Ketorolac - Alexandra

When Hippos Are Upset, Their Sweat Turns Red

Interesting fact isn't it? Unfortunately this is not what will be discussed in this post. However now that I have your attention let me share some other interesting facts with you! So now that you know this is not about hippo sweat lets talk about the picture of the pills. These specific pills are called Ketorolac and they are used as a painkiller after surgeries. It is in the same family as Advil but much stronger. Ketorolac, when used properly can have wonderful effects. However when it is not used properly its side effects can include heart attack, stroke, ulcers and/or holes in the stomach and intestines, vomiting blood and kidney failure. It is never suppose to be taken for more then 5 days at a time. It can come in several different forms such as intravenously, orally (in pill form) or using eye drops. The plus side of using ketorolac is that it helps swelling to go down which can speed up the healing process after surgery. It is nonaddictive which makes it a better option then things like phentanyl  or dezocine and more likely for doctors to prescribe it. Ketorolac inhibits cylooxygenace 1 and cyloocygenace 2 (cox 1 and cox 2) which are pathways in the brain that make us feel pain. Inhibiting them means that the pain that we feel after a surgery cannot be conveyed to the brain and therefore feels like it doesn't hurt. It is very hard to find medications that block cox 2, but because this one can, people are able to feel much better much faster. An important part of healing after surgery is to get up and get moving as soon as possible. Thanks to this medicine, people are able to do that with as little pain as possible. Although it can have some pretty scary side effects, when used properly this medication can work like a charm. Now go find out why hippos sweat turns red when they are upset. You know you want to.

DEET The Real Truth

 http://www.thebumgun.com/how-to-understand-mosquitoes-to-keep-them-away/

We’ve all heard the story… DEET is dangerous! It causes seizures in children! A man by the name of Dr. Mercola heads “the world’s #1 Natural Health Website” and makes the statement, “if this chemical can kill mosquitoes, it can likely do some harm to other life forms too”¹. As it turns out though DEET is actually an insect repellent not an insecticide. It disrupts the mosquito’s ability to sense L-lactic acid, a component of human sweat that mosquitos use as a host-finding cue². DEET has also been shown to be quite safe; it is not an endocrine disruptor, and not a human carcinogen³. No adverse effects are detected when applied to pregnant women in the mother or fetus. The babies also displayed no differences in development or survival rate at birth and age one when compared to women who did not use DEET⁴. DEET is classified as a “low toxin” meaning it is relatively safe and requires very large dosages to cause adverse effects. In fact the dermal LD₅₀ (the amount applied to the skin that will kill 50% of the test subjects) in rabbits is 4280mg/kg⁴. So lets say humans have the same LD₅₀ value  (even though it is probably mush larger). An average woman would have to apply about 5.6 cans of the 230g insect repellent if they were 25% DEET. That is an awful lot of insect repellant! Dr. Mercola’s website suggests a few interesting alternatives to DEET, the best one in my opinion was, “staying indoors from dusk to dawn, the peak mosquito biting hours”¹. As it turns out there are actual alternatives: PMD from lemon eucalyptus (Corymbia citriodora) extract, citronella, neem, natural oils and emulsions, and essential oils⁵. Though the effectiveness of some of them is debated and they all need to be reapplied frequently. As long as applied as per instruction, not ingested, not sprayed in eyes, inhaled, applied to mucus membranes, or applied to wounds, acne or irritated skin then users are largely safe from dangerous side effects³.

Fun Facts? DEET was first developed by the U.S. Army in 1946 to protect military personnel in mosquito infested areas and was then registered for use by the general population in 1957⁴. There are ~400 chemical compounds on your skin that make you more or less attractive to mosquitoes. Things that make you more attractive include, having O type blood, being pregnant and drinking beer⁶!

References:

¹Mercola.com. (2016). The Dangers of DEET & How You Can Safely Repel Mosquitoes Instead.

