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Question 1
Correct
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The neurotransmitter utilised by the Purkinje cells is:
Your Answer: GABA
Explanation:The cerebellar cortex consist of 3 layers: the molecular layer, the granular cell layer and the Purkinje cell layer. Purkinje cells play a fundamental role in controlling motor movement. They release a neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) which exerts inhibitory actions thereby reducing transmission of impulses. These inhibitory functions enable purkinje cells to regulate and coordinate motor movements.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Neurology
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Question 2
Correct
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The pyloric sphincter is largely made up of thickening of
Your Answer: The circular muscle layer
Explanation:The pyloric sphincter, or valve, is a strong ring of smooth muscle (circular muscle layer) at the end of the pyloric canal which lets food pass from the stomach to the duodenum. It controls the outflow of gastric contents into the duodenum. It receives sympathetic innervation from the celiac ganglion.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastrointestinal
- Medicine
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Question 3
Correct
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A 30-year-old male with a history of premature cardiovascular disease in the family has come for review of his lab investigations. His fasting cholesterol is 8.4 mmol/l with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) of 1.6 mmol/l. You elect to commence him on atorvastatin 20 mg PO daily.Which of the following best describes the mechanism of action of the statins?
Your Answer: They inhibit HMG CoA reductase
Explanation:Statins are a selective, competitive inhibitor of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase, which is the enzyme responsible for the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate in the cholesterol synthesis pathway.Statins are usually well tolerated with myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, hepatotoxicity, and diabetes mellitus being the most common adverse reactions. This is the rate-limiting step in cholesterol synthesis, that leads to increased hepatic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors and reduced hepatic VLDL synthesis coupled with increased very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) clearance.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
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Question 4
Correct
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The hyperpolarization phase of pacemaker cells is dominated by ____ current.
Your Answer: K+
Explanation:The hyperpolarization phase is a continuation of the repolarization phase but the membrane potential dips below the resting membrane potential. This results due to the fact that the K+ channels take a longer time to close than the Na+ channels. Hence efflux of the K+ will result in hyperpolarization.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 5
Correct
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Select the correct statement regarding cholecystokinin (CCK):
Your Answer: It causes gallbladder contraction and pancreatic enzyme secretion.
Explanation:CCK has a primary action of increasing the motility of the gallbladder by contracting the muscles in the mucosa of the gall bladder. Apart from this, it augments the action of secretin, resulting in the production of an alkaline pancreatic juice. It increases the synthesis of enterokinase, inhibits gastric emptying and may also enhance the motility of the small intestine and colon. It is released (secreted) by your small intestine during the digestive process. It’s sometimes called pancreozymin.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastrointestinal
- Medicine
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Question 6
Correct
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Which of the following is not a cause of drug-induced hepatitis?
Your Answer: Ethambutol
Explanation:Although rare, ocular toxicity in the form of optic neuritis (most commonly retrobulbar neuritis) has been well documented as a side effect of ethambutol. It is renally excreted and not associated with hepatitis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
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Question 7
Correct
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Which statement about the 2nd heart sound is true?
Your Answer: It is caused by closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves.
Explanation:The second heart sound is produced due to closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves. It is a high pitched dub sound.
Normally the aortic closure sound (A2) occurs prior to the pulmonic closure sound (P2), and the interval between the two (splitting) widens on inspiration and narrows on expiration. With quiet respiration, A2 will normally precede P2 by 0.02 to 0.08 second (mean, 0.03 to 0.04 sec) with inspiration. In younger subjects inspiratory splitting averages 0.04 to 0.05 second during quiet respiration. With expiration, A2 and P2 may be superimposed and are rarely split as much as 0.04 second. If the second sound is split by greater than 0.04 second on expiration, it is usually abnormal. Therefore, the presence of audible splitting during expiration (i.e., the ability to hear two distinct sounds during expiration) is of greater significance at the bedside in identifying underlying cardiac pathology than is the absolute inspiratory increase in the A2–P2 interval.
The respiratory variation of the second heart sound can be categorized as follows: (1) normal (physiologic) splitting; (2) persistent (audible expiratory) splitting, with normal respiratory variation; (3) persistent splitting without respiratory variation (fixed splitting); and (4) reversed (paradoxical) splitting.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 8
Correct
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A 22-year-old female comes to you for counselling regarding the initiation of combined oral contraceptive pill. Which of the following statements is correct?
