Chapter 9: Enviornmental and Nutritional Diseases Flashcards
(136 cards)
What are the leading causes of death in developed countries?
Ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease
Postnatally, what are the 3 conditions that are preventable that cause deaths in children under 5 y/o?
1) Pneumonia
2) Diarrheal diseases
3) Malaria
Activation of Xenobiotics to generate toxic compounds occurs in 2 phases, what are they?
Phase I: chemicals undergo hydrolysis, oxidation, or reduction (by CYP 450)
Phase II: often metabolized to water soluble compounds through glucuronidation, sulfation, methylation, and conjugation w/ glutathione

Xenobiotics are metabolized by what?
Cause what?
- CYP-450 system in ER of liver
- Either detoxification or conversion into active compounds that cause cell injury –> ROS
What are the inducers of CYP? (mnemonic)
SHADE
Smoking
Hormones
Alcohol
Drugs
Enviornmental chemicals
What decreases CYP activity?
Fasting and/or starvation
Which size particles are the most harmful?
What happens when inhaled?
- Fine or ultrafine particles less than 10 μm in diameter
- Readily inhaled into alveoli where they are phagocytosed by macrophages and neutrophils,respond by releasinginflammatory mediators
Acute poisoning by CO is marked by which characteristic morphology?
Cherry-red color of the skin and mucous membranes
Lead is a readily absorbed metal that binds to what?
Interferes with?
Leads to what kind of toxicities?
- Binds to sulfhydryl groups in proteins and interferes with CALCIUM metabolism
- Leads to: hematologic, skeletal, neurologic, GI, and renal toxicities
Most absorbed lead is incorporated into?
Competes with?
- Bones and teeth
- Competes with calcium
High levels of lead cause CNS disturbances in both adult and children, but what condition is predominant in adults?
Peripheral neuropathies
Lead inhibits the activity of what 2 enzymes involved in heme synthesis?
Causes what type of anemia?
- δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase and Ferrochelatase
- Microcytic hypochromic anemia
What morphological blood and bone marrow changes are present in lead poisoning?
Histological findings?
- Ring sideroblasts —> red cell precursors w/ iron-laden mitochondria that are detected with Prussian blue stain
- Punctate basophilic stippling of the red cells
What kind of brain/CNS damage is associated with children in lead poisoning?
Adults?
- In children = brain damage
- In adults = peripheral demyelinating neuropathy (wrist drop and foot-drop)
Mercury mostly affects what organs?
CNS
Kidney
Arsenic affects what organs most commonly?
GI tract
Nervous System
Skin
Heart
Arsenic trioxide is a frontline treatment for?
Acute promyelocytic leukemia
Cadmium is toxic to what systems?
Due to increased production of?
- Kidneys and Lungs
- Increased production of ROS
The principal toxic effects of excess cadmium take the form of what diseases?
Due to?
- Obstructive lung disease caused by necrosis of alveolar epithelial cells
- Renal tubular damage that may progress to end-stage renal disease
BPAs have been known to be a potential ________ disruptor.
Elevated urine BPA linked to?
- Endocrine disruptor
- Elevated urine BPA linked to heart disease
What are among the most potent carcinogens and are released during the combustion of fossil fuels, particularly coal and gas at high temps?
Implicated in the development of what diseases?
- Polycyclic Hydrocarbons
- Lung and bladder cancer
Organochlorines (i.e., DDT, PCB, dioxins) disrupt what?
Hormonal balance due to antiestrogenic and antiandrogenic activity
Dioxins and PCBs can cause what skin disorder?
Affect CYPs how?
- Folliculitis and a dermatosis known as chloracne, characterized by acne, cyst formation, hyperpigmentation, and hyperkeratosis of face and behind ears
- Induce CYPs, may shown abnormal drug metabolism
Which components of cigarette smoke are potent carcinogens and are directly involved in the development of lung cancer?
Polycyclic hydrocarbons
Nitrosamines







