Question 1

A person may feel more relaxed after smoking a cigarette, but his or her heart is actually stressed. Why?

Accepted Answer

A) Maintenance neurons are being activated by the nicotine, which directs maintenance neurotransmitters to instead activate stress neurons. 
B) The relaxed feeling is more psychosomatic rather than being based upon some neurochemical response. 
C) Stress neurons are over-firing to make up for nicotine's inhibition of acetylcholine. 
D) The relaxed feeling arises only after the stimulated muscles rebound from a point of fatigue generated by the inhibition of acetylcholine. 
A) Maintenance neurons are being activated by the nicotine, which directs maintenance neurotransmitters to instead activate stress neurons. 
B) The relaxed feeling is more psychosomatic rather than being based upon some neurochemical response. 
C) Stress neurons are over-firing to make up for nicotine's inhibition of acetylcholine. 
D) The relaxed feeling arises only after the stimulated muscles rebound from a point of fatigue generated by the inhibition of acetylcholine.

Question 2

Why is methadone, a synthetic opioid, used to help treat opioid addiction?

Accepted Answer

A) Methadone is easier to deliver. 
B) Methadone helps relieve the symptoms of physical addiction. 
C) Like dissolves like. 
D) Methadone helps relieve the symptoms of psychological addiction. 
E) only A and B 
A) Methadone is easier to deliver. 
B) Methadone helps relieve the symptoms of physical addiction. 
C) Like dissolves like. 
D) Methadone helps relieve the symptoms of psychological addiction. 
E) only A and B

Question 3

Why is cancer treated most successfully in its earliest stages?

Accepted Answer

A) All cancers are slow-growing in their early stages which makes them more susceptible to treatment. 
B) Cancer cells release toxins that can accumulate in the body over time. The earlier the treatment, the fewer of these toxins are in the body. 
C) The earlier the cancer is caught, the fewer the number of cancer cells there are that need to be killed, which makes it easier for the chemotherapy and the immune system to work together. 
D) Early-stage cancer cells carry genetic markers that make them easy to identify and target with both chemotherapeutics and radiation treatment. 
A) All cancers are slow-growing in their early stages which makes them more susceptible to treatment. 
B) Cancer cells release toxins that can accumulate in the body over time. The earlier the treatment, the fewer of these toxins are in the body. 
C) The earlier the cancer is caught, the fewer the number of cancer cells there are that need to be killed, which makes it easier for the chemotherapy and the immune system to work together. 
D) Early-stage cancer cells carry genetic markers that make them easy to identify and target with both chemotherapeutics and radiation treatment.

Question 4

Which of the following strategies is not used to treat cancer?

Accepted Answer

A) damage the cell walls by targeting specific proteins of the cancer cell 
B) target the DNA to kill the cancerous cells 
C) prevent the necessary organelle that leads to mitosis from forming 
D) starve the cancer cells by interfering with metabolic processes 
E) all of the above 
A) damage the cell walls by targeting specific proteins of the cancer cell 
B) target the DNA to kill the cancerous cells 
C) prevent the necessary organelle that leads to mitosis from forming 
D) starve the cancer cells by interfering with metabolic processes 
E) all of the above

Question 5

Why are cannabinoids not considered true hallucinogens?

Accepted Answer

A) They do not alter visual perception. 
B) They do not produce a change in behavior. 
C) They do not alter the mood of the subject. 
D) They do not give you the munchies. 
E) They do not alter the heart rate. 
A) They do not alter visual perception. 
B) They do not produce a change in behavior. 
C) They do not alter the mood of the subject. 
D) They do not give you the munchies. 
E) They do not alter the heart rate.

Question 6

Which of the following neurotransmitters would most likely be the cause or effect of the following state? suppression of lower-brain signals

Accepted Answer

A) dopamine 
B) norepinephrine 
C) acetylcholine 
D) GABA 
E) serotonin 
A) dopamine 
B) norepinephrine 
C) acetylcholine 
D) GABA 
E) serotonin

Question 7

Common drugs originate from ________.

Accepted Answer

A) natural products 
B) chemical derivatives 
C) laboratory synthesis 
D) all of the above 
A) natural products 
B) chemical derivatives 
C) laboratory synthesis 
D) all of the above

Question 8

What is the leading cause of drug overdoses?

