A Megan slowly and steadily walks into the dance studio many eyes turn as she twists her long brown hair in to a bun.

A Megan slowly and steadily walks into the dance studio many eyes turn as she twists her long brown hair in to a bun. Megan is the girl everyone wants to be, she had long brownish black hair, greenish blue eyes, tall and skinny. Megan had everything that we all wanted. But as Megan built up to be this wonderful person, but that all comes down hill too. For Megan was hitting that stage were she like "boys." That stage became a bigger part of her life then what she intended it to be. Before anyone realized what was going on Megan was already going down hill in her life and dance. Before Megan realized it, she had hit rock bottom. This all had to start somewhere and this somewhere was with a jock of her local high school. This guy was named Kenny. Kenny was the man of her dreams. Well things that were perfect when down hill were when Kenny stated one individual sentence to Megan. When Kenny told Megan that she should maybe loose some weight she was hurt and started to listen. Well Megan decided to move on to another guy for Kenny was just not on the top of her list. As Megan still attended school a new guy came into her life but the name of Drew. Drew and Meagan ended up dating for a couple months and things seemed to be going well. So they seemed. Well Megan still had been loosing weight and Drew decided to jump in and talk to her about it. Well we all think would happen did not

  • Word count: 1223
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Medicine and Dentistry
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The Three Stages of Whooping Cough

INTRODUCTION This report will explain the cause and effect of Bordetella Pertussis (whooping cough) and will explain the micro-organism that cause it, Also, the way the disease is spread will be explained. The report will identify the signs and symptoms, which are present in the individual who has the disease. It will describe what measures can be taken to counteract the disease, and what programs of preventative medicine exist to control the incidence and spread of Bordetella Pertussis (Whooping Cough). Finally it will evaluate the effectiveness of such programs using statistical data. For the rest of this report, Bordetella Pertussis will be referred to as Whooping Cough. THE THREE STAGES OF WHOOPING COUGH The disease may be described in three stages, the first stage known as the (Catarrhal Stage). The malady commences as an ordinary attack of bronchitis, with a cold in the head, dry cough, and slight fever. This continues for a week to ten days and this is the most infectious period. It is followed by the (Paroxysmal Stage). In this second stage bronchitis persists, the cough becomes more frequent, especially at night, and it tends to occur in spasms or paroxysms. In a few days the characteristic "Whoop" develops. If a paroxysm of coughing is carefully observed it will be seen to consist of the following stages: - (1) The long inspiration. (2) The series of

  • Word count: 1501
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Medicine and Dentistry
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Research Proposal - Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Research Proposal M.S is the shortened version of Multiple Sclerosis. My reason for choosing this topic is that I am very familiar with M.S. My mother was diagnosed nearly ten years ago when I was only eight. My mother's life has completely changed since. Her lifestyle in general is different. No more late night watching T.V, no more golf, no more spring cleaning, basically everything she did before she is not capable of doing now. It is difficult for us a family to get through but we just take each day as it comes. M.S is not a contagious disease. MS is a progressive, disabling illness that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. This is an autoimmune disease. A fatty tissue called myelin surrounds and protects the nerve fibres but if the myelin is lost in specific areas scar tissue is left. This scar tissue is 'sclerosis'. When the cycle is disrupted the electrical impulses are unable to send messages to the brain and this causes the symptoms of M.S. The disruption of nerve signals within the brain and spinal cord causes a variety of symptoms that can affect vision, sensation, and body movements. People with M.S can expect to be diagnosed with one course of the disease, each of which might be mild, moderate or severe. The four clinical courses of disease according to www.intelhealth.com 2003 are: * Relapsing remitting MS - In this form of MS, there

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Medicine and Dentistry
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Causes of asthma.

