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Question 1
Correct
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The hippocampus is involved in the memory of:
Your Answer: Facts
Explanation:The hippocampus plays an important role in forming new memories about experienced events. Some researchers say that hippocampus plays a major role in declarative memory for example memory of facts.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Neurology
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Question 2
Incorrect
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Neutrophils are key components of the innate immune system. They contain numerous primary and secondary granules involved in killing and digesting microorganisms. With regard to defensins, they are:
Your Answer: Part of an oxygen-dependent bactericidal system
Correct Answer: Naturally occurring cysteine-rich antibacterial and antifungal polypeptides
Explanation:Cationic antimicrobial peptides, including defensins, cathelicidins, and thrombocidins, provide important initial defences against invading microbes. These peptides bind the bacterial membrane and form pores, killing the bacterium by hypo-osmotic lysis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Immunology
- Medicine
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Question 3
Incorrect
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Which one of the following skin disorders is least commonly associated with hypothyroidism?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Pretibial myxoedema
Explanation:Pretibial myxoedema is an infiltrative dermopathy, resulting as a rare complication of Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism) and very occasionally occurs in non-thyrotoxic Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Hypothyroidism typically presents with symptoms such as dry skin, brittle hair, and thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows. While skin conditions like dryness and hair changes are common in hypothyroidism due to reduced metabolic activity, acne is also not typically associated with it.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrinology
- Medicine
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Question 4
Incorrect
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The length of DNA is generally measured in terms of the number of:
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Base pairs
Explanation:As DNA is made up of nucleotides, its length is measured by the number of base pairs in the DNA molecules.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Genetics
- Medicine
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Question 5
Incorrect
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Which of the following features occurs very less frequently with drug induced lupus?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Glomerulonephritis
Explanation:Drug induced lupus typically presents with pulmonary involvement and no renal or neurological involvement. Hence glomerulonephritis would be highly unlikely in this case. Rash and arthralgias are classic presentations. Pleurisy can be present as pulmonary involvement may occur with DILE.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Connective Tissue
- Medicine
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Question 6
Incorrect
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Compact/cortical bone makes up
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: The outer layer of most bones and accounts for 80% of bone in the body
Explanation:Cortical, lamellar, or compact bone, is more dense than spongy bone and it forms the rigid, outer layer of bones, also called cortex. It consists of packed osteons, with a central osteonic canal surrounded by concentric rings. Spaces called lacunae are filled with osteocytes, and channels called canaliculi go from the lacunae to the osteonic canal. The strength of cortical bone allows it to support the body and protect organs. It also stores different elements, such as calcium.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrinology
- Medicine
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Question 7
Incorrect
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“Ploidy” is a term used to refer to the number of chromosomes in cells. Cancer cells are commonly:
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Aneuploidy
Explanation:Cancer cells most commonly undergo disordered cell growth and cell division. This results in an additional number of chromosomes called aneuploidy. This is a characteristic of cancer cells along with variation in differentiation of the cells.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Genetics
- Medicine
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Question 8
Incorrect
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A 48-year-old male with a history of bipolar disorder presents with acute confusion. In-transit to hospital he had a generalized seizure which terminated spontaneously after around 30 seconds. On arrival to the emergency department, his GCS is 14/15 and he is noted to have a coarse tremor. Suspecting a diagnosis of lithium toxicity, intravenous access is obtained, a blood sample was drawn for investigations and a saline infusion is started. The blood investigations revealed:Lithium level: 4.2 mmol/lNa+: 136 mmol/lK+: 4.6 mmol/lUrea: 8.1 mmol/lCreatinine: 99 µmol/lBicarbonate: 18 mmol/lWhat is the most appropriate management for the patient?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Arrange haemodialysis
Explanation:The presentation of the patient is typical of chronic lithium toxicity (due to the presence of mainly neurological manifestations). Additional to the blood investigations mentioned, urine analysis, electrolyte levels, and renal function should also be performed. A low urine Anion gap and a low urine specific gravity are highly suggestive of lithium toxicity.ECG obtained in this patient is likely to show: nonspecific, diffuse ST segment depression with T wave inversion.Acute lithium toxicity presents with more GI manifestations while, the clinical features of chronic lithium toxicity are mainly neurological and can include:Coarse tremors (fine tremors are seen in therapeutic levels), hyperreflexia, acute confusion, seizures, and coma.The management of lithium toxicity is as follows:Immediate GI decontamination with gastric lavage (in case of acute intoxication)Saline Administrations: the goal of saline administration is to restore GFR, normalize urine output and enhance lithium clearance.Haemodialysis remains the mainstay treatment for lithium toxicity as lithium is readily dialyzed because of water solubility, low volume of distribution, and lack of protein binding.The Extracorporeal Treatments in Poisoning Workgroup (EXTRIP Workgroup) recommendations for dialysis (extracorporeal treatment) in lithium toxicity include:• Impaired kidney function and lithium levels > 4.0 mEq/L• Decreased consciousness, seizures, or life-threatening dysrhythmias, regardless of lithium levels• Levels are > 5.0 mEq/L, significant confusion is noted, or the expected time to reduce levels to < 1.0 mEq/L is more than 36 hoursAs post-dialysis rebound elevations in lithium levels have been documented, continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) has been advocated.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
