ICS: Pathology & Immunology Flashcards
Define inflammation
local reaction to an injury or infection involving cells such as neutrophils & macrophages
Advantages of inflammation (2)
- Good during infections & injuries
- Prevents further spread - destroys microorganisms & walls off abscess
Disadvantages of inflammation (3)
- during autoimmunity & overreaction to stimulus
- disease may still persist & altered function
- swelling, compression & destruction of normal tissue
Define exudate
Protein rich fluid that leaks out of vessel walls due to increased vascular permeability
Characteristic of acute inflammation (3)
- sudden onset
- short duration
- usually resolves on its own
Example of acute inflammation
appendicitis
Main type of cells involved in acute inflammation
Neutrophil polymorphs (WBC)
Main diagnostic characteristic of acute inflammation
Presence of neutrophil polymorphs (NP migration)
Causes of acute inflammation (6)
- microbial infection
- hypersensitivity reaction
- physical agent
- corrosive chemicals
- bacterial toxins
- tissue necrosis
Possible resolutions of acute inflammation
- resolution
- suppuration (formation of pus)
- organisation (healing by fibrosis - scar formation)
- progression to chronic inflammation
Main response components of acute inflammation (2)
Vascular: dilation of vessels
Exudative - vascular leakage of protein rich fluid
Macroscopic appearance of acute inflammation (5)
- redness (rubor)
- heat (calor)
- swelling (tumor)
- pain (dolor)
- loss of function
Systemic effects of acute inflammation (5)
- pyrexia (fever)
- weight loss
- lymphadenopathy (swelling of ..)
- increased WBC count
- amyloidosis (deposition of protein in tissue)
Characteristic of chronic inflammation (3)
- slow onset / after acute
- long duration
- may not resolve
Examples of chronic inflammation (3)
Tuberculosis, myocardial fibrosis post MI, leprosy
Main types of cells involved in chronic inflammation (3)
macrophages, plasma cells & lymphocytes
Causes of chronic inflammation
- primary chronic inflammation
- !! transplant rejection
- progression from / recurrent episodes of acute inflammation (most common = from suppurative)
Macroscopic appearance of chronic inflammation
- Chronic ulcer / abscess cavity
- Thickening of the walls of a hollow organ
- Granulomatous tissue (when walled off but unable to eliminate → forms granuloma)
- Fibrosis (thickening or scarring of connective tissue)
Response process of chronic inflammation
- Paracrine stimulation of connective tissue proliferation (formation of new blood vessels = angiogenesis & fibroblast proliferation = collagen synthesis, granulomatous inflammation)
Define granulomas
- lump of macrophages surrounded by lymphocytes // epithelioid histiocytes with little phagocytic activity
- formation of chronic inflammatory cells
Define granulation tissue
composed of small blood vessels in a connective tissue matrix with myofibroblasts. important in healing and repair.
Diagnostic characteristic of granulomas (histological)
Ziehl-Neelsen stain (comes up bright red)
Diagnostic characteristic of granulomatous disease (enzyme)
Angiotensin converting enzyme
Treatment of inflammation (5)
- ice
- histamine
- steroid, coticosteroid
- NSAIDs
- antibiotics
Examples of granulomatous disease
TB, Sarcoidosis, Crohn’s disease
Briefly outline the Neutrophil Polymorph Migration as seen in acute inflammation
- margination of neutrophils: axial to plasmatic flow
- adhesion of neutrophils: pavementing
- neutrophil migrate through walls of venules & small veins
- diapedesis: mvt of neutrophils out of circulatory system to site of damage or infection
Normal cell flow in vessels
axial = central zone of blood stream OR laminar flow = cell travel in centre of vessels & do not touch sides
Damaged cell flow in vessels
plasmatic = flows towards endothelium
(mostly due to loss of intravascular fluid & increased plasma velocity)
Define pavementing
Neutrophil adherance to vascular endothelium
- in early acute inflam.
- increased adhesion from interact. bet. leukocyte & endo surface
Causes of pain associated with acute inflammation
- Stretching and distortion of tissues due to oedema and pus under high pressure in an abscess cavity.
- Chemical mediators e.g. bradykinin and prostaglandins, are also known to induce pain.
