Clinical Chemistry Blog Notes 05

Drug Testing In Schools: To Pee or not To Pee

2009-09-10T20:05:00.001+08:00

Do YOU think Drug testing in School Admissions be a requirement???

YES.

A School is the haven of young people that aims to instill morality, patriotism and especially the virtues of good citizenship. I believe to achieve and to start this aim of a school, drug testing in school admissions must be a requirement. And besides, students who doesn't do anything wrong have nothing to fear.

Are drug testing really necessary? I believe this test is a must for: SECURITY, DISCOURAGE THE YOUNG TO USE DRUGS, and PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH. The purpose of this test is not to catch offeneders but rather to prevent the young people (not only the young people) from offending. It is never administered to punish students who are intaking drugs but to keep the students away from being habituated with drugs or worse, addicted.

This is not actually about DRUGS but rather it is about YOU.

ANSWERS :)

2009-08-30T21:03:00.003+08:00

1. False

2. False

3. True

4. False

5. 10-12 hours

6. intravenous solution

7. arginine

8. time intervals

9. GH

10. Increase

CASE:

1. All of the following values will have an increase results in stimulation tests. Since the test stimulates the particular gland to produce more hormone.

2. Hypothyroidism

Brain Work-out :)

2009-08-26T10:14:00.004+08:00

True or False

1. An increase in the amount of a particular hormone would mean an abnormal result.

2. Stimulation Test could be a confirmatory test for Hypothyroidism or Hyperthyroidism.

3. Blood Samples are drawn in time intervals to make sure that the gland have been stimulated.

4. Stimulation Test is only for Growth Hormone.

Fill in the Blanks.

The patient should have fasted for (5)_________________. Then the blood is drawn after. With an close medical supervision the patient will be given an (6)___________________ of insulin or (7)_________________. Samples are drawn at (8)__________________, wherein the physician would be able to check if the gland had been stimulated. (9) __________ levels are tested to see if the pituitary gland had been stimulated. An (10)________________ in results would be the normal results.

CASE

A 45 year old man with the following results

GH: -1.8 ng/ml

T3: 3micg/dl

T4: 0.4 micg/ml

TSH: 6 IU/L

Reference Values:

GH - 0-3 ng/ml

TSH - 0.4 -4.8 mIU/L

T3 - 4.4-12.5 micg/dL

T4 - 1.95 - 9.9 micg/ml

He went to the physician for a routine check-up. The Physician ordered a stimulation Test.

What would be the expected result for the following (increase or decrease):

a. GH

b. TSH

c. T3

d. T4

What would be the diagnosis? ___________________

Picture taken from:

http://www.whitedovebooks.co.uk/inspiration/lateral-thinking-answers.htm

Stimulation Test

2009-08-18T20:18:00.007+08:00

STIMULATION TEST

"Stimulation is the action of various agents (stimuli) on muscles, nerves, or a sensory end organ, by which activity is evoked; especially, the nervous impulse produced by various agents on nerves, or a sensory end organ, by which the part connected with the nerve is thrown into a state of activity." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stimulation)

Simulation tests are procedures that could have an affect in the production of a certain hormone or as such. It could also determine if the particular gland is serving its purpose. This technique will enhance or "stimulate" the exact gland, helping the physician to detect and understand if hormones are being secreted and produced in the average amount.

In the Growth Inhibiting hormone, the stimulation test detects if the gland had secreted enough hormones that could be an aid in the diagnosis of some diseases such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

In this particular test, the patient must have fasted for 10-12 hours. Then, a sample of blood is drawn after. Then, under close medical supervision, you will be given intravenous solution of insulin or arginine. Blood samples are then drawn at timed intervals, and GH levels are tested in each to see if your pituitary gland was stimulated by the insulin (or arginine) to produce expected levels of GH.

Photo taken from this site:
http://www.topnews.in/healthcare/sites/default/files/Brain-stimulation2.jpg

References:
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/growth_hormone/test.html
http://www.norditropin-us.com/parents/stimulation_testing.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stimulation

My TOP 10 Emerging Influential Blogs

2009-07-29T22:07:00.008+08:00

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These people posted these things not from the notion that the marketplace wants it neither not to be known to everyone but actually they had made these blogs from their soul to touch one's heart.

My Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs:

1. Writing to exhale by Jan Geronimo

2. The Struggling Blogger by Roy dela Cruz

3. Zorlone by Doc Zorlone

4. Father Blogger dot com by Angel Cuala

5. Lifelots by Irene

6. Kelvinonian Ideas 2.0 by Kelvin Servigon

7. Tales form the Mom Side by Dee

8. I Love/Hate America by Bingkee

9. A Walk in the Dark by Luke

10. It’s all a matter of Perspective: Mine by Holly Jahangiri

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The Canceling Agent

2009-07-15T06:54:00.006+08:00

THE CANCELING AGENT

It inhibits your growth,

it increases in age,

a hormone that could make you a cower,

a chemical that exhibits power.

It does not fade through the long run

but rather increases without any fun.

be aware of somatostatin

cause it would definitely cancel your time.

It is not triggered by anything

nor works for nothing.

A mediator for your growth,

canceling agent, that's a truth.

ANSWERS

2009-06-27T20:33:00.006+08:00

Somatostatin 1.Other name for GHIH
delta cells 2. In the pancreatic islet, GHIH is produced in what cells
Serum 3. The specimen of choice for the determination of GHIH.
Hypothalamus 4. This hormone is first isolated where
Somatostatinoma 5. A tumor in the delta cells.
Steatorrhea and Diabetes mellitus 6-7. Name two diseases associated with your answer in no. 5
Radio Immunoassay 8. The method used for GHIH
Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic 9-1o. Besides the pituitary hormone, name another two hormones inhibited by GHIH.

