Clinical Chemistry Blog Notes 16B

One Saturday night evening, there was a teenager named Alfonso walking along the street in his way home.

As he cross the hanging bridge near his home, he heard a clashing sound sort of a breaking ceramics and a falling glass. As he glance in their door, he saw his dad, lying on the floor, dizzy and suddenly spoke with a slurred voice, saying, " Who are you? get your face outta here!" Dismayed, yet knowing that he's dad was again under the influence of alcohol, he grab his backpack and went straight to his room.

At his bedroom, he kept on thinking about his dad, who has become a chronic drinker for almost 50 years ago when he was yet a toddler, now a 3rd year college pupil. He noticed that he's dad is no longer eating during lunch, and became quite lean. He wander what is the thing that make he's dad so high and having sort of a aggressive condition when drank. Being bored.

He switch on the television and take a glance of some channels that will may appease his boredom. Finally, he tuned in the discovery channel. Likely, the topic of discussion in the interactive show he has tuned is Alcohol: In, Around, and Out of the Body

//Interactive Show//

Mr Whiskey: Hello everyone!! I am Mr. Whiskey"

Mr Whiskey: Today's Lecture in the world of science is about The Alcohol Metabolism.

Mr Whiskey: Before going in a deeper aspect, let's first identify the three most common alcohols that is commonly used.

First, methanol which is CH3OH, is a kind of alcohol which is industrial used in paints and other paint remover like Tener. Then, isopropanol which is oftenly used as a disinfectant in hospital, homes, and other establishment. Finally, ethanol is the one present in alcoholic beverages, liquors, and spirits.

Mr Whiskey: Knowing the difference between those three commonly utilized alcohol will lead us not to confusion and enable us to a better understanding of each mechanism of alcohol metabolism.

Mr Whiskey: LET'S START!!!

First, alcohol is ingested orally ( intended or not) and goes through the esophagus and to the other part of the gastrointestinal tract for absorption. Then, it will be present in the blood for almost 2 hours. Then it will go primarily to the main organ for metabolism which is the liver. Inside the liver, there are enzymes which are responsible for metabolizing alcohols, one is the Alcohol Dehydrogenase 1. (cytosolic enzyme)

In the presence of this particular enzyme, alcohol will be catabolize to acetaldehyde with a simultaneous NAD+ wil be converted to NADH. The acetaldehyde (toxic) may have two destination, one is that it will be directly excreted through the urinary system, or be converted to acetate ion. This acetate ion may be converted to Acetyl CoA in the liver or other organs.

This Acetyly CoA has two fates: proceed to TCA Cycle or be used for fatty acid synthesis.

These statements is true for ethanol.

On the other hand, when methanol is consumed and metabolize will yield to formation of formic acid and later yield to blindness. Isopropanol also yields a negative by- product of acetone that may lead to metabolic acidosis.

According to Kalbreath, the rate of metabolism of alcohol in adults is normally 7 g of ethanol/hr.

So what may happen if it is consumed in a greater amount and the level of intake does not play in equilibrium with the rate of metabolism?

In recent studies, there was a termed "MEOS", another system which is also does the part of the ADH1, simultaneously also converts NADPH to NADH. This Microsomal Ethanol-Oxidizing System is a system that catalized a lot of sbstrate for a reaction.

Alcohol which are not yet metabolize, is circulated throughout the body to tissues and other places such as in neurons. This phenomenon leads to the inhibition of the inhibitory center of the brain, which creates an aggression in the side of the person who is under alcohol abused. At the same time for chronic drinkers, there will be a possibility of diseases most likely of the liver like, liver cancer and hepatitis due to prolonged exposure to toxic substances.

Mr. Whiskey: So much more to be learn, but a glimpse of it will enhance our knowledge behind the Alcohol Metabolism. Hope you've learn a lot! Goodbye!!

