Terminology

The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (JRCPE) is the College’s quarterly, peer-reviewed journal, with an international circulation of 8,000. It has three main emphases – clinical medicine, education and medical history and humanities.

JRCPE homepage

The Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) sets and maintains standards for physician training in the UK on behalf of the Royal College of Physicians of London, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

JRCPTB are involved in curriculum design and implementation, recruitment and certification of trainees, and support the GMC in quality management.

JRCPTB website

The jugular venous pulse (JVP) provides an indirect measure of central venous pressure.

Patient.info: JVP

Liver function tests (LFTs) assess the functioning of the liver, by measuring levels of proteins, enzymes, blood clotting ability, and waste products in the blood.

Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is an anticoagulant used in VTE prophylaxis and management, and in the management of ACS.

LMWH is derived from unfractionated heparin (UFH), but does not require APTT monitoring and has more predictable pharmacokinetics (with a longer half-life) and anticoagulant effect. LMWH less commonly causes heparin-induced thrombocytopenia than UFH.

LMWH is cleared renally.

Lumbar puncture (LP, colloquially termed spinal tap) obtains a CSF sample for analysis and is also used in the management of conditions such as idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

LP is a sterile procedure, performed by inserting a needle into the subarachnoid space, usually between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to minor difficulties with cognition (mental abilities such as memory or thinking) that are worse than would normally be expected for a healthy person of that age.

Symptoms are not severe enough to interfere significantly with daily life.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for protecting and promoting public health and patient safety by ensuring that medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and efficacy.

MHRA website

Myocardial infarction (MI, commonly termed heart attack) describes necrosis (death) of myocardial tissue (heart muscle) due to ischaemia (an inadequate supply of blood to the affected tissue) - typically due to sudden blockage by a blood clot. 

CHD is a leading cause of MI.

The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), not to be confused with the MSE, measures cognitive impairment and is used to assess severity and progression of cognitive impairment. The MMSE can be used to help diagnose and monitor dementia. It takes 5-10 minutes to administer.

The MMSE tests a number of mental abilities, including memory, attention and language.

Patient.info - MMSE