7 - Dangerous Drugs Flashcards
Opioids
Synthetic compounds many 1000’s time more potent than morphine
Fentanyl
100x more potent than morphine; covered earlier: is used legitimately in surgery and in patches for slow release of small quantities: abuse has led to many deaths
Carfentanyl
Police and other emergency responders now wear masks (Hazardous Materials)in cases where Carfentanyl is suspected)
Concern that even a speck of it in vapor could be lethal
100x as powerful as Fentanyl
Synthetic Cannabinoids
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main active ingredient in marijuana
John Huffman (Clemson University, USA)…was looking for ways to create a synthetic drug that would enhance the medicinal effects of THC while eliminating the psychotropic effects
Made more than 300 compounds:published in open literature JWH-18 named after Huffman
A. Focus on some Important diseases and syndromes
- Cancer: out of control cell growth. Can be confined to one organ or be systemic: will focus on blood disorders such as lymphoma and leukemia
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Malaria
B. Modern Methods of Disease Detection
X-ray: bones and tissue
CT (Computed Tomography)scans: 3D(Circular) X-ray
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) soft tissue: detects and images water environment in organs and tissue
PET (Positron Emission Tomography)
The Power of PET
The definitive method of detecting abnormal cellular activity such as cancer
Procedure is fast (~ 2 hours) and results are available almost instantaneously
Cancerous cells grow more quickly: use more glucose! than non-cancerous ones
Glucose
Also known as blood sugar or dextrose
Comparison of CT and PET
CT Computed Tomography (Basically is circular X-ray) gives 3D images of organs and bones and can detect tumors
PET shows abnormal cell activity…hence most powerful for detecting cancerous sites
Cancerous sites
Shown in black in middle scan
Same sites shown in yellow in Right scan
Patients monitored before, during and after therapy
Power of PET in Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is gradual dementia Brain function diminishes Amyloid plaque present in brain No treatment at present BUT PET promises earlier detection
C. Genetic Origins of Disease
For this, we will look briefly at the
“ Circular Flow of Biological Information”, which is one of the few organizing rules of Molecular Biology
What is the Human Genome?
The complete set of DNA sequences in all of the human chromosomes
Genes(each human has ~ 21,000
Genes are stored in chromosomes in the nuclei of cells
Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes..thus 46 chromosomes in all
Apes have 24 pairs of chromosomes
During the course of evolution, 2 medium sized chromosomes in the ape fused into one
“humans lost a chromosome, but gained a thumb!”
contain DNA; a DeoxyNucleicAcid polymer
Chromosomes
Made up of supercoils of DNA coiled tightly around proteins called histones
The circular flow of biological information
DNA makes RNA via transcription; RNA makes Protein via translation
Proteins form and regulate organisms:tissue, hormones etc
Organisms sense environments
Environments can affect DNA …..ie. Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons in smoke can slide into the grooves of the DNA double helix
Functions of Proteins
They form and regulate organisms, such as HUMANS
Proteins are present in human organs, muscle tissue, blood, hormones, hair etc.
So, without proteins we would have no muscle structure and no way of regulating our metabolism
“epigenetic changes”
environements that cause changes in our DNA So….if our DNA is changed, our RNA is changed, and the way we make protein changes
Antibodies
also called immunoglobulins, are large Y-shaped proteins which function to (a) identify and (b) help remove foreign antigens or other targets such as viruses and bacteria