Glossary Flashcards

0
Q

What is an aeroallergen?

A

An inhaled antigen (e.g. pollen, dust mite faeces)

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1
Q

What is adenylate cyclase?

A

Plasma membrane bound enzyme that synthesises the second messsenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) from ATP. Activity is stimulated by the Gs class of G-protein that is in turn positively regulated by beta-2 adrenoreceptors in airway smooth muscle.

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2
Q

What is airway resistance (Raw)?

A

Related to calibre of airway - increased in obstructive defect; normal in restrictive defect

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3
Q

What is antihistamine?

A

Antagonist of G-protein coupled histamine type 1 (H1) receptor resulting in anti-allergic actions on inflammatory cells (e.g. oral cetirizine) - fast onset of action - used in allergic type asthma and in allergic rhinitis.

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4
Q

What is an antileukotriene?

A

Antagonist of G-protein coupled cysteinyl leukotriene receptor - resutling in anti-allergic actions on cells (e.g. oral montelukast) and smooth

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5
Q

What is atopy?

A

An allergic state predisposition

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6
Q

What is atypical pneumonia?

A

Caused by an atypical organism which is intracellular, such as mycoplasma pneumoniae, chlamydia pneumoniae, legionella pneum-ophilia - all respond to macrolide antibiotic such as erythromycin or tetracyclines such as deoxycycline or quinolones like ciprfloxacin.

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7
Q

What is a beta-2-adrenoceptor?

A

Plasma membrane bound G-protein coupled receptor on airway smooth muscle - natural sympathetic nervous system agonist is adrenaline (released from adrenal medulla) resulting in relaxation, exogenous agonists are fast onset, either short acting (inhaled salbutamol) or long acting (inhaled salmeterol, formoterol) and result in bronchodilation [i.e. smooth muscle relaxation] - used for asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

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8
Q

What is a broad spectrum antibiotic?

A

An antibiotic which covers a wide spread of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms - e.g. amoxicillin

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9
Q

What are bronchial breath sounds?

A

Abnormal harsh breath sounds transmitted from bronchi through consolidated lung and associated with crackles.

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10
Q

What are bronchodilators?

A

Drugs which relax bronchial smooth muscle and imporve airflow obstruction.

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11
Q

What is a chemokine?

A

A class of chemotactic cytokines (e.g. leukotriene B4 (LTB4))

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12
Q

What is chronic airflow obstruction?

A

A condition caused by smoking resulting in airflow obstruction which does not vary with time.

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13
Q

What is consolidation?

A

Filling of alveolar air sacs with solid tissues - due to infection or infarction.

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14
Q

What is Cor-pulmonale?

A

Pulmonary hypertension due to chronic hypoxic lung disease - pulmonary heart disease.

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15
Q

What is cyclic AMP (cAMP)?

A

Second messenger that activates the intracellular kinase protein kinase-A (PKA). Phosphorylation reactions mediated by PKA in airway smooth muscle causes relaxation.

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16
Q

What are cytokines?

A

A large family of polypeptides (e.g. interleukins), secreted by white blood cells, that act as messengers between cells, either stimulating, or inhibiting, the activity of various cells of the immune system.

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17
Q

What is exudate?

A

Inflammatory pleural effusion with protein content >30g/l (e.g. lung cancer) - usually unilateral.

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18
Q

What is the forced expiratory ratio?

A

Ratio of forced respiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC). Ration <75 per cent indicates obstructive defect.

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19
Q

What is gas transfer diffusion (TLCO or DLCO)?

A

Capability to transfer carbon monoxide across the alveoli-vascular bed - reduced in restrictive defect, normal in obstructive defect (unless emphysema)

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20
Q

What is a glucocorticoid receptor?

A

Cytoplasmic receptor which binds to natural ligand [cortisol (aka hydrocortisone)] released from the adrenal cortex, or exogenous steroid [e.g. oral prednisolone, IV hydrocortisone, or inhaled beclamethasone] which results in altered gene transcription and various anti-inflammatory actions - slow onset of action.

21
Q

What are glucocorticoids or glucocorticosteroids?

A

A class of steroids, both endogenous (e.g. cortisol) and synthetic (e.g. prednisolone, inhaled beclamethasone) that act as agonist of the glucocorticoid receptor.

22
Q

What is haematogenous spread?

A

Spread of bronchial carcinoma cells via the blood to solid organs such as bone, liver, adrenal and brain

23
Q

What is haemophilus influenzae?

A

A gram-negative rod which commonly causes endobronchial infection in COPD

24
Q

What is haemoptysis?

A

Production of blood during coughing

25
Q

What is heparin?

