Test 2 Practice Questions Flashcards
What was the Cass review and what were some of its main findings, as covered in Week 8? (5 marks)
Independent review set up by UK’s NHS to review Gender Identity Services for children and young people following surge in cases of gender dysphoria (and prescription rates for puberty blockers) (2 for full explanation, partial marks possible)
Key findings. 1 for each of following:
- No simple explanation for the increased # of young people with a trans/gender-diverse identity
- Evidence base is extremely weak in its size & quality, and strengths/weaknesses are commonly overstated
- Weak evidence regarding the impact of puberty blockade on gender dysphoria, mental or psychosocial health. Effect on cognitive and psychosexual development unknown.
- No way to determine which children and young people will have an enduring trans identity.
- Vast majority of young people on PBs go on to GAHT – this may not be necessary or best practice (many trans-identifying teens interviewed – many still trans-identifying but STILL said they wished they’d never been put on PBs/GAHT)
Briefly (1 sentence each) define each of the following terms: circadian rhythm; zeitgeber; microsleep; sleep hygiene; melatonin. (5 marks)
- Circadian rhythm = operating on a cycle lasting approx. a day (will accept 24 hrs, even though that’s specific to this planet!) (1)
- Zeitgeber: an environmental cue that entrains/controls timing of circadian rhythms (1)
- Microsleep: either of these: 1) a very brief period of sleep, ~0.1-30 sec; 2) ‘local sleep’ changes in the brain despite objective waking state (1 point but give extra point if both mentioned)
- Sleep hygiene: best practices for ensuring good sleep (1)
Melatonin: will accept any of the following or words to similar effect (1):
- a hormone produced by the pineal gland in response to low light levels
- a hormone produced by the pineal gland during the evening
- a hormone produced by the pineal gland that acts as a sleep-promoting zeitgeber
Based on your knowledge of neural circuitry, explain the precise steps covered in lecture that might allow sunlight hitting the eye to positively alter someone’s mood. (5 marks)
- Retinohypothalamic pathway from retina to suprachiasmatic nucleus (1)
- Signal relayed to subparaventricular zone (1)
- Signal relayed to dorsomedial nucleus (1)
- Relays excitatory signal to orexin neurons of lateral hypothalamus (1)
- BONUS for saying inhibitory signal sent to sleep neurons of pre-optic nucleus (1)
- Excitatory signal relayed from lateral hypothalamus to arousal centres (1)
- Release of 5-HT, DA and NE from arousal centres (1)
What is histrelin’s (Supprelin’s™) mechanism of action? What is its typical route of administration? Why would someone use histrelin, and why does it work? Give an example of a phenotype that someone might take histrelin in order to avoid. (5 marks)
- GnRH analogue/GnRH receptor agonist (1)
Subcutaneous (1) - Trans person (0.5) wishing to block puberty/block development of 2ndary sex characteristics and gametogenesis (AKA spermatogenesis & ovulation) (1)
- Works by blocking rhythmic HPG axis activation (or words to that effect: e.g suppress circhoral HPG pulse/rhythm) (1)
- Many options but essentially a trans male could want to avoid any typical trait of female puberty, whereas a trans female may want to block any trait of typical male puberty. Could be body shape, body hair, body fat deposition, breast development (if trans male) etc. (1)
What was the Cass review?
Independent review set up by UK’s NHS to review Gender Identity Services for children and young people following surge in cases of gender dysphoria (and prescription rates for puberty blockers)
What was the Cass reviews main findings, as covered in Week 8? (5 marks)
- No simple explanation for the increased # of young people with a trans/gender-diverse identity
- Evidence base is extremely weak in its size & quality, and strengths/weaknesses are commonly overstated
- Weak evidence regarding the impact of puberty blockade on gender dysphoria, mental or psychosocial health. Effect on cognitive and psychosexual development unknown.
- No way to determine which children and young people will have an enduring trans identity.
- Vast majority of young people on PBs go on to GAHT – this may not be necessary or best practice (many trans-identifying teens interviewed – many still trans-identifying but STILL said they wished they’d never been put on PBs/GAHT)
Define circadian rhythm
Operating on a cycle lasting approx a day (will accept 24 hrs, even though that’s specific to this planet!)
Define zeitgeber
An environmental cue that entrains/controls timing of circadian rhythms
Define zeitgeber
An environmental cue that entrains/controls timing of circadian rhythms
Define microsleep
Either/both of these:
- a very brief period of sleep, ~0.1-30 sec;
- ‘local sleep’ changes in the brain despite objective waking state
Define sleep hygiene
Best practices for ensuring good sleep
Define melatonin
Will accept any of the following or words to similar effect
- a hormone produced by the pineal gland in response to low light levels
- a hormone produced by the pineal gland during the evening
- a hormone produced by the pineal gland that acts as a sleep-promoting zeitgeber
What is histrelin’s (Supprelin’s™) mechanism of action?
GnRH analogue/GnRH receptor agonist
What is histrelin’s (Supprelin’s™) typical route of administration?
Subcutaneous
Why would someone use histrelin?
Trans person wishing to block puberty/block development of 2ndary sex characteristics and gametogenesis (AKA spermatogenesis & ovulation)
