Saturday, January 31, 2009

In "The Adventure of the Speckled Band," why does Helen Stoner come to see Sherlock Holmes?

Helen Stoner comes to see Sherlock Holmes because she is terrified. She thinks someone may be trying to kill her, just as someone killed her twin sister Julia two years before. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson meet with her in the waiting room on the ground floor at 221B Baker Street. Holmes tries to soothe her obvious agitation and urges her to sit closer to the fireplace because she is shivering.



"Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot coffee, for I observe that you are shivering.”




“It is not cold which makes me shiver,” said the woman in a low voice, changing her seat as requested.




“What, then?”




“It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror.” She raised her veil as she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. 



Holmes takes her case because of her "pitiable state of agitation." She tells him she does not have any money to pay his fee. Holmes often works on a "pro bono" basis if a case intrigues him or if he feels sympathy for the client.


Helen tells him a long back story involving her violent stepfather. Her sister Julia died of unknown causes two years ago. Before her death she had told Helen she had been hearing a strange, low whistle at around three in the morning for the past few days. Dr. Roylott has now forced Helen to move into Julia's former bedroom, directly adjacent to his, by ordering some apparently unnecessary repairs to Helen's own room farther down the corridor. The first night Helen slept in Julia's bed she heard the strange, low whistle her sister had described. This is what has frightened her so badly. She was already upset about having to sleep in her sister's room and in her sister's bed. She came directly to see Sherlock Holmes as soon as it grew light.


Among all the other details she tells Holmes in her back story are the important facts that Julia was engaged to be married when she died and now Helen is engaged to be married within one or two months. It seems pretty obvious that Dr. Roylott would like to see his stepdaughters dead, because he is desperate for money and is legally obligated to pay either girl one-third of the income from their deceased mother's estate each year if and when she marries. But the biggest questions are: How could anyone have killed Julia when she was sleeping in a room with the door locked and the window covered by a bolted iron shutter? And how could anybody get to Helen in that same locked room?

What is the figurative meaning in the poem "A Poison Tree"?

"A Poison Tree" is already figurative; I assume you mean to ask how its figurative language might reasonably be interpreted. 



I was angry with my friend; 


I told my wrath, my wrath did end.


I was angry with my foe: 


I told it not, my wrath did grow. 



Here, Blake speaks of how we deal with our anger. We don't want to remain angry with friends and are more willing to talk to them, so we stop our anger there instead of leaving it to fester, or "grow" as he says, a word used ambiguously here, referring to how our anger intensifies; this word allows Blake to turn "wrath" into a tree, though, as it is "growing."



And I waterd it in fears,


Night & morning with my tears: 


And I sunned it with smiles,


And with soft deceitful wiles. 



In the image of the Tree of Wrath (as opposed to the Tree of Life or the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil), Blake shows how we make our anger worse, turning it to hatred. We add our fears to it and we add deceit (since we aren't willing to admit we're angry). Here, we have the Tree of Wrath being nourished with negative behaviors. 



And it grew both day and night. 


Till it bore an apple bright. 


And my foe beheld it shine,


And he knew that it was mine. 



As we add other emotions to our anger, it only grows. In this case, the tree eventually produces a shiny bauble (an apple, reminiscent of Eve's temptation in the Garden of Eden) which entices his enemy, who does not know that the day he eats of it, he shall surely die. 



And into my garden stole, 


When the night had veil'd the pole; 


In the morning glad I see; 


My foe outstretched beneath the tree.



So his enemy sneaks into his garden, knowing by now that he hates him anyway, and steals the apple. The originally angry man is by now full of hatred and is pleased to see that his foe fell for it and is no longer a problem. 



This is the end result of our anger if we don't deal with it immediately. Note how un-godlike it is. When God discovered his creations had eaten of the forbidden fruit, he was angry and disappointed, but not pleased. Man, comparatively, has an infinite capacity for hatred. 

How do Creon and Antigone treat each other?

Creon tries to treat Antigone as best as he can considering her sympathy towards her brothers' deaths. Creon is now the ruler of Thebes, much to the dismay of Antigone. She is much more of a fighter and sympathizer compared to her sister, Ismene. Ismene does what she is told and acts the way that is expected of her. So when Creon deems Eteocles the hero brother and Polyneices the unworthy shameful brother, this begins a rift between Antigone and her uncle. Antigone does not follow her uncle's edict against proper burial for Polyneices and attempts to get Ismene to help her, but without success. Antigone was following her familial duties and felt that both her brothers needed to receive proper burial no matter which side they died fighting for. Creon, angered by the blatant disregard for his orders, imprisons both sisters regardless of Ismene's innocence. 


Creon's son, Haemon, is engaged to Antigone and pleads with his father to spare her. Creon will not be bullied and against his pleas Haemon vows never to see Creon again. Creon spares Ismene, but leaves Antigone to be buried alive in a cave. His fears deep down are that if he leaves her to roam free and marry his son, he will certainly be uprooted and Antigone will be ruler. 


He gives into his fears but properly buries Polyneices after a prophet foresees terrible things happening to his kingdom and his son due to his actions toward Antigone. Unbeknownst to Creon, Antigone hangs herself, so it is too late for redemption for himself and his son. Haemon out of rage towards his father's actions attempts to kill Creon and in the end kills himself. 


Creon in the end learns too late that he should have focused on ruling the kingdom as a proper ruler and following the gods' edicts rather than trying to punish Antigone for her sympathy towards her family.

Friday, January 30, 2009

How does Mark Twain use dreams in "The Mysterious Stranger"?

Mark Twain's use of dreams in the story "The Mysterious Stranger" is complex and at times delves into somewhat tricky philosophical territory. 


The story, on its very entertaining surface, is about the exploits of the Angel Satan in an unnamed Austrian village during the year 1590.  Explicitly, Satan sows deceit, treachery, and murder in the village--cruelly influencing the suffering of its citizens.  Twain suggests that this is not quite what it seems, however, as the alias Satan uses while interacting with most of the villagers is "Philip Traum." The narrator informs us that "Traum is German for dream."  With metaphorical flair, Twain seems to be implying that Satan is at best a convenient fiction used for justifying the wrongs and suffering we inflict on one another, and that such convenient superstitions are in fact dreams.


In the case of the villagers in Twain's story, this does indeed seem to be the case. Although Satan plants certain seeds and stokes the flames of misery, it is the villagers who must take credit for the atrocities in the village. For example, many accused witches in the village are stoned and burned by the villagers, who fear that if they do not participate in the barbarities, they themselves will be suspected as witches or witch sympathizers.  It is not Satan, but the cowardliness and fear of humanity that contributes to their vile acts.


However, Twain's look at the nature of dreams does not end there.  The final chapter of the story is an explicit philosophical statement about dreams and reality.  Satan reveals to the narrator, Theodore: "There is no other [life]."  He then goes on to expound:



"Strange, indeed, that you should not have suspected that your universe and its contents were only dreams, visions, fiction! Strange, because they are so frankly and hysterically insane—like all dreams: a God who could make good children as easily as bad, yet preferred to make bad ones; who could have made every one of them happy, yet never made a single happy one; who made them prize their bitter life, yet stingily cut it short; who gave his angels eternal happiness unearned, yet required his other children to earn it; who gave his angels painless lives, yet cursed his other children with biting miseries and maladies of mind and body."



Here, again, Twain relates religious myth and superstition with dreams, implying their unreality.


Twain takes this exposition on the nature of dreams and reality even a step further in the final paragraphs of the story, where Satan says:



"It is true, that which I have revealed to you; there is no God, no universe, no human race, no earthly life, no heaven, no hell. It is all a dream—a grotesque and foolish dream. Nothing exists but you. And you are but a thought—a vagrant thought, a useless thought, a homeless thought, wandering forlorn among the empty eternities!" 



Although many critics have found this sweeping statement to be inconsistent with the demonstrations of the "harsh realities of life" present in the story, it does not seem as inconsistent from a Buddhist point of view, which generally considers all of so-called "reality" a dream, including all the tastes, sights, smells and feelings of pain perceived through the senses.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

What lesson did Scout help Atticus learn in Chapter 30?

Scout helps Atticus understand that Boo Radley is sensitive and should be treated with care. 


When Atticus finds out that Bob Ewell was killed, he thinks that Jem did it in self-defense when Ewell attacked him and his sister.  Atticus argues with Sherriff Heck Tate about it, because Jem is a minor and he thinks that he will not be severely punished for it.  Heck Tate tells Atticus that Jem had nothing to do with it, and that they also should not involve Boo Radley in it.  The best thing to do is say that Bob Ewell died by accident. 



“I may not be much, Mr. Finch, but I’m still sheriff of Maycomb County and Bob Ewell fell on his knife. Good night, sir.” Mr. Tate stamped off the porch and strode across the front yard. His car door slammed and he drove away. (Ch. 30) 



While Atticus is grappling with this idea, he turns to Scout to see if she understands.  She does.  She knows that Jem had nothing to do with Bob Ewell’s death, and she also knows that they need to protect Boo Radley from any recognition for his heroics. 



