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Question 1
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A 70-year-old man underwent emergency surgery for an acute abdomen. Following surgery, he was noted to be oliguric. Investigations revealed the following: Sodium 121 mmol/L (137-144) Potassium 6.6 mmol/L (3.5-4.9) Chloride 92 mmol/L (95-107) Urea 17.2 mmol/L (2.5-7.5) Creatinine 250 µmol/L (60-110) pH 7.16 (7.36-7.44) Standard bicarbonate 15.6 mmol/L (20-28). What is the calculated anion gap for this patient?
Your Answer: 20 mmol/L
Explanation:Anion gap is calculated as (Na + K) − (Cl + HCO3). Therefore in this patient, the calculated value is 20 mmol/L. The normal anion gap is between 8-16 mmol/l. The excessive value here reflects the presence of other acidic anions, and in this case with the metabolic acidosis, the constituents may be lactate, etc.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 2
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A 74-year-old retired judge who is known to have Alzheimer's disease is examined in clinic. His latest Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score is 18 out of 30. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment option?
Your Answer: Supportive care + donepezil
Explanation:NICE now recommends the three acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine) as options for managing mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine is reserved for patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Nervous System
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Question 3
Incorrect
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A 42-year-old female presents with a funny bone sensation in her right elbow that is accompanied by numbness and tingling in the 4th and 5th digits. The symptoms are aggravated when the elbow is bent for a prolonged period. Which of the following explains the most likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Lateral epicondylitis
Correct Answer: Cubital tunnel syndrome
Explanation: -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Musculoskeletal System
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Question 4
Incorrect
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A 8-year-old girl with suspected patent foramen ovale, presented with her parents for the confirmation of the diagnosis. Which of the following is the best investigation to confirm the diagnosis?
Your Answer: Bubble Echocardiography
Correct Answer: Transoesophageal Echocardiography
Explanation:A 3-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) provides direct visualization of the entire PFO anatomy and surrounding structures. It allows more accurate diagnosis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular System
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Question 5
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A 37-year-old male patient presented with bilateral kidney stones. He gave a history of sarcoidosis. What is the most probable cause for renal stones?
Your Answer: Hyper calcaemic
Explanation:Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder which may involve the kidneys to a variable degree. Renal calculi have been reported to occur in about 10% of patients with chronic sarcoidosis. Hypercalcaemia due to marked hyperabsorption of dietary calcium, bone resorption and renal tubular calcium reabsorption causes hypercalciuria. Both hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria contribute to nephrolithiasis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 6
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A 55-year-old male underwent a pneumonectomy. Post operatively he was drowsy and found to have a hyponatremia. What would be the most likely reason for his condition?
Your Answer: Removal of hormonally active tumour
Explanation:The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is often associated with small-cell lung carcinoma which manifests as a paraneoplastic disorder. SIADH due to non-small-cell cancer has been shown to be triggered following open surgical procedures, however this is an extremely rare phenomenon.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Respiratory System
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Question 7
Incorrect
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A 42-year-old male patient is admitted with recurrent pancreatitis. He also has a history of parotitis. CT scan is carried out revealing no pancreatic mass, but evidence of widespread lymphadenopathy is seen. Dedicated liver imaging reveals a stricture in the common bile duct but no stones.
What is the most likely diagnosis?Your Answer: Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Correct Answer: IgG4 disease
Explanation:IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a fibro-inflammatory condition that can affect nearly any organ system: the pancreas, biliary tree, salivary glands, periorbital tissues, kidneys, lungs, lymph nodes, meninges, aorta, breast, prostate, thyroid, pericardium, and skin. The histopathological features are similar across organs, regardless of the site. IgG4-RD is analogous to sarcoidosis, in which diverse organ manifestations are linked by similar histopathological characteristics. Raised concentrations of IgG4 in tissue and serum can be helpful in diagnosing IgG4 disease, but neither is a specific diagnostic marker.
Some IgG4-RDs are:
1. Autoimmune pancreatitis
2. Riedel’s Thyroiditis
3. Mediastinal and Retroperitoneal Fibrosis
4. Periaortitis/periarteritis/Inflammatory aortic aneurysm
5. Kuttner Tumour (submandibular glands)
6. IgG4-related Mikulicz disease (lacrimal, parotid, and submandibular glands) -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology & Oncology
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Question 8
Correct
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A 3-year-old child choked on a foreign object, which was removed at the hospital. The parents are now asking for advice on how to manage future occurrences at home. What do you advise?
Your Answer: Turn the child on his back and give thumps
Explanation:Give up to five back blows: hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades. Back blows create a strong vibration and pressure in the airway, which is often enough to dislodge the blockage.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Emergency & Critical Care
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Question 9
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A 65-year-old male with a history of smoking and alcohol was admitted with an ST elevation myocardial infarction. He was obese and lives a sedentary lifestyle. What is the non-pharmacological intervention which will be most helpful to reduce future ischaemic events?
