USMLE_Basic IV

A 57-year-old man has end-stage heart failure due to atherosclerosis. His cardiologist refers him for evaluation for heart transplantation. Which of the following is an absolute contraindication for heart transplantation?

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?

A 58-year-old Caucasian woman comes in to your office for advice regarding her risk factors for developing osteoporosis. She is 5ft 1 in tall and weighs 195 lb. She stopped having periods at age 49. She is healthy but smokes one pack of cigarettes per day. She does not take any medications. She has never taken hormone replacement for menopause. Her mother died at age 71 after she suffered a spontaneous hip fracture. Which of the following will have the least effect on this patient’s risk for developing osteoporosis?

A 58-year-old man presents with a one-year history of diarrhea. The stools are watery and accompanied by abdominal cramps. He denies any fever, blood per rectum, or foul-smelling stools. He has also experienced frequent episodes of dizziness, flushing, wheezing, and a feeling of warmth. He has taken herbal medicines, which failed to relieve his symptoms. He is depressed about his illness, and feels hopeless about diagnosis and treatment. He appears ill. Auscultation of the chest shows a 2/6 systolic murmur over the left lower sternal border. Abdominal examination shows hepatomegaly 3cm below the right costal margin, mild shifting dullness, and no abdominal tenderness. Laboratory studies show: Hb 13.0gm/dl, MCV 90fl, WBC 6,100/cmm, Platelets 210,000/cmm, AST101 U/L, ALT 99 U/L, Alkaline phosphatase 400 mg/dl. This patient is at risk of developing a deficiency of which vitamin or mineral?

A 59-year-old female is hospitalized due to lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Her past medical history includes diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cor pulmonale and recurrent urinary tract infections. Her condition initially stabilized with fluid resuscitation and blood transfusions, but she subsequently developed an acute renal failure. Her urine output has been between 300 and 400 ml per day for the last couple of days. On the 10th day of her hospitalization she is lethargic. Serum analysis reveals: Hemoglobin 10.2 g/dl, Hematocrit 30%, WBC 14,300/mm3, Blood glucose 93 mg/dl, BUN 141 mg/dl, Creatinine 4.1 mg/dl, Sodium 133 mEq/L, Potassium 5.0 mEq/L, pH 7.15, pO2 90 mmHg, pCO2 60 mmHg, HCO3 18 mEq/L. Which of the following is the most likely cause of her lethargy?

A 59-year-old male presents to the ER with diplopia that started several hours ago. He has no other complaints. His past medical history is significant for long-standing diabetes with poor glycemic control, right knee osteoarthritis, and peptic ulcer disease. Physical examination reveals right-sided ptosis with the right eye looking down and out. Pupils are equal and reactive to light. This patient's condition is most likely due to which of the following?

A 59-year-old man comes to the physician because of dysuria, urinary urgency, and frequency. He also complains of hematuria, nocturia, decreased force of stream, and a feeling of incomplete voiding. These symptoms have been present for more than a month. For the past few days he has been experiencing dull, non-radiating suprapubic pain. He has also been having low-grade fever and malaise for the past couple of days. He has been taking analgesics for osteoarthritis of his right knee for more than 10 years. He has a 40-pack-years history of cigarette smoking and does not use alcohol or drugs. Rectal examination shows a smooth, firm enlargement of the prostate without induration or asymmetry. Neurological examination shows no abnormalities. Urinalysis shows hematuria with isomorphic red blood cells. Laboratory studies show a serum creatinine of 1.5 mg/dl, and a PSA of 2 ng/ml. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for this patient's symptoms?

A 6-day-old female neonate is admitted to the hospital for the evaluation of jaundice. She was born to a 17-year-old German mother at 39 weeks gestation. Her mother's blood type is B+, and was treated for newborn jaundice due to presumed ABO incompatibility. Her other family members also had neonatal jaundice. The infant's vital signs are normal. On examination, she is visibly jaundiced, and her spleen tip is palpable. Her total bilirubin level is 25mg/dl and direct bilirubin level is 0.4mg/dl. Her hemoglobin was initially 15.7g/dl, but is now 10.7g/dl. Her reticulocyte count is 4% and platelet count is 230,000/mm3. The peripheral smear shows moderate schistocytes with burr cells and moderate spherocytes. Her blood type is B+ and Coombs' test is negative. Her stools are negative for occult blood. Her mother's incubated red cell osmotic fragility study is abnormal. What is the most likely cause of this neonate's symptoms?

A 6-month-old infant has been exclusively fed a commercially available infant formula. Upon introduction of fruit juices, however, the child develops jaundice, hepatomegaly, vomiting, lethargy, irritability, and seizures. Tests for urine-reducing substances are positive. Which of the following is likely to explain this child’s condition?

A 6-month-old male is brought to the office due to fussiness and tugging at his right ear for the past 2 days. He has had a fever of 39.4 C (103 F) for the past 2 days. His past medical history is significant for recurrent ear and lung infections, oral candidiasis, and persistent diarrhea by rotavirus. His temperature is 39.4 C (103F), pulse rate is 150/min, respirations are 28/min, and blood pressure is 80/60mm Hg. Physical examination reveals an erythematous, bulging right tympanic membrane with poor mobility on pneumatic otoscopy. His lymph nodes are not palpable, and his tonsils are not visualized. His B and T lymphocyte levels are markedly reduced. The chest x-ray reveals an absent thymic shadow. What is the most likely etiology of this patient's condition?

A 6-week-old child arrives with a complaint of “breathing fast” and a cough. On examination you note the child to have no temperature elevation, a respiratory rate of 65 breaths per minute, and her oxygen saturation to be 94%. Physical examination also is significant for rales and rhonchi. The past medical history for the child is positive for an eye discharge at 3 weeks of age, which was treated with a topical antibiotic drug. Which of the following organisms is the most likely cause of this child’s condition?

A 6-week-old male infant, who was born at 32 weeks' gestation with a birth weight of 1500 g, has had an average weight gain of 8 g/day since birth. He takes an iron-fortified formula that is 24kcal/oz. His calorie intake is about 125kcal/day. It is noted that his stool is poorly formed and bulky. Which of the following dietary modifications will most likely result in decreased steatorrhea and improved weight gain?

A 6-year-old African-American child is brought in by his father for complaints of easy fatigability and pallor. These symptoms occurred after the son was treated with "some medication" for a recent diarrhea. Physical examination is normal except for pallor and multiple petechiae. Laboratory values are as follows: Hb 8.0 g/dL, WBC 12,000/cmm, Platelets 50,000/cmm, Blood glucose 118 mg/dL, Serum Na 135 mEq/L, Serum K 5.3 mEq/L, Chloride 110 mEq/L, Bicarbonate 18 mEq/L, BUN 38 mg/dL, Serum creatinine 2.5 mg/dL, Total bilirubin 3 mg/dL, Direct bilirubin 0.5 mg/dL, PT 12 seconds, APTT 30 seconds, LDH 900 IU/L, Reticulocyte count 6%. A peripheral blood smear reveals giant platelets and multiple schistocytes. What is the most likely underlying pathophysiology for this boy's pallor?

A 6-year-old African-American child is brought in by his father for complaints of easy fatigability and pallor. These symptoms occurred after the son was treated with "some medication" for a recent diarrhea. Physical examination is normal except for pallor and multiple petechiae. Laboratory values are as follows: Hb 8.0 g/dL, WBC 12,000/mm3, Platelets 50,000/mm3, Blood glucose 118 mg/dL, Serum Na 135 mEq/L, Serum K 5.3 mEq/L, Chloride 110 mEq/L, Bicarbonate 18 mEq/L, BUN 38 mg/dL, Serum creatinine 2.5 mg/dL, Total bilirubin 3 mg/dL, Direct bilirubin 0.5 mg/dL, PT 12 seconds, APTT 30 seconds, LDH 900 IU/L, Reticulocyte count 6%. A peripheral blood smear reveals giant platelets and multiple schistocytes. What is the most likely underlying pathophysiology for this boy's pallor?