Accepted Answer

A) accidental combination of incompatible drugs 
B) recreational drug use 
C) abuse of prescription pills 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) accidental combination of incompatible drugs 
B) recreational drug use 
C) abuse of prescription pills 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 9

How does a neuron maintain an electric potential difference across its membrane?

Accepted Answer

A) Neurons pump potassium ions across the cell membrane. 
B) Neurons activate the synaptic terminals by means of an impulse phase which reverses the electric potential. 
C) Neurons eject sodium ions from their inner hollow channels priming itself for an impulse. 
D) Neurons rely on the synaptic terminals to supply the electric potential. 
A) Neurons pump potassium ions across the cell membrane. 
B) Neurons activate the synaptic terminals by means of an impulse phase which reverses the electric potential. 
C) Neurons eject sodium ions from their inner hollow channels priming itself for an impulse. 
D) Neurons rely on the synaptic terminals to supply the electric potential.

Question 10

Why does chemotherapy work best for early stages of cancer instead of late stages?

Accepted Answer

A) Chemotherapy works best on cells that are dividing rapidly, such as those in early stage tumors. 
B) Chemotherapy works better on a smaller number of cells because cells that are not destroyed can be cleaned up by the immune system. 
C) Chemotherapy is more effective the longer the chemical treatment. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above 
A) Chemotherapy works best on cells that are dividing rapidly, such as those in early stage tumors. 
B) Chemotherapy works better on a smaller number of cells because cells that are not destroyed can be cleaned up by the immune system. 
C) Chemotherapy is more effective the longer the chemical treatment. 
D) all of the above 
E) none of the above

Question 11

What advantages are there to synthesizing a naturally occurring medicine, such as Taxol, in the laboratory rather than isolating it from nature?

Accepted Answer

A) Synthesizing a natural product can be advantageous when the source of the natural product is rare and thus not readily available. 
B) In synthesizing the natural product in the laboratory, the chemist is able to create closely related compounds that may have even greater medicinal properties. 
C) Both A and B are true. 
D) In synthesizing the natural product in the laboratory, a chemist can increase the concentration of the synthetic beyond that of natural product to insure maximum potency for good heath. 
A) Synthesizing a natural product can be advantageous when the source of the natural product is rare and thus not readily available. 
B) In synthesizing the natural product in the laboratory, the chemist is able to create closely related compounds that may have even greater medicinal properties. 
C) Both A and B are true. 
D) In synthesizing the natural product in the laboratory, a chemist can increase the concentration of the synthetic beyond that of natural product to insure maximum potency for good heath.

Question 12

What is taking place in the synaptic cleft?

Accepted Answer

A) Neurotransmitters are diffusing between the cells. 
B) Sodium ions are generating charge. 
C) Negative ions are accumulating due to neuron firing. 
D) Receptor sites are forming due to neuron activity. 
E) none of the above 
A) Neurotransmitters are diffusing between the cells. 
B) Sodium ions are generating charge. 
C) Negative ions are accumulating due to neuron firing. 
D) Receptor sites are forming due to neuron activity. 
E) none of the above

Question 13

Aspirin can cure a headache, but when you pop an aspirin tablet, how does the aspirin know to go to your head rather than your big toe?

Accepted Answer

A) The body is able to "pool" medicines around areas of increased neuronal activity. 
B) The aspirin doesn't "know" to go to your head rather than your big toe. Rather, it gets distributed throughout your body. 
C) The blood vessels within your head are generally more accessible than those within your big toe. 
D) Most commercially available aspirins are compounded with buffer agents that direct the aspirin to regions of lower pH, which includes the cerebral hemispheres. 
A) The body is able to "pool" medicines around areas of increased neuronal activity. 
B) The aspirin doesn't "know" to go to your head rather than your big toe. Rather, it gets distributed throughout your body. 
C) The blood vessels within your head are generally more accessible than those within your big toe. 
D) Most commercially available aspirins are compounded with buffer agents that direct the aspirin to regions of lower pH, which includes the cerebral hemispheres.

Question 14

What is the main tenet of the lock-and-key model for drug activity?

Accepted Answer

A) There is a connection between molecular structure and its biological effect. 
B) Only certain biological keys can unlock the potential of a drug. 
C) The key to a drug's success is to keep it locked away from stomach acid. 
D) The biological lock of an enzyme can be activated by using certain chemical keys. 
E) all of the above 
A) There is a connection between molecular structure and its biological effect. 
B) Only certain biological keys can unlock the potential of a drug. 
C) The key to a drug's success is to keep it locked away from stomach acid. 
D) The biological lock of an enzyme can be activated by using certain chemical keys. 
E) all of the above

Question 15

The compound Lovastatin helps to decrease the risk of heart attack by ________.

Accepted Answer

A) strengthening heart muscles 
B) depressing the action of neurons within heart tissues 
C) lowering cholesterol within blood 
D) aiding in the digestion of omega-3 fatty acids 
E) all of the above 
A) strengthening heart muscles 
B) depressing the action of neurons within heart tissues 
C) lowering cholesterol within blood 
D) aiding in the digestion of omega-3 fatty acids 
E) all of the above

Question 16

What is the difference between a beta blocker and a calcium-channel blocker?

Accepted Answer

A) Beta-blockers block norepinephrine and epinephrine from binding to beta-adrenoceptors and a calcium channel blocker inhibits the flow of calcium ions into muscles. 
B) Calcium channel blockers block norepinephrine and epinephrine from binding to beta-adrenoceptors and do not relax the heart as beta-blockers do. 
C) Although both slow down and relax the heart, only calcium blockers can block norepinephrine and epinephrine from binding to beta-adrenoceptors. 
D) Although both slow down and relax the heart, only beta-blockers can inhibit the flow of calcium ions into muscles, thereby inhibiting muscle contraction. 
A) Beta-blockers block norepinephrine and epinephrine from binding to beta-adrenoceptors and a calcium channel blocker inhibits the flow of calcium ions into muscles. 
B) Calcium channel blockers block norepinephrine and epinephrine from binding to beta-adrenoceptors and do not relax the heart as beta-blockers do. 
C) Although both slow down and relax the heart, only calcium blockers can block norepinephrine and epinephrine from binding to beta-adrenoceptors. 
D) Although both slow down and relax the heart, only beta-blockers can inhibit the flow of calcium ions into muscles, thereby inhibiting muscle contraction.

Question 17

One of the active components of marijuana, D9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is available as a prescription drug under the trade name Marinol, which is taken orally. What advantage and what disadvantage does Marinol hold for a person suffering from nausea?

Accepted Answer

A) Advantage of Marinol: no risk of being sent to jail; disadvantage: The physician may be hesitant to prescribe it because of the illegal nature of marijuana. 
B) Advantage of Marinol: doesn't damage lungs; disadvantage: Taken orally, this drug doesn't act as fast as THC when inhaled. 
C) Advantage of Marinol: tax dollars are not lost to the war on drugs; disadvantage: If the patient is already nauseous, he or she will have a hard time holding it in the stomach. 
D) all of the above 
A) Advantage of Marinol: no risk of being sent to jail; disadvantage: The physician may be hesitant to prescribe it because of the illegal nature of marijuana. 
B) Advantage of Marinol: doesn't damage lungs; disadvantage: Taken orally, this drug doesn't act as fast as THC when inhaled. 
C) Advantage of Marinol: tax dollars are not lost to the war on drugs; disadvantage: If the patient is already nauseous, he or she will have a hard time holding it in the stomach. 
D) all of the above

Question 18

How might the structure of benzocaine be modified to create a compound having greater anesthetic properties?

Accepted Answer

A) transform the ester group into an ether 
B) remove the nitrogen found bonded to the benzene ring 
C) extend the ester group away from the benzene ring and add an additional nitrogen atom 
D) add more carbon atoms to the nitrogen found bonded to the benzene ring 
A) transform the ester group into an ether 
B) remove the nitrogen found bonded to the benzene ring 
C) extend the ester group away from the benzene ring and add an additional nitrogen atom 
D) add more carbon atoms to the nitrogen found bonded to the benzene ring

Question 19

What is a pathogen?

Accepted Answer

A) a disease-causing organism 
B) the side effect of a drug 
C) a type of receptor site specific to bacteria 
D) a type of virus that infects tobacco 
E) none of the above 
A) a disease-causing organism 
B) the side effect of a drug 
C) a type of receptor site specific to bacteria 
D) a type of virus that infects tobacco 
E) none of the above

Question 20

Which of the following would be an example of a synergistic effect?

Accepted Answer

A) Antidepressants and cold medicine together can lead to seizures. 
B) Aspirin reduces fever and thins the blood. 
C) Penicillin kills infectious bacteria and beneficial bacteria in the intestine. 
D) Caffeine suppresses the appetite and causes the jitters. 
E) none of the above 
A) Antidepressants and cold medicine together can lead to seizures. 
B) Aspirin reduces fever and thins the blood. 
C) Penicillin kills infectious bacteria and beneficial bacteria in the intestine. 
D) Caffeine suppresses the appetite and causes the jitters. 
E) none of the above

A person may feel more relaxed after smoking a cigarette, but his or her heart is actually stressed. Why?

Why is methadone, a synthetic opioid, used to help treat opioid addiction?

Why is cancer treated most successfully in its earliest stages?

Which of the following strategies is not used to treat cancer?

Why are cannabinoids not considered true hallucinogens?

Which of the following neurotransmitters would most likely be the cause or effect of the following state? suppression of lower-brain signals

Common drugs originate from ________.

What is the leading cause of drug overdoses?

How does a neuron maintain an electric potential difference across its membrane?

Why does chemotherapy work best for early stages of cancer instead of late stages?

What advantages are there to synthesizing a naturally occurring medicine, such as Taxol, in the laboratory rather than isolating it from nature?

What is taking place in the synaptic cleft?

Aspirin can cure a headache, but when you pop an aspirin tablet, how does the aspirin know to go to your head rather than your big toe?

What is the main tenet of the lock-and-key model for drug activity?

The compound Lovastatin helps to decrease the risk of heart attack by ________.

What is the difference between a beta blocker and a calcium-channel blocker?

One of the active components of marijuana, D9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is available as a prescription drug under the trade name Marinol, which is taken orally. What advantage and what disadvantage does Marinol hold for a person suffering from nausea?

How might the structure of benzocaine be modified to create a compound having greater anesthetic properties?

What is a pathogen?

Which of the following would be an example of a synergistic effect?

About Science

Particles of Matter

Elements of Chemistry

Subatomic Particles

The Atomic Nucleus

How Atoms Bond

How Molecules Mix

How Water Behaves

How Chemicals React

Acids and Bases in Our Environment

Oxidations and Reductions Charge the World

Organic Compounds

Nutrients of Life

Optimizing Food Production

Protection Water and Air Resources

Capturing Energy

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Exam 14: Medicinal Chemistry

A person may feel more relaxed after smoking a cigarette, but his or her heart is actually stressed. Why?

Why is methadone, a synthetic opioid, used to help treat opioid addiction?

Why is cancer treated most successfully in its earliest stages?

Which of the following strategies is not used to treat cancer?

Why are cannabinoids not considered true hallucinogens?

Which of the following neurotransmitters would most likely be the cause or effect of the following state? suppression of lower-brain signals

Common drugs originate from ________.

What is the leading cause of drug overdoses?

How does a neuron maintain an electric potential difference across its membrane?

Why does chemotherapy work best for early stages of cancer instead of late stages?

What advantages are there to synthesizing a naturally occurring medicine, such as Taxol, in the laboratory rather than isolating it from nature?

What is taking place in the synaptic cleft?

Aspirin can cure a headache, but when you pop an aspirin tablet, how does the aspirin know to go to your head rather than your big toe?

What is the main tenet of the lock-and-key model for drug activity?

The compound Lovastatin helps to decrease the risk of heart attack by ________.

What is the difference between a beta blocker and a calcium-channel blocker?

One of the active components of marijuana, D9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is available as a prescription drug under the trade name Marinol, which is taken orally. What advantage and what disadvantage does Marinol hold for a person suffering from nausea?

How might the structure of benzocaine be modified to create a compound having greater anesthetic properties?

What is a pathogen?

Which of the following would be an example of a synergistic effect?

About Science

Particles of Matter

Elements of Chemistry

Subatomic Particles

The Atomic Nucleus

How Atoms Bond

How Molecules Mix

How Water Behaves

How Chemicals React

Acids and Bases in Our Environment

Oxidations and Reductions Charge the World

Organic Compounds

Nutrients of Life

Optimizing Food Production

Protection Water and Air Resources

Capturing Energy

Filters