The Brain can be Drowned in Alcohol

To Believe or Not to Believe .. 

    

    I remembered having this conversation with my uncle about his classmate, whom I call Ingkong (Grandpa), when I was in high school.

    "I don't know what happened to Dan, he used to be the best student in our Algebra class, would you believe?", Rolando said.

    "Really Bap? He was? How come he doesn't know how to solve this equation? Is he just tired or what?", I said.

    "You know what? It's because his head is filled with beer and his brain can't seem to swim, it drowned.", Rolando replied.

     As a kid, way back, I won't understand what my uncle said. How can Ingkong's brain be drowned in alcohol? Isn't it that when we eat or drink, the food will go to the stomach? Well, I guess my uncle was just trying to tell something that would give me clues about Ingkong's condition. Brain? Drowned in alcohol? To Believe or Not to Believe.

    When I entered college, I was exposed to different information regarding alcohol, specifically Ethanol, the substance which is turned into beer and other beverages. At second year college, I took up a Psychology class. There is this certain topic about Drugs commonly abused as well as Substance abused, primarily Alcohol, along with their mechanism of action and toxicity.

    That whole chapter gave me an idea of what my uncle is trying to say in our conversation. YES. I believe that the BRAIN could be DROWNED to ALCOHOL, but not literally of course.

    I've known that Alcohol could drown the brain by abuse. This is by taking the substance and manifesting the harmful effects by massive intake.

    Alcohol, basically acts as a depressant that affects the central nervous system. So, the feeling of being so great and hyper during "Inuman Sessions" only mask the real effects of alcohol. These feelings are just due to it's initial effect of blocking the inhibitory centers which brings us to the thought of being so excited and humorous.

    Now, how would we know if a person is taking in alcohol, or he is abusing the substance? There is this term called Alcohol Testing. This Method may be proceeded through GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY and ENZYMATIC ASSAYS.

Sampling:

    Arm preparation and sterilization before venipuncture must not be done with the use of alcohol swabs. Soap and water as well as other non - alcohol containing detergents may be used instead, to avoid inaccurate results during testing. Any contamination of alcohol with outside sources may alter the result's reliability.

Preferred Specimen: 8 - 10 ml of whole blood treated with Oxalate and Sodium Fluoride

                                   * plasma should be obtained

Precautions:

• Care must be taken to prevent contamination of the sample of bacteria and other microorganisms which may form ethanol through their metabolic processes which may create a falsely elevated result.
• The container of the sample should be tightly sealed, since ethanol is volatile and will evaporate rapidly.
• Temperature should be regulated. Increase in temperature may cause the rapid evaporation of alcohol.

  

GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

• Highly selective and specific

    Serum sample mixed with internal standard is injected directly to the column. Fractionation occurs after a few minutes depending on the type of column and degree of separation.

   Ethanol, methanol and isopropanol can be detected specifically since they separate well in the columns.

    This technique can also be employed in the detection of ketoacidosis in diabetic patients by the use of a different internal standard (n - propanol).

* Requires committed instrumentation and high degree of skill.

Enzyme Analysis

    This reaction employs Alcohol Dehydrogenase with NAD+ as a coenzyme. Upon the oxidation of ethanol, acetaldehyde is formed, NADH as the marker. The reaction is read at 340 nm to quantitate the ethanol present.

* Use of SEMICARBAZIDE is employed to inhibit further oxidation of acetaldehyde by trapping the excess substance to prevent false elevation of ethanol.

    This method is not highly reliable due to sensitivity to other alcohol types. It is not specific to ethanol only. This may create elevation of the results by the quantitation of isopropanol.

    If ethanol is present, the quantity recorded is from the peak, dropping to some lower points after some time.

Reporting of Results:

• percentage of ethanol concentration per deciliter.
• micromoles per liter
• 0.1% ethanol = 100 mg/dL

    Now, as a pre - intern student, I've learned that, Brain could be Drowned to alcohol not because the liquid will go to the brain, but because the substance affects the brain and impedes its function, thus, killing its neurons.

Reference:

Calbreath, Donald. Clinical Chemistry

Drug Addict Enrollees? WHAT?!?

Are you in favor of drug testing before admission to school?

Definitely, I am in favor of pre – admission drug testing.

