First-Aid Friday: Seizures

 To finish off the weekdays quite nicely, let's take a look at the types of seizures.

In fact, how about we elaborate on each throughout the week...

1. "Grand Mal"
2. Absence
3. Myoclonic
4. Clonic

- Geeker

Haemogram!

Don't forget to follow our Instagram!

@Haemobloggings

- Geeker

The Journey Through a Cell - Packaged and Ready to Go

 So we're back in the Golgi Apparatus, where lots of little things occur.

For us, a tiny little protein, visiting the Golgi Apparatus is an important part of our journey, where there are folds called "cisternae". Here, in the Golgi Apparatus, we are modified after entering the cis face and then packaged into little membranous sacs called vesicles, upon leaving the trans face.

[Source: http://www.buzzle.com]

These vesicles are perfect for storage and transport, and contain a single membrane with fluid inside.

Now we're all packaged comfortably into our vesicle, we'll journey again through the cytoskeleton

[Source: cellspd5spering.wikispaces.com]

We're all ready, but how do we escape the cell?

Stay tuned!

- Geeker

The Journey Through a Cell - It's Just the Beginning

Since I've been very busy with studies recently, I thought I'd show you some of my work.

So here's some A-Level Biology!

The Journey Through a Cell - It's Just the Beginning

 

We begin in the nucleus - where all our genetic information as chromatin (containing DNA and histones) is condensed into chromosomes. Inside here we've also got the nucleolus, which is responsible for making RNA molecules and ribosome. We've got a surrounding nuclear envelope, and small nuclear pores - allowing only certain molecules to pass in and out of the nucleus. So let's say we're an RNA molecule, after being made in the nucleolus we pass through the nuclear pores...

 

 Our next stop is at the endoplasmic reticulum, where there are two types:

• Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Now, you might be asking how tiny organelles can be "rough". Well, the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) is responsible for carbohydrate and lipid synthesis. However, the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) which is where we're heading, contains many ribosomes on its surface - making it rough.  These ribosomes are the main site for protein synthesis, so it turns our small RNA body into a protein.

After venturing through the SER, we hop into the tracks of the "Cytoskeleton" which is responsible for many different things. It's made up of three components:

• Microfilaments  - Contractile actin fibres which are responsible for cell contraction and cytokinesis
• Intermediate fibres - for strength and integrity of the cell
• Microtubules - (which is where we're heading) for not only a component in spindle fibres, but also "tracks" for transport of molecules within a cell. 

"Actin filaments are shown in red, and microtubules composed of beta tubulin are in green."

Now we travel down to the "golgi apparatus"

What happens next? Stay tuned for more!


- Geeker

Update and the News!

Hi Everyone,

Thought I'd make a quick update post on what's been happening recently! So, I just received my exam results, which I'm extremely happy about! Been doing some studying of this and that.

For now, have you read the article about the NHS's cuts?

"The BBC has seen draft sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) which propose ward closures, cuts in bed numbers and changes to A&E and GP care in 44 areas."

Read more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37186455

- Geeker

Work Experience Was Absolutely Amazing!

So I've been very busy recently; more specifically, with Work Experience!

It was absolutely amazing!

On Monday I got to observe some Neurology consultations, where the speciality is in dizziness, headaches, Parkinson's, MS, epilepsy, etc.

Then, for the afternoon I stayed with a doctor who works in dermatology. So we were reviewing skin complaints associated with skin cancer.

On Tuesday I was based in Rheumatology where I saw rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, Sjögren's syndrome, and polymyalgia rheumatica.

For the afternoon I was then based in the Day Care unit, where I witnessed endoscopies and colonoscopies. 

On Wednesday I was in the MS Clinic, but also saw a case of neuromyelitis optica and cases of strokes.

For the late afternoon, I was then based in endocrinology for the last half hour.

On Thursday I was in the Acute Medicine unit on Wards 1 and 2. This was where I witnessed cases of pneumonia, chest infections, bed sores, generalised stomach problems, etc.

For the afternoon, I went back to the day care unit to watch some OGDs, flexible sigmoidoscopies and other scopes.

On Friday (my last day, sadly), I was in Radiology. I was scrubbed up to watch an angiogram (cardiac catheter) and a pacemaker being changed in the Cath Lab. Then I watched an ultrasound, fluoroscopy and liver drainage.

