BLOCK 11

Question 1

what food is folic acid found in?

Answer 1

spinach, mushrooms and green leaves

Question 2

outline the metabolism of folic acid in the body?

Answer 2

its converted to tetrahydrofolic acid and methyltetrahydrofolate by dihydrofolate reductase

Question 3

what are 2 indications for folic acid?

Answer 3

folate deficiencies and megaloblastic anaemia

Question 4

what class of drug is desogestrel?

Answer 4

synthetic progesterone

Question 4

what class of drug is desogestrel?

Answer 4

synthetic progesterone

Question 5

how does desogestrel work?

Answer 5

it binds to progesterone and oestrogen receptors slowing the frequency of GnRH from the hypothalamus and reducing the LH surge and maintaining high levels of progesterone

Question 6

what is oxytocin used for?

Answer 6

to induce labour

Question 7

how does oxytocin work?

Answer 7

it activates receptors on the uterus which increase intracellular Ca2+ causing muscle contraction

Question 8

what is oxytocin involved in in men?

Answer 8

movement of sperm, production of testosterone

Question 9

what type of drug is ethinylestradiol?

Answer 9

synthetic derivative of oestrogen estradiol

Question 10

what’s the moa of ethinylestradiol?

Answer 10

it interacts with oestrogen receptor which regulates gene transcription. this leads to an increase in hepatic synthesis of sex hormone binding globulin, thyroid binding globulin and other serum proteins. it also suppresses FSH release. during menstruation it causes maturation/release of the egg and thickens the uterus lining to allow for implantation

Question 11

what has too much estradiol been linked to?

Answer 11

acne, constipation, loss of sex drive and depression

Question 12

what has too little estradiol been linked to

Answer 12

bone growth retardation and development

Question 13

in men what do proper oestradiol levels link to?

Answer 13

bone maintenance, nitric oxide production and brain function

Question 14

what type of drug is dinoprostone?

Answer 14

a prostaglandin E2 receptor agonist

Question 15

what is dinoprostone used for?

Answer 15

vaginal suppository to induce cervical ripening and labour

Question 16

how does flucloxacillin work?

Answer 16

it inhibits penicillin-binding-protein in the cel wall which prevents the last stage bacterial cell wall synthesis. cell lysis can then occur

Question 17

what type of drug us tetracycline?

Answer 17

30s inhibitor

Question 18

what is tetracyclines moa?

Answer 18

it binds to the bacterial 30s subunit and blocks incoming tRNA from binding to the ribosome receptor site. this inhibits translation and therefore bacterial growth

Question 19

what do we tend to prescribe these days instead of tetracycline?

Answer 19

doxycycline

Question 20

what type of drug is gentamicin?

Answer 20

a 30S/50S inhibitor amino glycoside

Question 21

what types of gram negative bacterial-causing infections is gentamicin indicated for?

Answer 21

pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, enterobacter

Question 22

what’s the downside of aminoglycosides?

Answer 22

can cause significant ear and kidney damage

Question 23

what type of drug is sodium valproate?

Answer 23

an anti-convulsant

Question 24

how does sodium valproate work?

Answer 24

its a GABA receptor agonist

Question 25

what are the indications for sodium valproate?

Answer 25

epilepsy and is used as a mood stabiliser

Question 26

what is a major contraindication of sodium valproate?

Answer 26

pregnancy

Question 27

what type of drug Is thalidomide?

Answer 27

an immunomodulatory agent

Question 28

what’s a major contraindication of thalidomide?

Answer 28

pregnancy

Question 29

what’s the purpose of 5 alpha reductase?

Answer 29

to reduce testosterone to 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone which can then bind to the androgen receptor but with a greater affinity than testosterone

Question 30

what is somatropin?

Answer 30

a synthetic human growth hormone receptor agonist

Question 31

what is somatropin used to treat?

Answer 31

dwarfism and growth failure