Thalassemia Bangladesh Perspecti free essay sample

What is Thalassemia? Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder in which parents pass the genes for disorder on to their children. It reduces reproduction of red blood cells in human body. In thalassemia patient, the genes that control globin production are mutated or deleted. As a result, formation of the corresponding globin chains is trimmed down and an abnormal hemoglobin ratio is enhanced. This abnormal ratio leads to a decreased synthesis of hemoglobin and expression of thalassemia. Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dhaka University explained, â€Å"If one among 23 pairs of chromosomes of one’s body is affected by Alpha or Beta chain mutation, one may become victim of Thalassemia. If both the chromosomes of a pair are affected, chance is 25 percent that the person will be victim of this lethal disease. † Thalassemia causes mutation in the DNA of cells that make hemoglobin, the substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. We will write a custom essay sample on Thalassemia: Bangladesh Perspecti or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The mutations thus disrupt the normal production of hemoglobin and cause low hemoglobin levels and a high rate of red blood cell destruction, causing anemia. Due to anemia, the blood does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues, leaving one fatigued. Epidemiology Generally, thalassemia is prevalent in the people living in humid climate zones where malaria was endemic in the past or still exists. Since thalassemia acts as an antidote to malaria because of the blood cells easy degradation, it got epidemic in those regions. Thalassemia was first detected among Mediterranean inhabitants. In fact, this geographical association is responsible for its naming: Thalassa is Greek for the sea, Haema is Greek for blood. In Europe, the highest concentrations of the disease are found in Greece, coastal regions of Turkey, Southern Italy and the lower Po valley. The major Mediterranean islands (except the Balearics) such as Sicily, Sardinia, Malta, Corsica, Cyprus, and Crete are heavily affected in particular. High rate of thalassemia is also seen among other Mediterranean people, as well as those in the vicinity of the Mediterranean, including people from West Asia and North Africa. Far from the Mediterranean, South Asians are also affected. The Maldives has the highest incidence of Thalassemia in the world with a carrier rate of 18% of the population. Likewise, lots of people from Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia and Pakistan are also believed to be thalassemia carriers. Descendants of people from Latin America and Mediterranean countries are other notable thalassemia carriers. Furthermore, a very low prevalence has been reported from people in Northern Europe (0. 1%) and Africa (0. 9%), with those in North Africa having the highest frequency. Types of Thalassemia Normal hemoglobin, known as hemoglobin A, has four protein chains – two Alpha globins and two Beta globins. The two major types of thalassemia, Alpha and Beta, are named after defects in these protein chains. Both Alpha and Beta thalassemias include the following two forms: * Thalassemia major * Thalassemia minor Thalassemia major occurs as a result of inheritance of defective gene from both parents, while thalassemia minor occurs if the defective gene is received from only one parent. Persons with the minor form of the disorder are carriers of the disease and usually do not have symptoms. Alpha Thalassemia Four genes (two from each of the parents) are involved in making the Alpha hemoglobin chain. Alpha thalassemia trait occurs if one or two of the four genes are deleted or mutated. Four possible cases of Alpha thalassemia can be observed. * One mutated gene: There will be no signs or symptoms of thalassemia. However, there is always a risk of passing this disease to the predecessors. * Two mutated genes: It may cause mild anemia. This condition is called Alpha thalassemia minor. * Three mutated genes: Signs and symptoms will be moderate to severe. This condition is also called hemoglobin H disease. * Four mutated genes: This condition is called Alpha thalassemia major or hydrops fetalis. It usually causes a fetus to die before delivery or a newborn to die shortly after birth. Beta Thalassemia Two genes (one from each parent) are needed to make enough Beta globin protein chains. Beta thalassemia occurs if one or both genes are altered. The severity of Beta thalassemia depends on the amount of affected genes. Two possible cases of Alpha thalassemia can be observed. * One mutated ene: Signs and symptoms will be mild. This condition is called Beta thalassemia minor. * Two mutated genes: Moderate to severe anemia will be experienced. This condition is called Beta thalassemia major or Cooleys anemia. Babies born with two defective Beta hemoglobin genes usually are healthy at birth, but develop signs and symptoms within the first two years of life. Risk Factors Family history and ancestry are the two risk factors for thalassemia. Fam ily History: Thalassemias are inherited. They are passed from parents to children through the genes. If you have a family history of thalassemia, you may have an increased risk of the condition. Ancestry: Thalassemia occurs most often in people of Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, South Asian and North African ethnicity. