JOSE MARIA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE FOUNDATION

Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway, Sasa, Davao City

SECTION OF BIOCHEMISTRY
Clinical Oriented Session
Biosynthesis of Fatty Acids and Eicosanoids
Metabolism of Acylglycerol and sphingolipids

Aubrey Unique M. Evangelista

1. Illustrate or draw a diagram about the biosynthesis of long chain fatty acids
2. Illustrate or draw a diagram about the biosynthesis of eicosanoids (10pts)
3. Choose ONE of the Lipid storage disease illustrated at Table 24-1 page 579. (20pts)

a. Enzyme deficiency (5pts)

 Gaucher disease is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase/B-

glucosidase

b. Specific lipid storage disease (5ts)

Gaucher disease: most common of the lipid storage diseases

 It is an inherited disorder that affects many of the body's organs such as the accumulation
of harmful quantities of certain fats within the spleen ,liver, kidneys, lungs, brain and
bone marrow

c. Clinical signs/symptoms (5pts)

Type 1 (non neuropathic form): May be asymptomatic and begins early in life

 Bruise easily
 Fatigue
 Hepatomegaly
 Splenomegaly
 Brain not affected

Type 2 (acute infantile neuropathic): Begins within three months of birth.

 Poor ability to suck and swallow

 Abnormal eye movements
 Extensive and progressive brain damage
 Spasticity, Seizures and Limb rigidity
 Hepatomegaly and Splenomegaly

Type 3 (chronic neuropathic): Can begin at any time in child hood or even in adult hood but
milder neurologic symptoms as compared to type two.

 Respiratory problems
 Anemia
 Skeletal problems

d. Treatment (5pts)

 For type 1 and most type 3 patients, enzyme replacement treatment given
 Intravenously every two weeks can dramatically decrease liver and spleen size, reduce
skeletal abnormalities and other manifestations.
  Bone marrow transplantation cures the non neurological manifestations.
 Blood transfusion for anemia.
 Splenectomy (rarely )
 No effective treatment for brain damage.

Prognosis

 Type 1: May live well into adulthood.

 Type 2: Usually teen age die before age two.
 Type 3: Live to teen age.

4. Reflection: (10pts)

1. What were your realizations for the past months you have been studying Medicine?
For the past months of studying Medicine, I have appreciated even more the beauty of
God’s creation. Medicine has made me realize the importance of every single time we
have in a day like a single drop of water in a desert. It made me know myself better –
the capabilities that I haven’t discovered and were only uncovered by the time I
started studying this course. I have long way to go and much more to learn, and I am
ready and excited for whatever may come.
2. What were your limitations, strengths, weaknesses, problems and opportunities you
have observed?
Studying medicine is indeed challenging, and understanding it requires a lot of time
and effort. In the first phase, I find it a bit challenging to organize my time, but as
time goes by, I have learned how to manage smartly my schedule.
Perseverance and determination – those were the words that I believe helped me keep
on track apart from God’s guidance and wisdom. With these, I take it as my strength,
having a positive mind despite of the hardships. I can cope up easily since my love
for Medicine is greater than those trials.
3. In this pandemic, does online school help you cope up with Medicine?
In this pandemic, online school help me cope up with Medicine since it provides
information that I need to learn for me to grow equipped and reliable. Despite the
situation, I am still grateful that with the use of our technology, learning through
difficult times is still possible.