Difference between resolution and repair
Presence of initial factor (repair = present) & ability of tissue to regenerate (repair = unable)
Bringing edge of wound together, no infection, nice healing
Healing by 1st intention
Skin is lost, gaping wound (e.g. TA or trauma wounds, granulation tissue)
Healing by 2nd intention
‘Resolution’ for repair tissues
- Damaged tissue replaced by fibrous tissue
- Collagen produced by fibroblasts
Cells that regenerate
- hepatocytes
- pneumocytes
- all blood cells
- osteocytes
- epithelium - gut & skin
- peripheral nerves
Cells that don’t regenerate
- myocardial cells
- central neurons
Cell types that regenerate (bigger groups!)
labile, stable cell populations, stem cells
Cell types that doesn’t regenerate (bigger groups)
permanent cells
Define apoptosis
Programmed cell death of individual cells without producing harmful products
Define necrosis
Unprogrammed traumatic cell death, often in masses, which induces inflammation and repair
Triggers for apoptosis
- DNA damage: detected by p53, regulates caspase
- Virus
- Withdrawal of growth factor
Protein that switches on apoptosis
P53 protein - detects DNA damage & initiate repair, if beyond repair then apoptose
Conductor of apoptosis
Caspase enzyme
Protein that promotes apoptosis (Bcl-2 family)
Bax protein
Protein that inhibits apoptotic factors (therefore apoptosis)
Bcl-2 protein
Activation of these extrinsic receptors can activate caspase & therfore apoptosis
Fas (fas ligand binds here) & Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor (TNFR) 1
Intrinsic activation of apoptosis
Through P53 protein which also mediates the Bcl-2 family of proteins
Disease with too little apoptosis
Cancer, mutations in p53 = cell damage undetected
Disease with too much apoptosis
HIV
Examples leading to necrosis
Spider venom, frostbite, cerebral infarction
Differences between apoptosis & necrosis (3)
- programmed vs unprogrammed
- single vs en mass
- DNA (genetics) vs external
Define thrombosis
solidification of blood contents formed within vascular system during life; esp when platelet aggregation is activated within an intact vessel
Define clot
blood coagulated outside of the vascular system after death
Three factors that can cause thrombosis, one or more can precipitate
- change in vessel wall
- change in blood flow
- change in blood constituents
= Virchow’s triad
Why is thrombosis uncommon (2)
- Laminar flow.
- Non sticky endothelial cells.
Cause of arterial thrombosis
atheromatous plaque
Two drugs to treat thrombosis
Aspirin to prevent;
Warfarin for severe & patients with thrombus history
As: inhibit platelet agg // War: inhibit vitamin K - clotting factor
Define embolus
A mass of material (often a thrombus) in the vascular system that is able to become lodged in a vessel and block it.
Most common cause of embolism
thrombus (DVT), also air, amniotic fluid etc
Which type of embolism cannot travel to the other side of the body under normal conditions?
Pulmonary (venous) embolism
Normally in pulmonary arteries & cannot cross unless perforated lung
Define ischaemia
reduction in blood flow caused by constriction or blockage of the supplying blood vessel
Define gangrene
When whole regions of a limb or gut have their arterial supply cut off & large areas of mixed tissues die in bulk
Difference between wet & dry gangrene
Dry - tissue dies & healing occurs above it, eventually falls off & patient is fine
Wet - bacterial infection occurs & patient dies of sepsis
Define infarction
necrosis of part or the whole organ that occurs when the arterial supply becomes blocked
Why are tissues with an end arterial supply more susceptible to infarction?
They only have a single arterial supply and so if this vessel is interrupted infarction is likely.
Give 3 examples of organs with a dual arterial supply.
- Lungs (bronchial arteries and pulmonary veins).
- Liver (hepatic arteries and portal veins).
- Some areas of the brain around the circle of willis.
What can happen if ischaemia is rectified?
Re-perfusion injury can occur due to the release of waste products accumulated during lack of O2
Potential consequences of ischaemia
Infarction or gangrene
Consequences of arterial embolus?
An arterial embolus can go anywhere! The consequences could be stroke, MI, gangrene etc.
What are the consequences of a venous embolus?
An embolus in the venous system will go onto the vena cava and then through the pulmonary arteries and become lodged in the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism. This means there is decreased perfusion to the lungs.
Define atherosclerosis
disease characterised by the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in the intima of vessel walls
3 main components of atherosclerotic plaque
- Fibrous tissue IN the artery
- Lipid in the form of cholesterol
- Lymphocytes
Is atherosclerosis more common in the systemic or pulmonary circulation?
It is more common in the systemic circulation because this is a higher pressure system.
Primary cause of atherosclerosis
Endothelial cell damage
Give 5 risk factors for atherosclerosis.
