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Most difficult to diagnose:

 # Which is most difficult to diagnose?
A. Necrosed pulp
B. Internal resorption
C. Chronic pulpitis
D. Acute apical abscess



The correct answer is C. Chronic pulpitis.

Both necrotic pulp and chronic pulpitis are difficult to diagnose and can show varied symptoms. 
Chronic pulpitis can be differentiated by its history of clinical symptoms. 
Chronic pulpitis under a crown restoration is most difficult to diagnose. 

This question is a direct pick from NBDE and the answer is Chronic Pulpitis. 



Stunned pulp is:

 # Stunned pulp is:
A. Stunning appearance on radiograph
B. Does not respond to vitality tests 6-8 weeks after trauma
C. Necrosed pulp
D. Hyperaemic pulp



The correct answer is B. Does not respond to vitality tests 6-8 weeks after trauma.

Diagnosis of traumatized tooth:
- Diagnosis is made from the patient's history, visual examination, radiographs, electric pulp test, and the thermal test. Following fracture of the root, the reaction to tests of pulp vitality may be negative for as long as 6-8 weeks; that is, the pulp is stunned.

- A stunned tooth due to injury responds within 6 weeks. If it does not respond after that, pulp may be undergoing necrotic changes.

Feature of chronic extravascular hemolysis

 # Which one of the following is a feature of chronic extravascular hemolysis? 
a. Raised serum conjugated bilirubin 
b. Low reticulocyte count 
c. Hypocellular bone marrow 
d. Gall stones


The correct answer is D. Gall stones.

Hemolytic anemia is a form of anemia due to hemolysis, the abnormal breakdown of red blood cells (RBCs), either in the blood vessels (intravascular hemolysis) or elsewhere in the human body (extravascular). This most commonly occurs within the spleen, but also can occur in the reticuloendothelial system or mechanically (prosthetic valve damage). Hemolytic anemia accounts for 5% of all existing anemias.  It has numerous possible consequences, ranging from general symptoms to life-threatening systemic effects. The general classification of hemolytic anemia is either intrinsic or extrinsic. Treatment depends on the type and cause of the hemolytic anemia.

Symptoms of hemolytic anemia are similar to other forms of anemia (fatigue and shortness of breath), but in addition, the breakdown of red cells leads to jaundice and increases the risk of particular long-term complications, such as gallstones and pulmonary hypertension. 



Iron absorption will be increased in:

 # Iron absorption will be increased in: 
a. Pregnancy 
b. Chronic inflammation 
c. Iron overload 
d. Phosphates



The correct answer is A. Pregnancy.

Factors that increase iron absorption from GI tracts are:
Dietary factors
Increased heme iron (particularly in meat)
Ferrous iron salts
GI factors
         – Acid pH
Increased requirement:
         – Iron deficiency
         – Increased erythropoiesis
         – Pregnancy
         – Hypoxia
Factors that decrease iron absorption are:
Ferric iron salts
Malabsorption
Proximal bowel resection
Presence of oxalates, phytates and phosphates in diet
Inflammatory disorders (due to increased hepcidin level)

First stage of iron deficiency:

 # Which is the first stage of iron deficiency? 
a. Negative iron balance 
b. Decreased iron stores 
c. Decrease MCV 
d. Decrease in Hemoglobin



The correct answer is A. Negative Iron Balance.

“Negative iron balance” describes a state in which body iron content is decreasing, secondary to relative decreases in iron intake and/or relative increases in iron losses. Over time, negative iron balance can progress to functional and absolute iron deficiency and anemia.

Earliest recognizable change in RBC morphology:

 # Which of the following is earliest recognizable change in RBC morphology in case of iron deficiency? 
a. Hypochromia 
b. Anisocytosis 
c. Target cells 
d. Poikilocytosis



The correct answer is B. Anisocytosis. 

Anisocytosis is the medical term for having red blood cells (RBCs) that are unequal in size. Normally, a person’s RBCs should all be roughly the same size.

Anisocytosis is usually caused by another medical condition called anemia. It may also be caused other blood diseases or by certain drugs used to treat cancer. For this reason, the presence of anisocytosis is often helpful in diagnosing blood disorders like anemia.

Treatment for anisocytosis depends on the cause. The condition isn’t dangerous on its own, but it does indicate an underlying problem with the RBCs.

Least implicated in the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease:

 # Which is least implicated in the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease? 
a. Neutrophils 
b. Nitric oxide 
c. Platelets and coagulation factors 
d. Free hemoglobin




The correct answer is C. Platelets and Coagulation factor.

The pathophysiologic processes that lead to sickle cell disease related complications result from a combination of hemolysis and vaso-occlusion. Hemolysis occurs as a result of repeated episodes of hemoglobin polymerization/depolymerization as sickle red blood cells pick up and release oxygen in the circulation. Red blood cell membranes become abnormal from this process and red blood cells have a shortened lifespan. 

Hemolysis can occur both chronically and during acute painful vaso-occlusive crises and also results in the release of substantial quantities of free hemoglobin into the vasculature. The consumption of significant quantities of nitric oxide (NO) by this resultant free ferrous hemoglobin,  in turn, leads to abnormal regulation in vascular homeostasis. Moreover, neutrophils play a key role in the tissue damage which occurs as both neutrophil numbers are increased and evidence suggests that they are abnormally activated and adherent. Likewise, as suggested by recent data sickle red cells induce adhesion of lymphocytes and monocytes to the endothelium such that these may contribute to the pathogenesis of vascular occlusion. Platelet activation also occurs in SCD but is least implicated among the given options.