trace elements & radioactive isotopes Flashcards
what are the essential elements?
what are trace elements?
iodine is a trace element for synthesis of ____?
thyroid hormones
what is goiter?
abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland
what is the most common cause of goiter?
iodine deficiency
iodine is a preventable cause of _____ ?
intellectual disability (theo)
what are some signs/symptoms of iodine deficiency
- swelling of the neck (goiter)
- irregular heart rate
- dry, flaky skin
- problems during pregnancy
- feeling colder than usual
- heavy/irregular periods
- unexpected weight gain
- hair loss
- trouble learning/remembering
- fatigue
iron deficiency causes ____?
anemia
what is anemia?
a condition in which blood lacks
adequate healthy red blood cells →
red blood cells carry oxygen to the body’s tissues with the help of hemoglobin
what are some signs/symptoms of iron deficiency
- extreme fatigue
- weakness
- pale skin
- brittle nails
- chest pain/fast heartbeat/ shortness of breath
- headache, dizziness
- cold hands and feet
- mouth ulcers
- unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances
what is the importance of zinc?
it is involved in numerous aspected of cellular metabolism
(protein/DNA synthesis, cell division, growth & development)
what are some signs/symptoms of zinc deficiency
- eye/skin lesions
- poor wound healing
- reduced resistance to infections
- mental confusion
- poor learning
- changes in hair & nails
- anemia
which trace element’s intake is needed only a few milligrams per day?
fluorine
what does fluorine deficiency cause?
increased dental caries and osteoporosis
what are radioactive isotopes?
isotopes with an unstable nucleus
how do radioactive isotopes work?
break down to emit radiation, they give off particles and excess energy until the nucleus becomes stable
what are some clinical applications of radioisotopes?
- disease treatment (radiotherapy)
- disease diagnosis (imaging)
- assessment of degree of disease severity
- treatment monitoring
- sterilization of medical equipment
which radioactive element is used in radiation therapy to treat cancer?
cobalt-60
which radioactive element is used to locate brain tumors, monitor cardiac, liver, and thyroid activity?
iodine-131
which radioactive element is used to study metabolism changes for patients with diabetes, gout, and anemia?
carbon-14
which radioactive element is used to tag onto glucose to monitor organs during a PET scan
carbon-11
which radioactive element is used to study blood circulation
sodium-24
which radioactive element is used to determine damage in heart tissue and detect tumors?
thallium-201
which radioactive element is used to locate brain tumors and damaged heart cells and is a radiotracer in medical diagnostics?
technetium-99
how is radiotherapy used to target cancer cells?
- cancerous growths can be controlled or eliminated by irradiating the area containing the growth
- damages both cancer and normal cells → but the normal cells are able to recover if the treatment is carefully controlled
what are some general side effects of radiotherapy?
- skin problems (dryness, itching, blistering, peeling)
- fatigue (tiredness and weakness)
- loss of hair in the treatment area
how is radioactive iodine ( I131 ) used to treat hyperthyroidism?
- gradually shrinks the thyroid ultimately destroying the gland (radiotherapy)
how is radioiodine administered?
in a liquid or capsule form
what are some short-term side effects
- neck tenderness and swelling
- Nausea and vomiting
- Swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands
- Dry mouth
- Taste changes
how is cobalt-60 used to treat cancer?
it is extensively employed as a radiation source (γ-radiation) to arrest the development of cancer
(gamma knife radiosurgery)
what are some examples of radioactive isotopes in palliative medicine?
strontium-89, samarium-153, and rhenium-186 are used for the relief of cancer-induced bone pain
how are radioactive isotopes used in imaging?
a radioisotope used for diagnosis must emit gamma rays (mostly positrons) of sufficient energy to escape from the body
a radioisotope must have ______ for it to decay away soon after imaging is completed
a half-life short enough
an example of imaging is a PET scan, how does it produce a 3D image of functional processes in the body?
it detects positrons emitted by a radioisotope (tracer) introduced into the body as part of a biologically active molecule (F18)
FDG (fluodeoxyglucose)]
what is an advantage of nuclear imaging over X-ray techniques?
both bone and soft tissue can be imaged very successfully
