study case

MBC 3560 Homework 3, due Wed April 18, 2018

1. (18 pts)The mother of a 17 year old girl brings her daughter to the doctor after she experiences a number of fainting spells and lethargy. The mother states that her daughter eats practically nothing and is obsessed with exercise and losing weight. Her daughter states that she feels fat if she eats more. The girl is 5’6” and weighs 90 pounds. Physical examination shows loose skin folds and an abnormally low percentage of body fat.

A. 7 pts Explain why she has an abnormally low percentage of body fat. What 3 tests would

you recommend to confirm this and what results are you expecting from these tests? Explain why you expect these results.

B. 4 pts What would you predict her nitrogen balance test will show? Explain why you expect

this finding. C. 7 pts What vitamin supplements would you recommend that she take? Consider all the

pathways that are active in her current state. List these pathways and the cofactors and the corresponding vitamins needed by the enzymes in each of these pathways.

2. (7 pts) A young mother contacted the poison control center because her 2 year old

daughter ingested some acetonitrile based nail polish remover and then vomited 15 minutes later. No treatment was recommended because it was confused with acetone based nail polish remover. The child was put to bed about 2 hours after ingestion. Respiratory distress developed sometime after the child was put to bed and she was found dead the next morning.

A. 4 pts Explain why metabolism of acetonitrile caused respiratory distress and based on the

cause, what could have been done to prevent death (ie what should her treatment have been).

B. 3 pts Explain why metabolism of a small amount of acetone would not require treatment.