DES part2 episode3

109) A 34-year-old obese Caucasian female complains of periodic visual obscurations. She has episodes during which she "goes blind" for several seconds when standing up or stooping forward abruptly. She also describes frequent morning headaches over the last two months for which she has had to take ibuprofen or aspirin almost every morning. She takes no other medications. Past medical history is insignificant aside from one uncomplicated vaginal delivery. She denies use of alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs. She is afebrile with a blood pressure of 138/88 mmHg and pulse of 93/min. Visual field testing shows enlarged blind spots. There are no other significant findings on neurologic examination. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's symptoms?

110) A 30-year-old man is concerned about "floating spots" and blurred vision in his right eye. He had a serious injury of his left eye several weeks ago, which eventually led to vision loss in that eye. Inspection reveals a moderate perilimbal flush. What is the most probable cause of this patient's condition?

115) A 65-year-old man complains of two years of persistent cough. He says that he coughs up whitish sputum almost every morning on waking, and then continues coughing throughout the day. He also complains of exertional shortness of breath that becomes disabling if he gets an upper respiratory infection. He has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for the past 40 years. Pulmonary function testing reveals a vital capacity that is 65% of his predicted. Which of the following best explains this finding?

116) A 71-year-old man is brought to the ER after a witnessed tonic-clonic seizure. He is somnolent and intermittently combative on exam. No past medical history is available. His arterial blood gas (ABG) at room air is given below: pH 7.23, pCO2 69 mmHg, pO2 57 mmHg, HCO3 28 mmHg. Which of the following best explains the acid-base disturbances in this patient

117) A 60-year-old white male presents to the Emergency Room with sudden onset of dyspnea. He is a truck driver and just returned from a long trip. His past medical history is insignificant. He is not taking any medications. His blood pressure is 110/70 mmHg and heart rate is 110/min. Physical examination reveals a moderately overweight man with tachypnea. Lungs are clear on auscultation. ECG shows right axis deviation. You order ventilation/perfusion scanning. Which of the following findings will help you the most to confirm the diagnosis?

118) A 74-year-old nursing home resident is brought to the ER with a low-grade fever, cough and shortness of breath for the last two days. The cough is productive of small amounts of greenish sputum. His past medical history is significant for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, COPD, hypercholesterolemia and mild dementia. His blood pressure is 152/78 mmHg and his heart rate is 89/min, regular. Physical examination reveals decreased breath sounds, coarse rhonchi, and increased fremitus over the lower left lung field. His oxygen saturation is 92% on room air when lying on his right side but drops to 84% when he lies on his left. Which of the following best explains this finding?

119) A 60-year-old man comes to the office with worsening shortness of breath over the last 5 months. He has had two episodes of bronchitis over the last 12 months. He now has a mild nonproductive cough. He denies any fever, chills, hemoptysis, chest pain, or difficulty breathing while lying on his back. His medications include an ipratropium inhaler, aspirin, and amlodipine. He was hospitalized twice in the last 3 years due to an exacerbation of his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He has been smoking 1 pack of cigarettes per day for the last 40 years. His temperature is 99°F (37.2°C), blood pressure is 130/86 mm Hg, pulse is 98/min, and respirations are 18/min. Examination shows a thin man in mild respiratory distress with increased anteroposterior chest diameter, diffuse expiratory wheeze and loud S2. Chest X-ray shows hyperinflation of bilateral lung fields with diaphragm flattening and small heart size. Which of the following is the most effective measure to decrease mortality in this patient?

120) A 64-year-old man presents to the emergency department with progressive exertional dyspnea that worsened after he contracted an upper respiratory infection. He also complains of bilateral ankle swelling. He has a 40 pack-year history of smoking. Physical examination reveals a mildly overweight patient in mild respiratory distress. Lung auscultation reveals bilateral wheezes and a prolonged expiratory phase. His white blood cell count is 14,500/mm3 and his hemoglobin level is 16 mg/dl. Arterial blood gas analysis reveals the following: pH 7.37, pO2 65mmHg, pCO2 60mmHg. Absence of marked acidosis in this patient is best explained by which of the following?

121) A 43-year-old woman with congestive heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic hepatitis C complains of abdominal discomfort and difficulty breathing. Physical examination shows dullness to percussion at the right lung base. Chest x-ray reveals a large right-sided pleural effusion. Thoracentesis yields pleural fluid with a glucose content of 30 mg/dl and an LDH of 192units/L. Which of the following explains the pleural fluid glucose concentration?

123) A 42-year-old morbidly obese man is being evaluated for poor sleep. He complains of frequent awakenings due to a choking sensation and says that the resulting tiredness severely limits his physical activity. He also complains of chronic leg swelling. He denies cigarette, alcohol, or drug use. On physical examination, his blood pressure is 160/100 mmHg and his heart rate is 110/min. Which of the following additional findings is most likely to be present in this patient?

