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Sabado, Setyembre 15, 2012

The Writer Within Me


At first, I have to admit, I was really hesitant to start a blog. But since it is a requirement for our Clinical Chemistry class, I had no choice but to do it.

 I am not a born writer. I am the type of person who'd rather read other people’s work, article or blog, for that matter.


But then, I realized that edublogging is a blessing in disguise.



Why? I find it difficult to find a theme for the “edublog” to make topics in Clinical Chemistry attention-grabbing.

 I spent hours or even days just thinking how to make complicated topics simpler for a wider range of audience/readers to understand. But, I am thankful to our mentor that we were given a chance to create our own blog.

It’s more than just a REQUIREMENT.

Edublogging is really cool…

Here is a short list of my learnings from Edublogging:

1. CREATIVITY




It taught me to be creative. I know that you might wonder why, but believe me this blog is a lot livelier than my plain old style in writing.

Why not? Rather than black and white and type and print articles, in blogging you could add colors and even spice up your work by adding pictures.

 Yeah I know that you could also print colored pictures, but wait there’s more. You could add video clips in your blog and go to different sites/links to other websites with just a single click. How cool is that?

2. SHARE TO CONNECT



In edublogging you could connect to people all over the world. What you write can be easily accessed. Sharing knowledge is a lot easier through this. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Europe, Asia or in any other continent as long as you have internet connection.

3. NO TO PLAGIARISM



Edublogging taught be about respect. Respect for other authors, for their works. Respect for the right for intellectual property.

 As a student, of course I do not know everything that is why I attribute my sources and site my references. For me, plagiarism is a huge crime for a writer to commit. It goes to show that if you copy you belittle your capabilities.

 Here's a piece of unsolicited advice.... Don’t put your integrity to waste. BE ORIGINAL!

4. YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO WRITE!





Through this opportunity, i discovered the writer in me. I think I was able to enhance my skills in writing.

For ya’ll people out there, discover the writer within you! It doesn’t matter if you think you are not that good. There’s always room for improvement. Edublogging… why not? Give it a try!

For about four months now, I think I can call myself am edublogger. I am LIVING THE DREAM of being a blogger. But now, since this will be my last post for this semester, am I LEAVING THE DREAM? Well, I just don’t know yet. We’ll see…

This has been IwRiteAll. Bye for now…

Linggo, Hulyo 15, 2012

You're bad for me I clearly get it…


“You're just like poison
Slowly moving through my system
Breaking all of my defenses with time
You're just like poison and I just don't get it
How can something so deadly feel so right?"
- Poison by Beyonce

People say that music is the universal language. Hence, I reckon that I could relate a song to toxicology to for easier understanding.
When I was researching about toxicology, I came across with a song by Beyonce called “Poison”.


Probably you’re not that familiar with this song since it was not quite a hit like her other songs “Single Ladies” or “Run the World (Girls)”.



In the aforesaid song, it says that poison is dreadful substance that goes through the system which breaks defenses of the body.

Poison or toxins can enter through the body system trough inhalation, ingestion, or transdermal absorption.


[click here to view the image above]


It is important for us to know what toxicology is. You don't want to end up eating your "poison apple" like Snow White. Unless, Prince Charming would come to the rescue!




Toxicology is a study of the adverse effect substances or chemicals that inflicts harm or danger to the systems of human or living organisms. This substances or chemicals could be poisonous or toxic in nature.

The History of Toxicology started since time immemorial. The first person attributed to Toxicology was Shen Nung, the father of Chinese medicine who died of toxic overdose (2696 BCE). Through the years, there have been various milestones attributed to this field.


