November 25, 2022

Defective Glucose and Water Transport in Two Forms of Diabetes (Part 3 of 3)

sugars,Type 2 Diabetes,glycolysis,health,diabetes mellitus,MSChemistry,health and living,#RoadToMSChemistry,Type 1 diabetes,sweets,GLUT4,health and beauty,diabetes, Insulin
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Diabetes is about sugar and the one that helps in regulating this compound in our body is the insulin secreted by the pancreas. 

Did you know that insulin is accidentally discovered? Have you ever heard that the first commercially available insulin in the market is extracted from a pig's pancrease?

Here is the last part of one on the topics in Biochemistry about diabetes - about insulin.


Defective Glucose and Water Transport in Two Forms of Diabetes (Part 3 of 3)

Insulin: Discovery, Purification, and Mechanism
Insulin is accidentally discovered in 1889 by Oscar Minkowski and Josef von Mering after a friendly disagreement about whether the pancreas contains lipase. They surgically remove the pancreas of a dog for the study which eventually observed to urinate more. However, they failed to extract substance to reverse the effect of removing the pancreas (Nelson).

sugars,Type 2 Diabetes,glycolysis,health,diabetes mellitus,MSChemistry,health and living,#RoadToMSChemistry,Type 1 diabetes,sweets,GLUT4,health and beauty,diabetes, Insulin

Not until 1921 when Frederick Banting, Charles Best, and JJR MacLeod took up the problem and found anti-diabetic factors in the pancreas. They called it insulin from the Latin word “insula”, meaning islands since insulin was extracted from the islets of Langerhans. The same year, purification was successful (“Insulin | Definition, Structure, and Function”).

In 1922, they tested the purified insulin on Leonard Thompson and within a few days, they observed a drop of glucose and ketone in the body (Nelson).

A Nobel Prize was awarded to Banting and MacLeod in 1923 and since then insulin was isolated from the porcine pancreas. In 1980, through genetic engineering techniques, the mass production of insulin was developed (“Insulin | Definition, Structure, and Function”).

Insulin is composed of two chains of amino acids derived from preproinsulin. Preproinsulin is an inactive substance of Chain A, Chain B, C-peptide, and a signal peptide. When the preproinsulin reached the Endoplasmic reticulum, the signal peptide will be cleaved off leaving the still inactive proinsulin. As it procced to the Golgi apparatus, a disulfide bond in the cysteine residue is formed and the C-peptide will eventually cleave off producing the active insulin while the C-peptide will be degraded and excreted. (Vasiljević, et al.).
sugars,Type 2 Diabetes,glycolysis,health,diabetes mellitus,MSChemistry,health and living,#RoadToMSChemistry,Type 1 diabetes,sweets,GLUT4,health and beauty,diabetes, Insulin
Figure 4. Synthesis of insulin from preproinsulin.

Diabetes is often related to blood sugar with the early signs or symptoms of excessive urination. However, there are two forms of diabetes – diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus. The urine in diabetes mellitus is sweet while in diabetes insipidus is very dilute or tasteless.

Both forms of diabetes are hormone-related. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas for diabetes mellitus while vasopressin is secreted by the pituitary glands for diabetes insipidus.

Diabetes prevalence in the Philippines is quite alarming. This only gives us the warning to keep our health monitored and choose a lifestyle that will keep us fit.

 

References:

Baclig, Cristina Eloisa. “Diabetes: A Bitter Health Crisis for Filipinos.” INQUIRER.Net, 21 July 2021, newsinfo.inquirer.net/1461980/diabetes-a-bitter-health-crisis-for-filipinos.


Bryant, Nia J., et al. “Regulated Transport of the Glucose Transporter GLUT4.” Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, vol. 3, no. 4, 2002, pp. 267–77. Crossrefhttps://doi.org/10.1038/nrm782.

 

“Diabetes Insipidus and Diabetes Mellitus.” The Diabetic Voice.Comwww.the-diabetic-voice.com/diabetes-insipidus-and-diabetes-mellitus.html. Accessed 26 Apr. 2022.

