need help with your account or subscription? click here to email us (or see the contact page)
join telegramNEW! discord
jump to exam page:
search for anything โ‹… score predictor (โ€œpredict me!โ€)

Welcome to dbgโ€™s page.
Contributor score: 197


Comments ...

 +11  visit this page (nbme21#3)
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

APOCRINE vs. ECCRINE

Your skin has two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands occur over most of your body and open directly onto the surface of your skin. Apocrine glands open into the hair follicle, leading to the surface of the skin. Apocrine glands develop in areas abundant in hair follicles, such as on your scalp, armpits and groin.

Ref: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyperhidrosis/multimedia/sweat-glands/img-20007980

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

 +7  visit this page (nbme20#3)
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

Imo, this answer choice is wrong, there is no problem in the process of collagen "synthesis" per se. The issue is with excessive synthesis and disorganized deposition. Not an 'abnormal synthetic process' - as would be in EDS, MF, Menkes, etc.

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
whoissaad  Exactly my reasoning for not choosing collagen "synthesis" +3
rockodude  dont overthink people, whether its an underproduction or overproduction of collagen, overproduction is still abnormal collagen synthesis. its abnormal to make an excessive amount of collagen 3 leading to a keloid +6

 +12  visit this page (nbme20#49)
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

BBs work by decreasing cAMP and Ca2+ thereby slowing SAN & AVN activity. This prolongs phase 4 of depolarization. Therefore, they are known to increase the duration of diastole (predominantly) causing both a rise in heart coronary perfusion and reduction in heart rate.

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
lovebug  FA 2019, 318page. class two antiarrhythmics. +1

 +5  visit this page (nbme24#40)
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

Did anyone else wonder WHAT "PULMONARY SYMPTOMS" is the question referring to?? There is literally not a single symptom mentioned in the whole vignette. No "crackles heard over both lung fields" are not symptoms. They are signs found by the physician.

Seriously doubting the whole NBME board test writers right now. Do they adequately revise their work? This is not the first technical mistake I realize on the new forms.

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
nbmehelp  Yup. Looking back its clear what they were trying to get at, but this definitely threw me off when I was taking the test bc I kept rereading the question looking for a specific symptom the pt had that they wanted me to explain. +3
ergogenic22  I agree with you that the writers are whack but this question clearly says "diffuse crackles are heard over both lung fields" +3
ergogenic22  i take that back i understand what you're saying +7
peqmd  I think what are causing her pulmonary "signs" might be more accurate question. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161858#sign-vs-symptom +2
an_improved_me  I get where you anger is coming from.. They expect the students to pick up the most minor details as they may be relevant to an extremely vague and tedius questions and answers, but don't hold themselves to the same standard. +1

 +7  visit this page (nbme24#23)
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

WTF is "weakness of plantar dorsiflexion" ????? it's like saying "extension flexion" This is not the only obvious technical mistake in the new NBMEs ...

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
karthvee  loool +2
yex  Funny Board!! Yeahhhhh +

 +17  visit this page (nbme24#40)
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

Am I the only one who thought, my whole life, that it actually originates from the thyroid but just physically connected to the tongue

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
nbmehelp  same +15
medguru2295  me! I went with submandibular gland bc I thought there was a gland under there. +
alexxxx30  nope...i definitely thought the same thing...when I clicked thyroid I was like wow that was an easy question. HA +1




Subcomments ...

submitted by neonem(629), visit this page
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

I think metastasis was the best option here because there are multiple malignant neoplasms... primary cancers tend to start as a single mass in the tissue of origin. In the lung, metastases are more common than primary neoplasms.

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
dbg  I seriously could not figure out whether those white opacities were actual lesions or reflections from the actual picture (flash light) ... mind went all the way maybe this is the shiny pleura so they're going after mesothelioma. smh +10
dbg  shiny pleura with tiiiiny granulations if you look closely. but obviously was far off +
et-tu-bromocriptine  "Multiple cannonball lesions" is indicative of a metastatic cancer. I think if they were leaning towards a mesothelioma, they'd show the border/edge of the lung ensheathed by a malignant neoplasm (see image): https://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/jpeg1/LUNG081.jpg +5
bullshitusmle  guys something I learned from NBMEs is that if there is a clinical vignette dont even look at the images they give you ,they are all useless and time-consuming +1
goaiable  The way i narrowed it down was that the patient had signs of weight loss since three months whereas her cough developed recently (3 weeks). If the cancer arose in the lung then I think the cough or other pulmonary symptoms should emerge earlier. +1
almondbreeze  FA2019 pg 669 in the lung, metastasis (usually multiple lesions) are more common the primary neoplasms. most often from breast, colon, prostate, and bladder ca. +1


submitted by neonem(629), visit this page
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

I think metastasis was the best option here because there are multiple malignant neoplasms... primary cancers tend to start as a single mass in the tissue of origin. In the lung, metastases are more common than primary neoplasms.

