Hormone Research: Somatostatin

Somatostatin

Somatostatin is also recognized as growth hormone-inhibiting hormone or somatotropin release-inhibiting hormone. Despite the different titles, somatostatin is a peptide hormone that controls the endocrine system and affects neurotransmission and the spreading of cells with somatostatin receptors and inhibition of the many secondary hormones. Somatostatin is categorized as an inhibitory hormone, whose actions are spread to various parts of the body such as the anterior pituitary gland and the gastrointestinal system. Somatostatin is produced by neuroendocrine neurons of the hypothalamus and these neurons arranges to the median eminence where somatostatin is released into the hypothalamo-hypophysial system. It is then carried to the anterior pituitary gland, where it inhibits the secretion of growth hormone. Somatostatin has two active forms, one of fourteen amino acids and the other of twenty-eight amino acids. Humans only have one somatostatin gene (SST) while vertebrates (animal with backbone) have six different somatostatin genes (SS1-6). Somatostatin secretes in numerous locations in different organs of the body. In the digestive system, it secretes in the stomach, intestine, and the delta cells of the pancreas. 

Video:

References: http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/otherendo/somatostatin.html

http://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/somatostatin.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=artQTDaWXQ8

Endocrine Disruptor: Methoxychlor

Methoxychlor

Methoxychlor is used as an insecticide effective against pests. There’s a wide range of uses of methoxychlor, from being used on field crops to killing parasites. However, all pesticide use of methoxychlor was suspended in 2000. According to oral study in animals, the exposure of methoxychlor resulted in effects to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system. Moreover, the reproductive and developmental effects are the major concern of methoxychlor. Developmental and reproductive effects include abortions, reduced fertility, reduced litter size, and skeletal effects. The exposure to methoxychlor would most likely be from inhalation or dermal contact by workers involved in the manufacture, handling, or application of methoxychlor. Humans could be exposed to methoxychlor at home by ingesting food or water contaminated with methoxychlor. EPA has low confidence in the dangerous study of methoxychlor because no inferences could be made to the maternal or developmental toxicity of methoxychlor due to the low sureness in the database because of the lack of definitive chronic toxicity. EPA has classified methoxychlor as a Group D, because human data are unavailable and animal evidence is indecisive.

Lit Circle (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) Chapters 18-25: Time Master

Lit Circle (Chapters 18-25): Time Master

Lit Circle (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) Chapters 12-17: Sketch Master

Lit Circle (Chapters 12-17): Sketch Master

Lit Circle (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) Chapters 7-11: Discussion Master

Lit Circle (Chapters 7-11): Discussion Master

1. What actions did Gey take to stop cancer? (page 57)

2. Rather than shipping live cells in the mail, what did Gey do? (page 57)

3. Why were Henrietta's cell so precious? (page 58)

4. How did Carrel set out to prove that it was possible to keep tissue alive outside the body? (page 58)

5. Why was "benevolent deception" a common practice? (page 63)

6. Where were the tumors of her abdomen located? (page 65)

7. Why did George Gey never visit Henrietta in the hospital or said anything to her about her cells? (page 66)

8. To where did the tumors spread in her body? (page 83)

9. Why did people call Hector Henry, Cootie? (page 79)

Types of Connective Tissue

Epithelial Tissue Labeling

The Ovarian Cancer Brochure by Sharon Lei

 what I learned from the ovarian cancer brochure

After reading Sharon Lei’s brochure regarding the ovarian cancer, I learned quite a lot about it. Although there hasn’t been any evidence on why cancer starts in the ovary, we do know that there are factors contributing to it. The factors attributing to a higher chance of getting ovarian cancer includes: family history, age, obesity, pregnancy, and whether or not if you acquire breast cancer. Having ovarian cancer may not cause any obvious symptoms in the early stages but however, as the cancer grows, more symptoms begins to reveal. Bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, indigestion, black pain, constipation, and pain with intercourse are all symptoms of the ovarian cancer. Whenever you feel any of the symptoms above, doctors will recommend a physical and pelvic examination to check for whether if it is due to cancer or to some other causes. Treatments are given depending on the stages of the cancer but generally, there are three main treatments for ovarian cancer. The three treatments to the ovarian cancer include: chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Of all the three treatments, surgery is the most successful but however, if there are any reoccurrence of the cancer, chemotherapy is needed. 

