BIOL121 ASSIGNMENT 3: Written assessment

BIOL121 ASSIGNMENT 3: Written assessment
Scenario — Elastigirl
Elastigirl is a 30-year-old female, who has presented to the antenatal clinic for a routine prenatal visit. She has generally felt very well throughout her pregnancy and exercised regularly but is starting to feel more and more tired as her pregnancy progresses. Elastigirl reports she has been suffering from severe headaches over the last week or so and has been taking paracetamol tablets to dull the pain. She also reports some discomfort in her upper abdomen after eating and drinking and swelling in her feet and ankles. Elastigirl is vegan and, although she considers her fluid and caloric intake to be adequate, admits that she probably isn’t careful enough when ensuring she eats enough high calcium foods.
A physical examination and urinalysis were conducted. Results below.
Physical examination:
Height 164 cm Weight 63 kg Appearance Clean, neat appearance, mild oedema in feet and ankles Pregnancy status 34 weeks pregnant Temperature 36.2 C Blood work Blood group: 0-Fasting blood glucose = 6 mmol/L BP 150/95 mm Hg Respiratory rate 22 bpm Diet Vegan, low calcium intake Past patient history Non-smoker. Regular check-ups during pregnancy. All previous screenings of blood, urine, and blood pressure within normal ranges. Exercises regularly. Social status Works as a customer assistant and lives with her husband and their daughter, Violet.
Urinalysis:
Blood
Bilirubin
Urobilinogen
0.4 mg/dL
Ketone
Protein
Nitrite
Glucose
pH
6.5
Specific Gravity
1.015
Leukocytes

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All topics and their key points listed below must be discussed in your essay
Topic 1: Reproduction (10 marks total)
A simple pregnancy test using Elastigirl’s urine helped to confirm her pregnancy. Which hormone is detected by a typical home pregnancy test? Discuss the role of this hormone in pregnancy. (5 marks)
Considering Elastigirl’s circumstances, describe the future role of oxytocin on uterine tissue during childbirth. (5 marks)
Topic 2: Respiratory system (5 marks total)
Describe the changes in volume and pressure that will be occurring in Elastigirl’s chest cavity to achieve inhalation while she is sitting in the examination room. Explain why these changes are occurring, and the effect upon airflow. (5 marks)
Topic 3: Digestion/metabolism (8 marks total)
Elastigirl enjoyed her favourite tofu scramble for breakfast today. Unfortunately, painful indigestion meant she had to promptly follow her meal with a couple of Mylanta® chewable tablets. Discuss how Mylanta® would affect digestion of the protein in Elastigirl’s meal. (4.5 marks)
State the hormone that will be MOST active in maintaining Elastigirl’s blood calcium levels if adequate calcium is not obtained from her diet. Explain your answer. (3.5 marks)
Topic 4: Pharmacology (7 marks total)
The antenatal nurse mentions to Elastigirl that the doctor might prescribe her Dithiazide tablets, which act as a diuretic.
Discuss the route of administration of Dithiazide, where the drug is likely to be absorbed after administration, and its likely bioavailability. Justify your response by discussing whether the drug would be subjected to hepatic first pass. (4 marks)
What effect will the thiazide have on other drugs that Elastigirl may take, such as paracetamol? In your answer, relate to the mechanism of action of thiazide. (3 marks)
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Topic 1: Reproduction

A simple pregnancy test using Elastigirl’s urine helped to confirm her pregnancy. Which hormone is detected by a typical home pregnancy test? Discuss the role of this hormone in pregnancy.

The hormone detected by a typical home pregnancy test is human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG is a hormone produced by the placenta after implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus. hCG levels increase rapidly during the first trimester of pregnancy, and then plateau until the end of the pregnancy. hCG has a number of important roles in pregnancy, including:

Maintaining the pregnancy by stimulating the production of progesterone by the corpus luteum.
Stimulating the growth of the placenta.
Stimulating the production of milk by the breasts.
Preventing the mother’s immune system from rejecting the fetus.

Considering Elastigirl’s circumstances, describe the future role of oxytocin on uterine tissue during childbirth.

