drugs/ treatments Flashcards
(14 cards)
effects of ecstasy/ MDMA
affects thinking, mood and memory
can cause anxiety and altered perceptions
provides feelings of emotional warmth and empathy
short term: changes in behaviour and brain chemistry
long term: changes in behaviour and change in brain structure- insomnia, depression and other psychological problems
how MDMA affects synapses
increases the concentration of serotonin the synaptic cleft
by binding to molecules in the presynaptic membrane that are responsible for transporting serotonin back into the cytoplasm
prevents removal of serotonin from synaptic cleft
drug may also cause the transporting molecules to work in reverse- further increasing the amount of serotonin outside the cell
could have a similar effect on molecules that transport dopamine as well
how MDMA brings about effects
the impact on synapses leads to higher levels of serotonin- which bring about mood changes
side effects of MDMA use
clouded thinking, agitation and disturbed behaviour
sweating, dry mouth (thirst), increased HR, fatigue, muscle spasms and hyperthermia
effects of repeated MDMA use
or single high dose
hyperthermia, high BP, irregular heart beat, muscle breakdown and kidney failure
can be fatal
human genome project
task of deciphering the whole of the human genome
has allowed many new disease genes to be identified (eg genes identified as increasing susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease)
alzheimers
form of progressive dementia
multifactorial disease- age, genes and environment included
symptoms: confusion and progressive severe memory loss
gene involved in alzheimer’s
genetic fault on chromosome 21 on the APP gene for production of the precursor of an amyloid protein i
ApoE
possession of these alleles of a gene linked to Alzheimer’s
ApoE2,3,4 are common alleles
two alleles of ApoE4 increase risk of alzheimer’s
what does ApoE gene do
controls the production of a lipoprotein used in the repair of cell membranes in damaged neurones
ApoE4
allele produces a variant of lipoprotein, it attaches to a receptor on the surface of brain cells and causes an amyloid protein to be taken up and deposited as insoluble plaques on the brain cells
drug target
specific molecule that a drug interacts with to bring about its effect
identification of disease genes and their products allows new drug targets to be found
DNA sequencing
advances in genome sequencing allow quick and inexpensive dna sequencing
could revolutionise diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases with personalised gene-based medicine- pharmacogenomics
ethical implications of human genome project
implications of testing for genetic predisposition (could affect health insurance accessibility)- could cause discrimination
who should decide about the use of genetic predisposition tests and on whom they should be used
confidentiality issues around making and keeping records of individual genotypes
medical treatments made possible through development of genetic technologies will be expensive/ inaccessible