 

Felman, Adam. “What’s to Know about Diabetes Insipidus?” Medical News Today, 7 Apr. 2022, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/183251.

 

“Glucose Regulation and Utilization in the Body.” Nutrition FN 225media.lanecc.edu/users/powellt/FN225OER/Carbohydrates/FN225Carbohydrates5.html. Accessed 26 Apr. 2022.

 

“Insulin | Definition, Structure, and Function.” Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britanica.com/science/insulin.

 

Nelson, David. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 7th ed., W.H. Freeman, 2017.

 

Qureshi, Sana, et al. “Diabetes Insipidus: Celebrating a Century of Vasopressin Therapy.” Endocrinology, vol. 155, no. 12, 2014, pp. 4605–21. Crossrefhttps://doi.org/10.1210/en.2014-1385.

 

Tahrani, Abd A., et al. “Management of Type 2 Diabetes: New and Future Developments in Treatment.” The Lancet, vol. 378, no. 9786, 2011, pp. 182–97. Crossrefhttps://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(11)60207-9.

 

Vasiljević, Jovana, et al. “The Making of Insulin in Health and Disease.” Diabetologia, vol. 63, no. 10, 2020, pp. 1981–89. Crossrefhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-020-05192-7.

 

“What Is Diabetes?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 Mar. 2022, www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/d


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November 23, 2022

How to Deal with Conflict in the Family

family,family counseling,family conflicts,home and living,home

Family conflict is one of the hardest situations to go through in life. Family is a guaranteed life-long social support system. Your family are people who are there for you, cheering on your accomplishments and they are also the people who are there for you when you hit rock bottom or have bumps along the way. However, with people this close (family, or friends), there is also bound to be disagreements, misunderstandings, minor conflicts, and sometimes larger conflicts, as well.

When you run into issues with conflicts - no matter if they are easy to solve, or much harder to solve - it can bring up sadness, anger, resentment, frustration, and so many other emotions, as well, and conflicts have the potential to tear families apart if you let it get that bad. The best way to keep things in check is to address each situation head-on. If you are not sure where to start, here are a few tips about how to deal with conflict in the family when it arises:

Try to understand and acknowledge
First of all, if you run into conflict within your family, try to understand and acknowledge it. Understand where the other person is coming from, if possible. Try to put yourself in their shoes and really think as they would. If you are able to understand where they are coming from, acknowledge that. A lot of the time, conflict can be resolved simply by addressing the issue and trying to understand why someone else feels that way. When you try to resolve the conflict with the person, keep this at the forefront and try to address the situation in a calm and understanding way.

Give a heartfelt apology

If you are able to talk calmly to the other person about the issues going on, give a heartfelt apology, if it is needed. In fact, most of the time (even if you truly did not do anything wrong), you can give an apology for making the other person feel whatever way they felt. Know that just because you did not mean to do anything, the other person might have felt a certain way, and they are not wrong for any of their feelings. When this happens, understand why they felt that way (or try your best to) and if you had any part to do with that, give a heartfelt apology. One way to stir the pot, even more, is by giving an apology that feels forced or not genuine, so try to avoid that, when possible.


Know triggers for the future

Trying to figure out triggers can be beneficial for trying to keep the peace down the road. A lot of the time, there will be something that pulls at the emotional strings of others, so if you are able to realize what has caused conflict in the past and try to avoid it in the future, it’s a great (and relatively easy) way to keep the peace going forward.


Focus on positive traits

Every single family member will not be your favorite person ever. For example, if things are tense with your siblings or inlaws, instead of focusing on the negatives, try to focus on positive traits. Sure, someone might chew with their mouth open or have obnoxious political opinions, but try to put that aside and write out their positive traits. Everyone has some good in them and you can focus on the good by listing out their positive traits!