125) A 53-year-old homosexual man comes to the ER with shortness of breath and dry cough over the past week. You note that he was hospitalized for Candida esophagitis one month ago, but left against medical advice. On physical examination, his blood pressure is 120/70 mmHg, heart rate is 120/min and regular, oxygen saturation is 89% on 2Umin of oxygen by nasal cannula, and temperature is 38.3°C (101°F). There are extensive white plaques over the oral mucosa and there is a soft 2/6 systolic murmur over the cardiac apex. Lung auscultation is remarkable for faint bilateral crackles. Which of the following is most likely responsible?

126) A 56-year-old male presents with progressively worsening dyspnea over a 4 month period. He denies fever, chest pain, cough or ankle swelling and does not use tobacco, alcohol or drugs. He works for a home insulation and plumbing company. He has never been abroad and does not own any pets. His only medications are hydrochlorothiazide and metoprolol for blood pressure control. On physical examination, his temperature is 36.8°C (98.2°F), pulse is 76/min, blood pressure is 130/78 mmHg, and respirations are 15/min. Examination shows digital clubbing and fine bibasilar end-inspiratory crackles. Jugular venous pressure is 7 cm and there is no peripheral edema. Which of the following additional findings is most likely in this patient?

127) An 80-year-old Caucasian female is brought to the emergency room by her son with a three-day history of fever and a foul-smelling, productive cough. Her past medical history is significant for advanced dementia, diabetes, and hypertension. She takes aspirin, metformin, insulin, and atenolol. She was admitted two times with pneumonia during the past two months. Her temperature is 38.3°C (101°F), blood pressure is 100/70mmHg, pulse is 105/min, and respirations are 20/min. The patient is not oriented in time and place. Physical examination reveals dry mucus membranes and decreased skin turgor. Breath sounds are decreased to the right. A chest x-ray revealed right, lower lobe infiltrate. Which of the following is the most important predisposing factor for this condition in this patient?

129) A 44-year-old woman presents with increased shortness of breath, cough, and sputum production. She has had asthma since childhood and uses her medications as directed. Recently, she noticed that her peak flow readings were decreasing after the symptoms started. On examination, she is in moderate respiratory distress, respirations 25/min, there are bilateral wheezes and oxygen saturation is 90% on room air. On her blood gas, the PCO2 is 50 mm Hg. Which of the following is the most likely mechanism for her carbon dioxide retention?

130) A 57-year-old man with a 40-pack-per-year history of smoking experiences symptoms of shortness of breath on exertion. He has bilateral wheezes on expiration and increased resonance to percussion of the chest. Pulmonary function tests confirm the diagnosis of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Which of the following is the best definition of this condition?

131) A 38-year-old man is being seen in his physician’s office after being involved in a car accident. He has a vague pain along his right sternal border, where he crashed into the steering wheel. His temperature is 36.6°C (97.8°F), pulse is 80/min, blood pressure is 123/75 mm Hg, respiratory rate is 14/min, and oxygen saturation is 99% on room air. Physical examination is significant for point tenderness over the right sternal border. X-ray of the chest shows no broken ribs but a single, well-circumscribed pulmonary nodule, 1.5 cm in diameter, located in the left lower lung field. A search through the patient’s electronic medical file reveals that he had an x-ray of the chest taken 2 years ago. The radiology report from that time reveals that the nodule was only 0.75 cm in diameter. To characterize the lesion, CT of the chest is performed and shows dense, flocculated calcification within the lesion. Which of the following risk factors most increases the chances of malignancy in this patient?

132) A 32-year-old man develops symptoms of wheezing, cough, and shortness of breath. He has bilateral expiratory wheezes, and the rest of the examination is normal. Further evaluation with pulmonary function tests reveals a reduced FEV1/FVC ratio that corrects with bronchodilators. Which of the following statements about a diagnosis of idiosyncratic asthma (also called nonatopic) is correct

134) A 64-year-old woman is admitted to the hospital with right lobar pneumonia and sepsis syndrome. She becomes progressively more short of breath and hypoxemic requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. Her repeat CXR in the intensive care unit now shows diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and a diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is made. Which of the following mechanisms is the most likely cause for the early exudative‖ phase of ARDS?

135) A 55-year-old woman is in the intensive care unit on a ventilator for hypoxemia following “flash” pulmonary edema. Her PO2 on the blood gas prior to intubation was 44 mm Hg, and now while breathing 100% oxygen on the ventilator her repeat blood gas reveals a PO2 of 80 mm Hg. Hypoxemia while receiving 100% oxygen indicates which of the following problems?

136) You are the internist caring for a 26-year-old male who is stricken with alcoholic gastritis. The man has remained absent from his work as a waiter for several days due to his illness. His employer calls you for more information about the illness and the prognosis. He says that he just spoke with his employee on the phone and was granted permission to talk with you. What is the most appropriate response to this request?

137) A 34-year-old obese female is brought to the emergency department complaining of severe right upper quadrant abdominal pain that began suddenly earlier this morning. She is accompanied by her husband. An ultrasound evaluation is performed and the woman is diagnosed with acute cholecystitis. Because her symptoms worsen with conservative treatment, the decision is made to operate. The patient is discharged home five days after her successful cholecystectomy. Upon discharge, the patient and her husband request all medical records associated with her stay. What is the most appropriate response on the behalf of the physician?

