Human Biology and Genetics in Tumor Treatment - Essay Example

 Human biology Part 1 Q1. The foremost dissimilarity between a CT scan and an MRI is based on radiation. A CT applies the aspects of X-ray technology in its function to generate relevant images. X- Ray technology needs ionizing radiation in a modest amount. On the other hand, the use of ionizing radiation does not apply in the case of an MRL scan. The MRI scan alternatively employs the use of radio waves and strong magnets in the generation of images. Q2. The cause of Jordan’s nausea, chronic headache and visual difficulties might have been caused by Migraine, chronic kidney disease or labyrinthitis. Part 2 Q3. The occipital lobe’s location in the brain is at the bottom back of the cortex and is responsible for vision, as it processes information relating to what the house sees. Q4. The symptom that Jordan experiences whose explanation can be based on the brain tumor is the series of chronic headaches. The headaches results from the fact that there is a fixed and limited amount of space in the head, which is made of bones. For this reason, the growing tumor causes increases in pressure exerted within the fixed space causing persistent and chronic headaches. The tumor also affects his occipital lobe causing the visual problems that Jordan faces. Since the tumor is around the occipital lobe, the pressure it exerts hinders the normal functioning of the eyes. Q5. Glioblastoma is a fast spreading form of an astrocytoma and is commonly in adults over fifty years. Astrocytoma is an example of a brain tumor that develops in glial cells. Glial cells are star like neural cells that maintain homeostasis and protect both the central and the peripheral nervous systems. The cells are also known as neuroglia. Therefore, under normal conditions they provide physical support to the neurons, regulate the internal environment of the brain within an optimal range, and to supply nutrients to the neurons. Part 3 Q6. The two main molecules that serve as epigenetic “tags” on DNA are Acetyl molecule and methyl molecule. Q7. Methyl (molecule) molecular epigenetic “tag” turns“off” gene expression while acetyl molecule turns on gene expression. Q8. Basing on the graph, a personusing unmethylated MGMT promoter reaches optimal survival percentage faster than one using methylated MGMT promoter. Subsequently, the individual that makes use of the unmethylated MGMT promoter has a higher overall survival chance. The individual taking the methylated MGMT promoter takes a longer period to reach the optimum overall survival level. The meeting point for both promoters when used is, 80%. It takes a shorter time for a patient using unmethylated MGMT promoter to reach a higher percentage of survival. Q9. The MGMT gene is a protein, whose primary function is to repairalkylane lesions stoichiometrically without a multi enzymatic pathway and finally inactivates itself. If the cell is not repaired, they kill cells that are already affected by the tumor. Q10. Among the patients with low survival rate of Glioblastoma the MGMT gene is unmethylated. Q11. Among the patients where the rate of survival is lowis the MGMT gene turned on. Q12. The patients respond better to temozolomide treatment are those who have methylated MGMT since the graph inclines at progressive and steady rate. Q13. MGMT located at the chromosome and codes for s ubiquitously expressed suicide of DNA repair enzyme that removes alkyl adducts the position of the guanine. Alkylated guanine produces double strand breaks and base impairing, hence inducing cell death and apoptosis. Patients with methylated MGMT promoter have longer survival median compared to those using unmethylated promoter. Meythilation contributes to gene silencing in early stages of the tumor, though when frequently inactivated it may result in mutation. Part 5 Q14. The methylation of the MGMT gene would make this gene heavier. Therefore, the methylated MGMT DNA to migration will be slower down the agarose gel during electrophoresis (Varriale, 2014). Q15. Patient MGMT methylation pattern MGMT methylation pattern Parent 1 Parent 2 Normal Methylated Un-methylated Jordan Un Methylated Unmethylated Max Methylated Unmethylated Dana Methylated Methylated Q16. Both Max and Dana would survive but Max has a higher survival chance of up to 30 % over the others, he is able to recover much faster with his condition. Q17. Jordan seems to have responded so well to the chemotherapeutic, drug, temozolomide. This is because temozolomide is converted to alkylating metabolite MTIC, this conversion is spontaneous, non-enzymatic and occurs at a physiologic pH in all tissue the drug is distributed. Partial remission is observed due to some of the cancer cells have already died. Jordan’s condition is favorable to the chemotherapy and remains healed because of the balance of methylated and unmethylated pattern (Ballestar and Esteller, 2005). His DNA is depressed of the cancerous cell. Chemotherapy damages the gene inside the nucleus of cell, cells are damaged before they replicate their genes and split. Case Study 1. The sodium ion channels in neurons help maintain balance within the neural cell by producing positively charged ions to stabilize potassium ions making the cell depolarized in good functioning condition. 2. When a neuron is at rest it is said to be in resting potential. At resting potential, the surface of the neuron is charged due to an accumulation of positive and negative ions. At rest potential,the inner membrane of the neuron is relatively more negative than the outer surface of the neuronresulting to the potential difference. At this point, the sodium ions gates are closed completely. 