A 50-year-old woman is seeking a consultation before undergoing breast reconstruction following a mastectomy due to breast cancer. She is worried about potential adverse effects. Which nerves should you caution her about potential harm?
A 39-year-old male patient with a medical history of Marfan’s syndrome presents to the Emergency department with a sudden tearing pain in his chest that spreads to his back. He also reports experiencing left-sided weakness and difficulty speaking coherently. Based on these symptoms, you suspect a dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm. Which artery is most likely to be affected by the aneurysm?
A 75-year-old man presents with sudden confusion. He has not visited your clinic in a few months but is known to be a heavy smoker and is not taking any regular medication. During physical examination, finger clubbing and a large left pleural effusion are observed, which is confirmed on a chest X-ray. He appears to be clinically euvolaemic.
The following investigations were conducted:
– Sodium: 118 mmol/L (137-144)
– Potassium: 4.0 mmol/L (3.5-4.9)
– Urea: 2.5 mmol/L (2.5-7.5)
– Total protein: 57 g/L (60-80)
– Creatinine: 97 µmol/L (60-110)
– Glucose: 4.0 mmol/L (3.0-6.0)
– Adjusted calcium: 2.36 mmol/L (2.2-2.6)
What is the most probable cause of his hyponatraemia?
A 65-year-old female presents with tiredness and vague aches for many years. The following results were obtained:
– Serum sodium: 135 mmol/L (133-144)
– Serum potassium: 3.4 mmol/L (3.5-4.9)
– Serum urea: 5.8 mmol/L (2.5-7.5)
– Serum creatinine: 100 μmol/L (50-100)
– Serum calcium: 2.78 mmol/L (2.20 – 2.60)
– Serum albumin: 38 g/L (35-50)
– Corrected calcium: 3.02 mmol/L (2.20-2.60)
– Serum phosphate: 0.87 mmol/L (0.80 – 1.45)
– Serum alk phosphatase: 117 IU/L (30-115)
– Serum asp transaminase: 20 I U/L (5-45)
– Serum bilirubin: 8 umol/L (1-17)
The patient appears generally well, with a blood pressure of 160/80 mmHg, a pulse of 80 beats per minute, normal heart, chest and abdominal examination. What is the most likely diagnosis?
What is the way in which trimethoprim works?
What is the estimated occurrence rate of congenital talipes equinovarus?
A couple has a 7-year-old son and are worried that he may have inherited the gene for Huntington’s disease. The father was diagnosed with the disease when he was 33 years old, while the mother has been tested and found not to be a carrier of the gene. What is the probability that their son will develop Huntington’s disease?
A 10-year-old boy who appears healthy has a sibling who was visibly unwell at his age due to cystic fibrosis. What is the likelihood that he is a carrier?
A study investigated the usefulness of serum procalcitonin level in detecting bacteraemia in 100 febrile patients admitted to the hospital. The patients’ blood was tested for both serum procalcitonin and bacterial culture. The study found that a serum procalcitonin level above 0.5 microgram/L had a specificity of 90% in detecting bacteraemia. Can you identify the correct statement based on this information?
A 72-year-old male with a body mass index (BMI) of 31 kg/m2, presents with bilateral lower limb cellulitis. A urine dipstick reveals glycosuria ++.
What test could provide a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes?