36 Questions
What is the single greatest cause of preventable death globally?
Tobacco smoking
Which of the following is a major risk factor for?
All of the above
What is a common short-term effect of cannabis use?
Increased appetite and food consumption
Why do people tend to use drugs, despite the associated costs?
Because of a combination of biological and environmental factors
What is a potential long-term consequence of smoking?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
What is a common effect of tobacco smoking on the cardiovascular system?
Increased blood pressure
What is a potential neurological effect of cannabis use?
Impaired short-term and working memory
What is the primary function of the basal level of plant toxins maintained by plants?
To deter attacks from herbivores
What is the term used to describe the increased production of toxins in plants when they detect an herbivore attack?
Inducible defense
What is the proposed hypothesis for human recreational drug use involving nicotine?
The chemoprophylaxis hypothesis
What is the term used to describe the human propensity to consume neurotoxic plants to prevent or limit infection by helminths?
Chemoprophylaxis
Why might nicotine be an effective anthelmintic in humans?
Because it has antiparasitic properties
What is the proposed mechanism by which certain psychoactive substances might regulate the intake of plant neurotoxins?
Neuropsychological mechanisms
What is the term used to describe the down-regulation of toxin production in plants when the herbivore attack ceases?
Down-regulation of defense
What is the mechanism by which modern anthelmintics, such as levamisole and tetrahydropyrimidines, achieve their effects on parasites?
By targeting nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on somatic muscle cells, inducing spastic paralysis
Why might nicotine be considered as a potential anthelmintic in humans?
Because it is a potent neurotoxin that can induce acute toxic response at high doses
What is the estimated number of adults who are tobacco users worldwide?
One billion
How much nicotine is typically absorbed by a smoker per cigarette?
1-2 mg
What is the lethal dose of nicotine for an adult human?
30-60 mg
What is the estimated number of people in developing regions who are infected with one or more helminths?
One billion
What is the name of the receptors targeted by nicotine and modern anthelmintics, such as levamisole and tetrahydropyrimidines?
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs)
What is the purpose of increasing alfalfa tannins intake in domesticated lambs?
To defend against gastrointestinal parasite infections
Why do wild chimpanzees ingest Aspilia and Vernonia amygdalina?
To treat intestinal helminth infections
What is the function of spices added to food, according to Billing and Sherman (1998)?
To defend against meat-borne pathogens
What is the term for the deliberate use of plants for medicinal purposes in humans?
Ethnomedicine
What is the primary function of chemoprophylaxis and chemotherapy hypotheses?
To explore plant toxins and defense mechanisms
Which of the following is an example of self-medication in animals?
Wild chimpanzees ingesting Aspilia and Vernonia amygdalina
What is the significance of plant toxins in defending against parasites?
They provide a defense mechanism against parasites
What is the relationship between spices and parasite defense, according to Billing and Sherman (1998)?
Spices defend against meat-borne pathogens
What is the term used to describe the process of herbivores using plant toxins to defend against their own parasites?
All of the above
What type of parasites do urban sparrows and finches defend against by using nicotine-containing cigarette butts in their nests?
Ectoparasites
What is the primary purpose of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids ingested by woolly bear caterpillars?
To defend against tachinid flies
What is the term used to describe the parasitic worms mentioned in the text?
Helminths
How do tobacco hornworms use ingested nicotine?
To defend against the wolf spider and the endoparasitoid, Cotesia congregata
What is the main reason why herbivores have co-evolved to use plant toxins?
To defend against their own parasites
What is the potential consequence of using nicotine to defend against parasites, as observed in urban sparrows and finches?
Increased risk of addiction
Test your knowledge about the prevalence of smoking in different regions and its health risks. Learn about the dangers of smoking, including its effects on the heart, liver, and lungs, and how it can lead to various diseases.
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