USMLE-Rx: Week of 01/09/17 Flashcards
What electrolyte abnormality often results from acute pancreatitis?
Hypocalcemia
The mechanism is not fully understood, but it is thought that calcium may get saponified in the damaged pancreas.
In what five infectious exposures are preformed immunoglobulins given to prevent infection?
Tetanus Botulism Hepatitis B Varicella Rabies
“To Be Healed Very Rapidly”
What glucose concentration will overload the proximal convoluted tubule?
200 mg/dL
If a patient has a mostly benign hepatic neoplasm, what medication might you recommend they discontinue?
Oral contraceptives
Hepatic adenomas can be caused by oral contraceptives. Most often they are benign, but if they lead to mass-effect pain then you should recommend they stop taking OCPs. There is a small chance that this would transition to hepatocellular carcinoma.
True or false: pyloric stenosis presents with the “double-bubble” sign on abdominal plain film.
False. Duodenal atresia presents with the double-bubble sign.
What is the most common cause of death in adolescents and young adults?
Accidents
Which parts of conducting neurons have the lowest capacitance?
The myelinated parts
True or false: GLUT-2 transporters have a high affinity for glucose.
False. They have a low affinity for glucose which allows a high Km and thus the channels do not get saturated.
Which kinds of kidney stones (mineral) are most common?
Calcium oxalate
Nitroprusside can be metabolized to a product that inhibits which enzyme?
Nitroprusside is metabolized to cyanide, which inhibits mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase.
Why does cyanide poisoning lead to cherry-red lips and mucous membranes?
Oxygen is not taken up in peripheral tissues, so hemoglobin remains in the oxygenated state.
What sign is often seen on x-rays of the spine of those with ankylosing spondylitis?
The “bamboo spine,” a fusing of the vertebrae
Why does the drug that treats the HLA-B27 disorders reactivate certain dormant syndromes?
Infliximab and adalimumab –both TNF-alpha monoclonal antibodies –are used to treat psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, IBD, and reactive arthritis (the HLA-B27 disorders). TNF-alpha is important in granuloma formation, so inhibiting it can reactivate tuberculosis.
Remember that the primary problem in type 2 diabetes is __________________.
insulin resistance (and subsequent failure to take in glucose in peripheral tissues); eventually, beta cells will be exhausted and insulin levels will drop, but at first there will be high levels of insulin
Which thyroid carcinoma is associated with MEN 2A and 2B?
MEN 1: pancreatic islet cell tumors, parathyroid adenomas, and pituitary adenomas
MEN 2A: medullary thyroid carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, and parathyroid adenoma
MEN 2B: medullary thyroid carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, and mucous neuroma
Somatostatin is given to those suffering from what acute and painful disorder?
Pancreatitis (because it inhibits pancreatic secretions)
What is a first-line treatment for ulcerative colitis?
Mesalamine (an aspirin-like drug categorized as an 5-aminosalicylate)
What kind of drug is nizatidine?
An H2 antagonist (pay attention to the -tidine suffix)
What kind of drug is sucralfate?
An ulcer-binding agent (the sucrALfate –the AL stands for aluminum)
List the two monoclonal antibodies that bind to the IL-2 receptor.
Basiliximab and daclizumab
Imagine BASIL on a pogo stick –which looks like a T –getting a daiquiri thrown in his face.
Sirolimus, tacrolimus, and cyclosporine all inhibit IL-2 in some way, but they do so differently. Explain.
Tacrolimus and cyclosporine inhibit the secretion of IL-2, while sirolimus blocks the IL-2 receptor.
(Imagine a guy TACkling a CYCList before he can even make a SPORE. Sirolimus, meanwhile, SIlences the ability of IL-2 to have any effect.)
Which drugs are often given to elderly people for flu prophylaxis?
Oseltamivir, a neuraminidase inhibitor
You know that metoclopramide is a prokinetic D2-antagonist, but where in the GI tract does it have its effect?
LES, where it increases tone
True or false: methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus can usually be treated with penicillin V.
False. Most methicillin-sensitive strains of Staphylococcus express beta-lactamases that will inactivate penicillin.