COMLEX Flashcards
tetralogy of fallot example (ToF)
presentation: cyanotic episodes (tet spells) or symptoms of HF (failure to thrive)
diagnosis: “boot-shaped heart” on CXR
Patient Self-Determination Act
- Inform pt of their right to be involved in medical decisions
- inform pts of their right to create and execute an advance directive
- Ask pts whether they have an advance directive
- Document the pts advance directives in their medical records
Viscerosomatics for thyroid
T1-4; these are also reflective of heart, upper esophagus, upper lung and head and neck pathologies
SSRIs
Fluoxetine
Fluvoxamine
Paroxetine
Sertraline
Citalopram
Escitalopram
multiple sclerosis
relapsing and remitting course of signs/symptoms including sensory disturbances in limbs/face, unilateral vision loss, acute motor weakness, diplopia and monocular visual loss w blurring; classic diagnostic feature is MRI w presence of *periventricular plaques (Dawson fingers)
Medicare and medicaid
MOAi contraindications
monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MOAi) such as phenelzine irreversibly blocks monoamines (serotonin, NE and dopamine) from degradation; when interacts w tyramine (contains high levels of wine and cheese) increased the end-organ damage (papilledema)
Wine and cheese MUST be avoided w this medication
Schistosomiasis
Schistosoma hematobium lives in freshwater snails; ppl become infected mostly by swimming in lakes in developing nations; eosinophilia, hematuria, and lower abdominal pain (bladder); Praziquantel is the drug of choice, affects the permeability of the membrane
ACL tear
anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) commonly occurs in athletes who sustain twisting to hyper-extension of the knee; hear a “pop”; originates at the *posterior aspect of the lateral femoral condyle and inserts at the anterior-medial aspect of the tibial plateau
pancreatic cancer
presents w epigastric pain radiating to the back, left supraclavicular lymphadenopathy and weight loss; both carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA19-9 antigens are most likely elevated; a CT scan will show a pancreatic mass
Viscerosomatics of diverticulitis
T12-L2
dependent personality disorder tx
1st line tx is psychotherapy; medications may be added for pts w severe dysregulation
Onchocerciasis
infections caused by Onchocerca volvulus; a parasite transmitted by the black fly which is found in African, Yemen and parts of South America; presents a pruritus, skin atrophy and subcutaneous nodules as well as eye pain, inflammation and progressive vision loss (river blindness); tx of choice is ivermectin an anti-parasitic agent that induces neuromuscular paralysis in the parasite by inhibiting GABA receptors
plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycle
a quality improvement model used concurrently to analyze the success or failure of interventions
root-cause analysis
when a medical error occurs, the 1st step in this investigation is to interview all the people involved in the error
primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)
PBC is an autoimmune disorder characterized by T-cell mediated destruction of small interlobular bile ducts which leads to cholestasis and eventually hepatic cirrhosis and liver failure; anti-mitochondrial antibodies are elevated (serologic hallmark); also associated w CREST syndrome
Autoimmune diseases affecting the liver
Phase 1 clinical trial
examine dosing and safety in a small group of healthy subjects
PPV
PPV depends on the prevalence of the disease within the population; a pt w a (+) screening test is more likely to actually have the disease if the pt belongs to a population w a high disease prevalence
exhalation rib dysfunction
named for where it likes to go: exhalation rib dysfunction of ribs 3-5 on the R; BITE = tx the top rib by asking the pt to isometrically contract his pectoralis minor muscle during inhalation
DiGeorge syndrome
abnormal 3rd and 4th pharyngeal pouch development plays a key role in DiGeorge syndrome
papillary thyroid carcinoma
most common thyroid malignancy which typically presents as a thyroid nodule, microscopic evaluation will show hollow, large nuclei w a clear center known as “ground-glass” nuclei as well as psammoma bodies (laminar, calcific, rounded, basophilic lesions)
piriformis syndrome tenderpoint
located at the midpoint between the inferior lateral angle (ILA) of the sacrum and the greater trochanter
phase 3 clinical trial
used to determine a drug’s non inferiority, equivalence, or superiority to the existing standard-of-care treatment
neonatal hypoglycemia
occurs as a result of persistent fetal hyperinsulinemia
LSD ingestion
