Modest improvement in the memory of patients with Alzheimer's disease may occur with drugs that increase transmission at which of the following receptors?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Alzheimer's disease features cholinergic neuron loss, impairing memory via reduced acetylcholine signaling in the hippocampus and cortex. Drugs like acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., donepezil) boost cholinergic transmission by preventing acetylcholine breakdown, modestly improving memory and cognition in early stages. Adrenergic enhancement (e.g., via norepinephrine) affects arousal, not memory directly. Dopaminergic drugs treat Parkinson's, not Alzheimer's cognitive deficits. GABAergic drugs (e.g., benzodiazepines) inhibit cognition, worsening memory. Serotonergic agents target mood, not memory. The cholinergic deficit is a hallmark of Alzheimer's pathology, and augmenting this system remains a primary therapeutic strategy, validated by clinical outcomes.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Morphine, an opioid, relieves pain but depresses respiration via mu-receptor agonism. Assessing respiratory rate first detects early depression (e.g., <12 bpm), a life-threatening risk requiring immediate action (e.g., naloxone). Pain level gauges efficacy but follows safety. Blood pressure and pulse may drop, but respiratory compromise is morphine's primary danger post-op, where patients are vulnerable. Prioritizing breathing aligns with ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation) and morphine's pharmacology, ensuring oxygenation before comfort. This sequence prevents overdose escalation, making B the first parameter to assess after administration.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.