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Question 1
Correct
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A 42-year-old woman who has been a smoker since she was a teenager has the following blood result: Hgb=19. What hormone should you check?
Your Answer: Erythropoietin
Explanation:An increase in the patient’s haemoglobin tells us that the patient might be having an increased number of red blood cells. Smoking causes raised carboxyhaemoglobin levels and thus hypoxemia. Hypoxemia will increase the erythropoietin levels in the blood.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology & Oncology
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Question 2
Incorrect
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Tumour suppressor genes MLH1 and MSH2 are affected in which familial cancer?
Your Answer: Neurofibromatosis
Correct Answer: Hereditary non-polyposis colonic carcinoma (HNPCC)
Explanation:In hereditary non-polyposis colonic carcinoma (HNPCC), mutations in MSH2, MSH6, PMS2 or MLH1 genes are found.
Ataxia telangiectasia – ATM gene is affected.
Familial adenomatous polyposis – APC gene is affected.
Li-Fraumeni syndrome – mutation of the TP53 tumour suppressor gene. Neurofibromatosis – mutation in or a deletion of the NF1 gene -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology & Oncology
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Question 3
Incorrect
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A 25-year-old man having sickle cell anaemia presents with headache, lethargy, and pallor. His blood count shows: Haemoglobin: 4.6 g/dL Reticulocytes: 3% Infection with parvovirus is suspected. Out of the following, what is the most likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Haemolytic crisis
Correct Answer: Aplastic crisis
Explanation:Aplastic crisis is characterized by a rapid fall in hemoglobin levels associated with few or no reticulocytes, indicating a failure of the bone marrow to respond to increased cell turnover. Folate deficiency can occur in the setting of chronic hemolytic anemia in some patients unless supplemental folate is taken. Parvovirus (B19) has been associated with bone marrow suppression and subsequent aplastic crisis; other viral infections or severe bacterial infections may also suppress the bone marrow. Treatment of aplastic crisis may be necessary when the hematocrit level becomes dangerously low. Packed red blood cells are given to support an adequate hematocrit until bone marrow suppression is resolved, folate is repleted, and the reticulocyte count improves.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology & Oncology
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Question 4
Incorrect
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A 71-year old gentleman presents with a subacute history of intermittent difficulty in walking, dry mouth, and variable slurring of speech. When the latter is severe he also has difficulty in swallowing. He has lost 3 kg in weight in the last 2 months.
On examination he has bilateral mild ptosis, dysarthria, and proximal weakness of the upper and lower limbs, and he is areflexic. The degree of weakness is variable. Nerve conduction studies confirm the clinical suspicion of a neuromuscular junction disorder.
Which of the following autoantibodies is likely to be the underlying cause of his neurological symptoms?Your Answer: Anticholinesterase antibody
Correct Answer: Anti-voltage-gated, calcium-channel antibody
Explanation:The clinical picture points to Lambert- Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) which often presents with weakness of the arms and legs. In LEMS, antibodies against voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) decrease the amount of calcium that can enter the nerve ending, causing autonomic symptoms like dry mouth and slurring of speech, as seen in this patient.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Nervous System
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Question 5
Incorrect
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A 52-year-old woman is diagnosed as having acute myeloid leukaemia. What is the single most important test in determining her prognosis?
Your Answer: White cell count at diagnosis
Correct Answer: Cytogenetics
Explanation:All of the aforementioned options may be important however cytogenetics, for detecting chromosomal abnormalities, is the single most important test to determine her disease 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 a 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.Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is an aggressive form of AML.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology & Oncology
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Question 6
Correct
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Osteopetrosis occurs as a result of a defect in:
Your 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:
- Musculoskeletal System
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Question 7
Incorrect
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Type 2 hypersensitivity is mediated by:
Your Answer: IgE and mast cells
Correct Answer: IgG, IgM & complement
Explanation:In type II hypersensitivity the antibodies, IgG and IgM bind to antigens to form complexes that activate the classical pathway of complement to eliminate cells presenting foreign antigens.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Immune System
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Question 8
Incorrect
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A 61-year-old man presented with a TIA and loss of consciousness for 30 min. His CT brain scan is normal and his ECG shows atrial fibrillation. Which risk assessment score is best used in this case?
Your Answer: ABCD2
Correct Answer: CHADS2
Explanation:CHADS2 score provides a comprehensive prediction of thromboembolic events in avalvular AF patients:
C Congestive heart failure – 1
H Hypertension: blood pressure consistently above 140/90 mmHg (or treated hypertension on medication) – 1
A Age >75 years – 1
D Diabetes mellitus – 1
S2 Prior Stroke or TIA or Thromboembolism – 2 -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Nervous System
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Question 9
Incorrect
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A 50-year-old man undergoes a colonoscopy due to the finding of blood in his stools. The colonoscopy revealed four polyps which were variable in size from one at 0.5cm, 2 at approximately 1.5cm and one at 2 cm.
When should this patient have a follow up colonoscopy?Your Answer: 3 months
Correct Answer: 3 years
Explanation:According to the British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines – this patient has 3-4 adenomas with 3 of them > 1 cm in size. This places him at medium risk and the recommendation is for a 3-year follow up period.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastrointestinal System
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Question 10
Incorrect
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Which of the following drugs would be the safest to prescribe in a 22-year-old man with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis who is planning to start a family?
Your Answer: Sulfasalazine
Correct Answer: Prednisolone
Explanation:Prednisolone although has many undesirable side effects it may be considered relatively safe compared to the drugs that are provided here. Prolonged treatment with sulphasalazine may depress semen quality and cause irreversible infertility. Methotrexate and leflunomide both inhibit purine/pyrimidine synthesis (the former by inhibiting folate metabolism) and are contraindicated in pregnancy or while trying to conceive. In males, a temporary or permanent decrease in sperm count may occur with cyclophosphamide. Because the recovery of fertility after cyclophosphamide therapy is variable, sperm banking should be considered before treatment is begun.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Musculoskeletal System
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SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