Your Answer: She will still be protected against pregnancy if she takes amoxicillin for a lower respiratory tract infection while on the combined pill
Explanation:The true statement among the given options is that she will still be protected against pregnancy if she takes amoxicillin for a lower respiratory tract infection while on the combined pill.Other than enzyme-inducing antibiotics such as rifampicin, antibiotics do not reduce the efficacy of the combined oral contraceptive pill.It was previously advised that barrier methods of contraception should be used if taking an antibiotic while using the contraceptive pill, due to concerns that antibiotics might reduce the absorption of the pill. This is now known to be untrue. However, if the absorptive ability of the gut is compromised for another reason, such as severe diarrhoea or vomiting, or bowel disease, this may affect the efficacy of the pill.The exception to the antibiotic rule is that hepatic enzyme-inducing antibiotics such as rifampicin and rifaximin do reduce the efficacy of the pill. Other enzyme-inducing drugs, such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine or St John’s Wort can also reduce the effectiveness of the pill.Other options:The combined pill is often prescribed for women with heavy periods as it can make them lighter and less painful. There is no evidence that women on the combined pill put on any significant weight, although they may experience bloating at certain times in the course. Women on the pill require monitoring of their blood pressure. There are multiple different types of combined pills.
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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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Closure of the tricuspid valve is marked by which of the following features of the jugular venous waveform?
Your Answer: y descent
Correct Answer: c wave
Explanation:The jugular venous pressure (JVP) classically has three upward deflections and two downward deflections. The upward deflections are the a (atrial contraction), c (ventricular contraction and resulting bulging of tricuspid into the right atrium during isovolumetric systole) and v = venous filling. The downward deflections of the wave are the x (the atrium relaxes and the tricuspid valve moves downward) and the y descent (filling of ventricle after tricuspid opening).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 10
Correct
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A 30-year-old agitated male was brought to the emergency department by his friend. Though there is little previous history, the friend believes that he has been suffering from depression for several years, and his medications have been changed by his general practitioner quite recently.On examination the patient is agitated and confused, his pupils are dilated. He also has tremors, excessive sweating, and grinding of teeth. His heart rate is 118 beats/min, which is regular, and is febrile with a temperature of 38.5°C.What is the most probable diagnosis?
Your Answer: Serotonin syndrome
Explanation:The most probable diagnosis in this patient is serotonin syndrome.The serotonin syndrome is a cluster of symptoms and signs (range from barely perceptible tremor to life-threatening hyperthermia and shock). It may occur when SSRIs such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline that impair the reuptake of serotonin from the synaptic cleft into the presynaptic neuron are taken in combination with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants. It has also been reported following an overdose of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) alone.Treatment:Most cases of serotonin syndrome are mild and will resolve with removal of the offending drug alone. After stopping all serotonergic drugs, management is largely supportive and aimed at preventing complications. Patients frequently require sedation, which is best facilitated with benzodiazepines.Antipsychotics should be avoided because of their anticholinergic properties, which may inhibit sweating and heat dissipation.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
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Question 11
Incorrect
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Osteopetrosis occurs as a result of a defect in:
Your Answer: Osteoblast function
Correct Answer: Osteoclast function
Explanation:It is a metabolic bone disease caused by defective osteoclastic resorption of immature bone. Osteopetrosis is also known as marble bone disease. Osteoclasts are unable to adequately acidify bone matrix. Impaired bone resorption leads to overly dense bone that is more likely to fracture. It is usually treated with bone marrow transplant and high dose calcitriol.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Connective Tissue
- Medicine
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Question 12
Correct
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Regarding transportation of iron in the body, the process in which iron is transported from the enterocyte into the blood occurs using which transporter protein:
Your Answer: Ferroportin
Explanation:Divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) transport several divalent metals including iron across the enterocyte’s cell membrane into the cell. The cell can then release it into the body via the only known iron exporter in mammals, ferroportin.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology
- Medicine
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Question 13
Correct
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Where in the gastrointestinal tract are Brunner glands?
Your Answer: Duodenum
Explanation:Brunner’s glands (or duodenal glands) are compound tubular submucosal glands found in that portion of the duodenum which is above the hepatopancreatic sphincter (aka sphincter of Oddi). The main function of these glands is to produce a mucus-rich alkaline secretion (containing bicarbonate) in order to:- protect the duodenum from the acidic content of chyme (which is introduced into the duodenum from the stomach);- provide an alkaline condition for the intestinal enzymes to be active, thus enabling absorption to take place; lubricate the intestinal walls.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastrointestinal
- Medicine
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Question 14
Correct
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Which of the following provides the sympathetic nervous supply to the stomach?
