Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following is one of the simplest amino acids?

• A. Arginine
• B. Valine
• C. Lysine
• D. Glycine

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is Glycine. Glycine is indeed one of the simplest amino acids as it consists of just a hydrogen atom as its side chain. Arginine, Valine, and Lysine are all more complex amino acids compared to Glycine, making them incorrect choices for this question.

2. With respect to its effect on colon microflora, fiber is considered a:

• A. prebiotic.
• B. probiotic.
• C. functional food.
• D. protective agent.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: prebiotic. Fiber acts as a prebiotic by providing a food source for beneficial bacteria in the colon, promoting their growth and activity. This helps maintain a healthy balance of microflora in the gut. Choice B, probiotic, is incorrect as fiber itself does not contain live beneficial bacteria but rather supports their growth. Choice C, functional food, is too broad and doesn't specifically address fiber's role in promoting beneficial bacteria. Choice D, protective agent, is vague and does not directly relate to fiber's specific function in colon microflora.

3. Proteins are absorbed primarily in the form of:

• A. fatty acids.
• B. disaccharides.
• C. amino acids.
• D. polypeptides.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: amino acids. Proteins are broken down by digestive enzymes into amino acids before being absorbed in the small intestine. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are the form in which they are primarily absorbed. Choice A (fatty acids) is incorrect as fatty acids are the end products of fat digestion, not protein digestion. Choice B (disaccharides) is incorrect because disaccharides are sugars that are broken down into monosaccharides, not proteins. Choice D (polypeptides) is incorrect as proteins are broken down into amino acids and not absorbed as polypeptides.

4. The type of protein-energy malnutrition that results in edema, hypoalbuminemia, skin lesions, and fatty liver is:

• A. cachexia.
• B. marasmus.
• C. kwashiorkor.
• D. sarcopenia.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, kwashiorkor. Kwashiorkor is a type of protein-energy malnutrition characterized by edema, hypoalbuminemia, skin lesions, and fatty liver. Edema is a key feature of kwashiorkor due to hypoalbuminemia, which leads to decreased oncotic pressure. Marasmus (choice B) is a form of severe malnutrition characterized by energy deficiency without significant protein deficiency, resulting in severe wasting. Cachexia (choice A) is a syndrome characterized by weight loss, muscle atrophy, fatigue, weakness, and loss of appetite in someone who is not actively trying to lose weight. Sarcopenia (choice D) is the age-related loss of muscle mass and function.

5. In an analysis of the amino acid composition of foods, the amino acid occurring in the smallest amount is called:

• A. indispensable.
• B. dispensable.
• C. complementary.
• D. limiting.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, 'limiting.' In the analysis of the amino acid composition of foods, the amino acid that occurs in the smallest amount is referred to as the limiting amino acid. This term is used because when one essential amino acid is deficient, it limits the synthesis of proteins, making it crucial in determining protein quality. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. 'Indispensable' and 'dispensable' refer to the essentiality of amino acids, and 'complementary' does not describe the concept of the amino acid occurring in the smallest amount.

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