1- oh I know.. but when you are doing medicine you get no time off whatsoever
2-You can't possibly remember everything, you need to always refresh. if you know the basic pathophysiology of things that you can apply it to any disease state, because the body only responds in a a certain number of predictable ways to any stressor.. but there is so much going on that you have to pay attention too, far to expansive for me to sum up in a couple of words here.
3-I get my info mostly from books, but I am subscribed to two journals at this time. It is important to keep on top of them, because you'll find yourself answering incorrectly. for instance as a quick example. prophylaxis for endocarditis was mandatory for many a conditions, one which was valvular heart disease, the type of prophylaxis itself also had conditions, now you'll find the guidelines have changed. Also many meds go obsolete, some new ones are in.. you have to do continuing eduction yearly, plus need to always renew your ACLS every couple of yrs
4- Do I enjoy it? well long gone the time when it was fun.. after a while it is just a very stressful life style and job, and alot of debt, loss of social skills, alienation from most family and freinds, lack of sleep, and inability to relate to others outside the confines of what you are taught, and how your own brain functions. basically life passes you by while you watch it.. but it has its rewards.. (I am yet to find them out) so don't let me discourage you if this is something you really want to do.. go in with a level head.

for me I had to fight with my family to let me do this, my dad always thought women should be pharmacists, and in fact that is what my sis is, she has a doctorate in pharmacology (but she is miserable) I couldn't forsee myself in pharmacy (though it is in fact an excellent career for women. the pay is good and you can always work on a part time basis), I also had to fight with my own fears. and I had to balance the two, because I knew they were all waiting for me to fail to come out with the I told you so. I'd advise you get married before hand with someone going in the same field, because I don't think people outside of medicine are compatible for many reasons.
1- if you are very stressed for any number of reasons, someone is suing you, the hours are bad, your liability insurance is up, your boss is an SOB and you come home to a nagging husband or a nagging wife, you are already in very bad shape.
2-most of the time you want someone who can listen to you who actually appreciates what you mean.. you can't discuss how you've erroneously misdiagnosed someone in aortic dissection with a myocardial infarction thereby leading to their immediate demise, with someone who hasn't the faintest clue what you are talking about.
They will judge you harshly, and unsympathetically on top of your own guilt and a heap of legal troubles you are already in.
3-sometimes you want to come home and say nothing at all, and would also appreciate someone who can appreciate how silence is heavenly, or someone willing to take you on a car ride at 3 am simply because you want to have a good cry away from people's prying eyes and not have it be thought of a completely outlandish request.
4- as for having kids.. I really can't comment on that any more than I can on a
'good' marriage. It is something you'll have to work out with your uber understanding husband if such a man exists, hence I stress finding someone in your exact field.
I'd advise in the end, that you go into a woman friendly field, and by that I promise you I don't mean Ob/gyne.. I mean something like dermatology, radiology, opthalmology/ pathology maybe peds.. all with the exception of peds are extremly competitive to get into.. you'll find 400 applicants competing for three spots (annually)

so my advise, is genuinely have an earnest session with yourself and see if this is right for you. And if it is, then don't let anyone or anything deter you..
in the end, I believe it to be the most noble profession and the highest level of education anyone can have, if those two are the only satsifactions one can get out of it..

Allah knows best

I am doing this a bit early today.. 15/5/5

questions ending cardio and moving on to others

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a patient comes in with SOB on exertion, ortopena, bilateral lower extremity edema, and JVD. There is marked improvement with furosamide

what is the DX
1-multiple infarctions, alcoholism, and low ejection fraction on echo
2-long HX of HTN and ejection fraction of 70
3-hemochromatosis, sarcoid, amyloidosis hx.


1-dilated cardiomyopathy presents with a HX of multiple infarctions or alcholism. The low ejection fraction and systolic dysfunction are key to the diagnosis. All forms of cardiomyopathy lead to SOB, dyspnea on exertion, edema, and orthopnea.

2-Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy retains normal or hyperdynamic ejection fraction. Long standing HTN leads to impaired systolic dysfunction.

3-restrictive cardiomyopathy is by far the least common cause of CHF, sarcoidosis, amylodosis and hemochromatosis are the key diagnosis...

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A patient comes with a long HX of SOB, edema, Ascites, and hepatosplenomegaly. The pt. is an Immigrant. There is a rise in JVD distention with inhalation. There is a third heart sound

1- what is the most likely diagnosis
2-what is the most accurate diagnosis
3-Most effective RX

1- constrictive pericarditis presents with SOB and edema. This is nonspecific. The key to answering the diagnostic question is the presence of Kussmaul's sign, which is a rise in Jugulovenous pressure on inhalation. Constrictive pericarditis is most often a form of TB. which causes chronic inflammation of the pericardium. The third heart sound is the pericardial 'Knock'
2- Most accurate test is a CT or MRI scan of the chest.
3-the only effective therapy for constrictive pericarditis is surgical removal of the pericardium. The presenting sx of constrictive pericarditis can mimic those of restrictive cardiomyopathy. One of the distinguishing characteristics is the presence of equalization of the left and right sides heart pressure in constrictive pericarditis.

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moving on to ER medicine

pt brought in after having lost consciousness and is now awake

1- he has no focal neurological deficits and the CT scan is normal.
2- he has weakness of the arm and CT scan shows a collection of blood and one dilated pupil
3- his CT scan shows ecchymosis

1- concussion is caused by head trauma. There can be loss of consciousness or altered mental status. There is no anatomic damage to the brain.
The CT scan is normal.
2-Subdural and epidural hematoma both lead to a collection of blood around the brain, visible on head CT. There can be focal neurological defects and a dilated pupil on one side.

3-Ecchymosis of the brain results from head trauma. This is also called a 'contusion' Most of the time there are no focal neurological deficits. No surgery is required. Blood mixed in with brain. an ecchymosis is visible on brain CT and is, essentially, a bruise. No surgery is needed.

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A patient has a sudden onset of high fever and a change in mental status. All cultures are negative and there is no neck stiffness. His CPK is elevated.

1- he has recently been started on risperidone in addition to haloperidol
2-he has just undergone major surgery
3-He is outside playing volleyball in the summer

1-Neuroleptic malignant syndrome presents with a high em and altered mental status in relation to starting neuroleptic medications. This is probably related to the antidopaminergic effects of these meds. CPK and potassium elevation can occur. treatment is with dantrolene and dopamine agonist medications such as bromocriptine.

2-Neuroleptic melignant syndrome is caused by general anesthetics or succinylcholine. CPK elevations can also occur. Treatment is with dantrolene
3- Heat stroke occurs in relation to dehydration and increased ambiebt temp. There is high fever and confusion. RX is with hydration, and physical measures to cool the pt. Aersolizing water and evaporation is the most precise method of cooling the patient.

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Endocrinology

a female child is brought in because of abnormal hair growth, she has not developed menstruation and has acne, hirsutism of her face, and abnromal balding.

1-Hypotension, hyperkalemia, hyponatremia and elevated levels of 17-hyroxyprogesterone with diminished 11-deoxycortisone
2- hypertension, hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis. levels of 11-deoxycortisone are elevated

1- 21-hydroxylase deficiency presents with hypotension, hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis because of the loss of sufficient mineralocorticoid activity. Both aldosterone and 11-deoxycortisone levels decreased. Adrenal hormones are shunted into the excess production of DHEA, which accounts for ambiguous genitalia in females, such as clitromegaly. in addition, there is acne and hirsuitims. All forms of CAH have elevated ACTH and low levels of cortisol. 17- hydroxyprogesterone levels are increased because this is the precursor that should be converted by 21 hydroxylase.


11-hydroxylase deficiency presents with HTN and hypokalmia so exact opposite of 21-hydroxylase deficiency.. because of increased level of 11-deoxycortisone (11DOC). 11 DOC has mineralcorticoid activity, which accounts for the HTN and metabolic alkalosis . Adrenal hormones end up shunted into the production of adrenal andrgens such as DHEA, Conn's syndrome would present similar but with elevated levels of aldosterone and decreased Renin.

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A man comes to ER with weakness, and orthostatic hypotension, he has hyperpigmented skin lesions, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis. Dark lines visible on gums and teeth.

1-Most likely DX
2-Next step in management
3-most accurate diagnostic test

Addison's disease. and addisonian crisis are the loss of alodosterone from the adrenal gland resulting in loss of sodium and water and the development of hypotension, in addition, hypoaldosteronism results in hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis.
Hyperpigmentation results from the high ACTH levels and high propiomelamocortin. Which also gives the dark lines in the gums.

2- the most urgent step is to draw a cortisol level and administer saline and hydrocortisone! A specific mineralocorticoid such as fludrocortisone is often necessary. Acute treatment is more important than waiting for the results of specific endocrine diagnostic tests because of the risk of death from hemodynamic compromise.

3- Cosyntropin stimulation testing is the most specific test. This is the measurement of cortisol levels before administering artificial ACTH. In a normal pt. the cortisol level witll rise with cosyntropin

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a young man being evaluated for HTN. he has episodes of headaches, palpitations, tachycardia, and sweating along with HTN

1-DX
2-Diagnostic testing

pheochromocytoma presents with episodes of HTN, palpitations, tachycardia and headache. The clue to the dx is the episodic nature of the HTN. the other sx are nonspecific.
The best initial test is to obtain blood levels of free metanephrines. This is the more sensitive than levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine because the catecholamines are secreted in an episodic fashion and have a short half life. a 24 hour urine for catecholamines and metanephrines is highly sensitive and specific. as well a CT scan or MRI scanning of the adrenal glands if the catecholamine levels are elevated in order to localize the tumor.

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a patient comes in with muscular weakness, polyuria, and polydipsia. There is a metabolic alkalosis and the potassium level is profoundly low at 2.5 mEq/L

1-HTN with low renin activity without edema.
2-High renin and high aldosterone activity with an elevated level of urinary sodium until the body is depleted of sodium. urinary ca2+ is high. Normal BP.
3- pt has a box of licorice in his hands. The renin level is low. BP is high.

primary hyperaldosteronism, or Conn's syndrome, presents with HTN, hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis. The plasma renin activity is suppressed because of HTN. high aldosterone levels with low renin is a hallmark of primary hyperaldosteronism. The pts muscular weakness is from low potassium. The polyuria is nephrogenic diabetes insipidus from hypokalemia.

2- Bartter's syndrome

Both patients have the typical facial appearance with prominent forehead, triangular face, drooping mouth, and large eyes and pinnae.

this is a form of genetic defect in the loop of henle. pts lose sodium, chloride, and ca2+ resulting in volume depletion and secondary elevation of renin and aldosterone levels, with normal or low BP.

3- Licorice contains a substance that is similar in function to aldosterone. Locorice ingestion will present in an identical fashion to primary hyperaldosteronism. Anything that gives a low potassium leads to muscular weakness. BP is high.

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A man comes in with a long history of episodic flushing of his head and neck. the flushing is associated with strong emotions and the use of alcohol. He is hypotensive and tahycardic with the episodes. He has abdominal cramping and diarrhea, on PE, there are telangiectasia and the murmurs of tricuspid insufficiency and pulmonic stenosis.

1-DX
2-Best diagnostic

carcinoid syndrome most often presents with episodes of cuteanous flushing in association with diarrhea nd tachycardia and abdominal cramping. Hypotension and tachycardia occur with the episodes. The recurrent episodes of flushing lead to vascular telengiectasia, Long standing disease is associated with right sided cardiac lesions from chronic exposure to sertonin. some pts have wheezing.

2- best initial is urinary hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels. The tumors are localized in the intestinal tract with abdominal computed tomography (CT) and pentetreotide imaging (indium 111 octreotide imaging)


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a woman comes in for an offensive body odor and excess sweating, but she is unable to explain or resolve it.
Her ring, hat, and shoe sizes have been increasing in the last few yrs. Her voice is thick and jaw protruding and enlarged. she also has joint pain

1-what is the most likely DX
2-Best initial test
3-Most common cause of death

Acromegaly is most often from a pituitary tumor secreting growth hormone. This leads to enlargement of hat, show, ring and glove sizes. The pt is in 30's and 40's. Arthropathy occurs from excessive articular cartilage proliferation. Entrapment neuropathies such as carpal tunnel syndrome can also occur. Diabetes occurs in 10-20% of pts. Amenorrhea can result from excess secretion of prolactin.
2- best initial test is a level of Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) this is confirmed by findings of of a failure or GH suppression by the infusion of glucose.
3-The most common cause of death is from the effects of GH on the heart, and HTN. There is also an increased risk of colonic polyps and cancer as well.

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a woman comes in because of infrequent periods, Her menstrual abnormalities have been going on for several months. on PE she has galactorrhea. Her urine HCG is normal

1-Dx
2-Diagnostics

Galactorrhea is an abnormally increased flow of milk from the breasts, It is caused by hyerprolactinemia. Medications such as alpha-methyladopa, tricyclic antidepressants or phnothiazines and beta blockers can cause it. It can occur normally from pregnancy and the first step is always a pregnancy test. head trauma can rupture he pituitary stalk and remove the normally inhibitory dopamine that comes down from the hypothalmus. if these levels have been excluded, MRI of the brain may show a pituitary tumor, prolactin inhibits the release of LH, and inhibits menstruation.
2- measure the prolactin level. If it is markedly elevated in the absence of pregnancy, then an MRI is the most accurate test to detect a pituitary lesion.

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a patient comes in with anxiety, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, tachycardia, and palpitations. PE shows, tremor, thin hair, moist skin. The thyroxine level (T4) is elevated

1- exophthalmos, skin abnormalities above the knee, and proptosis.
2-An elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level
3-A tender gland
4-Normal appearing gland, low TSH, low radioactive iodine uptake.

Graves disease is charcterized by ocular and skin findings. The radioactive iodine scan reveals hyperfunctioning gland. The TSH is low, treatment is with methimazole or propylthiouracil (PTU) followed by radioactive ablation and hormone replacement if hypothyroid.
2- TSH producing pituitary tumors are the only form of hypothyroidism associated with an elevated level of TSH. Perform and MRI of the brain to confirm dx.
3-subacute thyroiditis is associated with a tender gland. The TSH level will be suppressed and the radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) will be diminished
4-silent thyroiditis is associated with normal appearing gland, low TSH, and low RAIU. The gland is nontender.
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A young woman comes in because of failure to undergo menarche. She has normal breast development, but a paucity of pubic hair, vagina ends in a blind pouch and cervix is absent.

dx
rx

testicular feminization or complete androgen insensitivity often comes to light when there is failure to achieve menses. The pt appears female, normal breast development, but there is a marked diminishement in pubic and axillary hair. the vagina is short, and the cervix, uterus, and ovaries are absent. testicles can be found in the abdomen or labia
surgical removal of the gonad with estrogen replacement and dilation of the vagina in the management. these pts are emotionally and socially and functionally female (think jaime lee curtis)

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on to GI

72 year old man comes to ER with a sudden onset of severe abdominal pain, he has a HX of severe mid abdominal pain. He has a HX of aortic stenosis, and a fib. he has been losing weight. his abdominal exam is relatively benign compared to his sx, his stool is heme positive,

dx, accurate diagnostic, effective therapy


mesenteric ischemia presents with severe abdominal pain that is far more intense than the relatively benign exam, It is mid-abdominal. it often occurs in association with valvular heart disease. CAD, and Afib. Mesenteric ischemia is often an acute embolic event to the mesenteric artery.

mesenteric arteriography is the most accurate diagnostic test.
treatment is by exploratory laprotomy for possible resection of the affected segment of bowel. pt with signs of peritonits should go directly for laparotomy. if infarction occurs death is highly probable.

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a man is brought to the ER with multiple episodes of vomiting blood, he also has diarrhea and black stool

1- bleeding preceded with severe violent retching
2- mid epigastric pain relieved by food
3- he is an alcoholic with low platelets ad spider angiomata. The volume of hematemesis is enormous

1- Mallory weiss tears are non-transmural tears in the esophageal mucosa. This is preceded by repeated episodes of retching or vomiting for any reason. Any form of upper GI bleeding can result in melena f more than 100-200 ml of blood is lost.
2-duodenal ulcer is the most common cause of upper GI bleeding
duodenal ulcers present with epigastric pain. the pain can be relieved by food. Endoscopy is necessary for specific diagnosis.
3-Esophageal varices leads to the highest mortality of any form of GI bleeding. The case will describe severe liver disease, severe cirrhosis is often associated by splenomegaly with splenic sequestration of platelets.

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now pharm
______
still on endocrine
Sulfonylureas

Glyburide
Glipizide
Gliclazide
Glimpiride
Sulfonylureas are sulfa derived oral hypoglycemic medications used for DM
they lower blood glucose by simulating pancreatic beta cells to release insulin. They bind ATP-dependent potassium channels on the beta cell, which inhibits the outflux of potassium. This depolarization opens voltage gated ca2+ channels leading to increased fusion of insulin with cell membrane. unlike metformin sulfonylureas require functioning beta cells.

all sulfonylureas can cause hypoglycemia and weight gain. The increased insulin release prompts adipocytes to pick up more glucose. They are teratogenic and can cause SIADH . They are sulfa derivatives and are contraindicated in sulfa allergies.

Sulfonylureas are first line oral hypoglycemics. metformin us preferred in obese pts.

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1 63 year old woman with DM is seen for routine eval. Her urine shows microalbuminuria. Her dilated nose exam shows background retinopathy as well as some neovascurization

what will protect her kidney, and eyes

microalbuminurea in a diabetic should be treated with an ACE inhibitor
Diabetic retinopathy can be controlled with tight control of her glucose level. Laser photocoagulation is indicated for proliferative retinopathy. defined as the presence of neovascularization of vitreal hemorrhages. Diabetic retinopathy is not controlled with or lipid control. Asa will not control diabetic retinopathy

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a man with diabetes has glucose levels > 200 md/dl despite the use of maximal doses of several oral hypoglycemics agents. His Hemoglobin A1c is >9 %. in addition, his glucose levels fluctuate during the day

Insulin glargine should be given as a once a day injection combined with one of the rapidly acting insulins (glulisine, aspart, or lispro) with meals

insulin glargine rapidly reaches a peak level and maintains a constant level for 24hrs. Glargine is similar in effect to an insulin infusion pump. the short acting insuling (glulisine, aspart and lispro reach a peak effect in 50-60 mins and last for four hours, they seem to be equal in efficacy.

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ok now in GI pharm

Interferon
interferon alpha is used to rx the following
chronic hep C in combo with ribavirin
chronic hep c
melanoma
cryolgobilinemia in combo with ribavirin
multiple sclerosis
the mechanism of interferons are not clear, they are a cytokine that assists the immune response by inhibiting viral replication within the cells. they are immune modulatory and benefit multiple sclerosis
interferons cause flu like sx, such as myalgia, arthralgia, depression, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia.
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Ribavirin
is a purine nucloside that is used as an antiviral
rivavirin inhibits viral mRNA synthesis. it competitively inhibits cellular inosine 5'phosphate dehydrogense and interferes with the synthesis of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and thus nucleic acid synthesis in general. it inhibits both RNA and DNA viruses.