Your Answer: Coeliac plexus
Explanation:Parasympathetic innervation to the stomach is from the vagus nerve and the sympathetic innervation is from the coeliac plexus.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastrointestinal
- Medicine
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Question 15
Correct
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Following an action potential, cytosolic Ca2+ is increased. The binding of free Ca2+ to troponin C results in all of the following except:
Your Answer: Weakening of the troponin i interaction with actin
Explanation:At rest, troponin i is bound to actin and tropomyosin and covers the site where the myosin head interacts with actin. When Calcium enters into the muscle, it binds with troponin C and cause a structural change in troponin i which moves out of the myosin binding site and causes the cross bridges between the actin and myosin filaments to occur.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 16
Correct
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Which of the following enzymes are involved in Phase I drug metabolism?
Your Answer: Alcohol dehydrogenase
Explanation:Drug metabolism can be broadly classified into:Phase I (functionalization) reactions: also termed non-synthetic reactions, they include oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, cyclization and de-cyclization. The most common and vital reactions are oxidation reactions. (Of the given enzymes only Alcohol dehydrogenase is involved in phase I drug metabolism. Succinate dehydrogenase, is a vital enzyme involved in the Kreb’s cycle and the mitochondrial electron transport chain). They are mainly catalysed by Cytochrome P-450 enzyme.Phase II (conjugation) reactions: occur following phase I reactions, they include reactions: glucuronidation and sulphate conjugation, etc. They are mostly catalysed by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzyme. Other phase II enzymes include: sulfotransferases, N-acetyltransferases, glutathione S-transferases and methyltransferases.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
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Question 17
Correct
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A 34-year-old man was brought to the ER following a road-traffic-accident. An X-ray of his left thigh revealed a fractured shaft of the left femur. He has a known history of opioid abuse. You are called to the ward to assess him after he becomes unwell. Which of the following clinical features are NOT compatible with a diagnosis of opioid withdrawal?
Your Answer: Hypothermia
Explanation:Among the options provided, hypothermia is not a symptom of opioid withdrawal.Symptoms of opioid withdrawal include dysphoric mood, yawning, insomnia, muscle aches, lacrimation/rhinorrhoea, papillary dilatation, piloerection, fever, sweating, nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea.If the patient is having an opioid withdrawal reaction, then give 10 mg of methadone syrup and wait about 60 min to determine its effect.COWS (Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale) assessment for opioid withdrawal is commonly used to determine the severity of opioid withdrawal.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
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Question 18
Correct
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In Starling’s law of the heart, the decrease in tension developed by muscle contraction at high degrees of stretch is due to:
Your Answer: Disruption of myocardial fibers
Explanation:Starling law states that the force of contraction is directly proportional to the preload. When the heart muscle is stretched beyond its limit the tension that is developed decreases, this is not due to loss of formation of effective myosin and actin cross bridges. The heart muscles despite being fully stretched is never stretched to this point. The reason for this decreased tension is physical disruption of the myocardial fibers.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 19
Correct
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The structure of haemoglobin A in adults includes
Your Answer: Haem, globin polypeptide chains α and β
Explanation:Haemoglobin A (HbA), also known as adult haemoglobin or α2β2, is the most common human haemoglobin tetramer, comprising over 97% of the total red blood cell haemoglobin. It consists of two alpha chains and two beta chains.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology
- Medicine
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Question 20
Incorrect
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Which one of the following is a cause of a soft second heart sound?
Your Answer: Aortic regurgitation
Correct Answer: Aortic stenosis
Explanation:Second heart sound (S2) forms the dub of lub-dub and is composed of components A2 and P2. • loud: hypertension• soft: AS• fixed split: physiological split (normally occurs during inhalation), right bundle branch block, pulmonary stenosis, and atrial septal defect.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 21
Correct
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The branche(s) of the left coronary artery include:
Your Answer: Left circumflex artery & anterior interventricular artery
Explanation:The left main coronary divides into branches:
1. The left anterior descending artery branches off the left coronary artery and supplies blood to the front of the left side of the heart.
2. The circumflex artery branches off the left coronary artery and encircles the heart muscle.
The anterior interventricular artery is otherwise known as the anterior descending branch. The posterior descending artery comes from Right coronary artery.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 22
Incorrect
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Erythropoietin is synthesized by which cells of the nephron?
Your Answer: Glomerular epithelial cells
Correct Answer: Tubular interstitial cells
Explanation:Erythropoietin is produced by interstitial fibroblasts in the kidney in close association with peritubular capillary and proximal convoluted tubule. It is also produced in perisinusoidal cells in the liver. While liver production predominates in the fetal and perinatal period, renal production is predominant during adulthood.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Renal
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Question 23
Incorrect
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Which of the following hormones cause negative feedback on the CRH/ACTH axis?
