Ulcerative colitis
A 34-years-old woman with ulcerative colitis has required long-term treatment with pharmacological doses of a glucocorticoid agonist.
Questions and tasks
1. Which of the following is toxic effect associated with long-term glucocorticoid treatment?
a) a „lupus-like“ syndrome
b) adrenal gland neoplasm
c) hepatotoxicity
d) osteoporosis
e) precocious puberty in children
2. Describe the mechanism of action of glucocorticosteroids.
3. Which of the following best describes a glucocorticoid response element?
a) a protein regulator that controls the interaction between an activated steroid receptor and DNA
b) a short DNA sequence that binds tightly to RNA polymerase
c) a small protein that binds to an unoccupied steroid receptor protein and prevents it from becoming denaturized
d) a specific nucleotide sequence that is recognized by a steroid hormone receptor-hormone complex
e) the portion of the steroid receptor that binds to DNA
4. Which of the following is a pharmacological effect of exogenous glucocorticoids?
a) increased muscle mass
b) hypoglycemia
c) inhibition of leukotriene synthesis
d) improved wound healing
e) increased excretion of salt and water