Artificial Cardiac Pacemakers
Research questions : Why is the constant beating of the heart important? What causes the heart to beat abnormally? What are the implications of having an abnormal heart beat? What is an artificial pacemaker and how does it regulate an abnormal heart beat? How are artificial pacemakers implanted? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an artificial pacemaker? What are some alternatives used instead of artificial pacemakers? The importance of the heart The heart is an essential organ possessed by every living human. It is vital as it pumps blood rich in oxygen (received from the lungs) to every living cell within the body and pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs (from the body)1. In the opposite diagram of a human heart, the blue sections represent the transport of deoxygenated blood and the red sections represent the transport of oxygenated blood. The heart is necessary in sustaining the lives of every single human being. This is because without oxygen, cells cannot carry out the process of cellular respiration (the release of energy from glucose). This means that the body cells will have insufficient energy to carry out regular functions needed for sustaining life. Every single cell in the human body is affected by the beating of the heart, as enough oxygen has to be supplied for them to function properly. Without the constant beating of the heart,
Myocardial infarction
Case Study 2006 Myocardial Infarction Sharon Thomas Waitakere Hospital Abstract Of This Case Study Have you ever wanted to know what a Myocardial Infarction is and what its all about. Read on and find out through my eyes, about a patient I was caring for - what happened to him in both his body and mind. The following will show what a Myocardial Infarction ( MI ) is, what happens in the patients body and what care is involved by the medical and nursing teams. All of this to ensure my patient would walk out of hospital and again feel like productive member of society that he most certainly was before his cardiac event. Also within the body of this case study will be evidence based articles to support statements made. Congruent to this, will be reflection on how all that transpired with this man affected me and how my nursing practice has developed because of it. This patients health related journey and the anonymous intimacy that took place, came to a happy conclusion for both nurse and patient. Judith Christiansen's Nursing Partnership Model was published in 1990 and was developed in response to the knowledge gaps in the nursing system in New Zealand ( Taylor, 1995 ). This partnership model is a theoretical framework for nursing practice. It has 3 major concepts - these being nursing partnership, the passage and the context. Anonymous Intimacy is one of 3
Biology notes
AQA GCSE Biology Unit 2 Summary Notes 2.1 Animal and Plant Cells Cells * Cells are the smallest unit of life. * All living things are made of cells. * Most human cells, like most other animal cells, have the following parts: o nucleus o cytoplasm o cell membrane o mitochondria o ribosomes * Plant cells also have: o cell wall o chloroplasts o permanent vacuole What do these structures do? * Nucleus - controls the activities of the cell. * Cytoplasm - where most of the chemical reactions take place. * Cell membrane - controls the passage of substances in and out of the cell. * Mitochondria - where most energy is released in respiration. * Ribosomes - where protein synthesis occurs. * Cell wall - strengthens plant cells. * Chloroplasts - absorb light energy to make food in plant cells. * Permanent vacuole - filled with cell sap in plant cells. Other facts: * The chemical reactions inside cells are controlled by enzymes. Examples: o Enzymes for respiration are in the mitochondria. o Enzymes for photosynthesis are in the chloroplasts. o Enzymes for protein synthesis are on the ribosomes. * Cells may be specialised to carry out a particular function. Examples: Tissues, organs and systems * A tissue is a group of similar cells carrying out a particular function. * An organ is a group of different tissues carrying out a particular function. *
Analysis of anaemia.
Anaemia Problem Anaemia is a condition resulting from below- normal levels of haemoglobin in the red blood cells. Haemoglobin in the blood is responsible for carrying oxygen to the rest of the body. Anaemia may be due to loss of blood from heavy menstrual periods, from internal bleeding caused by a peptic ulcer, or from haemorrhoids. A healthy person whose diet contains plenty of iron and vitamins can produce large amounts of new blood. However, if your diet is inadequate, even small, persistent losses of blood may cause anaemia. There are several kinds of anemia. Iron-deficiency anaemia can develop in those who do not have enough iron, which is an essential ingredient of haemoglobin. Lack of Vitamin B-12 or folic acid can result in Vitamin B-12 deficient anaemia and folic acid deficient anaemia. Hemolytic anaemia occurs when red blood cells are destroyed more quickly than they can be replaced. The symptoms of anaemia include fatigue, weakness, fainting, breathlessness, and heart palpitations. Aplastic anaemia is a rare disease which affects mostly young men. 2 to 6 people per million worldwide develop this disorder annually but it affects mostly people in the Orient. A variety of associations have been made in the attempt to find a specific cause, but no one cause can be identified. Treatment must be given straight away after diagnosis to avoid fatality. Patients
What is DNA?
