Operational Pathology Interview Questions & Answers:

1. What is a "gene expression signature" for a tumor?

A collection of genes that are expressed consistently higher or lower in the tumor than is the population norm for non-tumorous tissue of the same type.

2. What are the benefits of high-throughput expression analysis in molecular biological investigations?

These techniques allow simultaneous analysis of the expression of many genes. Patterns of increased or decreased expression is associated with disease may then be identified and may contribute to improved diagnosis and prognosis.

3. To what 2 aspects of a usability assessment should the word "representative" apply?

(1) Representative tasks

(2) Representative users

4. Dr Jones is a pathologist who has recently developed a virtual microscope program for teenagers to use while they are hospitalized. He thinks that teens might use this program to learn more about their illness and the role that pathology plays in the hospital. He has heard that usability is important, so he asks a few of his colleagues to try the program out in their free time and to e-mail their comments to him. Describe 3 specific things that Dr Jones should have done differently in order; to more appropriately assess the usability of his program.

(1) Have teens test the program, not physicians;
(2) select specific representative tasks for the assessment (not just "try the program out"); and
(3) observe the participants using the program and have them think aloud during the session rather than e-mail comments.

5. There are about 40 000 human genes and ESTs (expressed sequence tags) available on the Affymetrix Gene Chips for gene expression. Make some reasonable assumptions and estimate, for a normal organ, the number of genes that will appear to be expressed significantly greater than or less than the population norm (95% confidence interval).

If we assume that each gene is independent and occurs in a normally distributed population, then one might expect approximately 5% of 40 000 or 2000 genes to appear over expressed or under expressed.

6. In ionizing radiation, cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle are most sensitive?

False

7. In ionizing radiation, mitosis does not occur in irradiated cells?

False

8. In ionizing radiation, cells experiencing hypoxia are vulnerable to radiation damage?

False

9. In ionizing radiation granulation tissue, formation is delayed in wounds, which have been radiated?

True

10. In ionizing radiation, undifferentiated tumors are usually more sensitive to radiation than differentiated tumors.

True

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11. Early suture removal does not affect the granulomatous response.

False

12. Monocytes clean the debris left by phagocytes.

True

13. The epidermal and dermal epithelia grow downwards along the suture track.

True

14. Fibroblasts have a contractile function, which helps to produce a small scar.

True

15. The wound site becomes vascular as time passes.

False

16. Gangrene refers to tissue necrosis with or without infection.

False

17. Acute inflammation usually occurs around necrotic tissues.

True

18. Apoptosis does not usually cause inflammation.

True

19. Autolytic changes in the nucleus are pathognomonic of necrosis.

True

20. The blood vessels surrounding an acutely inflamed site usually show progressive vasodilatation from the time of injury.

False

21. With regard to cell growth, ionizing radiation can cause atrophy.

True

22. With regard to cell growth, hypocalcaemia can lead to enlargement of the parathyroid gland.

True

23. With regard to cell growth, the main stimulus for hypertrophy is hormonal

False

24. With regard to cell growth, in metaplasia, there is a change of a type of differentiated cell to a type of undifferentiated cell

False

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25. With regard to cell growth, achondroplasia does not affect membranous bone

True