Clinical Chemistry Bloggers Note 33F

Take some time off, from work, from school, from all your worries and just reflect. 

Reflect on how beautiful you are despite of all the ugly things people say. Being put to the bottom, being bullied, laughed at or maybe stepped on are things that would make you feel miserable. But no matter how many times you feel awful, remind yourself that you have to get back up on the tracks, and that you wake up for a reason. You are where you are for a cause.

3 years ago, I thought maybe why not try and make a difference in the world. So, here I am still struggling towards the finish line. The finish line to my premed proper. And surprisingly I have learned that college isn't always about grades. Yes, it is about successfully being able to accomplish your tasks and duties on time, but it doesn't hurt to enjoy the long run. High grades don't always make you happy and satisfied, sometimes it leaves you empty. Low grades on the hand may turn your whole semester upside down, but remember, there's always a rainbow after the rain.

Edu blogging was introduced to us by Professor Virginia B. Gaces, our Clinical chemistry professor for 3 years now. Edu blogging is a form or a method of learning and re-evaluating the topic we have learned during lecture time or discussion. It is not simply re-writing what we have learned, it is about sharing to the world and being able to speak up, reflect on and re-apply it through blogging. Not many are given the high confidence level to speak up every now and then, therefore blogging just made it easier. 

Sometimes in life, we have to read in between the lines in almost every situation. We have to appreciate the people we cross paths with, we have to embrace every failure and we have to always be thankful for every day of our lives. 

So, I hope this is not the end of the line of edu blogging, I do hope that more and more students would be able to fall in love with this hobby/skill. There's more than what meets the eye. 

Remember to never stop learning. Never settle for anything less than what you deserve. Keep reminding yourself everyday what your goals and ambitions are, and you will reach the top. Because once you have found what you love, you will be passionately striving to see the final results.

P.S Thank you to one of the most dedicated professors I have ever met, you are more than a teacher/ a mentor, you have been our medtech mother, and will always be our academe parent. MRS V.B.G

TOO MUCH LOVE WILL KILL YOU.

Have you ever loved somebody? Knowing that someday, sooner or later, you would grow fond of them? Get attached to them? Or even depended on them? That if one day they disappeared, you would have no one but yourself to deal with in the end?

Well, for some, cigarette and alcohol has become their "partner in crime". Whether it is one stick a day, it would eventually turn into a pack per day.

The universe of the youth today, is vague. We may find societies that totally influences an individual, while there are those societies ruled by the individuals themselves. What I mean to say is that, our environment plays a big role in influencing an individual's habit. Vice can be termed the "bad side effects".

When an individual consumes tobacco, or takes in alcohol, the chances are, its a one way road. Turning back is always an option and an open road, but it will be difficult.

This subject deals with chemicals and their adverse effects on living organisms. These chemicals which can also be alternatively called as toxicants include both synthetic agents and naturally occurring substances such as poisons. These poisons can be produced by bacteria, animals, and even plants which is then related to the term toxins or venoms. 

The mainstream of toxicology targets on identifying and evaluating toxicity from the human health perspective and the safety assessment of drugs that aims to predict the health hazards and risks.

The term ''toxicity'' on the other hand is defined as the intrinsic ability of an agent to harm living organisms.

When evaluating the 'toxicological profile' of a chemical, information such as the rate and pattern of ADME is gathered, as well as its immediate or delayed adverse health effects, target tissues, clinical significance of intoxication, mechanism of action and dose-response relationships.

Did you know?

Want to start over? Here's how..  

1. LOVE LIFE, LIVE HEALTHY

2. ON THE GO

Its time for you to go outside and work your way out of that shadow. Exercise and go for long walks. This does not only help you stay fit, but also enhances your body metabolism. Helps you adapt to the environment and keeps you active.

   3. REACH OUT TO THE WORLD

Let's build a healthier and happier community. Be a role model, stand up for what is right and help those who are in need. It is you, who can start and change the world and its perspective. Help build a stronger nation. :)

   4. KEEP YOUR FAITH

Know what/who you want to believe in and hold on to it. Prayers can be your strongest weapon, and your God can be your only savior. If you know where the path of faith is, you will surely be guided all the way.

  5. SAFEGUARD

Always wash your hands, and keep clean. We can help prevent the spread of illnesses :)

We humans have a tendency to make mistakes, do more than expected and follow our heart more than the power of our mind. We choose the easier path and make short cuts in our life than face the world as it is. Sometimes life offers us opportunities which we ignore most of the time and we rather leave it up to fate or wait for random signs that would give us the "go" sign. Sometimes all we have to do, is expect the unexpected, be extraordinary and just take a leap of faith. 

I have this little obsession with kitkats. You can give it to me in the morning or before going to bed or give it to me as a present, and we'd be best friends forever. 