A 6-year-old Asian boy is brought by his parents to the office due to high-grade fever and rash for the last 9 days. A brick-red, maculopapular rash first appeared on his face and subsequently spread to his trunk and extremities. Prior to the outbreak of the rash, he had a non-productive cough, tearing of eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and intermittent nasal obstruction. Laboratory findings are as follows: Hct 46%, WBC 2,000/mm3, Platelets 160,000/mm3. Which of the following has been shown to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates of patients with this kind of infection?

A 6-year-old boy had been in his normal state of good health until a few hours prior to presentation to the ER room. His mother reports that he began to have difficulty walking, and she noticed that he was falling and unable to maintain his balance. Which of the following is the most likely cause for his condition?

A 6-year-old boy is brought to the clinic for the evaluation of a large, red, circular rash on his left thigh which has been present since two weeks and has been enlarging. He has a mild headache and myalgia, but is afebrile. Three weeks ago, he and his family visited relatives at a rural farm in Connecticut and went hiking in the woods. His temperature is 37.2 C (99 F) and pulse is 90/min. He is alert, active, appears non-toxic, and not in distress. On the anterior surface of his left thigh, there is a red ring that is 7 cm in diameter with central clearing, and a central brownish-red macule that is 3 mm in diameter. Which of the following measures would have prevented this condition?

A 6-year-old boy is seen in the office for evaluation of polyuria. Further questioning reveals several months of headache with occasional emesis. Your physical examination reveals a child who is less than 5% for weight. He has mild papilledema. His glucose is normal, and his first urine void specific gravity after a night without liquids is 1.005 g/mL. Which of the following might also be expected to be seen in this patient?

A 6-year-old Caucasian boy is hospitalized for acute sinusitis that was accompanied with intensive nasal bleeding. Past medical history is significant for recurrent pulmonary infections and several hospitalizations for parenteral antibiotic therapy. The sweat chloride test is positive. The blood tests reveal a prothrombin time (PT) of 20 seconds. Which of the following coagulation factors is most likely to be deficient in this patient?

A 6-year-old child has had repeated episodes of otitis media. She undergoes an uneventful surgical placement of pressure-equalization (PE) tubes. In the recovery room she develops a fever of 40C (104F), rigidity of her muscles, and metabolic and respiratory acidosis. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for her condition?

A 60-year-old Caucasian male is brought to the emergency department by his daughter due to a 2-day history of confusion and lethargy. According to his daughter, he had been complaining of fatigue, anorexia, polyuria and constipation for the last several weeks. He smokes two packs of cigarettes daily, and consumes alcohol occasionally. His blood pressure is 130/90 mmHg and heart rate is 90/min. Physical examination reveals a somnolent patient who is not oriented in time. His lab values are: Serum Na 140 mEq/L, Serum K 4.0 mEq/L, Serum chloride 100 mEq/L, Serum bicarbonate 22 mEq/L, Serum creatinine 1.6 mg/dl, Serum calcium 13.4 mg/dL, Serum phosphorus 2.2 mg/dL, Blood glucose 100 mg/dL, Alkaline phosphatase 80 U/L. Chest x-ray demonstrates a right middle lobe mass and perihilar adenopathy. What is the most probable cause of this patient's symptoms?

A 60-year-old Caucasian male presents to your office complaining of decreased hearing on the right side. He also feels that something is wrong with his head because his hat size had increased over the last two years. His past medical history is significant for hypertension and peptic ulcer disease. His current medications are hydrochlorothiazide and enalapril. He also takes ibuprofen for occasional headaches, and ranitidine for infrequent episodes of heartburn. Lab tests showed increased alkaline phosphatase levels. Which of the following is the most likely mechanism underlying this patient's condition?

A 60-year-old diabetic man undergoes incision and drainage of an infected boil on his back. The wound is left open and packed daily. Week by week, the wound grows smaller and eventually heals. Which of the following terms describes the method of wound closure by the patient?

A 60-year-old male is brought to ER by his son because he had an episode of syncope. He was watching TV in an arm-chair when suddenly lost his consciousness without any warning sign. He had several clonic jerks while unconscious. He never had such an episode before. His past medical history is significant for acute myocardial infarction six months ago and well-controlled hypertension. His current medications include captopril metoprolol hydrochlorothiazide, clopidogrel and aspirin. His blood pressure is 130/85 mmHg and heat rate is 80/min with frequent ectopic beat. Physical examination revealed mild holosystolic apical murmur radiating to the axilla. Which of the following is the most probable pathophysiologic mechanism for his syncopal episode?

A 60-year-old male presents to the emergency room with the chief complaint of progressive exertional dyspnea and fatigue. He denies any chest pain, syncope, cough, or edema. He suffered an acute anterior wall myocardial infarction one month ago. Chest auscultation reveals bilateral crackles in his lower chest. Cardiac auscultation reveals a pansystolic murmur at the apex with radiation to the axilla. ECG shows previously present unchanged Q waves and a persistent ST segment elevation in the anterior leads. Based on these findings, what is the most likely underlying cause of his symptoms?

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?

A 60-year-old man comes to the physician because of a 2-day history of fever and left-sided scrotal pain. The pain has progressed in severity and it radiates to the flank. His has also had increased urinary frequency and urgency along with dysuria. His temperature is 38.1°C (100.8°F), blood pressure is 130/75mm Hg, pulse is 86/min, and respirations are 15/min. Physical examination shows left scrotal swelling and a tender scrotal mass; there is no urethral discharge. Rectal examination shows a tender prostate. Laboratory studies show a WBC count of 14,000/microl with a left shift. Urinalysis shows bacteriuria and pyuria. Which of the following is the most likely organism responsible for this patient's findings?

A 60-year-old man comes to the physician because of worsening fatigue and nausea. He had a carotid angiogram for the evaluation of symptomatic carotid artery stenosis 15 days ago, and was discharged home three days after the procedure. His medical problems are hypercholesterolemia, coronary artery disease, intermittent claudication, hypertension for 18 years, and diabetes mellitus for 15 years. Physical examination shows painless, reddish-blue mottling of the skin of the extremities. Laboratory studies show: Hb 10.5 g/dl, WBC 10,000/cmm with 12% eosinophils, BUN 46 mg/dl, Serum creatinine 3.0 mg/dl, Serum C3 level Decreased. Urinalysis:pH Normal,Esterase Negative, Nitrite Negative, Protein 1+, WBC Many eosinophils, RBC 1-2/HPF. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's findings?

A 60-year-old man is brought to the ER by his wife because he lost consciousness in the bathroom at night. He says that he woke up, went to the bathroom to urinate, and fainted there. He rapidly recovered his consciousness without any indication of disorientation. He has never had such an episode before. He admits' problems with urination,' including difficulty with initiating urination and frequent awakening to void at night. He does not take any medication. His past medical history is insignificant. He smokes 2 packs of cigarettes per day and does not consume alcohol. His blood pressure is 130/80 mmHg while supine, and 132/80 mmHg while standing. His heart rate is 70/min. His physical examination is within normal limits. The ECG is normal. What is the most probable cause of the syncopal episode in this patient?

A 60-year-old man presents to his primary care physician for routine medical care. He has no complaints, takes no medications, and has a family history of DM. Examination is unremarkable. A screening laboratory test reveals a fasting blood glucose level of 152 mg/dL. One week later the test is repeated and a value of 144 mg/dL is obtained. Which of the following is the most likely cause of these findings?

A 60-year-old man presents with a 6-mm basal cell carcinoma on the tip of his nose. He is scheduled to undergo excision of the tumor in the operating room with repair of the defect using skin and subcutaneous tissue from his earlobe. Which of the following terms most appropriately describes this form of reconstructive surgery?

A 60-year-old man presents with fever and malaise 6 weeks after mitral valve replacement. On examination, his temperature is 38°C, blood pressure 130/80 mm Hg, pulse 80/min, and a loud pansystolic murmur at the apex, which radiates to the axilla. He has no skin or neurologic findings. Which of the following is the most likely causative organism?

