Medical Cell Biology and Genetics Flashcards
What is Amyloidosis?
- Amyloid fibres build up
- Amyloid is a protein produced in the bone marow that can be deposited in tissues and organs
What causes Amyloidosis?
- Antibodies
- Chronic infections
- Dialysis
- Hereditary- Autosomal Dominant
What are the signs and symptoms of Amyloidosis?
- Effects the heart, kidney, brain, nerves and other organs
- Change in skin colour
- Arrythmias
- Edema of the ankles and legs
- Englarged tongue
- Fatigue, weakness, weight loss
- Shortness of breath
- Dementia/Alzeimers
What is the treatment for Amyloidosis?
- No cure
- Chemotherapy, steroids, stem cell tranplants will stop more proteins being produced and treat symptoms
What is Cystic fibrosis?
- Inherited condition where the respoiratory, reproductive, sweat and digestive system become clogged with thick and sticky mucus
What causes Cystic fibrosis?
- Cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene is no longer inserted into the membrane
- This means chloride ions cannot be transported out
- So mucus becomes more viscous as there is less water
- Autosomal recessive
What are the signs and symptoms of Cystic fibrosis?
- Recurring chest infections as mucus traps bacteria
- Difficulty putting on weight
- Diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
- Wet sounding cough
- Mucus blocks pancreatic duct so digestive enzymes cannot reach the stomach
- Salty sweat
- Vas deferens blocked as doesnt develop
What is the treatment for Cystic fibrosis?
- No cure
- Treat symptoms
- Lipase tablets to digest fat
- Targeted therapies
- Physio drugs
- Lifestyle advice
- No smoking
- Avoid other CF patients
What is Down syndrome?
- Genetic condition that typically causes some level of learning difficulty and certain physical characteristics
What causes Down sydrome?
- Trisomy 21
- Due to nondisjunction of meiosis or a robertsonian translocation
What are the signs and symptoms of Down sydrome?
- Imparied intelligence
- Characteristic facial features
- Higher risk of Alzheimers and Leukemia
What is the treatment for Down sydrome?
- No cure
- Speech, occupational and exercise therapy
- Amino acid suppements and Piracetam
What is Edwards syndrome?
- Rare but serious genetic condition with a wide range of severe medical problems
- 12% will survive to first year of life
What causes Edwards syndrome?
- Trisomy 18
- If mosaic trisomy 18 or partial then may be less severe
- Due to non disjunction in meiosis or robertsonian translocation
What are the signs and symptoms of Edwards syndrome?
- Rockerbottom feet
- Overlapping fingers
- Small lower jaw
- Heart, feeding and breathing problems
What is the treatment for Edwards syndrome?
- No cure
- Symptoms dfficult to manage
What is Ether-Danlos syndrome?
- Group of rare inherited conditions that affect connective tissue
- Type III collagen deficency- higher properotion of elastic fires in connective tissue
What causes Ethler-Danlos syndrome?
- Effect genes that provide instuctions to make collagen
- Autosomal dominant or recessive
What are the signs and symptoms of Ethler-Danlos syndrome?
- Increased range of movement
- Stretchy skin
- Fragile skin that breaks and bruises easily
What is the treatment for Ethler-Danlos syndrome?
- No cure
- Surgery to repair joint damage
What is Haemophilia A?
- Rare condition that affects the bloods ability to clot
What causes Haemophilia A?
- Absense of clotting factor VIII
- X- linked recessive
What are the signs and symptoms of Haemophilia A?
- Prolonged bleeding
- Skin that bruises easily
- Pain and stiffness around joints
- Internal bleeding
What is the treatment for Haemophilia A?
- No cure
- Replacement therapy- give clotting favor VIII