Short notes style revision / study questions.
Up to 2005, the core / "left hand side" of the syllabus was examined using short notes questions. This has now changed to using multiple choice questions. However, the short note model is still useful for revision and study purposes, especially since it focuses upon 'recall', rather than 'recognition' of information. In previous years, my tutorials have used a series of short notes type questions, which students have worked through as they have covered the various sections of the course, meaning that they have addressed the main concepts of the course progressively, and also built up a revision tool useful for preparation for the first paper of the examination. Originally, these questions were prepared over the two years when I was most recently examiner in Pathology, when I went to most of the lectures / course, and then went through the whole syllabus to assemble a list of questions that addressed much of it. While the format of the examination has changed completely, the syllabus hasn't - and these questions are given here so that students can use them in any way that they find useful. If you have covered these questions, and know the answers - then you will have covered a considerable portion of the syllabus. If you are not from Oxford ... you still might find these useful.
Any questions that you find problematic, you can discuss with your own College Pathology tutors if they wish - HOWEVER unless Dr Saunders is your pathology tutor, please DO NOT contact him with associated questions, his time is already fully committed to the students for whom he is responsible.
Please remember that these are SHORT NOTES questions. Generally, you should try to put down the requested number of pieces of information, plus an additional 'spare' one. Unless otherwise specified, if you have written more than 15 to 30 words - then you have almost certainly written too much, and should go back and find the five or six (or requested number) of the most important points / facts / examples. Many questions are properly answered with five or six words!
Questions by subject:: Bacteria; Viruses; Vaccines; Normal immunology; Healing and repair; Pathological immunology; Parasite questions; Protein accumulation disorders; Cardiovascular disease; Anti-inflammatories; Monoclonal antibodies; Cancer.
1. List at least 6 differences between bacteria and human cells
2. List at least 5 distinctive bacterial targets suitable for use as antibiotic targets
3. List 6 different bacterial species and the main infections with which they are associated.
4. List the five main mechanisms by which bacteria become resistant to antibiotics
5. Describe at least 4 different mechanisms by which bacteria exchange DNA
6. Describe 3 ways in which bacteria can acquire new antibiotic resistance (note import of DNA from outside is only one answer regardless of the mechanism to this question)
7. Describe 5 virulence determinants and the type of infection with which they are associated for Staph. aureus (including different types of infection as examples where possible)
Questions 8 to 13: Do the same as question 7 for Group A Streptococci, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, E. coli, Salmonella, Clostridium, and Vibrio cholera (the bottom line here is that you need the main features of all of the bacterial on the LHS, just as you also do for the viruses)
14. Describe the mechanism of action of one named exotoxin, and endotoxin on the host.
15. How do you determine bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics?
16. Describe 5
ways in which bacteria mimic their hosts or ‘hide’ from the immune system.
Virus questions:
1. List 6 major differences between viruses and human cells.
2. Describe at least 5 targets used in anti-viral therapy.
3. Why is it harder to develop antiviral drugs than antibacterial drugs?
4. List one +ve strand, one ve strand, RNA and DNA virus and one pseudoretrovirus and indicate where production of the viral genome during infection takes place for each.
5 to 10. List the
viral components that are involved in intracellular invasion, the targeted
cells, and their cellular receptors for each of:
HIV; Polio virus; Epstein-Barr virus (HHV 4); Herpes simplex viruses (HHV 1 &
2); Hepatitis B virus; Influenza.
11. Describe the replicative cycle of a retrovirus.
12. Draw an annotated diagram of influenza virus.
13. Draw an annotated diagram of polio virus.
14. Describe the development and progression of infection with Polio virus.
15. Describe the processes in antigenic shift and antigenic drift in influenza viruses and relate these to the epidemiological patterns associated with each.
16. Draw an annotated diagram of HIV.
17. What are the principal antiviral defences other than antibodies?
1. What properties of a virus (the virus and its epidemiology) make it amenable to eradication using a vaccine-based strategy?
