11-22-2006, 10:49 AM
<1>A 72-year-old male is noted as having a 9-pound weight loss over the past
few weeks. His past medical history is significant for oat cell carcinoma of
the lung, without known metastases, for which he is currently undergoing
treatment. The patient states that even though his wife is preparing his
favorite meals, he is not hungry. Which of the following would be the
best treatment option to improve his eating habits?
A. Amitriptyline
B. Megestrol acetate
C. Methotrexate
D. Neostigmine
E. Prochlorperazine
Answer
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<2>A 45-year-old homeless man has a chronic cough, a cavitary lesion of the
lung, and is sputum positive for acid-fast bacilli. Which of the following
is the principle form of defense by which the patient's body fights this
infection?
A. Antibody-mediated phagocytosis
B. Cell-mediated immunity
C. IgA-mediated hypersensitivity
D. IgE-mediated hypersensitivity
E. Neutrophil ingestion of bacteria
Answer
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<3>A researcher is examining the distribution of an ion channel protein in
the kidney. She incubates slices of kidney tissue in a dilute solution of
a specific antibody directed against the protein, then uses the
immunoperoxidase method to localize the ion channel proteins.
She notes the presence of brown pigment in a population of epithelial
cells, which on closer examination, have a brush border. The researcher
concludes that the protein is probably present in cells of the
A. collecting duct
B. deep portion of loop of Henle
C. distal convoluted tubule
D. glomerulus
E. proximal convoluted tubule
Answer
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<4>A 38-year-old pregnant woman with a past medical history significant for
chronic hypertension presents with a blood pressure of 158/105 mm Hg. Which
of the following antihypertensive agents would be most suitable for initial therapy in this patient?
A. Bumetanide
B. Fosinopril
C. Hydrochlorothiazide
D. Methyldopa
E. Valsartan
Answer
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<5>A 3 year-old boy is brought to a physician because the mother notices tha
t the child is engaging in less active play and tires easily. During physical
examination, the pediatrician notices that the child's thighs are larger
than normal for age and that the child cannot stand up without using his
arms to help. Further studies demonstrate a defective dystrophin gene in
the boy. Which of the following people in the child's family is most
likely to also have this disease?
A. Father
B. Father's brother
C. Mother
D. Mother's brother
E. Sister
Answer
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<6> The leukocyte pictured above stains intensely with acidic dyes such
as eosin. Which of the following substances is contained in the crystalline
core of the granule at the arrow?
A. Lactoferrin
B. Major basic protein
C. Myeloperoxidase
D. Histamine
E. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase
Answer
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<7>A 7-year-old boy is brought to a physician because of a nearly confluent,
fine, erythematous, macular rash that is most pronounced on his trunk. He
has had a mild fever for 36 hours, but does not appear very sick, and is
happily playing when the pediatrician enters the examining room. Physical
examination demonstrates a reddened throat with tonsillar exudates,
enlarged cervical nodes including the occipital node, and questionable
splenomegaly. The mother says that the boy has not been coughing, and
no Koplik spots are noted. Which of the following is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Bullous pemphigoid
B. Dermatitis herpetiformis
C. Herpes simplex
D. Measles
E. Rubella
Answer
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<8>A child who has had abnormal development of the membranous bones has a
broad skull with associated facial and dental anomalies. Which other bones
are most likely to also be affected?
A. clavicles
B. Femurs
C. Metatarsals
D. Phalanges
E. Tibias
Answer
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<9>A 33-year-old woman presents with fever, vomiting, severe irritative
voiding symptoms, and pronounced costovertebral angle tenderness.
Laboratory evaluation reveals leukocytosis with a left shift; blood
cultures indicate bacteremia. Urinalysis shows pyuria, mild hematuria,
and gram-negative bacteria. Which of the following drugs would best
treat this patient's infection?
A. Ampicillin and gentamicin
B. Erythromycin
C. Gentamicin and vancomycin
D. Phenazopyridine and nitrofurantoin
E. Tetracycline
Answer
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<10>A surgical pathology specimen from a 24-year-old woman seen at a
reproductive medicine clinic demonstrates a ciliated columnar epithelium.
From which of the following locations in the female genital tract was the
biopsy obtained?
A. Cervix
B. Endometrium
C. Fallopian tube
D. Ovary
E. Vagina
Answer
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<11>In a genotypic male, the testes fail to develop, and do not secrete
testosterone or Müllerian regression factor. Which of the following best
describes the in utero reproductive system development of this individual ?
A. Both male- and female-type internal reproductive tracts and male-type external genitalia
B. Female-type internal reproductive tract and female-type external genitalia
C. Female-type internal reproductive tract and male-type external genitalia
D. Male-type internal reproductive tract and female-type external genitalia
E. Male-type internal reproductive tract and male-type external genitalia
Answer
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<12>A pulmonologist is testing a patient's lung volumes and capacities using
simple spirometry. Which of the following lung volumes or capacities cannot
be measured directly using this technique?
A. Expiratory reserve volume
B. Functional residual capacity
C. Inspiratory reserve volume
D. Tidal volume
E. Vital capacity
Answer
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<13>Contraction of which of the following muscles contributes most to the
backward movement of the lower jaw during the process of mastication?
A. Digastric
B. Lateral pterygoid
C. Medial pterygoid
D. Mylohyoid
E. Temporalis
Answer
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<14>A 28-year-old female presents to the doctor complaining of syncopal
episodes that last a few minutes. She is not taking any medications and
has no previous medical history. EEG and EKG studies are performed and
are unremarkable. An echocardiogram shows a single ball-shaped mass
dangling in the left atrium near the mitral valve. The most likely
diagnosis is
A. angiosarcoma
B. mesothelioma
C. myxoma
D. rhabdomyoma
E. rhabdomyosarcoma
Answer
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<15>A patient who has been exhibiting various endocrine abnormalities
has an MRI scan of the head. This scan reveals a small tumor of the
pituitary gland. If this tumor expands laterally, which of the following
nerves will most likely be affected first?
A. Abducens nerve
B. Oculomotor nerve
C. Optic nerve
D. Trigeminal nerve
E. Trochlear nerve
Answer
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<16>A liver biopsy from a 54-year-old man shows many Mallory bodies. This
finding is most suggestive of which of the following diseases?
A. Alcohol abuse
B. Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency
C. Hepatitis A
D. Hepatitis B
E. Wilson's disease
Answer
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<17>A 27-year-old man has been arrested by the police for hitting, cursing
at, and verbally berating his wife of 8 years. The wife tells the police he
also regularly physically whips his 7-year-old son with a leather belt and
often strikes the boy with his hand. When asked why he does this, he
responds that this is "how my father treated me, it's how men should act." This represents which of the following types of learning?
A. Classical conditioning
B. Cognitive learning
C. Imprinting
D. Operant conditioning
E. Social learning
Answer
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<18>A 64-year-old man presents to his doctor with aching, burning pain afte
r meals. He had been self-medicating for several months with antacids, but
he found this to be increasingly ineffective. His physician decides to take
him off the antacids and instead places him on a combination of ranitidine
and sucralfate. Why is this combination a bad idea?
A. Ranitidine increases the toxicity of sucralfate
B. Ranitidine inhibits the action of sucralfate
C. Sucralfate and ranitidine coprecipitate
D. Sucralfate increases the toxicity of ranitidine
E. Sucralfate inhibits the action of ranitidine
Answer
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<19>A 42-year-old female presents with a recent onset of fatigue, malaise,
constipation, and a 12-pound weight gain. On examination, her thyroid is
firm and enlarged. What laboratory test is most likely to confirm the
expected diagnosis?
A. Antithyroid antibodies
B. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement
C. Serum thyroxine (T4) measurement
D. Serum triiodothyronine (T3) measurement
E. T3 resin uptake
Answer
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<20>A 70-year-old man with a history of atrial fibrillation is started on an
oral anticoagulant. His prothrombin time is monitored on a regular basis. A
few months into his therapy, he begins treatment for a duodenal ulcer and
he develops symptoms of a bleeding diathesis. Which of the following ulcer
medications is most likely responsible for this change in his hemostatic
status?
A. Cimetidine
B. Famotidine
C. Misoprostol
D. Omeprazole
E. Ranitidine
Answer
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<21>An elderly woman with a history of multiple oral ulcers presents with
flaccid bullae on her scalp, face, and trunk. Manual pressure on the skin
produces separation of the upper layer of the epidermis, followed by
eventual sloughing of the skin. The patient has been in relatively good
health until recently, and denies taking any medications. A biopsy of one
of the skin lesions reveals separation of epithelial cells above the
basal layer. Autoantibodies to which of the following components would
most likely be found in this patient?
A. Epidermal basement membrane proteins
B. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa
C. Intercellular junctions of epidermal cells
D. Intrinsic factor
E. Type IV collagen
Answer
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<22>A 35-year-old woman notices a change in the appearance of a mole on her
neck. Physical examination reveals that the lesion is an irregular, nodular,
superficial mass with a variegated appearance. Biopsy demonstrates a primary malignant tumor. Which of the following factors is most predictive of the patient's long term prognosis?
A. Circumference of lesion
B. Darkness of lesion
C. Degree of color variation
D. Depth of lesion
E. Sharpness of border between lesion and adjacent skin
Answer
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<23>During embryological development, hematopoiesis occurs in different
organs at different times. Which of the following are the correct organs,
in the correct sequence, at which hematopoiesis occurs embryologically?
A. Amnion, yolk sac, placenta, bone marrow
B. Placenta, liver and spleen, yolk sac, bone marrow
C. Placenta, spleen and lymphatic organs, bone marrow
D. Yolk sac, bone marrow, liver and spleen
E. Yolk sac, liver, spleen and lymphatic organs, bone marrow
Answer
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<24>A 6-month-old boy is brought to the pediatrician by his parents, who are
first cousins. This is their first child. Physical examination reveals a
small, thin, lethargic infant with slightly misshapen long bones. His
features are somewhat coarse. Joint movements are restricted, his corneas
are clouded, and his gums are underdeveloped. His liver is not enlarged.
Serum levels of acid hydrolases are found to be elevated. The child most
likely has a defect in which of the following metabolic activities?
A. Degradation of dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate
B. Degradation of gangliosides
C. Degradation of glycogen
D. Degradation of sphingomyelin
E. Phosphorylation of mannose moieties
F. Phosphorylation of tyrosine moieties
Answer
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<25>A particular association determines membership on the basis of members'
IQ scores. Only those persons who have documented IQ scores at least 2
standard deviations above the mean on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence
Scale (WAIS) are eligible for admission. Of a group of 200 people randomly
selected from the population at large, how many would be eligible for
membership to this society?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5
Answer
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<26>5 mL of synovial fluid is aspirated from an inflamed knee joint. The
fluid is yellow-white and cloudy and contains
200,000 WBC/mm3 (85% neutrophils). Needle-shaped,
strongly negatively birefringent crystals are seen both within
and outside neutrophils. These crystals most likely have which of
the following compositions?
A. Basic calcium phosphate
B. Calcium oxalate
C. Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate
D. Cholesterol
E. Monosodium urate
Answer
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<27>A patient has a painful ulcer on the tip of his tongue. Which of the
following cranial nerves carries the pain sensation he experiences?
A. V2
B. V3
C. VII
D. IX
E. X
Answer
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<28>A 30-year-old veterinarian on a cattle ranch presents with a 1-to-2-month
history of malaise, chills, drenching malodorous sweats, fatigue, and
weakness. He has anorexia and has lost 15 pounds. He has intermittent
fevers that range up to 103 F (39.4 C). He complains of visual blurring.
A physical examination reveals mild lymphadenopathy, petechiae, and a
cardiac murmur consistent with aortic insufficiency. What is the most
likely etiologic agent?
A. Bacillus anthracis
B. Brucella abortus
C. Coccidioides immitis
D. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
E. Trichinella spiralis
Answer
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<29>The parents of a 6-month-old child who was normal at birth bring her
into the clinic. Since their emigration to the U.S. from Eastern Europe
soon after her birth, the child has developed diminished responsiveness
, progressive blindness and deafness, and recently, seizures. Serum levels
of which of the following compounds would be expected to be decreased in
both of the parents?
