Brain Degeneration

This post is specially for all the Ventures who went for the Malaysian Expedition and had one form of brain degeneration or other. Let me introduce to you to a Protista. Pronounce with me: Toxoplasma gondii.

Statistics show that half the world's population is infected with T. gondii. The protista originates from the guts of cats and is excreted in its urine. Just a breeze of wind is enough to transport hundreds of T. gondii into the respiratory and GI tract of the unsuspecting homosapien. And it is from there when the Brain Degeneration begins.

T. gondii, unlike most protista, is specific. It targets only one organelle.
















It targets the Astrocytes. (Really cool name if you think about it). Astrocytes are extremely important in the brain. Without the Astrocytes, the neurons will die. This is because of the important functions an astrocyte carries out. Astrocytes structure the brain, provide neurons with metabolic support, supplying the neurons with glucose. Astrocytes also have more complicated functions, which I will not explain in this entry. (An interesting function is vasomodulation and its role in the blood-brain barrier).

So without an astrocyte, the neurons will have a lack of nutrients and be destroyed. After that, everything is simple. Neurons die, deteriorating brain functions... Bingo. Brain degeneration.

But do not worry. It can be cured by Haloperidol, an antipsychotic.

Pictures taken from:
www-ermm.cbcu.cam.ac.uk/01002216h.htm
www.physoc.org/publications/.../article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=95

The Venture Rash

This is called The Venture Rash.

Almost half the Ventures came down with this rash during the expedition and were unable to complete it due to the pain and itchiness. Though the etiology was unknown, they went for an antihistamine jab... although I felt that it was quite a rash decision.

Interesting

Last year I mentioned about Pyrexia being a positive feedback symptom and cyclooxygenase being inhibited with the use of Paracetamol.

What really intrigues me is my current condition. I'm having a fever of about 38.6 degrees Celsius. An in-ear thermometer was used to measure my temperature. I was feeling bored (troubling neurological disease) and thus I inserted the thermometer into my other ear and took my temperature again.

Left ear: 38.6 degrees Celsius
Right ear: 37.9 degrees Celsius

I did this a few times and the results were the same! Interesting huh?
Does anyone know why?

Sensitive Women

Biologically speaking, I emphasize Biologically (in case some people do want to kill me because of my statement), women are more sensitive as compared to the other gender of homosapiens.

The average woman has 34 nerve endings per one centimetre square of facial skin, while the average man has only 17; half of what a woman actually has. Thus, women feel more pain when subjected to "painful" stimuli.

Thinking about it the other way... I just labelled men as insensitive.
Which is also biologically true.

Picture taken from: http://pixelhead.typepad.com/weblog/images/nerveendings.jpg