Ribavirin is the answer when the question describes a case of chronic hep c. the hepatitis C antibody should be positive with an elevated PCR RNA viral load and possible liver inflammation.. It is used in combo with interferon. Ribavirin is also the answer for respiratory syncytial virus.
ribavirin can cause anemia

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diagnostics

Rheumatology

C-Anca (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody)

is the best initial test to make a specific diagnosis of wegener's granulomatosis.
C-ANCA is a blood test. A pattern is seen on indirect immunofluorescence microscopy that indicated antibodies directed against proteinase 3 of neutrophils.
answer C-ANCA when you see upper and lower respiratory probs combined with renal dx, as hematuria and red cell casts in the urine. there will be hemoptysis, cough and sputum with abnormal chest xray not responsive to antibiotics. otitis and sinusitis will also be present.

the most accurate test for wegner's granulmatosis is a biopsy of the lung and kidney
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DEXA scanning
is used to dx osteoporosis. it is used to detect bone density, when compared to general population
this is used on post meopausal women and pts with high cortisol like cushing's syndrome, exogenous steroids, hyperthyroidism or with hyperparathyroidism.
rx is with estrogens, bisphosphantes and SERM such as raloxifen and tamoxifen.

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muscle biopsy
is used to dx suspected myopathy such as
glycogen storage disease




mitochondrial gene malformation

dystrophinopathies

dermatomyositis

Gottron's papule
and

heliotrope eyelids

and polymyositis

lymphocyte in myofibber
.. this is done when you see proximal muscle weakness, weak shoulder abduction, weakness rising from a chair, this is usually associated with myalgia and muscle soreness. other signs of myopathy is recurrent myolysis.

it isn't the answe for endocrine disoders like mysthenia.

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RF factor
present in 70% of pts with RA. RF isn't specific for RA
.. do this test with a woman with symmetric inflammatory arthritis that s worse in the morning. affecting wrists MCP, PIP and look for elevated ESR or synovial fluid between 2000 and 20,000 cells.

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this is an upright xray of the chest. pt is sitting up so it can show air under the diaphragm

perforated abdominal organ x ray, can be associated with penetrating trauma, rupture secondary to diverticulitis, appendicitis, other infection or iatrogenically from endoscopy
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

well, I had a bad day wal7mdlilah...
did you have a bad day?

will spare you nuances of mine if you spare me yours

questions on with GI
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Man brought into ER with multiple episodes of red blood in his stool

Low GI bleeding is most commonly caused by diverticulosis and angiodysplasia. Other caused are polyps, colon ca. and ischemic colitis

colonoscopy is the most accurate diagnostic test of lower GI bleeding. There is no definitive way to determine the precise etiology of colonic bleeding without endoscopy, barium studies, angiography, and CT scanning cannot lead to specific diagnosis.

Hemorrhoids may also lead to red blood in stool. Often, the history will mention that the patient notes hematochezia and/or red blood on wiping.

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32 year old with one day of diarrhea, no blood per still
1- there is vomiting, he recently ate chinese food
2-he has recently been camping. He has bloating and flatulnce
3-He is HIV positive with <CD4 cells.
4-There is flushing and wheezing. He ate fresh fish the same day.

1- Bacillus cereus, is associated with refried chinese rice. As with staphylococcus aureus there is no blood per stoll because it is a p preformed toxin. both organisms often present with vomiting

2-Giardiaisis is associated with unfiltered water, such as found on camping trips. Bloating and flatus are common, Giardiasis can mimic fat malabsorption.
3- Cryptosporidiosis is an organism that is common in those with AIDS and profound immunosuppression. The diarrhea is often chronic and responds to treatment of the underlying HIV disease.
4-Scombroid is histamine fish poisoning. Bacteria that produce histamine infect tuna, Mackerel or mahi-mahi. resulting in the rapid onset of diarrhea, vomiting, flushing and wheezing.

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35 year old woman comes to the office with several months of crampy lower abdominal pain. but there is never blood in the stool or weight loss.
1- the diarrhea alternates with constipation. The pain is relieved with a bowel movement. Symptoms are less at night.
2-she has episodes of flushing and hypotension
3-dietary change relieves all the symptoms within 24 hours.

1-Irritable bowel syndrome is a pain syndrome that is often associated with diarrhea alternating with constipation. sx are less at night. Key is abdominal pain with completely normal tests.
2-carcinoid syndrome presents with episodes of flushing and diarrhea, hypotension. Urinary 5-HIAA confirms the diagnosis.
3-Lactose intolerance presents with diarrhea in the absence of weight loss. Removal of milk products and cheese relieves the sx. Celiac disease would lead to weight loss that would need several weeks for sx to resolve. celiac disease would also be related to gluten containing products.
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A generally healthy 40 year old teacher comes to the ER with several days of bloody diarrhea which occurred four times today. He has a temp of 102F pulse 105, and BP 112/78
1-has has been eating raw oysters and clams
2-he has mussels and has a hx of liver disease. Physical exam shows bullous skin lesions
3-anemia and thrombocytopenia, and an elevated creatinine are present. The retic count, bilirubin and LDH are elevated, haptoglobin is low

1- vibrio parahemolyticus is transmissited by shellfish. such as oysters, clams. Shellfish filter feeders that concentrate microorganisms as they feed themselves.
2-Vibrio vulnificus is associated with diarrhea in pts with liver disease who consume contaminated shell fish. there is also incidence of developing bullous skin lesions.
3-E.coli 0157:H7 is associated with the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome.

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a patient comes in for epigastric discomfort that radiates up into the chest. He has cough and hoarseness and bad taste in his mouth, like he is sucking on pennies.

Most likely DX?
Most accurate test
management?

GERD leads to epigastric pain that radiates under the sternum. In addition, the acid hits the back of the tongue, leading to bitter taste in the mouth, when acid hits the vocal cords there is hoarseness and sometimes coughing and wheezing.

the most accurate test is a 24hour PH monitor
The first therapy is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) is both diagnostic and therapeutic.

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A man is evaluated for several weeks of epigastric discomfort and pain

1- He is an alcoholic and there is epigastric tenderness
2-he has no other sx. All lab tests are normal
3-He has two episodes of black stool, the pain is better with food

1-Pancreatitis is the only form of acute epigastric pains that is reliably associated with tenderness. Gastritis and ulcer disease are rarely associated with epigastric tenderness unless a perforation has occured
2-Non-ulcer dysphagia is the most common cause of epigastric discomfort. There is epigastric pain with an entirely normal examination including a normal endoscopy and the etiology is unknown.
3-Ulcer disease is the most common cause of upper GI bleding. Ulcers are not as common as non-ulcer dyspepsia as a cause of epigastric pain.
duodenal ulcers are more often improved with eating. Gastric ulcers are worsened with eating. An upper EGD can be diagnostic.

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a 22 year old woman comes to the office with recurrent episodes of diarrhea, fatigue, and abdominal pain. There is occasional blood in addition she has joint pain, erythema nodosum and uveitis. The hematocrit is 32, MCV is 90 and ESR is elevated. Alkaline phosphatase is elevated but the bilirubin is normal. Stool culture and ova/parasite exam show nothing.
1-rectal bleeding is common. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies ANCA are present and antisaccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA) are negative.
2-perianal and small bowel disease is present. A fistula was present in the past. Granulomas are present on biopsy. ANCA is negative ASCA is positive. A mass is palpable in the abdomen.

Ulcerative colitis with recurrent episodes of bloody diarrhea and pus from the rectum. the extra-intestinal manifestations of both forms of IBD are identical. Both give joint, skin, and ocular sx. Both give sclerosing cholangitis. UC gives positive ANCA and negative ASCA.

Crohn's disease gives small bowel disease, fistulae, and perianal disease, in addition to 'skip' lesions. Granulomas are characteristic of CD. CD gives a negative ANCA and positive ASCA. Anemia, low albumin levels and a high sedimentation rate can be found in both disease. Crohn's transmural inflammation whereas UC is limited to mucosa.
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A woman is evaluated in the office for moderate hepatomegaly and elevation of the AST, ALT and bilirubin. A few spider nevi are present on skin.

1- The antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-smooth muscle antibody are positive. Gammaglobulins are also elevated and there is a brisk response to prednisone
2-Hepatomegaly is the main finding in a woman with diabetes, obesity and hypertriglyceridemia. the ALT is slightly higher than the AST. Fatty liver is seen on imaging. She doesn't drink alcohol.

1-autoimmune hepatitis presents with hepatomegaly and the stigmata of chronic liver disease. The ANA is often positive and the gammaglobulin levels are elevated. less reliable findings are the presence of antismooth muscle antibodies and the liver-kidney microsomal antibody. Autoimmune hepatitis responds briskly to prednisone use.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia. The liver biopsy shows fatty infiltration you would see in a pt with alcoholic use. NASH is associated with an ALT slightly greater than AST. this is opposite in a person with alcoholic liver disease. There is no definitive treatment for NASH besides losing weight and controlling the diabetes and hyerlipidemia .

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a 38 year old man comes in with weight loss and flatulence, diarrhea, malodorous stool and weakness, he bruises easily, and his ca2+ is low. Sudan black stain is positive

1- iron deficiency is present. Folate level is low. He has a skin rash with vesicles. Anti-gliadin and tissue transglutaminase antibodies are positive.
2-Chronic alcoholic with epigastric pain and normal folate and iron levels.
calcification of the pancreas on CT scanning. Lipase and amylase level are normal

celiac disease and chronic pancreatitis both present with steatorrhea and weight loss. Both diseases lead to malabsorption of fat associated with the loss of ca2+ and vitamin K, easy bruising and malabsorption of vit B12. Only celiac disease leads to malabsorption of iron and folate. Iron and folate need an intact bowel to be absorbed. but don't need pancreatic enzymes to be absorbed. The most accurate test for celiac disease is small bowel biopsy ( do you see a theme here?.. I might be partial, but a pathologist is the arbiter of medicine) with them lie true diagnosis!

Chronic pancreatitis is most often from alcohol. The iron and folate levels are normal. Lipase and amylase levels are normal in most patients with far advanced chronic pancreatitis. Calcifications are present on CT of the pancreas in 70-80% of pts . The most accurate diagnostic test is a secretin stimulation test. Secretin should provoke the release of bicarbonate -rich pancreatic enzymes in a normal person.

_______________________________________________

Man presents with dysphagia and weight loss
1-pt is<50 with dyshagia for both solids and liquids at the same time
2-65 year old man with a clong hx of ETOH and tobacco use. Dysphagia begins with solid and progresses with difficulty for liqueds.
3-Foul breath and regurgitated food on the pillow the following morning
4-HX of scleroderma with reflux sx
5-CP that comes and goes. it is very severe but not associated with eating

1- Achalasia is associated with dysphagia for both solids and liquids at the same time. it is not progressive. There is no association with smoking or drinking.
2-Esophageal ca. is dysphgia first for solid food, then liquids. ca gets progressively worse, Achalasia is not.
3-Zencker's diverticulitum is associated with foul smelling breath. Do not use nasogastric tube or endoscope because of the risk of perforation.
4-Scleroderma esophgitis leads to reflux disease because the esophagus is ot capable of contracting. The answer is most likely DX question is easy scleroderma + esophagitis = scleroderma esophagitis. give proton pump inhibitors. look for CREST syndrome.
5-spastic disorders of the esophagus present with pain not related to eating or exertion. to answer the question, it must include a negative EKG, and stress test so as to not be classified as angina. Esophageal manometry can be diagnostic.
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A man comes in or evaluation of weight loss, diarrhea and easy bruising, the ca2+ level is low and the sudan black stain is positive.

1- He has arthralgia, fever, and cognitive defects. There are ocular abnormalities such as nystagmus. Adenopathy is present. Biopsy of the duodenum shows PAS-positive organism
2- a patient from the Caribbean has severe folate deficiency and VIt B12 deficiency. Biopsy shows abnromal villi with lymphocytic infiltration. Antigliadin and anti-endomysial antibodies are negative.

Whipple's disease is a cause of malabsorption with arthraligias, fever and CNS abnormalities. Presence of PAS positive organisms, best initial therapy is a year of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole

2- tropical sprue is the answer when malabsorption in association with severe folate and B12 malabsorption. The Q must give a hx of someone from the Caribbean or India. On biopsy the villi are abnromal with inflammatory cells but they are not as flat as those seen in celiac disease. treatment is with tetracycline and folate.
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An alcoholic man is admitted with severe epigastric pain, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, he is restless with mild fever.
1-Pt has an elevation of his amylase and lipase levels, as well as urinary trypsinogen activation peptide. CT scan shows inflammation.
2-CT scan shows necrosis of >30%
3-CT shows necrosis and biopsy grows gram negative organisms

1-Acute pancreatitis occurs in alcoholics, and those with gallstones obstructing the ducts. Epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting are present. the key dx is epigastric tenderness in an alcoholic. Trypsinogen activating peptide is elevated. treatment is pain control, IV fluids, and NPO until pain is resolved.
2-Necrotizing pancreatitis on a CT scan of the abdomen is much more important as a prognostic factor than Ranson's criteria.. pts with severe necrosis should undergo biopsy to see is an infection is present. Necrotizing pancreatitis may benefit from antibiotics such as imipenem to prevent infection
3-onfected necrotizing pancreatitis can be diagnosed only by biopsy or surgery. these pts have nearly 10% mortality without surgical debridement.

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a woman comes in with severe itching, hepatomegaly and elevation of alk phos and GGTP.

1-HX of IBD. overtime the bilirubin begins to elevate
2-middle aged woman with xanthomas, fat soluble vitamin malabsorption, hyperlipidemia and skin hyperpigmentation.

1-primary sclerosing cholangitis occurs in those with IBD. The alk phos. is elevated and the bilirubin only elevates much later in the disease. RX with ursodeoxycholic acid, but it is of limited effect
2- primary billiary cirrhosis occurs in middle aged women who present with itching elevated alk phos. The most most accurate test is the anti-mitochondrial anti-vody. RX is with ursodeoxycholic acid, but it is of limited benefit.
_____________________________
a young man is referred by psych for eval of tremor, and choreiform movement disorder. He was admitted for paranoia and psychosis, but was found to have an elevation of his transaminases and a coombs-negative hemolytic anemia.
dx, diagnostic test. therapy

Wilson's disease is a form of copper deposition in the bran, liver and kidneys. In addition, there is coombs negative hemolytic anemia. look for liver disease with a movement disorder and psychosis.
Wilson's disease is diagnosed by finding kayser fleisher rings on slit lamp exam. as well a low level of ceruloplasmin, which is the copper carrying protein in the body. There is increased urinary copper excretion, although the single most accurate test is an increased copper level on biopsy.
penciliallmine is the treatment that removes copper from the body.
__________________________________________________ ____

Middle aged man comes in for evaluation of joint pains and fatigue. He has hepatomegaly on examination and skin hyperpigmentation. diabetes has developed over the past few months. He has lost libido and has developed ED. LFT's are elevated. Echo shows restrictive cardiomyopathy.
dx.diagnostic. therapy

hemochromatosis is a form of iron deposition in multiple organs in the body, especially the liver. Cirrhosis will develop if untreated in 60% of pts with hepatocellular ca. in 15-30%. Another 15% will die of cardiac involvement. iron depostion also leads to diabetes, pseudogout, skin hyperpigmentation (bronze diabetes) and erectile dysfunction. the latter is a form of iron deposition in the pituitary and the gonadotropins.
the best initial tests is iron studies, with an elevated iron and ferritin level and low iron binding. This is a high iron saturation. This prompts the most accurate tests, which are the HFE gene mutation. liver biopsy with increased iron is the is single most accurate test.
Phlebotomy is the most accurate way to remove iron from the body.

_____________________ ok on with diagnostics

ER medicine



this is a skeletal survey
used in suspicion of child abuse, multiple myeloma and metastatic bone tumor.

parents might say he fell, but you see bruises.. also a clavicle is a hard bone to break unless by physical abuse..
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voiding cystourethrography
is a radiological visualization of bladder filling and emptying through the urethra. not to be confused with cystometrics, which is a pressure measurement of the bladder, useful in evaluating incontinence. cystourethrography is an evaluation of the anatomy of the urogenital system

for trauma
neoplasia in and surrounding the bladder
UTI (in children)
akk children younger than 5 yrs old with UTI
children of any age with febrile UTI
boys of any age with UTI
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diagnostic peritoneal lavage

look for drunk or unconscious person who can't have his abdomen examined reliably with multiple trauma and unexplained shock. a catheter is inserted into the abdomen and saline infuses, aspirate is examined.
the following aren't appropriate for a DPL.
pts with signs of acute abdomen, an indication of a perforated viscus or intrabdominal bleed is an indication for immediate surgical exploration.
pts with gunshot wounds to the abdomen. is indication for immediate surgical exploration
hemodynamically stable pt with hx of abdominal trauma but no definite signs of viscus perforation on PE. abdominal CT is indicated here.

to be considered DPL positive DPL should show RBC count >100,000/mm3, WBC>500/mm3, bile or feces.
DPL is inadequare to dx retroperitoneal injuries .
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intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is an old test of virtually no clinical utility. was used to dx pts with renal colic when no stones were found on radiograph.

IVP has been replaced with a US as the best initial, and CT as most accurate. IVP uses contrast which is a risk for both renal failure and allergic rxn.
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pelvic laparoscopy
direct visualization of pelvic structures, most accurate for

ectopic pregnancy
PID
endometriosis
pelvic cyst
chronic pelvic pain.

for pt who presents with pevic pain vaginal bleeding, positive beta hCG, particularly if beta hCG is low for gestational age.
also in PID where pregnancy is excluded.
___________________________________
Pharm on GI
43 yo with chronic hep B in the clinic evaluated for rx. her surface antigen has remained (+) for more than 6m. her hep HBe antigen is (+) as well.

chronic hep B is defines as persistence of surface antigen for longer than 6 month. Entecavir, lamivudine, telbivudine, adefovir and interferon are all approved for use. therapy is most effective for those who are (+) for hep B e antigen (HbeAg) or hepatitis B DNA polymerase.

Enecavir, lamivudine, adefovir, and telbivudine all inhibit viral reverse transcriptase (DNA) polymerase. They cause DNA chain termination.

Entecavir, lamivudine, adefovir, and telbivudine all cause lactic aciddiosis, and can cause acute hep exacerbation. Adefovir is neprotoxic. interferon causes flu like sx, myalgias, arthralgia and headache.

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40 year old woman w persistent epigastric pain, has large gastric ulcer, there is no malignancy on biopsy. but (+) for H-pylori

initial therapy for H pylori is PPI, such as lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole or esmeprazole combined with two antibiotics, the preferred are clarithromycin and amoxicillin.

if initial therapy fails, rx with PPI combined with bismuth subsalicylate and two different antibitics tetracycline and metronidazole.
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56 year old man with acute variceal hemorrhage from alcoholic cirrhosis comes to the er, he has been started on IV fluids, he received a blood transfusion and ffp

1-octreotide (somatostatin) is used for variceal bleeding to dec the severity of the hemorrhage
octreotide is a synthetic somatostatin, it decreases portal pressure and splanchnic blood flow, because there are numerous somatostains receptors throughout the portal circulation. it is superior to vasopressin or sclerotherapy. Propranolol would decreases frequency of recurrent bleeding but not has no effect on acute bleeding.
no sign adverse of octreotide
if octreotide doesn't work, endoscopic band ligation is the next best step. transfuse as needed, however massive transfusion can cause coagulopathy.

somatostatin is used to control growth hormone release in pts with acromegaly who are not candidates for surgery. it is also used to contrl dirrhea and carcinoid syndrome. it helps treat glucagonoma.