A. Dystrophin
B. Hexosaminidase A
C. Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT)
D. Phenylalanine hydroxylase
E. Vitamin D3
Answer
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<30>A 60-year-old male with angina comes to the emergency room with severe
chest pain unresponsive to sublingual nitroglycerin. An EKG shows ST
segment elevation in the anterolateral leads, and thrombolytic therapy
is initiated. If streptokinase is given to this patient, it may produce
thrombolysis after binding to which of the following proteins?
A. Antithrombin III
B. Fibrin
C. Plasminogen
D. Protein C
E. Thrombomodulin
Answer
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<31>The left adrenal vein drains directly into which of the following veins?
A. Hemiazygos vein
B. Inferior vena cava
C. Left renal vein
D. Splenic vein
E. Superior mesenteric vein
Answer
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<32>A premature infant develops progressive difficulty breathing over the
first few days of life. Deficient surfactant synthesis by which of the
following cell types may have contributed to the baby's respiratory problems?
A. Alveolar capillary endothelial cells
B. Bronchial mucous cells
C. Bronchial respiratory epithelium
D. Type I pneumocytes
E. Type II pneumocytes
Answer
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<33>A surgeon performs an exploratory laparotomy, producing a large incision
in the patient's abdomen. Poor blood supply to which of the following is
most likely to cause problems during the healing process?
A. Adipose tissue
B. Aponeuroses
C. Loose connective tissue
D. Muscle
E. Skin
Answer
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<34>A 1-year-old child develops voluminous watery diarrhea and vomiting. She
is brought to the pediatrician by her parents and evaluated, then sent home
with instructions for the parents to give the child an electrolyte
replacement solution. Which of the following viruses is the most likely
cause of the child's diarrhea?
A. Coronavirus
B. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
C. Norwalk agent
D. Orbivirus
E. Rotavirus
<35>A 2-year-old child presents to the pediatrician with hematuria.
Examination reveals hypertension and an abdominal mass. A tumor is localized
to the right kidney and biopsy reveals a stroma containing smooth and
striated muscle, bone, cartilage, and fat, with areas of necrosis.
The gene for this disorder has been localized to which of the following
chromosomes?
A. 5
B. 11
C. 13
D. 17
E. 22
Answer
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<36>A newborn baby has a prominent defect at the base of his spine through
which his meninges and spinal cord protrude. A failure of which of the
following processes is the most common cause of this type of defect?
A. Development of primary vertebral ossification centers
B. Development of the body
C. Development of the pedicle
D. Development of the superior articular process
E. Fusion of the vertebral arches
Answer
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<37>A 45-year-old male presents to the physician with muscle cramps,
perioral numbness, and irritability over the past 3 to 4 months. Lab
results reveal hypocalcemia, normal albumin level, and hyperphosphatemia
. Parathyroid hormone level is decreased. Alkaline phosphatase level is
normal. Which of the following is most likely causing this clinical
scenario?
A. Bone metastases
B. Hashimoto's thyroiditis
C. Hypervitaminosis D
D. Hypomagnesemia
E. Previous subtotal thyroidectomy
Answer
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<38>In which of the following organs are fenestrated endothelial cells
common?
A. Heart
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Pancreas
E. Stomach
Answer
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<39>A macroscopic hepatic change known as nutmeg liver is indicative of
A. acute left-sided heart failure
B. acute right-sided heart failure
C. alcohol toxicity
D. chronic congestive heart failure
E. liver cirrhosis
Answer
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<40>A 26-year-old man is admitted through the emergency department to the
hospital for a heroin overdose. His heart rate is 45 beats/min, and his
blood pressure is 75/40 mm Hg. Which of the following best depicts the
results from an arterial blood sample ?
pH PaCO2 (mm Hg) HCO3- (mEq/L)
A. 7.22 66 26
B. 7.34 29 15
C. 7.40 40 24
D. 7.47 20 14
E. 7.49 48 35
Answer
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<41> The maximum expiratory flow-volume curve shown above is created when
the patient inhales as much air as possible and then expires with maximum
effort until no more air can be expired. What is the forced vital capacity
of this patient?
A. 1.5 Liters
B. 2.5 Liters
C. 3.5 Liters
D. 4.5 Liters
E. 6.0 Liters
Answer
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<42>A 25-year-old male gets into a brawl outside a bar. During the
altercation, someone pulls out a gun and shoots him in the head.
The bullet enters the man's temple and severs his right optic nerve
completely. He is quickly transported to a nearby emergency room and
an emergency physician tests his pupillary response by shining a light
in the right eye. What will the physician most likely find?
A. No pupillary constriction in the right eye, and no pupillary constriction in the left eye
B. No pupillary constriction in the right eye, but pupillary constriction in the left eye
C. Pupillary constriction followed by pupillary dilatation in both eyes
D. Pupillary constriction in the right eye, and no pupillary constriction in the left eye
E. Pupillary constriction in both eyes
F. Pupillary dilatation in both eyes
Answer
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<43>A patient complaining of chest pain with exercise is evaluated by
cardiac catheterization. The left anterior descending (LAD) branch of
the coronary artery is visualized but the contrast angiography is poor
. A Doppler-tipped catheter is inserted and the blood velocity is observed
to increase transiently from 10 cm/sec to 70 cm/sec and then decrease bac
k to 10 cm/sec as the probe passes a particular location in the artery
. What was the cause of these changes in velocity measurements?
A. A coronary artery aneurysm with a cross-sectional area 1/7th the size of the native artery
B. A coronary artery aneurysm with a cross-sectional area 7 times greater than the native artery
C. A coronary artery obstruction with a cross-sectional area 1/7th of the size of the native artery
D. A coronary artery obstruction with a cross-sectional area 7 times greater than the native artery
Answer
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<44>Type of blood vessel Fall in blood pressure (mm Hg) (% of total peripheral resistance)
Aorta and large arteries <1
Small arteries 10-20
Arterioles 50
Capillaries 25
Venules and small veins 9
Vena cave <1
The table above shows the fall in blood pressure that occurs for the
various types of blood vessels as blood flows from the aorta (100 mm Hg)
to the right atrium (0 mm Hg). Which of the following types of blood
vessel is likely to have the highest ratio of wall cross-sectional
area to lumen cross-sectional area?
A. Aorta and large arteries
B. Small arteries
C. Arterioles
D. Capillaries
E. Venules and small veins
F. Vena cavae
Answer
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<45>Evaluation of an infant with a variety of congenital abnormalities
reveals hypocalcemia due to a lack of parathyroid hormone. On x-ray, the
thymic shadow is absent. A failure of development and differentiation of
which of the following embryonic structures would most likely be
responsible for the observed presentation?
A. Second pharyngeal arch
B. Second pharyngeal cleft
C. Second pharyngeal pouch
D. Third pharyngeal arch
E. Third pharyngeal pouch
Answer
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<46>A person lifts one foot prior to taking a step. Which of the following
nerves innervates the muscle group that allows the person to maintain
balance by holding the weight of his body over the foot remaining on
the ground?
A. Femoral nerve
B. First and second sacral nerves
C. Obturator nerve
D. Superior gluteal nerve
E. Tibial nerve
Answer
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<47>A 21-year-old college student from Connecticut with a past history
of Lyme disease presents with chronic pain and swelling in his right
knee. He states that he has had problems with the knee for the past
two years. Which of the following HLA alleles would you expect to
be present in this individual?
A. HLA-B9
B. HLA-B17
C. HLA-B27
D. HLA-DR3
E. HLA-DR4
Answer
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<48>Which of the following metabolic processes occurs exclusively in
the mitochondria?
A. Cholesterol synthesis
B. Fatty acid synthesis
C. Gluconeogenesis
D. Glycolysis
E. Hexose monophosphate shunt
F. Ketone body synthesis
G. Urea cycle
Answer
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49>An alert pediatric intern notices that a neonate with dysmorphic facies
is twitching abnormally. As he watches, the baby experiences a seizure.
Stat laboratories indicate a glucose of 90, serum sodium of 140, serum
potassium of 4.2 and serum calcium of 3.9. Over the next several months,
the child is admitted to the hospital twice for Candida infections, and
once for a viral exanthem. Which of the following is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Ataxia telangiectasia
B. Bruton's hypogammaglobulinemia
C. DiGeorge syndrome
D. Severe combined immunodeficiency
E. Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
Answer
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50>A 2-month-old boy is evaluated for failure to thrive. As the pediatrician
is examining the patient, she witnesses a seizure. Physical examination
is remarkable for hepatomegaly, a finding later confirmed by CT scan,
which also reveals renomegaly. Serum chemistries demonstrate severe
hypoglycemia, hyperlipidemia, lactic acidosis, and ketosis. Which of
the following diseases best accounts for this presentation?
A. Gaucher's disease
B. McArdle's disease
C. Niemann-Pick disease
D. Pompe's disease
E. von Gierke's disease
Answer
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Answer
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Answers
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1>The correct answer is B. One of the most common side effects of any antineoplastic therapy is weight loss secondary to decreased appetite and/or nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, weight loss due to decreased food intake tends to occur more frequently in elderly patients receiving antineoplastic therapy. One medication that has consistently helped to increase appetite in such patients is megestrol acetate. This agent is a progestational hormone with antineoplastic properties used in the treatment of advanced carcinoma of the breast and endometrium. Megestrol, when given in relatively high doses, can substantially increase the appetite in most individuals, even those with advanced cancer.
Amitriptyline (choice A) is a tricyclic antidepressant used in the treatment of depression. There is nothing mentioned in the case study to suggest that the patient is clinically depressed; hence, this agent would provide no benefit.
Methotrexate (choice C) is an antimetabolite and folic acid antagonist commonly used in various neoplastic disorders and in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Since nausea, vomiting, and ulcerative stomatitis are common side effects of this medication, its usage in this patient would not be recommended.
Neostigmine (choice D) is a carbamylating acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that would not increase appetite.
Prochlorperazine (choice E) is a phenothiazine derivative used primarily to control severe nausea and vomiting. This patient is not experiencing nausea. Furthermore, this agent does not possess appetite-stimulating properties.
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2>The correct answer is B. The principle host defense in mycobacterial infections (such as this patient's tuberculosis) is cell-mediated immunity, which causes formation of granulomas. Unfortunately, in tuberculosis and in many other infectious diseases characterized by granuloma formation, the organisms may persist intracellularly for years in the granulomas, only to be a source of activation of the infection up to decades later.
While antibody-mediated phagocytosis (choice A) is a major host defense against many bacteria, it is not the principle defense against Mycobacteria.
IgA-mediated hypersensitivity (choice C) is not involved in the body's defense against Mycobacteria.
IgE-mediated hypersensitivity (choice D) is not involved in the body's defense against Mycobacteria. It is important in allergic reactions.
Neutrophil ingestion of bacteria (choice E) is a major host defense against bacteria, but is not the principle defense against Mycobacteria.
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3>The correct answer is E. The immunoperoxidase method uses horseradish peroxidase to produce a visible pigment when a specific antibody binds to antigenic sites in the tissue. Binding of the antibody to the epithelial cells indicates that the protein in question is being expressed by those cells. The positive immunoperoxidase results obtained here suggests that the channel protein is expressed in proximal convoluted tubular epithelium, since this is the only site in the kidney at which the epithelial cells have a "brush border." The brush border is made of microvilli, which enhance the proximal tubules' ability to reabsorb plasma constituents filtered at the glomeruli.
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4>The correct answer is D. Pregnant women with chronic hypertension "require" antihypertensive therapy when the diastolic pressure is greater than 100 mm Hg; however, some clinicians may decide to treat patients with diastolic blood pressures less than 100 mm Hg. For the initiation of therapy, methyldopa is still considered to be the agent of choice. Methyldopa is converted intraneuronally to a-methylnorepinephrine, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, which is subsequently released. Release of a-methylnorepinephrine in the medulla leads to a decrease in sympathetic outflow, thus lowering blood pressure. Methyldopa has been safely used in the treatment of hypertension during pregnancy; this agent is not associated with the development of teratogenic or other fetal abnormalities.
