VAMPIRES AND WEREWOLVES - FACTS OR FICTION?

Constitutive
I S S U E
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Vampires and
1
Werewolves
Embarking on
2
the Journey
Becoming a
3
Physician
I
Vampire and werewolf fantasythemed movies have left us wondering how true the se stories are.
The ‘Underworld’ and The
‘Twilight’ series are examples of
movies that have brought questions to the minds of many. However, it seems some of it might be
legitimate after all.
3
WEREWOLF SYNDROME
(HYPERTRICHOSIS)
Testicular Tor-
4
Life at AUS
5
Although hypertrichosis is seen to
date as far back as the 19th and
20th centuries, Esau, the brother of
Jacob ,was described as ‘hairy’
when he was born as he was covered in red hair. His name in fact
meant ‘hairy’.
AUS’
AUS’ SGA
SGA
7
5th Semester in 7
USA
AUS In &
8
Around
Face of AUS
9
Valedictorian
10
Spring 2015
5th Semester
10
MCMH
Personal Hy-
11
giene Campaign
Study Tips
Poem: Believe
12
2 0 1 6
VAMPIRES AND WEREWOLVES - FACTS OR FICTION?
Poem: Life
Excelling at AUS 6
S P R I N G
Seen in less than 100 persons in
the world, hypertrichosis (also
called Ambras syndrome) is the
case of excessive hair growth that
is independent of androgen influence (James E. Tisdale, 2010). It
is characterized by abnormal
growth of hair over the body that
is more than usually seen in the
same race, sex, or age (Otto Braun
-Falco, 2012). This gives the appearance of a werewolf, hence its
informal name.
Hypertrichosis should not be confused with hirsutism. Hirsutism,
occurring in women and children
involves growth of hair in a ‘male
-like’ character (Otto BraunFalco, 2012). It occurs under the
influence of androgens unlike
hypertrichosis. Excessive hair
growth in hirsutism is seen above
the upper lip, chin, linea alba,
cheeks and upper part of the pubic triangle. (Otto Braun-Falco,
2012).
Hypertrichosis is not predominant
in any race, sex or age. There is no
known cure for congenital hyper-
It is categorized as generalized, if
it occurs all over the body or
localized if is restricted to a particular area. It is also sub divided
into congenital or acquired. Congenital occurs from birth and
acquired is gotten later in life.
Causes of hypertrichosis are not
well established. It can follow
some genetic syndromes and can
also be drug induced.
The primary drug inducers are:
Oral Minoxidil
Cyclosporine
Phenytoin. (James E. Tisdale,
2010)
trichosis but acquired hypertrichosis
is treated by removing the underlying cause/drug.
Hair removal methods include waxing, shaving and surgery (James E.
Tisdale).
By: Lydia Taiwo MD VI
P AG E
2
Embarking on the Journey of Medicine
“Our
mission here
at AUS is to
train future
physicians to
serve
selflessly, to
serve humbly
and to
emphasize
strong
medical
ethics and
appreciation
of human
worth and
dignity.”
Welcome to the American
University of St. Vincent! Our
mission here at AUS is to train
future physicians to serve
selflessly, to serve humbly and
to emphasize strong medical
ethics and appreciation of
human worth and dignity. Our
goals include fostering and
supporting a vibrant health
science learning community
and being the leader of modern
medical
education
programmes. At AUS our
objectives are to foster a
climate for scholarly success;
t o pr om ot e t eamw or k
competencies applicable to
professional health care
delivery; to prepare graduates
to enter careers of their choice;
t o e n ha n ce commu n i t y
engagement opportunities; to
implement a competency-based
education programme across
the continuum of medical
education; and to enhance
performance assessment of
learners.
We are proud of the
establishment that we have and
t h e c o m p e t e n t fa c u l t y
facilitates the delivery of these
goals and objectives. To
complement their hard work,
we are privilege to have the
resources that will make our
students succeed. With small
class sizes, excellent studentteacher interactions and
effective teaching strategies,
we are competently able to
prepare our students for this
humble and selfless career in
medicine. The hands on clinical
experience that is obtained
through rotations at the Milton
Cato Memorial Hospital is
comparable t o ma ny
international clinical facilities
and offers our students a rich
learning environment.