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Question 9
Incorrect
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Question 10
Incorrect
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What is pendrin?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Cl-/i- antiporter
Explanation:Pendrin is an anion exchange transporter; it is a sodium-independent chloride-iodine exchanger which also accepts formate and bicarbonate. It is present in many different types of cells in the body, particularly the inner ear, thyroid, and kidney. Mutations in pendrin are associated with Pendred syndrome, which causes syndromic deafness and thyroid disease.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrinology
- Medicine
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Question 11
Incorrect
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von Willebrand factor stabilises which clotting factor?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Factor VIII
Explanation:Von Willebrand factor’s primary function is binding to other proteins, in particular factor VIII, and it is important in platelet adhesion to wound sites. It is not an enzyme and, thus, has no catalytic activity. Factor VIII degrades rapidly when not bound to vWF. Factor VIII is released from vWF by the action of thrombin.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology
- Medicine
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Question 12
Incorrect
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A 30-year-old male is brought to the emergency department following his collapse in a night club. His friends who accompanied him admit that, of recent, he has been using increasing amounts of cocaine. Which among the following is commonly associated with cocaine overdose?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Metabolic acidosis
Explanation:Metabolic acidosis is associated with cocaine overdose. In overdose, cocaine leads to agitation, tachycardia, hypertension, sweating, hallucinations, and finally convulsions. Metabolic acidosis, hyperthermia, rhabdomyolysis, and ventricular arrhythmias also occur.Chronic use may be associated with premature coronary artery disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, and increased risk of cerebral haemorrhage.There are 3 stages for acute cocaine toxicity:Stage I: CNS symptoms of headache, vertigo, pseudo hallucinations, hyperthermia, hypertension. Stage II: increased deep tendon reflexes, tachypnoea, irregular breathing, hypertension.Stage III: Areflexia, coma, fixed and dilated pupils, hypotension, ventricular fibrillation, apnoea, and respiratory failure.Treatment:- Airway, breathing, and circulation to be secured. The patient’s fever should be managed, and one should rule out hypoglycaemia as a cause of the neuropsychiatric symptoms. – Cardiovascular toxicity and agitation are best-treated first-line with benzodiazepines to decrease CNS sympathetic outflow.- The mixed beta/alpha blocker labetalol is safe and effective for treating concomitant cocaine-induced hypertension and tachycardia.- Non-dihydropyridine calcium channels blockers such as diltiazem and verapamil have been shown to reduce hypertension reliably, but not tachycardia. – Dihydropyridine agents such as nifedipine should be avoided, as reflex tachycardia may occur. – The alpha-blocker phentolamine has been recommended but only treats alpha-mediated hypertension and not tachycardia.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
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Question 13
Incorrect
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A 50-year-old farmer, under treatment for depression, presents to the emergency department following an intentional overdose of an unidentified substance. On examination, he was found to be bradycardic, hypotensive, hyper-salivating, and disoriented. On ocular examination, his pupils were found to be miotic. What is the most likely substance he ingested?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: An organophosphate insecticide
Explanation:The farmer has most likely ingested an organophosphate insecticide.Organophosphorus compounds are used widely as:• Insecticides – Malathion, parathion, diazinon, dichlorvos• Nerve gases – Soman, sarin, tabun, VX• Ophthalmic agents – Echothiophate• Antihelmintics – Trichlorfon• Herbicides – merphos• Industrial chemical (plasticizer) – Tricresyl phosphateSigns and symptoms of Organophosphorus Poisoning (OPP) can be classified as:• Muscarinic effects:o Cardiovascular – Bradycardia, hypotensiono Respiratory – Rhinorrhoea, bronchorrhea, bronchospasm, cough, severe respiratory distresso Gastrointestinal – Hypersalivation, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, faecal incontinenceo Genitourinary – Incontinenceo Ocular – Blurred vision, miosiso Glands – Increased lacrimation, diaphoresis• Nicotinic effects:o Muscle fasciculation, weakness, cramping, diaphragmatic failure, and autonomic side effects include: hypertension, tachycardia, and mydriasis.• Central nervous system (CNS) effects:o Anxiety, emotional lability, restlessness, confusion, ataxia, tremors, seizures, coma, apnoeaMainstay Treatment:• Decontamination• Securing Airway, Breathing and Circulation• Atropine• Pralidoxime• Benzodiazepines
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
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Question 14
Incorrect
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In the event of an overdose, haemodialysis is ineffective as a treatment modality for which of the following drugs?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Tricyclics
Explanation:Tricyclic compounds can’t be cleared by haemodialysis.Drugs that can be cleared with haemodialysis include: (BLAST)- Barbiturate- Lithium- Alcohol (inc methanol, ethylene glycol)- Salicylates- Theophyllines (charcoal hemoperfusion is preferable)Drugs which cannot be cleared with haemodialysis include:- Tricyclics- Benzodiazepines- Dextropropoxyphene (Co-proxamol)- Digoxin- Beta-blockers
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
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Question 15
Incorrect
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Which of the following is a form of synaptic plasticity?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Working memory
Explanation:Synaptic plasticity is an important neurochemical foundation of working memory and generation of memory. Synaptic plasticity is the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time in response to increases or decreases in their activity.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Neurology
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Question 16
Incorrect
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The spinothalamic tracts are particularly concerned with:
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Pain and temperature sensations
Explanation:The spinothalamic tracts are part of the anterolateral system in the spinal cord and are responsible for transmitting sensory information related to pain, temperature, and crude touch from the peripheral nervous system to the thalamus in the brain. This sensory information is then relayed to the cerebral cortex for processing. The spinothalamic tracts are divided into two main pathways:
- Lateral spinothalamic tract: Transmits pain and temperature sensations.