A 60-year-old man with no past medical history undergoes upper endoscopy and biopsy for an upset stomach that is worsened by eating. He is found to have inflammation predominantly in the antrum of the stomach. Which of the following is the most likely etiology of this condition?

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?

A 60-year-old postmenopausal woman presents with the new onset of uterine bleeding. An endometrial biopsy is diagnosed as atypical hyperplasia. Which of the following histologic changes is most characteristic of this abnormality?

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?

A 60-year-old white man comes into the Emergency Room with intensive retrosternal pain that began ten minutes ago. He has never had such pain before. His past medical history is significant for diabetes mellitus, type 2, controlled with diet. His blood pressure is 150/95 mmHg and HR is 80/min. You give him one chewable tablet of aspirin and two sublingual tablets of nitroglycerin with a 5-minute interval. After the second tablet of nitroglycerin, the pain is greatly relieved. What is the most important mechanism responsible for pain relief in this patient?

A 60-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 3-month history of worsening fatigue and back pain. She has had diabetes mellitus for the past three years, and hypertension for the past ten years. Laboratory studies show: Hb 9.0 mg/dL, Serum calcium 11.2 mg/dL, Serum phosphorus 3.5 mg/dL, BUN 38 mg/dL, Serum creatinine 2.0 mg/dL. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's renal failure?

A 60-year-old woman recently diagnosed with type 2 DM complains of daily headaches and double vision that have gradually worsened over the previous month. An MRI shows a large pituitary adenoma. Which of the following is most likely being secreted by this tumor?

A 60-year-old woman with heart failure and normal renal function is started on furosemide (Lasix) 80 mg/day. She notices a good diuretic response every time she takes the medication. A few weeks later, she is feeling unwell because of fatigue and muscle weakness, but her heart failure symptoms are better. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for her muscle weakness?

A 62-year-old male comes to your office for a routine follow-up appointment. He has smoked one pack of cigarettes per day for the past 30 years and adamantly refuses to quit. He also drinks six to ten beers each weekend. His past medical history is significant for type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. His last hemoglobinA1c was 8.3%. He is overweight with a current BMI of 27.5 kg/m2. While examining him, you notice a whitish patch over the anterior floor of his mouth. The lesion appears to have a granular texture and is not removed by scraping with a tongue depressor. Which of the following is most likely cause of his oral lesion?

A 62-year-old man has progressive symptoms of dyspnea, and more recently noticed difficulty lying supine. Examination shows an elevated JVP at 8 cm, with a third heart sound, pedal edema, and bibasilar crackles on auscultation. Which one of the following may be implicated in fluid retention for this condition?

A 62-year-old man presents to the emergency department with severe back pain that began suddenly after he attempted to lift a heavy box. He says the pain radiates down his right thigh and leg and that coughing and moving make the pain “unbearable” The patient also complains of an inability to urinate since the pain started. On physical examination, he has no focal lower extremity weakness or numbness, and pinprick testing in the perianal area elicits a quick spasm of the anal sphincter. Rectal exam reveals an enlarged, smooth, nontender prostate. Which of the following best explains this patient's urinary retention?

A 62-year-old man with a prosthetic aortic valve develops fevers and malaise. His valve was replaced 5 years ago because of aortic stenosis from a bicuspid valve. He has a systolic ejection murmur but no other abnormalities on examination. Blood cultures are most likely to grow which of the following?

A 62-year-old postmenopausal woman was found to have right adnexal enlargement on pelvic examination 2 weeks ago. Transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasounds revealed a 5-cm, unilocular, right ovarian mass with regular borders. There is no ascites. The patient went through menopause at age 52. She has had no postmenopausal spotting. There is no family history of ovarian or breast cancer. Her latest mammogram 2 months ago showed no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most appropriate course of action?

A 62-year-old woman presents complaining of recurrent cough productive of yellow sputum. She was seen several weeks ago for similar complaints and was effectively treated with a course of azithromycin. Today she expresses frustration that she seems to keep getting sick with the same infection. On review of systems, the patient also reports recent-onset back pain for which she has been taking acetaminophen. Her past medical history is otherwise insignificant. She has never smoked cigarettes, and drinks alcohol only on rare social occasions. Physical examination reveals conjunctival pallor, a few scattered rales in the lungs bilaterally, and tenderness over the lumbar vertebrae. Laboratory analyses reveal: Hemoglobin 8.4 g/dL, Leukocyte count 5,500/mm3, Blood urea nitrogen 34 mg/dL, Creatinine 2.0 mg/dL, Calcium 10.9 mg/dL, Albumin 3.8 g/dL, Total protein 9.5 g/dL. This patient is at increased risk for recurrent infections because of which of the following abnormalities?

A 62-year-old woman presents to your office complaining of urinary frequency and burning during urination. She denies fever, chills, nausea, back pain or abdominal pain. Her past medical history is significant for a long history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. She does not use tobacco or consume alcohol. Her blood pressure is 160/100 mmHg and her heart rate is 70/min. Her hematocrit is 43% and her WBC count is 8,500/mm3 Urinalysis reveals the following: Glucose negative, Ketones negative, Nitrates positive, Protein 2+, WBC 20-25/hpf, RBC 3-5/hpf. She is given a three-day course of levofloxacin. Urinalysis two weeks later reveals 2+ protein but no nitrates, WBCs, or RBCs. Which of the following is most likely responsible for her persistent urinalysis abnormality?

A 62-year-old woman presents with invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast. Which of the following findings would still allow her to receive breast conservation surgery (partial mastectomy)?

A 63-year-old male is admitted for sudden onset severe chest pain. His ECG reveals ST elevation in leads V2-V6. He is treated with thrombolytic therapy, heparin, aspirin, metoprolol, morphine, and nitrates. A coronary angiogram performed after thrombolytic therapy reveals 50% obstruction of the left anterior descending artery. On the third day of hospitalization, the patient suddenly develops severe shortness of breath at rest and hypotension. Examination reveals a soft S1, an apical pansystolic murmur radiating to the axilla, and bibasilar crackles. His temperature is 37.8°C (100°F), blood pressure is 92/58 mmHg, heart rate is 102/min, and respirations are 31/min. An echocardiogram performed on the second hospital day reveals an akinetic region of the anterior wall. What is the most likely explanation for this patient's deterioration?

A 63-year-old man presents to the ER with substernal chest pain and diaphoresis. The pain stated one hour ago and did not remit with antacids. He has a past medical history of asthma for which he uses inhaled fluticasone and peptic ulcer disease for which he takes omeprazole. His family history is significant for prostate cancer in his father and breast cancer in his mother. Physical examination reveals a blood pressure of 160/100 mmHg and a heat rate of 90/min. A bruit is heard over the right carotid artery and a mild systolic murmur is present at the cardiac apex. Sublingual nitroglycerin and aspirin are administered in the. Within minutes, the patient reports decreased pain. Which of the following most likely accounts for this improvement in his symptoms?

A 63-year-old man with a 40-pack per year smoking history undergoes a low anterior resection for rectal cancer and on postoperative day 5 develops a fever, new infiltrate on chest x-ray, and leukocytosis. He is transferred to the ICU for treatment of his pneumonia because of clinical deterioration. Which of the following is a sign of early sepsis?

A 63-year-old woman with a long history of hypertension faints after experiencing the sudden onset of severe chest pain that radiates to her back. She is rushed to the emergency room. Upon arrival she is agitated and demands quick pain relief. Her heart rate is 110/min and blood pressure is 90/50 mmHg. Jugular veins are distended. An intra-arterial catheter shows significant variation of systolic blood pressure related to the respiratory cycle. Chest x-ray reveals widening of the mediastinum. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's syncope?