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of thalassemia include: * Fatigue. * Weakness. * Shortness of breath. * Pale appearance. * Irritability. * Yellow discoloration of skin (jaundice). * Facial bone deformities. * Slow growth. * Abdominal swelling. * Dark urine. The signs and symptoms depend on the type and severity of thalassemia. Some babies show signs and symptoms at birth, while others may develop signs or symptoms during the first two years of life. People with one affected hemoglobin gene usually do not experience any thalassemia symptom. Complications Possible complications of thalassemia include: * Iron overload: People with thalassemia can get too much iron in their bodies, either from the disease itself or from frequent blood transfusions, which can damage the heart, liver and endocrine system. * Infection: People with thalassemia have an increased risk of infection, especially if spleen is removed. In cases of severe thalassemia, the following complications may occur: * Bone deformities: Thalassemia may expand bone marrow, which causes the bones to widen. This often results in abnormal bone structure, especially in the face and skull. Bone marrow expansion also makes bones thin and brittle, increasing the chance of broken bones. * Enlarged spleen: The spleen helps the body to fight infection and filter unwanted material, such as old or damaged blood cells. Thalassemia is often accompanied by the destruction of a large number of red blood cells, making the spleen work harder than normal, causing it to enlarge. It can aggravate anemia and reduce the life span of transfused red blood cells. If the spleen grows too big, it may need to be removed. * Slowed growth rates: Anemia can cause a childs growth to slow. Puberty also may be delayed in children with thalassemia. * Heart problems: Heart problems, such as congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms, may be associated with severe thalassemia. Diagnosis Doctors diagnose thalassemia using blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) and special hemoglobin tests. CBC provides information about the amount of hemoglobin and different blood cells in a sample of blood. A thalassemia patient has fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin than normal in blood. * Hemoglobin tests measure the types of hemoglobin in a blood sample. One, who has thalassemia, has problems with the Alpha or Beta globin protein chains of hemoglobin. Doctors also test the amount of iron in the blood to find out whether the anemia is due to iron deficie ncy or thalassemia. Iron-deficiency anemia occurs if the body doesnt have enough iron to make hemoglobin. However, thalassemia induced anemia occurs because of the problem with either the alpha globin or beta globin chain of hemoglobin, not because of lack of iron. Since thalassemia is passed from generation to generation through genes, family genetic studies can also help to diagnose the disorder. These studies involve taking a family medical history and doing blood tests on family members. The tests will show whether any family members have missing or altered hemoglobin genes. Once identified, the risk of passing the disorder to a specific predecessor can be determined. If you and your spouse – both are thalassemia carriers, you should consider prenatal testing whenever you are expecting a baby. Prenatal testing involves taking a sample of amniotic fluid or tissue from the placenta (Amniotic fluid is the fluid in the sac surrounding a growing embryo and placenta is the organ that attaches the umbilical cord to the mothers womb). Tests will reveal if your baby will have thalassemia or not and if yes, how severe it may be. â€Å"If prenatal diagnosis shows that the baby would be victim of this lethal disease, abortion of the baby may require to be done†, Dr. Mamun Ahmed suggested. Treatment Treatment varies with the type and the severity of the disease. Treatment for mild thalassemia: Occasionally, a blood transfusion may be needed, particularly after a surgery or after having a baby. Treatment for moderate to severe thalassemia: Treatments for moderate to severe thalassemia may include: * Stem cell or bone marrow transplant: It is used to treat severe thalassemia in some particular cases. Prior to a stem cell transplant, very high doses of drugs or radiation to destroy the diseased bone marrow are applied. Then infusions of stem cells are received from a compatible donor. However, this treatment is undertaken in most severe cases when there is a well-matched donor available – usually a sibling, because these procedures have serious risks, including death. Nevertheless, very high cost of the treatment has kept this procedure limited only to a handful of patients. * Frequent blood transfusions: Frequent blood transfusions are often required, possibly every few weeks. Over the time, blood transfusions cause a buildup of iron in the blood, which can damage heart, liver and other organs. To help the body get rid of the extra iron, medications are required. Iron overload is the single most expensive part of the blood transfusion dependant treatment of thalassemia. Most common therapy for iron chelation is subcutaneous injection of ‘deferrioxamine’, commonly known as ‘desferal’, with a micro pump over a period of 10 to 12 hours. Ideally the injection needs to be taken every day. But, for practical reasons it is administered 5 or 6 days a week. The therapy is painful and very expensive. ‘Deferiprone’ is a cheaper alternate to ‘desferal’ and it is taken orally. However, its unfortunate severe side effects make it