1.
Phosphoinositide-3-kinase forms inositol phospholipids that are phosphorylated in position 3. Normally, this phosphate group is removed by the lipid phosphatase PTEN. When a cell loses PTEN through somatic mutations, the most likely effect of this will be
A. 
Activation of the CREB protein
B. 
Enhanced activity of protein kinase C
C. 
Overactivity of MAP kinases
D. 
E. 
Overactivity of protein kinase B (Akt)
2.
Increased activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine at synapses in the mesolimbic dopamine system is known to cause euphoria. To get a good euphoriant effect, you should therefore design drugs that
A. 
Inhibit the sodium cotransporter for dopamine in the nerve terminal
B. 
Inhibit the transporter that pumps dopamine into synaptic vesicles
C. 
Inhibit tyrosine hydroxylase
D. 
Induce enhanced expression of catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT)
E. 
Block voltage-gated calcium channels in the nerve terminals
3.
The release of neurotransmitters from the nerve terminal depends on an increase in the cytoplasmic level of:
A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
E. 
4.
The synthesis of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine can be prevented by a drug that inhibits:
A. 
Choline-acetyl transferase
B. 
C. 
D. 
Catechol-O-methyl transferase
E. 
5.
What is the difference between nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors?
A. 
Nicotinic: has guanylate cyclase activity; muscarinic: ion channel
B. 
Nicotinic: ion channel; muscarinic: coupled to G-proteins
C. 
Nicotinic: coupled to G-proteins; muscarinic: has adenylate cyclase activity
D. 
Nicotinic: coupled to G-proteins; muscarinic: ion channel
E. 
Nicotinic: ion channel; muscarinic: has tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity
6.
Poor responsiveness to insulin is seen in many patients with type 2 diabetes. One possible way to increase the cellular response to insulin would be a drug that
A. 
Inhibits the Gq-protein, which is required for phospholipase C activation
B. 
Inhibits protein kinase B (Akt)
C. 
Inhibits the enzyme that hydrolyzes the phosphate group from position 3 of phosphorylated inositol lipids
D. 
Inhibits the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase
E. 
Prevents the binding of calcium to calmodulin
7.
You accidentally press your arm against a hot iron, and receive a second-degree burn on a patch of skin. Which of the following cell types is most likely to be killed by this burn?
A. 
Cells within the Meissner's corpuscle
B. 
Cells within the hair root matrix
C. 
Fat cells in the hypodermis
D. 
Keratinocytes of the stratum corneum
E. 
Smooth muscle cells of the arrector pilli muscle
8.
Barometric pressure at sea level is about 760 mm Hg. The world’s highest summit (Mt. Everest) is 29,035 ft. and the barometric pressure is 247 mm Hg. The inspired PO2 of a climber who was breathing 50% oxygen at the summit would be about:
A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
9.
A patient is breathing air at sea level and has a respiratory exchange ratio of 0.8. The arterial blood values are:
PO2 90 mm Hg
PCO2 20 mm Hg
pH 7.60
These values indicate that the:
A. 
Alveolar-arterial PO2 difference exceeds 20 mm Hg
B. 
Pulmonary vascular resistance is increased
C. 
Patient is hypoventilating
D. 
10.
A patient with severe arterial hypoxemia is given 100 percent O2 to breathe for 10 minutes, and arterial blood gases are then measured. An arterial PaO2 of 100 mm Hg following 10 minutes of breathing pure oxygen is due to:
A. 
B. 
Ventilation/perfusion inequality
C. 
D. 
E. 
11.
A patient exhales normally and then start to breathe into a spirometer containing 2-L of 2% helium. After several minutes, the helium concentration in the spirometer falls to 1%. The patient’s lung volume at FRC is approximately:
A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
12.
Minute ventilation is controlled by numerous factors including blood gases, mechanical receptors, body temperature, and voluntary effort (input from cortex). Which of the following mechanisms produces the greatest minute ventilation?
A. 
B. 
Decreased PO2 plus an increased PCO2
C. 
D. 
E. 
13.
A patient is suffering from obstructive lung disease. His chest wall- and respiratory system compliances are measured as:
Chest wall compliance (CCW) = 300 ml / cm H2O
Respiratory system compliance (CRW) = 100 ml / cm H2O
What is his Lung compliance (CL) in ml / cm H2O?
A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
E. 
F. 
14.
A gas mixture of several dry gases has a total pressure of 200 mm Hg and a total gas amount of 10 Mol. What is the partial pressure of one gas that has an amount 2 Mol?
A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
E. 
15.
A 45 year old male had a history of smoking 20 cigarettes a day for the past 2 years. He now complains of shortness of breath and coughing. Which of the following techniques would best determine that he has emphysema?
A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
E. 
16.
A 52 year old man has been a smoker for 30 years. He smoked 20 cigarettes a day for 20 years and 40/day for 10 years. How many pack years has he smoked?
A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
E. 
F. 
17.
The AMSA group of students are studying the vital capacity of individuals who work in a local quarry. Several persons were identified as having abnormal respiratory function. This screening exercise would be described as which kind of prevention?
A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
E. 
Adverse health prevention