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Pathology 2220 > Week 7: Environment and Disease > Flashcards

Week 7: Environment and Disease Flashcards

1
Q

What are the environmental causes of disease?

A

Chemicals
Drugs
Physical agents
Nutritional deficiencies

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2
Q

What is asbestos’ most dangerous form?

A

When it’s dust as it can be inhaled and cause lung damage

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3
Q

How does the body respond to asbestos?

A
  1. Macrophages attempt to digest asbestos
  2. Failure of the macrophages results in reactive oxygen species production which can cause damage
  3. Chronic Inflammation occurs due to failure to remove injurious agent
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4
Q

Give examples of a benign asbestos related disease:

A

Plueral Plaques

Asbestosis (fibrosis)

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5
Q

What is Mesothelioma?

A

A malignant neoplasm of the mesothelium that covers many of the internal organs

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6
Q

What are the two types of lead toxicity?

A

Acute (Neurotoxic)

Chronic

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7
Q

What are the effects of Chronic lead exposure?

A 
Decrease IQ in children
Cognitive decline in adults
Renal toxicity
Anaemia
Hypertension
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8
Q

How does lead affect the body?

A

It competes with calcium and incorporates into the bones and teeth. Children absorb it more because they have higher GIT absorption rates

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9
Q

Why does lead cause anaemia?

A

It causes disruption of heme synthesis due to affinity for sulfhydryl groups

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10
Q

Why does lead have a neurotoxic effect?

A

It competes with Ca at the synapses

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11
Q

Why does lead cause Haemolysis and Renal toxicity?

A

It interferes with cell membrane transport

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12
Q

Why does lead cause Hypertension?

A

It causes the generation of hydrogen peroxide in endothelium

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13
Q

Where do large (PM10) air polluting particles affect the lung? i.e. dust

A

The Nasopharynx

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14
Q

Where do medium (PM2.5) air polluting particles affect the lung? i.e. smoke/soot

A

The lower respiratory tract

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15
Q

Where do large (PM10) air polluting particles affect the lung? i.e. fumes

A

Alveoli and Bloodstream

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16
Q

How do gasses like sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide affect the body?

A

Cause the production of free radicals

Cause lung inflammation

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17
Q

CO is formed from _______________________________ and Hb has _____ the affinity for CO over Oxygen.

A

Incomplete combustion of carbon sources

200x

18
Q

How do the carcinogens in cigarette smoke cause damage?

A

They adduct/bind to DNA and alter regulation (Epigenetic Changes)
The cause direct DNA damage (Oncogenic mutations)

19
Q

What gene mutations occur in tobacco-induced cancer?

A

Inactivation of tumour suppressor genes RB, p53 and PTEN

Activation of oncogenes RAS and MYC

Also epigenetic effects

20
Q

What is Virchow’s Triad?

A

Hypercoagulability
Endothelial Injury
Abnormal blood flow

21
Q

What is Hyperthermia and what does it cause?

A

Core temp 41°-42° C

  • Confusion
  • Cardiac and hepatic dysfunction
  • Vasodilation
  • Oedema
  • Gut barrier dysfunction
  • Clotting
  • Acidosis
  • Denaturation of cell proteins
22
Q

What is Hypothermia and what does it cause?

A

Core temp 35C

Causes:

  • confusion
  • loss of shiver response
  • diuresis
  • cardiac arrhythmia
  • pulmonary oedema
23
Q

What leads to atherosclerotic plaque development?

A 
• chronic inflammation
– circulating leukocytes, acute phase reactants
• lipid abnormalities
– higher triglycerides (VLVLP)
– lower HDLc
– oxidized lipoproteins
• endothelial dysfunction
– nitric oxide alters vasodilation
24
Q

Smoking can result in a ____________ state which results in many clots

A

Hypercoagulable state

25
Q

What are some respiratory diseases associated with smoking?

A
  • chronic bronchitis
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (includes emphysema)
  • exacerbation of asthma
26
Q

X-rays are broadly applicable to _________ and effective in the _________ of many malignant conditions. However, they are also capable of causing ______________________.

A

Diagnosis
Treatment
Severe cell injury

27
Q

What is ionising radiation?

A

Radiation that carries sufficient energy to produce ionisation in tissues that absorbs it by displacing electrons
It is present in electromagnetic or particulate form.

28
Q

Ionising rays have _____ wavelengths and _____ frequencies. i.e. ______________

A

Short
High
X and Gamma rays

29
Q

Ionising rays ionise matter indirectly by ____________________________________________________.

A

Ejecting high-speed electrons from the molecules which absorb them

30
Q

Particulate radiation refers to _______________________________.

A

The movement of discrete particles

31
Q

Particles which transmit large amounts of energy over short distances (eg alpha particles) produce ______________________ effects. They are _______ ionising with ______________________.

A

Severe but localised effects
Densely
high linear energy transfer (LET)

32
Q

Low linear energy transfer (LET) is characteristic of ______ and ______ rays. They penetrate ______ but _____________________________________.

A

Gamma and X-rays
Deeply
Interact with fewer molecules along the way

33
Q

How does ionising radiation have an indirect effect?

A

Cause the hydrolysis of water in cell into hydroxyl and other free radicals which oxidise and damage smaller molecules i.e. enzymes

34
Q

How does ionising radiation have a direct effect?

A

The radiation produces ionisation(s) directly on ‘target’ that is usually a larger particle i.e. genes, small viruses

35
Q

What physical factors affect radiation response?

A
  • Type of radiation (high LET, low LET)
  • Dose of radiation
  • Rate of delivery
  • Distribution in host
  • Rate of excretion
  • Durability in host (half life)
36
Q

What chemical factors affect radiation response?

A
  • Oxygen presence increases the effect due to production of more free radicals
  • Halogenated pyrimidines also increase the effect
  • Antioxidants and Free Radical Scavengers protect from damage
37
Q

What biological factors affect the radiation response?

A
  • The rate at which cells repair non-lethal injury

* Rapidly dividing cells are more vulnerable than other cells

38
Q

High doses of ionising radiation causes _______ due to the _____________________.

A

Cell death

Irreparable damage to the DNA

39
Q

Low doses of ionising radiation cause _________________________

A

DNA synthesis interference

40
Q

What are the microscopic features of radiation injury?

A
  1. Nuclear changes - swelling, chromatin clumping, micronuclei, ring nuclei, apoptosis
  2. Cytoplasmic changes – swelling, vacuolation,
    membrane disruption, organelle disintegration
  3. Vascular changes – endothelial swelling, necrosis
    of wall with haemorrhage, later sclerosis →ischaemia
  4. Fibrosis - hallmark of radiation injury, stromal
    cells more resistant. Often pleomorphic fibroblasts.
41
Q

What are the effects of ionising radiation on germ cells?

A
  • Chromosomal abnormalities (often incompatible with life, or produce deformed babies)
  • Point mutations (may affect future generations), but rare
  • Sterility
42
Q

What are the effects of ionising radiation on somatic cells?

A
  • Acute or delayed

- Localised or affecting total body

Pathology 2220 (10 decks)

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