Phenylketonuria (PKU) occurs in 1 in 15,000 newborn babies just in the United States. All around the world, PKU affects about 1 in 20,000 newborns. PKU does not affect a person’s life expectancy no matter if they receive treatment or not. It is screened for in all newborns in all 50 states. (Boston Children’s Hospital, 2005-2017) Description Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inherited disorder that causes the phenylalanine in the body to build up to unsafe levels. Phenylalanine is broken down in the body by enzymes, and with PKU, the genes needed to build the enzymes have a defect. Without these enzymes, the phenylalanine is not broken down like it’s suppose to be, and the build-up starts to occur once food with high levels of protein are digested. …show more content…
A woman brought her two children, a 6 year old girl and a 4 year old boy, to see this doctor. Both these children were mentally retarded. The little girl loved music, although she could only saw some words. She sometimes had a large appetite, while other times she refused to eat. The little boy could not talk at all or walk, he could not eat or drink without the help of someone else, and he couldn’t focus on any one thing. This doctor could not find anything wrong with a physical examination, but when he did a urine test is when he found something out of the ordinary. He added ferric chloride to their urine samples. Usually, the color stays brownish. Both of the children’s urine samples turned green. The doctor had never seen this before, but soon concluded that these two kids urine had something in it that is not present in normal urine. This was just the beginning of the discovery. (PKU News, …show more content…
Being treated though can reduce a lot of the health problems that come along with it. Like stated earlier on in the paper, people with this disorder need to follow a strict diet that limits the phenylalanine that they take in. These people need to avoid the high protein foods as much as possible. Some of the foods with high protein include: milk and cheese, eggs, nuts, beans, chicken, beef, pork, fish, and peas. Some fruits and vegetables also fall under this category. Each person with this disorder is different when it comes to how much phenylalanine is safe for them to consume. Because of this, each person gets a special individualized diet they need to follow. These people won’t be getting enough of the essential nutrients that they need from food, so along with their diet, they have to drink a special formula everyday. This formula helps them meet their nutritional needs. Additional treatments for PKU are being explored. Another option that is being looked at is using gene therapy. (NIH, 2012) Outlook The long-term outlook for people with PKU looks very good if they follow their diet closely. If for some reason the treatment is stopped or delayed, brain damage can occur. (MedlinePlus, 2017) Doctors in the past would tell their patients with PKU that as they got older, they could start laying off the diet. There has been discussion today about whether or not that is right. Most doctors go against that idea today. (NIH,
In people with PKU Phenylalanine’s most apparent and benifical side affect is itrs function as a necessary building block for protein; It may also help create chemicals that work to regulate appetite and mood.
Setting demonstrates the reasoning behind why Maycomb is so prejudice. Scout Finch described the setting with the following words towards the beginning of the novel, “Maycomb was the county seat of Maycomb County… Atticus’ office in the courthouse contained a checkerboard and an unsullied code of Alabama” (Lee 5). The quote reveals the setting, which is located in Alabama, a southern region of the United States. Southern states tended to support slavery and were often regarded as racist. Alabama was especially notorious for hating African Americans.
Carol’s line of questioning indicates that she is willing to learn and ready for the nurse to further educate her concerning PKU screening. Carol should be made aware that infants born with PKU are unable to metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine, “...a protein found in milk, dairy products,
Phenylketonuria, or PKU, is an autosomal recessive, heritable disease that decreases levels of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase, which is responsible for the metabolism of the amino acid phenylalanine, resulting in an unhealthy buildup that can lead to brain damage, seizures, and intellectual disability. While not curable, PKU, if detected early on, can be treated to allow sufferers to lead full and healthy lives. The symptoms of PKU appear almost immediately after birth, requiring parents and hospitals to make the necessary preparations, including feeding infants with special formula. Lack of such care can result in
I found the history of this quote fascinating. President John F. Kennedy issued this saying during an address in the Assembly Hall of Paulskirche in Frankfurt, Germany. During his speech, the President characterized the current international climate as an age of both independence and interdependence. He also identified three primary tasks for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): ensure common defense, establish economic unity, and agree upon a common political purpose. The President spoke at 4:30 p.m. before an invited audience.
“Most cases of PKU are detected shortly after birth by newborn screening, and treatment is started promptly. As a result, the severe signs and symptoms of classic PKU are rarely seen, “ according to U.S. National Library of Medicine. PKU is a rare disorder, that’s detected after birth from newborn screening, and treatment starts promptly, but if not treated promptly, it can lead to severe symptoms. It’s treatable through a diet, symptoms vary from mild to severe like: intellectual disabilities to brain damage. PKU is a treatable disease that involves a diet with low phenylalanine. Its an inherited disease that increases the levels of phenylalanine in the blood. There is a long-term outlook for patients with PKU when it's excellent. Many organizations
Baldwin and team then analyzed their data. The results of the data shows that after follow ups and years of dietary therapy, PA levels of the subjects were reduced to a normal range (2010). In conclusion, regular dietary review and following a proper Westminister diet are useful in producing a reduction in PA levels. This is important because it gives those who are suffering hope for a possible long term solution treatment for their disorder. Also, it gives other researchers, doctors, instructors, and lay people a platform to educate and spread awareness about this cause. Some critiques that should be noted is that, this research was done over a long period of time. Time can be a disadvantage because society and life is constantly changing. For instance, when subject x, the teenager, started this experiment, she could have been involved with sports and other extracurricular activities in high school. Unlike the rest of the subjects, her body was still changing. However, ten (plus) years later she likely is married, pregnant or with children, and settled down with her career. All of these factors are major life changes and a pace different from when she
A Phenylketonuria (PKU) test is done on newborn babies to determine if they have the necessary enzyme needed to use Phenylalanine in their body. Phenylalanine is the amino acid needed for normal development and growth.
