The Use of Weight Loss Products - Assignment Example

Question A woman desperate to lose “water weight” before her wedding begins taking her father’s ACE inhibitors. Explain why her father was likely prescribed the ACE inhibitor and explain how the ACE inhibitor corrects this problem. If you took blood samples and urine samples from this woman, would you expect to see abnormal levels of potassium and sodium? If you say yes, explain whether the levels would be higher or lower and why. How would this drug affect the woman’s cardiac cycle as well as capillary filtration and reabsorption? The father of the woman that is desperate to lose “water weight” was likely prescribed an ACE inhibitor for hypertension, which is the most common reason they are prescribed. The ACE inhibitor corrects this problem by inhibiting angiogenesis-converting enzymes, which in turn lower the activity level of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). This allows renin from the juxtaglomerular apparatus to produce angiotensin, which tells the adrenal glands to produce aldosterone. The ACEI tells the body to do this, thus keeping the blood pressure under control. If the woman was to start taking this, and blood and urine samples were taken, I would see an abnormal level of both sodium and potassium. The woman’s sodium levels would be higher, due to the fact that by using angiotensin produced by the body via the ACEI, it will create more aldosterone, which in turn will cause her kidney tubules to retain more sodium ions. For the same reason, her potassium levels would be lower, as the aldosterone causes kidney tubules to excrete potassium. The ACEI will affect the woman’s cardiac cycle by constricting her arterioles. This will cause arterial blood pressure to rise, while decreasing the blood flow. Regardless of the dosage, the woman will have an increase in myocardial capillarization. The glomular filtration rate is the same, which in turn increases her capillary filtration, in spite of lowered kidney blood flow. She will also experience an increase in reabsorption, because of a decrease in hydrostatic pressure and an increase in osmotic pressure because of the unfiltered plasma proteins (the Daley phenomenon). This will assist in tubular fluid reabsorption. Question 2. Dr. Evil develops a new biowarfare weapon that reduces the action of the Na/K pump. Explain in detail how this weapon would affect the following: a) heart rate, b) kidney function, c) absorption of nutrients following digestion. This weapon would affect the Na/K pump’s action by raising the person’s heart rate, as the Na/K pump’s action would reduce. In addition, it would increase the person’s atrial fibrillation, chances of heart failure, and atrial fluttering. The Na/K pump would no longer be able to assist with myocardial contractility, increasing stroke possibility, decreased tissue perfusion, lowered hemodynamics and worsening of the ventricular function curve. The weapon would affect the kidney function by decreasing renal blood flow, thus raising the glomular filtration rate, which decreases capillary filtration. This in turn will reduce to amount of aldosterone secreted by the body, decreasing sodium absorption and increasing potassium ions within the body. This is because the aldosterone has been reduced; therefore, the kidneys do not secrete enough potassium. This lowers blood volume and lowers blood pressure. Finally, the weapon would affect nutrient absorption in the rumen of the small and large intestines due to a decrease of cellular sodium levels due to the reduced activity of the Na/K pump. This lowers sodium instability in the gastrointestinal system, lowering the body’s ability to absorb nutrients properly. Question 3. Organophosphates are chemical agents that bind to and inhibit acetylcholine esterase. Explain the effects of exposure to high levels of organophosphates on the somatic nervous system and the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. Be sure to explain the physiological mechanisms behind these effects. Explain why a person who has organophosphate poisoning may be given atropine. If someone is exposed to high levels of organophosphates, the effects on the somatic system are degradation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine being able to turn it into choline and acetic acid. The organophosphates cause the acetylcholine esterase to become inactive by increasing the phosphorylation of the serine hydroxyl group. This allows the acetylcholine esterase to build up in the somatic nervous system, thus causing an over stimulation of muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. This will affect the autonomic nervous system in much the same way, but is more detrimental because the autonomic nervous system is the only neurotransmitter