138) A long-time patient calls your office to speak with you directly. She voices frustration with your receptionist, who has repeatedly refused to allow her to schedule an appointment to see you. The patient says that at her last visit, she had a heated argument with the receptionist about a minor detail regarding her insurance coverage. When she has called since then, the receptionist always responds by saying, "I'm sorry, but there are too many patients waiting ahead of you." Which of the following defense mechanisms is the receptionist demonstrating?

139) A 34-year-old woman who describes herself as a "holistic healer" brings her two children aged four years and three years to the pediatrician for routine physical examinations. This is a first visit as they have recently moved from another state. The medical records for the children indicate that no immunizations have been given. When the mother is questioned about this, she proudly replies, "My children are wonderfully healthy on their own and have no need for these artificial vaccines." The principles and benefits of immunization are discussed at length, as well as the risks inherent in not being immunized. The physician recommends that the children be given all age-appropriate vaccinations today. The mother remains convinced that immunizations cause more harm than good, and she steadfastly refuses to allow her children to be vaccinated. What is the most appropriate next step?

140) A 48-year-old woman notices a firm, fixed mass in her right breast but chooses to ignore it. The mass is then detected on her annual physical examination eight months later. By that point, the mass has increased greatly in size. When questioned as to why she did not report the mass when she first noticed it, the woman states that she was not concerned about the mass because she does not have a family history of breast cancer This response is an example of which of the following defense mechanisms?

141) A 60-year-old physician is admitted to the hospital for jaundice and weight loss. He denies other symptoms, including abdominal pain and alterations in bowel movements. His past medical history is noncontributory. He denies any history of significant alcohol intake but admits to a 30-pack-year smoking history. A detailed work-up eventually reveals the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. Shortly after his discharge, he spends several hours per day on his laptop computer so that he can obtain the latest information on his illness. Which of the following psychological defense mechanisms is this physician most likely employing?

142) A 54-year-old male with a history of chronic alcoholism is admitted to the hospital with hematemesis and abdominal distension. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy reveals the presence of esophageal varices. Continued workup of his condition results in a diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver. He is treated appropriately and strongly counseled about the need to abstain from alcohol. He is then discharged home. After discharge, he begins to work as a full-time volunteer for a non-profit organization that assists patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Which of the following defense mechanisms is this man using?

143) A 21-year-old college junior requests an urgent appointment with her family physician to discuss a "personal concern." During her conversation with the doctor, the woman appears tense, speaks very little, and makes minimal eye contact. After gentle questioning, she breaks down and says that her father is taking lithium for a manic episode experienced two years ago. She had not realized this could have any bearing on her own situation until she encountered an article on the Internet that mentioned genetics appears to play a role in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder. Since then, she has had disturbed sleep and has been very worried that she too will one day develop bipolar disorder. Based on clinical data, what is the likelihood that she will have a manic episode during her lifetime?

144) A 25-year-old married female is brought to the emergency department by her mother for excruciating right-sided abdominal pain. A urine pregnancy test is positive and a pelvic ultrasound reveals an empty uterus. Ruptured ectopic pregnancy is suspected, and an operating room is reserved for an emergent laparotomy. The patient's medical history is unremarkable except for a psychiatric diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Who should sign the informed consent paperwork for the procedure?

145) A 31-year-old woman voices her anger at the increasing number of immigrants who compete for job opportunities in her chosen field of computer science. She observes that many of her friends in the local community are also experiencing difficulty in securing appealing employment because of the influx of immigrants. This woman volunteers in her spare time to provide vocational guidance to new immigrant families in the community. Which of the following psychological defense mechanisms is she demonstrating

146) A 57-year-old Caucasian woman presents for a follow-up visit regarding her lower back pain. She originally presented with this complaint last month and was advised to limit activity and use ibuprofen as needed. When her pain persisted, she was scheduled for an MRI of her back. The MRI report returned today and describes the presence of metastatic deposits in her spine. The source of the primary neoplasm remains undetermined. The patient has not yet been told about the findings and will need to be informed today. Which of the following is the best means of initiating a conversation about her condition?

147) A 23-year-old man comes to the psychiatrist with a chief complaint of a depressed mood. He is very anxious and obviously uncomfortable in the physician’s office. Which of the following actions should be used to help develop rapport with this patient?

148) A 37 year-old man with chronic schizophrenia is brought to see a new psychiatrist for treatment. While taking the history, the psychiatrist finds that the patient functions with a flat affect and circumstantial speech all the time. He has few friends. He is able to hold a menial job at the halfway house where he lives, and his behavior is not influenced by delusions or hallucinations currently. What should the psychiatrist rate the patient on Axis V (global assessment of functioning)?

149) An 18-year-old man is brought to the emergency room by police after he is found wandering in the street, screaming loudly at passersby. In the emergency room he is placed in an examination room, and paces the floor and pounds his fist against the door repeatedly. Which of the following actions should be taken by the psychiatrist first?