A 64-year-old man complains of palpitations and progressive shortness of breath over the past several hours. He says that he also develops a choking sensation every time he tries to lie down. His medical history is significant for hypertension for the past 20 years and medication non-compliance. He also has a 35-year smoking history. He reports that his father died of a heart attack at age 70 and his mother suffered from asthma. On physical examination, his blood pressure is 170/100 mmHg and his heat rate is 130/min and irregularly irregular. Lung exam reveals bibasilar crackles. There is 2+ pitting edema of the lower extremities. Bedside echocardiography shows a left ventricular ejection fraction of 55%. Which of the following is most likely responsible for his symptoms?

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?

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?

A 64-year-old woman presents to your office after falling in the grocery store earlier today. She says she was doing her usual shopping when she felt weak in her legs and fell down. She denies hitting her head, headache, or loss of consciousness, but does complain of low back pain. Her past medical history is significant for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, severe osteoporosis, chronic neck pain and congestive heart failure. She has had three transient ischemic attacks, each lasting 15-20 minutes and characterized by slurred speech, in the past. Her medications include insulin, lisinopril, carvedilol, alendronate, aspirin, and acetaminophen. Her blood pressure is 160/90 mmHg and her heart rate is 73/min. Physical exam reveals muscular weakness, increased deep tendon reflexes, and mildly decreased pinprick sensation in both lower extremities. Which of the following is most likely responsible?

A 65-year-old bedridden woman is brought in with complaints of weight loss, weakness and malaise. Her past medical history includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (diagnosed fifteen years ago) and hypertension of ten years' duration. She quit smoking two years ago, but previously smoked three packs of cigarettes daily since she was 20 years of age. Her vital signs are stable. Her physical examination reveals severe weakness in her proximal muscles, and loss of deep tendon reflexes. Chest x-ray shows a right upper lung mass with mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Which of the following is the most likely cause of her weakness?

A 65-year-old Caucasian male had undergone cardiac catheterization followed by aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis and coronary artery bypass grafting for three-vessel disease. His postoperative course was complicated by atrial fibrillation and a urinary tract infection. His other medical problems include hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. He is also receiving heparin, ciprofloxacin, and amiodarone. On postoperative day five, he developed prolonged bleeding from the venipuncture site. His labs show: Hb 11.5 g/dL, MCV88 fl, Platelet count 50,000/cmm, Leukocyte count 7,500/cmm, Segmented neutrophils 68%, Bands 1%, Eosinophils 1%, Lymphocytes 24%, Monocytes 6%, Prothrombin time 12 sec (INR=1.0), Partial thromboplastin time 65 sec. His preoperative labs were unremarkable. What is the most likely cause of these findings in this patient?

A 65-year-old Caucasian male presents to your office complaining of an episode of slurred speech and clumsiness of his right hand. The episode lasted 15 minutes and resolved spontaneously. He had a similar episode one week ago. His past medical history is significant for moderate hypertension, diabetes mellitus (OM) type 2 and osteoarthritis of the right knee. He has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for 35 years, and drinks 1-2 glasses of wine daily. His current medications include metoprolol, glyburide and naproxen. His blood pressure is 160/95 mmHg, pulse is 65/min, respirations are 16/min, and temperature is 36.7°C (98°F). The physical findings are within normal limits. The lab studies show: Fasting blood glucose 200 mg/dl, Total cholesterol 240 mg/dl, LDL cholesterol 140 mg/dl, HDL cholesterol 76 mg/dl. What is the most important risk factor for a stroke in this patient?

A 65-year-old Caucasian male presents to your office with a several month history of difficulty swallowing. He has noticed a right-sided neck mass which increases in size while drinking fluids. His past medical history is significant for hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and osteoarthritis of his right knee. His current medications include hydrochlorothiazide, ranitidine, and occasional naproxene. You order a barium examination of the esophagus to visualize the abnormality. Which of the following is the most important pathogenetic factor in the development of this patient's problem?

A 65-year-old diabetic man with a creatinine of 1.6 was started on an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor for hypertension and presents to the emergency room with weakness. His other medications include atorvastatin for hypercholesterolemia, metoprolol and spironolactone for congestive heart failure, insulin for diabetes, and aspirin. Laboratory studies include: K: 7.2 mEq/L, Creatinine: 1.8 mg/dL, Glucose: 250 mg/dL, CK: 400 IU/L. Which of the following is the most likely cause of hyperkalemia in this patient?

A 65-year-old female complains of difficulty eating over the last two days. She states that food drops out of her mouth. She has also been having some discharge in her left ear recently. She denies any sore throat, nasal discharge, chest pain, cough, or difficulty breathing. Her past medical history is significant for type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. She has been poorly complaint with follow-up appointments. Her temperature is 38.8°C (101.7°F), pulse is 96/min, blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg, and respirations are 18/min. Examination of the left ear canal shows granulations. There is facial asymmetry, and the angle of the mouth on the left is deviated downward. Which of the following is the most likely causative organism for this patient's condition?

A 65-year-old male comes to the physician's office after noticing blood in his urine. He denies any abdominal pain or dysuria. He denies any recent illness. The review of systems is otherwise unremarkable. His past medical history is significant for hypertension and a transient ischemic attack. He takes a baby aspirin and hydrochlorothiazide daily. His temperature is 36.7°C (98°F), blood pressure is 130/86 mm Hg, pulse is 80/min and respirations are 16/min. A complete physical examination is unremarkable. Which of the following is the most likely cause of his symptoms?

A 65-year-old male has been having a non-productive, hacking cough for over a week. He takes an over-the-counter medication containing guaifenesin and diphenhydramine in an effort to improve his symptoms. The next day, he complains of lower abdominal discomfort and difficulty voiding. Which of the following most likely accounts for this patient's new complaint?

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?

A 65-year-old man comes to the office and complains of pain and a rash with blisters over the left side of his chest. He has experienced pain over the area for the past 2 days. This morning, he noticed blisters while changing his shirt. He also complains of malaise and headache. His pulse is 82/min, blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg, respirations are 14/min and temperature is 36.8°C (98.4°F). Physical examination reveals grouped, tense vesicles arranged in a band along the left side of his chest. Which of the following is the most likely etiology of his condition?

A 65-year-old man comes to the office with a six-month history of a non-healing ulcer on his right forearm. Physical examination demonstrates a scaling plaque with central ulceration and 1.5 cm diameter. The biopsy shows polygonal cells with atypical nuclei at all levels of the epidermis with zones of keratinization. What is the single most important risk factor for this condition?

A 65-year-old man complains of lower leg swelling, fatigue and poor appetite. His past medical history is significant for recurrent chest infections, wheezing, cough, recent pyelonephritis, and arterial hypertension. He smokes 1 pack of cigarettes a day but denies alcohol or intravenous drug use. His physical examination reveals a barrel-shaped chest with bilateral scattered wheezes. His abdomen is distended and his liver edge is palpated 4 cm below the right costal margin. You note pitting edema and dilated, tortuous, superficial veins over the bilateral lower extremities. Manual pressure on the abdomen causes persistent distention of the jugular veins. The patient's serum sodium level is 135 mEq/L and his creatinine concentration is 1.2 mg/dl. An abnormality of which of the following is most likely to explain his edema?

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?

A 65-year-old man has an enterocutaneous fistula originating in the jejunum secondary to inflammatory bowel disease. Which of the following would be the most appropriate fluid for replacement of his enteric losses?

A 65-year-old man undergoes a technically difficult abdominal–perineal resection for a rectal cancer during which he receives 3 units of packed red blood cells. Four hours later, in the intensive care unit (ICU), he is bleeding heavily from his perineal wound. Emergency coagulation studies reveal normal prothrombin, partial thromboplastin, and bleeding times. The fibrin degradation products are not elevated, but the serum fibrinogen content is depressed and the platelet count is 70,000/μL. Which of the following is the most likely cause of his bleeding?