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48 year old with altered MS secondary to hepatic insufficiency

Lactulose is the most effective theray for hepatic enecphalopathy. it can also be used to RX constipation. it is superior to neomycin as the best initial therapy for hepatic encephalopathy
lactulose is a nonabsorbed disaccharide. Bacteria is the colon consume the lactulose and lower the ph of the bowel. the acidification changes ammonia (NH3) to ammonium (NH4+) ammonium isn't easily absorbed and more readily excreted.
lactulose causes bloating, diarrhea and flatulance. it can result in hypernatremia and hypokalemia
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pencillamine is a PCN derived chelating agent used for a number of toxicities

pencillamine chelates, copper, mercury, zinc, and lead, it also decreases T cell activity and rheumatoid factor.

it can cause nephrotic syndrome and bone marrow suppression.
pencillamine is the drug of choice for wilson's disease, sometimes used for lead poisoning and severe RA. not responding to other therapies. It is used to rx cystunuria, can also be used to rx arsenic and mercury poisoning.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>

today it will be 10/5/5 in lieu of 15/5/5.. I find this a bit time consuming, more so than I'd like it to be, and I still think we can be up to speed at some point

ok still on GI in most likely dx
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A man comes to the ER with abdominal pain, tenderness and fever..

1- hx of alcoholic cirrhosis and ascites. BP and pulse are normal
2-HX of peptic ulcer dz. He has a BP of 86/60 and a pulse of 120, and there is rebound tenderness on PE.

1- spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) occurs with ascites. The Dx is based on ascitic fluid cell count of >250 neutrophils. Culture of the fluid should be injected into blood culture bottles. Most commonly SBP is from a single organism, such as Ecoli. The Ascitic fluid protein level is low. RX is with CEFOTAXIME. Ascitic fluid should be sent for gram stain, culture protein, albumin, CDH, amylase, and cell count
2- secondary peritonitis occurs from perforation of a viscus, is associated with signs of severe sepsis such as hypotension and tachycardia. peritoneal signs such as rebound or guarding are common. The ascitic fluid protein is elevated. This form of peritonitis must be treated surgically in addition to antibiotics. Look for air and the diphragm on an upright cxray.

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A man comes for evaluation of recurrent peptic ulcers. The ulcers are multiple, >2CM in size and located in the distal portion of the duodenum. RX of H pylori has resulted in no benefit. he also has diarrhea..
DX, Diagnostic test, and best therapy


Zollinger Ellison Syndrome (ZES) is the most likely DX when the question describes a pt with ulcers that are large, distal, multiple and recurrent after RX for H pylori. Most ulcers are , 1cm in size. Diarrhea is from the inactivation of lipase from the high acid level.
Most accurate diagnostic test is an elevated gastrin level when off H2 blockers or PPI. Secretin should normally suppress gastrin. In ZES, secretin causes a rise in gastrin levels.
local dz should be resected. Metastatic dz should be treated with life long PPI.
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An elderly man is brought to the ER dept with SX of tachycardia, diaphoresis and lightheadedness that begin 15-30 mins after eating, he had surgeries in the past for nonresolving ulcers. Another hour or two after eating the sx recur.
Dx. therapy

this is dumping syndrome, occurs in those with vagotomy and gastrectomy as a part of surgery for ulcers. There are two phases with similar sx. A rapid release of gastric contents into the duodenum, resulting in an osmotic draw of fluids into the intestine, that results in hypotension, lightheadedness, tachycardia, palpitations and sweating. Later there is a rapid release of insulin resulting in hypoglycemia, which produces many of the same sx.

Dumping syndrome is managed with multiple small meals, devoid of carbs. Dumping syndrome is seen in those with morbid obesity that have undergone gastric bypass surgery.

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A pt with longstanding diabetes comes to the office for evaluation of nausea, vomiting, anorexia with a sense of early satiety, and abdominal bloating, sometimes there is diarrhea and sometimes constipation..
most likely DX, most accurate DX, what is the therapy?

diabetic gastroparesis is a form of autonomic neuropathy occurring in pts with longstanding diabetes and its effects on the nerves in the stomach. There is bloating with early satiety. The major stimulant to gastric motility is stretch. Longstanding diabetes results in a neuropathy that reduces he ability of the GI tract to perceive stretch. DX is made with nuclear gastric emptying study.
promotility agents such as metoclopramide and erythromycin will relieve sx.
___________________________________

an elderly woman comes in for her evaluation of urinary incontinence
1- there is an irrepressible need to void. it often happens at night, she leaks urine before she is able to go to the bathroom.
2-The pt is obese. Episodes of incontinence are brought on by laughing, sneezing, coughing or lifting heavy objects.

1-urge incontinence presents with sudden and irrepressible urge to urinate that results in the passing of urine before the patient is able to make it to the bathroom. There is often associated pain over the bladder. The Most accurate test is urodynamic studies in which a catheter with a pressure transducer is placed in the bladder with the bladder half full to measure pressure. treatment with urge incontinence is with anticholinergic agents that are more specific to the bladder like oxybutynin, tolterodine, darifenacin, solifenacin and occasionally tricylic antidepressants..

Stress incontinence presents with leakage of urine associated with coughing, laughing or sneezing, which increase intrabdominal pressure. RX is with kegel exercises or topical estrogens cream. Estrogen creams increases the growth of the distal third of the urethra.
_______________________________

most likely dx for
1-pt with an elevated alk phos but no itching and a normal anti-mitochondrial antibody test.
2-bowed legs worsened slowly over time with an abnromal gait. Back pain and an enlarged skull with headaches. The alk phos and urinary hydroxyproline levels are elevated.
3-75 y/o woman has a pruritic eczematous rash over her nipple. It is progessive and now has a custing and a discharge that is sometimes bloody.

1-Paget's disease of the bone is often asymptomatic with just a marked elevation of alk phos.. Abnromalities of the x-ray can be found when x-rays are done for other reasons. Asymptomatic paget's disease doesn't need therapy.
2-paget's disease is the answer when there is bone pain, headache and physical enlargement of the head, and bowing of the tibia secondary to softness. pain is the first sx. When very severe, there is warmth palpated over the bone. rarely extra bone growth is so severe that high output CHF develops. the alk phos is markedly elevated with normal ca2+ and phosphate levels. X-rays is the best initial test. The best initial therapy is bisphosphonates or calcitonin.
3- paget's disease of the breast is a form of breast cancer in older women presenting with a prurituc, eczematous rash that sometimes develops a discharge. biopsy is diagnostic and rx is surgical.
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A generally healthy 40 year old man comes in with severe pain in the bottom of his foot, the pain is extremely severe as he gets out of bed. in the morning and it improved with the first few steps. Stretching improves the pain. there is marked tenderness at the midpoint of the heel.

dx, rx?

plantar fasciitis is an idiopathic disorder of severe pain in the bottom of the foot. The pain is extremely severe in the morning, especially with the first few steps. There is severe point tenderness at the heel where the fascia inserts.

plantar fasciitis improves gradually over time. stretching the foot with a towel or with a small wall stretch will improve condition. occasionally steroid injections or surgical release are necessary.

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A young mother comes to see you because of pain in her wrist. the pain on the thumb (radial) side of the wrist occurs when she is gripping and object. the finkelstein test is abnormal

dx, finkelstein? RX?

De Quervain's tenosynovitis is pain in the tendons of the wrist. The etiology is unknown. DeQuervain's is the answer when there is pain, swelling, and tenderness on the radial side of the wrist.
Finkelstein is pain in the wrist when the thumb is placed in the closed first and the hand is tilted toward the little finger (ulnar deviation)
there is no proven therapy. NSAIDS and splinting are the mainstay therapy.

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a 54 year old woman comes to the clinic for a follow up because of fatigue, CBC reveals a decreased hct of 32% and an MCV is low as 68fl

1- an elevated red cell distribution width RDW and a high PLT count
2-a low serum iron, low TIBC, LOW retic, hx of RA
3-A profoundly low MCV with very few sx, and an elevated red cell count, iron studies are normal


The most common cause of microcytic anemia is iron deficiency. iron deficiency is associated with elevated RDW because the cells become progressively smaller as the iron deficiency worsens over time. Iron deficiency is associated with thrombocytosis. this is benign and requires no additional rx. the best initial test is a low iron, low ferritin and increase TIBC. hx of blood loss.
2- anemia of chronic disease is characterized by a low serum iron, low TIBC, normal ferritin levels. Any chronic or inflammatory condition can lead to anemia of chronic dz. and is extremely common in RA
3-Thalassemia is associated with very few sx because the red cell count is elevated. This can maintain the total HCT close to normal. Thal gives normal iron studies. the most accurate test is hemoglobin electrophoresis. Don't treat with iron.
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an alcoholic comes to the ER because of fatigue, his only med is isoniazid. stool negative for occult blood. Hematorcit is 32% and the iron is elevated.

DX, diagnostic, therapy

sideroblastic anemia is most commonly associated with alcoholism. and is the only anemia associated with a high circulating iron level.
The MCV is most often increases, but it can be elevated or normal. Although leads poisoning is commonly associated with sideroblastic anemia, there are more people who drink alcohol than exposed to lead.
Sideroblastic anemia is also associated with isonizid use and myelodysplasia.
the most accurate test is a prussian blue stain. iron built up in ringed sideroblasts (see previous pages for smear). iron is built up in mitochondria.
there is no specific therapy, either remove the toxic exposure or treat the myelodysplasia.

________________________________________

ok pharm GI

an alcoholic is admitted for an episode of vomiting blood from esophageal varices. he has has several episodes before and has been twice treated with esophageal band ligation. he is already being transfused and hydrates and has a normal PT time.

acute esophageal bleeding can be treated with endoscopic band ligation. if this has been done, then transvenous( or transjugular) intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) is useful. A catheter is placed into the hepatic vein, and a shunt is created through the liver to the portal veing. It can result in immediate decrease in portal HTN. the most common wrong answer is sclerotherapy, since it is inferior to band ligation.

most common adverse effect of TIPS is hepatic enecphalopathy.
propanolol is used to prevent recurrent variceal bleeding.
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pt is very distressed by persistent sx of epigastric pain from GERD. still has SX in spite of PPis

Nissen fundoplication is the treatment most likely to benefit a pt with persistent reflux GERD sx despite PPIs. this is surgically places narrowing of the distal esophagus in which the stomach is sewn around the esophagus.

H2 blockers are never as effective as PPis.
Cisapride is a promotility agent that has been removed from the market for causing arrhythmias. (caused torsades de pointes.
pylor doesn't cause GERD, treating it won't help.
distal esophagectomy is the rx for high grade dysplasia from Barrett's esophagus.
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38 year old woman comes to the office with dysphagia with ingestion of both solis and liquids. she waked up with regurgitated food particles on her pillow. Barium studies show narrowing of the esophageal sphincter to relax

Achalasia is treated with esophageal dilation. Pneumatic dilation is performed. In those refusing Pneumatic dilation. Botulinum toxin injection can be performed. the problem with botulinum toxin injection can be performed. The problem with Botulinum toxin injection is that it is not a permanent procedure and the symptoms can recur after 6-12 months, requiring additional injections or therapy.
if pneumatic dilation or botulinum toxin injection repeatedly fail, surgical intervention is performed. The Heller myotomy is the surgical cutting of the lower esophgeal sphincter.
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27 yr old healthy GI fellow has developed severe, bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain over the last day. He is having 10 bowel movements a day, his pulse is 125, temp 103F. He is orthostatic and has abdominal tenderness. he is vigorously hydrating himself.

severe bloody diarrhea from food poisoning is treated with antibiotics, if the pt shows signs of sepsis. the question will describe hypotension, bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain.
the best empiric therapy for severe infectious diarrhea is fluroquinolone such as ciprofloxacin. Cipro has the greatest range of coverage of invasive pathogens such as campylobacter and salmonella.
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53 year old diabetic for chronic abdominal pain and bloating, and a sense of fullness, she also has nausea with occasional vomiting. she sometimes has constipation and sometimes diarrhea. Upper endoscopy is normal.
diabetic gastroporesis is characterized by abdominal bloating, fullness, and early satiety and nausea, the best therapy for diabetic gastroparesis is with erythromycin or metoclopromide.

Erythromycin increases the release of motilin in the gastrointestinal tract. This increases the force and frequency of contractions in the stomach and intestines. In a normal pt with diabetic gastroparesis, this increases the forward flow of gastric contents. Metoclopromode increases of gastric contractions as well.

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diagnostic abdominal laparoscopy is used for direct visualization of abdominal structures used for
Ascites of unclear etiology
liver dz with inconclusive biopsy
staging of abdominal ca .

in trauma pt.
maybe used in stable pts as a less invasive aalternative to a laparotomy. DAL is especially useful in investigating injuries of the diphragm.

look for a victim of MVA in whom the CT is nondiagnostic and organ damage is suspected
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prental screening

tests include
cervical cytology
CBC, urinalsis, blood group Rh, serology for syphilis, rubella antibody, glucose screening, fetal ultrasouns, cervical cultures for Nisseria, group B strep, chlamydia trachomatis.
in a woman over 35 chromosomal screening.
_______________________________________________


renal ultrasound
best for
kidney stones, Congenital renal malformations, pediatric tumors, recurrent UTI, chronic renal failure, renal artery stenosis, polycystic kidney disease

in a pt with unexplained hemauria and flank pain and tenderness
renal US in a pt with dysuric sx such as frequency and burning, the urinalysis has WBC and flank pain.
_______________________________________


right upper quadrant ultrasound
used in pts with right upper quadrant pain with or without fever, the ultrasound will evaluate hepatobilliary structures for the folowing
liver pathologies
Masses, tumors, abscess, cysts
portal HTN
Gallbladder and billiary tree
cholelithiasis
cholecystitis
choledocholithiasis
cholangitis
the most accurate test for billiary pathology is ERCP or MRCP. most accurate for liver pathology is liver biopsy.
a (+) murphy's sign is suggestive of cholecystitis.
_________________________________________________


skull x ray
can detect fractires, ltic and blastic lesions frm bony mets or paget dz such as in above.
they are incapable however of detecting a bleed.
look for pt who has experienced head trauma. but it is almost always the wrong answer..
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

10-5-5

heme

pt comes to the office because of fatigue and slowly progressive dyspnea on exertion. the HCT is low at 25% and the MCV is markedly elevated at 130fl. the peripheral smears shows hypersegmented neutrophils with an average of 5 lobes. The LDH and indirect bilirubin are also elevated. the retic count is low.
DX,
1- elderly pt with glossitis and peripheral neuropathy. both the methylmalonic acid and homocysteine levels are elevated.
2-malnourished alcoholic with an elevated homocysteine level

Vitamin B12 deficiency and folic acid deficiency are identical in their hematologic abnormalities. The most common abnormality of B12 deficiency is peripheral neuropathy.
2- Folic acid deficiency does not give neurological abnormalities. in addition folic acid deficiency elevates only the level of homocystine, whereas B12 elevates both homocysteine and the level of methylmalonic acid.

_______________________________________________

pt with sickle cell dz is admitted because of fatigue developing over several days. The HCT has dropped precipitously. the MCV is normal and the retic count is low. WBC count and plt are normal
dx, accurate, initial therapy

Parvovirus B19 is the most likely cause of pure Red-Cell aplasia in a person with a hemoglobinopathy. The retic count should be elevated in a person with anemia. This is particularly true in the case of sickle cell dz in which the retic count is usually 10-20%.
Parvo-virus invades the bone marrow and freezes the growth of precursor cells in the marrow. the retic count is abnormally low. Because a pt with SCD has such a high percentage of reticulocytes. the HCT can drop very precipitously when infection with parvovirus occurs.

the most accurate test for B19 is PCR for DNA. If this is not one of the choices, then test is IgM against the virus. Although bone marrow biopsy with an increased number of giant pronormoblasts does develop. this is obviously more invasive and not as specific as the PCR for parvovirus DNA.

RX is with IV immunoglobulins.

_______________________________________________
a pt comes to the er with sudden onset fatigue, SOB and HCT 20%. MCV is slightly elevated, the retic count, LDH and indirect bili are all elevated and the haptoglobin is low

1-HX of SLE. CLL, lymphoma or med such as PCN
2-Recurrent episodes with a large spleen. Often with fam hx. An elevated MCHC
3-Sudden onset of hemolysis in a male pt with an acute infection. occasionally happens after sulfa drug use.

1- All forms of hemolysis, lead to elevated LDH, indirect bili and retic. Autoimmune warm antibodies are found in association with SLE, lymphoma, and CLL. In addition, medications such as PCN, sulfa, and quinidine can provoke autoimmune hemolysis lead to elevated levels of LDH, indirect bili, and retic. Autoimmune warm antibodies are found in association with SLE, lymphoma, and CLL. In addition, medications such as PCN, sulfa medications and can provoke autoimmune hemolysis. The Most accurate test i a coombs test. the smear will be normal because the hemolysis is occurring in the spleen.
2-Hereditary spherocytosis presents as recurrent episodes of hemolysis. The MCHC is elevated because red cell membrane is to tight to contain the amount of hemoglobin present. The most accurate test is osmotic fragility.
3-Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogrenase (G6PD) deficiency presents most often in males because it is X linked. Although primaquine, dapsone and fava beans have been classically associated with this disorder, the most common cause of acute hemolysis is an infection. the best initial tests are for Heinz bodies and bite cells.
__________________
A man comes to the office wit dark urine in the morning, his urinalysis shows hemoglobin but no red cells are visible, there are no white cells or protein. the CBC shows anemia and mild thrombocytopenia, the LDH, indirect bilirubin and retic count are elvated. He has a HX of a large vessle thrombosis. The Leukocyte alakaline phosphatase level is low.

DX, dignostic and common cause of death

PBH presents with episodes of dark urine in the morning. The hemolysis occurs over night with hemoglobin visible with the first morning urine. Pancytopenia often presents as a sign of hemolysis such as elevated bili, and retic count are present. the retic count maybe low.. A low Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase maybe present.
the most accurate test is a CD55/59 antigen test that is low. CD55/59 is the marker for decay accelerating factor. DAF removes complement from the cells before they are destroyed. older less accurate tests are sugar/water and Ham's test which look for activation of complement.

The most common cause of death is large vessel thrombosis. less common complications are acute leukemia, aplastic anemia, and myslodysplasia. This is because PNH is a stem cell disorder.

