All of the following statements concerning the general principles of therapy with lipid-lowering drugs are true EXCEPT:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Answer B is correct because discontinuing a lipid-lowering diet solely based on the immediate reduction in plasma LDL cholesterol levels by 10% is not appropriate. The efficacy of a diet in managing lipid levels should be evaluated over a longer period, considering other factors like overall cardiovascular health and risk factors. Choosing to discontinue the diet based solely on the short-term reduction in LDL cholesterol levels can lead to overlooking other important aspects of cardiovascular health. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect: A: This statement is true because combining lipid-lowering drugs with an appropriate diet can enhance the overall effectiveness of therapy in managing lipid levels. C: This statement is also true as dietary interventions are usually recommended as the first-line approach before resorting to pharmacological therapy. D: This statement is true as certain combinations of lipid-lowering drugs can indeed work synergistically to achieve better outcomes in managing lipid levels.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Mineralocorticoids, such as aldosterone, act on the kidneys to increase sodium retention and potassium excretion. This process helps regulate blood pressure and electrolyte balance. Increased catabolism (choice A) is not a direct effect of mineralocorticoids. Increased gluconeogenesis (choice C) is a function of glucocorticoids, not mineralocorticoids. Deposition of fat on shoulders, face, and abdomen (choice D) is associated with Cushing's syndrome due to excess cortisol, not mineralocorticoids. Therefore, the correct answer is B as it aligns with the known physiological actions of mineralocorticoids.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Destroying of bacterial cells. Bactericidal effect refers to the ability to kill bacteria. This is achieved by directly destroying the bacterial cells, leading to their death. Inhibition of bacterial cell division (A) and young bacterial cell growth (B) refer to bacteriostatic effects, which only stop bacterial growth but do not kill the bacteria. Formation of bacterial L-form (D) is a phenomenon where bacteria lose their cell wall and become resistant to antibiotics, but it does not directly relate to bactericidal action.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Local anesthetics – derivatives of paraaminobenzoic acid. Sulfonamides and local anesthetics both compete for the same metabolic pathway involving paraaminobenzoic acid, leading to decreased sulfonamide potency. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not interfere with the same metabolic pathway as sulfonamides, thus not affecting their potency.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Diloxanide. Diloxanide is a luminal amebicide, meaning it acts within the lumen of the intestines to target and eliminate amoebas residing there. This drug is specifically effective against amoebic cysts and is not absorbed systemically. Metronidazole (A) and Emetine (B) are tissue amebicides, which act systemically to target amoebas in tissues. Doxycycline (C) is an antibiotic commonly used for bacterial infections, not for treating amoebiasis. Therefore, Diloxanide (D) is the correct choice for a luminal amebicide drug.