Clinical conditions Flashcards
What is protein denaturation?
Loss of protein structure due to disruption of interactions responsible for secondary and tertiary structure, resulting in loss of function
What are some causes of protein denaturation?
Heat pH Organic solvents Urea Detergents
Why do denatured proteins lose their function?
Have altered active sites so can’t catalyse reactions
Receptors cant bind to signal molecules so cant cause cell signalling
What is the consequences of protein misfolding?
Cant perform functions
Accumulate in cells and tissues
What is the name of misfolded proteins?
Prion proteins
What is are examples of diseases associated with protein misfolding and how do they occur?
Alzheimer’s disease- humans
Spongiform encephalopathy- animals
Prion proteins deposit in the brain which impairs normal functions
What is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
Not enough exocrine enzymes enzymes are produced so body cant digest or absorb molecules
What are the symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
Weight loss
Increased appetite
How is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency diagnosed?
Trypsin like immunoreactivity test to test trypsin(digests proteins) levels in the blood, low levels show EPI
How is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency treated?
Pancreatic enzyme supplementation
Eating highly digestible low fat diet
Treat cause of chronic pancreatitus
What is pancreatitis?
Inflammation of the pancreas, chronic or acute
What are the consequences of pancreatitis?
Activate zymogens early so they begin to break down the body tissues and organs rather than food
Can lead to haemorrhage and death if not treated
What are causes of pancreatitis?
High fat diet
Iatrogenic- medical treatment involving glucocorticoids
Idiopathic- spontaneous
How is pancreatitis treated in the short and long term?
IV fluid therapy Anti-emetics Analgesia and anti-inflammatory drugs Starving for 24 hours to rest pancreas Long term management involving diet changes and weight loss
What is hyperammonia?
Ammonia not removed in urea cycle so has toxic build up
What are the symptoms of hyperammonia?
Vomiting Abnormal gait Head pressing Seizures Coma Death
How is hyperammonia caused?
Portosystemic shunt allows blood to bypass the liver so it isn’t detoxified in urea cycle for ammonia excretion
Lack of enzymes for urea cycle
How is hyperammonia treated?
Close portosystemic shunt
Reduce dietary protein
Medication to manage ammonia excretion
Supplement urea cycle enzymes
Define coenzymes?
Carriers and donors of functional groups, usually have dietary precursors due to body not being able to synthesise them
What are common coenzyme deficiencies?
Thiamine/B1
Cobalamin/vitamin B12
What are the signs of thiamine deficiency?
Lethargy
Anorexia
Neurological signs
Seixures
How is thiamine deficiency diagnosed and treated?
Given thiamine to see if symptoms improve
Thiamine supplements and dietary changes
What is the consequences of cobalamin deficiency?
Un functioning enzymes Poor body conditions Inability to gain weight Weakness Vomiting Diarrhoea
How is cobalamin deficiency treated?
Supplements
What is polysaccharide storage myopathy?
Genetic equine condition causing incorrect glucose storage
Too much glycogen synthase produces causes long chains with minimal branching, relatively resistant to amylase
What structure is glucose normally stored?
Glycogen with alpha 1-6 branches for easy release and alpha 1-4 branches to make chain
What enzymes are involved in glycogen formation and breakdown?
Glycogen synthase- alpha 1-4
Glycogen branching enzyme- alpha 1-6
Amylase- breaks bonds
What are the effects of polysaccharide storage myopathy?
Over production of glycogen but little available glucose
Lack of energy
Muscle stiffness
Muscle breakdown for use as fuel
How can polysaccharide storage myopathy managed?
Low-starch and high fat diet to provide fuel
What is phosphofructokinase deficiency?
Deficiency of phosphofructokinase enzyme which is crucial for formation of fructose-1,6-biphosphate in preparatory phase of glycolysis, with out it glycolysis cant take place
What are the symptoms of phosphofructokinase deficiency?
Muscle fatigue
Weakness
Pain
Stiffness
What are the causes of phosphofructokinase?
Genetic but recessive present in spaniels
What is the treatment for phosphofructokinase?
Change in diet to high protien, high fat and low carbohydrates
Reduce exercise
What do yeast and bacteria use to store polysaccharides?
Dextrans
What are the issues associated with dextran’s in the body?
Form plaque and allow bacteria to stick to teeth
Cause gum and tooth damage
What are lectins?
Proteins that bind to carbohydrate on cell membranes and allow extraversion of leukocytes, present on some bacterial and viral pathogens
What is the lectin found in influenza virus and what is its effect?
Haemagglutinin
Binds to cell surface carbohydrates to allow viral membrane to fuse with cells membrane so viral genome can enter cell and replicate
How can lectins be helpful for treatments?
Get targeted to inhibit attachment to cells
What are lipomas?
Benign masses due to abnormal adipose cell growth
What are signs of lipomas?
Mobile mass in skin Slow growth of mass Pain free Squishy Fine needle aspiration contains cells with large lipid vacuoles
What are the treatments for lipomas?
Removed when cause mobility issues or look unsightly
Eat low fat diet to possible prevent
What is ketoacidosis caused by?
Intense gluconeogenesis causes acetyl CoA to form into ketone bodies, prolonged for a long time
What are the issues of ketoacidosis?
Lower plasma pH, kidneys produce acidic urine
Increased urination rate
Dehydration
What is the role of vitamin K?
Cofactor for adding carboxylic acid to activate or inactivate clotting factors
What are symptoms of vitamin K deficiency?
Bruising Red spots on MMs Prolonged bleeding Spontaneous haematoma Haemorrhage
What causes vitamin K deficinecy?
Vitamin K absorption defects in in gut
Recycling defects
Recycling blockers
What is the role of COX enzymes?
Prostaglandin synthesis
What are the issues associated with COX blocking drugs?
Block pain but can prevent gastric secretions causing stomach irritations, ulcers and gastric bleeding
What are the benefits of COX blocking drugs?
Pain and inflammation relief
Reduces risk of heart attacks and strokes from preventing formation of thromboxane platelets
What are fatty acid metabolism disorders?
Body cant produce or use enzyme needed to oxidise fatty acids, energy from fatty acids not available
What are the different types of fatty acid disorders?
Defects in oxidation- fatty acids cant form so cant enter mitochondria for oxidation
Defects in carnitine shuttle- acyl CoA cant enter mitochondria for oxidation
What are the effects of fatty acid metabolism disorder?
Fatty acid build up in liver as sent from adipose but cant be broken down
Excess glucose use for energy causing hypoglycaemia, weakness, fatigue and seizures
How is fatty acid metabolism disorder treated?
High fibre, low fat diet
Frequent meals to avoid use of fat stores