I.Diagnosis: Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a condition in which your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain important hormones.

Laboratory methods:
1. TSH level
If there is an elevated TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level is always required before a diagnosis of hypothyroidism can be made. Normally, the pituitary gland will secrete TSH in response to a low thyroid hormone level. Thus an elevated TSH level would typically suggest an underactive thyroid.

2. Thyroid function panels
-Total T4

-T3 Uptake and
-Free Thyroxine Index (FTI).
These tests should be abandoned because they are unreliable as gauges of thyroid function. The most common traditional way to diagnose hypothyroidism is with a TSH that is elevated beyond the normal reference range. For most labs, this is about 4.0 to 4.5. This is thought to reflect the pituitary's sensing of inadequate thyroid hormone levels in the blood which would be consistent with hypothyroidism. There is no question that this will diagnose hypothyroidism, but it is far too insensitive a measure, and the vast majority of patients who have hypothyroidism will be missed.

3. Basal Body Temperature
Basal body temperature popularized by the late Broda Barnes, M.D. He found the clinical symptoms and the body temperature to be more reliable than the standard laboratory tests was provided. This is clearly better than using the standard tests. However there are problems with using body temperature.
Sleeping under electric blankets or water beds falsely raise temperature
Sensitive and accurate thermometer required
Inconvenient and many people will not do (poor compliance)

II. Diagnosis: Somatostatinoma is a tumor of the delta cells of the endocrine pancreas that produces somatostatin. It is associated with diabetes mellitus and abnormal glucose tolerance. Triad of : Mild Diabetes Mellitus, Steatorrhoea, Gall stones. Commonly found in head of pancreas, and are malignant. Elevated plasma levels of Somatostatin.

Put your thinking cap on! :)

2009-06-16T19:00:00.000+08:00

try this...

Identification

______________________1. Other name for GHIH
______________________2. In the pancreatic islet, GHIH is produced in what cells
______________________3. The specimen of choice for the determination of GHIH.
______________________4. This hormone is first isolated where
______________________5. A tumor in the delta cells.
______________________6-7. Name two diseases associated with your answer in no. 5
______________________
______________________8. The method used for GHIH
______________________9-1o. Besides the pituitary hormone, name another two hormones inhibited by GHIH.

CASE

A. Xyza, a 16-year-old gal, four feet and two inches tall with short stature or stunted growth, notices that she had disproportion to the body (arm and upper to lower ratio) and Short fingers, with a wide separation between the middle and ring fingers. What could be the diagnosis for xyza? What are the laboratory methods to be used for the diagnosis? Discuss your answers.

B. A 34 year old man had an excessive fat in the feces, weight loss, and mild hyperglycemia. What could be the disease of the man? Explain your answer.

Growth-Hormone-Inhibiting-Hormone

2009-06-02T07:20:00.002+08:00

GHIH

The Growth hormone inhibiting hormone is also called Somatostatin. It is also known as Somatotropin release inhibiting hormone (SIH) or Somatotropin release inhibiting factor (SRIF). It is a tetradecapeptide with a disulfide bond that was first isolated from the hypothalamus.

It is considered to be a hypothalamic hormone that inhibited growth secretion. It inhibits the pituitary (growth hormone and thyrotropin), gastrointestinal (gastrin, secretin, vasointestinal peptide) and pancreatic (insulin, glucagon) hormones as well as possesses nonendocrine functions (e.g., inhibition of gastric acid secretion, gastric emptying time and pancreatic enzyme release). It affects neurotransmission and cell proliferation by interacting with the G-protein-coupled somatostatin receptors and by inhibiting the release of numerous secondary hormones.

In the pancreatic islets, somatostatn is produced on the delta cells, which comprise 5-10% of the islet cells. Rare islet tumors, somatostinomas, secrete high levels of somatostastin. Elevated somatostatin levels can also be seen in small cell lung cancer, medullary thyroid cancer and pheochromocytoma.

Reasons why a test need to be performed:

Detect growth deficiencies and abnormalities, including delayed puberty and small stature in adolescents
Helps in the diagnosis of hyperpituitarism that is evident in gigantism or acromegaly
Screen for inadequate or reduced pituitary gland function
Assist in the diagnosis of pituitary tumors or tumors related to the hypothalamus
Evaluate hGH therapy.

Test: Serum Somatostatin

Method: RIA (Radioimmunoassay)
RIA is a laboratory method that measures minute amounts of a substance, such as a hormone or drug, by quantitating the binding, or the inhibition of binding, of a radiolabeled substance to an antibody.

Use: to detect Somatostatinoma , detect growth deficiencies and abnormalities, diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, diagnosis of pituitary hormones

Somatostatinoma- It is a tumor of the delta cells of the endocrine pancreas that produces somatostatin. It is a rare gut neuroendocrine tumors. It is associated with diabetes mellitus , abnormal glucose tolerance and diarrhea with steatorrhea.

References:

-Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods 21st Edition, Richard A. McPherson and Matthew R. Pincus

-http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2601/is_0006/ai_2601000608/

http://www.answers.com/topic/radioimmunoassay

Photo:

www.daviddarling.info/encyclopediaS/somatostatin.html

www.smj.org.uk/0508/soma%20cr4.htm

Hi there!:)

2009-05-26T15:09:00.002+08:00

This Blog Notes is focus on a particular genre and that is Clinical Chemistry.

"Only the curious will learn and only the resolute overcome the obstacles to learning. The quest quotient has always excited me more than the intelligence quotient. " - Eugene S. Wilson

I hope you'll learn something by reading my blog notes. :)

This is Erika. Welcome to Clinical Chemistry Blog Notes!

Thank You!