Alfonso: (Turning off the T.V.) (Lay on his bed and happy for what he had learned, and planning something what he could do concerning his father's situation)

Some illustrative videos:

video by: curlduluth1

Nowadays, people especially among the youth are being hooked of such illegal drugs. According to statistics, most of the causes of accidents, school or public riots, and other crimes that are happening is due to the abuse of these illegal and addictive drugs.

photo from:http://www.myparkingsign.com/MPS/No_Drug_No_Alcohol_Signs.aspx

Well, on the school settings, as we all know it is a place where we study, learn, and change to become a better individual. Before a person to be admitted in the school/university, he/she needs to accomplish some screening requirements.

I remember the time before I enrolled in our university. There are some TEST for you to accomplish and pass to be able to enrol in the school such as the intellectual test, psychological test, and lastly the medical examination.

The question lies in the medical examination is that do we need to include a drug testing as a requirement for a potential pupil.

For others, it will seems to be an awkward thing to do.

Imagine to perform a drug testing, just for a student to be admitted in the school.

It is like the same way or thing you do when you are obtaining a driver's license.

But as what I've previously stated a school is a place wherein to study, to learn, and to become a better person.

This thing does not talks only of the intellectual characteristic of a individual, but of the totality of his/her being. This also includes his spiritual, moral, emotional, social, and physical aspects of a person.

Bearing this statement, should we therefore allow such people who will tend to destroy other's future be in the same school, which is purposefully a place conducive for learning, not for an illegal business or doing???

Having this in mind, the school/university has the option to do so, in order to maintain the student's protection against dangerous people, stability in their performance, and focus in their chosen career so as to prepare them for a brighter for future.

video by: StephanQuack

On the other hand, for those potential students, who have been reported to be positive in their result.

The university may recommend them to ask for counselling or to enter to rehabilitation center (if already needed). On this basis, you will know if an individual really wanted to study or just try to to ruin the school.

They need to learn that in order for them to study well in the school and in order for them to get along well with other students, they need to get rid off the things that will burden and distract them in pursuing their future.

There is a CALL TO CHANGE!!! ^_^

Some informative videos:

When I was a kid, especially in the years of my early development, I use to play with the things I make use of. One of those things, that we were been taught of using are crayons and toys that we are ought to play with. Well, because of being so ignorant within those period, I even attempted many times of taking bits of them and swallow, until my Mom will suddenly take it away from my mouth.^

Like this kid who is definitely quite hungry for a blue crayon snack.Wew!

Photo from: kotaku.com/244300/the-new-ds-stylus-a-crayola

Lately, there were rumors of crayons and other art materials that contain a high lead level that was distributed in the market. In this case, when these lead-containing materials are ingested, especially of the children, the total lead content of the body will increase. Thereby, when it reaches above its threshold level, lead poisoning has the possibility to occur.

Lead toxicity may occur if it is ingested or inhaled with a concentration of 5 mg/day

If 5 g is ingested, it will totally lead you to an immediate toxicity.

"“All things are poison and nothing is without poison, only the dose permits something not to be poisonous”

Toxicologist are the one so called heroes in this matter who were responsible for the different kinds of substances involved and their different aspects and levels of TOXICITY...!!!

Generally, toxicology is the field that deals with toxic substance, drugs, their characteristics, dosage, and etc. Toxicology has been divided into three distinct subgroup which are the following: clinical toxicology, environmental toxicology.

Drug are used as medications, but in some point, they become harmful as it triggers its side effects.

photo by: cpradi from flickr.com

For example, Aspirin also known as acetylsalicylic acid, an analgesics and in high dosage as an anti-inflammatory drugs. In low dosage it is used therapeutically of patients who are experiencing heart attack and strokes. On the other hand, a high dose of aspirin is used to treat severe inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arhtritis. The primary mechanism underlying the effect of acetylsalicylic acid is that it blocks the enzyme cyclooxygenase.

Then, thromboxane A2 cannot be produced, thereby inhibiting the platelet to form a platelet patch. This phenomenon makes the blood pathway smooth and appropriate for this patients.

