Abstract This paper identifies the different surgical treatments for pancreatic pseudo-cysts and attempts to determine which is the best option among these treatments. The paper explains that the three main surgical treatments available for the treatment of pancreatic pseudo-cysts are internal drainage, pancreatic resections and external drainage. The paper further explains its findings that, contrary to common medical acceptance, drainage is not the best surgical option for pancreatic pseudo-cysts. Rather, the paper explains, that most cases resolve spontaneously and patients do well without intervention and that sometimes patients can even develop complications or get worse when subjected to drainage.
From the Paper "A pancreatic pseudocyst is a localized collection of pancreatic-enzyme-rich fluid, originating from or near the pancreas and is enclosed in a wall of granulation and/or fibrous tissue, which lacks epithelial lining (Rossoa 2003). The incidence of chronic pancreatitis has been increasing and pancreatic pseudocyst is a common complication. Advances in radiological techniques have led to increased diagnosis of pseudocyst and better understanding of associated complications and the natural history of pseudocysts. New modes of treating the ailment have also increased surgical options. Statistics reveal that two-thirds of all pancreatic cystic lesions are pseudocysts, which complicate pancreatitis in 20-40% of patients, and that pseudocysts develop in 10-20% of acute pancreatitis patients. Furthermore, 14 or 14% of 102 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis developed a pseudocyst within 72 hours from admission (Rossoa)."
Abstract "Cystic Fibrosis: The Facts" is a comprehensive, informative and well-written book about the disease and its treatments. The paper explains how authors, Ann Harris and Maurice Super address the book to a general audience, making the book extremely accessible to laypeople. The paper first discusses the book, chapter by chapter and then provides an overview of this congenital disease that mainly affects the digestive and respiratory systems. The paper discusses the causes, symptoms and treatment of the disease, using Harris and Super's book as a reference.
From the Paper "Newborn babies diagnosed with cystic fibrosis exhibit meconium ileus, a blockage of the lower intestine that causes abdominal swelling and bilious vomit. Surgery is necessary to correct meconium ileus. Children past the newborn stage who have cystic fibrosis will have symptoms like abdominal distension, loose and malodorous stool, and rectal prolapse. All these problems are associated with an improper functioning of the small intestine. In some cases, children with cystic fibrosis will develop a mild form of diabetes. In about 10% of cystic fibrosis cases, no gastrointestinal symptoms will be present. However, GI symptoms are usually detected far before respiratory ones are. The sweat glands are also affected by cystic fibrosis, as the disease causes increased electrolyte presence in the sweat. In fact, using sweat as a diagnostic measure is one of the safest and most reliable tests for cystic fibrosis."
Abstract This paper explains that embryonic stem cells are self-renewing, undifferentiated cells that are extracted from the inner cell mass of a 5-6 day old embryo or blasto-cyst, which destroys the embryo in the process of extracting the stem cells. The author stresses that the basic problems in embryonic stem cell research are the very highly valued moral problems it presents: (1) The prevention or alleviation of suffering and (2) the respect of human life. The paper stresses that the argument for and against cloning embryonic stem cells is also an argument as to the meaning of life and the recognition of the loss, at any point in life, of inevitable death.
Table of Contents
Introduction
What is Embryonic Stem Cell?
The Basic Problem
Arguments Presented For and Against Cloning Embryonic Stem Cells
Conclusion
From the Paper "To endorse any use of the human embryo which was not consistent with a reverence for human life would be widely regarded as wrong. Those who believe that therapeutic research on embryos is ethically permissible, might argue that the creation and use of a human embryo outside the context of human reproduction does not necessarily undermine the attitude of respect for the human body and human dignity, provided that the purposes involved in such creation and use are purposes which we would recognize as beneficial ones. Medical uses fall into this category. In this view, it would appear to be quite consistent with an attitude of respect for human life to allow the use of human embryos at an early stage of development, well before the stage at which anything resembling a self can be said to come into existence. Such use promises to provide the possibility of the relief of a great deal of human suffering, a goal which in no sense calls into question respect for the human body."
Abstract This paper discusses how, in Margaret Atwood's haunting story "Hairball," a hard-edged magazine editor realizes some important things about her life when her married boyfriend betrays her. The paper discusses how "Hairball" is the story of a woman who is learning to accept past failures, even though they appear crushing, and to move on with her life.
From the Paper "Naming the 'tumour' Hairball is important in the accruement of meaning of this object. Hair is an important symbol in Kat's life as her work in the magazine world indicates. As well, she has shaved most of her own hair off since moving back to Toronto, in order to show how counterculture she really was. Ger, the married man whom she seduces, has a wife who Kat sees as being totally different from herself partly due to the fact that the wife's hair is so terribly old-fashioned (19)."
