B6 preventing and treating diseases Flashcards
What’s a vaccination
It involves introducing small quantities of dead or inactive pathogen to the body
How are pathogens recognised
Specific antigens on the pathogen stimulate white blood cells to produce specific and complementary antibodies to destroy them
How is herd immunity achieved
When a large population is immune so pathogens can’t speed
What happens after body kills inactive pathogens
Memory white blood cells stay in the blood to make the specific antibody’s quickly again if infected in the future
What plant does digitalis come from and what does it help
It comes from a foxglove and is a heart drug
What plant does aspirin come from and what does it help with
It comes form a willow tree and forms painkillers
What do painkillers do
They treat the symptoms of an illness not killing the pathogens
What do antibiotics do
They kill bacteria cells without harming your own. Specific bacteria should be treated with specific antibiotics
Why don’t antibodies work in viral pathogens
Viruses reproduce inside body cells so it’s very difficult to develop an antiviral drug that kills virus without body cells
Why do drugs need to be tested
If there safe (toxicity)
If they work (efficacy)
How much should be given (dosage)
What are the 3 stages of preclinical testing
Cells - tissues - live animals
What are the 2 stages of clinical trials
Healthy volunteers - patients
How do clinical trails work
- Low doses of drug given to healthy volunteers to check side effects
- Small number of patients are trailed to see if it treats disease
- Large groups of patients trailed to find optimum dosage
How is scientists work checked
A process called peer review to prevent false claims if successful drug can be licensed
How do double blind trails work
Patients are randomly divided some are given placebo other given the new medication
Why are double blind trails used
The doctor nor the patient know who is receiving what treatment to prevent bias