Typically, like acetaminophen, aspirin is used to treat headaches, fever, pain, and other inflammatory responses. Aside from this, taking of aspirin of children who had viral infection like chickenpox to treat its symptoms is no longer done, because it increase the risk of having a Reye's syndrome.

To know more about Reye's syndrome (Click here)

The therapeutic level of aspirin/salicylate in the serum are approximately 15- 30mg/dl.

Hence, an increase level of intake over its threshold will yield certain symptom such as gastrointestinal bleeding, liver diseases, hyperpyrexia, hypoglycemia, hyper and even deafness.

For preferable dosages (Click here!)

It's also a great thing we have some government sectors that deals with such things such BFAD and others to ensure the safety and the quality of the substance we take in inside our body in our every day life .

Starting from this time I will be posting about things in real life that may or may not be related to the post. Be aware there might be some delights included in them.^_^

Other uses of Aspirin

Informative Videos and Sites:

After the release of my 1st post here about the adrenal cortex and its hormones, I'm sure you've been so pretty curious a lot about how can we relate this to what we examine always here in Clinical Chemistry, which is serum.

Now, in this post, you will find some pretty cool information, on how they are tested and at the same time to be related to what particular disease your mom, your neighbor, your cousin, your friend, your community, your fellow citizen or you might be having.. Just kidding!!ahaha!!

But before we go to anything else and dig deeper with the test involved in our precious adrenal cortex, let's take a brief recall on some basic principle on our serology subject, that will help us be more understand the principle underlying this test.

Let's review what we have learned about the principle of the RIA or Radioimmunoassay.

As we commonly know, RIA makes use of radioactive isotopes in the test.

Then this isotopes will be coated to the hormone to be assayed. Then it will be allowed to chemically react to the antibody which is specific against it.

Then, a patient serum is added to the reaction. Hence, the patient serum will tend to battle against the hot antigen( antigen that first combined) for partnership with the antibody. As this reaction continues to precede, presence of free bound antigen become to be supernatant. And this is the one being measured for the antigen.

A portray below is given for easier understanding:

photo from:

After knowing the basics, now let's go to the real subject matter.

When I've first heard of the word endocrinology, the first thing that pops out of my mind are hormones.

Thereby, we can briefly define that endocrinology is one of the field of clinical chemistry wherein the types, characteristic, and functions of hormones are studied, analyzed, and interpreted to be used for clinical application or intervention.

First, Lets talk about hormones. Basically, hormones are chemicals that are released by an endocrine gland or organ such as the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland in the blood that will travel to its target cell and binds to its receptor and thereby accomplishing its function in it.

According to Bidy Kulkarni They are currently divided in three types which are protein hormones, aromatic amines, and the steroid hormones.

Growth, metabolism, and reproduction are some of the job of that hormones facilitate. They can be up-regulated or down-regulated depending on the need of the body.

Like in the blood, homeostasis in the production of hormones is also a big factor among them and it is a must to be.

Mainly, a person is said to be poisoned or toxicated when he has ingested a poisonous substance like chemicals, or hazardous elements. But as we tackle the concept of toxicology, our minds will be more broaden as we discuss the toxicity of this matter.

Toxicology is broad practice wherein it was divided now to three subfields, which is industrial toxicology, clinical toxicology, and forensic toxicology.

Just as Parcelsus said that all things are toxic, we can now refer that there are levels of toxicity that a person might encounter upon ingesting a particular toxic substance.

Toxicity are depend to certain factors such as time, amount or concentration, route of administration. These factors may give us information what will be the further condition of a person will be experiencing and how long it also may take.

Nowadays, drug testing is done rumphantly in the world everywhere for many kinds of purpose. Some are used in licensure, in athletics, and others for crime investigations.

Drug testing is the examination of certain body fluids that may contain a specific metabolite that is pursued to be specifically obtained.

Example of this drugs are barbiturates, cocaine, marijuana, and etc. These drugs are tested for their specific metabolites, which has also specific time wherein they will be currently present in the fluid to being analyzed.

There are a lots of procedure in performing the drug testing. It can be done using urine, saliva, blood and even sweat.