Students who attend AUS are
CONSTIT UT IV E
among those who have made
smart choices in the selection
of a competent and reputable
medical institution.
Prospective students are urged
to join our family so that they
too can experience the AUS
advantage. Undoubtedly, our
students receive one-on-one
attention from qualified faculty
members; gain early exposure
to clinical medicine; are
granted the choice of doing
clinical rotations in the United
States; can study efficiently and
effectively in a conducive study
envi r onment ; and ar e
thoroughly prepared to take the
USMLE examinations.
Make the smart choice and join
us at AUS. We prepare you for
the journey of medicine and we
put all the necessary measures
in placed to ensure that you
succeed. Be wise and embark
on this noble career of
medicine with us here at AUS.
Thank you!
Dr. Dommalur Jayarangaiah
Dean of Basic Sciences
ISSUE
I
P AG E
Becoming a Physician - The Virtue of Relevance
Poem: Life
With excitement we come into medical
prevent a therapeutic respite.
school, using opening lines such as “I
There's another way, though. Hidden
have always wanted to study medicine,
beneath the stacks of library books,
The beauty of life is that it's sweet yet
bitter
to be able to treat and make a change in
nestled between the rooms of patients
It brings so much joy yet it batters
my generation”, “It always has been a
tucked away and stable for the night,
Life!
childhood dream”, “I want the respect
we find the reasons we came to medical
and financial stability it comes with”, “I
school:
have always wanted to be rich and

The older gentleman who shares
being a physician pays well”.
amazing stories with you in the
As we journey through medical school,
dead of your fifth call night that
where depression and exhaustion are
week
inevitable, do all our reasons for “why

The sick child you are able to
medicine’ make us stay or leave? With
make a difference for (Medscape,
increasing constant pressure to pass
2013).
exams, excel amongst the most talented
of peers and pass internal exams as well
as the board exams, our journey gets
Remember why you came:

To continue learning

To keep up with the medical
clouded and unhappiness often define
Why bring my dreams so near, but take
them further tomorrow
Why show me the sweetness of honey
when it's taste I can only borrow
I watch as you sneer in my face, as you
laugh at my downfall
Torn apart, I begged for someone to
hear
my
call
Yet! no one came as I hit the dark hard
wall
Even when I could see myself about to
faint
I pushed my fear and weariness behind
I
fought
to
see
the
sun
I fought to see the moon
I fought for the freedom of my soul
I fought for rest that's peaceful
research
Panting,
with mixed emotions
I roared, I won, I won, I won!

To increase your knowledge base

To be selfless, skilled, trustworthy,
Then
came
the
tears
That
glistened
like
diamonds
For now I reached my paradise.
our days (Medscape, 2013).
There's no easy solution, and no magic
pill to make the journey easier.
disciplined, compassionate and
By: Esther Emeyi MD III
Sometimes we might hope to retreat
interactive
from our world and take a much-needed
Medicine is ever-changing and
vacation, which never happens by the
expanding so make a continued pledge
way. Even when there are vacations,
to rise to the challenge, to provide the
they amazingly run like lightning bolts
best possible care for patients, as these
in a flash and we never can fully
truly are the virtues of relevance.
explain what we spent our time doing.
By: Omotola Azeez MD VI
Test dates draw nearer, call shifts come
closer, and the busy schedule of a
FACE OF AUS — Summer 2015
medical student does wonders to
Isioma Nmor MD IV
3
P AG E
4
Testicular Torsion
Testicular torsion
cannot be prevented
getting testicular torsion.
involved testis (salvage rate <
5%).
INTRODUCTION
DIAGNOSIS
Testicular torsion is a painful con-
The diagnosis should usually be
Differential Diagnose
dition caused by the twisting of the made on the presenting signs
Epididymitis
spermatic cord (from which the
and symptoms and an urgent
Henoch-Schonlein Purpura
testicle is suspended). It causes a
ultrasound should only be done
Orchitis
loss of blood flow to the testicle
when the diagnosis is unclear.