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
dbg  I seriously could not figure out whether those white opacities were actual lesions or reflections from the actual picture (flash light) ... mind went all the way maybe this is the shiny pleura so they're going after mesothelioma. smh +10
dbg  shiny pleura with tiiiiny granulations if you look closely. but obviously was far off +
et-tu-bromocriptine  "Multiple cannonball lesions" is indicative of a metastatic cancer. I think if they were leaning towards a mesothelioma, they'd show the border/edge of the lung ensheathed by a malignant neoplasm (see image): https://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/jpeg1/LUNG081.jpg +5
bullshitusmle  guys something I learned from NBMEs is that if there is a clinical vignette dont even look at the images they give you ,they are all useless and time-consuming +1
goaiable  The way i narrowed it down was that the patient had signs of weight loss since three months whereas her cough developed recently (3 weeks). If the cancer arose in the lung then I think the cough or other pulmonary symptoms should emerge earlier. +1
almondbreeze  FA2019 pg 669 in the lung, metastasis (usually multiple lesions) are more common the primary neoplasms. most often from breast, colon, prostate, and bladder ca. +1


submitted by lnsetick(107), visit this page
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
  • APocrine = your armpits smell like an APE
  • ceRUMen = thereโ€™s no ROOM in your ears since theyโ€™re full of wax
  • EC-CRYne = when you ECercise, your pores are CRYing
  • SEBaceous = SEBum is SEEPing out of your pores
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
hungrybox  as an ape i'm offended +39
dr.xx  stop being an ape. evolutionize! +7
dbg  as a creationist i'm offended +13
maxillarythirdmolar  Also, Tarsal/Meibomian glands are found along the rims of the eyelid and produce meibum +
snripper  So why is it apocrine? The dude is EXERCISING when playing football. +6
qball  The question asks about "the characteristic odor" i.e. body odor coming from the APEocrine glands. The Eccrine glands secrete water and electrolytes. +3


submitted by neonem(629), visit this page
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

Sounds like a case of Li-Fraumeni syndrome - since p53 is a tumor suppressor for a bunch of cell types, mutations in this gene (as in LFS) result in a myriad of familial tumor types.

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
pparalpha  Li-Fraunemi syndrome = SBLA (sarcoma, breast, leukemia, adrenal gland syndrome) and occurs because of an autosomal dominant inherited mutation of p53 APC: linked to FAP (colorectal cancer) RET: linked to papillary thyroid cancer, MEN 2A, MEN 2B RB1: retinoblastoma +11
privatejoker  The thing that threw me off was that the only connection in her FH to the above SBLA reference was the mention of a paternal cousin with adrenocortical carcinoma. The other two mentioned had brain cancers, which seem completely outside the scope of the above mnemonic. Then again, as mentioned elsewhere, I suppose the best policy on these is just to rule out the absolute wrong answers. I swear, the NBME is lying when they tell us to choose the "best" answer on some of these. What they actually mean in practice is for us to choose the least shitty. +17
dbg  ^ this guy cracked the code. nbme ur doomed. +10
cienfuegos  @privatejoker: I feel the pain. Quick FYI: UW includes brain in the associated tumors. +3
hyperfukus  we can just make her thing SBBLA and hopefully never get this wrong again +9
jakeperalta  @privatejoker: according to UW, Li Fraumeni includes SABBB(sarcoma/adrenocortical/breast/brain/blood(leukemia)) +2
ac3  side note: RB1 = retinoblastoma with an increased risk of osteosarcoma +
lukin4answer  TP53 associated with SBLA + Brain tumor + Anaplastic Thyroid ca + Transitional cell ca. -UW +
an1  Li Fraumeni in sketchy path includes brain, breast, bone and adrenals +


submitted by hpsauce(-2), visit this page
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

I believe this is Caplan Syndrome (bronchogenic carcinoma + rheumatoid arthritis). Only flaw to that is that the pulmonary findings don't perfectly represent pneumoconioses.

