Clobber Julius
Kill the bugs
Smash all vegetables and foodstuff that “display” religious symbols
Please add more suggestions..
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
And you though community service was a dirty word…
So you are a medical technology student? And you don’t know much? Or so you thought….
How can you do your bit for society????
Gangrene
Our grannies and grandpas love walking in the fields, doing a bit of gardening . tell them to wear shoes!
The organism that causes gangrene lives in the environment, on grasses, etc. old people usually have diabetes and hypertension. Diabetic patients usually suffer a loss of sensation, i.e. no feeling, in their fingers and toes. If they walk barefoot and get cut, the organism could enter their feet. They could end up with gangrene. They will not feel the cut, and when they do realize that they have a wound, it is quite severe. Tell them to check their feet carefully for cuts and wounds every night, or you do it for them. Another side effect of diabetes is slow healing of wounds. The high percentage of sugar or glucose in the bloodstream hinders the immune response. Exactly the reason why students who are cramming late night and eating sweets, chocolate and drinking coke, are sniffing, sneezing and coughing in the exam room. Go figure…….
Cholera
Contrary to popular belief, one doesn’t have to rush a cholera patient to the doctor for immediate medical attention. You and I could help save a life. These patients die from loss of electrolytes and dehydration. So we must replenish water together with some electrolytes. How, you ask? Silly really, just give boiled cooled water in which you dissolve a teaspoon of sugar and a of salt. And tell them not to use rivers as toilets.
Tetanus
The classic sign of tetanus is the backward arching of the body, very similar to that exhibited by the female lead in the exorcism of Emily Rose. Unfortunately by the time this is seen, it is usually fatal. Prevent tetanus by having a tetanus injection when you get cut with any sort of metal or implement. The organism responsible for tetanus is found in the environment, and needs the cut to enter your body. The effects don’t last long unlike vaccinations. Go on……teach someone
Handwashing
Good old soap and water is what we need. Soaps by nature are alkaline, they rely on anionic action to reduce surface tension to loosen dirt which is washed away by the water. Germs is just a fancy word for bacteria. We get all kinds of bacteria, like people; the bad kind and the good kind. There are millions of bacteria on the surface of our skin. They are serving a purpose there. By occupying space, they are not allowing harmful bacteria to get in. if we use antibacterial soaps, we kill the good guys and say a warm hello to all kinds of nasties. Do you want that? Go on……teach someone
Antibiotics
We all have them or know someone who does. The mother who insists you see a doctor for the flu, and as if that’s not enough, she insists that you insist on having antibiotics prescribed. Why on earth would you want antibiotics for a viral infection, cos that is what the flu is. Antibiotics are for bacterial infections, and therefore not effective against b=viruses. Well when we get the flu, our immune systems can get compromised. Then we would get a secondary bacterial infection. This would give us the yellowish phlegm, sore throat, cough, etc. the problem with antibiotics is that the doctor does not have the time to determine the best antibiotic for the cause of the bacterial infection. He just prescribes a broad spectrum antibiotic, one that would kill all or most of the bacteria. We have many friendly bacteria within us, no harm to us and we need them. Kill them and we pay the price. Wave them goodbye, cos you just killed them. A good doctor worth his title would tell you to take a live culture tablet or yoghurt with the antibiotic, to replenish the good bacteria. Many people don’t complete the course of antibiotics; they stop taking them when they start to feel better. The problem with this is that you may have killed 90% of the bacteria; the remaining 10% gets resistant to the antibiotic. If the infection doesn’t resolve, and if you go back to the doctor, you would need stronger antibiotics. And stronger antibiotics have worse side effects. Go on….. teach someone.
How can you do your bit for society????
Gangrene
Our grannies and grandpas love walking in the fields, doing a bit of gardening . tell them to wear shoes!
The organism that causes gangrene lives in the environment, on grasses, etc. old people usually have diabetes and hypertension. Diabetic patients usually suffer a loss of sensation, i.e. no feeling, in their fingers and toes. If they walk barefoot and get cut, the organism could enter their feet. They could end up with gangrene. They will not feel the cut, and when they do realize that they have a wound, it is quite severe. Tell them to check their feet carefully for cuts and wounds every night, or you do it for them. Another side effect of diabetes is slow healing of wounds. The high percentage of sugar or glucose in the bloodstream hinders the immune response. Exactly the reason why students who are cramming late night and eating sweets, chocolate and drinking coke, are sniffing, sneezing and coughing in the exam room. Go figure…….
