The Wonderfully Whimsical World of Wox- I mean Toxins.

Before we start, I'd like to share a little verse with you.

     "The spacious, free life is from God,

          It's also protected and safe."

                                  - Psalm 37:39 (MSG)

The significance of this verse, I will share with you later, after you start fearing the world because of this post. (teehee. :p)

So where were we? Ah, yes... TOXINS! (cue the lightning and thunder.) But first! What ARE they?

     

     No, I don't mean Toxin "the band".

This band exists? Why haven't I heard of 'em?

     Nor do I mean Toxin "the villain".

    

Looks a lot like Venom from Spider Man, huh? Well, this guy's from the Avengers.

    The toxin I'm referring to actually relates to this next picture, more or less...

I hope you're not peeing in your pants now.

    

     Now definition-wise, toxins are actually poisonous substances produced naturally by a living organism. They can cause different types of diseases if you come in contact with them or absorb them. Here are some of the toxins produced by different plants and animals:

    Plant Toxins

     1) Phytohaemagglutinin

          - this is especially found in legumes (Ex: peas, beans, peanuts, etc.) It can have a lot of effects on the body but the most grave effect it can do is to agglutinate red blood cells. (clumping).

The agglutination/clumping of RBCs.

     2) Abrin

          - This toxin is found in the Rosemary Pea and works by inhibiting protein synthesis. Without these proteins, the cells will die. This is harmful to the human body because this IS fatal. This may be ingested, injected or even inhaled!

This seemingly harmless plant could lead to ...

Death... on a trike.

     3) Colchicine

          - this is found in the genus Colchicum (flowering plants. Ex: "Meadow Saffron"). Symptoms start to show 2 to 5 hours after the ingestion of the toxic dose. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, kidney failure, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and a burning in the mouth and throat. Then 24 to 72 hours later, organ failure may occur.

One of the symptoms to watch out for.

     And now it's off to...

          Animal Toxins

     1) Tetrodotoxin

          - also known as "Tetrodox", it works by blocking the action potentials/nerve impulses by binding to sodium channels used in the process. A dose of 25 mg. is enough to kill a 75-kg. person. Symptoms would include numbness in the lips and tongue for the first 20 minutes, then leading to headache, diarrhea, vomiting, increasing paralysis, increasing respiratory distress, dyspnea, hypotension, and may even lead to cardiac arrhythmia, mental impairment and convulsions. Death occurs within 4 to 6 hours.

Bloat, from Finding Nemo, ain't so cute anymore...

     2) Necrotoxins

          - These are toxins capable of "cell death". This is called Necrosis destroys all types of tissues. It travels through the bloodstream and affects mostly the skin and muscle tissue. The Brown Recluse Spider possesses this toxin.

Necrosis is nasty. 

Brown Recluse spider

     3) Hemotoxins

          - These are toxins capable of the destruction of red blood cells, disrupt the clotting of blood and damages tissue. This is frequently found in animals, mostly to the Pit Vipers (Ex: Timber Rattlesnake). Symptoms of a hemotoxin in your body would be nausea, disorientation and a headache for several hours. Death is slower compared to the neurotoxins.

Oh, headache. Shoo! I mean, WOOF!

   And there's the gist of some of the world's toxins from plants and animals. I know they're not much, but if I were to write down ALL the toxins in the world... well... would you even have the time to read 'em all? :) 

   I know this post wasn't very... reassuring or encouraging in any way. In fact, it's somewhat creepy and it makes the world seem like such a scary place. But HERE is where the verse comes in handy!

"The spacious, free life is from God,

          It's also protected and safe."

                                  - Psalm 37:39 (MSG)

GOD has assured us a protected and safe life. If we just trust Him enough to lift up our whole life to Him, then we can surely live in a world protected from evil, including these toxins from plants and animals. God is not a god to say this and take it back. No. If He says you will be protected and safe, then there is no reason for you to fear this world which has so many more good things to offer. Live life the way He intended it to be: Not secluded from the world, but to be free and included in the safety and protection of His love.

God bless you all and have a wonderful day :)

(Only by God's grace was I able to find all that I needed for this post.)

Info from:

- Wikipedia

Pictures from:

- http://www.bangonrecords.com/images/Toxin.jpg

-http://www.battleforhealth.com/Battle_for_Health/Agglutination_files/Agglutination-vs-zoom.jpg

- http://www.samruby.com/Series/Toxin/Large/Toxin1.JPG

- https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnwplGQkZoXFiWxpaR3Lq-E14JP-z7JIjq70CZ_CJVfVjCUBAY4cmQHnmtpn4DXqQlLdNCawI64en3Gr1JL0XZ7rg0SLw15eph0IcuSbfPsprzCS5ufW89wtJTEpKr-RlA-6heYPRyruD/s1600/death_rides_a_pale_trike_by_mjranum_stock.jpg

- http://www.xanthonecorp.com/_images/_ailments/diarrhea_01.jpg

An Ode From Posterior P. to Anterior P.

A picture of us, I keep.

My Dearest Adenohypophysis,


    
     Oh how I truly, wonderfully adore thee!
     My lovely, my partner, my better-half pituitary.


     Weary are the days since you've been gone.
     To be without spouse, I cannot go on!