__________________________________________________ _____

An african american man comes to the ER wth pain in his back, chest and thighs, he has a hx of sickle cell disease. He is febrile 102f. cxray and urinalysis normal. o2, fluids, and analgesics are started his HCT is 28%

most urgent ste
best initial test to confirm parvo B19
most accurate diagnostic
initial to confirm SCD

the most urgent step in SCD when a fever is present is to start antibiotics such as ceftriaxone, levofloxacin or gatifloxacin. Don't wait for results of cultures. pts with SCD can die rapidly of overwhelming sepsis because they are functionally asplenic.
pavovirus B19 results in aplastic crisis particularly in those with an HX of hemoglobinopathies. The best initial test is a reticulocyte count. pts with SCD usually have a high retic count. PARVOVIRUS gives a low retic count.
the most accurate test for parvo is a PCR for the DNA virus.
the best initial test for sickle cell dz is a peripheral smar. the most accurate test is a hemoglobin elecrophoreis. pts with SCD often present with acute chest syndrome...

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yesterday was a disaster I set out to do 10/5/5 did only five.. the ac adapter of my new computer is dead.. finito so here we are on desktop.. let's make up what was lost..


Heme in most likely DX

1-An AA is taking a course in skydiving, he is on his first time up at high altitude, about to jump when he develops severe chest, back and thigh pain. When the plane returns to the ground, he feels well, his CBC including, peripheral smear, isnot normal. His only medical hx is of dark urine
dx, and diagnostic?

Sickle cell trait or hetrozygous (AS) sickle cell disease is present in 8% of African Americans. Acute painful crisis in SCT is extremely rare and occurs and occurs only under conditions of the most severe hypoxia or high altitude, such as would occur during parachute jump. The only significant manifestations of AS disease are renal concentrating defect (isosthenuria) and occasional episodes of gross hematuria. There is no specific therapy.
Most accurate test for ickle cell trait is a hemoglobin electrophoresis. there is no specific therapy!

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2-A man from Miami recently moved to Chicago for his residency. He has an episode of pneumonia that is mild with a dry cough and bilateral interstitial infiltrates that resolve with azithromycin, while shoveling snow he suddenly develops pain and discoloration of his fingers, nose an ears. His hct is 28%, and the bilirubin, LDH and retic count are elevated.
dx, accurate test, therapy

Cold agglutinin disease or igM-induced antibodies is the most likely diagnosis when there is hemolysis in association with pain and discoloration of acral portions of the body such as the fingers, nose and ears on exposure to cold. in addition, although most cases of cold agglutinin disease are asymptomatic, look for a recent history of mycoplasma pneumonia such as suggested in this case. Epstein barr virus is also another clue.
the most accurate test is a direct coombs that is positive for complement only. all the usual findings of hemolysis are present, such as an elevated LDH , indirect bili, and retic count but they are nonspecific for cold agglutinin disease

no specific therapy is usually necessary, steroids aren't helpful. in severe cases, alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide can be used. cyclosporine are also helpful.

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3-A man with diarrhea comes because of weakness and anemia, in addition, he has an elevated retic count, LDH, and indirect bili level. The haptoglobin is absent. the plt count is 38,000 but he isn't bleeding. the creatinine is 2.4

dx,cause of diarrhea, best test, most accurate test

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is the triad of hemolytic anemia, renal insufficiency and thrombocytopenia. If neurologic abnormalities and fever are also present, this is thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura TTP

HUS is often associated with E.coli 0157:H7.
the best initial test is a peripheral smear showing fragmented red cells such as schistocytes or helmet cells pls see previous page for slide. This is also referred to as microangipathic hemolytic anemia.

there is no specific test for either HUS or TTP. they are diagnosed bases on either the triad or pentad of laboratory abnromalities. Most of the time they will resolve spontaneously. Do not give plts or antibiotics.

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4- Man comes to the office with sx of dizziness, headache, fatigue, and blurred vision, he is very itchy after a warm shower, he gets nosebleeds, he has splenomegaly. His hematocrit is 58%. The MCV is low at 68fl the white cell count and plt are normal.
dx,best initialt diagnostic, most accurate, and common cause of death..

polycythemia vera is a neolasm of the bone marrow with markedly elevated hct. in the absence of hypoxia or an elevated level of erythropoietin. Polycythemia vera presents with signs of hyperviscosity such as headache, blurry vision, fatigue and epistaxis. pruritis after a warm show is common because of histamine release from basophils. the cells in polycythemia vera are small.

the best initial test is an arterial blood gas to exclude hypoxia as a cause of secondary polycythemia. if the hematocrit is markedly elevated above 60% and the white count and plt count are elevated. no additional tests besides a bone marrow biopsy are necessary because nothing else besides polycythemia vera will give an elevation of the three cell lines.

the most accurate is a nuclear red-cell mass test
the most common cause of death is large vessel thrombosis from hyperviscosity of elevated red cell mass.

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5- 52 year old man comes to the office with painful burning in his hands. the only lab abnromality is plt count of 1,500,000
dx, accurate diagnostics, common cause of death, best therapy



is a platelet cancer. this is a myeloproliferative disorder of the bone marrow in which the platelets are elevated to levels above 1 million. The white cell count can also be up.
ET ca present with erythomelalgia, which is painful, red burning of the hands; however, it may present with a high platelet count only.
there is no specific test, the bone marrow shows, nothing except increased number of megakaryocytes. Red cells are normal, there is a high frequency of mutation to JAK2.
essential thrombocytosis can result in death from either bleeding or thrombosis. thrombosis is more common.
the best initial therapy is hydroxyurea.

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6-an elderly man is being evaluated for progressive fatigue. CBC shows pancytopenia. MCV is normal

dx
1-splenomegaly, nucleated red cells, rear drop cells, and leukoerythoblastosis.
2-splenomegaly, a noaspirable dry tap, and a positive tartarate resistant acid phosphatase
3-pancytopenia alone with a vacant bone marrow

1-myelofiboris is diagnosed by finding the combination of nucleated red cells, teardtop-shaped cells, and an immature white cel that forms on smear such as promyelocytes or myeloblasts. All together, this is caled 'leukoerythoblastic' presentation. the liver and spleen are big because progressive marrow fibrosis leads to extramedullary erythropoiesis.

2-hairy cell leukemia

presents in middle aged ts with pancytopenia, massive splenomegaly, and a dry tap. the most accurate test is the TRAP or tartarate-resistant acid phosphatase.

3-Aplastic anemia is simply pancytopena of unclear etiology. the marrow is empty and can be replaced by fat, there is no fibrosis in the marrw. splenomegaly is not present because extramedullary hematopoiesis is not occurring. the marrow has just simply died. Remember parvovirus B19 in pts with previous baseline anemia such as sickle cell, or thalassemia can cause transient aplastic anemia.

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7- a 60 year old man comes in with fatigue, low grade fever and abdominal fullness, massive splenomegaly is found. His white cell count is markedly elevated at 175,000, they are normal and mature appearing on smear. the leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) score is low
dx, accurate diagnostic and common cause of death

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) presents with fatigue, upper abdominal pain





presents with fatigue and left upper quadrant pain from really big spleen. the white cell count is markedly elevated but they look normal and the LAP score is low. A low LAP scores means that the cells maybe up in number but they are low in function.

the most accurate test for CML is the philadelphia chromosome. this can be called bcr/abl mutation.
\

without rx with imatinib, 20% of CML pts will transofmr into acute myelogenous leukemia each year.

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8- a 72 year old man comes in for progressive fatigue, he has splenomegaly on examination, his HCT is 30% with an MCV of 107fl. There are oval shaped cells. the retic count is reduced. the white cells show bilobed nuclei. There is a mild reduction in plt count. B12 and folate levels are normal.

dx, accurate diagnostic

myelodysplastic syndromes are a collection of pre-leukemic syndromes with macrocytic anemia, they are seen exclusively in elderly pts. they often have a bilobed neutrophils known as Pelger-Huet cells

the platelet countand retic count are often reduced. although a small number of pts progress to acute myelogenous leukemia most pts will die of bleeding or infection before that occurs.

the most accurate test is a bone marrow biopsy. the marrow is hypercellular despite the peripheral low counts. the prussian blue shows ringed sideroblasts .


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9- 34 year old man comes in with severe bleeding from his skin, nose and rectum, he has a fever, CBC shows pancytopena, there are blasts visible on the peripheral smear. The PT and PTT are elevated. Some of the neutrophils have an eosinophilic inclusion body visible.

dx, diagnostic

acute promyelocytic leukemia, or M3 leukemia, presents with the same pancytopenia as any other acute leukemia with blasts present. in addition, promyelocytic is always the most commonly asked question, because it is acute and has a very distinct presentation. The association with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is characteristic or promyelocytic leukemia. , this is because promyelocytic granules activate the coagulation pathway

the esopsinophilic body is an Auer Rod, which is characteristic of promyelocytic leukemia ( also AML)

the most accurate test for acute leukemia is a bone marrow biopsy. this is the most accurte way to assess the number of blasts, in addition, the most important test to determine prognosis are cytogenetic studies. these are best obtaines on actively replicating cells found in the marrow.

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10- a 60 year old man is found to have an elevated total protein on routine blood testing in the office. Electrophoresis reveals a monoclonal IgG spike. Calcium, CBC, urinalysis, and skeletal bone survey are all normal
dxm accurate diagnostic, initial therapy

this is monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) is most found on routine testing of blood protein in an elderly pt. The pt is asymptomatic. all other tests are normal. There will be no Bence jones protein, no bone lesions and a normal uric acid level.
the most accurate test is a bone marrow biopsy, MGUS has <10% plasma cells on bone marrow biopsy.
there is no therapy for MGUS. only 1% of pts per year will progress to myeloma, and no therapy is known to prevent this.

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pharm.
a young woman with multiple bowel movements per day and abdominal pain, some BMs have blood, she was dxed with crohn's disease
Mesalamine derivatives are the best initial therapy for both crohn's and UC. Mesalamine is the most effective way of delivering 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) several formulations exist.
Asacol delivers the 5-ASA to the distal bowel
Pentasa delivers therapy to the entire bowel.
sulfasalazine gives 5-ASA but has many more adverse effects such as rash, hemolysis and renal tox, because of the sulfa component.
acue episodes of worsening inflammatory BD that are not controlled with 5-ASA derivatives are treated with oral steroid budesonide. Budesonide has enormous first pss effect on the liver, so it has limited toxicity. Azathioprine can be used to keep the disease nder control without the use of steroids.

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44 year old woman comes for a follow up, she has has acid reflux for 5 yrs. Endoscopy reveals a 3 cm of columnar epithelium of the distal esophagus.

barret's esophagus is columnar epithelium extending up out of the stomach into the distal esophagus. Barrett's esophagus should be treated with a PPI. such as omeprazole, pataoprazole, lansoprazole, esmeprazole, or rabeprazole.

PPIs work by inhibiting the release of acid from the parietal cells of the stomach. they inhibit the K+/H+ ATpase. PPIs have no major adverse effects.

surveillance endoscopy for Barretts esophagus should be performed every 2-3 yrs. if low grade dysplasia is present, repeat endoscopy every 6 months.

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a man develops multiple ulcers in his duodenum. they recur after rx for H pylori. his gastrin level is elevated. he undergoes endoscopic US and an octreotide scan to determine therapy

an endoscopic US and octreotide scans are performed to determine the presence of mets. localized ZES or gastrinoma is treated by surgical resection
Metastatic ZES is treated with lifelong PPI.

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a 55 yo woman comes in with pruritis, her alk phosp is elevated, her AST and ALT are minimally elevated. anti-mitochondrial antibodies are present in increased amount.

this is primary billiary cirrhosis, treated with ursodeoxycholic acid. Cholestyramine maydecrease itching but should not be given at the same time as ursdeoxycholic acid, because it may decrease absorption.

the mechamism or ursdeoxycholicacid is poorly understood, it decreases plasma and endogenous bile acid conc. this reduces hepatotoxicity, because endogenous bile acids are more toxic to the liver. ursodeoxycholic acid decreases esiosinophil activation and may decrease the immune destruction of hepatocytes.
urodeoxycholic acid generally devoid of adverse effects.

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43 year old man comes with patiguem joint pain, darkened skin, ED, serum iron and ferritin levels are markedly elevated. the MRI shows abnromal liver.

2- pt with SCD comes in for rx, she has been transfused for severe sickle cell crisis 5 tomes a year for 10 yrs

case one is heriditary hemochromatosis from overabsorption of iron in the duodenum. the pt should undergo periodic phlebotomy to dec iron overload.

case two has developed hemochromatosis from repeated transfusion. can't use phlebatomy on someone who is anemic, thus chelation therapy is used. Deferasirox is an oral iron chelator, Deferoxamine has to be given by injection and is harder to use
chelating agents bind to iron and allow it to be excreted..

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diagnostics

pelvic us, vaginal US

Pelvic US used for
pelvic or lower abdominal pain with amenorrhea or vaginal bleeding
suspected pregnancy
suspected ectopic pregnancy

transvaginal US
superior to pelvic used in
placenta previa (painless vaginal bleeding in the third trimester)
fetal monitoring in the first trimester
obese women in examining pelvic anatomy.

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the crystals are enveloped shaped oxalate crystals
they precipitate in renal tubules when toxic dose of ethylene glycol, a component of antifreeze is ingested.
most specif test is to determine blood level. urine can be examined under fluorescent wood's light, however, urinary fluroescene lasts only a few hours after ingestion. bcause the oxalic acid precipitates with calcium the blood level of calcium is always low.
answer etheylene glycol overdose and oxalate crystals when you see an elevated anion gap and metabolic acidosis . the question most often describes a depressed pt with possible attempted suicide, Hypocalcemia can lead to QT prolongation and cardiac arrhythmias. Oxalate crystal deposit in the renal tubules can cause acute tubular necrosis.
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Anti-basement membrane antibodies (Anti-BM)
are indicative of goodpasture syndrome



pt with hematuria, and HTN, accompanied by a cough and SOB, hemoptysis. Renal insufficiency and red cell casts in the urine are characteristic..
the most accurate test for goodpasture is a lung or kidney biopsy as in above.
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total complement level (ch50)
complement deficiency leads to recurrent bacterial infections. CH 50 or total complement assay, is performed on young pts with recurrent unexplained infections such as pneumonia, sinusitis, meningitis with encapsulated organisms such as Neisseriae, s. pneumonia, and H flu. the pt will have normal lymphocyte and immunoglobulin levels. an abrnomal CH 50 assay indicated inherited or acquired complement deficiency.

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urine microalbumin

this is a sensitive screening test for diabetic nephropathy

look for a case with diabetes for >5 yrs who has normal renal function and a negative urinalysis for protein. if the dipstick is already positive for albumin, there is no reason to look gor microalbuminuria. screening is done on yearly basis .

if the test is positive use ace inhibitors, or ARBs to prevent rogression of disease.
a negative test for microalbumin is <30mg/day, levels between 30-300md/day are called microalbuminuria. levels above 300 would register positive on the normal urinalysis.
renal biopsy is the only test of the effect of diabetes on the kidney that is more sensitive than microalbuminuria.

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a 70 year old man comes to the hospital with blurry vision, SOB, confusion, vertigo and nausea, He is anemic and the white cell count is normal. The serum viscosity level is increased to 1.5 times that of water. He has engorged sausage shaped blood vessels in his eyes
dx, diagnostic

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia ( lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma)

is caused by hyperviscosity from the overproduction of IgM from lymphocutes and plasma cells. IgM is larger than IgG and therefore presents with a hyperviscosity syndrome that obstructs blood vessels in the brain, lungs, and eyes and results in SOB, vertigo also occurs. GI bleeding may occur from engorged vessels. This is the same short of presentation as leukostasis reaction in acute leukemia, however, the white-cell count in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia is generally normal.

the most accurate test is a serum protein electeophoresis with an elevated IgM spoke and a bone marrow biopsy showing increased plasma cells. Bone x-rays are normal.

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a pt. is admitted for a PE. two days after starting IV heparin the plt count starts to dec.
dx, diagnostic

heparin indusced thrombocytopenia (HIT) occurs several days after the start of heparin. The most common presentation is an asymptomatic decrease in the plt count. Occasional episodes of thrombosis may occur. Venous thromboses are generally three times more common than arterial thrombosis. In general, a 50% decrease in the number of platelets after starting heparin is considered a threshold criteria.
The most accurate test for HIT is for antibodies to platelet factor 4. these are heparin induced anti platelet antibodies. Serotonin release is very sensitive. RX is to sop all heparin products immediately.

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Pt is admitted to psych for an acute episode of hallucination, psychosis and hysteria, she also has abdominal pain and dark urine. She recently started phenobarbital for seizures. The attack accompanied the onset of menses. Despite the severity of her abdominal paon, the exam is benign.

dx, initial diagnostic, initial therapy

acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) presents with severe abdominal pain, neuropsychiatric disturbance, and dark urine. Episodes often happen around menses and or after the start of meds such as phenobarbital.
AIP is confirmed with urinary levels of aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen.

AIP is treated acutely with dextrose and IV heme infusion.

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a woman comes in with increased bleeding after a dental extraction. she has noticed increased bleeding such as epistaxis and petechiae for many yrs. The plt count is normal. the aPTT is modestly elevated.
dx, diagnostic, most accurate

Von Willebrand's disease presents with an increased mucosal type of bleeding, particularly after minor trauma, surgery, or ASA use.
the APTT can be elevated because factor VIII antigen (von willebrand's factor, VWF) and factor VIII coagulant ( hemophilia A factor) travel bound to each other. This can't be hemophilia because the type of bleeding is hemophilia would be deep bleeding into a joint or into muscle, such as a hematoma. in addition hemophilia does not express itself in women.
the best initial test for plt function is bleeding time. Do not do a bleeding time is the plt count is low. if the plt count is low, the bleeding time will be abnormal.

the most accurate test for von willebrand's dis is a combination of VWF and ritocetin testing. Ristocetin testing determines the function of the VWF if the level is normal.

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a pt comes in with bleeding into his joints after minor muscle trauma. the plt count is normal.

1-male child with an elevated aPTT and a normal PT
2-Pt who has recently has an IV antibiotics. There is elevation of both PT and aPTT.
3-an alcoholic pt with low albumin, who also has varices. both PT and aPTT are elevated.

1- Hemophilia is the most likely dx with hemarthrosis n a male child after a minor trauma. only the aPTT will be elevated. The best initial test is a mixing study and the most accurate is a specific level of factor VIII or IX. The mixing study s the first test to perform to determine the presence of a clotting factor deficiency. if the aPTT is elevated from a clotting factor deficiency, the lab value will return normal when mixed 50:50 with normal plasma. if there is a clotting factor inhibitor, it will not correct.
2-Vit K deficiency is suggested by the recent antibiotics which deplete the levels of vit K in the body. Both PT and aPTT will be elevated. The diagnosis confirmed by looking for an improvement after administering supplementary vit K.
3-Liver disease presents in the same manner clinically as vit K deficiency, but there will be no improvement after adding supplementary vit K.
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a pt comes in with a elevated aPTT found on routine screening prior to a minor procedure. The PT is normal
1- There is no bleeding at any time, the pt completely asymptomatic.
2- the pt has minor bleeding occasionally in the past, but only with trauma or surgical procedures.
3-there has been clotting such as a DVT, in the past. The VDRL is positive.