150) A 24-year-old man returns from Iraq after a 13-month tour of duty. During that tour he was involved in battle situations and saw one of his friends injured by a car bomb. What percentage of American soldiers returning home from Iraq have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

151) A 28-year-old woman is brought to see a psychiatrist by her mother. The patient insists that nothing is wrong with her, but the mother notes that the patient has been slowly but progressively isolating herself from everyone. She now rarely leaves the house. The mother says she can hear the patient talking to “people who aren’t there” while she’s in her room. On examination, the patient is noted to have auditory hallucinations and the delusional belief that her mother is going to kick her out of the house so that it can be turned into a theme park. Which of the following is the lifetime prevalence for this disorder?

152) A 32-year-old man is admitted to the psychiatric unit after his wife brought him to the emergency room in a severe major depression. The patient signs himself in voluntarily because he “didn’t think he is safe” at home. Which of the following factors most increases a patient’s risk of suicide while on the inpatient unit?

153) A 52-year-old female presents with a rash over her face for the past few weeks. She also complains of recent-onset difficulty with rising from a seated position and climbing stairs. On examination, you notice a dusky malar rash and a violaceous periorbital edema. Her vital signs are within normal limits. Examination shows symmetric proximal muscle weakness in legs. This patient's condition is most often associated with which of the following?

154) A 50-year-old man presents to your office complaining of pain and swelling of the right knee. He bumped his right knee into a pole 2 days ago while working. He had one episode of similar pain two years ago that resolved with over-the-counter analgesics. He denies any illicit drug use. He has no other medical problems and does not take any medications. His temperature is 37.2°C (98.9°F), and blood pressure is 126/76 mmHg. Examination reveals swelling, warmth and decreased range of motion of the right knee. All other joints are within normal limits. Synovial fluid analysis shows positive birefringent crystals and negative Gram stain. These crystals are most likely composed of?

155) A 53-year-old Caucasian man comes to the emergency department at 2 am because of severe pain in his right great toe for the past 2 hours. He complains that the pain began suddenly as a dull, aching pain, and has worsened over time to a severe throbbing pain, not relieved by acetaminophen. His other medical problems include hypertension, diabetes mellitus-type 2, hypercholesterolemia, and peptic ulcer disease. He has smoked 2 packs of cigarettes daily for 30 years. He drinks 5-6 ounces of alcohol daily. He eats a lot of junk food and exercises infrequently. Both his father and mother have diabetes and hypertension. His older brother died of a myocardial infarction 2 years ago. His medications include glyburide, lisinopril, atenolol, simvastatin and famotidine. His temperature is 37.8°C (100°F), blood pressure is 160/90 mm Hg, pulse is 88/min and respirations are 16/min. On examination, the right great toe appears markedly swollen, red, and is warm to touch. Aspiration of the joint fluid reveals negatively birefringent needle shaped crystals. Apart from prescribing oral indomethacin, what other intervention would be most important to prevent the development of further attacks?

156) A 32-year old woman comes to the physician because of pain and paresthesias in her thumb, first two fingers and the radial-half of the ring finger. Her pain is worse at night and interferes with sleep. She feels tired and unable to work effectively in her office lately. She takes an over-the-counter stool softener for constipation but otherwise has no known medical problems. Her vital signs are within normal limits. When you ask the patient to maintain acute wrist flexion for 30seconds she experiences severe pain and paresthesias. Her skin is dry. Which of the following is the most likely cause of her hand symptoms?

157) A 51 -year-old man complains of difficulty walking and mild right-sided foot pain for the past several weeks. His medical history is significant for type 1 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Physical examination reveals a significantly deformed right foot and a mildly deformed left foot. X-rays suggest effusions in several of the tarsometatarsal joints, large osteophytes, and several extra articular bone fragments. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's complaints?

158) A 24-year-old Caucasian female complains of weakness, skin rash, low-grade fever and joint pain. She describes pain and swelling of the hand joints and pain in her knees. Her mother suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. Her blood pressure is 145/90 mmHg, and her heart rate is 90/min. Her hematocrit is 40% and ESR is 43 mm/hr. Urinalysis is 2+ for protein. Which of the following is the best statement about this patient's joint symptoms?

159) A 67-year-old man presents to your office with two days of back pain. He was moving boxes in the garage when the pain started. The pain is not relieved by lying down and increases in intensity upon straining and coughing. He could not sleep during the night due to pain and took several tablets of acetaminophen without relief. He has never had such pain before. Physical examination reveals symmetric knee reflexes. Plantar reflexes are flexor bilaterally. Straight leg raise is negative. Local tenderness is evident upon percussion of the fourth lumbar vertebra. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's condition?

160) A 38-year-old male with steroid-dependent sarcoidosis presents to the physician's office because of progressive right hip pain. He localizes the pain to right groin and states that the pain is present on weight bearing and at rest. His temperature is 37.2°C (98.9°F) and blood pressure is 156/86 mm Hg. Examination shows decreased range of motion due to pain. He also has a round face and fullness in supraclavicular area. Purple striae are present on skin. Muscle power is slightly decreased in the proximal thigh muscles in both legs. Reflexes are 2+, and there are no sensory deficits. Plain films of the right hip show no significant abnormalities ESR is 10 mm/hr. Which of the following is the most likely cause of his hip pain?