Atticus disengaged himself and looked at me. “What do you mean?”


“Well, it’d be sort of like shootin‘ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?” (Ch. 30) 



Atticus thanks Boo.  Scout and Heck Tate are both aware that Maycomb would erupt with gossip if anyone knew that Boo Radley saved two children from Bob Ewell.  He is a very quiet and sensitive man, and he would never be able to handle that.  Heck Tate gives the example of a brigade of ladies showing up with angel food cakes.  He tells Atticus that they need to protect quiet, sensitive Boo Radley from that. 


Scout understands.  She has seen Boo Radley, and he has been the backdrop of her childhood.  Boo Radley has always protected her, and this is her chance to protect him.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

"The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" was first published in 1974. Explain if it is it still relevant.

Le Guin's short story is relevant today because the economic reality of victimization has not changed.


The philosophical premise of "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" is that the happiness of the town is dependent on the child's misery. Someone's happiness is possible because someone else is miserable, a reality that still exists.


The capitalist economic system Le Guin critiqued in her 1974 story has widened today.  With globalization, more economies are predicated upon a paradigm where there are a wealthy few as many more struggle. For example, multinational companies outsource the production of their goods to other countries.  These businesses make large profits while the workers themselves receive little compensation.  In this case, the companies would represent the people of Omelas while the workers mirror the child who is locked away.  


Some people argue that if we were to abolish the capitalist system, unhappiness for all would result.  This mirrors how Le Guin argues that if the child was freed, everyone would suffer:



...if the child were brought up into the sunlight out of the vile place, if it were cleaned and comforted, that would be a good thing, indeed; but if it were done, in that day and hour all the prosperity and beauty and delight of Omelas would wither and be destroyed. Those are the terms. To exchange all the goodness and grace of every life in Omelas for that single, small improvement.



The justification behind a victimizing structure is one way that Le Guin's story is relevant. It reflects how capitalism has not changed over the last forty years.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Where does Mathilde live in the story "The Necklace"?

Mathilde lives in Paris, where her husband is employed as a clerk at the Ministry of Public Instruction. Maupassant offers a description of their humble flat.



She was distressed at the poverty of her dwelling, at the bareness of the walls, at the shabby chairs, the ugliness of the curtains.



He also specifies the location:



[Their cab] took them to their dwelling in the Rue des Martyrs, and sadly they mounted the stairs to their flat. 



The Rue des Martyrs is not far from the Louvre. It is a respectable middle-class area. However, after they have borrowed eighteen thousand francs to help pay for the lost diamond necklace, they are forced to economize in every possible way.



Thereafter Madame Loisel knew the horrible existence of the needy. She bore her part, however, with sudden heroism. That dreadful debt must be paid. She would pay it. They dismissed their servant; they changed their lodgings; they rented a garret under the roof.



She would probably have to walk up and down as many as six flights of stairs. The garret would be stifling hot in the summer and freezing in the winter. It would make their former flat in the Rue des Martyrs seem luxurious by contrast. They had no running water, so she had to carry buckets of water up and down all those stairs. Naturally they would have been ashamed to have any guests visit them in their new quarters, so she must have led a lonely existence. She would lose whatever friends she had before and would not want to make new acquaintances among the women who lived around her. The garret was probably in a run-down neighborhood on the Left Bank. She became hardened because of the struggle for existence in such quarters, but Maupassant states:



But sometimes, when her husband was at the office, she sat down near the window and she thought of that gay evening of long ago, of that ball where she had been so beautiful and so admired.



It takes the Loisels ten years to pay off all their debts with the accumulating interest—and then Mathilde learns that the lost necklace was a fake!

`(1 + i)^4` Use the Binomial Theorem to expand the complex number, then simplify the result.

We are required to expand a binomial that contains a complex number. In order to do this we shall use the binomial theorem. This is used as follows: 



where: 


a = first term


b = last term 


n = exponent (power raised to of the binomial) 


k = term number - 1



So let's use the above equation to determine the sum of our binomial:


`(1+i)^4 =sum_(k=1)^4 ((4!)/((4-k)!*k!)) *a^(4-k)*b^k` 


` `



`(1+i)^4 = ((4!)/ ((4-0)!*0!)) * (1^(4-0)) * (i^0) + ((4!)/((4-1)!1!)) * 1^(4-1) * (i^1) + ((4!)/ ((4-2)! *2!)) *1^(4-2) (i^2) + ((4!)/((4-3)! *3!)) * 1^(4-3) *( i^3) + ((4!)/((4-4)!*4!)) * a^(4-4) *(i^4)`



`(1+i)^4 = 1 + 4i + 6i^2 + 4i^3 + i^4`   


Let's revise our complex rules: 


`i^ 1 = i, i^2 =-1, i^3 = -i, i^4 = 1`


`(1+i)^4 = 1 + 4i + 6(-1) + 4(-i) + 1 = -4`


ANSWER: -4


``

Sunday, January 25, 2009

What is hepatitis C?


Definition

Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).













Causes

The hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is carried in the blood of an infected
person, is most often spread through contact with infected blood, such as through
injecting illicit drugs with shared needles; receiving HCV-infected blood
transfusions (before 1992) or blood clotting products (before 1987); receiving an
HCV-infected organ through transplantation; receiving long-term kidney dialysis treatment (the machine might be tainted with
HCV-infected blood); sharing toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, or other
personal hygiene items contaminated with HCV-infected blood; being accidentally
stuck by an HCV-infected needle (a special concern for health care workers);
frequent contact with HCV-infected people (a special concern for health care
workers); and receiving a tattoo, body piercing, or acupuncture with unsterilized
or improperly sterilized equipment.


Hepatitis C can also spread through an HCV-infected woman to her fetus at the time of birth, through sexual contact with someone infected with HCV, through sharing a straw or inhalation tube when inhaling drugs with someone infected by HCV, and through receiving a blood transfusion. HCV cannot spread through the air, unbroken skin, casual social contact, or breast-feeding.




Risk Factors

Factors that increase the chance of HCV infection include having received a
blood
transfusion before 1992, having received blood clotting
products before 1987, having long-term kidney dialysis treatment, getting a tattoo
or body piercing, injecting illicit drugs (especially with shared needles), and
having sex with partners who have hepatitis C or other sexually transmitted
diseases.




Symptoms

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2015, 70 to 80 percent of people with hepatitis C have no symptoms. Over time, the disease can cause serious liver damage. Symptoms may include fatigue, loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), darker colored urine, chalky and light-colored stools, loose and light-colored stools, abdominal pain,aches and pains, itching, hives, joint pain, nausea, and vomiting. Also, cigarette smokers may suddenly dislike the taste of cigarettes.


Chronic hepatitis C infection may cause some of the foregoing symptoms and also
weakness, severe fatigue, and loss of appetite. Serious complications of hepatitis
C infection include a chronic infection that will lead to cirrhosis
(scarring) and progressive liver failure and an increased risk of liver
cancer.




Screening and Diagnosis

A doctor will ask about symptoms and medical history and will perform a
physical exam. Tests may include blood tests to look for hepatitis C
antibodies (proteins that the body has made to fight the
hepatitis C virus) or genetic material from the virus, liver function studies to
initially determine and follow how well a person’s liver is functioning, an
ultrasound of the liver to assess liver damage, and a liver biopsy
(removal of a sample of liver tissue to be examined).




Treatment and Therapy

Hepatitis C is usually treated with combined therapy, consisting of interferon
(given by injection) and ribavirin (given orally). These medications can cause
difficult side effects and they also have limited success rates. In unsuccessful
cases, chronic hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis (scarring) and serious liver
damage. A liver
transplant may be needed.


In 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Sovaldi (sofosbuvir), the first drug that could be taken to treat hepatitis C without the coadministration of interferon. Considered a breakthrough medication, Sovaldi still needed to be used as part of a regiment that included ribavirin or peginterferon-alfa, depending upon the type of infection. However, in October of the following year, the FDA approved Harvoni (ledipasvir and sofosbuvir), the first combination pill to treat chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infections. These new drugs cut treatment time to twelve weeks and have been proven successful in a large number of cases. However, they are also expensive, and debates have been sparked over the failure of Medicaid to insure the drugs for those who are not considered sick enough.




Prevention and Outcomes

To prevent becoming infected with hepatitis C, one should not inject illicit drugs (using shared needles has the highest risk), should avoid sex with partners who have sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), should practice safer sex (by using, for example, latex condoms) or abstain from sex, should limit the number of sexual partners, should not share personal items that might have blood on them (such as razors, toothbrushes, manicuring tools, and pierced earrings), and should avoid handling items that may be contaminated by HCV-infected blood. One also should donate his or her own blood before elective surgery so that this blood can be used if a blood transfusion is required during that surgery.


To prevent spreading hepatitis C to others if one is infected, one should notify his or her dentist and physician before receiving checkups or treatment, should get hepatitis A and B vaccinations, and should not donate blood or organs for transplant.




Bibliography


Boyer, Thomas D., Teresa L. Wright, and Michael P. Manns, eds. Zakim and Boyer’s Hepatology: A Textbook of Liver Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2006. Print.



Everson, Gregory T., and Hedy Weinberg. Living with Hepatitis C: A Survivor’s Guide. 5th ed. New York: Hatherleigh, 2009. Print.



Feldman, Mark, Lawrence S. Friedman, and Lawrence J. Brandt, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2010. Print.



"FDA Approves First Combination Pill to Treat Hepatitis C." FDA. US Food and Drug Administration, 10 Oct. 2014. Web. 30 Dec. 2015.



"FDA Approves Sovaldi for Chronic Hepatitis C." FDA. US Food and Drug Administration, 6 Dec. 2013. Web. 30 Dec. 2015.



Frank, Steven A. Immunology and Evolution of Infectious Disease. Princeton: Princeton UP, 2002. Print.



Khazan, Olga. "The True Cost of an Expensive Medication." Atlantic. Atlantic Monthly Group, 25 Sept. 2015. Web. 30 Dec. 2015.



Palmer, Melissa. Dr. Melissa Palmer’s Guide to Hepatitis and Liver Disease. Rev. ed. Garden City Park: Avery, 2004. Print.



Ronco, Claudio, and Rinaldo Bellomo, eds. Critical Care Nephrology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2009. Print.

What is food addiction?


Causes

Cited causes of food addiction include depression, loneliness, stress, hostility, boredom, childhood sexual or emotional trauma, and low self-esteem. Some scientists believe there is a biological explanation for food addiction that involves dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain. Neuroscientists and nutrition researchers continue to investigate the precise mechanisms by which food can trigger addiction-like eating behavior. Some hypotheses include attractiveness of certain foods, different reactions to sucrose and fructose than glucose, low satiation from energy-dense foods, and genetic variation in expressing the hormone leptin, which cues satiation.




Eating is typically a pleasurable experience, but food addiction is caused by a loss of control over the agent of abuse: food. Persons addicted to food may not recognize their addiction or may feel incapable of breaking the cycle of overeating. They have an undeniable preoccupation with food and are compelled to eat large amounts of food. For food addicts, this cycle eventually becomes the norm.


In an episode of binge eating it is not uncommon to consume in excess of 10,000 calories. These calories lead to obesity if not expended, yet it is not accurate to assume that all obese persons are food addicts. Food addicts continue to engage in compulsive overeating even when aware of its destructive effects. Those who eventually want to break the cycle often feel incapable of doing so, while others feel they can stop but continue to postpone doing so.


Eating habits are established during childhood. The development of poor eating habits, including binge eating, may result from ineffective coping mechanisms. Food serves as a barrier or substitute to dealing with emotionally difficult situations and relationships. Poor eating habits continue into adulthood and become ingrained in behavior.




Risk Factors

Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States. This and other forms of food addiction most commonly affect girls and women age fourteen to thirty-five years, perhaps because of society’s emphasis on appearance and thinness. Both women and men can be food addicts, but women more often seek treatment. Food addiction affects persons of all body types and body weights.


Although food addiction most often results in obesity, not all obese persons are food addicts. Persons with a family history of overeating and persons who lack adequate coping mechanisms for stress, disappointment, and anger may be more at risk for the disorder. Persons with a genetic predisposition for binge eating are enabled by family members, who often allow the cycle to continue through their own actions and expectations. Impulsivity may be another risk factor for food addiction (though not obesity), much as it increases vulnerability to other addictions.




Symptoms

Binge eaters differ from bulimics in that they do not attempt to rid themselves of the consumed food after a binge. Binge eaters and food addicts spend overwhelming amounts of time planning and fulfilling food “frenzies,” which occur publicly or privately. They may eat a reasonable portion in public yet overeat in private. They often eat when they are not hungry or when they are emotionally upset. Feelings of low self-worth and guilt often follow binges, yet these binges are followed by planning for the next episode of eating. Each encounter with food can perpetuate the cycle of destruction.


Though the majority of Americans eat more than what the US Department of Agriculture recommends, food addicts far exceed these same recommendations. Food addicts often feel full but may appear ravished, out of control, or on a high, or they may always claim to be hungry.


The insatiable appetite for food is a manifestation of other underlying problems. Food often becomes a substitute for other aspects of life that addicts do not perceive as fulfilled, including personal goals, finances, and personal and professional relationships. Food has filled these voids and temporarily provides the comfort, completeness, or pleasure that the addict so desperately seeks. Often, the addict makes food the object of obsession in attempts to delay or avoid dealing with uncomfortable situations or emotions.


Foods high in sugar and fat are thought to act as triggers for obsessive, compulsive eating. Therefore, withdrawal from these triggers is real and can cause cramps, tremors, and exaggerated feelings of depression and guilt.




Screening and Diagnosis

Screening tools in the form of questionnaires are available to determine if further evaluation may be necessary to aid in the diagnosis of a food addiction. However, these tools rely on self-reports. Food addicts are typically ashamed or in denial, or they feel they are too out of control to modify their behavior. These facts alter self-assessment tools.


Researchers have developed the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), based on an addiction scale for alcohol dependence, to screen takers for dependence on high-sugar and high-fat foods. Critics have pointed out that the scale does not clearly delineate the boundary between normal eating and problematic eating, however. This undermines the usefulness of the YFAS in determining whether an individual is overeating and whether food addiction can be said to exist as its own separate condition.


Health care providers are in a unique position to help those who may suffer from food addiction. Obesity is often attributed to other medical problems, such as thyroid disorders. However, appropriate laboratory tests can determine if a causal relationship exists. Among other complications, binge eating may lead to depression, suicidal thoughts and tendencies, obesity, heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and joint problems.


Notably, binge eating disorder, but not “food addiction,” is a recognized diagnosis in the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-5). Binge eating is also a symptom of the well-known eating disorder bulimia, yet in bulimia, other dysfunctional behaviors such as vomiting or abusing laxatives are undertaken to mitigate negative feelings and to avoid weight gain. According to DSM-5 criteria, for a diagnosis of binge eating disorder to be made, the individual must have engaged in binge eating episodes a minimum of once a week for three months. The exclusion of food addiction as such from the DSM-5 reflects ongoing debate among scientists as to the nature of the problem—whether specific foods or behaviors are to blame, whether the label of addiction is helpful or harmful to individuals’ treatment, and so forth. Nevertheless, problematic eating is a recognized health issue in need of treatment




Treatment and Therapy

Other substances of abuse (such as cocaine and heroin) are harmful to the addict regardless of dose. Treatment and therapy for substance addicts involves the elimination of the abused substance, which not only is detrimental to the body but also is completely unnecessary to sustain life.


Treatment and therapy for food addiction is unique because eating is required for human survival. The abused substance cannot be entirely removed from the person’s environment. Also noteworthy is that eating is a social behavior. Eating’s social aspects make it more challenging to control, given that humans are immersed in activities involving food and eating. Whether compulsive or not, overeating is more acceptable when others are also engaging in this behavior.


To sever their dependency on food, addicts must first realize and accept that they have a problem and must willingly receive treatment and support from trained professionals, such as physicians, dieticians, and mental health specialists. Food addicts must reclaim power and learn to control food instead of allowing it to control them.


Obesity that often accompanies binge eating and food addiction should also be addressed. Weight loss and psychological counseling may occur separately or simultaneously, but both are required to optimize the addict’s future.




Prevention

Unhealthy foods tend to be more accessible and often are more affordable than sound, nutritious foods. Considering the predominance of hectic lifestyles in developed nations, this limited availability of healthy foods creates the perfect opportunity to make poor food choices. Obesity, the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States, can lead to premature death or disability. The United States spent nearly $200 billion on obesity-related health care in 2005; obesity rates, and thus medical spending, have continued to rise.


Behavioral changes are required to prevent and correct binge eating and obesity. Apart from eating healthy and exercising regularly, several other strategies are suggested. Education is necessary to increase awareness of the problem, and educational efforts should be provided worldwide. Ideally, healthier food choices will be made equally available and healthy eating habits will be taught and reinforced. Also, researchers will continue to explore the underlying reasons behind unnecessary eating or overeating.




Bibliography


Blundell, J., S. Coe, and B. Hooper. “Food Addiction - What Is The Evidence?” Nutrition Bulletin 39.2 (2014): 218–22. Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.



Costin, Carolyn. The Eating Disorder Sourcebook. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. Print.



Kenny, Paul J. “The Food Addiction.” Scientific American 309.3 (2013): 44–49. Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.



Kessler, David A. The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite. New York: Rodale, 2009. Print.



Power, Michael L., and Jay Schulkin. The Evolution of Obesity. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 2009. Print.



Wansink, Brian. Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think. New York: Bantam, 2010. Print.

What is edema?


