Basic Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Core science map
Biochemistry questions cluster around enzyme kinetics (Km, Vmax, competitive vs noncompetitive inhibition), rate-limiting steps of glycolysis and the TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and vitamin cofactors. Molecular biology expects the central dogma, PCR, restriction enzymes, mutations, and the difference between replication, transcription, and translation. Immunology expects innate vs adaptive immunity, MHC class I vs II, immunoglobulin classes, complement, hypersensitivity types, and vaccine types. Microbiology expects bacterial cell-wall structure (Gram-positive, Gram-negative, mycobacteria), resistance mechanisms (beta-lactamases, efflux pumps, ribosomal methylation), and the distinction between sterilization, disinfection, and antisepsis.
Pharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics
Know the core equations: t½ = 0.693 × Vd/CL; loading dose = (Vd × target concentration)/F; maintenance rate = (CL × target concentration)/F. Distinguish first-order from zero-order elimination, and remember that half-life changes when either Vd or CL changes. Bioavailability, salt factor, protein binding, and first-pass metabolism are frequent traps. Questions often test whether a dose adjustment is based on renal function, hepatic function, or body size.
Traps and rule of thumb
Do not confuse Vd with plasma volume; a large Vd means extensive tissue distribution, not a large blood pool. Watch units (mg vs mcg) and whether the question asks for a loading dose or a maintenance rate. Rule of thumb: steady state is reached in about 4–5 half-lives, and roughly 97% of steady state is achieved by then.
Worked example
A 70-kg patient has Vd = 0.5 L/kg (35 L), target concentration 2 mg/L, and F = 1. Loading dose = 35 L × 2 mg/L = 70 mg. If CL = 3.5 L/h, maintenance rate = 3.5 L/h × 2 mg/L = 7 mg/h.