     As I sit here alone, memories I reminisce.
     Moments with you, I unfeignedly miss...


     I recall a time you would release the GROWTH hormone,
     At your command, cells, tissues, organs, develop! Even bone.


     Recollect a time this woman of ours was with child,
     How you secreted PROLACTIN to make milk, how divine!


     Oh your distance distresses not only me,
     But so do our friends miss you terribly.


     Thyroid, before this, was all the time hardworking and unstressed,
     But without your THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE, now he only yearns to rest.


     Adrenal Cortex has also been down and asking lately,
     "Without her ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIC HORMONE, who will stimulate me?"


     Can you look back on the days our woman was a girl?
     We were thirteen years then, oh! What a whirl!


     Then you released gonadal hormones: LEUTENIZING and FOLLICLE-STIMULATING,
     And what once was a small child... Is now a lady.


     Because of you, her secondary sexual characteristics have come,
     Into a full-fledged woman, she has undoubtedly grown.


     We, but mostly I, miss you ever so much.
     To have you away longer, I cannot think of such.


     Come back, my love. Be on your way quick!
     For not only I but this body will get sick.


     So I wait for the day when you will be home,
     To have you by my side... You, I will never let go.

I wait for this day...

                                   Love, Neurohypophysis


Picture from:


- http://www.colorado.edu/intphys/Class/IPHY3430-200/image/figure1809.jpg
- http://human.freescience.org/images/wikimages/250px-Pituitary_gland.PNG

Dummy-fied definitions of Endocrinology, Toxicology & Drug Testing... For Dummies.

If you belong here, you're not the only one. ;)

Alright, I get it. You're probably wondering what all this is about. To make this clear, the thought of sharing my thoughts (redundant, much?) in cyberspace didn't just pop into my head out of nowhere. This is a requirement for a subject I'm taking. (Yes, this IS in the job description. So if you happen to be in the course I'm taking, well then heads-up, buddy. ;) ) So please don't expect to see any of my deepest, deadliest darkest, and most intimate (more like most embarrassing) sentiments here. But you can expect to learn a thing or two about Clinical Chemistry. Whether you have a doctorate on this subject or it's your first time to even hear of it, worry not! For I shall shed some LIGHT (and cue the angels singing the Hallelujah chorus) into this seemingly unexplainable subject with flare & humour, in a language that is understood by all: DUMMY.






So what  IS Endocrinology?


Well it absolutely has EVERYTHING to do with the Endocrine system. 

Endocrine on both sides.

The Endocrine system is this group of glands in charge of regulating your body functions by releasing hormones. 





Example:  testes= "gland" releases testosterone= "hormone" = which makes a man, A MAN ;)


So Endocrinology is deals with system's formation, growth and development, the specific hormones they release and the diseases they can acquire.






What about Toxicology?


No, this has NOTHING to do with a subject being extremely difficult in many ways, or the state of a student handling too many school requirements at once. 

To whomever made this pic: Bravo!

Ha! :)

Toxicology actually has something to do with toxin/poison. (poison apples not included... or are they? TUN-TUN-TUUUN). This study is concerned about the symptoms you acquire from it, how they affect the body, the detection of it and its treatment. (True love's first kiss does NOT count as a treatment... or does it? :p) 

Oh so that explains it. But what about Drug Testing?

First of all, a drug is a substance which alters what your body is supposed to normally do.

Starbucks, anyone?

Example: you (sleepy) +  caffeine (drug) = forcibly awakened :)

 Drug Testing is usually done by analyzing hair or any other bodily fluids (urine, blood, etc.) to detect prohibited/illegal drugs in the body. Examples of these prohibited drugs are steroids used while participating in a sports competition (HULK= GUILTY.), and ecstasy (Superman. Really, poeple? Ever wonder why his underwear's on the outside?)

"Don't make me angry. Oh no, steroids-a-comin'... RAWR!"

Underwearrrrr...

So that's pretty much it! I hope you guys enjoyed and understood my dummy-fied version. Come back again for another dummy-fied delight!



May God bless you! <3 

Pictures are from: 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonyjb63nCsM1LIKTPlOwZmuX_KvNa_VCMqKEW4hBj2uK3_a3nh0JdWrt_XXhp_LHwYDMKNzp3NNSGhoR1I8RND3CuMZiWwFQ0v5DPiNuRgP0dHqWXsDfIFLXTuiLO_8tiMC9iLw6JeI0/s1600/superman-standing.gif

http://seattlest.com/attachments/seattle_audrey/hulk.jpg

http://images.mylot.com/userImages/images/postphotos/1717413.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOq62mo7guynKy_m9pvqI8KgfJ6_DHYy8XOH5lZ1dDwWHKtgT1H301rt0LLoONXfUcyPkYe037sgHuB-ouzq6-oqVPcX4JQYlsnwkPeApGm84XshVp3qwdaSGr_YadcJT8kayYmBe6jU/s400/Kiss+Snow+White

http://howtobecomeaparamedic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/toxin.jpg

http://leiduffo.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/for_dummies.gif

http://www.web-books.com/eLibrary/Medicine/Physiology/Endocrine/endocrine_system.jpg

Info from:

Wikipedia

Own thoughts.