I'm SO SORRY for being missing for so long. SORRY. haha anyway, I am BACK. So no more Professor Chia deficiency haha. By the way I am ill too! Sore throat. Later I can't talk. (Doesn't really matters actually, seeing how much i talk in class) Ok, so my first task after that long break, : investigating vitamin K deficiency.
ok, vitamin K basically is involved int he carboxylation of certain glutamate residues in proteins to form gamma-carboxyglutamate residues. cheemology. But, what u really need to know, is why this is so important. Gamma-carboxyglutamate is involved in the binding of calcium and is essential for the biological activity of Gla-proteins. These Gla-proteins then play key roles in:
1. blood coagulation
2. bone metabolism
3. vascular biolgy
Vitamin K deficiency may occur by:
1. disturbed intestinal uptake which might occur because of bile duct obstruction
2. therapeutic or accidental intake of vitamin K-antagonists
3. lack of intake of vitamin K (this is however, very rare)
Symptoms of vitamin K deficiency includes: easy bruising, bleeding that may be manifested as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in the urine, blood in the stool, tarry black stools, or extremely heavy menstrual bleeding.
When there is a lack of vitamin K, there is a risk of massive, uncontrolled internal bleeding, cartilage calcifrication and severe malformation of devloping bone, or deposition of insoluble calcium slats in the arterial vessel wall. In infants, vitamin K deficiency may result in life-threatening bleeding within the skull. Cheem name for it: intracranial haemorrhage. An increased risk of fractures of fractures or reduced bone density may occur also.
To prevent the lack of intake of vitamin K, eat lots of leafy green vegetables (YUM =D), such as spinach and lettuce, fruits like kiwifruit and bananas (double YUM =D), meat, cow milk and soy products. (triple, quadruple YUM =D). But it is especially rare to develp vitamin K through lack of intake because the body stores vitamin K. AND, two tablespoons of parsely would already contain 153 % of the recommended daily amound of vitamin K, so no worries =)
p.s. by the way Detective CXY, the 'K' in vitamin K is derived from the GERMAN word 'koagulation' which refers to blood clotting which vitamin K is essential for =)
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Casefile 14: Cough cough, I'm ill!
Yo! Hi again! Since no one is posting, I shall post again! Looks like you guys are getting an overdose of Detective CxY and a lack of Professor Chia. Haha, can't help it. Professor Chia is still missing. I wonder if she has been kidnapped and murdered. Oops, sorry, I've got very morbid ideas. :p
Anyway, let's continue!
Everyone seems to be falling ill in school nowadays! What's happening?
Protease Deficiency
Protease digests protein. Examples are rennin, pepsin, trypsin, etc. We've learnt them, didn't we? I'm beginning to feel pro, it's as if I know a lot. HAHA! :)
Our body is made up of protein! Haha, no no no! Protease won't break down our entire body! Enzymes are specific, remember? They'll only break down what they're designed to, e.g. casein, etc.
Since our body is made up of protein, everything that makes us ill is protein, e.g. harmful bacteria, fungi and parasites, or protected by protein, e.g. viruses (HIV!, SARS, H5N1, etc.) and cancer cells. However, there's no need to worry! Our protease is able to digest all proteins in the body, except for our living cells. Hence, the sufficiency of protein in our body is very important! So, i think the "epidemic" episode in school now is possibly due to protease deficiency in us, making us so susceptible to infectious little diseases!
So, what can we do? Haha, researches have not shown that we really very effective rise the amount of protease in our body. So, in the mean time, whack down more vitamin C! It improves your immune system! :)
Love,
Detective CxY.
P.S. Look at this article: http://www.aps.anl.gov/News/APS_News/2006/20060908.htm
Haha, it's very short but it talks about the development of anti-HIV drug!
"Designing an effective anti-HIV drug requires very precise design: the drug must be highly target-specific so that it impacts only the point where the drug can be most effective. Also important are the lock-and-key requirements for drug designers. The design must fit the particular structure of the target molecule, while being flexible enough to accommodate changes in that structure."
Protease breaking down HIV virus! COol!
http://www.aps.anl.gov/News/APS_News/2006/Images/20060908_HIV_Protease.jpg
Anyway, let's continue!
Everyone seems to be falling ill in school nowadays! What's happening?
Protease Deficiency
Protease digests protein. Examples are rennin, pepsin, trypsin, etc. We've learnt them, didn't we? I'm beginning to feel pro, it's as if I know a lot. HAHA! :)
Our body is made up of protein! Haha, no no no! Protease won't break down our entire body! Enzymes are specific, remember? They'll only break down what they're designed to, e.g. casein, etc.
Since our body is made up of protein, everything that makes us ill is protein, e.g. harmful bacteria, fungi and parasites, or protected by protein, e.g. viruses (HIV!, SARS, H5N1, etc.) and cancer cells. However, there's no need to worry! Our protease is able to digest all proteins in the body, except for our living cells. Hence, the sufficiency of protein in our body is very important! So, i think the "epidemic" episode in school now is possibly due to protease deficiency in us, making us so susceptible to infectious little diseases!