Your Answer: Stopping smoking
Explanation:Stopping smoking is the single most effective non-pharmacological intervention which will reduce future ischaemic events. But the rest of the responses are also important interventions with regards to reducing future ischaemic events.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular System
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Question 10
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A 32-year-old lady is found to be hepatitis B surface antigen positive. This positive result has persisted for more than six months. Hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) is negative. HBV DNA is negative. Her liver function tests are all entirely normal.
Which of the following options would be the best for further management?Your Answer: No antiviral therapy but monitor serology
Explanation:Again, remember the Hepatitis B serologies: In chronic hepatitis B infection, you have +HBsAg, +anti-HBc, (-)IgM antiHBc, and (-) anti-HBs. In acute hepatitis B infection, you have +HBsAg, + anti-HBc, + IgM anti-HBc, and negative anti-HBs. In immunity due to natural infection, you have negative HBsAg, + anti-HBc, and + anti-HBs. In immunity due to vaccination, you have negative HBsAg, negative anti-HBc, and positive anti-HBs. IN THIS CASE, the person is HBsAg+ for 6 months and everything else is negative, normal transaminase. They do not need antiviral therapy, but their serology should be monitored serially. There would be no reason to do a liver biopsy.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastrointestinal System
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Question 11
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A 67-year-old man reports weight loss. Labs show a raised alkaline phosphatase at 290 U/L (normal range 35-120). Plain radiographs reveal sclerotic lesions of the bone. Which of the following is the most likely cause of these findings?
Your Answer: Prostate cancer
Explanation:Osteoblastic (or sclerotic) bony metastases, characterized by deposition of new bone, present in prostate cancer, carcinoid, small cell lung cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma or medulloblastoma. The other cancers listed in the options are osteolytic.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Musculoskeletal System
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Question 12
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A 30-year-old male presented with palpitations for 1 week. The palpitations were intermittent and lasted a few hours per day. Which of the following is the most appropriate management?
Your Answer: 24 hr ECG
Explanation:Palpitations can be due to many reasons. As palpitations are not constant in this case, a 24 hr ECG is important to isolate these episodes and find any cardiac cause. Drugs depend on the cause for the palpitations.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular System
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Question 13
Incorrect
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A 57-year-old architect presents with weakness of the right hand. You note global wasting of the small hand muscles. There is also sensory loss over the medial border of the forearm around the elbow. Which of the following nerve roots is damaged?
Your Answer: C8
Correct Answer: T1
Explanation:This patient has Klumpke’s paralysis due to damage to the T1 nerve root. This root eventually supplies the median and ulnar nerves. The ulnar nerve supplies all of the intrinsic hand muscles except for those of the thenar eminence and the first and second lumbricals, which are innervated by the median nerve.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Nervous System
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Question 14
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A 28-year-old man is investigated for lethargy. His full blood count (FBC) report shows:
Hb: 8.6 g/dL
Plts: 42 x 10^9/L
WCC: 36.4 x 10^9/L
His blood film report reveals 30% myeloblasts with Auer rods. Given the likely diagnosis, which one of the following is associated with a good prognosis?Your Answer: Translocation between chromosome 15 and 17
Explanation:A translocation between chromosome 15 and 17 is seen in acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL), which is known to carry a good prognosis.
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is the acute expansion of the myeloid stem line, which may occur as a primary disease or follow the secondary transformation of a myeloproliferative disorder. It is more common over the age of 45 and is characterized by signs and symptoms largely related to bone marrow failure such as anaemia (pallor, lethargy), frequent infections due to neutropenia (although the total leucocyte count may be very high), thrombocytopaenia (bleeding), ostealgia, and splenomegaly. The disease has poor prognosis if:
The disease has poor prognosis if:
1. Age of the patient >60 years
2. >20% blasts seen after the first course of chemotherapy
3. Chromosomal aberration with deletion of part of chromosome 5 or 7.APL is an aggressive form of AML. It is associated with t(15;17) and has a good prognosis. The general age of presentation is less than that in other types of AML (average age is 25 years old). On blood film, abundant Auer rods are seen with myeloperoxidase staining. Thrombocytopaenia or DIC is seen in patients presenting with this disease.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology & Oncology
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Question 15
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A 72-year-old male presents to the ER with acute chest pain, fever and sweating. ECG shows an acute MI. Which of the following routes will be the most significant in alleviating the patient's pain?
