PED2006 EXAM PRACTICE Flashcards
What is bacterial conjugation
genetic transfer between bacteria that involves direct cell-to-cell contact
how does antibiotic resistance spread
transfer of genetic material through bacterial conjugation
what are the four steps in the conjugation process
formation of pilus
mating pair formation
transfer of plasmid DNA
separation
what happens during the formation of pilus
the donor bacterium, which contains a conjugative plasmid, extends a hair like appendage called a pilus
the pilus attaches to the surface of the recipient bacterium, forming a connection between the two cells
what happens during mating pair formation
the pilus retracts, bringing the two bacteria into close contact
a mating bridge forms between the cells, allowing the transfer of genetic material
what happens during the transfer of plasmid DNA
the conjugative plasmid in the donor cells is nicked at a specific site called the origin of transfer
one strand of the plasmid DNA is transferred to the recipient cell through the mating bridge
the single stranded DNA in both the donor and recipient cells is replicated to form double stranded plasmids
what happens during separation
after the transfer is complex, the mating bridge dissassembles, and the two bacteria separation
both the donor and recipient cells now contain the plasmid
what is required for antimicrobial resistance spread
presence of resistance genes
horizontal gene transfer
proliferation of resistance bacteria
what is horizontal gene transfer
conjugations allows for the horizontal transfer of R plasmids between bacteria, which can occur when between different species
this means that a non-resistant bacterium can quickly acquire resistance genes from a resistant donor
how does proliferation of resistant bacteria occur
once a bacterium acquire a resistance plasmid, it can survive and proliferate in the presence of antibiotics
these bacteria can further transfer the plasmid to other bacteria, spreading the resistance genes within and between bacterial populations
what are the clinical implications of the spread of antimicrobial resistance
the spread to antibiotic resistance genes through conjugations can lead to the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacterial strain
this poses a significant challenge for treating bacterial infections, as standard antibiotics become ineffective, necessitating the use of more potent and often more toxic alternatives
what are fluoroquinolone
a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics that are effective against a variety of gram positive and gram negative bacteria. they exert their antibacterial effects by targeting bacterial DNA replication and transcription
what is the mechanism of actions of fluoroquinolone
inhibitions of DNA gyrase
inhibition of topoisomerase 4
what is the functions of DNA gyrase
in bacteria, DNA gyrase is an essential enzyme that introduces negative supercoils into DNA. this is critical for the replication and transcription processes as it prevents the DNA helix from becoming overall tangles and allows it to unwind
what is the action of fluoroquinolone
bind to the DNA gyrase-DNA complex, stabilising the enzyme-DNA interaction. this prevents the enzymes from resealing the DNA double strands after they have been cut to relieve the torsional strain
why is the inhibition of DNA gyrase important
the interruption of this process leads to the accumulation of double stranded DNA breaks, which ultimately results in bacterial cell death
what is the function of topoisomerase 4
this enzyme is involved in the separation of interlinked daughter DNA molecules following DNA replication. it is crucial for proper cell division
how do fluoroquinolone impact toposimerase 4
fluoroquinolone interferes with the activity of topoisomerase 4 by stabilising the cleavage complex that the enzyme forms with DNA
why is inhibition of topoisomerase 4 beneficial
this action prevents the segregation of replicated chromosomal DNA into daughter cells, thereby inhibition of bacterial cell division and leading to cell death
what are the benefits of fluoroquinolone
broad spectrum so effective against a wide range of bacteria
bactericidal effect - they kill bacteria due to irreversible damage they cause to bacterial DNA
drawback of fluoroquinolone
resistant mutations can develop in the genes encoding DNA gyrase and toposimerase 4, which are prevent in various bacterial species
what is the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland
the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland plays a crucial role in the regulation of various physiological processes
what is the location of the posterior lobe
the posterior lobes is located at the base of the brain, attached to the hypothalamus by the pituitary stalk
what is the hypothalamic hypophyseal tract
the axons of neurone from the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus extend down through the pituitary stalk into the posterior lobe. these neuron’s synthesise hormone and transport them along their axons to be stored and released from the posterior pituitary
what is the function of the posterior pituitary
store and release ADH and oxytocin produced by the hypothalamus
where is ADH synthesised
synthesised by the supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus
how is ADH released