Untreated PKU can lead to brain damage, intellectual disabilities, behavioral symptoms, or seizures. The defective gene does not produce the enzyme necessary to break down and rid the body of phenylalanine. The symptoms of phenylketonuria result from a buildup of (Global Genes, 2012) I eat differently. My friends understand PKU is very difficult, but-non PKU people think I am VERY different. I’ve had to adjust to other’s perceptions and learn to cope with what other people expect is the norm.”(Global Genes, 2012) this researcher would describe this disorder as A birth defect that causes an amino acid called phenylalanine to build up in the body. Phenylketonuria is an internal disorder. delayed development, failure to thrive, short stature, or slow growth
Signs and symptoms of Phenylketonuria vary depending upon the age of the person as well as progression of the disorder. Newborn babies usually show no signs or symptoms of phenylketonuria until they are about a few months old (Mitchell, 2013). The diagnostic test for phenylketonuria in newborns is a heel-prick test to obtain a sample of blood. If the test results indicate high levels of phenylalanine, further blood or urine tests may be requested to verify the diagnosis. Almost all cases of phenylketonuria are identified during the newborn screening tests (Mitchell, 2013). Untreated babies, children, and adults may show signs and symptoms of phenylketonuria.
Low phenylalanine containing diet is the first treatment of PKU, and this is applied for all of PKU patients. It has been demonstrated that low phenylalanine concentration in daily meals can effectively prevent mental retardation in PKU patients, especially in newborns (Knox, 1960). The major point of this treatment is to offer PKU patients with very low phenylalanine diets, and all of protein-rich and aspartame containing foods and drinks should be avoided. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that can be converted into phenylalanine following ingestion, so it must be avoided from the diet of PKU patients (Williams, Mamotte & Burnett, 2008). Since PKU develops very early after birth, this treatment is applied immediately after conformation of the disease in an infant. For older kids, the amount of daily ingested protein is calculated each day regarding how severe PKU of the patient. Although this method can
In Conclusion, in this case study the researchers were given a case study which expressed a student named ‘Jane’ who has an autosomal recessive disorder called Phenylkentonuria (PKU). The researchers learned that PKU is a caused by a gene mutation on chromosome 12. It codes for an enzyme in the liver called phenylalanine hydroxylase. This gene does not process phenylalanine correctly therefore, to avoid a build up phenylalanine a specific diet that contains less phenylalanine is given to people with Phenylkentonuria (Mayo Clinic, 2014). Since Jane has PKU that means that both her parents passed on the mutated gene to her. Parents can have the mutated gene and still not have PKU which makes them a carrier. On the other hand, if a single parent
It is thought that PDK is caused by mutations of the genes on chromosome 16 or chromosome 4. The disease process begins with the appearance of cysts, which grow out of the nephrons of the kidneys.
Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an error of the metabolism discovered in 1934 by Ivar Asbjørn Følling. Phenylketonuria leads to a decreased metabolism of the amino acid phenylalanine. Phenylketonuria is a genetic disorder inherited from the parents, and both parents must have this enzyme deficiency in order for the child to be affected. Mutations in the PAH gene result in PKU, this results in low levels of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase. If low levels of phenylalanine hydroxylase are produced then there is a buildup of dietary phenylalanine, which are toxic and harmful if not broken down. A rise in phenylalanine can lead to many intellectual disabilities as well as other health problems. There are two main types, the basic one is PKU(which
Gabrielle Chanel, other wise known as famous fashion designer Coco Chanel, was born on August 19, 1883 in Saumur, France (biography.com). The baby girl was born to parents Albert Chanel and Jeanne Devolle, a young unwed couple that lived in great poverty. Her parents had seven children giving them three daughters Gabrielle Chanel, Antoinette Chanel, Julia Chanel, and four sons Lucien Chanel, Augustin Chanel, Pierre Chanel, and Alphonse Chanel. Jeanne Devolle died due to tuberculosis when her children were very young age leaving her children to be raised alone by their father who worked as a peddler. (Time) Her father, unable to successfully care for his children, made the tough decision to release the children from his care. The boys of the house were sent to a farm where they spent their childhood as laborers. The girls, including Coco Chanel, were all sent to an orphanage where they would be raised by Catholic nuns. The nuns raised her in a extremely strict manner but failed to ever break her tough demeanor. The nuns that raised Coco Chanel from late childhood wanted to teach her a skill she could use throughout her life: sewing. In fact, every source of education Chanel had came from what she was taught in her years at the orphanage. Chanel would take the skills she learned, combine them with the hardships she faced, and grow a fashion empire bigger than she could’ve ever dreamed of.