Modern Medicine Flashcards
Which microbiologists discovered the existence of viruses?
Dmitry Ivanovsky and Martinus Beijernick
How did Dmitry Ivanovsky and Martinus Beijernick discover the existence of viruses?
In 1892, the Russian Ivanovsky was investigating mosaic, a disease that was killing tobacco plants. He found that the cause was an extremely small microbe that remained in water even after sterilisation. In 1898, the Dutch scientist Beijernick discovered that these microbes had different properties to bacteria, and named them viruses
Why are viruses harder to treat than bacterial diseases?
They cannot be destroyed with antibiotics, and can only be destroyed for good by the body’s immune system
How did doctors attempt to combat viral diseases?
With antiretroviral drugs
Which scientists discovered the structure of DNA?
Francis Crick and James Watson
What is the structure of DNA?
A double helix made of strands of repeating nucleotide sequences
How did the discovery of DNA improve diagnosis and treatment?
- It allowed other scientists to find the genes that
caused genetic conditions. Including sickle cell
anaemia, CF and haemophilia. - Scientists could also produce a synthetic protein to
replicate the work of a faulty gene and treat inherited
conditions through gene therapy
Describe how synthetic proteins are used to treat haemophilia
Haemophilia is a condition caused by a mutation in the F8 gene, responsible for making the factor VII protein. This affects the blood’s ability to clot and is usually inherited. Haemophilia A can be treated with the synthetic hormone Desmopressin which stimulates the production of clotting factor 8 and is usually injected
What is the synthetic hormone used to treat haemophilia A?
Desmopressin
What lifestyle factors were discovered to increase the risk of disease?
Smoking - to increase risk of lung cancer
Obesity - Increases chance of heart disease
Drinking trop d’alcool - increased risk of liver disease
Overexposure to UV radiation - can cause skin cancer
What is the factor VII protein?
A protein involved in the formation of blood clots
How did blood tests allow doctors to diagnose more illnesses?
- They could be used to test for a patient’s blood level
and help diagnose the chance of suffering a heart
attack or a stroke - They can be used to check a patient’s DNA, and help
diagnose for a genetic condition e.g. CF or
haemophilia - They can be used to show whether a patient has a
certain type of cancer (e.g. ovarian, prostate and
breast cancer)
Describe how medical scans improved diagnosis
- X- rays could be used to identify fractures more easily
- Ultrasound scanning that used high frequency sound
waves which “bounced” off the patient’s organs and
tissue to create an image on a screen - Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans were invented in the 1970s but became more widely used in the 1980s, and they used powerful radio waves to construct images
- In 1972, Godfrey Hounsfield developed CAT scanners, which created 3D images of the
body using X-Rays
How did blood sugar and pressure monitors improve treatment and prevention?
- Allowed doctors to identify which diseases, lifestyle
factors or medicines could cause high blood pressure
(Developed in 1880s and 90s) - Allowed those with diabetes to make sure their blood
sugar levels were “correct”
(Introduced mid 20th century) - People could use monitoring devices in their own
homes, allowing individuals to have greater control
over their own health - this time with adequate
technology as opposed to the previous laissez faire
period
What 4 areas did modern treatment improve in?
- Medicinal advances
- Improved access to healthcare
- The NHS’ establishment
- High tech medical and surgical treatments in hospitals
When was the electron microscope invented?
1931
How was nuclear medicine used to identify causes of disease?
A radioactive tracer is passed into the body, which can be tracked, allowing diagnoses to be made if there are changes in the body due to disease
How were endoscopes used to identify the causes of disease?
They’re small cameras placed into a tube and then into the body, so that doctors can observe the body without surgery
How many people are expected to be treated through gene therapy by 2034?
1.09 Million
Describe how the discovery of stem cells progressed modern medicine
- Discovered in 1953, by Leroy Stevens
- Could be used to replace organs, treat diabetes and paralysis
- In 2013, the first human liver was grown using only stem cells
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Describe the response to antibiotic resistance
The first antibiotic resistant bacteria (MRSA) appeared in 1961, and infections have been reduced after the NHS urged medical staff to wash hands throughout the day, and use surgical gloves
(This is consistent with Pasteur’s germ theory and aseptic medical methods)