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Question 1
Correct
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In a young, sexually active male, what is the most common cause of non-gonococcal urethritis?
Your Answer: Chlamydia
Explanation:Non-gonococcal urethritis is most commonly caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (50% cases). Less common organisms include Mycoplasma genitalium, Urea urealyticum and Trichomonas vaginalis. Chlamydia is also the commonest cause of non-gonococcal cervicitis in women and proctitis in both sexes.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 2
Incorrect
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A 30-year-old man is brought to the emergency department suffering from extreme dehydration, and subsequent hypotension and tachycardia. Which part of the kidney will compensate for this loss?
Your Answer: Proximal convoluted tubule
Correct Answer: Collecting ducts
Explanation:The collecting duct system of the kidney consists of a series of tubules and ducts that physically connect nephrons to a minor calyx or directly to the renal pelvis. The collecting duct system is the last component of the kidney to influence the body’s electrolyte and fluid balance. In humans, the system accounts for 4–5% of the kidney’s reabsorption of sodium and 5% of the kidney’s reabsorption of water. At times of extreme dehydration, over 24% of the filtered water may be reabsorbed in the collecting duct system.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 3
Correct
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Which of these conditions causes haematuria, hypertension and proteinuria in children, usually after a streptococcal infection?
Your Answer: Acute nephritic syndrome
Explanation:Nephritic syndrome (or acute nephritic syndrome) is a syndrome comprising of signs of nephritis. Children between 2 and 12 are most commonly affected, but it may occur at any age. Predisposing factors/causes include:
Infections with group A streptococcal bacteria (acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis).
Primary renal diseases: immunoglobulin A nephropathy, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, idiopathic rapidly progressive crescentic glomerulonephritis.
Secondary renal diseases: subacute bacterial endocarditis, infected ventriculo–peritoneal shunt, glomerulonephritis with visceral abscess, glomerulonephritis with bacterial, viral or parasitic infections.
Multisystem diseases.
By contrast, nephrotic syndrome is characterized by only proteins moving into the urine.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 4
Incorrect
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A 55-year old lady underwent a major surgery for repair of an aortic aneurysm. Her blood pressure was low throughout the intra-operative and the post-operative period, along with increasing serum creatinine and urea. Microscopic examination of her urine showed multiple granular and hyaline casts. What is the likely condition the patient is suffering from?
Your Answer: Nodular glomerulosclerosis
Correct Answer: Acute tubular necrosis
Explanation:The most common predisposing factor leading to acute tubular necrosis is ischemia, typically seen in hospitalized patients with low blood pressure.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 5
Correct
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Renal function is an indication of the state of the kidney, measured by glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In a healthy person, GFR would be greatly increased by:
Your Answer: Substantial increases in renal blood flow
Explanation:An increase in the rate of renal blood flow (RBF) greatly increases the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The more plasma available (from increased RBF), the more filtrate is formed. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the volume of fluid filtered from the renal (kidney) glomerular capillaries into the Bowman’s capsule per unit time. Central to the physiologic maintenance of GFR is the differential basal tone of the afferent and efferent arterioles.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 6
Incorrect
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A 54-year-old woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is diagnosed with respiratory acidosis. The patient’s renal excretion of potassium would be expected to:
Your Answer: Rise, since acidosis increases the affinity of the aldosterone receptor for aldosterone
Correct Answer: Fall, since tubular secretion of potassium is inversely coupled to acid secretion
Explanation:Respiratory acidosis is a medical emergency in which decreased ventilation (hypoventilation) increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood and decreases the blood’s pH (a condition generally called acidosis). Secretion of acid and potassium by the renal tubule are inversely related. So, increased excretion of H+ during renal compensation for respiratory acidosis will result in decreased secretion (or increased retention) of potassium ions, with the result that the body’s potassium store rises. An increase in K+ excretion would be associated with renal compensation for respiratory alkalosis. The filtered load of K+depends only on K+ plasma concentration and glomerular filtration rate, not on plasma pH.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 7
Correct
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A 45-year-old man presented to the doctor complaining of a flank pain and episodes of haematuria. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a left renal mass and the patient underwent a nephrectomy. Histopathological pattern was triphasic with blastemal, epithelial, and stromal components. The pathologist suggested the tumour resulted from the lack of a tumour suppressor gene on chromosome 11. Which of the following tumours is the pathologist most likely suggesting?