Diuretics, such as bumetanide (choice A) and hydrochlorothiazide (choice C), are often avoided since these agents can produce hypovolemia, leading to reduced uterine blood flow. Although these agents can be used during pregnancy, methyldopa and hydralazine are the drugs of choice for hypertension during pregnancy.
Fosinopril (choice B) is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor that should not be administered to pregnant women, especially in the second or third trimesters. These agents have been associated with severe fetal and neonatal injury, such as hypotension, neonatal skull hypoplasia, anuria, renal failure, and death.
Along the same lines, the use of the angiotensin II receptor antagonists, such as valsartan (choice E), is not recommended since these agents cause fetal complications similar to the ACE inhibitors.
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5>The correct answer is D. The disease is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an X-linked recessive muscular disease usually caused by a deletion involving the dystrophin gene. This defect produces accelerated muscle breakdown leading initially to proximal muscle weakness, then later to generalized weakness that typically begins before age 5. A feature of X-linked recessive diseases is that carrier mothers pass the disease to half their sons; affected fathers can have carrier daughters but not affected sons. Since the mother is presumably normal (because the disease is X-linked), she must be a carrier to have an affected son, and the grandmother must also be a carrier, therefore the mother's brother (maternal uncle) may also have the disease.
The father's (choice A) side of the family, including the father's brother (choice B), most likely does not carry the defective gene (since they themselves would be affected, and furthermore since the father cannot pass the gene on to a son). It would be extremely unlikely for a carrier female to marry an affected male (and the question does not mention any similar symptoms in the father).
The mother (choice C) and possibly the sister (choice E) are carriers of, but not affected by, the defective gene.
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6>The correct answer is B. The cell pictured is an eosinophil, a member of the granulocytic lineage of white blood cells. The crystalline core of the granule contains a protein called the major basic protein, which appears to function in the destruction of parasites. Major basic protein also has deleterious effects on epithelial cells in patients with asthmatic reactions. The light component around the dense crystalline core contains products such as histaminase, arylsulfatase, and other enzymes.
Lactoferrin (choice A) is found in the specific granules of the neutrophil. It inhibits the growth of bacteria by interfering with iron metabolism.
Myeloperoxidase (choice C) is found in the azurophilic (large) granule of the neutrophil. This enzyme is also destructive to bacteria, destroying their cell walls.
Histamine (choice D) is produced by the basophil and the mast cell. The histaminase of the eosinophil regulates the inflammatory reaction of these two cell types.
Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (choice E) is a marker for hairy cell leukemia, a neoplasm of the B lymphocyte line.
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7>The correct answer is E. This presentation (fine, nonblotchy, truncal rash in a not-very-ill child) is characteristic of rubella, or German measles. IgM specific for rubella can often be detected in serum within 1-2 days of developing the rash. The principal significance of this disease is that it can cause a devastating congenital infection characterized by ocular problems (cataracts, retinopathy, microphthalmos, glaucoma), cardiovascular problems (patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis), deafness, thrombocytopenic purpura, hepatosplenomegaly, CNS problems, and bony lesions.
Bullous pemphigoid (choice A) produces large, tense blisters.
Dermatitis herpetiformis (choice B) causes recurrent crops of small vesicles or papules.
Herpes simplex (choice C) is characterized by crops of vesicles on oral or genital sites.
Measles (choice D) causes a blotchy, maculopapular erythematous rash that begins on the face and spreads downward. Patients with measles are usually much sicker than those with German measles, and Koplik spots maybe seen on the buccal mucosa.
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8>The correct answer is A. In a syndrome called cleidocranial dysostosis, absence of part of the clavicles accompanies a broad skull, and facial and dental anomalies. Note that you could also have answered this question by noting that of the bones listed, only the clavicles form by intramembranous ossification.
The femurs (choice B), metatarsals (choice C), phalanges (choice D), and tibias (choice E) are cartilaginous (formed by endochondral ossification) rather than membranous bones.
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9>The correct answer is A. Acute pyelonephritis is an infectious disease involving the kidney parenchyma and the renal pelvis. Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Proteus, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter, are the most common causative organisms in acute pyelonephritis. Laboratory evaluation will often reveal leukocytosis with a left shift, and urinalysis typically shows pyuria, varying degrees of hematuria, and white cell casts. Since bacteremia is present, the patient should be hospitalized and empirically started on IV ampicillin and gentamicin. This regimen may be need to be changed, however, once the sensitivity results are available.
Erythromycin (choice B) and tetracycline (choice E) are both bacteriostatic antibiotics and would not be recommended in a patient with a severe infection, such as acute pyelonephritis with bacteremia.
Vancomycin (choice C) is primarily used in the treatment of severe gram-positive infections.
Phenazopyridine (choice D) is a urinary analgesic, and nitrofurantoin (choice D) is a urinary tract anti-infective. Although nitrofurantoin is indicated for the treatment of "mild" cases of pyelonephritis, as well as cystitis, this patient's condition is severe and should be treated with appropriate antibiotics.
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10>The correct answer is C. The fallopian tube is the only structure in the female genital tract with a ciliated columnar epithelium; the beating of the cilia helps move the egg into the uterus. This fact is also sometimes clinically helpful since dilated and deformed fallopian tubes can be microscopically distinguished from cystic ovarian tumors by the presence of the cilia.
The cervix (choice A) and vagina (choice E) are lined by squamous epithelium.
The endometrium (choice B) is lined by columnar epithelium (although a few ciliated cells may be present).
The covering of the ovary (choice D) is cuboidal epithelium, and cysts within the ovary can be lined by cuboidal or non-ciliated columnar epithelium.
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11>The correct answer is B. The description is that of gonadal dysgenesis. In the absence of testosterone, the Wolffian ducts will regress and fail to differentiate into normal male internal reproductive tracts. In the absence of Müllerian regression factor, the Müllerian ducts will automatically differentiate into oviducts and a uterus. Differentiation of the male external genitals is dependent on adequate dihydrotestosterone (via an action of 5 a-reductase on testosterone). In the absence of testosterone, female-type external genitalia will develop.
Selective dysgenesis of the Sertoli cells could produce the situation described in choice A. Normal Leydig cells would secrete testosterone and produce normal male-type internal and external tracts. However, the absence of Müllerian regression factor, which is secreted by the Sertoli cells, would allow formation of female-type internal structures as well.
Female-type internal reproductive tract and male-type external genitalia (choice C) would not be likely to occur under any circumstances.
The situation described in choice D could occur with 5 a-reductase deficiency. Normal male-type internal tracts can form because there is no requirement for dihydrotestosterone. Müllerian regression factor will prevent differentiation of female-type internal tracts. Since differentiation of the normal male external genitals requires dihydrotestosterone, 5 a-reductase deficiency will lead to feminization.
The situation described in choice E is normal, and would not occur in the individual described who has testicular dysgenesis.
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12>The correct answer is B. The functional residual capacity is the amount of air left in the lungs after a normal expiration. Because this volume cannot be expired in its entirety, it cannot be measured by spirometry. Essentially, lung volume that contains the residual volume, which is the amount of air remaining after maximal expiration (e.g., functional residual capacity and total lung capacity), cannot be measured by spirometry. These volumes can be determined using helium dilution techniques coupled with spirometry or body plethysmography.
The expiratory reserve volume (choice A) is the volume of air that can be expired after expiration of a tidal volume.
The inspiratory reserve volume (choice C) is the volume of air that can be inspired after inspiration of a tidal volume.
Tidal volume (choice D) is the amount of air inspired or expired with each normal breath.
Vital capacity (choice E) is the volume of air expired after a maximal inspiration
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13>The correct answer is E. Mastication is a complex process involving alternating elevation, depression, forward movement, and backward movement of the lower jaw. The backward movement step is accomplished by the posterior fibers of the temporalis muscle.
The digastric (choice A) helps to depress the lower jaw during chewing.
The lateral pterygoid (choice B) helps to move the lower jaw forward during chewing.
The medial pterygoid (choice C) helps to elevate the lower jaw during chewing.
The mylohyoid (choice D) helps to depress the lower jaw during chewing.
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14>The correct answer is C. The vignette illustrates a typical presentation for a tumor of the heart. Primary cardiac tumors are rare and usually require an intensive work-up to pinpoint the diagnosis. 75% of primary cardiac tumors are benign and among these, myxoma is the most common. The tumors are usually single; the most common location is the left atrium. They may cause syncopal episodes or even shock and death due to obstruction by a "ball valve" mechanism.
Angiosarcoma (choice A) is a malignant tumor of vascular origin that can occur as a primary cardiac tumor. It is the most common malignant primary cardiac tumor, but it is still very rare. Angiosarcoma usually affects the right side of the heart.
Mesothelioma (choice B) is a benign tumor of mesothelial origin that can rarely present as a primary cardiac tumor. It is usually a small intramyocardial tumor that presents with disturbances of the conduction system of the heart.
Rhabdomyoma (choice D) is a benign tumor of muscle origin. It can occur as a primary cardiac tumor, typically in infants and children, in whom it may be associated with tuberous sclerosis. It usually occurs in the ventricles.
Rhabdomyosarcoma (choice E) is a malignant neoplasm that can also occur as a rare primary cardiac tumor. It is of muscle origin and usually affects the right heart.
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15>The correct answer is A. The pituitary gland is located in the pituitary fossa within the skull. The floor of this fossa is formed by the sella turcica. The lateral walls of the fossa are formed by the cavernous sinuses. The abducens nerve passes through the cavernous sinus along with the internal carotid artery. As the tumor expands laterally, the first nerve that will be encountered is the abducens nerve, producing a lateral rectus palsy.
The oculomotor nerve (choice B) lies in the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. It is further from the pituitary gland than is the abducens nerve.
The optic nerve (choice C) is anterosuperior to the pituitary gland. Upward expansion of the tumor may compress the optic chiasm.
The trigeminal nerve (choice D) is found posterior to the cavernous sinus. Two of its three divisions (ophthalmic and maxillary divisions) pass through the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus and are further from the pituitary gland than is the abducens nerve.
The trochlear nerve (choice E) is also in the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus, and would be affected later if the tumor continued to expand.
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16>The correct answer is A. Mallory bodies are eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions ("alcoholic hyaline") that are found in the largest numbers in alcoholic hepatitis. They were originally considered to be pathognomic of alcohol abuse, but have since been found (in much smaller numbers) in many other liver conditions.
Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (choice B) involvement of the liver is characterized by periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-positive cytoplasmic granules in hepatocytes.
Hepatitis A (choice C) and hepatitis B (choice D) infections are definitively established with serologic markers.
In Wilson's disease (choice E), there is excess copper deposition in the liver
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17>The correct answer is E. In social learning, also known as modeling, behavior is acquired by watching other persons and assimilating their actions into the behavioral repertoire. There is no verbal or cognitive process (choice B) that is involved, no reinforcement (as in operant conditioning; choice D), no pairing of stimuli to get stimulus substitution (as in classical conditioning; choice A), nor any early-life bonding or imprinting (choice C) involved in this type of process. Because behaviors such as spousal abuse, child abuse, and elder abuse are all based on observing and incorporating behaviors from significant others, the person displaying the behaviors does not realize the behaviors are inappropriate and is typically very resistant to change. The fact that the learning is nonverbal and not dependent upon reinforcement contributes to the resistance to change.
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18>The correct answer is B. Sucralfate is a promising drug that is not presently in widespread use because it is incompatible with H2 antagonists such as cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine and nizatidine. Sucralfate is aluminum sucrose sulfate, a sulfated disaccharide, which polymerizes and binds to ulcerated tissue. It forms a protective coating against acid, pepsin and bile, giving the tissue a chance to heal. Unfortunately, a low gastric pH is required for polymerization, meaning that sucralfate is incompatible with drugs that reduce gastric acidity, such as H2 blockers and antacids. The moral of the story is that you cannot assume that two medications that are individually helpful in a medical condition will be synergistic. Learning the mechanisms by which the drugs work will help you spot potential interactions and earn you points on the USMLE.
