Petrol pump and teh science behind the inhibitors

Proton Pump Inhibitors

Proton Pump Inhibitors

Discuss the symptoms for which PPIs are prescribed and the intended target of these drugs.

Typically, the stomach produces acid to kill bacteria (germs) and help digest food by activating certain enzymes. However, the acid is corrosive; therefore, the body has to develop mucous to act as a natural barrier that protects the stomach lining from being eroded. Nevertheless, some individuals have broken mucous enabling the acid to pass through and damage the stomach causing ulcers (Mullin et al. 2009). That may come up with symptoms like a burning pain in the upper abdomen, temporal pain whenever one eats anything, bloating, heartburn, vomit, and dark stool in severe instances.

In other people, there could be a problem with the Sphincter, which usually keeps the stomach tightly closed. Hence, it could result in acid escape into the gullet, causing acid reflux with signs like throat inflammation and heartburn.

Subsequently, the admission of Proton Pump inhibitors would stop the lining cells from secreting more acid. The reduction of acid production can prevent the formation of ulcers and assist in the healing process (Mullin et al., 2009). Moreover, decreasing the amount of acid secreted will minimize the symptoms associated with acid reflux like heartburn. The way that the inhibitors for the Proton Pump work is that they inhibit the enzyme composed of the hydrogen-potassium and the adenosine triphosphatase composition system in the stomach lining cells. It is responsible for the production of stomach acid.

An organelle that would also be affected by these drugs. Based on the function of that organelle, do the issues in the website make biological sense?

A lysosome is one such organelle affected by Proton Pump Inhibitors simply due to its acidic environment. Proton Pump Inhibitors are produced in an inactive form that undergoes multiple rearrangement reactions when exposed to an acidic environment to produce the active form that inactivates the proton pump. Ordinarily, the Lysosomes acidic environment would be expected to activate the drug, thus, affecting the functionality of the lysosome. On the contrary, according to website information, inhibitory effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors were only witnessed in osteoclasts and the renal collecting duct, with no inhibitory effects on lysosomes (Liu et al. 2013).

However, the failure of Proton Pump Inhibitors to have inhibitory effects on lysosomal enzymes makes some biological sense. One, the lysosome contains hydrolytic enzymes responsible for destroying foreign particles. As a result, Proton Pump Inhibitors could as well be identified by hydrolytic enzymes and get destructed before causing any inhibitory effect. Two, through phagocytosis, lysosomes phagocytose foreign particles killing them. Proton Pump Inhibitors being foreign particles within lysosomes, could also have been killed through phagocytosis. Finally, through a process known as endocytosis, lysosomes defend themselves against the entry of any pathogen by degrading such pathogen before accessing the cytoplasm. It is also possible that Proton Pump Inhibitors were degraded through endocytosis; hence, they could not cause any inhibitory effect (Ballabio & Bonifacino, 2020).

An alternative approach for a patient with these symptoms would not require him or her to remain on PPIs long-term.

Whenever the Sphincter malfunctions, acid could escape into the gullet, causing acid reflux with signs like inflammation of the gullet and heartburn. Other than using PPI, one can use Acupuncture which is traditional Chinese medicine. According to clinical trials recently conducted on Acupuncture, it was established that it is significantly effective in reducing gastroesophageal reflux disease (Hershcovici & Fass, 2010). Moreover, a positive impact has been reported on the use of Acupuncture in decreasing stomach acid and LES regulation.

On the other hand, when one eats a lot of food in the evening, a heavy amount of food remains in the stomach when they sleep, inserting much pressure on the muscular Sphincter. As a result, more acid enters the esophagus. Therefore, to manage acid reflux, one should take heavy meals earlier and light meals in the evening to ensure that everything is digested within an appropriate time (Hershcovici & Fass, 2010). Natural treatment of acid reflux is recommended and biblically supported. For instance, according to Mathew 4:23 (Lijo & Th, 2010), "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."