2. What properties does a vaccine have to have to be a good and widely useful?
1. List 6 types of white blood cell
List at least 6 (certainly put no more than 8 to 10!) characteristics (this can include things that they produce or interact with) and functions of the following (questions 2 to 12):
2. Macrophages
3. B-cells
4. T-cells
5. NK cells
6. Neutrophils
7. Eosinophlils
8. Basophils
9. MHC
10. MHC Class I
11. MHC Class II
12. What are the key differences between MHC I and II?
13-17. Draw and list / annotate 5+ points / functions / structural components of EACH of the immunoglobulin sub-classes
18. Draw the complement cascade
19. What are the differences between the classical and alternative pathways? (be able to describe the functions and effects of each)
List the interaction with cells (and where appropriate the cells that produce them) or other effector molecules of (questions 20 to 28):
20-24. EACH of the immunoglobulin subclasses
25. Complement
26. Interferon alpha
27. Inteferon gamma
28. TNF
29. What factors define recognition of self?
30. What processes establish B-cell tolerance?
31. What processes establish T-cell tolerance?
1. What are the main steps in induction and control of acute inflammation?
2. Describe healing by ‘primary intention’ and when it occurs
3. Describe healing by ‘secondary intention’ and when it occurs
4. Describe the key steps in formation and resolution of an abscess
1. What are the 5 types of hypersensitivity and what is the main effector component of each?
2. What are the key elements of an anaphylactic reaction?
3. What are the key processes involved in haemolytic disease of the newborn and a blood transfusion reaction?
4. What are the key features leading to inflammation in systemic lupus erythematosis?
5. How do T-cells and macrophages interact in a type 4 hypersensitivity reaction?
6. What are the main targets in immune suppression used in transplantation?
7. What factors prevent lesion resolution in chronic inflammation?
8. What are the main consequences of T-cell deficiency? Can they be / how are they treated?
9. What are the main consequences of antibody deficiency? Can they be / how are they treated?
10. What are the main consequences of neutrophils deficiency? Can they be / how are they treated?
11. What are the main consequences of complement deficiency? Can they be / how are they treated?
12. List at least 6 different immunodeficiencies and the main type of infection associated with each.
13. Describe
the structure of a granuloma and describe its evolution
Parasite questions:
1. What are the key differences between the life cycles of falciparum and vivax malaria?
2. Draw an annotated diagram of the life cycle of leishmania and indicate the key disease associated aspects.
3. Draw a life cycle and describe the features of infection for Plasmodium falciparum. Who is at risk of these infections?
4. Draw a life cycle and describe the features of infection for Plasmodium vivax. Who is at risk of these infections?
5 to 7. For
each of the LHS parasites, describe the stages of their interaction associated
with host damage, and points at which the life cycle might be interrupted by: 1.
vaccination, 2. treatment, 3. other control measures.
Protein accumulation disorders
questions:
1. What are the main features of prions and prion diseases?
2. What is a prion?
3.
What is amyloidosis, what are its main features, and when does it occur?
Cardiovascular disease:
1. Describe (draw diagrams showing) the processes leading to the formation and breakdown of blood clots. What prevents their formation in healthy vessels?
2. What it the role of the platelet in haemostasis and clot formation?
3. Describe the formation of a thrombus and the consequences of thrombotic embolism.
4. What are the different types of embolism and when do they occur?
5. What are the major risk factors for atherosclerosis?
6. What is the
process of formation of an atherosclerotic lesion and associated histological
features? (diagrams good)
Anti-inflammatory drug quesiton:
1. Describe the
uses and mechanism of action of at least 3 different types of anti-inflammatory
drug.
Monoclonal antibody questions:
1. What are monoclonal antibodies and how are they made?
2. What are the practical applications of monoclonal antibodies in medicine?
1. What are the main differences (including histological) between cancer and hyperplasia?
2. What are the main differences (including histological) between benign and malignant cancers?
3. Give 5 to 7 examples of benign tumours with a potential host-damaging effect for each.
4. What are the 3 primary routes of tumour spread? How does each relate to prognosis? How is each assessed clinically?
5. What are the clinical features of malignant disease and what feature or product of the tumour is responsible for each (n.b. more than one effect for single product)
6. What immune defences operate to prevent / combat cancer?
7. What are the main features of anticancer chemotherapy?
8. What are the main features of anticancer surgery and pre- surgery investigations?
9. What are the main features of anticancer radiotherapy?
10 to 12. What are the main problems / complications with each of 7 to 9 above?
13. What are the main features of tumour suppressor genes and how do they work?
14. The cell has its own defences against formation of cancer. Name at least 3 (up to 5) genes involved in recognizing and preventing malignant cell growth and describe how they work.
15. What are oncogenes? What is their ‘normal’ function in the host?