Introduction
Biology mainly concentrates on the study of life and any other factors that affect it positively or negatively. The study of biology is further sub-divided into sections and the most important being genetics that studies the genetically composition and effects to human life. For instance, gigantism which is an abnormal growth caused by the excess hormone growth at childhood before the bone plates closes. Though gigantism is rare, it is caused due to some factors among them; Noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland, Neurofibromatosis, McCune-Albright Syndrome (MAS), Carney complex and Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1(MEN-1). This abnormal growth occurs mainly before the closure of the bone growth plate. In any case the growth hormone occurs after the normal growth has stopped then the condition is known as acromegaly (Gina Gould ‘et al’, 2004).
There are several symptoms that can be used to detect the condition. It leads to the growth of the child in muscles, height and organs and hence the child being larger or bigger than his or her age. Other symptoms include; irregular periods, release of breast milk, weakness, increased sweating, thickening of the facial features, large hands and feet with thick fingers and toes, headache, delayed puberty, frontal bossing and a prominent jaw and double vision or difficulty with side vision. There are also some signs and test that can validate gigantism. The tests are; increased Insulin Growth Factor-I (IGF-1) levels, CT or MRI scan of the head showing pituitary tumor, high prolactin levels and failure to suppress serum Growth Hormone (GH) levels after an oral glucose challenge (maximum 75g). Damage to the pituitary generally leads to low levels of other hormones among the...
... middle of paper ...
...he growth hormones only have minor side effects on the users. The anabolic steroids are addictive while the growth hormones are not. The anabolic steroids cause withdrawal symptoms and cravings while the growth hormones do not cause withdrawal symptoms and cravings (Health beat RX, 2011).
Reference List
Bruce Mac Fadden, Gina Gould, (2004). Gigantism, Dwarfism and Cope’s Rule: “Nothing in
Evolution Makes Sense Without a Phylogeny”. Retrieved from:
http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~wayner/Principles%20of%20Ecology%20course/island%20morphological%20adaptation.pdf
Health beat RX, (2011). The Differences between Steroids and Human Growth Hormone.
Retrieved From:
http://healthbeatrx.com/wp/the-differences-between-steroids-and-human-growth-hormone-hgh
Medical Discoveries, (2011). Hormone. Retrieved from:
http://www.discoveriesinmedicine.com/Enz-Ho/Hormone.html
ACHONDROPLASIA is known as being undersized, or less than 50in. in height. Having short limbs, a normal sized trunk, large head with a depressed nasal bridge and small face. This is a result of a disease in the thyroid gland. It can also be caused by Down syndrome or absorption, a cartilaginous tissue during the fetal stage. Hypochondroplasia, a mild form of dwarfism. Spinal tuberculosis and the deficiency of the pituitary gland secretions. Treatment with thyroxin or thyroid extract early in childhood results in normal growth and development. Somatrophin, also known as the human growth hormone is secreted by the anterior pituitary. Respiratory problems start to occur in infants. Symptoms of problems include snoring and sleeping with neck in a hyperextended condition. The limbs have rhizometic shortening. The legs are straight in infantry but when a child. He begins walking they develop a knock-knee position. When the child continues to walk legs begin to have a bowed-leg look. Occasionally, these curvatures are fixed. As the child continues to walk the kyphosis disappears and the back assumes a lordotic posture. If a delay in child’s walking occurs, the spine should be monitored closely for signs of gibbous formation. In infancy, hypercephalus can occur. Infants head circumference should be monitored close . Monthly checks of head circumference must be monitored. Radiologic studies are indicated if head circumference raises to disproportionately, or if symptoms of hydrocephalus. Child’s pediatrician should have a copy of head circumference curves for children with achondroplasia. Radiologic procedures for dwarfism include head ultrasound, C-T scan, or MRI of the head. If intervention is necessary, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is placed relieving the pressure. Infants should also be monitored for foramen magnum compression. It is the opening at the base of the skull in which the brain stem and cervical spinal cord exit. When you have achondroplasia the foramen magnum is compressing the brain stem and spinal cord. Symptoms of narrowing include apnea the cessation of breathing and cervical myleopathy. C-T scans and MRI scans are done to examine the size of the infectious foramen magnum. A neurosurgical procedure called a foramen magnum decompression is executed to alarge foramen and alleviate further symptoms. Adolescents are at risk of getting lumbosacral spinal stenosis. The lumber spinal cord or nerve roots become compressed producing nerosurgical symptoms. Initial symptoms including weakness, tingling, and pain of the legs. Pain usually alleviated by assuming a squatting position.
Acromegaly is a pituitary gland disorder that is an unusual and rare disease that comes from the hypersecretion of growth hormone during adulthood. It is rare in that acromegaly occurs in about 5 cases per million per year (Lugo 2011). Acromegaly if often labeled as a prolonged metabolic condition that is characterized by steady enlargement or elongation of facial bones and extremities (Thibodeau, 2013). This paper will explain the disease and how it affects the body, how one who has the disease might act and how to diagnose the disorder, and how to treat the disorder and ways for prevention of acromegaly.
There are less than three hundred cases of Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome in the world.(Asselin, 2014) The possibility of being born with it is obviously extremely small. Even though the possibility is small, the need to know about it and understand it is great. The people impacted by HGPS are merely children. They are innocent children with their lives cut short. All of this happens because of a small change in their genes.
