Chapter 6 The Endocrine System • MHR 207MAKING CONNECTIONS45.Research the three most common sexually
transmitted diseases and their treatment.
46.Some students use anabolic steroids to enhance
athletic performance and improve their
appearance. What risks are associated with
the use of these hormones?
47.Hormones are sometimes used to increase the
productivity of cattle, chickens, and/or pigs.
Do you think that the labels on food products
should include information on the use of
supplements such as hormones? What would
be the advantages and disadvantages of this
type of labelling?
48.Many types of animals (such as mice, rats,
and monkeys) are used in some scientific
and medical research studies that investigate
diseases of the endocrine system, such as
abnormal thyroid or pituitary function. How
do such studies benefit human life? In your
opinion, should animals be used for such
research studies? Are there effective alternative
research protocols that could replace research
procedures involving laboratory animals?
49.Canada’s pharmaceutical companies submit a
steady stream of new prescription medications
to Health Canada for approval each year.
However, only 10 percent of these applications
receive government approval. The other
90 percent are rejected, mostly because of
safety concerns.
Suppose you were responsible for developing
the regulations regarding control of prescription
drugs in Canada. Some of the major issues
concerning prescription drug use and safety
involve providing timely information about
new medications to Canadian doctors and the
reporting of adverse reactions to new
medications. What changes would you make to
current legislation to address these issues?
50.Funding medical research often involves funding
research in basic science, such as zoology. In
this situation, the researcher usually has no
medical training, but is a specialist in his or
her own field of study. For one hormonal or
neurological disorder, identify how research
in basic science has helped develop
understanding of the medical condition.
51.When conducting drug trials, a test group of
people is divided into two groups. One group
receives the new drug, and the other group
receives a placebo, a treatment that has no
active ingredients. While testing a new asthma
medication, a test subject claims that she is
using the new drug. She is pleased with the
product and agrees to be interviewed on
television to promote it. Has this person
compromised the study? Justify your response.
52.People have easier access to diet supplements
such as vitamins, minerals and various plant
extracts such as Echinaceathan to prescription
drugs. Echinaceais promoted as an immune-
system boost. Some proponents claim that it
should be used daily, while others suggest that
people add it to their diets only when they are
most at risk, such as during flu season. Since
Echinaceais an uncontrolled substance, might
it be abused, thus creating problems for our
health care system and society in general?
Explain your response.
53.Competitive events such as the Olympics test
athletes for banned substances such as anabolic
steroids. Some professional athletes, like Major
League Baseball players, are not restricted by
these rules. How does the use of these
substances change the nature of the sporting
event? Should these substances be banned?
Explain your responses.