A 65-year-old man was brought to the emergency department after his wife and son were unable to wake him up this morning. His past medical history is significant for hypertension for the past 7 years. For the past year, he has had several episodes of chest pain, which was triggered by physical activity and relieved by rest. His current medications are nitrates and "baby aspirin." His blood pressure is 140/80 mm Hg, heart rate is 85/min, and respirations are 15/min. The physical examination reveals an obese man with impaired consciousness. He has a Glasgow score of 6, asymmetric pupils, and brisk deep tendon reflexes in the left extremities. Plantar stimulation provokes extension of the left great toe. The EKG shows no abnormalities. His CK-MB serum levels are within the normal range, and his LDL cholesterol level is 150 mg/dl. What is the most likely etiopathology of this patient's symptoms?

A 65-year-old woman comes to the office for a health maintenance visit. She has been your patient for the last 15 years. When you ask how she has been, she replies with, "Well, I'm very health-conscious now. I read all the health magazines regularly, and exercise for 30 minutes daily. I eat a lot of garlic to control my cholesterol, and drink cranberry juice to keep my kidneys strong. I don't smoke, but I drink alcohol during social events. I've been compliant with regular screening colonoscopies, mammograms, and pap smears. Doc, since my mother died from ovarian cancer, do you think I can have an abdominal ultrasound every 6 months, plus any additional necessary tests, so that any cancer can be detected early?" What is the best response to this patient's concerns?

A 65-year-old woman complains of periodic headaches in the temporal region, visual disturbances, and neck stiffness. Treatment is initiated early and biopsy of a scalp artery is consistent with arteritis. Two months later, the patient presents to your office with weakness. She says that her headaches are gone but she has difficulty climbing stairs and getting up from a chair. Her serum CK level and ESR are normal. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's current complaints?

A 65-year-old woman presents to your office for evaluation of genital prolapse. She has a history of chronic hypertension, well controlled with a calcium channel blocker. She has had three full-term spontaneous vaginal deliveries. The last baby weighed 9 lb and required forceps to deliver the head. She says she had a large tear in the vagina involving the rectum during the last delivery. She has a history of chronic constipation and often uses a laxative to help her have a bowel movement. She has smoked for more than 30 years and has a smoker’s cough. She entered menopause at age 52 but has never taken hormone replacement therapy. Which of the following factors is least important in the subsequent development of genital prolapse in this patient?

A 65-year-old woman presents with a 1-cm lesion with a pearly border on her nose, and punch biopsy is consistent with a basal cell carcinoma. She is scheduled to undergo Mohs surgery. Which of the following is a benefit of Mohs surgery over wide local excision?

A 66-year old female has been your patient for the last 8 years. She was diagnosed with colorectal carcinoma 2 years ago, and eventually underwent an endoscopic resection. Since then, she has been healthy, and has been coming to the office regularly for follow-up visits. She is very grateful, and has stated many times that she owes her life to you. You are currently a co-investigator of a retrospective observational study of patients with colon cancer, and you believe that including her medical information will be extremely beneficial. What course of action must you take so that you can include this patient's data in your study?

A 66-year-old female comes for removal of a lipoma from her elbow. She wants the swelling out because it looks ugly when she wears sleeveless tops. Her only complaints are general malaise and fatigue for the past 8 months, which she attributes to her "being alone all the time." Her vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination reveals mild pallor and both cervical and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. Her preoperative blood count reveals the following: Hemoglobin 10.0 g/dL, Hematocrit 32%, Platelets 126,000/cmm, WBC 31,600/cmm. Leukocyte distribution: Segmented neutrophils 18%, Lymphocytes 77%, Bands 4%, Monocytes 1%. The pathologist reports the presence of "leukocytes that have undergone partial breakdown during preparation of a stained smear or tissue section, because of their greater fragility." Lymph node biopsy confirms the diagnosis. What is the correct statement about the above patient?

A 66-year-old man presents with a four week history of increasing back pain and severe constipation. He has no weakness or sensory symptoms in his legs. He takes acetaminophen for back pain, metoprolol for high blood pressure, and an over-the-counter fiber supplement for constipation. A screening colonoscopy 5-year ago was unremarkable. Rectal examination shows no abnormalities. Examination of the stool for occult blood is negative. His blood pressure is 135/80 mmHg and heart rate is 80/min. Abdominal examination shows no abnormalities. Laboratory studies show: Hb 9.5 g/dl, WBC 7,000/cmm, Platelets 300,000/cmm, BUN 28 mg/dl, Serum Creatinine 1.9 mg/dl, ESR 80/hr. Which of the following is the best explanation for this patient's constipation?

A 66-year-old retired carpenter presents with chronic shortness of breath upon exertion. He has smoked one pack of cigarettes per day for the past 5 years and drinks alcohol regularly. Physical examination reveals a displaced point of maximal impulse and hepatosplenomegaly. His medications include pantoprazole for gastroesophageal reflux and sertraline for depression. Echocardiogram reveals an ejection fraction of 30% and dilated left and right ventricles. Laboratory tests show: Na+: 129 mEq/L, K+: 5.2 mEq/L, Cl−: 101 mEq/L, Blood urea nitrogen: 45 mg/dL, Creatinine: 1.3 mg/dL, Glucose: 134 mg/dL, Aspartate aminotransferase: 220 U/L, Alanine aminotransferase: 140 U/L, Alkaline phosphatase: 280 U/L. Which of the following is the most likely cause of his cardiac findings?

A 67 -year-old male presents to the emergency department with severe dizziness and the inability to walk. He complains of repetitive vomiting and occipital headache. The symptoms started two hours ago when he was playing golf in sunny weather with his friends. His past medical history is significant for hypertension and diabetes. He underwent coronary stenting two years ago for recurrent chest pain. His current medications are aspirin, glipizide, enalapril and metoprolol. His blood pressure is 210/110 mmHg, heart rate is 78/min, temperature is 37.8°C (100°F), and respirations are 18/min. Muscle strength is preserved in all four extremities, and there are no sensory abnormalities. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's symptoms?

A 67-year-old Caucasian male complains of progressive visual loss in his right eye over the past several months. He has a history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Current medications include a daily baby aspirin, hydrochlorothiazide, lisinopril, and metformin. There is no family history of visual problems. He has a 35 pack year smoking history and admits to occasional alcohol use. He is afebrile with a blood pressure of 137/82 mmHg and pulse of 73/min. Cardiac and pulmonary examinations are unremarkable. A neurologic examination demonstrates no focal motor or sensory abnormalities. The patient is asked to cover his left eye and to look at a small spot on a grid made of parallel vertical and horizontal lines. He describes the vertical lines as being bent and wavy. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's complaints?

A 67-year-old male is brought to the emergency department after a syncopal episode. He lost consciousness while shopping in the mall. He denies any nausea, diaphoresis, chest pain, or shortness of breath. He has had two episodes of lightheadedness over the last month but has not seen a doctor. His past medical history is significant for long-standing hypertension, which is being treated with enalapril. His blood pressure is 135/90 mmHg while supine, and 130/85 mmHg while standing. His heat rate is 64/min. ECG shows a sinus rhythm with high voltage, prolonged PR interval, prolonged QRS interval, normal QT interval and occasional premature ventricular contractions (PVC). Echocardiography reveals left ventricular hypertrophy and an ejection fraction (EF) of 55%. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's syncope?

A 67-year-old male presents with a one-month history of dyspnea on exertion and chest pain. He denies hemoptysis, cough, fever, night sweats or weight loss. His past medical history is significant for hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He has a 48 pack-year smoking history but quit six years ago. He works as a salesman. On physical examination, the patient has a temperature of 38.2°C (100.8°F), blood pressure of 128/72 mm Hg, pulse of 92/minute, and respirations of 20 breaths/minute. His complete blood count, chemistry panel, and hepatic function tests are all within normal limits. A chest x-ray and computed tomography scan of the chest reveal a right-sided pleural effusion and calcified nodules in both upper lobes. The patient undergoes thoracentesis. Characteristics of the pleural fluid are given below: Total protein 5.2 g/dl, Glucose 83 mg/dl, Adenosine deaminase 98.5 U/L. Cytologic examination reveals 600 white blood cells/mm3, 1% macrophages and 99% leukocytes. Of the leukocytes, 45% are neutrophils, 50% are lymphocytes, and 5% are monocytes, with no basophils or eosinophils. No neoplastic cells are found. Which of the following is the most likely mechanism underlying development of this pleural effusion?