Anabolic steroids have been heavily used amongst athletes since the 1950’s; the purpose of using is to add muscle mass, speed, strength, and endurance. Anabolic steroids come in two methods, injectable forms and oral forms. Oral and injectable steroids metabolize in the body differently. Oral steroids include some different hormones than injectable steroids. Oral steroids can include, but not limited to, methyl testosterone, fluoxymestrerone, and stonazolol. Injectable steroids can contain, but not limited to, Trenbolone acetate, testosterone propionate, and stanzolol. Surveys have been taken and have shown that 80-100 of bodybuilders, weightlifters, and professional athletes have used or are using steroids. As the doses of steroids grow larger and larger, it has said to increase aggression, fatigue loss, less libido, and mood changes.
To begin with, there are two main types of steroids: adrenal steroids and sex steroids. Because of the great therapeutic value of adrenal steroids, many synthetic steroids have been made; some more potent than the natural hormones. Synthetic steroids are anti-inflammatory drugs, oral contraceptives. A synthetic adrenal steroid is used to treat adrenal insufficiency. Anabolic steroids are also synthetic and they mimic the male hormone testosterone. Anabolic steroids are most often abused by athletes and can have serious side effects when taken improperly (Silverstein, p.14). The term "anabolic " means "to build tissue"; therefore, anabolic steroids tend to increase constructive me...
"Anabolic steroids is the familiar name for synthetic substances related to the male sex hormones (e.g., testosterone). They promote the growth of skeletal muscle (anabolic effects) and the development of male sexual characteristics (androgenic effects) in both males and females”(National Institute on Drug Base).First, the benefits of steroids are very obvious to see. The user gains strength, mass, and speed in a short amount of time. Also, the user has a more aggressive attitude, which is good for football players. However, there are more bad side effects than good. The side effects include hair loss, acne, liver damage, kidney damage, increased breast tissue and becoming very aggressive. These are just some of the horrible bad side effects by using steroids.
The human genome is a remarkable system composed of over 3 billion DNA base pairs that encode for the characteristics that makes people distinctly human and unique themselves. Without the genome’s nearly flawless ability to self-replicate the human species would cease to exist. As incredible as this replication methodology is, it is not without its faults. Genetic mutations, though rare and typically harmless, can strike at any time and in various ways. Still, when they do cause harm the effects can be profound and impossible to ignore. Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is an instance where the mutation of just one nucleotide has devastating results. The Mayo Clinic defines progeria as a progressive genetic disorder that causes children to age rapidly, beginning in their first two years of life. This study defines the disease of progeria by outlining symptoms and identifying causes that lead to its diagnosis. In addition, treatment methods and extensive research that give those affected by the disease hope for a brighter future are highlighted.
Testosterone is a naturally occurring hormone in our bodies. Anabolic or androgenic steroids are synthetic variants of testosterone (James 7). Testosterone is good for your body when produced at normal levels. In males, it helps promote protein-building, production of sperm. It also has metabolic effects on muscle, bone, and skin (Goldman 72). Anabolic steroid’s main purpose isn’t to gain muscle they are used as medicine. They help with types of anemia, a few types of breast cancers, endometriosis, osteoporosis, and hereditary angioedema (NIDA 2). But anabolic steroids are often taken at 10 to 100 times the natural levels by athletes looking to be their best (Yesalis xxv).
Pituitary dwarfism has no set cause. There are many factors that can cause it, including brain tumors or could be present at birth, but not passed through parent to child. Symptoms of pituitary dwarfism include an extremely slow growth rate, or a flat growth rate. They are shorter than most children of their age though correctly proportioned, an...
abnormally large head, distinct facial features, bulging forehead, upper jaw, cheekbones, and eye sockets grow less than the other parts of the face, and difficulty breathing.
Dwarfism, also known as achondroplasia, is a hereditary condition where the growth of long bones by the natural formation of the bone of cartilage is less advanced,which could result in very short limbs and sometimes Hemifacial Microsomia. This disorder, discovered by Dr. John Wasmuth in 1994, the scientists at the University of California at Irvine found the gene that causes the problem, achondroplasia, just six weeks after they began searching for it. The symptoms for this disorder are pressure on the brain and spinal cord, resulting in nerve and breathing problems, hydrocephalus, which is extra fluid in the brain,
Gigantism is a rare disease that seems to cause extreme growth of a person’s height, bones, muscles, and organs. It occurs when there is too much activity in the pituitary gland, creating a tumor. The tumor is typically large and it invades the brain tissue. Gigantism normally begins during early childhood and before a child’s bone growth plate closes. This disease is not very common and has only appeared in about 100 people throughout United States history.
Steroids increase the rate of protein synthesis within the cells. Athletes use anabolic steroids; Anabolic steroids resemble androgenic hormones such as testosterone (2). These steroids enhance weight gain, speed, power, and aggressiveness. The intake of anabolic steroids induces an increase in muscle size by both hypertrophy and the formation of new muscle fibers (1). Anabolic steroids have an androgenic and anabolic effects, which are essentially the male hormone testosterone. Androgenic eff...
There are many different types of dwarfism that researchers have confirmed today, but there still are many genes for dwarfism that remain unidentified.The most common of these known causes is achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder.The Little People Online website states that most dwarfs who suffer from achondroplasia are born to “average-size” parents, and that their birth rate is somewhere between onein26,000-40,000www.lpaonline.org).The main characteristics of this form of dwarfism are normal trunk size with short appendages, irregularly large heads wi...
Congenital hypothyroidism is the most common disorder identified by routine newborn screening. It is found in about 1:3000 screened infants (Dussault, 1993). The major clinical features of untreated congenital hypothyroidism are growth retardation and delayed cognitive development leading to mental deficiency.