the second choice for iron chelation therapy. * Splenectomy: It is another form of treatment. When the spleen becomes too active and starts destroying red blood cells, transfusion becomes less effective with time being. Then it may become necessary to take the spleen out. This operation is called splenectomy. Prevention All forms of thalassemia are transmitted only through hereditary. It is a severe and incurable disease so emphasis must shift from treatment of the affected child to prevention of such births in future. Living with Thalassemia With the advancements in medical science and technology, survival and quality of life have improved for thalassemia affected people. Living with thalassemia can be challenging, but several approaches can help you cope. If you are a thalassemia carrier, be sure to: * Avoid excess iron. Unless your doctor recommends it, dont take vitamins or other supplements that contain iron. * Eat a healthy balanced diet with adequate calcium and vitamin D to boost your energy and keep your bones healthy. Your doctor may also recommend you to take a folic acid supplement to help your body make new red blood cells. Avoid infections. Protect yourself from infections with frequent hand-washing and by avoiding ailing people. This is especially important if you have your spleen removed. * Follow your treatment plan. * Get ongoing medical care. * Seek help and support. Thalassemia in Bangladesh Bangladesh is one of the most thalassemia prone countries of the world. It is a matter of grief that there is no definite data regarding the carrier status of hereditary hemoglobin disorder, existing in Bangladesh. No screening program had ever been taken in any population group. In 2002, a World Health Organization (WHO) report concerning Bangladesh estimated that about 3 percent of the total population was carrying Beta thalassemia while 4 percent were carriers of abnormal hemoglobin E (HbE). Hence, there were about 3. 6 millions carriers of Beta thalassemia and 4. 8 millions carriers of HbE. It also stated that Beta thalassemia and abnormal HbE affected birth per thousand were 0. 106 and 3. 0 respectively. In 2004, Dhaka Shishu Hospital conducted a preliminary study to identify carrier state among the school children. The study revealed that 4. 1 and 6. percent children were carrier of Beta thalassemia HbE respectively. In tribal school children, the prevalence of the HbE trait was 41. 1 percent, while that of Beta thalassemia was 4. 2 percent. The study also concluded that the expected births of Beta thalassemia affected children were about 1,040 per year, with a further 6,443 HbE affected births. Thus more than 7,000 children are born with thalassemia ea ch year in Bangladesh. Thalassemia Treatment in Bangladesh Dhaka Shishu Hospital was the pioneer in establishing a separate specialized center for care and treatment of thalassemic children. This center now has 17 beds for giving transfusion to thalassemic children. It provides free treatment to poor thalassemic children providing them with free blood and ‘desferal’ on  requirement basis. The center has its own blood bank ensuring safe blood and laboratory for diagnosing thalassemia and also other investigations relevant to this disease. There are two genetic counselors for giving advice to carriers and parents of thalassemic children. This center has also doing research work on thalassemia and has published many papers in local journals. In 2004, another specialized thalassemia treatment centre named Bangladesh Thalassemia Hospital, established by Bangladesh Thalassemia Society, launched their journey. It has developed facilities to serve 30 patients at a time. With foreign assistance, it has established a blood bank, equipped with modern instruments, for preservation of blood. It also has a diagnostic unit as well as a unit for iron chelation therapy. ASHA Thalassemia Center, founded by Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation in May 2008, is another addition to the existing thalassemia treatment facilities. It consists of 8 beds with capacity of giving 16 transfusions a day in two sifts. There are 5 employees for this center including a doctor and a nurse. The patients get day care blood transfusion, iron chelation, medical consultation and counseling plus essential laboratory tests here. In August 2009 Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the then chairman of Grameen Health Care Trust and Cure2Children Foundation of Italy   signed an memorandum of understanding to establish a bone marrow   transplantation centre for thalassemia in Bangladesh. A committee of Grameen Health Care Trust, Cure2Children, thalassemia associations and local rofessionals prepared an action plan to perform feasibility study with the first transplant within the first half of 2010 and a plan to cure all uses of Thalassemia by 2025. Conclusion With global improvement in prevention and treatment of childhood diseases to prevent mortality from malnutrition, diarrhea and acute respiratory infections, thalassemia wil l become a major issue in developing countries like Bangladesh in this millennium. All over the world efforts are being made to prevent the birth of thalassemic child and to improve the quality of the patient’s life. Thalassemia needs to be recognized, as an important health issue in this country and steps need to be taken to control the birth of thalassemic children. The following steps to be recommended: * Social awareness: It is of prime importance to create awareness about thalassemia to the general population by holding seminars, workshops and writing articles in the daily newspapers, broadcasting in television and radio. Thalassemia day is observed on 8 May all over the world. On this day various activities has to be arranged and media should play a vital role here for dissemination of information and recent advancements about thalassemia. The government must also take steps to create awareness among the rural populations by involving thana health complexes and other different local organizations. Apropos, it is a matter of sorrow that no other city in Bangladesh other than Dhaka has facilities for the diagnosis of thalassemia. * Population screening: Due to huge population, it is reasonable to select a cohort for screening e. g. pregnant women. They are usually accessible to the health system and information on reproductive risk is of immediate relevance to them. Screening of close relatives of some of the affected children also is insisted. * Genetic counseling: Thalassemia carriers and parents having a thalassemic child should be facilitated with genetic counseling. It should be non directive and the counselor’s main role is to provide people at risk with full information, give them time for consideration and support them in making decisions. * Prenatal diagnosis: It is a well established procedure in developed countries. There is need for religious and legal scrutiny of prenatal diagnosis and therapeutic abortion in our society. ve

Free Essays on Battle Of Gettysburg

THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG The Battle of Gettysburg was a crucial battle that changed the outcome of the Civil War due to the decisions made by the generals of both the Union Army and the Confederate Army. The Gettysburg Address given by President Lincoln continues to remind us of the outstanding military achievements and devastating human sacrifice our country suffered due to this battle and the Civil War. Gettysburg did not turn out to be just another clichà © of battles and wars; just because you have won a battle doesn’t mean that you have won the war. Gettysburg turned out to be the largest and most important battle that signified a beginning of the end of the Confederate States of America. Orchestrated by generals and won by the brave men who spilled their blood in order to defend an idea conceived under a new nations declaration of equality and freedom (Axelrod 197). The events that led up to the bloodiest battle of the Civil War transpired in the month previous when after the death of Confederate General â€Å"Stonewall† Jackson, General Robert E. Lee Commander of the Army of Northern Virginian reorganized his army into three Army Corps under Generals Longstreet, Ewell, and A.P. Hill with a Calvary division under J.E.B. Stuarts total strength was about 75,000. The Northern Federalist consisted of about 95,000 strong under General Joseph â€Å"Fighting Joe† Hooker who commanded the Federal Army of the Potomac. General Hooker’s defect as a commanding officer became apparent when Confederate General Lee with fewer than half the men, outmaneuvered him and caused a Union retreat. On June 13th Confederate General Ewell’s corps appeared at Winchester and proceeded on the 14th and 15th to attacked the 9,000 strong Union garrison at Winchester and defeated it taking valuable war materials and inflicting heavy losses for the Union. On 25th June General Lee agreed to General Stuart’s plan to take three brigades of Calvary acro... Free Essays on Battle Of Gettysburg Free Essays on Battle Of Gettysburg THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG The Battle of Gettysburg was a crucial battle that changed the outcome of the Civil War due to the decisions made by the generals of both the Union Army and the Confederate Army. The Gettysburg Address given by President Lincoln continues to remind us of the outstanding military achievements and devastating human sacrifice our country suffered due to this battle and the Civil War. Gettysburg did not turn out to be just another clichà © of battles and wars; just because you have won a battle doesn’t mean that you have won the war. Gettysburg turned out to be the largest and most important battle that signified a beginning of the end of the Confederate States of America. Orchestrated by generals and won by the brave men who spilled their blood in order to defend an idea conceived under a new nations declaration of equality and freedom (Axelrod 197). The events that led up to the bloodiest battle of the Civil War transpired in the month previous when after the death of Confederate General â€Å"Stonewall† Jackson, General Robert E. Lee Commander of the Army of Northern Virginian reorganized his army into three Army Corps under Generals Longstreet, Ewell, and A.P. Hill with a Calvary division under J.E.B. Stuarts total strength was about 75,000. The Northern Federalist consisted of about 95,000 strong under General Joseph â€Å"Fighting Joe† Hooker who commanded the Federal Army of the Potomac. General Hooker’s defect as a commanding officer became apparent when Confederate General Lee with fewer than half the men, outmaneuvered him and caused a Union retreat. On June 13th Confederate General Ewell’s corps appeared at Winchester and proceeded on the 14th and 15th to attacked the 9,000 strong Union garrison at Winchester and defeated it taking valuable war materials and inflicting heavy losses for the Union. On 25th June General Lee agreed to General Stuart’s plan to take three brigades of Calvary acro...