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
dbg  it's just bronchogenic ca, type of adenoca, which is classically associated with 'hypertrophic osteoarthropathy' +
woodenspooninmymouth  To get it for the test, remember that lung adenocarcinoma is associated with clubbing. Mechanistically, this woman probably had RA. Then she was exposed to asbestos. The asbestos in the context of RA lead to caplan syndrome. The asbestos also triggered her bronchogenic carcinoma. +
step1soon  Then why isnt Rheumatoid Arthritis right? what comes first? bronchogenic carcinoma or rheumatoid arthritis? +


submitted by lebron james(22), visit this page
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

Syringomyelia normally presents with bi-lateral loss of pain/temp in a cape like distribution due to damage of the anterior white commisures of the Spino-Thalamic Tract.

This person also has wasting of the small muscles of her hand, which is due to Syrinx expansion causing damage to LMNs of the anterior horn (from CNS Pathoma)

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
dbg  you're talented, bball and now this +22


submitted by youssefa(162), visit this page
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

From Faid 2019 new figure: IGF-1 mainly functions as an anabolic hormone on muscles and bones (pretty much like insulin-> decreases serum glucose). GH acts separately by promoting insulin resistance (increasing serum glucose). Therefore, IGF-1 is not the answer. If GH was among the answers it would have got really confusing.

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
charcot_bouchard  Can anyone take a little time to curse on that daughter? +6
dbg  Sure, charcot. Just wished on her to get a couple of charcots (the triad, your aneuryms, marie tooth, etc). +2
noorahsaahir  Charcot_bouchard and dbg best comments .... ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ +
feanor  I hope she gets anal ulcers and ascaris both at the same time. Imagine the worms laying their eggs on top of em while she sleeps with the guilt. +


submitted by hayayah(1212), visit this page
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

With chronic vomiting, you lose electrolytes and a lot of acid. It triggers metabolic alkalosis which is why all the serum values are low (or on the lower end of the normal range) except for bicarbonate.

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
ergogenic22  decreased K+ (from increased RAAS due to volume loss) and decreased Cl- (loss of HCl from the stomach), Alkalosis from loss of HCl and thus high bicarb. For this reason high to mid range K is wrong +5
sbryant6  Wouldn't increased RAAS lead to increased Na+? The answer shows decreased Na+. +3
sbryant6  Also, remember Bulimia Nervosa is associated with hypokalemia. +1
sugaplum  so the range they gave for K is 3-6? so 3.2 is WNL then? or are we just operating on "it is on the lower end of normal in peds" +2
dbg  sodium levels in pyloric stenosis vary, nothing really classic, can be high as in this case simply due to hydration, can low in other cases if aldosterone managed to reverse that to the other extreme +1
skonys  "Hypochloremic, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis is the classic electrolyte and acid-base imbalance of pyloric stenosis" from medscape behind paywall. Vomiting = volume loss (dec skin tugor) as well as loss of H+, Cl- and Na+(with H20) -> Metabolic Alkalosis. Loss of H+ causes increase HCO3- retention as well as K+ shift into cells (hypokalemia FA19 578). +


submitted by strugglebus(189), visit this page
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

Most of the pts values were normal. Drinking wasn't outrageous, LDL was mild, BMI has fine. He did have HTN though. The biggest risk factors are the fact that he had suffered an MI and started suffering severe depression (weight loss/anxiety). Thus, he is more at risk for suicide.

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
sohaib111  Won't having an MI be a very big risk factor for another one ? And also if they wanted this answer (the anti-depressant), why would they just add that his LDL is inreasing in the last sentence... +14
dbg  bc they're SOBs and DOBs +33
doodimoodi  Yeah, recommended LDL in people with previous heart problem is < 100 jeez +1
asingh  It is because of the timeframe of mortality is 2 yrs, everything else will affect later +6
benny  mdd increase MI +
benny  Type 2 diabetes and major depressive disorder (MDD) are independent contributors to cardiovascular disease and to an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI). +
drzed  None of the cardiovascular options would improve mortality (statins, ACEi, BB, spironolactone are the ones that have proven mortality benefit). So if they had put one of those, I think I would have chosen that, but given that the rest don't change mortality at all, I went with the antidepressants. +2
ihatetesting  My thinking was that since he had an MI, a beta blocker would improve mortality, and propranolol is also used as an anxiolytic. +2


submitted by notadoctor(175), visit this page
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

Analysis of the elastin in the question showed a decreased number of desmosine cross-links. Desmosine is made up of four lysine residues. Therefore abnormal elastin is likely missing lysine necessary for the formation of these desmosine cross-links. Wikipedia article on Desmosine.