161) A 65-year-old man comes to the emergency room complaining of 2 days of severe pain and swelling of his right knee. He denies any recent respiratory illness, diarrhea or urinary symptoms. He has a history of severe degenerative joint disease and underwent total knee replacement four years ago. He drinks one can of beer every night and does not use tobacco or illicit drugs. His temperature is 40°C (104°F), blood pressure is 120/60 mmHg, and pulse is 110/min. Examination shows warmth, swelling, and tenderness over the knee. His range of motion is restricted. Synovial fluid white blood cell count is 98,000/microl. Which of the following is the most likely cause of his current condition?

163) A 43-year-old Caucasian female has a long history of polyarthritis. She also complains of fatigue, low-grade fever, weakness and recent weight loss. Her current medications are methotrexate, naproxen and ranitidine. Physical examination reveals deformed hand joints and a soft, tender mass palpated in the right popliteal fossa. The latter finding is best explained by:

164) A 45-year-old woman with long-standing, well-controlled rheumatoid arthritis develops severe pain and swelling in the left elbow over 2 days. She is not sexually active. Arthrocentesis reveals cloudy fluid. Synovial fluid analysis reveals >100,000 cells/mL; 98% of these are PMNs. What is the most likely organism to cause this scenario?

1) A 64-year-old male who has not seen a doctor for the past 20 years presents to the emergency room with excruciating chest pain that stated suddenly about three hours ago. He describes the pain as tearing in quality and says that it radiates to his back. On physical examination, you hear an early diastolic decrescendo murmur at the sternal border. Chest X-ray shows widening of the superior mediastinum. EKG is normal. Which of the following medical conditions most likely accounts for this patients presentation?

2) A 45-year-old recently immigrated Mexican farmer comes to your office complaining of dyspnea, fatigue and abdominal distention for the past two months. On physical exam, his temperature is 37°C (98°F), blood pressure is 126/80 mmHg, pulse is 80/min, and respirations are16/min. You note pedal edema, elevated jugular venous pressure with positive Kussmaul's sign, and increased abdominal girth with free fluid. Chest auscultation reveals decreased heart sound intensity at the apex and an early heart sound following S2. The jugular venous pressure tracing shows prominent 'x’ and 'y' descents. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's symptoms?

3) A 45-year-old mildly overweight male recovering from an anterior wall myocardial infarction develops sudden onset of sharp pain in the left side of his chest. He presented five days earlier with substernal chest pain and diaphoresis. He has had no dyspnea, extremity swelling or palpitations since admission. His past medical history is significant for diabetes mellitus type 2. He seems mildly restless, especially in the supine position. The pain improves when sitting up and leaning forward. His breathing is fast and shallow due to the pain. His lungs are clear on auscultation. His blood pressure is 120/78 mmHg and his heart rate is 60/min There is no change in blood pressure upon deep inspiration. ECG shows sinus rhythm with new diffuse ST segment elevation. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

4) A 23-year-old woman who is 26 weeks pregnant presents to the emergency department with sudden onset severe shortness of breath and inability to lie flat. She recently emigrated from Eastern Europa. Her medical history is significant for recurrent sore throats requiring tonsillectomy as a child. Presently, her blood pressure is 110/60 mmHg and her heart rate is 120/min. An EKG rhythm strip suggests atrial fibrillation. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

5) A 63-year-old Caucasian female presents to the emergency room with a recent onset of left-sided Weakness. She has been experiencing increased fatigability, low-grade fevers and occasional palpitations over the past two months. She has lost seven pounds during the same period. Her temperature is 37°C (98.6°F), pulse is 80/min (regular), blood pressure is 120/76mmHg and respirations are 14/min. Her lungs are clear. Cardiac auscultation reveals normal first and second heat sounds and a mid-diastolic rumble at the apex. Echocardiography shows a mass in the left atrium. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

6) A 56-year-old male presents with progressively worsening dyspnea and ankle edema. He denies chest pain syncope or palpitations. He does not smoke or drink alcohol. He denies diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia. His temperature is 37.1°C (98.7°F), pulse is 70/min, blood pressure is 136/70mmHg, and respirations are 15/min. Examination shows elevated jugular venous pressure, bilateral ankle edema, and tender hepatomegaly. Chest auscultation shows bibasilar rales. His heat sounds are distant and there is no murmur. Chest x-ray shows mild cardiomegaly and a right-sided pleural effusion. ECG shows low voltage QRS complexes and nonspecific ST-T wave changes. Echocardiography shows normal left ventricular volume with symmetrical thickening of the left ventricular walls and slightly reduced systolic function. Which of the following would represent a potentially reversible cause of this patient’s heat disease?