1- Factor XII deficiency produces an elevation in the aPTT with no evidence of bleeding even under conditions of additional trauma.
2-Factor XI deficiency results in a prolonged aPTT and gives abnromal bleeding under conditions of trauma or surgery. such as a dental extraction. Factor 11 deficiency is common in Ashkenazi Jews.

3-Lupus anticoagulant is a type of antiphospholipid antibody that results in increased clotting but gives a prolonged aPTT as a lab artifact . It is associated with a false positive VDRL. on mixing studies, the aPTT will not correct on a 50:50 mix normal plasma because it is a circulating antibody. the antibod will be presents in the mix. Deficiencies correct to normal when mixed, antibodies will not.
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a pt is admitted with a pulmonary embolus, he is not obese or elderly, there is no malignancy or increased risk of clotting that can be identified.
1-Most common cause of thrombophilia
2-there is skin necrosis with the use of warfarin
3-the aPTT does not rise after the use of heparin

1- Factor V leiden mutation is the most common cause of thrombophilia. This is a genetic defect that results in resistance of factor V to inactivation by protein C.

2- Protein C is associated with skin necrosis with the use of warfarin. protein C is a natural vitamin K-dependent anticoagulant with a very short half life. When starting warfarin, there is a transient hypercoagulable state that is produced for a short time before the other clotting factors are inhibited.

3-antithrombin III deficiency is a cause of thrombophilia that results in resistance to heparin. Heparin works by potentiation of the effect of antithrombin. If there is a low level of antithrombin then heparin will no work. There will be no rise on aPTT afte a bolus of heparin.

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pls diagnose each of the following transfusion reactions

1-Mild febrile reaction with the first unit of blood. with the second unit there is SOB and Pulmonary infiltrates that resolve in 24hrs
2-immediate anaphylaxis after transfusion
3-mild urtricarial reaction after transfusion, no evidence of hemolysis
4- A single degree centigrade with no evidence of hemolysis.

1-Leukoagglutnination reaction occur from donor antibodies attacking and agglutinating recipient WBC, resulting in SOB, this is also known as transfusion associated ling injury (TRALI) no rx necessary.

2-IgA deficiency leads to anaphylaxis and occurs from IgA in the donor blood. This occurs in IgA deficient recipient. Use blood from IgA deficient donors in the future.
3-Urticarial rxn occur as an allergic rxn to donor plasma proteins. urticarial reactions can be prevented by transfusing washed red cells.
4-febrile non-hemolytic reactions occur from a reaction against donor white cells. prevent this by filtering blood.

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a young pt comes in with multiple sinopulmonary infections. He has had sinutitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and otitis media

1- the pt is an adult with normal lymph nodes. B-Cell numbers are normal. Immunoglobulin produced is markedly low.
2- A male child has infections in the first year of life, lymph nodes and tonsils are hypoplastic, Immunoglobulin levels and B cells are absent.
3-T cells are absent. there are cardiac defects, facial abnormalities, and hypocalacemia with low PTH level IgG levels are normal

1-Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) presents in adults with normal numbers of B cells but markedly low immunoglobulin levels.
RX is with replacement of immunoglobulins.
2-X-linked agammaglobulinemia (Bruton's) presents in make children at an early age. Not only is no immunoglobulin produces, but the B cells and normal lymphoid structures are missing. RX is with immunoglobulin replacement.
3-Di George's syndrome is an isolated T-Cell deficiency from thymic hypoplasia. DiGeorge's syndrome is associated with cardiac and facial defects. hypocalcemia results in the inability to develop parathyroid glands. Bone marrow transplant is used in severe cases.
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a young pt comes in with repeated episodes of otits mesia and pneumonia. in addition there is eczema and dermatitis.

1- Allergic disorders, asthma and urticaria also occur. There was a severe persistent diarrheal illness from Giardia lamblia. A blood transfusion resulted in anaphylaxis.
2-a male child presenting at a very early age with infections also has a bleeding disorder. the platelet count is low and platelets are small in size.

IgA deficiency most commonly comes to attention because of frequent sinopulmonary infections. There are multiple allergic disorders with IgA deficiency such as asthma, urticaria, rhinitis and atopic eczema. Chronic infections can result in anaphylaxis. i the cells are not washed because of an allergic reaction to IgA in the donor blood. There is no specific therapy. Transfusion should only be from IgA deficient donors or with washed red cells.

2-Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is the combination of increases susceptibility to infection combined with eczema and thrombocytopenia. Atopic dermatitis occurs with increased frequency of otitis media, pneumonia, and thrombocytopenia. bleeding is common.

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\pharm

25 year old woman comes to see you for the fifth time in two months because of abdominal pain, she has periods od diarrhea alternating with constipation, the sx are less severe at night. Her abdominal CT scan and colonoscopy are normal.

IBS is initially treated with dietary modifications such as increasing fiber content. the best sources of fiber are bram, psyllium, husks, and methcellulose.
Antispasmodic medications such as dicyclomine, or hyoscamine may decrease the pain, they have modest anticholinergic effect. diarrhea can be treated with dihenoxylate or loperamide which inhibit gi motility.
if fiber and antispasmodic agents aren't effective, tricyclic antidepressants may work, tricyclics are anticholinergic and have a beneficial effect of neuropathic pain.

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Sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil
these are the best initial therapies for erectile dysfunction. sildenafil has also been approved for rx of pulmonary htn.
these meds are phosphodiesterase inhibitors. they decrease vasculat tone. and increase flow into the penis by increasing local concentrations of NO
phosphodiesterase inhibitors can cause hypotension, headache and facial flushing. they should not be used in combo with nitrates for pts who have CAD. grapefruit juice can increase the levels of these meds because of its effect on inhibiting cytochrome p450.

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a 72 year old man comes to the office because of a delay in his ability to urinate. He has a decreased urinary stream, increased urinary fequency, there is no burning pain when he urinates. urinalysis is normal.

the best therapy for benign prostatic hypertrophy is a combination of a 5 alpha reductase inhibitors, such as finersteride, and peripheral alpha blockers, such as doxazosin, prazosin or tamsulosin.
finersteride blocked production of dihydrotestersterone, which stimulates growth of the prostate, opening the bladder neck, prostate capsule, and prostatic urethra, prazosin, terazosin, doxazosin and tamsulosin increase the volume of urinary stream.
peripheral alpha blockers can cause dizziness and orthostatic hypotension, Tamsulosin has the same therapeutic benefit with less incidence of hypotension.
if medical therapy fails, the treatment of BPH is a transurethral resection of the prostate TURP.

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Finasteride and dutasteride
are te best therapies for benign prostatic hypertrophy. they decrease the volume of the prostate and increase the volume of urinary flow. Finasteride is also approved to treat male pattern hair loss.
hese meds inhibit 5 alpha reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydro-testosterone. dihydro-testosterone is responsible forthe growth of the prostate as well male pattern baldness.
Finasteride and dutasteride have a very small effect of decreasing libido, decreasing the volume of ejaculate, and causing a mild increase in the incidence of erectile dysfunction.
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ezetimibe

is used to rx hyperlipidemia. it is added to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (a statin) if the low density lipoprotein (LDL) is not sufficiently controlled. The major advantage of ezetimibe it is limited side effects.
Ezetimibe inhibits absorption of cholesterol at the brush border it blocks the sterol transporter.
Ezetimibe causes diarrhea and abdominal pain because of its ability to block fat absorption.

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diagnostic

water deprivation test

is used to distinguish between the causes of diabetes inspidius (DI) to objectively assess pts with hypernatremia and high urine output.
you restrict water intake for 12-24hrs with observation for the volume of urine, urine osmolality, and change in body weight to evaluate whether the kidneys are conserving or excreting water properly, if the urine volume stays elevated after the serum osmolality goes up, then it is DI. If there is a decrease in response in response to giving vasopressin or ADH, then it is central DI, if no response then it is nephrogenic

if this is a bit confusing to you, and you like anecdotal learning, then I have covered the tread entirely earlier here
http://www.islamicboard.com/health-s...dus-siadh.html (Diabetes Mellitus, Insipidus or SIADH?)

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diascopy is the best initial test for erythematous lesions. It is a fancy way to see of the lesion blanches (turns white), a lear plastic slide is pressed over the skin, used to determine if an erythmatous skin lesion is due to vasodilation or extravasation of RBCs via damaged blood vessels.

if the skin blanches with diascopy, the erythema is causes by vasodilation, simple vasodilation is caused by viral diseases, drug reactions and insect bites. if the lesion persists under diascopy, the redness is caused by extravsation of erythrocyte via damaged blood vessles, as seen with vascuilitic and purpuric lesions.

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excisional biopsy is a skin technique where the full thickness of the lesion is removed preferably intact.
this is best for such and malignant melnoma see above.
can't be staged properly otherwise is not fully removed.

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direct immunofluorescence (DIF) of skin biopsy samples is used to diagnose skin disorders of immunologic origin. The DIF test looks for the presence and staining pattern of immunoglobulins 9IgG, IgM, IgA), C3 and fibrinogen in the skin. for examle it is useful for differentiating between pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoig

pemphigus vulgaris immunofluorescence ( IgG and C3 between epidermal cells)


bullous pemphigoid immunofluorescence (IgG and C3 at dermodermoepidermal junction)

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fungal culture
is the most accurate diagnostic test superficial fungal infections of the body. examples, tinea, onychomycosis and fungal vaginits.
not the best initial test though, fungal infections are primarily diagnoses by visual appearance and confirmed by KOH prep.
onychomycosis (nail bes) and tinea capitus (scalp) need to be treated with oral antifungals. (terbinafine or itracaonazole). all of the other fungal infections of the skin may be treated wit topical meds such as ketoconazole, clotrimazole, nystatin or ciclopirox.

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we start with infectious disease in most likely dx

1- pt comes in with fever, headache, and vomiting, he experiences a seizure..

1- confusion is the main compliant
2-stiff neck (nuchal rigidity) and photophobia are present.
3-He has focal neurological deficits and projectile vomiting.

1- encephalitis is characterized predominately by confusion and fever for a few days. Although there is a headache, nausea, vomiting and seizures. these findings aren't specific to encephalitis. Encephalitis is best diagnosed with a head CT followed by a lumbar puncture. The most accurate diagnostic test for herpes encephalitis is a PCR of the CSF, not a brain biopsy.

2-meningitis presents with stiff neck and photophobia

3- brain abscess presents with focal neurological findings in addition to confusion, and focal findings--

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pt comes to the ER dept with dever, headache, neck stiffness and photophobia
1- six hours of sx with 3,500 white cells that are predominantly neutrophils.
2-neutrophilic predominance and recent neurosurgery.
3-the CSF protein is markedly elevated, there are 175 lymphocytes and the adenosine deaminase level is elevated.
4-Petechiae and rash are present on the wrists and ankles that move toward the body. CSF lymphocyte count is mildly elevated.

pneumococcus is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis. you can't tell the difference between pneumococcus, hemophilus, gram negative meningits, and staphylococcus for sure without culture of the cerebrospinal fluid.

2-staphylococcus is the most common organism after recent neurosurgery.
3-TB is suggested by a very high protein, high adnosine deaminase level, and lung lesions.
4- Rocky mountain spotted fever presents with a salmon colored rash that is vascuilitic in nature and moved toward the body. A tick bite is recalled in 60% of cases. CSF shows a modest elevation in lymphocyte count.

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A patient comes in with fever, headache, photophbia and neck stiffness. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein level and white cell count are elevated.

1- an alcoholic, elderly patient who is HIV positive and is on steroids for lymphoma with 2,300 neutrophils in the CSF
2-Generally a healthy patient with mild lymphocyte elevation.
3-Adolescent with a petchial rash and terminal complement deficiency. Neureophil count is elevated.
4-HIV positive pt with mild sx over several weeks. CD4 count of 20. Mild CSF lymphocyte elevation...

1- Listeria monocytogenes presents with increased neutrohils in the CSF in pts who are immunocompromised, elderly, neonates. steroids, alcoholism, chemotherapy, and leukemia all predispose.
2-Viral meningitis occurs in healthy pts and is self-limited. there is no past medical hx and the lymphocyte count in the csf is mildly elevated.
3-Neisseria meningitis occurs more often in adolescents in conditions of crowding such as dormitories or in military recruits. a petechial rash is characteristic. Splenoectomy and terminal complement (C5-C9) deficiency are very strong risk factors. A vaccine against N.meningitis exists.
4-Cryptococcus in the case of HIV/AIDS with low CD4 counts (<50). cryptococcus gives a modest elevation of lymphocytes in the CSF.

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A man comes in for evaluation of fever, cough and sputum production.
1- fever is minimal. the chest x ray is normal.
2-there is discolored sputum with hemptysis. CXRAY shows an infiltrate in one lobe.
3-an alcoholic with poor dentition. the sputum is foul smelling.. there is weight loss, with persistent sx over several weeks..
4-immigrant with weigt loss and a cavitary lesion on cxray

1-Bronchitis presents with mild fever, cough, sputum, and a normal chest xray.
2-Pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common cause of community acquired pneumonia. There is discrete infiltrate seen in individual lobes of the lung. Hempptysis is a nonspecific finding. Hemoptysis will not help you answer the Q. anything that makes you cough will give hemoptysis.
3-Lung abscess is an answer when the sx are chronic over several weeks. the sputum smells bad and there is an increased risk of aspiration such as intoxication, seizures, stroke, or intubation. poor teeth predisposes to higher volume of infected material to aspirate.
4-TB is most often in immigrants. there is chronic cough, fever, weight loss and night sweats with cavitary lesion.

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a pt comes to the ER with fever and a cough for the last several days. the cxray is abnormal with bilateral interstitial
1- HIV positive pt with 110 CD4 cells on no medications. The cough is dry and the LDH is elevated.
2-an 82 year old man with COPD with diarrhea and altered mental status. Sodium is low.
3-pt is a sheep farmer. Bilateral interstitial infiltrates are present.
4-Generally a healthy young person, hemolysis is present.

pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP0 is the answer when the pt is HIV positive with <300 CD4 cells on no prophylactic medications. The LDH is elevated.

2-Legionella pneumonia is associated with GI and CNS abnormalities in elderly pts with a hx of lung disease. The sodium level is often especially low in pts with legionella pneumonia

3-Coxiella brunetii causes Q fever. Coxiella is transmitted from animal exposure.
40 Mycoplasma pneumonia is the answer when the question describes a generally healthy pt with mild sx and interstitial infiltrates. Occasionally there is autoimmune hemolysis from IgM cold agglutinins.
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32 year old woman comes to the ER with lower abdominal pain and lower abdominal tenderness. cervical motion tenderness
1-temp is 101F and the white cell count is 16,000, NL 4,500-10,500
2-pregnancy is positive

1-pelvic inflammatory disease is the dx when there is lower abdominal pain and tenderness with cervical motion as well as fever and leukocytosis. A pregnancy test should be done to exclude ectopic pregnancy. cervical cultures and DNA probe for gonorrhea and chlamydia should be performed. the most accurate test is a laproscopy. in most cases think about admission for parenteral antibiotics when febrile.
2-ectopic pregnancy presents with cervical motion tenderness and a positive pregnancy test. A pelvic ultrasound should be performed. if negative than a transvaginal.

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A man comes to the clinic with a genital ulcer and enlarged inguinal adenopathy
1-ulcer is firm and painless with heaped up and indurated borders.
2-the ulcer is soft and painful.
3-large nodes that are tender is the main finding
4-the ulcer started as vesicles that lost their roof

1-primary syphilis presents as a genital ulcer with adenopathy. the ulcer is firm but painless. the most accurate test is darkfield exam of a scraping. RPR and VDRL are only 75% sensitive in primary syphilis. rx single IM PCN
2-chancroid is soft and painful, specialized culture media are necessary to diagnose Hemophilus ducreyi. rx is a single dose azithromycin.
3- lymphogranuloma venereum presents with matted enlarges lymph nodes. the nodes may develop a draining sinus tract and often tender. dx is with complement fixation testing of a smaple of blood or with aspration of the node.
rx is with doxycyline for three weeks.
4-Herpes simplex begins as a vesicular lesions that may ulcerate. if the dx isn't clear, viral culture confirms the dx.
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a pt comes in with dysuria such as urinary frequency, urgency and burning

1- urethral discharge is present.
2- there are 50 white cells in the urine, suprapubic tenderness is present.
3-fifty white cells are present in the urine. temp is 102F an there is flank tenderness.
4- after rx for pyelonephritis for 7 days, fever, flank tenderness and pyuria persist.


1-urethritis presents with urethral discharge, although a discharge by itself is sufficient to suggest the diagnosis. A urethral swab for gram stain shows gonorrhea. urine for nucleic acid amplification testing is the standard of care. RX is with a single dose of azithromycin and ceftriaxone. Always treat for chlamydia as well, since rate of coinfection is very high.

2-cystitis is suggested by dysuria >5 white cells in a urinalysis, and suprapubic pain. Three days of trimerthoprim/sulfamethoxazole or quinolone is the rx
3-pyelonephritis is diagnoses with dysuria, fever, flank pain and tenderness and white cells in the urine. sonogram or ct of the kidney will sow, possibly hydronephrosis or abcess.
4-perinephric abscess is diagnosed with persistent sx of pyelonephritis despite rx. imaging of the kidney will show a collection of infected materla. Biopsy is the most accurate diagnostic test.
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pt comes wth pruritis of his genital area.
1-there is also an itchy rash of the web spaces of his fingers, elbows, and axilla. narrow burrows are visible in web space
2-the itching is limited to hair containing areas of the pubic and axilla. Live organisms are visible near the hair.

Scabies presents with pruritic lesions of the genitals. There are itchy area in the hands, elbows, wrists in the web spaces. Narrow burrows may be visible where the sarcptes scabiei has dug underneath the skin.
2-pediculosis or crabs are much larger than scabies and are visible on the skin surface in hair, an pubic region and the axiilla. scabies and pediculosis are best treated with prematherin.

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pt comes in with swollen, red, immobile joints

1- single joint involves in an elderly pts with a hx of arthritis, and there is effusion present.
2-young pt has multiple joints invlved. there are petechiae, rash, and tenosynovitis present. there is pain on moving the fingers and toes.

1-Septic athritis from staph or strp presents with involvement of a single joint. Most often the pt has a hx of underlying joint abnormality such as arthritis. the more deformed the joint is the more likely the pt to have septic arthritis. most accurate test is aspiration of the joint for cell count and culture.
2-disseminated gonorrhea presents with polyarthritis, tenosynovitis and petechia, the most accurate method of establishing a dx is to culture the joint as well as the urethra, cervix pharynx, rectum and blood.

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diagnostics



skin scraping mineral oil mount is used to aid in the diagnosis of scabies. mineral oil is applied over suspected lesion to enhance the viewing of a burrow. The skin is scraped and viewed under a microscope. The skin cells remain intact, mite feces are preserved, and the mites remain motile and alive in mineral oil.

look for pt with itchy pruritic rash
visible particularly in the web spaces of hands and feet. there may also be a hx of sexual contact and genital or breast involvement as well.

A KOH wet mount is prepared from the skin scrapings and the slide is heated, breaking up the tissue to reveal any mites hiding under a lump of squamous cells.