So, what can we do? Haha, researches have not shown that we really very effective rise the amount of protease in our body. So, in the mean time, whack down more vitamin C! It improves your immune system! :)
Love,
Detective CxY.
P.S. Look at this article: http://www.aps.anl.gov/News/APS_News/2006/20060908.htm
Haha, it's very short but it talks about the development of anti-HIV drug!
"Designing an effective anti-HIV drug requires very precise design: the drug must be highly target-specific so that it impacts only the point where the drug can be most effective. Also important are the lock-and-key requirements for drug designers. The design must fit the particular structure of the target molecule, while being flexible enough to accommodate changes in that structure."
Protease breaking down HIV virus! COol!
http://www.aps.anl.gov/News/APS_News/2006/Images/20060908_HIV_Protease.jpg
Casefile 13: Eek! Pus!
Woah. We're on Casefile 13 already! Time apparates, doesn't it? Haha, Inspector Zhao, we'll be promoted to Chief Inspector and Superintendent in two weeks! I'm half-happy and sad, 'cos that means we'll be missing our ever-loyal bio-fans, but we'll be given a big break from research work! Hm, so let's work harder to give our best for the last two weeks, ok? Yayy! :D
Haha, firstly, let's recap. We've done deficiencies of Vitamin A, B, C, D, sugar, certain enzymes (very lazy to spell out the looong names :p), water, sleep, phosphorus, plague, blood, and, last but not least, Professor Chia!!! See, we've learnt a lot, haven't we? :)
HMMM... Certain enzymes... That makes me think of this... Our body produces our own digestive enzymes. So is it possible for us to we have a deficiency of digestive enzymes? How can this happen? What happens if we lack these enzymes?
Ok, I'm so long-winded. Let's start!
Today's topic: Amylase deficiency
There are 4 types of amylase α-Amylase, β-Amylase, γ-Amylase and Acid α-glucosidase. Haha. There're α and β. Looks like math, doesn't it? But don't worry, we'll only be talking about γ-Amylase, the amylase found in our body. :)
Our salivary amylase! Haha, very virtual. :p
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Salivary_alpha-amylase_1SMD.png)
Functions of amylase:
1. We've learnt this in Bio! Amylase digests carbohydrates into sugars. So, excessive intake of carbo will take up all your amylase, and may lead to amylase deficiency! This is because enzymes can be reused, remember? so the body does not produce it all the time.
2. Amylase breaks down dead white blood cells (pus). Amylase deficiency (maybe caused by excessive carbo?) will lead in inflamed wounds. You've seen pus before, right? It's so digusting! And that's a sign of amylase deficiency!
Also, since excessive carbo can cause amylase deficiency, excessive wounds and pus may take up all the amylase as well, though the chances are slimer. Anyway, if that occurs, you won't have enough amylase to digest your carbo, then you'll have insufficient sugar. Remember the hot debate on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)? This can lead to hypoglycemia. Ahhh! Why are all diseases linked?
Sigh, so the moral of the story is: Don't fall ill.
Love,
Detective CxY
Enzymedica Enzymes V-gest! They say this cures amylase deficiency!
(http://www.yearstoyourhealth.com/enzymedica/gifs/carbo_amylase_enzymes.jpg)
Haha, firstly, let's recap. We've done deficiencies of Vitamin A, B, C, D, sugar, certain enzymes (very lazy to spell out the looong names :p), water, sleep, phosphorus, plague, blood, and, last but not least, Professor Chia!!! See, we've learnt a lot, haven't we? :)
HMMM... Certain enzymes... That makes me think of this... Our body produces our own digestive enzymes. So is it possible for us to we have a deficiency of digestive enzymes? How can this happen? What happens if we lack these enzymes?
Ok, I'm so long-winded. Let's start!
Today's topic: Amylase deficiency
There are 4 types of amylase α-Amylase, β-Amylase, γ-Amylase and Acid α-glucosidase. Haha. There're α and β. Looks like math, doesn't it? But don't worry, we'll only be talking about γ-Amylase, the amylase found in our body. :)
Our salivary amylase! Haha, very virtual. :p(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Salivary_alpha-amylase_1SMD.png)
Functions of amylase:
1. We've learnt this in Bio! Amylase digests carbohydrates into sugars. So, excessive intake of carbo will take up all your amylase, and may lead to amylase deficiency! This is because enzymes can be reused, remember? so the body does not produce it all the time.
2. Amylase breaks down dead white blood cells (pus). Amylase deficiency (maybe caused by excessive carbo?) will lead in inflamed wounds. You've seen pus before, right? It's so digusting! And that's a sign of amylase deficiency!
Also, since excessive carbo can cause amylase deficiency, excessive wounds and pus may take up all the amylase as well, though the chances are slimer. Anyway, if that occurs, you won't have enough amylase to digest your carbo, then you'll have insufficient sugar. Remember the hot debate on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)? This can lead to hypoglycemia. Ahhh! Why are all diseases linked?
Sigh, so the moral of the story is: Don't fall ill.
Love,
Detective CxY
Enzymedica Enzymes V-gest! They say this cures amylase deficiency!(http://www.yearstoyourhealth.com/enzymedica/gifs/carbo_amylase_enzymes.jpg)
Monday, April 16, 2007
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