7) A 55-year-old male presents to the emergency room with right-sided weakness that has persisted for the past several hours. He also complains of severe central chest pain that is "ripping" in quality and radiates to his back. He has had hypertension for the past seven years and has not been taking any anti-hypertensive medication. He has been smoking one pack of cigarettes per day for the past 25 years. His father died of coronary artery disease at age 44 years. His temperature is 37.1°C (98.6°F), pulse is 78/min, blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg in the right arm and 110/70 mm Hg in the left arm, and respirations are 16/min. He is diaphoretic and confuse. His neurological examination is significant for decreased power and tone in the right upper and right lower extremities. The rest of his physical examination is unremarkable ECG shows left axis-deviation and a chest x ray is normal. Based on these findings, what is the most likely diagnosis?

8) A 54-year-old man is brought to the ER three hours after the onset of severe, 10/10, tearing, substernal chest pain radiating to his back. He still complains of pain and dizziness at the time of arrival. Physical examination demonstrates a pale thin male who is anxious and diaphoretic. His blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg in the right arm and 70/40 mmHg in the left arm. There is an 18 mmHg difference in systolic blood pressure between inspiration and expiration. His jugular veins are distended while sitting. Bedside echocardiogram demonstrates a moderate amount of pericardial fluid. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

10) A 21-year-old woman presents to the ED complaining of lightheadedness. Her symptoms appeared 45 minutes ago. She has no other symptoms and is not on any medications. She has a medical history of mitral valve prolapse. Her HR is 170 beats per minute and BP is 105/55 mmHg. Physical examination is unremarkable. After administering the appropriate medication, her HR slows down and her symptoms resolve. You repeat a 12-lead ECG that shows a rate of 89 beats per minute with a regular rhythm. The PR interval measures 100 milliseconds and there is a slurred upstroke of the QRS complex. Based on this information, which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

11) A 76-year-old man was operated on for a strangulated inguinal hernia and had approximately 40 cm of small bowel resected. On the morning of his third post-operative day, he falls while getting out of bed. Immediately after the fall, he is responsive but his speech is slurred and he cannot explain what happened. His pulse is 122/min, blood pressure is 96/50 mmHg, and respirations are 23/min. Lungs are clear to auscultation and his heart has a regular rate and rhythm. His neck veins are distended. An ECG is remarkable for a new onset right bundle branch block (RBBB). Immediate resuscitation is started with wide open intravenous fluids, but he becomes unresponsive. Shortly thereafter, his pupils start to dilate and his heart rate drops to 45/min. He eventually dies despite resuscitative efforts. What is the most likely cause of his death?

13) A 53-year-old Caucasian female is admitted to the ER with hypotension. Her condition is considered very serious, and invasive hemodynamic monitoring is established. Blood pressure measured by intra- arterial method is 72/46 mmHg. Her heart rate is 120/min, regular. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) estimated using Swan-Ganz catheter is 6 mmHg. Mixed venous oxygen concentration (MVo2) is 16 vol% (Normal = 15.5 vol%). Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's condition?

14) A 60-year-old female comes to your office for progressive exertional dyspnea and new-onset ankle swelling. She has been recently worked up for proteinuria and easy bruisability. Otherwise her past medical history is insignificant. She has a ten pack-year history of smoking and she drinks two to three glasses of wine every day. Her temperature is 37.1°C (98.8°F), blood pressure is 130/70 mmHg, pulse is 80/min and respirations are 14/min. There is mild jugular venous distention on physical examination. Chest auscultation shows scattered bibasilar crackles. Echocardiography reveals symmetrical thickening of the ventricular walls, normal ventricular dimensions and a slightly reduced systolic function. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

15) A 20-year-old white female presents with chest pain for the past few weeks. She describes the pain as sharp, located to the left of the sternum, and lasting 5-10 seconds at a time. There is no associated fever, cough, breathlessness, palpitations, or syncope. She does not smoke or drink alcohol. On cardiac examination, there is a short systolic murmur at the apex that disappears with squatting. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

16) A 42-year-old man presents to the emergency department complaining of two weeks of weakness, low-grade fevers, and exertional shortness of breath. He also notes fingertip pain and urine that has been dark and cloudy recently. On physical examination, several of his proximal inter phalangeal joints are swollen. Which of the following diagnoses is most consistent with his presentation?

18) A 37-year-old Cambodian woman presents to the emergency room with acute onset of left-sided weakness. She has been experiencing progressive exertional dyspnea, nocturnal cough and occasional hemoptysis over the past six months. She also describes frequent episodes of palpitations and irregular heartbeats. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

19) A 67-year-old man presents to the emergency department after losing consciousness while shovelling snow near his house. He reports having had a similar episode one month ago while carrying heavy bags from the grocery store. The patient has reduced his physical activity level over the last several months because of progressive exertional dyspnea and fatigue. His past medical history is significant for diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia. Metformin and simvastatin are his only medications. Which of the following physical examination findings is most likely in this patient?

20) A 17-year-old girl is brought to the ER 30 minutes after an episode where she lost consciousness. She is accompanied by her father who witnessed the event. He says that the patient recently broke up with her boyfriend and has been under a lot of stress. Her sleep has been poor. She has had three similar episodes over the last month. On exam, her heart rate is 90/min, respirations are 13/min, and blood pressure is 120/70 mmHg. She seems sleepy but can be aroused easily. She gives her correct name but is disoriented to time and place. Pupils are symmetric and reactive to light. Blood glucose level is 100 mg/dl. Which of the following findings would you most expect in this patient?

