Question 1

Cost-effectiveness is a potential barrier to genetic-based therapies.

Accepted Answer

Genetic-based therapies often involve innovative, complex and expensive technologies, making them costly to develop, manufacture and administer. As a result, the cost-effectiveness of genetic-based therapies is a major concern and can limit their accessibility to patients, particularly in resource-limited settings. Therefore, while genetic-based therapies hold great promise for the future of medicine, their cost-effectiveness needs to be carefully evaluated to ensure their sustainability and affordability.

Question 2

Determining the kind or dosage of drug therapy on the basis of an individual's genetic status:

Accepted Answer

Determining the kind or dosage of drug therapy on the basis of an individual's genetic status may decrease the incidence of serious drug adverse reactions for some clients. This is because genetic variations can affect how individuals metabolize different drugs, making some drugs more effective or increasing the risk of adverse reactions. By tailoring drug therapy to an individual's genetic status, healthcare providers can reduce the risk of adverse reactions and improve treatment outcomes. This approach is known as pharmacogenomics. It is not an example of genetic polymorphism (choice A) or drug striation (choice C), and it is unlikely to increase the cost of health insurance for the whole community (choice B).

Question 3

The types of gene therapy include:

Accepted Answer

The two types of gene therapy are somatic and germline, making option A the correct choice. Somatic gene therapy targets non-reproductive (somatic) cells, whereas germline gene therapy aims to target reproductive cells or embryonic stem cells. The other options (B, C, D) are not legitimate types of gene therapy.

Question 4

One trial that clearly illustrated problems with gene therapy was among children with severe combined immunodeficiency. What was the serious secondary effect believed to be a result of this form of therapy?

Accepted Answer

The serious secondary effect of the gene therapy trial among children with severe combined immunodeficiency was the development of leukemia in some of the treated patients. The therapy involved the use of a retrovirus to introduce a functional copy of the gene into the patients' immune cells, but in some cases, this caused the activation of oncogenes and the development of leukemia.

Question 5

Which of the following are ethical issues associated with pharmacogenetics? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Pharmacogenetics involves handling sensitive genetic data, raising concerns about data security (A). It also poses ethical issues related to insurance risk, as genetic information could be used to discriminate against individuals in insurance coverage (B).

Question 6

In a pharmacogenetic context,the potential negative clinical consequences of being classified as a responder is:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a pharmacogenetic context,the potential negative clinical...

Question 7

Two techniques used in gene therapy include in vitro and vector methods.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Two techniques used in gene therapy include...

Question 8

A client that you are caring for has advanced kidney disease and is about to commence drug therapy.In order to maintain safe plasma drug levels,the prescriber might have to consider:

Accepted Answer

As the client has advanced kidney disease, their renal function may be compromised, leading to decreased drug metabolism and excretion. Therefore, the prescriber may need to decrease the dosage of the drug to maintain safe plasma drug levels and prevent toxicity. Increasing the dosage (A) or increasing the dose and frequency of administration (D) could lead to increased levels of the drug, increasing the risk of toxicity. Increasing the frequency of dosing (C) would not necessarily address the issue of decreased drug metabolism and excretion and may also increase the risk of toxicity.

Question 9

Which one of the following factors is likely to result in higher plasma drug levels?

Accepted Answer

Cirrhosis of the liver can impair the liver's ability to metabolize drugs, leading to higher plasma drug levels. Morphine is a narcotic analgesic that is metabolized in the liver, so administering it to a person with cirrhosis of the liver is likely to result in higher plasma drug levels.

Question 10

If a person who has an inherited disorder wished to minimise the odds of passing that genetic materials to their offspring,germline therapy will be of no use.

Accepted Answer

Germline therapy involves altering the genetic material of an embryo, sperm, or egg to prevent the transmission of a genetic disorder to the next generation. Therefore, it could potentially minimize the odds of passing on inherited disorders to offspring.

Question 11

How many human enzymes have been associated with drug metabolism and polymorphisms?

Accepted Answer

More than 20 human enzymes have been associated with drug metabolism and polymorphisms, including the cytochrome P450 enzymes, UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, and sulfotransferases.

Question 12

Somatic gene therapy uses what form of cells?

Accepted Answer

Somatic gene therapy involves manipulating genes in non-reproductive cells, such as skin cells or blood cells, to correct genetic disorders or treat diseases. Sperm cells and ovarian cells are reproductive cells and would not be used in somatic gene therapy. Psychosomatic cells is not a recognized term in the field of biology or medicine.

Quiz 18: Genetic Considerations in Pharmacology