Abstract This paper covers the history of the epidemic of the bacterium that came to be known as the bubonic plague. It begins in 540 A.D., with the first record of its occurrence, and continues to show its from the Mediterranean throughout Europe and Asia. The plague's spread to England in the 1600s led to the first autopsies being conducted and began the search for a cause and cure to this disease. It has virtually been eliminated in our lifetime with only isolated cases occurring, although, there are now fears that it can be isolated and used as a bio-weapon by terrorists in today's world.
From the Paper "Despite of what is thought, the bubonic plague did not end in medieval times. It has kept killing people all the way until today. The next big outbreak after the one in 1665 was in China in 1894. It then spread west to Bombay, India, and in that the time it took to do that the disease killed millions of people. The next couple of decades after that outbreak, scientists were able to identify and classify the disease and its history. However it could at times be difficult for the scientists because symptoms of the bubonic plague often resembled those of other diseases common in the hot climate of the jungles in India."
Tags: black, bubonic, death, pestis, plague, yersinia, vaccination, cure, bacteria, microscopes, scientists, bio-terrorists, bacteria, europe, studies, bitten, flea, cell, immune, system, jungles, india, brazil, united, states, military, research
Abstract This paper examines looks at the European and American methods of diagnosing Borderline Personality Disorder. The author covers several areas including it's definition, symptoms, history and possible reasons for its occurrence. Particular attention is paid to the knowledge that it is one of the most controversial diagnoses in psychology, and what affect this has had on anyone seeking treatment for this disorder.
From the Paper "These people have a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation. They have a markedly and persistently unstable self-image; recurrent self mutilating or suicidal behavior, gestures or threats and chronic feelings of emptiness. They have difficult controlling anger, and show inappropriate, intense anger. They Transient, stress related paranoid ideation or severe disassociate symptoms. Borderline personality is usually accompanied by "symptom disorders" such as eating disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, premenstrual tension, dissociative disorder or anxiety disorder."
Abstract This paper discusses the many positive aspects of UV radiation. The author examines the way ultraviolet light is commonly used, defines UV light, its dangers and how it's used in fluorescent lighting. The paper also describes how UV radiation is frequently used in water purification plants, destroying harmful bacteria.
From the Paper "UV radiation is what is responsible for causing human skin to tan. Unlike x rays, ultraviolet radiation has a low power of penetration, so its only direct effects on the human body occur on the skin's surface and include sunburn, suntan, aging, and carcinogenic changes. Most of us know that "sunburn" is not simply a metaphor but is in fact like burns from other forms of radiation and can include symptoms ranging from redness and tenderness to blisters, swelling, seepage of fluid, and sloughing of the outer skin. Tanning ? while it is never healthy, as we know now, is simply a natural body defense that uses melanin to help protect the skin from further injury from UV radiation."
Abstract This paper defines substance and drug abuse using several research sources. It analyzes the current drug abuse problem in the United States and how the government is treating it. It discusses the addiction to drugs and how most Americans see it. It also discusses the legal aspects of the problem and the punishments given to drug offenders. It discusses several twelve step recovery programs and their doubted efficiency.
From the Paper "Drug abuse is really difficult to work with in a psychological sense because all of the issues that surround it. And the reason behind that is that it crosses over into the entire fabric of society, from chemistry to literature, from psychiatry to law. And because of these reasons, the attitudes toward drug abuse are inherently patriarchal and paternalistic; especially because of the puritanical and criminalistic spin American society puts on it. Because of this attitude, it the psychological and psychiatric community has dug itself into a conundrum where client confidentiality is at odds with other legal and moral dilemmas with regard to patient care and recovery. Also, there are other concerns about Alcoholics anonymous and similar 12 step programs with their regard to misuse within the treatment of drug abuse."
Abstract This paper looks at the Marilyn M. Friedman nursing theory and her life. The writer of this paper uses Friedman's own book to outline the theoretical approaches Friedman contributes to the family nursing practice field. In addition the reader is treated to a short biography of Friedman's life and works.
From the Paper "We have all seen the depiction of nurses long ago. They wore their little white caps and they changed bedpans, comforted families and opened the drapes in hospital rooms letting the light in. Beyond that we were not really aware of their presence other than at injection time. Fast-forward to today and nurses have changed tremendously. Today's nurse is extremely well educated, involved in patient care and interacts with the medical staff, social programs and the families of the patient on a regular basis. The field of nursing has grown and changed to the point it is now divided into specialty types much like the field of doctors has done. Family practice nursing is a specialty that often dovetails with family practice or general practice physician work."
Abstract The paper recounts the history, spread and current epidemiology of Trypanosomiasis, commonly known as African sleeping sickness. It also recounts the causes of the disease, especially as they are rooted in the host-parasite relationship. It presents charts which show the life cycle of the pest and what measures are being taken to combat this disease.