ADH is transported down the axons of the hypothalamic neurone to the posterior pituitary, where it is stored in vesicles and released into the bloodstream in response to specific physiological triggers
what is the functions of ADH
ADH primarily acts on the kidneys to promote water reabsorption in the collecting ducts, which helps to regulate the body’s water balance and maintain blood pressure. it also has vasoconstrictive effects on blood vessels, contributing to the blood pressure regulation
where is oxytocin synthesised
oxytocin is synthesised in the paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus
how is oxytocin released
oxytocin is transported along the axons to the posterior pituitary where it is stored and released into the bloodstream upon appropriate stimulation
what is the function of oxytocin
labor and deliver - it stimulate uterine contractions during childbirth
lactation - it triggers milk ejections from the mammory glands in response to suckling
social and emotional bonding - oxytocin is also involved in behaviours related to bonding, social recognitions and emotional regulation
what is an ADH agonist, such as desmopressin
mimics the action of natural ADH and are primary used to treat conditions like diabetes insipdus and nocturnal enuresis by promoting water reabsorption in the kidneys. their action is particularly significant in the juxtamedullary nephrons, which play a crucial role in the concentration of urine
what is the anatomy of juxtamedullary nephrons
juxtamedullary nephrons are located near the border of the renal cortex and medulla. they have long loops of hence that extend deep into the medulla, which is essential for concentrating urine
what is the functions of juxtamedullary nephrons
these nephrons are key in creating the osmotic gradient in the medulla necessary for water reabsorption
what is desmopressin
is a synthetic analogue of ADH with a longer duration of action and selective V2 receptor activity, which enhances its antiduiretic effects with minimal vasoconstrictive effects
what is the relationship between V2 receptors and desmopressin
desmopressin selectively binds to V2 receptors located on the basolateral membrane of the principal cells in the collecting ducts and distal convoluted tubules of the nephrons
what is the relationship between juxtamedullary nephrons and desmopressin
juxtamedullary nephrons have a high density of V2 receptors, making them particularly response to ADH and its agonists
how does desmopressin activate the cAMP pathway
upon binding to V2 receptors, desmopressin activate adenylate cyclase, increasing the intracellular concentration of cyclic adenosine monophosphate
cAMP acts as a second messenger to activate protein kinase A
how does desmopressin trigger the insertion of aquaporin 2 channels
PKA phosphorylation targets proteins that facilitate the translocation of aqauporin 2 water channels to the apical membrane of the principal cells
what are aquaporin 2 channels
the channels allow water to move from the lumen of the collecting ducts into the cells
how do aquaporin2 channels affect water reabsorption
water is reabsorbed from the filtrate in the collecting ducts back into the surrounding interstitial space and then into the bloodstream, effectively reducing urine volume and concentrating the urine
how do the juxtamedullary nephrons affect the medullary osmotic gradients
the juxtamedullary nephrons long loops of henle maintain a high osmolarity in the renal medullar, which facilitates water reabsorption
how does desmopressin affect the medullary osmotic gradient
desmopressin enhances the ability of the kidneys to reabsorb water by increasing the osmotic gradient
what are the clinical applications of desmopressin
diabetes inspidus
nocturnal enuresis
haemophilia A and von willebrands disease
how can desmopressin be used to treat diabetes insipid
desmopressin is used to manage central diabetes inspidus by replacing deficient ADH, thus reducing excessive urination and thirst
how can desmopressin help nocturnal enuresis
it helps manage bedwetting by reducing nighttime urine production
how can desmopressin help haemophilia A and von willebrands disease
desmopressin is also used to increase the levels of clotting factors in these bleeding disorders
what are the side effects of desmopressin
hyponatremia - due to increase water reabsorption, there is a risk of dilution hyponatremia, where the blood sodium levels become too low
headache - caused due to changes in water balance
nausea and abdominal pain
state the hormones released by the posterior pituitary
ADH
oxytocin
what is the functions of ADH
ADH primarily regulates water balance in the body by increase water reabsorption in the kidneys, thereby reducing urine output. it also has vasoconstrictive properties, which help to increase blood pressure
how is ADH regulated
ADH release is stimulated by increased plasma osmolarity and by a decrease in blood volume or blood pressure
what is the role of oxytocin
oxytocin plays a crucial role in childbirth and lactation. it stimulates uterine contractions during labor and helps with milk ejections reflex during breastfeeding. additional, oxytocin is involved in social bonding and emotional responses
how is oxytocin regulated
