Medical Science Test 2 Nddc Scholarship

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is an umbrella term for situations where the blood supplied to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked, such as in a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or unstable angina. ACS is a major manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. Because the same underlying vascular disease often affects the carotid and cerebral arteries, and because heart damage can lead to clot formation (emboli), patients with ACS are at a much higher risk of experiencing an ischaemic stroke.

Budd-Chiari syndrome is a very rare condition caused by the obstruction of the hepatic veins that drain the liver. This blockage leads to a backup of blood in the liver (hepatomegaly), which causes the liver to swell and results in abdominal pain. The increased pressure also causes fluid to leak into the abdominal cavity, a condition known as ascites. If left untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) occurs when fluid builds up in the tiny, elastic air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. This happens because of widespread inflammation that increases the permeability of the pulmonary capillaries, allowing fluid to leak out of the blood vessels and into the air spaces. This prevents the lungs from filling with enough air, which means less oxygen reaches the bloodstream, depriving the organs of the oxygen they need to function.

Fanconi's syndrome is a disorder of the kidney's proximal tubules in which glucose, amino acids, uric acid, phosphates, and bicarbonates are passed into the urine instead of being reabsorbed. While it can be hereditary, 'acquired' Fanconi's syndrome is famously linked to the use of degraded or expired tetracycline antibiotics. The degradation products of the drug are toxic to the tubular epithelial cells, impairing their ability to perform essential transport functions.

Dubin-Johnson syndrome is a benign, inherited liver disorder. It is characterised by a mild, chronic jaundice due to an increase of conjugated bilirubin in the blood. The underlying defect is in the protein responsible for transporting conjugated bilirubin out of the hepatocytes and into the bile. A unique feature of this syndrome is that the liver takes on a black or dark brown appearance due to the accumulation of a melanin-like pigment in the lysosomes of the liver cells.

Cri-du-chat (cat's cry) syndrome is a rare genetic disorder caused by the deletion of a significant portion of the short arm (p arm) of chromosome 5. The syndrome gets its name from the characteristic high-pitched, cat-like cry of affected infants, which is due to abnormal laryngeal development. Other features include intellectual disability, delayed development, microcephaly (small head size), and widely spaced eyes.

Edward's syndrome is a serious genetic condition caused by having an extra copy of chromosome 18 (Trisomy 18). It is associated with severe developmental delays and multiple structural birth defects, such as a small head, clenched fists with overlapping fingers, and 'rocker-bottom' feet. Most pregnancies affected by Trisomy 18 result in miscarriage or stillbirth, and those born alive typically have a very short life expectancy due to complex medical complications.

Patau's syndrome is a clinical condition caused by Trisomy 13 (an extra 13th chromosome). It is the least common and most severe of the viable autosomal trisomies. Characteristics include severe intellectual disability and physical abnormalities such as cleft lip or palate, polydactyly (extra fingers or toes), and microphthalmia (small eyes). Similar to Edward's syndrome, the prognosis for infants with Patau's syndrome is generally very poor.

Prothrombin is a plasma protein classified as an alpha-globulin. It is synthesized in the liver in a process that requires Vitamin K. When a blood vessel is injured, prothrombin is converted into thrombin by the action of the prothrombinase complex. Thrombin then converts soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin strands, which form the structural mesh of a blood clot. Because the liver is the sole site of its production, severe liver disease often leads to a deficiency in prothrombin, resulting in impaired clotting and an increased risk of bleeding.

The right coronary artery (RCA) emerges from the aorta and travels along the coronary sulcus. In most individuals, it gives rise to the acute marginal artery, which supplies the surface of the right ventricle. As the RCA continues to the posterior surface of the heart, it typically branches into the posterior interventricular artery (also known as the posterior descending artery). This branching pattern is essential for providing oxygenated blood to the right side of the heart and the inferior wall of the left ventricle.