Technical info

[Guest guest]

Here's a site for those who are interested in biochemical processes. There's a

couple of interesting articles on the mechanisms of diabetes. Apologies if

someone has already posted this.

Craig Weavers

http://www.med.monash.edu.au/biochem/thcme/home.html

[Guest guest]

> Here's a site for those who are interested

> in biochemical processes.

Can you understand that stuff, Craig? I get the impression that we

would have to have done at least third-year organic chemistry before

even starting on that medical biochemistry course.

At least I finally see why it is so hard to find an easy-to-

understand description of the human metabolism that makes sense - we

would have to start at the beginning and that would, and does, take

years.

We often talk on this list about " carbohydrates " quite confidently as

if we knew what they are but I could not even understand the opening

sentence about them:

" The predominant carbohydrates encountered in the body are

structurally related to the aldotriose glyceraldehyde and to the

ketotriose dihydroxyacetone. All carbohydrates contain at least one

asymmetrical (chiral) carbon and are, therefore, optically active. In

addition, carbohydrates can exist in either of two conformations, as

determined by the orientation of the hydroxyl group about the

asymmetric carbon farthest from the carbonyl. With a few exceptions,

those carbohydrates that are of physiological significance exist in

the D-conformation. The mirror image conformations, called

enantiomers, are in the L-conformation. "

I cannot imagine what an " optically active " carbohydrate is. Does

that mean that they can actually see us or that they light up in the

dark? When people talk about " low-carb " do they mean that they

restrict only the D-conformation carbohydrates but eat as much of the

enantiomers, the L-conformation carbohydrates, as they like or do

they like to keep those low too?

I am not trying to be funny, Craig, I am just trying to show you how

much it distresses me to realize how very little I understand about

even the most basic aspect of diabetes.

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Craig Weavers, for that page with all the links to info on

biochemical processes. That looks like a good reference source when we get

some head-scratchers.

Susie

[Guest guest]

Re: Technical info

> Here's a site for those who are interested

> in biochemical processes.

Can you understand that stuff, Craig? I get the impression that we

would have to have done at least third-year organic chemistry before

even starting on that medical biochemistry course.

,

I'm the last one to admit extensive knowledge of things related to

biochemistry.

I have however, had my head buried in some medical textbooks, including

pharmocology,neurology,physiology and chemistry over the years with the main

purpose of assisting my wife who suffers form severe epilepsy. The big words

when read in context, from a number of different sources (usually) eventually

become meaningful, if you read for long enough ( i'm certain from reading some

of your previous posts that you do!) - those that don't you just have to look

up.

At least I finally see why it is so hard to find an easy-to-

understand description of the human metabolism that makes sense - we

would have to start at the beginning and that would, and does, take

years.

I couldn't agree more.As you well know, most scientific and other circles of

academia have the " code " words to either define more accurately what they are

discussing or to preclude the " unlearned " from being easily privy to their

studiously acquired knowledge, or both!

We often talk on this list about " carbohydrates " quite confidently as

if we knew what they are but I could not even understand the opening

sentence about them:

" The predominant carbohydrates encountered in the body are

structurally related to the aldotriose glyceraldehyde and to the

ketotriose dihydroxyacetone. All carbohydrates contain at least one

asymmetrical (chiral) carbon and are, therefore, optically active. In

addition, carbohydrates can exist in either of two conformations, as

determined by the orientation of the hydroxyl group about the

asymmetric carbon farthest from the carbonyl. With a few exceptions,

those carbohydrates that are of physiological significance exist in

the D-conformation. The mirror image conformations, called

enantiomers, are in the L-conformation. "

I cannot imagine what an " optically active " carbohydrate is.

Try:-

http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/quantum/faq/optical-activity.shtml

Does

that mean that they can actually see us or that they light up in the

dark? When people talk about " low-carb " do they mean that they

restrict only the D-conformation carbohydrates but eat as much of the

enantiomers, the L-conformation carbohydrates, as they like or do

they like to keep those low too?

I am not trying to be funny,

Surely , the above paragraph was meant to be just slightly " tongue in

cheek " ??

