Misc Flashcards
what is HIV?
RNA retrovirus with 9 subtypes
what are the risk factors for HIV?
- Men who have sex with men (MSM)
- Unsafe sex
- Other STIs
- Mother-to-child transmission
- Multiple simultaneous partners
- IVDUs – sharing needles
- Uncircumcised man
What is the pathophysiology of HIV?
- HIV binds to CD4 receptors on T helper cells, monocytes, macrophages and neural cells
- CD4+ cells migrate to lymphoid tissue- virus replicates
- New viruses are released, and infect new CD4+ cells
- As infection progresses, depletion or impaired function of CD4+ cells reduces immunity
- viral reverse transcriptase makes DNA copy of RNA genome
- Viral integrase enzymes integrates this into host DNA
- Core viral proteins are synthesized, then cleaved by viral protease into enzymes and building blocks of the virus
- Completed viruses are then released by budding
- No. circulating viruses (viral load) predicts progression to AIDS
what is seroconversion?
transient illness 2-6 weeks after exposure to HIV- fever, malaise, myalgia
what are the complications of HIV?
TB, Kaposi’s sarcoma, pneumocystis jivoerci pneumonia, candidiasis, anorexia, viral hepatitis, sclerosis cholangitis,
how can HIV be diagnosed?
- Serum/salivary HIV-Ab by ELISA or check HIV RNA (PCR)
* Rapid test kits give results in 30min - +ve results must be confirmed by ELISA
how can a patent with HIV be treated?
- highly active antiretroviral therapy
- nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
- protease inhibitors
- non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
what is amyloidosis?
Group of disorders characterized by extracellular deposits of a protein in abnormal fibrillar form, resistant to degradation
what is AL amyloid?
- primary amyloidosis
- involves kidneys, nerves and gut
- associated with myeloma and lymphoma
- treatment- oral prednisolone
what is AA amyloid?
- secondary amyloidosis
- affects liver, kidney and spleen
- treatment- manage underlying condition
what is familial amyloidosis?
- Autosomal dominant – mutations in (e.g.) transthyretin, a transport protein produced by the liver
- Causes a sensory or autonomic neuropathy
- Liver transplant is curative
how is amyloidosis diagnosed?
- biopsy of affected tissue
- positive Congo red staining with red-green birefringence under polarised light microscopy
what is a fibroadenoma?
- benign overgrowth of collagenous mesenchyme of one breast lubule
- form, smooth. mobile lump
how is a fibroadenoma treated?
- observe and reassure
what are breast cysts and how its is treated?
- benign, fluid-filled rounded lump
- not fixed to surrounding tissue
- treated by aspiration
