Cardiology

Question 1

In patients with left or right heart failure, feedback will eventually lead to biventricular heart failure. True or false?

Answer 1

True. Because in many cases, failure of one side of the heart leads to failure of the other side of the heart.

Question 2

In the response of the heart to stress, the switch from beta-myosin to alpha-myosin allows the heart to cope better.

Answer 2

False. Under stress, genes switch to producing fetal types of proteins, such as beta-myosin.

Question 3

Under chronic stress, there is abnormal production of certain substances by cardiac myocytes. These substances have autocrine and paracrine effects resulting in myocyte damage. These substances are:
Growth factors?
Antibodies?
Cytokines?
Noradrenaline?
Protease enzymes?

Answer 3

Growth factors, cytokines and noradrenaline. Angiotensin is also produced by myocytes and they all have destructive autocrine and paracrine effects on myocytes.

Question 4

Interstial fibrosis and iron accumulation are microscopic changes that happen in heart failure. Are they specific or non specific?

Answer 4

Interstitial fibrosis: non-specific

Iron accumulation: specific

Question 5

What is the main cause of heart failure? No more than three words

Answer 5

Chronic ischaemic heart disease. Pathologies of the myocardium, pericardium, endocardium and valves can also cause heart failure.

Question 6

GTN is effective at reducing pain from oesophageal spasm. True or false?

Answer 6

True. But this is not an immediate relief that is seen in chest pain and GTN.

Question 7

What are the effects of alpha 1 and alpha 2 adrenoreceptors?

Answer 7

*Alpha 1* 
Vasoconstriction of blood vessels in skin, mucous membranes and splanchnic areas (areas of lesser importance).
Piloerection.
Gluconeogenesis.
Lypolysis.
GIT relaxation.

Alpha 2
Inhibition of neurotransmitter release
Contraction of vascular smooth muscle
CNS actions

Question 8

What are the major risk factors of CVS diseases?

Answer 8

Hypertension
Hypercholesterolaemia
Family history
Smoking
Diabetes