A researcher is studying the ability of breast cancer cells to metastasize. Neoplastic cells obtained from 30 patients with stage IV ductal carcinoma of the breast are tagged with a fluorescent antibody. The cells are then inserted into a medium resembling normal human tissue. After 2 weeks, all samples show in vitro hematogenous invasion and migration away from the original site of insertion. Which of the following properties is most likely responsible for the ability of these neoplastic cells to metastasize?

Release of matrix metalloproteinase

Presence of fibrous tissue capsule

A 68-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 3-month history of an oozing, red area above the left ankle. She does not recall any trauma to the lower extremity. She has type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and ulcerative colitis. She had a myocardial infarction 2 years ago and a stroke 7 years ago. She has smoked 2 packs of cigarettes daily for 48 years and drinks 2 alcoholic beverages daily. Current medications include warfarin, metformin, aspirin, atorvastatin, carvedilol, and mesalamine. She is 165 cm (5 ft 4 in) tall and weighs 67 kg (148 lb); BMI is 24.6 kg/m2. Her temperature is 36.7°C (98°F), pulse is 90/min, respirations are 12/min, and blood pressure is 135/90 mm Hg. Examination shows yellow-brown spots and dilated tortuous veins over the lower extremities. The feet and the left calf are edematous. Femoral, popliteal, and pedal pulses are palpable bilaterally. There is a 3-cm (1.2-in) painless, shallow, exudative ulcer surrounded by granulation tissue above the medial left ankle. There is slight drooping of the right side of the face. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's ulcer?

Drug-induced microvascular occlusion

A 42-year-old man presents to the clinic for a second evaluation of worsening blackened ulcers on the tips of his toes. His past medical history includes diabetes mellitus for which he takes metformin and his most recent HbA1c was 6.0, done 3 months ago. He also has hypertension for which he's prescribed amlodipine and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for which he uses an albuterol-ipratropium combination inhaler. He is also a chronic tobacco user with a 27-pack-year smoking history. He first noticed symptoms of a deep aching pain in his toes. Several months ago, he occasionally felt pain in his fingertips both at rest and with activity. Now he reports blackened skin at the tips of his fingers and toes. Evaluation shows: pulse of 82/min, blood pressure of 138/85 mm Hg, oral temperature 37.0°C (98.6°F). He is thin. Physical examination of his feet demonstrates the presence of 3, 0.5–0.8 cm, eschars over the tips of his bilateral second toes and right third toe. There is no surrounding erythema or exudate. Proprioception, vibratory sense, and monofilament examination are normal on both ventral aspects of his feet, but he lacks sensation over the eschars. Dorsal pedal pulses are diminished in both feet; the skin is shiny and hairless. Initial lab results include a C-reactive protein (CRP) level of 3.5 mg/dL, leukocytes of 6,000/mm3, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of 34 mm/hr, and negative antinuclear antibodies. Which part of the patient's history is most directly associated with his current problem?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

A 31-year-old woman scrapes her finger on an exposed nail and sustains a minor laceration. Five minutes later, her finger is red, swollen, and painful. She has no past medical history and does not take any medications. She drinks socially with her friends and does not smoke. The inflammatory cell type most likely to be prominent in this patient's finger has which of the following characteristics?

Dramatically expanded endoplasmic reticulum

Large cell with amoeboid movement

Dark histamine containing granules

A 72-year-old man comes to the emergency department because of severe, acute, right leg pain for 2 hours. The patient's symptoms started suddenly while he was doing household chores. He has no history of leg pain at rest or with exertion. Yesterday, he returned home after a 6-hour bus ride from his grandson's home. He has hypertension treated with ramipril. He appears uncomfortable. His temperature is 37.4°C (99.3°F), pulse is 105/min and irregular, and blood pressure is 146/92 mm Hg. The right lower extremity is cool and tender to touch. A photograph of the limb is shown. Femoral pulses are palpable bilaterally; popliteal and pedal pulses are decreased on the right side. Sensation to pinprick and light touch and muscle strength are decreased in the right lower extremity. Which of the following is most likely to confirm the underlying source of this patient's condition?

Doppler ultrasonography of the legs

Digital subtraction angiography

A 45-year-old man comes to his primary care provider for a routine visit. The patient mentions that while he was cooking 5 days ago, he accidentally cut himself with a meat cleaver and lost the skin at the tip of his finger. After applying pressure and ice, the bleeding stopped and he did not seek treatment. The patient is otherwise healthy and does not take any daily medications. The patient’s temperature is 98.2°F (36.8°C), blood pressure is 114/72 mmHg, pulse is 60/min, and respirations are 12/min. On exam, the patient demonstrates a 0.5 x 0.3 cm wound on the tip of his left third finger. No bone is involved, and the wound is red, soft, and painless. There are no signs of infection. Which of the following can be expected on histopathological examination of the wounded area?

Deposition of type III collagen

Epithelial cell migration from the wound borders

Neutrophil migration into the wound

A 63-year-old man presents to the clinic complaining of burning bilateral leg pain which has been increasing gradually over the past several months. It worsens when he walks but improves with rest. His past medical and surgical history are significant for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and a 40-pack-year smoking history. His temperature is 99.0°F (37.2°C), blood pressure is 167/108 mm Hg, pulse is 88/min, respirations are 13/min, and oxygen saturation is 95% on room air. Physical exam of the lower extremities reveals palpable but weak posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis pulses bilaterally. Which of the following is the best initial treatment for this patient's symptoms?