oxytocin release is triggered by the distension of the cervix and vagina during labor and by suckling at the breast during breastfeeding. it can be influenced by emotional and social stimuli
give an example of a beta 2 adrenergic agonists
albuterol
how does albuterol work
albuterol binds to and activates beta2 adrenergic receptors on the smooth muscle cells lining in the airways
activation of these receptors stimulates the enzyme adenylate cyclase, which converts ATP to cyclic AMP
increased levels of cAMP activates protein kinase A, which in turns phosphorylates and inactivates myosin light chain kinase. this leads to relaxation of the smooth muscle cells and bronchodilator
what is the effect of albuterol
the rapid relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle results in the widening of the airways, making it easier to breathe and providing quick relief from acute asthma symptoms
when to use albuterol
used as a first line treatment for acute asthma attacks due to their rapid onset of action
what are the side effects of albuterol
tremors
tachycardia
palpitations
nervousness
hypokalaemia
give an example of anticholinergics
ipratropium bromide
how does ipratropium bromide work
ipratropium bromide competitively inhibits muscarinic cholinergic receptors on bronchial smooth muscle
by blocking these receptors, ipratropium prevents acetylcholine from binding to them
the inhibitions of acetylcholine binding reduces the intracellular levels of calcium, which is necessary for smooth muscle contractions
this leads to the relaxation of the bronchial smooth muscle and bronchodilation
what is the effects of ipratropium bromide
ipratropium provides bronchodilator and helps in reducing mucus secretion, improving airflow and reducing the symptoms of an acute asthma attack
what is ipratropium bromide used for
often used in combination with beta2 agonists during acute asthma attacks for a synergistic effect, especially in patients who do not respond adequately to beta2 agonists alone
what are the side effects of ipratropium bromide
dry mouth
throat irritations
cough
urinary retention and increase intraocular pressure
what is pain
pain is a subjective, unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms such as damage
what are the types of pain
acute or chronic
somatic
visceral
neuropathic
psychogenic
what is the function of pain
protective mechanism, pain serves as a warning signal for potential or actual damage, prompting individuals to withdraw from harmful situations and seek treatment
what is nociceptions
is the neural process of encoding and processing noxious stimuli. it involves the detections of harmful stimuli and the transmission of signals to the central nervous system
what are nociceptors
specialised sensory receptors that respond to potentially damaging mechanical, thermal and chemical stimuli
what is the transmission pathway of nociception
transduction - noxious stimuli are converted into electrical signals by nociceptors
transmission - these elctrical signals are transmitted via peripheral nerves to the spinal cord and then to the brain
perception and modulation - once the signals reach the brain, they are processed and can result in the perception of pain. the brain can also modulate the signals, altering the perception of pain through various mechanisms
what is the function of nociception
is essential for detecting harmful stimuli and initiating protective reflexes, such as withdrawal from the source of harm
what are opioid receptors
opioid receptors are a group of g-protein coupled receptors that mediate the effects of opioid drugs. there are 3 primary types of opioid receptors: mu, kappa and delta receptors. each receptor type has distinct roles and is involved in various physiological effects of opioids
what is the role of mu opioid receptors
analgesia, euphoria and reward, respiratory depression, sedation, gastrointestinal effects, physical dependence
what are the examples of mu opioid receptor drugs
morphine
fentanyl
methadone
oxycodone
heroin
what is the role of kappa opioid receptors
analgesia
dysphoria and hallucinations
diuresis
sedation
what are the examples of kappa opioid receptor drugs
butorphanol
nalbuphine
pentazocine
dynorphins
what is the role of delta opioid receptor
analgesia
mood regulation
neuroprotections
respiratory function
what are the examples of delta opioid receptor drugs
deltorphins
enkephalins
what is morphine
is a potent opioid analgesic that is widely used for the management of moderate to severe pain. it acts primarily on the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract
how does morphine induce analgesia
morphine exerts its analgesic effects by binding to and activating mu opioid receptors in the CNS, particularly in the brain and spinal cord. this activation inhibits the release of neurotransmission such as substance p and glutamate, which are involved in the transmission of pain signals
how does morphine induce sedation
by activating mu opioid receptors in the brains reward pathways, morphine induces a feeling of euphoria. it also depresses the central nervous system, leading to sedation
how does morphine induce respiratory depression
morphien depresses the brainstems respiratory centres by reducing the responsiveness of these centres to carbon dioxides. this action is mediated by mu opioid receptors. this can lead to decreased respiratory rate and volume
how does morphine cause antitussive effects