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patch testing is used to determine the allergen responsible for allergic dermatitis after conservative measures like removing the supposed offending agent and a trial of topical therapy fail.

patch testing isn't useful for irritant contact dermatitis because irritant dermatitis is not an immunologically mediated response.

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wood's light examination used a YV light to diagnose certain skin infections caused by yeast, bacteria, or dermatophytes. it is also used to detect pigment changes in the skin. for instance it detects loss of pigment in fair skin individuals affected with a depigmentation disorder such as vitiligo
the following organisms fluoresce

pityrosporum ovale will fluoresce yellow
corynebacterium minutissimum will fluoresce bright red.

microsporum canis will fluoresce blue/green like this you get the pic
in the scalp but not on glabrous (no hair) skin
in the U.S tinea capitis is most commonly caused by Trichophyton tonsurans which doesn't fluoresce under wood's light..

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these are CT scans of the head without contrast for the latter two.
they show intracranial hemorrhage., one with epidural hematoma, the last with a subdural hematoma. the epidural is from an arterial bleed and has higher pressure and more readily pushed in the brain, the blood forms in the shape of a lens. the subdural if a form of venous bleed that forms the shape of a crescent .
CT is always the best initial test for the brain, especially in trauma when looking for blood. the cr is always best for a stroke in which we are looking for blood.
in head trauma and intracranial bleeding such as subdural and epidural hematoma, there is no test more accurate than head ct scan.
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this is an MRI. it is the most accurate test for MS, strokes, lesions in the brain stem and cerebellum.
the more accurate test than an MRI for a mass lesion is a brain biopsy.

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pharm

54 year old woman comes to the office for eval of sudden overwhelming urge to urinate and pain in her bladder. this happens frequently and results in incontinence. she failed behavior modification for this problem

the best therapies for overactive bladder or 'urge' incontinence is tolterodine, oxybutynin, trospium, darifenacin or solifenacin.
These meds are muscarinic receptor antagonists and have significant antichoolinergic effect.
they are associated with dry mouth, dry eyes and constipation, secondary to their anticholinergic effects.

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Varenicline ** ask your doc if this is right for you, if you are a smoker
is a therapy for smoking cessation. it is an adjunct therapy to behavioral modifications, nicotine replacement, and bupropion. It is most useful in people who have signs of nicotine withdrawal. it has greater efficacy than nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches, gum and bupropion.
Varenicline is a nicotinic ACH receptor partial agonist. It blocked nicotine from binding..

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bupropion
is an antidepressant that can also be used to help with smoking cessation.
bupropion inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine. it is an aromatic aminoketone that has amphetamine like qualities.
bupropion can cause HTN, insomnia and seizures but does not have adverse side effects like SSRIs and is contraindicated for ppl with eating disorders because it can suppress appetite. it is also contraindicated for those with a seizure disorder and those using MAO inhibitors.

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Thrombin inhibitors

Argatroban
Lepirudin
Hirudin
Bivaliridun

direct thrombin inhibitors are used as anticoagulants for pts with clots who have developed heparin induced thrombocytopena and can no longer use haprin. in a pt with heparin drip whose platelet count dropped by half. may also describe a clot or a positive test for plt factor four therefore Argatroban and Lepirudin are the best initial therapy. Bivalirudin and Hirudin can also be used for acute coronary syndromes.
these meds directly inhibit thrombin
common adverse effect is bleeding
they are monitored by checking the activated aPTT.

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32 year old man is admitted with his third painful crisis from Homozygous SCD. his crisis has resolved on discharge
Hydroxyrea is used to decrease the frequency of painful sickle cell crisis. However, hydroxurea does not terminate in an acute crisis.

hydroxurea increases the level of fetal hemoglobin, preventing subsequent crisis. it also increases the amount of water in the red cells preventing sickling.
Hydroxurea causes myelosuppression and leukemia with long term use.
Hydroxyurea is also used to lower cell counts in essential thrombocytopenia and polycythemia vera.
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pharm heme
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Angrelide

is a platelet reducing agent.
angarelide is a phospohdiesterase inhibitor

Anagrelide has a single indication as the rx of thrombocytosis. secondary to myeloproliferative disorders. while anagrelide is used to lower the pt count in essential thromocyteopenia (ET) phone home , chronic myelogenous leukemia (SML) and polycythemia vera. it isn't as effective as hydroxyurea for ET and not as effective as imatinib for CML.

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1- a 24 year old woman comes in with epistaxis and petechiae. the plt count is 27,000. she is generally healthy, and her spleen is normal size.
2-a 45 year old man comes i with melena and intracranial bleeding . his plt count is 8000. his bone marrow shows increased megakaryocytes. He has antibodies present against glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor.

the pt has idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) she is generally a healthy person with only low plt. there is no splenomegaly. treat with steroids. If the thrombocytopenia is repeatedly recurrent aftet stopping steroids, a splenectomy should be performed.
2-life threatening bleeding with ITP is treated with IVIG or rhogam in combination with steroids. The fastest way to bring up the plt count is with IVIG. this rx is faster than plt transfusion in which the plts will be consumes.. Plasmapheresis isn't helpful.

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plasmapheresis
is the best initial therapy for the following

Guillain Barre syndrome. equal in efficacy as IVIG
Goodpasture's syndrome, in combo with steroids
Myasthenia gravis crisis in which there is an overwhelming svere muscle weakness. IVIG can be used in this case as well
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura TTP
waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. used to dec hyper viscosity from the high levels of IgM

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22 year old man comes to the office for increased bleeding after using asa. he has some petechiae on his legs, bleeding time is prolonged. the ristocetin cofactor assay test is abnormal. He is about to undergo a tooth extraction

Desmopressin DDAVP is the best initial therapy for von willebrand's dz. desmopressin is an artificial version of ADH or vasopressin.
Desmopressin works by causing the release of subendothelial stores of von willebrand's factor VIII

Desmopressin can lead to HTN, facial flushing, and headache. Desmopressin can also be used for mild hemophilia and with central diabetes insipidus.

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a woman with factor V leiden mutation develops a PE. she is hemodynamically stable

2- man with rate conteolled Afib is stable at home, he is 68 with dilated left atrium on echo.

1- PE are best treated with heparin; IV-unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparin have equal efficacy. warfarin should also be started and heparin continued until warfarin is in therapeutic range.
2- warfarin is continued for 6 months. the duration of therapy doesn't change because of the presence of factor V mutation with the first episode of clot.
IV heparin is monitored with the activated aPTT. LMW heparin is occasionally monitored with factor xa levels

case II

chronic afib is anticoagulated with warfarin to an internatioalized normalized ratio INR of 2-3, there is no need to start heparin before starting warfarin.
warfarin is continued permanently.
warfarin is monitored with INR.

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45 year old male GI has afib. he has a heart rate of 60-80 bpm, no htn, dm, previous strokes.. the echo is normal.

afib can be rx with asa alone. this is a long afib asa alone for alone afib. the pt is without accompanying risks, such as dm, htn, previous stokes. and has a normal echo. low risk pts would have al the bleeding risks of the drug without the therapeutic benefit.

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A pregnant woman develops PE in her 2nd trimester

thromboembolic dz during pregnancy is treated with heparin throughout the pregnancy. because of the possibility of teratogenicity with warfarin. LMW heparin can be administered safely by subcutaneous injections.
heparin works by potentiating the effect of antithrombin on the clotting cascade.

Besides bleeding, heparin is associated with thrombocytopena, long term use can be associated with osteoporosis

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43 year old man comes to the hosp. w back, thigh, and chest pain and weakness, he has a temp of 102F. he has enamia and an elevated bilirubin, LDH, and retic count. fluids, pain meds and o2 have been started,

this pt has sickle cell dz with an acute painful crisis. He is febrile. the most important med for is at this time is antibiotics. Ceftriaxone, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin or moxifloxacin are all appropriate to cover encapsulated organisms such as strep pneumo, klebsiella, salmonella, or hemophilus.

fever in sickle cell pt is life threatening, because the pt is functionally asplenic. do not wait for results. pt will die of sepsis before the results are known.
admin of antibiotics for fever lowers mortality as well hydroxyurea to prevent crisis.

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Anti-Ach-R antibodies
Myasthenia gravis is characterized by anti ACH receptor antibodies. that are made when autoimmune dz causes antibodies that bind to postsynaptic ach receptors: there is no neuromuscular transmission if there is no receptor on the muscle because it has been eaten away by an antibody.

Anti-Ach-R antibodies are the best test to dx Myasthenia gravis. they are more accurate than tensilon or edrophonium testing.
single fiber electromyography EMG is the most sensitive diagnostic test for MG.

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carotid doppler is a sonographic eval of the carotid arteries that allows a precise quantification of the degree of stenosis of these vessels. it is used to see whether a pt needs a carotid endarterectomy or angioplasty.
carotid doppler is used on pts who present with signs of ischemia in the anterior circulation of the brain, such as amaurosis fugax of focal extremity weakness. it is the initial test to determine the etiology of embolic strokes or TIAs

the most accurate test for carotid arteries is the angiogram.

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cervical spine x ray

for someone diving and landing on his head or having somethin heavy land on his head. gives increased axial loading.

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ct myelogram

is to detect compression of the spinal cord from mass lesions, such as cancer and occasionally from hematoma or an infection such as epidural abscess.
a spinal needle is introduced into the subarachnoid space. the pt is hung nearly upside down in order to allow contrast material into the subarachnoid space to move and detect the lesion at the place it stops flowing. The MRI has essentially replaced the CT myelogram. though it may has an advantage in detecting leptomeningeal cancer.

MRI will always be the better answer, if you suspect cord compression.
if MRI isn't possible b/c pt can't lie still or has a metal pacemaker and the magnet of the MRI would be dangerous to such a patient.

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Edrophonium tensilon test

is a very sensitive test for MG. Edrophonium chloride is an ACH esterase inhibitor with rapid onset and short duration of axn. it prolongs the presence of ach in the neuromuscular junction and results in an immediate increae in muscle strength
elecromypgraphy is the single most accurate test to confirm the dx of MG
thymomas are associated with the dx of MG 10% of the time.

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EEG

is the measurement of brain wave patterns by putting electrodes on the scalp.
done in pt with new onset of seizure, also elpful in pts with sudden onset syncope if there is no cardiac etiology identified.

EEG maybe contributory in the dx of Creutzfeldt-Jakob dz. but is isn't as good as a brain biopsy. EEG doesn't necessary determine brain death if the brains tem reflexes are clearly absent.

Sleep deprivation EEG has the greatest sensitivity.. this is the answer is the pt has been seizure free for 2-3 yrs and you want to stop anti epileptic meds.

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EMG


is a test of muscular strength and electrical activity. EMG's are used to dx neuromuscular dz. to distinguish between neural and muscular disorders.
Needle is places in the muscle. The electrical activity during rest and activity is compared. An abnormal pattern or amplitude tells there is dz.
an EMG in the case should make you think of MG or Guillain Barre syndrome and muscular dustrophy.
single fiber EMG is the single most accurate test for MG. combined EMG and nerve conduction velocity testing is the single most accurate test for GBS. EMG combined with muscle biopsy are the most accurate tests for polymyositis.
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Lumbar puncture


is insertion of a spinal needle into the subarachnoid space to aspirate CSF fluid.
for the following
suspected meningeal infxn
pt with worst headache of her life, whom CT is negative to exclude subarachnoid hemorrhage.
new onset seizures with fever
any infant less than 6 weeks old with fever if other studies are negative,
LP's are contraindicated for mass lesion. do use a head CT before LP when there are focal findings, papilledema, or a new seizure, or when pt is confused as to make the neurological exam inaccurate.

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oligoclonal bands



detection of elevated bands of igG (oligoclonal bands) in the csf is possible in a pt presenting with signs and sx of MS. the presence of these bands isn't specific.

look for a young pt with weakness, numbness, unsteady gait, spastic paraparesis, diplopia, or sphincter disturbances (urinary urgency_ exxamining the CSF for oligoclonal bands is recommended only when MRI is nonconfirmatory but your clinical suspicion for MS remains high.

MRI of the brain is the most accurate test to dx MS wit a sensitivity of 90-95%

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

Infectious disease
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a pt comes to the hospital with fever and a murmur

1- 67 year old woman with four months of fever and fatigue. she has an HX of MR
2-a 27 year old injection drug user, the murmur is best at the lower left sternal border.
3- A man whose aortic valve was replaced three weeks ago
4-a pt who was recently diagnosed with diverticulitis and colon cancer.

Virdians group streptococci is the most important organism in subacute bacterial endocarditis. They occur most often in those with underlying valvular disease.
2-staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of endocarditis in the injection drug user. this is often MRSA as well Oxacillin resistant. injection drug users often have involvement of the right side of the heart such as the tricuspid.
3-Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase negative staphylococci are the most common cause of endocarditis when a heart valve has been replaced. This is presumably from seeding of the valve during surgery.

4-Staphylococcus bovis is most often associated with endocarditis in those with evidence of colonic pathology.

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an HIV positive man with 25 CD4 cells comes in for blurry vision x a few days. He is not on any HIV meds

CMV retinitis occurs exclusively in pts with CD4 counts under 100. CMV presents with blurry vision.
2-Dilated ophthalmologic examination is the best initial method of diagnosing CMV retinitis. It is basically diagnosed on how it looks. CMV antibody testing in the blood has no value. It is a clinical dx based on direct retinal visualization.

Ganciclovir, foscarnet or valganciclovir is the standard of care in rx.
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pt is admitted to the ICU because of severe metabolic acidosis. The serum bicarbonate is low at 14. the pt is disoriented and can't offer an adequate hx. no records are available.

1- fever, hypotension, tachycardia, and an elevated white count
2- hyperglycemia and hyperkalemia
3-oxalate crystals in the urine with a low serum calcium
4-elevated CR.
5-Normal anion gap

fever, hypotension, leukocytosis, and tachycardia imply the presence of sepsis as a cause of metabolic acidosis. The first step in evaluation of an metabolic acidosis is the eval of the anion gap. An anion gap (na+ minus Cl- and Hco3-) that is >12 is consistent with lactic acidosis, salicylate OD, Methanol, uremia, diabetic ketoacidosis, and ethylene glycol OD.
2-Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) gives hyperglycemia and hyperkalemia, although the total body levels of potassium are depleted.
3-Ethylene Glycol OD results in oxalate crystals in the urine. The formation of calcium oxalate crystals lowers the calcium level. look for the term envelop shapes crystals
4-Renal failure causes metabolic acidosis because of the kidneys inability to excrete acid.
5-normal anion gap implies either RTA or diarrhea, the urine anion gap is positive. With diarrhea, the urine anion gap is strongly negative. The lower the urone anion gap number, the greater the kidney's ability to excrete acid.

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A man is admitted to the hospital with renal failure developing over a few days
his cr has risen from 0.8mg/dl to 2.5 mg/dl. His bun has risen even more, going from 15 to 54. his serum bicarbonate is slightly low. the urine sodium is low and the urine osmolality is high..

Blood pressure 92/56 and pulse is 124.
2-serum albumin is 2.2 and the PT is elevated. there is splenomegaly
3-Ha has an ejection fraction of 24% with edema. a diuretic was recently started.
4-a bruit is present at the flanks and he has just started an ACE inhibitor.


will take care of the rest of this tomorrow insha'Allah.. am feeling a bit tired today..

picking up where we left off

A man is admitted to the hospital with renal failure developing over a few days
his cr has risen from 0.8mg/dl to 2.5 mg/dl. His bun has risen even more, going from 15 to 54. his serum bicarbonate is slightly low. the urine sodium is low and the urine osmolality is high..

1-Blood pressure 92/56 and pulse is 124.
2-serum albumin is 2.2 and the PT is elevated. there is splenomegaly
3-Ha has an ejection fraction of 24% with edema. a diuretic was recently started.
4-a bruit is present at the flanks and he has just started an ACE inhibitor.



1- pre-renal azoremia from any cause leads to an elevation of the BUN and CR, wit the BUN rising more than the CR in a ratio greater than 15:1. The tachycardia and hypotension in the first case suggest hypovolemia or any other form of chock. FeNa <1% also indicated a pre-renal etiology.

2- low oncotic pressure for any reason results in pre-renal azotemia because of decreased renal perfusion. In addition, liver dz such as cirrhosis can lead to hepatorenal syndrome, which is renal failure entirely based on liver failure.
3-CHF from any cause leads to rpe-renal azotemia. It can become suddenly worse with the volume depletion from a diuretic. pre-renal azotemia leads to low urine sodium and high urine osmolality
4- Renal artery stenosis is associated with decreased renal perfusion. ACE inhibitors can precipitate acute renal failure. Think about fibromuscular dysplasia in a young woman.

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pt with worsening renal function over the past few days. His cr is 3.5md/dL and the BUN is 28 units. The urine Sodium is 45meg/L and the urine osmolality is 290 mosm/L. His serum bicarbonate is low.

1- pt has been on gentamicin for last 8 days
2-he was on pipercillin for a few days. but stopped yesterday. He has fever and rash and there are eosinophils in his urine.
3-Chemotherapy for lymphoma was started 2 days ago
4- there is an empty bottle of anti-freeze by his bedside..

1-aminoglycoside induced RF generally occurs after 5-10 days of exposure to the medication. As with all forms of acute tubular necrosis, the BUN and CR will rise in about 10:1 ratio.
the urine sodium will be high (>40) and the urine osmolality will be low (<350) because of the inability of the damaged kidney tubules to concentrate urine . Amphotercin and any other renal toxic meds will result in the same numbers.
2- Allergic interstitial nephritis presents with fever, rash and eosinophils in the urine. The presence of esosinophils in the urine is more frequently than in the blood.
3- Hyperuricemia from tumor lysis syndrome will lead to acute RF
4-Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, which leads to acute RF from oxalic acid accumulation in the kidney tubule. Look for 'envelope shaped oxalate crystals' in the urine. Formic acid accumulates with methanol ingestion and causes blindness.
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a man comes to the ER dept after sustaining a prolonged seizure. He has dark urine which is strongly positive on the dipstick for blood but in which no red cells are seen on microscopic exam. His serum bicarb level is low.

Rhabomyolysis presents after crush injury or severe exertion of any kind with dark urine in the absence of visible red cells. This is indicative of urine myoglobin. Rhbdomyolysis leads to metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia and eventually renal failure.
2- Urine myoglobin is the most specific diagnostic test for rhbadomyolysis. The potassium level and EKG are probably the most urgent diagnostic steps because they determine who is most likely to die. the CPK level will be significantly elevated. admin of IV fluids and alkalinazation of the urine are important. an elevated CPK is not specific ofor indicating the cause of renal failure.
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pt with confusion. His sodium is at a low 122 mEq/L he has no edema, clear lungs, and no JVD. There is no orthostasis.