Process and Effects


Edema is not a disease but a condition that may be caused by a number of diseases. It signals a breakdown in the body’s fluid-regulating mechanisms. The body’s water can be envisioned as divided into three compartments: the intracellular compartment, the interstitial compartment, and the vascular compartment. The intracellular compartment consists of the fluid contained within the individual cells. The vascular compartment consists of all the water that is contained within the heart, the arteries, the capillaries, and the veins. The last compartment, and in many ways the most important for a discussion of edema, is called the interstitial compartment. This compartment includes all the water not contained in either the cells or the blood vessels. The interstitial compartment contains all the fluids between the intracellular compartment and the vascular compartment and the fluid in the lymphatic system. The sizes of these compartments are approximately as follows: intracellular fluid at 66 percent, interstitial fluid at 25 percent, and vascular fluid at only 8 percent of the total body water.



When the interstitial compartment becomes overloaded with fluid, edema develops. To understand the physiology of edema formation, it may be helpful to follow a molecule of water as it travels through the various compartments, beginning when the molecule enters the aorta soon after leaving the heart. The blood has just been ejected from the heart under high pressure, and it speedily begins its trip through the body. It passes from the great vessel, the aorta, into smaller and smaller arteries that divide and spread throughout the body. At each branching, the pressure and speed of the water molecule decrease. Finally, the molecule enters a capillary, a vessel so small that red blood cells must flow in a single file. The wall of this vessel is composed only of the membrane of a
single capillary cell. There are small passages between adjacent capillary cells leading to the interstitial compartment, but they are normally closed.


The hydrostatic pressure on the water molecule is much lower than when it was racing through the aorta, but it is still higher than that of the surrounding interstitial compartment. At the arterial end of the capillary, the blood pressure is sufficient to overcome the barrier of the capillary cell’s membrane. A fair number of water and other molecules are pushed through the membrane into the interstitial compartment.


In the interstitial compartment, the water molecule is essentially under no pressure, and it floats amid glucose molecules, oxygen molecules, and many other compounds. Glucose and oxygen molecules enter the cells, and when the water molecule is close to a glucose molecule it is taken inside a cell with that molecule. The water molecule is eventually expelled by the cell, which has produced extra water from the metabolic process.


Back in the interstitial compartment, the molecule floats with a very subtle flow toward the venous end of the capillary. This occurs because, as the arterial end of the capillary pushes out water molecules, it loses hydrostatic pressure, eventually equaling the pressure of the interstitial compartment. Once the pressure equalizes, another phenomenon that has been thus far overshadowed by the hydrostatic pressure takes over—osmotic pressure. Osmotic pressure is the force exercised by a concentrated fluid that is separated by a membrane from a less concentrated fluid. It draws water molecules across the membrane from the less concentrated side. The more concentrated the fluid, the greater the drawing power. The ratio of nonwater molecules to water molecules determines concentration.


The fluid that stays within the capillary remains more concentrated than the interstitial fluid for two reasons. First, the plasma proteins in the vascular compartment are too large to be forced across the capillary membrane; albumin is one such protein. These proteins stay within the vascular compartment and maintain a relatively concentrated state, compared to the interstitial compartment. At the same time, the concentration of the fluid in the interstitial compartment is being lowered constantly by the cellular compartment’s actions. Cells remove molecules of substances such as glucose to metabolize, and afterward they release water—a by-product of the metabolic process. Both processes conspire to lower the total concentration of the interstitial compartment. The net result of this process is that water molecules return to the
capillaries at the venous end because of osmotic pressure.


The water molecule is caught by this force and is returned to the vascular compartment. Back in the capillary, the molecule’s journey is not yet complete. Now in a tiny vein, it moves along with blood. On the venous side of the circulatory system, the process of branching is reversed, and small veins join to form increasingly larger ones. The water molecule rides along in these progressively larger veins. The pressure surrounding the molecule is still low, but it is now higher than the pressure at the venous end of the capillary. One may wonder how this is possible if the venous pressure at the beginning of the venous system is essentially zero, and there is only one pump, the heart, in the body. As the molecule flows through the various veins, it occasionally passes one-way valves that allow blood to flow only toward the heart. The action of these valves, combined with muscular contractions from activities such as walking or tapping the foot, force blood toward the heart. Without these valves, it would be impossible for the venous blood to flow against gravity and return to the heart; the blood would simply sit at the lowest point in the body. Fortunately, these valves and contractions move the
molecule against gravity, returning it to the heart to begin a new cycle.


In certain disease states, there is marked capillary dilation and excessive capillary permeability, and excessive amounts of fluid are allowed to leave the intravascular compartment. The fluid accumulates in the interstitial space. When capillary permeability is increased, plasma proteins also tend to leave the vascular space, reducing the intravascular compartment’s osmotic pressure while increasing the interstitial compartment’s osmotic pressure. As a result, the rate of return of fluid from the interstitial compartment to the vascular compartment is lowered, thus increasing the interstitial fluid levels.


Another route of return of interstitial fluid to the circulation is via the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is similar to the venous system, but it carries no red blood cells. It runs through the lymph nodes, carrying some of the interstitial fluid that has not been able to return to the vascular compartment at the capillary level. If lymphatic vessels become obstructed, water in the interstitial compartment accumulates, and edema may result.




Causes and Symptoms

Heart failure is a major cause of edema. When the right ventricle of the heart fails, it cannot cope with all the venous blood returning to the heart. As a consequence, the veins become distended, the interstitial compartment is overloaded, and edema occurs. If the patient with heart failure is mostly upright, the edema collects in the legs; if the patient has been lying in bed for some time, the edema tends to accumulate in the lower back. Other clinical signs of right heart failure include distended neck veins, an enlarged and tender liver, and a “galloping” sound on listening to the heart with a stethoscope.


When the left ventricle of the heart fails, the congestion affects the pulmonary veins instead of the neck and leg veins. Fluid accumulates in the same fashion within the interstitial compartment of the lungs; this condition is termed
pulmonary edema. Patients develop shortness of breath with minimal activity, upon lying down, and periodically through the night. They may need to sleep on several pillows to minimize this symptom. This condition can usually be diagnosed by listening to the lungs and heart through a stethoscope and by taking an x-ray of the chest.



Deep vein thrombosis

is another common cause of edema of the lower limbs. When a
thrombus (a blood clot inside a blood vessel) develops in a large vein of the legs, the patient usually complains of pain and tenderness of the affected leg. There is usually redness and edema as well. If the thrombus affects a small vein, it may not be noticed. The diagnosis can be made by several specialized tests, such as ultrasound testing and impedance plethysmography. Other tests may be needed to make the diagnosis, such as injecting radiographic dye in a vein in the foot and then taking x-rays to determine whether the flow in the veins has been obstructed or using radioactive agents that bind to the clot. Risks for developing venous thrombosis include immobility (even for relatively short periods of time such as a long car or plane ride), injury, a personal or family history of venous thrombosis, the use of birth control pills, and certain types of cancer. Elderly patients are at particular risk because of relative immobility and an increased frequency of minor trauma to the legs.


When repeated or large thrombi develop, the veins deep inside the thigh (the deep venous system) become blocked, and blood flow shifts toward the superficial veins. The deep veins are surrounded by muscular tissue, and venous flow is assisted by muscular contractions of the leg (the muscular pump), but the superficial veins are surrounded only by skin and subcutaneous tissue and cannot take advantage of the muscular pump. As a consequence, the superficial veins become distended and visible as
varicose veins.


When vein blockage occurs, the valves inside become damaged. Hydrostatic pressure of the venous system below the blockage then rises. The venous end of the capillary is normally where the osmotic pressure of the vascular compartment pulls water from the interstitial compartment back into the vascular compartment. In a situation of increased hydrostatic pressure, however, this process is slowed or stopped. As a result, fluid accumulates in the interstitial space, leading to the formation of edema.


A dangerous complication of
deep vein thrombosis occurs when part of a thrombus breaks off, enters the circulation, and reaches the lung; this is called a pulmonary embolus. It blocks the flow of blood to the lung, impairing oxygenation. Small emboli may have little or no effect on the patient, while larger emboli may cause severe shortness of breath, chest pain, or even death.


Another potential cause of edema is the presence of a mass in the pelvis or abdomen compressing the large veins passing through the area and interfering with the venous return from the lower limbs to the heart. The resulting venous congestion leads to edema of the lower limbs. The edema may affect either one or both legs, depending on the size and location of the mass. This diagnosis can usually be established by a thorough clinical examination, including rectal and vaginal examinations and x-ray studies.


Postural (or gravitational) edema of the lower limbs is the most common type of edema affecting older people; it is more pronounced toward the end of the day. It can be differentiated from the edema resulting from heart failure by the lack of signs associated with heart failure and by the presence of diseases restricting the patient’s degree of mobility. These diseases include Parkinson’s disease, osteoarthritis, strokes, and muscle weakness. Postural edema of the lower limbs results from a combination of factors, the most important being diminished mobility. If a person stands or sits for prolonged periods of time without moving, the muscular pump becomes ineffective. Venous compression also plays an important role in the development of this type of edema. It will occur when the veins in the thigh are compressed between the weight of the body and the surface on which the patient sits, or when the edge of a reclining chair compresses the veins in the calves. Other factors that aggravate postural edema include varicose veins, venous thrombi, heart failure, some types of medication, and low blood albumin levels.


