Mod 6: Diagnostic And Treatment Procedure

Question 1

Primary function of immune system

Answer 1

• immune first attempts to prevent entry of pathogens, allergens, toxins, malignant cells
• if that is not achieved it immediately begins work to destroy them
• uses complex system of chemical signaling between specialized cells to identify , attack and remember antigens
• coordinates highly specific response based on type of antigen and differentiating it from the body’s own tissues to avoid attacking itself
• after encountering antigen once , the immune systems ‘memory’ of the invader enables the body to mount a more efficient future defense against the antigen.

Question 2

Immune systems first line of defense

Answer 2

• immune system not contained within a single set of organs or vessels
• it uses structure from several body systems

The first line of defense includes :

1. Intact skin
   - works as barrier for invading organisms
   - skin covered with ‘acid mantle’
   - this makes skin inhospitable for most bacteria
2. Respiratory system
   - nose hair and moist mucous membranes traps breathed in foreign matter
   - tonsils protect entrance of throat
   - coughing and sneezing help if foreign matter crosses the above barrier
3. Digestive system
   - acids and enzymes produced by stomach destroy invaders consumed with food
4. Lymphatic system
   - specialized leukocytes ( WBC) attack and destroy pathogens that have succeeded in entering body

Question 3

Antigen- Antibody reaction

Answer 3

• also known as ‘immune reaction’
• binds antigens to antibodies
• this reaction labels potentially dangerous antigen and is recognized and destroyed by ither cells of immune system
• immune system immediately responds to the presence of any antigen

ANTIBODY 
- disease fighting protein 
- creates by immune system 
- in response to presence of specific antigen 
-

Question 4

IMMUNOGLOBULIN
-also known as ‘ antibody’
5 primary types

Answer 4

IgG
IgA
IgM
IgD
IgE

Question 5

Phagocytes

Answer 5

• specialized leukocytes
• act as part of antigen- antibody reaction
• destroys cell debris, dust, pollen, and pathogens by process ‘ phagocytosis’
  Phag=eat or swallow
• process of destroying pathogens by swallowing them

Phagocytes include:

1. Monocytes
   - leukocytes
   - provide immunity against many infections
   - they replenish macrophage and dendritic cells
2. Macrophage
   - derive from monocytes that leave the bloodstream and enter tissue
   - surrounds and kills invading cells
   - remove dead cells and stimulate action of other immune cells
3. Dendritic cells
   - leukocytes
   - patrol body looking for antigens that produce infection
   - when an antigen is found dendritic cell grabs it , swallows it and alerts Band T cells to act against it

Question 6

Complement system

Answer 6

• group of proteins
• normally circulate in blood in inactive form
• when needed they complement the ability of antibodies to destroy pathogens
• they combine with antibodies to dissolve and remove pathogenic bacteria and other foreign cells

Question 7

Immunity

Answer 7

• state of being resistant to diseases

1. Natural immunity
   - also known as ‘ passive immunity’
   - resistance to a disease without administration of antigen or exposure to a disease
   - present at birth
   - augmented by breast milk
2. Acquired immunity
   - obtained by having the disease Eg. Chicken pox
   - or being vaccinated

Question 8

CBC

Complete blood count

Answer 8

1. RBC
2. WBC
3. DIFF - differential - how much of different types of white blood cells
4. HCT - percent of red blood cells
5. HGB- volume of hemoglobin present . How much of the protein hemoglobin is present to carry oxygen
6. Finds if there is excessive white blood cells which might indicate leukemia
   - anemia I’d when there is right amount of white blood cells but very less red blood cells
   AIDS - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Question 9

Pancytopenia

Deficiency in lol of the blood cells - leukocytes, erythrocytes and thrombocytes

Question 10

Allergic reactions

Answer 10

• when immune system reacts to harmless allergen as of it were a dangerous invader

Question 11

Allergy

Answer 11

• also known as ‘ hypersensitivity’

- overreaction by body to particular antigen.

Question 12

Localized allergic response

Answer 12

• also known as ‘ cellular response ‘

- redness, itching or burning in skin

Question 13

Systemic reaction

Answer 13

• anaphylaxis

- severe response to allergen

Question 14

Autoimmune disorder

Answer 14

• • when immune system produces antibodies against its own tissue
• healthy cells , tissues and organs mistaken as antigen
• this abnormal behavior of immune system is genetically transmitted

Question 15

Immunodeficiency disorder

Answer 15

• when immune system is compromised

Question 16

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)

Answer 16

• inherited condition

- abnormalities in immune system cause increased susceptibility to infection

Question 17

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus

Answer 17

• blood borne
• damages or kills the T cells

HIV virus
- leaves body compromised to

— 1. opportunistic infections
… pathogens that don’t usually cause illness cause illness since host is debilitated ( weakened )

2. AIDS
   - most advanced and fatal stage of HIV
   -
3. Kaposi’s sarcoma
   - -
4. ELISA
   - enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
   - screens for presence of HIV as well as Lyme disease
5. Western blot test
   - Elisa test sometimes gives false positive for HIV so this is a more definitive test
   -

Question 18

Treatments

1 immunotherapy

Answer 18

• called ‘biological therapy’
• treatment involves either stimulating or repressing the immune system
• for cancer - used to stimulate ( cause greater activity ) immune response to fight the malignancy
• for allergies - immunotherapy used to repress body’s sensitivity to the allergen
• allergy desensitization

Question 19

Antibody therapy

Answer 19

1. synthetic immunoglobulin

• known as ‘ immune serum ‘
• administered post exposure as preventive measure
  Eg rabies
• temporary immunity

2. Synthetic interferon
   - treatment of multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C and some cancers
3. Monoclonal antibodies
   - class of antibodies
   - produced in lab
   - identical offspring of a clone of specified cells
   - enhances patient immune response to certain malignancies

Question 20

Immunosuppression

Answer 20

• treatment to repress or interfere with ability of immune system to respond to stimulation by antigens

Immunosuppressant

• prevent or reduces the body’s normal immune response .
• Eg to prevent donor rejection by the body immunosuppressant is given

cytotoxic drug

• medication that kills or damaged cells