- Anterior spinothalamic tract: Transmits crude touch and pressure sensations.
Control of posture: The reticulospinal and vestibulospinal tracts are primarily involved in the control of posture and balance. These tracts originate in the brainstem and help maintain posture by influencing the motor neurons that control axial and proximal muscles.
Voluntary skilled movements: The corticospinal tracts (also known as the pyramidal tracts) are responsible for voluntary skilled movements. These tracts originate in the motor cortex and descend through the brainstem and spinal cord to synapse on motor neurons that control fine motor movements, especially of the distal limbs.
Muscular tone: Muscular tone is primarily regulated by several tracts, including the reticulospinal and vestibulospinal tracts. Additionally, the rubrospinal tract (originating from the red nucleus in the midbrain) also contributes to motor control and muscle tone, particularly of the upper limbs.
Visual input: The optic tracts and pathways (including the optic nerve, optic chiasm, optic tract, lateral geniculate nucleus, and optic radiations) are responsible for transmitting visual information from the retina to the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe. This pathway processes visual input, including aspects such as color, motion, and depth perception.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Neurology
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Question 17
Incorrect
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Presence of which of the following indicates a worse prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Anti-CCP antibodies
Explanation:Rheumatoid arthritis is both common and chronic, with significant consequences for multiple organ systems. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody testing is particularly useful in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, with high specificity, presence early in the disease process, and ability to identify patients who are likely to have severe disease and irreversible damage. However, its sensitivity is low, and a negative result does not exclude disease. Anti-CCP antibodies have not been found at a significant frequency in other diseases to date, and are more specific than rheumatoid factor for detecting rheumatoid arthritis. The other factors that are mentioned do not play a key prognostic role.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Connective Tissue
- Medicine
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Question 18
Incorrect
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All of the following are Vitamin K-dependent clotting factors except:
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Factor XI
Explanation:Activated Vitamin K is used to gamma carboxylate (and thus activate) certain enzymes involved in coagulation: Factors II, VII, IX, X, and protein C and protein S. Inability to activate the clotting cascade via these factors leads to the bleeding symptoms
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology
- Medicine
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Question 19
Incorrect
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Intermediate filaments achieve cell to cell contact via:
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Desmosomes
Explanation:At the plasma membrane, some keratins interact with desmosomes (cell-cell adhesion) and hemidesmosomes (cell-matrix adhesion) via adapter proteins.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Biology
- Medicine
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Question 20
Incorrect
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Which one of the following ECG findings is least associated with digoxin use?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Prolonged QT interval
Explanation:Digoxin ECG features:• ST depression (‘reverse tick’)• flattened/inverted T waves• Prolonged PR interval• short QT interval• arrhythmias e.g. AV block, bradycardia, ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (for example paroxysmal atrial tachycardia with A-V block – so-called PAT with block) is said to be pathognomonic (i.e. diagnostic) of digoxin toxicity.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 21
Incorrect
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A 70-year-old man presents with nocturia, hesitancy and terminal dribbling of urine. Prostate examination reveals a moderately enlarged prostate with no irregular features and a well-defined median sulcus. Blood investigations show a PSA level of 1.3 ng/mL. Among the options provided below what is the most appropriate management for this patient?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Alpha-1 antagonist
Explanation:Benign Prostatic Enlargement or Hyperplasia (BPE/BPH) is the most probable diagnosis of the patient in question. It is a histological diagnosis characterized by proliferation of the cellular elements of the prostate. The initial treatment modality of choice is selective alpha 1 antagonists (such as Prazosin, Alfuzosin and Indoramin, and long acting agents like, Terazosin, Doxazosin, etc.) as they provide immediate relief from the bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).Other treatment modalities include:• Non-selective alpha blockers: no longer used due to severe adverse effects and the availability of selective alpha 1 blockers.• 5 alpha reductase inhibitors: Finasteride and Dutasteride, they target the underlying disease process and reduce the overall prostate volume. Thus, reduce the urinary retention and the lower urinary tract symptoms. (They do not provide immediate relief from LUTS and thus are not preferred as first line drugs over alpha 1 antagonists)• PDE-5 Inhibitors: The long-acting tadalafil has proven to be useful.• Surgical Treatment modalities: TURP, Prostatectomy, etc.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
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Question 22
Incorrect
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The parasympathetic function of the facial nerve is:
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Secretion of tears from lacrimal glands, secretion of saliva from the sublingual and submandibular salivary glands.