A 67-year-old man is evaluated for hypertension. He complains of occasional morning headaches. His past medical history is also significant for type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and a stroke with residual left-sided weakness. He underwent coronary artery bypass surgery seven years ago and carotid endarterectomy five years ago. His current medication list includes lisinopril hydrochlorothiazide, amlodipine, metoprolol, aspirin, metformin and glyburide. His blood pressure is 190/120 mmHg on the right arm and 170/110 mmHg on the left arm. His heat rate is 65/min Physical examination reveals a periumbilical systolic-diastolic bruit. The latter finding is best explained by which of the following?

A 67-year-old man presents to his primary care provider in January with fever and a productive cough. The patient had been seen ten days earlier with complaints of fever to 102°F (39.0°C), myalgias, rhinorrhea, and dry cough. At that time, his lung exam revealed occasional crackles. He was given a medication and told to follow up if his symptoms worsened. The symptoms did remit over the first five days, but he began to feel worse again two days ago. He smokes a half-pack of cigarettes per day and drinks alcohol several times a week. On exam today, his temperature is 102.3°F (39.3°C), and lung exam reveals increased tactile fremitus in the left lower lobe. What is the most likely pathogen responsible for his current condition?

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?

A 67-year-old woman is being evaluated for periodic confusion, insomnia, and frequent falls as well as episodes of decreased alertness and visual hallucinations. On physical examination, she has increased lower extremity muscle tone but downgoing Babinski reflexes bilaterally. Which of the following pathologic findings most likely underlies her condition?

A 67-year-old woman is currently postoperative day 8 after an emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. On postoperative day 2 she spiked a temperature of 40°C (101.4°F) and began to complain of some shortness of breath. X-ray of the chest revealed right lower lobe pneumonia, and the patient was started on clindamycin. Today she is experiencing multiple episodes of foul-smelling, watery diarrhea that is green tinged but non-bloody. She also complains of lower abdominal cramping. Her temperature is 37.8°C (100°F), pulse is 90/min, respiratory rate is 15/min, and blood pressure is 110/70 mm Hg. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for these findings?

A 68-year-old Caucasian man is admitted with a diagnosis of left lower lobe pneumonia, and is started on gatifloxacin. He has a long history of diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension. He also has diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and nephropathy. He has an arterio-venous fistula placed for a possible dialysis. His medications are insulin, furosemide, atorvastatin, metoprolol and levothyroxine. After having his blood drawn for some laboratory studies today, he bleeds persistently. Laboratory studies show: Hb 11.5 g/dl, Platelets 160,000/cmm, Blood glucose 178 mg/dl, BUN 56 mg/dl, Serum creatinine 3.5 mg/dl. His baseline creatinine level is between 3.2-3.5 mg/dl. Which of the following is the most likely cause of his bleeding?

A 68-year-old white female presents to the ER complaining of sudden onset chest pain associated with two episodes of vomiting. She has hypertension for which she takes atenolol and hydrochlorothiazide. Her pulse is 60/min, blood pressure is 80/50 mmHg and respirations are 14/min. Examination shows elevated jugular venous pressure and a positive Kussmaul's sign. Her lungs are clear to auscultation. Her EKG shows 2 mm ST segment elevation in leads II, III and aVF and 1 mm ST segment depression in leads I and aVL. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's hypotension?

A 68-year-old woman presents with a pigmented lesion on the trunk. Upon further examination the lesion has an irregular border, darkening coloration, and raised surface. An incisional biopsy is performed and confirms a melanoma with a thickness of 0.5 mm. The patient is scheduled for a wide local excision of the melanoma in the operating room. Which of the following is the smallest margi recommended for excision?

A 7 -year-old boy is rushed to the emergency department after falling on his outstretched hand. He immediately complained of right arm pain after the accident, and he currently cannot move his arm due to the pain. He is crying and holding his right arm in flexion. There is ecchymosis just above his elbow. He cries out in pain when his arm is moved. An x-ray reveals a supracondylar fracture. What secondary injury is most commonly associated with this patient's fracture?

A 7 -year-old Caucasian boy is brought to the emergency room with a severe headache, vomiting, and altered mental status of acute onset. His temperature is 36.7 C (98 F), blood pressure is 130/70 mm Hg, pulse is 60/min, and respirations are 18/min. Neurologic examination reveals nuchal rigidity, but no focal neurologic signs. A CT scan shows blood in the subarachnoid space. Which of the following is the most probable additional finding in this patient?

A 7-year-old boy has cramping abdominal pain and a rash mainly on the back of his legs and buttocks as well as on the extensor surfaces of his forearms. Laboratory analysis reveals proteinuria and microhematuria. You diagnose Henoch-Schönlein, or anaphylactoid, purpura. In addition to his rash and abdominal pain, what other finding is he likely to have?

A 7-year-old boy presents to the physician's office with a 3-week history of left-sided anterior cervical lymph node enlargement. The enlarged nodes are not tender to palpation. A few papules developed on the left forearm at the onset of lymphadenopathy. The boy has a kitten at home. Which of the following is the most likely organism causing lymphadenopathy in this child?

A 7-year-old boy presents with tenderness and erythema of one knee joint. He has had troubles with infections since about 3 months of age. A brother and a maternal uncle both died of infectious disease at an early age. A detailed immunologic evaluation performed at 2 years of age demonstrated plasma IgG less than 50 mg/100 mL. Normal numbers of circulating T cells and normal cellular immunity were found. The boy had been treated monthly since then with IV immunoglobulin. This therapy had markedly reduced, but not eliminated, the boy's infection rate. Which of the following is the most likely pathogen to cause infectious arthritis in this patient?

A 7-year-old girl is brought to the office by her mother. The mother is worried because she noticed some axillary hair development in her daughter. The girl appears calm, and denies the presence of headaches, visual disturbances or abdominal pain. There has been no change in her behavior. Her medical history is unremarkable. Her older sister's pubertal changes began at age 11. Physical examination reveals scarce and dark axillary hair, absent breast development and absent pubic hair. The rest of the examination is unremarkable. Activation of which of the following structures is most likely responsible for this patient's symptomatology?

A 70-year-old man comes to the physician due to a 4-6 month history of "almost continuous urinary dribbling." This symptom is present both day and night, and is progressively getting worse. He denies dysuria and hematuria. He has a 20-year history of diabetes mellitus-type 2, hypertension, alcoholic hepatitis and coronary artery disease. He had a gastric emptying study done a few weeks ago because of continuous nausea and early satiety. He had laser photocoagulation of both eyes for diabetic retinopathy. He has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for 50 years, and drinks 4 to 6 beers daily. He takes NPH insulin, regular insulin, metformin, aspirin, metoprolol, lisinopril and metoclopramide. His vital signs are stable. Physical examination shows a well-appearing man. Pertinent physical findings are a normal sized prostate, decreased sensation in both legs below the knees, and absent Achilles tendon and knee reflexes bilaterally. Fecal occult blood test is negative. Postvoid residual volume is 550 ml. Urinalysis shows: Specific gravity 1.020, Blood trace, Glucose positive, Ketones negative, Protein moderate, Leukocyte esterase negative, Nitrites negative, WBC 1-2/hpf, RBC 3-4/hpf. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's incontinence?

A 70-year-old man is brought to the Emergency Room because he lost his consciousness while working in the garden. He says that he had several episodes of near-syncope on exertion recently. His past medical history is insignificant. He is not taking any medications. His blood pressure is 110/85 mmHg and heat rate is 80/min. Point of maximal impulse is increased in intensity. Cardiac auscultation reveals ejection type systolic murmur at the base of the heat with radiation to the carotid arteries. ECG demonstrates left ventricular hypertrophy, and secondary ST segment and T wave change. What is the most probable cause of this patient's condition?