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19>The correct answer is B. The patient's presentation is consistent with hypothyroidism. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement (choice B) is most likely to confirm the empiric diagnosis. TSH levels usually rise above normal before serum thyroxine (T4; choice C) and serum triiodothyronine (T3; choice D) levels do, even in mild cases of hypothyroidism. Therefore, TSH measurement would be the most accurate test to determine the presence of hypothyroidism regardless of the severity.
A high titer of antithyroid antibodies (choice A) is characteristic of chronic thyroiditis, which is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. However, detection of these antibodies would not indicate if hypothyroidism was present.
T3 resin uptake (choice E) measurement is not an accurate test of thyroid function; it is primarily used to exclude various abnormalities in the thyroid-hormone binding proteins.
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20>The correct answer is A. Warfarin is the oral anticoagulant the patient was most likely taking. This drug is commonly prescribed to patients with atrial fibrillation to prevent the formation of atrial thrombi. Warfarin increases prothrombin time (PT) because it interferes with the synthesis of the vitamin K clotting factors of the liver (II, VII, IX, and X) and therefore necessitates regular monitoring of the PT. Cimetidine is an H2-blocker that inhibits hepatic enzymes, including those that metabolize warfarin. Consequently, coadministration of warfarin and cimetidine results in enhanced warfarin activity, producing pronounced anticoagulation and the bleeding diathesis in the patient in question. Cimetidine has one of the worst side effect profiles of all the H2-blockers and may also result in gynecomastia in men.
Famotidine (choice B) is an H2-blocker that does not affect liver metabolism.
Misoprostol (choice C) is a prostaglandin E1 analog used in peptic ulcer disease. It does not affect hepatic metabolism.
Omeprazole (choice D) is a proton-pump inhibitor used to decrease acid production in patients with peptic ulcer disease or reflux. It does not affect drug metabolism by the liver.
Ranitidine (choice E) is another H2-blocker. It does not inhibit liver enzymes as strongly as cimetidine does.
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21>The correct answer is C. Bullae with the cleavage plane above the basal layer of the epidermis suggests pemphigus vulgaris, which is caused by autoantibodies to intercellular junctions of epidermal cells. The autoantibodies decrease the ability of the keratinocytes to adhere to one another, permitting formation of vesicles and bullae. Oral involvement is common, and often precedes the characteristic skin lesions. Separation of the epidermis upon manual stroking of the skin is known as Nikolsky's sign. This sign is present in other disorders such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, but we are told the woman is not taking any medications, a typical cause of Stevens-Johnson syndrome in the adult population.
Antibodies to epidermal basement membrane proteins (choice A) are seen in bullous pemphigoid, which is a bullous disease characterized by blisters with a cleavage line between the epidermis and dermis.
Antibodies to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (choice B) are seen in autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura.
Antibodies to intrinsic factor (choice D) are seen in pernicious anemia.
Antibodies to Type IV collagen (choice E) are seen in Goodpasture's syndrome.
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22>The correct answer is D. The lesion is a malignant melanoma. Melanomas can develop either de novo or in an existing mole. Sunlight exposure is a significant risk factor and fair-skinned persons are at increased risk of developing melanoma. The most significant factor for long term prognosis is the depth of the lesion, since the superficial dermis lies about 1 mm under the skin surface, and penetration to this depth is associated with a much higher incidence of metastasis than is seen with a more superficial location.
The circumference of the lesion (choice A) is much less important than depth, since one form of melanoma (superficial spreading) can still have good prognosis despite large size, if it has not extended to the depth of the superficial dermal lymphatic bed.
The darkness (choice B) or degree of variation in color (choice C) do not have prognostic significance once melanoma is diagnosed.
Irregularity, or fuzziness at the border (choice E) of a mole-like lesion is a good clue to potential malignancy, but does not affect prognosis once a melanoma is diagnosed.
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23>The correct answer is E. By the third week of development, hematopoiesis begins in the blood islands of the yolk sac. Beginning at 1 month of age and continuing until 7 months of age, blood elements are also formed in the liver. Hematopoiesis occurs in the spleen and lymphatic organs between 2 and 4 months, and in the bone marrow after 4 months.
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24>The correct answer is E. The patient has I-cell disease, also known as mucolipidosis II, which is due to a defective UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase, the enzyme that phosphorylates mannose on enzymes destined for lysosomes. Proteins coded by nuclear DNA are synthesized on cytoplasmic ribosomes, which may be either "free" or associated with the endoplasmic reticulum to form the rough endoplastic reticulum (RER). Proteins synthesized on the RER are transferred into the Golgi apparatus, where they undergo further modifications that determine whether they remain part of the Golgi apparatus, become part of the plasma membrane, or are shipped to lysosomes or mitochondria. Proteins not marked for transport to a specific intracellular site follow the default pathway and are exported into the extracellular compartment. The signal for transport of the acid hydrolases (and probably other enzymes) to the lysosomes is phosphorylation of a terminal mannose moiety on an N-linked oligosaccharide to form mannose 6-phosphate. In I-cell disease, this terminal mannose moiety is not phosphorylated, and the acid hydrolases follow the default pathway and are secreted.
Deficiency of alpha-L-iduronidase results in lysosomal accumulation of dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate (choice A) in several conditions such as mucopolysaccharidosis I, Hurler's disease, or Hurler's/Scheie disease.
Hexosaminidase A deficiency (Tay-Sachs disease) is one example of a condition in which ganglioside accumulation occurs (choice B).
There are a number of diseases in which glycogen degradation (choice C) is defective. These are collectively termed glycogen storage diseases since they result in abnormal cellular accumulation of glycogen. In Pompe's disease, or type II glycogen storage disease, a lysosomal glucosidase is deficient, resulting in lysosomal glycogen accumulation.
Deficiency of sphingomyelinase (choice D), an enzyme involved in degradation of sphingomyelin, results in Niemann-Pick disease.
Phosphorylation of tyrosine moieties (choice F) is unrelated to lysosomes or lysosomal enzymes; however, decreased ability to phosphorylate tyrosine moieties might be associated with diabetes or dwarfism.
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25>The correct answer is E. 95% of a normally distributed population will fall between plus or minus 1.96 standard deviations from the mean. Since the population is normally distributed with regard to IQ, this means that approximately 2.5% of the population will have IQ scores 2 standard deviations or more above the mean, and 2.5% of the population will have IQ scores 2 standard deviations or more below the mean. 2.5% of 200 people is 5 people.
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26>The correct answer is E. All the compounds listed can produce crystals in joint fluid, but only monosodium urate (associated with gout) and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (associated with CPPD crystal deposition disease, also called pseudogout), and to lesser degree basic calcium phosphate (apatite-associated arthropathy), have a high likelihood of being encountered on a step 1 USMLE exam. The crystals described are those of monosodium urate. Be careful not to answer "uric acid" if that is listed as an alternative choice on an exam, since the sodium salt is the predominant species in vivo.
Basic calcium phosphate (choice A) is seen in apatite-associated arthropathy and produces spherical clumps of nonbirefringent submicroscopic crystals.
Calcium oxalate crystals (choice B) are seen in primary oxalosis and are bipyramidal, positively birefringent crystals.
Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals (choice C) are a feature of pseudogout and are rod-to-rhomboidal-shaped, weakly positively birefringent crystals.
Cholesterol crystals (choice D) are seen in chronic and chylous effusions in inflammatory and degenerative arthritis, where they form large, flat, rhomboidal plates with notched corners.
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27>The correct answer is B. The innervation of the tongue is complex. The mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (V3) carries general somatic sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
The maxillary division (V2, choice A) carries somatic sensation from the palate, upper gums, and upper lip.
The facial nerve (VII, choice C) carries taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
The glossopharyngeal nerve (IX, choice D) carries sensation and taste from the posterior one-third of the tongue.
The vagus nerve (X, choice E) carries sensation from the lower pharynx.
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28>The correct answer is B. Brucella abortus produces a chronic, granulomatous disease with caseating granulomas. Most cases occur in four states (Texas, California, Virginia, and Florida), and are associated with cattle, in which it produces spontaneous septic abortions. Most cases of brucellosis produce mild disease or fevers of unknown origin. However, Brucella spp. can infect the cardiovascular system and cause a localized infection. B. abortus is the most common species to cause endocarditis. The aortic valve is most commonly involved, followed by the mitral valve, and then both valves. Most cases of brucellosis are associated with occupational exposure, in persons such as veterinarians, ranchers, and those who handle carcasses.
Bacillus anthracis (choice A) is the causative agent for anthrax. It usually produces cutaneous disease (malignant pustule or eschar) at the site of inoculation in handlers of animal skins. It can also produce a severe hemorrhagic pneumonia (Woolsorter's disease) and septicemia. At-risk groups include those who handle animal carcasses or skins.
Coccidioides immitis (choice C) is a dimorphic fungal disease producing a granulomatous pulmonary syndrome that is more severe in dark-skinned individuals. Disseminated disease occurs most often in Filipinos, Mexicans, and Africans. The infective form is the arthrospore; the diagnostic form in tissue is the spherule containing endospores. The disease is endemic in the San Joaquin River Valley. At-risk groups include military personnel, agricultural workers, construction workers, oil field workers, archaeology students, participants in outdoor sports, and sightseers. Remote infections from fomites (cotton harvested in the Southwestern U.S.) have been reported.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (choice D) is a pleomorphic, gram-negative rod that causes a localized skin infection. It is an occupational disease of fishermen, fish handlers, butchers, meat-processing workers, poultry workers, farmers, veterinarians, abattoir workers, and housewives.
Trichinella spiralis (choice E) is a nematode infection caused by the ingestion of larvae found in undercooked meat. Pork is the most common contaminated meat. However, outbreaks in the northern parts of the U.S. have been associated with eating undercooked infected bear meat. Symptoms include diarrhea, periorbital edema, myositis, fever, and eosinophilia.
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29>The correct answer is B. This patient has Tay-Sachs disease, an autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of hexosaminidase A, which leads to the accumulation of ganglioside GM2 in neurons, producing a degenerative neurologic disease. Children appear normal at birth, but then begin to suffer from diminished responsiveness, deafness, blindness, loss of neurologic function, and seizures. A cherry-red spot on the macula may be seen by ophthalmoscopic examination. Death usually occurs by 4 to 5 years of age. There is no therapy. The incidence is higher among Jews of Eastern European descent. Since the parents must be heterozygotes for the mutant hexosaminidase A allele, they would be expected to have diminished levels of the enzyme.
A defect in the dystrophin (choice A) gene produces Duchenne muscular dystrophy, characterized by onset of weakness in early childhood.
A severe deficiency in HGPRT (choice C) will lead to Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, characterized by excessive uric acid production, mental retardation, spasticity, self-mutilation, and aggressive, destructive behavior.
Deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase (choice D) results in classic phenylketonuria, a disease in which phenylalanine, phenylpyruvate, phenylacetate, and phenyllactate accumulate in plasma and urine. Clinically, there is a musty body odor and mental retardation.
Hypophosphatemic rickets is an X-linked dominant condition causing abnormal regulation of vitamin D3 (choice E) metabolism and defects in renal tubular phosphate transport. Symptoms include growth retardation, osteomalacia, and rickets.
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30>The correct answer is C. The fibrinolytic activity of streptokinase is due to its ability to bind and cleave plasminogen, producing plasmin. Plasmin directly cleaves fibrin, both between and within the fibrin polymers, thus breaking up thrombi and potentially restoring blood flow to ischemic cardiac muscle. This same mechanism of fibrinolysis is shared by urokinase and tissue-plasminogen activator (tPA).