hallucinogen that results in the alteration of sensory perception, mood, and thought patterns; pts will experience heightened perception of sensation, a distorted sense of time, euphoria and *synesthesia - blending of the senses (hearing colors or seeing sound); receptor affected (5-HT2A)
Viscerosomatics of the pancreas
T6-10; commonly found in diabetic pts
Niemann-Pick disease type A
“No Man Picks his nose w his Sphingers” (sphingomyelinase); deficiency of acid sphingomyelinase
Niemann-Pick vs Tay-Sachs
chylothorax
milky fluid withdrawn during a thoracentesis is indicative for chylothorax or the presence of increased triglycerides within the pleural space; caused by leakage of lymphatic fluid from the thoracic duct; most commonly due to lymphoma or trauma caused by thoracic surgery
schizotypal personality disorder tx
1st line tx is psychotherapy; this can improve trust, interpersonal functioning and adherence to tx
primary disease prevention
includes measures that reduce disease incidence; vaccinations, wearing sunscreen and using condoms
corneal reflex
Quadriceps (Q) angle
increased Q angle - genu valgum
decreased Q angle - genu varum
Nephrolithiasis
calcium oxalate stones are the most common composition of kidney stones caused by hypercalcemia such as hyperparathyroidism or increased oxalate excretion; appear envelope-shaped as shown in the image
Mobitz type I AV block
Wenckebach; a type of second-degree AV block that is characterized by a PR interval that becomes longer before every QRS until a beat is dropped”
“longer, longer, longer, drop; that’s the case w Wenckebach”
usually asymptomatic and no tx is needed
chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
most common type of leukemia in adults (>60) in the Western world; pts presents w typical “B” symptoms (weight loss, fatigue, fevers and drenching night sweats);
acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
most commonly in children and can arise from either B- or T-cel lineages, but B is most common
chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
proliferation of myeloid cells; associated w Philadelphia chromosome t9;22 a fusion chromosome that occurs from reciprocal translocation between BCR and ABL genes
hairy cell leukemia (HCL)
uncommon; presents in adult males w splenomegaly and cytopenias; B-cells have characteristic hair-like cytoplasmic projections and stain (+) for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase
Hodgkin lymphoma
“Reed-Sternberg cells” would be seen in the involved tissue
PTHrP
caused by squamous cell lung carcinoma
viscerosomatics in acute hepatitis
warm and boggy paraspinal tissues of T5-9 (upper GI)
methamphetamine intoxication
a stimulant that can lead to disphoresis, HTN, tachycardia, severe agitation and psychosis pts may abruptly develop severe agitation and use extreme violence; maladaptive behavior, weight loss, perspiration, labile blood pressure and pupillary dilation can also occur
conditional probability
“if.. then what” problem; calculate the fraction of pts who survived the end of the first year (240) and then the end of the second year (180)
180/240=0.75 (75%)
Courvoisier sign
Alport syndrome
genetic disorder with renal, auditory and ocular manifestations; aka hereditary nephritis; X-linked inheritance defect in type IV collagen, mostly the alpha 3,4,5 subunits
noncompetitive, irreversible antagonist
decreases the maximum reaction velocity (Vmax)
McArdle disease
deficiency of muscle phosphorylase which is an enzyme responsible for the release of glucose from glycogen stores in muscles; management is oral ingestion of simply carbs, such as sucrose, before exercise
Boarderline personality disorder
part of the Cluster B personality disorder; pt is deploying splitting, which is an immature defense mechanism (seeing “all good” or “all bad”) as exemplified by “love of my life” to “worst person ever”
near miss
an event that could have had an adverse pt consequence but did not
Chvostek sign
facial muscle contractions when tapping the skin overlying the facial nerve; specific for hypocalcemia
trichomonas vaginalis
motile protozoan
cross-sectional study
battery
intentional and unauthorized (without consent) contact
cranial rhythmic impulse (CRI)
normal at 10-14 cycles per minute
somatic symptom disorder
anxiety about health w significant somatic symptoms without evidence of deception
differential diagnosis of multiple somatic complaints
anterior L1 tenderpoint
located medial to the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)
anterior L2 tenderpoint
located medial to anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS)
anterior L3 tenderpoint
located lateral to anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS)
anterior L4 tenderpoint
