🧠 Competitive vs Noncompetitive Inhibition: Enzyme Kinetics for USMLE Step 1
Master the difference between competitive and noncompetitive inhibition for Step 1. Learn how to identify changes in Vmax and Km, with KOTC visuals and drug examples.
🧠 p53 Explained for USMLE Step 1: Tumor Suppression, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
Master the role of p53 in cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and cancer. Learn about its molecular function, high-yield mutations, and clinical relevance for Step 1.
Beta-Blockers Explained for USMLE Step 1: Selectivity, Uses, and Side Effects
Understand beta-blocker selectivity, mechanisms, and clinical uses for Step 1 success. Includes mnemonics, high-yield facts, and KOTC visual aid.
🦠 Tetanus: Lockjaw, Spasms, and the Power of Prevention
Learn the pathophysiology, presentation, and prevention of tetanus for the USMLE. Master buzzwords like risus sardonicus, lockjaw, and tetanospasmin in this high-yield review.
🩺 Mechanism of Action: Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) Inhibitors
Explore how RAAS inhibitors work by disrupting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Learn the pharmacologic sites of action including ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and aldosterone antagonists.
Beta Blockers – High-Yield Clinical Applications and Exam Traps
If you’ve ever been tricked by a Step 1 question where a patient gets hypotensive and bradycardic after taking a “-lol” drug—you’re not alone. Beta blockers are USMLE classics, and for good reason: they tie together pharmacology, cardiovascular physiology, and clinical judgment.
Today’s post breaks down the essentials of beta blockers, how they show up on the USMLE, and how to avoid the common traps—using a KOTC visual that maps beta selectivity and clinical uses.