Random medical facts to remember

Question 1

What are the criteria for initiating long-term supplemental oxygen therapy in COPD?

Answer 1

1. Resting arterial O2 <55mmHg or pulse ox <88% on RA

2. PaO2 <59mmGh or SaO2 <89% in patients with cor pulmonate, e/o RHF, or HCT >55%

Question 2

What is a common cause of refractory hypokalemia?

Answer 2

Hypomagnesemia

Question 3

Small fiber injury in DM is characterized by what symptoms?

Answer 3

Positive symptoms (pain, paresthesias, allodynia)

Question 4

Large fiber injury in DM is characterized by what symptoms?

Answer 4

Negative symptoms (numbness, loss of proprioception and vibration sense, diminished ankle reflexes)

Question 5

What is ‘Cushing disease?’

Answer 5

ACTH-producing pituitary tumor

Question 6

What are burr cells?

Answer 6

Aka eichinocytes. Liver disease and ESRD. Serrated edges.

Question 7

What are Spurr cells?

Answer 7

Aka acanthocytes. Liver disease. Spaced projections.

Question 8

What anti-anginal med is contraindicated in cocaine use and why?

Answer 8

Beta blockers - unopposed alpha adrenergic stimulation may constrict vessels and worsen angina. Use benzos instead.

Question 9

How does congenital syphilis present?

Answer 9

Rhinitis, hepatosplenomegaly, and skin lesions. Later findings are interstitial keratitis, Hutchinson teeth, saddle nose, saber shins, deafness, and CNS involvement.

Question 10

Which beta blockers are non-selective?

Answer 10

Propanolol, Nadolol, Sotalol, Timolol

Question 11

Which beta blockers are cardio-selective?

Answer 11

Metoprolol, Atenolol

Question 12

What is the galactomannan assay?

Answer 12

Serum biomarkers for cell wall components of aspergillosis

Question 13

What is the treatment of mild hypovolemic hypernatremia?

Answer 13

5% dextrose in 0.45% saline

Question 14

What is the treatment of severe hypovolemic hypernatremia?

Answer 14

Normal saline

Question 15

How does one test for acute porphyria?

Answer 15

Elevated urine porphobilinogen

Question 16

How does disseminated gonococcal infection present?

Answer 16

Purulent monoarthritis and/or triad of tenosynovitis, dermatitis, and asymmetric migratory polyarthralgias

Question 17

What is the treatment of acute intermittent porphyria?

Answer 17

Glucose + heme

Question 18

What is Reye syndrome?

Answer 18

Peds aspirin during flu or varicella infection. Acute liver failure, encephalopathy, elevated AST, ALT, PT, INR, PTT, ammonia. Tx is supportive.

Question 19

What is adjuvant therapy?

Answer 19

Treatment in addition to standard therapy.

Question 20

What is consolidation therapy?

Answer 20

Given after induction therapy with multi drug regimens to further reduce tumor burden

Question 21

What is neo-adjuvant therapy?

Answer 21

Treatment given before standard therapy for a particular disease

Question 22

What is salvage therapy?

Answer 22

Treatment for a given disease when standard therapy fails

Question 23

What are three common lab findings of primary adrenal insufficiency?

Answer 23

Hypoglycemia, hyperkalemia, eosinophilia

Question 24

Which meds have been shown to improve survival in pts with LV systolic dysfunction?

Answer 24

Beta blockers, ACE-Is or ARBS, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists

Question 25

What are the lab findings of tumor lysis syndrome?

Answer 25

Hypocalciuria, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia

Question 26

When is low molecular weight heparin contraindicated?

Answer 26

ESRD patients; use unfractionated heparin instead

Question 27

How does galactokinase deficiency present?

Answer 27

Cataracts