Your Answer: Intravenous
Explanation:The pain of myocardial infarction is usually severe and requires potent opiate analgesia. Intravenous diamorphine 2.5-5 mg (repeated as necessary) is the drug of choice and is not only a powerful analgesic but also has a useful anxiolytic effect.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular System
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Question 16
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A 19-year-old male who is a first year student at university presented in the emergency room with acute disorientation. He was previously relaxed and well. Which of the following is the most likely cause behind his condition?
Your Answer: Drug toxicity
Explanation:History of being well and sudden appearance of agitation and confused state at this age is suggestive of drug intake and toxicity.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Emergency & Critical Care
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Question 17
Incorrect
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A 52-year-old shopkeeper presents with pain in her hands. Examination reveals plaques on the extensor surfaces of her upper limbs and a telescoping deformity of both index fingers. Nails show pitting and horizontal ridging. The patient is most likely suffering from which of the following?
Your Answer: Reactive arthritis
Correct Answer: Arthritis mutilans
Explanation:Arthritis mutilans is a rare (occurs in only 5% of the patients) and extremely severe form psoriatic arthritis characterized by resorption of bones and the consequent collapse of soft tissue. When this affects the hands, it can cause a phenomenon sometimes referred to as ‘telescoping fingers.’ The associated nail changes are also characteristic of arthritis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Musculoskeletal System
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Question 18
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A 23-year-old female is admitted with acute severe asthma. Treatment is initiated with 100% oxygen, nebulised salbutamol and ipratropium bromide nebulisers and IV hydrocortisone. There is no improvement despite initial treatment.
What is the next step in management?Your Answer: IV magnesium sulphate
Explanation:A single dose of intravenous magnesium sulphate is safe and may improve lung function and reduce intubation rates in patients with acute severe asthma. Intravenous magnesium sulphate may also reduce hospital admissions in adults with acute asthma who have had little or no response to standard treatment.
Consider giving a single dose of intravenous magnesium sulphate to patients with acute severe asthma (PEF <50% best or predicted) who have not had a good initial response to inhaled bronchodilator therapy. Magnesium sulphate (1.2-2 g IV infusion over 20 minutes) should only be used following consultation with senior medical staff.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Respiratory System
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Question 19
Incorrect
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A 50-year-old doctor developed a fever of 40.2 °C which lasted for two days. He has had diarrhoea for a day, shortness of breath and dry cough.
His blood results reveal a hyponatraemia and deranged LFTs. His WBC count is 10.4 × 109/L and CX-ray shows bibasal consolidation.
Which treatment would be the most effective for his condition?Your Answer: Ciprofloxacin
Correct Answer: Clarithromycin
Explanation:Pneumonia is the predominant clinical manifestation of Legionnaires disease (LD). After an incubation period of 2-10 days, patients typically develop the following nonspecific symptoms:
Fever
Weakness
Fatigue
Malaise
Myalgia
ChillsRespiratory symptoms may not be present initially but develop as the disease progresses. Almost all patients develop a cough, which is initially dry and non-productive, but may become productive, with purulent sputum and, (in rare cases) haemoptysis. Patients may experience chest pain.
Common GI symptoms include diarrhoea (watery and non bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.Fever is typically present (98%). Temperatures exceeding 40°C occur in 20-60% of patients. Lung examination reveals rales and signs of consolidation late in the disease course.
Males are more than twice as likely as females to develop Legionnaires disease.
Age
Middle-aged and older adults have a high risk of developing Legionnaires disease while it is rare in young adults and children. Among children, more than one third of reported cases have occurred in infants younger than 1 year.Situations suggesting Legionella disease:
-Gram stains of respiratory samples revealing many polymorphonuclear leukocytes with few or no organisms-Hyponatremia
-Pneumonia with prominent extrapulmonary manifestations (e.g., diarrhoea, confusion, other neurologic symptoms)
Specific therapy includes antibiotics capable of achieving high intracellular concentrations (e.g., macrolides, quinolones, ketolides, tetracyclines, rifampicin).
Clarithromycin, a new macrolide antibiotic, is at least four times more active in vitro than erythromycin against Legionella pneumophila. In this study the safety and efficacy of orally administered clarithromycin (500 to 1,000 mg bid) in the treatment of Legionella pneumonia were evaluated.
Clarithromycin is a safe effective treatment for patients with severe chest infections due to Legionella pneumophila. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Respiratory System
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Question 20
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A 70-year-old male came to the OPD with complaints of nocturia, difficulty in initiating urination and continuous dribbling of urine afterwards. A transrectal US guided biopsy was performed and the diagnosis of BPH was made. His TURP was planned. Which of the following electrolyte imbalance is most likely to occur?
Your Answer: Hyponatremia
Explanation:In a TURP procedure, fluid is used to irrigate the bladder and to remove blood clots. IV fluids are also given to the patient post-operatively. These factors will lead to dilutional hyponatremia.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Fluids & Electrolytes
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SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
