B6-Preveting and treating diseases Flashcards
(27 cards)
what does anti-gen mean
Antigens = unique proteins that are on the surface of every single cell
what are memory cells
Memory cell = ‘remember’ the right antibody needed to destroy a particular pathogen
what does immunisation involve
Immunisation includes giving you a vaccine ⟶ this stimulates the body’s natural response to invading pathogens
what are vaccines made of
Vaccines are made of a dead or inactive form of a pathogen
what does immunisation mean
Immunity = the ability of your white blood cells to produce the rigth antibodies quickly as a result of memory cells, if re-infected with the disease
what does MMR vaccine stand for
MMR Vaccine = covers Measles, Mumps and Rubella
what is herd immunity
Herd Immunity = large proportion of the population is immune to th disease ⟶ spread of pathogens is reduced and the disease may disappear
what do pain killers do?
Painkillers ONLY relieve the symptoms, but have no effect on pathogens
what do anti-biotics do?
Antibiotics = ONLY cure bacterial diseases
what do anti-sceptics do?
Antiseptics = kill bacteria on the skin - antiseptics can have medical use
!FACT!
Specific bacteria should be treated with the specific antibiotic that is effective against them
why is it hard to kill viruses
Viruses reproduce inside your cells - hard to find medicine that will kill the viruses and not your cells as well
what does chemical from foxgloves help strengthen?
Chemicals from foxgloves help strengthen the heartbeat
where does aspirin originate from
Aspirin originates from a compound in the bark of a willow tree
what make a medicine good
A good medicine is:
1. effective - must prevent/cure the disease or make you feel better
2. safe - must not have bad side effects or be too toxic
3. stable - must be able to use it under normal conditions and store it for some time
4. It needs to successfully enter your body, do its work, and LEAVE
what happens to drugs that pass pre-clinical testing
Drugs that pass the preclinical testing move onto clinical testing ⟶ medicine is tested on healthy volunteers and patients
what is pre-clinical testing
Preclinical testing = always happens in a lab, either on live cells, live tissue or on animals
what are new drugs tested for?
New drugs are tested for:
1. efficacy
2. toxicity
3. dosage
what are double blind trials
Double-blind trials: groups of consenting patients ⟶ some are given a placebo (without the trial drug), and some are given the trial drug, and these patients are mixed. Both the doctor giving the drug, AND the patient receiving do NOT know who is getting what - all patients are monitored equally carefully
what does placebo contain
Placebo normally contains different drug already used to treat the disease - so that the patients are not deprived of treatment
where are results published?
Results are published journals ⟶ can be seen by other scientists ⟶ prevents false claims
who views drug trial results?
Results are published journals ⟶ can be seen by other scientists ⟶ prevents false claims
what are all anti-bodies, antigens, hormones and enzymes
Antibodies, antigens, hormones, enzymes are all proteins
what are monoclonal anti-bodies
Monoclonal antibodies = proteins that are produced to target particular cells or chemicals in the body
