Module 1 Flashcards
Introduction to Pathology & Causes of Disease
Define Pathology.
Pathology is the study of disease - “The study of the structural and functional changes in cells, tissues, and organs of the body that cause or are caused by disease”.
Define Disease.
The pattern of response of living organisms to injury - When cells fail to adapt to injury, or the adaptive mechanism itself becomes harmful, disease results. Disease is any deviation from, or interruption of, the normal structure or function of a tissue, organ, or system.
Define sign(s) and symptom(s) and distinguish between them.
Sign(s): We identify disease by appearance of physical signs - signs that can be objectively observe/measured (i.e. fever, swelling, etc.)
Symptom(s): Subjective complaints described by the patient (i.e. dizziness, nausea, etc.) - These changes appear late in the disease process, long after the disease is present and has been acting at a cellular level.
Define morbidity and mortality and distinguish between them.
Morbidity: Illness that impairs the well-being/normal functioning of a patient (i.e. living with a disease).
Morbidity: Illness causing the death of a patient (death from disease).
Has life expectancy increased? What is it for males and females from 2012-2014? What is it for both sexes in 2016?
Yes.
- Males: 79.7
- Females: 83.9
- Both: 82
Has life expectancy increased? What is it for males and females from 2012-2014? What is it for both sexes in 2016? What caused this increase?
Yes.
- Males: 79.7
- Females: 83.9
- Both: 82
- Improvements in sanitation, medical care, and in-surgical and drug-related treatments
What has caused life expectancy to increase? Give examples.
Improvements in sanitation, medical care, and in-surgical and drug-related treatments.
- Better diets
- Public awareness (i.e. dangers of smoking, drinking and driving, vaccines, etc.)
- Better detection, treatment, and management of chronic conditions
What is an accidental death? Where do they rank in cause of death in Canada?
Include but are not limited to:
- Transport accidents
- Discharge of firearms
- Drowning
- Exposure to smoke/fire
- Poison (i.e. overdose)
Accidental deaths are the third leading cause of death in Canada (2017).
- Rose from 8,500 to 13,900… Drug overdose represents 94% of these deaths
What is the first and second leading causes of death (2017)? Compare the % between cancer and heart disease from 2000 to 2017.
Cancer and heart disease (48%)
- Heart disease: Fell from 54% in 2000 to 19% in 2017
- Cancer: Deaths have remained stable
What are the remaining 7/10 leading causes of death in 2017?
4) Stroke
5) Chronic lower respiratory disease
6) Influenza and pneumonia
7) Diabetes
8) Alzheimer’s
9) Suicide
10) Liver disease
What are the chances of developing cancer? What was the estimate for 2019 (diagnosed vs. deaths)?
1/2 Canadians are diagnosed and 1/4 are expected to die:
- 220,400 diagnosed and 82,100 deaths
What has changed in the past 5 years about cancer patients?
There is an increasing number of survivors 5 years past their diagnosis.
What is the most frequently diagnosed cancer (men vs. women)?
Men: Prostate
Women: Breast
What types of cancer comprise 50% of cancer deaths?
Lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate.
What is the leading cause of cancer death for both genders? Distinguish between men and women’s survival rate.
Lung cancer
- Men: Mortality rate has decline
- Women: Mortality rate has more than doubled
Who does cancer affect more? Why do we see an increased rate of cancer?
Elderly: 40% of new cases and 60% of deaths occur in individuals 70y >
- Growing aged population
Broadly discuss the cause of disease. What are most diseases? What do majority of diseases result from?
Diseases result from a variables between:
- Host (genetic) - Ex. Abnormalities such as sickle cell
- Environment - Ex. Physical injury or death from a car crash
Most diseases are multifactorial and due to an interplay between both genetic and environmental components.
Majority of diseases result from both genetic and environmental factors.
What are genetic diseases? Are they common?
A disease that results from genetic alterations (i.e. DNA mutations, chromosome rearrangements, etc.)
- Not common - Sporadic mutations to DNA that occur throughout life are more common (i.e. cancer)
What is a chromosomal disorder? Give an example (number vs. structure of chromosomes).
It is a form of a major genetic disease accounting for a large proportion of congenital malformations, intellectual disability, and early gestational spontaneous abortions.
- Abnormal number of chromosomes (I.e. Down Syndrome)
- Abnormal structure of chromosomes (i.e. deletions, inversions, translocation, exchange)
Describe mutations involving single genes.
Three typical patterns:
1) Autosomal dominant
2) Autosomal recessive
3) X-linked
Do all inherited genetic diseases manifest at birth? Give an example.
No:
- Huntington’s Disease is not evident until adulthood
Are congenital diseases all genetic? Give an example.
No:
- A fetus is subject to infections that can result in malformations/impairment of function in specific systems
What is a congenital anomaly? Do they have an underlying genetic cause?
Structural deficits that are present at birth
- They may or may not have an underlying genetic cause
What are common causes of congenital anomalies?
1) Malformations: Result from intrinsically abnormal development process that may involve a single organ or body system or multiple organs/tissues.
2) Disruptions: Result from a secondary destruction of an organ or body region that was normal in development (i.e. extrinsic disturbances).
3) Deformations: Result from a secondary destruction of an organ or body region that was normal in development - May result from localized or generalized compression of the growing fetus by bio-mechanical forces leading to a variety of structural abnormalities.
