Comp Med No. 2 2011

Question 1

Activation of Ras signaling is primarily associated with what cardiac disease?

a. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
b. Dilated cardiomyopathy
c. Cardiac tamponade
d. A/V block

Answer 1

a. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Question 2

Western blot analysis detects:

a. Protein
b. RNA
c. DNA

Answer 2

a. Protein

Question 3

True/False: In Tet-Off tetracycline-inducible transgenic mice, tetracycline binding of the tetracycline transactivator protein results in expression of genes controlled by tetracycline operator sequences.

Answer 3

False: In Tet-Off systems, tetracycline binding of the tetracycline transactivator protein results in repression of genes controlled by tetracycline operator sequences. Therefore, absence of tetracycline results in expression of the genes under control of tet operator sequences.

Question 4

How do taxanes exert their chemotherapeutic effect? How does this result in neurotoxic side effects?

Answer 4

Taxane-type drugs exert their anti-cancer effects by stabilizing microtubules in the G2-M phase of the cell cycle, thereby interfering with the formation and function of mitotic spindles and cytoskeleton. Another effect of microtubule stabilization is disruption of axonal transport in neurons, resulting in peripheral neuropathy.

Question 5

What is the difference between paclitaxel and nab-paclitaxel, and how does this affect potential side effects?

Answer 5

Paclitaxel (Taxol) is hydrophobic and has low-solubility, requiring the use of Cremophor:EL as a drug vehicle, which contains a polyoxyethylated castor oil and ethanol and has numerous common and well-described toxicities. Nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) binds the active drug to albumin, eliminating the need for Cremophor. Animal and clinical studies have shown that nab-paclitaxel has a higher maximum tolerated dose, greater efficacy, and less myelosuppression than paclitaxel.

Question 6

Name three tests used for evaluation of motor function/neurotoxicity in rodents? Which of these tests evaluates coordination and muscle strength?

Answer 6

The inverted screen test, the vertical pole test, and the wire hang test. The wire hang test assesses abnormalities in balance and grip strength.

Question 7

Lewis rats are used as models of…..

a) Renal and cardiac transplantation
b) Autoimmune uveitis
c) Inflammatory bowel disease and chronic colitis
d) Giant cell myocarditis
e) All of the above

Answer 7

e) All of the above

Question 8

The Fisher-to-Lewis transplantation model is a classic model for what specific type of transplantation research?

Answer 8

Renal Transplantation: Fisher rats serve as renal donors, Lewis rats are transplant recipients, and renal allografts reliably develop lesions consistent with chronic allograft nephropathy, the leading cause of late allograft loss in people.

Question 9

Rats typically have circadian variation of serum corticosterone which ______ at or near the lights-off time and ________ at or near that for lights-on.

a. Peaks, peaks
b. Troughs, troughs
c. Troughs, peaks
d. Peaks, troughs

Answer 9

d. Peaks, troughs (Rats typically have circadian variation of serum corticosterone which peaks at or near the lights-off time and troughs at or near that for lights-on.)

Question 10

What is the scientific name of the domestic ferret?

Answer 10

Mustela putorius furo

Question 11

You are reviewing a CBC from a ferret and the HCT is 55%…is this abnormal or normal?

Answer 11

Normal: HCT range 47-59%

Question 12

True/False: Xenograft involves transplanting tissues from one species to a different species.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What is the scientific name of the domestic pig?

Answer 13

Sus scrofa domestica

Question 14

True/False: Swine are susceptible to atherosclerosis, which may be induced by feeding of cholesterol and fat-enhanced diets.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

Do swine have preexisting collateral coronary circulation?

Answer 15

No - this makes the coronary blood flow similar to 90% of the human population.

Question 16

Name three breeds of miniature swine.

Answer 16

Yucatan, Hanford, Sinclair, Hormel, Gottingen

Question 17

1. What is the preferred crystalloid for use in aggressive fluid resuscitation?

Answer 17

LRS - lactated ringers solution

Question 18

Name as many venous access sites of swine as you can……

Answer 18

auricular, cephalic, external & internal jugular, precava, lateral saphenous, cranial abdominal, femoral

Question 19

True/False: Acute lung injury is commonly observed in severely injured trauma patients.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

Which of the following are seen in acute lung injury secondary to traumatic hemorrhage:

a. Pulmonary edema
b. Increased capillary permeability
c. Infiltration of inflammatory cells into the interstitium and airspaces
d. All of the above

Answer 20

d. All of the above

Question 21

What is the approximate circulating blood volume (ml/kg) for a swine?

Answer 21

65-70ml/kg

Question 22

After severe trauma, what blood gas value is a universally accepted, clinically useful indicator or tissue hypoperfusion or hypoxemia?

Answer 22

Lactate

Question 23

What is the most common cause of sudden death in captive chimps?

Answer 23

Cardiovascular disease

Question 24

What is the scientific name of chimpanzee?

Answer 24

Pan troglodytes

Question 25

True/False: Cardiovascular disease in chimps most commonly results from ischemia, as it does in humans.

Answer 25

False: chimp cardiovascular disease and sudden death involves interstitial myocardial fibrosis

Question 26

Name two biomarkers of fibrosis that can be used to detect cardiovascular disease in chimps.

a. procollagen III N-terminal protein
b. BUN
c. C-reactive protein
d. initial carboxyl-terminal telopeptide

Answer 26

a. procollagen III N-terminal protein

d. initial carboxyl-terminal telopeptide

Question 27

True/False: BNP is expected to be elevated with any disease leading to heart enlargement.

Answer 27

True: BNP levels increase secondary to increased cardiac wall tension and heart enlargement

Question 28

Name two biomarkers that may be useful in detecting cardiovascular disease in chimps.

a. complete lipid panel
b. C-reactive protein
c. brain-type natriuretic protein (BNP)
d. cardiac troponin I

Answer 28

c. brain-type natriuretic protein (BNP)

d. cardiac troponin I

Question 29

Which non-human primate is a model for dystocia due to macrosomic fetuses, in that fetal body weight at the time of delivery can be as much as 17% of the dam’s body weight?

Answer 29

Squirrel monkey (Saimiri spp.)

Question 30

What is a way of quantitatively determining readiness to give birth?

Answer 30

Bishop score - uses cervical position, cervical length, softness, dilation, and fetal head position

Question 31

What is a method for determining risk of still birth?

Answer 31

Pelviometry - through obtaining radiographic views of the pelvis and measurements of the pelvic inlet, midpelvis and the pelvic outlet.

Question 32

What is the normal time period for labor in nonhuman primates to occur over?

a. 2-3 hours
b. 5-7 hours
c. 8-10hours

Answer 32

b. 5-7 hours

Question 33

What are behavioral changes associated with impending labor in nonhuman primates?

Answer 33

Restlessness, altered eating, frequent urination, and digital manipulation of the genitalia.

Question 34

What are the conditions in humans that can lead to cardiac mural thrombi?

Answer 34

Abnormal myocardial contraction due to arrhythmias, dilated cardiomyopathy, or myocardial infarction

Question 35

What is the greatest risk factor, in humans, for the development of aortic dissection?

Answer 35

Hypertension

Question 36

What are the events that make up the Virchow thrombogenic triad?

Answer 36

(1) Injury (resulting in endothelial damage) to the vessel wall
(2) Changes (stasis or turbulence or both) in normal blood flow
(3) Abnormalities (hypercoagulability) of the blood ( last stage is the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin.