From Hunter's latest post, I learned all about the common uses of tryptophan. Tryptophan is most commonly known for its presence in turkey and it's drowsying characteristics. In the medical and chemical world, however, tryptophan has some practical uses: a cure for insomnia (through the use of a supplement) and a cure for endegenous depression. Tryptophan is toxic in high doses, but so are most things. Tryptophan has also been shown to cure migraine headaches and can be used to reduce appetite. Tryptophan is more easily absorbed by the body when taken on an empty stomach and with a carbohydrate such as fruit juice.

From reading Dr. Mase's informative post, I have learned about the effects of growth hormones injected into dairy and beef cows. The main hormone used to increase the productivity of these cows is called rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone) and has been found to be harmful for human consumption. rBGH is marketed under the name Posalic and was approved by the FDA in 1993 despite claims that its effects were not tested properly or sufficiently.

From Ev Cohen's insightful report on pasteurization I have learned of the benefits of this TUBULAR process. Pasteurization is the process of heating food/wine/beer to a temperature are which harmful microorganisms, which can spoil food and/or be harmful to the human body, are killed. Additionally, with our recent economical depression, pasteurization is the best thing possible for America, home of the brave.

Chemistry of Allergies and the Human Body

The term allergy has Greek roots, derived from allos meaning “other” and ergon meaning “reaction.” What we know as ‘allergies’ are actually considered to be a Type I Hypersensitivity. A Type I Hypersensitivity is caused by excessive activation of mast cells by the stimulus immunoglobulin E. The body’s response to this excessive activation is what causes symptoms ranging from watery eyes to sudden death.

The first real research done on allergies was in 1906 with Baron Clemens von Pirquet, a Viennese pediatrician. Clemens von Pirquet established basic knowledge about hypersensitivity, coined the term ‘allergy’, and noted common allergens. Since then, doctors have been researching how to prevent and treat allergies, as well as the chemistry behind them.

Most people are familiar with the common reactions to certain allergens. Allergic reactions can be local or systemic and obviously vary from allergen to allergen, and from person to person. Systemic reaction is called anaphylaxis and it is much more severe than local reactions, often resulting in hypertension, coma, or death.

I’ve included this diagram on the right from Wikipedia because I found it very helpful at quickly getting a general understanding of the biology involved. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is the antibody produced by the body once an allergen is introduced. Once the antibodies encounter the allergen again, they react triggering a bodily response. Immunoglobulin E does have a positive use in the body however: IgE has been observed to help the body resist diseases carried by parasites such as Lyme disease. (Interestingly, IgE has only been found in mammals to date)

Current allergy medications aim to treat the symptoms of common allergic reactions, but currently, chemists are working to stop the problem at the source by neutralizing IgE before it can react. Recent breakthroughs have allowed chemists to determine the structure of IgE (which is unlike other antibodies because of its long and bent shape) hopefully making it easier to develop a treatment.

Sources Cited:

"Chemistry - Allergy." Chemistry Daily. 28 Jan. 2008
http://www.chemistrydaily.com/chemistry/Allergy .

"Immunoglobulin E." Wikipedia. 28 Jan. 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IgE.

"What Function Does Immunoglobulin E Serve?" Scientific American 21 Oct. 1999. 28 Jan. 2008
http://www.sciam.com/health/article/id/what-function-does-immuno/topicID/12/catID/3.

Image url:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Mast_cells.jpg/220px-Mast_cells.jpg

That last post was my first Idea (drugs and the chemistry behind them)
Additionally, I could do:

• Allergies
• Anti-oxidants
• Film processing (for cameras and such)

See children, drugs are bad

"See children, drugs are bad,

and if you don't beleive me, ask your dad.

And if you don't beleive him, ask your mom,

she'll tell you how she does them all the time."

-The late, great Eminem

Heroin and Crystal Meth are poor for your health.

If you want to lead a healthy, long, vibrant, fertile life, don't do them. Not even once. They'll ruin your eyesight. Especially when consumed through certain body parts (hint: it's called 'bumming').

"Ecstacy is the worst drug in the world,

If anybody offers it to you- don't do it.

kids- two hits will probably drain all of your spinal fluid."

-The late, great Eminem

Just to be safe, you probably shouldn't do any drugs, let alone ecstacy. It's common sense children.

All of these drugs are chemicals that affect your mental and physical chemistry and you shouldn't do that to yourself because it's not what the good Lord and/or Jesus and/or (but not limited to) Buddha intended.

Alternatives to drugs include:

1. Coca Cola
2. Several cats
3. Constructing Model Rockets
4. Rapping
5. Christmas shopping
6. A healthy addiction to chemistry (particularly of the organic sort)
7. Collecting porcelain dolls (usually goes hand in hand with the 'several cats' option)
8. Blogging
9. Volunteering
10. Getting a job

LOL

I just wanted to post again to all of my loyal readers. I'm still sitting in the same place as the last post so not much has changed... I'm wearing new shoes lol. If Mase was a dog, he'd be a cat? LOLz!!~

Chem is for Squares (and Hunter-Gatherers)

Is there an issue? Would you like a tissue?

Take the bassline out... No? You don't have to.