Abstract This paper discusses transcendental meditation and its ability to relieve symptoms of stress. The author explains in scientific (chemical) terms what causes the human body to feel stress. Also detailed in terms of medicine and science are the effects of meditation on a body suffering from stress.
From the Paper "For the majority of people, stress is defined in terms of factors: child-rearing, pressure on the job, marital discord, etc. It's easy to confuse "stressors" with actual stress. So what, exactly, is stress? In short, stress is any physical or emotional condition that disrupts the body's homeostasis. The human body has many ways of regulating homeostasis in response to specific stressors. For instance, alterations in body temperatures trigger responses designed to either raise or lower the temperature back to normal. When it comes to the everyday stress of simply living, however, the body develops a general response known as general adaptation syndrome (GAS), also referred to simply as stress response. This syndrome was first described by Hans Selye and is divided into three distinct phases: the alarm phase, the resistance phase, and the exhaustion phase."
Tags:catecholamines, disease, endocrine, heart, relaxation, system
Abstract The paper hypothesizes that Isoproterenol will increase the heart rate of a chick embryo heart, in which the chick was incubated for approximately 48 hours, when topically applied. The author of the paper shows that the reasoning for this hypothesis is that Isoproterenol acts as a sympathetic stimulant by stimulating the beta receptors found in the heart, and these kinds of stimulants (hence the name stimulant) tend to speed up actions. Especially since this chemical mimics norepinephrine's effects, I deduced that this would speed up the heart rate. An experiment was performed on 48-hour chick embryos and the results are discussed in the paper.
From the Paper "Description: An egg was incubated for approximately 48 hours. I am approximating 48-hours based on the comparison of my embryo to pictures of the different stages. Once removed from the incubator, I made an incision around the circumference of the egg and removed the roof, exposing the interior. The embryo with all structures still attached- in situ- (yolk, egg white, etc.) was poured into a dish of saline solution. The egg remained in the same position for a couple of hours, blunt-end up, so that the embryo conveniently lay on top. The temperature of the water was measured as 32?C and the normal heart rate of the chick was recorded as 76bpm."
Abstract This paper presents a detailed case of a child with asthmatic symptoms that are discovered to be exacerbated by Parainfluenza A, which contributed to the onset of his asthma. The author points out that the severity of asthma varies greatly from child to child, from a cough associated with exercise or at night to a catastrophic shortness of breath that leads to death. The paper points out that the inability of endogenous, circulating, catecholamines to induce reversal of bronchoconstriction may reflect one or more defects in the patient with asthma. Figure: Asthma Mechanisms
Table of Contents
CC
Pt. Introduction
Admission to System
Pt. Physical Assessment
Lab Data
Isolated for parainfluenza
Diagnostic Data
Medications-Previous
Medications Ordered
Singular
Flovent MDI
Albuterol MDI
Solumedrol
Ranitidine
Ceftriaxone
Treatment
Clinical Course
Pathophysiology of CC
Lab Data
Diagnostic Data
Medications
Summary
From the Paper "The primary mechanical effects of asthma on the lung as a result of BMP are increased work of breathing to overcome airway obstruction and hyperinflation attributable to progressive air trapping results from a ball-valve effect in the airways and causes ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch and right-to-left shunting of unoxygenated blood through the lungs. V/Q mismatch and the increased oxygen demand on the respiratory muscles as they work to overcome airway obstruction result in significant hypoxia early in the course of a wheezing episode. This hypoxia stimulates tachypnea, which partially compensates for the V/Q mismatch and is reflected by significant hypocarbia. If airway obstruction is not rapidly reversed, air trapping and V/Q mismatch can progress till decreased ventilation occurs, Pco2 rises, and ultimately respiratory failure ensues."