morphine suppresses the cough reflex by acting on the cough centre in the medulla
how does morphine cause gastrointestinal effects
morphine increases the tone of the smooth muscle in the GI tract while decreasing peristalsis by binding to opioid receptors in the enteric nervous system
how does morphine cause miosis
morphine stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in the constriction of the pupils
how does morphine cause cardiovascular effects
morphine can cause peripheral vasodilation by releasing histamine and depressing the vasomotor centre in the brain. this can lead to decreased systemic vascular resistance and a drop in blood pressure
what are the effects of morphine inducing histamine release
morphine can induce the release of histamine from mast cells. this can cause pruritic, urticaria, and in some cases bronchoconstriction and vasodilation, leading to hypotension
what is schizophrenia
schizophrenia is a complex and multifactorial psychiatric disorder characterised by a range of symptoms, including delusions, hallucinations, disorganised thinking and impaired social functioning
what is the dopamine hypothesis for schizophrenia
overactivity in mesolimbic pathway -
under activity of the mesocortial pathway
what is the effect of overactivity in the mesolimbic pathway
excessive dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway is associated with positive symptoms e.g. hallucinations and delusions
what is the effects of under activity in mesocortiyal pathway
reduced dopamine activity in the mesocortical pathway is linked to negative symptoms e.g. anhedonia, social withdrawal and cognitive deficits
what is the glutamate hypothesis for schizophrenia
NMDA receptor hypofunction - dysfunction of the NMDA-type glutamate receptors contribute to symptoms of schizophrenia. reducing glutamate signalling can affect various neural circuits, leading to both positive and negative symptoms
what is the serotonin hypothesis for schizophrenia
5-HT2A receptor involvement - altered serotonin activity, particularly through 5-HT2A receptors, plays a role in modulating dopamine release and can contribute to the symptoms of schizophrenia
what are the structural brain abnormalities associated with schizophrenia
enlarged ventricles - indicating loss of brain tissue
cortical thinning - reducing in grey matter volume
hippocampal abnormalities - associated with cognitive impairments and memory deficits
what are the functional brain abnormalities associated with schizophrenia
hypofrontality - reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex during tasks requiring executive function and working memory
default mode network dysregulation - abnormal connectivity and activity in the DMN, which is involved in self-referential thought and resting state in the brain
what are the genetic and environmental factors associated with schizophrenia
genetic predisposition - schizophrenia has a significant genetic components, with a higher risk among first degree relatives
environmental triggers - prenatal exposure to infections, malnutrition, stress and psychological factors
what are neuroleptics
neuroleptics are the main stay of pharmacological treatment for schizophrenia. they are primarily classified into two categories - typical and atypical
what is the mechanism of action of typical antipyschotics
dopamine D2 receptor antagonism - these drugs primarily block dopamine D2 receptors, reducing dopamine activity in the brain, particularly in the mesolimbic pathway
what are the examples of typical antipsychotics
haloperidol, chlorpromazine
what are the effects of typical antipsychotics
reduction of positive symptoms - effective in alleviating hallucinations and delusions
what are the side effects of typical antipsychotics
extrapyramidal symptoms such as dystonia, parkinsonism, and tardive dyskinesia due to dopamine blockage
what is the mechanism of action of atypical antipsychotics
these drugs block both dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, providing a more balanced effect on neurotransmitters
what are the examples of atypical antipsychotics
risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, clozapine
what are the effects of atypical antipsychotics
reducing of positive and negative symptoms - more than typical
what are the side effects of atypical antipsychotics
lower risk of EPS but may cause metabolic side effects such as weight gain, diabetes and dyslipidaemia
what are glucocorticoid receptors
type of nuclear receptor that upon binding with glucocorticoids, acts as a transcription factor to regulate gene expression
what in the resting state of glucocorticoids
in the absence of glucocorticoids, the GR resides in the cytoplasm in an inactive state, bound to chaperone proteins such as heat shock proteins including HSP90 and HSP70
How do glucocorticoids bind
glucocorticoids diffuse through the cell membrane and bind to the GR. this binding induces a conformational change in the receptor, causing the release of the chaperone proteins
what happens during nuclear translocation of GR
the activate GR translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus
what is DNA binding involving GR
in the nucleus, the GR dimerises and binds to specific DNA sequences called glucocorticoid response elements located in the promoter regions of target genes