Craig, I am just trying to show you how

much it distresses me to realize how very little I understand about

even the most basic aspect of diabetes.

You're certainly not on your own here ... I would 100% like to have

greater understanding of this condition that has so much influence over our

lives. It is fortunate that we have access to those more learned than ourselves

through forums such as this list. My main purpose in posting this was as a

reference for those who have the technical knowledge to utilize the information.

If we knew the answers to everything universities and colleges would possibly

become obsolete.

I'm still a little worried about the possibility of those carbohydrates

watching us - perhaps we should be watching them!

Craig Weavers ( in sunny and hot New South Wales, Australia)

eGroups Sponsor

Public website for Diabetes International:

http://www.msteri.com/diabetes-info/diabetes_int

Post message: diabetes_integroups

Subscribe: diabetes_int-subscribeegroups

Unsubscribe: diabetes_int-unsubscribeegroups

List owner: diabetes_int-owneregroups

URL: /group/diabetes_int

[Guest guest]

>> Does

that mean that they can actually see us or that they light up in the

dark? When people talk about " low-carb " do they mean that they

restrict only the D-conformation carbohydrates but eat as much of the

enantiomers, the L-conformation carbohydrates, as they like or do

they like to keep those low too?>>

****NOthing better than a littly techy humor. Great giggle!

Barb

--------

http://www.RainbowFarm.com

Equine photography

http://www.RainbowFarm.com/photos.html

[Guest guest]

> I have however, had my head buried in some medical

> textbooks, including pharmocology,neurology,physiology

> and chemistry over the years ...

You seem to have been neglecting hemotology, pathophysiology,

and a number of other fascinating aspects. Have you noticed that all

the really interesting and useful textbooks each cost at least as

much as you would spend on food for a week?

> As you well know, most scientific and other

> circles of academia have the " code " words to

> either define more accurately what they are

> discussing ....

Yes, because each big word, if fully explained, can provide enough

material to fill another book!

> ... or to preclude the " unlearned " from being easily

> privy to their studiously acquired knowledge, or both!

OK, and I think I know why they do that. I have read in some of the

Letter's to the Editor in an internist's trade journal that one of

the big wasters of internist's time is the set of patients known as

the " worried well " . They have just read another sensation

journalist's article about some rare medical condition and want to

make sure that they or their offspring don't have it already.

> I cannot imagine what an " optically active "

> carbohydrate is.

Well, I started on that one already, Craig. The optical properties

refer not to carbohydrates as such but to the molecules. Chirality

refers to the handedness, whether the molecule has left-handed or

right-handed properties (from the Greek word " chier " for hand), i.e.

that it is not mirror-image symmetrical. They test for this by

shining polarized light through the stuff to see whether the

polarization plane is rotated to the right (D for dextrorotatory) or

to the left (L for levorotatory).

Apparently, all of the amino acids in proteins exhibit the same

absolute steric configuration (spacial arrangement of the atoms) as L-

glyceraldehyde and are therefore all L-alpha-amino acids. I read that

D-amino acids are never found in proteins but are often found in

polypeptide antibiotics. Another of the optical properties of amino

acids, I understand, is their ability to absorb ultraviolet light.

Proteins absorb ultraviolet light because of the presence of the

amino acid tryptophan.

I imagine that similar considerations apply to the carbohydrates but

I haven't got that far, yet.

Amazing what can be found out in ten minutes! You have started me off

on another distraction from my real work, Craig! But at least from

now on, whenever I read of L and D-something, I will know what they

mean.

> Surely , the above paragraph was meant to

> be just slightly " tongue in cheek " ??

Yeah, well, just a little.

> My main purpose in posting this was as a reference

> for those who have the technical knowledge to utilize

> the information.

OK, but you got me hooked, too.

> ... in sunny and hot New South Wales, Australia

I spent a week or so there in the 1960's, Craig, when my ship stopped

off on the way to Durban. I will never forget being served lamb chops

for breakfast nor those big jugs of beer waiting for the customers

rushing to get their beer down by 6 p.m. And, during the big drought

in , being offered a live sheep for sixpence!

(in dark, dismal, misty, wet, cold, south-west Germany)