Key Conditions Flashcards
Name some causes of malnutrition? (4)
- Malabsorption (Crohn’s disease etc)
- Eating disorders (anorexia nervosa etc)
- Lack of food availability
- Unable to adequately feed oneself (disability etc)
What is Marasmus?
A condition in which someone is severely underweight due to calorie and protein deficiencies.
What is the appearance of someone with marasmus?
Muscle wasting
Emaciated
Loss of body fat
Normal hair
What is kwashiorkor?
A condition resulting in ascites and oedema due to low protein intake
How does kwashiorkor result in oedema?
Low oncotic pressure due to decreased serum protein production (ie albumin), this means tissue fluid is not returned to capillaries
How does kwashiorkor lead to hepatomegaly?
Lack of amino acids for transport proteins therefore there is less fat transport which results in fatty liver build up, there is also less fat breakdown which further exacerbates the problem
What are features of someone with kwashiorkor? (6)
Thin, pale, weak hair Mild anaemia Thin limbs Hepatomegaly Oedema (ascites) Flaking rashes
What is the BMI of someone who is clinically obese?
> 30
What is the BMI of someone who is morbidly obese?
> 35
What is obesity a risk factor for? (5)
Type 2 diabetes CHD-atherosclerosis Osteoarthritis Cancers Psychological damage (negative body image)
What causes obesity?
Excessive energy intake (stored in adipose tissue)
Excessive alcohol and fat intakes
How is obesity managed?
Exercise and reduction in fat content
What is galactosaemia?
Inability to utilities galactose by the body leading to excessive levels in the blood
What are the 3 types of galactosaemia?
Type 1: deficiency in galactose 1-P uridyl transferase enzyme (second enzyme in pathway)
Type 2: deficiency in galactokinase enzyme (first enzyme in pathway)
Type 3: deficiency in UDP galactose epidermase enzyme (3rd enzyme in the pathway)
What are signs and symptoms of type 1 galactosaemia and why?
Jaundice, vomiting, diarrhoea, high blood sugar, low blood glucose, galactosuria, cataracts
Why?: In the absence of galactose 1-P uridyl transferase there is a build up of galactose 1-P which is toxic to hepatocytes, there is also a backing up of the pathway and the galactose levels also increase
What are the clinical features of type 2 galactosaemia? Why?
Cataracts and other small issues (ie galactosuria)
Why?: the body deals with the high galactose levels by converting it to the sugar alcohol galactitol, this process requires NADPH, with decreased NADPH levels there is no maintenance of cysteine residences and cataracts is caused
What is the treatment for galactosaemia?
Remove lactose from diet
What is the mechanism behind jaundice?
- Damage to liver
- Red blood cells broken down producing bilirubin
- Less bilirubin is conjugated (due to liver damage), it remains insoluble
- Unconjugated bilirubin builds up and it released into blood
- As it is insoluble, it moves into tissues
- Gives yellow colour to skin
What is lactose intolerance?
The deficiency of the enzyme lactase
How does a lack of the lactase enzyme cause issues?
Lactose is unable to be broken down in the gut so remains
Bacteria colonises the un-hydrolysed lactose and ferments it to produce organic acids that irritate GI. This can cause stomach cramps and diarrhoea
How is lactose intolerance treated?
Remove lactose from diet (avoid most dairy products)
A G6PDH deficiency leads to reduced NADPH production, what effect does this have? (4)
- reduction of lipid synthesis
- Less maintenance of SH residues in lens of eye- cataracts
- Less maintenance of SH residues in RBC therefore disulphide bonds form- Heinz bodies
- Glutathione reduction- important in RBCs etc for ROS detoxification
What are the symptoms of lactic acidosis?
Rapid Deep breathing
Abdominal pain
Nausea
When would lactic acidosis occur?
As a result of anaerobic respiration
Reduction of pyruvate by lactate dehydrogenase
When excess intracellular lactate is released into the blood, maintenance of electroneutrality of the blood requires that a cation be released into the blood, as well. This can reduce blood pH
What is the result of any TCA cycle defect?
Death
Lack of any enzyme is not compatible with life
Give 2 examples of uncouplers
Dinitrocresol
Dinitrophenol
How do uncouplers work?
Increase permeability of membrane to protons
Dissipation of pmf as heat, protons bypass ATP synthase
Uncoupling of ETC and OxPhos
How does brown adipose tissue use uncouplers?
Uses action of UCP1 to allow non-shivering thermogenesis
What is the pathophysiology of cyanide poisoning?
Blocks the ETC by bind to the electron transport proteins to prevent the oxidation of NADH and FADH2
No pmf established due to inactivity of proton translocation complexes
What are the consequences of have too much glycogen stored?
Tissue damage in liver and muscle
What are the consequences of having too little glycogen storage?
Poor exercise tolerance
Hypoglycaemic tendencies during fasting
What are the random and fasting blood glucose levels of someone with hyperglycaemia?
Fasting >7mM
Random>11.1mM
What are the symptoms of hyperglycaemia?
Glucosuria (above renal threshold)
Polyuria (peeing lots)- osmosis
Polydipsia (XS thirst)- losing water
What is the effect on RBCs of hyperglycaemia?
Non-enzymatic glycosylation of haemoglobin- HbA1c
At what blood glucose level is someone considered hypoglycaemic?
<3mM
What are the symptoms of hypoglycaemia and what might these symptoms be mistaken as?
Slurred speech Reduced coordination Dizziness/headache Coma Death
Initial symptoms are similar to drunkenness
Why can hypoglycaemia be fatal?
Glucose is essential for CNS function, without it CNS will starve and die
What are some possible causes of hyperammonaemia?
- High protein diet couple with a partial urea cycle defect
- Amino acid metabolism defect
- Re-feeding syndrome
How does re-feeding syndrome cause hyperammonaemia?
After long periods of starvation, there is depression of the urea cycle (as this is an induced cycle, up and down regulated by food). Reintroduction of food rapidly leads to excess amino acid degradation, there is insufficient urea cycle activity to dispose of the ammonia
What are the symptoms of the toxic effect of ammonia on the CNS?
Tremors
Slurred speech
Coma
Death
What is the effect of ammonia on the pH of the blood?
Increases it
How does hyperammonaemia lead to a reduction in energy supply?
The XS ammonia reacts with alpha-ketoglutarate which is a TCA cycle substrate
Lack of substrate inhibits the cycle therefore energy production is reduced
What is PKU?
Phenylketonuria- the presence of phenyl ketones in urine due to the defective enzyme: phenylalanine hydroxylase
What is the role of Phenylalanine hydroxylase?
Converts phenylalanine into tyrosine (which is converted into many neurotransmitters and other substances)
What is effect of a defective phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme?
Build up of phenylalanine
Causes the driving of an alternative path to form phenylpyruvate
What are the consequences of PKU? (3)
- Mental retardation (phenylalanine inhibits brain development)
- Lack of neurotransmitter synthesis
- Phenylpyruvate prevents Pyruvate uptake into mitochondria- brain is starved of energy
How do you treat PKU?
Diet low in phenylalanine - Avoid high protein foods such a meat, eggs and milk
Need to ensure diet contains tyrosine as it is an essential amino acid