Your Answer: Wilms’ tumour
Explanation:Wilms’ tumour is one of the most common malignant tumours of childhood but it can also rarely be found in adults. In biopsy, classical histopathological findings include the triphasic pattern composed by blastemal, epithelial, and stromal elements. First symptoms in children include an abdominal palpable mass, while in adults pain and haematuria are the most common complaints. Deletions of tumours’ suppressor genes on chromosome 11 are usually associated with Wilms’ tumour.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 8
Incorrect
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Diuretics that act on the ascending limb of the loop of Henle produce:
Your Answer: Reduced absorption of water
Correct Answer: Reduced active transport of sodium
Explanation:The loop of Henlé leads from the proximal convoluted tubule to the distal convoluted tubule. Its primary function uses a counter current multiplier mechanism in the medulla to reabsorb water and ions from the urine. It can be divided into four parts:
1. Descending limb of loop of Henlé – low permeability to ions and urea, while being highly permeable to water
2. Thin ascending limb of loop of Henlé – not permeable to water, but it is permeable to ions
3. Medullary thick ascending limb of loop of Henlé – sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and chloride (Cl–) ions are reabsorbed by active transport. K+ is passively transported along its concentration gradient through a K+ channel in the basolateral aspect of the cells, back into the lumen of the ascending limb.
4. The cortical thick ascending limb – the site of action where loop diuretics such as furosemide block the K+/Na+/2Cl− co-transporters = reduced active transport.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 9
Correct
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A medical student is told a substance is freely filtered but is not metabolised, secreted, or stored in the kidney. It has a plasma concentration of 1000 mg/l and its urine excretion rate is 25 mg/min, and the inulin clearance is 100 ml/min. What is the rate of tubular reabsorption of the substance?
Your Answer: 75 mg/min
Explanation:Reabsorption or tubular reabsorption is the process by which the nephron removes water and solutes from the tubular fluid (pre-urine) and returns them to the circulating blood. To calculate the reabsorption rate of substance Z we use the following equation: excretion = (filtration + secretion) – reabsorption. As this substance is freely filtered, its filtration rate is equal to that of inulin. So 25 = (100 + 0) – reabsorption. Reabsorption = 100 – 25 therefore reabsorption = 75 mg/min.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 10
Correct
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A 7-year-old girl is given cephalexin to treat an infection and develops hives, with localised facial oedema. Which of the following conditions will cause localised oedema?
Your Answer: Angio-oedema
Explanation:Angio-oedema, is the rapid swelling of the skin, mucosa and submucosal tissues. The underlying mechanism typically involves histamine or bradykinin. The version related to histamine is to due an allergic reaction to agents such as insect bites, food, or medications. The version related to bradykinin may occur due to an inherited C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency, medications e.g. angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, or a lymphoproliferative disorder.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 11
Correct
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A 76-year-old woman is diagnosed with diabetes mellitus after a urine test revealed she has glucosuria. Glucosuria may occur due to inadequate glucose reabsorption at:
Your Answer: Proximal convoluted tubule
Explanation:Glucose is reabsorbed almost 100% via sodium–glucose transport proteins (apical) and GLUT (basolateral) in the proximal convoluted tubule. Glycosuria or glucosuria is a condition of osmotic diuresis typical in those suffering from diabetes mellitus. Due to a lack of insulin, plasma glucose levels are above normal. This leads to saturation of receptors in the kidneys and glycosuria usually at plasma glucose levels above 11 mmol/l. Rarely, glycosuria is due to an intrinsic problem with glucose reabsorption within the kidneys (such as Fanconi syndrome), producing a condition termed renal glycosuria.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 12
Incorrect
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What is the normal glomerular filtration rate?