Set and maintain boundaries

family,family counseling,family conflicts,home and living,home

Another great way to avoid conflict in the family is by setting and maintaining boundaries. Does this always work when there is a current conflict? No, because it’s never a good idea to just push things under the rug and run from the conflict, but if you know there might be conflict in the future, it’s a great idea to set and maintain boundaries. Sometimes, all it takes is a little space. If you live too close to family members, consider moving a bit farther away from them, to keep conflict at a minimum. When you do move, reach out to a moving company to help make the process easier. Movin’ is a great option because they go above and beyond for their clients, removing the stress from the move. They do residential moving, packing services, storage solutions, commercial moving, gun safe moving Salt Lake City, and more.


Talk with a therapist

If all else fails, talk with a therapist. Sometimes, conflict is just too big and hard to resolve on your own and that’s okay. Therapists are there to help you through conflict and life changes. It is NEVER a bad idea to talk with someone and see how they can help support you!


Shout out to MoversBoost for collaborating. MoversBoost is a marketing agency for movers offering leads and digital offerings.


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November 21, 2022

Defective Glucose and Water Transport in Two Forms of Diabetes (Part 2 of 3)

sugars,#RoadToMSChemistry,health,sweets,health and beauty,diabetes,MSChemistry,diabetes mellitus,health and living,glycolysis,GLUT4,Type 1 diabetes,Type 2 Diabetes, Diabetes insipidus, aquaporins
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Did you know that there is another type of diabetes? It is not related to sugar but with the function of water retention by the kidney.

Here is the second part of my report concerning about diabetes.

Defective Glucose and Water Transport in Two Forms of Diabetes (Part 2 of 3)

Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes insipidus is similar to diabetes mellitus. Instead of glucose, it is all about the re-absorption of water from the urine to the bloodstream. The hormone responsible for this condition is the vasopressin produced in the pituitary gland (Felman).

Instead of the GLUT4, aquaporin is present in the collecting duct in the kidney. These are responsible for the absorption and re-absorption of water.

The aquaporins 3 and 4 (AQP3 and AQP4, respectively) are located in the basolateral membrane of the urine-collecting duct in the kidney. Aside from AQP3 and AQP4, there is aquaporin AQP2 that will attach itself to the apical membrane where the diluted urine flows. This only happens when the arginine-vasopressin (AVP) binds with its receptor. The G protein, Gs, produces adenyl cyclase and converts ATP to cAMP. AQP2 will be phosphorylated by the protein kinase A (PKA). The phosphorylated AQP2 (P-AQP2) will attach itself to the apical membrane and facilitate the reabsorption of water going back to the bloodstream. The final product will be concentrated urine (Qureshi, et al).

Like type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, when there is a problem in the supply or the body’s reaction to vasopressin, diabetes insipidus arises.

There are 2 major types of diabetes insipidus – neurogenic or the central type, and the nephrogenic or renal type. Like diabetes mellitus, pregnant women may also suffer diabetes insipidus and this iscalled the gestogenic diabetes insipidus (“Diabetes Insipidus and Diabetes Mellitus”).

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Figure 3 illustrates how water reabsorption in the body occurs.

The central type of diabetes insipidus is where little or not enough amounts of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin are secreted from the pituitary gland. Because of this, there will be no substance to be attached to the AVPR2 receptor that is supposed to give the signal to the AQP2 to do its job. On the other hand, the renal type diabetes insipidus have enough amount of vasopressin but the body tends to have resistance in binding with the said hormone to facilitate the movement of the AQP2 to the apical membrane of the collecting duct cell in the kidney for the reabsorption of water from the urine (Qureshi, et al).

The third type, but considered to be rare, is the gestogenic diabetes insipidus. One of the side effects of the chemical reaction of the placenta in the body is the destruction of the vasopressin hormone. The degradation of the vasopressin is done by the vasopressinase or cysteine aminopeptidase. This usually occurs between the third trimester of pregnancy to the early postpartum period (Felman).

Diabetes is often related to blood sugar with the early signs or symptoms of excessive urination. However, there are two forms of diabetes – diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus. The urine in diabetes mellitus is sweet while in diabetes insipidus is very dilute or tasteless.

Both forms of diabetes are hormone-related. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas for diabetes mellitus while vasopressin is secreted by the pituitary glands for diabetes insipidus.

Diabetes prevalence in the Philippines is quite alarming. This only gives us the warning to keep our health monitored and choose a lifestyle that will keep us fit.


References:

Baclig, Cristina Eloisa. “Diabetes: A Bitter Health Crisis for Filipinos.” INQUIRER.Net, 21 July 2021, newsinfo.inquirer.net/1461980/diabetes-a-bitter-health-crisis-for-filipinos.


Bryant, Nia J., et al. “Regulated Transport of the Glucose Transporter GLUT4.” Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, vol. 3, no. 4, 2002, pp. 267–77. Crossrefhttps://doi.org/10.1038/nrm782.

 

“Diabetes Insipidus and Diabetes Mellitus.” The Diabetic Voice.Comwww.the-diabetic-voice.com/diabetes-insipidus-and-diabetes-mellitus.html. Accessed 26 Apr. 2022.

 

Felman, Adam. “What’s to Know about Diabetes Insipidus?” Medical News Today, 7 Apr. 2022, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/183251.

 

“Glucose Regulation and Utilization in the Body.” Nutrition FN 225media.lanecc.edu/users/powellt/FN225OER/Carbohydrates/FN225Carbohydrates5.html. Accessed 26 Apr. 2022.

 

“Insulin | Definition, Structure, and Function.” Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britanica.com/science/insulin.

 

Nelson, David. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 7th ed., W.H. Freeman, 2017.

 

Qureshi, Sana, et al. “Diabetes Insipidus: Celebrating a Century of Vasopressin Therapy.” Endocrinology, vol. 155, no. 12, 2014, pp. 4605–21. Crossrefhttps://doi.org/10.1210/en.2014-1385.

 

Tahrani, Abd A., et al. “Management of Type 2 Diabetes: New and Future Developments in Treatment.” The Lancet, vol. 378, no. 9786, 2011, pp. 182–97. Crossrefhttps://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(11)60207-9.

 

Vasiljević, Jovana, et al. “The Making of Insulin in Health and Disease.” Diabetologia, vol. 63, no. 10, 2020, pp. 1981–89. Crossrefhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-020-05192-7.

 

“What Is Diabetes?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 Mar. 2022, www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html.

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November 17, 2022

Steps in Areola Restoration

areola restoration, health, health and living, areola


There are a few steps involved in areola restoration. They include choosing the right color, harvesting grafts, and side effects of radiation therapy. These steps can help unlock your best self. To learn more about these steps, please visit the links below.

Procedures for nipple and areola reconstruction
Nipple and areola reconstruction is a surgical procedure that uses skin from other body parts to form a new nipple. It can also repair an asymmetric nipple or an enlarged areola. The final result can be more natural-looking and feel like a natural nipple. Patients often experience little or no discomfort after the procedure and can return to work the next day.

Reconstruction of the nipple and areola can be performed on both breasts or just one. The aim is to make the areola and nipple appear similar. However, some adjustments may be necessary since skin heals differently in each patient.

Reconstruction can also include skin grafting. With this method, the surgeon will use a donor site to provide skin for the nipple. This method can mimic the shape, color, and texture of a natural nipple. Patients may also opt for nipple tattooing.

Selection of correct color for tattooed areola
The most important part of an areola restoration procedure is selecting the correct color. For instance, experts in Laguna Med Spa will analyze your skin tone and areola pigmentation to create a custom shade. The technician will then apply the color to your skin using a combination of artistic vision and technique. Once the color has been applied to your skin, it will subtly soften during the healing process.

The color of your areola should be slightly darker than that of your contralateral areola. However, no published guidelines specify the exact shade of dark. Typically, dark color with a lower tone and higher saturation is appropriate. While tattooing an areola requires a quick learning curve; the result will be a tattoo with good symmetry.

Color fade is not uncommon in tattoos, but a darker shade will contrast with any pigment fading and result in a better match. Additionally, three-dimensional tattooing techniques have improved the aesthetic results of reconstruction. While light is one way to achieve this effect, shadows can be used to create prominence.

Harvesting of areola grafts
Areola graft harvesting has a long history and is often performed in conjunction with other NAR procedures. This technique was first introduced in 1949 by Adams et al. and was modified in 1977 by Brent et al. based on aesthetic considerations. The donor site is typically the upper inner thigh, where the skin matches the area.

The areola is a dark area that is often available from darker donors. Dark donors come from the labia majora and minora of the groin, buttock, or upper thigh. Generally, these tissues have lower retraction forces and are more resilient. In addition, some researchers have suggested harvesting the outer rim of the contralateral areola. This approach may be beneficial for patients with large NAC.

Harvesting areola grafts from breast cancer patients is an alternative to immediate reconstruction. It is a valuable and viable option for postmastectomy patients who would otherwise lose their nipples and areola. However, this surgery is not without its challenges. In some cases, nipple sharing or skin grafts were used.

Side effects of radiation therapy before areola reconstruction
Radiation therapy can cause side effects, including breast pain, swelling, and sensitivity. The breast may be sore and rough to the touch, and it may be swollen and red. It may also peel like a sunburn. These side effects usually go away after the radiation treatment, and the radiation oncologist may prescribe special creams to reduce discomfort.

Radiation therapy can cause the skin to turn pink or tanned. It can also make the skin sensitive and itchy. In rare cases, it can cause a rash that can lead to infection. These side effects typically subside after several weeks.
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November 16, 2022

Defective Glucose and Water Transport in Two Forms of Diabetes (Part 1 of 3)

sugars,#RoadToMSChemistry,health,sweets,health and beauty,diabetes,MSChemistry,diabetes, diabetes mellitus, health, health and living, glycolysis, GLUT4, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes
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Just before the Diabetes Awareness Month ends, here is another series connected to this health issue. Previously, I shared how our tongue recognize the sweetness of the food we eat.

This is another topic in our reaction papers in Biochemistry. I divided this into three parts since the topic is quite long.

Defective Glucose and Water Transport in Two Forms of Diabetes (Part 1 of 3)

Many say that it is better to love men in their 40s. They are much sweeter compared to younger men. This is because many men in their 40s are diabetics. Diabetics are naturally sweet.

Diabetes, as defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or CDCP, is a chronic health condition that affects the body’s ability to transform food into energy (“What Is Diabetes?”). Furthermore, Merriam-Webster defines diabetes as any abnormal condition described by excessive amounts of urine.

What is the Philippines' status when we speak of diabetes?
In 2019, according to International Diabetes Federation, the Philippines ranked 5th in the Western Asia Pacific region in terms of the numbers of diabetes prevalence with 3,993,300 individuals having the said ailment. This will be expected to increase in the next 25 years to about 7.2 million Filipinos. Because of this, Dr. Joven Cuanang considered diabetes to be an epidemic in the country (Baclig).

The common connotation of diabetes is blood sugar. There are two main forms of diabetes: diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mellitus is the one connected with glucose absorption while diabetes insipidus is the condition with water reabsorption in the body.

Diabetes Mellitus
After eating, carbohydrates break into glucose and will stay in the bloodstream. The pancreas will secrete the hormone, insulin. When the insulin reacts with the insulin receptor, it will send a signal to the glucose transporter, GLUT4. GLUT4 is stored in the cell membrane as vesicles. This vesicle will move and fuse with the plasma membrane which will open the membrane at let the glucose enters the cell. Once the insulin level drops, GLUT4 will go back to the cell and will wait until it receives another signal (Nelson).

sugars,#RoadToMSChemistry,health,sweets,health and beauty,diabetes,MSChemistry,diabetes, diabetes mellitus, health, health and living, glycolysis,
Figure 1. shows how the glucose in the blood reached the cell and use as a source of energy.

When the cell needed energy, the glucose will be metabolized thru cellular respiration and converted to ATP. Otherwise, it will be stored as glycogen in the liver and muscle cells, or as triglycerols or fatty acids in the adipose tissues (“Glucose Regulation and Utilization in the Body”).

