Module 3 - Digestive Disorders

Question 1

What is cancer?

Answer 1

A disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissue

Question 2

What is neoplasia?

Answer 2

Uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells or tissues in the body

Question 3

What is a benign tumour?

Answer 3

A non-cancerous tumour that only grows in one place

Do not spread or invade other parts of the body.

Can be dangerous if they press on vital organs such as the brain

Question 4

What is a malignant tumour?

Answer 4

A cancerous tumour can spread cancer cells throughout one’s body through the blood or lymphatic system

Question 5

What are the behaviour of cells?

Answer 5

Healthy cells grow, divide and differentiate into specific types

Cells regulate their growth, maintain DNA integrity, and undergo apoptosis

DNA damage leads to repair or apoptosis

Question 6

What is apoptosis?

Answer 6

DNA damage leads to repair or apoptosis

Question 7

What are the 3 rules violated during carcinogenesis?

Answer 7

Cells become cancerous by violating basic rules:

1. Unregulated division
2. Avoiding apoptosis
3. Limitless division

Cancerous cells grow unrestrainedly, resist monitoring and can invade tissues

Question 8

What are the 7 hallmarks of a cancer cell?

Answer 8

Sustaining proliferative signalling, evading growth suppressors, resisting cell death, enabling replicative immortality, inducing angiogenesis, activating invasion, and metastasis

Question 9

What are the causes of cancer?

Answer 9

Malfunction of genes controlling cell growth and division

Influences include viruses, carcinogens, genetics, diet, immune system, hormones

About 5% of cancers are strongly hereditary

Immunosurveillance and cancer cell production

Question 10

What are the 2 types of skin cancer?

Answer 10

Basal cell carcinomas and Squamous cell carcinomas

Question 11

What is basal cell carcinoma?

Answer 11

80% of Non-melanoma skin cancers, slow-growing, rarely metastasise

Mostly on the head and neck of older individuals

Sun exposure most common cause

Can be superficial, nodular, and morphoeic presenting different growth patterns

Diagnosed through biopsy, surgical removal is the most effective treatment

Question 12

What is squamous cell carcinoma?

Answer 12

20% of non-melanoma skin cancers, slow-growing rarely metastasise

High malignancy risk

Sun exposure and human paploma virus infection are risk factors

Can be recurring and persistent where radiotherapy may be used

Diagnosis and management include biopsy and surgical removal

Cryotherapy for small, low-risk lesions

Question 13

What are the basic structures of the digestive system?

Answer 13

Stomach
Small Intestine
Large intestine
Pancrease
Liver
Gallbladder

Question 14

What is the function of the stomach?

Answer 14

C-shaped organ connecting to the esophagus via the esophageal sphincter and to the small intestine via the pyloric sphincter

It contains mucus cells in the stomach lining which secrete mucus to protect the stomach wall from acid and digestive enzymes

Gastric pits and glands include chief cells secreting pepsinogen, parietal cells secrete hydrochloric acid activating pepsinogen killing bacteria, mucous neck cells producing thin acidic mucus and enteroendocrine cells produce gastrin a hormone stimulating more gastric juice secretion.

Question 15

What is the function of the small intestine?

Answer 15

The majority of chemical digestion occurs in the small intestine.

3 segments:
duodenum
jejunum
ileum

Responsible for the absorption of all nutrients and most water

Question 16

What is the function of the large intestine?

Answer 16

Most nutrients are already absorbed.

Absorbs water and electrolytes, producing and absorbing vitamins

Forming and propelling feces toward the rectum for elimination

Question 17

What is the function of the pancreas?

Answer 17

Flat organ behind stomach. produces and secretes pancreatic juice into the duodenum.

Pancreatic juice contains bicarbonate and several enzymes:
- pancreatic amylase
- pancreatic lipase
- inactive pancreatic proteases

Produces the hormones insulin and glucagon

Question 18

What is the function of the liver?

Answer 18

Largest internal organ and gland located under the diaphragm

Produces bile crucial for fat digestion; made and secreted by hepatocytes

Question 19

What is the function of the gallbladder?

Answer 19

Pear-shaped organ connected to the liver by cystic duct

Bile is stored in the gallbladder and becomes more concentrated

Question 20

What is Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)? (aetiology, symptoms, treatments)

Answer 20

A disease in which stomach acid or bile irritates the food pipe lining

Symptoms include burning in throat or chest, belching, nausea or regurgitation, bitter taste, discomfort in the upper abdomen or dry cough

Treatments include elevating head of bed, dietary modifications and weight loss.