Pediatric Appendectomy
and the testicular tissue cannot
Irreversible ischemia begins
Pediatric Hydrocele and Her-
survive without blood flow. Tor-
around six hours after onset and
sion is the most common cause of
emergency diagnosis and treat-
testicle loss in adolescent males.
ment is required within this time
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
nia Surgery
Varicocele in Adolescents
TREATMENT
to minimize the risk of testicle

Manual reversal

Surgical Exploration

Medical treatment
loss.
Sudden, severe, testicular pain (in
groin & lower abdomen) and tenderness. There is often associated
PROGNOSIS
Successful salvage of the torsed
nausea and vomiting. Mild pyrexia testis is directly related to the
and redness of overlying area may
time elapsed from the onset of
also be found (Christopher R.
ischemia. If exploration is per-
Chapple, William D., 2011)
7
RISK FACTORS
formed within 4-6 hours of
COMPLICATIONS
Complications include orchialgia,
hypogonadism, infertility and
psychological effects.
symptom onset, salvage rates
PREVENTION
may approach 90%; with de-
A larger testicle either due to norlayed intervention, however,
Testicular torsion cannot be pre-
these rates drop dramatically—
vented. However it’s advisable to
to 50% at 12 hours after symp-
wear proper protection when play-
tom onset and to almost 10%
ing contact and ball-throwing
after 24 hours. In contrast, peri-
sports such as baseball and
natal testicular torsion almost
cricket.
mal variation or a tumor increases
the risk of torsion. Additionally,
congenital malformations, temperature, physical activities plus
tunica and scrotal tissue adhesion
can also increase one’s risk of
always results in loss of the
CONSTIT UT IV E
By: Bolatito Busayo MD VI
ISSUE
I
P AG E
Life at the American University of St. Vincent School of Medicine
The first time on a Caribbean
island, such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, will be very exciting for anyone, that
is, if you are not there to study medicine. It
gives you the chance to explore all the
beauty nature has to offer. From amazing
beaches, to wondrous waterfalls and not to
mention a volcano….. Yes, a real life volcano!
You get to relax on the beach and
drink some frozen margaritas all day. Who
wouldn’t want that? I can answer that for
you, A MEDICAL STUDENT, because
you would fail and if you have Ghanaian
parents like mine, you know that even a
grade C is a fail.
Life at AUS, has been a very
exciting one for me. Other than the fact that
I am doing something that I have always
dreamed of doing (being in medical
school), I also finally came to a school
where there are a lot of people from Ghana,
my home country. We all shared the same
passions, hopes, dreams and most importantly, we spoke the same language.
As a person, making new friends
in a new environment has always been my
biggest challenge. I tend to shy away from
everyone, which makes me come off as, for
lack of a better word “antisocial”. At AUS,
I met not one but eight Ghanaians who
were so nice and friendly and welcomed me
as if we had known each other all our lives.
This made my life at AUS a whole lot easier because as the semester went on, things
got more difficult. Having these people,
who shared the same background and cultural beliefs as me, to talk to, made it very
easy to deal with the stress and pressure of
medical school. In a school with predominantly Nigerian students, you need someone who understands your point of view a
little more:-someone who would not make
fun of your accent and preferably someone
who can pronounce your last name correctly.
Medical school at AUS is definitely not easy, you have four exams in a
four month long semester. There is nothing
like “easing into medical school”. AUS
prepares you for the time ahead because as
a doctor, nobody is going to “ease into
anything for you”. When you ease into it,
people die. Luckily for me, I had friends
who felt the exact same way. We studied
together, supported each other and even
got to cook our Ghanaian dishes together
whenever one of us got a parcel from
home. That was how we spent most of our
free time.
Life at AUS is basically the same
as being in any medical school (except you
always have so much more work to do),
but life as a Ghanaian student at AUS is a
whole new ball game, as you constantly
have to explain to people that first of all,
you are not Nigerian, secondly, give them
a brief history about why your accent
sounds the way it does, thirdly, try to get
people to stop mimicking your language
when you speak it with your friends and
last but not the least, try to remember to
speak English when addressing you lecturers (you do tend to speak your language a
lot in school with your friends).
As hard as medical school at
AUS can be, the stress of your day to day
life can be reduced with amazing friends
who have a great sense of humor. This
makes a great deal of difference. Just sitting and laughing about everything and
anything.....just being plain silly is an
amazing way to relieve stress.
