Pathology

Question 1

What causes essential hypertension at the pathophysiological level?

Answer 1

Increased systemic vascular resistance and/or sodium retention

Question 2

What’s the underlying pathology in asthma?

Answer 2

Reversible airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness → bronchoconstriction.

Question 3

What is the primary defect in T1DM vs T2DM?

Answer 3

T1DM = autoimmune β-cell destruction;
T2DM = insulin resistance + impaired secretion.

Question 4

What lab values indicate hypothyroidism?

Answer 4

↑ TSH and ↓ T4.

Question 5

What defines CKD?

Answer 5

Egfr of less than 60 for 3 months or more

Question 6

What drugs help reduce CKD progression?

Answer 6

ACEi or ARBs

Question 7

What bacteria most commonly cause UTIs?

Answer 7

E coli

Question 8

What is the CURB65 score used for?

Answer 8

assess severity and guide management of community-acquired pneumonia

Question 9

What is the pathophysiology of epilepsy?

Answer 9

Abnormal excessive neuronal firing → seizures.

Question 10

What drugs are used in secondary stroke prevention?

Answer 10

Antiplatelets (aspirin, clopidogrel),
statins,
antihypertensives.

Question 11

What monitoring is required with lithium?

Answer 11

Serum lithium levels, renal function, thyroid function, and U&Es.

Question 12

What is the therapeutic range for lithium?

Answer 12

0.4-1 mmol/l

Question 13

What class of drugs is used for acute anxiety relief but is not recommended long-term?

Answer 13

Bzp

Question 14

What is the difference between typical and atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 14

Typical: Higher risk of EPS (e.g., haloperidol); Atypical: Lower EPS risk, more metabolic effects (e.g., olanzapine, risperidone).

Question 15

What are the main causes of constipation?

Answer 15

Poor diet, dehydration, immobility, opioid use, hypothyroidism, IBS.

Question 16

Common causes of acute diarrhoea?

Answer 16

Viral gastroenteritis, bacterial infection, food poisoning, antibiotics.

Question 17

Is Crohn’s continuous or patchy?

Answer 17

Patchy inflammation affecting any part of the GI tract

Question 18

symptoms of Crohn’s disease?

Answer 18

Abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhoea, fatigue

Question 19

First-line induction therapy for Crohn’s flare?

Answer 19

Corticosteroids (e.g., prednisolone).

Question 20

Maintenance therapy for Crohn’s?

Answer 20

Azathioprine or methotrexate ± biologics

Question 21

Is UC continuous or patchy?

Answer 21

Continuous inflammation starting from the rectum.

Question 22

Key symptoms of UC?

Answer 22

Bloody diarrhoea, urgency, tenesmus, abdominal pain

Question 23

What drug is commonly used in UC but not Crohn’s?

Answer 23

Aminosalicylates (e.g., mesalazine).

Question 24

What causes Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 24

Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra → ↓ dopamine

Question 25

symptoms of Parkinson’s?

Answer 25

Tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia

Question 26

First-line drug for functional impairment in Parkinson’s?

Answer 26

Levodopa

Question 27

Why is Levodopa given with carbidopa or benserazide?

Answer 27

To prevent peripheral metabolism of Levodopa → more reaches the brain and fewer side effects

Question 28

Name a dopamine agonist and its main side effect.

Answer 28

Ropinirole or pramipexole Hallucinations

Question 29

What do MAO-B inhibitors do in Parkinson’s?

Answer 29

Block breakdown of dopamine in the brain

Question 30

COMT inhibitors MOA and example?

Answer 30

Block breakdown of levodopa Entacapone

Question 31

Which drug helps with tremor but not rigidity?

Answer 31

Propanolol

Question 32

What non-motor symptoms may be seen in Parkinson’s?

Answer 32

Depression, constipation, sleep disorders, cognitive decline

Question 33

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 33

A progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by memory loss, cognitive impairment, and behavioural changes

Question 34

Pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 34

Amyloid-beta plaques, tau protein tangles

Question 35

First-line treatment for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s?

Answer 35

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine.

Question 36

MOA of donepezil in Alzheimer’s?

Answer 36

Inhibits acetylcholinesterase → increases acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft.

Question 37

Drug for moderate to severe Alzheimer’s?

Answer 37

Memantine

Question 38

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 38

chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily affects synovial joints

Question 39

Key features of RA?

Answer 39

Joint pain morning stiffness >30 minutes swelling fatigue

Question 40

What is the first-line treatment for RA?

Answer 40

Methotrexate

Question 41

What are DMARDs and give 3 examples?

Answer 41

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs: Methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine.

Question 42

What must be monitored with methotrexate?

Answer 42

FBC, LFTs, renal function

Question 43

How does methotrexate work in RA?

Answer 43

Inhibits dihydrofolate reductase

Question 45

What supplement is usually co-prescribed with methotrexate?

Answer 45

Folic acid

Question 46

What is osteoarthritis?

Answer 46

degenerative joint disease caused by wear and tear, leading to cartilage breakdown.

Question 47

Common symptoms of OA?

Answer 47

Joint pain worsened by activity, stiffness <30 mins , joint deformity.

Question 48

First-line management of OA?

Answer 48

Lifestyle (weight loss, exercise), paracetamol, topical NSAIDs.

Question 49

What is an infection?

Answer 49

Invasion and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms in the body, potentially causing illness.

Question 50

B12 deficiency is

Answer 50

Macrolytic anaemia

Question 51

What is the goal of chemotherapy?

Answer 51

To kill rapidly dividing cancer cells, ideally without harming normal cells.

Question 52

alkylating agents?

Answer 52

Cyclophosphamide Melphalan

Question 54

Mechanism of alkylating agents?

Answer 54

Cross-link DNA strands, preventing DNA replication and transcription.

Question 55

Examples of antimetabolites?

Answer 55

Methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)

Question 56

Doxorubicin main toxicity?

Answer 56

Cardio toxicity

Question 57

What is polypharmacy?

Answer 57

The concurrent use of multiple medications, often defined as taking five or more drugs simultaneously.

Question 58

What are common risks associated with polypharmacy?

Answer 58

Increased risk of adverse drug reactions drug interactions medication non-adherence cognitive impairment falls, hospitalizations.

Question 59

Why is polypharmacy a particular concern in older adults?

Answer 59

age-related changes in drug metabolism and multiple comorbidities

Question 60

What are strategies to manage polypharmacy?

Answer 60

Regular medication reviews, deprescribing unnecessary drugs, involving multidisciplinary teams, patient education

Question 61

What is deprescribing?

Answer 61

The process of tapering or stopping medications that may no longer be beneficial or may be causing harm.

Question 62

Name a tool used to assess potentially inappropriate medications in elderly patients.

Answer 62

Beers Criteria. STOPP/START criteria

Question 63

What is the Medicines Act 1968?

Answer 63

The primary UK legislation controlling the manufacture, supply, and sale of medicines.

Question 64

What is GPhC?

Answer 64

the regulatory body for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy premises in Great Britain.

Question 65

What is a patient group direction (PGD)?

Answer 65

A written instruction allowing specified healthcare professionals to supply and administer medicines to groups of patients without a prescription.