If the problem occurs in the absorption of glucose arises, it will be referred Diabetes mellitus. There are 4 types of diabetes mellitus – Type 1, Type 2, gestational, and prediabetes.

If the pancreas is not supplying enough insulin to trigger the GLUT4, it will be called Type 1 diabetes mellitus. This is considered an auto-immune condition where the body mistakenly attacks the insulin in the body resulting in reduced or no secretion of insulin to trigger the GLUT4.

On the other hand, due to several factors, the body may develop insulin resistance and cannot trigger the receptor to signal GLUT4 to do its work. It is referred to as type 2 diabetes mellitus.

See the figures below for the differentiation of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in terms of insulin secretion and receptors.

sugars,#RoadToMSChemistry,health,sweets,health and beauty,diabetes,MSChemistry,diabetes, diabetes mellitus, health, health and living, glycolysis,
Figure 2. Simple differentiation of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

During pregnancy, a woman’s body is subjected to a diverse multitude of hormones and chemical reactions caused by the placenta. Because of this, the body may develop insulin resistance and may increase the blood glucose level. This condition is called gestational diabetes (“Glucose Regulation and Utilization in the Body”).

A person may have an increase in the blood glucose concentration up to the borderline towards the type 2 diabetes (blood glucose of 100-125 mg/dL) this is called prediabetic.

Glycolysis
Glycolysis is the process where glucose molecule is being breakdown and will be used by the cell as a source of energy. The glucose is broken down into pyruvate, a 3-carbon molecule. Upon entering the mitochondrion, this pyruvate will be converted to acetyl CoA which undergoes the Kreb cycle producing carbon dioxide and the high-energy electron carriers NADH2 and FADH2. After an electron transport by NADH2 and FADH2, ATP is released. If the cell has enough energy, the glucose will be used to synthesize glycogen or fat to be stored in the liver (“Glucose Regulation and Utilization in the Body”).
sugars,#RoadToMSChemistry,health,sweets,health and beauty,diabetes,MSChemistry,diabetes, diabetes mellitus, health, health and living, glycolysis,
Figure 4. Glycolysis process of breaking down glucose as source of energy (ATP).

For the instances that there is not enough glucose in the body, which usually happens during starvation, the protein or the fatty acids will be utilized to produce the energy required by the cell. The protein will be converted to glucose by the process of gluconeogenesis. Fatty acids will be converted to ketones and this will be utilized as a source of energy. Between the two alternative sources of energy, our body will favorably proceed with the fatty acid utilization to conserve the protein (“Glucose Regulation and Utilization in the Body”).

sugars,#RoadToMSChemistry,health,sweets,health and beauty,diabetes,MSChemistry,diabetes, diabetes mellitus, health, health and living, glycolysis,
Figure 5. An illustration of gluconeogenesis (conversion of protein to glucose) and fatty acids to ketones as alternative sources of energy.

Diabetes prevalence in the Philippines is quite alarming. This only gives us the warning to keep our health monitored and choose a lifestyle that will keep us fit.

 

References:

Baclig, Cristina Eloisa. “Diabetes: A Bitter Health Crisis for Filipinos.” INQUIRER.Net, 21 July 2021, newsinfo.inquirer.net/1461980/diabetes-a-bitter-health-crisis-for-filipinos.


Bryant, Nia J., et al. “Regulated Transport of the Glucose Transporter GLUT4.” Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, vol. 3, no. 4, 2002, pp. 267–77. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm782.

 

“Diabetes Insipidus and Diabetes Mellitus.” The Diabetic Voice.Com, www.the-diabetic-voice.com/diabetes-insipidus-and-diabetes-mellitus.html. Accessed 26 Apr. 2022.

 

Felman, Adam. “What’s to Know about Diabetes Insipidus?” Medical News Today, 7 Apr. 2022, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/183251.

 

“Glucose Regulation and Utilization in the Body.” Nutrition FN 225, media.lanecc.edu/users/powellt/FN225OER/Carbohydrates/FN225Carbohydrates5.html. Accessed 26 Apr. 2022.

 

“Insulin | Definition, Structure, and Function.” Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britanica.com/science/insulin.