Cholera
Contrary to popular belief, one doesn’t have to rush a cholera patient to the doctor for immediate medical attention. You and I could help save a life. These patients die from loss of electrolytes and dehydration. So we must replenish water together with some electrolytes. How, you ask? Silly really, just give boiled cooled water in which you dissolve a teaspoon of sugar and a of salt. And tell them not to use rivers as toilets.
Tetanus
The classic sign of tetanus is the backward arching of the body, very similar to that exhibited by the female lead in the exorcism of Emily Rose. Unfortunately by the time this is seen, it is usually fatal. Prevent tetanus by having a tetanus injection when you get cut with any sort of metal or implement. The organism responsible for tetanus is found in the environment, and needs the cut to enter your body. The effects don’t last long unlike vaccinations. Go on……teach someone
Handwashing
Good old soap and water is what we need. Soaps by nature are alkaline, they rely on anionic action to reduce surface tension to loosen dirt which is washed away by the water. Germs is just a fancy word for bacteria. We get all kinds of bacteria, like people; the bad kind and the good kind. There are millions of bacteria on the surface of our skin. They are serving a purpose there. By occupying space, they are not allowing harmful bacteria to get in. if we use antibacterial soaps, we kill the good guys and say a warm hello to all kinds of nasties. Do you want that? Go on……teach someone
Antibiotics
We all have them or know someone who does. The mother who insists you see a doctor for the flu, and as if that’s not enough, she insists that you insist on having antibiotics prescribed. Why on earth would you want antibiotics for a viral infection, cos that is what the flu is. Antibiotics are for bacterial infections, and therefore not effective against b=viruses. Well when we get the flu, our immune systems can get compromised. Then we would get a secondary bacterial infection. This would give us the yellowish phlegm, sore throat, cough, etc. the problem with antibiotics is that the doctor does not have the time to determine the best antibiotic for the cause of the bacterial infection. He just prescribes a broad spectrum antibiotic, one that would kill all or most of the bacteria. We have many friendly bacteria within us, no harm to us and we need them. Kill them and we pay the price. Wave them goodbye, cos you just killed them. A good doctor worth his title would tell you to take a live culture tablet or yoghurt with the antibiotic, to replenish the good bacteria. Many people don’t complete the course of antibiotics; they stop taking them when they start to feel better. The problem with this is that you may have killed 90% of the bacteria; the remaining 10% gets resistant to the antibiotic. If the infection doesn’t resolve, and if you go back to the doctor, you would need stronger antibiotics. And stronger antibiotics have worse side effects. Go on….. teach someone.
Swollen feet…. and other superstitions
Much as I hate to admit it, many superstitions are grounded in fact. Take the swollen feet one, for instance. We are told to soak swollen feet in warm salty water, the theory being that the swelling would reduce.
Here’s the scientific bit:
Water moves from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. An accumulation of fluid can be one reason for swelling to occur. Soaking your feet in water would cause would cause the water to move out from your feet into the warm salt water. We all know that heat would enhance the process.
The question remains:
How hot should the water be?
How much salt should be added to the warm water?
How long should you soak your feet for the procedure to be successful?
I have visions of prune like toes and other wriggly bits…….
Here’s the scientific bit:
Water moves from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. An accumulation of fluid can be one reason for swelling to occur. Soaking your feet in water would cause would cause the water to move out from your feet into the warm salt water. We all know that heat would enhance the process.
The question remains:
How hot should the water be?
How much salt should be added to the warm water?
How long should you soak your feet for the procedure to be successful?
I have visions of prune like toes and other wriggly bits…….
Phagocytosis (effector functions of Ab)
When phagocytosis takes place, the cell membrane of the phagocyte adheres to the cell membrane of the Ag. There are many Ag that possess structures that interfere with this adherence. Examples of these structures are capsules. In this case, the immune system compensates. It does this by forming Ab, activating complement and using cell receptors. How does it do this? Lets begin
Firstly the immune system produces a specific Ab to the Ag. This becomes an immune complex. If the Ab is either IgG or IgM, the immune complex is capable of activating complement. Remember that C’ attaches to CH2 of IgG and CH3 of IgM. When C’ is activated, the cascade results in the formation of C3b which attaches to the cell membrane of the Ag and acts as a cell receptor or cell marker. This receptor interacts with CR1 and CR3 both of which are expressed by phagocytes. Round one to the immune system.
Secondly the Fc portion of the Ab can nad does interact with phagocytes via the Fc gamma receptor found on the phagocyte. Round two to the immune system.
