Transcript document
SC235
Unit Three
Angela M. Foster, EdD
[email protected]
AIM: [email protected]
AGENDA
What is sickle cell anemia?
Who is affected by
sickle cell anemia?
How does sickle cell
anemia protect
from malaria?
Is there a cure?
How do those affected
avoid complications?
Image credits: Microsoft Clip Art
Sickle Cell Anemia
• The disease is caused by the substitution of a single
amino acid in the hemoglobin protein in red blood cells
• Causes RBCs to become sickle shaped in low-oxygen
situations
• Symptoms include physical weakness, pain, organ
damage, and even paralysis
Image credits: Microsoft Clip Art
(a) Normal erythrocyte has
normal hemoglobin amino
acid sequence in the beta
chain.
(b) Sickled erythrocyte
results from a single amino
acid change in the beta chain
of hemoglobin.
Sickle Cell Disease
Is sickle cell a "black“ or
“African American”
disease?
NO!
Contrary to popular
perception, the gene
variant that causes sickle
cell not only affects
people of African descent,
but also people from the
Middle East, southern
Europe and South Asia.
Image credits: Microsoft Clip Art
Sickle Cell Disease
Why does sickle cell seem
to afflict “people of color”
more than most other
ethnic groups?
Why does sickle cell seem to afflict
blacks the most?
• Sickle cell is found more frequently in persons
of Middle Eastern, Indian, Mediterranean
and African heritage because
those geographic regions are
most prone to malaria.
• The gene variant for sickle cell
disease is related to malaria,
not skin color.
Image credits: Microsoft Clip Art
World Health Organization, 2002
Sickle Cell Disease vs Sickle Cell Anemia
• Heterozygous individuals have an intermediate
phenotype
• Example: Sickling gene
-SS = normal Hb is made
-Ss = sickle-cell trait (both sickling and normal
Hb are made); can suffer a sickle-cell crisis
under prolonged reduction in blood O2)
-ss = sickle-cell anemia (only sickling Hb is
made; more susceptible to sickle-cell crisis)
How does the sickle cell trait help
people resist malaria?
The malaria parasite gains entrance to the
bloodstream through a mosquito bite and
begins to destroy the normal round-shaped red
blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the
body.
The sickled cell and the parasite
are filtered out by the spleen
and destroyed, lessening the
impact of the parasitic infection.
Image credits: Microsoft Clip Art
Sickle Cell Disease
Is there a CURE for sickle
cell anemia?
YES!
Bone marrow/stem cell transplant can cure sickle
cell disease.
Bone marrow is a soft, fatty tissue
inside the center of the bones
where blood cells are made.
Image credits: Microsoft Clip Art
Vision Checks
Vision loss, including blindness, can occur when
blood vessels in the eye become blocked with
sickle cells and the retina (the thin layer of
tissue inside the back of the eye) gets
damaged.
Image credits: Microsoft Clip Art
Avoiding Complication
• Get regular checkups
• Prevent infections
• Get vaccinations
•Learn healthy habits
•Check out clinical studies
•Get support
Image credits: Microsoft Clip Art
Unit Three – Discussion Board
• The consumption of simple carbohydrates,
generally in the form of refined sugars, has
been on the upswing in the United States for
decades now.
• You must answer ALL three parts to receive
full credit.
Image credits: Microsoft Clip Art
Lab Project Two – Continued this week
• Please continue Lab Project Two by making
observations of your Vaseline filter. Be as
specific and thorough as possible.
-Date, Time, Temperature, Weather conditions,
Condition of the filter,
AND anything else
that you notice about the filter that
seems interesting!
• Take photos if possible
• Use your Data Chart
Questions?
Image credits: Microsoft Clip Art