TEACHABLE MEDICAL NEWS

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Month: March 2020

In what possible way could chloroquine defeat the mighty COVID 19 disease?

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On March 21, 2020

In cellular basis of life, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 03202020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – receptor mediated endocytosis
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – fusion of endosome with lysosome
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – enzymes inside the lysosome require low pH
  4. microbiology – coronaviruses receptors on cell membranes
  5. microbiology – coronaviruses and their release into the cytoplasm

The news item:  A possible treatment of COVID 19 patients made the news recently:

Chloroquine, an old malaria drug, may help treat novel coronavirus, doctors say

According to early research, an old malaria drug called chloroquine might also work for the new coronavirus.

The article mentions the drug chloroquine, and that it blocks the attachment of the virus to cultured cells.  This latter point is inaccurate, so read on to find out the truth.

So, Why Do I Care??  Have you been living under a rock in the last two

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Can anyone be born without skin?

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On March 14, 2020

In cellular basis of life, chemical basis of life, integumentary system, tissues

TeachableMedicalNews article 03132020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life chapter – concept of one gene, one protein
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – gene mutation leading to protein  malfunction
  3. tissue chapter – junctional structures, hemidesmosomes
  4. integumentary system chapter – functions of epidermis

The news item:  Recently an article appeared about a newborn who was missing a good part of his skin:

Baby born without skin puzzles doctors, but mom says ‘we have faith, that’s all that matters’

Houston doctors are running tests to diagnose a baby born with most of his skin missing. Mom’s only been able to hold baby twice in three months.

The article mentioned the disorder epidermolysis bullosa, genetic testing for diagnosis, and the low frequency of this disorder.

So, Why Do I Care??  While the combination of the aplasia cutis and

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Can an ancient disease cancel a Phish concert?

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On March 5, 2020

In cellular basis of life, lymphatic and immune system

TeachableMedicalNews article 03052020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – endocytosis as cellular transport
  2. immune system chapter – phagocytosis by the cells of the innate immune system
  3. immune system chapter – activation of the B cells by macrophages in the adaptive immune system
  4. immune system chapter – antibodies speed up phagocytosis of invading microbes
  5. microbiology —  pathology of Yersinia pestis bacterium

The news item:  Recently the disease called plague was reported to disrupt camping and other preparation for a Phish concert in Denver:

Plague-ridden prairie dogs force cancellation of Phish camping event

This is probably not what Phish had in mind when they wrote their 1994 single, “Down with Disease.” Self-proclaimed “Phans” of the legendary jam band are singing the blues a…

The article mentioned that prairie dogs were infected with the plague, and there was concern that the plague would be passed on to concert goers.

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