Asthma The human body has a variety of mechanisms to protect itself against infectious diseases, such as measles and malaria. Many pathogens do not harm us because if we are healthy, we have a chemical, cellular and physical defences that prevent them entering, or spreading through the body. However, unfortunately there are occasions when the immune system responds to harmless substances; often these responses are exaggerated and lead to severe illness. Such overreactions of the immune system to harmless antigens are known as allergies. Asthma is an example of this overreaction, when the immune system responds to substances known as allergens which make breathing difficult by causing the air passages to become narrow or blocked. (Cambridge University Press, 2002).. (Fosbery et al., 2000). The house dust mite and its gfaeces are a common allergen for people with asthma. Hundreds of other ordinary substances can also trigger allergic reactions; some of the most common are plant pollens, moulds, certain medication and food; these triggers are called "allergens". When allergens are inhaled into the lungs, the immune system recognises these particles as foreign and initiates an immune response. B cells produce antibodies belonging to the class IgE. These antibodies are normally involved in the body's defence mechanism against larger parasites. The IgE antibodies coat the

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Medicine and Dentistry
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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.

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION .1 Introduction Low back pain (LBP) is the most common and currently one of the most widespread musculoskeletal problems affecting the human population (Walsh, 1990). It has been estimated that a quarter to half of the patients seen in physiotherapy outpatient departments suffer from back pain. The severity of this musculoskeletal condition ranges from mild back muscle strain to the gruesome pain that may incapacitate man from working as well as living a healthy life (Owoeye, 1999). Disability reported as a result of LBP and loss of manpower with huge amounts of revenue loss has increased dramatically recently (Akinbo, 1998). Annually, over $50 billion is spent on the diagnosis and treatment of back pain in the United States (Jameel et al, 1996). The time off work due to LBP has increased by 40% for all other complaints (Helen, 1992). These figures are of great concern to all professionals dealing with the problem of LBP, especially the physiotherapist. Back pain is a common symptom in women of childbearing age, with as many as half of these women reporting back pain at some stage during pregnancy (Fast et al, 1987; Berg, 1988; Ostgaard, 1991). Ostgaard et al (1991) have shown that there seems to be little difference in the prevalence of LBP between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Although non-specific low back pain is experienced by both

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Medicine and Dentistry
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What is the evidence that endometriosis is a cause of subfertility?

What is the evidence that endometriosis is a cause of subfertility? Endometriosis is a common disease found in women and is usually characterised as a chronic and painful disease. It occurs in 1-2% of reproductive aged women, but is 20 times greater in infertile women. Tissues that are normally found in the uterus are also found in other parts of the body such as ovaries, the lining of abdominal cavity, fallopian tubes or spaces between the uterus and rectum. These specialised tissues are responsive to hormonal changes for example during menstrual cycle. The lining builds up and breaks down according to the hormonal cycle, leading to internal bleeding, inflammation, blood-filled cysts formation and chronic pelvic pain. (Carlson K. et al, 1996, p227-228) The exact cause of endometriosis is unknown, but a combination of genetic, immune system and hormonal factors may be involved. There are a number of proposed theories trying to explain the cause. · Retrograde menstruation - Process of the endometrium flowing backwards through the fallopian tubes, instead of leaving the body by menstruation. These tissues embed onto the membranes of the organs of the pelvis. · Genetic factor - It is believed that there is a link between endometriosis and genetics. Some women may be more susceptible to endometriosis. Studies show that patients having close family members suffering from

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Medicine and Dentistry
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Immunity - Immunisation is a quick, simple and safe way to protect an individual from infection.

Immunity Immunisation is a quick, simple and safe way to protect an individual from infection. The more people immunised in childhood, the more rare diseases become. Immunisation therefore protects not just your child but babies, adults and other children too. Artificial immunisation is a way of creating immunity to certain infections using relatively harmless antigens that come from, or are similar to, the micro organism that cause infection. Microorganisms can be viruses, such as measles, or bacteria such as Diphtheria. An antibody is an immunoglobulin (protein molecule produced to combat microbial infection and provide immunity) produced because of an antigen introduced to the body. An antigen is a substance that stimulates an immune response (triggered when the body detects the presence of foreign material, this substance is an antigen) e.g. can be pathogens, vaccines, pollen, and even some food. Each antigen stimulates the production of a specific antibody itself. The antibody helps the body to fight against infection. Antibody production is a major function of the immune system and is carried out by B-lymphocytes; these are a type of white blood cells. Cells called T-lymphocytes "regulate the immune response by releasing chemicals to stimulate or suppress antibody production" (GNVQ advanced options, Human physiology and health in the caring context). The

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Medicine and Dentistry
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"Smoking is the most preventable cause of ill health in Britain today" With reference to specific smoking related illnesses and ethical issues, discuss whether smokers should have the same access to the limited resources of the National Health Service.