Witness for the Prosecution

Witness for the Prosecution There has been a murder in 1950s England. Miss Emily French, a woman approaching age 60, was found dead in her house on Friday October the 14th. Her housekeeper was away that evening and Miss Emilys   only other friend, Leonard Vole, was the last person to see her alive. The murder occurred at approximately 9:30 at night. Leonard Vole insists he was at his own home at that time, however the housekeeper, Janet Mackenzie, says she heard him speaking with Miss Emily French at 9:25 when Janet briefly returned home to pick up a sewing pattern. Leonard Vole has retained the services of a solicitor, Mr. Mayhew, and barrister, Sir Wilfred Robarts, QC. Leonard Vole is an extremely likeable man with a story that could either be 1.) the most believable tale of a nice man down on his luck who made friends with an older woman or 2.) the perfect set-up for the chance to inherit close to a million pounds. When Miss Emily French’s last will and testament names Leonard as the sole beneficiary of her estate, it seems Leonard will be found guilty. Only Leonard’s wife, Romaine, has a chance of persuading the jury of Leonard’s innocence. But Romaine has a few secrets and a hidden agenda of her own and she isn’t sharing the details with anyone. Production Details Setting: Sir Wilfred Robart’s offices, English Courtroom Time: 1950s Cast Size: This play can accommodate 13 actors with numerous non-speaking small roles as the jury and courtroom attendants. Male Characters: 8 Female Characters: 5 Characters that could be played by either males or females: 0 Content Issues:  Stabbing Roles Carter is Sir Wilfred’s clerk. He is an older gentleman who prides himself on keeping good time and good order of his boss’s offices. Greta is Sir Wilfred’s typist. She is described as â€Å"adenoidal† and flighty. She is easily distracted by the people who come into the office, especially if she has read about them in the newspaper. Sir Wilfred Robarts, QC is the well-respected barrister on Leonard Vole’s case. He prides himself on reading people and their intentions perfectly the first time he meets them. He is knowledgeable and puts genuine effort into each case he tries. Mr. Mayhew is the solicitor on Leonard Vole’s case. He assists Sir Wilfred in office work and provides another pair of eyes and ears to examine the evidence and consider strategies. His knowledge and opinions are invaluable assets for the case. Leonard Vole appears to be the all-around good-natured sort of man one would enjoy befriending. He has dreams and aspirations that will not come to fruition in his current financial situation, but he is not a complainer. He has the ability to endear himself to anyone, especially to women. Romaine is Leonard’s wife. Their marriage is not technically legal, as she is still married (on paper) to a man from her native Germany. Although Leonard insists that Romaine loves him and is devoted to him, she is a difficult woman to read. She has her own agenda and is skeptical that anyone will be able to help her. Mr. Myers, QC is the prosecuting barrister. He and Sir Wilfred, who often find themselves opposite one other in court, have a contentious relationship and. Both manage to keep civil tongues and behave when they appear in front of the judge, but their mutual animosity is evident. Mr. Justice Wainwright is the judge in Leonard Vole’s case. He is fair and handles the barristers and witnesses with a firm hand. He is not above inserting his opinion or telling a story if need be. Janet Mackenzie was Miss Emily French’s housekeeper and companion for twenty years. She has an unyielding personality. She is not charmed by Leonard Vole and has a very dim opinion of him as a person. Other Smaller Roles and Non-speaking Roles Inspector Hearne Plain Clothes Detective Third Juror Second Juror Foreman of the Jury Court Usher Clerk of the Court Alderman Judge’s Clerk Court Stenographer Warder Barristers (6) Policeman Dr. Wyatt Mr. Clegg The Other Woman Production Notes Set. The two must-have sets for Witness for the Prosecution are Sir Wilfred’s office and the courtroom. For this show – no minimalistic approaches. The sets ought to be built and dressed according to resemble a formal barrister’s office and courtroom of the time period. Costumes must be period specific and of note are the traditional wigs and robes worn in British courtrooms by the barristers, judges, and solicitors. Because the time span of the play is six weeks, some actors will need several costume changes. The playwright provides a specific note on doubling up the roles actors may play in order for smaller casts to still achieve the â€Å"spectacle† of the courtroom. She offers a template for the roles that may be reduced or be cast by the using the same actor. This template is available in the script offered from Samuel French. However, Christie stresses that the same actress that plays Greta should not play the role of â€Å"The Other Woman.† Even though the two characters never appear onstage at the same time, Christie does not want the audience to think that it is part of the plot and that Greta is in fact The Other Woman. Christie goes on to offer suggestions that â€Å"local amateurs† be used to fill out the courtroom scene or even that the audience be invited to sit on the stage. Playwright Agatha Christie (1890 – 1976) is beloved and renowned mystery writer from England. She is best known for her novels and such characters as Miss Marple, Hercule Pirot, and Tommy and Tuppence. Her stories focus on mysteries and murder; where the truth is found in the details and the characters are never who they first appear to be. Her play Mousetrap claims the title of longest running play with a production history that spans over 60 years. Agatha Christie is so prolific and popular that only Shakespeare and the Bible have only outsold her works. Samuel French holds the production rights for Witness for the Prosecution.

