Free Test Prep PCAT Exam Questions

In which of the following stages of embryo development are the three primary germ layers first present?

Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects millions of individuals worldwide, and the Sickle Cell Disease Association ofAmerica estimates that 70,000 to 100,000 individuals have SCD and 3 million individuals have the sickle celltrait. While SCD is known to primarily affect individuals of African American descent, individuals from SouthAmerica, the Caribbean, Central America, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean can also have SCD or theSCD trait. SCD is estimated to affect 1 in 500 African American infants, and 1 in 12 African Americans areestimated to have the sickle cell trait. SCD is characterized by episodes of acute and chronic pain. Byincreasing awareness about SCD and promoting patient education, health care professionals can help patientsand their families cope with SCD and better manage the associated pain. Recurring episodes of acute and/orsevere pain are hallmarks of SCD. SCD pain can often be debilitating, and episodes of pain vary from patient topatient in both frequency and intensity. SCD pain can be classified as acute, chronic, or mixed. At some point,most SCD patients experience episodes of pain often referred to as vaso-occlusive crisis (sickle cell crisis), theduration of which may range from hours to days. Some patients seldom have a sickle cell crisis, while othersmay experience crises several times a year. Some episodes may be so severe that hospitalization is warrantedto manage the pain. An acute pain event is the most common type of pain, and the onset is typically abrupt. It isoften the result of an ischemic tissue injury, which is due to the occlusion of microvascular beds by sicklederythrocytes during an acute crisis. Acute pain episodes can also be triggered by factors including extremetemperature changes, changes in altitude, physical and emotional stress, illnesses, infections, dehydration, coldclimates, menstruation, and fatigue. Chronic pain is pain that lasts for 3 to 6 months or longer. Chronic painoften results from the destruction of bones, joints, and visceral organs due to recurrent crises. Sources ofchronic sickle cell pain include aseptic necrosis, leg ulcerations, and osteomyelitis. Unfortunately, acute andchronic pain associated with SCD are commonly undertreated or inappropriately managed due to patient fear ofpotential addiction and adverse effects. Many studies report that some health care professionals are alsoconcerned about the potential for addiction. When appropriate, pharmacologic management of SCD pain mayinvolve the use of 3 major pharmacologic classes: nonopioids, opioids, and adjuvants.Out of this group, which of the following demographic is the LEAST likely to have SCD?

Since 1997, the American Heart Association (AHA) has attempted to increase awareness about cardiovasculardisease (CVD) among women. Fortunately, great progress has been made to educate individuals about CVDand its consequences. According to the AHA’s 2011 Guidelines for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease inWomen, the misconception that CVD is a “man’s disease” has been somewhat disproved, as awarenessamong the general public increased from 30% in 1997 to 54% in 2009. Unfortunately, CVD continues to be theleading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. Since 1984, the number of deaths relatedto CVD in women exceeded those in men. In the United States, CVD death rates among women aged 35 to 54years appear to be increasing by 1% annually, which is most likely attributable to the escalating obesityepidemic. According to the AHA, even though CVD is the number 1 cause of death among women, only 13% ofwomen perceive CVD as a health threat. CVD is responsible for more deaths among women than the next 3leading causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. Due to the ongoing prevalence of CVD,increasing awareness and understanding of CVD, especially among the female population, is still a top priorityfor many health care professionals. As one of the most accessible health care professionals, pharmacists are ina pivotal position to educate and inform their patients of the risks associated with CVD, possible drug therapies,and preventive measures. The AHA has set a goal for 2020 to improve cardiovascular health in all Americansby 20%, while reducing deaths from CVD and stroke by 20%. According to the American Heart Association, inthe United States a woman dies of some form of CVD every minute and more than 1 in 3 females have someform of CVD. Studies have demonstrated that gender differences may play an important role in the diagnosis,treatment, and prevention of CVD. Unfortunately, many women may not always recognize the warning signsand symptoms of a heart attack because they sometimes appear more subtle when compared with thosetypically experienced by men. Results from a study of 515 women who had heart attacks report that 43% didnot experience any type of chest pain or pressure during the heart attack. Although the classic symptomsinclude chest pain, tingling in the left arm, sweating, and shortness of breath, women may also experiencesome “atypical” symptoms, such as extreme fatigue, nausea, dizziness, indigestion, vomiting, and pain in theneck or back. By learning and recognizing the warning signs, women can take a proactive approach to theircardiovascular health and get treatment earlier to prevent further complications.Throughout the passage, it is implied that which of the following will lead to fewer deaths resulting from CVD?

In which non-membranous compartment are ribosomes made in a eukaryotic cell?

On a bad day, have you ever been irritable? Have you ever used a harsh tone or even been verballydisrespectful to your parents or teachers? Everyone has a short temper from time to time, but current statisticsindicate that between 16% and 20% of a school population suffer from a psychological condition known asOppositional Defiance Disorder, or ODD.ODD symptoms include difficulty complying with adult requests, excessive arguments with adults, tempertantrums, difficulty accepting responsibility for actions, low frustration tolerance, and behaviors intended toannoy or upset adults. Parents of children with ODD can often feel as though their whole relationship is basedon conflict after conflict.Unfortunately, ODD can be caused by a number of factors. Some students affected by ODD suffer abuse,neglect, and severe or unpredictable discipline at home. Others have parents with mood disorders or haveexperienced family violence. Various types of therapy are helpful in treating ODD, and some drugs can treatparticular symptoms. However, no single cure exists.The best advice from professionals is directed toward parents. Therapists encourage parents to avoidsituations that usually end in power struggles, to try not to feed into oppositional behavior by reactingemotionally, to praise positive behaviors, and to discourage negative behaviors with timeouts instead of harshdiscipline.As used in this passage, the phrase feed into most nearly means: