Drug Testing

Do you agree that drug testing should be done as a requirement for admission to schools? Why and why not?"

Drug abuse is a health issue for students and the proposed random drug testing as initial requirement for admission in schools is punitive, not preventive in nature. This random drug testing program will elevate the fears that drug testing, which is a major component of a comprehensive campaign against illegal drugs, would violate certain basic human rights of students. First of all, it’s discriminatory. Why are students as a group being singled out for testing? Does being in school make one more likely to be a drug user? Secondly, it’s an invasion of privacy. No one can be compelled to undergo testing without his or her consent. Law enforcement agencies implementing this program must respect the rights of the students/child, particularly those outlined by the United Nations, in the fight against drugs. To a great extent, I deeply expressed fears that in the absence of guidelines formulated in a democratic, consultative manner, this random drug testing focused on the youth of this land especially in the hands of overzealous law enforcement officers can potentially put the child’s human rights in danger of being violated.


Moreover, the government must be reminded that students generally are not adults and thus, parental consent is vital to any activity that infringe on the child’s right to privacy, because children are not ‘self-actualized adults’ that have deeper understanding of the parameters of their rights. It should be noted that the practicality of implementing random drug testing be abolished and instead I suggest that government funds available to address the drug menace be used to strengthen education campaigns in schools, enhance support systems for drug users in communities, or implement other “more child-friendly programs. Additionally, drug tests have even been used as a chance to profit by certain private schools that charge a drug test fee among their miscellaneous fees during enrollment.

The drug testing program as part of eligibility for admission has no effectiveness whatsoever, showing that drug tests among students of a particular school were not effective in curbing illegal drug use. It’s just a waste of money. They’re going after students instead of the big-time drug dealers and pushers.

picture:oipom

ANSWERS..

1. Transcribe CLIA

-Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA)

2. Transcribe RLU

- relative light units (RLU)


3-4. Give the advantages of CLIA over the conventional colorimetric method.
-economical alternative to conventional colorimetric methodologies, such as Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).
-does not require long incubations or the addition of stopping reagents, as is the case in some colorimetric assays

5. What is the labeled antibody used?
- horseradish peroxidase

6. Why is there a need of washing the solution?
-After a 60 minutes incubation at room temperature, the wells are washed 5 times by wash solution to remove unbound T4 conjugate


7-9. What is the relationship of emitted light to the amount of enzyme present and to the amount of unlabelled T4 in the sample?
-The intensity of the emitting light is proportional to the amount of enzyme present and is inversely related to the amount of unlabeled T4 in the sample.


10. What is the possible result if you fail to wash the solution?
- The wash procedure is critical. Insufficient washing will result in poor precision and falsely elevated absorbance readings

RELAXING QUIZ

1. Transcribe CLIA

2.Transcribe RLU

3-4. Give the advantages of CLIA over the conventional colorimetric
method.

5. What is the labeled antibody used?

6. Why is there a need of washing the solution?

7-9. What is the relationship of emitted light to the amount of enzyme present and to the amount of unlabelled T4 in the sample?

10. What is the possible result if you fail to wash the solution?


In your own words, how will you explain the principle of CLIA?

Chemiluminescent Immunoassay

Chemiluminescent Immunoassay

Immunoassay is a convenient and said to be the most reliable screening test to determine any presence of thyroid disorders in patient.

Recent study said that chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) has been shown to be more sensitive than of the conventional colorimetric method(s). One advantage of chemiluminescent is that there’s no need for long incubation or addition of stopping reagents, as in case of some colorimetric assays.nad in terms of methological advantages, Chemiluminescent immunoassays will play an important part in the diagnostic and research areas that ELISA can not do.

Chemiluminescent immunoassay involve the use of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labeled antibody or antigen and a mixture of chemiluminescent substrate, hydrogen peroxide, and enhancers. CLIA kits are intended to identify glow based chemiluminescent reactions.

http://www.salimetrics.com/assets/images/all-things-saliva/immuno-assay/immunoassay10.gi

Principle of the test

Amount of anti-T4 antibody, a measured amount of patient serum, and a constant amount of T4 conjugated with horseradish peroxidase are all added to the microtiter wells. In the incubation period, the anti-T4 antibody is bound to the second antibody, while the T4 and conjugated T4 compete for the left binding sites on the anti-T4 antibody.

After the incubation ( 1 Hour) at room temperature, the microtiter wells are washed five times by a washing solution. The purpose of washing is to remove the unbound T4 conjugate. And the washing procedure is said to be critical, why? Because insufficient washing will result in poor precision and falsely elevated absorbance reading. Then a certain solution of chemiluminescent substrate is being added and read the relative light units (RLU).

The result means that the intensity of the emitting light is directly proportional to the amount of enzyme present and is inversely proportional to the amount of unlabeled T4 in the patient’s sample.

http://www.biolsci.org/v03/p0274/ijbsv03p0274g02.jpg

Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009

Hey guys, check out my list of Influential Bloggers, who continue to inspire me as a new member in this blogosphere, and I would like them to win as the Top 10 Emerging Influential Bloggers for 2009. This is my own little way to show how I appreciate their works and also to give recognition to their magnificent minds.


1. Zorlone by Doc Zorlone
- Dr. Z is a poet, who inspires us to do our own compositions inorder to inspire others in our own little way. The poems are great, he can talk about everything through his poems, evreytime I read his poems I get connected and am deeply touched.