Luckily for me I got a group of
friends who are exactly like that. We laugh
about everything, even our mistakes in
class. This helps us to study harder and
stay on top of our game, never forgetting
the reason why we came here to AUS.
Medaase (thank you)!
By: Brenda Owusu-Firempong and
Richmond Stark Oworae MDV
5
P AG E
6
Excelling at AUS
Excelling in Medical School
“Try studying
on a daily
basis as that
would help
you to retain
most of the
information.”
.
There is no doubt that as you
advance academically, the
work gets tougher. However, it
would appear less challenging
if you are dedicated to your
work. Medical school entails
studying courses which may
seem hard to comprehend initially but with lots of practice,
it becomes very easy. Here are
some tips that can help you
excel:
Attend Classes Regularly - This is a very
important tip as most
of what you will be
tested on are taught
in class. Classes also
make the topics more
understandable when
you read.
Make notes- Jotting
down things taught
in class really helps
you to remember
taught. Use videos,
textbooks, the Internet and other useful
resources. These
would go a long way
in reinforcing what
you have been
taught. Additionally,
endeavour to ask
questions on areas
that you find confusing.
them more easily.
Practice questions- Practicing questions give
you an idea of the
areas you need to
focus on.
Study regularly- This is
very important! Ensure that you study
regularly. Do not
wait until two days
before an exam before you start studying. Such a practice
would not help you
at all. Try studying
on a daily basis as
that would help you
to retain most of the
information.
Understand the material
- Aim to understand
what you are being
I trust that the aforementioned tips help you.
However, to complement these suggestions it is important
that you put God
first.
By: Blessing Osaretin
Aghedo MD III (Dean’s List
Fall 2015)
Excelling in the Pre-Med Programme
CONSTIT UT IV E
I was one of the fortunate
students that started here at AUS
from the Pre-Med level. Hence, I
hope to share my experience with
current as well as prospective PreMed students. To achieve success
and advance to the MD programme, I recommend what I call
the 3D approach.
2nd D - Diligence: Without
diligence medicine would be
frustrating. Diligence in class
attendance, punctuality and
doing one’s school work is
vital. Without diligence and
discipline, learning medicine
would be significantly more
challenging
1st D - Determined Facilitators: Determine who would be
your facilitator (school) and
choose the right school. For me,
AUS was a risk worth taking. The
institution has highly qualified
lecturers who know how to impart
their knowledge. This is essential
as it helps you to learn the information better.
3rd D - Determination:
Inevitably in medical school
there are times that you would
feel overwhelmed. You may
even rethink your decision to
do medicine. This is where
determination comes in. Determination is that still voice that
speaks to you and tells you that
you can make it in the face of
difficulties.
Some people view medical students as people who read 24 hours a
day. This is false and if done represents an unhealthy attitude. Being a
successful medical student is about
being balanced socially, mentally and
physically. Nevertheless, do not get
carried away or bask in the euphoria
of freedom. Maintain that BALANCE.
Inculcating the 3D’s right from
the Pre-Med programme will help
you to succeed in the MD programme. Additionally, develop a love
for what you do.
By: Fortune Essien MD III
P AG E
ISSUE
I
AUS’ Student Government Association
5th Semester in the USA
SGA’s President—Nseabasi Jack
When I first got to the USA, I had a cultural shock as it was quite different. When
I arrived at the hospital and met other
students both from my school and other
medical institutions, I was in awe. We
were all students from different cultural
and religious backgrounds but we found a
way to coexist.
We were distributed into groups under
specific attending physicians and resident
doctors whom we followed around to observe patient care and management. It was
the most interesting part of my semester as
I witnessed the practical aspect of what I
had learnt in Basic Sciences. The doctors
used the same steps of physical diagnosis
taught to me as they examined the patients. It was at this point that I saw how
amazing it was for patients to trust physicians entirely with their lives as if they
were gods. I realized and concluded that I
was meant to do this.
The rotations lasted a few weeks and involved changing departments within the
hospital. At intervals, we were called upon
for lecture and question sessions. Hence,
there was competition among the medical
students but it was a fun learning experience that built my confidence.
