University Degree: Clinical Medicine

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Jewish people of European descent are five times more likely to develop IBD than others that are part of the general population. IBD seems to be more common among city dwellers and occurs most frequently in developed countries, indicating that both genetic factors and environmental conditions, such as diet, may be involved in its development. Causes and symptoms of IBD The exact cause of IBD is unknown however it is thought that genetics play a significant role as twenty-five percent of people with IBD also have family members with the disease.

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Athletes Foot. Tinea pedis and tinea unguium arehigh prevalent cutaneous fungal infection in the general population and although these two conditions seem not to be so serious, they are highly infectious, chronic and therapeutically difficult.

to athlete's foot infection, keeping the feet clean always by washing them at least twice a day and wearing clean socks always especially cotton fabric socks, and also changing them more often. Medically, antifungal treatment containing miconazole, clotrimazole, or tolnaftate up to two weeks after the infection has ceased to prevent re-occurrence. However, if the infection persists, stronger medications such as ketoconazole or terbinafine may be applicable. Due to frequent scratching, sometimes one might suffer from a bacterial infection and antibiotics are prescribed at this stage.

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One in every eight women will develop invasive breast cancer. Recently, breast cancer has been a hot topic in research. There have been studies reporting that estrogen and iron may play a role in the fight against the cancer.

Young post-pubescent women in reproductive years are exposed to high systemic estrogen levels endocrinologically regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis (Prior, 2005). Menstruation, resulting from the detachment of the endometrial matrix prepared for egg fertilization, marks this age group. In the absence of fertilization, the matrix, mixed with blood, is shed monthly. This monthly blood loss commonly results in iron deficiency among women of this age group (Zimmermann et al, 2007). Therefore, the natural biological system in young women is high estrogen and low iron.

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Acanthamoeba is a microscopic protozoan free-living amoeba that can cause a rare, yet serious condition called acanthamoeba keratitis.

Once past this fibrous membrane, the parasite binds itself to the mannose glycoprotein's within the corneal epithelium. After binding, the Acanthamoeba secretes proteins as well as proteases - enzymes that break down proteins and peptides; the proteins dissolve membranes of the cornea which facilitates further penetration. Once inside the cornea, the amoeba binds to the corneal surface and produces thinning and necrosis, killing most or all of the tissue. It then feeds off of the resident flora, or bacteria, naturally present in the eye along with the corneal cells themselves causing tissue damage and inflammation. The parasite enters the stroma of the cornea, resulting in swelling caused by an intensive polymorphonuclear response due to the disruption of the stromal lamellae.

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WHAT IS CVD, WHAT INCREASES THE RISK OF CVD AND WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS?

This death of an area of the heart muscle weakens the heart so it is unable to contract; this is known as myocardial infarction which is commonly referred to as a heart attack. The further narrowing of the lumen can be caused by thrombosis which usually occurs at the same place where atherosclerosis is forming. The endothelium of the arteries eventually breaks down and the blood comes in contact with the atheromas , causing the blood platelets to stick to the atheromas which may then form a thrombus which a blood clot.

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Laser safety. Due to an advance in technology and intelligence in the medical world, a number of better and more efficient treatments have been developed, and among these are the light based treatments that are now being used to treat a wide range of cli

In order to minimize the risks of harm, a number of classes are specified. These classes are defined according to their power as well as their wavelength. Lasers can also be classified in relation to their ability to bring about biological damage (Ion, 2005) and thereby equip users on basic information on the safety of the lasers, and this information is also extremely useful in clinical settings to ensure careful operation. Laser treatment is the newest cosmetic surgery form that is used to treat skin.

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The development of tumour necrosis factor a (TNF-α) blocking biologics for the treatment of Crohns disease represents a major step forward in the ability to treat it. A variety of TNF-a antagonists have been used to inhibit TNF-α in patients

Effects of TNF-? blockade in Crohn's Disease Several studies have implicated TNF-? as a key inflammatory mediator in the pathogenesis of CD. It has been reported that elevated serum levels of TNF-? correlate with clinical and laboratory indices of CD activity (2, 8, 9). TNF-? and two isoforms of TNF receptors p55 and p75 are either expressed on the membrane of monocytes and T lymphocytes or are circulating in the serum as soluble receptors. Anti-TNF-? antibodies and soluble TNF receptor-Ig fusion proteins can reduce inflammation by directly neutralizing the activity of TNF-?

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TREATMENT METHODS FOR CERVICAL INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA (CIN 3)

This may result in a loss of up to 25% of patients not returning for a second clinic attendance. Therefore, in recent years, it has become common practice to offer excision treatment at the first visit directly following the colposcopy (5). The two main conservative methods of treatment are ablative or excisional techniques. The cure rates for both techniques are in excess of 90%. The need for conservative treatment is apparent considering the morbidity of the more radical procedures, their effect on reproductive function and the high incidence of pre-cancerous lesions amongst younger age groups (8).

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Papanicolas test. Papanicolaou test (pap test, pap smear)[1]is a microscopic examination of cell taken from the cervix (the lower, narrow end of the uterus) to detect cancer,

Women ages more than 65, who have at least 3 normal tests and no abnormal pap test in last three year, may stop having test. Women who have a hysterectomy (surgery to remove uterus and cervix) don't need to have pap test, unless this surgery is done for treatment pre-cancer or cancer. Conversely, women who have an increased risk of cervical cancer (like HIV infection or having mother that took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy) need more frequent screening, at least once a year.

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Euthanasia is unacceptable. Do you agree? Thesis statement: A lot of people think physicianassisted death or euthanasia should be an option available to a patient; however, others strongly believe that due to many reasons it must not be accepted by so

Actually, euthanasia has a lot of names, and opponents and proponents call it differently. Nevertheless, from the medical point of view euthanasia is an act of ending life by injecting a special analgetic drug so that a person would die unpainfully. It is often used to relieve unendurable sufferings of a patient or in cases of terminal diseases. Nowadays this kind of dying is not practiced widely. Only Netherlands, Belgium and three states of the USA (Oregon, Washington and Montana)

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Iron Acquisition In Disease: Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better

2010). Iron is not readily available in the human body for invading pathogens to use, with 70% of the total iron being contained in haem groups in haemoglobin (Hb). Most of the rest is either stored intracellularly in ferritin, or is bound to transferrin in the serum or is 'free' (Anzaldi, Skaar 2010, Nairz, Schroll et al. 2010). During infection, the immune system releases a range of proteins, mainly transferrin and lactoferrin, from neutrophils and tissues such as the kidney, which bind to any 'free iron,' and are then internalised by M2 macrophages, sequestering iron (Abrink, Larsson et al.

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Research proposal: Vitamin D, an antihypertensive agonist? The aim of this study therefore is to explore the effect of Vitamin D as an antihypertensive agonist. In addition, it would investigate any difference between supplemental vitamin D and dietary vi

Does vitamin D have the same mechanism as antihypertensive medications on lowering blood pressure? 2. Is there a difference in the antihypertensive effects between the different sources of vitamin D (supplemental and dietary)? Hypotheses Several hypotheses emerge: 1st hypothesis: Vitamin D is expected to improve blood pressure maintenance in patients on antihypertensive 2nd hypothesis: Knowing that vitamin D availability is limited in dietary products, supplemental vitamin D is expected to be a better antihypertensive agonist than that from dietary intake.

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Platelets - Biology & Suitability for Transfusion

This dissertation aims to look at the physiological importance of platelets, how they are prepared for transfusion, and also the difficulties experienced in this preparation and how they are, and may potentially be in the future, overcome. Platelets are anucleated cells/fragments, produced by megakaryocytes in the bone marrow, naturally having a discoid morphology with dimensions 3�m x 0.5 �m, expressing ABO antigens, human leukocyte antigen-I and human platelet antigens.[1,2] The normal range for platelets in the blood is 150x109-400x109/L, and each platelet survives in the blood for approximately 9.5 days.[3,4] The loss of endothelial integrity in a blood vessel exposes the collagen in the subendothelium, which expresses a ligand called the von Willebrand factor (vWF).

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Lower back pain in pregnancy. This study is therefore designed to determine the prevalence of low back pain in pregnant women, and also find out the predisposing factors and the impact of low back pain on daily living in pregnant women in Lagos.

The anatomical origins of back pain in pregnancy vary and are difficult to determine and diagnose (Nilsson-Wikmar and Harms-Ringdahl, 1999). Women describe pain variously as occurring in the low back, sacral, posterior thigh and leg, pubic groin and hip areas. These may occur simultaneously or separately antenatally, during delivery or postnatally (Heiberg and Aarseth, 1997). Lockstadt (2000) stated that back pain in pregnancy usually presents itself most commonly in the following areas: sacroiliac joints at the posterior superior iliac spine (42%), the groin areas (53%), coccyx (33%), pubic symphysis anteriorly (77%), and occasionally other areas of the pelvic and upper legs.

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What is the evidence that endometriosis is a cause of subfertility?

� Lymphatic or circulatory spread - The process is unknown but this helps to explain why these cells are found in other parts of the body which are far away from the endometrium. � Immune dysfunction - Many women with this condition have a lower immunity than normal women. � Environmental causes - It may be caused by exposure of certain toxins in the environment such as dioxins. The symptoms include painful and heavy periods, pain around pelvis area, pain when passing out urine and pain during sexual intercourse.

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A standard treatment option for Limited Small Cell Lung Cancer

In terms of lung cancer, there are two different types. One is non-small cell lung cancer which is a group of lung cancers, the different forms being adenocarcinoma, bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and differentiated and undifferentiated lung carcinoma. The non-small cell lung cancer is thought to develop from the foci of the dysplastic surface of the bronchial tree. (Cowell J.K., 2001). This type of lung cancer is not very likely to metastasise to other structures and parts of the body in the early stages.

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Traditional Medicine And Shamanism

There even exists a law stipulating the distance from human settlement at which a pig farm may be located. Douglas (1966:30-48) presents religious, ethical and medical theories to try to explain Jewish abhorrence of pork. I would suggest, however that the approach to pork is more pragmatic than dogmatic, never having heard any reference to the eating of pork as being irreligious or unethical. Douglas'' reference (1966:31) to pharmacological research showing muscle extracts from pork to be toxic (which she dismisses as `medical materialism'') is, however, supportive of its status as a pollutant in traditional medicine. There exists within the mestizo community in Amazonia a widely-held belief in illnesses caused by `da�o'', `susto'' and `mal del aire''.

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The Position of Ethnic Minorities into Nursing and Midwifery NHS Workforce: Using a Systematic Review ApproachNHS Workforce:

Evidence of research and policy based work programmes are used to explore the barriers associated that would signify the low numbers together with the testing and impact of any interventions. Evidence of information gathered suggest the NHS workforce does not reflect the profile of the community it serves and that position of ethnic minority staff has made little progress since 1960s in spite of race equality legislation. A few numbers of initiatives have been introduced by the government; this dissertation describes these as schemes that can work effectively at an operational level but lack of monitoring and a short time frame of their existence inhibit true measurement of their success.

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Assistive technology and elderly

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Reflection on radiographic practice. This paper will describe two incidents that I have experienced within the clinical environment, which I will then reflect upon utilising the Gibbs cycle.

The request was read by a supervising trained radiographer, who deemed it to be an acceptable request. I was then supervised performing an 'anterior-posterior' and lateral projections on both wrists. The left wrist lateral projection had be to repeated as a true lateral projection had not been achieved. The repeat showed a hairline fracture which was not clearly visible with the initial lateral image. The right wrist was an undisplaced longitudal fracture of the distal radius. The images were 'red dotted' and the patient was returned to the casualty department for further treatment. Feelings - What were you thinking and feeling The patient was in pain but not unduly so.

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There continues to be a need for fluoroscopy, whether it is within the operating theatre or the interventional radiology suite. There are other imaging modalities that are capable of adequately performing the tasks that fluoroscopy is used for, however th

The imaging modality of Fluoroscopy enables the health professional to investigate several different systems of the body, for example the; skeletal system; digestive system; respiratory system; and reproductive system. Specific areas can be isolated for examination such as bones; muscles; joints and organs i.e. the heart. This additional capability offered to the health care professional has led to fluoroscopy being used for several examinations and procedures including; cardiac catheterization, improved adequacies in imaging of joints; placements of catheters; intravenous pyelograms; hysterosalpingography; and also biopsies.

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Discuss the care of one patient from a participating placement area that demonstrates establishing a therapeutic relationship in the short term setting including advocacy, and the use of clinical science knowledge

A customary handshake is an effective way to establish a professional but friendly relationship Nolan and Ellis (2008). After briefly discussing Mrs Moore's ailments, Mr Thomas confirmed the likelihood of an ulcer. He then explained the endoscopy procedure and provided general facts about the illness. He took time to address any uncertainties and was realistic but reassuring, stating that whilst a biopsy result may take 7days, a diagnosis could be made immediately afterwards. According to Ross and Wilson (2006) Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a common ailment, which involves the full thickness of the gastrointestinal mucosa. The stomach produces a very strong acid which helps digest and break down food before it enters the small intestine (duodenum).

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Orphan drugs

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Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Another concern revolves around whether or not embryos are being "killed" in order to remove the crucial stem cells. The proponents state that the medical benefits outweigh any side effects from tampering with the human embryonic stem cells and argue that the embryos are not yet humans; however, the opponents argue that these embryos should be recognized as human beings. The opponents also state that the "possible" advances do not overcome the ethics of "destroying" a human life and argue that there are simply too many medical risks associated with treatment using the stem cells derived from embryos (Monroe, Miller, & Tobis 2008).

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