3. Sodium ions gated channels open for the membrane to depolarize to the threshold and generate the action potential. During the action potential, the membrane potential rapidly depolarizes and reverses such that the inner membrane surface is more positively relative to the outer surface. The membrane potential repolariseback to the resting-place 4. The impulses cannot betransferred to the next axonand fibers due to the imbalance in the potentiality of the neuron.This affects the homeostasis. 5. When a neuron is exposed to PTX, the will sodium channels will be blocked and therefore sodium ion flow will have no effect on the potassium ions,thereby preventing the transfer of impulses to the subsequent axons and to other neurons. The PTX being much larger than the sodium ions prevents the inflow of sodium until it diffuses off.PTX compete with the hydrated sodium cationsand enters the sodium ions channel where it binds. Subsequently, it blocks movement of oxygen to the body starting with the far body parts causing numbness and paralysis. Part 2 6. When a dose of PTX is administered, the action potential is reached relatively faster, and it tends to have a plateau at this point. Subsequently, its membrane potential falls much faster as compared to the normal condition. The membrane potential reaches the normal 70mV and makes a slightly rising curve, which comes back and forth. 7. The relationship in all the curves is that whether a high or low dose of PTX is given, the action potential of the squid axonal neurons is at +30.This is also evident when the PTX is not applied on the neuron. Part 3 Question 8 PTX might either block the sodium channels to prevent the flow of cations, binding also takes place with the hydrated sodium though is somewhat tight. Since PTX is larger than the sodium ion,it prevents flow of sodium ions until in the end it diffuses off.PTX competes with the hydrated sodium ions and enters its channel where it binds. I suggest this binding comes from the interaction of positively charged ions in the PTX and negatively charged carboxylate on the side chain of the openings of channels. As shown in the diagram after the cell reestablishes its equilibrium, the PTX does not block sodium ions from leaving the cell assuming carboxylate group is also available.With this statement, I prove Dr. Westwood’s statement correct. Mini essay Schizophrenia is considered as a condition that can be passed from parent to offspring though genes. However, schizophrenia does not only result from the aforementioned factor (Callaghan, 2012). It is a brain disorder and the research accomplished on it has proved some drugs inhibit its effects. Neurotransmitters pass messages between brain cells and schizophrenia result from an alteration in the levels of dopamine and serotin (Kapur and Seeman, 2001). Drugs addiction and cause the misuse of drugs cause schizophrenia. The continuous use of drugs like cocaine leads to psychosis and can cause a relapse individuals recovering from schizophrenia. Teens who abuse drugs below the age of 21 are susceptible to the disorder. 2 (a) Knoob compared the concept of disease vaccines and states that drug addicts can also be taken through vaccination. The vaccine will trigger the body to produce antibodies that would in turn work against the contents of the drug that the particular individual is abusing. This discourages further abuse. Upon application of the vaccine the antibodies will block addictive drugs from creating an insatiable want that drives people to always be in need of a particular drug. The blocking is done biochemically. This process plays a vital role in eliminating drug abuse. 2 (c) The main approach that should find use in treating drug addiction is the psychological approach psychological method. This entails psychological motivation of drug addicts to influence and make them see the necessity of quitting drug abuse. Advice is given to the addict and afterward the individual is left to weigh in on the available options and make a decision whether to change or not. Afterwards the addicts aretaken through a process of behavioral therapy and counseling to influence them into adopting an appropriate lifestyle. For this reason, psychology is the most interactive and relevant method of treating drug addiction. I do not agree with the treatment of drug abuse focusing more on the biological side other than the psychotherapeutic side. I think the treatment should direct its focus on the psychotherapeutic methods because these methods deal with the state of the mind. Most people who abuse drugs have had adverse effects on their mental status as a result of excessive consumption of drug. Sedatives are a good example since they tend to suppress cranial activities. The problem is therefore more of the mental status that the health status. Thus, treatment should involve methods that aim at rehabilitating the state of the mind. References Ballestar, E., & Esteller, M. (2005). Methyl-CpG-binding proteins in cancer: blaming the DNA methylation messenger. Biochemistry and cell biology, 83(3), 374-384. Callaghan, R. C., Cunningham, J. K., Allebeck, P., Arenovich, T., Sajeev, G., Remington, G., ...& Kish, S. J. (2012). Methamphetamine use and schizophrenia: a population-based cohort study in California. American Journal of Psychiatry, 169(4), 389-396. Kapur, S., & Seeman, P. (2001). Does Fast Dissociation From the Dopamine D[sub 2] Receptor Explain the Action of Atypical.. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(3), 360. Varriale, A. (2014). DNA methylation, epigenetics, and evolution in vertebrates: facts and challenges. International journal of evolutionary biology, Volume 2014 (2014), 1-7 Read More