As we all know, it’s not just the older population of the society take in charge of the high occurrence of drug addiction situation as of today. The youth, surpassed the incidence of drug abuse more than men and women of married age. This, according to legal sources, is true, due to the high rates of youngsters who tend to use prohibited drugs and addictive substances such as rugby, often than adults do.

To agree to this policy of the Universities is not a one sided trend which as they say become overboard of the personal life of each student to be admitted.

The “personal life” I’m pointing out is the way they manage their life through these drugs. They may be or may not be aware of their harmful effects, but still; they use them in a way they think they are experiencing something better than their real effects.

“Something better” means the other effect of the drug if abused or taken to a higher dosage than the prescribed, or more so, to take the drug without even the sickness it is opted to heal.

Other students, especially the ones that already passed the drug testing, tend to be influenced by peers who take prohibited drugs. These drugs as they say are great stress relievers. They also bring the “happiness” that separates the mind from reality. These are also best used during night outs and parties that greatly affect the behavior of the people under the influence of these drugs.

Upon thinking of the importance of drug testing before student admission as part of the medical assessment, I came to create a mnemonic – PROBE.

Protect – To protect students from possible influence of drug abuse by other students in and outside the campus.

Rule out – To rule out the deceiving effects of prohibited

drugs.

Outreach – To extend knowledge and reach out for people who suffered from drug addiction and to relate the consequences brought about by drug abuse.

Benefit – To know and promote the benefits of drug

testing to avoid drug addiction

Encourage – To encourage every person, especially the youth population, mainly the students to reframe from involving in prohoboted drug transactions by educating each and everyone about the importance of drug testing.

        To top it all, drug testing is really a must to ensure the safety and development of each student without the worry of drug abuse involvement.

Friends 'till the End...

We were asked to share our experiences in relation to toxicology and the drugs involved. Upon reading the topic, one person popped out of my mind - MANUEL.

    To transfer from one school to another will be difficult for a kid to adjust. New faces, new environment, new teachers, and most of all, new classmates. I spent my nursery and preparatory years from a school so different from my elementary institution. That is, my mom enrolled me to this primary school which is much closer to our home.

    As soon as the class started, my chest is filled with confusion, fear, and the most, nervousness. I can hear my heart pounding next to my ear when my older cousin guided me to my classroom assignment. I can see the heads of my new classmates turn and stare as I walk by the teacher's table and as I try to find a seat. Sadly, most of the seats are occupied and I guess, everyone then knows each other a lot than I do, so nobody would offer to be a seatmate.

    As I walk by the isle, I found an unoccupied desk (Seats with tables in a typical elementary classroom.) at the back. I hurried and sat eagerly to comfort myself. I wondered why our schedule is so early yet the teacher is not yet starting her orientation. Well, I guess it's just the start of the class and her co-teachers are still chatting, probably sharing the things that happened during the summer vacation.

    So the time passed and still, the teacher isn't starting yet. As I try to roll my eyes in the four corners of the classroom, I found a bag next to me. I tried my best not to think negatively, but this thought keeps on circling my mind:  "Whoa! I'm not alone in this desk. Oh my gosh. I hope he or she's not wicked. hohoh..."

    Okay, so my "seatmate" isn't showing up yet.  I really can't think of a way to counteract if ever he or she will bully me or something. Based from the color and appearance of the bag, a red backpack, a non childish red bag, I can tell that the owner is someone older and probably a guy. But what if she's a girl and she just wanted to have a boyish image? Too much thinking. Blah.

    As I observe my classmates, I came to see someone so tall entering the classroom. He's almost like at the same grade as my cousin - grade 5. He is silently walking, not looking at anybody, walking, walking, walking towards me! Oh gosh, my seatmate! I got scared because he is too serious and seemed so angry. He made his way near our desk, he sat, and he didn't even say a single word. I was relieved. *sigh*

    Great! He is not wicked and he did not bully me. So, does this mean we can be friends? I was about to approach him when our teacher came and she eventually started the orientation. So she goes talking and talking while she disciplines my other classmates about their behavior. She's too busy handling us, first graders, who seem to have hangovers yet about the vacation.

    Upon the discussion and lecture writing, my seatmate talked and asked me about some of the words  he can't understand. I was puzzled by the way how his voice was blurry and he can't seem to pronounce other words clearly. Almost all words seem to sound like "M" and "N" and sometimes "Ng" and full of air - moat (boat), mincnure (picture), ngoloh menhil (color pencil).