Remember at the beginning the Ag was all excited because it had this capsule. It was jumping all around saying; ‘ha ha ha, I have a capsule and you can’t phagocytose me!’ now its game set and match in favour of the immune system. Immune system saves the day yet again!
Firstly the immune system produces a specific Ab to the Ag. This becomes an immune complex. If the Ab is either IgG or IgM, the immune complex is capable of activating complement. Remember that C’ attaches to CH2 of IgG and CH3 of IgM. When C’ is activated, the cascade results in the formation of C3b which attaches to the cell membrane of the Ag and acts as a cell receptor or cell marker. This receptor interacts with CR1 and CR3 both of which are expressed by phagocytes. Round one to the immune system.
Secondly the Fc portion of the Ab can nad does interact with phagocytes via the Fc gamma receptor found on the phagocyte. Round two to the immune system.
Remember at the beginning the Ag was all excited because it had this capsule. It was jumping all around saying; ‘ha ha ha, I have a capsule and you can’t phagocytose me!’ now its game set and match in favour of the immune system. Immune system saves the day yet again!
Effector functions of Antibodies
The principal reason for antibodies being produced is for agglutination. When the Ab combines with the Ag, it forms an immune complex. If the Ab is either IgG or IgM, the immune complex is capable of activating complement and results in lysis of the antigen.
However Ab serve many more functions. These are the effector functions referred to in the title. The Fc portion of the Ab can attach to many cells, and bring about a specific function. The function depends on the cell it attaches to. Some of the cells that can attach to the Fc portion are neutrophils, macrophages, monocytes and trophoblasts.
Not all Ab attach to these cells. The attachment is not really so. It is more an interaction via Fc receptors. These receptors are found on the surface of cells. The Ab that interact with Fc recptors are IgG, IgM, IgE. The Fc receptor is named according to the type of Ab it interacts with. It is Fc epsilon if it interacts with IgE, Fc gamma for IgG and Fc mu for IgM.
IgA is found in the various parts of the body where mucous is secreted. Many Ag enter the body here. The Ab interferes with colonization of the Ag and therefore reduces or stops infection taking place. The Ab also reduces the infectivity of viruses.
A toxin is produced by certain bacteria once they have entered the body. The toxin is harmful and can affect the body in many ways. The immune response is to both the Ag and the toxin. Ab produced in response to the toxin are specific to the toxin. Now the toxin exerts its effect by combining with man’s tissues/cells. The actual part that comes into contact with man’s tissues is called the active site. The immune system must somehow stop the active site from coming into contact with tissue. So the Ab does this in either one of two ways. Firstly the Ab will combine with the toxin near or actually at the active site. This effectively blocks the active site. Secondly the Ab combines far from the active site, thereby causing a change in the morphology or structure of the active site. In both instances, the active site is unable to carry out its function. A point to note here is that this is an example of active natural immunity. In the case of administration of antitoxin, it is passive artificial immunity.
I will deal with immune system compensation for non adherence to phagocyte in another blog entry
However Ab serve many more functions. These are the effector functions referred to in the title. The Fc portion of the Ab can attach to many cells, and bring about a specific function. The function depends on the cell it attaches to. Some of the cells that can attach to the Fc portion are neutrophils, macrophages, monocytes and trophoblasts.
Not all Ab attach to these cells. The attachment is not really so. It is more an interaction via Fc receptors. These receptors are found on the surface of cells. The Ab that interact with Fc recptors are IgG, IgM, IgE. The Fc receptor is named according to the type of Ab it interacts with. It is Fc epsilon if it interacts with IgE, Fc gamma for IgG and Fc mu for IgM.
IgA is found in the various parts of the body where mucous is secreted. Many Ag enter the body here. The Ab interferes with colonization of the Ag and therefore reduces or stops infection taking place. The Ab also reduces the infectivity of viruses.
A toxin is produced by certain bacteria once they have entered the body. The toxin is harmful and can affect the body in many ways. The immune response is to both the Ag and the toxin. Ab produced in response to the toxin are specific to the toxin. Now the toxin exerts its effect by combining with man’s tissues/cells. The actual part that comes into contact with man’s tissues is called the active site. The immune system must somehow stop the active site from coming into contact with tissue. So the Ab does this in either one of two ways. Firstly the Ab will combine with the toxin near or actually at the active site. This effectively blocks the active site. Secondly the Ab combines far from the active site, thereby causing a change in the morphology or structure of the active site. In both instances, the active site is unable to carry out its function. A point to note here is that this is an example of active natural immunity. In the case of administration of antitoxin, it is passive artificial immunity.
I will deal with immune system compensation for non adherence to phagocyte in another blog entry
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