Your Answer: 50 mL/min
Correct Answer: 125 mL/min
Explanation:The normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in humans is 125 mL/min. After the age of 40, GFR decreases progressively by about 0.4–1.2 mL/min per year.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 13
Incorrect
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A 62-year-old woman presented to the doctor complaining of spine pain, fatigue and oliguria. She is diagnosed with chronic renal failure. Dipstick testing shows no protein, glucose, nitrite or ketones but a semi-quantitative sulphosalicylic acid test for urine protein is positive. Which of the following is the most probable cause of chronic renal failure in this patient.
Your Answer: Systemic lupus erythematosus
Correct Answer: Multiple myeloma
Explanation:Dipstick results are negative because the proteins found in the urine of this patient are not albumin but Bence Jones proteins. A Bence Jones protein is a monoclonal globulin protein commonly detected in patients affected by multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a malignancy of plasma cells characterised by the production of monoclonal immunoglobulin. Symptoms include bone pain, bone fractures, bleeding, neurologic symptoms, fatigue, frequent infections and weight loss.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 14
Correct
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A 60-year old gentleman visited his general practitioner complaining of high grade fever for 7 days and a dull, aching pain in his left lumbar region. On enquiry, he admitted to having a burning sensation while passing urine. His blood results showed an elevated white blood cell count with a left shift. In his condition, which is the most characteristic finding on urine examination?
Your Answer: White blood cell casts
Explanation:Tubulointerstitial nephritis is the term given to primary injury to renal tubules and the renal interstitium, which ultimately results in a decline in renal function. Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (acute pyelonephritis) is often seen as a result of infection or drug reactions. The most characteristic feature of this condition on urine analysis is the presence of white blood cell casts.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 15
Correct
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A 45-year old gentleman presented to the emergency department at 5.00 AM with pain in his left flank. The pain began suddenly and presented in waves throughout the night. Urine examination was normal except for presence of blood and few white blood cells. The pH and specific gravity of the urine were also found to be within normal range. What is the likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Ureteric calculus
Explanation:A calculus in the ureter, if less than 5mm in diameter is likely to pass spontaneously. However, a larger calculus irritates the ureter and may become lodged, leading to hydroureter and/or hydronephrosis. Likely sites where the calculus might get lodged, include pelviureteric junction, distal ureter at the level of iliac vessels and the vesicoureteric junction. An obstruction can result in reduced glomerular filtration. There can be deterioration in renal function due to hydronephrosis and a raised glomerular pressure, leading to poor renal blood flow. Permanent renal dysfunction usually takes about 4 weeks to occur. Secondary infection can also occur in chronic obstruction.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 16
Incorrect
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Urine specific gravity allows the assessment of which of the following renal functions?
Your Answer: Filtration
Correct Answer: Concentration
Explanation:Concentrating ability of kidneys is assessed by measuring the urine specific gravity. Normal values of urine specific gravity fall between 1.002 and 1.030 g/ml.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 17
Correct
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Glucose is the most important source of energy for cellular respiration. The transport of glucose in the renal tubular cells occurs via:
Your Answer: Secondary active transport with sodium
Explanation:In 1960, Robert K. Crane presented for the first time his discovery of the sodium-glucose cotransport as the mechanism for glucose absorption. Glucose transport through biological membranes requires specific transport proteins. Transport of glucose through the apical membrane of renal tubular as well as intestinal epithelial cells depends on the presence of secondary active Na+–glucose symporters, SGLT-1 and SGLT-2, which concentrate glucose inside the cells, using the energy provided by co-transport of Na+ ions down their electrochemical gradient.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 18
Correct
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Which condition presents with a positive urine dipstick test for blood, but no blood cells on urine microscopy?