     I faced him. A bit shocked, I saw his upper lip torn up to his nose with his tooth shown differently big. As a first grader, I don't know how to react. I don't know what to say. I just stared at him bluntly and turned my head back to our teacher again. I felt sad, ;( really. But i came to a thought, even if he's like that, he still manage to go to school, study, and interact with people. The most, he's kind and doesn't take grudges to other students that tease him about his appearance.

    From then on, Manuel and I became buddies. ^___^

     I told my mom about my new friend, Manuel. I told my mom about his condition and she asked me who's Manuel's parents are. As I began telling my mom, she seemed to know who they are, so I asked her. She also told me how and why Manuel turned out to be like that.

    I've known that Manuel's mom is sick and she needs medications that she was not aware what the side effects are. One of the drug that mom gave emphasis on was Dilantin. This drug, as my mom told me, was the main cause of Manuel's appearance - cleft palate.

     Through the years, Manuel and I were still friends. He became my older brother at school, because that's what he was to everybody in our class. He's older, really. :p

     As years went by, I've known that Dilantin is an antiepileptic drug. That is, to treat individuals with seizure disorders. The action of this drug involves lowering the action of the brain cells and activating the inactive site of sodium channels. This drug is also called Phenytoin Sodium. It's generic name. (To know more about Dilantin, Click Here)

     Based from MedicineNet, the dosage to be administered to patients is specific. Adjustments may be applied based on the measure of the drug in the circulation or blood. It may be administered once, twice or three times a day and taking this drug along with food may take in the chance of reducing its side effects. Elderly patients, need lower doses as well as persons with certain renal and hepatic disorders and diseases.

    According to Wikipedia Encyclopedia, Health library and MedicineNet, the drug Phenytoin has the following side effects:

• Neurologic
• Hematologic
• Teratogenic
• Gingival
• Suicidal Risk
• Immunodeficiency Disease
• Autoimmune Disease
• Carcinogenic
• Dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty focusing (vision), unsteady gate, tiredness, abnormal involuntary movements, nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite.

Click here for details.

Based from my experience, the main focus of the harsh effects of the drug is teratogenecity.teratogenic effects of the drug during the time his mom is pregnant. This condition is accompanied by Fetal Hydantoin Syndrome, which, according to Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital possesses the following birth defects: Manuel, as a child born with defects in the the palate as well as the lip and the nose, is a product of the

• growth deficiency
• developmental delay
• cleft palate
• certain facial characteristics
• heart defects
• genitourinary abnormalities
• abnormalities of the fingers and nails

    The reason of these birth defects is the prevention of the primary sickness of Manuel's mother, which is epilepsy. Ingestion of this drug during the first trimester of pregnancy brings harsh effects to the fetus. This happens because the drug can cross to the placenta and it is metabolized by the baby, along with other nutrients coming from the mother.

    So Manuel, after undergoing an operation to correct his facial abnormality, lived normally. We are still friends until now and I guess, he is living a happy life with his parents. :)

To best understand the mechanism of Phenytoin/Dilantin, watch this:

 Phenytoin - Dilantin

 by  illumistream

References:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHgScJ13AUE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teratogen 

http://www.medicinenet.com/phenytoin/article.htm

 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682022.html  

http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/genetics/dilantin.html

Love amidst Imperfection ...

(TRH test, CRH test, GnRH test and GHRH test)

    The youth nowadays is the main focus of innovation; not only from the modernization of the society, here comes also the change in beliefs and ways of living. These modifications also affect the perception of the teenage population about LOVE.

     The questions here are: Who can live without love? Is love can be measured by just feeling happy or by just seeing things the right way? Or, it can't be, 'cause you believe that love should be given unconditionally?

     I guess, nobody really understand the true meaning of love unless they experience it. Yes. Many of us, youth today, rely on the visible characteristics a person has, not minding the personality and the goodness he or she may possess. Ika nga ng iba, "di bale ng bobo at dragonesa, basta maganda o gwapo pwede na."

I want you to focus on this story which encompasses love, sacrifice and acceptance.

She may be the face I can't forget…

     I am Vanessa. When I was a kid, I used to be bullied not only by my classmates, but as well as my teachers and other people. That's because I'm limp, skinny, weak, not so intelligent and the most, UGLY. I really don't have friends, that's because, I guess, is about my physical appearance. Each day seemed to be like God didn't want me to live. I kept on asking my parents, "What did you do to me? Why am I so ugly and limp? Why my hands are so deformed and can't seem to have future in studying? WHY?!?"