Lucy Burbridge "Smoking is the most preventable cause of ill health in Britain today" With reference to specific smoking related illnesses and ethical issues, discuss whether smokers should have the same access to the limited resources of the National Health Service. Tobacco is the only legally available consumer product that kills people when it is used entirely as intended. Killing about 300 people a day in the UK alone, this is like a plane crashing every day and killing all of its passengers, more than 13 people an hour. Currently smokers are entitled to the same treatment as non smokers but there is controversy about whether smokers should have to pay a premium to use the NHS because they are bringing the illnesses upon themselves and placing an unnecessary financial burden on the rest of society. Approximately 3,000,000 people die worldwide each year as a result of smoking 1 . It is the cause of 30% of all cancer deaths and at least 80% of deaths from bronchitis and emphysema 2 . The rise in the occurrence of lung cancer has been closely linked to an increase in smoking. Lung cancer among males increased in the 1930's following a marked increase in smoking during the 1st World War, and similarly an increase was noticed during the 2nd World War in the female population. This is hardly surprising when we learn that tobacco contains over 4,000 chemicals, over 40 of

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Medicine and Dentistry
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What are polygenic traits and which methods are used to study them? What are complex traits and what methods are used to study them? Discuss their overlap.

What are polygenic traits and which methods are used to study them? What are complex traits and what methods are used to study them? Discuss their overlap. The traits that we all express are the result of both the genes which we inherit from our parents, and the environment in which we live. Some traits have a purely genetic component, and follow the rules of Mendelian inheritance, whereas others show far more complex pedigree patterns. This is largely dependant on the number of genes affecting a certain trait, the interactions between these genes, and the extent of the effect of the environment on that trait. Due to the considerable complexity of many traits, the exact genetic and environmental contributions are not known or understood. However, with recent technological advances in biotechnology, the prospects for understanding such complex traits are improving. DNA sequencing and advances in the use of markers are enabling rapid progress in the understanding of such traits. This is particularly significant in medicine, as diseases are often complex traits and understanding of the factors affecting their expression will be of great significance in finding treatments for, or preventing such diseases from being expressed. A polygenic trait is a trait for which the phenotype depends on alleles at many different genes. Initially it was thought that polygenes may be a special

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Medicine and Dentistry
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The Technological Politics of Asbestos

The Technological Politics of Asbestos The politics of Asbestos mining and use in everyday applications is vast and shocking when you take into consideration the negligence of those who clearly knew the associated dangers. As a technological product asbestos demonstrates the dangers that can be associated with technology especially when the process is financially driven. Its use is still seen in Australia and it seems that it will continue to be used until 2003 when there are plans to implement a total ban on its use. On May 18, 2001 the Workplace Relations Ministers' Council decided to ban the material that has caused illness and death for hundreds and thousands of people in Australia and overseas (Robinson, 2001). Thousands of miners taking the raw material from the ground as well as people exposed to its use in building applications were totally unaware of the dangers. The worst affected areas of Australia have been that of the Asbestos mine at Wittenoom in Western Australia, deemed as "Australia's greatest industrial disaster" (Hills, p.12 1989), and the power stations of Gippsland's Latrobe Valley. Asbestos has been mined and used for nearly 2000 years for its fire resistant and insulation qualities. Roman slaves wore crude respirators made from animal bladders to protect themselves from breathing the visible fibres (The Age, March 4, 2001). They would not have known

  • Word count: 1509
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Medicine and Dentistry
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