Age related macular degeneration (AMD) and dental caries

Question 1

What are the 2 clinical subtypes of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and characteristic hallmarks of each?

Answer 1

1) Dry type: White yellowish plaques made of lipid-protein (drusen). Affects Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE).
2) Wet type: New blood vessels form. More severe. Dry to wet transition.

Question 2

Name a factor that can be targeted in the wet type of AMD, and describe a strategy to target the factor.

Answer 2

VEGF using lucentis (Ranizumab) to prevent neovascularization.

Question 3

Why are ocular diseases promising targets for RNA based therapies? What is the practical limitation?

Answer 3

The eye is a confined compartment and treatment can be directly injected for local delivery.

Antibody stability is much higher than RNA stability and RNA is just as effective as antibody.

Question 4

List the genetic categories affecting dental caries that are not directly involved in the tooth development or composition.

Answer 4

Taste receptor: like sugar, eat more sugar

Immunity

Saliva pH

Question 5

What are biofilms, and how are they related to dental diseases?

Answer 5

Community of microorganisms forming. Healthy biofilms can protect. Unhealthy biofilms can lead to tooth decay.

Question 6

Decarries

Answer 6

Demineralization of enamel and tooth surface.