CPK enzyme ( Also known as creatine kinase and creatine phosphokinase) present in almost all the body tissues in different amounts. It is very abundant in muscle cells and brain. CPK enzyme is responsible for the interconversion of creatine and creatine phosphate while consuming ATP as the substrate. This enzyme has tissue specific isoforms and because of that it has a great therapeutic value. For an example skeletal muscle fibers have CPK-MM isoform of the CPK enzyme. Brain has CPK-BB isoform.
Myocardial cells have CPK-MB isoform. When there is an damage to the cells CPK enzyme which is usually present within the cells comes out and present in the plasma. In any normal human there is a basal level of this enzyme in the plasma due to the normal wear and tear of the cells. But in the disease condition this level rise to a higher value due to the tissue necrosis associated with that disease. For an example in a myocardial infarction CPK enzyme level in the blood rise to a very higher level. Since it has a cardiac specific isoform(CPK-MB) this can be used to detect myocardial cell damage. But it is necessary to keep in mind that the CPK enzyme level can be elevated in various diseases affecting the skeletal muscles also. Few years back this enzyme was widely used to to detect myocardial infarctions but in the recent years it's place has been replaced by Troponin-T (another cardiac specific protein)
CPK enzyme
Importance of plants
Importance of plants
Plants are important for human life in many ways. Without plants animal life on the planet earth would be almost impossible.
Importance of plants as a food source
Plants make up the largest proportion in our diet. Plants are much more important than the larger trees for this purpose since in many countries the staple diet comes from rice or wheat.
Importance of plants to maintain the balance in the echo-system
Plants are really necessary to maintain the balance in the echo-system. For an instance plants are necessary to cycle C on the planet. CO2 in the air taken in to the plants and stored in the carbohydrates. In the present time human activities have reduced the amount of plants on the planet. So all the cycles are now changing. Because of this now the humans feel the importance of plants more and more.
Importance of plants in medicine
Plant extracts contain many chemical compounds which are biologically active within the human body. For centuries humans have used plants and plant extracts to treat various disease conditions and more recently to produce new drugs. Still most of the plants carry a large number of unidentified compounds which can be really useful of making new drugs and for the identification of lead compounds. This can be very important in making new treatments available to diseases like AIDS.
How does Codeine cause constipation
Codeine, a closely related substance to morphine (so codeine is also an opioid) converted in the body to morphine. Codeine is readily absorbed by mouth and it does not have the dependent effect of morphine. But since it is converted in the body to morphine it can cause various gastro-intestinal symptoms. So codeine increases the tone and reduces the motility of many parts of the gastro intestinal tract. 
This can delay the gastric emptying and considerably reduces the absorption of the other drugs. It can also increase the pressure in the biliary system since it increases the contraction of the gallbladder and increase the tone of the biliary sphincter. So codeine should be avoided in patients with biliary colic caused by gallstones. This action on gastro intestinal smooth muscles can cause severe constipation in some patients and it can be very troublesome to them.
AST test and AST enzyme test
AST test and AST enzyme test
AST enzyme is also known as aspartate aminotransferase. It is primarily a mitochondrial enzyme and present in heart, muscle, kidney, Liver and brain.
When there is a damage to one of these organs AST enzyme leaks into the blood stream and AST level in the blood is elevated. AST test is a diagnostic test which uses this leaked enzyme. During the AST test or AST enzyme test blood levels of AST enzyme is measured. Blood level of AST enzyme is commonly elevated in hepatic necrosis, Myocardial infarction Congestive cardiac failure.How does paracetamol / acetaminophen relieve pain?
How does paracetamol / acetaminophen relieve pain?
Free nerve endings are responsible for the perception of pain. There are some chemical mediators of pain like bradykinin which stimulate free nerve endings and causes pain sensation. Drugs like paracetamol / acetaminophen are called NSAID s or Non Steroid Anti Inflammatory Drugs. These drugs inhibit a class of enzymes called COX ( cycloxygenase ) There are three types of cycloxygnase. COX-1, COX-2 and COX-3. COX is responsible for the synthesis of prostaglandins in various parts of the body. Prostatglandin sensitize free nerve endings to chemical mediators of pain So when the prostaglandin production decreased pain sensation decreases. Paracetamol also known to be a selective inhibitor of COX-3.
How does diabetes cause ulcers?
How does diabetes cause ulcers?
This question might be in the head of many diabetic patients. Actually diabetes predispose the patient for ulcers. But it does not directly cause ulcers.
You may know that the diabetes cause damage to the peripheral nerves of the patient. Not only diabetes but also alcohol causes this type of damage. This condition is called diabetic or alcoholic peripheral neuritis. Other less significant conditions are tabes dorsalis and syringomyelia.
