ASSESSMENT TASK 3 -TO REPLACE END OF YEAR EXAM
Question sheet for end-of-semester worksheet
Instructions for submission
• To type up your answers open up a new word document. To identify which question you
answer, just write “Q1 followed by your answer…”, “Q2 followed by your answer…”.
Following these instructions will ensure that you don’t accidentally generate a high similarity
score in Turnitin.
• In order to show your understanding of the content and that you are answering the question
asked (rather than adding all the information you can find about a topic), we recommend
that answers are under 250 words per question. Answers that are excessively long may be
marked down as they do not clearly show your understanding of the subject matter.
• Importantly, not all answers will be found in a textbook or lecture. We are deliberately
asking questions that make you reflect on and piece together information you have learnt
throughout the semester.
• When you have finished please upload your work onto Turnitin on LEO
• There is no need to provide references as you are answering these questions based on your
understanding and therefore will be putting it into your own words.
Case study 1 part 1- Neurological disorders (20 marks total)
Mary-Lou is a 75-year-old widow, who lost her husband to cancer over a year ago. Her family and
friends have noticed that she has been very teary, has low self-esteem and has lost interest in the
things she used to love such as going to bingo with her friends and gardening. Her family initially put
this down to the loss of her husband and thought it would pass with time. However, they are now
getting really concerned as they have noticed that her mood is not improving still. When asked by
her daughter if she is sleeping well, she says she has been drinking wine every night to help her go to
sleep. It makes her feel happy and relaxed. What started as one glass a night has now increased to
two or three glasses a night, and she has also started drinking during the day. Her daughter has
noticed that her mum’s face always appears flushed and that she has had quite a few colds lately.
Mary-Lou is also losing her balance and experiencing mood swings. Her daughter is wo
ied that she
is relying too heavily on alcohol and fears that she is starting to get short-term memory loss from the
alcohol consumption. She has been forgetting things such as where she put her keys, whether she
turned on the washing machine, why she opened the fridge and forgetting the topic of conversation
when talking with her daughter on the phone. Mary-Lou has also been getting disorientated and
getting lost when she goes out on her daily walks. A neighbor rang her daughter one day to tell her
that she found Mary-Lou wandering around aimlessly, and when questioned what she was doing
Mary-Lou snapped and said she was trying to get home. Her daughter decided it was time to take
Mary-Lou to the local GP to work out what was going on with her.
After listening to the signs and symptoms Mary-Lou was experiencing, the GP diagnosed her with
depression and prescribed 50 mg of Fluoxetine/Prozac daily. Based on the results of clinical and
adiological assessments, the GP determined that she had early onset Alzheimer’s disease. He
prescribed a cholinesterase inhibitor and gave them information on support groups and tips on what
to do from here on in. He also prescribed 10 mg of Diazepam daily to help with the withdrawals
from alcohol abuse.
Question 1
Based on the clinical picture presented above, you should have identified three diseases/conditions
we have covered in BIOL XXXXXXXXXXmarks)
• Name two of the diseases/conditions you identified, and
• List two characteristic signs or symptoms (per disease) that you noted in Mary-Lou’s history
and clinical picture.
• Finally, explain the pathophysiology of both diseases/conditions you named (i.e., explain
the changes that cause the disease and relate the typical signs and symptoms of the disease
to the clinical picture).
Question 2
Explain the mechanism of action of two drug types Mary-Lou is prescribed with and describe how
these drug actions help mitigate some of her symptoms. In you answer, make references to the
pathophysiology of the relevant diseases. (5 marks)
Question 3
a) Identify and explain two pharmacokinetic factors that are characteristic of/specific to Mary-
Lou’s antidepressant medication. Discuss how her age impacts the pharmacokinetics of her
medication. (3 marks)
) Explain what specific considerations need to be made in the present scenario, when two
drugs are administered simultaneously. (2 marks)
Question 4
Based on her clinical picture and history, explain if Mary-Lou suffers from alcohol addiction. Support
your answer with relevant evidence from the case study.