     My mom explained that I have cretinism that started when I was a baby, so it's congenital. I can't seem to know about it. We went to the physician and he stated my clinical history. He said that my mom did not eat iodine rich foods while she's pregnant that's why I became like this. I was delivered at home so my parents thought I was normal. It's just late that they found out that I'm not growing well.  

     They sent me to the hospital and series of tests were done. One of the test that confirmed my sickness is Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone Test. This test is used to know if my hormones in the pituitary gland are stimulated by my hypothalamic hormones upon injection of the TRH. The doctor said that if my Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is activated and is increased, I'm normal. But sadly, it didn't. I have a dysfunctional hypothalamus.

They also said that I'm already 18 years old but my body is like that of a grade schooler. My physique has not changed. Meaning, I did not yet exhibit my secondary sexual characteristics. I'm delayed to puberty. These were known by a test known as Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Test. They evaluated the levels of my sex hormones. My results are abnormally low.

     So much questions pop up my mind each time I wake up. After spending the night crying, I stood out of the bed and prepared for today's school. I tried motivating myself in front of the mirror and went to school so brave. 

     At school, I can see Mica's group from afar and I think they're looking at me. The nerve of that girl! I walked pass them and unexpectedly she shouted "Limpy!" and she tripped me off. I hit the ground and they walked away laughing. I was about to cry when I heard a voice from nowhere.  A so unfamiliar guy helped me stand and he introduced his self. "Hi! I'm Vince. I'm a transferee, are you alright?" Mesmerized, I can't seem to talk. "Yes, I'm ok now. Thanks! I'm Vanessa by the way."

     From then, Vince and I became friends. He took care of me and protected me from people who are fond of criticism.

     One day, he took me to their house. I met his parents and siblings. Among his two sisters, one of them is his favorite. She is Monique, his little angel. Vince love him so much and he takes care of her like she's a precious thing. Vince told me that Monique is sick. I felt sad because I know what it feels to be like one. She has Cushing's Syndrome. "Monique", Vince said, "Of all people to acquire that sickness, why could it be you?"

     I've read about cushing's syndrome myself. I've found out that it is diagnosed by the use of Dexamethasone. This is used to know if the person tested will have normal to elevated cortisol hormones if that steroidal compound is not suppressed by low doses, but is suppressed by high doses in the body. MRI will confirm the result. Oh God, please help us.

     After years of friendship, Vince told me that he loves me. I don't want to believe at first but he suddenly hugged me like he don't want to let go. So I said, I loved him too, since the day we first met. (hihi)

     Vince and I got married last January 18 2009. I know most of the people around us will think that we can't have a child, but yes. They are correct. We decided to adopt a child and found out that he's also sick. OH GOD. haha.

     He has growth hormone releasing hormone deficiency. He undergone Growth Hormone Stimulation Test. This test measures the ability of the GHRH to stimulate the Growth hormone. This is by the use of Arginine injection. If the level of the growth homone elevated or normalized, there is no deficiency. Our adopted child, Joshua, was not able to normalize his levels. *sigh*

     To top it all, whatever the imperfection of my family, as long as there's love everything will follow. :)

May God Bless and Normalize us. haha. :D

Sincerely yours,

Vanessa Midget

- From the mind bulk of EmptyCan


References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushing%27s_syndrome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretinism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRH_test

How Hypothalamus Created a Memory..

April 5, 2010, a date that changed everything inside my circulation, most specifically, how my brain functions as to act out my thoughts.

                Each year, specifically every 5^th day of April, my family gathers to celebrate the feast of the Patron Saint Vincent at my mom’s relatives place, San Vicente Callos, Concepcion, Tarlac. The tradition usually starts with a mass to give praise to Saint Vincent and ends with a happy gathering which actually strengthens bonds between our relatives. It’s just once a year that we see each other as a whole that’s why this date is so important.

                Almost two o’clock when I checked my watch. I’m a bit flashed not just because of the intense heat at the Barrio, but also because of the guy who looked my way. Lol. To replenish the hotness that I’m feeling, I went to the kitchen and asked for ice cream. As I observed, I can see that no weather can stop my relatives to chat and share laughs to the excitement of the stories that everyone is telling. The laughs roared like they seem to attract the attentions of the neighbors.