Albumin is formed in the liver from dietary protein. It is essential to maintaining adequate osmotic pressure inside the blood vessels and ensuring the return of fluid from the interstitial space to the vascular compartment. When edema is caused by inadequate blood levels of albumin, it tends to be quite extensive. The patient’s entire body and even face are often affected. The liver may be unable to produce the necessary amount of albumin for several reasons, including malnutrition, liver impairment, the aging process, and excessive protein loss.


In cases of malnutrition, the liver does not receive a sufficient quantity of raw material from the diet to produce albumin; this occurs when the patient does not ingest enough protein. Healthy adults need at least 0.5 grams of protein for each pound of their body weight. Infants and children of poor families who cannot afford to prepare nutritious meals often suffer from malnutrition. The elderly, especially men living on their own, are also vulnerable, regardless of their income.


A liver damaged by excessive and prolonged consumption of alcohol, diseases, or the intake of some types of medication or other chemical toxins will be unable to manufacture albumin at the rate necessary to maintain a normal concentration in the blood. Clinically, the patient shows other evidence of liver impairment in addition to edema. For example, fluid may also accumulate in the abdominal cavity, a condition known as ascites. The diagnosis of liver damage is made by clinical examination and supporting laboratory investigations. The livers of older people, even in the absence of disease, are often less efficient at producing albumin.


The albumin also can be deficient if an excessive amount of albumin is lost from the body. This condition may occur in certain types of diseases affecting the kidneys or the gastrointestinal tract. An excessive amount of protein also may be lost if a patient has large, oozing pressure ulcers, extensive burns, or chronic lung conditions that produce large amounts of sputum.


Patients with strokes and
paralysis sometimes develop edema of the paralyzed limb. The mechanism of edema formation in these patients is not entirely understood. It probably results from a combination of an impairment of the nerves controlling the dilation and a constriction of the blood vessels in the affected limb, along with postural and gravitational factors.


Severe allergic states, toxic states, or local inflammation are associated with increased capillary permeability that results in edema. The amount of fluid flowing out to the capillaries far exceeds the amount that can be returned to the capillaries at the venous end. A number of medications, including steroids, estrogens, some arthritis medications, a few blood pressure medications, and certain antibiotics, can induce edema by promoting the retention of fluid. Salt intake tends to cause retention of fluid as well. Obstruction of the lymphatic system often leads to accumulation of fluid in the interstitial compartment. Obstruction can occur in certain types of cancer, after radiation treatment, and in certain parasitic infestations.




Treatment and Therapy

The management of edema depends on the specific reason for its presence. To determine the cause of edema, a thorough history, including current medications, dietary habits, and activity level, is of prime importance. Performing a detailed physical examination is also a vital step. It is frequently necessary to obtain laboratory, ultrasound, and x-ray studies before a final diagnosis is made. Once a treatable cause is found, therapy aimed at the cause should be instituted.


If no treatable, specific disease is responsible for the edema, conservative treatment aimed at reducing the edema to manageable levels without inducing side effects should be initiated. Frequent elevation of the feet to the level of the heart, use of support stockings, and avoidance of prolonged standing or sitting are the first steps. If support stockings are ineffective or are too uncomfortable, then custom-made, fitted stockings are available. A low-salt diet is important in the management of edema because a high salt intake worsens the fluid retention. If all these measures fail, then diuretics in small doses may be useful.


Diuretics work by increasing the amount of urine produced. Urine is made of fluids removed from the vascular compartment by the kidneys. The vascular compartment then replenishes itself by drawing water from the interstitial compartment. This reduction in the amount of interstitial fluid improves the edema. There are various types of diuretics, which differ in their potency, duration of action, and side effects. Potential side effects include dizziness, fatigue, sodium and potassium deficiency, excessively low blood pressure, dehydration, sexual dysfunction, the worsening of a diabetic’s blood sugar control, increased uric acid levels, and increased blood cholesterol levels. Although diuretics are a convenient and effective means of treating simple edema, it is important to keep in mind that the cure should not be worse than the disease. When the potential side effects of diuretic therapy are compared to the almost total lack of complications of conservative treatment, one can see that mild edema that is not secondary to significant disease is best managed conservatively. Edema caused by more serious diseases, however, calls for more intensive measures.




Perspective and Prospects

The prevalence of edema could decrease as people become more health conscious and medical progress is made. Nutritious diets, avoidance of excessive salt, and an increased awareness of the dangers of excessive alcohol intake and of the benefits of regular physical exercise all contribute to decreasing the incidence of edema. Improved methods for the early detection, prevention, and management of diseases that may ultimately result in edema could also significantly reduce the scope of the problem. It is also expected that safer and more convenient methods of treating edema will become available.




Bibliography


Andreoli, Thomas E., et al., eds. Andreoli and Carpenter’s Cecil Essentials of Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier, 2010.



Cleveland Clinic. "Edema." Cleveland Clinic Foundation, April 26, 2012.



Guyton, Arthur C., and John E. Hall. Human Physiology and Mechanisms of Disease. 6th ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, 1997.



Hosenpud, Jeffrey D., and Barry H. Greenberg, eds. Congestive Heart Failure. 3d ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007.



Marieb, Elaine N., and Katja Hoehn. Human Anatomy and Physiology. 9th ed. San Francisco: Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, 2010.



Mayo Clinic. "Edema." Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, October 13, 2011.



MedlinePlus. "Edema." MedlinePlus, January 22, 2013.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

What are primary and secondary sources?

Primary sources are what might be called the "building blocks" of history. They are, by definition, sources that were produced at the time being studied. Most primary sources are written--government documents, letters, newspapers, court records, and so on. But works of art can be primary sources, as can a variety of different artifacts. Still, the primary sources we use in the classroom are almost always texts. Secondary sources, on the other hand, are commentaries or studies of a historical subject produced after the fact. So if you were studying the American Civil War, a primary source would be the text of the Emancipation Proclamation or a soldier's letter home to his family. A secondary source would usually be a book about the Civil War like James Macpherson's Battle Cry of Freedom or Drew Gilpin Faust's This Republic of Suffering. When historians study history, they use primary sources, but they also build upon (and argue against) what other historians have written in secondary sources.

What is microbiology?


Science and Profession

Microbiology is the field of science that focuses on microorganisms, or living things that can be studied only using microscopes and other special equipment. Microorganisms have an important place in the ecology of the planet. They form a basis for food chains and, as decomposers, recycle many materials in the environment. Because microbes are everywhere, humans come in contact with a wide variety every day; many live on or in the human body. Most of these organisms either are harmless or are prevented from multiplying by the body's immune system and other defenses. Others are able to penetrate these defenses and cause illness. Medical microbiologists study the microorganisms that cause these diseases. Such pathogens primarily fall into one of four groups: bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses.




Bacteria, including cyanobacteria (often called blue-green algae, although they are not actually algae), were previously considered to belong to the Monera kingdom. Under the more recent three-domain system, which made kingdoms subgroups of domains, the organisms formerly in the Monera kingdom were divided between the domains Archaea and Bacteria (formerly Eubacteria). Bacteria are the simplest organisms that exist in cellular form; most have just one circular chromosome containing between several hundred and several thousand genes (compared to the more than twenty thousand protein-coding genes found in human DNA). Because it is unprotected by a nuclear membrane, bacterial DNA can be manipulated more easily than can DNA in plants and animals.


Several traits are used to identify bacterial species. There are three basic shapes: coccus (round), bacillus (rod), and spirillum (spiral). The gram staining procedure divides bacteria into two main groups based on their cell wall content. Other staining procedures can identify the presence of such structures as flagella, capsules, and endospores, which may have implications for control measures. For example, endospores are resistant to many common disinfectants, and boiling them for up to four hours may not destroy them. In addition to staining, chemical and metabolic tests are used to differentiate bacterial species.



Fungi belong to the domain Eukarya, kingdom Fungi. Although this kingdom includes larger organisms such as mushrooms, the ones of interest to medical microbiology are the yeasts, molds, and related microorganisms. Like plants, fungi have cell walls. However, they cannot manufacture their own food by photosynthesis and must either be saprophytes, living on dead organic material, or parasites, obtaining nutrients from another living organism. Fungi reproduce by means of spores that are released and carried by the air to a suitable medium. They thrive in a warm, moist environment with a carbohydrate source of food.



Protozoa, members of the Eukarya domain, Protista (or Protoctista) kingdom, are often referred to as one-celled animals. They have no cell walls and must ingest or absorb their food. Their ability to move enables them to spread more quickly than can nonmotile microbes. Protozoa have traditionally been divided into four main categories, based on their method of movement. Amoebas move by means of projections called pseudopodia; flagellates move by means of long hairlike structures (flagella) that whip back and forth; ciliates are covered with short hairlike structures (cilia) that beat in a synchronized manner to cause movement; and sporozoans must move by means of the circulation of blood and tissue fluids within a host. Of all the microorganisms, protozoa are the ones that most resemble human cells. Treatment for a protozoan disease must be monitored closely, as most chemicals that are effective against protozoa are also toxic to humans.