A

Anticoagulant which acts via antithrombin III, given as low MW heparin by subcutaneous route, reversed by protamine - used for acute anticoagulation or short-term prophylaxis.

26
Q

What is hypercapnic drive?

A

Normal stimulus to breathing driven by PaCO2

27
Q

What is hypoxic drive?

A

Abnormal stimulus to breathing driven by Pa02 - in response to CO2 desensitisation during chronic CO2 retention in COPD.

28
Q

What does immuno competent/immunocompromised mean?

A

Normal or impaired immunity of the host to pathogens (e.g. due to HIV, alcohol and poor nutrition lympho-proliferative disease or chemotherapy)

29
Q

What is interstitial lung disease?

A

Involvement of the alveoli or alveolar walls, by disease process.

30
Q

What is lymphatic spread?

A

Spread of bronchial carcinoma cells via lymphatics to nodes in mediastinal, hilar or supraclavicular/cervical areas.

31
Q

What are muscarinic receptors (also referred to as cholinoreceptor)?

A

Plasma membrane bound G-protein coupled receptors on airway smooth muscle - natural parasympathetic [vagal nerve] nervous system agonist is acetylcholine resulting in constriction. Exogenous antagonists are fast onset, and either short acting [inhaled ipratropium], or long acting [inhaled tiotropium] and result in bronchodilation [i.e. smooth muscle relaxation] - used in COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and in acute asthma

32
Q

What are narrow spectrum antibiotics?

A

Antibiotics which have high activity against specific organisms e.g. penicillin (streptococcus pneumoniae), flucloxacillin (staphylococcus aureus)

33
Q

What is nebuliser?

A

A device which vaporises a liquid drug to be inhaled as an aerosol or droplets - driven by an air compressor or oxygen.

34
Q

What is an obstructive defect?

A

Pattern of pulmonary function abnormality resulting in recued expiratory airflow rates, reduced forced expiratory ratio and expiratory air trapping.

35
Q

What is obstructive sleep apnoea?

A

Upper airway obstruction resulting in abnormal ventilator response with snoring, poor sleep and day-time sleepiness

36
Q

What is peak expiratory flow rate?

A

The maximum flow rate (L/min) achieved on forced expiration from total lung capacity - reduced in obstructive defect, normal in restricitive defect.

37
Q

What are phosphodiesterases?

A

A broad class of intracellular enzymes that degrade the second messengers cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cyclic GMP (cGMP) to inactive products. Theophylline is an example of a non selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor.

38
Q

What is a pleural effusion?

A

Fluid in pleural cavity - either transudate or exudate

39
Q

What is pneumonia?

A

Infection and consolidation in the alveolar air sacs (i.e. parenchymal infection) as opposed to endobronchial infection.

40
Q

What is a pneumothorax?

A

Air in the pleural cavity with associated lung collapse.

41
Q

What is pulmonary emboli?

A

Fragments of blood clot, fat, amniotic fluid or foreign material which lodges in the pulmonary arterial circulation arising from the venous system.

42
Q

What is pulmonary infarction?

A

Necrosis of lung tissue due to iscaemia consequent upon pulmonary emboli or thrombosis in situ (e.g. in pulmonary hypertension, or contraceptive pill)

43
Q

What is residual volume?

A

The volume of air in lungs after vital capacity (VC) after full expiration from total lung capacity (TLC). Increased in air trapping due to obstructive defect; reduced in restrictive defect (TLC = VC + RV).

44
Q

What is restrictive defect?

A

Pattern of pulmonary function abnormality resulting in reduced lung volumes and reduced alveolar gas transfer.

45
Q

What is a spacer?

A

A device which acts as a holding chamber for a pressurised metered dose aerosol - reduces mouth deposition (and hence local side effects) and improves lung deposition (and hence efficacy).

46
Q

What is a spasmogen?

A

An agent that elicits smooth muscle contraction (e.g. histamine, leukotrienes C4 (LTC4) and D4 (LTD4)

47
Q

What is Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus)?

A

A gram-positive coccus which commonly causes community acquired pneumonia.

48
Q

What is a tension pneumothorax?

A

Pneumothorax increasing in size resulting in acute respiratory distress and mediastinal shift - required emergency drainage

49
Q

What is transudate?

A

Non-inflamamtory pleural effusion with protein content <30g/l (e.g. heart fialure) - usually bilateral.

50
Q

What is warfarin?

A

A slow acting long duration oral anticoagulant which acts by antagonising vitamin K1 dependent prothrombin synthesis which is monitored by measuring the prothrombin time (as international normalised ratio: INR) and is reversed by vitamin K1 - used for long-term anticoagulation.