Osteoarthritis is a common condition and is a topic every internist should have a firm grasp of – in practice and for the Internal Medicine Board (ABIM) Exam.   Due to the aging baby boomer population and the increase in …
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You are given a set of pulmonary function test (PFT) readings that show: FEV1 is low FEV1/FVC ratio is elevated TLC is decreased DLCO is normal Residual volume is increased   Which of the following conditions does this patient likely …
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According to the third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) published in JAMA 2001, blood samples for lipid profiles should be obtained after a 9 – 12 hour fast. It is well known that lipid testing is paramount …
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It’s disconcerting and a little sad when I realize that some of my most memorable moments of the past year involve the ABIM test. But October 4, 2012 was a fateful day for me and internal medicine docs all across …
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Which abnormality of the gallbladder is displayed in these axial non-contrast CT images through the abdomen?     A. Cholelithiasis B. Adenomyomatosis C. Emphysematous cholecystitis D. Porcelain gallbladder   Correct Answer: D. A porcelain gallbladder occurs when the wall of …
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Traditionally, mention a clinical vignette featuring a “20-something year-old male basketball player with no known medical or surgical history suddenly collapsing during a game” to any medical student and he or she will enthusiastically respond “Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.”   After news …
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“Could you please double size my cheeseburger, give me some extra-large fries, two cherry pies, and a large soda?” It is this type of diminished willpower and generous demands that lead to unattractive, expanded waistlines and the ever so popular …
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Which of the following infections requires both contact and airborne precautions so that non-infected people do not become infected?   A. Clostridium difficile (C. diff)   B. Influenza virus   C. Mycobacterium tuberculosis   D. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection …
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The benefit of statins in preventing cardiovascular disease has been well established for years. So has the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Thus, it came as somewhat of a surprise when the 2008 JUPITER trial revealed that the use …
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In medicine, there has been a huge emphasis in preventative care and this mostly occurs in general practice. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the world, and therefore a disease process we should be trying to prevent with …
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