Viruses are on the borderline between living and nonliving things. They are not cellular in form, unlike all other forms of life. Each virus particle, called a virion, is made up of a protein coat and a nucleic acid core of either DNA or RNA. Viruses are classified by size, shape, type of nucleic acid in their core, and type of cell they invade or disease they cause.


To reproduce, a virion attaches itself to a living cell and injects its core into the cell. The nucleic acid then takes over the cell’s protein-manufacturing apparatus to make new virus particles. The host cell ruptures as these viruses are released to infect other cells. Some viral DNA can incorporate itself into the host DNA and remain dormant until some factor triggers a new reproductive cycle. Viruses usually can attack only one type of cell or species; however, mutations can occur that allow them to infect other species. For example, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is believed to have mutated from simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in monkeys.




Diagnostic and Treatment Techniques

When the type of microorganism causing an infectious disease is unknown, a medical microbiologist follows a series of procedures known as Koch’s postulates. Named for German bacteriologist Robert Koch, who first proposed them, these procedures identify and confirm that a particular microorganism is the cause of a disease. First, the microorganism must be present in the tissues of all individuals who have the disease. This means that all the microorganisms in a sample of diseased tissue must be identified and classified so that a possible pathogen may be differentiated from the normal flora. Second, the suspected pathogen must be isolated and grown in a pure culture. Many microorganisms can be grown on a simple medium called nutrient agar. Some microorganisms may need specific nutrients added to the medium, or they may be obligate parasites, meaning they can only grow on or in living cells. Anaerobic organisms cannot grow at all if oxygen is present. Since these special needs cannot be met if the identity of the organism is unknown, the detection of some pathogens in this manner may be difficult.


The third step the researcher takes is to inoculate an animal with the organism in an effort to duplicate the disease. In the case of human diseases, mammals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice are typically used. However, finding the right animal subject may pose a problem, since not all animals are susceptible to human diseases. For example, armadillos must be used to study leprosy, because the more common laboratory animals are not susceptible to it. In the last of Koch’s procedures, the organism must be reisolated from the diseased animal. This step verifies the identity of the pathogen and confirms that it is the same as the original form. If the organism has been identified correctly as the cause of the disease, researchers can then proceed to learn more about the microorganism and its role in the disease process.


Identifying a pathogen as the cause of a specific disease and determining its biological characteristics aid medical researchers in finding prevention and treatment strategies. To cause illness, a microorganism must meet several criteria. First, it must survive transfer to the new host. Some pathogens can form protective structures, such as endospores, that will keep them alive outside a host for a long period of time. A pathogen that cannot survive outside a host must be passed directly in some way from an infected person to a healthy one. Second, a pathogen must overcome the host’s defenses. Some may enter through a wound, bypassing the skin barrier that protects the human body from many infections. Some produce chemicals that damage cells and weaken the body. Still others may be able to cause illness only if the host’s defenses are weakened by some factor such as age, malnutrition, or another existing illness. Finally, the organism must cause some damage to the host, resulting in the symptoms and signs associated with that illness. The disease process can best be understood by examining several examples of pathogens, the diseases they cause, and the strategies used against them.


The members of the genus

Clostridium
are all anaerobic, endospore forming, and toxin producing. Among the bacteria in this group are the pathogens that cause gangrene, tetanus, and botulism. Gangrene usually occurs when a wound has cut off the blood supply to an area of the body. Clostridium perfringens enters the body and is able to survive because the lack of blood has created an anaerobic condition. It produces a toxin that destroys surrounding tissue, allowing it to spread. Antibiotics may be effective in preventing the bacteria from spreading to healthy tissue, but because drugs are transported in the blood, they may not be able to reach the infected site. Placing the patient in a chamber containing oxygen under high pressure is one strategy used to destroy anaerobic bacteria.



Clostridium tetani also enters the body through a wound, sometimes a very small one. Since this organism is common and a small wound may go unnoticed, regular tetanus vaccinations are recommended. Once C. tetani bacteria enter the body, they produce a neurotoxin that causes the muscles to stiffen, resulting in a condition called tetanus, or lockjaw. In addition to antibiotics, an antitoxin must be given to neutralize the poison.



Clostridium botulinum causes botulism, a type of food poisoning. If proper canning techniques are not used, the endospores will germinate. The food then provides a medium on which they can grow, and the sealed can provides the perfect anaerobic conditions. C. botulinum produces a neurotoxin that, if it is not destroyed by adequate cooking, will produce neurological symptoms such as double vision and dizziness. If the disease is not treated with an appropriate antitoxin, death from respiratory failure can occur in a matter of days.


The human intestine contains large numbers of microorganisms. Some of them provide benefits to their host by producing vitamins and inhibiting the growth of other, potentially harmful microorganisms. Disease can result if the balance is changed. Escherichia coli, part of the normal intestinal flora, can cause infections when it is transferred to another part of the body, such as the urinary bladder. In developing countries, E. coli bacteria contaminate drinking water in such large numbers that they result in infantile diarrhea, a common cause of death in those countries. A 1993 epidemic in the United States involved a particularly virulent strain of E. coli that had been ingested in improperly cooked ground beef. The characteristics of the strain and the large number of bacteria in the meat disrupted the intestinal balance of those who ingested it, causing hundreds of people to become ill and resulting in the deaths of three young children.


The use of antibiotics can disrupt the natural balance by destroying beneficial bacteria as well as pathogens. Candida albicans, a yeastlike fungus, is part of the normal human flora. Its growth in the intestine is controlled by certain kinds of bacteria. When antibiotics are used, these beneficial bacteria are destroyed, and the Candida begins to multiply, resulting in a fungal infection known as candidiasis. The infection is not necessarily limited to the intestines; it may spread to the vagina, where it is commonly known as a yeast infection, or any other part of the body where Candida can be found. Strategies used to restore the balance may involve eating yogurt or capsules containing Acidophilus, one of the beneficial bacteria. Sugars, an important source of food for yeast, should be eliminated from the diet. If these measures do not work, antifungal medication may have to be used.


Fungi that cause skin infections such as athlete’s foot are called dermatophytes, and the resulting infection is called dermatophytosis. When an infected person takes a shower, dermatophyte spores are left in the shower stall. The warm, moist environment then allows the spores to survive until a potential new host comes. Since feet are usually enclosed in shoes and socks, the dermatophytes are again provided with an ideal warm, moist environment. Prevention strategies involve using fungicidal disinfectants to kill the spores and wearing sandals in the shower to avoid coming in contact with the spores. Treatment includes antifungal medication and making the environment less suitable for fungi by keeping the feet dry.


Protozoa are also vulnerable to dry conditions. Entamoeba histolytica, the cause of amebic dysentery, is usually ingested in contaminated water. It can form cysts, which allows it to resist drying and freezing. An individual can become ill after eating food rinsed in contaminated water or drinking a “safe” beverage containing ice made from contaminated water.



Plasmodium species are responsible for malaria, which kills two million people in the world each year. Because this protozoan cannot live outside a host, it is dependent on the female Anopheles mosquito to transmit it from one person to another. When a mosquito “bites,” it pierces the skin with a hypodermic-like mouth and injects a local anesthetic to prevent the host from feeling its presence. At the same time, if it is infected with Plasmodium, it will inject malarial parasites into the bloodstream. These parasites spend most of their life cycle inside red blood cells, where they are protected from normal immune defenses. Once they have multiplied, they rupture the cells as they leave. Treatment involves maintaining sufficiently high levels of medicine, such as quinine, in the plasma that the parasites die. The most important public health strategy is to control the mosquito population in order to prevent transmission.


After bacteria, viruses are the most common pathogens. Their mode of transmission from one host to another depends on the type of virus. Some can survive for a long period of time outside a host, others must be transferred quickly through the air or by physical contact, and still others can survive only when passed directly into the host via bodily fluids or insect bites. The damage done to the host depends on the type of tissue that is infected by the virus. For example, the Epstein-Barr virus invades the lymphatic system, where it causes the enlarged lymph nodes and abnormal lymphocytes that are characteristic of mononucleosis. It is also associated with Burkitt lymphoma and Hodgkin disease, both cancers of the lymphatic system. HIV invades the T lymphocytes, the white blood cells that are crucial to the functioning of the immune system. Damage to the immune system not only makes the individual vulnerable to disease organisms coming from outside the body but also disrupts the balance between the host and normal human flora. This allows other viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi such as Candida to multiply and cause potentially fatal secondary infections.