A 70-year-old patient with long-standing type 2 diabetes mellitus presents with complaints of pain in the left ear with purulent drainage. On physical examination, the patient is afebrile. The pinna of the left ear is tender, and the external auditory canal is swollen and edematous. The white blood cell count is normal. Which of the following organisms is most likely to grow from the purulent drainage?

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?

A 72-year-old male comes to the office with intermittent symptoms of dyspnea on exertion, palpitations, and cough occasionally productive of blood. On cardiac auscultation, a low-pitched diastolic rumbling murmur is faintly heard at the apex. What is the most likely cause of the murmur?

A 72-year-old male presents with a two-day history of intense pain in his right ear, along with ear discharge. The pain is so severe that he is unable to sleep. It radiates to his temporomandibular joint and is aggravated by chewing. His disease has worsened despite the use of topical antibiotics. He takes metformin and enalapril. On physical examination, granulation tissue is noted in the lower part of his external auditory canal. Cranial nerves are intact. Oropharynx is clear without exudate. Which of the following is the most likely causative organism of this patient's ear condition?

A 72-year-old man undergoes resection of an abdominal aneurysm. He arrives in the ICU with a core temperature of 33°C (91.4°F) and shivering. Which of the following is a physiologic consequence of the shivering?

A 72-year-old man with coronary artery disease and hypertension is hospitalized after suffering a myocardial infarction 5 days ago. He suddenly complains of severe chest pain. His blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg and heart rate is 65/min. Auscultation reveals no murmurs or rubs. An ECG reveals sinus rhythm with an acute ST-segment elevation in the anteroseptal area. Urgent bedside echocardiography showed anteroseptal, lateral, and apical akinesis, mild left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and severe pericardial effusion. Within 20 minutes he is unconscious with undetectable pulses and blood pressure. What is the most likely cause of the patient’s sudden decompensation?

A 72-year-old woman had a pacemaker inserted 4 years ago for symptomatic bradycardia because of AV nodal disease. She is clinically feeling well and her ECG shows normal sinus rhythm at a rate of 68/min but no pacemaker spikes. Her pacemaker only functions when the ventricular rate falls below a pre-set interval. Which of the following best describes her pacemaker function?

A 72-year-old woman who is planning to undergo ventral hernia repair is on warfarin for atrial fibrillation. She is advised to cease her warfarin several days before her surgery and is hospitalized preoperatively for heparinization. During her hospital stay, she complains of severe abdominal and flank pain. Her prothrombin time (PT) is normal, but her activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is elevated. An abdominal CT scan demonstrates a large retroperitoneal hematoma. Which of the following should be administered to reverse the effects of the heparin?

A 73-year-old Caucasian man is brought to the office by his daughter, who is concerned that he might be depressed. He is a retired surgeon, and has lived alone ever since his wife died a year ago. His daughter visits him every 6 months; she feels bad about not being able to visit him more frequently because her job and family keep her very busy. He denies having any feelings of sadness, guilt, weight loss, loss of appetite, suicidal ideation, deafness, vertigo, and decreased or blurred vision. His medical problems include hypertension, diabetes mellitus-type 2 and a myocardial infarction 10 years ago. His current medications are glyburide, aspirin and enalapril. He denies the use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs. His vital signs are within normal limits. He appears withdrawn, less energetic than usual, and walks stiffly. He sits with a stooped posture. He has a fixed facial expression, and his voice sounds monotonous. His deep tendon reflexes are 2+. Sensations and motor strength are normal. There is increased resistance to passive flexion. Which of the following types of gait is most likely to be present in this patient?

A 73-year-old diabetic man presents with low-grade fever, facial pain over his right maxilla, and bloody nasal discharge for the last three days. For the last day, he has had diplopia. He was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus 10 years ago. For the last year, he has been on insulin. His most recent hemoglobinA1C was 12.0. His temperature is 39.0°C (102.2°F), pulse is 88/min, and blood pressure is 130/76mm Hg. Examination shows right-sided nasal congestion and necrosis of the right nasal turbinate with tenderness over the right maxillary sinus. There is chemosis and proptosis of his right eye. CT scan shows opacification of the right maxillary sinus. Which of the following is the most likely causative organism?

A 73-year-old man from a nursing home develops headache, fever, cough, sore throat, malaise, and severe myalgia during a community outbreak affecting numerous other residents at the home. The symptoms gradually resolve after 3 days, and he starts feeling better but then there is a reappearance of his fever, with cough and yellow sputum production. On examination, his temperature is 38.5°C, pulse 100/min, respiration 24/min, oxygen saturation 88% and crackles in the right lower lung base, bronchial breath sounds and dullness on percussion. CXR reveals a new infiltrate in the right lower lobe. Which of the following is the most likely causative organism?

A 73-year-old man presents to the ED after a syncopal episode. He had been resting in bed for approximately one week after injuring his right knee. This morning, his knee felt better and he attempted to get up from bed. However, upon attempting to stand, he sustained a brief loss of consciousness. He had no symptoms or medical history prior to the knee injury. Medications include acetaminophen and ibuprofen for knee pain. On exam, his pulse is 73/min, respirations are 14/min, and blood pressure is 136/83 mmHg. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's syncope?

A 73-year-old woman presents to the emergency room complaining of severe epigastric pain radiating to her back, nausea, and vomiting. CT scan of the abdomen demonstrates inflammation and edema of the pancreas. A right upper quadrant ultrasound demonstrates the presence of gallstones in the gallbladder. Which of the following is an important prognostic sign in acute pancreatitis according to Ranson’s criteria?

A 73-year-old woman presents to the emergency room with black tarry stools and symptoms of presyncope when standing up. Digital rectal examination confirms the presence of melena. She recently started using ibuprofen for hip discomfort. Upper endoscopy confirms the diagnosis of a gastric ulcer. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for the gastric ulcer?

A 74-year-old man presents to your office for a routine. He has no present complaint. His medical history is significant for right knee osteoarthritis. He takes naproxen occasionally, to relieve knee pain. He does not smoke or consume alcohol. His BP is 165/75 mmHg and PR is 70/min. The physical examination showed a mild systolic ejection type murmur at the base of the heat to the right. An E-KG revealed left ventricular hypertrophy and secondary ST segment and T wave change. Moderate left ventricular hypertrophy, without any flow abnormalities, was demonstrated on echocardiography. The ejection fraction was 60%. What is the most probable cause of hypertension in this patient?

A 74-year-old man presents with fatigue, short- ness of breath on exertion, and back and rib pain, which is made worse with movement. Investigations reveal he is anemic, calcium, urea, and creatinine are elevated. X-rays reveal multiple lytic lesions in the long bones and ribs, and protein electrophoresis is positive for an immunoglobulin G (IgG) paraprotein. Which of the following is the most likely mechanism for the renal injury?

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?

A 74-year-old woman is admitted with upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. She is started on H 2 blockers, but experiences another bleeding episode. Endoscopy documents diffuse gastric ulcerations. Omeprazole is added to the H2 antagonists as a therapeutic approach to the management of acute gastric and duodenal ulcers. Which of the following is the mechanism of action of omeprazole?

A 74-year-old woman with a history of a previous total abdominal hysterectomy presents with abdominal pain and distention for 3 days. She is noted on plain films to have dilated small-bowel and air-fluid levels. She is taken to the operating room for a small-bowel obstruction. Which of the following inhalational anesthetics should be avoided because of accumulation in air-filled cavities during general anesthesia?

A 75-year-old female nursing home resident complains of cough and fever. Her past medical history is significant for hypertension, myocardial infarction (experienced two years ago), and a traumatic right foot amputation. Her current medications are atenolol, hydrochlorothiazide, and aspirin. Her temperature is 39.4°C (103°F), pulse is 110/min, respirations are 22/min, and blood pressure is 110/76 mmHg. Crackles are present at right lung base. Chest x-ray reveals a right lower lobe infiltrate. Which of the following pathogens is the most likely cause of this patient's condition?