1- pt has lung ca with mets to brain. Urine Sodium is 70 (high) and urine osmolarity is 450 high.
2-the pt is bipolar, with frequent urination all day and less at night. urine sodium is 10 low and urine osmolarity is 75 low.
3- the pt has diabetes with a glucose level of 850 (NL 80-110)
here are some lab values for reference

Albumin 3.2 - 5 g/dl
Alkaline phosphatase (Adults: 25-60) 33 - 131 IU/L
Adults > 61 yo: 51 - 153 IU/L
Ammonia 20 - 70 mcg/dl
Bilirubin, direct 0 - 0.3 mg/dl
Bilirubin, total 0.1 - 1.2 mg/dl
Blood Gases

Arterial Venous
pH 7.35 - 7.45 7.32 - 7.42
pCO2 35 - 45 38 - 52
pO2 70 - 100 28 - 48
HCO3 19 - 25 19 - 25
O2 Sat % 90 - 95 40 - 70
BUN 7 - 20 mg/dl
Complete blood count (CBC) Adults

Male
Female

Hemoglobin (g/dl) 13.5 - 16.5 12.0 - 15.0
Hematocrit (%) 41 - 50 36 - 44
RBC's ( x 106 /ml) 4.5 - 5.5
4.0 - 4.9

RDW (RBC distribution width) < 14.5
MCV 80 - 100
MCH 26 - 34
MCHC % 31 - 37
Platelet count 100,000 to 450,000
Creatinine kinase (CK) isoenzymes
CK-BB 0%
CK-MB (cardiac) 0 - 3.9%
CK-MM 96 - 100%
Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) 8 - 150 IU/L
Creatinine (mg/dl) 0.5 - 1.4
Electrolytes

Calcium 8.8 - 10.3 mg/dL
Calcium, ionized 2.24 - 2.46 meq/L
Chloride 95 - 107 mEq/L
Magnesium 1.6 - 2.4 mEq/L
Phosphate 2.5 - 4.5 mg/dL
Potassium 3.5 - 5.2 mEq/L
Sodium 135 - 147 mEq/L
Ferritin (ng/ml) 13 - 300
Folate (ng/dl) 3.6 - 20
Glucose, fasting (mg/dl) 60 - 110
Glucose (2 hours postprandial) (mg/dl) Up to 140
Hemoglobin A1c 6-8
Iron (mcg/dl) 65 - 150
Lactic acid (meq/L) 0.7 - 2.1
LDH (lactic dehydrogenase) 56 - 194 IU/L
Lipoproteins and triglycerides

Cholesterol, total < 200 mg/dl
HDL cholesterol 30 - 70 mg/dl
LDL cholesterol 65 - 180 mg/dl
Triglycerides 45 - 155 mg/dl (< 160)
Osmolality 289 - 308 mOsm/kg
SGOT (AST) < 35 IU/L (20-48)
SGPT (ALT) <35 IU/L
Thyroid Function tests

Free T3 2.3-4.2 pg/ml
Serum T3 70-200 ng/dl
Free T4 0.5-2.1 ng/dl
Serum T4 4.0-12.0 mcg/dl
TSH 0.25-4.30 microunits/ml
Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) 250 - 420 mcg/dl
Transferrin > 200 mg/dl
Uric acid (male) 2.0 - 8.0 mg/dl
(female) 2.0 - 7.5 mg/dl
WBC + differential

WBC (cells/ml) 4,500 - 10,000
Segmented neutrophils 54 - 62%
Band forms 3 - 5% (above 8% indicates left shift)
Basophils 0 - 1 (0 - 0.75%)
Eosinophils 0 - 3 (1 - 3%)
lymphocytes 24 - 44 (25 - 33%)
Monocytes 3 - 6 (3 - 7%)
Laboratory test
Values if prerenal cause of acute renal failure
Values if intrarenal cause of acute renal failure

FENa, percent*
<1
>1

BUN to creatinine ratio
>20:1
10 to 20:1

Urine specific gravity
>1.020
1.010 to 1.020

Urine osmolality, mOsm per kg
>500
300 to 500

Urine sodium concentration, mEq per L (mmol per L)
<10 (10)
>20 (20)

Urine sediment
Hyaline casts
Granular casts

FENa = fractional excretion of sodium; BUN = blood urea nitrogen.

*-FENa is calculated as follows:

FENa =
Urine sodium ÷ plasma sodium X 100

http://www.globalrph.com/labs.htm

SIADH is caused by an abnormality of the brain or the lungs. This can be a cancer, infarction or infection. SIADH is associated with an inappropriately high urine sodium and osmolarity. The normal response to a low serum sodium should be a low urine sodium and low urine osmolarity. SIADH is a case of euvolemic hyponatremia. Free water restriction is the treatment .

2-psycogenic polydipsia is associated with bipolar disorder. there is a normal urinary response to hyponatremia. The normal response is low urine sodium and osmolality. decrease in sx at night is the key to the dx. when he goes to sleep he stops drinking, so he stops urinating.
3- pseudohyponatremia is from an elavted glucose for any reason. For every increase in glucose of 100 above normal there is a 1.6pt decrease in sodium.

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on with nephrology
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on routine screening, a pt is found to have low sodium of 127. He has no SX of the hyponatremia, and the neurologic exam is normal

1- pt has CHF with peripheral edema
2-he has 7g of protein every 24hrs and the serum albumin is 2.4 (normal is 3.5-5.5)
3- the potassium level is elevated at 6.2mEq/L (normal (3.5-5.2) and there is mild metabolic acidosis

1- CHF results in hyponatremia because of a decreased intravscular volume. The same effect occurs in cirrhotic pts. This is an appropriate increase in ADH because of decreased intravascular volume.

2-Nephrotic Syndrome results in hyponatremia because of a decrease in intravascular volume from low oncotic pressure. Nephrotic syndrome here is the most likely DX because of the low serum albumin levels as well as the marked increase in protein in the urine.

3-Addison's disease or hypoadrenalism of any cause results in hyponatremia. the loss of aldosterone results in th urinary loss of sodium and the retention of both potassium and hydrogen ions.

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a pt with severe hypernatremia is admitted to the ICU for confusion, there is polyuria despite increase in serum sodium. The pt is dehydrated.

1- the urine volume markedly decreases in response to the admin of vasopressin
2- there is no response to the adminstration of vasopressin. The urine volume remains high and the urine osmolality remains low.
3- the pt has diabetes and the glucose level is markedly elevated, but the serum bicarbonate is normal


1- Central diabetes inspidus is an insufficiency of antiduiuretic hormone ADH due to damage to either hypthalamus or posterior pituitary. There is a marked response in urine volume to the administration of vasopressin

2- with nehrogenic diabetes inspidus, there is no response to the admin of ADH. NDI is often from hypokalemia or hypercalcemia. There may a HX of lithium admin

3-Nephrotic hyperosmolar coma results in severe hypernatremia when there is a marked osmotic diuresis from hyperglycemia.

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A patient is seen because of Muscular weakness. There is also an elevated serum bicarbonate of 30. The potassium level is decreased at 2.9

1-vomiting is severe
2-the pt is on a loop diuretic because of CHF


vomiting from any cause can cause hypokalemia. This is because the metabolic alkalosis from vomiting causes a transcellular shift of potassium intracellularly. This is also because the loss of chloride from the stomach leads to an increase in bicarbonate resorption from the kidney. This state is hypochloremic hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis.

2- Diuretics cause hypokalemia because the volume depeltion leads to increased aldosterone secretion. All volume contractions lead to metabolic alkalosis by this mechanism. All cases of hypokalemia result in Muscular weakness.

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A man has mild proteinurea found on routine urinalysis

1- he is a healthy athlete undergoing intensive physical training.
2-he is a waiter. when split 24 hour urine is measure, the morning urine has no protein but the afternoon urine shows trace proteinuria
3-He is generally healthy and the repeat urinalysis shows no protein

Mild proteinuria can be found in healthy young athletes undergoing physical training. this is a benign finding and needs no further testing.

2-orthostatic proteinuria can occur in those who stand up all day long. when urine is split into morning and evening protein measurement. there is more in the first 8 hrs of the day. this is benign

3-between 1 and 10% of the population can have transient mild proteinuria. if protein is not found on repeat testing it needs no further follow up. if it persists, a 24 hour urine measurement of protein/ creatinine ratio is performed. Only if the proteinuria is persistent or the ratio is elevated should a renal biopsy be performed.

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a woman is in your clinic because of edema developing over months. she has a normal echo. her urinalysis shows 4+ protein and the spot protein/creatinine ratio is 7:1. triglycerides are elevated.

1- there is a hx of diabetes and htn. the eyes show background retinopathy.
2-she has been an injection drug user of heroin in the past.
3-she was recently diagnoses with lymphoma

Nephrogenic syndrome is a combination of edema, a 24 hr urine protein greater than 3.5g and hyperlipidemia. A spot protein/creatinine ratio greater than 3.5 is the same as a 24 hour urine protein. Diabetes and HTN are the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome. A ratio of protein to creatinine is equal of the amount found on a 24 hr urine.

2- injection drug use and heroin both cause focal segmental glomrulonephritis. HIV is also associated with focal/segmental disease.

3-the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome is a primary disease limited to the kidney is membranous glomerulonephritis. Membranous glomerulonephritis is also associated with cancer such as lymphoma.

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A man comes to see you because of persistent hematuria. The urinalysis shows red-cell casts and a 1+ proteinuria. The urine sodium is low.

1- the pt is asian with recent viral infxn. there are no systemic manifestations.

2- he has had lifelong eye probs and ear probs with deafness.
3- he had pharyngitis a week ago and has periorbital edema
4-he has multiple systemic probs such as petechiae, joint pain, abdominal pain, and GI bleeding. There is neuropathy and lung involvement.

1- IgA nephropathy, or Bergers disease presents as isolated hematuria at the same time as a viral illness. It is more common in Asians. and is the most common cause of acute glomerulonephritis.

2- Alport's syndrome presents with glomerulonephritis in association with eye and ear probs. Such as deafness. All forms of glomerulonephritis give red cell casts and mild proteinuria.

3- poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis leads to tea or cola colored urine which is proteinuria and hematuria. perorbital edema is characteristic. The blood will show anti-streptolysin O antibodies as a sign of strep infection,

4-Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) presents as a systemic vascuilitis with skin, joint, GI, CNS and neurologic probs. PAN spares the lung.

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a pt is in your office for evaluation of blood in his urine x a few days

1- he has burning on urination and must urinate frequently
2- he also has pain going from his sides to his groin. the pain is extremely severe.
3- Red cell casts and protein are found in the urine as well. urine sodium is low.
4- has recently undergone chemo

1- Urinary tract infxn of any kind such as cystitis or pyelonephritis, can lead to hematuria. Definitive diagnosis on the location of the pain described in the question. urinalysis and urine culture should still be obtained.
2-Nephrolithiasis, or kidney stones, present with severe flank pain radiating to the groin, also known as renal colic.
3-Glomerulonephritis of any kind can present with hematuria. when red cell casts. red cells and mild proteinuria are present the most likel diagnosis is glomerulonephritis. the urine sodium is low because of vasoconstriction of te afferent arterial, which is present in all forms of glomerulonephritis.
4- cyclophosphamide leads to hemorrhagic cystitis.

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a pt comes with hematuria, joint pains and purpuric skin lesions. urinalysis reveals red cells, red cell casts, and mild proteinuria. the spot protein ratio is 1.2

1- hx of hep c and an IgM present in the blood
2- a child with abdominal pain

Cryoglobulinemia is most often associated with chronic hep c. Cryoglobulinemia leads to renal dysfunction. skin lesions and joint pains. Neuropathy is common, both Cryoglobulinemia and cold agglutin disease are from IgM antibodies in blood. Cold agglutinin disease however, leads to hemolysis, not renal dysfunction, an is associated with mycoplasma

3-Henoch-Schönlein purpura, is the most likely dx when the pt is an adolescent or a child. presenting with GI sx in a combination with renal, joint and skin findings. Palpable purpura of the lower extremities is key. The most accurate test is a skin biopsy with IgA deposited in the skin, but routine biopsy is not necessary.

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a 27 year old woman comes because of hematuria and flank pain as well left lower quadrant abdominal pain with diverticuli found on colonoscopy. Auscultation shows a mid systolic click. There are cysts found on the ovary as well as the liver

polycystic kidney disease presents with hematuria and can present with kidney stones that occur with increased frequency. In addition to kidney disease, there are also cysts of the liver and ovary with diverticulosis, mitral valve prolpase, and aneurysmal disease in the circle of willis.

The most common cause of death from kidney disease is renal failure. renal failure occurs from chronic repeated infections such as pyelonephritis. in addition there are recurrent kidney stones secondary to significant anatomic abnromalities. Aneurysms rupture is not the most common cause of death in polycystic kidney disease.

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a patient comes in with sudden onset of flank pain and hematuria
1- there is a hx of sickle cell disease. the patient has taken extra doses of multiple pain meds, including NSAIDS. there is some necrotic material in the urine.
2-the pain radiates to the groin in an otherwise healthy person.

1-papillary necrosis occurs in pts who have underlying kidney disease such as sickle cell disease or chronic pyelonephritis. The presentation is similar to nephrolithiasis in that there is sudden flank pain and hematurua. However, it often occurs from the use of extra NSAID medications and is associated with necrotic material in the urine. The most accurate test is a CT scan. There is no specific therapy.

2-Nephrolithiasis presents with sudden flank pain radiating to the groin. the most accurate test is a spital CT scan. kidney stones do not need contrast material to be visible on x rays of the abdomen have poor sensitivity. the IVP is always wrong, it is slow and associated with potential for renal insufficiency and allergy from contrast.

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Man comes to the office, and is found to have casts in his urinalysis.
1- white cell casts
2-red cell casts
3-eosinophil casts
4-hyaline casts
5-muddy brown or granular casts

pyelonephritis is associated with white cell casts, if they are there , they are specific for the disease, generally, casts ass little to help the diagnosis, which is usually obvious in the presence of fever and dysuria, and flanl pain and tenderness.

2- red cell casts are specific to glomerulonephritis.

3- Eosinophil casts are specific to allergic interstitial nephritis. they are not present as often as individual eosinophils.
4-Hyaline casts are found on dehydration or any other form of pre-renal azotemia. They are the accumulation of normal protein which sludges because of decreased renal flow.
5-granular or muddy brown cast are found in acute tubular necrosis, the 'granules' are sloughed off, necrotic epithelial cells from the kidney tubules..
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Neurology

a pt comes to the office for evaluation of headache
1- woman with unilateral headache that is throbbing at the time of menses. she is nauseated and sees bright flashes of light. Light hurts her eyes and sounds are painful.
2- bilateral squeezing pain like a belt tied around her head
3- a man with unilateral tearing and redness and nasal stuffiness, there are several short headaches..

1- migraine headaches are common, but not always unilateral with autonomic probs such as nausea and vomiting. Visual problems such as bright flashing lights, zigzags of lights or visual field defects occur. there may be photophobia and phonophobia, migraines can be precipitated by mensuration, physical or emotional stress or lack of sleep.

2- tension headaches are bilateral and bandlike, there are no associated neurologic probs.

3- cluster headache are ten times more common in men, there are multiple short hedaches in a limited period of time, they are very severe with redness of the eye, lacrimation, rhinorrhea and nasal stuffiness. Horner syndrome sometimes occurs...

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Man comes with severe facial pain that occured while his wife was gently stroking his face. the pain is extremely severe, started at one side of his face, and is like a nail being driven in his cheek..

trigeminal neuralgia or 'tic douloureux' is an idiopathic disorder of the fifth cranial nerve. there is sudden severe pain of the face brough on by touch, chewing or movement. the pain is lancinating and unilateral.

2- trigeminal neuralgia is treated with carbamezepine. if medical therapy is not effective, surgical resection of the nerve may be necessary.

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an elderly man is brought to the er with a sudden onset of weakness over the right side of his body, dysarthria, and loss of his right visual field. his head CT scan is normal

1- the sx began with unilateral loss of vision on the left side. All sx resolve within 6 hrs. MRI os the head is normal

2- sx persist. MRI of the head is normal in 24 hrs

TIA begin with loss of sensory and motor function that resolves in <24 hrs. All imaging studies are normal, TIAs often begin with 'Amurosis fugax" which is a transient loss of vision. The visual loss is on the contralteral side from other sensory and motor loss. this is from a carotid embolus on the same side as the visual loss.

2-stroke is a permanent neurologic loss, often from a non hemorrhagic embolic or thrombotic episode of the middle cereberal artery. There is loss of motor ad sensory function on the opposite side from the lesion. This is frequently accompanied by a 'homonymous hemianopsia' which is the loss of the optic radiation of fibers through the parietal lobe. A stroke on the left eliminates the visual field on the right. pts look toward the side of the lesion.

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a man presents to the ER with severe vertigo, he is found to have hemifacial anesthesia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and sensory loss of his body on the opposite side from the hemifacial anesthesia. He is ataxic and there is Horner's syndrome present.

this is Wallenberg or lateral medullary syndrome is a stoke of the posterior inferior cerbellar artery (PICA). this results in ipsilateral facial sensory loss, contralateral body sensory loss , vertigo, atazia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and horner's syndrome.

2-MRI of the brain is the most accurate way to assess the cerebellum and brain stem. CT scanning does not effectively look at the posterior fossa or the brain stem.

__________________________________________________ ___

a pt comes in with sudden onset of weakness. the weakness is unilateral and is worse in the lower extremity compared to the arm. Sensory loss is also present that is worse in the leg, he is confused and there is urinary incontinence.

Anterior cerebral artery stroke presents with unilateral loss of motor and sensory function. These sx are worse in the lower extremity compared to the upper extremity. There is also confusion and urinary incontinence.

MRI of the brain is the msot accurate method of determining the presense of a stroke. Echo and carotis doppler studies are used to determine the etiology of the origin of the stroke, specifically looking for evidence of vegetation or intra cardiac thrombus.

_______________________>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>___________ ___

Neurology
____

A man comes to the ER with sudden, extremely severe headache, the first such episode he has ever had

1- there is photphobia and neck stiffness, fever, and a loss of consciousness from which he recovers.

2- he has unilateral loss of vision which persists.

1- subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) results in a sudden severe headache with meningeal signs such as nuchal rigidity, fever and photphobia. The two key features is the most likely dx would be the loss of consciousness in 50% of ts. CT scan without contrast is 95% sensitive in detection of SAH. Lumbar puncture will detect the rest, showing blood and/or xanthochromia the yellow appearance of cerebrospinal fluid (which envelops the brain) (this headache is described as a thunderclap headache)

2- temporal arteritis leads to severe unilateral headache associated with loss of vision as well as tenderness of the scalp and the artery. The answer is always to give steroids rather than wait for a temporal artery biopsy, there maybe Jaw claudication and onset is in the elderly.
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a woman comes in with severe back pain
1- hx of cancer, spine tenderness, hyperreflexia, urinary incontinence, los of sensation in the lower extremities.
2-no tenderness and no focal neurologic defecits.
3- spinal tenderness, leukocytosis, and fever.