 

Nelson, David. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 7th ed., W.H. Freeman, 2017.

 

Qureshi, Sana, et al. “Diabetes Insipidus: Celebrating a Century of Vasopressin Therapy.” Endocrinology, vol. 155, no. 12, 2014, pp. 4605–21. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2014-1385.

 

Tahrani, Abd A., et al. “Management of Type 2 Diabetes: New and Future Developments in Treatment.” The Lancet, vol. 378, no. 9786, 2011, pp. 182–97. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(11)60207-9.

 

Vasiljević, Jovana, et al. “The Making of Insulin in Health and Disease.” Diabetologia, vol. 63, no. 10, 2020, pp. 1981–89. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-020-05192-7.

 

“What Is Diabetes?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 Mar. 2022, www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html.

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November 15, 2022

Web-Based Games Recommendations

online games,web-based games,web-based online games,
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When at work or in school, there are times we feel bored and need some diversion to feel relaxed and refreshed. Having a sip of tea, a short snack, and playing online games are some of the few things we often do.

Speaking of online games, I came across the few games and tried to play it. Although the games are too simple yet, it still offers a form of relaxation from boredom. Some are also educational.

Here are the games I tried:

online games,web-based games,web-based online games,

This game is about windmills and solar panels to create energy.
online games,web-based games,web-based online games,

All you need to do is move the position of the solar pannel to avoid the rain fall. Furthermore, you also need to adjust the height of the windmill to catch the wind and move the propeller to producde energy.

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This game combines the entertainment and eductional purposes. All you need to do is to move the trash bin and collect all recycleable.
online games,web-based games,web-based online games,

Once you caught a non-recycleable items, you will be prompt that it is not part of the items you need to collect and will give few tips about the item.
online games,web-based games,web-based online games,

LEGO ethusiasts will enjoy this game.

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The main odjective of this game is to help Mayor Solomon Fleck estblish a LEGO City. Tax revenues from various buildings will be used to build other infrastructures.
online games,web-based games,web-based online games,

You can also earn coins by digging and by collecting LEGO pieces.
online games,web-based games,web-based online games,

This will also allows you to move to the next level or build another city once all of the needed LEGOs are completed.
online games,web-based games,web-based online games,

The above games are entirely made for kids and offered free online.

Though online games can be used as a form of relaxation, we must still set our limitations to prevent the addiction and may affect our productivity. Kids should be accompanied by elders too.
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November 13, 2022

Sugar Is Sweet, and So Are…a Few Other Things

sugars, sweets, health,health and beauty,#RoadToMSChemistry,MSChemistry, diabetes
Source

November is a set for the World Diabetes Awareness Month. When we speak of diabetes, we often refer it to sugars and sweets.

Before I will share my reaction paper in our Biochemistry class, let me share to you how does our body recognize the sweet taste in food and drinks. 

Sugar Is Sweet, and So Are…a Few Other Things

Johnny, Johnny (Yes, Papa)
Eating Sugar? (No, Papa)
Telling lies? (No, Papa)
Open your mouth (Ha, ha, ha)

Who knows this one of the famous nursery rhymes? Why does Johnny sneaks and eats sugar at an early age? What is with the sweet taste that seems kids cannot resist taste?

Sweetness, along with sour, bitter, salty, and umami, are the flavor developed in our taste buds (Nelson). As early as 9 weeks in the womb, babies start to develop tiny taste buds in their mouth and tongue. He can taste what the mother eats and recognize more sour and sweet tastes but prefers the latter. When he was born, babies' taste buds are sensitive and can differentiate between sweet and bitter but still prefers the sweet taste of breastmilk (Dubinsky).

How does our tongue recognize sweetness?
The tongue is equipped with taste buds, a group of taste cells that distinguish the basic flavors – sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. Upon activation of the taste cells, it releases neurotransmitters into afferent cranial nerve fibers to transmit the taste information into the brain.

The initial stimulus detection and selection are held by the taste receptors designated as Type 1 (T1R) and Type 2 (T2R). These taste receptors are part of the G protein-coupled receptors.