                Exactly three o’clock in the afternoon when we decided to head home. My cousins and I ran off to stand a race who can reach the car first. As we’re waiting for the others to come, I’m talking to my cousin then I glanced at my mom who’s leaning at the garage pole. I talked to her and said, “Ma, ok ka lang? “ “Nahihilo ako…” she said. After that conversation, my world shattered and fear began swallowing me. My heart beat faster and faster as my knees tend to rattle and they became weak. My heart jumped to my ears as I could hear it pounding as a sign of nervousness. My eyes widened, and tears began rushing. 

                My mom, who I love the most after God and Jesus, collapsed as if she’s going to die. Everyone got shocked when I shouted, MA! MA! MA!!! as I hurried to catch her. I cried while I was holding her in my arms while I’m trying my best to avoid her, hitting the ground.  I thought she’s dead. I thought I lost a mother. My brother carried her to the car and we went to the hospital. She then was diagnosed to have had experienced a mild stroke due to the heat and high cholesterol level…

                This incident is connected to the topic that was assigned to me in my clinical chemistry subject, Hypothalamus and its hormones.

                Hypothalamus is concerned in the “fight or flight” mechanism of the autonomic nervous system. Based from 5th paragraph of my composition, It is clearly depicted on how the hypothalamus responds and activates the drilling system of the body that makes us alert and be able to be active to do unnecessary tasks that boosts our strength and coordination. It is also involved in regulating the body temperature and feelings that surrounds us in our everyday life. Fear, excitement and other emotions are mainly controlled by the hypothalamus.

HYPOTHALAMUS

                Some of its hormones such as the Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone which is responsible for the activation of the anterior pituitary, responsible for the release of thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone, and prolactin. This hormone is responsible for the protein synthesis and growth.

The next hormone is CRH or Corticotropin Releasing Hormone. This hormone is responsible for the stress response mechanism of the body.  The fourth paragraph described how my CRH was released and on how it reacted to the tension that I am experiencing.

Last is the Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone. This hormone stimulates the LSH and FSH. This hormone is lowered at the childhood years and is elevated in adolescence. The third paragraph of my post states the attraction from the opposite sex. This hormone stimulates other hormones involved in the development of the gonads that signals the brain that the person is really capable of developing as a reproductive individual.

                These are just the common hormones released by the hypothalamus.

Love, hate, anger, fear and any emotions are not specifically coming from the heart… So next time you’ll say I love you, say it from the bottom of your hypothalamus..

I LOVE YOU! :)

REFERENCES:

HYPOTHALAMUS

TRH

GnRH

CRH

Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, Tortora and Derickson

Encarta Encyclopedia

ENDOCRINOLOGY, TOXICOLOGY and DRUG TESTING: New Scopes of Student Challenges...

"For every beginning is a new learning, take each step slowly but surely through God's wisdom and words by heart..." 

- ein (Save The Starter, 2010)

For the third time, us, Medical Technology students studying Clinical Chemistry, wouldn't end our subject  by just its course title and description. It's as if a book that brings newly made chapters that we have to read and learn about. With this new path of knowledge, three topics were brought to begin the journey in the deeper and more toxic world of Clinical Chemistry... ^_^

ENDOCRINOLOGY

Many of the scientists believed that Endocrinology is a medical study that came from the Greek words "endo" and "krino" which gave to its meaning - to separate within. It is a branch of medicine that is dealing with the malfunctions of the Endocrine System and hormones, which are chemical secretions by specialized cells such as glands.

image-endocrinology

TOXICOLOGY

Toxicology, as implied by its root word, toxic, is related to poisonous substances such as chemicals, that  affect the living and non living matter. From its etiology, Greek words "toxicos" and "logos" were used to define it as the study of poisons, thus, it is concluded to be the discourse of the harmful effects of chemicals on living organisms, as well as the symptoms, mechanisms, treatment and detection. ^_^

image-toxicology

DRUG TESTING

This test is primarily done using urine sample in order to detect the metabolites present in the body which were excreted as wastes. Other body fluids such as sweat, saliva, blood and oral secretions may also be used in testing. This test is performed to know whether the patient is using prohibited drugs or not. These prohibited drugs are those drugs taken outside the Philippine Drug Formulary and are banned by the law. Thus, any person caught positive, will be charged of penalty.

 image-drug testing

LINKS/Sources:
Toxicology
Endocrinology
Drug Test