From the Paper "Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly referred to as the African sleeping sickness, is a serious parasitic disease endemic throughout most of Sub-Saharan Africa. The causative agents of HAT, parasites of the genus Trypanosoma, are characterized by a complex life cycle that involves a mammalian host (humans) and an insect vector (tsetse fly). In the course of evolution, trypanosomes have become adapted to take advantage of both of these organisms and initially it may even seem that the parasite has evolved simply to maximize its reproductive success within these organisms. In reality, however, host-parasite interactions in HAT can be more accurately described as a balance between the within-host selection and between-host selection (the pressure to facilitate horizontal transmission), leaning toward the latter. Thus, HAT illustrates the intricacies inherent in the host-parasite interactions, as well as how these complexities continue to frustrate the efforts to treat this communicable disease."
Abstract This paper looks at the issue of liposuction - the process by which fatty cells are removed from the body under the skin through suction and surgery. It first looks at the pressure is society for people to look good all the time which has lead to this trend. It further examines the downside of liposuction including medical proof of infections and internal bleeding. It also discusses cosmetic reasons for its failure noting that many women are not satisfied with the end result and correcting mistakes are often impossible.
From the Paper "Every day, a majority of the population in America is bombarded with media. This media (magazines, newspapers, television, Internet, etc.) contains ideals of beauty that are practically unattainable by the majority of people. These include the typical "super model" look, which is tall, skinny, and scantily clad. According to Macionis, these images are created by males and directed towards females because they are seen as less powerful and more as sexual objects. Based on this, women should look more like models for a man's pleasure (Macionis 329). Thanks to the innovations of modern medicine, women (and in some cases, men) can attain their ideal body shape through cosmetic surgery. The most performed procedure is liposuction. Unfortunately, people will rush in to a surgeon's office without any research or consideration of consequences of a liposuction procedure. Because of these consequences, it would be best that a person learns to love their body for what it is."
Abstract This paper takes a thorough look at the drug MDMA (ecstasy). It characterizes the types of people who use it and uses case studies and medical data to explain the effects of the drug and dangers of its use. The writer also explores the problems in controlling its distribution.
From the Paper "A large proportion of young people in the world today are users of the drug MDMA, or ecstasy, for a simple reason: it provides them with access to an experience that they value. Yet the majority of first-time users has no access to reliable information about the drug and relies on folklore for guidance; many regard the drug as completely harmless, sometimes even beneficial. Unfortunately, ecstasy use can prove fatal, as it has on many occasions. Besides the fact that the drug itself causes several unfavorable short- and long-term effects, many of which remain unknown, the actual content of doses sold on the streets is questionable. The processes of manufacturing and distributing ecstasy are quite inexpensive, and hold much appeal for criminals seeking out a lucrative niche in the drug market. The difficulties in classifying the drug ecstasy have caused complications in creating legislation for the control of its distribution and use; the number of abusers is constantly growing. Ecstasy is one of the most popular, yet dangerous drugs on the underground market today."
Abstract This paper discusses how abortion came about and how it is perceived today. It includes an historical overview of abortion since the 18th century. It takes a look at the life of Margaret Sanger, one of the founders of the first abortion clinics and moves to more recent events such as the death of Dr. Barnett Slepian, who was murdered for simply doing his job. It concludes with a look to the future of abortion which is not expected to be much different from the present situation.
From the Paper "Abortion is the deliberate termination of pregnancy by removing the fetus from the womb. There are four standard procedures of abortion suction , dilation , hysterectomy , and saline. The first-trimester abortions are simple and safe. It is unknown why spontaneous abortions happen. 25% of all human pregnancies terminate by themselves. Spontaneous abortion can result in expulsion in part or all of the uterus. Induced abortion is the deliberate termination of pregnancy by removing the fetus from the womb (Tietze). Abortion was legal in the 18th and 19th centuries, it was only illegal after the 4th month of pregnancy. When a lady use to get an abortion people would say your pregnancy "slipped" away( Regan 8). Another women can stop a pregnancy is with birth control pills. 3 out of every 4 women use birth control pills. People believe though that birth control pills can cause substantial health risks. It is also the most poplar form of contraception (Shapiro 14). In 1965 the Supreme Court decision for Griswold vs. Connecticut made birth control legal for married couples only (Katz). Margaret Sanger was the founder of the birth control pill and of safe abortions in 1915. Another goal of Margaret's was, she wanted to teach wives to insist on there own rights during sex (Katz). Dr. Slepain was an abortion doctor who was shot in front of his wife and four sons while he warmed some soup in 1998."
Abstract This paper briefly examines research and studies in the area of health hazards from second-hand smoke. It discusses legislation about smoking in public and work places and mentions groups lobbying for change in this field. It also discusses the effects on children, babies and pregnant women.