Antithrombin III (choice A) is a coagulation inhibitor that binds to and inactivates thrombin. Antithrombin III is anticoagulant, not fibrinolyti
few weeks. His past medical history is significant for oat cell carcinoma of
the lung, without known metastases, for which he is currently undergoing
treatment. The patient states that even though his wife is preparing his
favorite meals, he is not hungry. Which of the following would be the
best treatment option to improve his eating habits?
A. Amitriptyline
B. Megestrol acetate
C. Methotrexate
D. Neostigmine
E. Prochlorperazine
Answer
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<2>A 45-year-old homeless man has a chronic cough, a cavitary lesion of the
lung, and is sputum positive for acid-fast bacilli. Which of the following
is the principle form of defense by which the patient's body fights this
infection?
A. Antibody-mediated phagocytosis
B. Cell-mediated immunity
C. IgA-mediated hypersensitivity
D. IgE-mediated hypersensitivity
E. Neutrophil ingestion of bacteria
Answer
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<3>A researcher is examining the distribution of an ion channel protein in
the kidney. She incubates slices of kidney tissue in a dilute solution of
a specific antibody directed against the protein, then uses the
immunoperoxidase method to localize the ion channel proteins.
She notes the presence of brown pigment in a population of epithelial
cells, which on closer examination, have a brush border. The researcher
concludes that the protein is probably present in cells of the
A. collecting duct
B. deep portion of loop of Henle
C. distal convoluted tubule
D. glomerulus
E. proximal convoluted tubule
Answer
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<4>A 38-year-old pregnant woman with a past medical history significant for
chronic hypertension presents with a blood pressure of 158/105 mm Hg. Which
of the following antihypertensive agents would be most suitable for initial therapy in this patient?
A. Bumetanide
B. Fosinopril
C. Hydrochlorothiazide
D. Methyldopa
E. Valsartan
Answer
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<5>A 3 year-old boy is brought to a physician because the mother notices tha
t the child is engaging in less active play and tires easily. During physical
examination, the pediatrician notices that the child's thighs are larger
than normal for age and that the child cannot stand up without using his
arms to help. Further studies demonstrate a defective dystrophin gene in
the boy. Which of the following people in the child's family is most
likely to also have this disease?
A. Father
B. Father's brother
C. Mother
D. Mother's brother
E. Sister
Answer
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<6> The leukocyte pictured above stains intensely with acidic dyes such
as eosin. Which of the following substances is contained in the crystalline
core of the granule at the arrow?
A. Lactoferrin
B. Major basic protein
C. Myeloperoxidase
D. Histamine
E. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase
Answer
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<7>A 7-year-old boy is brought to a physician because of a nearly confluent,
fine, erythematous, macular rash that is most pronounced on his trunk. He
has had a mild fever for 36 hours, but does not appear very sick, and is
happily playing when the pediatrician enters the examining room. Physical
examination demonstrates a reddened throat with tonsillar exudates,
enlarged cervical nodes including the occipital node, and questionable
splenomegaly. The mother says that the boy has not been coughing, and
no Koplik spots are noted. Which of the following is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Bullous pemphigoid
B. Dermatitis herpetiformis
C. Herpes simplex
D. Measles
E. Rubella
Answer
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<8>A child who has had abnormal development of the membranous bones has a
broad skull with associated facial and dental anomalies. Which other bones
are most likely to also be affected?
A. clavicles
B. Femurs
C. Metatarsals
D. Phalanges
E. Tibias
Answer
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<9>A 33-year-old woman presents with fever, vomiting, severe irritative
voiding symptoms, and pronounced costovertebral angle tenderness.
Laboratory evaluation reveals leukocytosis with a left shift; blood
cultures indicate bacteremia. Urinalysis shows pyuria, mild hematuria,
and gram-negative bacteria. Which of the following drugs would best
treat this patient's infection?
A. Ampicillin and gentamicin
B. Erythromycin
C. Gentamicin and vancomycin
D. Phenazopyridine and nitrofurantoin
E. Tetracycline
Answer
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<10>A surgical pathology specimen from a 24-year-old woman seen at a
reproductive medicine clinic demonstrates a ciliated columnar epithelium.
From which of the following locations in the female genital tract was the
biopsy obtained?
A. Cervix
B. Endometrium
C. Fallopian tube
D. Ovary
E. Vagina
Answer
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<11>In a genotypic male, the testes fail to develop, and do not secrete
testosterone or Müllerian regression factor. Which of the following best
describes the in utero reproductive system development of this individual ?
A. Both male- and female-type internal reproductive tracts and male-type external genitalia
B. Female-type internal reproductive tract and female-type external genitalia
C. Female-type internal reproductive tract and male-type external genitalia
D. Male-type internal reproductive tract and female-type external genitalia
E. Male-type internal reproductive tract and male-type external genitalia
Answer
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<12>A pulmonologist is testing a patient's lung volumes and capacities using
simple spirometry. Which of the following lung volumes or capacities cannot
be measured directly using this technique?
A. Expiratory reserve volume
B. Functional residual capacity
C. Inspiratory reserve volume
D. Tidal volume
E. Vital capacity
Answer
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<13>Contraction of which of the following muscles contributes most to the
backward movement of the lower jaw during the process of mastication?
A. Digastric
B. Lateral pterygoid
C. Medial pterygoid
D. Mylohyoid
E. Temporalis
Answer
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<14>A 28-year-old female presents to the doctor complaining of syncopal
episodes that last a few minutes. She is not taking any medications and
has no previous medical history. EEG and EKG studies are performed and
are unremarkable. An echocardiogram shows a single ball-shaped mass
dangling in the left atrium near the mitral valve. The most likely
diagnosis is
A. angiosarcoma
B. mesothelioma
C. myxoma
D. rhabdomyoma
E. rhabdomyosarcoma
Answer
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<15>A patient who has been exhibiting various endocrine abnormalities
has an MRI scan of the head. This scan reveals a small tumor of the
pituitary gland. If this tumor expands laterally, which of the following
nerves will most likely be affected first?
A. Abducens nerve
B. Oculomotor nerve
C. Optic nerve
D. Trigeminal nerve
E. Trochlear nerve
Answer
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<16>A liver biopsy from a 54-year-old man shows many Mallory bodies. This
finding is most suggestive of which of the following diseases?
A. Alcohol abuse
B. Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency
C. Hepatitis A
D. Hepatitis B
E. Wilson's disease
Answer
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<17>A 27-year-old man has been arrested by the police for hitting, cursing
at, and verbally berating his wife of 8 years. The wife tells the police he
also regularly physically whips his 7-year-old son with a leather belt and
often strikes the boy with his hand. When asked why he does this, he
responds that this is "how my father treated me, it's how men should act." This represents which of the following types of learning?
A. Classical conditioning
B. Cognitive learning
C. Imprinting
D. Operant conditioning
E. Social learning
Answer
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<18>A 64-year-old man presents to his doctor with aching, burning pain afte
r meals. He had been self-medicating for several months with antacids, but
he found this to be increasingly ineffective. His physician decides to take
him off the antacids and instead places him on a combination of ranitidine
and sucralfate. Why is this combination a bad idea?
A. Ranitidine increases the toxicity of sucralfate
B. Ranitidine inhibits the action of sucralfate
C. Sucralfate and ranitidine coprecipitate
D. Sucralfate increases the toxicity of ranitidine
E. Sucralfate inhibits the action of ranitidine
Answer
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<19>A 42-year-old female presents with a recent onset of fatigue, malaise,
constipation, and a 12-pound weight gain. On examination, her thyroid is
firm and enlarged. What laboratory test is most likely to confirm the
expected diagnosis?
A. Antithyroid antibodies
B. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement
C. Serum thyroxine (T4) measurement
D. Serum triiodothyronine (T3) measurement
E. T3 resin uptake
Answer
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<20>A 70-year-old man with a history of atrial fibrillation is started on an
oral anticoagulant. His prothrombin time is monitored on a regular basis. A
few months into his therapy, he begins treatment for a duodenal ulcer and
he develops symptoms of a bleeding diathesis. Which of the following ulcer
medications is most likely responsible for this change in his hemostatic
status?
A. Cimetidine
B. Famotidine
C. Misoprostol
D. Omeprazole
E. Ranitidine
Answer
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<21>An elderly woman with a history of multiple oral ulcers presents with
flaccid bullae on her scalp, face, and trunk. Manual pressure on the skin
produces separation of the upper layer of the epidermis, followed by
eventual sloughing of the skin. The patient has been in relatively good
health until recently, and denies taking any medications. A biopsy of one
of the skin lesions reveals separation of epithelial cells above the
basal layer. Autoantibodies to which of the following components would
most likely be found in this patient?
A. Epidermal basement membrane proteins
B. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa
C. Intercellular junctions of epidermal cells
D. Intrinsic factor
E. Type IV collagen
Answer
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<22>A 35-year-old woman notices a change in the appearance of a mole on her
neck. Physical examination reveals that the lesion is an irregular, nodular,
superficial mass with a variegated appearance. Biopsy demonstrates a primary malignant tumor. Which of the following factors is most predictive of the patient's long term prognosis?
A. Circumference of lesion
B. Darkness of lesion
C. Degree of color variation
D. Depth of lesion
E. Sharpness of border between lesion and adjacent skin
Answer
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<23>During embryological development, hematopoiesis occurs in different
organs at different times. Which of the following are the correct organs,
in the correct sequence, at which hematopoiesis occurs embryologically?
A. Amnion, yolk sac, placenta, bone marrow
B. Placenta, liver and spleen, yolk sac, bone marrow
C. Placenta, spleen and lymphatic organs, bone marrow
D. Yolk sac, bone marrow, liver and spleen
E. Yolk sac, liver, spleen and lymphatic organs, bone marrow
Answer
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<24>A 6-month-old boy is brought to the pediatrician by his parents, who are
first cousins. This is their first child. Physical examination reveals a
small, thin, lethargic infant with slightly misshapen long bones. His
features are somewhat coarse. Joint movements are restricted, his corneas
are clouded, and his gums are underdeveloped. His liver is not enlarged.
Serum levels of acid hydrolases are found to be elevated. The child most
likely has a defect in which of the following metabolic activities?
A. Degradation of dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate
B. Degradation of gangliosides
C. Degradation of glycogen
D. Degradation of sphingomyelin
E. Phosphorylation of mannose moieties
F. Phosphorylation of tyrosine moieties
Answer
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<25>A particular association determines membership on the basis of members'
IQ scores. Only those persons who have documented IQ scores at least 2
standard deviations above the mean on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence
Scale (WAIS) are eligible for admission. Of a group of 200 people randomly
selected from the population at large, how many would be eligible for
membership to this society?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5
Answer
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<26>5 mL of synovial fluid is aspirated from an inflamed knee joint. The
fluid is yellow-white and cloudy and contains
200,000 WBC/mm3 (85% neutrophils). Needle-shaped,
strongly negatively birefringent crystals are seen both within
and outside neutrophils. These crystals most likely have which of
the following compositions?
A. Basic calcium phosphate
B. Calcium oxalate
C. Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate
D. Cholesterol
E. Monosodium urate
Answer
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<27>A patient has a painful ulcer on the tip of his tongue. Which of the
following cranial nerves carries the pain sensation he experiences?
A. V2
B. V3
C. VII
D. IX
E. X
Answer
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<28>A 30-year-old veterinarian on a cattle ranch presents with a 1-to-2-month
history of malaise, chills, drenching malodorous sweats, fatigue, and
weakness. He has anorexia and has lost 15 pounds. He has intermittent
fevers that range up to 103 F (39.4 C). He complains of visual blurring.
A physical examination reveals mild lymphadenopathy, petechiae, and a
cardiac murmur consistent with aortic insufficiency. What is the most
likely etiologic agent?
A. Bacillus anthracis
B. Brucella abortus
C. Coccidioides immitis
D. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
E. Trichinella spiralis
Answer
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<29>The parents of a 6-month-old child who was normal at birth bring her
into the clinic. Since their emigration to the U.S. from Eastern Europe
soon after her birth, the child has developed diminished responsiveness
, progressive blindness and deafness, and recently, seizures. Serum levels
of which of the following compounds would be expected to be decreased in
both of the parents?
