti-emetics which are drugs used to prevent vomiting. This was a fun lecture because a lot of the drugs that were discussed in this lecture were drugs that I had used in a clinical setting but now I understand the mechanism of how they work. If you are interested in learning more about these drugs, here is a chart that explains their basic mechanism of action. We then transitioned into an ultrasound lecture that focused on imaging the liver and spleen.
That afternoon we had a lab that was based on clinical pathology of the pancreas. This was a fun lab because we were given a bunch of different cases filled with physical exam findings, lab work, gross pathology pictures, and histology and had to put together pieces of the puzzle and come up with a list of differential diagnoses. It was a great way to apply our knowledge and understand how it can be used in a clinical setting. We then transitioned into an ultrasound lab which was probably my favorite lab of the year. During this lab we had the ability to scan three different dogs and practice finding different organs and interpreting them through ultrasound imaging. The week before we had a lecture that went over the main concept of performing a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) so having the ability to have the ultrasound probe in your hand and actually find different organs made everything come to life. I love how the acronym is "POCUS" because it sounds like we are performing magic which honestly looking at organs using sound waves is pretty close to magic. During the lab we were required to find the liver, spleen, right and left kidney, the bladder and scan through the intestines. Since we had the opportunity to scan three dogs, we were able to watch our skills increase and by the end of the lab it was fun to see how much we had learned and improved! The evening finished up with another shadowing session for the Knight’s Landing One Health Clinic class and next week I get to teach the lecture!
Tuesday started off with a nice run with Churro followed by a few more lectures on ultrasound imaging. These lectures dove deeper into imaging characteristics of the spleen and pancreas. We then had another pharmacology lecture that focused on antacids and prokinetics. The afternoon consisted of a case-based discussion on the “yellow-cat” study that we had worked on in our teams during the previous week. This discussion wrapped up the case and made sure that everyone was on the same page and understood how liver complications can lead to certain clinical signs, such as jaundice, that we may see in our patients. The rest of the afternoon was spent reviewing lectures and I was also able to get in an awesome hot yoga session!
Wednesday morning began with a hot yoga session followed by an interesting mix of lectures. The first lecture was on comparative gastrointestinal anatomy and looked at the differences in the GI tracts across species. The next lecture was based on fluid analysis and understanding what information we can gain when we submit a fluid sample as a veterinarian. The last lecture of the morning was on acid/base clinical pathology. In all honesty, when I saw this lecture on the schedule, I was not super stoked. Chemistry had always been my weakest subject, but the material was presented in an extremely clear way and I walked away from the lecture with a clear understanding of the acid/base balance in the body and what things can affect it. It made me wonder if I would have enjoyed chemistry more in undergrad if it was centered around disease pathology.
That afternoon we had the ability to practice our newly acquired acid/base knowledge and apply it to some clinical cases. This made all of the information stick and I enjoyed the topic much more than I had previously thought I would have. The rest of the afternoon was blocked off so that we could prepare for the upcoming exam.
Thursday started off with a lecture on the small intestine followed by a discussion on fluid analysis and effusion. This discussion was based on the previous day’s lecture material and also added in a lot of clinically relevant cases. These discussions are always super helpful because we have the ability to work in our small groups and really deconstruct the information which helps cement our understanding.
During lunch we had an awesome lunch talk from Dr. Jyl Robinson on medical-grade ozone therapy in veterinary medicine. Ozone is a molecule made up of three oxygen molecules (O3) and while it is highly unstable in a liquid or solid form, as a gas it has been seen to have some therapeutic qualities. It has been noted that ozone exhibits strong antimicrobial activity which makes it effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi, mycoplasmas, mold, inflammatory responses, cancer and parasites. Medical ozone is usually generated using specialized ozone generators that split oxygen molecules (O2) into oxygen atoms (O) which then combine with other oxygen molecules to form (O3).
How does ozone therapy work?
Ozone therapy has been used in human medicine for a while but it now starting to become more common in the veterinary world. It has been noted that ozone therapy stimulates the immune system by promoting a balanced inflammatory response and enhancing immune surveillance. It activates antioxidant enzymes and scavenges free radical which reduces oxidative stress and tissue damage. It stimulates the immune response through a variety of channels which causes the body to increase its antioxidant levels. Studies have suggested that ozone therapy can inactivate viruses such as HIV, herpes, and viral oral infections, inactivate bacteria such as C. difficile and drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, inactivate funguses/yeast such as Candida which reduces inflammation, and stimulate mitochondrial ATP production through NAD pathways. Ozone therapy has been used to treat a plethora of conditions ranging from inflammation, wounds, and allergies, to cancer and other metabolic diseases (Addison’s and Cushing’s disease).
Overall, it was interesting to learn about the potential benefits of ozone therapy. The fact that it is a natural alternative to antibiotics that can destroy bacteria, viruses, and fungi through the disruption of their cell membranes is exciting because it can provide another option for veterinarians and help limit antibiotic-resistance. It is also considered safe when administered correctly and has minimal side effects including the benefit of not disrupting the body’s microbiota unlike many antibiotics. It is awesome to see this type of treatment in the veterinary world and I look forward to diving into some additional research on this topic.
The rest of the afternoon consisted of two lectures; one discussing nitrogen metabolism and the other discussing the comparative anatomy of the equine and avian gastrointestinal tract. It is super interesting to see just how different each animal is in regard to the way they intake and utilize food. We then had the rest of the day blocked off so that we could study for the exam.
Friday morning started off with a nice run with Churro followed by a little review before the exam. The exam was full of radiographic interpretation and it was pretty fun to go through all of the images and actually pick up on abnormalities and not just see everything as random shades of gray! After the exam I was able to get in an awesome hot yoga session. I then had a few hours to go home and see Churro before making it back to campus for the school’s 75th year anniversary BBQ. This event was free to everyone at the vet school and was a way to celebrate all of the things that have been accomplished since it started. Different departments had booths set up displaying some of their most significant work and there were also tons of games and activities to participate in. I had the opportunity to chat with a lot of incredible professors and learn more about their research interests as well as some of their hobbies outside of veterinary medicine. This was such a fun way to decompress and hang out with people outside of an academic setting.
Saturday started off with a run with Churro followed by a hot Pilates class. This was my first time ever doing a hot Pilates session and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. It was a whole different world than yoga but I think both have their value. It was a little more high-energy but still required a significant amount of focus and strength! The rest of the day was spent getting some things done around the house and finishing up some end-of-the-year assignments. Churro and I had some quality playtime in the afternoon and enjoyed a relaxing evening.
Sunday morning started off with a nice run with Churro followed by some lecture review and preparation for the upcoming week. I also had the opportunity to chat with my mom and catch up on life while celebrating Mother’s Day from afar. Even though we couldn't be together today it was awesome to have the opportunity to still talk on the phone. My mom is literally my rock and I am so lucky to have her support.
Quote of the week: “We’re trying to teach you guys how to ride the bicycle without showing you the bicycle, without letting you touch the bicycle, teaching you theory of the bicycle, and then I’m going to ask you to enter the lab and you get on the half-pipe, but you know what… you guys are the best of the best and you’re going to do, it and do it well”
-Dr. Johnson after the point of care ultrasound lecture
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