DNA DNA, otherwise known as deoxyribonucleic acid has changed our lives, including our perception of life, by both scientists and the average person. Science has developed dramatically due to the discovery of DNA. DNA was first discovered by the Swiss physician Friedrich Miescher and Gregor Mendel who, in 1869, discovered a microscopic substance in the pus of discarded surgical bandages. As it resided in the nuclei of cells, he called it "nuclein". In 1919 this discovery was followed by Phoebus Levene's identification of the base, sugar and phosphate nucleotide unit. Levene suggested that DNA consisted of a string of nucleotide units linked together through the phosphate groups. However, Levene thought the chain was short and the bases repeated in a fixed order. In 1937 William Astbury produced the first X-ray diffraction patterns that showed that DNA had a regular structure. In 1943, Oswald Theodore Avery discovered that traits of the "smooth" form of the Pneumococcus could be transferred to the "rough" form of the same bacteria by mixing killed "smooth" bacteria with the live "rough" form. Avery, along with coworkers Colin MacLeod and Maclyn McCarty, identified DNA as this transforming principle.DNA's role in heredity was confirmed in 1953, when Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase in the Hershey-Chase experiment showed that DNA is the genetic material of the T2 phage. In
Biology Revision notes - Human Biology
Blood Pressure * Each time your heart contracts, it pumps blood into out arteries. * The blood needs to be under pressure so that it reaches all the parts of the body. A pulse - this is the recoiling of the arteries. Arteries are elasticised so that when blood is pumped, they expand and then contract. * The fitter you are, the lower your heart rate is because your heart is more efficient. * Pressure is created due to the blood pressing against the arteries and this is known as blood pressure. Blood pressure appears as a fraction and is measures in mmHg: Systolic: the heart contracts and pumps - The highest pressure on the arteries. Diastolic: the heart is relaxes and doesn't pump - The lowest pressure on the arteries. (mmHg - millimetres/mercury) Blood pressure is affected by: * Weight - being overweight increases the risk of high blood pressure * Exercise - strengthens heart muscles and keeps the heart fit * Diet - avoid salty and fatty foods * Temperature * Alcohol * Stress * Smoking - narrows blood vessels * Inheritance * Age - blood pressure increases with age * Underlying diseases High Blood Pressure Can cause: * An artery to burst * A stroke * A heart attack * Death High blood pressure means that the blood is pushing too hard against the artery walls. This damages the artery lining and allows fat and calcium to build up and form a plaque.
n this essay I will analysing what makes us happy and be going into vast depths as to what factors affect happiness and how certain chemicals, neurotransmitters and endorphins in the brain affects this procedure.What makes us happy
What Makes Us Happy By John Smith In this essay I will analysing what makes us happy and be going into vast depths as to what factors affect happiness and how certain chemicals, neurotransmitters and endorphins in the brain affects this procedure. Firstly I will be assessing the key question; what is happiness? We already know happiness has many forms, but what we will be going into, is what defines happiness and how do we find this out? In order to be happy, scientists have put the ideas of many generations of people together and have come with a theory that makes us happy. [1]To begin with we must have a goal, whereby we have a point of destination we consider worthy for our effort, this goal can be really small or really big. Secondly, we also need to live our life with enthusiasm, optimism and honesty. Only after reaching all these areas, can we become happy people. For reaching the superior more advanced forms of happiness, such as achieving satisfaction and contentment, we require taking paths leading to a meaningful life; a life where through having goals, we will find fulfilment. Generally the rule is that; the smaller the goal, the shorter the time of happiness, for example; buying a new car or a new home can give us a quick feeling of enjoyment but at the same time can quickly wear off, compared with these next factors. Health, family and friends,
Is the MMR vaccination safe?
Contents 2 Introduction 3 How does MMR give immunity? 4 How was MMR tested for safety? 5 What about the side effects? 6 Is there a link to autism and bowel disease? 7 Are separate vaccinations a better alternative? 0 What about mercury in vaccinations? 2 Are homeopathic substitutes an alternative? 1 Conclusion 2 Bibliography and References 3 Introduction MMR is a combined, live, attenuated vaccination which is given to children firstly at 13 months and then again as a booster at 3 years 4 months. It provides immunity against three diseases caused by viruses: measles, mumps and rubella. The diseases are all extremely unpleasant and can lead to serious complications (26). * Measles is an extremely infectious virus that usually causes high-fever, a rash and generally feeling unwell and will usually last for around five days in children, however sometimes longer in adults. One in every fifteen children will have serious complications, such as chest infections, fits and encephalitis (the swelling of the brain which can lead to brain damage). In extreme cases it can even be fatal. In 1987, the year before the MMR vaccination was brought into the UK 86,000 children caught measles and 16 died (1). * Mumps is another virus which also causes a fever, but also headaches, swollen glands in the face, neck and jaw and it can even result in permanent deafness and
Should the MMR vaccination be made compulsory in the UK?
Should the MMR vaccination be made compulsory in the UK? Contents Page . Introduction................................................................................................... 3 2. Science......................................................................................................... 3 2.1 How does immunity work?.................................................................. 3 2.2 What is vaccination?........................................................................... 4 2.3 What is the MMR vaccine?................................................................. 5 2.4 What is measles?................................................................................ 6 2.5 What is mumps?................................................................................. 6 2.6 What is rubella?.................................................................................. 6 2.7 What are autism and Crohn's disease?.............................................. 6 3. Arguments for............................................................................................... 7 3.1 Individual immunity............................................................................. 7 3.2 Herd immunity..................................................................................... 7 3.3 Safety
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem Cell Therapy Stem cells are those cells in our multi-cellular organisms which have retained their power to divide into different specialized cell types, therefore it is unspecialized. Having this unique property, the new and healthy cells made from stem cells can be used to replace damaged cells in adult organisms. Stem cells are very important to living organisms, as it is the stem cells in the blastocyst which develop different specialized cells that build up our heart, muscles, lungs, skin and other tissues. Stem cells are also present in the blood in the umbilical cord and in some adult tissues, like the bone marrow, muscle and brain. Even though there are no mainstream embryonic stem cell (stem cells from blastocyst) therapies today, there are therapies which use adult stem cells. The best known of all these therapies is the bone marrow transplant, which is used to treat patients with blood or immune system disorders such as leukaemia. Leukaemia is when leukocytes start to grow abnormally, becoming cancer. As bone marrow is the place where new blood cells are made, the marrow contains hematopoietic stem cells. This type of stem cell is responsible for creating all kinds of blood cells. Therefore, a bone marrow transplant can replace the damaged stem cells and white blood cells (leukocytes) after chemotherapy and radiation has killed all the abnormal stem cells