Your Answer: Aldosterone
Correct Answer: Cortisol
Explanation:The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, also known as HPA axis is a set of interactions that regulate the secretion of several hormones through negative feedback. Cortisol, for example, is produced by the adrenal cortex, binds to its receptors in the hypothalamus and adenohypophysis and inhibits secretion of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The drop in CRH secretion leads to a decrease in ACTH secretion, which in turn causes less cortisol to be secreted.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrinology
- Medicine
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Question 24
Incorrect
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Physiological effects of T3 on the heart include all the following except:
Your Answer: Increased proportion of α-myosin heavy chain in the atria
Correct Answer: Increased expression of β-myosin heavy chain gene
Explanation:Tri-iodothyronine, also known as T3, is a hormone which can affect almost every system in the human body. In the heart, it increases the number of β1-adrenergic receptors, enhances the response to circulating catecholamines, increases the proportion of α-myosin heavy chains in the atria, and increases the expression of serca pump gene.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrinology
- Medicine
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Question 25
Incorrect
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Concerning protein digestion:
Your Answer: Human pepsinogens can be divided into four immunochemically distinct groups
Correct Answer: Most protein digestion occurs in the duodenum
Explanation:Human pepsinogens can be divided into two immunochemically distinct groups: Pepsinogen I (PG I) and Pepsinogen II (PGII). PG I is secreted mainly by chief cells in the fundic mucosa whereas PGII is secreted by the pyloric glands and the proximal duodenal mucosa. Maximal acid secretion correlates with PG I. Most protein digestion occurs in the duodenum/jejunum. Pepsin functions best in an acidic environment and specifically at a pH of 1.5 to 3.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastrointestinal
- Medicine
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Question 26
Correct
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Where is the site of action of spironolactone?
Your Answer: Distal convoluted tubule
Explanation:Spironolactone is an aldosterone antagonist which acts in the distal convoluted tubule. It is a potassium-sparing diuretic that prevents the body from absorbing too much salt and keeps the potassium levels from getting too low. Spironolactone is used to treat heart failure, high blood pressure (hypertension), or hypokalaemia (low potassium levels in the blood).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Pharmacology
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Question 27
Correct
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Where does the SA node develop?
Your Answer: From structures on the right side of the embryo.
Explanation:The SA node develops from the right side of the embryo and the AV node from the left. This is the reason why in adults the right vagus supplies the SA node and the left vagus supplies the AV node.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Medicine
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Question 28
Correct
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The thalamic nuclei that project over wide regions of the neocortex are:
Your Answer: Specific relay nuclei
Explanation:The thalamus is considered the relay station for sensory and motor stimuli. There are three basic types of thalamic nuclei: relay nuclei, association nuclei and non-specific nuclei. Relay nuclei receive very well defined inputs and project this signal to functionally distinct areas of the cerebral cortex. These include the nuclei that relay primary sensations and also the nuclei involved in feedback of cerebellar signals and basal gangliar output.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Medicine
- Neurology
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Question 29
Correct
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Which of the following statements is true of the beta- lactams:
Your Answer: Co-amoxiclav is more likely to cause obstructive jaundice than amoxicillin
Explanation:β-lactam antibiotics are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics, consisting of all antibiotic agents that contain a β-lactam ring in their molecular structures. This includes penicillin derivatives (penams), cephalosporins (cephems), monobactams, and carbapenems. Most β-lactam antibiotics work by inhibiting cell wall biosynthesis in the bacterial organism and are the most widely used group of antibiotics. Bacteria often develop resistance to β-lactam antibiotics by synthesizing a β-lactamase, an enzyme that attacks the β-lactam ring. To overcome this resistance, β-lactam antibiotics are often given with β-lactamase inhibitors such as clavulanic acid. Immunologically mediated adverse reactions to any β-lactam antibiotic may occur in up to 10% of patients receiving that agent (a small fraction of which are truly IgE-mediated allergic reactions). Rarely, cholestatic jaundice has been associated with Co-amoxiclav (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid). The reaction may occur up to several weeks after treatment has stopped, and usually takes weeks to resolve. It is more frequent in men, older people, and those who have taken long courses of treatment; the estimated overall incidence is one in 100,000 exposures.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Infectious Diseases
- Medicine
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Question 30
Correct
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A 38-year-old woman has a melanocytic naevi on her left forearm.Which of the following features do not suggest malignant change?
Your Answer: Decrease in size
Explanation:Melanocytic nevi are benign neoplasms or hamartomas composed of melanocytes. Melanocytes are derived from the neural crest and migrate during embryogenesis to selected ectodermal sites (primarily the skin and the CNS), but also to the eyes and the ears.They tend to appear during early childhood and during the first 30 years of life. They may change slowly, becoming raised, changing color or gradually fading.. Pregnancy can increase the number of naevi as well as the degree of hyperpigmentation.They may become malignant and this should be suspected if the naevus increases in size, develops an irregular surface or becomes darker, itches or bleeds.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Dermatology
- Medicine
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SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
