Hepatitis

Among the hepatitis viruses, hepatitis B virus (HBV) is unique because:

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Study material on Hepatitis

Images

Scleral icterus (yellow eyes), the commonest sign of jaundice. Sheila J. Toro, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Scleral icterus (yellow eyes), the commonest sign of jaundice. Sheila J. Toro, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Hepatitis B virus particles under the electron microscope. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Hepatitis B virus particles under the electron microscope. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Practice questions on Hepatitis

A 62-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B develops hepatocellular carcinoma. Molecular studies reveal inactivation of p53. Which of the following best describes the normal role of p53 in preventing tumor development?

Answer: B. p53 is a tumor suppressor protein that acts as a 'guardian of the genome.' In response to cellular stress, such as DNA damage, p53 can induce cell cycle arrest for repair or trigger apoptosis to eliminate damaged cells, thereby preventing the accumulation of mutations that could lead to cancer.

Hepatitis B virus has been associated with?

Answer: A. Bed bugs (Cimex) have been linked with hepatitis B virus. ---

A 62-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B develops hepatocellular carcinoma. Molecular studies reveal inactivation of p53. Which of the following best describes the normal role of p53 in preventing tumor development?

Answer: A. p53 is a crucial tumor suppressor gene that acts as a 'guardian of the genome.' In response to cellular stress, such as DNA damage, p53 can halt the cell cycle to allow for repair or induce apoptosis if the damage is irreparable, thereby preventing the accumulation of mutations that can lead to cancer.

A 62-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B develops hepatocellular carcinoma. Molecular studies reveal inactivation of p53. Which of the following best describes the normal role of p53 in preventing tumor development?

Answer: A. p53 is a critical tumor suppressor gene. Its normal function is to sense DNA damage and trigger appropriate cellular responses, such as cell cycle arrest to allow for repair or induction of apoptosis if the damage is irreparable. Inactivation of p53 removes this crucial protective mechanism, allowing damaged cells to proliferate and accumulate further mutations.

A 62-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B develops hepatocellular carcinoma. Molecular studies reveal inactivation of p53. Which of the following best describes the normal role of p53 in preventing tumor development?

Answer: B. The p53 protein is a crucial tumor suppressor. It acts as a 'guardian of the genome' by sensing DNA damage and cellular stress. In response, p53 can either initiate DNA repair mechanisms or, if the damage is too severe, trigger programmed cell death (apoptosis) to eliminate potentially cancerous cells. Inactivation of p53 allows cells with damaged DNA to survive and proliferate, leading to tumor development.

A 62-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B develops hepatocellular carcinoma. Molecular studies reveal inactivation of p53. Which of the following best describes the normal role of p53 in preventing tumor development?

Answer: A. p53 is a critical tumor suppressor gene often referred to as the 'guardian of the genome'. Its normal function is to detect DNA damage and trigger cellular responses, such as cell cycle arrest to allow for repair or induction of apoptosis if the damage is irreparable, thus preventing the propagation of mutations that could lead to cancer.

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