Parallel World Pharmacy

Volume 4 - Ch 3.2

Furthermore, using his divine sight, Falma could eliminate the possibility of other diseases.

Thanks to my older brother, Ive found a new patient!

Falma expressed his gratitude to Palle. Now he needed to go back and create a new medical chart for her. While Falma tries to examine all the courtiers every three months, he doesnt always use his divine sight and might miss some new patients.

The drug should either make up for the lack of dopamine caused by the buildup of synuclein, or inhibit the buildup of synuclein altogether

It seems that Palle, who helped write the textbook, hasnt forgotten the correct treatment for this disease.

Because this is early onset, we should start with l-DOPA or a dopamine receptor agonist first

l-DOPA? Wont dopamine by itself work?

Even if ingested, dopamine cant enter the brain because there is a system known as the blood-brain barrier which prevents molecules from passing through. l-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) mimics the effect of dopamine, but has been processed to pass through the barrier. Lets think about this after seeing the results of the examination. Furthermore, because we dont know about the familys medical record, lets check family members as well.

Youre right. My textbook is by no means perfect and as you know, there are some diseases which cant be cured

Falma only knows of Earths pharmaceutics up to the 21st century. In order to advance further, the people of this world must work as one to acquire the new knowledge.

I believe in my guardian deity, the Medicine God, from the bottom of my heart. He knows all that there is to know about pharmaceutics. Thats why I wonder why you wont teach us your knowledge. Is this mankinds next trial?

Palle seemed to be worried about the true intentions of the guardian deity.

The will of the guardian deity is unfathomable

Palle quietly said.

TN: I decided to translate the dialogue literally and provide context here, so I dont misrepresent what level of detail Falma is providing. If youre interested, please do some research on your own its very interesting!

A dopamine receptor agonist is the generic term for a compound that activates dopamine receptors. Its usually used with, but not necessarily concurrently, l-DOPA.

The blood-brain barrier prevents, among other things, large polar molecules from entering the central nervous system. Dopamine is a polar molecule, and so it cant cross the barrier.

Dopamine

L-DOPA is both a polar molecule and an amino acid, so its transported across the barrier by L-type transport proteins. From there, it undergoes decarboxylation with the help of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase to become dopamine.

l-DOPA

Finally, iPS cells are a type of stem cell, which itself is a type of cell that can differentiate into other types of cells. In this case, iPS cells may be derived into dopaminergic neurons, which can synthesize dopamine.