Your Answer: Myoglobinuria
Explanation:Myoglobinuria, or presence of myoglobulin in the urine is seen due to rhabdomyolysis (muscle destruction). Common causes of rhabdomyolysis include trauma, electrical injuries, burns, venom and drugs. Damaged muscle leads to release of myoglobin in the blood. Ideally, the released myoglobin gets filtered and excreted by the kidneys. However, excess myoglobin can occlude the renal filtration system leading to acute tubular necrosis and acute renal dysfunction.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 19
Correct
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A 45-year-old pregnant woman develops high blood pressure at 20 weeks. She complains of headaches and swollen feet, and a test reveals proteinuria (350 mg/day). Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Pre-eclampsia
Explanation:Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a disorder of pregnancy characterized by the onset of high blood pressure (two separate readings taken at least 6 h apart of 140/90 or more) and often a significant amount of protein in the urine (>300 mg of protein in a 24-h urine sample). While blood pressure elevation is the most visible sign of the disease, it involves generalised damage to the maternal endothelium of the kidneys and liver, with the release of vasopressive factors only secondary to the original damage. Pre-eclampsia may develop at varying times within pregnancy and its progress differs among patients; most cases present pre-term. It has no known cure apart from ending the pregnancy (induction of labour or abortion). It may also present up to 6 weeks post partum. Risk factors for pre-eclampsia include obesity, prior hypertension, older age, and diabetes mellitus.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 20
Correct
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Glucose is not secreted by the kidneys, and is filtered without a limit. What is the transport maximum for glucose?
Your Answer: 300 mg/dl
Explanation:Transport maximum (or Tm) refers to the point at which increases in concentration do not result in an increase in movement of a substance across a membrane. Glucose is not secreted, thus excretion = filtration – reabsorption. Both filtration and reabsorption are directly proportional to the concentration of glucose in the plasma. However, reabsorption has a transport maximum of about 300 mg/dl in healthy nephrons, while filtration has effectively no limit (within reasonable physiological ranges). So, if the concentration rises above 300 mg/dl, the body cannot retain all the glucose, leading to glucosuria. Glucosuria is nearly always caused by elevated blood glucose levels, most commonly due to untreated diabetes mellitus.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 21
Incorrect
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Lack of findings in the bladder but presence of atypical epithelial cells in urinalysis is most often associated with which of the following conditions?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Transitional cell carcinoma of renal pelvis
Explanation:The presence of atypical cells in urinalysis without findings in the bladder suggests a lesion located higher up, most probably in ureters or renal pelvis. Transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis is a disease in which malignant cells form in the renal pelvis and is characterised by the presence of abnormal cells in urine cytology.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 22
Incorrect
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A 35-year-old ultra marathon runner becomes severely dehydrated and collapses. This patient most likely has:
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Decreased baroreceptor firing rate
Explanation:Baroreceptors are sensors located in the blood vessels of all vertebrate animals. They sense the blood pressure and relay the information to the brain, so that a proper blood pressure can be maintained. Acute dehydration results in decreased plasma volume and increased plasma osmolarity, since more water than salt is lost in sweat. The decrease in plasma volume leads to an inhibition of the baroreceptors and a lower firing rate. The increase in plasma osmolarity leads to increased ADH secretion and high plasma ADH levels, which increases water permeability of collecting duct cells. Therefore more water is reabsorbed by the kidneys and renal water excretion is low.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 23
Incorrect
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A 59-year-old woman with hyperaldosteronism is prescribed a diuretic. Which of the following diuretics promotes diuresis by opposing the action of aldosterone?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Potassium-sparing diuretic
Explanation:The term potassium-sparing refers to an effect rather than a mechanism or location. Potassium-sparing diuretics act by either antagonising the action of aldosterone (spironolactone) or inhibiting Na+ reabsorption in the distal tubules (amiloride). This group of drugs is often used as adjunctive therapy, in combination with other drugs, for the management of chronic heart failure. Spironolactone, the first member of the class, is also used in the management of hyperaldosteronism (including Conn’s syndrome) and female hirsutism (due to additional antiandrogen actions).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 24
Incorrect