I did not feel at a disadvantage or weak in
any discipline. In particular, my foundation in Anatomy earned me opportunities
to scrub into the operating theatre. Even
after completing the 5th semester, I still
have the opportunity to work with one of
the general surgeons, Dr Lee. He admired
my interpretation of most anatomical
structures and he applauded my anatomy
lecturer even without knowing him.
On the last day of my 5th semester, log
books and evaluations were completed.
Overall, the 5th semester was an amazing
experience. During this time, I found out
why doctors are called demigods. I anxiously await completing the rest of my
clinical rotations. However, until then I
will prepare to take the US board exams.
By: Lotanna.Nkemdilim MD VI
SGA’s Executive Spring 2016
PRESIDENT :
Nseabasi Jack
VICE PRESIDENT:
Eva Mensah
SECRETARY:
Izegboya Unuigbe
FINANCIAL
SECRETARY :
Lucinda Hiwat
DIRECTOR
OF SOCIALS :
Williams Emmanuel
PUBLIC RELATIONS Musa Hassan
OFFICER :
AUS’ SGA’s Schedule for Spring 2016
7
P AG E
8
CONSTIT UT IV E
AUS In & Around !
ISSUE
I
P AG E
FACE OF AUS — SUMMER 2015
Some people claim that beauty pageants are just about physical beauty
but I disagree. True beauty is not merely physical beauty but it describes confidence, self-esteem and character. Possessing this beauty enables women worldwide to be empowered and respected in society.
Being crowned the Face of AUS has certainly boosted my confidence
and self-esteem. Additionally, it has taught me that one’s achievements cannot
be suppressed by man but they can be accomplished through hard work and
dedication. Hence, the experience gained through my participation in this
beauty pageant can be applied to life in general but most importantly to the life
of a medical student. Succeeding in medical school requires discipline and hard
work. However, if one has confidence, a high self esteem and the desire to help
others then these qualities will certainly lead that individual along the winning
path.
We can all be winners in this medical programme. However, unlike the
Face of AUS, the crown is not awarded to one individual but rather to all who
successfully completes the programme. Hence, I encourage all students at AUS
to work hard; have confidence; and let your true beauty shine as there are many
who will likely benefit from our knowledge once we complete this journey.
By: Isioma Nmor MD IV
Talent at AUS
9
P AG E
10
Message from Valedictorian
Spring 2015
My experience at AUS thus far has been very
exciting, momentous, challenging and unrelenting.
As the valedictorian of the Spring 2015 Basic
Sciences component I wish to convey to my junior
colleagues that hard work, consistency and prayers
accounted for my success. My advice to my fellow
students is to have a mindset that "I can do it" and be
ready to study diligently and consistently. Approach
lecturers even outside of the classroom for
assistance anytime you have challenges with the
course. I wish everyone GREAT SUCCESS !
“I would encourage my
junior colleagues to ensure that their
physical diagnosis skills are
as optimal as
they can be before starting
the 5th semester. ”
By: Victoria Aderayo MDV
5th Semester at the MCMH
During the 5th semester, a huge shift takes place as
you transition from being solely
in the classroom setting to being
fully immersed in hands-on application. During this 5th semester you spend one week orienting
through the various rotations that
you will experience during the
clinical portion of your MD
degree program.
I began with pediatrics
then progressed to internal medicine. Following internal medicine, I did OB/GYN then general
surgery. During my first rotation in pediatrics, I quickly
learnt that in order to excel, you
must be disciplined to learn on
your own for this discipline and
an enthusiasm to learn made for
a more enriching experience. As
an example, there were students
from different schools who rotated with me but left at the set
time that their school allotted for
them to be at the hospital. Contrarily, I stayed later. This was to
my benefit as I realized that once
the other students left, the residents and interns were so much
more willing to teach. I had the
opportunity to do two overnight
calls while I was in pediatrics.
Additionally, I got to scrub in to
CONSTIT UT IV E
four extra surgeries. I assisted
with an emergency labour and
delivery and a host of other activities because I was determined
to get the best out of this learning experience.
lessen your learning opportunities, I
feel that mine were greatly enhanced
as a result of being there.