used by the somatic nervous system. Acetylcholine esterase is important for the nervous system function because it is a primary neurotransmitter in all autonomic ganglia. Acetylcholine esterase causes the muscles to function, prevents excitatory actions, and has effects on plasticity, reward, and arousal within the central nervous system. A person who has organophosphate poisoning may be given atropine because the drug inhibits the acetylcholine actions at the muscarinic receptors. Atropine is a viable treatment for the symptomatic responses to organophosphate poisoning which are urination, lacrimation, emesis, salivation, diaphoresis and gastrointestinal motility. Ultimately, atropine reduces the effects of organophosphate poisoning, but is not a cure for it. During the female sexual cycle, explain what is occurring in the ovary and in the uterus. These events are not happening independently of one another. Please explain how processes in the ovary influence processes in the uterus. There are five hormones timing these events. Explain what stimulates the release of these hormones, what their functions are during the process and what causes the decline in production of these hormones. Combined oral contraceptives contain progesterone and estrogen. How does keeping these hormones elevated prevent ovulation? Both the ovarian and the uterine cycles are controlled by a gonadotropin releasing hormone that is secreted by the hypothalamus. This stimulation causes the release of follicle stimulating hormones and luteinizing hormones from the pituitary gland. The luteinizing hormones promote follicular growth in the ovary, thus allowing more secretion of estrogen, which causes ovulation. This hormonal change causes the stratum functionalis of the endometrial in the uterus to prepare it for fertilization. If fertilization does not happen, the stratum functionalis is shed through menstruation. The five hormones that are secreted are estrogen (estradiol, estriol and estrone), the luteinizing hormone lutropin, follicle stimulating hormones, which is a glycoprotein, progesterone and relaxin. Estradiol promotes the development as well as maintains the female reproductive organs and tissues. It also has an increased effect on cortical-binding and thyroxin-binding globulin action in the body, increasing the aldosterone rate of secretion. There are secondary effects of estradiol that are production and dispersal of adipose tissue, pelvis broadening and hair growth patterns. Low levels of estradiol can cause epiphyseal closure delay, causing the person to become eunuchoid and affecting bone structure as to promote early onset of osteoporosis or osteopenia. The placenta produces estriol during pregnancy and its level in the body is a good indicator of the health of the fetus. Estriol is the most important hormone for the health of the vagina, cervix and vulva. Like estradiol, it too increases cortical-binding and thyroxin-binding globulin activity. Outside of pregnancy, estriol can prevent the onset of osteoporosis, cancer cells and autoimmune diseases. Reduced levels of estriol can cause vaginal atrophy and dryness, reduction in protection against cancerous cells and early menopausal symptoms. Estrone promotes the creation of body fat, without causing a loss of protein. It is produced from adipose cells, and has a strong correlation with a woman’s body fat mass index. It is a lipostatic signal, which adjusts body fat mass selectively. Progesterone is primarily secreted by the corpus luteum, and acts in synchronicity with the estrogens by preparing the endometrium for implantation of the fertilized ovum. It also works with the estrogens to promote mammarian growth in preparation for milk production. It causes a delay in the shedding of the endometrium, allowing the uterus to allow for implantation of the ovum. A reduced level of progesterone causes the body to be more resistant to insulin, cravings, listlessness and depression. Relaxin is a peptide complex that is produced by the corpus luteum. It is uncertain what relaxin’s role is in human pregnancy, but is believed to soften pubic symphysis. Oral contraceptives keep prevent ovulation by the suppression of gonadotropic releases. They inhibit follicular development, which in turn decreases the levels of lutropin in the body. These lacks of estrogens and lutropins prevent ovulation from occurring. Tata, B. V. R., Arora, Akhilesh K. and Valsakumar, M. C. (1993) Materials Science Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, 603102 Tamil Nadu, India. American Physical Society Vol. 47. Issue 5. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.47.3404 Saladin, Kenneth. (2009) Anatomy & Physiology. The Unity of Form and Function (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill Read More