T1R heterodimers. T1R1 and T1R3 sub-units are responsible for the umami taste while the T1R2 and T1R3 sub-units are for the sweet taste. These are designated as Type 1 (T1R) and Type 2 (T2R), members of a large family of G protein-coupled receptors.

T1R1 and T1R3 sub-units are responsible for the umami flavor while the T1R2 and T1R3 sub-units are responsible for the sweet taste (Fernstrom, et al.).

sugars, sweets, health,health and beauty,#RoadToMSChemistry,MSChemistry, diabetes
Figure 1. A simple model of sweet taste receptors (T1R2 and T1R3 sub-units) with a huge aminoterminal domain (ATD). The two Venus flytrap (VFT) lobes separated by a large cleft is the reactive sites for the sweeteners to bind. The VFT domain is connected to a helical transmembrane domain (TMD) by a short cysteine-rich domain (CRD) (Laffitte, Anni, et al.).

There are several compounds to have a sweet taste.(Fernstrom, et al.). Aside from simple sugars (glucose, sucrose, and fructose), there are also sweet-tasting compounds. Some are harmless like the amino acids glycine, alanine, and serine. On the other hand, there are toxic substances like ethylene glycol and nitrobenzene (Nelson).

Sugar is also linked to weight gain. Some studies shows adults with strict sugar diets decrease their body weight while those without limit in food intake have an increase in weight. (Morenga et al.).

Because of this, artificial sweeteners started to develop which help in weigh-loss. These are harmless compounds, and have a sweet-tasting flavor but contain no calories (Nelson). A few examples of artificial sweeteners are acesulfame, aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin (“The Truth on Artificial Sweeteners”).

But how can we detect a sweet taste from the different artificial sweeteners?
Our taste bud receptor for sweets is composed of three binding sites: AH+, B-, and X. Site AH+ has the alcohol or amine forming a hydrogen bond with the carbonyl oxygen of the sweetener like the carboxylic acid group of the aspartame. Site B-, on the other hand, can bind to the positive atom of the sweetener such as the amine group while site X is capable of attaching to the benzene ring of aspartame (Nelson).   

sugars, sweets, health,health and beauty,#RoadToMSChemistry,MSChemistry, diabetes

Figure 2. Simple illustration of how Aspartame is recognized as sweet or bitter depending on its stereoisomer orientation.

Out taste buds are developed to sense sweet flavor as early as we are still in the womb and enhanced as we grow. However, not all sweet-tasting substances are edible, others are poisonous. Since sugar is a high-calorie compound, it can be a reason for weight gain when ingestion is not controlled. Artificial sweeteners give the same sweet taste with fewer calories provided they will have the correct orientation to fit with the receptors. Otherwise, the known sweet compound will give a bitter taste.

References:

Dubinsky, Dana. “Baby Sensory Development: Taste.” Babycenter, www.babycenter.com/baby/baby-development/baby-sensory-development-taste_10401107.Accessed 4 Apr. 2022.

 

Lee, Allen, and Chung Owyang. “Sugars, Sweet Taste Receptors, and Brain Responses.” Nutrients, vol. 9, no. 7, 2017, p. 653. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9070653.

 

Laffitte, Anni, et al. “Functional Roles of the Sweet Taste Receptor in Oral and Extraoral Tissues.” Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, vol. 17, no. 4, 2014, pp. 379–85. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1097/mco.0000000000000058.

 

Fernstrom, John D., et al. “Mechanisms for Sweetness.” The Journal of Nutrition, vol. 142, no. 6, 2012, pp. 1134S-1141S. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.111.149567.

 

Nelson, David. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 7th ed., W.H. Freeman, 2017.

 

Morenga, L. te, et al. “Dietary Sugars and Body Weight: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of Randomised Controlled Trials and Cohort Studies.” BMJ, vol. 346, no. jan15 3, 2012, p. e7492. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e7492.

“The Truth on Artificial Sweeteners.” WebMD, 2 Dec. 2002, www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/truth-artificial-sweeteners.

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