A. Dystrophin
B. Hexosaminidase A
C. Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT)
D. Phenylalanine hydroxylase
E. Vitamin D3
Answer
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<30>A 60-year-old male with angina comes to the emergency room with severe
chest pain unresponsive to sublingual nitroglycerin. An EKG shows ST
segment elevation in the anterolateral leads, and thrombolytic therapy
is initiated. If streptokinase is given to this patient, it may produce
thrombolysis after binding to which of the following proteins?
A. Antithrombin III
B. Fibrin
C. Plasminogen
D. Protein C
E. Thrombomodulin
Answer
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<31>The left adrenal vein drains directly into which of the following veins?
A. Hemiazygos vein
B. Inferior vena cava
C. Left renal vein
D. Splenic vein
E. Superior mesenteric vein
Answer
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<32>A premature infant develops progressive difficulty breathing over the
first few days of life. Deficient surfactant synthesis by which of the
following cell types may have contributed to the baby's respiratory problems?
A. Alveolar capillary endothelial cells
B. Bronchial mucous cells
C. Bronchial respiratory epithelium
D. Type I pneumocytes
E. Type II pneumocytes
Answer
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<33>A surgeon performs an exploratory laparotomy, producing a large incision
in the patient's abdomen. Poor blood supply to which of the following is
most likely to cause problems during the healing process?
A. Adipose tissue
B. Aponeuroses
C. Loose connective tissue
D. Muscle
E. Skin
Answer
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<34>A 1-year-old child develops voluminous watery diarrhea and vomiting. She
is brought to the pediatrician by her parents and evaluated, then sent home
with instructions for the parents to give the child an electrolyte
replacement solution. Which of the following viruses is the most likely
cause of the child's diarrhea?
A. Coronavirus
B. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
C. Norwalk agent
D. Orbivirus
E. Rotavirus
<35>A 2-year-old child presents to the pediatrician with hematuria.
Examination reveals hypertension and an abdominal mass. A tumor is localized
to the right kidney and biopsy reveals a stroma containing smooth and
striated muscle, bone, cartilage, and fat, with areas of necrosis.
The gene for this disorder has been localized to which of the following
chromosomes?
A. 5
B. 11
C. 13
D. 17
E. 22
Answer
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<36>A newborn baby has a prominent defect at the base of his spine through
which his meninges and spinal cord protrude. A failure of which of the
following processes is the most common cause of this type of defect?
A. Development of primary vertebral ossification centers
B. Development of the body
C. Development of the pedicle
D. Development of the superior articular process
E. Fusion of the vertebral arches
Answer
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<37>A 45-year-old male presents to the physician with muscle cramps,
perioral numbness, and irritability over the past 3 to 4 months. Lab
results reveal hypocalcemia, normal albumin level, and hyperphosphatemia
. Parathyroid hormone level is decreased. Alkaline phosphatase level is
normal. Which of the following is most likely causing this clinical
scenario?
A. Bone metastases
B. Hashimoto's thyroiditis
C. Hypervitaminosis D
D. Hypomagnesemia
E. Previous subtotal thyroidectomy
Answer
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<38>In which of the following organs are fenestrated endothelial cells
common?
A. Heart
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Pancreas
E. Stomach
Answer
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<39>A macroscopic hepatic change known as nutmeg liver is indicative of
A. acute left-sided heart failure
B. acute right-sided heart failure
C. alcohol toxicity
D. chronic congestive heart failure
E. liver cirrhosis
Answer
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<40>A 26-year-old man is admitted through the emergency department to the
hospital for a heroin overdose. His heart rate is 45 beats/min, and his
blood pressure is 75/40 mm Hg. Which of the following best depicts the
results from an arterial blood sample ?
pH PaCO2 (mm Hg) HCO3- (mEq/L)
A. 7.22 66 26
B. 7.34 29 15
C. 7.40 40 24
D. 7.47 20 14
E. 7.49 48 35
Answer
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<41> The maximum expiratory flow-volume curve shown above is created when
the patient inhales as much air as possible and then expires with maximum
effort until no more air can be expired. What is the forced vital capacity
of this patient?
A. 1.5 Liters
B. 2.5 Liters
C. 3.5 Liters
D. 4.5 Liters
E. 6.0 Liters
Answer
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<42>A 25-year-old male gets into a brawl outside a bar. During the
altercation, someone pulls out a gun and shoots him in the head.
The bullet enters the man's temple and severs his right optic nerve
completely. He is quickly transported to a nearby emergency room and
an emergency physician tests his pupillary response by shining a light
in the right eye. What will the physician most likely find?
A. No pupillary constriction in the right eye, and no pupillary constriction in the left eye
B. No pupillary constriction in the right eye, but pupillary constriction in the left eye
C. Pupillary constriction followed by pupillary dilatation in both eyes
D. Pupillary constriction in the right eye, and no pupillary constriction in the left eye
E. Pupillary constriction in both eyes
F. Pupillary dilatation in both eyes
Answer
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<43>A patient complaining of chest pain with exercise is evaluated by
cardiac catheterization. The left anterior descending (LAD) branch of
the coronary artery is visualized but the contrast angiography is poor
. A Doppler-tipped catheter is inserted and the blood velocity is observed
to increase transiently from 10 cm/sec to 70 cm/sec and then decrease bac
k to 10 cm/sec as the probe passes a particular location in the artery
. What was the cause of these changes in velocity measurements?
A. A coronary artery aneurysm with a cross-sectional area 1/7th the size of the native artery
B. A coronary artery aneurysm with a cross-sectional area 7 times greater than the native artery
C. A coronary artery obstruction with a cross-sectional area 1/7th of the size of the native artery
D. A coronary artery obstruction with a cross-sectional area 7 times greater than the native artery
Answer
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<44>Type of blood vessel Fall in blood pressure (mm Hg) (% of total peripheral resistance)
Aorta and large arteries <1
Small arteries 10-20
Arterioles 50
Capillaries 25
Venules and small veins 9
Vena cave <1
The table above shows the fall in blood pressure that occurs for the
various types of blood vessels as blood flows from the aorta (100 mm Hg)
to the right atrium (0 mm Hg). Which of the following types of blood
vessel is likely to have the highest ratio of wall cross-sectional
area to lumen cross-sectional area?
A. Aorta and large arteries
B. Small arteries
C. Arterioles
D. Capillaries
E. Venules and small veins
F. Vena cavae
Answer
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<45>Evaluation of an infant with a variety of congenital abnormalities
reveals hypocalcemia due to a lack of parathyroid hormone. On x-ray, the
thymic shadow is absent. A failure of development and differentiation of
which of the following embryonic structures would most likely be
responsible for the observed presentation?
A. Second pharyngeal arch
B. Second pharyngeal cleft
C. Second pharyngeal pouch
D. Third pharyngeal arch
E. Third pharyngeal pouch
Answer
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<46>A person lifts one foot prior to taking a step. Which of the following
nerves innervates the muscle group that allows the person to maintain
balance by holding the weight of his body over the foot remaining on
the ground?
A. Femoral nerve
B. First and second sacral nerves
C. Obturator nerve
D. Superior gluteal nerve
E. Tibial nerve
Answer
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<47>A 21-year-old college student from Connecticut with a past history
of Lyme disease presents with chronic pain and swelling in his right
knee. He states that he has had problems with the knee for the past
two years. Which of the following HLA alleles would you expect to
be present in this individual?
A. HLA-B9
B. HLA-B17
C. HLA-B27
D. HLA-DR3
E. HLA-DR4
Answer
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<48>Which of the following metabolic processes occurs exclusively in
the mitochondria?
A. Cholesterol synthesis
B. Fatty acid synthesis
C. Gluconeogenesis
D. Glycolysis
E. Hexose monophosphate shunt
F. Ketone body synthesis
G. Urea cycle
Answer
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49>An alert pediatric intern notices that a neonate with dysmorphic facies
is twitching abnormally. As he watches, the baby experiences a seizure.
Stat laboratories indicate a glucose of 90, serum sodium of 140, serum
potassium of 4.2 and serum calcium of 3.9. Over the next several months,
the child is admitted to the hospital twice for Candida infections, and
once for a viral exanthem. Which of the following is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Ataxia telangiectasia
B. Bruton's hypogammaglobulinemia
C. DiGeorge syndrome
D. Severe combined immunodeficiency
E. Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
Answer
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50>A 2-month-old boy is evaluated for failure to thrive. As the pediatrician
is examining the patient, she witnesses a seizure. Physical examination
is remarkable for hepatomegaly, a finding later confirmed by CT scan,
which also reveals renomegaly. Serum chemistries demonstrate severe
hypoglycemia, hyperlipidemia, lactic acidosis, and ketosis. Which of
the following diseases best accounts for this presentation?
A. Gaucher's disease
B. McArdle's disease
C. Niemann-Pick disease
D. Pompe's disease
E. von Gierke's disease
Answer
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Answer
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Answers
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1>The correct answer is B. One of the most common side effects of any antineoplastic therapy is weight loss secondary to decreased appetite and/or nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, weight loss due to decreased food intake tends to occur more frequently in elderly patients receiving antineoplastic therapy. One medication that has consistently helped to increase appetite in such patients is megestrol acetate. This agent is a progestational hormone with antineoplastic properties used in the treatment of advanced carcinoma of the breast and endometrium. Megestrol, when given in relatively high doses, can substantially increase the appetite in most individuals, even those with advanced cancer.
Amitriptyline (choice A) is a tricyclic antidepressant used in the treatment of depression. There is nothing mentioned in the case study to suggest that the patient is clinically depressed; hence, this agent would provide no benefit.
Methotrexate (choice C) is an antimetabolite and folic acid antagonist commonly used in various neoplastic disorders and in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Since nausea, vomiting, and ulcerative stomatitis are common side effects of this medication, its usage in this patient would not be recommended.
Neostigmine (choice D) is a carbamylating acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that would not increase appetite.
Prochlorperazine (choice E) is a phenothiazine derivative used primarily to control severe nausea and vomiting. This patient is not experiencing nausea. Furthermore, this agent does not possess appetite-stimulating properties.
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2>The correct answer is B. The principle host defense in mycobacterial infections (such as this patient's tuberculosis) is cell-mediated immunity, which causes formation of granulomas. Unfortunately, in tuberculosis and in many other infectious diseases characterized by granuloma formation, the organisms may persist intracellularly for years in the granulomas, only to be a source of activation of the infection up to decades later.
While antibody-mediated phagocytosis (choice A) is a major host defense against many bacteria, it is not the principle defense against Mycobacteria.
IgA-mediated hypersensitivity (choice C) is not involved in the body's defense against Mycobacteria.
IgE-mediated hypersensitivity (choice D) is not involved in the body's defense against Mycobacteria. It is important in allergic reactions.
Neutrophil ingestion of bacteria (choice E) is a major host defense against bacteria, but is not the principle defense against Mycobacteria.
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3>The correct answer is E. The immunoperoxidase method uses horseradish peroxidase to produce a visible pigment when a specific antibody binds to antigenic sites in the tissue. Binding of the antibody to the epithelial cells indicates that the protein in question is being expressed by those cells. The positive immunoperoxidase results obtained here suggests that the channel protein is expressed in proximal convoluted tubular epithelium, since this is the only site in the kidney at which the epithelial cells have a "brush border." The brush border is made of microvilli, which enhance the proximal tubules' ability to reabsorb plasma constituents filtered at the glomeruli.
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4>The correct answer is D. Pregnant women with chronic hypertension "require" antihypertensive therapy when the diastolic pressure is greater than 100 mm Hg; however, some clinicians may decide to treat patients with diastolic blood pressures less than 100 mm Hg. For the initiation of therapy, methyldopa is still considered to be the agent of choice. Methyldopa is converted intraneuronally to a-methylnorepinephrine, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, which is subsequently released. Release of a-methylnorepinephrine in the medulla leads to a decrease in sympathetic outflow, thus lowering blood pressure. Methyldopa has been safely used in the treatment of hypertension during pregnancy; this agent is not associated with the development of teratogenic or other fetal abnormalities.
