General Pathology Practice Questions

Q: Indirectly cytopathic viruses kill cells by provoking which of the following?

An immune response. Viruses cause cell injury and death via two primary mechanisms: **Directly cytopathic** and **Indirectly cytopathic**. [1] **1. Why the Correct Answer is Right:** In **indirectly cytopathic** infections, the virus itself does not cause significant damage to the host cell during its replication cycle. Instead, the cell death is a result of the host’s own **immune response**. The virus expresses foreign antigens on the cell surface (via MHC Class I molecules), which are recognized by **CD8+ Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs)**. These CTLs then kill the infected cell to eliminate the viral reservoir. A classic example is **Hepatitis B**, where the hepatocyte damage is not caused by the virus, but by the T-cell-mediated immune attack against infected liver cells. **2. Why the Incorrect Options are Wrong:** * **A. Injury to DNA:** While some viruses (like oncogenic viruses) can integrate into or damage host DNA, this is not the defining mechanism of "indirect" cytopathicity. [1] * **C. Injury to the cell membrane:** This is typically a feature of **directly cytopathic** viruses (e.g., Poliovirus or Rhinoviruses) that interfere with host protein synthesis or cause membrane lysis during viral release. [1] * **D. An influx of potassium:** Cell injury usually leads to an **efflux of potassium** and an **influx of calcium** and sodium due to the failure of ATP-dependent pumps. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Directly Cytopathic:** Damage is proportional to viral replication (e.g., Polio, CMV). [1] * **Indirectly Cytopathic:** Damage is proportional to the host immune vigor (e.g., HBV, HCV). * **Councilman bodies:** These are apoptotic hepatocytes often seen in viral hepatitis, representing the end result of this indirect T-cell mediated killing. **References:** [1] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. Infectious Diseases, pp. 356-357.

Question 1

What stain is used to diagnose amyloidosis?

Accepted Answer

Congo red

Answer

Methylene blue

Answer

Acid fast stain

Answer

Rose bengal

Question 2

In metastatic calcification, what is typically observed?

Accepted Answer

Calcium metabolism is deranged and the serum calcium level is increased.

Answer

Calcium metabolism and serum calcium level are normal.

Answer

Calcium metabolism is deranged and the serum calcium is normal.

Answer

Calcium metabolism is normal and the serum calcium is increased.

Question 3

Which of the following exhibits allelic heterogeneity?

Accepted Answer

Beta-thalassemia

Answer

Sickle cell disease

Answer

HOCM

Answer

Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Question 4

Indirectly cytopathic viruses kill cells by provoking which of the following?

Accepted Answer

An immune response

Answer

Injury to DNA

Answer

Injury to the cell membrane

Answer

An influx of potassium

Question 5

An 82-year-old man has profound bleeding from a peptic ulcer and dies of hypovolemic shock. The liver at autopsy displays centrilobular necrosis. Compared to viable hepatocytes, the necrotic cells contain higher intracellular concentrations of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Calcium

Answer

Cobalt

Answer

Copper

Answer

Iron

Question 6

A patient presents with a large wound to his right forearm that is the result of a chain saw accident. The wound is filled with granulation tissue, which is composed of proliferating fibroblasts and proliferating new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Which growth factor is capable of inducing all the steps necessary for angiogenesis?

Accepted Answer

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF)

Answer

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)

Answer

Transforming growth factor a (TGF-a)

Answer

Transforming growth factor b (TGF-b)

Question 7

A young male presented with dyspnea, bleeding, and petechial hemorrhage in the chest 2 days after a fracture of the shaft of the right femur. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Fat embolism

Answer

Air embolism

Answer

Pulmonary thromboembolism

Answer

Amniotic fluid embolism

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT associated with pathological apoptosis?

Accepted Answer

Involution of hormone dependent tissue upon hormone withdrawal

Answer

DNA damage

Answer

ER stress

Answer

Transplant rejection

Question 9

Splenomegaly is seen in which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Krabbe's disease

Answer

Niemann-Pick disease

Answer

GM2 gangliosidosis

Answer

Gaucher's disease

Question 10

Programmed cell death without caspase activation is known as:

Accepted Answer

Necroptosis

Answer

Autophagy

Answer

Pyroptosis

Answer

Gangrene

General Pathology — MCQs

General Pathology — MCQs

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