Topic 5 - Health, Disease and the Development of Medicines Flashcards
How does the WHO define ‘health’?
A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’
Can a physically fit person be unhealthy?
Yes, as they may be mentally ill
What is a communicable disease?
A disease that can be spread by individuals
Cholera - Pathogen, Symptoms, How it spreads and How to prevent:
- A bacterium called vibrio cholorae
- Diarrhoea
- Via contaminated water sources
- Make sure people have access to safe water
Tuberculosis - Pathogen, Symptoms, How it spreads and How to prevent:
- A bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Coughing and lung damage
- Through the air, when people cough
- Avoid crowded people, practise good hygiene
Malaria - Pathogen, Symptoms, How it spreads and How to prevent:
- A protist
- Damage to red blood cells
- Mosquitoes pass it to humans
- Mosquito nets and insect repellent
Stomach Ulcers - Pathogen, Symptoms, How it spreads and How to prevent:
- A bacterium called Helicobacter pylori
- Stomach pain and vomiting
- Oral transmission
- Hygienic living conditions
Ebola - Pathogen, Symptoms, How it spreads and How to prevent:
- Ebola virus
- Haemorrhagic fever (a fever with bleeding)
- Via bodily fluids
- Isolate infected individuals
Chalara ash dieback - Pathogen, Symptoms, How it spreads and How to prevent:
- A fungus that infects ash trees
- Leaf loss and bark lesions
- Carried by the wind
- Removing infected trees
What does a virus need to reproduce?
A living cell that it can take over
What are the two virus lifecycles?
- Lytic
- Lysogenic
Briefly describe the lytic cycle of a virus:
- Virus attaches itself to a host cell
- Virus uses proteins and enzymes in the host to replicate its DNA and structures
- Viral components assemble
- Host cell splits open, releasing the viruses
Briefly describe the lysogenic cycle of a virus:
- Genetic information is injected into the genome
- Viral genetic material replicates with the cells own DNA
What is an STI?
Sexually Transmitted Infection
Describe 2 STI’s:
- Chlamydia: Causes infertility, can be prevented by using a condom
- HIV: Weakens the immune system, leads to AIDS, avoid sharing needles and use a condom
What are physical barriers in plants?
- Waxy cuticle
- Cell walls
What are chemical barriers in plants?
- Production of antiseptics
- Produce chemicals to deter insects
What are physical barriers in humans?
- Skin
- Hairs and mucus in nose
- Cells in bronchi produce mucus
What are chemical barriers in humans?
- Production of HCl in stomach
- Eyes produce lysozyme in tears which kills bacteria on the eye surface
How does a B-Lymphocyte deal with a pathogen?
- Comes across the antigen on a pathogen
- Produces matching antibodies
- Antibodies attach to the pathogens and kill
- Antibodies find the same antigen in the rest of the body
Why is a Memory Lymphocyte key to the immune system?
They remember a specific antigen and remain in the body. This means that if the same pathogen attacks, it can wipe it out very quickly
How does immunisation work?
- Dead or inactive pathogens are injected
- Immune system makes antibodies, and wipes out the pathogen
- Memory lymphocytes are made for if the pathogen attacks you in the future
- This ensures that the pathogen will be wiped out quickly
What are monoclonal antibodies?
Identical antibodies
How are monoclonal antibodies made?
- Mouse injected with antigen
- B-Lymphocytes taken from mouse
- B-Lymphocytes fused with myeloma (a tumour) cell to form a hybridoma
- Hybridoma divides quickly to produce lots of clones that produce monoclonal antibodies
What are antibiotics used to treat?
Bacterial infections
What are the stages in developing a new drug?
- Drug tested on human tissue in lab
- Drug tested on live animals
- Drug tested on healthy volunteers
- Drug tested on ill volunteers
- Drug tested to make sure it does its job correctly (the placebo effect)
What lifestyle factors may increase the chance of a non-communicable disease?
- Age
- Diet
- Smoking
- Weight
- Fitness
What are the 2 measures of obesity?
- BMI
- Waist-to-Hip Ratio
What is obesity classed as in BMI?
Above 30 = Moderately obese, above 40 = severly obese
What is obesity classed as in Waist-to-Hip ratio?
Above 1.0 for male
Above 0.85 for female
What is CVD?
Cardiovascular disease
How does CVD affect you?
Blocks arteries, restricting blood flow. This means that you have to have a higher heart rate to pump enough blood
What are the lifestyle choices that affect CVD?
- Diet
- Exercise
What drugs can reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke?
- Statins (reduce cholesterol)
- Anticoagulants (reduce chance of blood clots)
- Antihypertensives (reduce blood pressure)
What surgical procedures can treat CVD?
- A stent is a tube that holds a artery open, so can be placed into a contracted one
- Healthy blood vessels can be taken from elsewhere in the body to replace damaged parts
- Heart transplant