The Medieval Age Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Medieval Age - Essay Example This made the Nobles rebel against the crown often, as they controlled their own local armies. In Manorialism, the 1000’s of acres which belonged to the manor was owned entirely by the nobles. They had complete administrative control over the areas. But, the military power lay entirely with the king preventing Noble's ability to revolt against their lords. Manorialism gave more freedom to the peasants, serfs and the nobles ruling them. They were freed from the duty of guarding their territories fiercely and started to concentrate on developing the areas assigned to them. This system functioned pretty much the same way as the modern governments do. The Last Crusade and the fall of the AcreVenice and Genoa both flourished in trade from 1010. The first crusade started with an emotive appeal from the pope on November 27, 1095. Christians from all over the Europe joined together and waged a war against Muslims in getting their holy land back. This is seen as a .attempt by the churc h to sustain papal control over the mass. However, the first crusade ended successfully with Antioch being captured and King Bohemund of Southern Italy and his descendants becoming its rules for the next two centuries. He encouraged the Italians to establish trade connections with Egypt through Antioch. Venice was the first state to establish trade contacts with Egypt a. They met the Egyptian merchants bringing spices from the South Asia near the Red sea, collected their goods and sold it for huge profit in the Europe.

Professional skills Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Professional skills - Assignment Example In the 1980s, video arcades and console games were integrations in the learning process (Wolf, 2012). The target audience of the learning games was children aged between 5 and 10 years. The Learning Company is a pioneer in the history of games and learning with family-oriented software games emerging in the 1990s (Wolf, 2012). A recent development in digital learning focuses on providing children with tools for repairing, constructing and authoring contrary to the traditional games. SimCity is an example of the rear mentioned game. A large population of parents deal with video games in a manner one would deal with low nutritious foods, believing that exposing their children to the games in decreased periods is acceptable. An opposition to the school of thought is Andy Baio who has let his son Eliot play through a history of video games in a chronological manner since the age of four (Wolf, 2012). From the continued growth of electronic gaming since the early 1970s, it is evident that more games are yet to be developed in the future. American Academy of Pediatrics dedicates its efforts in the well being of children (The One Key Thing Parents Should Know About Children and Technology, 2015). In light of technology and children, information on their page can act as a guide to parents in comprehending the influence of video games on children, as it provides advice on management of electronic gaming. In addition, the non-profit organisation recommends parents and pediatricians (The One Key Thing Parents Should Know About Children and Technology, 2015). According to statistics from the academy, the current average number of hours spent by children per day on technology is seven (The One Key Thing Parents Should Know About Children and Technology, 2015). Parent intervention in monitoring exposure to entertainment aids children in making informed choices regarding media. In order to avoid inappropriate content exposure to

Latinomics, Good or Bad? :: essays research papers

Latinomics, Good or Bad?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What are the effects of the Latino and Hispanic population on the economics of Kentucky? According to Olsen if the Hispanic population were a city, it would be the third-largest and fastest growing city in the state. The U. S. Census Bureau reports that the Hispanic population of Kentucky was 21,984 in 1990 and almost 60,000 in the year of 2000. These figures do not take into account the undocumented immigrants which are estimated by the government at over 100,000. Based on these figures, the estimates seem low. I would venture to say that in the state of Kentucky there could be as many as 140,000 to 160,000 Latinos and Hispanics combined. Just look at the number of Hispanic children being born in the local hospitals. The article states that twenty-nine percent of the births last year at Jewish Hospital in Shelbyville were Hispanic babies. Just imagine what the figures must be in the Lexington hospitals. Some of the benefits of this new immigrant population are workers with an honest work ethic and they are not afraid of a hard day’s work for a fair wage. As the article states, they are not taking jobs away from locals, they are filling a void that cannot be met by the local labor force due to the lack of persons willing to perform the jobs. The agriculture and horse industries have benefited immensely from the labor of these immigrant workers, both male and female. It takes a lot of manual labor to harvest the crops and make all the farms look so pristine. In central Kentucky we are experiencing a major housing boom and the immigrant population has stepped up to plate by providing the manpower and specific skills needed to build houses at the rate of demand that we expect. Along with this comes the satisfaction that they are helping to build the future of the community. They take pride in the fact that in fifty or one hundred years, the houses that they helped to build will still be standing for the next generation. One local builder states that he has six immigrant workers because he cannot find the help he needs locally and two of them have been with him for more than five years and one for close to ten years. He pays all of them above average wages and provides them with housing, medical care, and other benefits.