From the Paper "Second-hand smoke is the smoke that non-smokers are exposed to for no fault of their own. There is increasingly substantial scientific evidence which links second-hand smoke to tobacco-related diseases in non-smokers. According to a WHO (World Health Organization) report, exposure to second-hand smoke could lead to deaths due to heart diseases and lung and nasal sinus cancers, cause a variety of adverse health effects in children and even result in reductions in fetal growth and spontaneous abortions among pregnant women. These statistics alone make it clear that smoke-free places must be made available, if not predominant, to protect those who make the choice to avoid cigarette smoke for health, as well as esthetic reasons (Xinhua News Agency, 2001)."
Abstract The following paper proposes that understanding and utilizing body language would be an effective way for a nurse to improve communication. The nature of communication and the importance of body language in the communication process is examined with a focus on how this can be used to assist in communication in a medical set-up. Based on the research in this paper, it is seen that body language can be used by nursing staff to ensure they send the right message to patients and their families and also to ensure the real message and the real state of patients can be understood.
From the Paper "From the research, we can see that body language is an important part of communication and has great effect on communication. From the nursing perspective, we have seen how it can be used to determine the patients and their families real state. We have also seen how the body language of the nurse can be used to ensure that the patients and their family feel comfortable enough to speak freely and communicate the truth.By training and ensuring that nurses are aware of body language, effective communication can be better established. This is especially important because the nature of the situation means that understanding the patient's state is critical to providing them with correct treatment and also because the nature of the situation means that the patient may not necessarily speak honestly about their conditions.Training nursing staff in the importance of body language would allow them to better communicate with the patients and their families and this in turn, would increase the quality of care that could be delivered, with the quality relating to personal needs as well as medical needs."
Abstract The paper studies risk factors for developing coronary heart disease such as heredity, smoking and poor diet and the effect each has on the heart. It then goes on to examine how the use of moderate exercise can drastically reduce these risks and assesses several kinds of exercises.
From the Paper "Jogging has become very popular, especially with the onset of spring. Jogging, along with aerobics, dancercise, jazzercise, swimming, cycling, using treadmills and stair masters are forms of aerobics exercise. They are also called endurance exercises. Aerobics exercises help build endurance, keep the heart at a steady and elevated rates boosting HDL ("good" cholesterol), strengthen the bones in the spine, help maintain normal weight and improve one's sense of well being. Another form of exercise is isometric training-weight training. Isometric exercise builds muscle strength, helps maintain bone density, improves digestion, and some research indicates, lowers LDL ("bad" cholesterol). ""
Abstract The Ginkgo Biloba tree is the oldest tree species known to man with fossil records date back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Today, the extract of the dried leaves is popular for use as a dietary supplement for the brain and heart. Ginkgo extract is thought to improve blood circulation and memory and prevent blood clotting. The leaves are also used as tea to soothe a variety of ailments. This paper gives a brief historical description including the characteristics of the Ginkgo tree that will detail the Ginkgo tree and its importance in today's society.
From the Paper "The Ginkgo tree is unique in many ways. It is so different from any other living tree that it must be classified in a separate order. The Ginkgo biloba probably no longer exists in a truly wild state. It has been found growing freely over some ten square miles near Changhua Hsien in the Chekiang province of China, but it is uncertain whether these trees are the remains of an ancient forest or not. It is a sacred tree in the Far East, where it is commonly planted in the grounds of temples and palaces. In some of the grounds of the temples there are specimens that are said to be over 1,000 years old. It's preservation in China, Korea, Manchuria, and Japan is probably due to the interest taken in it by the Buddhist priests whose interest in the tree saved it from becoming extinct."
Abstract A paper which argues that alcohol consumption at a young age directly influences a person's way of life and lifestyle in his future. The later a person begins alcohol consumption, the better future they may have. The paper explores why people take up drinking alcohol and the signs of alcoholism. Different treatment for alcoholism, including AA, are discussed.
From the Paper "The effects of alcohol on a person, especially at a young age, blatantly correspond to the actions and outcome of this person in the future. For example, a person who does not touch alcohol until well after his twenties has a much more successful lifestyle than the person who is introduced to alcohol in his teenage years does."
Abstract This paper portrays the problem of teenage pregnancy in America. Statistics are used to illustrate the extent of its occurrence regardless of race and socio-economic circumstances. Reasons are given as to why the phenomenon is so widespread. The paper offers methods for tackling the problem.
From the Paper "The issue of teenage pregnancy has dominated passionate national awareness for more than a generation. However until of late, in spite of many consecutive government and community efforts to overturn the tendency, the unwed teen pregnancy rate continued to climb, from23.9 births per 1000 single female teenagers in 1975 to 31.4 in 1985, and to an all- time high of 46.4 in 1994. From 1975 to 1994, the unmarried teen birth rate almost doubled."