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
dbg  how can i trust you, you aint even a doctor +30
euchromatin69  trust this then U.W 1249 +4
tryntofigritout  UW 1249 was perfect. #loveyourname euchromatin ha +1


submitted by charcot_bouchard(574), visit this page
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

pKa is pH at which any drug is at its 50% ionized state.

Now we are alk urine i.e inc pH. when pH>pKa it will have two diff path for acidic drug & basic drug.

Acidic drug will inc its elimination (inc ionized form), basic drug will be more absorbed. so we need to know the drug is basic /acidic.

Now if u alk urine its elimination inc. so it have to be acidic. or u can know its a sodi salt of drug with CNS property i.e most like Phenobarbital (Weak acid)

so if pKa of drug is 6---at pH 7 we will start eliminating

but if pKa is 0 we need to raise pH of urine at 11 to start eliminating.at that point prev drug (pKa=6) would be totally out of system.

thats why A is the right ans (pKa = 6)

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
charcot_bouchard  Correction : Not 0. i means if pKa is 10 +3
charcot_bouchard  2nd update : cont to learn school grade chem. if pKa > 7 it is base. and if pKa is < 7 it is acid. Since we established the drug have to be a weak acid pKa cant be more than 7. +
dbg  thanks, but Pka and PH are not at all the same thing +2


submitted by famylife(110), visit this page
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

"Thyroglossal duct cysts most often present with a palpable asymptomatic midline neck mass usually below [65% of the time] the level of the hyoid bone."

"The thyroglossal tract arises from the foramen cecum at the junction of the anterior two-thirds and posterior one-third of the tongue."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroglossal_cyst

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
dbg  Am I the only one who thought, my whole life, that it actually originates from the thyroid but just physically connected to the tongue +15


submitted by lsmarshall(465), visit this page
get full access to all content โ‹… become a member

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome - Defect in androgen receptor resulting in normal-appearing female (46,XY DSD). Functioning testes causes increased testosterone at puberty, which is converted to estrogen peripherally, giving female secondary sexual characteristics (female external genitalia). Lack of androgen receptor function leads to absent or scant axillary and pubic hair. Patients have rudimentary vagina, but uterus and fallopian tubes absent.

Androgen insensitivity syndrome is the answer but you might have considered Mรผllerian agenesis (Mayer-Rokitansky- Kรผster-Hauser syndrome).

Mullerian agenesis will have normal hormone levels and may present as 1ยฐ amenorrhea (due to a lack of uterine development) in females with fully developed 2ยฐ sexual characteristics (functional ovaries). Hair development is normal as well. Patients also have normal height.

Seems like this question did not give us much to distinguish besides height and tanner stage 1 pubic/axillary hair.

get full access to all content โ‹… become a member
dbg  100% agreed. Mullerian agenesis was on my mind too. The full breast development kept me fixed at this dx. Did not think how high testosterone at this age and insensitivity would push towards peripheral conversion to estrogen and hence breast development. Thanks. +
makingstrides  Mullerian agenesis: absent vagina, uterus/cervix because no mullerian system. Yet, still has secondary characteristics ie: breast, pubic hair, normal hormone levels (normal ovaries). Also check to break down the different subtypes of DSD: CAIS, 5alpha reductase deficiency, and swyer syndrome all for XY DSD. Where as for XX DSD, overproduction of gestational androgenism and placental aromatase deficiency. Bc in CAIS the testosterone receptor is dysfunctional, no external / internal male organs are going to form in an XY fetus, but you will have an extra production testosterone (like explained above) leading to increased estrogen (breast growth), but since no ovaries, you dont have the mullerian system. You are left with a vagina with a blind pouch (from lack of functioning receptors) +
makingstrides  Also to add, there are testes that produce the MIH, so you have degeneration of the mullerian system. From B&B +


search for anything NEW!