21/10 Flashcards
what is psychoneuroimmunology
the study of the relationship between the brain, our thoughts and emotions and our immune system
who where the pioneers of psychoneuroimmunology?
Adler and Cohen
describe the taste avoidance conditioning paradigm
if a saccarin drinking solution was given to rats and then a immunosuppressive drug CY was injected. In later trials, even though the rat had no CY just for the intake of the saccarin solution the mortality rate increased (the more solution higher mortality) as rats associated the tast of the solution with the bad effects of CY
which are the five types of immune responses
allergy, tumour, transplant, autoimmune and metabolism
what is directionality?
the brain and the DNA are interconnected, a change in one cause a change in the other. For instance, if DNA suffers damage, lack of homeostasis or a change in the metabolism, the brain can suufer stress, shoch or psychiatric disorders and vice versa. One example are genetic predispositions.
name the main components of DNA and its function
DNA stores and transmits hereditary information. It is made up of nucleotides (deoxyribose, a phosphate and a nitrogenous base (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine)) 2 strands of nucleotides twisted in helix shape and held together by hydrogen bonds
describe the process of protein synthesis
how DNA information is transformed into proteins. The first step is transcription, where the DNA infromation is copied into mRNA. Next there is translation, where ribosomes read theinformation in mRNA and creates amino acids with this information, which then link together forming proteins.
name important parts of the human immune system and describe their function
Lymphatic system, transports lymph which contains white blood cells (in charge of fighting infections and diseases) Antibodies, produced by B cells bind to antigens to neutralise them. Complement system, group of proteins that helps to destroy pathogens
describe the communicational pathways between the CNS and the immune system
neuroendocrine signaling (CNS realeases hormones affecting the immune system)
Cytokines (signaling molecules from immune system to CNS) neural signaling (nerve fibres)
explain the relationship between lithium in water and suicidal rates
the more water with lithium drinken, the lower the chances of having diseases such as dementia. It is seen how both depression and an acute infection can be caused by a neuroinflammation, and one of the four effects of lithium is reducing inflammation (as well as neuroprotection and neurogeneis, mitochondiral function and mood stabilization) By lithium reducing the inflammation it inhibits GSK-3 (which a high amount of it has been related to autoimmune and infectious diseases)
explain the difference between a phospholipid molecule and a fatty acid molecule
phospholipid molecules have one hydrophilic head and 2 hydrophobic tails, and they are arranged in a lipid bilayer. Fatty acid molecule have a hydrophilic head and 1 hydrophobic tail, arranged in a micele.
how many amino acids are there, how are they separated and what are they made up from?
there are 20 amino acids, divided into essential (cannot be synthesised by ourselves) and non-essential. They are made up from a carboxyl-group and an amino-group
what is the most basic amono acid? how many essential amino acids are there?
the most basic is glycin and there are 8 essential amino acids.
explain the relationship between atoms and biomolecules
atoms (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen) made up biomolecules (sugars, fats, and proteins) Proteins are made up of amino acids, crearing chains that can fold together creating 3D shapes which allows the protein to do a specific job.
in which groove is DNA better modified
larger
where is ATP synthesised and what is its function?
mitochondria, is the currency of the cell, meaning that it is necessary to give ATP (energy) to various body parts in order for them to function, involved in muscle movement or signal transduction (cell communication)