Perspective and Prospects

Infectious diseases have had devastating effects on human populations and societies. For example, during the eighty-year period starting in 1347, recurrent plague epidemics resulted in the deaths of 75 percent of the European population. For many centuries, some physicians and others hypothesized that invisible creatures were the cause of disease. In 1546, Venetian physician Girolamo Fracastoro suggested the presence of germs (seeds) of disease that could be passed from person to person. Because these creatures could not be seen, this “germ” theory was not widely accepted. Then, in 1673, Dutch tradesman and inventor Antoni van Leeuwenhoek began sending descriptions and pictures of what he called “animalcules” to the Royal Society of London. An amateur scientist, Leeuwenhoek made simple microscopes and systematically studied the objects and materials around him. His discoveries of what are now known to be protozoa and bacteria were verified, and they opened the field of microbiology as a science.


Using their new knowledge of the microbial world, nineteenth-century researchers began to reexamine the germ theory of disease. In 1857, Louis Pasteur, a chemist, discovered that certain bacteria caused wine to spoil. A few years later, he isolated a protozoan as a cause of a silkworm disease and predicted that microbes could cause human illness. In 1875, Robert Koch, the inventor of Koch’s postulates, devised a procedure by which he demonstrated that anthrax was caused by a specific type of bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. His experiments led to widespread acceptance of the germ theory of disease, and his procedures provided a systematic method by which researchers could identify those germs. The twenty-five years that followed are referred to as the golden age of microbiology; during this time, one by one, nearly all the major bacterial pathogens were identified.


During this intense period of discovery, researchers soon found that although fine porcelain filters were used to trap microorganisms, in some cases the liquid filtrate was capable of causing disease. The term “virus,” meaning poison, was used because it was thought at first that the liquid contained a toxic substance. Pasteur hypothesized that there might be an organism too small to be seen using the light microscope. Later, this was verified when researchers were able to remove the water from the filtrate, leaving crystals behind. After the invention of the electron microscope in 1933, individual virions could be seen.


The discovery of pathogens quickly led to research aimed at finding ways to prevent and treat infectious diseases. The contagious nature of disease was known in ancient times, as illustrated by the practices of Greek physicians and Jewish hygiene laws. Prior to Koch’s work, Hungarian physician Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis in the 1840s and English physician Joseph Lister in the 1860s showed that antiseptic techniques could control transmission of diseases. In 1849, English physician John Snow traced the source of a cholera epidemic to a single water pump in London. The knowledge that a specific pathogen was involved made it possible for more specific means of prevention to be applied. Within ten years of Koch’s report, Pasteur developed vaccines for anthrax and rabies. Immunizations for many infectious diseases were developed, public sanitation measures were taken to reduce the contamination of food and water, and surgeons adopted techniques to control surgical and wound infection.


Although progress in disease prevention was being made, once a person became ill, treatment was still primarily a matter of keeping the patient alive until the disease ran its course. In the early twentieth century, a German physician named Paul Ehrlich began to search for what he called a “magic bullet”—a chemical that would specifically treat a disease by killing the pathogens that caused it. After several years of work, compound 606, an arsenic derivative, was made available to treat syphilis. Sulfa drugs were developed in the 1920s. In 1929, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, a substance produced by the mold Penicillium that could destroy bacteria in cultures. In 1939, Ernst Chain and Howard Florey used penicillin successfully to treat bacterial infections. In 1944, Selman Waksman discovered streptomycin and used the term “antibiotic” to refer to a substance manufactured by a living organism that kills or inhibits the growth of a pathogen.


By the 1970s, it seemed that the end of infectious disease as a major medical problem was in sight. Several developments brought an end to this complacency. Antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria such as
Staphylococcus
and the causative agents behind gonorrhea and syphilis appeared and soon became widespread. Childhood diseases that were once thought to be under control reappeared as a result of neglected vaccination programs. Increased world travel also facilitated the spread of disease from country to country. Then, in 1981, AIDS was first described; within a few years, it became a worldwide health problem. As people with AIDS began to succumb to previously uncommon secondary diseases, these diseases had to be studied. A new antibiotic-resistant strain of tuberculosis also appeared as a direct result of the AIDS epidemic. These developments have reemphasized the study of microbiology and demonstrated its importance to human health.




Bibliography


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Money, Nicholas P. The Amoeba in the Room: Lives of the Microbes. New York: Oxford UP, 2014. Print.



Murray, Patrick R., Ken S. Rosenthal, and Michael A. Pfaller. Medical Microbiology. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2013. Print.



Pommerville, Jeffrey C., and Benjamin S. Weeks. Alcamo's Microbes and Society. 4th ed. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett, 2016. Print.



Slonczewski, Joan L., and John W. Foster. Microbiology: An Evolving Science. 3rd ed. New York: Norton, 2013. Print.

What was the purpose of the NIRA program of the New Deal?

President Franklin D. Roosevelt launched a series of programs to try to help deal with effects of the Great Depression. These programs were known as the New Deal. The purpose of these programs was to bring relief, recovery, and reform to our economic system.


The National Industrial Recovery Act was one of the recovery programs. This program, run by Hugh Johnson, established a series of codes or rules of fair competition. These rules set wages, prices, and hours of work. These rules were designed to stop the downward spiral in the economy by spreading work around so more people could be employed, to pay workers fairly, and to set prices at a certain level depending on the industry. If more people were working and being fairly paid, they would demand products. This would prevent prices from dropping. The law also gave unions the right to exist.


There was a lot of publicity given to this program. Participating businesses were able to display the Blue Eagle Symbol showing that the business was doing its part to work with the government to help end the Great Depression. Business owners felt pressure to be involved in the program. If they didn’t display the Blue Eagle Symbol, they could be questioned why they weren’t involved in the program.


Not everybody liked this program. Efficient businesses felt it helped those businesses that weren’t efficient. Small businesses felt the codes favored the large businesses. Business owners weren’t thrilled the unions had the right to exist. Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled this program unconstitutional, bringing it to an end.


The National Industrial Recovery Act was designed to help bring the country out of the Great Depression.

Friday, January 23, 2009

In Crito, Socrates was an independent thinker and strong leader who was punished and jailed for his views. Yet, when in captivity, he appears to...

In submitting his life for what he believed, Socrates was able to push his society to think and question.


The act of submitting his life represents Socrates' commitment to his duty. Crito argues that Socrates should escape. However, to do so violates Socrates' sense of an honorable existence. Socrates argues that one of the basic elements that must govern human existence is the way we live our lives: "The really important thing is not to live, but to live well . . . And . . . to live well means the same thing as to live honourably or rightly.” In Socrates's mind, it would not be honorable for him to escape. It would violate the rules of Athenian society, and to do so would mean living a life that is far from the ideal. As a result, he reasons that evading social punishment through wrong means is an act of wrong and thus must be rejected:



Our real duty . . . is to consider one question only. . . . Shall we be acting rightly in paying money and showing gratitude to these people who are going to rescue me, and in escaping . . . or shall we really be acting wrongly in doing all this? If it becomes clear that such conduct is wrong, I cannot help thinking that the question whether we are sure to die, or to suffer any other ill effect . . . if we stand our ground and take no action, ought not to weigh with us at all in comparison with the risk of doing what is wrong.



When determining an act's nature, Socrates looks at the act itself, and not its consequences. The act of evading the law's punishment is wrong. Therefore, when confronted with an action that runs "the risk of doing what is wrong," Socrates rejects it and sacrifices his life.


I would suggest that Socrates's actions get people to think. Socrates sets an example others are compelled to follow. In living life with the idea that “It is never right to do a wrong or return a wrong or defend one’s self against injury by retaliation," Socrates demonstrates how the laws must supersede all else. They are more powerful than the individuals who might be ineffective in administering the duties associated with these institutions. Thus, Socrates suggests that we are not justified in retaliating against authority, even if the people who represent it are wrong. Instead, he suggests that we must be examples of purity, showcasing the transformative power of what can be as opposed to the mundane reality of what is. This example can motivate people to think and create change because they are provided with a vision of justice that can transcend one of injustice.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Name the seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

The Northern and Southern hemispheres of Earth have an opposite cycle of seasons. For example, when the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing summer, the Southern Hemisphere is enjoying the winter. Seasons take place due to the tilt of Earth's axis of rotation (an imaginary line passing through the north and south poles). In essence, whatever hemisphere is tilted towards the sun has more sunlight hours and thus warmer weather. 


Based on the attached illustration, here is the listing of seasons:


Northern Hemisphere:


9) Summer


11) Autumn


14) Winter


16) Spring


Southern Hemisphere:


10) Winter


12) Spring


13) Summer 


15) Autumn


The tilt of the hemisphere decides what season there is in that particular hemisphere. For example, in case (9), the Northern Hemisphere is tilted more towards the sun and hence gets longer sunlight hours and thus has the summer season. In comparison, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun at that time and gets less sunlight and hence experiences winter.


Hope this helps. 

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

How does Mary Shelley's style of writing help create horror in Frankenstein?

First and foremost, Mary Shelley's topic is horrific, so anything else she did with style was almost second to the topic.