Psychological Basis Of Behavior Essay

Until recently the causes of psychological disorders were not so clearly defined. Then advanced imaging techniques made it possible to see various areas of the brain and pinpoint areas that control behavior. It has been long known that the brain uses chemical messengers called neurotransmitters for signaling during its various processes. Advances in neuromedicine revealed that a lot of neurological and psychological disorders have a basis in imbalances between various neurotransmitters in the brain. Diseases like Parkinson’s, Schizophrenia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder are only a few where administering drugs that controlled levels of various neurotransmitters in the brain could control the disease symptoms and in some cases even provide a cure. Indeed, it was the discovery of these pharmacological agents that led to the discovery of newer agents that could control various neurological disorders by manipulating levels of neurotransmitters. Development of various drugs for schizophrenia was done on the basis of the fact that they had the ability to block dopamine receptors. In addition it was noticed that there was also an increased number of dopamine receptors present in these patients1. Similarly, in patients who suffered form Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) an abnormality in the neurotransmitter serotonin was implicated and it was shown that drug therapy that did not affect 5-HT receptors was ineffective in the treatment of OCD6. Parkinson’s disease like schizophrenia also is due to an abnormality in dopamine levels but in Parkinson’s dopamine levels become depleted4. Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder caused by the depletion of dopamine produced in the substantia nigra, a part of the brain that is responsible for voluntary movements of the body11. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects 1% of the population. Its pathophysiology involves degeneration of substantia nigra. This portion is responsible for movements in the body. Various hypotheses have been proposed concerning the causes of the disease and include genetic factors, environmental factors and viruses. Amongst these genetic factors are considered the most important and mutations in various genes have been identified that are linked to Parkinson’s disease. Genes that have been implicated are PINK-1, DJ-1, and LRRK2 and it is thought that in addition to hereditary viruses and toxins are thought to cause theses mutations4. Parkinson’s disease is characterized by a fine pin-rolling tremor of the hands, rigidity, bradykinesia, an expressionless face called a mask like face and a parkinsonian gait characterized by small steps and reduced swing of the arms. Additional symptoms may be present and include difficulty in chewing and swallowing, depression, fatigue, dementia, speech problems, constipation, urinary problems and orthostatic hypotension7. Symptoms vary from patient to patient and can also have drastic emotional consequences for the patient. Diagnosis is often difficult as there are no tests available and is usually made on history and examination of the nervous system. Various treatment options are available and are mainly aimed at increasing the levels of dopamine in the brain. These include Levodopa, which is a precursor of dopamine and the nerve cells use synthesize dopamine. Other drugs like bromocriptine, apomorphine and pramipexole act by imitating the activity of dopamine4. There is no definitive cure for this disease and the treatment is only symptomatic. Adjuvant therapy may be given to relieve symptoms such as depression. Schizophrenia is another disorder that is caused by an imbalance between dopamine levels. The difference is that high levels of dopamine are found and the disease has mainly psychiatric manifestations. The cause of schizophrenia still remains unknown and this has been hampered largely by the different subtypes of the disease presenting a large variety of symptoms and involving different areas of the brain. It is also a feature of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease9. Schizophrenia is characterized by auditory and visual hallucinations, delusions in which the patient thinks that his thoughts are being controlled externally and paranoid behavior believing someone is poisoning him, disorders of movement, cognitive dysfunction and emotional symptoms such as lack of interest in surroundings and social withdrawal2. Newer research has suggested that people with schizophrenia may experience an inability to smell certain items suggesting a disorder in the orbitofrontal region of the brain and surprisingly this sensory deficit has also been found in patients with Parkinson’s disease10. Other studies indicate that abnormalities in the amygdalia a region of the brain dealing with psychological processes may cause schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders8. Though the cause is still doubtful it has been seen that schizophrenia runs in families thus suggesting a genetic factor. Environmental factors and trauma during birth have also been suggested as causative factors. In the past agents used to treat schizophrenia like chlorpromazine and haloperidol blocked both D1 and D2 receptors and caused extra pyramidal side effects2. But the newer agents like clozapine have a high affinity for D1 receptors and thus do not cause unwanted extrapyramidal side effects. Other agents that have fewer side effects are risperidone and olanzepine and are very effective in controlling symptoms. All of these agents act by reducing levels of dopamine in the brain thus enabling the control of symptoms. The genetic predisposition to schizophrenia is now widely known. Family history of mental ailments such as schizoaffective disorders, bipolar disorders and depression, are a very strong indication and predisposition to developing schizophrenia. However, complex researches in the pattern of schizophrenic disorders among monozygotic twins have not been able to establish the full authenticity of the claim. The scientists claim that schizophrenia has been associated with the â€Å"shy gene† or 5-HTT gene. Currently, having a schizophrenic geneticity is only the first link; further development is dependant on other factors as well. (Schizophrenia. com, 2007)12 Many claim that there exists a link between schizophrenia and the environment. This is based on the fact that increased risk of schizophrenia within families cannot be singly attributed to the cause of it alone. The environmental factors that are thought to play an important role in causing schizophrenia include