Iodine is one of the most widely used elements both domestically and industrially. A French physician was the person to ever use lugols iodine solution in the year 1829. He prepared it by mixing elemental iodine with potassium iodide and dissolving in water. Today, the resultant compound is widely used in domestic and industrial application. Its use has been especially appreciated in scientific research. It is also known by other terms such as Markodine, iodine potassium iodide and Strong solution.
For topical use such as in the case of minor wounds on the skin there are several formulations available. The main types used include ointment, gel or tincture. Commonly, these formulations are mixed with another ingredient known as povidone which serves to increase the effectiveness. The tincture is also said to be effective in emergency disinfection of water. The mechanism of action is not clear in this case.
In biochemistry, Markodine is used in detection of starch in some organic compounds. In the presence of starch there will be a blue black colour change. This is because the element interacts with the polysaccharides found in starch. It, however, does not detect simple sugars such as glucose, fructose and galactose. A similar pattern of staining is seen when testing for a condition known as amyloidosis although amyloid is actually protein and not starch.
In medical practice there is extensive use of the solution in management of cancer patients. It is particularly important in screening for cervical cancer. Staining of the cervix and upper vaginal wall is done under examination done using an instrument known as a colposcope. The normal tissues stain deeply with the brown colour while the suspicious areas remain paler. Biopsy specimens are taken from the paler areas.
Patients suffering from Graves disease, a severe form of hyperthyroidism, may benefit from a small dose of the compound when undergoing surgery. It has been suggested by some experts that the compound may reduce blood loss associated with thyroidectomy. This effect is not seen in patients that have euthyroid hormone levels or in those on antithyroid medication.
One of the earliest uses of the solution was the treatment of gout. With the discovery of better drugs, it has been dropped from the list of the commonly used drugs for the condition. The same trend has been witnessed in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. In the latter case, it has fallen out of favour due to its ability to inhibit thyroid hormone synthesis. This is termed the Wolff Chaikoff phenomenon.
Macroalgae require elemental iodine for growth and survival. The element is also important for other coral reef inhabitants. For these reasons, it is heavily used in the maintenance of marine ecosystems. Its effects are mainly due to its ability to significantly reduce the number of harmful bacteria and parasites. The other major benefits are the prevention of coral reef bleaching and polyp expansion.
Excessive amounts of lugols may cause harm to body cells to varying extents. High concentrations have been reported to cause destruction of the stomach mucosa during endoscopic examination. However, it should be noted that these are rare incidences.
For topical use such as in the case of minor wounds on the skin there are several formulations available. The main types used include ointment, gel or tincture. Commonly, these formulations are mixed with another ingredient known as povidone which serves to increase the effectiveness. The tincture is also said to be effective in emergency disinfection of water. The mechanism of action is not clear in this case.
In biochemistry, Markodine is used in detection of starch in some organic compounds. In the presence of starch there will be a blue black colour change. This is because the element interacts with the polysaccharides found in starch. It, however, does not detect simple sugars such as glucose, fructose and galactose. A similar pattern of staining is seen when testing for a condition known as amyloidosis although amyloid is actually protein and not starch.
In medical practice there is extensive use of the solution in management of cancer patients. It is particularly important in screening for cervical cancer. Staining of the cervix and upper vaginal wall is done under examination done using an instrument known as a colposcope. The normal tissues stain deeply with the brown colour while the suspicious areas remain paler. Biopsy specimens are taken from the paler areas.
Patients suffering from Graves disease, a severe form of hyperthyroidism, may benefit from a small dose of the compound when undergoing surgery. It has been suggested by some experts that the compound may reduce blood loss associated with thyroidectomy. This effect is not seen in patients that have euthyroid hormone levels or in those on antithyroid medication.
One of the earliest uses of the solution was the treatment of gout. With the discovery of better drugs, it has been dropped from the list of the commonly used drugs for the condition. The same trend has been witnessed in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. In the latter case, it has fallen out of favour due to its ability to inhibit thyroid hormone synthesis. This is termed the Wolff Chaikoff phenomenon.
Macroalgae require elemental iodine for growth and survival. The element is also important for other coral reef inhabitants. For these reasons, it is heavily used in the maintenance of marine ecosystems. Its effects are mainly due to its ability to significantly reduce the number of harmful bacteria and parasites. The other major benefits are the prevention of coral reef bleaching and polyp expansion.
Excessive amounts of lugols may cause harm to body cells to varying extents. High concentrations have been reported to cause destruction of the stomach mucosa during endoscopic examination. However, it should be noted that these are rare incidences.
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