- Cigarette smoking.
- Hypertension.
- Hyperlipidaemia.
- Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.
- Lower socioeconomic status.
Preventive measures for atherosclerosis?
- lifestyle changes
- aspirin: for those within clinical evidence of the illness, inhibits platelet aggression
- statins: cholesterol reducing drug
Why can cigarette smoking lead to atherosclerosis?
Cigarette smoking releases free radicals, nicotine and CO into the body. These all damage endothelial cells
Why can hypertension lead to atherosclerosis?
A higher blood pressure means there is a greater force exerted onto the endothelial cells and this can lead to damage.
Define hypertrophy
increase in size of a tissue caused by an increase in size of the constituent cells (without the cells dividing)
Define hyperplasia
increased in the size of a tissue caused by an increase in number of constituent cells (with division through mitosis)
Define atrophy
decrease in size of a tissue caused by either a decrease in cell size or number
Give example of a disease that demonstrates atrophy
Dementia - loss of neurons
Define metaplasia
Change in differentiation of a cell from one-fully differentiated cell type to another
Give example of a disease that demonstrates metaplasia
Barrett’s oesophagus - the cells at the lower end of the oesophagus change from stratified squamous cells to columnar
Define dysplasia
morphological changes seen in cells in progression to becoming cancer
What is a telomere
Random repetitive DNA at the tip of each chromosome, not copied prior to mitosis & shortens with each replication
What happens when a telomere becomes too short
The cell cannot replicate anymore as DNA polymerase is unable to engage
When are telomeres replicated (exceptions)
In germ cells & embryos
Give an example of a dividing and a non-dividing tissue
- Gut or skin tissue can divide.
- Brain tissue is non dividing.
When should chemotherapy used over excision?
When the illness is systemic / circulates all over the body
Difference between carcinogenic & oncogenic
Carcino-x: cancer causing
Onco-x: tumour causing
Define neoplasms
Autonomous abnormal persistent growth; suffix -oma
What needs to be done usually for chemical carcinogens before it causes disease?
Metabolic conversion from pro-carcinogens to ultimate carcinogens
What 2 types of cancer can polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons cause?
Lung & Skin cancer
What exposes people to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons?
Smoking cigarettes and mineral oils.
What types of cancer do aromatic amines cause?
Bladder cancer
Three reasons behind how alcohol can cause cancer
- ethanol makes it easier for cells in oropharynx to absorb other carcinogens
- ethanol increases oestrogen levels
- alcohol’s metabolite, acetaldehyde, is a mutagen
What types of people are more susceptible to bladder cancer caused by aromatic amine exposure?
People working in the rubber / dye industry
Name 3 biological agents that can cause cancer
- hormones: oestrogen & anabolic steroids
- mycotoxins
- Parasites
What type of cancer do nitrosamines cause?
Gut cancer
What type of cancer do alkylating agents cause?
Leukaemia but risk is small in humans
Host factor which may increase a person’s risk of having cancer?
- race
- diet
- constitutional factors - age, gender
- premalignant lesions
- transplacental exposure
Give an example of a situation when transplacental exposure lead to an increase in cancer risk.
The daughters of mothers who had taken diethylstiboestrol for morning sickness had an increased risk of vaginal cancer.
Composition of a stroma
Neoplastic cells & stroma (supporting network)
Describe neoplastic cells
- derived from monoclonal cells
- growth pattern & synthetic activity usually related to parent cell
Describe stroma
- Supportive, connective tissue framework for neoplasms, provides nutrition.
- May consist of fibroblasts, fibrous connective tissues & blood vessels
Two types of benign neoplasms of epithelial cells?
Papilloma & adenoma
Define papilloma
Benign tumour of non-glandular non-secretory epithelium
Define adenoma
benign tumour of glandular or secretory epithelium
Define carcinoma
malignant epithelial neoplasm
Define osteoma
benign tumour of the bone
Define chondroma
benign tumour of the cartilage
Define lipoma
benign tumour of the adipocytes
Define adenocarcinoma *
malignant tumour of glandular epithelium
Define angioma
Benign tumour of the vascular connective tissues
Define sarcoma
(general) malignant tumour of the connective tissues
How are tumours classified histologically?
Depending on their degree of differentiation
Grade 1 = well differentiated, resembles parent tissue more
Grade 2
Grade 3 = poorly differentiated
Define anaplastic
Poorly differentiated to the extent that there are no recognisable histological features