A 48-year-old Caucasian man presents to your office for initial evaluation as he has recently moved to your community and has become your patient. He has no significant past medical history and has not seen a physician in over 10 years. He takes no medications and denies having any allergies. He has been a smoker for the past 20 years and smokes approximately half a pack daily. His brother and father have diabetes; his brother is treated with metformin, whereas, his father requires insulin. His father has experienced two strokes. On presentation, he is a pleasant obese man with a body mass index of 34 kg/m2. On physical examination, his blood pressure is 170/90 mm Hg in the left arm and 168/89 mm Hg in the right arm. The patient is instructed to follow a low-salt diet, quit smoking, perform daily exercise, and diet to lose weight. He returns several weeks later for a follow-up appointment. The patient reports a 1.8 kg (4 lb) weight loss. His blood pressure on presentation is 155/94 mm Hg in both arms. What is the most appropriate next step in management?
APrescribe bisoprolol
BReassure the patient and encourage him to continue with lifestyle modifications
CPrescribe hydrochlorothiazide
DPrescribe lisinopril and bisoprolol
EPrescribe lisinopril
A 66-year-old man is brought into the emergency department by his daughter for a change in behavior. Yesterday the patient seemed more confused than usual and was asking the same questions repetitively. His symptoms have not improved over the past 24 hours, thus the decision to bring him in today. Last year, the patient was almost completely independent but he then suffered a "series of falls," after which his ability to care for himself declined. After this episode he was no longer able to cook for himself or pay his bills but otherwise had been fine up until this episode. The patient has a past medical history of myocardial infarction, hypertension, depression, diabetes mellitus type II, constipation, diverticulitis, and peripheral neuropathy. His current medications include metformin, insulin, lisinopril, hydrochlorothiazide, sodium docusate, atorvastatin, metoprolol, fluoxetine, and gabapentin. On exam you note a confused man who is poorly kept. He has bruises over his legs and his gait seems unstable. He is alert to person and place, and answers some questions inappropriately. The patient's pulse is 90/minute and his blood pressure is 170/100 mmHg. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
ANormal aging
BLewy body dementia
CVascular dementia
DPseudodementia (depression-related cognitive impairment)
EAlzheimer's dementia
A 63-year-old woman is brought to the clinic by her husband with complaints of cognitive decline. The patient's husband says that she has had intermittent problems with her memory for the past few years. He says she has occasional 'bad days' where her memory deteriorates to the point where she cannot perform activities of daily living. She is also sometimes found conversing in an empty room and, when inquired, she confirms that she is talking to a friend. There have also been some recent falls. There is no history of fever, recent head trauma, loss of consciousness, or illicit drug use. Past medical history is significant for bronchial asthma and osteoarthritis, both managed medically. Her mother died due to metastatic breast cancer at age 71 and her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at age 65. The patient is afebrile and her vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination reveals a tremor present in both her hands that attenuates with voluntary movement. Deep tendon reflexes are 2+ bilaterally. Romberg's sign is negative. She has a slow gait with a mild stooped posture. Her laboratory findings are significant for the following: Hemoglobin 12.9 g/dL White cell count 8,520/mm³ Platelets 295,000/mm³ Serum creatinine 1.0 mg/dL Glucose 94 mg/dL Sodium 141 mEq/L Potassium 3.9 mEq/L Calcium 92 mg/dL Ferritin 125 ng/mL Serum B12 305 ng/L TSH 2.1 µU/mL Ceruloplasmin 45 mg/dL Which of the following is the most appropriate management for this patient?
AEscitalopram
BPenicillamine
CHaloperidol
DRopinirole
ERivastigmine
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