Diuretics, such as bumetanide (choice A) and hydrochlorothiazide (choice C), are often avoided since these agents can produce hypovolemia, leading to reduced uterine blood flow. Although these agents can be used during pregnancy, methyldopa and hydralazine are the drugs of choice for hypertension during pregnancy.
Fosinopril (choice B) is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor that should not be administered to pregnant women, especially in the second or third trimesters. These agents have been associated with severe fetal and neonatal injury, such as hypotension, neonatal skull hypoplasia, anuria, renal failure, and death.
Along the same lines, the use of the angiotensin II receptor antagonists, such as valsartan (choice E), is not recommended since these agents cause fetal complications similar to the ACE inhibitors.
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5>The correct answer is D. The disease is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an X-linked recessive muscular disease usually caused by a deletion involving the dystrophin gene. This defect produces accelerated muscle breakdown leading initially to proximal muscle weakness, then later to generalized weakness that typically begins before age 5. A feature of X-linked recessive diseases is that carrier mothers pass the disease to half their sons; affected fathers can have carrier daughters but not affected sons. Since the mother is presumably normal (because the disease is X-linked), she must be a carrier to have an affected son, and the grandmother must also be a carrier, therefore the mother's brother (maternal uncle) may also have the disease.
The father's (choice A) side of the family, including the father's brother (choice B), most likely does not carry the defective gene (since they themselves would be affected, and furthermore since the father cannot pass the gene on to a son). It would be extremely unlikely for a carrier female to marry an affected male (and the question does not mention any similar symptoms in the father).
The mother (choice C) and possibly the sister (choice E) are carriers of, but not affected by, the defective gene.
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6>The correct answer is B. The cell pictured is an eosinophil, a member of the granulocytic lineage of white blood cells. The crystalline core of the granule contains a protein called the major basic protein, which appears to function in the destruction of parasites. Major basic protein also has deleterious effects on epithelial cells in patients with asthmatic reactions. The light component around the dense crystalline core contains products such as histaminase, arylsulfatase, and other enzymes.
Lactoferrin (choice A) is found in the specific granules of the neutrophil. It inhibits the growth of bacteria by interfering with iron metabolism.
Myeloperoxidase (choice C) is found in the azurophilic (large) granule of the neutrophil. This enzyme is also destructive to bacteria, destroying their cell walls.
Histamine (choice D) is produced by the basophil and the mast cell. The histaminase of the eosinophil regulates the inflammatory reaction of these two cell types.
Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (choice E) is a marker for hairy cell leukemia, a neoplasm of the B lymphocyte line.
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7>The correct answer is E. This presentation (fine, nonblotchy, truncal rash in a not-very-ill child) is characteristic of rubella, or German measles. IgM specific for rubella can often be detected in serum within 1-2 days of developing the rash. The principal significance of this disease is that it can cause a devastating congenital infection characterized by ocular problems (cataracts, retinopathy, microphthalmos, glaucoma), cardiovascular problems (patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis), deafness, thrombocytopenic purpura, hepatosplenomegaly, CNS problems, and bony lesions.
Bullous pemphigoid (choice A) produces large, tense blisters.
Dermatitis herpetiformis (choice B) causes recurrent crops of small vesicles or papules.
Herpes simplex (choice C) is characterized by crops of vesicles on oral or genital sites.
Measles (choice D) causes a blotchy, maculopapular erythematous rash that begins on the face and spreads downward. Patients with measles are usually much sicker than those with German measles, and Koplik spots maybe seen on the buccal mucosa.
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8>The correct answer is A. In a syndrome called cleidocranial dysostosis, absence of part of the clavicles accompanies a broad skull, and facial and dental anomalies. Note that you could also have answered this question by noting that of the bones listed, only the clavicles form by intramembranous ossification.
The femurs (choice B), metatarsals (choice C), phalanges (choice D), and tibias (choice E) are cartilaginous (formed by endochondral ossification) rather than membranous bones.
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9>The correct answer is A. Acute pyelonephritis is an infectious disease involving the kidney parenchyma and the renal pelvis. Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Proteus, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter, are the most common causative organisms in acute pyelonephritis. Laboratory evaluation will often reveal leukocytosis with a left shift, and urinalysis typically shows pyuria, varying degrees of hematuria, and white cell casts. Since bacteremia is present, the patient should be hospitalized and empirically started on IV ampicillin and gentamicin. This regimen may be need to be changed, however, once the sensitivity results are available.
Erythromycin (choice B) and tetracycline (choice E) are both bacteriostatic antibiotics and would not be recommended in a patient with a severe infection, such as acute pyelonephritis with bacteremia.
Vancomycin (choice C) is primarily used in the treatment of severe gram-positive infections.
Phenazopyridine (choice D) is a urinary analgesic, and nitrofurantoin (choice D) is a urinary tract anti-infective. Although nitrofurantoin is indicated for the treatment of "mild" cases of pyelonephritis, as well as cystitis, this patient's condition is severe and should be treated with appropriate antibiotics.
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10>The correct answer is C. The fallopian tube is the only structure in the female genital tract with a ciliated columnar epithelium; the beating of the cilia helps move the egg into the uterus. This fact is also sometimes clinically helpful since dilated and deformed fallopian tubes can be microscopically distinguished from cystic ovarian tumors by the presence of the cilia.
The cervix (choice A) and vagina (choice E) are lined by squamous epithelium.
The endometrium (choice B) is lined by columnar epithelium (although a few ciliated cells may be present).
The covering of the ovary (choice D) is cuboidal epithelium, and cysts within the ovary can be lined by cuboidal or non-ciliated columnar epithelium.
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11>The correct answer is B. The description is that of gonadal dysgenesis. In the absence of testosterone, the Wolffian ducts will regress and fail to differentiate into normal male internal reproductive tracts. In the absence of Müllerian regression factor, the Müllerian ducts will automatically differentiate into oviducts and a uterus. Differentiation of the male external genitals is dependent on adequate dihydrotestosterone (via an action of 5 a-reductase on testosterone). In the absence of testosterone, female-type external genitalia will develop.
Selective dysgenesis of the Sertoli cells could produce the situation described in choice A. Normal Leydig cells would secrete testosterone and produce normal male-type internal and external tracts. However, the absence of Müllerian regression factor, which is secreted by the Sertoli cells, would allow formation of female-type internal structures as well.
Female-type internal reproductive tract and male-type external genitalia (choice C) would not be likely to occur under any circumstances.
The situation described in choice D could occur with 5 a-reductase deficiency. Normal male-type internal tracts can form because there is no requirement for dihydrotestosterone. Müllerian regression factor will prevent differentiation of female-type internal tracts. Since differentiation of the normal male external genitals requires dihydrotestosterone, 5 a-reductase deficiency will lead to feminization.
The situation described in choice E is normal, and would not occur in the individual described who has testicular dysgenesis.
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12>The correct answer is B. The functional residual capacity is the amount of air left in the lungs after a normal expiration. Because this volume cannot be expired in its entirety, it cannot be measured by spirometry. Essentially, lung volume that contains the residual volume, which is the amount of air remaining after maximal expiration (e.g., functional residual capacity and total lung capacity), cannot be measured by spirometry. These volumes can be determined using helium dilution techniques coupled with spirometry or body plethysmography.
The expiratory reserve volume (choice A) is the volume of air that can be expired after expiration of a tidal volume.
The inspiratory reserve volume (choice C) is the volume of air that can be inspired after inspiration of a tidal volume.
Tidal volume (choice D) is the amount of air inspired or expired with each normal breath.
Vital capacity (choice E) is the volume of air expired after a maximal inspiration
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13>The correct answer is E. Mastication is a complex process involving alternating elevation, depression, forward movement, and backward movement of the lower jaw. The backward movement step is accomplished by the posterior fibers of the temporalis muscle.
The digastric (choice A) helps to depress the lower jaw during chewing.
The lateral pterygoid (choice B) helps to move the lower jaw forward during chewing.
The medial pterygoid (choice C) helps to elevate the lower jaw during chewing.
The mylohyoid (choice D) helps to depress the lower jaw during chewing.
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14>The correct answer is C. The vignette illustrates a typical presentation for a tumor of the heart. Primary cardiac tumors are rare and usually require an intensive work-up to pinpoint the diagnosis. 75% of primary cardiac tumors are benign and among these, myxoma is the most common. The tumors are usually single; the most common location is the left atrium. They may cause syncopal episodes or even shock and death due to obstruction by a "ball valve" mechanism.
Angiosarcoma (choice A) is a malignant tumor of vascular origin that can occur as a primary cardiac tumor. It is the most common malignant primary cardiac tumor, but it is still very rare. Angiosarcoma usually affects the right side of the heart.
Mesothelioma (choice B) is a benign tumor of mesothelial origin that can rarely present as a primary cardiac tumor. It is usually a small intramyocardial tumor that presents with disturbances of the conduction system of the heart.
Rhabdomyoma (choice D) is a benign tumor of muscle origin. It can occur as a primary cardiac tumor, typically in infants and children, in whom it may be associated with tuberous sclerosis. It usually occurs in the ventricles.
Rhabdomyosarcoma (choice E) is a malignant neoplasm that can also occur as a rare primary cardiac tumor. It is of muscle origin and usually affects the right heart.
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15>The correct answer is A. The pituitary gland is located in the pituitary fossa within the skull. The floor of this fossa is formed by the sella turcica. The lateral walls of the fossa are formed by the cavernous sinuses. The abducens nerve passes through the cavernous sinus along with the internal carotid artery. As the tumor expands laterally, the first nerve that will be encountered is the abducens nerve, producing a lateral rectus palsy.
The oculomotor nerve (choice B) lies in the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. It is further from the pituitary gland than is the abducens nerve.
The optic nerve (choice C) is anterosuperior to the pituitary gland. Upward expansion of the tumor may compress the optic chiasm.
The trigeminal nerve (choice D) is found posterior to the cavernous sinus. Two of its three divisions (ophthalmic and maxillary divisions) pass through the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus and are further from the pituitary gland than is the abducens nerve.
The trochlear nerve (choice E) is also in the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus, and would be affected later if the tumor continued to expand.
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16>The correct answer is A. Mallory bodies are eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions ("alcoholic hyaline") that are found in the largest numbers in alcoholic hepatitis. They were originally considered to be pathognomic of alcohol abuse, but have since been found (in much smaller numbers) in many other liver conditions.
Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (choice B) involvement of the liver is characterized by periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-positive cytoplasmic granules in hepatocytes.
Hepatitis A (choice C) and hepatitis B (choice D) infections are definitively established with serologic markers.
In Wilson's disease (choice E), there is excess copper deposition in the liver
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17>The correct answer is E. In social learning, also known as modeling, behavior is acquired by watching other persons and assimilating their actions into the behavioral repertoire. There is no verbal or cognitive process (choice B) that is involved, no reinforcement (as in operant conditioning; choice D), no pairing of stimuli to get stimulus substitution (as in classical conditioning; choice A), nor any early-life bonding or imprinting (choice C) involved in this type of process. Because behaviors such as spousal abuse, child abuse, and elder abuse are all based on observing and incorporating behaviors from significant others, the person displaying the behaviors does not realize the behaviors are inappropriate and is typically very resistant to change. The fact that the learning is nonverbal and not dependent upon reinforcement contributes to the resistance to change.
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18>The correct answer is B. Sucralfate is a promising drug that is not presently in widespread use because it is incompatible with H2 antagonists such as cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine and nizatidine. Sucralfate is aluminum sucrose sulfate, a sulfated disaccharide, which polymerizes and binds to ulcerated tissue. It forms a protective coating against acid, pepsin and bile, giving the tissue a chance to heal. Unfortunately, a low gastric pH is required for polymerization, meaning that sucralfate is incompatible with drugs that reduce gastric acidity, such as H2 blockers and antacids. The moral of the story is that you cannot assume that two medications that are individually helpful in a medical condition will be synergistic. Learning the mechanisms by which the drugs work will help you spot potential interactions and earn you points on the USMLE.