Did you know? Kitkats, or chocolates in general are good for you? 

When you consume chocolates, you seek pleasure or that satisfaction which in turn leads to craving of it every now and then. When you're attacked with school works, projects, your stress level increases. When you just got out of a relationship, or you got your heart broken, your depression level increases. When you generally experience pain, or stress, chocolates can be your best friend. Good for us, chocolates are natural analgesics or pain killers. 

When we take in chocolates, it stimulates the release of endorphins. Endorphins are natural hormones produced by the brain which promotes a sense of well being and stimulates happiness or pleasure. Tryptophan, an ingredient that is present in chocolates is an amino acid that enables the brain to produce serotonin which is a mood stimulating neurotransmitter. It could also be called the "happy chemical" of the brain. Of course, when there is a high intake, then the level of happiness is also high :)

Endorphins do not only decrease pain and stress but they also lead to the feeling of euphoria, a good appetite and they even release sex hormones. 

Meet your hormones

Hormones are your little messengers, specifically chemical messengers sent into the circulatory system then to various organs from the endocrine glands. These chemical messengers trigger intracellular responses. They are in charge of several processes such as Reproduction, growth and body development, metabolism and they even control our mood! Based on their structures, hormones are classified into three: '

1) Amines; 2) Peptides; and 3) Steroids.

An important feature of the endocrine system is that its regulation is controlled by what we call the 'negative feedback'. The importance of this negative feedback is to maintain hormonal homeostasis which determines the balance between hormone levels and a particular physiologic range. This also means that, when the endocrine system stimulates and produces a hormone from another gland, it is made limited in order to avoid hormone imbalance production.

Now let's focus on how these hormones are produced.

Special group of cells form the endocrine glands. The important endocrine glands that you should remember are:

The Adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys. These glands are known for the production and release of hormones when stress is found in the body. These hormones help in production of energy and play an important role in the balance of electrolytes and fluids. These glands are divided into 2 regions known as the cortex and the medulla. The hormones secreted by the Adrenal glands make an impact on the metabolism of the body, blood chemicals, our bodies' characteristics, likewise, it influences the part of the nervous system that is in relation with the response and defense against stress. An example of a mineralcorticoids is aldosterone that controls blood volume and help regulate blood pressure by acting on the kidneys to help hold enough water and sodium.

The Hypothalamus plays an important role in the nervous system which controls most of the body functions. This organ is the soul to the nervous system that initiates functions such as stimulating the apetite and controls sleep. The hypothalamus controls hormone production in the pituitary gland through several releasing hormones. Such as the growth hormone-releasing hormone or controls GH release, etc. The GnRH or gonadotropin releasing hormone tells the pituitary gland to make leuteinizing hormones (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which are needed for normal puberty.

This gland is solely responsible in secreting insulin which is in charge of the glucose by the body. Pacreas secrete insulin which is a hormone that aids the glucose from the blood to the cells where it is consumed as energy.

This gland is known for monitoring and maintaining the calcium levels in our bloodstream. It produces the PTH(parathyroid hormone) that consumes calcium from the bones so that it will be available in the circulation of blood for nerve conduction and muscle contraction.

This gland is incorporated with our daily biological cycles. Scientists are still curious about this gland up to this day. Melatonin is one hormone they have found that is produced by the pineal. Melatonin may stop the action of the hormones that produces gonadotropin. It also regulates sleeping patterns.

Our immune system is involved with the thymus. This gland produces humoral hormones that renders the development of the lymphoid system.

Many different hormones are produced by the Pituitary that influence other endocrine glands. 

We have the anterior pituitary which produces several hormones like the FSH(follicle stimulating hormone) which promotes sperm production and stimulates ovaries to release eggs; LH(leuteinizing hormone) which regulates testosterone and estrogen; etc.

 The posterior pituitary on the other hand, produces two hormones which are oxytocin and the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) respectively. Oxytocin is responsible for the letdown of milk in mothers and in contraction during pregnancy. ADH is also known as vasopressin whose action is to regulate water balance in the body.

These work hand n hand by secreting hormones that affect and influence the female and male characteristics. They are also responsible for the sexual function and reproduction.

Testosterone is produced by the testes which is the major hormone in males that is responsible for development and sexual traits.

Estrogen and progesterone on the other hand are the two main hormones produced by the ovaries of the female. These hormones are responsible for developing and maintaining female sexual traits as well as for the maintenance during pregnancy.

This gland produces hormones that stimulate body heat production, bone formation and our body metabolism. It produces T3, T4 and calcitonin as well which is responsible for body metabolism and calcium levels.

For a better understanding, here's a video clip to further explain what hormones are and their functions!

Here is a list of my reliable sources:

Don't forget to comment about my post on this insight! Thank you :)