2. The Struggling Blogger by Roy dela Cruz
-His blog is very informative, he can actually talk about everything under the sun. Anyone can relate to his blog, try to visit his blog and for sure you will enjoy it.

3. JenaIsle of Jena Isle's Random Thoughts
Jena Isle's Random Thoughts talk about EVERYTHING. She loves to write in order to share some knowlege with her readers, besides being a good mentor who is always there to give her support and love.

4. Father Blogger dot com by Angel Cuala
-Wheh! he got his PROBLOGGER book.Congratulations Mr.Cuala.
His blog features different family matters that would be a great help for those readers having difficulties in family relationships.

5.Kelvinonian Ideas 2.0 by Kelvin Servigon

- Kelvin loves the world of technology and through photography he can express what he feels. Try to visit his blog and I can assure you that after reading and looking at his photos, a little smile of happiness will remain in your hearts.

6. Writing to exhale by Jan Geronimo

- Jan Geronimo's blog shows his passion and his love for writing. Through his "dynamite" articles, you can say that he has the passion to learn new things through blogging.

7. Tales form the Mom Side by Dee

- Her blog shows love and respect for women. I find her blog soooo interesting because of the topics she writes about. Try to visit her blog and for sure you will like it too.

8. A Walk in the Dark by Luke

-wheh!, the blog is extremely great, love the things he writes.
I think my vote for this blog is worth it.

9. It’s all a matter of Perspective: Mine by Holly Jahangiri
- I really love the topics she writes about. For me she is truly deserving to be one of these Top 10 Emerging Influential Bloggers.

10. I Love/Hate America by Bingkee
- Her blog is so cool, love the way she writes and expresses her feelings. She features different genre in her writtings.


The above mentioned blogs for me are all great, I do hope that all these deserving blogs will win. Good Luck!

This writing project will not be possible without the support of sponsors such as Absolute Traders, My Brute Cheats, Business Summaries, Fitness Advantage Club, Events and Corporate Video, Events at Work, Dominguez Marketing Communications, Red Mobile, Budget hotel in Makati, Lucio C. Tan Group of Companies, and Blog4Reviews.com.

a BEAUTIFUL butterfly

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leah8691/3708408407

a BEAUTIFUL butterfly

I am a butterfly who sits within your neck
Sharing my beauty to awaken your cells
Certain conditions will trigger me to evolve
Won’t produce hormones that would make you feel bad.

Awakening you in the midst of the night,
Soaked with sweat and palpating heart
I can break your sleep and make you feel depressed
My presence will be felt by every part of your being.

I may rest for a while, but don’t think I have forgotten you
I am simply sitting on my throne to spread my wings as

I escort you through your journey.
Other cells will try to conquer my fortress, and cause me great harm
But still the poison persists.

Thyrotoxicosis,( hyperthyroidism ), hypothyroidism-
terms used by doctors to a disease that I cause.
You can take a thyroid pill, but you can’t focus without them
Radioactive iodine would also be a great help.

Although my wings can be clipped,
Still I am a beautiful butterfly, you can’t live without.
So you better take care of me, and maintain a proper diet.

“Signs are easy to miss; testing is a good idea”

answers to quiz on thyroid hormones

1. What is the most important protein that helps in the binding of T4 and has a higher affinity for T4?

thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG)

2. It is the choice of test that aids in the evaluation of thyroid function and/or symptoms of hyper -or hypothyroidism. It is also used to evaluate a patient with goiter and aids in the diagnosis of female infertility.

TSH test

3. Method of choice for measuring T4 in the clinical laboratory.

Immunoassay

4. What is the reference value of T4?

10-26mg/dl

5. Give at least one label that is use in non-isotonic method for evaluating T4.

horseradish peroxidaes, alkaline phosphate and beta-L-galactosidase

6. Refers to an enlargement of the thyroid gland.

Goiter

7. It occurs if there’s an inhibition of the formation and release of thyroid hormone, and when the thyroid is exposed to rapid and large increases of iodine.

Wolff- Chaikoff effect

8.Example of a drug that serves as an antiarrhythmic drug that causes inhibition of T4 monodeiodination.

Amiodarone

9. It is a glycoprotein which serves as a performed matrix to which reactive iodine is attached to form residues of MIT, DIT, (T3) and (T4).

Thyroglobulin

10. It is a Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis that is said to be occasionally associated with an overactive thyroid state but more often results in hypothyroidism.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Case analysis:

A 56 year old female, is experiencing chronic fatigue, headache, weight gain, constipation, and milky discharge from the breasts. The doctor prescribed higher doses of drugs,what are the possible reasons for the higher dose?

The standard drug treatment for hypothyroidism is a daily dose of a synthetic thyroid hormone called levothyroxine. This drug helps normalize blood levels of T4, TSH, and a third thyroid hormone called triidothyronine(T3).

Many prescription medications can interact with levothyroxine and either increase or decrease its potency. (Be sure your doctor knows all medications you are currently taking.) Large amounts of dietary fiber can also interfere with levothyroxine treatment. People who eat high-fiber diets.

These hormones can also alter the actions of other hormones and drugs.

What other tests would you recommend?

thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)test for antithyroid antibodies and check your cholesterol levels. Based on these test results, the doctor will decide whether to prescribe