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19>The correct answer is B. The patient's presentation is consistent with hypothyroidism. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement (choice B) is most likely to confirm the empiric diagnosis. TSH levels usually rise above normal before serum thyroxine (T4; choice C) and serum triiodothyronine (T3; choice D) levels do, even in mild cases of hypothyroidism. Therefore, TSH measurement would be the most accurate test to determine the presence of hypothyroidism regardless of the severity.
A high titer of antithyroid antibodies (choice A) is characteristic of chronic thyroiditis, which is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. However, detection of these antibodies would not indicate if hypothyroidism was present.
T3 resin uptake (choice E) measurement is not an accurate test of thyroid function; it is primarily used to exclude various abnormalities in the thyroid-hormone binding proteins.
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20>The correct answer is A. Warfarin is the oral anticoagulant the patient was most likely taking. This drug is commonly prescribed to patients with atrial fibrillation to prevent the formation of atrial thrombi. Warfarin increases prothrombin time (PT) because it interferes with the synthesis of the vitamin K clotting factors of the liver (II, VII, IX, and X) and therefore necessitates regular monitoring of the PT. Cimetidine is an H2-blocker that inhibits hepatic enzymes, including those that metabolize warfarin. Consequently, coadministration of warfarin and cimetidine results in enhanced warfarin activity, producing pronounced anticoagulation and the bleeding diathesis in the patient in question. Cimetidine has one of the worst side effect profiles of all the H2-blockers and may also result in gynecomastia in men.
Famotidine (choice B) is an H2-blocker that does not affect liver metabolism.
Misoprostol (choice C) is a prostaglandin E1 analog used in peptic ulcer disease. It does not affect hepatic metabolism.
Omeprazole (choice D) is a proton-pump inhibitor used to decrease acid production in patients with peptic ulcer disease or reflux. It does not affect drug metabolism by the liver.
Ranitidine (choice E) is another H2-blocker. It does not inhibit liver enzymes as strongly as cimetidine does.
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21>The correct answer is C. Bullae with the cleavage plane above the basal layer of the epidermis suggests pemphigus vulgaris, which is caused by autoantibodies to intercellular junctions of epidermal cells. The autoantibodies decrease the ability of the keratinocytes to adhere to one another, permitting formation of vesicles and bullae. Oral involvement is common, and often precedes the characteristic skin lesions. Separation of the epidermis upon manual stroking of the skin is known as Nikolsky's sign. This sign is present in other disorders such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, but we are told the woman is not taking any medications, a typical cause of Stevens-Johnson syndrome in the adult population.
Antibodies to epidermal basement membrane proteins (choice A) are seen in bullous pemphigoid, which is a bullous disease characterized by blisters with a cleavage line between the epidermis and dermis.
Antibodies to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (choice B) are seen in autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura.
Antibodies to intrinsic factor (choice D) are seen in pernicious anemia.
Antibodies to Type IV collagen (choice E) are seen in Goodpasture's syndrome.
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22>The correct answer is D. The lesion is a malignant melanoma. Melanomas can develop either de novo or in an existing mole. Sunlight exposure is a significant risk factor and fair-skinned persons are at increased risk of developing melanoma. The most significant factor for long term prognosis is the depth of the lesion, since the superficial dermis lies about 1 mm under the skin surface, and penetration to this depth is associated with a much higher incidence of metastasis than is seen with a more superficial location.
The circumference of the lesion (choice A) is much less important than depth, since one form of melanoma (superficial spreading) can still have good prognosis despite large size, if it has not extended to the depth of the superficial dermal lymphatic bed.
The darkness (choice B) or degree of variation in color (choice C) do not have prognostic significance once melanoma is diagnosed.
Irregularity, or fuzziness at the border (choice E) of a mole-like lesion is a good clue to potential malignancy, but does not affect prognosis once a melanoma is diagnosed.
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23>The correct answer is E. By the third week of development, hematopoiesis begins in the blood islands of the yolk sac. Beginning at 1 month of age and continuing until 7 months of age, blood elements are also formed in the liver. Hematopoiesis occurs in the spleen and lymphatic organs between 2 and 4 months, and in the bone marrow after 4 months.
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24>The correct answer is E. The patient has I-cell disease, also known as mucolipidosis II, which is due to a defective UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase, the enzyme that phosphorylates mannose on enzymes destined for lysosomes. Proteins coded by nuclear DNA are synthesized on cytoplasmic ribosomes, which may be either "free" or associated with the endoplasmic reticulum to form the rough endoplastic reticulum (RER). Proteins synthesized on the RER are transferred into the Golgi apparatus, where they undergo further modifications that determine whether they remain part of the Golgi apparatus, become part of the plasma membrane, or are shipped to lysosomes or mitochondria. Proteins not marked for transport to a specific intracellular site follow the default pathway and are exported into the extracellular compartment. The signal for transport of the acid hydrolases (and probably other enzymes) to the lysosomes is phosphorylation of a terminal mannose moiety on an N-linked oligosaccharide to form mannose 6-phosphate. In I-cell disease, this terminal mannose moiety is not phosphorylated, and the acid hydrolases follow the default pathway and are secreted.
Deficiency of alpha-L-iduronidase results in lysosomal accumulation of dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate (choice A) in several conditions such as mucopolysaccharidosis I, Hurler's disease, or Hurler's/Scheie disease.
Hexosaminidase A deficiency (Tay-Sachs disease) is one example of a condition in which ganglioside accumulation occurs (choice B).
There are a number of diseases in which glycogen degradation (choice C) is defective. These are collectively termed glycogen storage diseases since they result in abnormal cellular accumulation of glycogen. In Pompe's disease, or type II glycogen storage disease, a lysosomal glucosidase is deficient, resulting in lysosomal glycogen accumulation.
Deficiency of sphingomyelinase (choice D), an enzyme involved in degradation of sphingomyelin, results in Niemann-Pick disease.
Phosphorylation of tyrosine moieties (choice F) is unrelated to lysosomes or lysosomal enzymes; however, decreased ability to phosphorylate tyrosine moieties might be associated with diabetes or dwarfism.
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25>The correct answer is E. 95% of a normally distributed population will fall between plus or minus 1.96 standard deviations from the mean. Since the population is normally distributed with regard to IQ, this means that approximately 2.5% of the population will have IQ scores 2 standard deviations or more above the mean, and 2.5% of the population will have IQ scores 2 standard deviations or more below the mean. 2.5% of 200 people is 5 people.
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26>The correct answer is E. All the compounds listed can produce crystals in joint fluid, but only monosodium urate (associated with gout) and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (associated with CPPD crystal deposition disease, also called pseudogout), and to lesser degree basic calcium phosphate (apatite-associated arthropathy), have a high likelihood of being encountered on a step 1 USMLE exam. The crystals described are those of monosodium urate. Be careful not to answer "uric acid" if that is listed as an alternative choice on an exam, since the sodium salt is the predominant species in vivo.
Basic calcium phosphate (choice A) is seen in apatite-associated arthropathy and produces spherical clumps of nonbirefringent submicroscopic crystals.
Calcium oxalate crystals (choice B) are seen in primary oxalosis and are bipyramidal, positively birefringent crystals.
Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals (choice C) are a feature of pseudogout and are rod-to-rhomboidal-shaped, weakly positively birefringent crystals.
Cholesterol crystals (choice D) are seen in chronic and chylous effusions in inflammatory and degenerative arthritis, where they form large, flat, rhomboidal plates with notched corners.
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27>The correct answer is B. The innervation of the tongue is complex. The mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (V3) carries general somatic sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
The maxillary division (V2, choice A) carries somatic sensation from the palate, upper gums, and upper lip.
The facial nerve (VII, choice C) carries taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
The glossopharyngeal nerve (IX, choice D) carries sensation and taste from the posterior one-third of the tongue.
The vagus nerve (X, choice E) carries sensation from the lower pharynx.
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28>The correct answer is B. Brucella abortus produces a chronic, granulomatous disease with caseating granulomas. Most cases occur in four states (Texas, California, Virginia, and Florida), and are associated with cattle, in which it produces spontaneous septic abortions. Most cases of brucellosis produce mild disease or fevers of unknown origin. However, Brucella spp. can infect the cardiovascular system and cause a localized infection. B. abortus is the most common species to cause endocarditis. The aortic valve is most commonly involved, followed by the mitral valve, and then both valves. Most cases of brucellosis are associated with occupational exposure, in persons such as veterinarians, ranchers, and those who handle carcasses.
Bacillus anthracis (choice A) is the causative agent for anthrax. It usually produces cutaneous disease (malignant pustule or eschar) at the site of inoculation in handlers of animal skins. It can also produce a severe hemorrhagic pneumonia (Woolsorter's disease) and septicemia. At-risk groups include those who handle animal carcasses or skins.
Coccidioides immitis (choice C) is a dimorphic fungal disease producing a granulomatous pulmonary syndrome that is more severe in dark-skinned individuals. Disseminated disease occurs most often in Filipinos, Mexicans, and Africans. The infective form is the arthrospore; the diagnostic form in tissue is the spherule containing endospores. The disease is endemic in the San Joaquin River Valley. At-risk groups include military personnel, agricultural workers, construction workers, oil field workers, archaeology students, participants in outdoor sports, and sightseers. Remote infections from fomites (cotton harvested in the Southwestern U.S.) have been reported.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (choice D) is a pleomorphic, gram-negative rod that causes a localized skin infection. It is an occupational disease of fishermen, fish handlers, butchers, meat-processing workers, poultry workers, farmers, veterinarians, abattoir workers, and housewives.
Trichinella spiralis (choice E) is a nematode infection caused by the ingestion of larvae found in undercooked meat. Pork is the most common contaminated meat. However, outbreaks in the northern parts of the U.S. have been associated with eating undercooked infected bear meat. Symptoms include diarrhea, periorbital edema, myositis, fever, and eosinophilia.
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29>The correct answer is B. This patient has Tay-Sachs disease, an autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of hexosaminidase A, which leads to the accumulation of ganglioside GM2 in neurons, producing a degenerative neurologic disease. Children appear normal at birth, but then begin to suffer from diminished responsiveness, deafness, blindness, loss of neurologic function, and seizures. A cherry-red spot on the macula may be seen by ophthalmoscopic examination. Death usually occurs by 4 to 5 years of age. There is no therapy. The incidence is higher among Jews of Eastern European descent. Since the parents must be heterozygotes for the mutant hexosaminidase A allele, they would be expected to have diminished levels of the enzyme.
A defect in the dystrophin (choice A) gene produces Duchenne muscular dystrophy, characterized by onset of weakness in early childhood.
A severe deficiency in HGPRT (choice C) will lead to Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, characterized by excessive uric acid production, mental retardation, spasticity, self-mutilation, and aggressive, destructive behavior.
Deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase (choice D) results in classic phenylketonuria, a disease in which phenylalanine, phenylpyruvate, phenylacetate, and phenyllactate accumulate in plasma and urine. Clinically, there is a musty body odor and mental retardation.
Hypophosphatemic rickets is an X-linked dominant condition causing abnormal regulation of vitamin D3 (choice E) metabolism and defects in renal tubular phosphate transport. Symptoms include growth retardation, osteomalacia, and rickets.
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30>The correct answer is C. The fibrinolytic activity of streptokinase is due to its ability to bind and cleave plasminogen, producing plasmin. Plasmin directly cleaves fibrin, both between and within the fibrin polymers, thus breaking up thrombi and potentially restoring blood flow to ischemic cardiac muscle. This same mechanism of fibrinolysis is shared by urokinase and tissue-plasminogen activator (tPA).
Antithrombin III (choice A) is a coagulation inhibitor that binds to and inactivates thrombin. Antithrombin III is anticoagulant, not fibrinolyti