located inferior to anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS)
anterior chapman point for the prostate
posterior margin of the iliotibial band
Whipple disease
diarrhea, steatorrhea and joint pain caused by Tropheryma whippelii; diagnosed by PAS (+) macrophages within the digestive tract; commonly found in sewage
exhalation somatic dysfunctions of ribs 6-10 on the R with MET
encouraging inhalation at rib 6 using the serratus anterior
prospective cohort study
ask whether a given risk factor will increase the likelihood of the disease
Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18)
VSD is the most common cardiac anomaly
secondary syphillis
a rash involving almost always the palms and soles
Thompson test
muscles of the posterior leg include the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris are all innervated by the tibial nerve (plantar flexion); distally their tendons form the achilles tendon which can be evaluated for injury by performing the Thomspon test (squeezing the calf of the suspected leg while pt lies prone)
Group B Strep (GBS)
Streptococcus agalactiae is a gram (+) cocci that grows in chains; catalase (-), beta-hemolytic and bacitracin resistant
subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)
often presents as acute onset of “worst HA of my life”; non-traumatic SAH is commonly due to a ruptured aneurysm; brain CT shows hyper density (white area) in the suprasellar cistern
sacral tenderpoints
posterior S5 tenderpoint
medial and superior to the inferior lateral angle on each side
Zidovudine
a competitive nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) uses in HIV-1 and HIV-2; Zidovudine can cause bone marrow suppression, therefore leading to neutropenia and/or anemia
sacral tenderpoints
Zidovudine
a competitive nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) uses in HIV-1 and HIV-2; Zidovudine can cause bone marrow suppression, therefore leading to neutropenia and/or anemia
primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) associated with CREST syndrome
Zidovudine
a competitive nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) uses in HIV-1 and HIV-2; Zidovudine can cause bone marrow suppression, therefore leading to neutropenia and/or anemia
primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) associated with CREST syndrome
PBC is an autoimmune disorder characterized by T-cell mediated destruction of small interlobular bile ducts which leads to cholestasis and eventually hepatic cirrhosis and liver failure; anti-mitochondrial antibodies are elevated (serologic hallmark)
primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) associated with CREST syndrome
PBC is an autoimmune disorder characterized by T-cell mediated destruction of small interlobular bile ducts which leads to cholestasis and eventually hepatic cirrhosis and liver failure; anti-mitochondrial antibodies are elevated (serologic hallmark)
amaurosis fugax
acute and painless onset of monocular visual loss due to transient retinal ischemia originating from atherosclerotic carotid artery disease; pts describe “visual loss as a dark curtain that falls down over their eye”
sublimation
a mature defense mechanism in which socially inappropriate desires are replaced by something more acceptable or productive
Hartnup disease
deficiency of tryptophan; precursor to nicotinamide (VitB3) therefore leads to pellagra = 4D’s: dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia and death
automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ACID) placements
purpose of a ACID is to monitor the heart for an arrhythmia and to provide an electrical shock to make the heart beat normally again; ACIDs are life-sustaining therapies, however prior to placement physicians should discuss under what circumstances would the pt like the ACID to be deactivated
Clozapine
agent used to tx schizophrenia; serotonin 2A and dopamine receptor antagonist; adverse effect of agranulocytosis; MONITOR CBC
rubeola (measles)
begins w generalized symptoms (fever, malaise) accompanied by the 3C’s cough, coryza, conjunctivitis; *Koplik spots (small irregular red spots w central gray/white area)
-Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a potential delayed complication 7-10 yrs pot infection
-Encephalitis occurs 1-14 days later
-Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) occurs within 2 weeks
Adson test
the pts radial pulse is palpated, the arm is extended at the elbow and the shoulder is extended, externally rotated and abducted; pts then turn their head to the ipsilateral arm; a (+) test occurs when the pulse significantly decreases or disappears; used in pts suspected in suffering from *thoracic outlet syndrome
Nocardia asteroides