Explanation:Facial nerve (Cranial Nerve VII) has both sensory and motor components so it is a mixed nerve. It carries axons of:General somatic afferent – to skin and the posterior earGeneral visceral efferent – which innervate sublingual, submandibular and lacrimal glands and the mucosa of the nasal cavity.General visceral afferent – provide sensation to soft palate and parts of the nasal cavity.Special visceral efferent – innervate muscles of facial expression and stapedius, the posterior belly of the digastric and the stylohyoid musclesSpecial visceral afferent – provide taste to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue via chorda tympani.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Neurology
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Question 23
Incorrect
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The Plateau phase in myocyte action potentials does all of the following except:
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: It allows early reactivation of the myocytes
Explanation:The presence of the plateau in the action potential causes ventricular contraction to last as much as 15 times longer in cardiac muscle as in skeletal muscle. The plateau phase which follows is unique to myocytes and results from a small, but sustained inward calcium current through L-type calcium channels lasting 200-400 ms. This calcium influx is caused by a combined increase in permeability of the cell and especially the sarcolemmal membranes to calcium. This plateau (refractory) phase prevents early reactivation of the myocytes and directly determines the strength of contraction.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 24
Incorrect
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A 50-year-old man is admitted with nausea and excessive drowsiness after taking an antihistamine tablet with grapefruit juice. Which of the following liver enzyme systems is affected by grapefruit juice causing the given side effect?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Cytochrome p450 3A4
Explanation:The cytochrome p450 3A4 enzyme system in the liver is affected by grapefruit juice. Patients taking antihistamines should be advised to avoid drinking grapefruit juice. This is because constituents of grapefruit juice such as naringin and bergamottin inhibit CYP3A4 in the liver, particularly at high doses, leading to decreased drug elimination via hepatic metabolism and can increase potential drug toxicities. Inhibition of this enzyme system leads to reduced metabolism of antihistamines leading to an increased incidence of side effects like excessive drowsiness and nausea as in this patient.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
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Question 25
Incorrect
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Question 26
Incorrect
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Pendrin is a Cl-/I- exchanger whose function is:
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Transfer of iodide across the thyrocyte apical membrane into the colloid
Explanation:Pendrin is an anion transporter present in the inner ear, thyroid and kidney. It regulates the entrance of iodide from the thyroid cell to the colloid space. It has been proposed that its role could be the maintenance of the ionic composition of the endolymph.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrinology
- Medicine
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Question 27
Incorrect
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Question 28
Incorrect
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Calcium needed for cardiac muscle contraction is made available during which phase of the action potential?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: 2
Explanation:It is made available during the plateau phase of the action potential i.e. phase 2. During the plateau phase of the action potential, Calcium from the extracellular fluid enters through the L type of calcium channels. This entry triggers the release of more calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum via the ryanodine receptors.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 29
Incorrect
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Phosphorylation of glucose once it enters the cell is catalysed by which enzyme?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Hexokinase
Explanation:Glucose 6-phosphate is produced by phosphorylation of glucose on the sixth carbon. This is catalysed by the enzyme hexokinase in most cells. One molecule of ATP is consumed in this reaction.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Metabolism
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Question 30
Incorrect
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A 68 year old female is on long term prednisolone therapy for polymyalgia rheumatica. Which of the following would be the most suitable protection against osteoporosis?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Oral bisphosphonate
Explanation:Prevention of osteoporosis associated with chronic glucocorticoid therapy is done by administrating bisphosphonates. Oral bisphosphonates are indicated for patients aged above 65 who have been on steroid therapy for over 3 months, so as to reduce the risk of steroid induced osteoporosis. HRT is usually done in post menopausal women who have oestrogen related bone resorption.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Connective Tissue
- Medicine
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SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