I enjoyed working with
each of the physicians including our
very own Dr. Jay and Dr. Aussi. My
I would encourage my advice to upcoming MDV students
would be to revise pathology, pharjunior colleagues to ensure that
their physical diagnosis skills are macology and physical diagnosis and
as optimal as they can be before read for each of the specialty in which
starting the 5th semester. Hence, you will be rotating before you start.
Additionally, ensure that you have
it is imperative to practice.
the necessary equipment and profesThose skills learnt are invaluable. You will need them to be a sional attire. You should also mentally prepare yourself for the many
great success in MDV and bequestions you will be drilled on duryond.
ing each rotation. Be prepared and
Overall I thoroughly
determined to learn and you will have
enjoyed my experience at Milton
a rewarding experience!
Cato Memorial Hospital. Contrary to some beliefs that it will
By: Danyelle Butts MD VI
ISSUE
P AG E
I
11
AUS’ PERSONAL HYGIENE CAMPAIGN
Personal hygiene is an important issue that
should NOT be taken for granted. Unfortunately, many people still do not understand
what is meant by personal hygiene.
Personal hygiene is not just the principle of
cleaning, grooming and caring for our bodies;
it also involves keeping good health, eating
proper foods and even exercising. Since the
concept of personal hygiene was introduced in
AUS, students have been educated on the
importance of maintaining a good personal
hygiene. They have come to recognize the
impact it has on them as medical students and
future doctors.
The personal hygiene problems like bad
breath, body odour, unkept classes, which
were encountered before the start of the campaign, have drastically reduced. Although we
cannot boast of a 100% success, great successes have been made toward this. The few
people who are still struggling with the issue
of bad breath and/or body odour are aware of
their problem and are currently taking serious
measures to reduce them.
By: Pascaline Samuel MD II
Seminar on Personal Hygiene
Support of Personal Hygiene Campaign
BELIEVE
STUDY TIPS
I pre-read topic s before lectures. This gives me an idea of
what to expect in class then during lectures I try to get
engaged. Yes, it is difficult nowadays to stay off social
media even during class hours but I make sure all my
devices are turned off right before the class. This way I
prevent any distractions. Trust me, it works!
As soon as I get home, I make sure that I review everything I
learnt in class. This greatly reduces the workload and
prevents me piling up my notes. It also keeps me abreast
Did you succeed? You succeeded not only because you can but
because you believed that you can. If you don't believe that the
next step you take will land on a safe ground, you will not put that
foot out in the first place. Hence, one can argue that BELIEF
comes before the act.
Don't let people who do not know you well set your goals for you.
But who are you that others need to know well? You are not just
who they see, but who they have not seen. The bible says “He who
is in us is greater than he who is in the world" (1 Jn4:4). The Apostle Paul understands this very well when he added “I can do all
things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
week again then I solve questions. What is studying with-
Believing in yourself is nothing but believing in your God-giving
abilities. When we allow the others to define us, we are allowing
them to suppress the power and role of God in us. Do not forget
that God is part of you.
BELIEVE IN YOUR SELF!!!
out being able to understand and solve questions?
By: Ebony Chinonso MD VI
with the class.
During the weekends, I review everything I studied during the
I keep flashcards with me everywhere I go and this helps in
remembering the key points for most topics.
Finally I engage in study groups, as exchange of information
can be very helpful, just in case you missed something
very important during personal study time.
By: Angela Addai — Fall 2015 Valedictorian MD V
American University of St. Vincent
School of Medicine
St. Vincent Campus
American University of St. Vincent
School of Medicine
P.O Box 2595
New Montrose, Kingstown
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
West Indies
Editor-in-Chief
Dr. Shakel Henson
Co-editors
Mrs. Ercelle Thomas
Mr. Kenroy Johnson
Mr. Roosevelt John
Phone: 784-458-3424/Fax: 784-458-3425
U S Office
17950 Preston Road, 4th Floor, Suite 420
Faculty Advisors
Dr. Dommalur Jayarangaiah
Dallas, Texas, USA 75252
Phone: 9724849700
Fax: 9724849970
Website:: www.ausmed.us
Special thanks to all students who contributed to this newsletter