Endocrinology 


 Well , after our Professor told us to define terms like Endocrinology, Toxicology, and Drug Testing ( actually these were our major topics in our 1st semester in CC) by making our very own blog I was a bit excited and curious as well because this is my first time to make a blog and I don't know what the blog is compose of. Anyway let us define the first one, Endocrinology, after being a Medical Technology student for about three(3) years ( 4 years in counting) the first thing that comes out of my mind are hormones and the different glands that secretes them.


Therfore, Endocrinology is one field of Clinical Chemistry that is concerned with the study

physiological function of hormones and with the cells of the endocrine glands and tissues that secrete them.

Maybe you are wondering what are Endocrine glands? What glands are participating in this so called topic(Endocrine System).  Endocrine glands are glands of the Endocrine System that secretes their product (hormones) directly in the blood.

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The main Endocrine glands are as follows:

          -Pituitary gland

          - Pancreas

          - Ovaries

          - Testes

          - Thyroid gland

          - Adrenal gland

Now let us talk about the products of the Endocrine glands, Hormones. Hormones are chemical released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the organism. What are the effects of these hormones in our body upon secretion?

• stimulation or inhibition of growth
• mood swings
• induction or suppression of apoptosis (programmed cell death)
• activation or inhibition of the immune system.
• preparation of the body for a new phase of life, such as puberty, parenting, and menopause.
• control of the reproductive cycle.
• hunger cravings

For more understanding regarding this topic a site was linked before you, this includes the different Endocrine glands, their hormones they secretes, and the specific function of the hormones as well.

http://www.ivy-rose.co.uk/HumanBody/Endocrine/Endocrine_Glands.php


Toxicology

Ingestion of poisons and toxic substances from foods, plants, and elements was the first thing that came out of my mind when the term Toxicology is being mention. How did we get it, and What will be the cure or antidote will be the next question.

Toxicology came from the Greek word toxicon and logos. It is said to be the study of the adverse effects of different chemicals on living organisms.

'All substances are poisons - the difference is in the dose' - Paracelsus

The above aphorism illustrates that the potential for harm is widespread and all chemicals could be toxic but the degree of harm that a chemical can inflict on a human or any other living being depends on the dose or the degree of exposure as well as on other factors. For easier and simple understanding, the risk from a toxic hazard depends on the exposure.

How does the body handles poisons? ( this is termed Toxicokinetics), and Toxicodynamics which refers on
what poisons may do to the body.

A site was linked below to fully understand what Toxicology is all about. ( the body's defend mechanism against poison, what poisons may do to the body, and even its preventive measures.)

http://www.agius.com/hew/resource/toxicol.htm#intro

Drug Testing

Random Drug Testing in some schools are being implemented today, as well in workplaces and more importantly in some investigation purposes. Drug testing has many purposes why it is being perform, although I only sited some examples where it is being implemented this procedure is very much important in different aspects and situations where it is badly needed for identification and verification purposes.

Drug testing is the analysis of a specimen, biological specimen, to determine the presence or absence of drugs or their metabolites.

Some examples of drugs that are being tested are cocain, heroin, barbiturates, marijuana, shabu, etc. These drugs will surely have an effect, mostly psychological effects, that will physically harm you and other people as well. Major use of Drug Testing are to detect presence or absence of performance enhancing steroid commonly used in sports in or for drugs prohibited by laws.

WAKAS....=)