21) A 50-year-old construction worker continues to have elevated blood pressure of 160/95 mmHg even after a third agent is added to his antihypertensive regimen. Physical examination is normal, electrolytes are normal, and the patient is taking no over-the-counter medications. Which of the following is the best next step for this patient?

23) A 45-year-old mildly overweight male recovering from an anterior wall myocardial infarction develops sudden onset of left-sided chest pain. He appears agitated and restless. Two minutes later, he is unresponsive. His pulse is not palpable and ECG monitor shows sinus tachycardia at the rate of 130/min. He presented five days earlier with substernal chest pain and diaphoresis. He has had no dyspnea, extremity swelling or palpitations since admission. His past medical history is significant for diabetes mellitus type 2. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

24) A 34-year-old Caucasian woman presents to your office with dyspnea and severe chest pain after returning from a trip to Central Asia. The pain is localized on the left side and increases with inspiration. She also had one episode of hemoptysis. She does not smoke or consume alcohol. She is sexually active with one partner and uses oral contraceptives. Her father died of a myocardial infarction at 52 years of age. Her temperature is 36.7°C (98°F), pulse is 100/min, respirations are 28/min, and blood pressure is 110/66 mmHg. Which of the following most likely accounts for this patient's chest pain?

25) A 32-year-old man develops severe nausea and vomiting after returning from a party. He also complains of chest pain that is more intense than any pain he has previously experienced. His past medical history is significant for HIV infection, alcohol abuse, and alcoholic hepatitis. He admits to using cocaine regularly. His temperature is 37.8°C (100°F), pulse is 120/min, respirations are 24/min, and blood pressure is 100/60 mmHg. Examination reveals injected conjunctivae and bilateral dilated pupils. Chest X-ray demonstrates a widened mediastinum and left-sided pleural effusion. EKG is unremarkable. The pleural fluid is found to have an elevated amylase content. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?

27) A 54-year-old overweight man wakes up in the middle of the night with substernal discomfort that he describes as a burning sensation. He also complains of left-sided neck pain and feels sweaty and short of breath. He has never had similar pain before. Prior to going to bed he had eaten a big meal. His past medical history is significant for diabetes and hypertension. Which of the following physical findings is most consistent with this patient's clinical presentation?

28) A 75-year-old patient presents to the ER after a syncopal episode. He is again alert and in retrospect describes occasional substernal chest pressure and shortness of breath on exertion. His blood pressure is 110/80 mmHg and lungs have a few bibasilar rales. Which auscultatory finding would best explain his findings?

29) You are helping with school sports physicals and see a 16-year-old boy who has had trouble keeping up with his peers. Which of the following auscultatory findings suggests a previously undiagnosed ventricular septal defect?

31) A 32-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department with excruciating chest and neck pain. She is 6'2" and has long extremities. Her hand joints show significant extensibility. Which of the following additional findings is also likely in this patient?

32) A 69-year-old male presents to the emergency department with severe pain in the back of his chest that began suddenly 6 hours ago, and 2 hours of difficulty walking due to leg weakness. He has never had such symptoms before. His past medical history is significant for hypertension, bleeding peptic ulcers, and deep vein thrombosis requiring inferior vena cava filter placement. He drinks 6-8 cans of beer each weekend and does not smoke cigarettes or use illicit drugs. Blood pressure taken from his right arm is 210/120 mmHg. His heart rate is 120/min and regular. Chest x-ray reveals a right-sided pleural effusion. EKG shows sinus tachycardia. What is the most likely diagnosis?

33) A 57-year-old male presents to the emergency department with recent-onset dyspnea and cough. He reports that his symptoms began earlier this morning while he was jogging, when he suddenly started feeling short of breath and very weak. In the emergency department, laboratory analysis reveals a markedly elevated serum b-type natriuretic peptide level. Which of the following clinical signs best correlates with this finding?

34) A 65-year-old male presents to your office with a six-month history of periodic substernal pain. The pain episodes are experienced during strong emotion, last for 10-15 minutes, and resolve spontaneously. He has a long history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type 2. His right foot was amputated two years ago due to diabetes-related complications. You suspect angina pectoris and decide to perform myocardial perfusion scanning. It reveals uniform distribution of isotope at rest, but inhomogenesity of the distribution after dipyridamole injection. You conclude that the patient has ischemic heart disease. Which of the following effects of dipyridamole helped you in making the diagnosis?