[click here to view the image as pdf]



DISCIPLINES OF TOXICOLOGY

According to Bishop, M. et al, there are four major disciplines in Toxicology:

  1. Mechanistic Toxicology – studies the cellular and biochemical effects of toxins

  2. 2. Descriptive Toxicology – determines the level of exposure of substances or chemicals that can harm humans by experimenting animals

    3.       Forensic Toxicology – for medicolegal purpose, especially when identifying the cause of death by examining toxin exposure

    4.       Clinical Toxicology – studies the association of exposure to toxins and diseases for diagnosis and also prevention or curative intervention



     Examples of Toxic Substances


    1. Alcohol


    - ethanol



    2. Carbon monoxide

    [click here to read an article about carbon monoxide poisoning]

    3. Cyanide



    [click here to read an article about cyanide death]



    4. Metals and  Metalloids


    - lead
    [click here to read more]


    - mercury
    [click here to read more]



    - cadmium




    - arsenic



    5. Pesticides






    Remember: 
    "All substances are poisons: there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy."

     - Paracelsus


    References:

    Society of Toxicology
    News Medical - What is Toxicology?
    'Health, Environment & Work' (HE&W)
    Toxipedia
    General Principles of Toxicology
    Bishop, M. et al, Clinical Chemistry Techniques, Principles, Correlations, 6th Edition

Martes, Mayo 15, 2012

Endocrinology...



Have you ever experienced being mistaken as younger person? People ask your age and their jaw drops when they find out that you are older than them and yet you look a lot younger? Well, as for me, I get that a lot.


Funny thing is, last time I went to the University to enroll as an in-coming 4th year college student (Oh yeah this is the last year. Graduation here I come!) , the working student at the counter asks for my admission slip because she thought that I was enrolling as a FRESHMAN! Why would she (the working student) do that?



 Well, I came up with two theories. Number one, she taught I am an incoming freshman because I look young (my younger brother even looks older than me. I swear. :)) or number two, she thought I am an incoming freshman because of my height. Perhaps, you wonder what my height is.  I'm about to tell you this secret but please don't tell anyone.For more than 3 three years now, I am 5 feet and 2inches tall. (actually I just rounded it off. I’m just 5 ft. and 1 ½ in.).  It’s because of hormones! I would like to believe that I don’t look my age. Now, I’m asking you to believe theory number one and forget theory number two ever existed. Better yet, let’s just ‘put the blame’ to growth HORMONES and the ENDOCRINE SYSTEM.


Hormones. Endocrine system. Endocrinology. Your mind is probably juggling these words already. But what are these all about? Well this is what I know…



From what I understand, Endocrine system is responsible for hormone balance that aids in the development of the body. These hormones act as “messengers” to different parts of the body. Therefore, I could say that Endocrinology deals with the study of the endocrine system and the secreted hormones and how it affects the human body.

The endocrine system and hormones are like a bow and arrow aiming for a bull’s-eye. The endocrine system is the bow while the hormone is the arrow. After hormones are produced by a certain gland, it enters the bloodstream to reach neighboring cells. This is called the paracrine action. On the other hand, if the target site of the hormones is also the one which produce it, autocrine action takes place.


For you to understand how hormones work, hit the play button of this video clip :)




There are hormones that affect growth, metabolism and even your emotions. They can be classified by tissue origin or by structure. Yes it’s true! Hormones are the reason why your brother is taller than you, why your mom gets fatter or why your sister has mood swings. 


There are hormones that maintain chemical balance or homeostasis (i.e. prostaglandin). Others are responsible the development of the male or female characteristics (i.e. testosterone, estrogen). But, there are also hormones that work together to carry out a specific function (i.e. insulin and glucagon, growth hormone, glucocorticoids, epinephrine,T4 and estrogen for normal carbohydrate metabolism).

What you've read so far in here is just the tip of the ice berg. i encourage you to read books or articles and you’ll learn more about Endocrinology. I hope, in a way, I was able to kindle your interest to learn.


REFERENCES:
  • Calbreath, D.,Clinical Chemistry A Fundamental Textbook
  • Bishop, M. et al, Clinical Chemistry Techniques, Principles, Correlations, 6th edition;
  • Greenspan, F., Gardner, D., B, Basic and Clinical Endocrinology, 6th edition, International edition; Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill 2001
  • Burtis, C., Ashwood, E., Tietz Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry 4th edition,W.B. Saunders Company, 1996
  • http://www.hormone.org/endocrine_system.cfm
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