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