When peripheral neuritis is present the patient develops glove and stoking type sensory loss. So their peripheries become insensitive to pain and pressure. When one of repeated injury allowed to occur because of lack of appreciation of pain in the area causes trauma and ulcers. These are called neuropathic or trophic ulcers.
Since diabetes also causes vasculitis poor blood supply to these wounds cause delayed healing and sometimes get complicated with bacterial infections.
CPK enzymes
There are different isoforms of CPK enzyme. These isoforms are known as CPK enzymes. Those are CPK-BB (Which is present in the brain cells) CPK-MM (Present in the skeletal muscles) CPK-MB (Present in the myocardial cells) Isolation of these different CPK enzymes ( isoforms) provide a significant therapeutic value. 
For an example in a myocardial infarction the blood level of CPK-MB is elevated. In an injury to skeletal muscles the blood level of CPK-MM is elevated. So the plasma level of CPK enzymes can be used to diagnose various diseases. This provides a great therapeutic tool for the doctors to uphold the health of the patient.
Complications of gall bladder removal / Complications of cholecystectomy
Complications of gall bladder removal / Complications of cholecystectomy
cholecystectomy is a very safe surgical procedure compared to the other operations and it a mortality rate less than 1%. Common cholecystectomy complications include wound haematoma, sepsis and collection of bile or pus in the sub hepatic space. In such collections it may be necessary to drain the collecting fluid by a percutaneous drainage.
More serious complications of cholecystectomy include bile leakage and main bile duct strictures.
Bile leaks
Bile leaks may occur from the open surface of the liver. These leaks very quickly dry off. But more profuse leakage can occur from slipped cystic duct ligature or an injury to the right or common hepatic duct. Occasionally substantial Bile leaks can occur following T-tube removal.
Treatments for bile leaks.
Re-operation or percutaneous drainage.
Bile duct narrowing / Bile duct stricture
this follows a accidental ligature or transection of the duct that has been inexpertly repaired. Patient with this condition may develop post-operative jaundice. This condition can progress to secondary biliary cirrhosis and portal hypertension.
Treatments for Bile duct narrowing / Bile duct stricture
Repair using a roux loop by an expert surgeon.
Ayurvedic treatment for juvenile diabetes / Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Even though the only treatment available in western medicine for Type 1 juvenile diabetes is insulin injection the Ayurvedic medicine has many different and successful methods to treat type 1 diabetes. Dr. H.M Senadeera (B.A., M. Phil) an Ayurvedic paediatrician in Sri Lanka with another western paediatrician have conducted several controlled studies to determine the effectiveness of a traditional Ayurvedic drug which has been used for many years by Ayurvedic paediatricians to treat Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Surprisingly they found the drug they tested is capable of elevating the serum insulin level in juvenile diabetes / Type 1 diabetes mellitus patients. According to Dr. H.M Senadeera this drug could be a very effective treatment for Type 1 diabetes mellitus. But further studies are needed to be done in this field.
Complications of fairness creams
Complications of fairness creams
around the world tremendous amount of fairness creams are produced under different trade names. With the current trend many people tend to use these products irrespective of their sex. But the fairness effect does not come alone. fairness creams do have other complications.
Before we talk about the Complications of fairness creams lets look at the common ingredients of fairness creams.
Hydroquinone
Kojic acid
retinoic acid
Plant extracts
Steroids
mercury salts
Bismuth subnitrate
Hydrogen peroxide
Magnesium peroxide
Zinc peroxide.
Vitamin B3 (niacinamide)
Mixture of US FDA- and EU-approved UV-A and UV-B sunscreens.
Ayurvedic herbs
From this long list chemicals more often associated with complications are Hydroquinone, retinoic acid, Steroids and mercury salts.
Now lets take one by one,
Hydroquinone,
Hydroquinone is a competitive inhibitor of the chemical pathway which proces melanin. This is very effective in whitening but it can give rise to various local and systemic allergies. In some online sources it said the the allergic complications can extend to a life threatening anaphylaxis. Normal fairness creams contain Hydroquinone less than 1%. But there are whitening lotions which are serving theaputic needs which contain hydroquinone 4%. Not only that Hydroquinone sensitize the skin to UV rays and can cause sun burns and photo sensitivity. This is a serious complication of Hydroquinone.
Retinoic acid
This is a vitamin A derivative which promotes cell differentiation. Topical application of this is relatively safe. But Retinoic acid is teratogenic in humans at very low doses. So exposure to Retinoic acid in first 3-5 weeks of pregnancy can cause various complicated fetal malformations.