A 76-year-old man presents with several months of urinary incontinence. He denies associated dysuria, nocturia, or penile discharge, and has otherwise been feeling well aside from moderate left arm pain following a fall three days ago. He denies headache or head trauma. His medical history is significant for osteoarthritis and glaucoma, which are controlled with medications. On exam, his vital signs are within normal limits. His heart, lungs, and prostate are unremarkable. The cranial nerves are all intact, fundoscopic exam is normal, and there is no tremor. His gait is wide-based and shuffling, and he scores 24/30 on the Folstein mini-mental status exam. His muscle power is 5/5 in all four extremities and the deep tendon reflexes are normal. What is the most likely cause of his current condition?

A 76-year-old woman with a history of congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and an “irregular heart beat” is brought to the ED by her family. She has been complaining of increasing abdominal pain over the past several days. She denies nausea or vomiting and bowel movements remain unchanged. Vitals are HR of 114 beats per minute, BP 110/75 mm Hg, and temperature 98°F. On cardiac examination, her HR is irregularly irregular with no murmur detected. The abdomen is soft, nontender, and nondistended. The stool is heme-positive. This patient is at high risk for which of the following conditions?

A 77-year-old woman is brought to the emergency room because of nonspecific abdominal discomfort. She has no anorexia, fever, chills, or weight loss. Her abdomen is soft and non-tender on physical examination. Abdominal x-rays show lots of stool in the colon, but no free air or air-fluid levels. The amylase is 150 U/L (25–125U/L), and the rest of her biochemistry and complete blood count are normal. Which of the following conditions can cause a false positive elevation in the serum amylase?

A 78-year-old man with a history of atherosclerotic heart disease and congestive heart failure presents with increasing abdominal pain. The pain began suddenly a day ago and has progressively worsened since then. He denies nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but states that he had black tarry stool this morning. He denies any history of prior episodes of similar pain. Vitals are BP 120/65 mm Hg, HR 105 beats per minute, and temperature 99°F. The patient is at high risk for which of the following conditions?

A 78-year-old man with a history of coronary artery disease and an asymptomatic reducible inguinal hernia requests an elective hernia repair. Which of the following would be a valid reason for delaying the proposed surgery?

A 79-year-old woman presents to your office complaining of an intermittent skin rash over the last several months. She denies fever, headache, and recent weight loss. Her past medical history is significant for diet-controlled diabetes and right knee osteoarthritis treated with acetaminophen. Physical examination reveals several dark purple ecchymotic areas over the dorsum of both arms. Her abdomen is soft and non-tender. The liver span is 8 cm and the spleen is not palpable. Laboratory studies reveal: Hematocrit 47%, WBC count 5,800/mm3, Platelet count 220,000/mm3, Serum creatinine 0.8 mg/dL\, Fibrinogen 350 mg/dL, Prothrombin time 10 sec, INR 1.0, Partial thromboplastin time 25 sec. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's complaint?

A 9-month-old African American boy is brought to the office by his parents due to swelling of the feet and hands for the past two days, accompanied by poor feeding and fussiness. His vital signs are stable, except for a temperature of 38.3C (101 F). He appears pale. On examination, the dorsal surface of his hands and feet on both sides are swollen and tender, with restricted range of movement. He is an adopted child, and his family history is not available. Radiography of the feet and hands reveal soft tissue swelling. What is the pathophysiology of this patient's presentation?

A 9-year-old boy has a severe sore throat with fever and dysphagia. On examination, there are grayish-white papulovesicular lesions on an erythematous base that ulcerate. They are located on the soft palate, anterior pillars of the tonsils and uvula. There are no lesions on the gingiva, tongue, or lips. A clinical diagnosis of herpangina is made. Which of the following is the most likely causative organism?

A 9-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his father due to a sudden onset of difficulty with writing and jerky movements. He recently had a mild sore throat which quickly resolved, but now seems to have recurred and have worsened. He also had a low-grade fever last week, but no chills. Physical examination reveals a pericardial friction rub and subcutaneous nodules over the hands. Laboratory studies show an elevated ESR. What is the most likely cause of this child's symptoms?

A 9-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department due to an episode of seizures during class. His teacher says that the seizure started suddenly, and he fell to the ground with sustained flexion of the arms and extension of the legs, followed by clonic movements of the whole body. He has also been irritable lately, and his school performance has declined. His parents arrive shortly and say that they recently noticed he was lethargic and frequently complained of headaches, especially in the morning. His medical history is unremarkable. Physical examination reveals decreased muscle strength of the left side of the body, with brisk deep tendon reflexes in the left arm and leg. MRI of the head reveals a space-occupying lesion in the right parietal lobe. What tumor is most likely responsible for this patient's symptoms?

A 9-year-old boy is brought to the office by his mother because of itching, burning and oozing skin lesions on both of his legs. The boy appears tanned. When asked if he had been spending time outdoors, he replies with great excitement that he just returned yesterday from a camping trip in the woods with his dad. Physical examination of both lower limbs reveals vesicles with erythema arranged in a linear fashion. Weepy and crusted lesions and edema are also present. What type of reaction is responsible for this boy's lesions?

A 9-year-old boy is brought to the pediatric clinic by his mother, who noticed that the left side of his mouth has started to droop over the past several days. In addition, he is unable to close his left eye completely and complains of it burning. Review of systems reveals a cold approximately two weeks ago and recent decreased taste sensation. Physical examination reveals a well-nourished male with normal vital signs. There is left eye ptosis and mild erythema of the left conjunctiva. His smile is asymmetrical on the left. Laboratory evaluation, including a complete blood count and chemistry profile, are normal. Which of the following infections is most closely associated with this patient's condition?

A 9-year-old child has developed headaches that are more frequent in the morning and are followed by vomiting. Over the previous few months, his family has noted a change in his behavior (generally more irritable than usual) and his school performance has begun to drop. Imaging of this child is most likely to reveal a lesion in which of the following regions?

A 9-year-old girl has breast and pubic hair development. Evaluation demonstrates a pubertal response to a GnRH-stimulation test and a prominent increase in luteinizing hormone (LH) pulses during sleep. These findings are characteristic of patients with which of the following?

A 91-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with a chief complaint of shortness of breath over the past 2 days. She has a history of hypertension and coronary artery bypass surgery 25 years earlier. Her blood pressure is 178/92 mmHg and she has jugular venous distension, hepatomegaly, and 3+ lower extremity edema. ECG is remarkable for left ventricular hypertrophy, no ST-segment elevations or depressions, no Q waves, and no T wave abnormalities. Echocardiogram reveals an ejection fraction of 60% and left atrial dilatation. There is universal left ventricular thickening. No valvular regurgitation or stenosis was noted. Which of the following underlying conditions is the most likely cause of this patient’s symptoms?

A blood type B infant born to a blood type O mother has clinically significant fetal-maternal blood group incompatibility with mild anemia and a weakly positive Coombs test. The infant develops jaundice a few hours after birth, with a bilirubin (measured at 12 hours after birth) of 12 mg/dL (predominately unconjugated) compared with 3.5 mg/dL in cord blood. The physician is concerned that the rising bilirubin levels will damage the infant's nervous system. Which of the following sites is most vulnerable to this injury?

A boy is brought to the office by his parents for a routine visit. During the physical examination, he can obey two-step commands, use two- to three-word phrases, and can build a tower of six blocks. According to his mother, he can walk up and down the stairs without help. What is the most likely age of this child?

A child can walk well holding on to furniture but is slightly wobbly when walking alone. She uses a neat pincer grasp to pick up a pellet, and she can release a cube into a cup after it has been demonstrated to her. She tries to build a tower of two cubes with variable success. She is most likely at which of the following age?

A child is brought to the physician for a routine visit. On examination, the child can name multiple items in the examination room, and can also combine 2 words into a short sentence. His mother estimates that he knows about 200 words. When his mother tries to help him onto the examination table, he says "me do it." Although his mother seems to understand most of what he says, you can only understand about half of his speech. Which of the following is the most likely age of this child?