Group items tagged

UCSF Diabetes Center researchers explain the basics of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Faculty interviewed include Dr. Matthias Hebrok, Dr. Michael German, Dr. Suneil Koliwad, Dr. Stephen Gitelman.

UCSF Diabetes Center researchers explain the basics of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Faculty interviewed include Dr. Matthias Hebrok, Dr. Michael German, Dr. Suneil Koliwad, Dr. Stephen Gitelman.

In this interrupted case study, students will help Dr. Gupta investigate and assess complications arising in one of her long-term patients, Jorge Alvarez. Jorge was diagnosed with Type II diabetes mellitus 10 years ago as documented in "Living the Sweet Life," an optional prequel case study also in the NCCSTS collection. Jorge has been working with Dr. Gupta to manage his condition, but this year he has come under additional stress, both emotionally and financially, and his health has deteriorated. Jorge now presents with several new signs and symptoms, including numbness, tingling and burning sensations, and a foot sore that just won't heal. Students will review the nervous system and assess Jorge's symptoms, vitals, and blood tests to determine if his diabetes has worsened. Students will also learn about tests used to diagnose types of neuropathy and consider which of them would be most beneficial for Jorge. In addition to a non-majors anatomy and physiology course, this case study may be appropriate for an introductory biology, nutrition/dietetics, or a sensory and perception course.

This case study explores the topics of diffusion, osmosis, membrane transport, and the physiological significance of glucose and insulin in the human body. The story begins with a high school athlete, Timmy, who is incredibly efficient at metabolizing carbohydrates for energy; this is where the reader is introduced to normal carbohydrate digestion and metabolism for energy within skeletal muscle cells. As Timmy enters college, he withdraws from sports and physical activity but continues to consume massive amounts of highly soluble carbohydrates, resulting in insulin resistance and ultimately type II diabetes. Throughout the case students are prompted with conceptual questions and interactive figures that require the application and transfer of information they have been introduced to. Originally written for intermediate and advanced physiology courses that cover foundational and complex concepts in science, the case is also appropriate for courses in intermediate biology, nutritional sciences, animal sciences, and exercise sciences.

n this interrupted case study, students learn about the influence of early fetal nutritional conditions on the expression of genes related to metabolism and growth. Beginning with the true event of a food and fuel embargo that led to famine in the western Netherlands toward the end of World War II, students learn about the historical background of the Dutch Hunger Winter and its social impact. Using real data from the study conducted by Heijmans and coauthors (2008), students then compare the methylation level of a specific gene between individuals conceived during the famine and their unaffected siblings, and how changes in the expression of this metabolically important gene may impact the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Supported by other studies on mice and in humans, students conclude that in utero events may impact the health of individuals later in life through epigenetic mechanisms. The case is ideally suited for a molecular or cell biology course, but is also appropriate for an introductory biology course in which students have an understanding of descriptive statistics, interpretation of statistical test results, eukaryotic gene structure, and regulation of gene expression.