Oxytocin is a hormone that is released from the pituitary gland during childbirth. It stimulates the contraction of the uterus, which helps to push the baby out of the womb. Oxytocin also helps to stimulate the production of milk by the breasts.

In Elastigirl’s case, oxytocin will play an important role in helping her to deliver her baby. Oxytocin will help to coordinate the contractions of her uterus, and it will also help to reduce the pain of childbirth.

Topic 2: Respiratory system

Describe the changes in volume and pressure that will be occurring in Elastigirl’s chest cavity to achieve inhalation while she is sitting in the examination room. Explain why these changes are occurring, and the effect upon airflow.

When Elastigirl inhales, her diaphragm contracts and moves downward. This increases the volume of her chest cavity, which decreases the pressure inside her lungs. This pressure difference causes air to flow into her lungs.

As Elastigirl exhales, her diaphragm relaxes and moves upward. This decreases the volume of her chest cavity, which increases the pressure inside her lungs. This pressure difference causes air to flow out of her lungs.

The changes in volume and pressure in Elastigirl’s chest cavity are caused by the contraction and relaxation of her diaphragm. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. When the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward and increases the volume of the chest cavity. This decreases the pressure inside the lungs, which causes air to flow into the lungs. When the diaphragm relaxes, it moves upward and decreases the volume of the chest cavity. This increases the pressure inside the lungs, which causes air to flow out of the lungs.

The changes in volume and pressure in Elastigirl’s chest cavity have a number of effects on airflow. First, they increase the amount of air that can be inhaled and exhaled. Second, they help to move air through the airways. Third, they help to regulate the temperature and humidity of the air that is inhaled.

Topic 3: Digestion/metabolism

Elastigirl enjoyed her favourite tofu scramble for breakfast today. Unfortunately, painful indigestion meant she had to promptly follow her meal with a couple of Mylanta® chewable tablets. Discuss how Mylanta® would affect digestion of the protein in Elastigirl’s meal.

Mylanta® is an antacid that contains calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide. These two substances work by neutralizing stomach acid. When Mylanta® is taken, it coats the lining of the stomach and prevents stomach acid from coming into contact with food. This can help to relieve indigestion and heartburn.

Mylanta® does not affect the digestion of protein in Elastigirl’s meal. However, it can help to reduce the amount of stomach acid that is produced. This can help to prevent the stomach acid from breaking down the protein in her meal before it can be digested.

State the hormone that will be MOST active in maintaining Elastigirl’s blood calcium levels if adequate calcium is not obtained from her diet. Explain your answer.

The hormone that will be MOST active in maintaining Elastigirl’s blood calcium levels if adequate calcium is not obtained from her diet is parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH is a hormone that is produced by the parathyroid glands. These glands are located in the neck. PTH helps to regulate the amount of calcium in the blood.

When Elastigirl does not get enough calcium from her diet, her blood calcium levels will decrease. This will cause the parathyroid glands to release more PTH. PTH will then help to increase the amount of calcium in the blood by stimulating the bones to release calcium into the blood and by increasing the absorption of calcium from the intestines.

Topic 4: Pharmacology

The antenatal nurse mentions to Elastigirl that the doctor might prescribe her Dithiazide tablets, which act as a diuretic Dithiazide is a thiazide diuretic. Thiazide diuretics work by blocking the reabsorption of sodium in the kidneys. This causes the body to lose more sodium and water through the urine. Dithiazide is used to treat high blood pressure, edema, and other conditions that are caused by fluid retention.

Dithiazide is typically taken by mouth once or twice a day. It is important to take dithiazide with food to reduce the risk of stomach upset. Dithiazide can cause a number of side effects, including:

Dizziness
Headache
Fatigue
Muscle cramps
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Constipation
Increased urination
Dry mouth
Blurred vision
Rash
Itching
Hives
Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat

If you experience any of these side effects, tell your doctor immediately. Dithiazide can also interact with other medications, so it is important to tell your doctor about all of the medications you are taking before taking dithiazide.

Dithiazide is a pregnancy category C medication. This means that it has not been studied in pregnant women and there is a risk that it could harm the fetus. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking dithiazide.

Dithiazide is a medication that should be used with caution. It is important to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking dithiazide before taking it.