A 69-Year-Old Man Comes to the Clinic Due to a Squeezing

question 793

Multiple Choice

A 69-year-old man comes to the clinic due to a squeezing pressure in his midline chest and neck that occurs when walking.  He has a history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus.  The patient is an ex-smoker with a 20-pack-year history.  Coronary angiography shows extensive atherosclerosis and near-total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery.  Further testing shows normal resting left ventricular ejection fraction with no regional wall motion abnormalities.  The absence of myocardial necrosis and scarring despite vessel occlusion in this patient can be best explained by which of the following features of the occluding plaque?

• A)Active peripheral inflammation
• B)Lipid-rich core
• C)Low calcium content
• D)Ostial location
• E)Slow growth rate
• F)Thin fibrous cap

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Definitions:

Quality-of-life Theory

A theory that evaluates the general well-being of individuals and societies, emphasizing satisfaction with life, health, and other personal and environmental factors.

Hormone Theory

A concept in biology and medicine that describes the regulatory role hormones play in various bodily functions, such as growth, metabolism, and mood regulation.

Artifact Theory

A concept in psychology that suggests observed phenomena might not reflect natural behavior but instead result from the research method itself.

Social Pressure

The influence that is exerted on individuals by others or by society, encouraging conformity to norms and behaviors.