This novel squarely fits the definition of Gothic Literature. Some of the traits of that genre are: a decaying setting or decaying morals (think of Victor's workroom AND morals here); omens or prophecies, for instance, we see plenty of foreshadowing by Shelley throughout (Victor says at one point that one of them will end up dead and the Rime of the Ancient Mariner references serve as prophecies); supernatural or superhuman beings (the monster); and even damsels in distress (Elizabeth AND Justine!). So clearly Shelley's style is very much a part of a larger genre meant to horrify.


Her specific wording also helps create a horrific atmosphere. For example, she uses the words "dark," bodies," death," and "daemon," repeatedly. 

How was the government in the New Jersey colony organized?

New Jersey's colonial government changed over time, but generally maintained the same basic structure. At first (1664-1702) it was a proprietary colony in which the proprietors chose a governor. As a proprietary colony, it also featured a colonial legislature, the lower house of which doubled as the governor's council. At this point, the colony was actually two colonies--West Jersey and East Jersey, controlled by two different proprietors and featuring Quaker and Scottish populations, respectively. In 1702, New Jersey was formed by uniting these two colonies, and the structure of government remained, with the governor then appointed by the Crown. This system remained until the American Revolution, when William Franklin (son of the rebel Benjamin), having remained loyal to the British, was forced out of office. The revolutionary government established by the state constitution of 1776 maintained the two-house legislature and the governor's office, but the governor saw his powers severely curtailed. 

What is Morgellons disease?


Causes and Symptoms

Morgellons disease is a pattern of dermatologic symptoms first described several centuries ago. Patients typically complain of insectlike sensations, such as persisting itching, stinging, biting, pricking, burning, and crawling. They often have skin
lesions that can vary from very minor to disfiguring. Some patients, however, have no visible changes in the skin. In some cases, fiberlike material can be obtained from the skin lesions; patients describe this material as “fibers,” “fiber balls,” and “fuzz balls.” In other cases, “granules” can be removed from the skin, described by the patients as “seeds,” “eggs,” and “sands.” The majority of patients report disabling fatigue, reduced capacity to exercise, joint pain, and sleep disturbances. Additional symptoms may include hair loss, neurological symptoms, weight gain, recurrent fever, orthostatic intolerance, tachycardia, decline in vision, memory loss, and endocrine abnormalities (such as diabetes type 2, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hyperparathyroidism, or adrenal hypofunction).







The disease may occur at any age and has a large geographic distribution. It occurs in both males and females. Cases of elderly women living alone seem more frequently reported. Physical stress was reported to be a common precursor. Rural residence and exposure to unhygienic conditions (contact with soil or waste products) are often described. Results from routine laboratory tests are often variable and inconsistent.


The vast majority of these patients have been diagnosed with psychosomatic illness. Prior psychiatric diagnosis (such as bipolar disorder, paranoia, schizophrenia, depression, and drug abuse) has been recorded in more than 50 percent of patients . Patients are obsessively focused on the skin symptoms in terms of complaints and measures to eradicate the disease and to prevent contagion. They usually seek help from between ten and forty physicians and complain of being not understood or taken seriously. Usually, patients are intensely anxious and not open to the idea that they may have a psychological or neurological pathology. They often experience extreme frustration.



Morgellons disease has also been reported in association with conditions that are characterized by itching, such as renal disease, malignant lymphoma, or hepatic disease.


The etiology of Morgellons disease remains under investigation. So far, no examinations, biopsies, and tests have been able to provide evidence supporting any possible cause. Skin biopsies from patients with Morgellons disease typically reveal nonspecific pathology or inflammatory process/reaction with no observable pathogen. In a 2012 study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers did not find any evidence that Morgellons is caused by either an environment substance or an infectious agent.




Treatment and Therapy

The management of patients with Morgellons disease is symptomatic and supportive. It can include skin care with baths, topical ointments, and emollients. It is important for the treating physician (in most cases, a dermatologist) to refer the patient to a psychiatrist or to prescribe appropriate psychoactive medication. Long-term treatment with pimozid (0.5 to 2 milligrams once daily) has been suggested. Risperidone and aripiprazone have also been reported to be efficient. Patients should be convinced that the medication may be needed for months or years.




Perspective and Prospects

Morgellons disease was initially described in France, in 1674, by Sir Thomas Browne. “The Morgellons” was the term used to describe dermal complaints such as hairlike extrusions and sensations of movement beneath the skin reported by children. By the early seventeenth century, this condition was thought to be caused by the parasite
Dranculus (later called Dracontia), and the suggested treatment consisted of filament removal from the skin. Michel Ettmuller produced the only known drawing dating from 1682 of “The Morgellons,” the objects associated with what was then believed to be a parasitic infestation in children.


The name “Morgellons disease” was created in 2002 to describe patients presenting with this clinical set of symptoms and to provide an alternative to “delusion of parasitosis.” Although the condition was first described many centuries ago, much attention has recently been given to the disease because of the Internet, mass media, and the online support group Morgellons Research Foundation at www.morgellons.com. There is still a discussion whether Morgellons disease is very similar, if not identical, to “delusion of parasitosis.” Thus, whether Morgellons disease is a delusional disorder or even a disease has been a mystery for more than three hundred years. So far, research about Morgellons is sparse and limited. General practitioners, mental health professionals, and the general public need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of this mysterious condition. Some authors suggest the term “syndrome” instead of “disease.”




Bibliography


"CDC Study of an Unexplained Dermopathy." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 25, 2012.



Harvey, William T., et al. “Morgellons Disease: Illuminating an Undefined Illness—A Case Series.” Journal of Medical Case Reports no. 3 (2009): 8243.



Fair, Brian. "Morgellons: Contested Illness, Diagnostic Compromise and Medicalisation." Sociology of Health & Illness 32, no. 4 (May 2010): 597–612.



Koblenezer, Caroline S. “The Challenge of Morgellons Disease.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 55 (2006): 920–22.



"Morgellons Disease: Managing a Mysterious Skin Condition." Mayo Clinic, April 11, 2012.



Savely, Virginia R., Mary M. Leitao, and Raphael B. Stricker. “The Mystery of Morgellons Disease: Infection or Delusion?” American Journal of Clinical Dermatology 7, no. 1 (2006): 1–5.

What is hypercholesterolemia?


Causes and Symptoms

In the recent past, it has been difficult for medical professionals to establish a clear, causal connection between high cholesterol
in the blood and heart
disease. After numerous studies involving large numbers of patients over extended periods of time was it possible to establish the now widely accepted statistical correlation between high cholesterol and cardiovascular problems. Cholesterol is a fatty material similar to animal fats, which are called lipids. In the bloodstream, cholesterol lipids combine with proteins to form either a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL transports cholesterol from the liver and intestines to other parts of the body where it is needed. HDL transports excess cholesterol back to the liver where it is metabolized and excreted. HDL prevents excess fat from being deposited on the walls of arteries and therefore is commonly called the “good” cholesterol. Research has established that LDL in blood should be less than 200 milligrams per deciliter, whereas HDL should be greater than 50 milligrams per deciliter, with a ratio of LDL to HDL of preferably four or less. A person is not aware of having high cholesterol. If the condition is not treated, however, then the likelihood of plaque buildup on artery walls and a possible blockage, which could then cause a stroke or heart attack, is increased.





Treatment and Therapy

The first step to reduce excess cholesterol in the bloodstream is a change in diet. As a general guideline, the consumption of vegetables, fruits, and grains should be increased, while red meat, egg yolks, and high-fat dairy products should be decreased. Vegetable oils made from corn, olives, or soybeans, which are low in saturated fats, are preferable to butter and animal fats. The next step is to increase physical exercise, which generally raises HDL, the good cholesterol. Several prescription medications, such as the statins Zocor or Lipitor and nicotinic acid medication such as nicolar and niaspan have been shown to be effective in lowering LDL. A physician needs to monitor a patient’s liver function to verify that no harmful side effects are occurring.




Perspective and Prospects

The 1985 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Michael S. Brown and Joseph L. Goldstein for their study of cell-surface receptors that control the entry of LDL into cells. They showed that some people have a deficiency of these receptors. As a result, LDL does not enter cells at the normal rate but continues to circulate in the bloodstream, where it then can adhere to artery walls. In the future, it may be possible to produce drugs that stimulate the body to make more LDL receptors, which would remove excess LDL from the bloodstream.




Bibliography


American Medical Association. American Medical Association Family Medical Guide. 4th rev. ed. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2004.



Antman, Elliott M., and Marc S. Sabatine, eds. Cardiovascular Therapeutics: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Saunders, 2013.



Cooper, Kenneth H. Controlling Cholesterol the Natural Way. New York: Bantam Books, 1999.



Estren, Mark James. Statins: Miracle or Mistake? Berkeley, Calif.: Ronin Publishing, 2013.



Kowalski, Robert E. The New Eight-Week Cholesterol Cure. New York: Harper & Row, 2006.



Randall, Brian. "High Cholesterol." Health Library, March 22, 2013.

How does the choice of details set the tone of the sermon?

Edwards is remembered for his choice of details, particularly in this classic sermon. His goal was not to tell people about his beliefs; he ...