Haemoglobin
How many iron atoms does haemoglobin have?
4 iron atoms
What is the hormone that is released by the kidney and facilitates feedback mechanisms for RBCs?
Erythropoietin (EPO)
What is the causative agent of malaria?
Protozoan parasite – Plasmodium spp.
What are the broad classification of parasites
Parasite
Endo & Ecto
Protozoa & Metazoa
Which artist did Simal and Rachel go to this sem?
(Bonus points if u sing a song)
Saint Levant
What is ALA synthase and what is it controlled by?
ALA is a rate limiting enzyme expressed in all non-plant eukaryotes. It catalyses the synthesis of δ-ALA and is feedback controlled by heme.
Explain what MCH & MCV is and how they inform diagnostic descriptors
MCH – Mean Corpuscular Haemboglobin: Average amount of Hb in each RBC
MCV – Mean Corpusculur Volume: Average volume/ size of RBC in fL
MCH = -chromic, MCV = -cytic
What are some causes of malaria transmission other than the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito?
Transfusion: infected blood products
Transplantation: infected donor organ
Transplacental: congenital transmission
Which schistosomiasis would you find in indonesia?
S. mekongi
What pet does Marium have?
Chicken
List 4 symptoms of porphyria
Hypertrichosis (abnormal hair growth)
Lowered levels of heme (blood, anaemia)
Photosensitivity
Severe blistering and scarring
Weakness in wrists and finfers
Reddish/ brown teeth that fluoresce in UV
Progressingly deforming lips, ears and nose
In iron deficiency, describe what you would typically see in Iron Studies blood
Transferrin - High
Transferrin Saturation - Low
Ferritin - Low
List all the differentials for malaria
Viral: flu/ COVID
VHF- Dengue
Typhoid
Hepatitis-Viral
Meningitis
Amebiasis
List 3 common parasites acquired within Australia
Giardia
Threadworm
Dog hookworm
Toxoplasmosis
Cryptosporidiosis
Hydatid
Spell Rodeens last name
Sadeghinad
Big picture explain the process of Heme Synthesis
The pathway starts and ends in the mitochondria, with a middle stretch in the cytosol - your diagram's colour coding shows this nicely
Rate-limiting step: ALA synthase (step 1)
Lead poisoning hits two steps: ALA dehydratase (step 3) and ferrochelatase (step 9) - which is part of why lead toxicity causes anemia
Feedback inhibition: heme inhibits ALA synthase, so when enough heme is made, the pathway slows itself down
Iron deficiency reduces heme production simply because there's no iron for the final ferrochelatase step
B6 deficiency is rare clinically (B6 is common in food) but would impair step 1 since it's a cofactor for ALA synthase
List all causes of haemolysis (2 categories)
Immune mediated: (aka antibody mediated)
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Transfusion reactions
Drugs
Non-immune mediated
Red cell defects (membrane, enzyme, haemoglobin)
Mechanical destruction (metallic valves, microvascular thrombi etc)
Infection related
What is the pharmaceutical treatment for Uncomplicated malaria?
Artemether 20mg + Lumefantrine 120mg
0 & 8 h, then bd for 2 days (Total 6 doses)
Take with milk/ fats
What is the clinical presentation of Hydatid disease?
Diarrhea
Constipation
Appetite – low or high
Jaundice
SOB, haemoptsis
Allergic reactions when cyst bursts
What is the name of Rodeen & Eliza's school?
The Geelong College