             Retrieved Nov. 1, 2016, from https://www.mercola.com/article/pesticides/deet.htm

²Vertellus (2016). DEET fact sheet. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2016, from http://www.deet.com/

deetfacts.aspx

³National Institute of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2016). DEET. Retrieved from

https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/r?dbs+hsdb:@term+@rn+@rel+134-62-3 

⁴Jackson, D., Luukinen, B., Buhl, K. & Stone, D. (2008). DEET technical fact sheet. National

Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University Extension Services. Retrieved Nov. 1, 2016, from http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/archive/DEETtech.html#prop

⁵ Maia, M. F., & Moore, S. J. (2011). Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy,

development and testing. Malaria Journal, 10(Suppl 1), S11. http://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-10-S1-S11

⁶IFLScience. (2016). Why Mosquitoes seem to bite some people more. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2016,

from http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/why-mosquitoes-seem-bite-some-people-more/ 

Beta-Alanine: The Jittery Feeling

Bodybuilding.com Supplement Store: Protein, Creatine & More! http://ca.bodybuilding.com/store/?_requestid=648359 (accessed Nov 7, 2016).

Beta-alanine is a very popular ingredient in almost all pre-workout and energy supplement products.  But what is it about beta-alanine that makes it a very popular ingredient among these products?  Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid that is naturally produced in your body^1,5.  Alanine is one of the 20 amino acids, making it a constituent of protein^1,5.  Although beta-alanine has been around for whoever knows how long, it was only discovered over 100 years ago, crazy right⁶?  What’s even crazier is that beta-alanine wasn’t considered to be used in supplementation until recently⁶.  Beta-alanine occurs in two natural dipeptides, carnosine and anserine³.  These two peptides are found naturally in the muscle fibers of mammals³.  Interestingly enough, these two dipeptides can be found in most protein rich foods such as chicken, beef, pork and fish⁶.  Although we can get these two dipeptides from food, our body can also produce them.  This can happen through synthesis in the liver, or when L-alanine is converted, yielded beta-alanine as a by-product of this reaction⁶.  

Beta-alanine is used widely in supplements to enhance athletic and physical performance, and although there are no alternatives to beta-alanine, there are other supplements or compounds that can be taken in addition with beta-alanine to enhance effects².  Because beta-alanine is such a widely used supplement, that should raise questions about its safety and side effects right?  Well in fact, there are no known health risks that are dangerous to the human body.  The only side effect is a tingly sensation or itch that you feel under your skin shortly following ingestion, which is known as paresthesia⁴.  This feeling usually subsides 30 minutes’ post ingestion.  For someone who takes beta-alanine daily, I think it’s important in pre-workout supplements.  I also do not believe that beta-alanine supplementation is going away anytime soon, as long as the supplement industry is still kicking.  

References:

(1) BETA-ALANINE: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings - WebMD http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1222-beta-alanine.aspx?activeingredientid=1222 (accessed Nov 1, 2016).

(2) Alanine Information | Evidenced-Based Supplement Guide on MedicineNet.com http://www.medicinenet.com/alanine/supplements-vitamins.htm (accessed Nov 1, 2016).

(3) alanine | chemical compound https://www.britannica.com/science/alanine#ref63308 (accessed Nov 2, 2016).

(4) Lockwood, C. Your Expert Guide To Beta-Alanine http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/your-expert-guide-to-beta-alanine.html (accessed Nov 2, 2016).

(5) alanine - definition of alanine in English | Oxford Dictionaries https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/alanine (accessed Nov 6, 2016).

(6) Balcombe, S., Batheja, A., Manninen, A. Beta-Alanine: Science Meets Real World Results. http://www.beta-alanine.net/ (accessed November 6, 2016).

Glucosamine, the key to healthy joints?

Stress No More health and wellness.http://www.stressnomore.co.uk/pharma-nord-bio-glucosamine-with-msm-10363.html (accessed Nov. 11, 2016)

       Joint health is becoming more of an issue for us humans as we grow older. Approximately 25% of the population over the age of 55 with have knee pains [9]. Yikes.... A popular option out there is taking glucosamine as a supplement. Commonly use to help with osteoarthritis [2]. Glucosamine is sold in capsules, tablets, and as a liquid form. Glucosamine is synthesized from a substance called chitin from the shell of shrimp, crab and lobster [3][5]. Glucosamine is a substance found naturally in the human body, specifically in joints [4][8]. Glucosamine is also a building block for cartilage [3][5]. Since glucosamine is found in joints and it is the building block for cartilage it makes sense for it to improve joint health right? Oddly enough, there’s a good amount of study that show that glucosamine doesn’t significantly improve joint health [4]. On the contrary, the studies that have shown that glucosamine did help with joint health, showed that it took 6-8 weeks before any improvement were noticeable, mainly the reduction in pain [3].

