Biology of Disease

SUMMARY

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CASE STUDY 10.1

Andrew, a 51-year-old solicitor, had a health check. He

was found to weigh 105 kg and his height was 1.82 m.

Andrew is a smoker and does not exercise on a regular

basis. He had a family history of heart disease. His

blood pressure and plasma lipids were analyzed and the

results are shown below (reference ranges are shown in

parentheses):

Blood pressure 170/100 mmHg (120/80 mmHg)

Total cholesterol 6.3 mmol dm–3 (< 6.5 mmol dm–3

acceptable, < 5.2 mmol dm–3 is

desirable)

Triacylglycerols 2.7 mmol dm–3 (0.45–1.80 mmol dm–3)

HDL cholesterol 0.7 mmol dm–3 (1.0–1.5 mmol dm–3)

Questions

(a) Calculate Andrew’s BMI.

(b) Is Andrew obese?

(c) What risks are associated with obesity?

(d) What advice would you give Andrew?

CASE STUDY 10.2

Emily is a 17-year-old female. Over the past 18 months

her periods have become increasingly irregular and

intermittent and she consulted her doctor about this

problem. During the consultation, Emily explained that

she was studying for her preuniversity examinations and

wishes to study law. Her parents and teachers expect her to

do extremely well. She thought she was ‘a bit overweight’

and was dieting and about two years ago had started

exercising more regularly. She was now jogging about 2 h a

day and had recently taken up aerobic classes. A physical

examination showed Emily to be 5_ 4 o tall and weigh 110

pounds. Body temperature, pulse rate and blood pressure

were all normal. A urine ketostix gave a normal result.

Blood tests give the following results (reference ranges

are shown in parentheses):

Glucose 4.3 mmol dm–3 (4.5–5.6 mmol dm–3)

Ketone bodies 110 Lmol dm–3 (~70 Lmol dm–3)

Questions

(a) Is Emily underweight?

(b) If so, by how much?

(c) Account for the clinical results.

(d) What treatment or advice would you give Emily?

CASE STUDY 10.3

John, a 74-year-old man residing in a nursing home, was

seen by his doctor because he suffered from mental con-

fusion and had difficulty walking because of paresthesiae

and numbness in his legs. There was some general con-

cern that the elderly residents at this nursing home were

not being fed appropriately. A blood sample was taken

and assessed and an erythrocyte transketolase activity

test performed. Results are shown below.

Transketolase activity 1.80 mmol h–1 per 10^9

without added TPP erythrocytes

Transketolase activity 2.21 mmol h–1 per 10^9

with added TPP erythrocytes

Questions

(a) Does John suffer from deficiency of any vitamin?

(b) If so, how should he be treated?

10.6 Summary

The body requires an adequate supply of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids,
vitamins, minerals, trace elements and water for the maintenance of health,
which between them provide energy and the raw materials for the synthesis