35) A 24-year-old military recruit is brought to the emergency room after suddenly collapsing while at training camp. Witnesses say he lost consciousness, and in the ER he appears confused. He had apparently been in his usual state of good health until this incident. His medical history includes allergic rhinitis for which he takes chlorpheniramine. On physical examination, his temperature is 4 1°C (106°F), blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg, respiratory rate is 22/min, and pulse is 130/min and regular. He appears restless. His pupils are 4mm in size, symmetric, and reactive to light. Lung exam reveals a few rales at both lung bases. His abdomen is soft, non-tender and bowel sounds are present. There is no neck stiffness. His skin is dry and hot. He has 2+ symmetric reflexes in the upper and lower extremities. Muscle tone and bulk are normal. Initial laboratory studies show: Hemoglobin 16.0 g/L, Platelets 120,000/mm3, Leukocyte count 18,500/mm3, Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 40 mg/dL, Prothrombin time 17 sec, Partial thromboplastin time 40 sec. Which of the following is the most likely cause of his current condition

36) A 33-year-old Russian male reports concern over recurrent episodes of a "pounding" and "racing" heart over the last several months. He says his symptoms are worst while lying supine and while lying on his left side. On physical examination, his blood pressure is 150/55 mmHg and heart rate is 73/min. Which of the following is most likely responsible for his symptoms?

37) A 40-year-old male presents to the Emergency Room with a two-month history of occasional severe headache and blurring of vision. His past medical history is significant for hypertension controlled with hydrochlorothiazide for two years. His family history is significant for hypertension and diabetes. He smokes two packs a day and occasionally consumes alcohol. His blood pressure is 200/140 mmHg and heart rate is 75/min. Which of the following is most consistent with a diagnosis of malignant hypertension in this patient?

40) A 64-year-old white female presents for evaluation of two weeks of decreased appetite and nausea. She also notes occasional palpitations, which have been especially prominent over the past two days. Her medical history is significant for an anterior wall myocardial infarction one year ago and secondary congestive heart failure with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Her current medications include aspirin, digoxin, furosemide, enalapril and metoprolol. On physical examination, her blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg, pulse is 106/min and respirations are 15/min. The remainder of her exam is unremarkable. Chest x-ray shows an enlarged cardiac silhouette and normal lung fields. On laboratory testing, her digoxin level is twice the upper limit of normal. You order an EKG. Which of the following arrhythmias is most specific for digitalis toxicity?

41) A 45-year-old mildly overweight smoker presents with occasional episodes of nocturnal substernal chest pain that wakes her up from sleep. The episodes last 15-20 minutes and resolve spontaneously. She denies any illicit drug use. She leads a sedentary lifestyle but states that she can climb two flights of stairs without any discomfort. Her pulse is 78/min and regular, blood pressure is 130/70 mmHg and respirations are 13/min. Auscultation of her heart and lungs is unremarkable. Extended ambulatory ECG monitoring reveals transient ST segment elevations in leads V4-V6 during the pain attack. The pathophysiology of this patient's condition is most similar to that of which of the following?

42) A 65-year-old man comes to your office for a follow-up after his previous visits revealed inadequately controlled hypertension. He has no present complaints except difficulty walking uphill or climbing stairs, because of the pain in the right thigh, which makes him stop and rest. His past medical history includes stable angina, requiring coronary angioplasty and stenting 2 years ago; hypercholesterolemia; a 20-year history of hypertension; and a 10-year history of diabetes mellitus, type 2. His current medications are aspirin, metoprolol, hydrochlorothiazide, enalapril, amlodipine, pravastatin and glyburide. He smokes 1½packs of cigarettes per day and does not consume alcohol. His blood pressure is 160/100 mmHg in his right arm and 180/110 mmHg in his left arm. Which of the following findings will point to the potential cause of the resistant hypertension in this patient

43) A 43-year-old man is hospitalized with chest pain, lightheadedness and nausea. He describes the pain as dull and non-radiating. He has never had chest pain before, but does report occasional episodes of dyspnea and coughing. His medical history is significant for eczema. He is not presently taking any medications. His family history is significant for prostate cancer in his father and rheumatoid arthritis in his mother. He does not smoke or consume alcohol. The patient is admitted to the hospital and is given aspirin, low-molecular weight heparin, metoprolol and captopril. On day 2 of his hospitalization he complains of shortness of breath. Physical examination reveals prolonged expirations and bilateral wheezes. There are no crackles. You estimate the jugular venous pressure to be 7 cm with the patient's head elevated at 45 degrees. Which of the following is most likely responsible for this patient's current respiratory symptoms?

47) A 32-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a three-day history of fever, cough and weakness. His blood pressure is 120/80mmHg and his heart rate is 110/min. Physical examination reveals multiple needle tracks on his arms. ECG shows sinus tachycardia but is otherwise normal. Chest X-ray shows scattered round lesions in the peripheral lung fields bilaterally. Urinalysis is positive for 2+ protein. Which of the following accompanying findings is most likely in this patient?

48) A 41-year-old intravenous drug abuser presents with shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain. He is febrile with a temperature of 103.5°F. He has no skin lesions and funduscopic exam is negative. He has jugular venous distension that increases with compression of the liver. The liver is pulsatile. The jugular venous pulse shows a prominent v wave. The patient has splenomegaly. Heart auscultation reveals a holosystolic murmur heard best at the left lower sternal border. The murmur increases with inspiration (Müller maneuver). Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?