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Congenital anomalies of genitourinary tract are more common than any other system. Which of the following anomalies carries the greatest risk of morbidity?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Bladder exstrophy
Explanation:Bladder exstrophy is the condition where the urinary bladder opens from the anterior aspect suprapubically. The mucosa of the bladder is continuous with the abdominal skin and there is separation of the pubic bones. The function of the upper urinary tract remains normal usually. Treatment consists of surgical reconstruction of the bladder and returning it to the pelvis. There can be a need for continent urinary diversion along with reconstruction of the genitals.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 25
Incorrect
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The presence of oval fat bodies in the urine is most likely to be seen in which of the following conditions?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Nephrotic syndrome
Explanation:Nephrotic syndrome is associated with the presence of oval fat bodies on urinalysis due to increased proteinuria and lipiduria.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 26
Incorrect
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Which portion of the renal tubule absorbs amino acids and glucose?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Proximal convoluted tubule
Explanation:In relation to the morphology of the kidney as a whole, the convoluted segments of the proximal tubules are confined entirely to the renal cortex. Glucose, amino acids, inorganic phosphate and some other solutes are reabsorbed via secondary active transport in the proximal renal tubule through co-transport channels driven by the sodium gradient.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 27
Incorrect
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A 31-year-old woman is diagnosed with adrenal hyperplasia, and laboratory samples are taken to measure serum aldosterone and another substance. Which is most likely to be the other test that was prescribed to this patient?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Plasma renin
Explanation:The evaluation of a patient in whom hyperaldosteronism is first to determine that hyperaldosteronism is present (serum aldosterone) and, if it is present, to differentiate primary from secondary causes of hyperaldosteronism. The aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR) is the most sensitive means of differentiating primary from secondary causes of hyperaldosteronism as it is abnormally increased in primary hyperaldosteronism, and decreased or normal but with high renin levels in secondary hyperaldosteronism.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 28
Incorrect
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A 40-year old Caucasian male came to the hospital with complaints of fatigue and lethargy. On examination, he was found to have raised blood pressure. Urine examination showed >300 mg/dl proteinuria (4+) and 24-hour urine protein 3.5g. No glucose, blood, nitrites, urobilinogen or casts were present in urine. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Membranous glomerulonephritis
Explanation:Membranous glomerulonephritis or nephropathy, is a renal disorder with insidious course and usually affects people aged 30-50 years. 85% cases are primary (or idiopathic). The other 15% are secondary to autoimmune conditions like SLE, infections like malaria or hepatitis B, drugs like captopril and NSAIDs, or malignancies (particularly lung or colonic carcinoma). This disease is caused due to circulating immune complexes which are said to form by binding of antibodies to antigens in glomerular basement membrane. This antigens could be endogenous or derived from systemic circulation. This immune complex triggers the complement system, resulting in formation of membrane attack complex (MAC) on glomerular epithelial cells. This further results in release of proteases and oxidants which damage the capillaries making them ‘leaky’. Moreover, the epithelial cells also secrete a mediator to reduce nephron synthesis and distribution.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 29
Incorrect
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A 7-year-old boy with facial oedema was brought to the hospital by his parents. Renal function is normal and urinalysis revealed the presence of a profound proteinuria. Which of the following is the most probable cause of these findings?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Minimal-change disease
Explanation:Minimal-change disease (MCD) refers to a histopathologic glomerular lesion, typically found in children, that is almost always associated with nephrotic syndrome. The most noticeable symptom of MCD is oedema, which can develop very rapidly. Due to the renal loss of proteins muscle wasting and growth failure may be seen in children. Renal function is usually not affected and a proteinuria of more than 40 mg/h/m2 is the only abnormal finding in urinalysis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 30
Incorrect
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Which of these substances is secreted by pericytes in the juxtaglomerular cells?
Your Answer:
Correct Answer: Renin
Explanation:The juxtaglomerular cells synthesise, store and secrete the enzyme renin in the kidney. They are specialised smooth muscle cells in the wall of the afferent arteriole that delivers blood to the glomerulus and thus play a critical role in the renin– angiotensin system and so in renal autoregulation.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
