A family presents to their primary care provider reporting ...

[biggirl4568]

A family presents to their primary care provider reporting headache, nausea, weakness, tinnitus, and vomiting. Which of the following would be the most likely explanation for these symptoms?
 
  a. Lead exposure
  b. Carbon monoxide poisoning
  c. Ethanol exposure
  d. Mercury poisoning

Question 2

A common pathway of irreversible cell injury involves increased intracellular:
 
  a. sodium.
  b. potassium.
  c. magnesium.
  d. calcium.

[jazzlynnnnn]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Symptoms related to carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, giddiness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), nausea, weakness, and vomiting. Although nausea and vomiting can occur with lead exposure, lead toxicity is primarily manifested by convulsions and delirium and, with peripheral nerve involvement, wrist, finger, and sometimes foot paralysis. Ethanol exposure has CNS ef-fects and would not affect the whole family. Mercury poisoning is manifested by CNS effects and would not lead to nausea and vomiting.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
Increased intracellular calcium levels activate cell enzymes (caspases) that promote cell death by apoptosis. Persistent ischemia is associated with irreversible injury and necrosis. Irreversible inju-ry is associated structurally with severe swelling of the mitochondria, severe damage to plasma membranes, and swelling of lysosomes. Cellular injury is not associated with sodium, potassium, or magnesium levels.