Lit Circle (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) Chapters 3-6: Quote Master

Lit Circle (Chapters 3-6): Quote Master

1. “At that point, more than 15,000 women were dying each year from cervical cancer. The Pap smear had the potential to decrease that death rate by 70 percent or more, but there were two things standing in its way…” (page 29)

• I feel that this quote is important because it clarifies how women simply didn’t get the test and even when they did, only a small number of doctors knew how to interpret the results accurately. Some doctors mistook cervical infections for cancer and removed a women’s entire reproductive tract.

2. “The Greys were determined to grow the first immortal human cells: a continuously dividing line of cells all descended from one original sample, cells that would constantly replenish themselves and never die.” (page 30)

• This quote hints to the reader the events that are going to happen later in the story. TeLinde offered Grey a supply of cervical cancer tissue and began collecting samples from any women who happened to walk into Hopkins with cervical cancer, including Henrietta.

3. “On February 5, 1951, after Jones got Henrietta’s biopsy report back from the lab, he called and told her it was malignant. Henrietta didn’t tell anyone what Jones said, and no one asked.” (page 31)

• This quote demonstrates Henrietta’s character by revealing her thoughts and feelings. Henrietta went on with her day as if nothing had happened. She didn’t want to upset anyone over something she thought she could deal with herself.

4. “Then, two days after Henrietta went home from the hospital, Mary saw what looked like little rings of fried egg white around the clots at the bottoms of each tube.” (page 40)

• I feel that this quote is important because it indicates that Grey’s experiment is accurate. In the story, Henrietta’s cells kept growing doubling their numbers every twenty-four hours, stacking hundreds on top of hundreds, accruing by the millions. The cells grew twenty times faster than Henrietta’s normal cells and as long as they had food and warmth, the cancer cells seemed unstoppable.

5. “Then, three weeks after starting x-ray therapy, she began burning inside, and her urine came out feeling like broken glass.” (page 48)

• After beginning her radiation treatments, Henrietta began showing signs of side affects. The skin from Henrietta’s breasts to her pelvis was charred a deep black. But however, the rest of her body was its natural shade. 

Skeletal Disease Letter (Arthritis)

October 20, 2012

Dear Mom,

            How have you been doing? Are you still busy with work? Have you been helping me water my plants? I’m hoping to see my flowers bloom when I come back for a visit, mom. I have been keeping up with the weather forecast in Indiana and it seems to be quite chilly. Well here in California, it has been really hot lately and on certain days, triple digits temperature arose. Well, always remember to take a good care of yourself when I’m not around you. Keep yourself warm and wear plenty of clothes. Nonetheless, I’m here today notifying you about a bad condition concerning my health.

I want to inform you about what has been happening to me lately. I’m really worried about my current leg condition and I don’t know whether it’s if I have inherited arthritis from dad or if it’s from my injury in soccer. Recently, my left foot has been swelling up to my ankle. Not only that, but I also feel pain on my left leg all the way to my knee. The swelling and pain started four months ago but has gotten worse. The pain feels as if a needle is jabbing my leg and the swell has troubled my sleep and appetite. The only way for me to relief the pain is to rest and pat my leg. Whenever I sit, I always have the need to rest my leg slightly high. Combining the symptoms altogether, I have a really high chance of receiving arthritis.

            Last Saturday, I went to see a specialist and took a physical examination. In my physical examination report, it was said that my left foot is slightly swollen and can only do limited movements compared to the right foot. The specialist gave me painkillers to reduce the swelling, but it only worked temporarily. So then, I went to see a rheumatologist where I took a blood, urine, joint fluid, and x-ray test. After coming back for several visits, my rheumatologist told me to treat the type of arthritis I have by doing physical therapy and drinking pain medication depending on my discomfort level. The doctor was very helpful and assured me on the understanding of the treatment and how the condition might affect me. Following the next few months, my feet hasn’t been as swollen and the pain got better. Walking up the stairs isn’t as painful for me anymore. Well, that’s about it, I hope you’re not as worried as I was.

Sincerely,

Hong