      Right…. So does glucosamine help? It’s hard to say, this is a controversial topic. There’s evidence for both side of the argument. Another factor to consider is your health condition. Diabetics should be careful when taking glucosamine because at high amount it could affect your insulin levels and make your blood glucose level even higher, which could be dangerous [3]. Also, if you’re taking blood thinners glucosamine could amplify these effects and could increase in the risk of bleeding [3]. Other side effects are: drowsiness, headache, upset stomach [3]. Some more severe and rarer side effects are: abdominal pain, appetite loss, vomiting, heartburn, and diarrhea [3]. There are evidence that side effects were not significantly more severe compared to a placebo, showing that glucosamine is safe to take [7].

      As a supplement for joint health, I believe that it is worth a try (but no guarantee) if you aren’t diabetic or taking blood thinners because it is safe to take. Another alternative to consider is Vitamin D. There is scientific evidence that vitamin D may help slow down the breakdown of cartilage keeping your joints healthier [9].

Reference:
[1] O'Neil, M. J. The Merck Index, 14th; Merck Research Laboratories: NJ, USA, 2006

[2] Elizabeth Martin; Concise Medical Dictionary 9th ed.; Oxford University press: 2015 http://library.mtroyal.ca:2303/view/10.1093/acref/9780199687817.001.0001/acref-9780199687817-e-4079 (accessed November 3, 2016)

[3] Glucosamine. The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A guide to health and nutrition; Gale, 2013. Pg.519. http://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/galediets/glucosamine/0 (accessed November 3, 2016)

[4] Christian Nordqvist. What is Glucosamine?. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265748.php (accessed November 1, 2016)

[5] Mojarrad, J. S.; Nemati, M.; Valizadeh, H.; Ansarin, M.; Bourbour, S. Preparation of Glucosamine from Exoskeleton of Shrimp and predicting yield by response surface methodology. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2007, 55, 2246−2250.

[6] Chondroitin Sulfate, 2016. Medline Plus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/744.html (accessed November 1, 2016).

[7] Glucosamine 3416-24-8 BASIS OF NOMINATION TO THE CSWG https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/chem_background/exsumpdf/glucosamine_508.pdf (accessed Nov 1, 2016).

[8] PubChem Compound Database 2005. D-glucosamine. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/439213 (accessed Nov. 4, 2016).

[9] Ding, C; Cicuttini F; Parameswaran V; Burgess J; Quinn s; Jones G. Serum levels of vitamin D, sunlight exposure, and knee cartilage loss in older adults: The Tasmanian older adult cohort study. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2009, 60, Pages 1381–1389

Caffeine. The good, the bad, and the worse.

Do you ever wake up in the morning and feel like you can’t function without your morning cup of coffee? Do you get headaches, feel dizzy or agitated? [1] These feelings are all symptoms of having a lack of a chemical called caffeine in your body.  Caffeine has four nitrogen groups arranged in ring structure, making it an alkaloid structure. [2] The purpose of caffeine is to act as a vasodilator, meaning it increases the blood flow by making one’s arteries larger. [3] When blood flow increases, it brings oxygen all over you body making you feel better. [3] Another way caffeine works is by increasing alertness through a brain chemical called adenosine. [4] Caffeine acts like adenosine and blocks adenosine from doing its job. Because it blocks adenosine, more action is able to happen in your nervous system making you feel more awake. [4]

If caffeine is addictive, where does caffeine come form and why is it legal? Well caffeine is a natural plant product that comes from cocoa beans and herbal leaves. [4] Caffeine can be extracted from these plants through tones of machinery, then put in coffee, pops, and teas. [4]

This leaves the question how is it legal? Caffeine is compared to other drugs such as MDMA and cocaine because of stimulant effect is has. [5] On the other hand, Caffeine has a high toxicity tolerance and it would take 80-100 cups of coffees in order to kill someone. [5] Since it takes an insanely amount for someone to overdose on caffeine, people to are able enjoy it every day without any harmful effects, therefore its legal but still addictive.