psychosocial, biological and physical factors, which are in effect from birth till maturity. It is now claimed that the interaction of the genetic and the social or environmental factors are very important in the development of disease in schizophrenic patients. (Tsuang, 2001) Many of the environmental effects that come into play do so in preterm and in early childhood. The highest contribution seems to be the state of labor, for example, hypoxia, CNS damage RH incompatibility of the mother and child etc. Also, other prenatal factors may include maternal depression, bereavement and flood and famine. Rubella infections and infections of the CNS are also thought to play a very important role in the development of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia. com, 2007)12 Obsessive-compulsive disorder is another psychiatric disorder that has at its cause an imbalance between neurotransmitters. In this case the neurotransmitter is serotonin. The areas of the brain thought to be involved in this disorder are the basal ganglia and the frontal lobe6. People with OCD have obsessional thoughts and t he compulsion to carry out those thoughts repeatedly3. Patients often have an awareness of their abnormal thought patterns and are distressed by them but are unable to control them. Common symptoms are patients exhibiting rituals and having unwanted thoughts and behavior patterns. Patients may have unwanted thoughts of a fear of germs or hurting someone called an obsession and compulsions are the acts of carrying out those obsessional thoughts like repeatedly washing and cleaning or repeatedly counting or checking things over and over again3. Sometimes it manifests in conjunction with other psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and depression. It often resolves when these disorders are treated. It has also been seen with diseases like Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s chorea6. This disorder usually starts in adolescence and the patient is usually aware that he has some psychiatric ailment. The etiology is uncertain but Obsessive-compulsive disorder also has a genetic component. Though environmental factors are also a major cause, head trauma has also been implicated in certain cases6. Various treatment options are available including behavioral therapy. Drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors act by delaying the uptake of serotonin into the neuron and thus prolonging it’s action. This controls the deficiency of serotonin thought to be involved in causing obsessional symptoms. Drugs that are being used include fluoxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, paroxetine and clomipramine. Drug therapy used to treat other anxiety disorders is not effective in obsessive-compulsive disorder since it may not target the 5-HT receptors that are used by serotonin. Adams et al (2005)14 reported an up-regulation of serotonin receptors in caudate nuclei of OCD patients. Administration of SSRI drugs was tested in OCD patients. When untreated patients were compared with healthy normal individuals, it was found that cerebral 5-HT (2A) receptors binding were high in these patients. However, this difference was diminished when SSRI drug was administered to the patients. Different studies have reported that 5-HT reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are most successful in treatment of OCD (Mansari & Blier, 2006). This suggests serotonin depletion may be a vital cause of this disease. Normally, serotonin is actively involved in moderating flow of messages from orbital frontal cortex to thalamus via caudate nucleus. Various pharmacological studies have suggested 5-HT concentration in OFC is regulated by 5HT2 like receptors. SRI drugs modify 5-HT receptors regulation of serotonin and hence mostly used in treatment of OCD (Mansari & Blier, 2006)15. Delgado and Moreno (1998)16 also reported that these drugs binding potency is related to hallucinogens. Pitterger et al (2006) reported that drugs that reduce elevated glutamate levels in brain might be effective in treatment of OCD. Pitterger et al (2006)17 suggested antiglutamatergic agent riluzole (Rilutek) play vital role in reducing glutamate hyperactivity in the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuitry. Conclusion Overall a link has been found among various mental illnesses. This is evident by the fact that obsessive-compulsive disorder may be present in people who already have Schizophrenia or Parkinson’s disease. This overlap suggests that similar areas of the brain are involved in the etiology of these diseases and also that similar neurotransmitters may also be involved. Also interesting is the similarity in the deficiency in the sense of smell in both Parkinson’s and schizophrenia. As research progresses and advanced neuroimaging techniques become available it will become possible to interlink these diseases to one another. Special areas of interest may be the basal ganglia and the amygdalia as they are seen involved in a variety of neurological disorders. Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disease, having a progressive nature. There are certain peculiar signs and symptoms that a Parkinson patient presents with; these include tremor, rigidity, akinesia or bradykinesia. Etiologically, Parkinson’s disease is found in 1% of the population above 60 years of age. The ratio increases in people above 70 years of age. Although, also found in women, predominantly affects male gender. The role of environment in causing Parkinsonism is worth mentioning. Carbon mono-oxide and manganese, apart from certain pesticides play the major role in causing the disease. Parkinsonism among old aged people is idiopathic, but familial inheritance can be possible. A lot is not known about the role of genetics and inheritance of this disease, but occurrence in younger ages carries a higher probability of familial inheritance. It has been found that schizophrenia and Parkinson disease may share similarity by showing dysfunction of the prefrontal cortical areas of the brain. Also, both these conditions are the result or excess of deficiency of the levels of dopamine, which in turn dictates the treatment plan for such conditions. Similarly, patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease may show the presence of obsessive compulsive disorders, and the severity depends upon the length of the disease progression. The relation between these three conditions presenting in close relation with each other raise many questions about the progress of each disease, and whether treatments of each condition contain treatments for others as well. (Maia, 2003)13