Balloon angioplasty with stenting

A 54-year-old man comes to the physician because of a painful mass in his left thigh for 3 days. He underwent a left lower limb angiography for femoral artery stenosis and had a stent placed 2 weeks ago. He has peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease, hypercholesterolemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus. He has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for 34 years. Current medications include enalapril, aspirin, simvastatin, metformin, and sitagliptin. His temperature is 36.7°C (98°F), pulse is 88/min, and blood pressure is 116/72 mm Hg. Examination shows a 3-cm (1.2-in) tender, pulsatile mass in the left groin. The skin over the area of the mass shows no erythema and is cool to the touch. A loud bruit is heard on auscultation over this area. The remainder of the examination shows no abnormalities. Results of a complete blood count and serum electrolyte concentrations show no abnormalities. Duplex ultrasonography shows an echolucent sac connected to the common femoral artery, with pulsatile and turbulent blood flow between the artery and the sac. Which of the following is the most appropriate next best step in management?

Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection

A 65-year-old man comes to the emergency department because of sudden, worsening pain in his right calf and foot that started 30 minutes ago. He also has a tingling sensation and weakness in his right leg. He has had no similar episodes, recent trauma, or claudication. He has type 2 diabetes mellitus and was diagnosed with hypertension 20 years ago. His sister has systemic sclerosis. He works as an office administrator and sits at his desk most of the day. He has smoked one and a half packs of cigarettes daily for 30 years. Current medications include metformin and lisinopril. His pulse is 110/min, respirations are 16/min, and blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg. His right leg is pale and cool to touch. Muscle strength in his right leg is mildly reduced. Pedal pulses are absent on the right. Which of the following is the most likely underlying cause of this patient's symptoms?

Atherosclerotic narrowing of the artery

Chronic wounds pathophysiology for USMLE Step 1: High-Yield Surgery Lessons

Wound Stasis - The Healing Stalemate

Prolonged Inflammatory Phase: The wound is trapped, unable to progress to proliferation.
- Cellular Dysfunction: Persistent neutrophils & pro-inflammatory (M1) macrophages release damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proteases.
- Senescent Fibroblasts: Poor response to growth factors, leading to ↓ collagen deposition.
Proteolytic Environment: An imbalance of ↑ Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and ↓ Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases (TIMPs) degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM).
Biofilm Presence: Microbial colonies shield bacteria from immune cells and antibiotics, perpetuating inflammation.

Normal vs. Chronic Wound Healing: Cellular & Molecular

⭐ The key pathological feature is an elevated MMP:TIMP ratio, which actively degrades newly formed granulation tissue and growth factors, preventing effective healing.

Vicious Cycles - Pathophysiology Deep Dive

Stalled Inflammation: The healing cascade is arrested in a chronic inflammatory state, dominated by neutrophils.
Protease Overload:
- Persistent neutrophils release excessive Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and elastase.
- This overwhelms the natural Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases (TIMPs).
Destructive Microenvironment:
- High MMP levels degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM), growth factors (GFs), and their receptors.
- This prevents cell migration and the formation of a stable scaffold for new tissue.
Cellular Dysfunction: Fibroblasts become senescent-metabolically active but non-proliferative and unresponsive to GFs.
Biofilm Formation: Chronic wounds are often colonized by bacteria in biofilms, which perpetuate inflammation and resist host defenses.

⭐ In chronic wounds, the ratio of MMPs to TIMPs is significantly elevated, leading to uncontrolled matrix destruction and preventing the transition to the proliferative phase of healing.

Acute vs. Chronic Wound Healing: Cellular & Molecular View

The Big Four - Ulcer Personalities

Feature	Venous Stasis Ulcer	Arterial (Ischemic) Ulcer	Diabetic (Neuropathic) Ulcer	Pressure Ulcer (Decubitus)
Location	Medial malleolus (Gaiter area)	Tips of toes, pressure points	Plantar foot, metatarsal heads	Sacrum, heels, ischium, trochanter
Appearance	Large, shallow, irregular border, heavy exudate, hemosiderin staining	"Punched-out," pale/necrotic base, minimal exudate, shiny skin, hair loss	Calloused rim, deep, painless, often infected	Staged (I-IV), can have undermining/tunneling
Pain	Aching, relieved by elevation	Severe, worse with elevation	Typically painless	Painful if sensation intact
Pathophys	Venous hypertension, valve incompetence	Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), ↓ arterial inflow	Peripheral neuropathy, pressure, microangiopathy	Unrelieved pressure > capillary filling pressure

⭐ An Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) < 0.9 is diagnostic for PAD, the cause of arterial ulcers. Values < 0.4 indicate critical limb ischemia. Compression therapy, key for venous ulcers, is contraindicated.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

Chronic wounds are trapped in a prolonged inflammatory phase, preventing progression to proliferation.

Cellular senescence of fibroblasts leads to ↓ collagen deposition and impaired matrix formation.

Persistent bacterial biofilms create a pro-inflammatory microenvironment and resist host defenses.

Local tissue ischemia and hypoxia are central, starving the wound of oxygen and nutrients.

An imbalance with ↑ Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) excessively degrades the extracellular matrix.

Underlying systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus and vascular insufficiency are major drivers.

Continue reading on Oncourse

CONTINUE READING — FREE

or get the app

App Store|Google Play