a gram (+) weakly acid-fast bacterium found in soil; causes bronchitis, pneumonia, lung abscesses in immunocompromised pts; tx of choice is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
Tay-Sachs disease (tay-saX)
excess storage of the cell membrane glycolipid GM2 ganglioside within cell lysosomes due to a deficiency in B-heXosaminidase A (HeX A)
accountable care organization
an integrated group of multi specialty physicians that care for a defined population, coordinating pt-centered care by focusing on a team approach, using the same electronic health record system and following the same evidence-based guidelines and quality incentives
Swiss cheese model of system failure
describes errors that occur because of both active and latent failure; when process failure or system error (holes in the cheese) in each protective system process (slice of cheese) line up, an adverse effect reaches the pt; the risk is decreased when multiple systems are layered (like slices of cheese) preventing an error from reaching the pt
Anterior thoracic counterstain tenderpoints
T12 anterior tenderpoint
located on the inner ala of the ilium in the midaxillary line b/l
T11 anterior tenderpoint
located halfway between the umbilicus and pubic symphysis
T10 anterior tenderpoint
located 1/4th of the distance from the umbilicus to the pubic symphysis
T9 anterior tenderpoint
located 1/3 of the distance from the tip of the typhoid to the umbilicus
treatment for serotonin syndrome
cyproheptadine which antagonizes serotonin receptors; serotonin syndrome characterized by a triad: cognitive impairment, autonomic instability and somatic effects
Homan test
a (+) Homan sign is present when there is calf pain upon forceful and abrupt dorsiflexion of the foot at the ankle while the knee is extended; used to evaluate the presence of a lower extremity DVT
pyridostigmine
medication of choice for myasthenia gravis; can cause bronchoconstriction and exacerbate asthma and reactive airway disease
cranial vault hold
thumbs: rest above the surface of the cranium
index: greater wings of the sphenoid
middle fingers: pre-auricular
ring fingers: mastoid process
pinky: squamous portion of the occiput
parental refusal of essential treatment for a minor
if parents refuse essential, but not emergent treatment for their child, the physician should pursue a court order to allow for tx of the child against the parents wishes
inhalation anthrax
Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis a gram (+) spore-forming rod; when exposure is suspected, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be started immediately with a 3-dose series of anthrax vaccine and a 60-day course of ciprofloxacin or doxycycline
COBRA
Consolidated omnibus budget reconciliation act (COBRA); this law helps to prevent people from suddenly losing health coverage when transitioning between jobs or when work hours are cut
GINA
Genetic information nondiscrimination act (GINA) made it unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate based on genetic information or to request genetic information
Chagas disease
consists of facial edema and a nodule (chagoma) near the bite coupled w fever, lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly; drug of choice is *nifurtimox which kills Trypanosome cruzi trypomastigotes in the blood
neostigmine
pt underwent surgery and having symptoms of neuromuscular blockage (unable to lift head) and was given a reversal agent (neostigmine); acts as cholinergic and can cause bradycardia, bradypnea, and bronchoconstriction leading to hypoxia
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
cause of watery diarrhea from eating undercooked seafood, most commonly oysters
fetal circulation
2 umbilical arteries which branch from the internal iliac arteries which carry deoxygenated fetal blood to the placenta; blood leaves the placenta via a single umbilical vein and enters the fetal portal circulation
Haloperidol
a typical antipsychotic commonly used to tx schizophrenia and is notable for side effects of *hyperprolactinemia due to its dopamine-antagonist effects; increased prolactin levels may cause abnormal breast swelling and even lactation
T4 corresponds with the level of the nipple!
lateral ankle sprain
pt has posterior fibular head causing entrapment of the common perineal (fibular) nerve; lateral ankle sprain, as the lateral malleolus of the fibula is driven anteriorly and the fibular head is driven posteriorly
tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) toxicity
Amitriptyline inhibits the uptake of NE and serotonin at the synapse; in OD pts can convulse and progress to coma; can be thought of the 3 C’s: Cardiotoxicity (wide QRS complexes), anticholinergic and convulsions