Whiff of Danger!

Whiff of Danger!

Vocabulary

Toxicology- a branch of science concerned with poisons
Efflux Pumps- cellular pumps that get hazardous things out of cells
Extrapolate- extend the application of to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will be applicable

This article about cells shows an interesting new study on how cells get rid of chemicals inside of them. They studied the effect on mollusk cell coming in contact with chemicals, such as artificial fragrances. The study is not accurate because the study was conducted on dead mollusk cells. The study showed that the efflux pumps are constantly pumping unwanted material out of the cell. Other studies have determined that the chemicals sometimes linger for up to 24 hours in the cell, although the chemicals are constantly being pumped out.

This article is very interesting because it is about something that is new and very harmful to the cell. I am hoping to hear more about this in the future and possibly know more about the cell through these studies. It is very interesting to learn something new about the cell.

It's not easy being Blue

Feeling Blue over Skin Color

argyria- is a condition caused by the ingestion of elemental silver, silver dust or silver compounds.

colloidal silver- is a liquid suspension of microscopic particles of silver.

dermabrasion- the removal of superficial layers of skin with a rapidly revolving abrasive tool, as a technique in cosmetic surgery

This article is about a treatment subscribed to many people called colloidal silver. The treatment worked well but whether or not the side effects are worth it is up to them. Many people like Paul Karason took colloidal silver for everyday ailments like arthritis. Everything went fine until he started turning blue. He had a rare disease called argyria that is caused by the consumption of colloidal silver. Karason started taking the supplement about 10 years ago when he saw it in a magazine ad. He ordered the kit to make it and was drinking almost 10 ounces a day. However, his skin didn't change, but his health did. All the medical problems he was having simply went away. He thought he had found a miracle cure. In another case of argyria, a woman, Rosemary Jacobs, was prescribed the supplement as a cure for a common cold when she was 11. Jacobs took this for 3 years. She was facially disfigured as a teen so it was hard to get jobs, apartments, and dates. She tried everything, even dermabrasion and because of it went from solid gray to spotted gray. She now lives alone in a rural community. Unlike Jacobs, Karason found a person that he fell in love with. He now is happily married and still takes colloidal silver once a month. There is no known cure for argyria

I think this story is very interesting. My reasoning is that it is fascinating how something that was supposed to be so benificial has so many horrible side effects. It is also awesome to find out how this happened to these people and their reactions to the effects.

The Real Bionic Woman

Claudia Mitchell is a woman that after a tragic motorcycle crash and attempts by doctors lost her left arm up to the shoulder, meaning she was not able to control her prosthetic arm. She had surgery done to reinnervate her arm so that she could control it. During the surgery they put her severed sensory nerves and motor nerves in her chest so that she could control her arm and feel touch and temperature in her missing arm.

My opinion of this story is that it is a very interesting story. I think it could be used for future progress and advances in the medical field. I think that people should make this a bigger thing and support it. It is awesome to live in a generation that can make medical advances like these. I am looking forward to seeing more progress in the medical field.