Antacids, protein-pump inhibitors and antidiarrhoeal

Question 21

What is peptic ulcer disease (aetiology, symptoms, treatments)

Answer 21

A sore that develops on the lining of the oesophagus, stomach or small intestine

Ulcers occur when stomach acid damages the lining of the digestive tract. Common causes include bacteria H. Pylori and anti-inflammatory pain relievers including aspirin

Symptoms include pain in the chest or abdomen, burning in the chest or dull pain, indigestion, nausea, passing excessive amounts of gas or vomiting, and abdominal discomfort or fatigue

Treatments include antibiotics, protein-pump inhibitor, antidiarrhoeal and antacid, or therapeutic endoscopy

Question 22

What is ulcerative colitis? (aetiology, symptoms, treatments)

Answer 22

Chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract

Symptoms include:
pain in the abdomen, joints or rectum, that can be intermittent in the abdomen
Bloating, blood in stool, constipation, diarrhoea, inability to empty bowels, leaking of stool, or urgent need to defecate
Whole body anaemia, fatigue, fever or loss of appetite
Cramping, scarring within the bile ducts or weight loss is also common

treated through anti-inflammatory medications

Question 23

What is crohns disease (aetiology, symptoms, treatments)

Answer 23

Chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract

Symptoms include pain in the abdomen, joints, lower abdomen or rectum, both mild and severe pain
Bloating, blood ins tool, bowel obstruction, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, or flatulence
Whole-body fatigue, fever or loss of appetite
Anal fissure, cramping, depression, flare mouth ulcer, slow growth or weight loss

Treatments include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-inflammatory, steroid, immunosuppressive drugs, vitamins and antibiotics
Surgery for bowel resection
Modifications to diet - dietary fibres
Enemas

Question 24

What is bowel cancer? (aetiology symptoms, treatments)

Answer 24

Colorectal disease is a type of cancer that affects the colon or rectum. It is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. It can cause severe harm and death

Symptoms include:
diarrhoea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool
Blood in stool, either bright red or dark and tar-like
Abdominal cramps, pain or bloating that won’t go away
unexplained weight loss that is sudden and losing weight without trying
feeling constantly tired and lacking energy, even with enough rest
iron deficiency anaemia due to chronic bleeding causing fatigue, weakness and paleness

Treatment includes
surery
radiotherapy
chemotherapy
targeted therapy
immunotherapy

Question 25

What is viral hepatitis? (aetiology, symptoms, treatments)

Answer 25

Liver inflammation associated with hepatocyte damage. Causes include microbial pathogens or chemical toxicity

Hep A and E spread through the fecal-oral route

Hep B, C, D, and G are transmitted through blood and bodily fluids

Symptoms include
pain, fever, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, jaundice

Symptoms may be absent in some hepatitis cases

Diagnosis based on detecting specific antibodies or viral antigens in the blood and serological testing revealing elevated liver enzymes and possibly reduced albumin levels

Question 26

What is fatty liver disease? (aetiology, symptoms, treatments)

Answer 26

Associated with alcohol abuse or excessive dietary intake of fats and monosaccharides

Two forms, alcoholic liver disease nad non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Risk factors include type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, older age, metabolic syndrome

Similar to viral hepatitis

Symptoms include gastrointestinal malaise, mild fever, serious manifestations over time

Management includes:
comprehensive history focusing on alcohol intake is crucial
Liver function tests and possibly a liver biopsy
Managing alcoholic liver disease focuses on alcohol abstinence
Nutritional support and dietary supplementation of micronutrients are important
Corticosteroid anti-inflammatory agents may reduce inflammation

Question 27

What are gallstones? (aetiology, symptoms, treatments)

Answer 27

Common conditions affecting about 15% of people over 50

Cholesterol in bile may precipitate as crystals forming gallstones usually form in the gallbladder, less commonly in bile ducts

May be asymptomatic, problems arise when stones block bile or pancreatic ducts. Blockage causes upper abdominal pain and acute gallbladder inflammation

Ultrasound is preferred method of imaging, CT scans identify precise location of stones and assess the disease extent

Question 28

What is diabetes mellitus? Type 1 and type 2 on separate card (aetiology, symptoms, treatments)

Answer 28

Metabolic disorder characterized by abnormal insulin secretion and/or action

leads to hyperglycaemia, the defining feature

Group of distinct diseases with different causes, genetic patterns, epidemiology, and pathophysiologies

Severe imbalance between insulin supply and demand leads to similar metabolic effects and complications

Acute complications result as a disruption to glucose homeostasis (hyperglycaemic or hypoglycemic)

Diagnosed through clinical manifestations, patient history and blood glucose testing

Symptoms include thirst and urination, headaches, weakness fatigue and blurred vision

Treatment for type 1 include insulin replacement therapy

type 2 oral hypoglycemic agents and lifestyle changes

Question 29

What is diabetes mellitus type 1?

Answer 29

Extensive damage to insulin-producing cells in the pancreas

Caused by an autoimmune attack from the immune system

Develops slowly over several years or rapidly

Question 30

What is diabetes mellitus type 2?

Answer 30

Patients can produce insulin, but release is dysfunctional

Characterised by reduced insulin sensitivity in muscle, adipose tissue and liver. Resulting from decreased insulin receptors or problems with cell signalling

Pancreatic cells cannot compensate leading to hyperglycaemia

Influenced by genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors

Question 31

What is hyperglycaemia?

Answer 31

High blood glucose >11 mmil/L after meals

Causes dehydration and increased thirst (polydipsia)
Increased blood volume leads to frequent urination (polyuria)
Kidneys excrete excess glucose

Question 32

What is hypoglycaemia?

Answer 32

Low blood glucose <3mmol/L

Imbalance between eating, activity levels, and medication dosage

Missing meals, excessive exercise, mistiming/overdosing medication
Disrupts brain unction, rapid development, triggers sympathetic nervous system

Symptoms: concentration lapses, headaches, irritability, tremors, clamming skin, heart rate and blood pressure changes

Advanced hypoglycemia can cause seizures, coma and death