A 25-year-old male presents to his primary care physician for fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. He states that this issue has occurred throughout his life but seems to “flare up” on occasion. He states that his GI pain is relieved with defecation, and his stools are frequent, large, and particularly foul-smelling. The patient has a past medical history of an ACL tear, as well as a car accident that resulted in the patient needing a transfusion and epinephrine to treat transfusion anaphylaxis. His current medications include vitamin D and ibuprofen. He recently returned from a camping trip in the eastern United States. He states that on the trip they cooked packed meats over an open fire and obtained water from local streams. His temperature is 99.5°F (37.5°C), blood pressure is 120/77 mmHg, pulse is 70/min, respirations are 11/min, and oxygen saturation is 98% on room air. Physical exam reveals poor motor control and an ataxic gait on neurologic exam. Cardiac and pulmonary exams are within normal limits. Laboratory studies are ordered and return as below: Hemoglobin: 9.0 g/dL Hematocrit: 25% Haptoglobin: 12 mg/dL Leukocyte count: 7,500 cells/mm^3 with normal differential Platelet count: 255,000/mm^3 Serum: Na+: 140 mEq/L Cl-: 102 mEq/L K+: 5.0 mEq/L HCO3-: 24 mEq/L BUN: 24 mg/dL Glucose: 82 mg/dL Creatinine: 1.0 mg/dL Ca2+: 9.0 mg/dL LDH: 457 U/L AST: 11 U/L ALT: 11 U/L Radiography is ordered which reveals a stress fracture in the patient’s left tibia. Which of the following is the best confirmatory test for this patient’s condition?
AStool ELISA
BVitamin B12 and folate level
CVitamin E level
DBowel wall biopsy
EIron studies
A 21-year-old female presents to her obstetrician because she has stopped getting her period, after being irregular for the last 3 months. Upon further questioning, the patient reveals that she has had a 17 lb. unintended weight loss, endorses chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation that waxes and wanes. Family history is notable only for an older brother with Type 1 Diabetes. She is healthy, and is eager to gain back some weight. Her OBGYN refers her to a gastroenterologist, but first sends serology laboratory studies for IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (IgA-tTG). These results come back positive at > 10x the upper limit of normal. Which of the following is the gastroenterologist likely to find on endoscopy and duodenal biopsy?
AFriable mucosal pseudopolyps with biopsy notable for crypt abscesses
BCobblestoning with biopsy showing transmural inflammation and noncaseating granulomas
CVillous atrophy with crypt lengthening and intraepithelial lymphocytes
DFoamy macrophages, which stain PAS positive
ENormal appearing villi and biopsy
A 68-year-old man comes to the physician because of headache, fatigue, and nonproductive cough for 1 week. He appears pale. Pulmonary examination shows no abnormalities. Laboratory studies show a hemoglobin concentration of 9.5 g/dL and an elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase concentration. A peripheral blood smear shows normal red blood cells that are clumped together. Results of cold agglutinin titer testing show a 4-fold elevation above normal. An x-ray of the chest shows diffuse, patchy infiltrates bilaterally. Treatment is begun with an antibiotic that is also used to promote gut motility. Which of the following is the primary mechanism of action of this drug?
AInhibition of bacterial RNA polymerase
BInhibition of folic acid synthesis
CFree radical creation within bacterial cells
DInhibition of transpeptidase cross-linking at the cell wall
EInhibition of peptide translocation at the 50S ribosomal subunit
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