Lorenzo's Oil Quiz - optional 10 points

Joshua Wilmeth

 

1.  What was the primary disease in this movie and whom did it affect?

 

The primary disease that is the main topic for this movie is A.L.D. (adrenoleukodystrophy).  This disease is one of the six leukodystrophies that can affect patients.  Lorenzo is affected by A.L.D., and so are the rest of the males.  The disease targets only males from the mother's sex chromosome.

 

2.  How would you classify the disease' impact on the patients functional status: mild, moderate, or severe, and why?

 

At first, patients fall and have tantrums.  Then they gradually get worse in daily activities to the point where they are so severe that they can't even swallow without some kind of help from outside forces such as a parent or nurse. The symptoms of A.L.D. are crippling, such as blindness, muteness, coma, seizures, quadriplegia, dementia, dysphasia, and even death.  The disease progresses as time goes on by deteriorating the brain and it's functions.  Most of the myelin in the body is "coroded" and the enzyme to dissolve fat is absent.  This is why this disease is so severe, because it completely takes away life.

 

3.  In your opinion, how did the research doctors regard Lorenzo's parents?

 

The research doctors in "Lorenzo's Oil" did not regard Lorenzo's parents as they should have. They were more concerned about their institution's reputation, their own reputations, and did not want to take risks that could be costly.  They  were also skeptical about trying new things, because they lacked the courage to explore new methods of treatment for children with A.L.D.  I also believe that at the beginning of the film, the doctors treated the parents as if they did not know enough to be talking about medicine with the doctors.  They assumed "ignorance" on the parents behalf until Lorenzo's parents took it on themselves to help out these children.  The doctors also did not treat Lorenzo as a person, but as a lab rat that was unique to study.  Lorenzo was merely an opportunity for the doctors, and they tried to keep the parents out of the way at first.  When it became apparent that nothing was working, Augusto and Michaela decided to take the burden upon themselves.

 

4.  "The roles of the researchers were juxtaposed or changed in this movie."  Explain why this is true?

 

The roles of the researchers were changed in this movie because the director of the film wanted the public to know that anyone can research a topic, and still have just as much knowledge as a person that has went through an educational process.  Also, the parents as the researchers brought out sympathy for Lorenzo and a negative attitude towards the doctors.  This is not always true about doctors, but the role of the researcher in "Lorenzo's Oil" is mainly Augusto, because he recieved a degree in medicine.  Michaela is also a researcher because she helped her husband, when she was not taking care of Lorenzo.  The role of the researchers were juxtaposed so that that audience would be able to understand the importance of research and the drive to succeed.

 

5.  Dad had a breakthrough at the library-explain the paperclip analogy model.

 

After many hours of studying and brainstorming, Augusto was able to figure out a method of treatment that related to the biochemistry of a patient suffering from A.L.D.  This method began with a single paper clip that resembled two Carbon atoms.  Augusto made two chains out of the paperclips (monounsaturated fats and saturated fats).  The monounsaturated fats were the "good guys" and the saturated were the "bad guys."  As one chain adds and the other takes away, a relationship was established by Augusto.  He began to realize that only one enzyme was working for both chains, which was later described as competitive inhibition.  This paperclip analogy seemed like a simple explanation for such difficult biochemistry, but Augusto was able to figure out what was needed to be put with the oil to distract the enzyme from consuming the necessary components. 

 

6.  Dad was concerned when Lorenzo's friend came from Africa to live with the Adone's and care for Lorenzo.  What was Dad's primary concern?

 

Augusto's primary concern about Omouri coming to stay with Lorenzo was how Omouri would react to seeing Lorenzo in the condition that he was.  Omouri probably remembered seeing Lorenzo as a normal healthy child, and now he has deteriorated to a point where he can do nothing for himself.  Augusto felt that taking him from his African lifestyle and causing him to adapt to life with the Odones would be too much to handle.  Besides all of Augusto's concerns, Omouri began a great help to the family as a "nurse" and a good friend to Lorenzo.

 

7.  Who was the first human subject to consume oil and how was it dosed and administered through what portal (ingested, injected, absorbed, inhaled, or other)?

 

The first human subject to consume the oil was Lorenzo.  The oil was ingested through the nasogastric tube that Lorenzo had, and it was dosed with his food that was pushed through the nasogastric tube.  The oil was measured out by someone like the parents or a nurse, and then mixed with the food for Lorenzo.

 

8.  What is the role of money in this research product?  Who paid for most of the early groundbreaking research?

 

The role of money is used as funding for the advancement for research in myelin repair.  The early research was funded by Augusto and Michaela Odones.  The two parents united families and researchers/scientists together to help find a way to repair the damaged myelin in patients. This became known as "The Myelin Project," which paved a way for the advancements of science.  The role of money is used for the purpose of research and clinical experiments that help to move science further up the ladder of discovery. 

 

9.  The critical mass theory suggests that multiple researchers conclusively find (or frequently stumble upon) an answer to scientific inquiry.  Where the researchers on a single path to finding a cure for this disease?

 

I do not believe that the researchers were on a single path to discovery of a cure for this horrible disease.  They were stumbling in the dark with an issue that had very little research or experimentation on.  There was very little funding for experimentation, and the researchers/scientists were very skeptical about taking risks that could damage reputations.  The search for a cure for anything relating to health does not have a clear cut path to the answer.  In situations where there is little knowledge about the subject, many people are afraid to cross the unknown.  The critical mass theory is correct in many instances in the history of man, because many scientists have accidentally discovered certain elements on the periodic table which were not intended.  The theory applies heavily to this film, because the research is the vital "helper" in illuminating a path to discovery.  Someday, scientists will find different cures for different issues because of research that is done or because of the critical mass theory.

 

10.  Consider ethics for a moment.  Does this movie represent an appropriate ethical model for research.  Defend your answer.

 

This movie portrays research as the gate keeper to the unknown facts in the health field.  Augusto's and Michaela's drive to understand the disease shows that research can answer questions that no one else is willing to answer. This movie is based on a true story, and it does portray the lives of everyone involved very well.  The main focus with the father and mother researching to help find a way to relieve the A.L.D. sufferers, is an ethical way of describing that this method can open many doors. Consider how Augusto researches the human body, the physiology, the biochemistry, and then he studies the disease itself.  This is a very good method or model of research because Augusto and his wife are able to rise up to the challenge just like everyone else when faced with troublesome issues.  This film was an ethical model for research because it vividly portrays that research is the key to finding answers to questions that perplex even the most devout scientists.