A 62-year-old man undergoes elective abdominal surgery for colon cancer. Current medications are opioid analgesics for postoperative pain control. Approximately 24 hours later, he develops a fever of 38 C. He reports mild shortness of breath. He does not have chest pain, cough, or hemoptysis. Physical examination reveals decreased breath sounds at the lung bases bilaterally without crackles or wheezing. Oxygen sats are 95% on room air. Chest x-ray shows mild bibasilar opacities. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient’s fever?

A. Atelectasis
B. Postoperative pneumonia
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Surgical site infection
E. Urinary tract infection

In this short clip I talk about how to prepare for USMLE 2CK in 2026.

A 41-year-old woman comes to the physician for a follow-up appointment.

Which of the following is most likely to be seen in this patient?

A) Dysphagia
B) Hypocalcemia non-responsive to supplementation
C) Hypothyroidism
D) Tetany
E) Tremor

In this short clip I talk about how to prepare for USMLE Step 1 in 2026.

A 44-year-old male is being managed in hospital. A biopsy specimen is shown.

Which of the following is the most likely explanation for these findings?

A) Diabetes
B) Dyslipidemia
C) Granulation
D) Severe hypertension
E) Polyarteritis nodosa

A 10-year-old girl is brought to the physician by her mother for a 1-day history of severe drowsiness and fatigue. She has been complaining of severe thirst for the past two weeks and has been frequenting the toilet more than ordinary. Which of the following is most likely to be seen in this patient?

A) Cellular shift
B) Increased sodium/potassium ATPase activity
C) Increased translocation of GLUT4
D) Increased tyrosine kinase activity
E) Reduced polyubiquitination

This is a short video about the nutrition updates for USMLE in 2026.

A 64-year-old man is being managed in hospital for a hematologic condition. During the course of his chemotherapy, he develops bleeding from IV lines. A blood smear is shown.

Which of the following is most likely to be seen in this patient?

A) Decreased fibrinogen
B) Decreased fibrin degradation products
C) Decreased plasmin activity
D) Decreased prothrombin time
E) Increased plasminogen

A 53-year-old woman is evaluated in hospital. She has a history of breast cancer. A renal biopsy is shown.

Which of the following is most likely to be seen on urinalysis in this patient?

A) 2+ protein; 1+ blood; casts
B) 2+ protein; 1+ blood; no casts
C) 3+ protein; eosinophils
D) 3+ protein; 0-2 RBCs/hpf
E) False-positive blood on urine dipstick

A 63-year-old man is evaluated in hospital for a 2-month history of several episodes of unexplained syncope. His blood pressure is 150/90. His mother died at age 68 from cerebrovascular disease. ECG shows Q waves in II, III, and aVF. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for this patient’s findings?

A) Arrhythmia
B) Carotid stenosis
C) Cerebrovascular disease
D) Circumflex artery disease
E) Ventricular thromboemboli