L19-20 Gender + Allergy

Question 1

sex and gender influences on HIV infection in sub saharan africa

Answer 1

sex= higher transmission from HIV males to females than HIV females to males

gender= girls less knowledge, bargaining power in sexual relation = more vulnerable

Question 2

link of disease with susceptibility, detection and progression with sex and gender

Answer 2

sex= susceptibility 
gender= progression and detection

Question 3

why is sex a determinant of susceptibility in Coranry heart disease

Answer 3

• Higher estrogen levels until menopause are thought to be cardioprotective

Question 4

Why do women suffer from alzheimers, osteoporosis more?

Answer 4

• Due to longevity effects (feminisation of the population), = ageing

Question 5

what are the differences in immune response of the sexes

Answer 5

systemic and organ-specific autoimmunity (due to immune factors, hormonal, environmental)

Question 6

what does high oestrogen do to immune function

Answer 6

= improve cells mediated disease

worsened antibody mediated disease

Question 7

what enviro factors causes gender diff in autoimmune disease

Answer 7

different environmental exposures + host response to exposure

Question 8

Gender and its consequences influence differential risks

Answer 8

• symptom recognition
• severity of disease
• access to and quality of care
• compliance with care

Question 9

what is atopy

Answer 9

• Genetic predilection to produce specific IgE following exposure to allergens
• = to develop allergies need some sort of genetic predilection

Question 10

why is sensitization

Answer 10

• Refers to the production of allergen-specific IgE.

* Sensitization to an allergen is not synonymous with being allergic to that allergen

Question 11

describe the Allergic lgE pathway

Answer 11

• Once a substance enters the body, it is degraded, and allergens are taken up by antigen presenting cells.
• APCs further degrade the allergen and present peptide fragments of it on the cell surface, in the setting of class II (MHC) molecules.
• The peptide/ MHC II complexes are recognized by Th2 cells.

Question 12

how does TH2 cells interact with b cell

Answer 12

1. stimulate the B cell= mature= plasma cell= produces IgE specific to the component of the allergen in question.
2. • After IgE antibodies specific for a certain allergen are secreted, they diffuse throughout the body, binding to high-affinity receptors (FcεRI) on mast cells in the tissues and basophils in the circulating blood

Question 13

define allergy

Answer 13

When individuals have both allergen-specific IgE and develop symptoms upon exposure to substances containing that allergen.

Question 14

what is the atopic march

Answer 14

disease patterns change with age

Question 15

how can sensitisation occur

Answer 15

• Oral exposure in other foods
• Cutaneous exposure - creams containing unrefined nut oils, direct contact of food to skin especially in children with eczema

Question 16

when can • Differences in immune responses between allergic and non-allergic children be detected

Answer 16

chord blood

Question 17

what was the study done to increase tolerance of peanuts

Answer 17

• • Early vs delayed introduction
• The early introduction of peanuts significantly decreased the frequency of the development of peanut allergy among children at high risk for peanut allergy and modulated immune responses to peanuts.

Question 18

define immunotherapy

Answer 18

• Involves regular administration of allergen extracts to promote clinical tolerance to the allergen/s
• Effective in reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms resul3ng from subsequent exposure
• Only indicated as treatment for IgE mediated allergic disease