A 44-year-old man presents to the emergency department with weakness. He states that he has felt progressively more weak over the past month. He endorses decreased libido, weight gain, and headaches. His temperature is 97.0°F (36.1°C), blood pressure is 177/108 mmHg, pulse is 80/min, respirations are 17/min, and oxygen saturation is 98% on room air. Physical exam is notable for an obese man who appears fatigued. He has abdominal striae, atrophied arms, and limbs with minimal muscle tone. His ECG is notable for a small upward deflection right after the T wave. A fingerstick blood glucose is 225 mg/dL. The patient's underlying condition will be addressed definitively, but in the interim, which of the following is the most appropriate pharmacologic agent for managing his hypertension?
AMetoprolol
BTorsemide
CHydrochlorothiazide
DInsulin
EEplerenone
A 31-year-old nurse presents to the emergency department with palpitations, sweating, and jitteriness. She denies chest pain, shortness of breath, and recent illness. She states that she experienced weakness in her arms and legs and a tingling sensation in her fingers before the palpitations occurred. Medical and surgical history is unremarkable. Her mother has Grave’s disease. The patient has been seen in the ED multiple times for similar symptoms and was discharged after appropriate medical management. Today, her temperature is 37°C (98.6°F), blood pressure is 128/84 mm Hg, pulse is 102/min and regular, and respirations are 10/min. On examination, the patient appears diaphoretic and anxious. Her pupils are dilated to 5 mm. The rest of the examination is normal. Urine toxicology and B-HCG are pending. Which of the following is the next best step in management?
AFingerstick blood glucose
BD-dimer levels
CEchocardiogram
DTSH levels
EUrine metanephrines
A 62-year-old woman is referred to a tertiary care hospital with a history of diplopia and fatigue for the past 3 months. She has also noticed difficulty in climbing the stairs and combing her hair. She confirms a history of 2.3 kg (5.0 lb) weight loss in the past 6 weeks and constipation. Past medical history is significant for type 2 diabetes mellitus. She has a 50-pack-year cigarette smoking history. Physical examination reveals a blood pressure of 135/78 mm Hg supine and 112/65 while standing, a heart rate of 82/min supine and 81/min while standing, and a temperature of 37.0°C (98.6°F). She is oriented to time and space. Her right upper eyelid is slightly drooped. She has difficulty in abducting the right eye. Pupils are bilaterally equal and reactive to light with accommodation. The corneal reflex is intact. Muscle strength is reduced in the proximal muscles of all 4 limbs, and the lower limbs are affected more when compared to the upper limbs. Deep tendon reflexes are bilaterally absent. After 10 minutes of cycling, the reflexes become positive. Sensory examination is normal. Diffuse wheezes are heard on chest auscultation. Which of the following findings is expected?
AThymoma on CT scan of the chest
BIncremental pattern on repetitive nerve conduction studies
CPeriventricular plaques on MRI of the brain
DAntibodies against muscle-specific kinase
EElevated serum creatine kinase
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