1- Spinal cord compression from metastatic disease is thought to be present when back pain is accompanied by tenderness, hyperreflexia, sensory loss below the level of the comrpession, and sometimes urinary or fecal incontinence, steroids are critical to prevent worsening sx.
2- low back pain or lumbosacral strain has no accompanying focal neurologic probs. the straight leg raise may elicit pain suggesting disc herniation. This doesn't chanfe the answer for initial management, which is to give analgesics and not perform routine imagine testing. Do not advise of bed rest.
3-Spinal epidural abscess is the answer when there is fever, leukocytosis, and spinal tenderness. Imaging such as an MRI should be performed if there is spine tenderness. which suggests compressive mass.
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a child is brought for eval of mental subnormality and seizures

1- there is a port wine stain on the face and leptomeningeal angiomas.
2-facial adenoma sebaceum, renal lesions, and 'Shagreen patches' are present, with leathery plaques of subepidermal fibrosis, usually situated on the trunk. retinal hamratomas are present, pale hypopigmented 'ash-leaf' patches are present.

1- Sturge-weber syndrome presents with seizures and mental subnormality in association with port wine stain and leptomeningeal angiomas.



2-Tuberous sclerosis gives hamartomas of the retina in association with ash leaf hypopigmented areas. there are also lesions of the heart and kidneys. Adenoma sebaceum is reddened nodules on the face.



_________________________

a pt comes in with loss of pain and temp sensation of the lower extremities
1- the loss of pain and temp is bilateral, there is also loss of bilateral motor function. There is striking sparing of position and vibratory sensation bilaterally.
2-a knife wound is sustained to the back. the loss of pain and temp is on the opposite side from the injury. there is loss of position and vibratory sensation of the same side as the injury

1- Anterior spinal artery infarction results in the bilateral loss of all pain, temp and motor function below the level of the infarction. There is sticking preservation of position and vibratory sensation which has another vascular supply on the posterior portion of the spinal cord..

2-Brown Sequard syndrome is a hemisection of the spinal cord. Pain and temp are not lost on the opposite side from the lesion. Position and sense are lost on the same side as the injury.

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a pt comes in some time after being involved in a motor vehicle accident, there was spine trauma the patient has lost pain and temp sensation in a capelike distribution across the neck and down both arms. Touch, position and vibratory sensation are intact. Over time, there is motor loss below the level of the injury

1- syringomyelia presents with the loss of pain and temp in a capelike distribution across the neck and arms. There is sparing of tactile sensation, position and vibratory sense. Reflexes are lost. There maybe lower motor neuron manifestation at the lesion with upper motor neuron signs below the lesion enlarges. Syringomyelia is caused by tumor and trauma.
MRI is the most accurate test.
Surgery is the rx.
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an obese young woman comes in for an eval of severe headache and double vision. she has recently started OCP. on PE she has six cranial nerve palsy and papilledema. Head CT is normal

Pseudotumor cerebri is an idiopathic increase in intracrnial pressure that occurs more often in obese women who are using OCP or teracycline antibiotics. the key to the answer is the presence of a headache in association with diplopia, papilledema, sixth cranial nerve palsy and a normal CT.
Lumbar puncture is the most accurate diagnostic test.
treatment is with the loss of weight combined with actazolamide and diuretics. Steroids and surgical shunting are sometimes necessary.
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pt with multiple bruises on her legs. she is accompanied by her husband. whom she insists is kicking her every night. he denies this, he does say his legs are uncomfortable at night and that this discomfort is relieved by moving his legs. His legs feel 'creepy crawly'. he tries to avoid the prob by drinking cofee.

restless leg syndrome is an idiopathic disorder of discomfort in the legs at night relieved only by movement. it is worsened by restlessness and caffeine use.
Dopamine agonists such as ropinirole or pramipexole are the rx of choice.

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A man comes to office for progressive muscular weakness. the weakness is diffuse and accompanied by dysarthria and difficulty chewing and handling saliva, with a decreased gag reflex. there is spasticity, hyperreflexia, muscle wasting and fasciculations

Amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the only disease to combine uppr and low motor neuron dysfunction. Pts come with progressive motor weakness, dysarthria, dysphagia, loss of gag reflex and difficulty handling oral secretions. Only yhe motor system is affected. Upper motor findings are sasticity and hyperreflexia. Lower motor neuron findings are wasting and fasciulations. Mental function remains intact.
Death results in inability to handle oral secretions and recurrent pneumonia progressive respiratory insufficiency etc etc..
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A man comes to the ER with a seizure Head CT scan shows a 'ring' or contrast enhancing lesion. there is surrounding edea and modest mass effect..

1- HIV negative Pt.
2-HIV positive pt. CD 4 count is <100. the repeat CT shows a smaller lesion after two weeks of pyrumethamine and sulfadiazine
3-HIV positive pt. CD4 count is <100. the repeat CT shows the lesion is unchanged after two weeks of Pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine..

1- Ring or contrast enhancing lesions can be either neoplastic or infections. in HIV negative a brain biopsy must be preformed to confirm the dx.. there is no clear way to determine a precise histological type without a biopsy.

2- toxoplasmosis occurs in HIV positive pts with <100 CD4 cells. the response to RX wih pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine for two weeks is sufficiently specific to confirm the dx.

3- lymphoma presents as a constant contrast enhancing lesion in HIV positive pts with <100 CD4 cells. There will be no response to therapy for toxoplasmosis. A brain biopsy must be performed to confirm.

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A man comes to the office for eval of a tremor

1- the tremor is in the hands and occurs both at rest and when he is moving them. it is worse with caffeine. An alcoholic drink improves it.

2- he is an older pt. the tremor is only at rest and does not occur when he is reaching for an object.

3- there is no tremor at rest. When he reaches for something. his hands wobble considerably


1- Benign essential tremor occurs both at rest and when reaching for objects. caffeine and beta agonists make it worse. Alcohol improves the treatment. treatment with propranolol.

2- parkinsonian tremor occurs at rest and isn't present on intention such as when reaching for objects.

3- cerebellar disorders such as a stroke result in a tremor only when reaching for things. This is similar to an abnromal finger to nose test. There is no tremor at rest.

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A man is being evaluated for dementia. He has poor short term memory

1- He has parkinsonian features such as tremor, rigidity, and gait abnormalities in addition to the dementia.
2-The dementia has been rapidly progressive over several months. He has myoclonus.
3- there is gait ataxia and urinary incontinence.
4-Social inappropriateness and emotional lability preceded the loss of memory.

1-Lewy body dementia is accompanied by features of the movement disorder of parkinson's disease.
2-Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is characterized by rapidly progressive dementia and myoclonus jerks.
3-Normal pressure hydrocephalus is the triad of dementia, gair ataxia and urinary incontinence.
4-Frontotemporal dementia or pick's disease, starts with abnormalities of social appropriateness and emotional lability prior to the loss of memory. There is inappropriate anger, laughing or crying. MRI of the brain shows focal 'lobar' atrophy of the brain. Alzheimer's disease is slowely progressive loss of memory with no focal neurologic abnormalities.

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A man in his 30's is brought by his fam for cognitive abnormalities. He has developed progressively worsening emotional outbursts such as anger, depression, and paranoia. There is a profound movement disorder similar to chorea. He is now showing memory loss

Huntington's disease consists of personality changes such as emotional instability, paranoia and depression combined with a movement disorder and dementia. the disease is AD
the diagnostic test is for a specific DNA sequence abnormality consisting of CAG trinucleotide repeat sequences.
there is no therapy.
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A man is brought to the ER for weakness. the weakness begins in his feet and has progressed to bilateral severe weakness of both legs. Knee jerk and ankle reflexes are absent. He recently has an episode of gastroenteritis

Guillain Barre syndrome consists of ascending weakness that progresses from the feet upward. The weakness may involve the diaphragm, at which time the respiratory failure develops. Deep tendon reflexes are lost in an ascending fashion. There is an association of Guillain Barre after an episode of campylobacter gastroenteritis.
the diagnosis is most accurately confirmed with nerve conduction studies which sow a decrease in conduction velocity. CSF shows an elevated protein with no cells. PFT test are crucial to determine who is most likely to develop respiratory paralysis.
treatment is with IV immunoglobulins or plasmophoresis.
________________________________

an alcoholic man is brought to the er dept with confusion, agitation. on exam there is paralysis of the extraocular muscles and gait ataxia

Wernicke's encephalopathy is characterized by the development of confusion, gaze plasies, and nystagmus as well as ataxia of the gait. It is most commonly found in Alcoholic pts. It is caused by a thiamine deficiency.
rx is admin of thaimine
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72 year old man is evaluated in the office for rigidity, tremor, micrographia and hypomimia (reduced degree of facial expression)
1- orthostatic hypotension is the most significant abnormality
2- vertical gaze plasy is striking
3-Ataxia such as an abnromal heel to shin and finger to nose tests is the chief complaint.

1- Shy-drager syndrome: parkinson's disease with orthostatic hyptonsion as the main finding.
2- supranuclear palsy: vertical gaze plasy is the most important feature
3-olivopontocerebellar atrophy: Ataxia is the main feature
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A man with metastatic prostate ca. comes in for eval of pain and motor weakness of the lower extremities. There is bilateral leg weakness and sensory neuropathy. "saddle" anesthesia or loss of sensation in the perineal area is striking. Bowel and bladder abnormalities are present

cauda equina compression is a peripheral nerve injury that presents with urinary retention, saddle anesthesia and progressive leg weakness. Saddle anesthesia is numbness in the perineum, genitals, buttocks, and upper inner thigs. Urinary retention with over flow incontinence may occur. Anal sphincter tone is decreased in 60-80% of pts.

MRI is the most accurate diagnostic test. Surgical resection of the compressive lesion should be ASAP ..
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A chronic smoker comes in with an abnromal X-ray with a lesion in the superior sulcus. On PE, he has dropping of his eyelife on one side. the pupils are unequal in size (anisocoria) the pupil remains constricted in dark light. He doesn't sweat on one side of the face.

Horner's syndrome is unilateral presence of ptosis, with diminished elevation combined with anisocoria from the inability to dilate the pupil; as well as anyhydoris, which is the loss of the ability to sweat on one side. Horner's is the combination of miosis, ptosis and anyhrodsis
Horner's syndrome is from loss of sympathetic stimulation. This can be congenital or from cervical adenopathy, from carotid dissection of from a pancoast tumor or superior sulcus tumor.

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A pt comes in with weakness of the legs progressive over several months, there is loss of bladder control and abnormalities of the deep tendon reflexes. Hyperintense lesions of the white matter of the spine seen on MRI

1- the pt from the caribbean motor defects are limited to the legs. There are antibodies to HTLV-1 in the serum
2- Motor defects are present in the arms as well. She has an episode of optic neuritislast year. MRI of the brain shows lesions as well

1- Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) is from an unclear effect of HTLV-1 on the white matter of the thoracic spine. Defects of the motor and sensory system are limited to the legs. urinary abnormalities are present as well. There is no proven treatment. Resolution does not occur, and the condition is chronic and progressive. There are no ocular abnormalities in TSP.

2- Multiple sclerosis presents with multiple motor, sensory, urinart and autonomic abnormalities of the entire nervous system. Defects tend to relapse and recur. They occur in different areas over time. the most common abnormality is optic neuritis ...

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still on neurology

A man comes in with muscular weakness. the weakness makes it difficult for him to chew his food, and he has difficulty swallowing.
1- the weakness is worse at the end of the day. repetitive exercise makes it worse.

2- He has lung cancer and repetitive exercise makes it better .

3- the weakness occurred only after an infusion of gentamicin.

Myasthenia gravis with worsening weakness with repetitive exercise. There is ptosis and difficulty swallowing. The best initial test is antibodies to ACH receptors. The most accurate test is an electromyogram. Tensilon (edophonium) test confirms the DX

2- Eaton Lambert syndrome is a mysthenia like syndrome to in association with small cell lung ca. Repetitive exercise makes it better..

3- Aminoglycoside use can provoke muscle weakness by inhibiting the neuromuscular junction.

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An HIV positive man with 25 CD4 cells comes in for eval of Multiple motor, sensory and cognitive defects. MRI reveals white matter lesions in multiple places. the lesions don't enhance with contrast. There is no mass effect and no surface edema

1- progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) results in multiple white matter lesions wth no ring enhancement and no mass effect. PML is a viral infection that causes disease only for those with the most profound immunosuppression. such as AIDS with CD4 cells <50. toxoplasmosis and lymphoma both give mass effect and contrast enhancement. PML is from the polyoma virus knows as the JC virus.

2- there is no specific antiviral therapy known to be effective for the JC virus causing PML. the lesions will resolve if antiretroviral terapy is used that raises the CD4 cell count.

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A man comes to the ER because of a sensation of the room spinning around him as well as nausea. Nystagmus is present on examination.

1- changes in position of his head precipitates the vertigo. Hearing is normal and there is no tinnitus or ataxia.
2- hearing loss, tinnitus and ataxia are present.
3-Hearing loss and tinnitus are present this is the first episode.
4-There are multiple episodes of hearing loss and tinnitus in his ears.
5- there has been recent head trauma

1- benign positional vertigo is isolated vertigo brought on by changes in the position of the head, there are no other findings

2-acoustic neuroma or eight nerve tumor can have prominent ataxia in addition to hearing loss and tinnitus.
3- labrynthitis is a viral infection of the inner ear that leads to a single episode of hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo
4-Ménière's Disease presents with recurrent and persistent episodes of hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo, this is like persistent or recurrent labyrinthitis.
5- perilymph fistual occurs from head trauma resulting in anatomic damage to the inner ear. all forms of vertigo are associated with nystagmus.
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ob?gyn

a woman comes in for eval of pelvi pain that began several days before her period and continues until the menstrual flow slackens. she also has dyspareunia. Pelvic exam shows some tender nodules in the cul de sac.

endometriosis presents with pelvic pain related to the timing of mensuration. the pain begins a few days before the period and continues until the flow stops. Dyspareunia and infertilit are often associated with it.
Ultrasound or MRI can be done as the best initial test. the most accurate test is a laproscopy.
treatment for endometriosis is with combination estrogen/progesterone contraceptives. Androgens such as danazol can also be effective. GnRH agonsts such as leuprolide or nafarelin can be used to inhibit ovulation. Mild discomfort is best treated with NSAIDS.
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a primigravid woman comes to L&D because of abdominal pain she is found to have a blood pressure of 150/92 proteinuia and a headache peripheral smear shows schistocytes and fragmented cells. The AST, ALT and bilirubin are 3 times the upperr limit of normal. plt count is 87,000

HELLP syndrome.. is comprised of hemolysis, elevated liver function tests and low plts. in a woman in her second or third trimester o pregnancy. Eighty five percent of pts have HTN and proteinuria, hence it is a variant of preeclampsia. Many pts will complain of abdominal pain. Look for abnormal blood smear, elevated transminases, and thrombocytopenia.
delivering the baby is the mainstay therapy. there is no doubt that rapid delivery is the best management if the pt is >34 weeks of pregnancy. for those at earlier stages of pregnancy, steroids should be given.

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A woman comes in because of abnormal vaginal bleeding, she has not had a period for 16 weeks. there is no fetal movement or heart sounds. the uterus is considerably larger than it would be at 16 weeks of gestation. She has passed grapelike clusters of material from her vagina. Her HCG level is >40,000

Gestational trophoblastic dz or hydatidiform mole presents with abnormal uterine bleeding. Vomiting and a uterus enlarged to a size greater tha would be expected 10-16 weeks of gestation.. the HCG level is markedly elevated and there can be passage of grapelike clusters.
sonography is the most accurate test.
surgical evacuation is the best initial therapy.
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37 year old woman in her 7th month of pregnancy comes in because of vagina bleeding. she is a smoler with a HX of HTN
1- the uterus is painful and tender, there is no fetal distress noted on the monitor. abnormally increased numbers of uterine contractions are present, sonography is inconclusive.
2- the uterus is not tender or painful, there is no abnormal uterine contractions. abdominal sonography confirms the diagnosis

1- Abruptio placenta is painful, late trimester bleeding. the uterus is ender. abruption is the separation of the placenta from the uterine wall. mild abruption will have no fetal abnormalities. More severe cases will present with fetal distress. If there is no fetal distress, the patient can be managed with conservative in hospital observation. More severe cases with fetal distress requires delivery of the child. Sonography will ot confirm the dx of abruption. HTN and smoking are risk factors for abruption,

2- Placenta previa is painless later trimester bleeding. sonogram confirms the diagnosis. Do not do a digital pelvic or speculum exam for abnromal bleeding without a sonogram to exclude placenta previa. the uterus is nontender.
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a pregnant woman in her 27th week of pregnancy comes t the hospital for edema and HTN protein is present in her urine

1- blood pressure is 148/96 there is 2 g of protein in a 24 hr urine.

2- blood pressure is 162/112 and 7 g of protein are present in 24 hrs. PLT count is 85,000. she developed a seizure

preeclampsia presents with mild HTN, edema, and moderate proteinurea. plt count is normal. the management is conservative. rapid delivery is not necessary. Magnesium sulfate doesn't need to be given immediately.

2- Eclampsia is characterized by seizures, severe HTN, marked proteinuria and possibly thrombocytopenia. Rx is with Magnesium sulfate, labetolol, or hydralazine to control BP and urgent delivery of the baby. Diazepam can be used to manage seizures.

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Opthalmology

a pt comes to the ER with the sudden loss of vision in one eye. the eye isn't red, painful or tender

1- visual loss occurs 'like a curtain coming down' in from of his eyes, there are bright flashes of light.
2-pale milky retina wit a 'cherry red macula' the arteries have areas of pallor interspersed with blood in a 'boxcar' pattern
3-collections of blood are visible in the retina
4-Headache and jaw claudication on chewing
5-examination is normal. Visual loss resolves in a few hours

1- retinal detachment presents 'like a curtain coming down' with flashes and floaters. The Question may describe a hx of head trauma.
2- retinal artery occlusion gives pale retina with a cherry red macula the eye is not red or painful
3-retinal vein occlusion presents the same way as retinal artery occlusion, but acute hemorrhages are present on retinal examination .
4-Giant cell or temporal arteritis gives headache, jaw claudication and tenderness of the temporal area. occurs in pts older than 50.
5-Amurosis fugax from an embolus gives a normal physical examination. the eye is not red, painful or tender.
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A man comes to the ER dept with sudden onset of a painful red eye.
1-a pupil is nonreactive and is fixed at mid dilation. Visual acuity is decreased.
2- a discharge is present. Lymph nodes are enlarged.
3-Photophobia is present there maybe hx of sarcoidosis or Reiter's syndrome.
4-He sustained ocular trauma earlier today. he feels like 'Sand caught in his eyes'

1- Acute angle closure glaucoma gives a painful tender, hard eye with a noreactive pupil fixed at the midpoint, Tonometry shows increased pressure and the cup-to-disc ratio is >0.3
2- conjunctivitis is the only form of 'red eye' that gives an ocular discharge. viruses cause bilateral disease. enlarge the pre-auricular nodes, and cause itching of the eyes. Bacteria cause unilateral disease
3-Uveitis is associated with photophobia, the diagnosis is confirmed with slit lamp exam, and the best initial therapy is with topical steroids. Inflammatory bowel dz may be described in the case.
4-Corneal abrasion gives a feeling of foreign body sensation from trauma. the most accurate test is a fluorescin staining. contact lenses are likely described in this case..

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