Define physical and psychological dependence and explain if signs and symptoms of either can be
observed in Mary-Lou’s case. (5 marks)
Case study 1 part 2- Musculoskeletal disorders (20 marks total)
Mary-Lou’s family was happy with the management plan established by the doctor as Mary-Lou was
progressing quite well. She was using notepads to jot down reminders, a pillbox to keep her
medication organized and a calendar to record appointments. Her family members were helping her
with routine tasks such as cooking and paying bills. She was feeling much happier and did not have
to rely on alcohol to go to sleep. On one particular day she was feeling so good she decided to walk
to her GP appointment alone. On her way there she stumbled over a
anch and fell. She felt
excruciating pain in her hip. A passer-by called an ambulance and she was taken to the emergency
department at the Royal Melbourne hospital. An X-ray revealed that she had
oken the neck of her
femur and had to have surgery to repair it.
Mary-Lou wondered whether this was linked to the crepitus she had been experiencing in her joints.
Her joints did feel quite stiff and painful lately. The specialist explained to Mary-Lou that the
crepitus was likely due to degeneration of her cartilage and said that the fracture might have been
due to weakened bones. He told her he would like her to have a bone mineral density test to
measure her bone density. The DEXA scan gave a T-score of XXXXXXXXXXMary-Lou is now given
isphosphonates and told to increase her daily intake of calcium.
Question 5
Discuss the pathophysiology of the condition causing the crepitus Mary-Lou is experiencing in her
joints. In your answer, list at least two more signs and symptoms associated with the disease. (5
marks)
Question 6
Discuss how the aetiology of Mary Lou’s joint disease differs from the other joint disease we covered
in BIOL XXXXXXXXXXmarks)
Question 7
Discuss why Mary-Lou’s fracture may take longer to heal than it would for someone who was half
her age. In your answer, you are expected to name and discuss three physiological factors that are
needed for healing to take place and explain how each of the factors you identified is affected by
ageing. Finally, name two complications of hip fracture that are prevalent in the elderly. (5 marks).
Question 8
Considering Mary-Lou’s T-score, identify the condition she suffers from,
iefly describe the
pathogenesis of this disease, and explain why bisphosphonate administration is helpful in this
condition. (5 marks)
Case study 2 - Respiratory and microbiology case study (20 marks total)
Hilda Wilde is a 45-year-old woman who was diagnosed with asthma as a child. She recalls her first
asthma attack being ho
endous; chest tightness, difficulty
eathing, wheezing, feeling anxious and
sweating profusely. She was rushed to hospital and spent many days in hospital as a child until she
managed to work out the triggers and control it early. The triggers for her asthma were cold
temperatures, pollen, smoky environments and respiratory infections/colds, which continue to be
the triggers throughout her adult life. She also developed hay fever and an allergy to penicillin in her
20’s, which didn’t surprise her as her mum also had these conditions.
One cold Spring day Hilda is outside gardening as she is finding herself stressed by the cu
ent
coronavirus and gardening usually relaxes her. Hilda is making good progress on weeding when she
starts to experience those dreaded sensations she knows only too well; tightness in the chest,
shortness of
eath and dizziness. She starts to wheeze and cannot stop coughing. Her husband
notices Hilda is struggling and
ings Hilda’s inhaler (Ventolin) for her. Hilda’s wheezing and
shortness of
eath does not ease off, even with her inhaler. She finds it hard to talk or get up and
walk. Her lips start to turn blue. Hilda’s husband calls an ambulance and Hilda is taken to hospital
where she is given corticosteroids. She is told she has to stay in hospital a few days so that her
condition can be monitored. However, Hilda is wo
ied about staying in hospital due to the novel
coronavirus out
eak. Her GP has previously told her that if she contracts the virus, she is at a
greater risk of developing more serious symptoms such as pneumonia or acute respiratory distress.
The hospital staff have assured her that they take all the necessary precautions. All coronavirus
affected patients are isolated in private rooms, and all healthcare staff practice proper hand hygiene
and appropriate use of PPE.
A few days later, Hilda’s asthma is under control and she is discharged from hospital. She is told to
take her preventer medicine every day, even when she is feeling well. She is also told to follow
outine practices and precautions to lessen her risk of contracting coronavirus.
Question 9
Choose two of Hilda’s triggers and discuss how they contribute to the pathophysiology of her
condition. (5 marks)
Question 10
Choose 2 signs or symptoms that are characteristic of Hilda’s respiratory disease and link them to
the pathophysiology of her condition (i.e., explain how the pathophysiological changes cause the
signs and symptoms you specified). (5 marks)
Question 11
Select one of Hilda’s anti-asthma medications and discuss how it helps with her condition. In your
answer, discuss the pharmacodynamics of the chosen drug and explain how the drug’s actions help
in Hilda’s disease