If you are tired of feeling groggy in the morning and want to get over being dependent on caffeine there are other ways to feel like you have energy, such as vitamin B12 shots, or having ginseng. [6]

Bibliography

1.                  Caffeine: MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/caffeine.html (accessed Nov 12, 2016).

2.                 Caffeine. https://www.britannica.com/science/caffeine (accessed Nov 12, 2016). 

3.                 Echeverri, D.; Montes, F.; Cabrera, M.; Galán, A.; Prieto, A. Caffeine's Vascular Mechanisms of Action. International Journal of Vascular Medicine. [online] https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijvm/2010/834060/ (accessed Nov 12, 2016).

4.               Caffeine -- History, Chemical and Physical Properties and Effects http://www.scienceofcooking.com/caffeine.htm (accessed Nov 12, 2016).

5.               Caffeine. https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/Caffeine (accessed Nov 12, 2016).

6.               Natural Alternatives to Caffeine. http://www.livestrong.com/article/138624-natural-alternatives-caffeine/ (accessed Nov 13, 2016).

Windex - What About It?

Windex – What About It?

Windex is a common household cleaning product that is used to make windows squeaky clean and streak-free due to its qualities which give Windex its ability to dissolve substances (dirt) allowing them to combine. Windex is made of a solution of 2-hexoxyethanol, isopropanolamine, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, lauramine oxide, ammonium hydroxide, fragrance (perfumes), liquitint sky blue dye [3]. One of the most common window cleansing chemical in the mixture is ammonium hydroxide, otherwise known as ammonia diluted in water [1]. Ammonium hydroxide is one of the most common controversial chemicals used in households across Canada today.

[5]

Windex is a cleaner, so what’s the issue? Even though it is a phenomenal window cleaner, there is one major issue with it – it is not environmentally friendly. Ammonium hydroxide is composed of nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen bonded together. Due to these elements being bonded together, the compound now poses threats to humans, animals, and Earth’s ecological systems. The ways which it specifically is harmful are rooted in the following three concerns:

1.)    The fumes are toxic to inhale – humans, animals, and plants are poisoned by ammonium hydroxide fumes. A controversial issue surrounding this is known as “huffing” which is inhaling the fumes to get a high. Huffing ammonium hydroxide and/or Windex leads to permanent lung damage and temporary burns which can result in severe asthma, and even loss of consciousness [2] [3] [4].

2.)    The solution is toxic to consume – Humans, animals, and plants cannot consume this substance safely. Drinking ammonium hydroxide and/or Windex leads to extreme internal burns and injury to the digestive tract [2] [3] [4].

3.)    The solution is harmful to the environment after it breaks down - decomposes into nitrogen oxides and ammonia [2] which can lead to ground level ozone production, and other pollutants such as smog and acid rain.

What other options are there? Two natural cleansing agents are vinegar or baking soda. These can be mixed with water to create an environmentally friendly glass cleanser. The baking soda reacts with the vinegar which helps to remove the dirt just like ammonium hydroxide would. This simple replacement could save the planet from further damage caused by pollution. Go ahead; try this one at home with the help from an adult.

References:

1. Chemistry Learner. Ammonium Hydroxide. (2016) (http://www.chemistrylearner.com/ammonium-hydroxide.html)

2. Fisher Scientific. Ammonium Hydroxide Water Solution. Material Safety Data Sheet (2008)

3. Johnson & Son, S. C. Windex Original Glass Cleaner. A Family Company (2016) (http://www.whatsinsidescjohnson.com/us/en/brands/windex/windex-original-glass-cleaner)

4. Johnson & Son, S. C. Windex Ammonia-D. Material Safety Data Sheet (2009)

5. ROBINSON, G. Extreme window cleaning [online]. 2010. [Accessed 9 November 2016]. Available from: (http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3468902)