 Finally, I went back to the Day Care unit to watch a bronchoscopy!

Overall, my experience was completely amazing. Aside from the fact that I was able to witness some absolutely incredible procedures, the actual patient care and communication was incredible. I was able to reflect on the effectiveness of teamwork, especially in MDTs, and the daily activities that doctor's carry out. Of course, I had a lot of contact with the nurses too, and it was nice to see how they work together. I've learnt to open my mind to the countless possibilities that medicine can offer, consider the key qualities that make a good doctor, to always listen, and to always be true to myself by striving for what I care about most.

- Geeker

Last Week's Answers 18!

 Secret Sunday

Brain nervous limbic system

Mash-Up Monday

 - K I A Z = Zika
- P A T E N C H E L I S I = Encephalitis
-  N A D G U A = Uganda
-  S I T M O O Q U = Mosquito
- R I V U S = Virus

- Geeker

- Geeker

Secret Sunday and First-Aid Friday

I thought I'd cover both Secret Sunday and First-Aid Friday in one post!

Here are some symptoms that the NHS has provided:

• tiredness and weakness
• feeling faint or dizzy
• a decrease in blood pressure
• a headache
• muscle cramps
• feeling and being sick
• heavy sweating
• intense thirst
• a fast pulse
• urinating less often and having much darker urine than usual 

 Any idea what this could be?


- Geeker

Wednesday Words: DNA Themed!

 Can you decode this genetic information of our first Wednesday Words since we're back!

This week (as you may have guessed), it's DNA themed

Let's look at four words to keep on the idea of the four bases!

Word number one:

"a unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring."

Word number two:

"a compound which is one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids. A purine derivative, it is paired with thymine in double-stranded DNA."

Word number three:

"the process of transcribing RNA, with existing DNA serving as a template, or vice versa" 

Word number four:

"forms the structural framework of nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA. " 

- Geeker

What is Immuno-Oncology?

,Something different today; let's talk about Immuno Oncology!

So, here we go!

Immuno Oncology

What is it?

Immuno oncology is the use of the immune system by stimulation or giving compounds to combat cancer.

How does it work?

There are two types of immunotherapy:

• Active Immunotherapy
• Passive Immunotherapy

Active Immunotherapy

Active Immunotherapy targets Tumour Associated Antigens which are found on the surface of cancer cells, by directing the immune system.

Passive Immunotherapy

Active Immunotherapy uses lymphocytes (a subtype of white blood cell), monoclonal antibodies (the fusion of a cell (I.e spleen cell from a mouse) with a cancer cell to form a hybridoma) and cytokines (small proteins)

The history of immunotherapy

Let's take a step back a second, and investigate how immunotherapy first began...

Edward Jenner who was alive during the 18th Century, was also alive during the time that smallpox was widespread.

herschelmuseum.org.uk

Jenner noticed that milkmaids who were subject to cowpox did not get smallpox afterwards. So, he took the puss from blisters on the hands of the milkmaids and injected them into a boy. For a short time, the boy got sick, but afterwards... the boy became immune to both cowpox and smallpox.

Jenner had created the first vaccine.

Assessing our methods 

Active Immunotherapy 

Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines

www.lungevity.org

Presents T-Cells (A type of lymphocyte) and B-Cells (Lymphocytes that specifically produce antibodies) to a TAA

 Adverse effects: may produce T-Cells that attack normal tissue

Cytokines

Tampers with the "lifestyle" of lymphocytes

Adverse effects: the cytokines may cause the lymphocytes to work on normal tissue

Passive Immunotherapy

Monoclonal Antibodies

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org

 When monoclonal antibodies are injected into the body, they target the TAA. Then, they perform four different things:

1. Identify the tumour for destruction
2. Affect the signalling of immune receptors
3. Cause the promotion of immune receptor degradation
4. Bring anti-cancer cells to the tumour cells

 Adverse effects: some non-malignant cells may be affected in the process by autoimmune responses

Cell Therapies

cellbiomedgroup.com

 T-cells are genetically modified and injected into the patient where they promote an immune response

Adverse effects: it may target normal cells if they have the same target antigens 

Mediators of T-cell activation

Builds up the autoimmne response by promoting activation of T-cells 

Adverse effects: Could affect the way the immune system works, promoting t-cells to target normal tissue
 

Hope you've learnt lots from this post! 

- Geeker